5 varieties that are on the menu in October

This month from The Drop, Dante Jordan’s column that brings together all the strains and dabs from the best brands and breeders that are not to be missed, is looking at the anticipated releases from Viola, Ball Family Farms and Insane.

New month and a whole host of new strains to put in your pipe and smoke. Here are the cannabis strains that hit menus in October.

Viola x Iverson Collection: ’96

A few months ago it was revealed that Viola, owned by former NBA player, now cannabis mogul Al Harrington, has entered into a multi-year partnership with NBA legend Allen Iverson. It’s called the Iverson Collection, and on October 2nd, they debuted the brand’s first strain at a party in Los Angeles: ’96. It was named Tribute of the Year. The Answer was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the first overall pick in the best NBA draft class of all time (sorry, 2003).

Referred to as “Iverson ’96” on some menus and websites, ’96 is an indica-dominant hybrid created by crossing Secret Kush Mints with Grape Stomper. She has tightly packed buds that are so purple and white that they end up looking exactly like the Iverson ’96 package.

The taste develops a grape-shaped terpene profile that is supported by pine and earth. The ’96 aesthetic may be the next level, but what’s special about this strain is the high. Face a ’96 joint and you will feel super smooth, relaxed and happy. It puts a smile on your face as you wash away stress and transform yourself into the chillest version of yourself. It’s exactly the kind of weed and experience I would envision if Allen Iverson smoked.

Get it at Elevate Los Angeles or the Santana and Torrence locations of the Jade Room, exclusive to the Iverson Collection.

Available: California

Coffee and Kush: cappuccino

What began as a mixtape series (Vol. 2. is fire) by California hip-hop artist Problem is now also a cannabis brand by the same man. Coffee and Kush presents three new varieties: Mocha, Cappuccino and Black. It is available exclusively from the Wonderbrett Store on La Brea. Look at the grass; look at the music.

Available: California

Insane: Cali Lights

All I’ve ever smoked from Insane was some of the best flowers I’ve smoked in years. A few weeks ago I did my best to preserve the last lump of his mamba juice because it was so damn good. This month, the brand known for its Kush genetics is launching three new strains that I can’t wait to smoke: Cali Lights, OMG, and Julia. Especially Cali Lights – I’ll admit the packaging got me.

Cali Lights is an insanely grown strain bred by Seed Junky Genetics that was created by crossing Zkittlez and Kush Mints. This is the first edition to hit stores. The Insane team told me that Cali Lights has a gaseous, cool mint tone with hints of lime and pine. The terpene profile is dominant in caryophyllene, limonene and humulene. When you smoke Cali Lights, you can expect an authentic Kush taste with a smooth and distinct flavor that results in a very balanced body high and head change.

Available: California

Ball Family Farms: Nino Brown

Ball Family Farms is known for good weed, proprietary genetics, and strains named after famous black culture movie characters. Its flagship hybrid Daniel LaRusso is a bit hot, as are Laura Charles and Bruce Leroy. At the end of October, the brand is expanding the collection with its latest hit: Nino Brown.

Nino Brown, played by Wesley Snipes, is the main character in the movie New Jack City. As for the Nino Brown strain, the indica-dominant hybrid was bred by Ball Family Farms with proprietary genetics that keep it under wraps no matter what. Chris Ball, the brand’s founder, told me via email, “BFF prefers to keep their proprietary strain genetics under wraps and challenge the culture to try and digest them.”

Nino Brown gives off a mixture of gas and creamy scents with a taste that is reminiscent of ice cream and sweets. It is lime-forward, aided by caryophyllene, and the effects are expected to be extremely potent and calming.

Nino Brown has only been around for six months. So you’ll be the first to try the latest Ball Family Farms offering when it hits the menu later this month. Nino will be available in 20 different locations including Sixty Four & Hope, Wonderbett and all nine Catalyst stores.

Available: California

Solstice Reserve: LA Kush Cake

Washington state solstice brings really great weed to the market at affordable prices. The top brand Solstice Reserve costs only $ 35 for an eighth, but it smokes just as well as the brands that charge $ 50. This month the Seattle-based company is releasing a new batch of LA Kush Cake. Yeah, I said LA Kush Cake for less than two Harriet Tubmans.

LA Kush Cake was originally bred by Seed Junky Genetics in 2019, and I’ll tell you, SJG has the strain world in the cradle of a cat. It’s a cross between Kush Mints and Wedding Cake that smells like an earthy mix of herbs and vanilla and tastes pretty much the same with some sweet notes.

While not seen as specifically calming, the indica-dominant hybrid effects work heavily with a heavy, rocky experience that will put you in chill mode for several hours. The terpene profile of LA Kush Cake is dominant in caryophyllene and myrcene. This absolute bargain should definitely be getting your hands on when visiting Washington.

Available: Washington