272 CANNABIS BEST BUDTENDERS CURALEAF 4415 E. MONROE ST. 602-396-5757 8970 N. 91ST AVE., PEORIA 623-233-1010 AND OTHER VALLEY LOCATIONS CURALEAF.COM Buying cannabis can be intimidating, espe- cially when every jar, cartridge and edible promises a different experience. The budtenders at Curaleaf cut through the confusion by asking thoughtful questions before making recommendations. Rather than steering you toward the most expensive products, they take the time to understand your goals, budget and experience level, then suggest high-quality options that actually fit you. The staff rarely pushes unnecessary add-ons. Instead, they build trust the old- fashioned way. They listen and then do their best to make sure customers leave with the right product, whether it’s your first time in the door or your 50th. i i i BEST SATIVA JACK HERER Some cannabis strains fade away in the winds of time. For decades now, Jack Herer has been uplifting stoners on the move, and with much props to Drip Cannabis, it’s back in rotation at Curaleaf dispensaries. Named after the late cannabis activist and author known as the Emperor of Hemp, this sativa- dominant hybrid honors the man whose 1985 book “The Emperor Wears No Clothes” helped spark the legalization movement. For us in Arizona — medical legal in 2010, recre- ational in 2020 — we gotta give Herer his flowers (or at least smoke ’em). The strain has collected multiple High Times Cannabis Cup honors and other plaudits. Pop open a jar, and fresh pine needles, lemon zest and citrus peel hit first. The smoke settles into earthy herbs with a peppery finish. Nearly every cannabis enthusiast has a Jack Herer story, especially once the desert cools down and the hiking trails start calling. Don’t know Jack? Curaleaf is a good place to start. i i i BEST INDICA BERGAMOT Bred in-house by the Vortex Premium Cannabis cultivation team, this indica takes its time before it locks in. A proprietary cross of Donny Burger and Crossbow, the resin- coated flower opens with a bright burst of lychee before unfolding into bergamot, lime rind and subtle floral notes. After you exhale that ginormous cloud, weed connoisseurs swear the flavor still hangs around, carrying a citrus bite IPA drinkers would appreciate. Testing north of 30 percent THC, Bergamot backs up its numbers with something far harder to grow — character. The deep, layered kind you remember the next day. The body eases into deep relaxation while the mind stays clear enough to watch an Arizona sunset fade into its familiar desert gradient, or settle in for a Netflix-and-chill night. As the buzz fades, the bittersweet terpenes still have the last word. Get in on the action at Arizona Trulieve locations. BEST HYBRID STRAIN GELATO California transplants keep finding their way to Arizona. Tech companies did it, then workers followed and eventually some of the Bay Area’s most-wanted weed genetics made the trip, too. Sunset Sherbet bred with Thin Mint GSC (Girl Scout Cookies) produced a gang of numbered phenotypes, including Gelato #33. It sits nicely in the middle lane as a hybrid, with smokers online commonly reporting chill-laxation alongside happy, uplifted effects. California sent Arizona a lot of stuff we’d just as soon send back, but Gelato is one arrival we’ll welcome. Crack open the jar, and caryophyllene and limo- nene bring that sweet citrus funk with a peppery kick.