New users aren’t at fault here, either. Getting into weed can be hard. For many, a negative past experience has colored the whole concept scary. For some, scientific terms like cannabinoids and terpenes, milligram dosages, and so on can be confusing. And for others, there’s just way, way too much shit to choose from at the dispensary. There’s little guidance outside of budtenders, and they’re often paid by brands to promote specific products whether they should or not.

The opacity surrounding cannabis use and weed products has long plagued not only the industry, but the social acceptance of the movement itself. By connecting novice consumers with products to try out, Nugg Club has filled a major void in the industry. So much so that when I was asked to review the box and service itself, it struck me as odd it took this long for someone to capitalize on the idea.

When embarking on the first step of the Nugg Club journey by visiting their website, “The Only Cannabis Subscription Box,” was displayed proudly on the browser tab. A salmon-colored backsplash framed a visual of the Nugg box itself. Familiar, favorite brands like Korova, Stone Road, and Kiva tumbled down the screen, reading “$225+ value for $99.”

You then take a short survey on your preferences, which basically means you choose what combination of flower, pre-rolls, vapes and edibles you want, whether you prefer sativa, indica or hybrid products, and how frequently you want to receive a box (monthly or bimonthly). My box was expedited because I’m press, but the original shipment date was close to two weeks from the day I placed the order. While they’re a new brand and get some slack for that, to me, that is still way, way, way too long to wait for weed you already paid for.

Given the kind of brands advertised on their website, hyper-visible, and popular ones, I was surprised to open the box and find brands like Dropout, Tikun Olam, and Atlas. No offense to these brands, but they aren’t exactly of the same caliber of name brand as those tumbling across the salmon-colored display. I’ve been a cannabis journalist for five years with a focus on product writing, and I hadn’t heard of most of them.

The box itself was beautifully designed, striped rainbow, declaring Happy Pride Month on the front, though it’s unclear if any of the proceeds go to LGBTQIIA+ organizations. As for the products inside, here is my micro-review section:

Dropout Cannabis Co: Royal Cherry Diesel Hybrid 1/8th

I was first struck by the horrible ad copy on their label like, “Drop the bullshit. Start living,” but the weed itself is pretty good, with deep cherry notes and a mellow, subtle high.

Star Rating: 3 Stars

Tikun Olam: Alaska 1/8th

The flower seems a little dry, but at one time it was probably really good. The high is pleasant enough that it’s become my go to morning weed for the past week or so, but it’s still a little bit of a bummer that it seems old.

Star Rating: 3.5 Stars

Level: Sativa ProTabs

Level ProTabs are fine. I’m not a huge fan of the brand as I feel like the high of their products hits you really fast but doesn’t last long at all. These are 25mg THC pills you take with water. I didn’t get as high as I’d hoped, but became extremely productive which is also welcome.

Star Rating: 3.5 Stars

Cali Green Gold: Infused Pre-roll

This is one of those insane infused pre-rolls that uses a ton of packaging for one smoking experience. This particular session consisted of a Gorilla Glue hybrid infused with oil and kief, and it also contained terpene effects listed as uplifting, relaxed, and happy. It was good. I was definitely relaxed and happy, but to make up for all the packaging, it should have gotten me higher. Overall, it was a nice joint, though it was also pretty close to expiration, making me wonder how they source the products for this service.

Star Rating: 3 Stars

Atlas: Cannabis-Infused Granola Clusters

Definitely one of the best products in the bunch, these lemon, blueberry, and almond granola clusters have awesome ingredients and come in at 20mg of THC per cluster (4 clusters). They have a great, mellow high, and I really fucking love them.

Star Rating: 5 Stars

Cannafornia: Diamond Sauce Pen

The oil wasn’t bad, a Golden Cookies live resin, but the presentation was a fucking wreck, one of the least chic vapes I’ve ever seen.

Star Rating: 2 Stars

Selfies: Sativa Mini Pre-rolls

These are the bomb! Tiny, extremely potent sativa pre-rolls that in many ways are a perfect product, and the pre-roll of my dreams.

Star Rating: 5 Stars

Eureka: Mimosa Hybrid Vape Pen

This is a great looking vape, super sleek and stylish. The oil is pretty good too, but it did leave me feeling kind of static high as opposed to making the whole world sparkle.

Star Rating: 3.5 Stars

To conclude this product micro-review portion, the products range from meh to great, with a combined average star rating of 3.43 out of 5. So, slightly above average.

While $99 is a truly fabulous price for all these products, I’m not sure they’re really giving users access to the creme de la creme. It would be interesting to find out how Nugg Club sources their products, as I suspect they do what most subscription box services do, which is to buy up old or unpopular inventory from brands in bulk and then distribute it this way. I don’t know this for a fact though, it’s just a thought that struck me during this review.

Bottom line: Nugg Club is a service that’s great for new users, and just okay for everyone else. If you’re not the type to hit up a dispensary, still shying away from public interaction due to the pandemic or feel completely awash in the oversaturation of weed products constantly hitting the market, this is the service for you. If you’re a seasoned stoner who knows what they like, just go buy it yourself.