In a familiar space formerly known as Nature’s Medicines, Ascend Cannabis threw a fresh paint job and a new spin on their dispensary in Ellicott City. One of four Ascend stores in Maryland, their presence includes shops in Laurel, Crofton and Aberdeen, in addition to this latest opening. The shop provides a perfect photo-op with a green leafy wall and neon sign that reads “Let’s Ascend” – and it is clear the staff not only lives this message, but utilizes it to bring to life a next-level dispensary experience for patients and adult-use customers.
Setting and Vibe
You can feel very comfortable walking into this dispensary, as the crew here keeps the energy on point via the steady flow of good vibes and music to match. The clean layout and open floor plan provides an ample amount of space to browse freely and check out the product and merchandise displays. Carefully curated beyond their Cannabis selection, the Maryland-themed artwork that adorns the walls boasts everything from crabs to homages to Poe – with the perfectly poetic words “Cannabisland: Land of the Free, Home of the Chill” written alongside them.
Flower
The selection of flower at Ascend is wide, with a huge variety of price and potency ranges. Most days you can slide out of the store with an eighth of flower for $25, but if you want to splurge they have great options at the $50 price point as well. Their well-stocked shelves feature everything from fruity and exotic to sweet and cakey cultivars, and of course, all the classic gas, Haze and Kush strains we all know and love. Keep an eye out for daily discounts on select brands (listed on their website) and don’t let a lack of cash keep you from stopping in – Ascend happily accepts debit cards.
Edibles
During the time of my visit, I could grab a buy one/get one free deal on Smokiez edibles! This 50% discount is basically an unbeatable deal, and consistent with their approach to offers and specials that put not just a little extra money back in the pocket of patients and customers – but a high-quality product as well. Deals aside, the selection of edibles was consistent with the best I have seen in the state of Maryland. Whether you’re after chews, chocolates, drinks, baked goods, tablets or capsules, Ascend’s selection is nothing short of highly appetizing.
Concentrates
Live resin dominates the concentrate menu here (which I was not mad about) and they continue to add new products like hash rosin on a daily basis. You can of course find things like RSO, shatter, and all the other usual suspects on the menu. Remember, concentrates are currently only available to the medical market – but recreational customers can still pick up distillate cartridges in the meantime.
Product Review
Yahemi Flower by Fade Co.
29.34% Total Cannabinoids and 2.93% Total Terpenes
As expected, the dominant terpene in this strain’s profile is limonene – which definitely makes itself known on the nose. Ripping the top off the mylar and busting it open unveils a blend of citrusy, floral and plum-like sensations flooding my nostrils. Grandiflora Genetics brings us this strain by crossing Project 4516 and Melonatta, both of which have earned a strong reputation on the Cannabis market nationwide. Smoking a joint caused my anxiety to slip away comfortably – being replaced with calmness and clarity, without any grogginess.
