Meet one of the founding fathers of New Jersey cannabis. Before NJ went rec, Joe Payack was helping push the medical cannabis industry forward through science, innovation and a relentless pursuit of better extraction.
Joe’s first introduction to the plant was thanks to a generous tuba player in high school. Not wanting his parents to find out, he snuck outside and smoked a joint in the woods behind his house and had what he remembers as one of the greatest sledding sessions of his life. To this day, “I prefer smoking flowers. I’ve been doing it for so many years, just out of a bowl. I don’t really like joints. At the end of the day, I go home, fill a big bowl.”
After spending more than 25 years in the pharmaceutical industry, Joe found his way back to cannabis thanks to encouragement from his son. As a chemist, he was determined to create a cleaner alternative to butane extraction and eventually patented his own extraction method using ethanol and water. The Payack family then headed to Colorado to prove it could work. He eventually licensed the technology to Breakwater, where he became their head chemist.
After two years at Breakwater, they set out to build something of their own. They searched for opportunities across Oregon, California and Washington before ultimately landing in Vermont, where they spent years processing CBD while waiting for New Jersey legalization.
“I had an idea on paper, and I had to prove it. As a scientist, you don’t assume things. Our time in Vermont was really a tremendous amount of R&D focused on maximizing extraction efficiency and quality. We processed tons of hemp and, along the way, learned how to run a business, how to do sales and how to market.”
Today, Joe works alongside his wife Paige, son AJ and niece Maddie Colbert at Jersey Clouds, bringing decades of experience and a whole lot of passion to every product they create.
Thoughts from the NJ Cannabis Chemist…
Quality Is Everything
“Quality is everything. Anyone can do an extraction. You get the equipment and a little bit of training and you can extract the plant.” -Joe
At Jersey Clouds, it’s built into every step of the process.
- They use independent flower only. Jersey Clouds sources from a small network of independent New Jersey cultivators rather than large Multi-State Operators.
- Flower is vetted by himself. “I’ve inspected all these people, I’ve toured their facility, they send me menus and I look at the terpene profile, the cannabinoid profile and pictures. If I’m really worried about it, I’ll go and look at the material,” says Joe.
- Every batch is tested. Joe even invested in his own analytical equipment so he can monitor and evaluate products throughout the extraction process.
Cannabis Should Be Accessible
“It’s very gratifying to hear people with colitis come up to us and say, ‘Your stuff has really helped me so much.’ People with arthritis, people with knee pain. To me, that’s the most rewarding thing.” -Joe
As a patient-focused brand, the Payack family believes quality cannabis products should be accessible, especially for medicinal use. That’s one of the reasons Jersey Clouds prices its full-spectrum oils similarly to distillate products, despite the additional care and testing that goes into producing them.
There’s More to Cannabis Than Sativa, Indica, Hybrid
“I think the whole sativa-versus-indica conversation is a little silly at this point. There’s been so much inbreeding over the years. For me, it comes down to the terpene profile and how it tastes,” explains Joe.
Terpenes are the aromatic compounds that give cannabis its distinct scents and flavors, from citrus and pine to gas, earth and fruit. They’re also believed to play a role in shaping the overall experience of a strain alongside cannabinoids like THC and CBD.
Need a little more energy in your day? Limonene is often a great place to start. Those seeking focus and mental clarity often gravitate toward pinene-rich cultivars, while myrcene and linalool are commonly found in strains known to help people slow down and unwind. Caryophyllene is another terpene worth paying attention to, especially for consumers looking for a more soothing, body-centered experience. Learn more about terpenes here.
Stop Chasing THC %
If Joe could give consumers one piece of advice, it would be simple: “Don’t buy cannabis based on the amount of THC on the label.”
As someone who tests and extracts flower for a living, he believes consumers often place too much emphasis on a single number. “For one thing, they’re all inflated. I know as a fact because the COA of the extracted never, ever comes close. I test it before I extract it. But it drives the market and pushes cultivators to try to make the highest-THC product instead of the highest-quality product.”
Instead, Joe looks at terpene and cannabinoid profiles.
“I’d rather smoke something that’s 18 or 20% THC that has 3% terpenes in it. That’s why Brighterside Farms stands out. They don’t necessarily have the highest THC. Some of their best products are 18-22%.”
Extraction Method Matters
“Distillate is pretty much just THC with additives. Rosin and resin have their place, but they’re not cheap to make. Anything made with butane is ridiculous. That’s actually why I got into this in the first place. When I learned people were extracting cannabis with butane, it didn’t make sense to me. It’s not something that would ever be done in industry, and I don’t understand how it’s even allowed, given the safety concerns around butane, but the reality is that it produces a good extract and that’s why people do it.”
Jersey Clouds
Jersey Clouds is a small family-owned extraction company focused on full-spectrum oils that preserve the plant’s naturally occurring cannabinoids, terpenes and other compounds. If you’re looking to explore full-spectrum products, their refined RSO is one of the most versatile options on our shelves. It can be smoked, dabbed or infused into food.
And if you’re already a fan of Jersey Clouds, there’s more on the horizon. Joe shared that the team is exploring infused pre-rolls and potentially gummies!
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!