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.
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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.
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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™.
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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?”
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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

By Tok — Tokalotapot Seeds

Hi, it’s your boy Tok from Tokalotapot Seeds coming back with some relevant information for this year’s outdoor growing season.

This year, I’ve got some big plans in motion as I continue growing within the cannabis community. At the moment, we have roughly 1,000 seeds germinating inside a nursery area built within a greenhouse. The environment is carefully maintained at a steady 78°F, creating ideal conditions for early plant development.

We planted eight different genetic lines, with 100 seeds of each variety. This season I’ve been given the opportunity to conduct a large-scale phenohunt, and every great phenohunt begins with one simple but essential element: the cannabis seed.

Before we talk about phenohunting, it’s important to understand how to start seeds successfully. Over the years, I’ve experimented with several different germination techniques. In the end, I found that the most reliable method is also the simplest.

Keeping Germination Simple

My preferred germination method uses a petri dish and folded paper towels.

To begin, I place folded paper towels along the bottom of the dish. Next, I add the seeds I plan to germinate. After that, I pour in enough water to fill the dish to roughly three-quarters of an inch deep, allowing the seeds to float freely.

The seeds soak for approximately 12 hours. This soaking process hydrates the outer shell and helps kick-start germination.

After the 12-hour soak, I remove the standing water from the dish while leaving the moist paper towels in place. The seeds are then kept in a warm, stable environment at approximately 78°F.

With fresh seeds, it’s not uncommon to see them crack and begin to pop during the soaking period. Most seeds will produce a taproot measuring around half an inch within 24 to 36 hours from the start of the soak. Others may take a little longer. Occasionally, a stubborn seed may require up to a week—or even more—before showing signs of life.

Tricks for Older Seeds

When working with older seeds, germination can sometimes be more challenging. Fortunately, there are a few techniques that can help improve success rates.

One effective method is light scarification. This involves gently rubbing the seed between two pieces of fine sandpaper. Doing so slightly weakens the outer shell and allows water to penetrate more easily.

Another useful trick is adding a small drop of hydrogen peroxide to the soaking water. This increases oxygen levels in the water and helps prevent pathogens that may affect slower or weaker seeds.

Some growers also choose to add small amounts of kelp extract or humic acid to the soaking water. These natural additives can help stimulate early root development and encourage stronger initial growth.

And of course, patience plays an important role. Just because a seed hasn’t popped within the first few days doesn’t mean it won’t germinate later.

The Beginning of the Pheno Hunt

Once taproots begin to emerge, the seeds are carefully transplanted into starter media and moved into the nursery environment to begin their life cycle.

From that point forward, the real journey begins.

Each plant will be closely observed for growth structure, vigor, terpene potential, and overall performance. Conducting a phenohunt on this scale allows hidden genetic gems to reveal themselves.

Some plants will perform well.

Some will perform exceptionally well.

And a select few may prove to be truly special.

Every great cultivar starts the same way—with a seed, a little patience, and the excitement of not knowing exactly what you’re about to discover.

This growing season is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious projects I’ve ever taken on, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to explore genetics at this level.

Stay tuned. The journey is just getting started. 🌱🔥

— Tok
Tokalotapot Seeds

Is That $80 Gram Really Worth It?

By OG Strain — The Plug’s Pages Magazine

Let’s talk about one of the biggest debates in the dab world right now.

Cold cure rosin.

If you dab long enough, eventually you find yourself staring at two jars on the dispensary shelf.

One jar says Cold Cure Rosin — $80 a gram.

The other jar says Wax or Crumble — $100 an ounce.

And suddenly you’re doing math in your head like you’re back in high school.

“Wait… I can get 28 grams for the same price as ONE gram?”

At that moment every stoner on earth asks the same question:

Is cold cure rosin really worth the extra money?

Let’s break it down the way OG Strain understands things — funny but true.

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First Things First: What Is Cold Cure Rosin?

Cold cure rosin is what happens when cannabis extractors decide to treat weed like a fine wine instead of a fast-food combo meal.

Rosin itself is made using only heat and pressure to squeeze the resin out of cannabis flower or hash — no chemical solvents involved.  

That’s a big deal.

Most wax, crumble, and shatter concentrates are made using hydrocarbon solvents like butane during extraction.  

Now before people panic — good labs purge those solvents and test the product.

But rosin fans like to say:

“Solventless is the cleanest dab possible.”

Cold cure rosin is then aged in jars at low temperatures, which slowly changes the texture into a creamy, buttery consistency while preserving delicate terpene compounds that give cannabis its smell and flavor.  

In other words…

It’s basically the craft beer of cannabis concentrates.

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Why Rosin Costs So Much

This is the part where people usually cry.

Cold cure rosin is expensive because:
    1.    It takes better starting material
You can’t make premium rosin from garbage weed.
    2.    The yields are small
A lot of flower is needed to produce a small amount of rosin.
    3.    The process is labor intensive
Washing, pressing, curing, and storing takes time.

Because of that, rosin can sell for $60–$100 per gram or more in many markets.  

Meanwhile wax and crumble can be produced in much larger batches, which is why they’re dramatically cheaper per gram.  

So yes…

Your wallet is not imagining things.

Rosin really is the luxury dab.

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Flavor: Where Rosin Shines

Now here’s where the rosin fans start smiling.

Because cold cure rosin is solventless and processed gently, it tends to preserve more of the plant’s natural terpene profile, giving it a flavor that many people say is closer to the original cannabis strain.  

Translation for normal humans:

Wax tastes good.

Rosin tastes like the weed version of surround sound.

The flavors are deeper, louder, and more complex.

It’s the difference between:

• A good cheeseburger
• A cheeseburger cooked by someone named Chef Antonio

Both will get you fed.

But one is definitely an experience.

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Smoothness and Effects

Another reason dab connoisseurs chase rosin is the smoothness of the hit.

Many users say solventless extracts provide a cleaner, fuller “entourage effect” because they preserve more cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant.  

THC levels for most concentrates — wax, crumble, or rosin — typically fall in the 60–85% range, so potency is often similar.  

The difference usually comes down to flavor, smoothness, and purity, not raw strength.

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The Budget Reality Check

Now let’s be honest for a second.

Most smokers are not walking around with “$100-a-gram dab money.”

Wax and crumble exist because they offer something beautiful:

Value.

You can still get high-quality concentrates with solid terpene flavor and strong potency without taking out a small loan.

For everyday dabbers, wax or crumble often becomes the daily driver.

Rosin?

That’s the weekend sports car.

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The OG Strain Verdict

So is cold cure rosin worth it?

Here’s the real answer:

Yes… and no.

If you are:

• A flavor chaser
• A cannabis connoisseur
• Someone who appreciates solventless extracts

Then cold cure rosin is absolutely worth trying.

But if you’re just trying to take a dab after work and relax on the couch while watching Cheech & Chong, wax and crumble will get the job done just fine.

Sometimes better.

Because the best dab isn’t always the most expensive one.

The best dab is the one that fits your budget and still makes you smile.

And trust me…

Nothing ruins a high faster than realizing you just spent $80 on a dab that disappeared in two hits.

⸻

Final Thought from OG Strain

Cold cure rosin is the filet mignon of dabs.

Wax crumble is the all-you-can-eat buffet.

Both have their place in this beautiful world of cannabis.

The trick is knowing when you want luxury… and when you just want to get high.