As I flipped open the Marlboro-like pack of pre-rolls, I couldn’t help but be taken back to my college days. I went to a hipster art school where everyone smoked, so I thought why not, I’ll just be the elusive “casual smoker.” The kind that’s only there to hang out with the cool kids, get some fresh air, or pass a joint around without anyone being the wiser. Although that ship is long gone, and I only smoke ganja these days, just the look of these pre-rolls took me back to many cigarette breaks taken on flimsy fire escapes or puddle-lined alleyways. I can say with confidence that if Mountain Smokes existed when I was in college, it probably would have saved my lungs a whole lot of trouble.

“It smelled like I just stopped off at the bottom of a ski slope before being smacked in the face by a crisp mountain breeze.”

But enough of my trip down memory lane. I snapped back to reality, grabbed a Mountain Smoke, and discovered why these particular CBD pre-rolls are called Mint Squeeze. There’s a little ball of spearmint-scented goodness in every filter that you squeeze until it pops, releasing a fresh wave of the cooling aroma. Frankly, it smelled absolutely amazing. Not at all like the fake mint scents that you might find in a candle, but something far more natural and inviting. Like I just stopped off at the bottom of a ski slope before being smacked in the face by a crisp mountain breeze.

Feeling stimulated by the scent alone, I lit up the joint and took my first draw. I suddenly felt like I was back on the slopes, crisp mountain air whizzing past my ears. Each puff had an icy yet herbal taste that seemed to cool the smoke so it went down oh-so-smooth. The same smoothness seemed to transfer directly to my body as I felt the tension around my eyes begin to soften. I slowly smoked the rest of the joint on my balcony, enjoying the combination of fresh air and refreshingly minty pulls.

When I stepped back inside, I did feel noticeably more relaxed in both mind and body. Every breath I took seemed to be deeper than the last, which encouraged my muscles to unfurl and take a more laidback position on my bones. My mind, on the other hand, felt sharp and present yet effortlessly chill. I didn’t feel cloudy or high, like you might expect from THC-rich flower, but instead felt crystal clear and calm.

As my tranquil state followed me through the evening, I felt like Mountain Smokes’ pre-rolls had indeed given me the relief I was looking for and, if anything, impressed the pants off of me. I was not expecting to like these Mint Squeeze hemp joints as much as I did, but you can’t deny quality.

“I didn’t feel cloudy or high, like you might expect from THC-rich flower, but instead felt crystal clear and calm.”

You can tell that Mountain Smokes puts a lot of love into every pack of pre-rolls, and you’re left with only the best of the best in minty flavor, natural herbal aroma, and of course, calming CBD effects. Unlike some THC flower, I loved that these pre-rolls don’t leave you feeling foggy or distracted, making it great for anyone that wants relief, but may be sensitive to incredibly potent cannabis flower.

I highly encourage you to try Mountain Smokes yourself as a replacement for your post-work cocktail, as your companion to an ultra-cool jazz show, or maybe even to take the place of a cigarette. Even all my THC-purists out there, I encourage you to give this Mountain Smokes a try—you might be surprised by what you find.