If you shop at dispensaries, you’re being ripped off

In my search for bud, I recently met another chronic pain patient who is a current member of the Medical Cannabis Program. For the sake of this story, let’s call this patient Mary.

Mary hasn’t been in the program very long, but she’s tried a handful of different dispensaries and was mostly disappointed in what she found. Mary likes purple strains to treat her chronic pain, which she has trouble finding. She says she likes the Purple Kush at R. Greenleaf and she brought some to my place for me to try.

The label says the Purple Kush is an indica and has 20% THC and 0.27% CBDs. It had a strong smell, but was so dried out, it crumbled between my fingers. That condition is nothing new, as I found the same problem with all of Greenleaf’s bud when I was in the program years ago. Mary wondered if they microwave it, which is one way some growers use to dry the bud as quickly as possible and to kill germs. But no grower worth his or her salt would even think of curing bud with a microwave. I told her the smell was almost artificial, as if they added it in at some point during the process.

When Mary told me she paid $20 a gram for this bud, I was shocked. Shocked, I say! Not only is this bud not worth that much, it’s not even worth half that much. I told her truthfully that Greenleaf was ripping her off. Poor Mary, she didn’t know there was better bud out there, and at a better price. But not at the dispensaries, which is not only sad, but rather tragic.

Mary says she tried The Verdes Foundation, but they have a problem with running out of bud. And she said they close down a lot, too. (That was also a problem with High Desert when I was in the program.) You can only buy in certain quantities at New Mexican dispensaries, like at Greenleaf, just 1.5 to 3 grams at a time. Then you have to keep going back to buy more, almost every other day for Mary. Because there’s not enough supply for the demand, so the bud has to be rationed. And this, even when more dispensaries have been added since I was in the program.

I told Mary that the Purple Kush from Greenleaf was proof that I made the right decision to stay in the underground. Crappy bud for $20 a gram? Shameful. Just shameful that the dispensaries are ripping off patients like that.

From Greenleaf’s website: “The quality of our medical cannabis rivals that of any you will find in the United States or across the world.”

Bullshit. Total bullshit. Don’t be fooled.

Consolidating and cashing in on medical marijuana

http://nmpoliticalreport.com/3522/consolidating-and-cashing-in-on-medical-marijuana/

Marijuana legalization is likely far off in New Mexico, but you wouldn’t know it from the way some businesses are acting…

Colorado, here I come.

Consolidation isn’t limited to out-of-state companies looking for a stake in New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program. Reynold Greenleaf & Associates, an Albuquerque-based business formed last year, currently manages both Medzen Services and R. Greenleaf Organics…

When McCurdy became a patient, he had what he called a rough experience with marijuana from Compassionate Distributors in Ruidoso, the only medical marijuana producer in the area. He soon wrote a formal complaint about the quality of Compassionate Distributors’ marijuana.

“When it began to burn the cannabis started to pop, crackle and tasted harsh and like chemicals,” McCurdy wrote. “I knew then that the medicine was not flushed properly.”

Despite the fact that McCurdy’s letter wasn’t completely critical—he also wrote praises of one of the nonprofit’s clerks for being “always so friendly and just a pleasure to purchase from”—Compassionate Distributors stopped letting him buy marijuana.

“We will be removing you from our list of patients,” Mandy Denson, an attorney for Compassionate Distributors, wrote back to McCurdy. “While we appreciate the feedback, we run a very small operation. When it becomes clear that a patient relationship will only cause stress and negativity for those who work here, especially when unfounded, we exercise our right to refuse service policy.” …

Likewise, Shortes said that the deal will allow Sacred Garden to lower prices for patients…

And we’ll be watching to see if that happens.

As a part of the deal, Nutritional High will create a company called Zephyr to take over management of Sacred Garden. Shortes, according to an official announcement released last month, will be employed by Zephyr and make $180,000 a year…

Under comments:

Christopher Hsu · University of New Mexico
Just an FYI Tim Scott is pretty much in Willie Fords back pocket.

My review on Sacred Garden:  http://forum.nmcannabisreview.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8

My post on Mandy Denson:

http://forum.nmcannabisreview.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=181&p=1702&hilit=mandy+denson#p1702

“How do you sleep while the rest of us cry?”

This song (Dear Mr. President by Pink) is dedicated to the members of the New Mexico Medical Cannabis program — patients, patient associations, producers and dispensaries, doctors, and the Department of Health.  And to the New Mexico State Medical Board and every politician in this state.

While all of you enjoy your holiday weekend, take a moment to think about those who can’t afford this program and have to suffer, and suffer, and suffer, without any pain relief.

“How do you walk with your head held high?  Can you even look me in the eye?”

https://painkills2.wordpress.com/2015/02/23/how-do-you-sleep-while-the-rest-of-us-cry/

Voices of MMJ patients in NM

https://www.facebook.com/nmmcpa

Kevin Nelson
March 25 at 4:05pm
I am Very upset with the way I was treated at R. Greenleaf in Albuquerque! I was sold a domeless ceramic nail that I was assured would work with my setup. When I got home I was to small so I returned to the dispensary & you can imagine my disappointment when I was told by the staff & R. Greenleaf when I was told they wouldn’t exchange it for something that would work for me & that sense it has not been used I should try to sell it on the street to someone! Now I’m out the money & cannot use my medicine. I am completely baffled by the way this was handled by them & the ridiculous solution they had for me. Never again will I return to R. Greenleaf.

Shawn Gentry
March 25 at 5:11pm
::ALERT:: So I go to assist a patient in possible conflict resolution with R. Greenleaf and I find another HUGE issue over the already stupidity they found themselves in…. Not only did they flat refuse to refund a patient for an unused product that was “guaranteed to work.” It didn’t and the patient made another huge trek to get something to work and was refused return or exchange (according to the patient). 100% satisfaction guarantee huh? Anyway on to the more insane issue that effects everyone that uses their website…. So they are selling ads on their website now. A website for patients ONLY. So to make money from those ads, you have to usually submit to an “inventory” of IP addresses and “soft data” to verify that a person visited so they can get paid for the traffic. This is a very good case for a HIPAA Violations… Someone with some more tech savvy sense in this matter should look in to this matter with a quickness. If they are disclosing our IP or any data is “unauthorized disclosure of personal identifiable information.“

Do NM Cannabis Producers Support Mandatory Testing for Medical Cannabis?

Wow, to get actual responses from producers… that’s amazing.  I wonder who I have to sleep with to deserve the same kind of treatment?

http://cannagramma.com/2015/03/10/do-nm-cannabis-producers-support-mandatory-testing-for-medical-cannabis/

Under comments:

March 18, 2015
WILLIAM FORD said:

I think it is wrong to assume that because we did not respond to your generic solicitation that we are against testing. Many producers understand the importance of testing and look to our state regulators to create an environment where testing will be available, affordable and mandatory. That environment does not exist now and we have been advised by the DOH and MCP not to test our products with unapproved laboratories. Perhaps a better use of your time may be to put political pressure on the DOH and MCP to test through the state labs. We, as producers, could subsidize the cost and patients would reap the benefits. I founded your organization – the NM Medical Cannabis Patients Alliance and funded it’s inception in order to create a political arm for the patients to express their wants and needs to the government – not so that you could waste your time polling the producers as to how we feel – how we feel is unimportant – how we are regulated is what matters.

William Ford, Executive Director
R. Greenleaf Organics, Inc
Medzen Services, Inc.
Healthy Education Society

Since SWOP mentioned in their response that they use the state lab at NMSU, I don’t understand why the Department of Health has to mandate this option for R. Greenleaf to take advantage of it.  Mr. Ford, are you trying to distract us from the issue at hand?

On the other hand, there’s the NMMCPA — a so-called patient’s alliance — that is pushing for testing, which will undoubtedly raise the price of the medicine, especially with the smaller producers.  You see, the members of SWOP, a small producer, are part of the NMMCPA…

And SWOP believes in 100% testing — whatever that means — and their prices reflect that extra expense.  SWOP has some of the highest prices in the state, if not the highest.  And if you’re a patient who can afford to pay those prices, I guess that’s great.

As for the tone of Mr. Ford’s response, well, perhaps he’s having a bad day.  Any producer who believes that exercises like this are a waste of time must have something to hide.  (Hence, the distraction.)  Aren’t the concerns and questions of patients important, Mr. Ford?  (Don’t worry, I don’t expect a response.)

I guess transparency isn’t important to the big players in this state’s medical cannabis industry — that’s why there’s no push to publish producer’s accounting records.  I mean, wouldn’t you like to know why your medicine costs so much?

The little information provided by the DOH every quarter doesn’t tell patients much, so perhaps it’s time for the NMMCPA to push for publicizing the accounting records from dispensaries.  Let patients really see what’s going on.  Maybe secrecy was important when this program started, but really, what’s the point of it now?

And for a patient’s organization, the NMMCPA certainly has made a mess of things.  Their members are in the middle of this new lawsuit against the DOH, by 19 of the 23 producers.  It will be interesting to see which producers didn’t join in the lawsuit and their reasons for not doing so. Unfortunately, the media coverage for this state’s program is almost nonexistent.  Which is why patients have to do so much research and make extreme efforts to navigate this expensive, exclusive, and secretive program.

It’s been almost a year since I was unable to renew because of the expense (and stress), and it’s taken all that time for the DOH to finalize the new regulations.  Now comes this lawsuit… just one of many that have been filed against the DOH regarding the Medical Cannabis Program.

I’m not sure how a lawsuit will change the fact that Retta Ward from the DOH gets the final say on everything to do with this program. The work that the Medical Board performs for the program doesn’t appear to affect the decisions Ms. Ward has made, and neither does all the negative responses from patients to the rule changes.

The whole business, the public hearings and comments, the set-up and procedures, the secrecy and lack of transparency, the cost — it all adds up to a program that doesn’t work for a lot of really sick people.  How many patients have died waiting for the ability to join the Medical Cannabis Program?  Do you know how expensive it is to obtain the records needed to qualify under “severe chronic pain”?  Do you know how many patients don’t qualify because they suffer from a mental disability?

The answer is to stop fighting over this program — the answer is to legalize.  Or alternatively, keep calm and move to Colorado.

New MexiCann’s Newsletter (3/15/2015)

As you may have heard R.Greenleaf has suspended their delivery system. It was a quality service and it is unfortunate that it has stopped running. New MexiCann is going to do it’s best to continue delivering to our rural patients. New MexiCann is hiring a driver to deliver to the Southeast part of the state the first weekend of every month. This is the same service that has always been there, but now the driver is a New MexiCann driver and not an R.Greenleaf driver. We may be able to implement other routes over time, but for now all other parts of the state will need to be accessible for Hot Shots Service deliveries…

We now have two Nurse Practitioners scheduled to see Patients at the Taos Store.  Naomi has been seeing Patients 1 day a month at our Santa Fe store for the past several years and has agreed to come to Taos and do the same. She will be in Taos on April 16 and again on May 21. She can re-certify for all conditions and offer new certifications for most.

Lori is new to New MexiCann. She is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner so she can not only re-certify, but she can recommend initially for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She will be at the store on April 3 & 4 but those days are already completely booked. She will be back again on April 17 & 18. She works with Psychiatrist Dr. Florian Birkmayer who many saw on the three days he was at the store seeing Patients.

Call the Taos store to schedule and get info on what you may need to bring with you for your recommending doctor’s visit.  Just to be clear, these practitioners do not work for New MexiCann and we receive nothing from them…

Two more counties without legal Cannabis distribution are about to have their own New MexiCann stores. Our Española store will be right on the main drag, N. Riverside Drive and our Las Vegas store will be on 7th and Mills…

New Medical Marijuana Rules Adopted

http://www.sfreporter.com/santafe/article-9982-new-medical-marijuana-rules-adopted.html?utm_content=buffer78f8c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

The average price for a gram of pot is $10…

Liar, liar, pants on fire…  That’s not the average price here in New Mexico — but sure, if you wanna dream, I can’t stop you.

Optimistic about his [David Romero White’s] chances to be licensed this time, he says, “This is definitely a huge step in the right direction. We all can now breathe a collective sigh of relief and move forward,” he says…

You breathe a sigh of relief Mr. White, while I sit here IN PAIN, unable to afford the renewal costs.

And if you rent your living space, you’ll need to get your landlord’s approval…

In most cases, that’s just not going to happen.  And I think the Department of Health knows that. This agency is working very hard to get smoking restricted in more places than it already is, including apartments.  And since most medical cannabis patients smoke their bud, the DOH is actually working against this program.

In conclusion, the new rules benefit producers, not patients.  But then, I’m not surprised.

Well, Mr. White (and his cohorts in the NMMCPA) must be pretty happy about this news.  Good for them.

If there isn’t a shortage any more…

How come R. Greenleaf is still requiring pre-orders?  And why don’t they have a bigger selection (only 6 strains on the menu, two of them with very high CBDs)?

From newsletter:  “Did you know we deliver for only $5 in the Albuquerque area every Thursday?”

Time to beg…

From R. Greenleaf email newsletter of 12/28/2014:

Dear Patients,

As we head into what promises to be the last public hearing on the proposed rules and regulations there are some things that I need to say. First, I want to apologize to the current administration of the New Mexico Department of Health for implicating them as politically motivated in delaying the rules and regulations process and implying they were not working to help patients. The Secretary of Health Retta Ward and her Deputy Secretaries Brad McGrath and Lynn Gallagher recently made it clear to me that I had crossed a line and that they had taken offense at my implications. It was not my intention to offend anyone, and indeed I have no proof that the things I said were true. I was frustrated, I was angry and I was out of line. Making allegations of that nature is irresponsible and disrespectful and as such I want to sincerely apologize to the entire administration from the Governor and her Secretaries to the program administrators including Andrea Sundberg and Ken Groggel. All of these folks work very hard for the program and patients and they deserve our respect. As the Executive Director of R. Greenleaf Organics I am absolutely committed to doing whatever it takes to provide for my patients. I am also absolutely committed to being a real partner with the Department of Health in providing for patients. I hope that the administration can forgive me and that we can look forward to the New Year as opportunity to get some positive changes made for patients.

In the meantime, I look forward to a positive meeting. I am optimistic that the administration will make the necessary changes so that we can continue to serve the needs of our patients. Let’s keep the meeting calm and present our concerns in a concise and respectful manner. Dedicating ourselves to partnership with the program officials and asking for their help in good faith will always be the right decision – let’s look to the future and hope that the changes needed will be made, the rules will be promulgated and that 2015 will become a time when patients can get the medicine they need in safe environments at affordable prices.

Thanks,

Willie Ford

I just have to say that this, to me, is further proof that I made the right choice in giving up on this program.  I wonder if any patients will show up at the public hearing tomorrow…

2/28/2014, New Conditions Approved For Medical Cannabis, Yet Supply Shortage Persists

http://www.420magazine.com/forums/international-cannabis-news/212605-new-conditions-approved-medical-cannabis-yet-supply-shortage-persists.html

A fourth quarter producers’ report prepared by the New Mexico Department of Health in February and obtained by SFR earlier this week shows New Mexico’s 23 non-profit producers only harvested a little more than 27,000 pounds, or 13.5 tons, for 10,647 active patients. In order to provide each patient three ounces, or 84 grams, of marijuana every quarter, growers claim they need to package close to 56,250 pounds or 28 tons. But health officials say the number is less, because a third of the patients are licensed to grow their own medication.

“There’s been a shortage for the last five years,” say Love…

Well, if you can afford to be a medical cannabis patient in New Mexico, it looks like there’s good news:  The issue of shortages, as reported on just 10 months ago (and for the last six years) has been removed from the conversation.  Which must mean that the program is no longer having problems with this issue. Merry Christmas.

Ford says he could meet demand and lower his prices if the Department of Health allowed him to grow between 300 and 500 plants.

Well, it looks like the producers got their wish on this matter, so I guess we’ll all be watching for Mr. Ford (and all the other producers) to start lowering their prices — sometime next year, right?

Strain reviews for R. Greenleaf

SWEET TOOTH

THC 23.46% and CBD 0.622% (from website, did not see actual test result)
7 grams at $12.50/gram for a total of $87.50

$17.50/joint

I preordered 7 grams of the Sweet Tooth strain via email last week, and then picked it up this week. It came in a jar and had a very strong diesel smell, and if I squint my nose, I can smell cotton candy, sort of. There were no seeds and some small stems. I didn’t need scissors to cut up the bud, as it crumbled easily between my fingers. There was little resin, but the remains were not powdery, like some buds in this condition. There was 1 large bud, 5 medium, and 3 small, and they were puffy and lightweight.

Via email, the dispensary informed me that it does not test every harvest, but it sends off multiple items to get tested every month, whether it’s a new hash product or a new strain. They said that they have tested plants a few different times, but since their plants are mostly clones, the test results usually come out the same. They offered to show me the test results when I visited the clinic, but I forgot to ask when I went to pick up my order. It would be nice if they could send these results as an email attachment, or even post it to their website.

My rating for the Sweet Tooth strain is 4 out of 10 for strength. Maybe a 4.5. I’m afraid that my small dislike of the smell and taste may have colored my opinion on the strength. I was able to roll a total of 5 joints from 7 grams, which is $17.50 per joint (Yikes!). This is not a strain that I prefer, but it might do in a pinch.

Sugar Free Hybrid Jolly Cubes
$12.50 for 12 cubes, at $1.04/cube
Made with hybrid butane hash oil

Ingredient list (BHO, water, corn syrup, with 2% or less of Malic Acid, natural and artificial flavor, artificial colors Red 40, Blue 1, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6.) Manufactured on equipment that also processes peanuts and tree nuts.

The Jolly Cubes were described as similar to Jolly Rancher candies, which they are, in a small, fruit-flavored, sugar-cube-sized treat. I was told that the cannabis taste would not be as strong in this edible, as it is made with BHO, and this is supposed to taste more floral than the usual bud or hash product. And although the taste of the cannabis is inescapable, the fruity flavor can overpower it (at times). There are 12 cubes that come in a small, heavy plastic bag, with one to two cubes equaling one dose. Even through the plastic bag, the cannabis smell is so strong, that I decided to also wrap it in foil.

The reason I purchase edibles is for use before sleep. For the first dose, I tried one candy at a time, but it took over 40 minutes to finish both (to equal one dose). I drank a lot of water during consumption to hasten the dissolving process. The next time, I tried two candies at once, which was difficult, but doable.

I have found that it is hard to gauge the effects of edibles, and that was certainly the case here. On the two occasions I tried using the cubes, I didn’t notice any assistance in helping me sleep. And I did not notice any remaining effects upon waking. I was told there is a money back guarantee with products at R. Greenleaf, which is good to know, but I don’t think I’ll go to the trouble of returning the remaining cubes (worth about $8).

__________

GRAPE APE

Indica

THC: 18.711%

CBD: 0%
Purchased 2/24/14

Tested by Page Analytical 5/8/13

Batch Y11 5_8_13

Moisture 12.74%
CBD 0%
CBG 0.37%
CBN 0.98%
CBD 0.35%
THC 0.28%
THCA 18.29%
d8-THC 0%
Potential THC 16.32% (actual weight)

My strength rating of 6 (again) does not match this batch, at 16% THC.

(Hey, Greenleaf, why can’t the labels/receipts for your products include information like the batch number?)

Grape Ape is a strongly sweet-smelling diesel, similar to the Sweet Tooth strain, but with the added bonus of an underlying grape taste. This strain is out to prove that she is just as strong as strains with heavy resin, and gets my strength rating of 6 out of 10. It’s not a particularly strong effect, but it is strong enough to last longer than usual. What worked out to be $17.50 per joint.

GREENLEAF

Sativa
18.553% THC (did not see test results)
Purchased 3/6/14 (no batch number)
$12.50/gram
$21.87/joint

Tested by Page Analytical

Dated 5/8/13
Batch Y8 5_8_13
10.43% moisture
CBD 0%
CBG 1.42%
CBN 0.10%
CBC 0.39%
THC 0.37%
THCA 18.52%
d8-THC 0.06%
Potential THC 16.61% (actual weight)

My strength rating of 2.5 does not match this batch from a year ago, testing at 16% THC.

Bud from the Greenleaf strain looks just like its picture, with lots of brown coloring mixed in with the darker green. No seeds, hardly any sticks, and no resin. Has a light lemon smell and taste. Strength rating: 2.5

LEMON SOUR DIESEL

Purchased 3/8/14 (no batch number)
$12.50/gram
Price/joint not calculated

The batch for this strain was not the same as my description from 9 days ago — it was more like bud that hadn’t been cured properly. Not the smell so much, as how it cleans, rolls, and burns. I’ve set it out to dry, so maybe that will be an improvement.

My previous strength rating for the Lemon Sour Diesel was 4 (3.5 + .5 for terpene strength). I am rating this batch a 3 for strength (2.75, plus .25 for terpenes).

LARRY OG

Tested by Page Analytical:

Dated 3/15/13
18.84% moisture
CBD 0.31%
CBN 0%
THC 19.834% (actual weight)

Dated 11/5/13
10.84% moisture
CBD 0%
CBG 0.28%
CBN 0.13%
CBC 0.13%
THC 0.15%
THCA 12.34%
d8-THC 0%
Potential THC 10.985% (actual weight)

(Test results copied by hand from Greenleaf’s on-site records.)

I purchased 7 grams of Greenleaf’s Larry OG strain on 4/16/14, and it was as I remembered it from when I first tried it over two months ago. Same strong smell, which Smokin’ Cannabis would call “green,” and some would call “dank.” I’m rating this batch at a 5 for strength, with .5 for terpenes, for a total of 5.5. I rated the last batch at a 6 for strength, but for this one, I had to smoke more than I previously did to get the same effect.

Cost per joint was $16.66 (not including tax).

Obviously, my strength rating does not come close to matching the low (10.98%) THC from the batch tested over 5 months ago.

Because I really like this strain, I wanted to find out more about it. The following emails are my attempts to do so…

Wed, Feb 12, 2014 12:55 am
Re: Larry OG
From: Painkills2
To: Erin at R. Greenleaf

Hey Erin, I just looked on your website and I don’t see the Larry OG still listed as available for pre-order. If that is not the case, and if I am able to order from the same batch that I picked up today, I wanted to place a pre-order for 21 grams for pick up next week.

If I had my druthers, I would have liked to order an additional 3.5 grams of the Larry OG for pick up this Friday. I don’t suppose that’s possible, though, which is unfortunate for both us, no?

If the Larry OG is not available right now, can you let me know when it will be? Also, I would like to get additional information on this strain. I looked it up on Leafly.com: “Larry OG is yet another member of the famous ocean-grown family. Originally created in Orange County, this indica is a cross between OG Kush and SFV OG.”

Since Greenleaf’s Larry OG is a sativa, I’m going to assume that Leafly’s description doesn’t pertain to your strain. I sure would like some information on this strain’s genealogy, if you would be so kind. I’d also like a copy of the latest testing performed for the Larry OG strain, as I want to learn how to read these kinds of results (digital copy preferred, but regular mail is fine too). It would also be very helpful to me for future purchases, so I could compare the Larry OG test results (close to what I’m looking for in a strain) to the next strain I try. I would also like to understand what effect the CBD percentages have on the strength of the THC.

In fact, I would love to know how this batch was grown, dried and cured. What is the difference between the bud that I purchase which is full of resin and needs scissors to clean, and the Larry OG, which has hardly any resin and crumbles easily between my fingers? I’m not saying one is better than the other, I would just like to know why they are so different. And even though I have a dozen more questions, I’ll leave it there (for now). 😀

Wed, Feb 12, 2014 4:08 pm
From: Erin at R. Greenleaf
To: Painkills2
Subject: Re: Larry OG

Hello ****! I pre ordered you a 3.5 of Larry OG for pick up next Tuesday. I will keep you in mind for the rest of the week if I find another 3.5 bag for you. As for all your other inquires, would you mind if I emailed you later with some more information?

Wed, Feb 12, 2014 4:57 pm
From: PK2 To: Erin

So, you’re saying I can only order 3.5 grams of the Larry OG at a time? Once a week? It seems useless to find a strain that works for me, if I can’t order it in the quantity I need.

Wed, Feb 12, 2014 10:13 pm
Erin’s email is broken
From: PK2 To: info@rgreenleaf.com

Erin’s email is not accepting messages, so I am sending this to Greenleaf’s other email address.

Thu, Feb 13, 2014 12:44 am
Grape Ape and Larry OG
From: PK2 To Erin, Tausha at R. Greenleaf, info@rgreenleaf.com

Dear Erin or Tausha (or whomever), As ya’ll are having email problems, I am sending this to all of the email addresses I have for Greenleaf. Please advise on availability of both Grape Ape (#1 preference) and Larry OG strains. Consider this a standing pre-order for one or the other. Thank you,

Thu, Feb 13, 2014 9:41 pm
Response, please…
From: PK2 To: Erin, Tausha, info@rgreenleaf.com

Dear R. Greenleaf, Over 24 hours ago, I made various attempts to contact you (including a voicemail), but I have not received a response. (I’m beginning to think I’m invisible.) Regardless, it is impossible for me to plan out the medicine I need, and where I’m going to get it, when dispensaries refuse to respond.

Fri, Feb 14, 2014 10:40 am
Re: Response, please…
From: info@rgreenleaf To: PK2

Hello ***, Today we do have Grape Ape and Larry OG available today, I cannot put anything on hold for you for today but you are more than welcome to come in as a walk-in. Have a great weekend! Sorry for the late response, Erin’s e-mail is temporarily down.

Sat, Feb 15, 2014 3:52 pm
Availability?
From: PK2 To: Erin

While I await further information on the Larry OG strain from your grower, I was hoping you would go ahead and send me any test results you have for this strain. As we discussed on Friday, February 14th, I understand that the testing does not always appear accurate, but I want to learn how to read these tests.

I would appreciate an explanation of the availability of strains as it pertains to pre-orders and walk-ins. I can keep constantly checking your website for how and when each strain is available, sure, but that only allows me to plan one day in advance, if that. I guess what I’m looking for is a little consistency, something that my budget is lacking when it comes to paying for this medicine.

In addition, knowing which batch I am purchasing also helps when it comes to consistency. I see that Greenleaf has bar codes — would I be able to track batches in some way with these numbers?

So far, I am really liking this Grape Ape strain too, which is similar in strength to the Larry OG, but may have a longer-lasting effect. It’s hard to tell at this point, but that’s my initial perception. As you might guess, I’d like additional information on this strain also.

So, what is the availability of these two strains for next week? A quick answer to this one question, before you take time to answer the others, would really be appreciated.

Sun, Feb 16, 2014 12:31 am
Erin’s email is still down
From: PK2 To: Tausha, info@rgreenleaf.com

Tausha, Erin’s email is still not working, so could you respond to my questions below if she is unavailable? Thanks, (attached above email)

[On 2/17/14, I re-sent the above 2 emails, again asking for answers, but none were forthcoming. Instead, I got their latest newsletter on 2/18/14.]

Tue, Feb 18, 2014 3:26 am
Appointment, please
From: PK2 To: Erin, Tausha, info@rgreenleaf.com

I appreciate your most recent newsletter, where I found this: “Apply in person to complete a consultation to help you make the most of your cannabis therapy, and to answer any questions you may have about the program, the medicine or our organization.” Now, I know this is for new patients, but since I never received a consultation, I’d like to request one now. What day and time is good for ya’ll?

Tue, Feb 18, 2014 11:05 am
Subject: Re: Appointment, please
From: Tausha To: PK2

Good morning ***, To schedule a consultation just email me back and let me know what day and time is best for you. Did you want to pre order for next week since Erin’s email is down? We have Big Bud, Purple bush, Sweet tooth, Shiskaberry, Lemon Sour Diesel, Super Lemon Haze, Jack Herer, and G13xHaze. Best Regards

Tue, Feb 18, 2014 4:02 pm
Subject: Re: Appointment, please
From: PK2 To: Tausha

Hey Tausha, thanks for your reply. I’m going to try 3.5 grams of the Lemon Sour Diesel for preorder and pick up next week. Can you send me any lab testing on this strain (along with Larry OG and Grape Ape)? And, it would really be helpful for me to know when Larry OG and Grape Ape are in rotation at your dispensary. Should I be holding out hope to see them anytime soon? Or, am I supposed to pray?

I’m out of medicine as of today — unfortunately, I don’t see anything on your walk-in menu that I’m interested in. As soon as I have a reason to come into your shop again, I’ll make an appointment. So, sometime next week then? Sadly, Almost Without Bud, here in the Q,

Wed, Feb 19, 2014 2:57 pm
Re: Again, awaiting a response..
From: Erin To: PK2

Hello ****, My email is working again! Here are the test results we have from the three strains you asked for. I ordered you a 3.5 of Lemon sour Diesel for next week. And when would be a good time for you to come in for a consultation so my manager Aaron and I can answer any questions you may have?

Larry OG 24.43% THC, 0.39% CBD
Grape Ape 18.71% THC
Lemon Sour Diesel 17.01% THC

Wed, Feb 19, 2014 3:26 pm
Re: Again, awaiting a response..
From: PK2 To: Erin

Sorry Erin, but just emailing me numbers is not what I’m looking for. Perhaps you should read through my emails again, and answer whatever questions you can until I come in for an appointment?

Wed, Feb 19, 2014 4:05 pm
Re: Again, awaiting a response..
From: Aaron at R. Greenleaf To: PK2

*****, I’m Aaron and I will do my best to answer your questions. In terms of availability, we don’t have exact information on exactly when a strain will be available for purchase. Our medicine cures at the farm for three to six weeks before it’s decided if it will be brought here for packaging or used for derivative items like BHO or cannabutter for edibles.

We have one to two harvests per week so, we do our best to bring in a variety of strains. If you’d like to meet with Erin and me, we are available Wednesday through Saturday during normal business hours for consultations or you could email me with any other questions. Very Sincerely,

Feb 19, 2014, at 10:14 PM
Re: Again, awaiting a response..
From: PK2 To: Aaron

Hello Aaron, it’s nice to meet you. Have you had a chance to review all the emails I’ve sent? Because, awhile ago, Erin said she was sending some questions she couldn’t answer to your grower. Unfortunately, that was the last I heard about it. So, are you able to answer grower questions?

Also, is there a problem with sending me the test results for these strains, either by email or regular mail? Or should I just expect to pick up copies when I come in for an appointment?

As to availability, I wasn’t looking for exact information. Just an estimate of when I can see Larry OG and Grape Ape in the rotation again. I’m not really looking for variety — just quality, strength, and consistency. I was hoping to find it within these two strains. And I really wish ya’ll would help me with that. Sincerely,

Thu, Feb 20, 2014 10:13 am
Re: Born questioning…
From: Aaron To: PK2

Thanks ***, I have the testing results here for strains and you’re welcome to look at them but, we don’t make copies of the testing results. We will let you know via newsletter and FaceBook one week before strains are available for pre-order. I will do my best with your grower questions and I’ll research the ones I don’t have immediate answers to. I haven’t reviewed Erin’s emails but, I’ll do my best with any other questions you might want to send. Regards,

Thu, Feb 20, 2014 9:00 pm
MK Ultra on Friday? And upcoming appointment
From: PK2 To: Aaron

Aaron, thanks for the response. I’m a little confused, though, as to what information you are willing to review before our appointment. I was hoping that you would review all of my previous communications. And I will need to do the same, which is a process that will take a little time. I guess I will make two sets of questions, one for you and one that includes “grower” questions.

Perhaps you could begin by explaining why copies of test results aren’t allowed? It is my plan to learn how to read these kind of lab results, and it would help me immensely to have copies to make comparisons. However, if that is your policy, I will just bring a lot of blank paper to take notes during our upcoming appointment.

I just checked your website (which it seems I have to spend a lot of time doing, unfortunately), and I see a new strain, MK Ultra, listed for walk-in purchases. Can you at least tell me if this strain will be available on Friday?

Well, I guess you’re already home and wont’ be checking your email until tomorrow, so I’ll just have to keep checking your website for updates on walk-in purchases. I don’t suppose there are certain times during the day that Greenleaf schedules for website updates? And, is your facebook page updated more often than the website and/or newsletter? Regards,

Fri, Feb 21, 2014 10:36 am
Re: MK Ultra on Friday? And upcoming appointment
From: Aaron To: PK2

Thank you ***, MK Ultra is available today for walk-in purchases. In your review, please forward me any questions you find which remain unanswered. You are more than welcome to take notes when you’re looking at the testing results. The data is available but, the book can’t leave the clinic and we don’t make photocopies. The newsletter comes out every Monday and the website and Facebook are updated throughout the day as time permits. Thank you for your questions and have a great day. Regards,
And so ends another saga of a patient asking questions, but getting few answers. After this, I pretty much stopped asking Greenleaf any questions.

__________

MENDO PURPS

Tested by Page Analytical 12/6/12
Batch MP-J16
10.8% moisture
CBD 0.29%
CBN 0%
THC 18.71%

Tested by Page Analytical 2/3/13
Batch MP-P3
12.74% moisture
CBD 0.27%
CBN 0%
THC 18.21%

Mendo Purps
Indica
20.86% THC; 0.31% CBD
(Reported on website; did not see recent test results)
Purchased via pre-order 4/19/14 (no batch number)
$12.43/gr
$16.66/joint

Buds are small and airy, with no need of scissors to clean. No seeds, regular amount of stems, and no resin. Strong terpenes, very similar to their Larry OG strain, a combination of kush and skunk, along with a coffee smell and taste. I had a hard time smoking this strain — it took a lot of facial muscle strength.

From Leafly: Mendocino Purps, or Mendo Purps, or even just The Purps, comes out of Mendocino County in Northern California. Winning one of the Top Ten slots in High Times’ Strains of the Year in 2007, Mendocino Purps began as a clone-only plant, but BC Bud Depot developed a stable cross to make The Purps seeds available. This cannabis strain grows well both in and outdoors. It can grow 3-4 feet at harvest indoors and 6-8 feet outdoors. Flowering time for this strain is 8-9 weeks. It has medium-thick leaves and green hues that turn more purple as the plant ripens. The taste has been likened to a caramel coffee and woodsy pine.

Greenleaf’s website recommends Mendo Purps for chronic pain (even cautioning new users to be careful with this strain). However, I would recommend this strain for moderate pain levels, and give it a strength rating of 4, plus .5 for terpenes, totaling 4.5. For this strain, my strength rating almost matches up with it previously testing at around 18% THC.

GRAPE APE
Purchased 4/22/14 (no batch number)
See review of 2/25/14
Price per joint for this batch not calculated

This is not the Grape Ape that I remember, except for the condition of the buds (no seeds and crumbly). And I would no longer describe it as a diesel, it’s more of a kush. This batch also came with less stems, and the resin has disappeared — so much so, that I had to wonder if it is possible for bud to have a negative resin count.

Whatever grape smell or taste that remains, smells and tastes like something else — not grape. In fact, coffee is the strongest part of the smell, overcoming the smell of marijuana.

After smoking half a joint (and wondering if I was smoking Larry OG again) — I waited for the effect to reach a strength of at least 5, hoping (and, I admit, praying) all the while. But, the second batch of this strain is not strong enough for chronic pain, and the effect is not long-lasting. I’m giving this batch a strength rating of 4 (the prior batch was a 6).

In reviewing my 5-month history with R. Greenleaf, I see that I’ve tried 7 different strains, rating batches of two (Grape Ape and Larry OG) as strong enough for chronic pain.

Cataract Kush*
Grape Ape
Greenleaf
Larry OG
Lemon Sour Diesel
Mendo Purps
Sweet Tooth
(*Review not posted)

Unfortunately, my prior strength ratings refer to single batches of these two strains — and not only is consistency hard to find at Greenleaf, but it seems that second purchases of each strain have lost strength and terpenes.

At this point, I don’t see any reason to keep experimenting with this dispensary.

This will be my last strain review, so I hope the information that I have posted in this section has helped someone, somewhere.

My review of R. Greenleaf (November 2013)

(posted to nmcannabisreview.com)

On my first trip to R. Greenleaf, there was only one strain available (Jack Herer) and limits per purchase. I did not make a purchase at that time. Before Thanksgiving, I returned and there were two strains available, one of which was an indica dom hybrid, Sweet Tooth. I was only able to purchase 1.5 grams, which I rolled into one joint, with 1 seed and 1 stem left over. It had a diesel smell and burned well. I liked it, but am unable to give it a rating at this time because I need more than one sample to properly judge it.

R. Greenleaf is a nice dispensary in a commercial area. When I asked about the THC percentage in the two available strains, the gentleman behind the counter knew them by heart, with Sweet Tooth being the higher of the two at 23.46% THC. Unfortunately, he did not mention the 0.622% CBDs, which if I had know, might have affected my purchase. And when he told me I could only purchase 1.5 grams of the Sweet Tooth (the limit was 3.5 grams of the other strain), I complained about the small amount. I was like, “Is that it? Is that all I can buy? You mean, I drove all the way over here for this amount?” He did check further with people in the back, but could not offer more than 1.5 grams of the Sweet Tooth.

I asked how I was supposed to know what strains were available day-to-day, and when he mentioned the website, I told him that didn’t always seem current. He said you can call, and I said sure, I could call every dispensary every day, but why can’t your website just be updated more frequently?

There was another patient giving his order next to me, and I asked him if he had tasted the cheese crackers, which he said he had not. He said he was there to get a double-strength brownie, but they were out. To this, the gentleman helping me replied that he thought they still had that product. To which the patient replied, well, someone should have told me that.

My R. Greenleaf purchase was stored in a very small plastic baggie, with a double-lock closure. It came with a receipt that had a note on the back from the Executive Director. The note included a thank you paragraph, a list of upcoming releases for strains, and a request to pre-order one week in advance, “as walk-in medication orders are typically limited to 7g or less.” (Except for today, of course, in which the limits were far more restrictive.)

Since it is almost impossible to go by strain name alone, as each harvest produces different strengths and quality (no matter who is producing it), I am not interested in pre-ordering anything. The note also requests that I call the NM DOH to let them know about the shortage. And it included the acknowledgement of “so much demand and a limited supply.” The note, well, really a type of small flyer, also includes safe smoking techniques and warnings, and a description of my “Limitations of the Rights of Possession & Use.”

Since I liked the Sweet Tooth strain, I could possibly try R. Greenleaf again, but only if they increase limits or remove them. Since I don’t know when that would happen, I guess I will check their website occasionally to see if these limits change. And if their website indicates that change.