Curio Wellness has teamed up with Viola to bring Pikesville a new dispensary in an equitable way. Growing up in Pikesville, I never thought I’d see a dispensary in the same place I used to grab Panera Bread, but I love to see it. The crew at this store has a heavy focus on education and uplifting social equity within the industry in Maryland. This serves as a great example of how equitable and fair practices can be made in the Cannabis industry right here in Maryland. Viola founder and retired NBA player Al Harrington was in town for the grand opening over the 4/20 weekend. Harrington started Viola after seeing how much relief Cannabis brought his grandmother, naming the company after her and seeking out partnerships with families like his.

Setting and Vibe
As we’ve come to expect from Far & Dotter, this dispensary has an upscale vibe while still feeling comfortable and approachable. The store is filled with various wellness products ranging from vitamins to bath bombs. There’s also a ton of localized swag, different kinds of pipes for everything from novice to expert consumers, and products from boutique brands like Edie Parker. The staff does a wonderful job of making everyone who enters the store feel welcome and opening up dialogue to meet patients’ needs.


Flower
As can be expected from a Curio Wellness-owned store, they have a huge selection of flower from their own brand. That’s not to say the menu is limited, as they had various strains available from around 20 different brands during my visit. They even had small buds available for $17 an eighth, and their daily deals extend across every product category on the menu. Their website lists detailed terpene information, making selecting a product a piece of cake and a transparent process for the buyer.


Concentrates
Terpy live resins dominate the concentrate menu here, but solventless extracts also make an appearance. One unique aspect of this concentrate menu is a wide variety of RSO syringes and full-spectrum applicators. They also have Puffco Peaks for sale, which are a great way to get started or introduce newbies to dabbing. With this approachable, torch-free method, people get a good vibe from their first dab experience.

Edibles
Calling the edible selection at this location impressive would be a massive understatement. They have more variations of form, flavor and cannabinoids than we can reasonably ask for under one roof. I was excited to see single-serve Dixie Elixirs on the menu, as I usually just want a small bit of an elixir as opposed to the entirety of larger bottles. They also had drink mixes, tablets, gummies, soft and hard candy and a wide selection of baked goods.

Product Review
Kush Mintz Flower from Curio Wellness
38.11% THCA and 2.56% total terpenes

Animal Mints and Bubba Kush are tangled up in a beautiful expression of this classic strain. The nose and flavor both have a minty overtone with notes of gassy, earthy cookies on the back end. The buds are tight and dense while being loaded with frosty trichomes that make it look like you dropped your weed in the snow. After a joint, I felt a calmness in my mind and body that put me in a great mood for the rest of the day.