By OG Strain

Every March, the world loses its mind over basketball.

That’s cute.

While brackets are getting busted on ESPN, I’m building a bracket of my own — and it smells like terpenes, broken down nugs, and somebody’s uncle yelling, “Yo this that pressure!”

Welcome to March Madness: 518 Edition.

Not basketball.

Bud.

⸻

The Mission: “What’s the Best Sh*t You Got?”

For the entire month of March 2026, I’m on a mission across the 518.

Dispensaries.
Private growers.
Pop-up vendors.
Events with ten tables and a fog machine working overtime.
Your cousin’s best friend who only grows 3–6 plants but swears he cracked the genetic Da Vinci Code.

I don’t care where I’m at.

If you’re producing flower and I see you? I’m walking up calmly, respectfully… and asking one simple question:

“What’s the best sh*t you got?”

Not your most popular.
Not what’s moving fastest.
Not the one with the flashy bag and the cartoon alien.

I want the one you’re secretly proud of.
The one you show your inner circle.
The one you break out when someone says, “Nah, I don’t really get high like that.”

Out of your 30… 40… maybe 50 jars?

Show me your champion.

⸻

One Vendor at a Time. No Favorites.

Here’s how this is going down.

At a typical 518 event, you’ve got 8–12 vendors. Sometimes more. Every single one of them is catching the same energy from me.

I’m coming to each table like:

“Let me see your best best best sh*t.”

If it looks worthy?
If it smells like it’s about to change somebody’s personality?
If the trichomes look like they filed taxes?

I’m going home with it.

Maybe you gift it.
Maybe I buy it.
Maybe we shake hands like two prize fighters before a main event.

But I’m leaving with a sample of your absolute best.

And then I’m doing it again at the next table.
And the next event.
And the next week.

⸻

This Ain’t a One-Weekend Thing

I’m hitting at least one to two events a week.
All month long.

That’s potentially:
    •    Dozens of vendors
    •    Multiple private small-batch growers
    •    Select dispensary stops (yeah, I might slide through… don’t act shocked)
    •    Backyard legends who swear they grow better than licensed facilities

By the end of March, I’m going to have sampled the best of the best from across the 518 community.

Not the mid-tier.
Not the “it’s decent.”
Not the “it’ll do.”

The BEST each grower is willing to stand behind.

⸻

Ego Growers… This Is Your Moment

Let’s talk to the growers with confidence.

You know who you are.

You’ve said at least once:

“Nobody’s touching my flower.”
“My terps different.”
“They ain’t curing like me.”
“I don’t even enter competitions ‘cause it wouldn’t be fair.”

Cool.

Prove it.

Put it in my hands.

If you slang flower — legally, respectfully, community-style — and you believe you’ve got the crown for March? Hit me up.

This isn’t about hype.
It’s not about who posts the most on Instagram.
It’s not about who knows the most people.

It’s about what’s in the jar.

⸻

The Criteria? You Already Know.

We’re talking:
    •    Bag appeal that makes you pause mid-conversation
    •    Nose that punches through a sealed container
    •    Structure that says “grown with intention”
    •    Smooth smoke — no throat karate
    •    Flavor that lingers like a good song
    •    Effects that make you say, “Ohhh… there it is.”

I’m not looking for gimmicks.
I’m looking for greatness.

And I promise you this — I’m not coming in biased. I don’t care if you’re a heavyweight in the 518 scene or a quiet grower with four plants and a dream.

If your best is better than everyone else’s best?

We’re going to know.

⸻

What You’ll Get at the End of March

By the time April hits, I’ll have an answer.

I might not be able to say who has the best weed in all of New York.

I might not even be able to say who has the best weed in the 518 overall.

But I will be able to tell you this:

Who had the best bud in the 518 for the month of March 2026.

And it won’t be some secret underground unicorn that nobody could access.

It’ll be flower that the average tapped-in community member could’ve actually found and gotten their hands on.

We might crown:
    •    One undisputed champion

Or…
    •    A Top 3 that had the whole region in a chokehold

We’ll see how the smoke clears.

⸻

This Is a Warning (In the Most Respectful Way)

If you see me at an event this month?

Don’t act surprised when I pull up to your table.

You already know what I’m about to say.

“What’s the best sh*t you got?”

March Madness in the 518 has officially begun.

And by the end of the month, somebody’s walking away with bragging rights.

OG Strain is on the hunt.

You’ve been warned. 🌿

By OG Strain

Hey family, it’s OG Strain.

I gotta be honest with you — earlier last year we were basically standing outside in the cold, metaphorically speaking, looking around Upstate New York like:

“Yo… why is there a bar on every corner but not one spot to legally and socially puff with the fam?”

You couldn’t throw a hemp wick without hitting a liquor store.
But try to find a chill, cannabis-friendly hangout?

Good luck. You’d have better odds finding a seed in a $400 eighth.

We wrote about it. We dreamed about it. We said how dope it would be if we had real spaces — not just once-a-year festivals — but weekly, consistent, predictable spots where cannabis lovers could gather without someone yelling, “Take that outside!”

And family…

🚨 IT HAPPENED. 🚨

⸻

From “Wouldn’t It Be Cool If…” to “Pull Up, We’re Here.”

Fast forward about six months into 2026 and now?

You can practically spin in a circle in the 518 and land on a canna event.

Not corporate mega-clubs with velvet ropes and bottle service (we don’t want bottle service anyway).
I’m talking about private, community-driven spots. Invite-based. Word-of-mouth. Facebook-post-before-you-go type vibes.

Places where:
    •    You bring your own flower.
    •    Or grab some there.
    •    Or dab.
    •    Or munch an edible.
    •    Or sip something infused.
    •    Or just vibe out and talk terpenes like it’s fantasy football stats.

We didn’t have this last year. Not weekly. Not consistently. Not five events within driving distance on a random Thursday.

Now? It’s regular.

⸻

The Underground Is Wide Awake

Spots like The Treehouse in Schenectady lighting up certain nights.
Tokalotapot Seeds and Cannafae throwing bingo events that hit harder than a 28% indica.
Weedstock in Saugerties pulling the tribe together.
Chronical Gardens in Amsterdam with those “Saturdaze & Sundaze” where if you know… you absolutely know.

The Clock Tower? Pay attention.
Johnny Applekush? Follow him. He’ll tell you where the smoke signal is rising.
Damn Sam and Emily Harper? When they curate an event, it’s already legendary before the first cone is packed. Their Palenville gatherings sell out vending spots faster than a limited drop of OG genetics.

And listen — I know I’m forgetting people. I’m writing this off the top like I just cracked open a fresh jar. There are MANY of you building this culture weekly. Whether I mentioned you or not, you know who you are.

We appreciate you.

But here’s the real point…

⸻

It’s Not About the Promoters — It’s About the Shift

Last year this felt like a stoner fantasy:

“Imagine if instead of going to a bar, we went to a canna lounge.”

Now?
You can literally choose between 1–4 cannabis-friendly events any given week.

That’s not a dream. That’s momentum.

And here’s why it’s happening:

People are tired of alcohol.

They’re tired of:
    •    Waking up feeling like their tongue slept in a sandbox.
    •    Spending the next day apologizing for texts they don’t remember sending.
    •    Uber receipts that look like car payments.
    •    Risking DUIs just to “have fun.”

A lot of folks are putting down the beer bottle and picking up a doobie. Or an infused drink. Or a hash hole that makes them contemplate the universe for 47 peaceful minutes.

And here’s the difference.

Alcohol wrecks the whole night — and sometimes the next day.

Cannabis? For most seasoned daily smokers, it’s not that kind of chaos. It’s not blood-alcohol math and “Am I over the limit?” roulette.

Now before anybody twists this — I’m NOT saying smoke and drive. Everybody’s tolerance is different. If you’re impaired, you’re impaired. Period.

But let’s be honest — 99% of the daily smokers I know aren’t falling over sideways after a joint. We’re having conversations about terpenes, laughing at inside jokes, and heading home chill.

It’s a completely different energy.

⸻

Finally… Our Type of People

The best part?

It’s not just about smoking.

It’s about finding your tribe.

The people who:
    •    Smell the jar before they ask THC percentage.
    •    Care about cure and burn.
    •    Know the difference between “gassy” and “diesel.”
    •    Pass left because we’re civilized.

These aren’t bar strangers screaming over music.
These are like-minded cannabis lovers who actually want to be there.

You make real connections. You meet growers. You meet creators. You meet the quiet dude in the corner who turns out to have the craziest headstash you’ve ever seen.

You don’t even have to spend money half the time. You can literally just show up, hang out, spark up, and be part of the family.

That’s what we were wishing for.

And now we have it.

⸻

The 518 Is Rolling Forward

We might not have polished, neon-sign, mainstream “Canna Clubs” yet.

But if you’re paying attention to the underground?
If you’re following the right people?
If you’re plugged in?

You can find a spot near you any week.

And when I go out, I post it. I make it public. Pull up. Let’s build the culture together.

Because this isn’t just about smoking weed.

It’s about reclaiming social space.

It’s about replacing hangovers with harmony.

It’s about choosing a plant over poison.

It’s about community.

Last year it was a dream.

This year?

It’s lit.

And family…

We’re just getting started. 🌿🔥

By Herbert Greenstein, CEO & Founder, The Plug’s Pages Magazine

To our loyal readers, respected cultivators, industry leaders, and cannabis connoisseurs—

Today’s article is not about a strain profile, an industry shift, or a product review. It is about gratitude.

A few years ago, I found myself writing tirelessly for a major publication. I gave it my time, my creativity, and my voice. While I am thankful for the experience, there came a moment when I realized something important: I was pouring my heart into something that never truly felt like mine. The work was there. The passion was there. But the ownership—the pride—was not.

So I made a decision that would change my life.

I walked away with nothing but ambition and a vision: to build a publication that truly belonged to the community it served. A place where cannabis culture would be respected, where contributors would be credited, and where readers would feel seen. That vision became The Plug’s Pages Magazine.

Before I left, I confided in a trusted friend and colleague from that former publication. He goes by the name many of you now know well—Seymour Buds. When I shared my plans, he didn’t hesitate. He said just one thing:

“Take me with you.”

I did.

And it remains one of the best decisions of my life.

Building this magazine alongside Seymour has been an incredible journey. To watch something we created from the ground up begin to thrive—to see it grow, to see it reach readers, to see it matter—has been nothing short of surreal. This time, the publication is ours. The vision is ours. The responsibility is ours. And the gratitude we feel is immeasurable.

But no magazine exists without its contributors.

I would like to offer a special and heartfelt thank you to Mr. OG Strain of Strain’s Strain Reviews (Talk Cannabis) on YouTube. Since joining us last summer, he has become our top contributor and an irreplaceable force behind the scenes. His dedication, consistency, and work ethic have allowed Seymour and me—after decades of grinding for this community—to finally take a breath.

OG Strain is not just a contributor. He is an asset to this publication and to the cannabis community at large. His voice, insight, and commitment have strengthened The Plug’s Pages in ways that cannot be overstated. For that, we are deeply thankful.

We would also like to recognize one of our newer contributors, Tok of Tokalotapot Seeds. Though newer to our pages, his knowledge of cultivation—growing, planting, harvesting, and understanding the plant at its roots—has already left a mark. We value his expertise and look forward to many more thoughtful contributions from him in the future.

To every individual who has trusted us with their story, their brand, their expertise, or their time—thank you. Every feature, every interview, every collaborative article is built on trust. Your willingness to work with us ensures that what we publish is not only interesting, but accurate and meaningful.

And finally—to the community.

Without you, there is no magazine.

Without the readers who take a few moments out of their day to engage with an article…
Without the supporters who share our work…
Without the smokers, the growers, the advocates, the consumers—the people who genuinely care about this plant and its culture…

The Plug’s Pages would not exist.

This publication belongs to you as much as it belongs to us. You are the reason we write. You are the reason we continue. You are the reason it grows.

So today, we ask you to do something simple:

Pat yourselves on the back.

Because you built this.

From the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of Seymour Buds and everyone who contributes to these pages—

Thank you for believing in us.
Thank you for reading.
Thank you for supporting.
And thank you for being part of this community.

With sincere gratitude,

Herbert Greenstein
CEO & Founder
The Plug’s Pages Magazine