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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This place is a trip, both literally and figuratively. It is literally a trip because it is well off the beaten path; it is figuratively a trip because of the overall experience. Their location is a "good news and bad news" proposition. It's out of almost anyone's way, but it allows them to offer high-quality flower at very reasonable donations. BUD: I only sampled one strain (Northern Lights), but that one was excellent. The nugs were very dense, well-cured, and definitely 5-star potent. SERVICE: Lots of dispensaries claim to be patient-centered, but Brier walks the talk in ways that are increasingly rare: very reasonable donations, small give-away items, but most importantly, a willingness to listen and offer condition-specific suggestions. Far too many dispensaries leave patients feeling rushed to make a selection; the Brier experience if casual, friendly, and unhurried. Both Kevin (budtender) and Margaret (reception) are personable, even chatty. ATMOSPHERE: The waiting room is spartan but comfortable, but the bud room is an experience that has to be seen to be appreciated. (It's easy to imagine that this location may once have been a small bar or lounge.) ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: Although the staff knows their stock well, I think they could add even more value if they expanded their knowledge and their inventory to include alternative strains. BOTTOM LINE: While the location prevents Brier Medz from being an "impulse" trip, I'll be keeping an eye on their menu, and would revisit in a heartbeat any time they have a strain I'm particularly fond of. I'm genuinely looking forward to my next visit. Highly recommended.

This place USED to be great, but not any more. I don't know if it's a change in management, or personnel turnover, or simply a different way of doing business. Regardless of the cause, the WHR experience is now profoundly subpar. BACKGROUND: I've been a loyal patient at WHR for over a year, and have visited them at least 20 times during that period. The bud was always top-notch, and the service used to be exemplary, with knowledgeable budtenders always willing to educate and inform. Visiting WHR meant going a long and painful trip that was well out of my way, but the experience was always worth it. FAST-FORWARD: I made the long trip to WHR today, because they advertised a favorite strain for $8/gram ($20 an 8th). When I ordered an 8th and gave over my $20, I was informed that they had "updated" their price (to the tune of 25%!) The girl behind the counter asked when I had seen the lower price online, and I replied it was been earlier that morning. So she calls out to the guy at the reception desk and asks him when he did the "update"--basically calling me a liar to my face. She offered to ask a "manager" if they were willing to stand by their advertised price. Needless to say, I didn't wait for the answer. WHR used to be a delightful, patient-centered, "high-touch" experience; but this kind of LOW-BALL/BAIT-AND-SWITCH tactic makes it clear that those days are long gone. BOTTOM LINE: Vote with your wallet; patronize dispensaries that value integrity and customer loyalty. There's at least a dozen better alternatives with a 1- or 2-mile radius.

PRODUCT: I've visited WAM several times and have never once been disappointed in the quality of the bud. I picked up some Purple Arrow there that was absolutely phenomenal--so good that I went back the next day and bought out all they had left. SERVICE: The quality of the service is generally good, but a bit more of a crap-shoot. On one visit, I interacted with a budtender who seemed both unknowledgeable and apathetic. But Rick (whom I take to be the manager or owner) is genuinely interested in patient feedback, and treats customers extremely well. ATMOSPHERE: If you want "atmosphere," visit a retail store. I prefer my dispensaries to be comfortable and clean, but minimally decorated. WAM fits that bill perfectly.

The first sentence of the strain description is exactly correct: When it comes to knocking out pain, NO medical strain hits the target quite like Purple Arrow. Or comes anywhere close. I have severe pain from lumbar arthritis, and I swear, Purple Arrow makes me think I have cannabinoid receptors in my back. The pain relieving/anti-inflammatory properties of this strain come mostly from the Black Domina side of the family, while the pleasant-but-not-overwhelming head buzz comes from the Permafrost side. Really, really fine Purple Arrow is unquestionably the best weed I've ever had, and I will go well out of way to get it. But beware: sometimes, what's sold as Purple Arrow is actually Permafrost. TRUE Purple Arrow had a very distinct "bite" to its smell, also from it's Black Domnia ancestry.

ATMOSPHERE: The facility is a contradiction in terms: rundown outside, nicely appointed interior. MEDS: The bud is okay enough, but not as good as I've gotten elsewhere. SERVICE: The true high point of the HypeHerbally experience is KC, the budtender. In a world where some budtenders don't know an indica-dominant-hybrid from a hole in the ground, I watched as KC rattled off (correctly!) lineages for several specific strains. KC is the first and only budtender whose strain recommendations I would trust implicitly. He adds a lot of value to this dispensary. ONE MORE THING: My HypeHerbolic hyperbole: The buds from HypeHerbally leave you feeling so stoned, even rocks are jealous!

SUMMARY: If you're looking for a "boutique" dispensary with lots of oils and concentrates, with shelves of swag and medibles and paraphernalia, then look elsewhere. But if you're looking for a no-frills dispensary with good-to-excellent quality flower at affordable suggested donations in a friendly, patient-centered atmosphere, then look no further. THE GOOD: On my first visit, I tried five different strains. All the bud is dense, and there isn't a harsh nug in the batch. Quality varies from above-average ("B+") to truly exemplary (good, solid "A"--and I'm a tough "grader!"). My subjective sense is that their curing process could stand some minor adjustments, but not enough to dock them a star for. THE AMAZING: Autumn and Mike genuinely care about their patients. They provide a friendly, welcoming, "high-touch" atmosphere. Autumn is more than just eye-candy; I watched as she juggled a bit of a mid-day rush with poise and aplomb, and she still made a point of greeting each patient by first name. (She also makes some very nice cookies--the dispensary's only "medible.") WHAT COULD BE BETTER: Any time I try a new dispensary, I typically try a handful of new (and therefore unfamiliar) strains, depending on what's available. Mike hand-labels each bag, but his handwriting is basically illegible. Result? I found a *great* new strain that I really like. I'd like to buy more--if I only knew the name of it! We'll see on my next visit if Mike can decipher his own scrawl. ;) THINGS THAT DON'T MATTER: Yes, the interior is spartan and undecorated. If you grade a dispensary based on decor, then your keen fashion sense will probably find this place a disappointment. But if you're like me, you'll appreciate the fact that QPC passes on their savings to their patients. Given that 2014 begins with some troubling questions about the future of medical dispensaries, I appreciate their "wait and see" approach to decoration. MY BIGGEST GRIPE: My biggest gripe about QPC is actually their advertising practices, in particular the "advertised specials" here on Leafly. The wording of some of QPC's ad specials (for example, free shake) makes it clear that they know exactly how to spell out a limitation on a special. But for reasons unknown and unclear, they choose not to do so. The reason that this matters is that most of their so-called "specials" are limited to their lowest-end bud, which constitutes a very small part of their inventory. The whole experience ended up feeling a little like "bait-and-switch." Simple, clear, communication would solve this issue, but it did cost them an "atmosphere" star. A PERSONAL NOTE: The "back story" is too embarrassing for me to mention, but I personally experienced the staff's personal and professional integrity. They win huge points for honesty and trustworthiness. QPC is actually a bit of a drive for me, and driving is painful for me. But the overall experience was excellent, and I will most definitely be back.