Posted on 11/10/2017 6:36:48 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
As marijuana legalization continues across the country, weed is becoming increasingly mainstream. However, as much as the stoner stereotype has evolved into a broader label that also encompasses CEOs, educated millennials, and the Spicolis of the world, it still has a negative connotation. Industry leaders have quickly learned that destigmatizing marijuana use begins with educating the public, but Adrian Sedlin of Canndescent has figured out that, as with anything, it's really all about branding.
Sedlin's luxury cannabis company offers premium flower alongside sophisticated packaging that no other company in the current market rivals. One look and I can almost guarantee that you'll be more inclined to spark one than ever before. What Sedlin and his team did first was identify the pain points of the consumer experience and make everything from the strain names to the aesthetic more approachable.
"I would describe most of the historical imagery associated with cannabis as being very countercultural," Sedlin told POPSUGAR. "It's a lot of bad imagery, bad design. Yeah, that appeals to a certain segment, but there are tons of users who are uncomfortable with the purchase experience. It's confusing and an intimidating space, so another problem to think about is do you really want to go in and buy a strain called Alaskan Thunder F**k?"
Instead of traditional strain names like OG Kush and Green Crack, Canndescent simplified the classification system to five categories: Calm, Cruise, Create, Connect, and Charge. Each one is designed with proprietary genetics to perform exactly how it's labeled and is organically grown, cured, trimmed, and packaged in-house into childproof glass jars that include humidity packs to preserve quality. Sedlin said that half of its strains are genetically developed from scratch, making them completely unique to Canndescent, while others are comparable to more popular varieties.
While the rebrand is indeed friendlier, my biggest concern was whether the five categories were too broad for accuracy. For example, what's calm for me, may not be so calm for somebody else, especially the novice consumer who Canndescent is targeting. Sedlin and his team did take this into careful consideration when developing the product. Each bottle is labeled with the effects to expect, along with suggested activities, to give you an idea of the type of experience it may be more suited to. But in no way is Canndescent claiming that its strains are one size fits all.
"It's imperfect because you have a unique biochemistry, but it's a hell of an improvement," Sedlin told us. "Anything I can do to simplify it and make that user experience clearer and clearer for more users is something we'll adopt. When you're dealing with someone who has no category experience, all that type of thinking is fair. And at the end of the day, each person at some level has to figure out how cannabis hits them."
To evaluate whether or not the actual effects of each strain were in the ballpark, I tested them all. I smoked each of the five categories on five separate days and paired them with the experience it was intended for. Spoiler: I'm f***ing sold.
Calm
Intended use: "For a restful sleep or relief from aches and pains, soothe yourself with Canndescent Calm." When to consume: Before bed. Verdict: One hit of Calm and the results were instant. I experienced immediate sleepiness and full-body relaxation. It felt heavy yet comforting and not at all anxiety-inducing.
Cruise
Intended use: "Keep up the pace, relax your mind, and sail through the day with Canndescent Cruise." When to consume: Before running errands or starting your day. Verdict: Cruise is a fantastic daytime weed. I did feel a little tired, but not enough to knock me out. I smoked this one before tackling a day full of errands, and I was able to breeze through on cruise control without burning out.
Create
Intended use: "When it's time to paint, jam, code, blog, or game, find your muse in Canndescent Create." When to consume: Before tackling a project. Verdict: If you need to crack down on some work, feel inspired, or simply focus, this one's for you. I smoked a couple hits of Create before catching up on some work at home, and I was pleasantly surprised how functional I was. Not only did I do laundry with laser focus, but I also didn't find myself struggling to think while writing a post. Weed typically makes my mind hazy and slow-thinking, but Create offered clarity and focus.
Connect
Intended use: "When it's time to laugh, go out with friends, or get intimate, invite Canndescent Connect." When to consume: For social situations. Verdict: I figured that a dinner party would be the perfect scenario to test out a couple joints of Connect. I had five experienced smokers, including myself, to note any differences in sociability and energy, and some of us reported being more present and alert than we typically are when smoking other brands. I personally found Connect to be the least distinct of all five strains, but it was a nice choice for this type of setting nonetheless.
Charge
Intended use: "To get off the couch, take a run, or go out for the night, power up with Canndescent Charge." When to consume: Before going out. Verdict: Charge was hands down my favorite strain of all. Ten minutes in, I was noticeably more alert and energized, which is rarely the case for me, even with sativas. I definitely didn't feel glued to the couch, and I'm glad I smoked Charge before heading out to a weeknight concert because I was surprised to find myself so awake the entire night.
Overall, I was very satisfied with Canndescent's products. At $60 for an eighth, this is one top-shelf brand I can justify splurging on. Its descriptions were true to the label, based on my experience, and it reminded me how drastically different quality weed is to the more affordable varieties I've been using. The stunning, limited-edition gift box I received from Canndescent (pictured above) is available for purchase at California dispensaries for $250 and comes with an eighth of all five strains, matches, rolling papers, and hemp wicks for each. They're also sold individually for $50 to $60 an eighth (depending on the dispensary). If you purchase the prepackaged version, you'll receive a glass jar along with a box of matches, a packet of premium rolling papers, and a roll of hemp wicks, as shown below.
At the end of unpackaging my gift box on Instagram Stories, I polled my followers and asked whether or not they'd be more likely to smoke weed if it was presented in this way. Ninety-three percent responded yes. The sample size was too small to actually yield significant results, but it does say something about branding. Sedlin describes Canndescent as "sexy, sophisticated, and simple." Based on the overwhelmingly positive reactions from friends and coworkers — including those who aren't regular cannabis users — and my own firsthand experience with Canndescent's product, I can absolutely see this company revolutionizing the industry and changing the way we approach weed.
Plus the US is the third largest producer of onions in the world
“The fact that marijuana causes brain damage, especially in people below age 25, whose brains are still developing, is documented by medical research. “
Same ol’ FUD you posted earlier. Repeating a fallacy never makes it true :)
“I’m certain that scientific research is a topic that you know nothing about.”
Nice personal attack. That’ll bring people to your side lol.
I don't know and don't want to know what "FUD" is. However, the medical research showing long-term to permanent damage to brain structures involved in functions like motivation, self-control, etc., resulting from use of marijuana is quite real. The amount of data establishing the damaging effects of marijuana use is growing daily.
Slick marketing can't change that.
I'm worried about the long-term effects, when there is a huge cohort of marijuana-damaged individuals who are burdens to working people. How many more non-productive citizens can our society support? I think we are close to a tipping point as it is, without adding legalized marijuana into the mix.
I know the business - go to customs and look at import statistics.
When imports come in illegally it is real hard for any nation to compete. Why not complain about those allowing this garlic in with no duties in the first place?
“I’m certain that scientific research is a topic that you know nothing about.”
Nice personal attack. That’ll bring people to your side lol.
Dismissing scientific research as a "fallacy" shows that you know and understand nothing about the scientific process. Thus, pointing that fact out is not a "personal attack" but an observation.
BTW, you can get an idea of the scientific research in the field yourself by using the medical research database: www.pubmed.gov. You can search the database yourself using any search term you want, and the results contain citations and abstracts from the medical literature, often with links to the original research articles.
But I know you don't want to know the current status of research into the effects of marijuana use. People who are addicted to substances typically display a high level of denial about the harmful effects of those substances.
There’s far more coming in legally and its not just garlic.
Don’t like cigarettes? Don’t smoke them.
Don’t like beer or whiskey? Don’t drink it.
Don’t like unhealthy foods? Don’t eat them.
Don’t like weed? Don’t smoke it.
One of my biggest pet peeves as a libertarian are the people who claim to be pro-liberty on some issues but when it comes to things they disagree with they suddenly become fans of Big Government telling everyone else to conform to their morality.
Ummmm, No. Not even a little bit.
I do, however, plan on enjoying watching a good segment of our social potential crash and burn over the next few years.
Just watching one superior intellect deteriorate before our eyes , once, puts things into sharp focus.
I always told my sons and daughter that the self destruction of delusional druggies is a self-correcting problem. No point arguing the benefits of a drug-free existence.
Coming in legally is one thing. That’s based on trade agreements
Strawberries...at least the kind that folks want on their table... do not grow in Colorado nor do they grow at altitude. It’s all well and good to say people ought to grow something but local climate dictates what is being grown
Wrong. Horribly, completely wrong. First off, there is no damage. Folks who use cannabis, and have for some time, are often highly intelligent. In some cases, as was pointed out in the original article here, are CEO's and other hard working, tax paying productive members of society, myself included.
As more people become addicted to such substances, fewer people are left to shoulder the burden of keeping them alive through redistributionist tax and spend schemes.
Good thing pot isn't addictive, then. And good thing there are plenty of fine, upstanding cannabis users out there who get up every morning and go to work to pay those taxes.
I guess that if you are one of those taking advantage of the many very generous "poverty" programs, you see nothing wrong with the system.
Other than a couple bouts of unemployment due to downsizing & restructurings, I've worked since I was 15 (and had my first experience with cannabis around 16). In fact, in my early 20's, I worked TWO jobs, while going to college full time AND raising two toddlers and being a husband (and continued to use cannabis, using it when I had it, not being addicted when I didn't have it).
After I earned my 4 year degree, I began working my way up the ladder: Assistant Management, Middle Management, Upper Management, until the day came that I decided to start my own business (all while continuing to use cannabis). I ran a successful business for a number of years, while watching my children grow up, graduate high school and become hard working, tax paying, productive members of society themselves (all while continuing to use cannabis).
In 2000, I ran a campaign for State Rep in New Mexico. While the state GOP said I wouldn't get even 5% of the vote, and therefore chose not to support my campaign, I went out and worked my tail off. I didn't win, but I garnered 31% of the vote in a District that hadn't seen a Republican run in 24 years, and the incumbent was a 26 year veteran dummycrat (you guessed it, all while continuing to use cannabis).
Today, I am a successful white collar member of a management team where I work. I volunteer for a number of causes, and donate heavily to even more causes, including being a monthly here at FR. Believe it or not, all while continuing to use cannabis.
Once again, you know NOTHING about pot. What's more, you only illustrate your ignorance by spouting off total nonsense BS propaganda. Perhaps you should stick to things you know.
I just don't get it.
“Dismissing scientific research as a “fallacy” shows that you know and understand nothing about the scientific process.”
Hilarious. You’ve not presented any “scientific research”. You’ve presented FUD as usual but no actual research data.
“But I know you don’t want to know the current status of research into the effects of marijuana use. “
Another fallacy. If you took the time to actually research my posting history, you’d see I’m a HUGE advocate of pure research into cannabis. Non-govermental, 3rd party research is a must! No “research” from prohibitionist entities or pro-cannabis entities, please.
Doesn’t have to be grown in Colorado (?) we have a big country with many suitable areas - my point: people are putting $ millions, brainpower and technology into growing marijuana for limited market.
USA already has big market for many Ag. products that as a nation, we do not grow enough of. These investors would probably make more $$ in the long run if they applied their money, brains and technology to that.
Strawberries dont retail for $300 an OUNCE. Plus few plants are as easy to grow as cannabis.
Outdoor cannabis plants can yield several pounds EACH. In warm climates, 2-3 harvests per year!
Not surprisingly, the mental deficiency of those susceptible to the siren call of unconsciousness makes delusion inevitable.
Just let me know when you will choose a dope smoking brain surgeon, when you should have need of one...
Or an airline pilot...
Or an electrician...
Or a school bus driver...
While you're clutching your pearls, you shouldn't let the booze bags off the hook.
Well, we do agree on that point.
Fortunately, none of the few premature deaths I personally know of, of marijuana users have been family or close friends.
As long as that remains the same, knock yourself out!
If the basic foundation of liberty is freedom of choice, then why is one person's opinion/standard more valid than another's? If there isn't any one 'true' path, then who is to judge whether a life is wasted or not, worthy or not, productive or not?
If one tries to apply objective measures respecting 'success' - hard because standards by definition are artificial and hence, subjective - there are literally countless ways to get off-track.
In this context, cannabis is a small time player. Alcohol has always been, and will always be, the champ in terms of destroying lives. With the advent of genetic research and designer drugs, cannabis cannot hold a candle next to opiates and artificial derivatives with respect to destructive power.
I suspect a large part of the relaxation of cannabis enforcement is the recognition of what's coming down the line. Even in that arena, is it possible to maintain a free society if there are constant demands to control each successive generational threat? Or, do you just live and let live, and let the chips fall where they may?
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