So many choices

The front of downtown Ypsilanti’s Herbal Solutions features a large glass window with a basic neon “open” sign and the business’ name and address. It blends in well with the surrounding businesses. Parking in this area can be a bear at times, so don´t pass a parking spot if you see one. I´ve had good luck with street parking, but there is also a parking lot behind the shop and several other lots nearby.

When I walked in the front door, I found myself in the front lobby, where I was immediately greeted by the receptionist. Since I was a returning member, she was able to quickly check my identification and check me into the system. For new members, signup is free to all patients with a valid Michigan medical marijuana card and ID. The lobby was clean and welcoming, with small sitting area. I had a short wait of just two minutes to get in the back — there was one patient finishing up ahead of me.

Once in the back, I found another small waiting area with a couch and TV — but I didn´t wait long. It’s a fast-paced shop with two green rooms. During my short wait in this room I was able to peruse some medical marijuana devices, supplies and paraphernalia on display. Next, I was welcomed into one of the green rooms where I sat at a desk with one of the budtenders. Every question I asked was answered with accuracy, labs results were readily available and everything was very professional. The staff knew their products well — and the shop carries a lot of them.

The most difficult issue for me was choosing from the shop’s vast array of options, including concentrates, buds and edibles. The shop’s selection of 26 concentrates and extracts included everything from wax to shatter, live resin and even CO2 oil. There were more than 20 different flowers available, ranging from CBD-rich strains to strains with very high THC. The shop also carried 32 edible selections, including gummies, infused honey, candies, cookies and more. It’s easy to get mesmerized while looking the products and smelling the contents of the jars. It´s like aromatherapy.

I finally settled on an ounce of infused honey ($10), one package of 100 mg infused gummies ($12), a half gram of Death Star wax ($20) and a gram of OG1 Kenobi ($20/ gram or $400/ounce) that boasts a test result of over 30% THC.

I really enjoyed each of the products. The gummies, which are a popular among many patients I know, were on point.

A little more unusual was the infused local Michigan honey, which I used to sweeten my tea and oatmeal. I´ve been seeing more of an emphasis on natural, organic and health-conscious products, which I appreciate since we are talking about products that are intended for medical use.

The Death Star wax — which was very pungent and resembled the smell of the flower — worked great for pain relief. I was also very pleased with the OG1 Kenobi. It had an amazing appearance and taste, and the effects were even better. This had significant lung expansion. The taste was sweet and floral on the inhale, and it had a slight note of spice on the exhale. The burn was even with white ash, indicating a clean product that was flushed well before harvest. This strain helped to ease my muscle spasms and pain.

Steve Green, who writes this column every two weeks, uses marijuana to prevent seizures. He has no business tie to any dispensaries.

Herbal Solutions

124 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday- Thursday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday (734) 487-8421, herbalsolutions420.com