Ascend Wellness is a top-selling house of brands at Parkway Dispensary for a number of reasons, the biggest being their consistency. With 36 dispensaries in seven states featuring six in-house brands, Ascend Wellness Holdings (AWH) is a staple in the US cannabis industry. This multi-state operator originally set up shop in Illinois, near St. Louis, in Collinsville, IL. It’s now opening dispensaries across the East Coast and Midwest, like the soon-to-be recreational Buckeye state of Ohio.
When customers visit the dispensary I budtend at for the first time, I believe it’s important to go into deep detail. I emphasize the importance of not only knowing the terpenes in their cannabis but also gaining an understanding of the brands they shop from. Just like a car, purse, or loaf of bread, it’s important to know what the cannabis brands you purchase from are all about and how they’re made. This helps you as a consumer better know what to expect. Plus, it helps you find products that align with your desires for future purchases. Let’s dive into the six Ascend Wellness brands you can explore on your next visit to Parkway Dispensary.
In full transparency, I am a dispensary associate in the greater Chicago area. This means I’ve had first access to sample an array of Ascend’s products. While I’d love it if you support Ascend brands at your local dispo, I’m sharing my honest opinions about the products I’ve consumed from them. In other words, they are not sponsoring this post or telling me what to say about their products. I’m an honest gyal, and with that in mind, let’s dive in. If you see something you like in this article, visit Parkway’s online menu at any time to see what Ascend products are available for pickup.
Common Goods
As a self-proclaimed “Microdose Mami,” you will never find me entering a dispensary asking for a product with the highest THC percentage (my budtender friends know.) I get it, many of us want cannabis experiences that always top the last, but sometimes you just want to take the edge off of a rough day. That’s where Common Goods enters the picture. With limited strains featuring lower THC percentages (often around 15% or lower), this brand is best for those new to consuming flower. It’s also a good option for people trying to lower their tolerance, ease into a t-break, or those not as concerned with being very high. Say what you want about flower with low THC percentages, but I think it’s a needed option for modern consumers. Plus, it’s easier on the pockets. Stock up on a few Common Goods 1g prerolls at Parkway Dispensary while supplies last.
Wedding Cake 1g Pre-Roll (Hybrid | 15.58% THC)
The last time I smoked this pre-roll I was unwinding from a long day of work, watching a Twitch streamer provide commentary on random episodes of Paternity Court and Divorce Court. I was relaxed enough to decompress but zoned in enough to keep up with the messy and complicated storylines (lives?) of the people in each case. It was a ten out of ten experience. Check out all of the affordable offerings from Common Goods at Parkway now.
Simply Herb
Simply Herb is by far the most popular brand at the dispensary I work at. Unlike Common Goods, Simply Herb products offer a range of THC percentages and strains but at way more affordable prices. Simply Herb is for people looking for quality products at a great price. Kush & Cream is one of its most popular prerolls and its tasty distillate carts, like Sweet Cherry and Bubble Trouble, are dispensary favorites. As for my favorites? Georgia Pie gives me the perfect silly and giggly high while Grape Fog is perfect for a relaxing evening. Simply Herb prerolls are for those looking for the quality green on the go. Grab a preroll or three on your next visit to Parkway Dispensary.
Ozone
The OG of Ascend brands, Ozone’s got your back whether you’re looking for concentrates, edibles, or flower. Each strain typically has THC percentages higher than 20% and its new dablicators will take your edibles or joint experiences up a few notches. Be one of the first to shop Ozone’s dablicators at Parkway Dispensary.
Mandarin Zkittles 3.5g Flower by Ozone (Hybrid | 32.30% THC)
If I’m seeking flower that instantly puts a smile on my face, I reach for Ozone’s Mandarin Zkittles. With this strain, even my darkest days seem a little brighter. Plus, the green bursts of orange and citrusy smells make me happy as a sensory-focused Taurus. Definitely one of my favorite uplifting hybrid strains from Ascend Wellness that’s available at Parkway Dispensary while supplies last.
Ozone Reserve
Ozone Reserve is also for the everyday puffer, but a few steps up in quality. Its premium flower, vapes, and concentrates are for the experienced canna lovers looking for the best of the best cannabis and willing to cash out for a magnificent experience. Ozone Reserve’s exotic strains are on the higher end of THC percentage (around 28% and higher), plus its pre-rolls are live resin infused; its carts and disposables also feature live resin oil. Ozone Reserve products are perfect for the days you really want to treat yourself.
Royale
A newer brand to the Ascend family, Royale flower and prerolls are terpene-rich products that are carefully selected by highly experienced growers. Like its strain’s artful packaging, this flower provides an unwavering experience that makes it clear that just like all things precious, producing great flower takes time. My personal favorite from Royale is the Indica-leaning hybrid LA Diamond.
LA Diamond 3.5g Flower by Royale (Hybrid | 31.65% THC)
While I experienced a relaxed high, the smidge of sativa gave me just enough energy to knock out a long list of to-dos I’d fallen behind on without the extra stress. In Illinois, you can find three strains from Royale: Nimbus Snacks, LA Diamond, and the newly released Baker’s Dozen. Massachusetts on the other hand had a completely different lineup of strains. Hopefully, the Prairie State can have a taste of their Banana Juice and Scooby Doo #9 flower sometime soon.
Tunnel Vision: What Is THCV?
Whether it’s CBG, CBD, or ABCDEFG (joking,) it seems like every day there’s a new cannabinoid popping up all the time. You’ll see new ones in products and marketing campaigns that’d make you think there’s someone in a lab somewhere baking them like hotcakes. But really, the reality is there are several natural cannabinoids and only hundreds that growers know of. Each cannabinoid interacts with our bodies in different ways. THCV is a natural cannabinoid that interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system in a way that might give people powerful boosts of focus and energy. Tunnel Vision features Ascend Wellness’ unique THCV flower and prerolls. Though I’ve seen this cannabis categorized as a sativa, I wouldn’t describe it as a typical high.
Ultra Focus GSD Pre-Roll by Tunnel Vision (Hybrid | 23% THC)
On a dreaded wash day (the natural hair girlies will feel me), I smoked an Ultra Focus GSD preroll before I began doing my hair and had the energy to not only wash, but also style my hair, AND clean my home. To top that off, I usually have to take a break to eat but surprisingly I wasn’t hungry at all. If that’s not a testament to the power of THCV, then I don’t know what is. While the smell was not the friendliest, my bodily experience with Ultra Focus GSD was top-tier. Check out the prerolls from Tunnel Vision available at Parkway now while supplies last.
Conclusion
Clearly, Ascend Wellness has a ton of options for a range of cannasseurs. Whether you’re new to cannabis consumption or looking for the best of the best high, Parkway Dispensary has the perfect Ascend Wellness products for your desired experience. Don’t forget to also check out Ascend’s partner brands Miss Grass, 1906, Flower by Edie Parker, and more.
Author Bio: Dya is a self-proclaimed microdose mami who is passionate about helping others improve their quality of life via cannabis, music, and experiences. The cultural connector is a DJ, cannabis content creator, and budtender who brings this mission to every experience she curates and to every piece of content she creates. Keep up with Dya here.