“For fall, there are some nice infused teas, hot chocolates and coffees — even infused sugars and honeys you can add to your own hot beverages.”

Heather Bogart

Budtender at The Green Bouquet

Welcome to fall! In addition to being the unofficial start of sweater weather, fall means celebrating the harvest, enjoying cozy movie nights at home and making the most of spooky season at Halloween parties.

To get the inside scoop on how to elevate your autumn with cannabis products, we spoke with budtenders from Moonfire Cannabis in Sauble Beach, Muskoka’s Green Bouquet Cannabis Inc. and Cannabis Grey Bruce in Southampton. Here’s what they had to say. 

Which cannabis formats do you recommend for fall? 

With so much innovation in cannabis over the last few years, it’s becoming more common to see seasonal flavours and formats hitting shelves. Heather Bogart, owner and budtender at The Green Bouquet explained that lately, she’s been seeing a long list of options — perfect for cooler fall days.

“For fall, there are some nice infused teas, hot chocolates and coffees — even infused sugars and honeys you can add to your own hot beverages.” The Green Bouquet also stocks various infused comfort foods that would be perfect for a restful afternoon or spending a chilly evening indoors. “We’ve also got infused macaroni and cheese and infused popcorn for movie days.”

Grey Bruce Cannabis’ Hillary Pearson also shared a number of items to help elevate fall days — everything from chocolate–covered coffee beans to drinks in harvest flavours like huckleberry or strawberry and chocolates in traditional fall aromas. “People might also try infused chocolate peanut butter cups or [our] new brands of infused non-alcoholic beers,” she added. 

Which fall flavours can people expect to see in edibles, beverages, and other cannabis products? 

Budtender Lydia Durnford, of Moonfire Cannabis, also had some thoughts on what to look for in fall flavours. “I know we’ve stocked a cranberry ginger ale — a Canadian favourite that has a  seasonal feel.”  

And while it might be ‘basic,’ nothing says fall like a pumpkin spice latte (PSL). Consumers can find PSL–inspired pre-rolls or pumpkin spice chocolates infused with cannabis. “[We’re stocking] a pumpkin spice beverage and pumpkin spice cartridges that give fall vibes. I’ve also seen electric green apple and spiced vanilla mint cartridges, which would be nice this time of year,” says Durnford.

Sticking with the spice, consumers can seek out biscuits in flavours like cinnamon and ginger molasses that would pair nicely with their hot beverage of choice.

According to Bogart, one area where consumers can look for fun fall products is in strains with seasonal or ‘Halloweeny’ names. Keep it spooky for Halloween and “look for strains with fun names like Ghost Train Haze,” notes Bogart.  

What factors should consumers consider when selecting the perfect cannabis products for the fall season? 

According to Durnford, cooler weather is the perfect time for mellowing out indoors — something that many cannabis consumers find a great activity for pairing with their favourite product. “When I think of fall, I think of cozy things. So people could look for things that make them feel cozy, like a CBD bath bomb or maybe a nice Indica joint or some infused hot chocolate, and just curl up and watch a movie.”

As the wind gets chillier, consumers can also look for CBD–infused topicals like hand creams, balms that contain lavender or a bath soak to unwind after a long day.

For Bogart, with its focus on the harvest, fall also makes the perfect time to slow down and enjoy some craft cannabis. “The reason I like to support craft is because they're the small little producers, no different than craft brewers. They hang dry and hand–trim cannabis and create in small batches.  

Learn more about entertaining safely with cannabis here. 

Hillary Pearson

Budtender at Grey Bruce Cannabis, Southampton 

“If you’re thinking of hosting a Halloween party or Thanksgiving dinner, a ‘king pack’ of 70 pre-rolls means everyone can have their own — no spreading germs during flu season.” 

How can people enhance their fall get-togethers with cannabis products? 

Bogart also shared a fun way to enhance fall get-togethers — cannabis charcuterie boards. “We've had a number of people that'll come in and do a charcuterie board for their cannabis guests. If you want to put one together, try adding different kinds of chocolates, gummies or pre-rolls. We’ve even seen people have a cannabis table at weddings.”

Speaking of pre-rolls, since fall also means cold and flu season, Pearson shared an interesting solution to help avoid sharing germs. “If you’re thinking of hosting a Halloween party or Thanksgiving dinner, a ‘king pack’ of 70 pre-rolls means everyone can have their own — no spreading germs during flu season.” Multipacks can also contain a variety of sizes or potencies, which means everyone can choose what works better for them.

Lydia Durnford 

Budtender at Moonfire Cannabis 

“My first rule, always, is [to] start low and go slow — especially if you want to just enjoy your night and not go overboard.”

How can people make sure they’re consuming cannabis responsibly while enjoying the fall season? 

According to Durnford, moderation is the key to an enjoyable evening any time of the year. “My first rule, always, is [to] start low and go slow — especially if you want to just enjoy your night and not go overboard. It's always safer to feel less high than you may be hoping for as the night begins rather than starting off more elevated than you were planning.”

When it comes to edibles and infused beverages, Durnford also believes that the low–and–slow strategy is particularly effective “simply because you won’t feel the effect as quickly as with a joint or a vape.”

Finally, when it comes to edibles and drinks, Bogart points out that since their effects can last anywhere from two to 12 hours, it’s good practice to avoid driving the morning after a fall get-together. “If you're having a drink at midnight, you're not going to want to drive the next morning at six."

It’s important to note: There is no scientific evidence that suggests a cannabis consumption limit for safe driving or how long a driver should wait to drive after consuming cannabis. Learn more about how cannabis consumption affects drivers here. Enjoy your autumn!