Celebrity strains are becoming the new celebrity fragrance. With superstar cannabis companies popping up everywhere, it has become the latest trend for famous cannabis connoisseurs to introduce their craft and creation. But it just makes sense for the king of cannabis-comedy, Seth Rogen, to launch his own brand of bud.
About the Brand
Rogen and his longtime best bud, Evan Goldberg, soft-launched Houseplant in their homeland of Canada back in 2019. Houseplant introduced their collection of dried flower, pre-rolled joints, infused beverages, and soft-gel capsules in Ontario and British Columbia.
Houseplant Canada is owned in partnership with Canopy Growth Corporation (CGC). CGC is the biggest licensed cannabis producer in Canada. They produce other popular Canadian cannabis brands such as Tweed, Tokyo Smoke, Martha Stewart CBD, and more.
Houseplant launched in America to select Californian dispensaries on March 11th, 2021 with plans to expand in the future. The company brings a unique experience to the U.S. market by introducing a brand that combines the love for innovatively-designed home goods with quality herb.
Houseplant also works to inform consumers of the joys of cannabis and cultivation while also using their platform to educate users on the history of the War on Drugs. The company recognizes their privilege as leaders in the cannabis industry. As such, they encourage consumers to come together to put an end to racist drug laws.
Advocacy is a core factor of the brand. The company demonstrates this by giving back to organizations like Cage-Free Cannabis, Black Lives Matter, and the Marijuana Policy Project to name a few. They actively use their social platforms to drive awareness towards cannabis reform and educate their followers on unjust cannabis criminalization.
Pot and Pottery
Rogen mixed his love for pot and pottery to elevate the ordinary cannabis experience. Besides the bud, the company released a line of ceramics, and an ashtray set. The set includes an ashtray, a saucer, and vase — all personally designed by Rogen himself.
The ceramic ashtray is innovatively designed to limit fly-away ash. According to Houseplant’s website, it also has a “notch-like rest” to hold joints/blunts. The matching vase helps to seamlessly incorporate the ashtray set into one’s home decor, making the sesh space that much more special.
Houseplant also released a vintage-inspired, high-powered box table lighter and ashtray combination, and a vinyl record box set to complement the high from each strain.
The Difference Between the Canadian and American Houseplant
Here in Canada, Houseplant offers two strains: 91 Krypt, otherwise known as the sole indica option, and Chemdog, the sativa option. Both strains are advertised to have a potential THC content of 20-30% and less than 0.01% of CBD, although there are no public lab test results to confirm this.
The strains offered in America are different. They are grown by an undisclosed group of cultivators in the Los Angeles area. The strains include two sativas: “Diablo Wind” and “Pancake Ice,” as well as an indica, “Pink Moon,” and an upcoming hybrid on the horizon. Like the stoner cult classic film Pineapple Express, each strain is named after weather systems.
The Canadian collection lacks the same branding strategy as the American collection, due to the Canadian Cannabis Act. The laws around promotional activity may hinder Houseplant Canada from being as “on brand” as Houseplant USA.
Houseplant Canada’s packaging is also lackluster compared to Houseplant USA. The Canadian version comes in plastic containers, similar to the standard containers from dispensaries but with a fun bright color to differentiate the strains. However, the American containers are stackable, Lego-like tins that match the modern branding. They are also color-coded; orange tins are for sativa, purple for indica.
I reviewed the strains offered in the Canadian cannabis market.
Houseplant Sativa (Chemdog)
Potential THC: 20-30%, Potential CBD: less than 0.01%
$42.95 CAD for 3.5 grams
Everyone wants to know what Rogen’s smoking, myself included. So, I had high expectations for the sativa strain. I was not let down.
The first thing I noticed about the bud was its smell. It has a nice earthy pine aroma with fruity notes of citrus and mango. The bud has a dusty green color and is heavily frosted in crystals and bright orange trichomes.
The nugs in the container I purchased were tiny. This made it easier to grind up the bud. Once ground up, the bud had a soft and fluffy consistency, nice for rolling joints or packing bowls.
I chose a bong for my method of consumption. Unfortunately, the fruity notes in the scent didn’t translate to the flavor of the smoke. Instead it gave an earthy pine taste. From a bong, the smoke was a bit harsh, but not the worst.
After I took the first toke, it took a couple minutes to feel the full effect from the cannabis. Despite being small, the nugs were dense, and they packed a punch. At first, it started out as a mini-head buzz. But then it fully took off to an elevated, energizing daytime high.
I could still focus and get work done while I smoked this strain. As it wore off, I did not feel the usual symptoms of burnout I have felt from other sativas on the market.
While the strain provided a great functional high, there are some negatives — mainly, the price point. For 3.5 g of cannabis, the cost racks up to a whopping $42.95 CAD. That’s almost $13 CAD per gram. According to Stats Canada, the average price per gram sits at $6.95 CAD.
4.5/5 emeralds
Houseplant Indica (91 Krypt)
Potential THC: 20-30%, Potential CBD: less than 0.01%
$42.95 CAD for 3.5 grams
91 Krypt compliments Chemdog in the way that they are perfectly opposite.
I noticed 91 Krypt gave off a very pleasant aroma when I cracked open the package. The bud smelled very fresh. It reminded me of an evergreen forest — very on brand Canadian.
The bud is darker than the sativa and has fewer orange tones. But both strains are beautifully coated in crystals.
The indica nugs were much bigger compared to the sativa, but they left a lot of stem to the bud. 91 Krypt’s nugs were a lot dryer than Chemdog, too. When I ground them up, the consistency was soft but a little powdery. Its texture suits a bong or pipe. However, it might be challenging to roll in a joint.
The bud had an earthy cannabis taste with a surprising but fun note of “Froot Loops.” Overall, 91 Krypt was a much smoother smoke than Chemdog.
After I took the first toke, the bud gave a nice head high. The high then shifted to an overall state of chillness. Overall, I appreciated 91 Krypt’s high. It gave a potent, long lasting high without the usual sleepy feeling of an indica.
Again, the main issue is the price, making the Houseplant strain total up to almost $13 CAD per gram.
4.8/5 emeralds
Houseplant Sativa Cannabis-Infused Sparkling Water
2.5 mg of THC
$5.20 CAD, per can
The houseplant sparkling water is offered in two flavors: grapefruit and lemon. Both were a nice refreshing treat. But because of their low potency and my high tolerance, I didn’t feel any of the THC’s after drinking a 12-ounce can.
The grapefruit water had a hint of cannabis that complemented the fruity notes nicely, where the cannabis was undetectable in the lemon flavor.
This sparkling water is a great for summer BBQ’s or get-togethers where one would like to consume cannabis in a discreet, odorless way. It also poses an alternative to alcohol coolers. But at $5.20 CAd per can, I would hesitate to stock up.
2/5 emeralds
Houseplant Super-good or Superbad?
Houseplant knows what they are doing when it comes to branding. I really love their overall retro vibe. The brightly-colored website and packaging is attractive and fun. But besides that, they understand the importance of using their platform to advocate, and educate stoners on corrupt cannabis laws.
When it came to the bud, both strains gave potent highs. However, the indica’s high lasted longer and provided a smoother smoke than the sativa. Houseplant offers high-quality cannabis with a high price point to match. The verdict is: Houseplant is super-good but super-expensive.
I’m always curious why review it as if they grew it…… when the flower is grown by THC Design?
Why do they feel the need to use so much single use plastic for their packaging? Especially when the rest of the world is trying to make changes.