A whole new high

For the most part, I have often enjoyed winding my day down by lighting up, taking a few puffs and exhaling the stresses of the day with weed. I have been an avid cannabis user for several years, which has given me time to try bongs, dabs, bowls, vape pens, joints, vaporizers, edibles, plastic bottle gravity bongs, apples, you name it. 

I typically go for edibles, bowls, joints and vape pens. The convenience of a vape pen is what sells me, but my lungs need long breaks from those guys because it can be extremely damaging. My most preferred method of getting high is through smoking a joint, but I am never good about buying papers, so that’s where the bowl comes in. 

Since working closely with Pure Options for the Baked Chips podcast, I have had some great opportunities to try their products. Now, I was already a Pure Options customer before getting to work with them for CM Life. However, after trying some of their hand-selected flower and terpene concentrate for dabs (and also getting to see the facilities they grow these strains in), I am a pretty big fan. 

As for this review, I will be going over a few of the Pure Option’s BAMN products. This line is specifically geared to be more affordable for customers — especially college students — but that doesn’t impact the quality one bit.

Before trying some of the flower and concentrates they gave me to review, I didn’t have any go-to strains that I was crazy about. Therefore, I was really excited to try everything in hopes to find what my official favorite strain is, and I found it. 

However, I also want to make it clear that this review is based entirely on my opinion and my personal experience. My review is most likely going to be different than yours since cannabis effects us all differently. 

So, let’s talk about some flower. 

Don Mega

According to Pure Options’ website, Don Mega is a crossbreed of GMO and Black Banana. The website said Don Mega is supposed to give consumers a relaxed, sleepy and calming feeling. I will be honest, I didn’t even realize it was a crossbreed with GMO, but that actually makes sense to me since GMO is another one of the strains that I really enjoyed. 

Anyways, the aroma of Don Mega is stated on the website to have a skunky garlic smell, but to me it gave off a more pleasant, sweet garlic smell that could almost be considered a tangy fruit aroma. The terpenes in this strain are D-limonene, caryophyllene and B-myrcene. 

According to the United Kingdom based cannabis clinic Mamedica, D-limonene relieves stress, provides anti-fungal and antibacterial properties, increases energy and improve one’s mood. Caryophyllene is meant to support the immune system, relieve pain, reduce inflammation and can help sooth and relax consumers, which is why it is among the strains of cannabis that is prescribed to patients with anxiety and chronic pain, Mamedica said. 

B-myrcene contributes the most to the smell of the flower, according to a study published by the National Library of Medicine. It normally gives a sweet flavor profile with notes that are categorized as spicy, earthy and musky. If there is a higher concentration of myrcene, then the strain will have more of an indica effect, whereas a small amount will give off a more energetic high, the study said. 

When I first smoked Don Mega, I used a strawberry shortcake king palm to pack it in. Mind you, king palms are some of my favorite cones to use because of how slow they burn, and it truly gives a smooth hit. As I was smoking, I noticed the ash was white and I was already feeling my body relax and sink into the high — I knew right away that this was some good weed. 

I got through a little over a quarter of the way of the king palm when I put it out and was ready to engage in some more self care — "Game of Thrones" and snacks. This specific high was one of the best experiences I ever had with a strain — I felt super happy and uplifted while my entire body was soothed and relaxed.

I decided to try and smoke some of Don Mega while I was around some of my friends to see how much I could actually engage in a conversation. This is one of the only strains where I felt I was able to fully focus on a conversation and not feel like I was too high to function or talk. 

To take it one step further, the high lasted for two hours and had moments where it would peak and then settle back down. I really liked that effect, since it felt like I had just smoked again without having to do so.

The biggest takeaway I had from this strain was that the high feels like a cascading wave over your body — not a tsunami; that is a direct quote from the first night I tried Don Mega.  

However, I will note that the first time I tried this with a king palm — I was coughing quite a bit. But the next few times I used Don Mega with just a bowl, it was smooth sailing.

Dosibow

According to the dispensary Good Day Farm, Dosibow is an indica dominant that is cross bred with Dosidos and Moonbow #75. It gives off a very sweet fruity fragrance with notes of garlic. The effects of this strain are intended to have the consumer feel happy, relaxed and a bit sleepy, while also helping with appetite loss, headaches and insomnia. 

The terpenes in this strain are guaiol, camphene and geraniol. According to Leafly, there has not been a lot of research conducted on guaiol, but it is derived from the guaiacum plant that has been used in natural medicine. As for camphene, research has shown that it helps with pain relief and anti-viral effects, Leafwell’s website said. 

The fruity aroma of Dosibow originates from the geraniol terpene. Geraniol has been studied with therapeutic potential and can be used as an antioxidant and help with anti-inflammatory effects, according to Leafly.

So, I’ll be honest I only gave Ms. Dosibow one evening to test the waters. When I first smoked it, I was high pretty quickly. I think after a few hits, I was already feeling a buzz creeping in.

Once it settled and I smoked the entire bowl, I had a decent body high, but it was heavier in my head than anywhere else. Afterwards, I got sucked into a Tik Tok spiral that only lasted about 20 minutes until I felt like I wasn’t that high anymore. 

Personally, this strain took me a few smoke sessions in one night to keep a consistent high. But I will say it was still a good buzz when it was doing its job. I think that maybe I also could have given the Dosibow terpene concentrate a chance and that probably would have given an even better longer lasting effect — maybe even mix the flower and the wax. 

Rainbow Sherb

This strain is a crossbreed of Pink Guava and OZK with a sweet lemon but also peppery smell. It is supposed to give the consumer an alert, awake, but also relaxed and sensory-stimulating high, according to the Pure Options website. 

The terpenes in this strain consist of D-limonene, caryophyllene and linalool. For learning the effects of D-limonene and caryophyllene, refer to the Don Mega section of this review. As for linalool, Mamedica’s wesbite said this terpene can help promote relaxation and enhance sleep quality. It is actually believed to be one of the oldest sleep aids in the world, according to the website.

I smoked Rainbow Sherb at a party after having a few drinks already, and I will say that this little flower was the cherry on top of the evening. It was, again, another super-smooth smoke so that when you hit it there was no hacking or irritation in your throat — or at least mine. 

To me, this strain felt like a burst of energy at first, giving you a full body high, and then it mellowed out into a chill high where I was asking all kinds of questions to my friends and engaging in all of the conversations with people I had never met. As it mellowed out, it seemed like the buzz spread throughout my body, but moved to mainly to my head. 

After a while, it started to make me feel pretty tired, but that is also the most frequent symptom of smoking weed. Therefore, I would happily smoke this strain again for a good end-of-the-night party buzz. 

GMO

According to WeedMaps, the GMO terpene concentrate is meant for a high that will make a consumer relaxed, happy and uplifted. I certainly agree. 

This concentrate gives the perfect head high for just wanting to sit down on the couch and play some video games. Now, I get that not everyone is a big gamer or anything, but my point is that you will feel at peace after a dab of GMO. 

The high, as I said, mainly focuses in your head, but it is not too intense — it’s a nice buzz that allows you to relax completely, but also-- if you wanted to do some crafts or go out bowling, shoot some pool, get ice cream or go see a movie -- I would recommend a dab of GMO. 

For example, I was able to play my brother in the newest “Tekken 8” one-on-one fighting game; mind you, he gets plenty of practice on the Xbox while I am away at college. So, even though I am definitely not in the same league as him, I was still able to focus and try my dang darndest to beat him — and for this high not making me want to give up after losing 15 times in a row, I would say that’s pretty good. 

Super Lemon Haze

Before I get into my thoughts, Leafly’s website said this strain is supposed to uplift, energize and enhance creativity for consumers. It does mention this strain is known to potentially give rise to paranoia, dry mouth and dry eyes. 

However, I did not experience the dry effects, or the positive effects either. 

If I am being completely honest, I thought Super Lemon Haze was going to be my all-time favorite of these products because of it being a sativa strain. I say that because I have always been super into sativas. I like being high, but not to the point where I can’t even function properly, and I feel like sativas give me what I am looking for. 

Now, I won’t say that this strain got me obliterated beyond repair, but … after several dabs of this strain I felt like the entire high was so heavy in my head that I felt a little bit uncomfortable. I mean, I will give it to the terpenes on this one — it gets you high— but I don’t think I am the kind of consumer that likes such a heavy head high. I think that this could have been related to the potential notes of paranoia of where I just didn’t feel okay with the amount I took.  

With this one, I was actually pleasantly surprised that it wore off within 30 minutes after taking a few dabs. After that, I gave it one more try and took a little less of the wax, and it was a bit more tolerable than the first time I had hit it. Overall, I don’t think I felt energized or uplifted— let alone in any mental capacity to do anything creative — but when I chilled out, I just felt a softer head buzz that just had me wanting to light up some Don Mega or GMO.  

Nevertheless, anyone that enjoys a head high — this one is certainly for you. 

Gelato 

After finding the effects of this strain on WeedMaps, I was not surprised. Gelato is supposed to provide consumers with a relaxed, happy and uplifted high. 

If I were to pick my two favorite concentrates out of the ones I have listed, it would be GMO and Gelato. This wax was just such a nice soothing high after a long day of work. 

I will say that I still had to keep taking dabs throughout the evening to keep the high consistent, but even so, it was a full body high that had me sinking into the couch — in a good way. I ate some of my mom's beef curry stew, watched "Peaky Blinders" with my family, and toward the end of the hour-long episode, I was barely keeping my eyes open. I felt like a baby drunk off milk that was ready for a long nap. 

Keeping that all in mind, I mean that in the best way possible. My belly was full, I was high and happy knowing I was going to get the best sleep of my life that night — and I was certainly knocked out. 

White Fire OG

As I was looking at Pure Options’ website for what kind of effects this concentrate is supposed to have, I was actually surprised it is intended to give consumers a happy, calm, relaxed and energetic high. 

I say that I was surprised because I have mixed feelings about this guy here. I only say that because I had set out intentions of wanting to try a new dab before playing video games after having a long day of meetings and work. 

White Fire OG caught my eye and I decided to give it a go. Before having taken a dab of this concentrate, it was like I had the post-work zoomies. I don’t know how many people can relate, but when I get home after a long day, there are times when I am just exhausted and don’t want to do anything; other times I am skipping around my apartment, chasing and dancing with my dog, singing to my roommate's cat and making dinner all while feeling super happy and playful. 

So now, picture me in that super playful mood ready to play some video games and then after taking a dab of White Fire OG, I probably played two rounds of "Tekken 8" and then I just gave up because I was so whooped. Let me also just remind you that when I did a dab of the GMO concentrate, I stuck it out getting my ass kicked by my brother over 15 times in a row; but with White Fire OG, I was done before I even started, but forced myself to play as much as I could. 

Therefore, I think that my experience with this strain is completely my fault. I had no idea it would be such a heavy body and head high that I just lost the energy to do anything but go on my phone. However, I am very shocked that it was supposed to give me an energetic high, but maybe that is just the way it affected me personally. 

I think that I will definitely do some dabs of this strain whenever I am calling it a night and I am just laying in bed on my phone or watching shows on my iPad. 

Overall, the highlights of the BAMN products that I tried were, if you couldn’t already guess it, Don Mega, GMO, Rainbow Sherb and Gelato. 

All of those strains had similar qualities of making me feel super happy and uplifted while also still being able to either engage in a conversation or just be able to lay on the couch and understand what I am watching. Those are all characteristics that I personally am looking for in strains, but that is the beauty of weed — everything affects everyone differently and everyone seeks different kinds of highs.