America’s tastiest THC gummies of summer 2022
2022 is the year of the gummy bears, no ifs or buts. While brownies and crunchy rice treats may have got the edible sector of the cannabis industry rolling, gummies are now outselling any ingestible alternatives. When you consider cost, effectiveness, and options, the “why?” is clear: They’re your best bet for a long, rocky summer.
But then you go to the store or launch a delivery app, and there they are. To. Many. Selection. We’ve trawled the edible markets coast to coast to find top sellers and best bets from Florida to Oregon.
California: 710 Labs Gummy Bears and More
Space Gems, Papa & Barkley Kitchen Gummy Candy, Clscs Rosin Gummy Candy
(Courtesy of Space Jem)
If you notice one theme, well, I’ll admit I’m extremely biased. I’ve tried a lot of gummies in my previous life as a budtender in the Bay Area – and I mean a lot. Pectin, gelatin, squares, worms (RIP the fun candy shapes of medicine time), belts, oblong shapes, you name it. I’ve tried distillate gummies and live resin gummies and nanotechnology gummies and everything in between. That’s all to say that I think the only acceptable formula for gummies is hash or rosin.
All of these brands have shown—be it with cannabis prices, sales, or the court of public opinion—that they taste good and hit hard. The effectiveness of strain-specific edibles is undecided. Some use single strains and others use a blend, but I’ve always found the highs from these to be consistent, hilarious, and lasting. Wendy Baker, the founder and director of Humboldt-based Space Gems, was inspired by pharmacy trips to Oakland during the Prop 215 days. The edibles that day were, shall we say, inconsistent.
“I knew I could do better,” Baker said.
In 2015, after months of experimentation and a brief try at a BHO-based formula, Baker perfected their recipe for their current ice water hash-infused vegan gummy bears. The gummy bears speak for themselves and are not going anywhere. But being an artisan producer means constant competition with the big labs; “I’ve been off props for 215 days. Some of us are standing still, some of us are winning, some of us are drowning. The goal is to make rainbows every day. I have paved this path.”
See also: alien labs Galactic Hash Gums in Cotton Cluster; moon orange; Blue Moon; and Cherry Eclipse.
Oregon: Wyld Gummy Bears
So these aren’t made with hashish, but they are hands down the largest gummy bears in the states that currently make them. Data from Headset confirmed that these are the ultimate stimulants, thanks to a solid flavor selection and fast-acting effects. They also mix it with some cannabinoid blends containing CBD, CBN, and CBG in addition to THC. Their rectangular shape and smooth feel also make it easy to break them down into smaller pieces to mix and match microdosing. www.leafly.com/brands/wyld
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Ohio: The Botanist Gummy Candy
Medical marijuana company and dispensary chain The Botanist make their gummies with cannabinoid isolates but aren’t writing them off just yet. These vegan, pectin-based gummies utilize natural fruit flavors and a spectrum of dosages and cannabinoid combinations for disease and recreational fun. You can choose from CBD to THC ratios like 5:1, 2:1, 1:1, and even a 1:1 CBN:THC when it’s time for bed. Anyone amarena cherry or pink pomegranate? ShopBotanist.com
Washington: Elixir of Craft
In the past four years, Craft Elixirs has won over a dozen cannabis awards for its unique line of Pioneer Squares and Savory Fruit Potato Chips. Their winners include the Black and Blueberry and Kiwi Strawberry THC gummies and 1:1 THC:CBD gummies in 10-milligram cans. www.leafly.com/brands/craft-elixirs
Colorado: Dialed in
When you’ve got things dialed in, you win, and the same goes for this rosin-based edible brand. In two years, they’ve worked with dozens of Colorado growers to make small batches of variety-specific rosin gums in varying grades and flavors; newer batches are made from Oreoz, Mac, and Super Lemon Haze; The aromas range from exotic fruits, from dragon fruit to guava and papaya.
Keith Portman, the brand’s VP of marketing, says its founder “saw this empty part of the market that nobody cared about. Solvent-free is the cleanest way to make edible products, and rosin is taking off.”
There are also 500 mg batches made exclusively for Colorado medical patients. Each batch has published its lab test results online to provide transparency and allow the consumer to choose their desired experience.
www.leafly.com/brands/dialed-in-gummies
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Oklahoma: Smokiez
Smokiez has made a splash in recreational and medical states in recent years with over a dozen in its network. These are more fruit chews than jelly beans, both gluten free and vegan for any sensitive stomach, with more flavors than in an edible arrangement. Founded in 2010, Bill Thompson, director of marketing at Smokiez, believes they have weathered the evolving industrial landscape and are thriving in over a dozen states, with Puerto Rico and Canada in the works. “Oklahoma is one of our busiest states,” he says. “They are delicious. It’s a really good quality product. As with anything, product quality and consistency are key.”
www.leafly.com/brands/smokiez
Massachusetts: Impact extracts hashables
The hash-based edibles crusade comes to shore with Impact Extract’s “Hashables” gummies. Solvent-free gum is on the rise, and for good reason: it’s easier to make and offers a wide-ranging entourage effect for a pleasant high that won’t knock you out or aggravate paranoia. It’s not so much about unique flavors as it is about a one-of-a-kind experience that’s guaranteed to change the way you look at hash edibles.
Illinois: Edibles by Mindy
These gummy bears look and feel like an artisanal farmer’s market find. Chicago-based James Beard Award-winning chef Mindy Segal formulated these with Cresco Labs to enhance the edible experience with delicious fruit flavors and a smooth texture. These orchard-inspired flavors, including honeyed melon, glazed clementine, and cool key lime kiwi, tend to be on the low dose end; 5mg is the standard dose for these, but some flavors go as high as 2mg to fit your schedule. www.leafly.com/brands/mindys-edibles
Michigan: Kiva Lost Farm gummy bears
Born in California, this edible juggernaut has spread its wings across the country, including Michigan. It’s hard to impress a market with taste, and Kiva’s live resin gums and chewing gums never disappoint. Both are delicious and evoke that stoney-baloney vibe that’s perfect for summer, although I love the starburst-like fruit chews in blueberry. Their varieties change in and out, but don’t rule out the classic Blue Dream in edible form. www.leafly.com/brands/kiva-confections
Florida: Wana chews
Finally Florida is included in the program. The Sunshine State has launched edibles, but not all are created equal. MUV’s vegan Wana gummies offer hybrid, sativa, and indica options with multiple flavors to choose from (Yuzu looks delicious), as well as some THC/CBD formulas. These gummy bears follow the standard 10mg dosage but can easily be fractionated or doubled depending on the occasion. Plus they won’t melt if you forget them in the car!
www.leafly.com/brands/wana-brands
Nevada: The Gummy Co.’s Mango Tajin Gummy Candy
That’s as close to an edible michelada as we’re going to get, at least for now. The Gummy Co. is a division of Nevada-based breeder The Grower Circle, known nationally for supplying Zaza. Their edible endeavors go their own way, with juicy jelly beans and candy bars that use, you guessed it, hash rosin. These sweet and tangy gummy bears embody both the taste and the effect of Las Vegas’ cultural high-low marriage.
www.leafly.com/brands/the-grower-circle
Maine: Wisely hash chews
Wisely is primarily a concentrates and flower company, so they knew exactly what Maine consumers wanted in the edibles space and what they were missing: more hash. These chews are available in 10mg squares and 10 in a pack for the adult market and are made with rosin. They are not strain specific, so expect a hybrid effect. For those who do not eat animal products, they contain gelatine. www.wiselycannabis.com/#menu
Maryland: Betty’s Whirl
There’s cottage core. These small and fruity edibles might inspire you to take a trip to the country and eat local. These eddies are made from both fruit and veg, and of course weed, with cozy flavor profiles like honey lemon and apple pie. Being in the medicinal market, Betty’s Gummy Bears usually come five in a pack with a 20mg dose, but also have an additional strength option of 50mg per pop, so tread carefully. www.leafly.com/brands/betty-s-eddies
Arizona: Pure Gummy Bears
These home-grown gummy bears are loved by locals for their great flavor and flexible dosing (with an award to prove it). As a medical marijuana product, Pure Gummies come in two strengths, a 10 mg dose and a 30 mg dose. They come 10 in a can with accessible and naturally derived flavors like watermelon and mango, and you can choose between sativa or indica based options. They’re also vegan, affordable, and contain distilled cannabis oil. https://pureedibles.com/about/
Amelia Williams
New York-based freelance cannabis journalist Amelia Williams is a graduate of San Francisco State University’s journalism program and a former budtender. Williams has contributed to GreenState, MG Magazine, Culture Magazine and Cannabis Now, Kirkus Reviews and The Bold Italic of the San Francisco Chronicle.
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