The fact that it's even possible to get "Cali" grown outside of California says it all really, it's become a type of brand name. If some one grows a bit of Amnesia I've never heard them call it UK grown Amsterdam.... it makes no sense.

"Cali" is the kind of thing we have to worry about if we ever go legal or whatever, it's just big American companies trying to steamroller over everyone else. Same old shit, different market.

We definitely need to make sure we look after our UK growers going forward, we do DANK better on this side of the pond anyway. Let's get a whole range of Cheese's going I say :P

Nothing wrong with Cali mind I might be being a bit harsh but we do have to be careful though.

*** I'm looking at doing a run of RSO, Canna capsules and some rosin Dabs if the demand is there. For anyone interested please see my other post.

Cheers

Great thread. I’ve enjoyed reading all the replies but what sticks with me is that same doubt... I don't think much genuine Cali grown weed makes it over here... as you've said, there are loads of UK producers making very convincing ‘counterfeit’ Cali packaging. Its crap.

There are good reasons why someone might choose Cali or Dutch over UK bud, but I think the rationale behind it has been somewhat drowned up by hype/fashion. But ultimately, Cali or Dutch bud should - in theory - come from more accountable growers. 'Real Cali' is tested, and it's quality verified - that will be appealing to people whose 'street' purchases might be questionable. Same goes for Dutch, to a degree. In as much as if this is sold in a coffee shop, it has to compete with all bud in all coffee shops, and is therefore expected to be of higher quality.

There are also legacy reasons, possibly. Pre-legalisation, I used to get bud in from Cali - I've long believed the best outdoor grows come from that region, and I like outdoor grows! But the geography of the 'Golden Triangle' in Cali does offer the ideal growing environment - but with modern genetics close to hand (unlike more traditional growing regions). The sheer number of smokers/growers there also led to the early(ish) medical legalisation there, which also helped the scene. California deserves its reputation as the home of amazing cannabis - but certainly not everything from there is great these days (I suspect the black market here is largely their rejects!). Similarly, Amsterdam's been the home of modern genetics on this side of the ocean, with the coffeeshop scene encouraging at least a base level of quality.

UK bud doesn't have that same provenance. There are some famous cuts, sure - Exodus, Blues etc. But nothing else that implies any guarantee of quality. But, of course, with the same seeds and equipment, there's no reason UK bud couldn't theoretically compete with the best. Indeed, nearly all the best buds I've ever had have been UK grown. I'd never specifically choose Dutch over UK and I actively avoid marketed Cali in the UK (it's either fake, reject or over-priced!).

The one origin label that does prick my ears up is Canada. I believe their gear has a lot of the same advantages, but isn't exploited in the same way. If I want cheap, reliable quality, Canadian vendors top the charts. But for pristine high end, I stick with good growers of nice genetics in the UK.

Hi there. I really liked reading your post. You seem very knowledgeable. Would you be able to recommend good vendors on here? I’m knew and I’d appreciate the help.
Many thanks.
Peace.

Kudos.

Cheers BB

facts

Theres a few facts about cali weed.

but that's illegal grows they aren't the buds ending up in cali packs. I agree uk grown bud if it's done right can be just as good as cali the issue is the strains. a lot of top end cali strains are cut only so nobody over here is getting seeds for those strains. zamnesia are selling runtz seeds in the UK but you're crazy if you think that's the same genetics as cookie fam runtz

We only get illegally grown cali weed here at best, if it's even cali at all. The US legal and illegal weed market is massive, why ship here?
Any company licensed to grow in California has a massive market on tap. The risk to then smuggle to the UK just isn't feasible for a reputable company.

You have it backwards. If you get a genuine cali pack (most found here are filled with UK grown weed anyway) however a genuine cali pack has the branded weed of cookie fam jungle boys whatever company that's not illegal weed they wouldn't risk there multi billion dollar industry. genuine cali packs are dispo weed meaning the same ones found in dispensaries. I don't understand what angle you are looking at as too me it seems foolish to ship unbranded cali weed. However genuine cali packs are from dispensaries that is literally the whole point of cali packs

Think we are on the same page... 99% of the UK cali isn't Cali. But the dispencery stuff is top end, but again nothing that can't be done anywhere with the right genetics.

yh that's true genetics is key and legalization definitely helped advance that in the US the last few years. a few years ago they were going crazy in cali for uk cheese so we know it can be done just wish there was more of a push into developing new strains over here

What I'm saying is none of it is cali.. why would anyone buy in cali ( prices are high ) to smuggle to the UK to sell for a similar price after the cost of smuggling £ to $ weak conversion rates.

Jungle boys flies off the shelf there, so why ship genuine stuff here?

You might get the odd bit brought back by UK holiday makers, but again why ? Buy it there for $15 a gram sell here for £15 a gram.. there's no mark up big enough for the bulk smuggle.
If theres a market to smuggle weed to and from, it's not cali... it's the poor parts of the world were they cant sell it for a decent price on their own door.

yh that's exactly my point most of the stuff us uk grown and put in packs if you search cali packs on google you will see how easy it is to get the packs and tins. The only time you will see genuine stuff is when somebody has a contact in cali that is willing to ship some. Carts and stuff are a lot easier to ship so a lot of them are legit. The reason I say the wouldn't ship unbranded cali is once it lands you have no proof it's cali anyway like you said anything can be grown here if you have the genetics

Maybe it's just that if someones done a truly excellent job of growing they will label it as Cali.

The Cali characteristics seem to be a really clean burn and very compact buds - which is amazing, but who knows where it was grown? All I know is, I've never come across harsh, unflushed or nutrient burned "Cali".

Another thing I've noticed is, I think the effort put into growing is way more important than what the strain is.

"Maybe it's just that if someones done a truly excellent job of growing they will label it as Cali."

Yes, unfortunately far too much of that.

Personally I think Cali and Dutch herb is better than UK weed and I’ve smoked a shit tonne of Dutch weed living there in the mid 00’s... why? Simply because it’s legal... you don’t have to rush, hide away, worry constantly, they’re doing it on a legal industrial scale so the equipment is better, they can invest in the newest and best equipment without fear of losing it all in a raid, purely and simply it’s investment that makes legal weed better.

Also a big factor is in the U.K. we have to buy what’s available if it’s shit it’s shit, wait and hope the next lot from your dealer is better, in legal countries it’s competition there is recourse for the product.... I had XXX weed from XXX grower and it was the bomb goes far and makes money, rather than I bought some banging weed off Gary in the dog and duck in Grimsby means fuck all unless you know Gary and live in Grimsby... accountability is the difference imo.

Can weed be grown as well in the UK as Cali or Dam... 100% it’s a seed it grows, no rocket science behind it or a special formula just freedom, time and equipment and experience.

100% mate, I DO believe there is some grade around that just couldn't be produced to that quality and volume in some cloak and dagger growhouse operation here.

I see a lot more coming from Canada, and there's been routes from Dam, Poland and elsewhere for green in as long as it's been here. However with the right genetics, knowledge and conditions I believe you can grow truly A*** green anywhere, just not sure you can do it on an industrial scale in a country that continues to throw so much of the law's resources to shutting them down.

As others have said the equipment used, testing, level of quality control, the manicured buds, the density, the quality, the taste...there is definitely something..different around, that never was before the "Cali" phase. Hype or otherwise.

Where it comes from I have no idea but there has been a huge change in the strength and amount that's around.

The problem I have is the grey area between what is genuine Top Shelf and what isn't. The marketing has muddied the waters and pushed up the price and cache of average weed that sparkles a bit.

Fact is no matter what, I draw the line somewhere. When we were kids it was 3.5 for 25 quid, last time I went to Dam it was €20 on the gram. I just will never reach to some of those levels and even on here you will see up to £70-80 a henry. Doesn't matter where it's grown, flown....budget dictates for me.

There has always been a top level, and as long as that reflects in the product we can all be happy.

I agree 100%. And if it is Cali weed, surely traveling and packaging would have caused some damage from compression and heat changes and sitting in plastic bags for possibly days on end. If u get from a grower direct and they grow well, other than it being tested and having label saying how much THC etc it should be as good or better. BUT as legal they have more chance to hunt phenos and share genetics so they do have that in their side. But most Cali is probably Albanian weed in a nice baggy lol

If you have the right seeds and know what you're doing then there shouldn't be much difference, that said a lot of uk weed is rushed without the proper flushing and drying due to the risk of loosing it all when you could sell it.

Couldn't agree more on that, but there a few excellent stealth setups in the UK bagging out great weed

there's a lot more science and consistancy in cali weed.. they've been able to study and learn the plant legally for last 20 odd years within the medical era with the correct resources therefore they have a lot more knowledge of what the plant requires and needs

any top shelf cali that has been packaged properly and licensed wouldve gone through testing too before hitting the shelves, to make sure there are no pesticides etc.

I'm not convinced, yes they have been at it for ages, but so have the Dutch... and they still grow in the same manner as most.
Lights / good feed and a bit of TLC. Theres a case for using reverse osmosis water but it's not proven as it strips essential minerals out of the water, so they need to be re added.
The clue is in the name "weed" theres no magic science that only the guys in cali know of.
I get your point of consistency of environment but with the right resources, that isn't out of reach.

Have you seen large scale cali grows, they are similar to large scale grows all over the world.

Thanks for your input Hootan, always good to hear other peoples views

its still illegal to grow weed in holland. they have to learn the plant in secret making it so much harder. also they grow recreational weed.. which is really just for the average consumer who doesnt care what they smoke aslong as they get their high. their tech in cali is far more advanced than any other place on the planet, and thats why their weed is the best.

What tech make it far more advanced than any other place on the planet? You know the UK grow tons of medical weed, and they grow just like the cali labs.
And you think the stuff that supposedly comes from these super advanced labs is the stuff we get in the UK... eventhough its illegal to ship it to the UK. Or is it at best, opportunist from cali growing in a warehouse in standard conditions and smuggling it into the UK.... or maybe it's not from cali.

Not trying to rub you up the wrong way, just chatting, but claiming it's the best because it's more advanced or that they've been doing it longer is marketing speil without substance.

Anyway Hootan, it's good chatting with you, your products look ace.

In my very limited experience of what I have had/seen that has been sold as Cali is that it is always rock hard, dense bud that has been very decently trimmed and there is never any sugar leaf. Other than that...isn't it just really strong weed???

I have always asked myself what is it that Cali growers can do that UK growers supposedly can't?? It's all indoors so we should be able to replicate the exact same conditions anywhere in the world no? Admittedly it must be a lot easier to create/maintain a professional grow in a place where it is legal to do so but technique and equipment wise, aren't we all on a level playing field now?

Also, I still have the whole 'how long does it take to physically transport wholesale weed from California to here'...and how the hell could it possibly get to us in tip top condition??? Surely if it is legit from Cali, it is past it's best by the time it's taken weeks to get here getting battered about the whole time?...

I can't personally see why UK weed couldn't in theory be as good as anything grown anywhere in the world...unless I have missed something?

Yes, you raise some good points... smuggle cail weed to the UK by the ton in tins... or smuggle coke.
Theres a guy on Insta from London ( ish ) called "Slapsta designs " I think and the guy is churning out thousands of 3.5g bags, tins, glass pots etc. Not weed, just bag etc and it's getting bought and filled by UK guys with...... Cali weed, pull the other one, maybe its just good UK weed, or not so good

I agree, I've seen plenty for sale on here in the same packaging that's on ebay. If it was from the US it would be compressed into bricks, not loose in tins of 3.5g.

Exactly! Makes no sense to me that any serious smuggler would choose to move weed from California to the UK! Talk about hassle... Coke, meth, anything else moves easier with bigger profit... boggles my mind that people can import wholesale Cali weed in this day and age...

Also, yeah... just go to Calipacks UK on the net and you really do start to question a lot of things....

I'm feeling the biggy love at last... my posts are getting replies... we need a smiley emoji

Ps... let's get this little biggy sexy women thread packed with pics ( see my other posts )