Since we opened in 2023, NJ’s cannabis game has definitely leveled up. Some good, some great and some that…well, let’s just say we wouldn’t smoke it.
That’s exactly why we’re careful about who we work with. With a management team that comes from the medical cannabis industry, we don’t compromise on quality. So when we came across High Grass Farms, a cultivator in Buena that’s just as obsessed with clean cannabis as we are, we knew we had to team up.
Founded by medical cannabis experts—including investors who are all doctors—High Grass Farms holds its flower to the highest standard. No pesticides. No remediation. No shortcuts that could aggravate symptoms. Just beautiful, big buds.
We caught up with Issie Scheel, the Marketing Rep and Brand Ambassador for High Grass Farms, to get the inside scoop on why their flower hits different and why NJ’s about to see a whole new standard for premium bud.
Meet Issie
This will be the person at any of the High Grass Farms pop-ups.
For Issie, cannabis changed everything. “I was on ZOLOFT and other SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) for years before quitting cold turkey and switching to cannabis. It worked. Now I use it to manage anxiety and sometimes depression.”
Issie’s path into the industry continue at Stockton University’s cannabis program before NJ’s rec market even existed. She learned from industry pros like Thomas Olah (Compassionate Care founder), cannabis attorney Steve Shane and Professor Rob Mejia who made the biggest impact.
“He’s probably one of the best professors there…so personable. He’s written cannabis cookbooks, field guides—I have at least three of his books.”
With a Cannabis Studies minor and a Communication major and “after four long years of budtending and managing inventory at two different MSOs, I’m finally doing what my degree was for. I’m really happy and I never thought I’d be able to tie both together.”
Meet Mike & Lou
Mike Sammons and Lou Harvey have been in this together for as long as they can remember. Childhood friends turned cultivators, they started out in the legacy market and have spent over 25 years perfecting their craft.
Their grow space? A massive 48,000 square feet, with 28,000 dedicated to cultivation and the rest set aside for future expansion. But despite the size, they still treat every plant like their baby—singing to them, making sure they’re thriving and giving them all the love they need. “It gives the plant better odds at being good,” Issie says.
That same care extends to how they approach the industry. “They don’t mess around with any of the BS in the industry,” Issie explains. “Like the idea that if it doesn’t have 42% and 80% terps, it’s not good. They know better. They were around before THC percentages were even a thing anywhere, let alone in Jersey.”
Their approach is simple: grow the right way. “We’re not going to lie and say we’re using some magical formula,” Issie explains. “We’re not spraying pesticides, either. If pests show up, we isolate those plants and use natural remedies: sticky traps, cinnamon, coffee grounds or apple cider vinegar.”
High Standard Bud
High Grass Farms keeps it simple. “Nothing goes into it that isn’t supposed to be in there,” explains Issie. “We don’t spray anything. We don’t treat anything with any harsh chemicals or pesticides. We’re not remediating anything, if something gets to the point where it needs to remediate it, it’s on us and it just gets trashed.”
Every eighth is hand-trimmed and inspected by multiple people before it even hits a jar.
Meaning that they do not intentional package any smalls or littles. “I had some that as big as my hand,” Issie adds. “Sometimes, we like to leave some big ones in there because we’re trying to cater to people who know what they want. If you’re paying $70-$80 for an eighth and open it up to find a bunch of smalls, that’s disappointing.”
For those looking for a more affordable option without sacrificing quality, Jerzey Landscapes is their go-to value brand. “I hate calling it a budget brand because that makes it sound lesser—but it’s phenomenal,” says Issie. “We know cannabis can be expensive, so we do our part to keep it accessible, because some can’t afford their medicine.”
Pre-Rolls, Perfected
“Every pre-roll is packed with ground flower, hand-tamped, inspected, weighed and sealed.” says Issie. Even the rolling papers had to pass the test, ”they went through seven or eight different brands to find one that met their standard” If a pre-roll is too light or the papers are bent, they’ll empty it out and redo it.
Be on the look out for live rosin concentrate and rosin gummies. “We’re not going to mess around with anything distillate. We’re also going to be doing disposable vapes we’re going to be using postless hardware so there’s no metal leaching and hopefully beverages launched.” Lavender lemonade, anyone?
High Grass Farms at Pure Blossom
Shopping for cannabis shouldn’t feel like a guessing game. You shouldn’t have to wonder if what you’re getting is actually worth the price or if it’s been grown the right way. That’s why we do our due diligence, pulling back the curtain so you can feel confident about what you’re putting in your body.
But quality isn’t just about the product—it’s about where you shop, too.
For Issie, “I don’t want to order from a kiosk, and so many dispensaries work like that. So it’s nice to see that you guys still take pride in human interaction and reconnecting with the community—building a space where people can come in, talk about the product and feel good about what they’re buying. No one should have to drop $80 on something and have no idea what they’re getting.”
Shop Jerzy Landscapes
Community Shoutout 💚
“Shout out, Jade Irizarry! She’s wonderful and is our sales rep for North Jersey, but she’s literally does most of the state.” says Issie.
Shop Buena Buds
Visit Pure Blossom for Cannabis and Other Essentials
Explore Pure Blossom’s curated selection of New Jersey cannabis brands and essential accessories. Whether you’re doing the old Google thing, searching for a dispensary near me or nearby dispensaries in New Jersey, Pure Blossom is a short, scenic, calming drive away, and our friendly guide-connoisseurs are excited to take you through our curated selection of New Jersey cannabis brands (and other essentials). We’ll see you there!