Msiku Pre-Roll Lineup Review

Msiku makes craft quality Cannabis products without the craft quality price. While certainly not the least expensive pre-roll offerings out there, the quality they offer certainly makes Msiku one of the best values for your dollar on the Canadian market right now. Offering six fantastic strains in pre-roll and loose flower, there is a strain, and an experience, for (almost) every taste.

From the beautiful shores of Halifax Nova Scotia, Msiku is one of just a handful of First Nations majority controlled producers. Msiku (M-see-goo), means “grass” in the language of the Mi’kmaq First Nation. The name is a nod to the proud heritage of their people,and that  pride is evident in the care this brand takes with the quality of their products and the quiet, classy, elegance of their branding.

8/10

Highlights

Msiku is a high quality cannabis that delivers a pleasant, potent smoke every time. For this review I sampled each of the company’s preroll offerings. Their full flower prerolls promise no shake and  they deliver. Each package comes with 3 .5g pre-rolls. Each joint was well made and evenly packed. Of the 18 individual joints tested for this review only 2 needed to be re-lit, and the majority burned relatively slowly and evenly providing a pleasant smoking experience.

The Good.

  • Craft quality small batch cannabis.
  • Terpene rich genetics translate to more flavorful and potent smoking experience.
  • Six unique strains deliver a diverse spectrum of flavor, feeling, and function.
  • A unique coffee undertone that transcends strain and marks them all as unmistakably “Msiku”

The Bad

  • While the 3 joint offering, in the standard “dube tube” style packaging is adequate, some joints were a bit drier than others and the extra space inside the tube did cause some minor crushing.
  • I found some strains to be a touch too “gassy” with just a bit too much “Diesel” taste in them for my liking. 

Editor’s Picks.

Msiku’s Nova Glue was one of the best pre-roll experiences I’ve ever had. Slightly gassy, citrus rich flavor along with a unique coffee undertone made it a really interesting taste experience that quickly settled into a heavy comfortable stone.

Nova Glue

Highlights

 The citrus rich flavor is offset by a coffee undertone which I found is a common thread through  all of Msiku’s product offerings. 

The Good

  • Nova Glue offers a balanced mind/ body high that settles somewhat quickly into a heavy comfortable euphoric high.
  • Nice light citrus taste with just a touch of deiselly bite.
  •  A great strain to help bleed off the stress of a day and help you settle into a comfortable relaxed evening.

The Bad

  • No bad here.
CBD-THC ratio:0:1
CBD:0%-1%
THC:20%-26%
Price:$24.95 (CAD)
Lab Report:–

White Wedding

Highlights

This was the most potent of the Msiku preroll options. Msiku’s distinctive coffee undertone adds to an otherwise muted flavor of citrus 

The Good

  • A strong THC rich strain, this batch came in at 25% THC
  • Well made prerolls burned well
  • Msiku’s unique coffee undertone added something original to a well known strain.

The Bad

  • Muted flavor profile lacking in some of the vanilla hints expected with this strain.
  • While many Msiku strains have a hint of diesel in the taste I found this one particularly strong which gave it a bite I didn’t particularly enjoy 
CBD-THC ratio:0:1
CBD:0%-1%
THC:21%-27.5%
Price:$24.95 (CAD)
Lab Report:–

Peggy’s Pride

Highlights

  • Light and sweet with just a touch of spice Peggy’s Pride smokes very smoothly, and is perhaps the most euphorically happy high I’ve had in years.

The Good

  • Gentle, uplifting positive high.
  • An energetic active high, equally  good for a busy day around the house or a long weekend of outdoor adventures.

The Bad 

  • No bad here
CBD-THC ratio:0:1
CBD:0%-1%
THC:19%-24%
Price:$24.95 (CAD)
Lab Report:–

Gelatti

Highlights

Gelatti is as sweet and subtle a taste as its name suggests but it hits with a powerful indica high that makes it perfect for unwinding after a hectic day. 

The Good

  • Sweet fragrant aromas mixed with Msiku’s distinctive coffee undertone cuts the “gassy” or “diesel” taste often associated with the Biscotti genetics that underpin this strain. 
  • A nice heavy indica “high” excellent for stress relief, relaxation and help getting to sleep.

The Bad

  • No bad here
CBD-THC ratio:0:1
CBD:0%-1%
THC:20%-25%
Price:$24.95 (CAD)
Lab Report:–

ICC x Kush Mints 11

Highlights

One of two new genetics from Msiku ICC x Kush Mints 11 combines vanilla and mint with the subtle hints of coffee that i’ve noted throughout the review process along with a bit of citrus that made me think of a bite of lemon cake with my morning coffee.

The Good

  • Interesting taste profile with hints  of both sweet and sour.
  • Heavy hitting indica effects, good strong long lasting euphoric relaxation

The Bad 

  • Burn-out on this strain was high for me. This is a strain that wants to put you to sleep. Definitely not an early in the day smoke.
CBD-THC ratio:0:1
CBD:0%-1%
THC:20%-26%
Price:$24.95 (CAD)
Lab Report:–

Apex

Highlights

Apex is the newest sativa from Msiku and is also the least expensive of their pre-roll offerings. Apex is a people pleaser and it does it’s work.

The Good

  • A nice, light, fruity taste profile that  reminds me of melons
  • Taste pairs very well with a really light, happy, energetic buzz that makes you want to explore
  • Great strain for busy creative days and high energy celebrations at night

The Bad 

  • The least potent of the pre-roll offerings from Msiku.
  • I felt like I could have smoked another after I finished.
CBD-THC ratio:0:1
CBD:0%-1%
THC:20%-26%
Price:$19.95 (CAD)
Lab Report:–

Discovering CBD: Part 1-CBD-ing is Believing.

It’s all the rage, there’s all sorts of buzz about it, indeed CBD products seem to be popping up everywhere, from legal cannabis retailers, to health food stores to pet shops. But what is CBD? How does it work? Are all CBD products equal? I’ll be looking at those first three questions in this article. In Part 2 we’ll discuss several bestselling CBD products, how you should go about choosing a CBD product or regimen and who should and shouldn’t be using CBD.

What is CBD?

CBD, or Cannabidiol, is the second most abundant active chemical compound (or cannabinoid) in the Cannabis family of plants, of which the two most well known members are Cannabis, and Hemp. Unlike THC, which is the chemical responsible for the “high” associated with Cannabis, CBD is non-psychoactive, which means that there is no sense of euphoria, no impairment. 

Repeated studies done on the negative effects of large daily doses of CBD on healthy adults have found it to be very safe, with little to no risk of addiction or overdose, even over extended periods of use. 

While the lack of negative data against CBD is impressive, the research results on what CBD does do is even more so. CBD had been found to be helpful in the treatment of a host of conditions ranging from epilepsy, seizures, and cancer to arthritis, depression, migraines, anxiety, and joint pain. 

How Does it Work?

CBD (and THC) work on the body by means of a system known as your endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system, or E.C.S, is a wide-ranging system of receptors and enzymes which affects nearly every aspect of your health and wellness. Cannabinoid receptors have been found in our cardiovascular system, in immune cells in the bloodstream, on nearly every brain cell, all along the spinal chord, and even on our skin. The (relatively recent) discovery of endocannabinoids and endocannabinoid receptors shines a light on the long, deep and rich relationship between human wellness and cannabinoids. 

The E.C.S uses cannabinoids produced within our own bodies (endo=internal) in order to regulate your homeostasis, or your internal balance. That system can be boosted through the use of phytocannabinoids, or cannabinoids derived from plants, such as THC, CBD, and other less abundant cannabinoids. A properly balanced E.C.S can help regulate sleep, memory, mood, appetite, pain, anxiety and much more.

Are All CBD Products Equal?

CBD comes from two primary sources; the large- flowering, resinous Cannabis plant and the leafier, more fibrous Hemp plant. Regardless of which plant type it comes from, the cbd molecule is identical. Put simply, CBD is CBD no matter where it comes from. 

Does that mean that all CBD products are equal? No it doesn’t. A number of factors can contribute to the quality of your CBD product. The quality of your product will effect your CBD experience, and it’s ability to do what you need it to do.

Contamination is an issue with some CBD products. For example, due to the heavy mining and loose agricultural laws in China, several CBD products derived from Chinese industrial hemp have been found to be contaminated with heavy metals. Always look for CBD products derived from regulated sources, preferably those that have been tested by third party labs.

While CBD is CBD regardless of it’s source, CBD is more abundant in Cannabis plants, and the Cannabis plant has a wide range of cannabinoids and terpenes (the aromatic chemicals which give plants their taste, smell, and which are so beneficial in aroma therapy) beyond THC and CBD. This complex interaction of cannabinoids and terpenes is known as the Entourage Effect and it has been shown to increase the effectiveness of Cannabinoids like THC and CBD. While Hemp also has trace amounts of THC, other cannabinoids and terpenes, their concentrations are far lower. 

So, while CBD products derived from hemp can be beneficial, especially for those who choose to stay away from THC entirely, most users would do best with a full spectrum cannabis-derived CBD product tested by an independent laboratory and purchased from a legal retail location.

I hope that this article has given you a basic understanding of what CBD is, how it works and the differences between Cannabis derived CBD and that derived from Hemp. In Part 2 of the series: CBD and Me, we’ll look at several bestselling CBD products, how to choose a CBD product or regimen that’s right for you, and who should and shouldn’t be using CBD.I hope that this article has given you a basic understanding of what CBD is, how it works and the differences between Cannabis derived CBD and that derived from Hemp. In Part 2 of the series: CBD and Me, we’ll look at several bestselling CBD products, how to choose a CBD product or regimen that’s right for you, and who should and shouldn’t be using CBD.