It’s been a long few days (anyone else struggling to keep a child educated and occupied?).
Amid all the chaos, we wanted to let you know what’s going on at daikoku, and to reassure you that business, for the most part, remains as usual. And that we have a healthy inventory of dried bud, vapes, edibles – even soft chews! – oils and caps.
Our plan is to have Daikoku remain open from 10 AM to 9:30 PM daily.
However, as of Thursday, March 19th, 2020, we will be instituting special hours:
From 10 AM to 11 AM, the store will be closed to the general public, and open exclusively for customers who are immunocompromised or who are over 60 years old.
(We won’t ID you or ask for your doctor’s note; this is an honour system, after all. We simply ask for your help and cooperation in this matter.)
We took the decision to stay open with our regular hours after discussions with our staff and taking into consideration the effect that shorter hours might have on in-store foot traffic, especially with regards to density. We also want to try and keep normalcy going for as long as possible, for you and for our team.
It goes without saying that we sanitize regularly. We’re also very lucky in the fact that the store is very large. In an effort to keep everyone healthy, we will ask you to utilize all that room: let’s spread out and keep at least one meter away from everyone.
Thanks for all your help. Stay safe. Stay healthy.
The history of hashish goes back thousands of years, with many origin stories claiming to be the first. Some say hash originated in Arabia after its mention in the classic Arabic fable, “The Tale of the Hashish Eater.” Others claim a monk discovered its therapeutic effects after finding the plant accidentally. We may never know hash’s true origin, but we have some ideas on how it got to our shelves. 😉
Note: This blog post uses the terms Hashish and Hash interchangeably
Sundial is headquartered in Calgary. They have a production plant in Olds, Alberta. The licensed producer (LP) has four brands on the legal market. These brands differ in their price point, approach, packaging and niche.
Whether you consume cannabis regularly or have just started, it can be daunting to find the right product in the legal market. Our own cannabis boutique has hundreds of items on our menu!
To get you started, and help you in finding the cannabis product that’s right for you, let’s take a look at 4 basic elements that (should) affect your cannabis choice:
High Level Overview of Concentrates in Alberta, Part 2 of 2
Weed looks a lot different these days. Concentrates have hit Albertan Retailer’s shelves. On the market, we hear words like shatter, caviar, badder, rosin and resin. We walk down memory lane when people mention hash.
In Part Two of this two-part series, we take a look at the different products that are considered concentrates on the legal Canadian Cannabis market. Please note that at time of publishing, not all these products are available.
Chemical or Mechanical
Concentrates are created by taking a large amount of cannabis and extracting the desired cannabinoids, either through chemical solvents or mechanical processes. Higher quality cannabis providers only use cannabis flower to create their products.
Chemically derived concentrates
Highly concentrated cannabis extract dissolved in petroleum-based or alcohol-based solvent (for example, butane and ethanol). THC potency in these products can be as high as 90%.
Badder/Budder:
Looks like: Crunchy peanut butter
Consumed by: Using a dab rig or a concentrates vaporizer
Consumed by: Using a dab rig or a concentrates vaporizer
Manipulate with: A dabber
Wax
Looks like: Toffee/Soft caramels or hair pomade
Consumed by: Using a dab rig, sprinkling on a joint, capping off a bowl
Manipulate with: Your hands or a dabber, depending on consistency
Shatter
Looks like: A broken lollipop
Consumed by: Using a dab rig or a concentrates vaporizer
Manipulate with: A dabber or tweezers
Note: Shatter can melt. Store in refrigerator or freezer
Hash oil
Looks like: Olive oil if it’s liquid, or a thin, orange-tinted sheet if it’s solid
Consumed by: Vaporizer pens, cartridges or, if solid, dab rigs
Manipulate with: A vape battery, a dabber or tweezers
Note: Hash oil, sometimes called Butane Hash Oil (BHO) or Propane Hash Oil (PHO) is not for oral ingestion
Rick Simpson Oil (RSO)/Phoenix Tears:
Looks like: Molasses
Consumed by: Ingestion
Manipulate with: A syringe
Resin:
Looks like: Rock candy coated in maple syrup
Consumed by: Using a dab rig, concentrate vaporizer
Manipulate with: Dabber
Mechanically derived concentrates
Loose trichomes or pressed resin from cannabis flower or hash. THC potency in these products can be as high as 60%. Products in this category include kief, hash and rosin.
Kief/Keef
Looks like: Thin, dusty powder
Consumed by: Sprinkling onto a bowl or joint that already has dry cannabis flower
Looks like: Small, crumbly brownie or caramel chew
Consumed by: Sprinkling onto a bowl or joint that already has dry cannabis flower; ingestion
Manipulate with: Your hands
Bubble hash:
Looks like: Small, crumbly overbaked cookie
Consumed by: Using a dab rig (the hash will ‘bubble’ as you heat it up)
Manipulate with: Your hands
Rosin:
Looks like: Amber-coloured blown glass
Consumed by: Using a dab rig, concentrate vaporizer
Manipulate with: Dabber, clean hands
Wondering about concentrate basics? Then check out Part 1, where we discuss at how concentrates are different from oils, why people talk about live and cured concentrates, and what distillate is.
PS: When I was proofreading the blog post before posting it, I realized that a LOT of my “looks like” entries were about… food. So it made me think of this fun sketch (the link opens a YouTube video). I figure you deserve a treat if you’ve read the whole post. 😉
High Level Overview of Concentrates in Alberta, Part 1 of 2
Weed looks a lot different these days. Concentrates have hit Albertan Retailer’s shelves. On the market, we hear words like shatter, caviar, badder, rosin and resin. We walk down memory lane when people mention hash.
In Part One of this two-part series, we look at how concentrates are different from oils, why people talk about live and cured concentrates, and what distillate is.
Oils and Concentrates
Cannabis licensed producers (LPs for short) collect plant biomass (in other words, anything that’s green: stems, leaves and all!). They activate the THC within the product, through a process called decarboxylation. LPs combine the activated biomass with a carrier oil, infusing said oil with cannabinoids. You can use oils to make edibles. On the Canadian market, we find MCT oil derived from coconut oil or palm kernel oil, as well as sunflower oil as carrier oils.
Why this matters: You absorb medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) more easily than household oils, which are typically long-chain triglycerides. This helps the effects kick in faster.
Concentrates, on the other hand, are more like a cannabis reduction. Think “maple syrup”. LPs reduce tons of cannabis until an oily product is left.
The type of concentrate you get depends on the exact process you used to obtain your end product.
Live and Cured
Licensed producers use never-dried cannabis product to make live products. The plant material is either used immediately after harvest or cryogenically frozen to preserve it.
Why this matters: Fresh and flash-frozen cannabis contains the most terpenes, yielding a more flavourful experience.
On the other hand, licensed producers can also use plant material that has been cured or dried to make… cured cannabis products! (Sometimes, the naming conventions are creative; other times, we have 7 products called Sativa on our menu — it makes no sense to me either.)
Distillate
Distillate isn’t just a cannabis reduction. You obtain distillate by distilling cannabis biomass down to until you obtain a specific cannabinoid — typically THC and CBD. CO2 is currently the main method of distillate extraction on the market.
Distillate applications include:
Vaporizers and cartridges
Food and beverage infusers
Premixed beverages and teas
Topicals
Distillate allows licensed producers to control with precision the levels of cannabinoids within for a product, ensuring consistent THC potency. LPs will sometimes add terpenes back in. If LPs use terpenes derived from cannabis plants, we deem this product to be “full spectrum.”
Why this matters: There is some debate as to whether adding back in plant- or botanical-derived terpenes contribute to effects, or if they are only used for flavour.
New seeds have hit our shelves making this summer the perfect time to test out your green thumb. Growing cannabis shouldn’t only be for the experts. That’s why we’re breaking down the simplest methods for growing. Using these beginner steps for growing your cannabis, you’ll have your own buds in no time*.
The time-tested, hands-on method for consuming your premium concentrates
Live Resin Caviar, Cured Badder, and Hash Rosin are finally on the menu! As enticing as these formats may sound, you might ask yourself: “How do I consume concentrates?”
Cannabis concentrates have a higher boiling point. As a result, concentrates do not burn with a lighter the same way as dried flower. The solution? Use special accessories, like Dab Rigs, for optimal experiences.
The Dab Rig
The more traditional method of consumption involves using a contraption called a dab rig, see below. Dab rigs arrived around the 1970’s thanks to professional glassblowing duo, Hashmaster Kut.
These days there are electric, self-heating options available for dab rigs, such as e-nails or dab pens, but we’re going to focus your attention on the more traditional model.
Mouthpiece: This is where you place your mouth. Ideally, you should create a seal and inhale slowly and evenly.
Carb Cap: You place the carb cap on top of the hot nail after the concentrates have been added. You don’t need a Carb Cap. However, they prevent heat from escaping which helps direct airflow for better vaporization of your concentrates.
Nail: This is the key part to dab rigs. You heat the nail until it’s hot enough that added concentrates will reach their boiling point. Nails come in a variety of materials including quartz, titanium, and ceramic. Materials affect flavour, durability, and heating time.
Downstem: Smoke travels from the downstem into the water chamber.
Water Chamber: Helps filter the smoke and provide a smoother flavour. Some water chambers contain percolators that further cool the smoke. Remember to always use clean water.
Maintenance
It is critical to keep your device clean! Resin tends to form in the base and tube areas. This affects flavour and overall experience. Clean your device with coarse salt and isopropyl alcohol, then rinse it out. If appropriate, you can also place it in the dishwasher after each use.
Regular cleaning reduces disagreeable experiences and ensures optimal continued use.
You’re now ready to try out this artistic accessory for yourself and we’ve got the tools to help make that happen. Stop by and let us help you get started in the world of concentrates. Whether you need cannabis, accessories, or just have more questions, we’ve got you covered.
In April 2018, I was walking around YEG (the airport, not the city) when I started an “Unladylike” podcast. It was before William and I had moved to Edmonton. Before we even knew for certain that we would be opening a dispensary. Before I knew what Daikoku would be. (It was my fourth time in Edmonton, and it was on this trip that I found our location.)
The first guest on the podcast was Wanda James. She became a huge inspiration for me. Her own skin colour was darker than that of her friends, but by and large, she lived a life many of us take for granted. Her life changed when she found out her brother (it’s a long story, just listen to the podcast) had been in prison on charges of cannabis possession. He is a male of colour. His sentence was 10 years long.
While this story happened in the United States, Canada is not so different. There is a massive racial disparity in charges being pressed, despite similar cannabis usage rate across ethnicities.
There is injustice. There is inequality. There is anger. There is fear.
Do not forget the anger you feel at the injustice; the fear you feel at the inequality.
These feelings, which will pass soon enough for most of us, remain with others throughout their lives.
Black lives matter.
If you want to show your solidarity, here are a few resources:
Join the Peaceful Protest: follow @yegactivism on Instagram or YegAction on Facebook – remembering to respect social distancing rules;
Check out the post by Chew Project that lists organisations and ressources to support BIPOC and LGBTQ+ ressources.
Live Resin Caviar by Premium5 has landed. Many people have asked about concentrates – shatter being the most requested. Today, we’re excited to announce that we’ve finally received our first shipment of high-potency, Live Resin by Premium5. The Live Resin is available in badder (looks like crunchy peanut butter) and caviar.
The first time you’ll look at Live Resin Caviar, you’ll notice 3 things:
One gram of Caviar doesn’t look like a whole lot
Live Resin is unique because cannabis flower was either processed fresh or frozen. The flower is then cooled down to cryogenic levels. This preserves as many of the cannabinoids as possible. That being said, it can take upwards of 20g of flower to make 1g of live resin. (Read: this product is better suited for experienced consumers, not someone starting their cannabis journey.)
There’s a gold-tinted liquid in the Caviar
Because the flowers are fresh or frozen, more terpenes are preserved in the process. In fact, the terpene content of Premium 5’s Caviar accounts for 10% of the product in your jar. Terpenes would be the main components of the oily liquid at the bottom of the glass jar.
There are larger spheres
These larger spheres are also referred to as ‘diamonds’ – ergo, the joke about being a girl’s best friend – and are pretty much pure THC.
Consuming Caviar and Badder
These types of concentrates are best consumed when using a concentrate vaporizer or a dab rig. You’ll want an e-nail (quartz, borosilicate glass or metal) to manipulate the concentrate with.
Final Note
Premium5 confirmed that the cultivar used for their first batches of single-strain Live Resin products was Glueberry OG. The terpene profile features myrcene leading out, followed by pinene, caryophyllene and limonene.
