Medical marijuana dispensary review: GreenWerkz in Denver

Ahas

nice post.thanks

Nic

It's all about quality weed. Greenwerkz growers take great pride in their product. The R4 is badass. How many other Growers have bred a strain so high in CBD? The answer is NONE! SO.... Let's give credit where credit is due! Good job guys! Ur weed is organic and tastes great. I know I can buy "high" quality from u every time!

denverdriveby

Since I spend a lot of time sitting on couches filling out f*cking paperwork at dispensaries, I actually DO CARE about the decor and vibe of a place. I have a doctor's recommendation for a severely damaged neck and spine so I don't want to sit on crappy plastic chairs in a sterile room with concrete floors. Whoever said that you were being nitpicky by mentioning couches and room decor is out of their mind.

Radicalhoneybee

Mr. Breathes,

I respectfully disagree with your review of GreenWerkz. I live in cap hill and as you well know, there is not a shortage of dispensaries here. I chose GreenWerkz as my caregiver because they continue to provide quality herb with excellent customer service (hipsters and all).

I tried the R4 as well and was blown away by it. I melted into rubber, which was exactly what I needed to do in the midst of a migraine. I understand the pleasure one derives from pretty bud, but their are some strains that are so good that they've earned the right to be ugly.

Apparantly the decor was an issue as well. All I can say is it is a far and welcome cry from the dispensaries on Federal. The place is clean and welcoming. I'm only there for 5 minutes, it doesn't have to look like the inside of the Denver Art Museum.

I hope you'll consider giving GreenWerkz another try. July was a horrible month for dispensaries, not just for these awesome folks. It's been a topic of conversation amongst my friends and me. I was in on Wednesday and they had plenty of beautiful new strains.

GreenWerkz Patient

William Breathes

thanks for your comment. I look forward to my return visit to this shop, seeing how many patients are so passionate about what they do.

Fundamentalherbalist

Are you really reviewing the furniture they have inthe store.. REALYY????? You are one nit picky dude. I've beenin this store many many many times and I love Greenwerkz. The people thatwork there are awesome people and are really helpful everytime I've been to thisdispensary. They always have quality meds which I will admit seem to havebeen not as up to par for the past two weeks but, I was just in therethe other day and they have beefed the shelves up with some awesome productthat I have been thoroughly enjoying.

As far as your review of the R4. Do you grow any high CBDstrains?? Have you ever seen a high CBD strain before?? Maybebefore you call it industrial grade hemp you should try to grow some and seewhat happens. Or try to find another strain that could even touch theR4. My mother just had a mastectomy and has been using R4 for pain reliefand it's a miracle for her. Without it she would have to be all messed upon painkillers. Thank god for the R4 and all high CBD strains. Ihope more dispensary's take the leap and step outside of the box to grow thesenew strains.

I hope people still give Greenwerkz a chance after this article. Becausethey are much better than this tard says they are.

William Breathes

I admitted that it was the first time I saw this strain, but again -- based on everything else I saw in their shop that visit, I'm assuming the R4 wasn't grown to it's full potential. Both you and the owner agree with me that their stock was sub-par over the past few weeks, so

Like you, I also said it was killer for my pain, and that i'd love to see it again, grown to full potential. I'm also with you in hoping hope more dispensaries grow these strains. We need to get others to start sharing them first, though...

As for "reviewing the furniture", I have always included my take on the dispensary itself in my reviews. Again, I have no problem with the laid back, skate-shop vibe I saw -- but other people might, so I include stuff like that.

Thanks for your comment.

MedMMJ420Patient

at least there's a dispensary looking for new, unique genetics. Despite your lack of knowledge regarding a high cbd strain - you ripped on a place that provides safe-access to at least 3 locations in state of CO. Also, you stated you use a primary caregiver and not a MMC. A small, boutique grow will always produce better small-batch product, however, at least recognize groups trying to do big things and comply. that's not too hard, is it? Your review likely harmed GreenWerks business yet - they are doing things different and got no recognition. Kinda lame on your part to not acknowledge a unique genetic and their attempt to bring to a broader market. I am going to bet you right no - your review next week will be favorable. Wanna bet?

William Breathes

compared to the second batch of r4 I brought home a few weeks ago, the cut I brought home for this review was subpar. Otherwise, I was never harping on the genetics, Kelly.

Kelly Roller

although i agree with you on subpar product, on behalf of our wholesale in stock at time of your visit. i grow the R4 not the other product. however i disagree with what you call subpar as far as the R4. it was grown in organic soil reaching it's full potential in a perfectly controlled environment. testing over 14% cbd consistently. the r4 didn't smell of hay it was perfectly cured and didn't taste of canna or general hydro like 90% of the current market. don't compare wholesale schwag as you call it too product grown in house. if anyone can even find quality product in the wholesale market place, i.e. quality is now kept in-house. that being said the r4 is an indica cross and current world record holder for cbd content and one of the rarest cbd/thc ratio's known too man. if that is your defintion of subpar makes me wonder where you got your credentals. the reason roger ebert was a critic he sucked at making movies. you don't know full potential.

William Breathes

" Also, you stated you use a primary caregiver and not a MMC. A small, boutique grow will always produce better small-batch product, however, at least recognize groups trying to do big things and comply."

wrong. I've seen shops pulling just as good a quality as 'basement' growers can. Further, I recognize groups trying to do big things and comply every week in this blog. I'm not going to fluff a place for their genetics if they aren't grown well.. and when even the owner admits their crop wasn't as good as it should be, I think I've hit the nail on the head.

Fundamentalherbalist

So what does "grown to full potential" mean to you? Have you ever seen R4 grown to it's full potential? You did say it was killer for your pain I agree but I'm curious why you would downplay it as "industrial grade hemp" if it worked so well??

I don't know why I care so much, maybe I feel that I have a personal attachment to the strain because I've seen what it can do for people.

William Breathes

dude, even the owner admitted that their crop this go round wasn't up to his standards or grown to full potential... I'm sorry I caught your favorite dispensary in a rough patch, but that's how it goes.

The 'industrial hemp' comment was because of the low THC count -- which industrial hemp generally has. It was never meant as a dig on the strain... as I said, I found it to be a killer reliever of pain for me.

Christopher Sandoval

Bill, I wonder how a guy who has the best job in the whole world, could find so much negativity in all the different dispensarys. I have been to at least 3/4 of the dispensarys around and well most have been positive experience there have been a few negative ones. However reading your reviews lately i hear the sounds of bitterness. I have frequented quite a few of the shops you have reviewed to see if you are being honest. No i am not the quality police i just want to find good meds for a good prince at a awesome place. I started reading since your frist article and it seem you have lost the fun in reviewing. Greenwerkz always has good meds at great prices. they dont have second shelf product on sale like other dispensarys they rotate their stock so everything gets to be on sale. Sunday or Not. I have noticed hay smelling from a lot of soil growing places, so you have to look for the fruity smelling meds. Like Purple Passion, Choc. Kush, OG kush, or Black Berry Kush. The R-4 is great for pain and looks great as well. I dont know what you have been smoking but maybe you should ease up. And pass the torch (and Bowl) to someone who can enjoy reviewing. Chris SandovalColorado MMJ Patient20 year+ smoker and enjoyer of MEDS.

William Breathes

Chris,

I don't think I'm finding a lot of negativity. If anything, I have been seeing more and more worthwhile herb and a lot more shops worth checking out. Yes, I'm pretty hard on high prices and uncured herb -- but I'm a critic. I'm hardly bitter, I'm just not going to fluff things that don't deserve fluffing.

As for your comments on GreenWerkz: As I said, I have little complain about at $24.20/eighth. But that price only comes on your first visit and on Sundays. Otherwise, non members pay just over $40. For that price, I have seen other shops sell consistently better herb (you read my reviews, you know which ones I'm talking about). I also never said the r4 looked awful, just unimpressive. It's not a very big, juicy and sexy plant apparently and compared to, say, a well-grown OG, the R4 is going to always be an ugly duck from what the manager I spoke with told me.

Finally, I've been smoking really, really, really good herb (thanks to my ever-awesome caregiver) -- that's why I can't ease up when things don't quite live up what I want them to.

But you do make a few points that I'll take to heart. Thanks for your honest feedback and criticism.

Christopher Sandoval

Thanks for responding.. good to know it matters what people say. However Greemwerks rotates daily 24.20 strands, Maybe heading to the edgewater location would sway you, and you would find much better strands, anyways take care thanks a bunch.. keep reviewing and well keep reading.

Fundamentalherbalist

The Og kush isn't even the same thing or in the same strain profile, so you can't compare them.. That's like comparing apples and oranges.. Also Greenwerkz has 24.20 eights for everyone everyday of the week not on every strain but on at least 8 that I've seen. That's why I keep going there I don't even has them as a caregiver. So I don't know what your talking about.

Colorado Mmj Patient

We really need an unlike button...

Fundamentalherbalist

You don't deserve the right to review dispensary's in this great state if you can't see the distinct difference between sativas and indicas and now high CBD strains. Yes you are right they are in the same genus of cannabis but that doesn't make them the same thing. You have a great weekend too.

William Breathes

" I think there are two distinct types of cannabis Sativa and Indica ... That would be like saying a Columbine is the same as a Rose". Except that Sativa and Indica plants are both in the genus of cannabis, while a rose and a columbine aren't even in the same order.

I wish I had the time to explain junior-high biology taxonomies to you, but I don't.

Thanks for your comments. have a great weekend.

William Breathes

"not when most cbd ranges 0.5 - 1.1."

exactly. so both strains are phenomenally higher in CBD than other strains and stand out for that reason alone (aside from the fact that they are both in the cannabis family).

Fundamentalherbalist

Did you really just say that.. Aren't you supposed to be a cannabis reviewer??? lmao. I think there are two distinct types of cannabis Sativa and Indica.. They are very different and grow very different. And now with growing pretty much pure CBD strains brings a whole new element into the picture. That would be like saying a Columbine is the same as a Rose. "Oh this columbine is so pretty but this rose can't compare cause I don't like the petal structure"

Dan

not when most cbd ranges 0.5 - 1.1..

William Breathes

is it still cannabis, right? then, yes... it is comparing apples to apples.

Dan

That cut resulted in CBD at 6.5% if I remember correctly. GW's R4 has tested 6 times ranging between 11.9% and 18%... a 2x higher CBD is not apples-to-apples. Right ?

William Breathes

I can compare them, and do. Actually, considering The Clinic took home the highest CBD award recently at the cannabis cup with a pre-98 cut of Bubba Kush -- it's a pretty appropriate comparison between the two flowers.

Thedawg

Don't these guys harvest wet and then immediately run it through a trim-machine and then dry it? I have often wondered if that is part of the problem. The bud's I've sampled that have been harvested this way always lack the proper odor. I've wondered if this method also Kief's the bud as well?

Small-batch, hand-trimmed, bucket-cured is the way to go. Too bad all the new regs have run so many of the awesome small-batch growers/caregivers right out of business, or underground..

I truly believe there is better MMJ to be had from CO's grey market, then there are from dispensaries..

Trick James

The hay smell is a by-product of anerobic bacteria. This is largely due to jarring the product too soon and then not "burping" the jars periodically. This will happen to any product but can be mitigated by proper jar cure technique and not over filling jars.

WOW

This is awesome. I love seeing these big boys get bagged on. They got exactly what they lobbied for and now they have to deal with it.

Fuckers.

PIG

If you don't understand the fundimentals of growing quality cannabis, you have no business in the industry. How can somebody spend 3 months growing a plant, but fail at spending 3 weeks drying and curing? GREED. Sounds like Greenwerkz also doesn't flush their meds either, since William said it was so harsh he didn't want to finish the sample. Not flushing is a greedy practice that growers use to bump their yields an extra 10%, which is greedy and selfish, and the growers should be fired for failing to do so. That, or the owners need to lose business for being greedy amateurs.

To point out that William hasn't had a positive review in a long time goes to show where this joke of an industry has gone in the past year. The dispensary owners are the ones who wanted to drive out the small time growers and have all of the power in their hands. Now they are failing on an epic level. That is how Karma works

Patients: Stop supporting these dispensary's and support your local home grower!

Trick James

3 weeks isn't a proper cure IMHO. Dry yes, cured no. Proper jar curing can take quite a while, is a complex process, and is dependent on many factors. Relative humidity, length of rack dry time, and density of product. most commercial grows don't have the time or manpower to do this step right. They haven't invented a machine to burp jars yet and they don't properly rack their product and manage the jars to keep anerobic bacteria from destroying the aroma and taste, thats why more often than not you have the hay smell in the product at most dispensaries.

Proper flushing would actually do more to increase your yield than not flushing. The plant will burn off it's own reserves of nutrients and sugars stored in the fan leaves and convert that to energy during your flush, usually with a nice last minute "plumping" of the calyx's. It will also dump a lot of the chlorophyll at this time which will improve the taste and aroma. Not flushing when using synthetic nutrients is purely laziness, it has nothing to do with increased yield.

Patient #MMRA035274

Dear William Breathes,

It SUCKS FAT DONKEY BALLS that the state is literally raping dispensaries, making them burn and turn their product just to meet the next round of fees and equipment/infrastructure requirements/etc - not to mention the day-to-day costs of operating a business. Look around at the context, Breathes, and let's focus for a brief moment if I may on the real problem with product in this industry right now - the government is taking a truly staggering and exorbitant share of revenue from dispensaries through fees and regulations, and the patients are suffering the consequences.

Should we wait until you have to drive to Phoenix to buy a $25 eighth that's been cured properly?

I can't remember the last positive review you've written, Billy... Wake up dude! Where'd all the super dank and super cheap bud go, and all of the new shiny stylish dispensaries? I personally would love to know.

And please, let the people know why shop owners haven't been investing so much in expensive updated artwork and furniture these days before you bust out your well-honed interior design reviewing chops again next week.

Your piece on Warren Edson's take on licensing fees is spot-on. (http://blogs.westword.com/late.... But its the tip of the iceburg!

The licensing fees are highway robbery, a deliberate and direct assault on people who need (and deserve) access to quality, affordable medicine.

Context, man. July of 2011 has been a tough month for a lot of good shops and their patients.

Talk about it!

YMMV

Cry me a fucking river. The state is not forcing anyone to put uncured medicine on the shelves. The individual businesses made a choice that quality medicine is not going to be their calling card. They care about pushing as much as possible out the door, quality is the least of their considerations. I love that Billy Breathes calls out dispensaries for inferior products. The vast majority of dispensary owners are trying to make as much money as possible. Fuck em. Patients are not the priority.

All of the MMJ bills in the last few years from the legislature were driven by the dispensaries. Careful what you wish for. HB1284 is a joke. The dispensaries would like to eliminate any caregiver in the state. They are greedy fucks who deserve what happens as the whole industry shakes out the inferior businesses.

Patient, find yourself a caregiver who knows how to cure properly. It will be be far better quality and much less expensive than anything you find at a dispensary. Better yet, learn to grow for yourself. The interweb is filled with useful information.

Joseph, 303 Organics

and don't forget that the 70/30 rule is FORCING mmc's to grow and put out warehouse, commercial kine-da-bud quickly, to absorb the cost of now having to build out a warehouse to grow in and then the fees for license and inspection, where as they used to be able to outsource from other micro-growers putting out dank quality. i know mmc's putting out dank are there, just few and far between.

High Country Caregiver

I'm going back to Cali, to Cali, to Cali, I'm going back to Cali

cause this is all the CDPHE, DOR, 1284, 1043, A-20 and all the other hoopla can come up with, hay like shake!!!! Come on people we got weed to sell, the world is watching, come visit me Breathes, check out http://marijuanaphotos.co it's child's play!

Dan

Hello. This is Dan - the owner of greenwerkz. I appreciate you reviewing our shop. I personally apologize for the lack of quality product displayed and experienced. I can say - the time period you were visiting was not our best example. No excuses are being offered, but I'd hope for the chance to be reviewed again to better illustrate what I envision for greenwerkz. best regards.

High Country Caregiver

Yo weed man, build a webpage on http://inhale.co, it's free and it works too! Totally stoner 420 friendly!

YMMV

Good for you for owning up to mediocre product. You can easily fix it with something simple: time. Curing makes the difference between good and great. Take some pride in what you grow and spend the extra few weeks necessary to cure it properly. The hay smell is early in the curing process and will fade quickly if done right. Your reputation depends on it.