LA Reviews, March 2007

PATIENTS & CAREGIVERS LOS ANGELES (PCLA) — “To provide a safe and tasteful healing environment and superior medication at affordable prices.”

PCLA: Patients & Caregivers LA

5763 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, Ca. 90019
Mon-Sat 12pm-8pm
323-932-8266

Patients & Caregivers Los Angeles is a new dispensary located on Pico Blvd., just three blocks East of Fairfax Avenue. Founded by a small group of dedicated patients, it is clear that PCLA is going to make an impact.

Likable people, knowledgeable staff, and the goal is clear, “To provide a safe and tasteful healing environment and superior medication at affordable prices.”

Being the new kid on the block is not easy. With the rapid growth of dispensaries operating in Los Angeles, PCLA knows it is mandatory to separate themselves from the rest. “This place is a work in progress, we have so much room and cannot wait to utilize this space to its full potential. Our goal is to bring together the best of both worlds.” PCLA provides a vaporizer and concentrate bar for patients that prefer a social aspect to their healing process. They plan to soon open an additional medication room to provide a quick purchase and pick up area for patients that prefer to medicate in the privacy of their own home. Or, as one patient put it “I like the bar atmosphere when I have time to chat, but if I am in a rush, or not feeling up to it, I need the option to get in and get out.”

PCLA explains, “We love the atmosphere of 420 Compassionate Center, the spirit of LAPCG and the convenience of UMCC. If we can fall somewhere in the middle, our goals will be met.”

Convenience is the key at PCLA. Ample street parking is available directly out front. The facility is handicap accessible, bar included. The registration process is quick yet efficient.

Medication is superior with fourteen strains to choose from. “Our selection seems to be growing at a healthy rate; we aim to be consisistent with a minimum thirty strains by mid-summer.” Both organic and non-organic meds are available with an even balance of Sativa and Indica. Medication is kept in glass jars and weighed at time of donation. A free gram of choice is offered to new patients and twenty percent off for seniors, veterans, SI and SSDI patients. Donations range from a compassionate $40 per one-eight ounce, not to exceed $65 for top shelf Kush. PCLA provides a wide selection of edible and new concentrates will be on the shelf soon.

I had an opportunity to sample a variety of PCLA’s medication. I suggest the Bubba Kush and the Trainwreck, although the Sour Diesel was fantastic as well.

So what’s next for PCLA? “Paint the front and plant some grass.” Rebecca laughs, but she means it. “We look forward to contributing to the neighborhood, both aesthetically, physically and financially. We are grateful to be a part of this movement and want to represent the medical marijuana community well.”

I really enjoyed my experience at PCLA. Their dedication in providing a good customer experience is felt all the way around. They excel in ambiance, meds and customer service. I really look forward to watching these guys grow.

SL CAREGIVERS— Oaksterdam News cameraman samples Strawberry Cough using the ice vapor system at the discreet Koreatown dispensary.

SL Caregivers

If you’re near Koreatown, check out SL Caregivers. Talk about an incognito location. You’ll pull up to this place and say to yourself, “I can’t find no club in here.” But, it’s there on the 2nd floor at the end. Take the stairs or ride the elevator to this hidden treasure that recently opened up. Once inside, there is a yellow waiting room brightly lit with sunlight where patients are greeted and checked in. You’ll quickly notice this is a very colorful location where each room has its own custom hue. Back in the dispensary, you’ll feel a sense of calm with the lavender painted walls. Or perhaps you’ll feel a sense of royalty as you assess the wide selection of flowers, edibles, and hash. There were about 12 different types of flowers ranging in price from $45-70 an eighth. All the Kush topped the menu with flavors like Diamond, Bubba, and OG. Once you get your medicine, you can relax in the SL Caregivers greenroom decorated with chroma green paint, plush couches, flat screen TV, video games, and consumption on the premises.

There was a first for the Oaksterdam News staff on this visit. The review staff sampled Ice Vapor hits for the first time ever thanks to the pros at SL Caregivers. Here’s how it works: The medicine was placed in a glass bowl from a triple-chamber percolator bong. Ice was placed in the upper part of the tube just below the mouthpiece. The medicine was then vaporized using a heat gun set to 380 degrees. The heat gun pushes the vapor through the tube, so you can pretty much sip the vapor from the top of the bong. We sampled Strawberry Cough that had a sweet, berry-like finish, and we sampled some Grandaddy Purple using this intake method. The result was phenomenal.
Special note: valet parking is available at this location.

420 COMPASSION CENTER— Quality is the first order at the collective’s bud bar.

420 Compassion Center

What a cool place, one of my favorite clubs so far. 420 Compassion Center is at street level and there is metered parking right outside. Watch out because the funspoilers are constantly cruising around looking for expired meters.

You arrive at this location and check in at the window of the reception area. There are a few chairs, so relax for a minute while you’re being verified. The inside of the dispensary is beautifully decorated resulting in both a professional and tranquil feeling. The dispensary walls feature an interesting collection of framed portraits and other works of art that all pertain to cannabis, cannabis freedom fighters, and our freedoms as U.S. citizens. The décor not only looks great, but is also inspiring to look at. Check it out.

Upon first glance one might think you’re walking into a regular coffeehouse. However, there isn’t any coffee behind the counter, its medicinal marijuana. But if you’re in the mood for a hot beverage, there is complimentary tea available at the serve-yourself tea station. The dispensary countertop was custom built and has a deep walnut luster with cannabis leaf inlays. The back bar is styled with large hemp sacks, mirrors and natural fibers, and somewhat resembles a trading post Indiana Jones would go to for medicine.

420 Compassion Center offers try-before-you-buy samples via Erbo. An Erbo is a motorized bong that shoots the smoke through a thin tubular mouthpiece. It is a very sterile process since you don’t have to put your mouth on it. Don’t go crazy and think you’re going to sample every strain, just try a couple. 420CC has a wide array of perfectly cured flowers and there were about 14 flavors the day we visited. Besides flowers, they have hash, kief, edibles,
concentrates, and clones. We sampled some savory Wondergirl and Maui Wowie that was like fruit punch.

The staff is totally pro and friendly, so don’t be afraid to use them as a resource. Tell them your symptoms and they’ll recommend a certain strain. Or, if you have a question about cultivation, use their patient research library. Just like their slogan says, 420 Compassion Center is “Like no other.” 

APOTHECARY 420 — Collective brings its customers up close to the medicines to view trichomes in their stereo-microscopic glory. Oaksterdam News photos by Jaime Galindo

Apothecary 420

This is probably the most stylish dispensary so far. You enter a spacious waiting room that’s decked out with elegant custom furniture. It’s a very clean, professional look throughout the whole club. There is parking on the street, and this location is wheelchair accessible.

Inside, the dispensary is like a high-end boutique, and that’s exactly the look its owners are going for. “We are trying to be professionals, our commitment to quality can’t be paralleled,” said one of the owners. This place is so tricked out, I could take my Mom here and she would think we were there to buy perfume.

Put all the looks aside and check out the quality of the medicine. Apothecary 420 has an interesting selection plus a couple of unique items that we didn’t find anywhere else on this trip. The flowers are kept in very scientific looking jars that somewhat resemble a beaker. All the jars are pretty much kept out on the counter, but they could probably use a menu board or perhaps some printed menus. Next to the flowers, there is a nice microscope where patients can get a stereo-microscopic view of the trichomes, or crystals that form on the flowers of cannabis. If you’ve never seen what this looks like, you need to check it out. Another nice thing to see was house Volcano vaporizer in the lounge area across from the dispensary counter.

We sampled some Trainwreck, Master Kush, OG Kush, Mothership, Granddaddy Purple, even some Sour Diesel full-melt hash, but the Chem Dog infused with Honey Oil was outstanding. There was also some OG Kush infused with Honey Oil. Both of these infused herbs were so aromatic and tasty it’s too bad that it has to be a connoisseur type of item, because $75 a gram isn’t for everyone. Overall, the quality and selection of the medicine was very impressive, our compliments to your buyer.

NATURAL REMEDIES CAREGIVERS — Good meds and a nice ambience. You can enter a raffle to win an eighth of Kush. There is a winner picked every Saturday and you must be a patient.

Natural Remedies Caregivers

6231 Santa Monica Blvd, LA, CA 90038
Phone: 323-871-9500
Hours: Mon - Sat 11a to 8p; Sun 12p to 6p

Natural Remedies Caregivers is housed in a ground floor location with free parking. This place has an upscale feel with wood and glass display counters and an interesting array of artwork on the walls. It’s almost like going to one of those chocolate stores in the mall, or one of those stores that sells sunglasses. It’s a nice aesthetic and a very mature feel, or perhaps it was the Sheryl Crow bumping on the stereo that added to this feeling.

When you first enter the club, there is a small check-in area with seating, security, and a restroom. Inside the dispensary you will be impressed with the hulking Bubba Kush nugs for $55 an eighth and Purple Urkle $65. Other items include: Fire OG $65, Master OG $65, GDP, White Widow, Lavender $60, and Trainwreck. The hash of the day was Af Wreck-$40/gram, Bubble Hash, and Black Marble. We sampled some Granddaddy Purple via house glass. These were golf ball sized buds with alternating broadleaves of deep purple and lime green. The edibles are from Chef Boyarweed and kept in a refrigerated display case. There is a leather couch across from the counter where patients can relax. You can sample your medicine using the house glass, or maybe you’re up for a game of chess on the house chessboard, or perhaps you just want to kick back and read the Oaksterdam News.

Natural Remedies Caregivers is a clean, safe, and professional club, and they have some cool patient appreciation incentives going on. You can enter a raffle to win an eighth of Kush. There is a winner picked every Saturday and you must be a patient. For new patients, you can get 10% off the first visit and a free gram. Another promotion Natural Remedies Caregivers has is their You Can Get Free Gram Every Visit. Basically, with a $100 donation, you get a free gram.

NATURE’S HOLISTIC CAREGIVERS— Jimmy wears his social conscience on his tee shirt.

Nature’s Holistic Caregivers

14000A Crenshaw Blvd,Gardena, CA 90249
Phone: 310-327-3551
Hours: Mon. to Thur. 10a to 7p
Fri to Sat 10a to 8p Sun 11a to 5p

On this visit, we hit the Nature’s Holistic Caregivers in Gardena. It’s run by the Kali-Urb family, who started off with one location and now operates three clubs in the LA area. These guys have been around for a while and they definitely have their business dialed in. From their professional demeanor all the way to white lab coats, Nature’s Holistic Caregivers goes with a very clinical look, which is a reassuring feeling.

Aside from the white lab coats, NHC staff has expert knowledge of medicinal cannabis and they are cool people to talk to. Don’t hesitate to ask them a question about a product. They have flowers, hash, concentrates, clones, and a nice stock of edibles. Also, be sure to ask about the best medicinal cannabis to match your particular tastes or ailments. Something we were impressed to learn is that all Nature’s Holistic Caregivers staff has college degrees. Props to you guys.

Nature’s Holistic Caregivers in Gardena is at ground level and there is free parking available in the parking lot. There is a nice sized reception area where patients check in before they enter the dispensary. Just past the reception area, there is a beautifully decorated lounge that looks something like a hotel lobby. Once you’re inside the dispensary, you will immediately be impressed with the quality of the medicine and the wide range of selections. “We definitely try to keep all our stores filled with the same quality product,” said Virgil of NHC.

We sampled items like Chocolate hash, which The Holistic Caregivers says is “as close as you’ll get to Moroccan hash in the U.S.” We also sampled magnificent flowers like: Blue Lights (Blueberry x Northern Lights), Blueberry Supreme, and some Granddaddy Purple that was so primo, we actually misplaced it for a few minutes. One special item from the flower menu was the Blue Thunder. It is something “exclusive to the Kali-Urb family, not found anywhere else,” said Virgil of The Holistic Caregivers. The bud gave of a lavender scent when broken apart and when smoked. This strain was a very effective appetite stimulant, and this Oaksterdam News reviewer discovered that it goes well with Japanese food.

MEDI MAR CO-OP— Tasty ways to medicate without the hassle of looking around for a lighter or vaporizer.

Medi Mar Co-Op

16218 Ventura Blvd Ste 12, Encino, CA 91436
Phone: 818-501-6334
Hours: Mon - Sat 10a to 8p; Sun 11a to 7p

Medi-Mar is a new club in the Encino part of The Valley. It is located in the back part of an office complex overlooking Benihana’s on Ventura Blvd. The check-in area has a desk and some seating where the usual verification procedures take place. The dispensary is in the back and it’s a pretty modest space. Everything is displayed in glass cases and there is a menu listing all their medicinal goods.

Ask about any specials or price breaks they may have going. The day we were there, an eighth of meds went for $40-60. We’re talking about Purple Urkle, Bubba Kush, Silver Haze, Trainwreck, and Strawberry Cough to name a few. The hash du jour, or hash-of-the-day was Moonshine and Red Rock H20.

Medi Mar Co-Op has super edibles. A number of items caught our attention. First, the portions are massive. The Sugar Cookies, Oatmeal, and Chocolate Chip looked like doubles. The brownies appeared to be bigger than an iPod. There is a large selection of unique little candies like the Strawberry Drop and the Pineapple-Mango Dark Chocolate Drop. The peanut butter cups come in both white and dark chocolate, and they are as big as a hockey puck. They also have a good amount of accessories like pipes and bongs. Something unique we saw was the liquid filled glass hand pipes . . . so amazing!

If you’re a new patient you should know there is free delivery available for disabled patients. That’s good because the place is on the second floor and I’m not sure I saw an elevator.

HIGHLAND PARK PATIENT COLLECTIVE— It looks sort of like a pharmacy, and has a reputation as the “Home of the Perfect Cure.” Oaksterdam News photos by Jaime Galindo

Highland Park Patient Collective

5716 N. Figueroa St, Highland Park, CA 90042
Phone: 626-610-3145
Hours: Mon. to Sun. 10a to 10p
www.MyGreenMeds.com

If you’re almost all the way to the north end of the 110 freeway, there is a club in Highland Park that’s really cool. Highland Park Patient Collective is professional, clean, and safe . . . and it looks sort of like a pharmacy. Their motto is “Home of the Perfect Cure” and the Oaksterdam News review team reaped the therapeutic benefits of their mouthwatering meds.

Highland Park Patient Collective is located in a ground floor location in a bustling part of North Figueroa street. You may have to drive around the block a few times until you find a place to park, so chill. You arrive at the club and go through standard check-in and verification procedures. Once you’re verified, they buzz you through a hallway that leads to the dispensary.

The Highland Park Patient Collective dispensary is a pretty big room with glass display cases and countertops. The staff are friendly people and very knowledgeable. Remember, they are always available for any questions, information, or recommendations. They had a ton of edibles like cookies, rice crispy treats, brownies, granola bars, and candy bars. They stock energy drinks, plus liquid concentrates that you mix with cold sodas, and some other concentrates that are mixed with hot tea.

Highland Park Patient Collective has a wide selection of flowers ranging in flavor and price from Northern Lights 100 percent Indica for $45/eighth to Master Kush for $75. There’s lots of kush and purples on the menu. Extra points for offering samples via Erbo, so you can make sure you like the med before you buy it. We sampled a phenomenal specimen of Purple Haze (60% Sativa 40% Indica). The bud was massive and shimmered like purple and green camouflage. The staff recommended the New York Diesel. The taste was pungent and spicy. The NY Diesel was also a nice change of pace after all the kush we had been sampling.

Something cool about Highland Park Patient Collective is the fact that they have a website. They can pre-verify patients by having them fill out the form at mygreenmeds.com and submitting online. Verification is usually pretty fast they say. Also, patients can check the flower menu online, or print out coupons from the Specials section of the website. Especial note: Si habla Espanol . . . get your pinche mota aqui chignon.

BOO-KU— Comfortable surroundings with tasteful decor make patients feel welcome in Van Nuys.

Boo-Ku Collective Care

6817 Sepulveda Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91405
Phone: 818-908-9255
Hours: Mon. to Sat. 12p to 8p Sun 12p to 7p

Boo-Ku is a delightful club in The Valley. If you’re new in town, Van Nuys is in the heart of the San Fernando Valley, or The Valley for short. Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Valley Girl, Encino Man, and Karate Kid are a few movies about this area.

Boo-Ku Collective Care is just off the 405 on the northwestern corner of Vanowen and Sepulveda. The club is in a mini-mall with free parking. Look for it right next to the doughnut shop. Take the stairs or use the elevator to the upper level and follow the signs. Boo-Ku has nicely detailed signs all over the building to lead the way to their sanctuary.

The entire interior of Boo-Ku is very elegant with an upscale feel. The check in area gives a great first impression that you’ve arrived at a fine establishment. The dispensary is brightly lit and clean with glass display counters across the length of the room. The glass case in the center holds edibles and small sample jars of cannabis used to evaluate the floral meds. We got to check the big jars on the back wall. There are huge jars of nugs on display containing strains like: Bubba Kush, LA Confidential, Granddaddy Purple, Sour Grape, and Lavender. These meds were all at the high-grade part of the menu. The people behind Boo-Ku have a strong commitment to compassionately priced meds, $60 is the highest price for a eighth of medicine and $35 is the low-end price. We were impressed with the high quality and the wide selection. “I buy nothing but the best of everything ... even the lower grades are hard to mess with,” said John of Boo-Ku regarding the flowers on the menu. Seriously, every jar looked like it was filled with green golf balls mixed with jade tarantulas.

The lounge is painted with a color palette of golden beige and cabernet red.

There are two plush couches, a coffee table, a flat screen TV, and two cocktail tables with barstools. Consumption is allowed on site, so maybe it’s time to try the house Volcano vaporizer. Ask for a demo if it’s your first time and if you like it, they have some for sale.

Boo-Ku Collective Care has a super nice staff who are professional and courteous. The Oaksterdam News reviewers would like to visit here again.