Fantastic five

We round up five of the coolest and kindest cannabis subscription boxes for discriminating tastes.

By Anne Frances-Hutchinson

For years, cannabis gear purveyors have been creating subscription boxes for everyone from the casual user to the connoisseur. Companies have consistently upped their game with offerings ranging from pure kitsch to celebrity branded swag, luxury apparatus, and everything in between.

Getting a fresh box of goods from a trusted smoke shop every few weeks is an easy and fun way to find new accessories, add to your experience, and even to support worthy causes. Subscription boxes are also a thoughtful gift for friends and loved ones who partake, or for collectors looking to add new items to their tchotchke stash.

If you’re looking for a box with actual bud tucked amongst the accoutrements, your access is strictly limited to where you live. The Golden State is weed delivery heaven; whether you’re a recreational or medical user, options abound. Unlike California, most state governments have yet to issue delivery licenses to dispensaries. Although cannabis has been authorized for medical use in Colorado since 2014, for example, it took five years for the state to issue its very first delivery license, which is restricted to certain localities.

You’ll have to BYOC to most of these delightful smoke shops in a box, but let’s call it the price of freedom.

Stash Box by Cannibless

Nationwide

“Bless It, Roll It, Smoke it, Wear It, Love It.” These are the instructions from the souls behind Cannibless, who are a pair of “friends and Mary Jane enthusiasts; one’s an avid smoker who chases the high and the other a researcher obsessed with the healing power of CBD.” As we went to press, the company’s subscription boxes were on sale, and we don’t mean for a skimpy pile of trinkets. The ridiculously affordable StashBox Max contains eight to 10 of the curators’ favorite items, “including smoke essentials, handmade CBD infused goodies, craft foods and beverages for taming the munchies and more” shipped on the 20th of each month for just $54.20. In these tight times there’s also a Monthly Minimalist, which sends four or five lovingly collected items each month for $34.20. Bonus feel good do-goodery: Purchases help support nonprofit nationwide legalization efforts, as well as communities impacted by cannabis criminalization.

Shady Pines Box Club

California

This members-only cannabis club delivers top of the line strains with a dollop of good works. Operating in California’s East Bay, Shady Pines is owned by victims of the war on drugs; as an equity licensee, the dispensary’s taxes are significantly reduced, and the savings are passed on to club members. If you would like to support a local Black- and Brown-owned business, Shady Pines puts together customized offerings of cannabis with wearables and apparatus at a very sweet price: $150 to $300, which includes the available strain of your choice.

SensiBox

Nationwide

This New Hampshire-based subscription service offers “schwag by mail” in three different box sizes. Each contains glassware in addition to other smoking accessories. For $38 the Original SensiBox contains at least seven items based on a theme, and includes the company’s “Art of Smoke” StonerWare. The SensiLight includes a smoking piece and four other items for $23. Their “Special Edition,” a great idea for gifting, comes in at $45 for a 4-inch custom hand pipe, a nug case, rolling papers, cones, glass tips, and more.

Nugg Club

California

Now this is a box of weed. Choose from flower, pre-rolls, edibles or vape concentrates, pick your preferred strain types, and prepare to get over $225 worth of cannabis for $99 on your preferred delivery schedule. Featuring some of the state’s best brands, such as Korova and Kiva Confections edibles, Beboe cannabis and CBD products, Stone Road organics, and Lola Lola, these boxes are perfect for seekers of truly high grade experiences. After your first box you’ll be eligible for club add-on products like premium organic eighths for 40 to 60% off retail. With flexible scheduling and a hassle-free cancellation policy, we dream of the day when these high quality boxes are available from sea to shining sea.

Elevated Stash

Nationwide

Looking for a veteran-owned operation that gives back? Look no further than Elevated Stash. The founders’ purpose is to shed light on the benefits of cannabis as an alternative for disastrously addictive opioids for persons with PTSD, insomnia, pain, and other issues. You won’t find THC in the boxes, which are thoughtfully designed to open minds and hearts, and enhance user experiences. Their most popular subscription box, the “Pikes Peak,” retails for $34.99 and contains eight to 10 products, including a unique glass item or “Rig of the Month,” lighters, wraps, containers, and other accessories. A percentage of each sale goes to veterans’ charities. As founders Alex and Stephen write, “The thing about veterans, and we can’t speak for them all … but from our own perspective of what we’ve seen and been told, and also how we feel personally … we just want to stop the pain, to be able to sleep, to be ourselves. Taking 10-15 prescription pills does not do that. Change is coming.”

Change is indeed coming, and we’ll keep you posted on some of the industry’s newest, most novel collections as they evolve, and as more Americans integrate legal cannabis into their repertoire of pain easing, sleep inducing, fun inviting activities.