Woody Harrelson’s Weed Shop Review: Into The Woods

Checked

The Forest WeHo

8271 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA

www.thewoodsweb.com

  • Specialty: Woody Harrelson Approved, Sun Ripened, Premier Cup Winners from Northern California
  • Not for: indoor hydro bargain hunters

When an A-list actor like Woody Harrelson opens a cannabis dispensary in a ritzy part of Los Angeles, it’s a sight to behold.

We’re here to tell you that rustic, natural The Woods makes artisanal, sun-grown flowers to locals at every price point. It kind of fits perfectly with Harrelson, who has spent decades campaigning for cannabis legalization, criminal justice reform, and environmental protection. Humboldt hippies helped make Californian cannabis the best in the world. The Woods hopes people in LA will pay fair trade prices so these farmers can survive the high taxes and red tape of legal weed.

The Woods backstory

Opened on May 16th just off Melrose Avenue in north LA, The Woods is a project by Harrelson and the owner of the Erba pharmacy chain.

Harrelson has supported weed law reform since at least 1996, when he was arrested for symbolically growing hemp in Texas. Cannabis was legalized in California in 2016, and stores opened in 2018. Four years later, Harrelson’s team transformed a home improvement store into a chic, suntanned boutique that embodies the actor’s values.

The Woods atmosphere up close

The Woods Opening Day on May 13, 2022 in West Hollywood, California.  (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The Woods)The Woods Opening Day on May 13, 2022 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The Woods)

As you walk into the shop, you’ll be greeted by a concrete horse next to a large, intimidatingly ornate wooden door. The shop has kept many of its former resident’s pieces, hence the horse. It’s bougie. This is West Hollywood, folks.

Walking inside, the store manages to give the feel of a high-end furniture store rather than a pharmacy. But details everywhere invite you to inspect and browse. This is not typical of pharmacies, which often hide products behind the counter and have limited information resources.

At The Woods on Opening Day on May 13, 2022 in West Hollywood, California.  (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The Woods)At The Woods on Opening Day on May 13, 2022 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The Woods)

The Woods is rich in plants throughout and is amply lit by a skylight, giving it a fresh, open feel.

The abundance of indoor plants creates a fresh herbal scent in the air. In the absence of birds, the chirping of local passers-by is heard instead, as the large front door stands open invitingly.

Display cases throughout the space showcase brands and their products for perusal. Certain cases focus on categories like edibles or pre-rolls. Customer favourite? The staff said edibles.

Edible Assortment by The Woods (Dan Wilson for Leafly)Edible Assortment by The Woods (Dan Wilson for Leafly)

You can also buy a whole wall full of award winners from the world’s largest outdoor pot competition, the Emerald Cup. The awards ceremony was held in Hollywood for the first time this year and coincided with the opening of The Woods. Several Emerald Cup winners donated their trophies for display at The Woods. The display encourages shoppers to buy organic, sun-grown cannabis and support the state’s legacy farmers.

Nikki Lastreto and Swami Chaitanya of Swami Select attend the opening day of Nikki Lastreto and Swami Chaitanya of Swami Select attend the opening day of “The Woods” on May 13, 2022 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The Woods)

“Support your local weed farmer,” reads the merch. On the wall – framed, historical photos of cannabis farms from days gone by. A mural painted by a local artist covers the back wall and leads through the long hallway that eventually leads to a smoking lounge. In the hallway, a gallery of NFT art of people jailed for weed runs on digital screens.

(Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The Woods)(Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The Woods)

In one corner you can sit and peek into a dozen small branded weed farm dioramas. It’s not the easiest display to browse, but it encourages close inspection.

The chill vibes continued with the friendly budtenders who will explain the benefits of sun grown organic cannabis, the impact of the war on drugs or the plight of the old farmers in today’s market.

Emerald Spirit Botanicals - Pink Boost Goddess (David Downs/Leafly)Pink Boost Goddess 2021 by Emerald Spirit Botanicals outdoors in full sun. (Sheet)

The spacious store encourages browsing with a decent, well-curated selection. We saw 155 flowers on the menu. Los Angelesos are addicted to indoor flavors, and outdoors are having a hard time penetrating the concrete jungle. The Woods features Emerald Triangle brands not typically available this far south:

  • Rebel Grown (get the cup winner Double OG Chem)
  • Emerald Spirit Botanicals (get the Farm Cut 7g jars from Pink Boost Goddess)
  • Ridgeline Farms (get the LANTZ)
  • Sol Ghost Farm
  • Huckleberry Hill Farms (get the Whitethorn Rose)
  • Dry grown cannabis
  • moon made
  • Sonoma Hills farm
  • Farm Cut (get the quarter ounce jars)
  • Garcia handpicked
  • Down Om Farms (the chewmdog is fire)
  • Happy day farms
  • Trinitrees farm
  • Canna Country Farms
  • Redwood roots
  • Willie’s reserve
  • One Straw Farm Organics
  • Talking Trees
  • and Brother David’s (Terpy, bargain eighth)

Ridgeline Farms LANTZ season 2021 purchased at the Emerald Cup.  (David Downs/Leafly)New drops from Ridgeline Farms LANTZ are here. Here are some from 2021. (Leafly File Photo)

Woody also made concessions to LA’s exotic marijuana culture. We’re seeing tasty new flavors of:

  • 710 laboratories
  • alien labs
  • cannabiotix
  • Best of the Best
  • Connected
  • lighthouse

Alien Labs Gemini (David Down/Leafly)Alien Labs’ new Gemini (2Face OG x Area 41) shines bright. Hybrid. (photo of sheet file)

Typically, you can expect lower prices for outdoor cannabis, and eighths of the spend is $41 plus tax at The Woods. Better quality weed should be worth more, The Woods believes, and as a result some of their outdoor prices can compete with indoors.

In the future, the store will be part of a cluster of related stores: a bar, a smokers’ lounge and a pharmacy. Each will have separate entrances and requirements, and it sounds like the bar and lounge will be very upscale.

I admit I’m not the typical customer of a place like The Woods. I prefer a dispensary associated with another facet of LA culture – the Backpack Boyz, Dr. Greenthumbs, Cookies, Sherbinskis and Greenwolfs of LA. But Woody’s chic Woods gives WeHoaners a chance to put their money where their worth lies—starting with sun-ripened, organic excellence from little old NorCal hippies.

DanWilson

Dan Wilson is an independent pot journalist based in Los Angeles. Wilson is the founding editor of Visit Hollyweed, the California cannabis community newspaper. His Los Angeles Dispensary Guidebook was published in April.

Check out Dan Wilson’s articles

By submitting this form, you are subscribing to Leafly news and promotional emails and agreeing to Leafly’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe from Leafly email communications at any time.

Post a comment:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *