Cannabis gummies are one of my ultimate favorite ways to consume the plant. Compared to infused chocolate bars, I find the slight cannabis flavor in gummies works better with fruit flavors. But as the cannabis market explodes, there are more and more options on the market. Sometimes, when I walk into the dispensary, I feel completely overwhelmed by the choices and all too often revert to products I know I like rather than branching out to try something new. When I get this analysis paralysis, I feel like Phil in Groundhog Day, reliving the same experience over and over again.
How do I choose when there are literally hundreds of options? We’ve been told not to judge a book by its cover, but when it comes to cannabis edibles, I judge hard! Packaging is the number one thing that draws me in.
When I walked into the dispensary this time, I resolved to try something new. I won’t be caught in another Groundhog Day time loop! Scanning my options, the peach and cotton-candy-colored tin catches my eye: PLUS cannabis-infused gummies. Beyond the vivid packaging, I don't think I've seen the flavor combination of blackberry and lemon. That flavor combo sparks an unexpected nostalgia for summer days spent picking wild blackberries at my grandma’s Oregon home – my interest is piqued. A quick Google search of PLUS tells me this brand was born in Colorado, and its reputation allowed the company to expand to the largest cannabis market in the world, California.
Their blackberry and lemon gummies are coming home with me! And I’m hoping they’ll bring me as much happiness as my grandma’s homemade blackberry cobbler.
Packaging, Labeling & Product Design
The packaging is what draws me to this product. I don’t see much pastel pink on the shelves of cannabis dispensaries, so the unique color of a pink and yellow metal tin immediately caught my eye. The sticker on the front of the metal tin tells me these are cannabis-infused gummies with the irresistible flavor combination of blackberry and lemon. On either side of the sticker, it states the THC and CBD content; along the bottom, it labels that there are 20 Vegan gummies inside, and the California warning logo is placed on the top right side. The back of the tin has all the additional information I am looking for, including ingredients, storage advice, all compliance-required information, and the brand’s social media handles.
The circular metal tin looks like a large lip balm container, and I love this sturdy level of protection for the gummies inside. I can easily toss this container into my bag without worrying it’ll pop open or get smashed. Plus, the packaging is very discreet. If I pulled this out while walking down the street, no one would ever think they were cannabis gummies inside. The label on the tin informs me this is an indica-based product (which tells me I should be expecting more sedative effects), with 20 servings of 5 mg THC each. It also lets me know these PLUS gummies are gluten-free, with no artificial sweeteners, kosher, and made in California.
Quality and Ease of Use
It’s time to break into these! The labeling tells me to take two to three pieces and wait for at least two hours. And since I’m a small lady with a low-normal tolerance for cannabis edibles, I take their advice. I don’t want to end up like Veruca Salt, eating her way through the Chocolate Factory with reckless abandon.
I start with three in the evening as a non-alcoholic happy hour of sorts. Each square gummy, some dark purple and others deep yellow is coated in a sugary powder. Since each one is a separate serving, this product is straightforward to dose.
I love that these have some blackberry and some lemon-flavored gummies, not combining the flavors artificially in one. Each piece bursts with flavor, and only the slightest hint of cannabis can be detected. Sometimes, gummies taste artificial, but not these guys! I can tell the PLUS team works hard to make these artisanal edibles, and I can taste the effort they put into each piece.
The texture is familiar to other gummies, but the sugary coating on the outside gets a little monotonous after the third piece. I could have definitely done without that, especially since these microdoses require more servings than many edibles.
Potency, Effectiveness & Affordability
The flavors meld together as I munch through three of these gummies, and I wait for the effects to kick in. The label indicates these are indica-based gummies (although there’s no additional strain information), so I expect a nice, soothing body high that is recognizable but not overwhelming. We’ve already discussed the potency discrepancy, but even if each serving was the advertised potency level, these seem to be a bit weak.
After waiting a while, the three gummies still hadn’t set in. So I returned to the proverbial well and ate two more, bringing my total to five servings. I kept waiting and waiting to be taken by the effectiveness of these gummies, but the desired sedative and relaxing effects never really came. I could feel a bit of a buzz, but with five servings and a low to moderate tolerance, they should have hit me harder. And the overly sweet, sugary coating on these edibles keeps me from wanting more.
If I were to eat these again, I’d save them for a time when I want an extremely mild high. These would be better suited for a work day when I want a minimal high rather than an evening treat when I want to feel the effects entirely. I would purchase these again if I were looking for a microdose option.
Nugg Score: How the Nugg Team Rates This Product
Packaging: 4/5
- The packaging is well-designed and pleasing to the sight and touch.
- The metal tin on the shelf is colorful and eye-catching.
- You can tell the producer put time and effort into the quality of this packaging for sure.
Labeling: 4/5
- Enough info for the consumer without being completely plastered on labels.
- Includes almost everything you need to know: cannabis-infused (big font on the front), refrigerate for quality, compliance needed labels, consumption and storage advice, ingredients, and social media handles.
Easy to dose: 5/5
- The way these gummies are cut up and easily divided, it would be hard not to understand what one serving is.
- The package says to start with 2-3 and wait two hours to consume – an easy regimen to follow.
Discretion: 5/5
- Any sort of gummy candy, treat, or anything sour will always be easy to hide as they do not look like cannabis products.
- You could eat these edibles anywhere without worry or suspicion.
Taste: 4/5
- Being a HUGE gummy fan, I found these easy to enjoy.
- Artisanally crafted with plenty of love and effort, the taste sat well in my mouth.
- On the sweeter side, without an overwhelming cannabis taste.
Texture: 3/5
- Standard gummy texture, then covered in a sugar/sour powder.
- Pleasant mouthfeel (not scratchy), but the coating could be a little lighter. It was hard to consume more than a few in one sitting.
Effectiveness: 3/5
- Having a minimal tolerance for edibles, I started low on the dosage scale to gauge effects and see if I would need more, and the answer was YEAH.
- These are advertised as having 100mg THC, with 5mg per piece.
Versatility: 4/5
- They are less versatile than the traditional brownie, but they are still delicious and have a variety of uses on their own.
- It could be added to frosting on a cake, topped on thumbprint cookies, or added to a refreshing drink or smoothie.
Consistency: 3/5
- Of the three packs purchased, all were somewhat similar in size and taste, though potency varied.
- Disappointed that the bag was only 95mg when advertised as 100mg; consistency is always appreciated.
Price: 4/5
- A great product and somewhat of a niche market, the price of around $18 is on par with other 100mg THC gummies.
Overall Rating: 3.9
I thoroughly enjoyed the packaging and flavor of these PLUS Cannabis Gummies. The delectable and unique blackberry and lemon flavor created a nice respite from the more generic flavors I found on the dispensary shelf. The sugary coating on the outside of these artisanal gummies got overwhelming for me after five pieces, enough to make me not want more. I wish the effects were stronger, but I see these as a good option for micro-dosing.
The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.
