For some reason, there’s this myth floating around the cannabis community that everything sold at a pop-up event is just the flower that wasn’t good enough to make it onto a legal dispensary shelf.

Can that happen?

Sure.

Does it always happen?

Absolutely not.

In fact, some of the most elite flower and cold cure rosin I’ve ever had didn’t come from a dispensary at all.

Now before anyone grabs their pitchforks, let me be crystal clear: this isn’t an attack on legal dispensaries. I shop at them too. They’re an important part of New York’s cannabis industry, and they provide something pop-ups simply can’t—consumer protections, testing requirements, licensed operations, and accountability if something goes wrong.

That’s a huge advantage.

But let’s stop pretending dispensaries automatically have the best cannabis money can buy, because that’s simply not how business works.

The Economics Nobody Talks About

A legal dispensary has a mountain of expenses.

Licensing.

Compliance.

Insurance.

Security.

Employees.

Taxes.

Rent.

Utilities.

Marketing.

Those costs don’t disappear—they get built into the price tag.

On top of that, dispensaries have to make business decisions that maximize profit. They’re generally looking for products that offer the best balance between quality and wholesale cost.

Now imagine you’re a small craft grower producing absolute top-shelf cannabis.

You spent months dialing in genetics.

You babied every plant.

Your cure is flawless.

Your terpene profile smells like heaven just opened a dispensary.

Are you really going to sell that masterpiece for bargain-basement wholesale prices?

Some growers simply won’t.

Instead, they’ll sell directly through trusted events and relationships where people appreciate—and will actually pay for—that level of craftsmanship.

That’s why some incredible products never make it onto dispensary shelves.

Not because they aren’t good enough.

Sometimes they’re too expensive for a dispensary’s business model.

Pop-Ups Have Their Own Advantages

Another thing that makes pop-ups unique is variety.

Dispensaries are generally limited by state regulations regarding the products they can legally carry.

Pop-up events often introduce enthusiasts to genetics, breeders, hash makers, and brands they’ve never seen before.

Sometimes you’ll meet the actual grower.

Sometimes you’ll meet the person who washed the hash.

Sometimes you’ll spend twenty minutes talking terpenes with the person who pressed your rosin.

Try getting that kind of conversation from a barcode.

But Don’t Turn Your Brain Off

Now here’s where OG Strain puts on his responsible adult hat…

Just because you’re at a pop-up doesn’t mean every vendor is selling quality products.

Far from it.

Trust matters.

Reputation matters.

Knowing your source matters.

If you’re buying from someone you’ve never heard of, ask questions.

Who grew it?

Who processed it?

How was it extracted?

The cannabis community is built on relationships. A trusted reputation is worth far more than flashy packaging.

Why I Care So Much About Rosin

If you’ve watched my channel, you already know I’m obsessed with clean cold cure rosin.

Why?

Because I don’t just care about getting high.

I care about what I’m putting into my lungs.

A properly made solventless rosin lets the plant speak for itself.

No unnecessary additives.

No mystery ingredients.

Just cannabinoids, terpenes, heat, pressure, and craftsmanship.

That’s why I’ve gone out of my way to highlight companies that consistently impress me.

Companies like Buddah Brothers.

Higher Beings Powered by Hudson Valley Green.

Central Oddities.

These are the kinds of producers that remind me quality still exists.

And here’s the part that surprises a lot of people.

In my experience, I’ve found exceptional cold cure rosin from trusted producers at prices around $40 a gram—while comparable premium solventless rosin in licensed dispensaries can often cost significantly more.

Quality isn’t determined by where it’s sold.

Quality is determined by who made it.

The Ultimate Blind Test Is Coming

This weekend I’m heading out to Williamstown to meet up with Woodz Treez.

We’ve got something fun planned.

He’s going in completely blind.

No brand names.

No strain names.

No hints.

Just the e-rig, the rosin, and his honest opinion.

We’ll be focusing on flavor, smoothness, melt, and overall quality.

After enough dabs, I doubt either of us will remember which strain caused which effects anyway.

That’s the scientific term known as “occupational hazard.”

The goal isn’t to crown a winner before we even start.

The goal is to let the product speak for itself.

No hype.

No labels.

No bias.

Just hash.

Loyalty Still Matters

I’ll admit it…

When I found out Crisxotics was hosting another event featuring the McGregor vs. Holloway UFC fight, I thought, “Man…that sounds like a good time.”

But once I commit to plans, I don’t back out.

My word means something to me.

If I tell somebody I’m showing up, I’m showing up unless life throws something completely out of my control in the way.

That’s just how I was raised.

Don’t Miss This One

I’ve invested well over $300 putting this cold cure rosin project together because I genuinely want to help people find outstanding products without wasting money chasing hype.

If you’re searching for some of the most impressive cold cure rosin I’ve come across in the 518, this is a video you won’t want to miss.

Head over to Strain’s Strain Reviews (Talk Cannabis) on YouTube.

Subscribe.

Hit the notification bell.

Then get ready for one of the biggest blind rosin sessions we’ve ever filmed.

Because when it comes to chasing fire…

OG Strain is always willing to do the research.

You’re welcome.

If you’re happy smoking wax, crumble, batter, badder, sugar, or whatever your favorite concentrate happens to be…

Stop reading right now.

Seriously.

Because once you cross over into the world of quality cold cure rosin, there’s a very good chance your wallet is going to start sending you angry text messages.

I warned you.

For years I smoked wax. It worked. It got me high. I wasn’t complaining. Fourteen grams for around a hundred bucks? That’s hard to argue with. Sometimes it’s a little more, sometimes a little less, but either way it’s one of the most affordable ways to dab.

Then somebody handed me some quality cold cure.

That was the beginning of the end.

⸻

The Flavor That Ruined Everything

The first thing you’ll notice isn’t that you’re higher.

It’s the flavor.

It’s like somebody took your favorite strain and turned the volume knob from 3 all the way up to 11.

Suddenly you’re tasting citrus that wasn’t there before. Pine. Candy. Gas. Fruit. Earth. Whatever that strain naturally produces suddenly becomes incredibly obvious.

Why?

Because cold cure rosin is processed and cured in a way that helps preserve many of the delicate terpenes responsible for aroma and flavor. Those terpenes are extremely volatile and can evaporate or degrade when exposed to excessive heat, oxygen, or aggressive processing. Cold curing allows the concentrate to mature at lower temperatures while maintaining a richer terpene profile and creating that smooth buttery consistency solventless lovers obsess over.  

Translation?

More flavor. More aroma. More strain personality.

Instead of tasting “weed concentrate,” you actually taste the strain.

That’s a completely different experience.

⸻

Your Dab Rig Isn’t a Dump Truck

Now let me save you some money.

I don’t know what’s going on over on Instagram.

Apparently everybody is competing in the Olympic Heavyweight Dab Championships.

Somebody posts a video with a half-gram.

Then somebody responds with a full gram.

Then some dude named Chad loads enough rosin into his banger to asphalt a driveway.

Congratulations.

You didn’t take a dab.

You took a mortgage payment.

Listen…

It’s called a dab, not a glump.

A tiny amount of quality cold cure is usually all you need.

Heat your banger properly—not scorching hot—and let the rosin vaporize instead of burn. Take slow draws instead of trying to inhale the entire state of Colorado in one breath.

You’ll enjoy better flavor, smoother hits, and your gram will last dramatically longer.

Some people even gently reheat what’s left for one more light pull. Others clean the banger immediately because they prefer only the freshest vapor. That’s personal preference.

Either way…

You don’t need cartoon-sized dabs unless your goal is internet clout and coughing so hard your ancestors hear it.

⸻

Why It Actually Feels Different

People often focus on THC percentage.

I don’t.

The magic is in the entire package.

Cold cure rosin keeps more of the plant’s natural terpene profile intact, and because it’s solventless, many enthusiasts feel they’re getting a cleaner representation of the original flower. Premium hash rosin is also made from separated trichome heads rather than the entire flower, reducing unwanted plant material while preserving the compounds that give each cultivar its unique aroma and character.  

THC gets plenty of attention.

Terpenes deserve a standing ovation.

⸻

Is Cold Cure Worth The Extra Money?

Honestly…

If money is tight…

Stick with wax.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

I’d rather see somebody enjoying affordable concentrates than stressing over buying premium products they can’t comfortably afford.

But…

If you have the extra money even once…

Treat yourself.

Just understand there may be no going back.

Don’t blame me when you’re standing in front of the wax display six months later whispering,

“It just doesn’t taste the same anymore…”

⸻

Should You Make Your Own Rosin?

This question comes up constantly.

“If I buy flower and press my own, will I save money?”

Usually…

Not if you’re buying the flower.

Here’s why.

Most people pressing flower at home are getting somewhere around a 15–25% return, depending on the strain, moisture level, equipment, and experience. That means four grams of flower might only produce around one gram—or less—of flower rosin. If you decide to make bubble hash first and then press hash rosin, the quality often improves, but the process becomes much more labor-intensive, requires additional equipment, and beginners usually lose product while learning.  

Unless you already grow your own flower or genuinely enjoy solventless extraction as a hobby…

Buying quality rosin from someone who has mastered the process is usually the better financial decision.

Especially when buying in larger quantities, where the price per gram can drop dramatically.

Leave the trial-and-error to the people who have already ruined enough batches for the rest of us.

⸻

What’s Coming Next On My YouTube Channel

This article actually inspired my next video.

Over on Strain’s Strain Reviews (Talk Cannabis), I’ll be filming what may become one of my favorite concentrate videos yet:

“The Most Elite Cold Cure Rosin & Strains In OG Strain’s Extensive Stash.”

I’ll be showcasing some absolute fire from Central Oddities—my first experience with their cold cure, and I came away seriously impressed.

You’ll also see favorites from Higher Beings powered by Hudson Valley Green, whose solventless lineup has consistently earned a spot near the top of my personal rankings.

I’ll also be featuring selections from the reservation, and if all goes according to plan, I’ll be adding some incredible cold cure from Buddah Brothers as well.

The truth is…

I don’t usually sit around planning videos.

My videos happen naturally.

When enough exceptional products find their way into my stash, the camera practically turns itself on.

The quality these vendors continue putting out is exactly why this video needs to exist.

⸻

Final Hit

Cold cure rosin isn’t for everyone.

It’s more expensive.

It’s harder to make.

It’s definitely easier to become addicted to… not in the medical sense—but in the “nothing else tastes good anymore” kind of way.

If you’re perfectly happy with wax…

Enjoy it.

If you’re curious what all the hype is about…

Find yourself a quality gram of cold cure.

Load a small dab.

Take it slow.

Taste your strain instead of just smoking it.

Just don’t send me your therapy bill when regular wax suddenly starts tasting like disappointment.

You’ve officially been warned.

OG Strain | Plugs Pages Magazine

Let me paint you a picture.
Two women in western Massachusetts.
One a self-described Deadhead. The other practical, methodical, and remarkably efficient.
Different personalities.
Different backgrounds.
One shared appreciation for cannabis.
And somehow, that combination led to an invention that’s now finding its way onto dispensary shelves and making smokers rethink the humble pre-roll.
Meet Nancy Domenichelli and Diana Langle.
And yes, this story starts on Nextdoor.
Which means it could have become a neighborhood argument.
Instead, it became an innovation story.
⸻
FROM NEXTDOOR TO NEXT LEVEL
Nancy and Diana didn’t meet in a startup accelerator.
They weren’t introduced by investors or cannabis executives.
They met the way many modern friendships begin: online.
After connecting through Nextdoor and occasionally interacting as neighbors, they eventually met in person at a political letter-writing event.
Then came the moment that would cement the friendship.
As 4:20 drew close, both women quietly excused themselves and headed for their cars.
Not together.
Not planned.
Just two people independently following the same schedule.
A friendship built on good timing, shared interests, and an immediate understanding that sometimes the best conversations happen after a smoke session.
⸻
WHERE THE IDEA STARTED
The invention didn’t emerge from a laboratory.
It emerged from curiosity.
One morning during a regular smoke sesh, Diana reached for a Marlboro and a disposable filter she uses with cigarettes to reduce exposure to tobacco tar.
Nancy looked at the filter and wondered whether something similar could work with a cannabis pre-roll.
She quickly discovered the problem.
The cone-tipped pre-roll was too small.
Most people would have moved on.
Nancy and Diana started experimenting.
Together, they tested materials, adapters, connections, and prototypes, searching for a simple way to pair filtration with pre-rolls without compromising the smoking experience.
Many ideas failed.
A few showed promise.
Then Diana’s husband, Allan, helped solve one of the key engineering challenges.
A rubber plug.
A precisely drilled opening.
A working prototype.
That early version became affectionately known as “The Allan.”
What began as a garage-style experiment would eventuallyevolve into TarTubes™.
⸻
WHAT IS A TARTUBES?
TarTubes™ is a pre-roll adapter designed to allow users to attach a disposable biodegradable cigarette filter to a pre-roll.
The goal is straightforward:
Reduce unwanted tar reaching the smoker.
Maintain flavor.
Preserve the overall smoking experience.
And add a little engineering to a product category that hasn’t changed much in years.
It’s a simple idea.
The kind of idea that often makes people ask:
“Why didn’t someone think of this sooner?”
⸻
A PERSONAL DISCOVERY
For Nancy, the project became more than an invention.
After experiencing a lingering cough following COVID, she began regularly using the early TarTubes prototype, The Allan.
Over time, she noticed a significant improvement in her cough.
While personal experiences aren’t scientific studies, it was enough to convince her that the concept was worth pursuing and sharing with other consumers.
⸻
FROM LOCAL DISPENSARIES TO INDUSTRY EVENTS
One of the first dispensaries to embrace TarTubes™ was The Verb Is Herb in Easthampton, Massachusetts.
According to Nancy, the staff didn’t simply put the product on a shelf.
They believed in it.
That support helped open doors to larger opportunities, including Flower Expo Massachusetts, where hundreds of samples introduced consumers to the product.
The response was immediate.
People tried it.
People talked about it.
And many found themselves wondering why disposable filtration hadn’t become part of the standard pre-roll experience long ago.
⸻
THE CHALLENGES OF BUILDING SOMETHING NEW
Like most entrepreneurs, Nancy and Diana quickly discovered that inventing a product is only the beginning.
There were consultants who overpromised.
Partnerships that stalled.
Unexpected setbacks.
Manufacturing challenges.
Regulatory questions.
And the countless obstacles that emerge whenever a small business enters a rapidly evolving industry.
Yet the product continued moving forward.
Not because of hype.
Because people kept trying it.
And many kept coming back.
 
MORE THAN A PRODUCT
What makes the TarTubes story compelling isn’t simply the accessory itself.
It’s the partnership behind it.
Two women who met through a neighborhood app.
Two people with very different personalities.
Two founders who discovered they worked exceptionally well together.
Nancy describes their approach as steady, collaborative, and focused.
No unnecessary drama.
No grandstanding.
Just a commitment to solving a problem and improving a product they already enjoyed using.
In an industry often filled with bold claims and oversized personalities, that quiet determination stands out.
⸻
WHAT’S NEXT?
TarTubes™ continues to expand through new retail partnerships, additional color options, and plans to enter new cannabis markets throughout the Northeast and beyond.
What started as a conversation between neighbors has become a growing cannabis brand.
Not because a corporation funded it.
Not because a focus group designed it.
Because two determined women looked at an everyday ritual and believed it could be improved.
⸻
FINAL THOUGHT
Some people spend retirement slowing down.
Nancy Domenichelli and Diana Langle decided to build something instead.
They looked at a familiar ritual, asked a simple question, and followed that question all the way to a finished product.
That’s the kind of story I enjoy finding in cannabis.
Not just because it’s about innovation.
Because it’s about curiosity.
And sometimes curiosity is exactly where the best ideas begin.

Links:

https://tartubes.com

https://www.instagram.com/tartubes