Illinois Cannabis Products 2024 ‘Favorite Finds’
This past year has been a year of growth for the Illinois cannabis industry as the long-awaited batch of craft growers and infusers started to become a presence in the market. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to review almost 250 products this year, and I wanted to take the time to share a few of my favorites.
Favorite Vape
Vapes were my third most reviewed category for 2024 (18.1% of total reviews) but my favorite was encountered all the way back in February, the Superflux Grapple Pie Live Resin Vape Cart.
— “notes of sweet artificial grape, lime, berry, and apricot, followed closely by a richer mix of hot diesel and toasty malt at the finish”
Honorable mention goes to the new line of Dabstract 1g disposables. Tapping into Bedford Grow’s deep catalog, the label already has a long list of strains available in the new hardware format.
Favorite Edible
Just a few years ago, edibles were my least consumed cannabis format. Reviewing has changed that dramatically. At 30% of all the reviews I did this year, edibles were my second-most reviewed category. While there was so much innovation in the edible space this year, my favorite spot has to go to SweetBuzz Caramel Met Cookie Cups.
— “All the ingredients came through clearly with a creamy but slightly fudgy chocolate exterior, a very sugar-forward caramel, and buttery cookie tasting like a higher quality confection shop version of a Twix bar. The crunchy cookie and creamy caramel also added some intriguing variety to the mouthfeel and kept me coming back for another.”
Close seconds in the category includes the Culinary Canna Co. ‘s Infused Honey and the entire line of PTS Goody Bag “The Bomb” high dose gummies.
Favorite Concentrate
Concentrates got the least attention this year but still contained a few products that really stuck with me. My top choice goes to Legacy’s White Wedding RBX Live Rosin.
— “a savory blend of garlic, aged cheddar, and black pepper at the front, followed closely by a sharper blend of pine, menthol, lime, strawberry, and over ripened blackberry.”
Favorite Flower
The undisputed king of cannabis, cannabis itself. Flower reviews made up a third of the work this year, and the wide range of choice made it hard to pick a favorite, so I chose three:
NEZ Daily Grapes : “sweet notes of artificial grape, berry, and pear appearing among notes of wet slate, roasted meat, post forest rain, and hot diesel. The entire profile seemed to hit the nose all at once, and it took some exploration to pick the scent apart.”
IC Collective Chem Krush: “a tangy opening of chemical diesel, hot steel, overripe plum, and fig. The back end was a richer and earthier combination of wet slate, fresh cut cedar, butter, and humid forest”
DNA Genetics Sharksbreath 2.0: “Light notes of heavy cream, lime peel, and candied berries provided a hint of sweetness before a rich blend of black pepper, roasted meat, peanut butter, oregano, onion, diesel, and cedar dominated the body and finish of the aroma.”
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FDA Disclaimer: The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from healthcare practitioners. Please consult your healthcare professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product.
Effects & Medical Attributes are based on anecdotal evidence. Individual experiences can be varied.