Made in Maine, crafted for you.

Quality, consistency and range of products are always important for a successful cannabis retail shop. However, sometimes the people behind the counter are even more essential when it comes to choosing your favorite dispensary. At JAR, the budtenders serving you take great pride when recommending products and strains, and we are happy to highlight their constant care in serving our customers every day.

I began working as a budtender at JAR in 2019 and loved every minute of meeting with and helping customers find their perfect cannabis products. As time went on and my position changed, I am now grateful to be able to help select our team of budtenders to continue helping patients and customers in our retail locations. There are many things that go into a good budtender, but the number one thing we look for when hiring is the desire to help people learn about, select, and enjoy cannabis no matter what their circumstances or reasons for consuming. 

When you walk into a JAR store, you will be greeted with a smile from the front desk attendant and checked in. A brief wait in line will then bring you to the counter where a budtender will be ready to serve you. Whether you know exactly what you want or have never purchased cannabis before, your budtender will be able to help! They will ask you your desired effect of your purchase, how you like to consume (i.e., are you a smoker, do you love candy, etc.), and will be able to recommend a product that will make your cannabis consumption memorable and enjoyable.

We are especially grateful this Thanksgiving season to highlight our tireless retail staff for all that they do. Some work one day a week because they believe in all that JAR stands for, and others are full-time, weekend warriors who serve our communities during the busiest times of the week. Regardless, they love what they do and we are proud to have them at the front lines serving our valued customers!

CBD (or Cannabidiol) is another cannabinoid derived from the remarkable Cannabis plant that we all know and love. Some of you might be wondering, “What exactly is it, and what does it do?” Well, we’ll get to that! But first, let’s take a step back and delve into some essential information about our bodies.

As humans, we possess something called an Endocannabinoid system, a biological system that plays a vital role in regulating and balancing key bodily functions. Within the Endocannabinoid system (ECS), there are neurotransmitters known as Endocannabinoids, which can be categorized into two groups: CB1 receptors and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are primarily located in the brain and spinal cord, while CB2 receptors are distributed throughout the rest of the body. These receptors are the points of interaction for cannabis compounds when we consume them, and CBD binds to both CB1 and CB2 receptors, whereas THC specifically binds to the CB1 receptors in the brain.

BENEFITS OF CBD

Now, let’s dive into the fascinating world of CBD and explore what it does and why incorporating it into your daily routine can be beneficial! CBD is known to address a wide range of health issues, including chronic pain, anxiety, inflammation, sleep troubles, and epilepsy. Unlike THC, ingesting CBD does not produce a psychoactive or “high” effect. However, many individuals report experiencing feelings of relaxation and tranquility after consuming CBD. Have you ever felt like you needed more and more of a substance to achieve the desired relief? CBD can also help with that by resetting the CB1 and CB2 receptors, reducing your tolerance. Say goodbye to tolerance breaks!

CBD PRODUCTS

Excited to try CBD? You can find various CBD products like topicals, edibles and tinctures right at JAR. At JAR, we have a deep appreciation for CBD products and offer several Maine brands to give our patients options. Let me share a few of my personal favorites.

While I’m not a frequent user of topicals, I absolutely adore the 1:1 THC and CBD Canna Salve from Seed and Sound Co. This salve contains 500mg of THC and 500mg of CBD, along with other natural herbs that aid in pain reduction. The combination of these cannabinoids works wonders in alleviating my pain, and I can’t sing its praises enough!

Another exceptional CBD product I’d like to recommend is the 6:1 CBD:CBDA tincture from the Healer brand. The founder of Healer, Dr. Sulak, has expertly formulated this tincture with a 6:1 ratio of CBD to CBDa, a perfect combination for tackling joint pain and inflammation after long days of hiking or walks with my pups. What’s more, this product is incredibly convenient for on-the-go dosing and offers fast-acting relief.

Now, for my all-time favorite product that includes CBD: the one and only Clementine Kush strain. Where do I even begin? The citrusy terpenes make for a delightful taste experience! This sativa-dominant strain has THC, but also boasts a high CBD percentage (around 2.5%), making it an excellent choice for daytime use. It makes me feel clear-headed and motivated to conquer my day. Just like the other CBD products I mentioned, Clementine Kush effectively eases my daily aches and pains while lifting my mood. It’s unquestionably my top choice!

If you have any questions about CBD or other cannabinoids, don’t hesitate to visit Jar and chat with your budtender. We love discussing all things cannabis!

Are you getting enough shuteye? If not, you aren’t alone. According to the CDC, anywhere from 50 to 70 million Americans struggle with ongoing sleep disorders – that’s close to a fifth of the country! At JAR Co we understand the importance of quality rest for an adventurous lifestyle, so we’ve curated a list of our best products designed to help you hit the hay. 

1. Ice Cream Runtz Flower

Ice Cream Runtz is a tasty dessert strain with indica leaning effects that can help users relax and unwind, especially after a long day. Sporting sweet flavors of sugary vanilla and gassy candy, this easygoing cross of Ice Cream Cake and White Runtz gently soothes the body while putting the mind at ease, making it a great strain for catching up on some zzz’s.

2. JAR Co’s Happy Camper Hash Rosin Gummies

While THC-only edibles have been a bedtime staple of experienced consumers for years, our Happy Camper gummies take R&R to the next level. We start by infusing our edibles with hash rosin containing all of the plant’s active compounds rather than just THC, then add a small amount of magnesium and melatonin to create a long-lasting, full-bodied high that’s a great fit for evening relaxation.

3. Squier’s 5:1 Sleepy Time Elixirs

Squier’s Specialty Edibles makes fresh fruit and blue agave drink mixes that pair perfectly with sparkling water and mocktails. Their Blackberry Lavender Sleepy Time Elixir comes with a measuring cup for easy dosing and is infused with a blissful combination of 200mg CBD and 40mg THC. This CBD-heavy 5:1 ratio was designed for nighttime use and produces a calm, soothing experience that’s less impairing than traditional THC edibles.

4. JAR Co’s 40:1 Sour Watermelon CBD Gummies

And lastly, for a non-impairing option, there’s our sour watermelon-flavored CBD gummies. Each gummy comes infused with 20mg of CBD and a small .5mg dose of THC, offering enhanced relief from anxiety and tension without producing the typical “high” effect that comes with most edibles. These subtle effects are gentle and long-lasting, making this edible a great starting point for new consumers.

Written by Mike Wight, JAR Co. Budtender, Content Creator and Cannabis Enthusiast

What is my favorite way to spend summers in Maine? With cannabis of course! Here are a few of my go-to adventures to do while staying elevated during the Maine dog days of summer.

Whether I’m taking a dip in the lake, watching the waves along the rocky coast, or getting high up in the mountains, cannabis is a great addition to any summer adventure in the beautiful Pine Tree State. I don’t think I can pick my favorite summer activity, but no matter where the long days take me I know I can always count on a pick-me-up from a tasty edible, a wood-tipped vape pen, or a JAR dog walker joint . But, it’s important to respect your fellow Mainers and abide by smoking laws, so here are some of my go-to summer selects to stay high while enjoying all that Maine has to offer.

Maine is known for its beautiful abundance of water, from the clear blue lakes and ponds to the winding rivers connecting them. It can be tough to find a secret smoke spot when everyone under the sun is trying to enjoy the water, so on float days I tend to default to a THC beverage to quench my thirst and catch a little buzz. There are so many options for a delicious drink nowadays, and by slipping a JAR koozie over the label, you can be extra discrete when taking a sip. The high hits quickly and there is no hangover the next day! Now that’s a win-win.

Walking through the wharfs in Portland requires some sensitivity as well, and I tend to gravitate towards a vape pen to puff as I look out at the Atlantic Ocean. I love seeing the lobster boats bringing in their daily catch and hearing the seagulls swarming above the harbor. My favorite part of smoking a vape pen is the variety I have, from a fruity distillate pen to a strain-specific hash rosin pen, paired with the consistency and subtlety of the smoke. It’s like hitting a bowl without the cloud or the smell, perfect for a day of sightseeing in the state’s busiest city!

On those cooler summer days I like to make the drive up north for a hike. There’s nothing more satisfying than summiting a peak and looking out across the rolling green landscape below. But, a little pick-me-up at the top is also a must. I’ve found that the perfect hiking companion is the JAR tin of dog-walker joints. Ten .3g joints in a squish-protected case? Share them with your trail friends or smoke them all yourself, you can’t go wrong.  -Hannah Woolfolk, JAR Retail General Manager & Outdoor Enthusiast

When I first saw the new JAR Rolling Papers I was thrilled. The sleek black top caught my eye immediately and I drifted over to snag a pack from the table. Upon further inspection, this was not only a paper pack, but had customized filter tips as well, each tip having the slogan, ‘Take Adventure Wherever You Go” on one side and a funky van heading to the mountain on the other side.

Excited, I took them away to roll up. At first, I was a little dismayed because the filters were shorter than I was used to, and I couldn’t quite get it folded the way I like. After some contemplation though, I decided to change how I fold the filter and it all started to come together. Pulling out a paper I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect and I was met with a nice clean, 1 ¼” hemp paper. There was a thick gum line at the top and the paper was folded length wise in half in a classic way.

I got my filter to my preferred size, gave the paper an extra fold just below the gum line to create a trough to hold the flower, and began to roll. The paper stuck to my fingers very well and didn’t slip as I rolled up. It allowed me to stuff and cone to my heart’s content and by the end of the roll there was around a gram of flower jammed inside. I had unintentionally placed the filter in the paper, but noticed as I rolled that the slogan written on the filter tip was showing through and it looked awesome. When it was complete, I set out to find a spot to smoke, delighted with my creation and eager to see how it was going to burn.

When some other test subjects were found, I lit it up and the trial was underway. I was instantly hit with how smooth the paper was and how it didn’t muddy up the flavor of the bud. As an avid smoker/roller I always pay attention to how the paper burns and what color ash is being left behind as those can be great indicators for the quality of your flower but also your paper, and I was not disappointed with these. I was provided with a clean, long-lasting burn, with white ash and no runs or re-lighting necessary, an experience that has remained consistent after further testing.

After the smoke had cleared it was apparent, these JAR papers are flipping awesome, and they set a bar for how I roll going forward. With the stone setting in, I ventured forth in search of chicken wings Dustin had just pulled off the grill. Much like myself, the wings were cooked to perfection and with a full stomach, and a hazy head I was feeling pretty good. The only question that remains to be answered now is, when does the King Size come out?

Want to learn how to roll a perfect joint? Follow this 10-Step Guide

Joint consumer, connoisseur and JAR’s very own budtender, Evan Thorne, breaks down joint-rolling into 10 easy to follow steps (with pictures)!

1. Grind your material. Rolling works best with quality flower that isn’t too dry, make sure you choose a flower that has a bit of stickiness to it. You can roll with drier flower, but it might be a little more difficult.
2. Prepare your paper and filter. Fold the filter with the slogan facing you, take the end that has the arrow point and fold it just at the tip of the arrow, folding away from you. Once there is a good crease, continue rolling the filter around the single crease you’ve made. The paper will already have a fold in it, but let’s add one more. Hold the paper like it came from the pack and now pull the front down and expose the gum line entirely. Fold the paper there and you should have a nice trough for your filter and material to sit in. Plop your filter into your paper and you’re ready to start rolling!
3. Hold the paper and filter together with the gum line facing you and start adding material in beginning on the side with the filter. Spread the flower evenly. You can add more material at the end of the joint if you want to give it more of a cone shape.
4. Once your material is all in, take your finger and lightly pack down the flower. This will help keep the flower together and will provide you with some stability during the roll.
5. Next take both sides of the paper and begin rolling. It’s not always intuitive but practice makes perfect, and I believe in you! Once you have a nice core of flower rolled, not too tight, you can begin tucking the paper in.
6. Start at the end where the filter is and begin the tuck. Once the first part of the tuck is in the rest usually follows along but you may have to work with it a little bit. Hold the joint by the filter where you have already tucked the paper in and begin rolling and shifting the paper as necessary. This is usually where things can go wrong, and you may have to try a few times but as you curl and roll, you’ll see it start to come together.
7. Now that you have your roll almost done, it’s time to lick it and stick it. As you roll, the gum line will stay exposed and when you’re ready you can wet the gumline and stick it to the paper.
8. Once your paper is stuck you should have something resembling a joint! Now let’s clean it up. Grab a packing tool like the flat end of a pen and gently push the material down into the joint leaving a small bit of paper empty at the top. You can tap or shake your joint to get a more even pack, but this can also cause clogging if it becomes too compressed. You may also lose material out the back end if it is rolled too loosely.
9. With the last bit of paper on the end, fold it down with your packing tool so the end is flat and blunt.
10. Congratulations! You now have an awesome joint that you rolled yourself, good job! Time to spark that thing up and relax, you worked for it!

I have been searching for the best flavors since day one of working with the cannabis plant. If it weren’t for the complex flavor profiles of cannabis, I don’t think hash would be such a big part of my life. My life has become a journey to find more profound and complex flavors. Searching through endless seed packs with varieties from around the world has helped me understand the qualities of these flavors. When searching for our entry, I was looking for the most complex flavors that not only had great flavor profiles but also flavors that stained the mouth and air for an extended period after the dab. I started isolating terpenes from the cannabis plant in 2016. When I came on board with Jar Co. in 2022, I aimed to bring on what I had learned about terpenes to highlight the quality of Jar Co.’s cannabis products. Jar Co.’s new terpene isolation technology captures 99.9% of the terpenes from the plant without using chemicals, allowing us to build our products from scratch. It was exciting to test my “designed cold cure” concept utilizing this technology to take the rosin game to another level in competition.

With all the years of R&D behind this entry, I’m grateful we took home 2nd place and the Bigid Farm Award. After seeing the final scores, it reflects how innovation and flavor are the name of the game.

– Justin Ordway (JAR Solventless Lab Manager)

How to use a Vape Pen

There are two main parts to a vape pen. The battery, which powers and controls the cartridge; and the cartridge itself, which contains a tank for the cannabis oil, an atomizer to heat it, and a mouthpiece. In other words, the cartridge is where the magic happens. With the press of a button, the battery sends power to the atomizer, melting the oil and turning it into a fine vapor that’s ready to inhale- no grinders, papers, or lighters required.

Different Types of Cartridges

Cartridges come pre-filled with a variety of different concentrates, or oil that’s been carefully extracted from the cannabis plant. The type of concentrate that’s inside of a cart determines the way it smokes, the flavor, and even the way it feels. At JAR, we produce several different kinds of cartridges that can be categorized as either distillate, cured or live resin, and cured or live rosin. 

• Distillate is a THC-only oil that’s missing all other active compounds from the flower it’s extracted from. Distillate typically has a potent, spaced-out high similar to most edibles and strong flavors from the terpenes that are added back in during production. Because it’s THC only, distillate can not have sativa or indica dominant effects.
• Resin is a full spectrum oil, meaning that it contains all of the active compounds and terpenes from the original flower it was extracted from. Resin is made using chemical solvents like butane or propane, and has very potent effects that are short-lived in comparison to rosin or flower.\
• Rosin is a premium full spectrum oil that’s similar to resin, but is made only using ice water, heat, and pressure rather than chemical solvents. This process leads to a concentrate with superior flavor and long lasting effects that are nearly identical to the flower it was extracted from.
• Cured/Live: Cured and live refer to the type of flower that the concentrate was made from. For example, cured rosin is made from flower that’s been hung, dried, and cured, leading to a lighter and more traditional taste; whereas live rosin only uses flower that’s either fresh from harvest or frozen directly afterwards, locking in more of that strain’s unique flavor and effects. 

Now that we’ve learned about several different kinds of cartridges and the way they work, all that’s left to do is experiment! Ask your budtender for their advice the next time you visit your local dispensary; they’ll be happy to help find a cart that’s right for you. And if you haven’t already, sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date with content like this and other happenings at JAR!

Lab Manager, Mike Trimm (right) is one of the organization’s most tenured employees with over 9 years of service. He stays up to date with the current trends in cannabis extraction processes while analyzing how it can benefit the company moving forward. He is an expert at understanding and executing the process of extraction from beginning to end to provide the consumer with the best concentrate experience.

Lab Technician, Danny Jewett (middle) has been with the company for 3 years. His day to day focus is butane extraction and post processing for sugar, shatter, and batter. Most recently, he started doing terpene extraction for our newly produced Cannabis Derived Terpene cartridges or CDT. Assisting in producing some of the best extracts in all of Maine, Danny uses his down time to further his education in different aspects of the cannabis world. Operations Manager, Jeff Jewett (left), has been with us for 8 years and is a huge asset to the day to day operations. He ensures deadlines are met and dispensaries in Maine are receiving the highest quality extracts from JAR’s plant material. He is responsible for developing and implementing our BHO process, which has come by leaps and bounds in the five years. Thank you, guys, for all of your hard work, grit and innovation. Interested in our concentrate selection?