For the month of June, Curaleaf and Select are partnering to celebrate Pride Month by donating $2 from each sale of a Select vape cartridge to support the OnePULSE Foundation, which was established to honor those lost in the 2016 Pulse Nightclub shooting and to honor the countless first responders and healthcare professionals who treated them.

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For three weeks, Curaleaf is gifting a free Pride battery with every Select vape cartridge purchase. Last weekend, I stopped at the new Curaleaf Northbrook, which is an amazing structure, and picked up a Select Elite Live Resin .5g cartridge of Ray Charles and a free Pride battery.

Ray Charles is a 100% pure Indica created through a powerful cross of Romulan (North American Indica and White Rhino) and Afghani Bullrider (reportedly a clone-only Afghani landrace phenotype). This cart tested at 64.87% THC, 12.20% THCa, 0.22% CBD, and 81.35% total cannabinoids. The three leading terpenes included ocimene, pinene, and β-caryophyllene.

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The Select Elite Ray Charles hit with a strong earthy and nutty flavor with back notes of berry, sweet spice, and a little diesel. I had a hard time pinpointing the earthy and nutty flavor, so I kept hitting the cart to the point that the effects stunted my cognitive ability to write this review. I have not sampled the Ray Charles flower, but now I am extremely interested its flavors.

The Ray Charles effects were a tradition indica that delivered an intense physical and mental relaxation. The head-high hit fast with a calming and sedative affect that slowed down racy thoughts and anxiousness. The body buzz also kicked in quickly, relaxing my muscles and aching joints. The Ray Charles also provided a boost in appetite, though that seemed to come much later in the buzz.

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Overall, I used the Select Elite Ray Charles late at night a couple hours before going to bed. The effects basically forced me to wind down and relax while dosing. I didn’t have much motivation, other than to watch television and chill. And I slept well after dosing each night.

Select’s other Illinois strains include Bubba Diagonal (indica), Triangle Kush (indica), Miracle Alien Cookies (indica hybrid), Aces High (sativa hybrid), and Mob Boss (sativa hybrid). Select Elite is available in 0.5g and 1g cartridges at many of Illinois dispensaries.

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According to Curaleaf, Elite Live Cartridges combine high-quality, high-potency THC oil with live resin extract derived from fresh frozen flower. Select’s cartridge design includes a ceramic core and organic cotton wick (instead of a metal or steel) to help improve the flavor. Select oils are infused with freshly harvested terpenes instead of cured plant matter, which explains the “Live” in its name. The proprietary formula of the Select Elite Live products combine high-quality THC oil and live resin terpenes for a robust flavor that ultimately captures more of the living plant and higher terpene content. Elite Live is designed to capture the essence of the living plant with a higher terpene content compared to a traditional distillate cartridge. Curaleaf touts Elite Live as “providing the feeling of flower with the ease of an oil.”

Curaleaf states that it shows year-round commitment to the LGBTQ+ community through QUSH, an employee resource group whose mission is to support and uplift the queer community through education about queerness and allyship within the organization and beyond. Pride month is an opportunity to highlight the diversity and individuality Curaleaf celebrates 365 days a year.

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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.

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Effects & Medical Attributes are based on anecdotal evidence. Individual experiences can be varied.