Lansterdam in Review: Reduced pricing at Homegrown actually competes with illicit sales

This pot shop is killing business for my dealer

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Since its inception, Homegrown Cannabis Co. has made quite a name for itself in Lansing. In February, it became the first pot shop in the city to open its doors for recreational sales. And it has continued to stock some of the most diverse, potent and affordable products on the market.

When friends come to Lansing, I often recommend the place specifically for its unmatched affordability — and not just because it won so many awards in our Top of the Town contest. Edibles and concentrates there can be a few bucks cheaper. Its in-house strains are always dank. Though cheap dispensary prices can still be hard to justify if you know a guy who knows a guy,  Homegrown seem to be trying its best to put my regular plug out of a job — especially this week with the latest release of $25 eighters (and $200 ounces) testing in at 27.3% THC.

Homegrown Cannabis Co. — Harambe (Josey Wales)

Price — $25/3.5g

THC content — 27.3%

This indica-leaning hybrid, first developed by the Ethos Collective in Colorado, was named in honor of the gorilla who was shot and killed at the Cincinnati Zoo in 2016 after a young child entered his enclosure. Ethos donated 10% of seed sales to non-kill animal shelters in Colorado.

The seeds may be imported, but Homegrown employees grew and harvested this house blend (which is also named Josey Wales) themselves in Lansing. Small, dense buds coated in trichomes. A mildly sweet and earthy smell, with citrus undertones that become much more apparent when smoked. A touch of diesel. An airy and acidic smoke that wasn’t overly harsh.

The real kickers: This batch is testing in at a whopping 27.3% and offers an incredible high and an insanely affordable price. A similar eighter could easily set you back $40-50 elsewhere. Even on the illicit market, it can be challenging to find bud this powerful for prices that are this low. I picked up a $200 ounce and may very well be back for another sometime before Christmas.

The high was happy and calm; Enough to relieve some anxiety after just a few tokes but not enough to totally incapacitate me for the rest of the afternoon. This one is a good daily driver — enough of that sativa boost to provide a bit of jitter-free energy and just enough indica to relax.

So, what’s the secret to keeping prices so low and quality so high? Staff there wouldn’t share any insider details, but they recommended I pick up some Pineapple Express at the same price rate.

Owner Tom James told me last month to expect prices to stay low throughout the holiday season in recognition of the ongoing financial struggles that some residents have faced amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Affordability, quality and variety are the recipe to success, he said.

“We’ve really tried to stay aggressive with our pricing,” James said earlier this month. “The pandemic has hurt a lot of people financially, so we want to keep things affordable. We also buy from everybody to keep out there as much variety in products in brands as we possibly can.”

Claw Cannabis VFire Pod — Big Lemons (Sativa Hybrid)

Price — $60/1g

THC content — 75.5%

Another reason my dealer is in trouble? He doesn’t sell vape cartridges. This sativa-hybrid blend from Claw Cannabis was produced in Jackson and, as expected, is sort of like biting into a lemon. Piney and acidic diesel notes are tart like citrus. Even the vapor smells like lemons.

I found this blend to be a perfect pairing for Josey Wales. It only added to its stress-relieving effects. Mixing this vape cartridge into the lineup can also really help to conserve flower intake.

Kyle Kaminski is a City Pulse staff writer and cannabis enthusiast who has been smoking marijuana just about every day for the last decade. Every week, Kaminski samples some of the best cannabis products available in Greater Lansing, gets real high and writes about them.

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