Since Quill pens are produced in small batches and this strain was Mr. Nice, a heady indica, I was instructed to indulge in this particular Quill before bedtime as a sleep aid. But I hit this bad boy at 9:30am just to see how it would affect my bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, morning energy. 

The good news: the high was mostly physical. That morning I felt a bouncy, champagne fizz just beneath my skin and a feathery tickle that went from my throat, through my heart, to below my navel and back again. The head high was rose-colored, mild, and totally outmatched by the bubblegum bounce of the body high. The onset was abrupt, an immediate and satisfying feeling of being utterly stoned. But as it developed, it became warm and sensual, the sweet head high like a sugary drizzle on the bubblegum body high.

This bright, animated intoxication carried through the early afternoon, which was remarkable considering my 4-5 moderate drags. It was a manageable high that gave me a summery, unshakably positive disposition. This happened in the Pacific Northwest during winter no less, which, if you don't know, is a bone-chilling, perpetual twilight fever dream of never-ending storm clouds where happiness comes to wither.

The bad news: the abrupt onset was balanced by an equally abrupt crash. I am not an afternoon napper, but when this buzz faded, it left me for dead. I was stuck on the couch, head buried in a decorative throw pillow, losing a battle with sleep that I didn't even know I fomented.

“So, this would be the reason this Quill was recommended for sleep. I see it now,” I muttered face-first into the pillow while I melted into unconsciousness.

My next parlay with the Quill would be in the evening, as directed. I expected the bubbly body high to be the dominant characteristic, but in the evening, after a full day of errands, housework, and general domination of the domestic arts, the high was far more soothing than invigorating. It was like a bubble bath versus a warm shower. As the head high matured, it retained its sweetness, but it was more deep caramel than bubblegum bright. The champagne sparkles fizzing through my extremities pulled me deep into the soft recesses of my couch and made the pages of my sketchbook feel like cream beneath my hand. As bedtime drew nearer, I felt more and more soothed and relaxed, but never slap-happy with sleepiness. I was very content, a feeling that I welcome at the end of a busy day.

“This is the best of ergonomics and economics.”

Though it looks like the type of pen I might keep in my pencil box for years, Quill pens are of the disposable variety. Each contains 750mg of cannabis extract—or 300 hits, according to Quill's website—so the $40 price point is justifiable. After all, you get nearly a gram of high-quality extract and an undeniably sophisticated way to smoke it in one sleek package. This is the best of ergonomics and economics.

For those of you who are technically minded, Quill’s small-batch extraction process starts with subcritical terpene extraction. Once the terpenes are filtered and purified in a supercritical cannabinoid extraction, a winterizing/de-waxing process happens. The terpenes are then re-integrated, “creating a truly holistic, flavorful, and natural extract,” and even though I obviously found more than a few reasons to evangelize the Quill, I will openly admit to being underwhelmed by the flavor. I appreciate the small batch process they’re employing here and can enthusiastically attest to its effectiveness, but it wasn't a memorable mouthful flavor-wise.

Lucky for us, there are multiple strains available; Quill offers a diverse and consistently updated menu. So if, like me, you're not initially bowled over by the taste of a Quill pen, prepare to be bowled over by its charming effectiveness. And, by all means, use as directed.