Lansterdam in Review: The cleanest and easiest way to get (very) high in Lansing

Over the last few weeks, cannabis concentrates have found a special place in my heart. With THC percentages well above 60%, they’re usually an incredibly efficient way to smoke. Just a few dabs will usually do the trick. My only complaint: It takes too much effort to use a blow torch.

Enter the vape. These things have come a long way in recent years, from bulky table-top machines to a series of sleeker, handheld pens. Among the newest on the local marijuana scene is the Claw VFIRE Mini — and my new personal favorite way to consume cannabis.

Claw Cannabis, a Michigan-based company, makes a mission out of providing the cleanest, safest products possible to both patients and recreational consumers. They also strive to be “on the cusp of innovation,” according to its website, ensuring that every concentrate cartridge is consistently clean and smooth while staying true to the natural flavor and effects of each strain.

The upfront costs here are tied into the disposable cartridge pods. The battery itself only costs about $25, but each oil-filled cartridge retails for about $50 — or $52 (plus tax) at Homegrown.

The directions are simple: Use a USB cord to charge the pen, stick in a cartridge, press a button and puff away. For reference, the pen is thicker than a Juul, but feels much sturdier in the hand. And with plenty of airflow, it’s among the smoother models I’ve had the pleasure of toking on.

It’s also great for our back-to-school edition because, well, it’s discreet and works in bathrooms.

Claw Cartridge — Strawnana

Price — $52/1g

THC content — 67.5%

Like most concentrate cartridges, expect a high THC percentage with the Claw. But also know that it’s not the only thing that matters for an enjoyable cannabis experience. You’ll get just as ripped from a 50% THC cartridge as you would a 67.5% cartridge like Strawnana. The bigger distinction here is in the terpene profiles, which allow smokers to find the high that hits just right.

Terpenes, for the uninitiated, are organic compounds responsible for giving each cannabis strain its unique smell, taste and effects. Some, for example, may taste like citrus and work well for anxiety or inflammation. Others might carry a sweeter, herbier sort of spice and help with sleep.

The Strawnana, like one might expect, has a rich, creamy sort of flavor with just enough of a fruity taste to fully trick the brain into thinking it’s flavored like a strawberry banana milkshake. It took a while to adjust to vapor after doing nothing but smoke for several months, but it’s smooth.

The predominant terpenes in this blend are limonene, B-caryophyllene, myrcene, ocimene, humulene, pinene and bisabolol. The combination balances a light citrus taste with a spicy, almost clove-like, backdrop that cleared out a week’s worth of mental static and led to a wave of creativity that, since ignored, led to a deep and lengthy conversation about the meaning of life.

Unlike joints and bongs, vape pens tend to give me a much more clear-headed type of high. General euphoria was instant. The subsequent calm wave of focus arrived a few minutes later. Just be warned: The great taste made it way too easy to puff way more than was necessary.

The cartridge itself also lasted longer than expected; I had some leftover on Monday morning after three straight days of relatively heavy weekend use. Concentrates are typically in a higher price range than bud, but with cartridges that last this long, it might actually be a better value. I picked up two cartridges, but simply didn’t have time to crack into the second one. Stay tuned.

Lansterdam in Review is a new column written by Kyle Kaminski, a City Pulse staff writer and cannabis enthusiast who has been smoking marijuana just about every day for the last decade. Kaminski samples some of the best bud in Greater Lansing, gets real high and writes about it.