OUR FAVORITE CBD & CANNABIS BRANDS OF 2023: A HALF-YEAR REFLECTION ON WHAT WE’RE ENJOYING
Explore the best CBD & Cannabis brands of 2023 so far! Our half-year review dives into quality, innovation, and what sets our favorite brands apart in this booming industry. Stay tuned!
- WILL VANCE
- UPDATED: 2 HOURS AGOORIGINAL:JUN 21, 2023
CONTENTS
Cannabis and CBD are more prevalent in 2023 than ever before, the primary denominator being the fact that my mom is officially enjoying the daily benefits and effects of cannabis (and if you knew her, you would know that's an about as prominent sign of the times as a longtime-cannabis enthusiast like me could ask for).
The stereotypes around cannabis and even CBD that were prominent in generations past are completely gone now, as more states are legalizing the sale and consumption of weed and more and more of the population are waking up to the fact that the Devil's Lettuce isn't all that sinister.
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But with so much noise and clamor being added to the dialogue of best brands, virtual devices, necessary smoking life hacks, and more, it can be challenging for even veteran smokers to parse through what's good or necessary. This is why we compiled a massive list of some of the best cannabis and CBD brands we've had the opportunity to review and companies we've been lucky enough to work with. Because 2023 is halfway over and there's never been a better time to reflect on the brands we love and double down on the strains we dig.
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OUR FAVORITE EDIBLES
MOUNTAINTOP EXTRACTS
We're pretty picky when it comes to edibles, as way too many brands these days try masking the inherent flavor of the cannabis with overly-fake flavorings and ultra-processed sugars. But this is not the case with Mountaintop Extract's edibles. And while the couple-founded cannabis company has made the biggest waves in the industry off the back of their delicious cannabis-infused lollipops, our favorites were their Cannabis Connection gummies.
They come in a range of flavors and pack about as much punch as you need them to, and being 10mg of TCH per serving with a splash of CBD to top it off, taking just half of one chills you out and primes you for bedtime where a whole one sets you up for those harder hangs on the couch. I've also read online that many users consider these specific gummies the magic bullet solution for curing insomnia. So while Mountaintop Extracts doesn't advertise or claim them to be a wonder product for insomnia, many of the community swear by them.
Discover and perhaps grab some of this brand for your upcoming session here ๐ฟ
FLOYD'S ON THE GO
Floyd's gummies are a simple, straightforward, and unpresumptuous brand of CBS which we love for all of the reasons you would imagine just after reading the packaging. They come in easy-to-grab packages with light amounts of CBD in the gummies, which makes them super easy to take when you're on the go and active. They help energize you and help supercharge the recovery modes after a workout.
We found these most helpful during days on the trail, hiking around Mount Hood just outside of Portland, Oregon. Mount Hood is inundated with countless smaller trails, and we often like to hit a few short ones back to back. We would take one of these between hikes while driving and be ready to rock and roll in a fresh and new headspace by the time we got to the next trailhead.
Discover and perhaps grab some of this brand for your upcoming session here ๐ฟ
BETTY'S EDDIES
Betty's Eddies cannot be recommended enough if you're looking for something that packs a bit more of a punch for your daytime activities. Because while their products run the gamut of potency and flavors, the ones we got our hands on were a medical cannabis serving from Massachusetts that had 50mg of THC per serving AND a fair amount of natural caffeine. (Marylandโs medical version tops out at 40mg.) So while more dedicated cannabis enjoyers have much higher tolerances than this writer, it set me off at a good pace and showed no signs of slowing down for hours after taking it.
Another honorable mention that should be noted about these is that they taste perfect. As mentioned above, my gripe with many edible gummies is how fake they taste, but these have a friendly and pleasant bite that tempted me to keep nibbling (despite my best judgment of continuing to snack on something so potent).
Discover and perhaps grab some of this brand for your upcoming session here ๐ฟ
ALCHEMY NATURALS
They are looking for a luxurious CBD brand that's as stylish as it is effective? Alchemy Naturals is your go-to. Their products, which boast complex flavors beyond common ones like watermelon or lemon, come in sleek packaging that enhances the wellness experience.
With CBD edibles gaining cultural acceptance, conversations about recommended brands often arise in my family, especially among older relatives who are not attracted to brands with blatant cannabis imagery. With its sophisticated look, Alchemy Naturals is my top recommendation for such discussions. In 2023, it's my chosen brand when advocating for CBD benefits.
Discover and perhaps grab some of this brand for your upcoming session here ๐ฟ
WYLDE
Maybe I am biased, being a writer based in the PNW, sharing a backyard with this ever-increasingly more-popular brand of edibles. But having watched Wylde's progression from a minor operation to a severe contender in the CBD edible market has been fun to witness. And where some companies angle and market themselves as cures, remedies, and more medicinal, the impression I've always gotten from the boxing, imagery, and branding of Wylde is that they are made for a good time - a pleasant treat.
And while I know that that description sounds a little corny and might be entirely off base with what the company is aiming for with its branding, it's how I've always perceived it and exactly what I've come to expect from these delightful and fun little CBD edibles.
Discover and perhaps grab some of this brand for your upcoming session here ๐ฟ
Okay, so this isn't gummies or candies as you would typically expect, but these mushrooms deserve a spot on this list. Cookies is a hemp company from California renowned for its unique mushroom and CBD capsulesโtheir daytime blend merges CBD, CBG, and various mushrooms, promising energy boosts and heightened focus. Despite slight deviations in cannabinoid content from advertised levels, the capsules maintain a satisfactory "A" rating, demonstrating the brand's commitment to quality.
The nighttime blend features an intriguing five-in-one mushroom concoction with CBD and CBN to promote rejuvenation and restful sleep. The added CBD justifies the cost although the pricing leans toward the higher end than other mushroom products. The brand's inventive blend of CBD and mushrooms, despite some ingredient clarity issues, positions Cookies as one of our favored brands in 2023.
Discover and perhaps grab some of this brand for your upcoming session here ๐ฟ
OUR FAVORITE FLOWER/CARTRIDGES
VERITAS FIRST CUT
Veritas' move to doing more exclusive strains and launches has been an exciting endeavor to witness and would, on its own, earn any number of the First Cut strains a place on this list. But the flower taste and hits insanely well makes this, El Chivo, to be specific, one of our favorite strains we've stumbled on this year.
It's no secret that the cannabis industry is quickly becoming highly oversaturated, and every company is doing what it can to stand out. This makes the exclusivity factor of the First Cut strains and the creative partnerships they bring something that the cannabis communities, near and far, can rally behind. And while I know the packaging should never out-prioritize the contents therein, I will admit that the sleek and minimal containers these come in loop sick AF.
Discover and perhaps grab some of this brand for your upcoming session here ๐ฟ
NATURE'S HERITAGE
Nature's Heritage's Lamb's Bread sativa strain has been doing the rounds lately. The effects are pretty standout and perfect for daytime use from our experience, and give off any edginess that can come from overindulging. What's even better is that there isn't any abrupt crash that affects many after they smoke similar strains.
What I dig most about Nature's Heritage strains is the simple experience of the entire process. The jar looks dope, the potent smell that hits your nose the second you bust out the buds, the vibrant orange hairs, down to the effects of the strain - it's all grade, making Lamb's Bread a definite repeat buy for our team
Discover and perhaps grab some of this brand for your upcoming session here ๐ฟ
FROST FACTORY
Frost Factory sent us their Golden Pineapple strain to sample a few weeks ago, and it's quickly become one of my favorite strains to smoke. Golden Pineapple is a balanced hybrid strain derived from Pineapple Kush and Golden Goat. Known for its THC content of about 23%, it offers a high that perfectly walks the line between relaxation and invigoration. It boasts a delicious tropical aroma and flavor that helped it clinch the top spot at the 2017 Oregon Northwest Cannabis Cup.
Growing this strain is straightforward, which is great news for novice cultivators. Resistant to mold and mildew, it can be grown in various settings and climates. Its rich tropical scent, intermingled with hints of pineapple, citrus, skunk, and dank, becomes even more intoxicating as the plant matures. Smoking Golden Pineapple leaves a delightful taste of tropical fruitiness with spicy citrus on the exhale.
Discover and perhaps grab some of this brand for your upcoming session here ๐ฟ
OUR FAVORITE PARAPHERNALIA
PUFFCO PEAK PRO
It's no secret why this premium device made the list as one of the best smoking devices available in 2023. The hit quality is insane, delivering tasty, potent, and distinctly different experiences across all four temperature settings. It may heat slower than its competitors, but this adds to the flavor intensity, making every use an adventure. Furthermore, Puffco has made concentrate consumption safer, incorporating the heater, bubbler, and power source into one compact, party-friendly package, eliminating any need for exposed hot metals or torches. I love this, as I've always enjoyed smoking more than edibles at home, and I am constantly looking for the safest and cleanest way to enjoy doing what I love.
Despite its quirks, the intelligent Peak Puffco Pro rig's user-friendly design, safety features, and exceptional hit quality earn it a spot as one of our favorite cannabis devices in 2023.
Discover and perhaps grab some of this brand for your upcoming session here ๐ฟ
VESSEL COMPASS
A transition from their popular high-end oil pens, the Compass is their first 510 thread palm-style vape, which I know is all the rage lately in the vaping community - both cannabis vapes and beyond. The build quality of the Compass is top-notch, resembling a luxury vehicle key fob and offering robust and comfortable handling.
What I dig most about this little device, as I explore with almost every Vessel device that I've tried, is how easy the user interface is to operate, with bright LEDs for clear visibility and a large, easily accessible firing button. Despite its lack of pass-through charging, the device fully charges in just over an hour and provides a powerful, long-lasting experience. Plus the design and shape of this vape is new and exciting, mirroring the other non-cannabis vape designs that have become popular over the last couple of years.
Discover and perhaps grab some of this brand for your upcoming session here ๐ฟ
DR. DABBER XS
The Dr. Dabber XS' compact size allows for a subtle dab experience anywhere you go, and with music festival season picking up (even being in full swing in some places), this has never been more welcome. The XS carries the quality one would anticipate from a top brand, earning its sub-$200 price tag, making it a super approachable device compared to even some of the other options on this list!
It might be tricky for a dab rig novice to assemble, but it's manageable with careful attention to the instructions or a little help. The rig boasts a modern design, featuring a Quartz e-Chamber threaded. All in all, the Dr. Dabber XS offers a sneaky, high-quality, and compact e-Rig experience, making it one of our favorites for dabbing and smoking that's come on our radar this year.
Discover and perhaps grab some of this brand for your upcoming session here ๐ฟ
PUFFCO PROXY
We're obviously big fans of Puffco, and while I wouldn't usually include the same brand multiple times in a favorite-brand roundup piece, the ingenuity of everything this company has been bringing to the table is second to none. Their widely varying tools and devices warrant a couple of different mentions.
The Puffco Proxy is a semi-modular vape which opens the door for a wide range of personalized designs from both Puffco and third-party creators, including glass bodies with water filtration.It features an advanced 3D ceramic coil that provides multi-directional heating, leading to a more efficient extraction process and consistent results. Using the Proxy is straightforward and involves cold-loading the material, with a "hot" loading tool recommended for sticky extracts. Four temperature settings are available, ensuring the production of creamy, flavorful vapor that cools down significantly before inhaling, thanks to the large mouthpiece design. This ease of use and versatility makes the Proxy a highly appealing choice for those new to extracts or seeking a simpler alternative to traditional rigs.
Discover and perhaps grab some of this brand for your upcoming session here ๐ฟ
VESSEL PENS
This thing is sleek, high-end, and feels weighty in a satisfying way. From the moment you open the beautifully packaged box, it's clear that Vessel put some thought into their design, with finishes like wood/slate and rose gold. But its "beauty" is more than just skin deep...
The LED indicator lights donโt just look cool โ they show you the temperature setting and how much battery life you've got left.
It's also got multiple temperature settings, it auto-shuts off after a certain time, and the drop-in cartridge design is just genius. And that magnetic charging port? Smooth as butter. And get this, a fully drained battery charges in just over an hour, and with moderate use; the order can last you over two days! The Vessel should be on your radar if you're into vape pens.
Discover and perhaps grab some of this brand for your upcoming session here ๐ฟ
BY
Managing Editor at Magnetic Magazine - Former Marketing Manager at the Hyperbits Masterclass - Writer, Content Strategist, Music Producer, and Record Label Manager
