Discreet Cannabis for the Holidays

The holidays are a time for joy and family gatherings – but let's face it, family gatherings can also bring stress and anxiety. While the cannabis industry and initiatives like the HOA’s call for rescheduling the plant have gone a long way in destigmatizing marijuana use, explaining that herby scent on your clothes to your family can add an extra layer of holiday stress.

Thankfully, cannabis has evolved significantly, offering discreet options for marijuana consumption. The tell-tale joints, bowls, and bongs of the past paved the way for more discretionary options, should you need them.

Whether you're looking to use medicinally, for holiday stress and anxiety, or simply to enjoy indulging a little more, here are our favorite ways to get high on the low:

Cannabis Vapes

Planning to step outside for some fresh air during the upcoming dinner days? Grab a vape! Cannabis vapes are used by many for their quick effects and low odor, making them a discreet way to relieve stress or anxiety quickly. The best part is that many people use nicotine vapes, so no one will suspect a thing. Plus, there's a wide variety to choose from, including strain-specific options and different cartridge sizes.

Some of our favorites are:

(the) Essence

The holidays are all about time spent with loved ones—stay in the moment a little longer with (the) Essence. Crafted with timeless strains, these carts go the distance with each strain-specific option. Choosing (the) Essence is easy. The hard part? Choosing your strain.

• Botanicals, 0.3g disposables and 0.5g carts crafted with natural terpenes and distillate for a flavorful, consistent punch.
• Nectar, the brand's curated cultivars cured to perfection, then BHO extracted to preserve the strain's true essence in 0.3g disposables and 0.5g and 1g carts. True-to-flower, these vapes carry a little more scent than botanicals, so be sure to put a little distance between yourself and the fam.

Shop (the) Essence in Arizona, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Savvy

Go big or go small with this budget-family brand. A delicious fusion of distillate and natural terpenes, each sativa, hybrid, and indica flavor is as enjoyable as it is effective:

• Happy Hour, uplifting sativas in flavor and effect. 0.3g Summer Melon disposable and 1g Juicy Mango cart are like happy hour without the liquor. Get ready to be the life of the party with the mood-boosting, chatty effects.
• Vacay, balancing hybrids with fruit-forward notes. 0.3g Pineapple Mimosa disposable is like sipping a mimosa on the beach, and 1g Peaches and Cream cart? Tastes and smells exactly as it sounds and is a personal favorite of this writer.
• Kickback, soothing indicas with candylike flavor. If anxiety is running high, give Kick Back a try. 0.3g Fresh Berry is akin to your favorite berry gummy, while 1g Rainbow Sherbet cart is reminiscent of Sweet Tarts.

While Sleepover 1:1 THC/CBN, a sweet and tart indica, is an option, a word of caution, CBN is known as the sleep molecule, so try not to overdo it! If you need that extra dose of the soothing cannabinoid, 0.3g Cherry Sorbet disposable and 1g Sleepover cart never disappoint.

Shop Savvy in Arizona, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

STIIIZY

STIIIZY, renowned for its exceptional vape pods, offers a diverse array of options to cater to every cannabis enthusiast. At Zen Leaf dispensaries across three states, you'll discover an impressive selection of STIIIZY vape pods. Here's a closer look at their top-quality offerings:

• Original THC Pods. STIIIZY's Original THC Pods offer robust flavor and consistent hits, extracted from their award-winning flower. Available in 0.5g and 1g options, with a wide variety of strains to choose from.
• Cannabis-Derived Terpene Pods. Experience the authentic flavors and aromas of cannabis with strain-specific, cannabis-derived terpene pods. Compatible with STIIIZY's battery, these pods come in 0.5g and 1g sizes.
• LIIIL STIIIZY Disposable Vapes. Enjoy the simplicity and portability of LIIIL STIIIZY Disposable Vapes, delivering consistent flavors and impressive clouds. Try a range of strains, including Blue Dreams, Sour Tangie, Strawberry Cough, and Watermelon.

Shop STIIIZY in Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, and Nevada.

Verano Reserve

Award-wining strains of the highest quality, extracted carefully for a true-to-flower experience, featuring favored strains Banana Breath, Cherry On Top, Sweet Apple Crumble Cake, and more. Paired with top-of-the-line hardware, these vapes are sure to please from first inhale to last:

• Reserve cartridges, a strain-specific extract of the highest potency and
• Live Resin cartridges, live cannabis flower, BHO-extracted for the most flavor-forward expression of vapes.

Shop Verano Reserve carts in Arizona, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

CTPharma

A Connecticut staple, CTPharma blends the medicinal benefits of cannabis with flavors and effects that hit every time. A state leader in cultivation, their strain selection is second to none, showcased in:

• BHO Live Resin, a true-to-flower vape crafted from BHO-extracted fresh frozen flower to capture maximum terpenes for potent flavor and effects.
• Pure, strain-specific oil crafted from cured flower and ethanol extracted for a smooth inhale.

Shop CTPharma vapes in Connecticut.

Good Day Farm

A southern staple, Good Day Farm relentlessly analyzes cannabis strain chemical profiles to create the best experience for patients. Ease is the name of the game with their Go Pens, disposables with THC oil combined with botanical terps. And full-flower flavor for their Premium Vapes (also available in disposables), with THC oil combined with cannabis-derived terps.

Shop Good Day Farm in Arkansas.

Marijuana Edibles

Start the holiday festivities with a delicious edible. These offer long-lasting effects and come in a variety of tasty options. Make sure to take these with a high-fat snack to maximize your dose:

Bits Microdose Edibles

Bits cannabis is all about low doses so you can function with the benefits of THC, without the tell-tale high. Each formulation has been created 5mg THC, adaptogens, and extra cannabinoids for select options, all for a more well-rounded cannabis edible experience. Think enhance not overtake, with flavors:

• Yuzu Zone. There's no zoning out with Yuzu Zone. Formulated with 5mg THC, 5mg CBG, ginseng, and reishi, Yuzu Zone is a sativa edible that helps you leave procrastination behind. The flavors are similar to a grapefruit, citrusy, and tart for a bright and uplifting experience in your mouth.
• Guava Go. The sativa gummy Guava Go is perfect for the go-getter who is looking to add just a bit more joy to their daily routine. Each piece is 5mg of THC and is formulated with coffee fruit and guarana for a boost of energy.
• Elderberry Wellness. Soothe your sole from the inside out with the help of Elderberry Wellness. This indica edible has CBD, elderflower, and acerola to add a Bit of soothing relaxation to the holiday chaos.  
• Dragonfruit LOL. Get a dose of the giggles to up your holiday cheer. This sativa blends a bit of THC, CBC, cordycep mushroom, and B vitamins for feel-good effects that are sure to make you the life of the party.

Shop Bits in Arizona, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Encore

Encore Edibles are inspired by music, because music brings people together, like cannabis can. Crafted by candy connoisseurs, they can only be described as nostalgic and delicious. The hardest part? Picking from so many options:

• Caramels, smooth, melt-in-your-mouth treats in flavors Espresso sativa and Sea Salt indica. Our favorite way to dose? Adding to a cup of coffee or hot cocoa for a soul-soothing dose.
• Chocolates, decadent, creamy edible with all the depth and decadence of Belgian chocolate. Explore in indica, sativa, and 1:1 THC/CBD options, in flavors Milk Chocolate and Sea Salt Dark Chocolate.
• Gummies, pectin-based 10mg chews that are crowd-pleasers for flavors and effects. Indica, sativa, hybrid, 1:1, and RSO options abound, meaning there’s a flavor for any and every palate.
• Mints, a low, ultra-discreet dose that also provides extra-fresh breath. They’re perfect to take that mental edge off or freshen your dose and breath between courses. These 5mg THC mints are crafted with isolated THC and make for an anytime-of-day microdose.
• Sweet Stones, discreet dosing, akin to very special cough drops that tickle your cannabinoid receptors instead of soothing your throat, each with 10mg THC. Get a taste with Lemonade sativa, Wildberry indica, Peach Mango hybrid, and Orange 1:1 THC/CBD.

Shop Encore in Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania (as Verano).

Good Day Farm

We love an award winner, and Good Day Farm has two. Their traditional gummies combine high potency oil with THC and minor cannabinoids for targeted effects you can rely on, and juicy flavors like Pink Pomegranate and Peach Ginger you'll crave. For those moments you need the edge taken off now, their nano gummies are the go-to. Their tech means gummies have you feeling good in 15 minutes or less.

Shop Good Day Farms in Arkansas.

KIVA

KIVA is beloved by patients and rec consumers alike for its premium chocolates infused with top-tier cannabis strains. These gourmet candy bars come in various flavors like Raspberries & Cream, Birthday Cake, and the highly praised Churro, each containing 200mg of THC, conveniently divided into 5mg pieces for precise dosing.

Shop KIVA in Arizona, Illinois, and Michigan.

Marijuana Topicals

All the food prep, moving chairs and tables, and holding and kissing babies will leave anyone's joints and bodies a little worse for wear. Enter marijuana topicals, the topical relief so discreet, they look like your run-of-the-mill lotion or body balm.

Avexia

Avexia means wellness in Greek, and each product lives up to the name. These topicals and soaks are award-winning, voted on by shoppers like you, for their best-in-class effects, each loaded with equal parts THC and CBD:

• Pain Relief Balm, a thick, creamy balm that is as hydrating as it is pain-relieving. Use this pre-event to get ahead of any discomfort, or apply as you start to ache and feel the benefits take over.
• Pain Relief Lotion, an option for those who prefer a lighter weight moisture. Still hydrating, this lotion absorbs right in, leaving no overly moisturized feelings.
• Lavender Bath Soak, the perfect post-holidays treat. Epsom salt, THC, and CBD soothe your body, while lavender aids in the effects while providing a calming scent.

Trust us — these will become year-round go-tos. Shop Avexia in Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

CTPharma

The Connecticut-based brand offers far more than vapes, and among our favorites are their top-tier topicals. Mend is a patient and CT-favorite — not only does it soothe aches and pains with THC, it also provides instant relief in the form of a cooling sensation, not unlike Icy Hot.

Shop CTPharma in Connecticut.

Mary's Medicinals

Topicals are the name of the game for Mary's Medicinals. Soothing, relieving, in a variety of potencies and ratios, these topicals are a game-changer for many consumers. Our favorites are their transdermal creams and patches, which allow the cannabinoids to penetrate the bloodstream for full-body relief.

Shop Mary's Medicinals in Illinois and Michigan.

Natural State Medicinals

An Arkansas favorite, Natural State Medicinals offers options that are...well, natural. Our favorite topical by the brand is their 3:1 Full-Spectrum Anti-Inflammatory Topical. Full-spectrum oil plus a 3:1 ratio of CBD:THC, this topical is just what you need when those aches take place...not to mention its uber-tiny, nondescript 1 oz packaging.

Shop Natural State Medicinals in Arkansas.

Share Your Cannabis Holiday Favorites

Whether you choose a vape, an edible, flower, or an oral spray, we'd love to see how you incorporate cannabis into your holiday season! Follow us on Instagram @zenleafdispensaries and tag us in your holiday preparations. Who knows, you might inspire someone's holiday cannabis journey.

From all of us at Zen Leaf, we wish you a happy and stress-free holiday season!

* This post was published on November 10, 2023, and last updated on November 18, 2024.