I spent a year smoking 710 Labs to see if its premium weed was worth the high price tag – Detroit Metro Times

· Detroit, Michigan Local News · By ReportWire

If you spend any time around cannabis enthusiasts in Michigan, you’ve probably heard of 710 Labs. 

The Colorado-born company has built a cult following for its terp-heavy live rosin, a solventless concentrate known for its flavor, potency, and purity. 

But its flower, which is grown to the same obsessive standards, is often overlooked. The company says it only uses top colas — the biggest, most resin-coated buds on each plant — and hand trims the cured flower. 

710 Labs isn’t modest about its flower, calling it “the most opulent, flavor-dense nugs in the world.”

Founded by Brad Melshenker in Boulder, Col., in 2009, 710 Labs got its name from concentrate culture: Flip “710” upside down and it spells “OIL.” The brand later relocated to Los Angeles and now operates in California, Colorado, Michigan, Florida, and New Jersey. 

In late 2022, 710 Labs launched in Michigan and quickly grew a strong following, especially for its large library of unique, flavorful strains. It also caught criticism for its high prices, which makes it out of reach for many consumers. 

I wanted to find out if the flower lived up to the brand’s hype. Over the past year, I embarked on a mission to try as many 710 Labs flower strains as I could. What I found was a mix of unique, pungent weed and also some duds that I could find at half the price. 

At $45 to $60 an eighth, this wasn’t a cheap experiment. I bought 22 jars of 710 Labs flower and more than a handful of one-gram prerolls — the company calls them “doinks” — which run about $15 to $18 apiece, roughly double the price of most high-quality prerolls. If you really want to go all in, 710 also sells two-gram doinks made with 1.5 grams of flower and a half-gram of live rosin for around $50. It’s a splurge, but a good choice for special occasions. On my birthday last month, I enjoyed an infused doink with Cherry Zest #4 flower and Strawberry Guava #9 rosin, and it burned for more than an hour. 

710 Labs makes rosin-infused prerolls called “Doinks,” and they are expensive but worth it if you have the money. Credit: Steve Neavling

What’s fun about the doinks is the tip. Instead of a cardboard filter, it’s a gluten-free rotini noodle, which 710 says helps with airflow and keeps the joint cooler while smoking. 

I usually buy 710 Labs at Nature’s Remedy in Ferndale, which consistently has metro Detroit’s largest selection. My curiosity was partly piqued by the company’s polarizing reputation. People either swear by it or think it’s overpriced and inconsistent.

My first impression: The buds were generally large, frosty with trichomes, and flavorful. They were dense but fluffy, well-cured, and almost always smooth. Because 710 focuses more on terpenes than THC, the highs tend to be more nuanced and dialed in. Most flower tests between 16% and 22% THC.

With that said, quality varied widely from strain to strain. The best ones were some of the finest I’ve smoked this year. Others were average — not bad, but not worth top-shelf prices. Out of 22 eighths, eight fell into that middle range. Still, the gems made the adventure worth it, at least for me. 

Would I recommend 710 Labs flower? Yes, but only if you have the money to spend. Do your homework on each strain before buying. Reddit is a good place to start.

If you’re watching your budget but still want premium quality, look for brands like The Hive, Hytek, Growing Pains, Exotic Matter, Premier Cannabis Farms, Favrd, Freshy Fine, Fractal, Tip Top Crop, Information Entropy, Mi Loud, and Michigrown. Their best flower is just as good as many of 710 Labs’s premium buds, and it’s often more potent. 

710 Labs strains worth buying again:

C. Chrome #27 – A cross of Runtz and The Menthol, this one smells like sweet candy and fresh mint. The flavor is clean, cooling, and easy on the throat. The effects are balanced and functional, making it a reliable strain for any time. Credit: Steve Neavling
Cherry Zest #4 – A cross of Z and Animal West, this one hooked me from the first jar. It’s a refreshing mix of fresh cherries and ginger ale, with a sweetness that lingers in the air after the exhale. The high is calm and body-heavy, making it perfect for listening to music or winding down at the end of the night. It’s easily one of the most flavorful strains I’ve tried.
Credit: Steve Neavling
Cake Crasher – Wedding Cake × Wedding Crasher produces some of the stickiest, frostiest buds I’ve ever seen. The aroma is creamy dough and berries, and the taste follows suit with a smooth, rich finish. It’s a mood-boosting strain that sharpens focus and eases tension without knocking you out.
Credit: Steve Neavling
Date Night #6 – Peanut Butter Breath × Shallot Sashimi produces big, sticky buds with a funky, earthy aroma. The flavor is savory and gassy, with a nutty undertone that clings to the tongue. The effects are gentle and body-heavy. Despite its name, this strain is not the best for a first date, but it’s perfect for a quiet one.
Credit: Steve Neavling
Donnie Burger – A cross of GMO and Hans Solo Burger, this is one of the loudest jars I’ve opened all year. The smell hits like garlic and onions sautéing in butter. It’s funky, savory, and potent, delivering a heavy, relaxing buzz. A solid nighttime strain for people who love diesel funk. Credit: By Steve Neavling
Ego Death #12 – A cross of Z Gelato 41 and Gassy Taffy that lives up to its name. The nose is diesel and ammonia with a sweet citrus finish. It’s sticky, loud, and potent, producing a euphoric, spacey high that leaves me pleasantly scatter-brained and smiling.
Credit: Steve Neavling
Garlic Cocktail #7 – Another funky gem, this GMO × Zimosa cross is best saved for nighttime. It smells like fresh garlic and rank fuel. The high is sedating, euphoric, and deeply relaxing. It’s the perfect strain to top off a night.
Credit: Steve Neavling
Jokerz #17 – Gummiez × Grape Gas yields plump, trichome-coated buds that smell like grape candy and sour gummies. The flavor translates perfectly to smoke. The high is mellow, happy, and mildly euphoric. It’s a relaxing ride without the crash.
Credit: Steve Neavling
Machiavelli Kush – Formerly known as Tu Pac Pure Kush, this cross of Topanga Pure Kush and Rick Jamez #28 delivers an old-school OG punch. The nose is sweet, creamy, and gassy with a hint of spice. It hits hard and fast, settling into a long-lasting euphoria.
Credit: By Steve Neavling
Moonbow #112 – A rare hybrid that’s as smooth as it is flavorful. It hits the palate with berries and lemon, then fades into soft floral notes. The high is euphoric and surprisingly motivating, making chores or creative projects feel fun. It’s less sedating than most 710 strains and is a clear standout.
Credit: Steve Neavling
SB36 #1 – A pungent cross of Starburst OG and 97 KC36, this strain offers a sharp citrus funk that is unlike any strain I’ve tried. The flavor is candy-sweet with a zesty bite, and the high leans balanced but upbeat. I found it more energizing than most 710 flower — a daytime option with excellent taste.
Credit: Steve Neavling
Sherb × Fumez #14 – A cross of Sherbanger 22 and Candy Fumez, this strain smells like creamy sherbet sprinkled with spice. The flavor is dessert-sweet on the inhale and slightly earthy on the exhale. The high is creative, clear, and calming. It’s an ideal hybrid for afternoons when you want to unwind without zoning out. Credit: Steve Neavling
Sour Taffy #34 – A combination of Sour Sam and Gassy Taffy, this one lives up to its name with a sweet salt-water-taffy flavor and whiffs of citrus, blueberry, and sour diesel. The smoke is silky smooth and produces a calm high with heightened senses, making it an ideal choice for relaxation without total sedation.
Credit: Steve Neavling
Z – The classic candy strain that tastes like candy. 710’s take on Z is bursting with tropical fruit, lemon zest, and the taste and aroma of sweet Skittles. The flavor translates well into the smoke, and the effects are balanced, making it mellow but cheerful.
Credit: Steve Neavling

These are 710 Labs strains I wouldn’t buy again: 

Super Freak (mild aroma and high)
White Tahoe Cookies (muted taste and effects)
Sweeties #7 (not much flavor, weak effects)
Rainbow Belts (small buds, average effects)
Zkyskraperz #2 (nothing stands out)
RYLU (average for a Z-forward strain)
Zimosa #2 (nice flavor but weak effects)
Britney’s Frozen Lemons #5 (mild high)

The bottom line is, when 710 Labs hit, it really hits. The flavor, aroma, and craftsmanship are hard to beat. But inconsistency and price make it a luxury brand, not an everyday one. If you value terps over THC and don’t mind paying for the experience, 710 Labs flower deserves a spot in your rotation.


Steve Neavling

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