Purple Voodoo/Banana Kush 70u Bubble Hash (The Releaf Center)

Name: Purple Voodoo and Banana Kush 70 Micron Bubble Hash

From: The Releaf Center

Type: 70 Micron Bubble Bag-extracted water hash made in-house from a mix of Purple Voodoo and Banana Kush (both Indica-dominant strains), pressed into a ball manually

Price: $35/g

Consumption Method:  Various methods including glass pipe with screen, glass concentrate pipe, Eclipse Water Vape, and percolator bong w/diffuser and ashcatcher

Visual: This was a case of appeal being hidden mostly underneath the surface — the outward color of this hash was dark and not particularly attractive, but breaking it open revealed a golden-brown gooey interior.  The texture of this sample was very nice, as it didn’t melt in the hands and could be easily molded into discs or ropes, which is nice for patients who don’t like the crumbly style of hash that is common in dispensaries.  We did see a few flakes of green particulate in the close-ups, but honestly, that may have come mostly due to the finger-rolling method (which we’re not a fan of in general, just for cleanliness’ sake).

Smell/Flavor: There was not a ton of aroma to this sample, though one reviewer commented that it reminded him of some of the nicer traditional hash samples he’s tried, with a light floral + pine combo that carries a hint of “purple” musk.

The flavor was also rather soft and floral, never taking on the bitter, burned taste that hash can often have towards the end of the experience.  Our staff liked the flavor enough, but it wasn’t nearly on the level of some of the water extractions we’ve had lately in terms of retaining flavinoids and terpenes from the original plant.  The smoke was rather smooth and not particularly expansive, making this a suitable choice for patients who don’t wish to cough and like a more traditional hash experience.

Consumption: When heat was applied to this sample, there was a bit of surface bubbling and melting, but it’s definitely what we’d call “full-melt” or even “half-melt” really.  The first hit or two is where the flavor resides, and the first hit is the only time you really see any “action” on the hash’s surface.  That said, due to the sample’s easy-to-handle nature, it was more simple than many extractions to actually consume — just light it up and puff away until it turns into a softly glowing coal-like ball of white ash.

Effects/Duration: This sample came on moderately strong at first, filling the eyes and crown of the head with a pleasant pressure and buzzing feeling that seemed to creep down into the body over the first 15 minutes.  A distinct heart-racing feeling and flights of euphoria come on around 30 minutes, while the body remained slack and warm, with loose muscles.  This one never had us glued to our seats outside of the first 30 minutes, and it mostly served to uplift the mood and ease the physical tensions enough to function well.

Dwindling slowly, this one lingered out past 3 hours, but only felt strong for the first hour or so…the rest of the experience was an even-handed relaxation.  We felt that the primary medical benefits were mood elevation, relief of muscle tension, appetite stimulation, light pain relief (especially nerve pain), and possible ocular relief due to the pressure fluctuations.

Overall: Though we wished it was more in the “full-melt” area and had a more apparent aroma and flavor package, we enjoyed the effects of this hash quite a bit.  The combination of even-handed mood elevation and relaxation and soothing body effects gave it a high medicinal value in our experience, helping with a variety of pain and tension issues.  The effect, while strong once it really kicked in at about 30 minutes, was never overwhelming or incapacitating — this is a hash that you could use in the morning and not be craving a nap by Noon, feeling mentally aware the entire time.  We like this as a daytime med for users who require fairly strong and lasting body relief, but it would also be great a few hours before bed, as it perks the user up at the start, then eases down over a long period.