The Dime Industries cartridge is filled with pure, high potency THCdistillate. The distillate boasts unmatched purity and smoothness. Their cartridges and hardware are widely available all over Southern California and Northern California. All of their products are distributed by Dime Industries.
Pros:
Tastes and smells normal
Very smooth pulls with huge smoke clouds
The high is very nice
Cons:
The packaging obstructs the cartridge and I couldn’t see that my cartridge was damaged before I bought it
Looks a little funny on most universal 510 thread batteries
It needs to be kept upright when you store it or it bubbles into the mouthpiece
Recommendations: An opening on the front of the packaging so consumers can see the cartridge. The cartridge I bought had a leak and visible damage on the outside and inside.
See below out video review on a Dime Industries cartridge. Continue reading to see out more in depth written review.
The Dime cartridge has an excellent quality overall
Dime Industries manufactures an excellent cartridge. The oil tank is a clear and thick solid glass. Both the mouthpiece and base of the cartridge are metal and painted to fit the aesthetic of the Dime Industries patented zero-waste atomizer.
I didn’t have a chance toactually purchase and get a feel for the Dime atomizer. For this Dime cartridge review I tested the 1 gram, BlueberryLemon Haze cartridge, which is a Sativa. I don’t believe they say the cartridge has actual blueberry strain, so maybe it’s just lemon haze with blueberry terpenes?
The design of the Dime cartridge is one of the best I have seen on the market
The cartridge feels very high quality and it is very pretty to look at. It’s pretty heavy because of the metal and glass but i think that’s a good thing. There are air-holes on either side of the base of the cartridge. These air-holes provide air flow and allow for huge clouds and smooth hits. Not to mention the satisfying hiss they make as I vape. Even with slight damage and a minor leak my cartridge holds up with superb quality overall.
The only problem is storing the cartridge
The only problem I have with my Dime cartridge is it seems to be leaking due to some damage to the body. However I realize now that because of the cartridge’s design, it needs to be stored up-right. If i don’t store it upright, the oil seeps into the chamber and then into the mouthpiece. This isn’t too big of a deal, but on my first hit the hot concentrate bubbled through the mouthpiece and burned my tongue.
The oil in the Dime cartridge is a superb distillate
The oils within the Dime Industries cartridges are distillates. I have never been a fan of distillates because most of them are harsh on my throat. However this particular cartridge has one of the smoothest smokes I ever had. I didn’t go hoarse from smoking it repeatedly and itdoesn’t hit hot.
Sometimes I get a bitter aftertaste or mild headache from smoking some distillates, which was the case with the Timeless Vapes cartridge I had tested previously. The Dime cartridge isn’t giving me headaches, however, and it doesn’t get my battery all hot.
Dime Industries vape cartridges have excellent THC content and the high is very strong on the sativa
The distillate within my Dime cartridge was tested at a very nice 85.68% THC. It only took two solid hits before I start feeling the effects. The high is very uplifting, like a Sativa should be, and it lasts for a good 3 hours. At first, the high seems really light, but then it starts to snowball and it gets very strong.
The cartridge has one of the cleanest tasting distillates I have experienced
I’ve said before that distillates have given me mixed experiences. Sometimes giving me a headache or being a bit too harsh for my throat. However the Dime cartridge is indiscernible from super clean e-juice. The taste is smooth and leaves absolutely no bitter tasting residue on my tongue. I haven’t caught any musty aftertaste. It is very tasty. I would prefer this distillate over Heavy Hitters, which have milder flavors but comparable smoothness.
Dime Industries cartridges are as efficient as possible
Even with air-holes for flow and me making huge clouds, my full gram Dime cartridge is still going strong. My universal battery actually ran out before I could finish my cartridge. I still haven’t been able to finish and I believe it will last well into three weeks. The way Dime Industries manufactures their cartridges looks like I am going to vape almost every drop.
Potency definitely helped the efficiency of my Dime cartridge
At 86% THC my Dime cartridge packed a heavy punch. Not having to constantly be smoking makes me use less oil and since its strong I only need one good pull.
Lower heat settings extend oil life and gave a better experience
I set my universal pen at the lowest heat and I didn’t feel like testing it on a higher setting On the lowest setting my universal battery still hit really well. Lower heat increases the efficiency of my cartridge and in my opinion is the best way to enjoy the full experience Dime cartridges have to offer.
I will most definitely buy another one of their cartridges
At $62.00 for a full gram including taxes, my Dime cartridge came at a typical price. Dime Industries has their own patented atomizer and is convenient for first timers to get great hardware to match the quality of the oil. The carts themselves are great for experienced smokers as well because they taste great and hit hard without being harsh.
Dime Industries made our list of best cartridges for California
Concluding my review on Dime Industries cartridges…
Overall, I would say that Dime provides an excellent experience. The distillate is top notch and is very smooth and flavorful. The high is clean and the oil doesn’t leave any residue on my tongue. I do recommend using their atomizers as the cartridge does look funny on most universal batteries. It surpasses my expectations with great overall quality. I’ll buy it when I need something to last me til next payday.
You can find out if Dime Industries cartridges are available in your area here. Learn more about Dime Industries and their line of products on their website.
Have you tried Dime Industries cartridges? Leave your review below!
Question or a comment? Post below or in our forum!
Here is a list of the different deals for dispensaries in Los Angeles. This page will be updated to keep up with the deals and specials that each dispensary offers. This page covers all the standard deals that are done weekly.
Valid 1st & 2nd visit w/coupon. Cali FTP/referral deal (Must be present with referral):30% off LAK/Flight Farm Vapes & flower, 20% off apparel and 10% off all other products. (1/2 oz, oz, & 5G Specials included)
Out of state FTP = 9.5% off
Get a 20% Discount Upon Subscribing to their Email List!
First-time Los Angeles medical marijuana patients receive a free premium joint with an eighth. Customers who spend $30 will receive a house pre-roll for $1. Accepting til UNTIL 9:45 PM .
Adult-use marijuana customers & patients who spend $100 or more receive a free New Amsterdam hat!
The dispensary offers happy hour deals ALL DAY where Los Angeles canna customers can take a House Joint for $1 with a $30 donation. Customers cannot combine deal.
Refer a friend to Universal Collective and get a Canndescent Pre Roll for $5.
10% Coupon For Next Visit
Come in to Universal Collective today! All first time customers get a coupon for their next visit with any purchase.
No Tax for Medical Patients!
customers with a valid California medical marijuana card will not have to pay taxes on purchases made at Universal Collective.
Bloom Feature Week (7/28 – 8/3)
Come anytime between Sunday, 7/28 – Saturday, 8/3 for a $1 battery with purchase of a bloom dart pod, or a $1 half gram cartridge with purchase of a second bloom half gram cartridge.
Barts Carts Cartridges are now popping up all over the place. What most consumers don’t know is they are not a legitimate brand. It’s uncertain there is any central company producing the THC oil that goes in these vape cartridges. Basically, there it’s very likely there is no consistency in oil quality across this “brand” and the only thing you can expect to be the same is the hardware itself.
Barts Carts Cartridges aren’t legit, as they would be stopped
Given the obvious trademark violations of Barts Carts cartridges copying Simpsons characters, this brand would be taken off the shelves of any legitimate stores. The interesting thing is these carts do not yet show up on DHgate or Alibaba, where hardware for Mario Carts and Exotic Carts are frequently sold. These carts are not part of the Cart Toon Carts brand and are made separately.
You can’t expect any consistency across the Bart Carts “brand” on anything but hardware
The fact is Bart Carts could be filled by anyone using any oil. There’s no validation for any of the processes. Strength, flavor, and effects could very from one location to the next. This is the opposite of carts like Select Elite that are consistent.
The hardware for Barts Carts will all be similar, at least for now. It’s possible that it will get duplicated as well, but for the current time we can expect consistency across the line for hardware. We doubt their products will hit as good as a CCELL or SPRK cartridge though.
Available “Strains” or “Flavors” could mean nothing
Currently there are ten strains we know of for Barts Carts cartridges.
The strains listed on the packaging really might mean nothing. So don’t rely on them for anything. Often street cartridges are filled with the same oil across different “flavors.” Also, many black market cartridges contain flavor additives and other than that are the same oil. Basically, take any strain names for granted.
You might see new strain types coming out for Bart Carts, but good chance it means nothing. Occasionally, you may have a dealer that fills his carts true to strain packaging. That’s rare but does happen. There are some black market sellers that do care about their customers out there.
Bart Simpson cartridges are spreading
These carts are spreading all over and all of them will feature Bart Simpson on them. They are very familiar looking packaging to Exotic Carts and it’s likely they come from the same manufacturer in China.
Eventually you will see these carts replicated also like Exotics. Many sellers make identical looking and performing Exotic Carts hardware that then gets filled by any random oil maker.
The problem with fake brands and cartridges
Whether it comes to fake cartridges that are counterfeits of other brands or brands that are fabricated altogether, the big problem is consumer safety. Nothing is there to regulate what is in the cart. Black market THC carts are frequently cut with MCT oil, Propylene Glycol, and Vegetable Glycerin. Most legit carts are a straight distillate or CO2 oil with terpenes added.
How to find legit cartridges and what to look for in illegal states
When you are in illegal states legit carts are hard to come by. If you are in a legal state the solution is easy: go to a licensed dispensary and from there you should be getting good quality THC cartridges.
However, here’s our tip for you to find good carts in illegal states: Look for the small brands if they are available. It’s common for dealers to say “this is from Cali” or some other legal state. The best thing you can do to get legit carts in illegal states is look for brands that are not yet counterfeited.
For example, if you find a Select Elite or Kurvana cartridge, it’s legit. They don’t make fakes (yet) for those brands. But if you are only seeking out Brass Knuckles and Heavy Hitters, good chance you are going to run into fakes.
Do you have a Barts Cart or a comment? We would love to hear your experience, please post your review or comment below!
Friendly Farms cartridges are filled with full-spectrumlive resinsauce. All cartridges have no additives. Friendly Farms live resin sauce cartridges are available in California.
Pros:
Tastes like smoking the plant itself
Full spectrum & distillate free
Compatible with any 510 battery
Cons:
Limited availability, depends on location
Sauce may leak in high heat
Recommendations: Make it more widely available and so it does not leak.
Licensing Information: Medical Mfg. CDPH-10003556 Adult-Use Mfg. CDPH-10003556
Unboxing video of Friendly Farms’ Raspberry Sorbet (hybrid) 500 MG full spectrum live resin sauce cart.
Friendly Farms is one of the best companies on the market
Justdab is another company we reviewed producing live resin carts. Friendly Farms claims that their carts are additive free. For the consumer, this is great news.
Friendly Farms donates $1 to homeless children for every cartridge they sell. They also try to make their live resin sauce carts as affordable as possible. They’re not sold at ultra low budget prices, but for the quality, the carts are worth it.
Friendly Farms vape carts use new generation CCELL hardware, currently the best cart hardware
For hardware, Friendly Farms is using one of our favorites: the new generation CCELL cartridge, particularly the TH2 series. This cart is reliable, hits hard, and has an extremely low failure rate. Carts breaking or not working halfway through is a common thing. This happened when Bert reviewed the Brass Knuckles Napalm OG cartridge. There were no issues with efficiency since the new generation CCELL is the most efficient cartridge style currently out.
Vaping Friendly Farms has great taste and hits strong
In general, smoking sauce cartridges are an experience. They pull different and taste different. It’s like dabbing versus traditional vaping.
Friendly Farms cartridges taste like the strains themselves. The effects are bolder on the body and resemble an effect similar to dabbing. Because the carts are full spectrum, it means most of the compound found in the plant’s trichomes are present. Traces of CBD are mentioned in the packaging. CBD is good for the body because it acts as a buffer for theTHC present in the extracts.
Beyond their partnership with Connected Cannabis Co. (a brand known for producing designer weed), the quality of Friendly Farms is premium. Why? Because they chose to produce a meticulous product and eliminate additives found in most high-end vape cartridges.
What’s different about Sauce carts?
Brands like Heavy Hitters, Bloom Farms, and Brass Knucklesall have premium quality marketing behind their names. Friendly Farms live resin sauce carts, however, has the full-spectrum game behind theirs.
Most of these brands use distillates, which, in my opinion, tastes a little tangy. The packaging and experience might be of a higher quality because of how they’re produced but it doesn’t eliminate how processed these vape cartridges are.
Sauce carts, however, try to maintain the integrity of the plant by maintaining the compounds present in most live resin extracts.
Why Friendly Farms is Worth It
Personally, I find most Friendly Farms live resin sauce carts last long. The taste is great. I cannot stress enough that smoking them feels like smoking the plant itself.
The effects are mostly positive with little to no anxiety due to having CBD in most of their extracts. The packaging is great and pulls from their strains’ individual COAs which shows the legitimacy of their products.
I would vape Friendly Farms live resin sauce again
The last strain I tried was their Raspberry Sherbet. Prior to that experience, I’ve had Friendly Farms’ Gelato #33, White Fire OG, and Wedding Cake from their Connected x Friendly Farms collection. All have yielded positive results and this one, with Raspberry Sherbert, was very positive.
It took me a while to make a dent on the cartridge. One hit is strong enough to give me that full body high.
Concluding My Friendly Farms Review
Friendly Farms live resin sauce carts are great. They last a very long time and boast producing distillate free, full spectrum vape cartridges. The quality of their sauce is great and it feels like the user is dabbing.
It takes time to get through an entire cartridge; mostly due to the effects lasting long and the cartridges hitting well. These are definitely worth the buy. You can learn more about Friendly Farms here.
Eureka Vapor is a California based extract producer founded in 2011. They gained their popularity by producing highly potent, pure and natural oils. On top of that, they also have a wide selection of THC oil vape cartridges.
The brand currently carries almost 20 popular indica, sativa and hybrid strains like Girl Scout Cookies, Super Silver Haze, and White Window which is fit for any type of mood. Eureka Vapor announced in April 2017 that they have won “Best Concentrate of the Year” from CannaNews, a marijuana industry magazine. However, fake THC cartridges are everywhere, and Eureka Vapor is no exception to being counterfeited.
Update:
October 27, 2019 – If you have a Eureka Vapor product and you think it might be fake, make sure to check their store locator here. If it was not purchased from a legit dispensary, way more likely than not, it is fake.
September 21, 2020 – A recent lab test done on a Eureka cart bought off a street plug shows the cartridge contained less than 3% THC!
Eureka Vapor fakes are common
Due to the brand’s popularity, it is not surprising that a lot of counterfeit products of Eureka vape would be out in the market. For some, it could be really hard to tell the fakes from the real ones since they have nearly the same packaging, but having the current version is key. You would really need to examine the packaging thoroughly to spot the difference. Dupe vapes may come in cheaper, but the danger it brings to your health is not worth the risk.
If you check online shopping sites for Eureka Vapor, you would encounter that a lot of these are fakes. A lot of suppliers based in China would manufacture these Eureka vape empty cartridge with packaging. Scammers would fill them up with impure and hazardous oils.
So how can you tell the authentic Eureka Vapor from the counterfeits? One major red flag is luckily easy to spot…
If you’re buying ones with old packing, it’s very likely that they’re fake
Eureka Vapor’s has stopped distributing products in their clamshell packing over a year ago, but today you can still find some sellers who sell the old packaging and claim that they’re old stocks. If it’s in the clamshell packaging, it is a fake Eureka Vapor cart.
Below are images of what some online websites are selling. They sell empty fake cartridges, which can easily be filled with fake oil and sold in the market. It looks similar to the old teardrop-shaped clamshell packaging Eureka Vapor used to sell.
Authentic Eureka Vapor packaging comes in boxes
The current Eureka vapes are all sold in childproof boxes and bags. You can buy them from licensed shops in California and Colorado. If you want to be extra sure, check out the available packaging on their website.
The images below are the authentic ones, exclusively distributed by Eureka Vapor.
A lot of users out there still get confused if the vape they are purchasing is authentic or not. This article was made to make you aware that there are fake ones of the Eureka Vapor brand are out there. The simple tip mentioned here to spot the fake ones can be a big help especially for those who aren’t fully aware of what the typical characteristics of the counterfeit Eureka Vapor cartridges are.
Other fake vape cartridges
Fakes are not only for Eureka carts. Fake cartridges are plaguing the cannabis industry. See our pages on fakes for the following cartridges:
A general way to check for fakes on a lot of cartridges is to look and see if they are using an authentic CCELL. If the brand uses CCELL hardware on their originals, check to see if your cart is a fake CCELL cartridge. Eureka Vapor does not use CCELL carts. Fake hardware is a whole other topic, but another issue currently in the industry. On the flower side of things, there are even fake Pax 3s!
Seen any other fakes? Have any suggestions for spotting fake Eureka carts? Comment below or post in our forum!
Here we list the best cartridges for California for 2019. Specifically, THC oil vape cartridges that are prefilled. This list is compiled based on our reviewers who actually used the products. This list will be continuously updated throughout the year as we discover new cartridges and existing companies make better (or worse) products.
If you are looking for specifically live resin, check out our best live resin cartridge list that includes carts from California.
The best cartridges in California list
On this best cartridge list we are not declaring one single winner since there are so many good carts and so many out there. These carts we list are ones that shined above the rest. Additionally, since California is a big state, this list is based on reviews from our reviewers across the state.
Before we did our list we took a look at a few others on the internet. We found that some were done by people that never even tried the cartridges. Pay for play on weed sites is common. Then there’s the issues with WeedMaps reviews. That’s why we made DabConnection: to bring you unbiased info and honest opinions from experienced reviewers. We don’t charge for reviews nor do we allow anyone to pay for a favorable reviews or placement on a list such as this anywhere on our site.
Below we will go through each brand that earned a spot on this list.
Aces Extracts: Might be the strongest overall
We recently tried Aces Extracts and even though our review is not up yet, they deserve a spot on this list. Although Aces vape pens might not be heavily advertised, they are heavy on strength. Their Energize vape really does energize you and the flavor is very similar to Kabunky, one of our favorite Nevada brands. The Aces vape we tried was about 80% THC, but effects were stronger than other carts that we tried that tested over 90% THC.
They won some awards from High Times as well, one of them being People’s Choice award in 2018. That’s probably the most important award from High Times, and the only one we care about, since the rest of the first place spots seem to only go to people that spend a lot on advertising with them.
AiroPro is also available Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona and Maryland. They are made by Airo Vapor. So keep that AiroPro battery with you when you travel. It made second place on our Nevada best cartridges list only because it was edged out by Roots cartridges, which are not available in California.
They use proprietary hardware and a vibrating battery that produce great results. The hardware, although not denoted, is made by CCELL so quality hardware is ensured. AiroPro makes strong oil that has some of the best flavors. Some have complained that the AiroPro battery is $35. Check at the dispensary or store you are at, if they have the battery without the case, then it’s just $15. Considering how good these hit, it’s worth getting the new battery. See our AiroPro review for an in depth look at this vape setup.
Alpine Live Resin Cartridge – Great Quality, Taste, and Effects
Alpine Live Resin was a pleasant surprise, given that our previous review of Alpine Vapor products found us wanting. These limited edition Live Resin cartridges lived up to our every expectation in quality, taste, and effects.
We tried three varieties of their Live Resin cartridges: the Zkittlez Punch, the Golden Strawberry Lemonade, and the GMO x BP9. All three maintained exceptional quality across the spectrum, with the Zkittlez being our favorite. Alpine also uses ceramic cartridges, which hit great. We’ll consider these among some of the best live resin carts going, which is not a consideration we meet out easily around here! View our full Alpine Vapor Live Resin review for the breakdown.
Buddies Brand Live Resin Cartridge Review – Excellent Quality, Potency, and Taste
Buddies Brand has a reputation for quality products in the vape puffing community. We gave them a try, and discovered that they do indeed live up to this reputation. While this “Liquid Diamonds” Live Resin did seem to burn a tad fast for our speed, we did enjoy it while it lasted. The cartridge could also be improved by going to glass instead of plastic. But besides those points, the oil is potent and tasty and we can’t argue with the reasonable price either. View our full Buddies Liquid Diamonds review here.
Chemistry: Strong and flavorful full spectrum oil
These things are simply strong. Chemistry cartridges may have lower looking THC percentages sometimes, but the strength is there. We put these ahead of most carts in the 80s and 90s and for those looking for the most calming effect, this may be your best choice.
From flavor to strength, the Chemistry cart is an awesome choice. It may not have cool advertising, but we’ll take good oil over that any day. See our Chemistry cart review for more info.
Dime cartridges: Hard hitting, tastes great
With an excellent overall quality, the Dime cartridge is a patented zero-waste atomizer. The distillate is one of the smoothest vapes you’ve had that doesn’t hit hot. The cartridge is an efficient design that doesn’t waste a drop.
The Dime Industries cartridge is tasty, smooth hitting, and has a quality buzz that makes the cartridge last for weeks. They hit well without being harsh, and is priced reasonably. The oil is almost indistinguishable from super-clean e-juice.
The Eden Extracts cartridge was a bit more expensive than most of this list, but well worth it. The cart we reviewed was from their Diamond Line. Quality oil, unique hardware that did not disappoint, and a strong high are some of the reasons Eden Extracts makes this list.
We hope to see this brand in more and more stores in the future. Check out our Eden Extracts review for more info.
In California, sauce pods for $25 for a half gram and $50 for a full gram pre-tax is unheard-of. These are the real deal, full-strength potent albeit lacking in the taste department. In this case, it gets a pass for being the most affordable sauce in Cali.
With darker and thicker oil, these pods remind us of Heavy Hitters in the potency department. Put sauce in a VFire pod system and sell it for rock-bottom prices for California, and we have to take notice! The strong effects are initially uplifting and euphoric before settling into a more relaxed mode. They do feel a tad harsh and the flavor is the weak point, but this is a sauce pod after all. Check out our HiFly Sauce Pod review for our full impression.
Jetty Extracts: Clean, strong oil with great taste
Available up and down the state, Jetty Extracts has tested clean in more than one independent test. They deliver on strength, flavor, and they use authentic CCELL hardware.
The wood tipped cartridge is a nice touch. Their packaging is awesome too, but we judge it based on the actual oil and hardware. With industry veteran Nate working behind the scenes you know they are going to keep coming out with top notch products. He used to run the best downtown San Diego dispensary and he is a true expert in extracts. See our Jetty Extracts cartridge review for more info on their dank carts.
Justdab: Mostly in the San Bernadino but they are great if you can find them
Their extracts are available at more places than their carts. They use good hardware and awesome live resin. Taste and strength are both excellent on Justdab cartridges. At $30 most places they are a great value as well. See our Justdab cart review for more info.
Korova Cartridge: Known for edibles, and now carts
New to the game of THC oil carts, but been around the cannabis industry in CA for a long time, Korova came out strong. Their carts have excellent strength, use new gen CCELL hardware, and are priced competitively. Considering how long it lasts and how strong it is, the price is a great deal.
When we reviewed the original Kurvana cartridge we were disappointed. Kurvana was there before cartridges were strong, so it’s not unexpected that they had an original formula they used for a while that was pretty weak. Then they changed their hardware and formula, relabeling their carts as Kurvana ASCND.
They came back strong with the ASCND and now it’s one the best cartridges filled with THC oil in California. Check out our complete Kurvana ASNCD review for more info.
Moxie Pods: Top quality oil, top strength
You can’t go wrong with a MOXIE pod. From start to finish, the MOXIE pod is awesome. Back when we reviewed Moxie cartridges, we found them to be acceptable but mediocre, less than we expected form the Moxie name. The Moxie Pod, however, gave us the full Moxie experience and blew us away on strength.
MOXIE pods are straight fire on strength. Super strong oil, combined with one of the hardest-hitting pods that you can get results in an ultra-strong hit and effects. We had some minor nitpicks on efficiency and design, but still found the pods to be good on overall build quality.
Nuvata vape pens are a recycle-able single-dose pens with a THC distillate. They’re famous for their unique body and bold color scheme which is helpful to neophyte vapers. They use pesticide-free cannabis cultivated throughout California.
Their high is a force of nature, while their tastes and bold and appealing. The pens are top-quality design, with anti-clogging technology, dual air-flow mouthpieces for smooth hits, and precision heating with a ceramic coil. The designs overall are a sleek, discreet wonder of molded plastic which is finger-friendly and about the size of a pack of gum.
Old Pal is the best value on a legit vape cartridge in CA, but users report varying quality (Dec 2020 Update Below)
Update 12/15/2020: Due to many comments on YouTube and our site about varying Old Pal experiences we feel the need to post this message. Our experiences with Old Pal have been great but people have commented that at times the products have been awful. The amount of comments to this effect makes us this it might be very likely and thus we post this warning that experiences with Old Pal seem to vary greatly by batch in both California and Nevada.
When people first see an Old Pal cart on the menu they may ask, why is it so cheap? We’re not really sure yet either, but the quality is excellent. You can often find 500mg carts for $15 and 1000mg carts for $17 in California.
Hardware is good, the oil is thick and the effects are strong too. Old Pal might be the best dollar for dollar cannabis products anywhere. They also made our best cart list for Nevada.
Plug Play is a direct competitor of Stiiizy (who would have made our list had it been as strong as it was in 2017). They use the vFire pod system made by ALD.
The pods hit well and Plug Play uses great quality oil in the pods. They used to be labeled as Plug and Play but more recently we are seeing it only labeled as Plug Play. See our Plug Play vape review for an in depth look at this great THC pod system.
stick e vape: Strong all around and great flavor
stick e vape is made by Tradecraft Farms, a Southern California based cultivator. Their buds are great and so are their cartridges.
Strong and with a great waxy flavor, these are a great pick and they won a High Times award last year. Although our readers put little weight on High Times awards, their cartridges are legit on quality. See our stick e vape review for an in depth look.
From the top to the bottom: Stiiizy previously weakened oil, but now may be coming back
There’s a ton of other cartridges out there that are great we have not tried and there are others we tried that were not exactly great. Then there’s Stiiizy. It was one of the best THC oil vapes in 2017 and over 2018 they changed their oil to a weaker formula. However, recently Stiiizy oil has been looking lighter again, and we need to try it again to see if it is as good as it was.
Their hardware is made by ALD just like vFire used in the Plug and Play vape. The new generation CCELL cartridges perform better than Stiiizy’s pod setup (or Pax Era’s), but if Stiiizy is coming back in with some stronger oil it might be a winner again.
Lots of old reviews are still out there
Stiiizy went from a light colored fine distillate to a yellow colored oil that we are not sure how it’s made. But now it has come back to being a light distillate again, but we have not yet tried the latest version. We recently updated our Stiiizy review to reflect the current state of their pods. The hardware is still great it just needs strong oil added to it. If you have a Stiiizy battery and pod lying around, check out our guide on how to refill a Stiiizy pod.
Raw Garden: Weaker than before, and it’s not real live resin
Overall, for the price Raw Garden carts are not that bad, but they do not warrant a spot on the best list anymore either. They are not as strong as when they came out and they currently are the subject of a class-action lawsuit.
Heavy Hitters Live Resin : Still Expensive, No Longer Live Resin
Heavy Hitters! Oh how you fell from grace! Heavy Hitters was on our list for the longest time, but as of 2024 we were disappointed to discover that they no longer use live resin wax. It’s a shame to see a good brand go low quality after all this time, while still keeping its brand-name inflated price tag.
Once, HH Live Resin did wonders to redeem the Heavy Hitters name. Our full HH Live Resin review here.
Select Elite: Has gotten weaker over time
Select Elite is made by Select Oil, originally founded in Washington by Nitin Khanna. A great sounding name for starting a cannabis company. They are in multiple states and previously also made our best list for Nevad as well. Now Select Elite carts are weaker than they were before. They never had great taste, but they sued to be strong as well. Now they don’t meet the requirements to be on the best list.
Select had one issue we came across. Their packaging claimed 80% THC and in fact it was 86% THC when tested independently. So their stuff is sometimes even better than they say it is! See our oil pen tests page for more info on Select Elite pesticides and solvent tests. In a dispensary and don’t know what to choose? Good chance Select Elite is there and it’s a great choice.
The only change we would like to see on Select Elite is ceramic top carts. Only had one fail on us but it would have been way easier to transfer the oil on a ceramic top CCELL. The plastic tops are very hard to get off, if you can get em off at all. Check out our review on Select Elite cartridges for more info.
Sunday Goods: Little known brand that makes strong vape carts
Intense effects and true to strain flavor, Sunday Goods cartridges are a little more expensive than average for California at $45 a pop, but the quality makes it worth it. Our reviewer picked his up from MedMen San Diego and was impressed with it’s quality.
Sunday Goods carts are available across the state and are a solid choice for someone looking for a good strong cartridge. Check out our Sunday Goods cartridge review for more information.
Sunderstorm Wind: Top quality oil with a strong hit
Made with pure TCH distillate, the Sunderstorm Wind vape cartridge we tried was the first name in top oil quality. Sunderstorm, an L.A. company, manufactures and distributes their own product, and it shows. A sturdy cart with a pesticide-free distillate that hits smooth and packs a potent punch. The mouthpiece is designed for maximum airflow, big hits and thick, satisfying clouds.
This is what a real 90% THC cartridge feels like. The distillate has CBD present, which gives it a full body effect that’s nearly hallucinogenic. According to the COA, the batch of distillate we tried tested negative for nearly everything, being produced with zero solvent and filler. It had just enough terpenes to add a bit of taste and some extra buzz. Check out our full Sunderstorm Wind vape review here.
Wrapping up our Best Cartridges California list…
California has a lot of cartridges to choose from. We hope this list gives you some guidance on great brands if you are looking to pick something up. Things change often with cartridges. New brands come out and existing brands up the quality of their formulas, so we’ll keep updating this page as we go through more THC carts. Sometimes you see cartridges go from good to bad, or weak to great like Kurvana.
Select Elite cartridges are some of the consistently best cartridges across more than one state. You can choose a Select Elite cartridge in confidence when you are not sure what to choose and you are ensured to get high quality oil, even if they all taste similar.
In this review we will input feedback from two of our reviewers: Geoff and Bert. Geoff used Select Elite’s California carts while Bert has used many of them in Nevada. Select Elite made our top THC cart list for Nevada and was on it for California. We removed it from the California best list because it has gotten weaker. We are going to re-review Nevada to see if it should still be on that list as well soon.
Recommendations: Though Select Elite cartridges offer a lower price than the same size Kurvana ASCND, they’re still expensive for .5-grams. The plastic mouthpiece isn’t a big detractor but the cartridge would be better in the CCELL cartridge that has a ceramic tip and glass housing. Not only because glass is nice, but in case the cartridge fails it is easier to empty and you can also re use the cartridge with a syringe.
UPDATE 9/11/2019: DISCLAIMER: In light of more recent news, it has become apparent that black market cartridges, counterfeit cartridges, and fake brands of cartridges have become more widespread than we had ever realized. We urge readers to apply their own discretion, and caution that at no point should readers assume that a review of a cartridge on our site is a guarantee of its safety. We advise readers to always verify their cartridges as coming from a legitimate source.
UPDATE 2/01/2021: Recently Select Elite distillate carts, which we review here, have not been as strong as before. We will update this review again in the future when we get a new one. On the other hand, Select Elite Live Resin carts are strong and now their best product. We recommend those over any of their other cart items.
See below a video review on a Select Elite cartridge, then continue reading for the in depth review.
Select Elite cartridge design bears a close resemblance to the Kurvana ASCND
As far as their design, there are only two main differences between the Select Elite and Kurvana ASCND cartridges. Where they place their logo and the type of heating system they use. The logos are inconsequential but the heating cores might make a difference to some customers. For a review that covers design on their disposable cartridge version, see our Select Weekender review.
To the naked eye, the heating elements don’t seem to be much different. Both look like standard CCELL systems, though the one on the Kurvana ASCND is thinner. Kurvana uses what they call a CTEC ceramic coil. Instead of using a ceramic core surrounded by cloth, it uses only a ceramic ring. Select Elite cartridges use an authentic CCELL cartridge, the same kind found in the Roots and Airo Pro cartridges.
Other than that, the cartridge designs are the same. Both use a plastic outer tube and mouthpiece that appear to be connected. Each has a thin metal ring under the reed style mouthpiece and metal housing at the base. Screw either cartridge onto a standard battery with 510 threads.
Bert prefers CCELLs while Geoff is a fan of rod and coil cartridges. Bert thinks a ceramic top CCELL would be better than the plastic top offered on Select Elite carts. Reason being, in the event of a cartridge failure it is easier to retrieve the oil. These plastic top CCELLs are very difficult to get apart because the top is pressed on rather than screwed on. The screw top CCELLs can also be reused by refilling it with a syringe.
Oils by Select Elite come through a proprietary extraction process
The purity and delicious flavor of Select Elite carts is a direct result of their proprietary extraction process. Select Oil claims that they are one of the first companies to do their own lab testing to the parts per billion. As you can see on their packaging, they also use SC Labs for outside testing. Select Elite was caught once with innacurate results, but in a good way: They stated 80% THC and it was in fact 86%, even better! Quality control seems to be a big deal for Select Oil, which is a great thing. See our pesticides and residual solvents test page for test results on a recent Select Elite cartridge. They have always passed clean for pesticides and residual solvents.
Select seems to focus more on strength than effect. The high THC percentage carts have been converging in taste over the past year. They all taste pretty close. Select Elite achieves these characteristics using Ethanol Hash Oil extraction, a technique known to retain cannabinoids and similar to that used in Roots cartridges.
Select Elite high-cannabinoid oils range from 80-92% THC
Speaking of cannabinoids, Select Elite oils come packed with potency. Depending on which strain cartridge you get, you’ll discover THC levels between 80 and 95 percent. The Select Elite Mendo Breath is a lighter Indica strain at just over 85%, and it still wrecks you. We have several other strains on display below, most of which carry even higher levels of THC. Many of Bert’s Nevada cartridges are in the low 90s, up to 92% THC.
Ethanol Hash Oil extraction keeps the true flavor
A high-potency concentrate loses its appeal if the flavor is off or tastes like chemicals. One of the reasons Select Elite uses an Ethanol Hash Oil extraction process is to keep that natural flavor. The Mendo Breath strain from California has that heavy relaxing effect you want from a good Indica. Tastes of vanilla and sweet caramel linger on the tongue in a balanced mix of the true strain.
From Nevada Bert tried a Critical K, Royal Haze, Lee Roy, two GDPs and another strain we can’t remember right now. They all had a similar taste. Among the NV carts at least, Select Elite cartridges are converging to a similar flavor across the board. Still the taste is good and it seems to be a small sacrifice in taste to deliver a stronger cart, and we are all for that. Out of the bunch, Lee Roy was the strongest effect even though it was not the highest THC percentage, coming in about 89%. An Indica but still gave good energy and a strong, long lasting effect.
It’s interesting to note that Kurvana ASCND uses a similar process. Their techniques in extraction may not be exactly the same, but Kurvana also does an in-house lab analysis. Both Kurvana ASCND and Select Elite offer premium, well-refined distillate. People may have their preferences in flavor but THC levels in both brands are very high.
Bert says for Nevada Airo Pro and Roots both taste better than Select. Particularly Airo Pro’s Mountain Mist and Sumatran Sun have exceptional flavor. Roots carts taste great too, particularly the Cheese strain. Roots do taste similar across the brand like Select, but all a little bit better tasting than Select’s carts.
Select Elite carts use an efficient CCELL vaporizer
Just like Honey Vape, Sunday Goods, and so many other carts on the market, Select Elite uses a CCELL cartridge. Most of today’s vape cartridge aficionados prefer the CCELL design over the rod & coil. It’s the standard among vape carts right now. Geoff does not mind a rod & coil with a quality extract like that in a Heavy Hitters cartridge. Bert prefers CCELL carts for all prefilled cartridges and likes CCELL or the Bud Tank V16 for filling up with fresh distillate.
CCELL systems have a ceramic core surrounded by a cotton cloth wick. The oil absorbs into the cloth before entering the core which heats upon ignition. Using gravity and a circular ceramic core ensures the oil vapes evenly, but there is a drawback. The cloth can give off a burnt taste if it dries up.
By comparison, Kurvana ASCND cartridges use what they call a CTEC core. CTEC gets rid of the cloth wick altogether. Instead, the metal housing at the base of the drawtube contains a ceramic ring. The core is actually hollow and allows delivery of the oil to the entire ceramic ring.
3-second draws on a Select Elite .5-gram cartridge gives 125 servings
On the top back of the package, Select Elite provides a suggested serving size. They recommend a three-second draw as a single portion. A Select Elite cartridge at this rate has 125 servings, though the amount will vary. No user is going to draw the cartridge with the same amount of force, even if they do time out each vape.
At a lower price than Kurvana ASCND, Select Elite has a better value
Select Elite cartridges run about five dollars less than the Kurvana ASCND, depending on where you go. There may be some variation of this from one dispensary to another. At Mankind in San Diego, Select Elite carts run $37.00 while the Kurvana ASCND asks for $42.00. These are sub-total prices waiting for taxes to be applied.
In Nevada Select Elite cartridges are $52 at standard retail price at Essence Tropicana West in Las Vegas. Of course NV has higher prices but there are also a lot of discounts (ie: Medical, local). When Bert purchased six carts there was a Select Oil pop up shop and he got them for buy one get one for 1c. With all discounts ended up being less than $170 for 6 carts. Even at full price we still buy them because they are one of the best options out there.
For an extra five spot, the only real difference Kurvana ASCND has with the Select Elite is the CTEC ceramic coil. Is it worth that much? Geoff can’t tell that much, if any, of a difference. Maybe after using them for a while, he will be able to tell. As it is, I’d take the savings because both brands are expensive.
Bert says even without a discount Select Elite cartridges are typically worth the extra cost over most other options at any given dispensary. Nevada cartridges generally run from $40 to $50. Remedy once had carts priced at $63 but recently those have been lowered to $46. Bert would take Roots over Select Elite, but Roots does sell out. Roots are not only a bit stronger, but they taste better and are cheaper. Bert says Select Elite is the best fallback brand: If you are unsure what to get in any medical state and Select Elite is there, get it since you know it will be good.
Select Elite Shows How To Label & Package A Cartridge
In the current state of some California dispensaries, quality assurance isn’t always so easy to come by. I’m not saying that dispensaries operating under the radar can’t carry premium cartridges. One tactic leading cartridge makers use to combat rip-offs is fancy packaging. Still, so many brands leave info off the label and use a poor tamper-proof device. Nevada versions have pretty much the same packaging and it’s on point.
Other cartridge brands should look to Select Elite as the best example in this regard. You have to follow instructions to get into the box! Select Elite labels also tell the 3rd party laboratory, a point many brands leave out.
Some of the different Select Elite strains we’ve tried so far
Select Elite is a brand we pickup all the time even when it is not for reviewing, but here are some of the strains we remembered to take pics of.
Flo cartridge
Flo had a great energy to it. Taste was decent.
Gelato cartridge
Really did not feel or taste that much different than the Flo. Still a great THC cart overall.
Select Elite Hybrid: High Roller
The High Roller strain cartridge has 91% THC and also had some of the strongest effects. This and Lee Roy were Bert’s overall top Select Elite picks.
Royal Haze
This sativa gave great energy. THC tested at 92%, but the Lee Roy still felt stronger at 88%. THC percentage is not always everything.
Royal Orange
The Royal Orange Select Elite cartridge was pretty similar to Royal Haze with just a bit more of an energy kick to it.
Concluding our Select Elite review
For consumers who want pure high-quality concentrate, Select Elite cartridges are the real deal. In California, Kurvana ASCND may have a slight edge, but it is just a matter of opinion. For Nevada, Roots and Airo Pro edge it out to take the top spots, but Select is still considered awesome. We highly recommend Select Elite cartridges and their many strains. If they would drop the price a bit and ditch the plastic material, we’d love them even better.
You can find more information about Select Elite cannabis oil vape cartridges on their website here. And don’t think twice about leaving a comment or asking a question on our forum. We always value your feedback.
Flavorful honey gold oil that’s but not too high in THC percentage defines the Cobra Extracts cartridge experience. For those who appreciate a concentrate packed with true to strain flavors, these carts might be calling out your name. The psychoactive effects are strong, but the THC levels make them short lived. Read on and devour all there is to know about ELEV8, the new Cobra Extracts cartridge.
Pros:
Pure, Batch Tested Oil
Solventless CO2 Extraction Process
Aromatic & Strong “True To Strain” Flavors
Good Number Of Puffs
Big Vapor Clouds
Cons:
Average THC Content
Effects not long lasting
Recommendations: Their oil process seems awesome but higher levels of THC would be nice to see.
Licensing Information: Adult-Use Mfg. CDPH-T00001713 Distributor C11-18-0000340-TEMP Medical Mfg. CDPH-T00001713
The Cobra Extracts cartridge beats their crumble and shatter
After trying Cobra Extracts shatter and the crumble, their cartridge delivers the best experience. The rich flavor profiles come through stronger, as do the effects when you vape the oil. Using the latest CCELL vaping technology, the carts are efficient and long-lasting. We just wish the THC content was higher in the .5-gram ELEV8 cartridges and the effect lasted longer. For someone most concerned about flavor these are an excellent choice.
ELEV8 carts use a CCELL cartridge that is durable and reliable
When the oil in a CCELL cartridge is almost gone, the inner cloth wick can dry up. Continued use of the cartridge at this point can give off vapor with a burnt taste so always make sure to leave your cartridges standing up.
Cobra Extracts cartridges can leave a strong burnt aftertaste if you vape them too low, but this can happen on almost any vape cartridge. They are, however, durable with a strong glass tube, smooth black ceramic mouthpiece, and hardy metal components. ELEV8 carts use the standard 510 threads that will fit most batteries.
The Cobra Extracts cartridge has a golden honey oil
Cobra Extracts compares their oil to the source of their own name, the King Cobra. Their oils have the same gold color and honey-like consistency as the venom of the well-known snake.
Using their own twist on CO2 extraction, Cobra Extracts produces nothing but pure and solventless extracts. Their proprietary extraction process is also part of the reason the oils have so much flavor.
Cobra Extracts carts aren’t the most potent
The range of THC in Cobra Extracts cartridges isn’t weak, but neither is it packed with psychoactive compounds. It may be due to the delivery method, but the carts seem to have a stronger effect than the crumble and the shatter. It could also be that the strains of cartridges we tried are higher in THC. The cartridges do test pretty high though, between 82% and 93% THC.
Whatever the case, Cobra Extracts cartridges are not as potent as brands like Kurvana ASCND, Select Elite, or Heavy Hitters. They do give a nice euphoric effect and make up for any lack of THC in flavor. Many people are seeking a THC cartridge with not to strong effects that taste good, and this hits that sweet spot.
Cobra Extracts cartridge flavors will surprise you with excellent taste
With several different strains to offer, the flavors in each Cobra Extracts cartridge will amaze you. It’s truly what sets them apart from other cartridges. Not every vape fan wants an extremely potent cartridge, but they all appreciate good taste.
Cobra Extracts was good enough to send us 6 different cartridge strains that you can see below. Each one is packed with true to strain flavor.
Big vapes won’t drain your cartridge down too fast
You can take a long, drawn-out hit off a Cobra Extracts cartridge and it won’t use up half the oil. You’ll get a huge cloud and really taste the flavor too. Average THC levels can mean an issue in efficiency for those who vape a lot of concentrates. You may go through it faster trying to sustain the effects, but the oil itself seems to vape slowly.
You get a better than average amount of puffs with a Cobra Extracts cartridge
One of the more positive features of the Cobra Extracts cartridge is the number of puffs they give. A half gram cart of the Cobra Extracts gives more puffs than brands like Jetty Extracts, Heavy Hitters, and THClear. It’s a trade-off here between carts with more THC or ones with more flavor and puffs.
Using the Cobra Extracts key chain battery
We like to test our cartridges using a premium battery and we prefer to use the Vessel battery since it is our top pick for use with THC cartridges. It’s not a bad idea, however, to use the battery that goes with the product if you can. In this case, Cobra Extracts makes a keychain flip battery that looks like the LoKey.
Unlike the LoKey, the one by Cobra Extracts features three different temperature settings. Users can power the unit on or off with five clicks of the button, or switch temps with three clicks. The temperature settings are visible on the battery itself and go as follows:
Green – 3.7 Volts
Blue – 3.9 Volts
Gold – 4.1 Volts
At $30 a cart, the value is also better than average
I would prefer to see the Cobra Extracts cartridges in the 20-25 dollar range and in some dispensaries they may be. Still, $30 is lower than what many of the name brand companies are asking. If you see these carts for a deal or with bulk savings, it might be a good time to pick a few up.
The ELEV8 cartridge review roundup
Look for the Cobra Extracts .5-gram cartridges in the long slide out packages and bearing the name ELEV8. For those who aren’t as much concerned about high THC levels and want a bold flavor, these carts are a perfect fit. Whether you prefer a fruity Maui Wowie or a heavy Venom OG, there’s a strain of your preference.
Would you like to learn more about Cobra Extracts cartridges? Visit their website here.
What do you think of Cobra’s ELEV8 cartridges? Any questions? Leave us a comment below or ask a question about Cobra Extracts on our forum.
Introducing another of four different cartridges from Mankind dispensary in San Diego, this one by Platinum Vape. Named after the Aurora Borealis, this heavy Northern Lights 1-gram cart packs a potent and delicious punch. Part of the Platinum Vape Mission Statement is to deliver great concentrate at an affordable price. They claim to use only California grown, pesticide-free herb. Dig into the following review and uncover all our findings.
Pros:
Great True To Strain Flavor
Strong & Potent Effect
Sturdy Cartridge Design
Fair Price
Cons:
Basic Cartridge w/ No Markings
Poor Tamper-Proof Device
No Laboratory Info On Package
Recommendations: A decent price makes the basic cartridge design understandable, but it should still have a company logo. Showing a lab to go with the batch number and a better tamper-proof device will add to quality assurance.
High-potency & bursting, true to strain flavor stand out in the Platinum Vape cartridge
It’s exciting when you get your hands on a new cartridge and it’s a strain you prize. The Northern Lights strain is one of the most popular out there. Memories of strong Northern Lights Indica nugs fill my younger years and Platinum Vape brings it all back. The most prominent features of the Platinum Vape cartridge are its’ flavor and effect. You’ll savor the taste while getting kicked in the head.
Platinum Vape carts use a sturdy and effective, if not basic design. They choose well with a ceramic core heating system, strong glass and a lot of metal. Drawbacks are exactly the same as the Jetty Extracts cartridge, the package and label need improvement. Overall, we are very pleased with Platinum Vape and their 1-gram cartridge, but it did not make our best cartridges California list.
Room for improvement shows in the labeling and packaging
Coming from a licensed dispensary like Mankind, you hope for the best in quality assurance. It’s obvious, however, that not all brands provide the same amount of info or even a tamper proof device. This is the case with the Jetty Extracts cart and here with Platinum Vape.
The issue is not necessarily that both brands use stickers as a safety seal. Some kinds of stickers work fine if they tear when you peel them. If you can easily remove then stick them back on, they don’t really serve a purpose.
Another cause for possible doubt is the lack of a stated laboratory. Brands like Sunday Goods, Honey Vape, and others provide this info on the package. If the package doesn’t state it you might wonder if they even test. We do have an email out to Platinum Vape to see if they use a lab and will update the post once we hear back.
A Sweet Flavor Of Earth & Pine Taste
When buds incite your taste buds, you know you have a keeper. Such is the case with the flavor profile of Platinum Vape Northern Lights oil. We consider the oil to be true to strain if it delivers the same flavors as the flower. Platinum Vape excels here, at least with the Northern Lights. A strong and earthy pine wood flavor begin the experience, but a sweet aftertaste follows. Each vape sits enjoyably on the palate as you wait for the effects to set in.
3-5 second vapes will have your lungs begging to exhale
Whether it’s the high amount of THC or a characteristic of the concentrate, one thing is for sure. This cartridge of Northern Lights will bust your lungs if you go too long. Platinum Vape scores well with this strain because it gives you options. Those who like a large vape won’t have trouble finding. People who prefer a small vape can still do that and enjoy a very powerful effect.
Platinum Vape carts are durable but very basic in design
The only thing we can say that should be better about the design is the lack of a company logo. Some identifying marking on the glass or another prominent area would dissuade rip-offs. As it is, the carts are indistinguishable from other similar 1-gram cartridges.
A description of the design begins with metal 510 threads at the base to fit your standard battery. Next is a metal ring, the outside housing of the C-cell heating element. Rising up from the housing is a sturdy outer glass tube and inner metal drawtube. The drawtube includes the ceramic core at the base and leaves plenty of room for the oil to absorb.
From the housing of the core follows the more slender metal drawtube which extends up to the mouthpiece. It’s a circular metal mouthpiece with the same silver color as the rest of the cartridge. An O-Ring connects the top of the drawtube to the mouthpiece which does unscrew, making the cart refillable.
Northern Lights Indica oil by Platinum Vape has 89% THC & less than 0.2% CBD
You can almost miss that less than symbol in front of the CBD percentage, but the point is probably mute. Most cartridge connoisseurs will take a lot more notice of the 89% THC level. Platinum Vape Northern Lights concentrate comes on strong and fast, even more so with a bigger vape. It’ll make you cough if you draw long enough, and you will get off. Expect a deep relaxing high to settle in after the initial haze wears off.
Pricing is fair for a quality 1-gram cartridge
The Platinum Vape cart on review comes from Mankind, one of the few licensed shops in San Diego. Licensed dispensaries guarantee pure cannabis products but they also charge taxes. The 1-gram Platinum Vape Northern Lights cart retails for $60.00 before taxes at Mankind, though they do offer discounts.
That’s $30.00 per .5-gram and the same price as a Heavy Hitters cartridge at nearby MedMen San Diego. Being perfectly honest, the Platinum Vape NL is a much better deal. After taxes, you spend over sixty or we’d give it higher marks.
Platinum Vape carts use an efficient C-cell heating & draw system
You can tell a shoddy C-cell when it sputters as you draw the cartridge, not allowing a very even vape. The C-cells in this Platinum Vape cart works fluidly all the way down to the last fingernail of oil. You don’t have to suck your ears in trying to get a medium size hit.
The oil lasts and gives a good number of puffs
It could be poor absorption or maybe oil quality, but some carts vape up like wildfire. The oil is gone before you know it. Platinum Vape scores well in regard to the number of puffs, taking into account the larger 1-gram cartridge. To give off the size clouds it does after a 5-second vape, the Northern Lights cart keeps puffing for a while.
Last lights of the Platinum Vape cart review
Platinum Vape has the kind of value that makes it worth spending $60.00 on. It’s alright that the cartridges aren’t fancy but a logo should be added. Platinum Vape has an opportunity to improve the quality assurance in their labeling and packaging. All in all the fine oil quality, high-potency, and great flavor leave a lasting impression.
Want to learn more about Platinum Vape products? Check out their company website here.
Comment below or drop a message in our forum and let us know what you think about Platinum Vape cartridges. We always appreciate your feedback.
Presenting our first foray into a Honey Vape cartridge and it’s the Green Crack as the featured product. After vaping up a complete .5-gram cartridge, there’s only one word that comes to mind: Decent! At least if decent qualifies as being a little better than mediocre. There’s a lot to report about the Green Crack as well as the build of the Honey Vape cartridge in general. Let’s dig right in!
Pros:
Lab Tested / Pure Concentrate
Excellent Taste / True To Strain
Vibrant, Uplifting Effect
Cons:
Hardened / Crystallized Concentrate
Sub-Average Efficiency
Hi Price Tag
Not Very Strong
Recommendations: Make stronger oil and put it in a more efficient cartridge.
The Honey Vape cartridge scores slightly better than average, at least with the Green Crack strain
If not for the savory taste and nice uplifting effect of the concentrate, I would score the Honey Vape cartridge very low. Why is that, you ask? Mainly because of the cartridge design itself. When you pay $40.00 plus taxes for a half gram cartridge, it should have an efficient design.
The cartridge allows big puffs but only with really long extended inhales. Even when taking semi-long puffs, the Honey Vape cartridge uses oil fast. The fact that the one in my trial had become solidified wasn’t too big a deal besides the unclaimed residue. It liquefied with the warmth of the battery and my hand.
Fortunately, the concentrate is pure as per the labeled lab test results. Honey Vape Green Crack is also surprisingly potent for only a 70% THC composition. Flavor of the Green Crack concentrate is another high note in the review. That sweet yet spicy taste, along with sour citrus, comes through boldly on the palate.
See our video review below, and keep reading on for the more in depth review:
The Honey Vape Green Crack cartridge flavor is right in tune with the strain
So many of the cartridges I vape fail in this area. It’s as if something happens during the distillation process that cuts out certain flavor profiles. Most often I find that one flavor stands out much too prominently against the others.
With the Honey Vape Green Crack cartridge, this isn’t the case at all. Upon exhalation of the vapor, the Green Crack flavor profile comes through with great balance. You’ll taste a mix of spicy sweet citrus that lingers on the tongue.
Honey Vape Green Crack is strong for only having 70% THC
Is it Heavy Hitters or Brass Knuckles strong? Not by a long shot. Looking at the tag on the Honey Vape Green Crack cartridge, it doesn’t tell you the THC percentage. It does, however, provide the amount of THC in milligrams as well as the CBD. Do the division and 350mg into 500mg is 70%. A CBD content of 6.79mg comes out to 1.36%.
Despite having a significantly lower percentage of THC than many brand name cartridges, Honey Vape Green Crack delivers a good uplifting punch. This is actually a point that surprises me, and quite positively so. If you need some energy during the course of your day, this cart will do the trick.
Honey Vape cartridges are durable but don’t use an efficient design
Read more about the design in the cartridge breakdown section below. The Honey Vape .5-gram cartridge starts at the top with a metal reed style mouthpiece and sturdy glass tube. It ends with a steel base and 510 threading for your standard size battery.
Honey Vape carts, or at least this .5-gram one, are very similar in design we found on our THClear cart review. You can see the design in the breakdown video as well, but the result is less than optimal. I prefer carts that use a small ceramic coil for the heating element.
It seems that the carts using the coils vape the oil faster than ones with the cloth absorption design. The thing is, you can take a small hit on the coil and still get a nice cloud. The ones with the cloth near the element don’t hit as well and they still vape up just as fast.
A THC level of 350 mg and 6.79 mg of CBD on the Green Crack cartridge. Plus a test & batch number.
You can see in the image how Honey Vape provides the info on a sticker placed on the package. It has the levels of THC and CBD as well as the batch number. Also visible is the lab Honey Vapes uses, pH Solutions. One of the benefits of going to a legitimate California dispensary like MedMen is pure lab-tested concentrate.
For a .5-gram cartridge, Honey Vapes costs too much at $40.00
One of the biggest knocks off the overall value of a Honey Vape cartridge is the price. Realizing there are likely additional costs due to lab testing and growing pesticide-free crops, the carts are still expensive. $30.00 would be more enticing, or at least a better cartridge design.
Honey Vape cartridge breakdown & disassembly
After tearing apart a few different cartridges, you get a feel for why they vape the way they do. For instance, the THClear has the same kind of design and it sputters when you hit it. This lack of a fluid draw doesn’t occur with the Honey Vape cart, but the puff size is the same.
You have a more durable metal mouthpiece and a glass tube is better than plastic. This beats the THClear. Inside the Honey Vape cart, the metal drawtube has a more efficient base. It leaves room for the oil to seep through the holes. At the very bottom, it has the 510 threads that fit your standard battery.
Here is a full breakdown of the cartridge:
Inside the housing of the heating element provided some inefficiency but it was likely due to the battery used. I much prefer a rod and coil to this type of design which may be due to the battery used. I’ll be trying this type of cartridge again with a new battery soon.
Efficiency is a concern with Honey Vape carts
I seem to find poor efficiency with most cartridges that use the same design. For whatever reason, the system with a cloth wrap that soaks up the oil before heating doesn’t perform well. It takes a lot of effort to puff a big cloud of vapor, and even then it’s nothing like vaping a coil.
To be fair, some people prefer to keep their hits on the lighter side. Some of the cheaper rod and coils can leave a bad aftertaste, especially near the end of the cartridge. A good ceramic rod and titanium coil, however, gives you the option of big or small vapes. The Honey Vape cart doesn’t allow for this and the oil still disappears quite fast.
Large vape clouds aren’t easy to achieve
If you give the Honey Vape cartridge a strong 5-second draw, it produces a light cloud of vapor. Part of this could be the crystallization of the oil in my cartridge in particular. Once the cartridge heats up from a couple hits or a very long one, it’ll give off a big cloud. It’ll also seem like a quarter of your oil goes down with it.
Last drops on the Honey Vape cartridge
Overall, the Honey Vape Green Crack cartridge just falls short of our recommendation. At a cheaper price, it would make the cut. Either that or a better cartridge design and consistency of oil. I’d much rather go with a full gram of Heavy Hitters or Brass Knuckles. They deliver such a better vaping experience and don’t cost that much more for double the amount of concentrate. More information can be found on HoneyVape here.
Questions or comments on our Honey Vape review? Post below or on our forum!
Fake cartridges are becoming more and popular, causing skepticism in various companies. To begin, the cannabis industry has been around for years, allowing legal experimenting and tests on cannabis and its properties. Terpenes and concentrates have been around for over 5 decades, but as technology advances so does the quality. With many ways to consume concentrate, vaporizing with oil cartridges seems to be one of the most popular trend.
Vape cartridges, also sometimes referred to as vape pens orwax pens, is becoming very popular because of its convenience and efficiency. Concentrates smoked through carts make life easier since there’s no packing dabs, also the discretion is just a plus. Making it less harsh to smoke, cartridges are becoming high on demand in the cannabis market. Although this is great for people who like smoking discretely, the black market is selling an abundance of fake cartridges. Because of this reason, many people are becoming skeptical, causing a negative impact for cannabis companies and dispensaries.
What even are cartridges and are they safe?
First off, cartridges have been around for about a decade in the vape industry, but only for vape juice. Because modern technology has advanced, thick oils have been made easier to consume cartridges. Before ceramic CCELL coils were used and discovered, tinctures were prepared in a unique way. This allows people to vaporize concentrate easily.
Cartridges used by companies are mainly distillates and terpenes, or even concentrates combined together to their own unique taste. Each brand uses their choice of oil, and unless its lab tested there’s no telling the quality of the product. This has been disrupting the cannabis industry, especially since there is no official regulations. In addition, companies have issues suing other manufacturers that distribute bad oil since it’s still a federally illegal product.
Update 12/17/2019: Muha Meds is currently pursuing licensing this page will be further updated by 12/18/2019 with more information.
A list of all known fake cartridge brands so far
This includes all known fake brands, street brands, counterfeits, and black market brands. We’ll update this list as more are discovered.
To break it down in simpler words, companies take distillate and add their own flavors (terpenes), then fill up cartridges. Distillate is just a type concentrates extracted from all properties, making it solvent free through a simple distillation process. Left often with over 90% raw THC, the distillate is than ready to be mixed with terpene of choice.
Tinctures were prepared to fill up regular vape cartridges before the distillation process of any concentrate was discovered. Medical grade propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine are often used as base additives. Even though they were intended for vape juice. The vape cartridge (tank) is than filled up with the new mixed together juice. With all of the bunk carts that are going around, this method is most likely used with many counterfeits.
Fake cartridges and the black market
With the rise and popularity of these cartridges, merchants seek opportunities in making money by selling counterfeit products. This means there is no telling what exactly you are vaping anymore if you aren’t purchasing from legitimate dispensaries. High demands for carts causes sources on the counterfeit market to sell faster, meaning many carts out there are probably illegitimate.
The popularity of vape cartridges makes it easier for vendors to sell fake carts to people living in illegal states. Vendors distribute oils in packages that the counterfeit market provides, leaving consumers clueless. Usually, you will never know what you’re vaping if the packaging is either not official or even existent. Most official companies usually have lab tested product, but the black market always seems to produce amazing fakes. Even real carts have still had pesticide and residual solvent issues though.
Well known packaging massively sold by Chinese manufacturers
Companies from overseas are manufacturing empty cartridges in bulk with unofficial “official” branded casings . Popular branded companies, like Brass Knuckles,Dank Vapes, and dozens more are being listed as copyrighted and distributed as legit.
Although some companies make it easier to distinguish fake cartridges to an authentic ones, this has become very problematic. Ruining the reputation and reliability of the company and unsure if any if the oil is safe what so ever. These companies may consistently update their packaging for this reason, but Chinese manufacturers catch up and replicate the new packaging.
Once the cartridges are sold they get shipped, allowing vendors to fill up the cartridge with their own distillate. Unreliable carts will always rise suspicious, making people unsure. Besides this, counterfeits are negatively impacting the reputation of these cartridges.
De-branding big branded companies
As cartridges are keep getting more popular, more fakes are keep on selling in the black market. Until cannabis becomes legal and recreational for the public to smoke, fake vendors will not stop selling to consumers. Counterfeits flood streets everywhere and the manufactures only seem to get better at making the packaging look legit. The only way to tell if your cartridge is 100% legit is to buy it from an authorized reseller of that brand.
Social media has become a platform to sell fake vape cartridges
Yes, you did read that right, and you may even be wondering, how may this be possible? Although social media platforms are very strict with the content you post, this doesn’t stop vendors from promoting their products. Eventually, these platforms do catch on and will either delete the content or even their page. But merchants will keep creating profiles to put in their contact information, selling and shipping these fake cartridges.
Some of these companies aren’t even official cartridges, rather just packages of ‘brands’ created by Chinese manufacturers
Whereas most companies provide information about their products online, some of these companies aren’t authentic what so ever. Furthermore, some of theses fake cartridges are just manufacturers, selling cartridges for the purpose of filling them with distillate. Unfortunately there is no telling if they’re official or not due to the lack of data given.
Companies and DabConnection are taking action in regards to these fake cartridges
Despite replicas being sold in the black market, these branded companies are taking extra measures to prevent from this happening. They’ll do so by sharing information on their social platforms, explaining how to tell apart fakes carts from legit ones. Below are our insights into fake cartridges as well as links to our pages that explain fakes for particular brands more in depth.
Fake Brass Knuckles cartridges
One of the easiest ways to identify fake Brass Knuckles is real Brass Knuckles have a hologram on the side. Most fake Brass Knuckles cartridges do not. This is the first thing to look for and if there is no hologram you instantly know you have a fake.
Another way to differentiate the real ones is to check for misspelling and misinformation on the bottom of the Packaging. Apart from the lettering being word correctly, real Brass Knuckles have strain information on the bottom. When that information is lacking, you can be sure it is a fake cartridge.
Real Brass Knuckles regardless were having issues with their cartridges
It should be noted that even with the authentic Brass Knuckles, they also are facing a couple of problems. Most recently they have tested clean based on tests they have provided. However, it is hard to trust them after multiple failures for pesticides. There is even a lawsuit against Brass Knuckles currently ongoing for somebody that got sick from their cart. See our vape pen pesticides and solvents test page for Brass Knuckles testing information, current and past.
Fake Heavy Hitters cartridges
With fake Brass Knuckles carts we can tell by a myriad of errors in design. Fake Heavy Hitters vape cartridges look very identical. The great thing that Heavy Hitters does (that Brass Knuckles does not) is provide a list of authorized retailers. Buying from authorized retailers is the only way to guarantee it is an authentic cartridge. The most common place to find these fake vape cartridges is in states where cannabis is illegal. Another thing is that they have tested dirty once again, containing harmful pesticides.
Fake Stiiizy Pods
With fake Stiiizy pods, they look exactly the same as the original ones, it’s not always easy to tell them apart. Also, Stiiizy is currently in the process of changing and updating their packaging. The packaging makes it look cheap. Fake Stiiizy pods may appear to look, smell, and even taste the similar. Stiiizy has tested dirty for benzene as shown on our test page, but it was only once for a small amount of benzene.
One of the main things that Stiiizy prides themselves for is the quality of oil that they deliver. The most definite way to tell if your pod is a fake is by applying the bubble test to it. Furthermore, the bubble test is when you flip your cartridge or pod upside down, watching the speed of the air bubble. If the air bubble rises fast, than you can tell the quality of oil isn’t great, making it a fake.
Fake 710 King Pen
Not only is this a problem but real 710 King Pens have also been having problems recently, testing dirty. Aside from this, it fake 710 King Pen will be more obvious to identify. You can be able to tell apart by various factors, from the sticker of the cartridge to the quality of the oil. But be aware that not all of these fake cartridges don’t have the same variables.
Fake Mario Carts and Exotic Carts
Mario Carts and Exotic Carts have become very popular and everyone is still wondering if they are legit or not. Unlike the previous companies we have mentioned, neither of these two brands have any background information about themselves. Additionally, they both failed lab tests, also containing pesticides.
If we were to have to decide, we believe that all Exotics and Mario carts aren’t official companies. Whereas these are just manufacturers that sell these brand packaging in bulk rather than distillate itself. These companies are mainly to provide refillable cartridges to be sold for people living in illegal markets. Because there is no official information about them yet, this will stay unknown and untrustworthy to smoke. See our page on fake Exotic Carts for more information. We will have further information on fake Mario Carts soon.
Fake Dank Vapes
As mentioned earlier, the affect of fake cartridges have made companies entirely change the look of their packaging. Alternatively, Dank Vapes completely changed their look, having a darker look to their packaging. At this point if there was any central Dank Vapes company, they are not operating. Right now all Dank Vapes are a form of fake cartridge.
On the other hand, the black market has already caught up and started producing replicas of these new packaging! Without it being a month, manufacturers have already found out how to create identical packages and sell them in bundles. Along with that, they even contain over a dozen of pesticides, since last tested on December. See our page on fake Dank Vapes for more information.
Fake Space Vape
When it comes to Fake Space Vapes, you can easily identify if you have a fake or not. The main thing to watch is if you have their updated package or not. Due to so many fakes out, they re-styled their package, making it more difficult for the black market to fake.
After battling with fake cartridges, they decided to stick with this package shown below. These ones are very difficult to fake because the packaging is no where to be found for sale.
Fake TKO Cartridges
TKO’s Vapes is a company based out of California. Therefore, Fake TKO cartridges are everywhere, most likely outselling the original product. The easiest way to identify if you’r cartridge is authentic is if it’s disposable.
Fake Cookies Cartridge
First off, Cookies (the company itself) produces different types of Cannabis products such as flowers, extracts, concentrates, edibles, tinctures, topicals, and more. Unfortunately, there have been many packaging that are fake. Below we’ll show a few fake packaging.
There are a few more packaging are fakes. To see more, check out our full post on Fake Cookies Cartridges. There are only 2 authentic types of package for Cookies Cartridges. If your cart doesn’t look like the ones shown below, you have a fake cartridge.
Fake CCELL Cartridges
CCELL cartridges have become the most known and used cartridge that many companies use to fill in their distillate. Because of this, manufacturers replicated this hardware and sell in bulk to people on the streets rather than licensed dispensaries.
How to identify Fake CCELL Cartridge
CCELL must have these three stamps on the bottom of the cartridge itself. If there is one missing or perhaps with a different fonts, most likely it’s a fake.
As mentioned earlier, sometimes the fonts look slightly different when it comes to the font itself. Apart from that, if you see a white plastic underneath the 510 thread rather than a clear one, there’s a chance it also might be a fake. Read our blog for more information on Fake CCELL Cartridges.
Other types of Fake Vape Cartridges
There are constantly fakes coming out for various cartridges. The best way to stay away is to go to legitimate dispensaries. We will keep making pages on brands of fake cartridges and update this post as we go. You may want to also see our pages on fake Heavy Hitters and fake Space Vape cartridges.
What Are The Health Risks Of Fake Cartridges?
Some of you may be wondering “What’s the big deal?” Now it may be true, you could get legitimate oil from some black market 3rd-party vendor which may only be a step or two below brand name quality. But there’s so much more to vape oil than just the cannabis concentrate itself. Here’s a breakdown of the risks you’re taking:
Pesticides – Pesticides are the oilpen health concern everybody seems to focus on. And well they should! Pesticides are both nasty and a shockingly common contaminant. Out of 44 samples of cannabis oil tested in California two years back, only 3 came back clean of pesticides. Pesticides have too many issues to list here, but some of the health concerns are headaches, nausea, cancer, reproductive harm, endocrine disruption, irritation, tissue damage, dizziness, and fatigue.
Polyethylene glycol – This is an additive common in e-cigarettes for making huge vapor clouds. That’s a pretty effect, but polyethylene glycol has problems. First, it can be contaminated with ethylene oxide, which is classified as a carcinogen. Polyethylene glycol also breaks down into formaldehyde when it burns, AKA embalming fluid, classified as a possible carcinogen.
Propylene glycol – Another smoke enhancer, used in everything from deodorant sticks to smoke machines. But inhaling it is an untested realm of medicine so far. We do know it can cause adverse reactions such as sore throat and muscle pain.
Lead – Plain old regular vape cartridges have tested positive for lead, even on regulated, accredited brands. That should scare you off anything unregulated. Lead is a neurotoxin that causes general and permanent brain damage, in addition to being deadly at higher concentrations. There is no safe exposure quantity of lead. The only acceptable lead levels for something you’re inhaling should be 0%.
Until legalized, fake cartridges will keep causing problems for the cannabis industry
Because this isn’t recreational in all states yet, fake cartridges will keep on emerging and rising in the black market. And there isn’t anything these companies can do yet, with it still being a federally illegal product. With fake cartridges containing pesticides, this is causing illness and massive problems towards companies reputation. Something that you’ll realize with these carts is that even the real ones failed in lab tests, containing harmful distillate.
To conclude, it your best bet is to purchase your cartridges through licensed dispensaries
If you just pick it up from the street, you will never know what you’re truly smoking, making it dangerous to consume. Also, it is ideal to purchase more reliable cartridges that are pesticide free and are high in THC percentage.
Health and safety will always be number 1 for recreational and medicinal users alike. Fake cartridges are more likely to be in the form of bacteria or fungi than cartridges in dispensaries. Likewise, fake carts will have the chemical residues like pesticides more often than not.The negative effect might not be immediately clear still it will manifest when you continue using contaminated cannabis.
Have you seen other fake cartridges not mentioned here? What do you think about them? Post below or comment in our forum!
Perk your ears up and put this one down on your list of future acquisitions! When it comes to supplying a treat, Sunday Goods has got it going on with their THC vape cartridge! After vaping down a .5- gram cartridge of Sunday Goods Trainwreck, there aren’t many negatives to discuss. What really blasts the experience off is the flavor profile and intense effects of the Trainwreck concentrate. Read on to get all the goods about Sunday Goods and their Trainwreck .5-gram cartridge.
Pros:
Pure, Lab-Tested Concentrate
Immediate Intense Effects
Long Energetic Effect
Durable Cartridge
Informative Packaging w/Seal of Assurance
Cons:
Hi Price Tag
Recommendation: Make them a little bit cheaper, but might not be possible due to the high quality oil used.
The Sunday Goods cartridge offers pure, quality oil and a vibrant vaping experience
See our video review below. Keep reading on for the more in depth review.
Besides picking up the Sunday Goods, we also have the Heavy Hitters Malibu OG and the Honey Vape Green Crack. Don’t miss those reviews of cartridges also from MedMen. They will be up shortly.
Out of those three cartridges, the Sunday Goods and the Heavy Hitters stand out the most. The Trainwreck strain of the Sunday Goods cartridge delivers a phenomenal experience. As far as flavor and effect go, the Trainwreck easily takes the top spot.
Sunday Goods .5-gram carts come in an elegant little box that would make a perfect Christmas stocking stuffer. The cartridge itself is fancy with a ceramic reed style mouthpiece. A look at the heating element reveals a cloth wick, a design that’s usually inferior to a coil. In this instance, however, the cloth wick doesn’t hold Sunday Goods back much at all.
A delicious earthy mix of lemon-lime stays on your palate with the Sunday Goods Trainwreck
You Sativa lovers out there know what a good strain of Trainwreck can do. Chances are you also know that it isn’t always very easy to find. Wherever it is that Sunday Goods gets this Trainwreck, the growers know what they’re doing.
So many times when herb goes through the distillation process, it loses parts of its natural taste. You either can’t really place the strain at all or one flavor profile dominates the experience. Sunday Goods doesn’t lose any taste in their Trainwreck cartridge. One vape and you’ll taste that earthy wholeness along with bursts of lemon-lime!
A three-second lung bursting vape tells you this Trainwreck is potent!
Sunday Goods recommends a three-second draw when using their cartridge which is fair advice. You might like to go longer but start with a three-second puff just as an experiment. Hold it in a few seconds and you’ll feel the vapor push against your lungs while expanding.
I prefer longer puffs and I probably go over 5-seconds in the video. You can see that extended puffs aren’t necessary with these cartridges. Test it at different variations to get your right size puff, but you’ll definitely enjoy the effects. Maybe plan some activities then indulge. This Trainwreck will fill you with positive energy.
Hi-scores for both durability and presentation of the cartridge
Sunday Goods puts elegance into their packaging and the cartridges as well. Their bold company logo appears at the base just where the strong glass tube ends. Up top for the mouthpiece is also a bit of extra style. Instead of your usual metal or plastic piece, Sunday Goods opts for a hard ceramic design. Unless you smack these carts with excessive force in just the right spot, they aren’t likely to break.
Below is a video on the breakdown of the Sunday Goods cartridge.
Trainwreck carts by Sunday Goods contain 79.08% THC and no CBD
Informative packaging gives the percentages plus a few other helpful facts about the concentrate. This Trainwreck boasts a potent 79.08% THC with test verification by Cannalysis Labs. Verification includes testing for contaminants with a batch and manufacturing date as proof. Check any Sunday Goods cartridge before checkout for their fresh by date to ensure the highest quality experience.
As for potency, the concentrate feels like it’s higher than it’s near 80% THC content. Perhaps the intense effects are due to the expando quality of the oil. Maybe it’s just that the effects hit so suddenly. Either way, the carts’ vibrant euphoria along with a superb taste are the high points.
High value drives up the asking price
Because the Sunday Goods cartridge in this review comes from MedMen, a legit dispensary, sales and excise taxes also apply. You might do away with the sales tax by having your medical card, but $45.00 before tax is still expensive. Does that take away the value? It might for some but it doesn’t for us, and here’s why!
For one thing, it isn’t easy to find a Sunday Goods cartridge in most dispensaries. It’s also understandable for a company to charge more when they incur extra charges. They can only use growers who don’t use pesticides and they also have to pay for testing. Perhaps the packaging is bit extravagant but we do appreciate the tamper safe seal. It comes down to this. If pure high-quality oil is a priority, you may have to go to a legit dispensary.
Sunday Goods cartridge disassembly
An examination of the cartridge’s inner workings reveals the wick and wire heating system, a design I’m not very fond of. I do have to say, however, that in this instance the cloth wick is not a drawback. The cartridge allows a constant fluid draw which is sometimes an issue in this design.
I feel like the incredible quality of the Trainwreck oil makes the cloth wick design more than adequate. A coil and rod would supply a bigger hit, but the cartridge would be gone before you know it.
In the image showing the cartridge breakdown, you can see some of the points I talk about. For a mouthpiece, the cart uses a ceramic reed style and it does screw right off. Refill and reuse these carts if you so desire! Thick glass forms the outer tube and a metal draw tube descends down to the element housing.
Inside the element’s housing is a tightly wrapped cloth which absorbs the oil. Gravity does its work so that the oil sits near the bottom wires, ready for ignition til empty. Proper design at the base of the draw tube leaves plenty of room for absorption. No trace amounts of oil are left behind at the end. Finally, you’ll find the cart ends with 510 threading to fit your standard battery size.
Sunday Goods claims 125 servings in their .5-gram cartridge
Obviously, this isn’t an exact science but it definitely offers a nice point of reference. According to the back of the package, it states:
“For a proper feel-good experience, take a short draw to prime cartridge before attaching to battery. We recommend a three-second draw from the mouthpiece for a single serving. This cartridge contains 125 servings”.
Pretty cool, huh? Of course, if you hit the cartridge super hard for three-seconds it probably won’t have 125 servings. A coil heating element would almost certainly not give that many servings. Go for six or seven seconds on your draw and you’ll feel like a trainwreck hit you.
End of the line on the Sunday Goods cartridge review
For a potent and flavor concentrate, make sure to keep an eye out for this Trainwreck cartridge. The only drawback we can find is in the heating system, and it isn’t really a drawback at all. In fact, many connoisseurs prefer a short controlled draw over a lung-bursting vape. Ideally, you have the option of either or. We highly recommend the Sunday Goods Trainwreck cartridge for those who can splurge on quality. It doesn’t fall too short of perfection. For now you can find more information on Sunday Goods products on WeedMaps. It appears the Sunday Goods website is partially down.
This review comes after a recent trip down to MedMen in Kearny Mesa, San Diego. Located at 5125 Convoy Steet Unit #211, San Diego, CA 92111, we like MedMen for their quality and selection of product. Open 8 AM to 9 PM daily. If you happen to read the customer reviews on Weedmaps, they leave out important information. Continue reading for the full report on MedMen.
Pros:
Authentic, Lab Tested Products
Excellent Variety & Selection
Helpful & Abundant Staffing
Informative & Innovative Display Of Products
Easy To Access Location
Plenty Of Parking
Cons:
Sales & Excise Taxes
No Bud Lounge
Tough To Smell The Bud On Display
Recommendations: A lounge and a way to easier smell the buds would be great.
MedMen San Diego – Kearny Mesa: A legitimate dispensary with quality cannabis, but can be expensive
Looking at the dispensary on Weedmaps, you might decide to choose another place. The customer reviews, however, are very misleading. If cost is all you care about, you can find a cheaper dispensary. MedMen offers only the highest quality cannabis products, and they have an extensive menu. As one of the few fully licensed dispensaries in San Diego County, the excise and sales tax they charge results in a higher bill. It’s worth it if you want the best. Keep in mind many of the bad reviews about it on WeedMaps are due to pricing, not quality.
See our video review below of MedMen San Diego, and keep reading on to see the more in depth written review.
Certified, pesticide-free cannabis makes it worth the trip
The way Nevada handles cannabis since its legalization makes it tough for dispensaries to operate outside of their regulations. So what you find is that Nevada dispensaries carry pure products. They have to be per the State set standards.
California is miles behind Nevada when it comes to dispensary standards. In San Diego County, a frontier area for cannabis shops, only 17 have legitimate licenses. Hundreds of pop-up shops likely exist in the county, and who really knows what’s in their cannabis?
We continue to find instances of name brand ripoffs and cartridges that test dirty for pesticides all over the place. A lot of these products are coming from unlicensed dispensaries when they aren’t being shut down by local authorities. At MedMen, you can find authentic products in their original sealed packaging. Many provide batch numbers with lab test results.
MedMen carries extracts, carts, edibles, & more you won’t find in unlicensed CA dispensaries
New age best describes the feel and setup of the store. Present your ID to the doorman as you stare into the shop through the front glass wall. Upon entry, the shop has the feel of a mobile phone store without the annoying salespeople.
On the walls are small shelves and pegs with cartridges, edibles, and other products. Most of the cannabis products are in the back, behind closed door. The main displays are set up on several tables spread out on the sales floor. These tables have touch screens that provide all the product info for concentrates. I picked up a Heavy Hitters Malibu Cartridge, which isn’t too rare. The Sunday Goods and Honey Vape cartridges aren’t as easy to find.
The same goes for the flower. Bud tables have the touchscreens for devouring information about the product. Next to each touchscreen is a jar full of weed. The jars have a magnifying glass on top and a small spring door to smell.
MedMen doesn’t advertise any deals
Perhaps they offer a senior citizen discount if you ask in the store but they sure don’t advertise any deals. A check on Weedmaps and the MedMen store website comes up empty.
Expect sales & excise tax charges at MedMen
Products at MedMen aren’t cheap, to begin with. The truth is that so far in San Diego County, legit dispensaries charge more to stay in business. At least MedMen sure does. Even if their prices drop a bit, you’ll still pay the sales and excise taxes that apply. Check my sales receipt below for an idea of what to expect.
MedMen has a large and knowledgeable sales staff
Walk into MedMen and the amount of staff on the floor is immediately noticeable. They all wear the red MedMen uniform shirt and approach customers asking if they can be of help. Once a budtender helps you, they’ll retrieve what you want from the back if not on the shelf. When you’re all set, your budtender will take you to one of the counters and ring you up.
Pay more but get assurance & quality at MedMen
Driving down from North County, MedMen is my first experience with a licensed San Diego dispensary. That being said, their prices are still on the higher end. I see .5 gram cartridges at Golden State Greens in Point Loma, for instance, for $33.00. I don’t think MedMen has anything under $40.00. Still, MedMen has some quality cannabis and a wide variety of choices.
Closing Thoughts… at this point in California, go to a licensed dispensary to get authentic cannabis products. MedMen does get pricey, but they can’t avoid the taxes for being legit. The variety, quality, and assurance of a safe product are worth it if you can afford to splurge.
Fake Space Vape are becoming popular and found more often. Many vendors across the country that sell them all the time. Here we show how to identify real Space Vape products and how to tell if they’re fake.
What Is A Fake Space Vape Cartridge?
Space vape cartridges is considered fake when the oil is not made by the company itself, risking it containing pesticides, residual solvents, and lower quality oil. Similarly looking a lot like the legit ones, the packaging is being sold by Chinese manufacturers online. Fake cartridges have become a big problem for concentrate vape creators.
On the other hand, the good thing about this company is that they have built a positive reputation. Serving high quality oil and various products. As mentioned in their website, Space Vapes do have positive lab results that proves to have no pesticides in them.
Identifying fake Space Vape
Space Vapes took the initiative to change the way their packaging and cartridges are because of this reason. As long as there are fakes in the market, Space Vapes will keep consistently updating their products and package. To stay updated, check out their official Instagram page to ensure which cartridges are from them and which ones aren’t.
Old, inaccurate packaging or cartridge
First off, Space Vape decided to change the outlook of the cartridge and packaging because of this reason. With the new ones, they took off the alien head on the cartridge. If you ever get one with Space vape on the cart itself, then it most likely is a fake. Also, it must say alien before the name of the flavor. For instance, Alien strawberry.
Not only this, but something that the plastic clamshell packaging must always have is Canna PK embossed at the bottom. As long as these words are imprinted anywhere on the bottom, it is legit.
Improper grammer and spelling
Of course, the simplest way to see if it’s a fake is to check for bad spelling. China is notorious for misspelling things and this is an easy thing to spot. Unfortunately, because of this it’s an easy thing for them to fix, so this might not last forever. Remember, even the tiniest things like one word not capitalized can tell the difference.
Poor oil quality
Another key point to look out for is the quality of the oil. Something that Space Vape prides themselves of having high quality concentrates, containing over 90% THC. With this in mind, the oil density should be thick and should have a strong, clear gold color. Whereas it should not be a dark nor have a strong color, like the image shown below.
Flavors that aren’t made from them
Although Space Vape have over a dozen different flavors, certain fakes will have flavors that aren’t originally made by them. To point out, below are the list of the flavors that are currently being sold by them.
Note: They MUST say Alien before each flavor:
Berry Pie
Blueberry Haze
Cookies
Fire OG
Gelato
Grapefruit
Grandaddy Purple
Jack Herer
King Louis
Limoncello OG
Melon OG
Punch
Sherbert
Strawberry
Sour Diesel
Sour Tangy
Watermelon
Zkittlez
Without a doubt, Space Vape will keep coming out with new products and flavors. As they do, we will keep updating this list. In the meantime here are the few flavors that aren’t made by them;
As we get more information we will keep updating this post. Check out our Space Vape review for more info on the real thing. If you have information you would like to add, please comment below, post in our forum, or email us at community@3.220.195.53.
Fake Dank Vapes carts are everywhere. Shady vendors across the country sell them all the time. Dank cartridges have become the most well-known black market brand. As far as we or anybody else has been able to discover, all Dank cartridges are fake and have always been fake. The cannabis industry is plagued by fake cartridges. Not just fake oil brands, but hardware too. Vape cart sellers offer products globally through aggressive online marketing, with vendors spamming all over YouTube and Instagram.
Update 4/6/2019: Raised artwork has been added to new Dank Vape packaging. See below for more information.
Update 9/5/2019: At this point there is so much Dank Vapes packaging now available it does not appear to be that any one single source makes the “brand.” Therefore, we will continue to update this post on packaging changes. If you are in a legal state, it is recommended to avoid “street brands” altogether. Check out our best cartridge picks for California and Nevada if you are in one of those states.
Update 10/13/2019: We added a FAQ below to answer commonly asked questions about Dank Vapes. We have also edited this post as new events have come to light in the epidemic of black market cartridges.
Dank Vapes may have never been legit
The original Dank Vapes is alleged to have been made by Dankwoods, originally known for using Backwoods cigars to make blunts. Dank Vapes now has packaging showing up on various sites. You can now find packaging for Dank Vapes on Alibaba, eBay, Amazon, and other sites. Even vape specific sites carry them like Cheapest Vape Supplies.
There has never been a registered business in this name. Chinese companies offer counterfeit and made-up items at a price of pennies per lot. As a result, you get products failing horribly in health testing. Authentic cannabis is very valuable and it comes with a price, but it’s cheap and easy to cut extracts or distillates with vitamin E acetate, synthetic cannabis like K2 or Spice, or other harmful additives.
Frequently asked Dank Vapes Questions.
Here we will go through all the most commonly asked Dank Vapes questions. If you have a question not covered here, post it below in our comments.
How do I know if my Dank Vapes is real?
No Dank Vapes are real at this point. Any real Dank Vapes that may have existed as a company based in Los Angeles, California, no longer exists.
What is a Dank Vape?
A Dank Vape is a fake cartridge printed in China. They are made to look like they are part of a brand called Dank Vapes, but the brand is fake. Empty versions of Dank cartridges are sold on Alibaba and DHgate. They are then filled by THC oil producers, often cut with less than desirable ingredients.
Do Dank Vapes have pesticides?
More likely than not, yes. Dank Vapes contain THC oil that can be filled by anyone. They have been tested and come up dirty for pesticides. However, any Dank Vapes you get could have different oil in it.
Will Dank Vapes ship anywhere?
Be warned of fake companies shipping Dank Vapes. Most of these are scams that take your money and never actually ship the products. Don’t buy online as you probably will not get the product.
Keep reading on we will explain everything we know about fake Dank Vapes cartridges. We go through the identifiers from easiest to hardest. If your Dank Vapes cartridge does not pass one of these checks, it’s a fake. Some of the tests are not black or white answers, like determining the thinness of the oil, but we offer pictures to help guide you in the right direction.
Fake Dank Vapes : Pretty packaging, look for the holograms and cartoons
Were these a real brand from “Cali” as your plug doubtless claims, they’d be subject to California’s packaging laws which forbid the use of cartoon characters, candy-like labeling, or appealing to children.
Another thing is that these new packages now say 1.1 grams on the side of the packaging itself.
The picture below is of the second generation Dank Vapes packaging. It is black, but does not have raised artwork.
One sure sign of a black market with many counterfeiters is the wide variety of package designs. Below is fake packaging from an older Dank Vapes look.
New package designs seem to hit the streets every month.
Fake Dank Vapes : No reputable company sells out of an Instagram account
Multiple accounts are out there on every social media channel calling themselves “the real Dank vapes.” You’ll see “dankofficial,” “officialdank,” “dankofficialvapes,” and every possible iteration. Be suspicious whenever you see a “company” with a hundred claimants to being real. Do you see McDonald’s or Walmart having to tell people “McDonaldsOfficial,” or “OfficialWalmart”?
Check the box for the Instagram usernames
Fake Dank Vapes : fake CCELL hardware
There is some dispute as to whether Dank cartridges use CCELL hardware at all. Fake CCELL cartridges are a problem in itself across the industry, but we can assure one thing: If your Dank Vapes is using a CCELL, then it is for sure fake. Identifying if a fake CCELL hardware is being used would be the next step in telling your Dank Vapes is a fake.
Identify a fake CCELL with Dank Vapes packaging
Fake CCELLs are surprisingly easy to catch, just check the logo on the bottom and compare it to the picture below. Got the stretched out CCELL lettering? Then your cartridge is a fake.
Even real CCELLs might have bunk oil, because anyone can buy authentic CCELLs.
Clear ring vs white ceramic plastic
As shown above, the fake Dank’s do have a white, ceramic ring on the bottom of the cartridge itself.
Fake Dank Vapes Step 4: The real Dank carts have a press on clear top mouth piece, not screw in
The type of mouthpiece the cartridge uses will help determine if it is a real or fake Dank Vapes. Dank Vapes with a ceramic mouthpiece are fakes. You will not find any of those types of Dank Vapes carts shown on their official Instagram page. Dank Vapes only uses clear top, round mouthpieces on their cartridge hardware. Take a look at the mouthpiece pictured below. If you see a Dank Vapes with a different one, it’s a fake.
Here’s the things to look for in a Dank Vapes cart mouthpiece to determine if it is real:
Round, circular top
Does not screw in
Does not pop off easily
Not ceramic or metal
There are a lot of cheaper quality variations on the cartridge that Dank Vapes uses, so make sure to do those checks to see if it is real. Failing any one of the mouthpiece checks will ensure you have a fake Dank Vapes cartridge.
Fake Dank Vapes Step 5: Check for a thick core and If it’s too thick, it’s a fake
This one is easy to check on the internet, but hard to check if you are only looking at the fakes. If you are inspecting Dank Vapes before purchasing to determine if they are real you may want to have this part of the page open. Take a look at the picture below.
On the right side is the fake and you can see in the middle going down the cartridge, the core where the airflow goes through is considerably thicker. You will notice on the @DANKVAPESOFFICIALACCOUNT Instagram page the only cartridge type is that shown on the left.
Take a look at the gap between the inner and outer post in the above photo. In this one you can clearly see there is a sizable gap, where as in the fake on the right in the other photo has almost no gap. If you don’t have this page handy when checking out a possible purchase, make sure to look for the gap. No gap between the center post and side and it’s a fake.
Fake Dank Vapes Step 6, Fake Oil: Checking for diluted, thin or light colored oil, not just a bubble
The bubble test is not an accurate way to check for fake Dank Vapes cartridges, but thin, watery oil is a sign of a fake. Comments on YouTube and forums have stated that if there is a bubble it might be a fake, but we have debunked that. See the pic below.
As you can see this is a shot from the official Dank Vapes Instagram page, and there’s a bubble in the cartridge. Now that we have gotten past that false way to identify Fake Dank Vapes oil, we will show you the real way this step is done.
Thin, light, watery oil is nowhere to be found on the official Dank Vapes page
The type of oil found in Dank Vapes carts is of the darker variety. Not the dark orange look now found on Stiiizy pods, but a darker yellow. Light yellow oil like the cartridge pictured below is most likely going to be a fake.
You will see on the above cartridge there are plenty of air bubbles which is where the rumor came about that air bubbles means it is a fake. Do use air bubbles to try and identify if it is a thin oil or not, but do not based your opinion on whether the oil is fake solely on air bubbles, as you saw previously they can also happen on real Dank Vapes.
Revolution of Dank Vapes since day one
Lack of legit dispensaries amplify the problems with fake cartridges
Dank Vapes cartridges considered fake when the oil is not actually made by Dank Vapes the company. You can never be sure of products coming out of unlicensed dispensaries and legit dispensaries are not carrying Dank Vapes as far as we can tell. You should avoid Dank Vapes if you have legit stores offering better products in your area. We provide this guide as not everyone has access and Dank Vapes might be the only option.
As we mentioned above, these pre-filled vapes are from the creators of DankWoods. Nobody can tell if it is a legit company. There is no information as to where their products come from and the lab results that have come out were not good.
Dank Vapes pesticides and residual solvents tests: Pass and fail
Dank Vapes has both passed and failed pesticides test. Note that it’s hard to tell if what was tested is a real Dank Vapes cart in the first place. If there’s a chance the real one tested dirty, it’s another good reason to skip Dank Vapes altogether. Below we will post all three tests. All of these Dank’s were taken in December of 2018 but on different days.
First test: Dank Vapes fails for pesticides
Here the Dank Vapes King Louis cart had beyond a safe level of the pesticides Bifenazate, Bifenthrin, and Permethrins. The fungicides Metalaxyl, Myclobutanil and Tebucanazole were also present. We looked up the side effects and Bifenthrin seems to have the worst. According to Toxnet, side effects can include dizziness, spasms, tremors and numbness. But really all this stuff you don’t want to hit in your vape cart.
Second test: Dank Vapes passes clean here
The only gripe we have about this test is it does not list all the pesticides, fungicides, and residual solvents in order. We in general are skeptical of any non-independent tests. Tests done by independent parties are more trustworthy than ones done by the company themselves. Brass Knuckles, who also has been subject to counterfeits, has tested clean on their own tests while independent tests have shown as dirty.
Third test: Dank Vapes carts fail again for pesticides
The above test is the latest test result we could find for Dank Vapes. Done by datdude4150 on Instagram, we use much of his information for our own oil pen pesticides and solvents list.
The Dank Vapes Hardcore OG had unsafe amounts of the pesticides Bifenazate, Bifenthrin, Chlorfenapyr, Etofenprox, Etoxazole, Hexythiazox, and Permethrin. It contained unsafe amounts of the fungicides Myclobutanil, Paclobutrazol, Propiconazole, Tebucanazole and Tryfloxtrrobin. Etoxazole has awful side effects including Anemia, body weight decrease, prostate issues and problems with adrenal glands.
Lots of brands fail pesticides test, but some never have
It should be noted that there are many brands that don’t pass pesticides tests. Brands that have consistently tested clean are: Select Elite, Jetty Extracts, Kurvana, Rove and Honey Vape. One thing these companies have in common is they are all registered and you can find the people being them. For example Select Elite is by Select Oil, registered in a few states, and was founded by Nitin Khanna. Jetty Extracts is registered in California and has industry veteran Nate Ferguson behind the wheel making extracts.
See our THC cartridge pesticides and residual solvents test page for more info on the latest tests so you can make sure what you are vaping is clean. If you are in Nevada, testing is strict so just make sure to buy from legit stores and you are good to go.
Reasons why you should get your vape carts from legit dispensaries instead of black market retailers
Health and Safety – Health and safety will always be number 1 for recreational and medicinal users alike. These street cartridges might be cheaper at times, but this makes it more probable of it being contaminated. Contaminants in the form of pesticides, fungicides, and residual solvents are all over the black market. Even if you are in a black market area, look for white market cartridges that have made it your way. Even Brite Labs carts have been seen in the Chicago area recently.
The negative effects of pesticides and residual solvents might not be immediately clear but it might manifest when you continue using contaminated cannabis priducts. There were those who were unlucky though and got the shorter end of the stick when they consumed a fake cannabis product in April of 2018: an outbreak in Illinois was reported with 2 deaths and 54 other cases of bleeding.
Supporting the legal cannabis industry – You show your support to the Cannabis Industry by purchasing from licensed sellers. When you buy from legit suppliers they provide stable jobs in the new legal cannabis industry. The black market does not care about your safety, they want to get the most money out of a product.
Bad for the environment – remember that illegal cultivators are operating out of places that do not meet all safety and environmental standards. Disposal of waste may not be properly carried out nor is worker safety often a top priority.
Everyone’s Happy – As soon as we straighten things up from top to bottom then we can all be happy. Eventually we will all benefit from cannabis as long as we have clean cultivators, licensed dispensaries and an end to the black market.
As we get more information we will keep updating this post. Remember the easiest way to spot a fake Dank Vapes cart is to look for new packaging. If it’s the old, non-black style, most likely it is fake. Once you pass that test, go on to the next five steps to determine if your Dank Vapes cart is real or not.
If you have information you would like to add, please comment below. If you have a cartridge and still can’t tell if it’s a fake, post in our oil pen forum and one of our experts will answer.
Fake Exotic carts are everywhere. Shady vendors across the country sell all types of fake cartridges and they buy them directly from China. Here, we’ll show how to identify them as well as the name of the companies that are making fake Exotic carts.
Update 10/21/2019: All Exotic Cartridges are fake, they are only a packaging brand.
What are fake Exotic cartridges?
An Exotic cartridge is considered a fake when it contains oil that was not made by the actual company. In China, companies make cartridges with Exotic cart branding, logos, and packaging. We are not sure if the real company is able to pursue any of the Chinese makers legally, because there might not be a trademark since technically Exotic cartridge is a federally illegal product.
To begin with, there isn’t even any information about the company itself in the first place. Making it more skeptical and unsure about the oil quality and what’s actually in it. Apart of this, there are many fakes out there ranging anywhere from $30 a gram to $60 a gram, sometimes even more. Namely, we highly doubt the legitimacy of Exotic carts as a company. What does this mean? We can’t be sure that the product is pure.
Key things to look for when identifying fake Exotic cartridges
Poor oil quality and low consistency level
Some of these fake carts seem to have a very thin, waxy consistency. Even though these cartridges claim to have 80%-85% THC level, vendors can put any sort of oil they’d like. Some people will even say that some of these carts aren’t as strong as they claim to be. Not only this, but there are others who say that these carts leave a weird, burnt aftertaste to it.
Fake Exotic carts are easy to open and not sealed tightly
If you ever have an Exotic cart that isn’t sealed, or any cart in general, you should be a bit skeptical to whether it is legit or not. These fake Exotic cartridges aren’t sealed right, allowing them to be easily refillable with any sort of oil that people can sell to you. You can tell this by squeezing above the resealable zipper, this will allow it to pop open easily.
The packaging isn’t holographic
This is a bit of a contradiction. Exotic carts recently came out with new flavors and will keep coming out with more. With that being said, the packaging to these new flavors come with a holographic tint. Packages without this tint can mean they’re either trying to get rid of their old inventory or they’re possibly fake. On the contrary, there are many counterfeit holographic packages being sold everywhere online.
Has a silver or lighter-color mouth piece to it
Another thing I realized is that some of these fake carts are either silver or light gold. As far as I know, their Instagram page shows the mouth piece with a strong Gold color to it. Most cartridges have a strong gold color to it, but some vendors sell them with a silver color to it.
UPDATE 2021 : New packaging found
As you can see from this post’s date, we were pointing out Exotic cart fakes way back in 2018! Well here it is August 2021, and we ran across these:
“Rona guaranteed or your money back” – You know what, I’m starting to love the 2020s. It’s like every 1980s dystopian teen movie came true at once.
This, of course, is a reference to the TV reality show Tiger King. It was a huge hit right when COVID-19 started up. Recognize it here?
When the US first reluctantly started lockdown quarantine, millions of Americans took to streaming video at home, and Tiger King suddenly got popular through sheer viral luck. China cart packagers just went “well it came up in Google, it must be part of our branding!”
The second one is modeled after former US president Donald Trump, as a “presidential kush” strain. (hint: there is no such cannabis strain). This one echoes those “Fat Donald” carts we saw way back when. I’m getting to know Chinese packaging art too, and I’ve seen this one-eyed cyclops motif all over Exotic carts packaging before – plenty of examples on this page. I think it’s their cultural way of depicting a foolish person. Traditionally, the cyclops represents narrow-mindedness, or people who see things through only one perspective. But they also brand the Kool-Aid pitcher with it, so maybe to them it just means their artists can’t draw 2 eyes.
Here are the companies that are making fake Exotic carts
For ones that had a picture I am including a picture so you can identify fakes better. The picture of each company’s fake will be below their information. Please add any data you may have in the comments section or discuss fake Exotic carts here on our forum. This page will be updated as new fakes are found.
Contact Person: Nicolas Tse
Whatsapp/Tel:+8613377489055
Website: www.mokecig.com
As we get more information we will keep updating this post. If you have information you would like to add, please comment below, post in our forum, or email us at community@3.220.195.53.
Fake 710 King Pen cartridges are everywhere. Shady vendors across the country try to sell them all the time and they buy them directly from China. Here, we’ll show how to identify them and name the companies making fake 710 King Pen cartridges.
Not only is this a problem but real 710 King Pens have also been having problems recently, testing dirty. See vape pen pesticides, strength, and residual solvents test page for more information. The real 710 King Pen THC cartridges are made by Loudpack. You can find a list of authorized retailers here and at the bottom of this page.
What is a fake 710 King Pen?
710 King Pen is considered fake when it contains oil that was not made by the actual company. In China, companies make vape pens with 710 King Pen branding, logos, and packaging that are then shipped to different buyers who fill them. The real cartridges are most likely manufactured in China as well, but they are filled by the actual We are not sure if the real company is able to pursue any of the Chinese makers legally, because there might not be a trademark since technically 710 King Pen is a federally illegal product. The same problem exists with fake Brass Knuckles cartridges.
Here’s the first thing to look for: logo on the cartridge body
If there is no logo on the body of the cartridge, it is fake. See below a picture of a real 710 King Pen with the appropriate logo placement.
If the logo is placed somewhere else, you do not have a legitimate 710 King Pen. Keep reading for other information if your vape cart passes this test.
Fake 710 King Pen will be more obvious to identify
Unlike the fake Heavy Hitters, fake 710 King Pens are a more obvious and you can usually tell easily is actually fake or not. Therefore, you can notice by various factors, from the sticker of the cartridge to the quality of the oil. But be aware that not all of these fake cartridges don’t have the same variables.
Key things to look for when identifying fake 710 King Pen
You can tell by the font, the low quality of the print as well as the sticker
First of all, you can tell right away that the font from the fakes are different than from the original. Above all, keep an eye on this, because each fake 710 King Pen cartridge might have different fonts. It can be the slightest change, as in just the boldness of the font, that can show it’s not real. Also, you can notice that the sticker seems to be made poorly, the color of it seems to be a bit lighter.
Oil color on these fake 710 King pen seem lighter and looks like it’s more of a wax consistency
Something that I realized with the fake 710 King Pen is the oil quality. It seems like these fake cartridges seem to have cloudier looking oil and also seems glossy, compared to the real ones. Also, some people claim that the oil is more of a wax consistency than a thick oil.
It doesn’t have a logo at all
Not to mention that some of these fake 710 King Pen don’t have any sort of logo representing the company. But again, be aware that not all of these fake cartridges will be like this, some of them will have it.
Differing from the original ones, another thing that indicates if the 710 King Pens are fake is that they don’t have any lab testing sticker to indicate any kind of THC or CBD level on the packaging. Usually, 710 King Pens have that sort of information on the packaging or sticker. When you see one that doesn’t, then it most likely will be a fake.
Fake 710 King Pen cartridges and real ones are both in China
I went through and searched for various fakes. For ones that had a picture I am including a picture so you can identify fakes better below. Below are pictures of various manufacturer’s fake vape cart. Please add any data you may have in the comments section or discuss fake 710 King Pen cartridges here on our forum. This page will be updated as new fakes are found. Real 710 King Pen vape cartridges are made in China as well. The difference is when they come to the U.S. they are filled with the proper oil. The fakes could be filled with any oil.
Pictures of fake 710 King Pen carts:
List of Authorized Resellers
Los Angeles
-GREENWOLF
-TLC COLLECTIVE
-DTPG COLLECTIVE
-NEW AGE CARE CENTER
-NEW AMSTERDAM NATURALS
-UHCC
-CLOUD 8th DTLA
-EUPHORIC CAREGIVERS
-LAX CC.
-MEDMEN BEVERLY HILLS
-MEDMEN DTLA
-MEDMEN LAX
-MEDMEN VENICE
-MEDMEN WEHO
-ROSE COLLECTIVE
-THE GREEN EASY
-THE KIND CENTER AND TKC
-THE WESTWOOD FARMACY
-WESTERN CAREGIVERS
-BEVERLY HILLS ALTERNATIVE RELIEF CENTER
-EXHALE MED CENTER
San Jose
-HARBORSIDE
-CONNECTED SAN JOSE
-HAZE
-NATURAL HERBAL PAIN RELIEF
-THE GUILD
-BIG SUR CANNABOTICALS
-CANNA CULTURE
-CURBSTONE EXCHANGE LLC
-EMERALD SKYWAY
-HIGHER LEVEL
-SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAIN HERB
-THERAPEUTIC HEALTHCARE COLLECTIVE
-TREEHOUSE
-WHITE FIRE
-THERALEAF
-SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAIN HERB – LOS GATOS
-AIRFIELD SUPPLY
San Francisco
-COOKIE CO 415
-COOKIES SF
-ELEVATED SAN FRANCISCO
-GRASS ROOTS
-MEDITHRIVE
-MISSION ORGANIC CENTER
-PURPLE STMD COLLECTIVE
-URBAN PHARM
-PROVEN SF
San Diego
-OUTLIERS COLLECTIVE
-APOTHEKARE SAN DIEGO
-HARBOR COLLECTIVE
-POINT LOMA PATIENTS
-SOUTHWEST PATIENT GROUP
-SAN DIEGO NATURALS
-THE HEALING CENTER OF SAN DIEGO
-GOLDEN STATE GREENS
-GOLDEN STATE GREENS BALBOA
-THE GROVE
-THCSD
-URBNLEAF
-OUTLIERS
-OLIVE TREE WELLNESS
-SD NATURALS
-GLOBAL GREENS
Modesto
-PATIENT CARE FIRST
-JAYDEN’S JOURNEY COOPERATIVE
-KASE’S JOURNEY
-EMPIRE HEALTH AND WELLNESS
-THE HEALING FLOWER
-THE HONEST CHOICE
-NRC HOLISTIC HEALTH SERVICES
Stockton
-CONNECTED STOCKTON
-FLAVORS
-ZEN GARDEN
Lake Tahoe
-TAHOE WELLNESS COOPERATIVE
Long Beach / OC
-THE HERB LOUNGE
-BLUM SANTA ANA
-BUD AND BLOOM
-CONNECTED SANTA ANA
-DELTA 9 THC LLC
-KANNABIS WORKS
-MEDMEN OC
-420 CENTRAL
-FROM THE EARTH
-GREEN CITY COLLECTIVE / NILE COLLECTIVE
-LONG BEACH WELLNESS
-BLUM SANTA ANA
-10 SPOT COLLECTIVE
-NEW GENERATION
-OC3
-ONE LOVE BEACH CLUB
-SOUTH COAST SAFE ACCESS
North Coast
-HUMBOLDT PATIENT RESOURCE CENTER
-1LTREE LOUNGE
-ALTERNATIVES A HEALTH COLLECTIVE
-DEL NORTE PATIENTS TOGETHER
-REDWOOD COAST COLLECTIVE
-REVOLUTION EMPORIUM
-SONOMA PATIENT GROUP, INC.
-STICKY GROVE
-KURE WELLNESS
LA Valley
-CALI’S FINEST & 3C MEDICAL & COAST TO COAST
-WHTC
-COMPASSIONATE CAREGIVERS OF STUDIO CITY
-GREENLIGHT DISCOUNT
-DIVINE WELLNESS CENTER
-FOOTHILL WELLNESS CENTER
-GVC
-HERBAL PAIN RELIEF CENTER COOPERATIVE
-MISSION HILLS PATIENT COLLECTIVE
-PERENNIAL HOLISTIC WELLNESS CENTER
-STRAIN BALBOA CAREGIVERS
-UNIVERSAL COLLECTIVE
-RDC
-SO-CAL CO-OP
-SMART COLLECTIVE
-PURELIFE ALTERNATIVE WELLNESS CENTER
-THE MARIJUANA FACTORY
-EXHALENCE
-K.U.S.H. ALLEY
-SFVDM
-HEALTHY HERBAL CARE
-CPR
-WEST VALLEY PATIENT GROUP
-FOUNTAIN OF WELLBEING
-WESTSIDE CAREGIVERS
-PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS
-SUN VALLEY CAREGIVERS
-APOTHECARY 420
East Bay
-7 STARS HOLISTIC HEALING CENTER
-BLUM
-BERKELEY PATIENT’S GROUP
-BETTER HEALTH GROUP
-CALIFORNIA COLLECTIVE CARE
-EAST BAY THERAPEUTICS
-GARDEN OF EDEN
-GREEN REMEDY
-HARBORSIDE HEALTH CENTER
-HEMP HOP STATION
-HIGHWAY 29 HEALTHCARE
-HOLLISTIC HEALING COLLECTIVE
-HTP GROUP
-MAGNOLIA WELLNESS
-OAKLAND COMMUNITY PARTNERS
-PATIENT’S CARE COLLECTIVE
-PHYTOLOGIE
-PURPLE HEART
-RELEAF ALTERNATIVE
-US BLOOM
-VALLEJO RELIEF CENTER
-VALLEJO HOLLISTIC HEALTH CENTER
-WE ARE HEMP
Ventura
-OJAI GREENS
-SESPE CREEK COLLECTIVE INC.
-SKUNKMASTERS RDC
-HUENEME PATIENT COLLECTIVE
Santa Barbara / SLO
-SANTA BARBARA CARE CENTER
-805 BEACH BREAKS
-SANTA BARBARA COLLECTIVE
Sacramento
-515 BROADWAY
-NORTHSTAR HOLISTIC
-A THERAPEUTICAL ALTERNATIVE
-ABATIN
-TWO RIVERS
-DIXON WELLNESS (DIXON)
-RIVER CITY PHOENIX
-HUGS ALTERNATIVE
-METRO CANNABIS CO.
-VALLEY HEALTH OPTIONS
-ALPINE ALTERNATIVE
-CC101
-DOCTORS ORDERS
-FLORIN WELLNESS CENTER
-HORIZON
-HOUSE OF ORGANICS
-SAFE CAPITOL COMPASSION COOPERATIVE
-SOUTH SACRAMENTO CARE CENTER
-THC (12 HOUR CARE)
-ZEN GARDEN WELLNESS
-GOLDEN HEALTH AND WELLNESS
-AMC
-CONNECTED SACRAMENTO
-CANNA-COURIERS
-PURE LIFE (SHINGLE SPRINGS)
Inland Empire
-CAPTAIN JACKS
-FIREHOUSE64
-EMPIRE GARDENS
Palm Dessert
-CATHEDRAL CITY CARE COLLECTIVE
-REMEDY INC
-HOTN
-WEST COAST CANNABIS CLUB
-BROWN DOG HEALTH & WELLNESS
-THE OG COLLECTIVE
-GREEN CROSS PHARMA
-ORGANIC SOLUTIONS OF THE DESSERT
-MOTHER EARTH’S FARMACY
-DESERT ORGANIC SOLUTIONS
-GREEN PEARL ORGANICS
-JOY OF LIFE WELLNESS CENTER
-SUN GROW CONSULTING
-CITIDANK
Delivery
OHANA GARDENS – SAC/MODESTO
WHOLESOME DELIVERY – SAC/MODESTO
GDP MANAGEMENT – SAC/MODESTO
EAZE – SAC/MODESTO
HUMBLE ROOT – SAC
EXCLUSIVE CARE – SAC
FIRE ARMS – SAC
OHANA GARDENS – SAC
ORGANIC CARE OF CALIFORNIA – SAC
INDIKA – SF
EAZE HOMETOWN HEART – SF
GOLDEN STATE CANNA – EAST BAY
C.R.A.F.T. – EAST BAY
HERBIN COLLECTIVE – EAST BAY
INDIKA MCC – EAST BAY
MELLOW – EAST BAY
LEFT COAST – SD
GLOBAL GREENS – SD
As we get more information we will keep updating this post. If you have information you would like to add, please comment below, post in our forum!
Fake Stiiizy pen pods have recently been around. Shady vendors across the country try to sell them all the time. Here, we’ll show how to identify them as well as the name of the companies that are making fake Stiiizy carts. See our Stiiizy pen review for more information on the real thing.
Stiiizy pen pods are considered fake when it contains oil that was not made by the actual company. In China, companies make vape pods with Stiiizy branding, logos, and packaging. We are not sure if the real company is able to pursue any of the Chinese makers legally, because there might not be a trademark since technically Stiiizy is a federally illegal product. The same problem exists with fake Brass Knuckles cartridges. See our general post on fake cartridges for information on other brands.
Below is a brief video going over fake Stiiizy pods and below that is our more in depth guide to them.
The issue with spotting fake Stiiizy is that they look very similar to the real ones
Unlike fake brass knuckles, fake Stiiizy cartridges, they look exactly the same as the original one. Also, Stiiizy is currently in the process of changing and updating their packaging. The packaging makes it look cheap. But with that being said, the pods may appear to look, smell, and even taste the same. Stiiizy has tested dirty for benzene as shown on our vape pen pesticides and solvents test page, but it was only once for a small amount of benzene.
Update March 2021:
Newest Stiiizy fakes hitting the market with full details copied from Stiiizy’s own latest packaging:
Key things to look for when identifying fake Stiiizy Cartridges
Misspelled words on the box
Obviously all lettering should be worded correctly. China is notorious for misspelling things and this is an easy thing to spot. Also, it’s an easy thing for them to fix, so this might not last forever.
Inaccurate THC percentages
It may be difficult to watch for this just because you’re not always going the know what the original THC percentage will always be. What we recommend is to contact them asking for the original percent of the strain that you have, they are fairly fast to respond. Also, make sure you are purchasing from an authorized retailer.
Stiizy confirms black plastic insert packaging is fake. *Update 01/17/2019
Here are the companies in China making fake Stiiizy pen pods
For ones that had a picture I am including a picture so you can identify fakes better. The picture of each company’s fake is shown below. Please add any data you may have in the comments section or discuss fake Stiiizy cartridges here on our forum. This page will be updated as new fakes are found.
Also, there are some online sellers who are selling empty cartridges for Stiizy pods as well.
Fake Stiiizy pen pods and other cartridge will continue
As long as some states have legal marijuana dispensaries and others do not, fake Stiiizy cartridges are here to stay. The most common place to find these fake vape carts is in illegal states.
As we get more information we will keep updating this post. If you have information you would like to add, please comment below or post in our forum!