Since launching in February, we’ve already had to restock Shady Extracts’ cured and live resin twice! Crafted by Hearth Wellness, a micro-licensed manufacturer based in Atlantic City, Shady Extracts is owned by a close-knit crew of five East Coast cannabis vets: Christopher Macchi, Kevin Reimer, Scott Whitcomb, Kevin Nixon and TC Daly.
We caught up with our longtime friend and Shady Extracts’ account manager, Sam Padro, to talk about why their resin hits differently.
“Our goal is to make great quality products that we would smoke ourselves. We’re focused on quality and highlighting the plant in its purest form. We extract at subcritical temperatures to preserve temperature-sensitive compounds like terpenes and cannabinoids,” says Sam.
Meet Sam Padro
You might recognize Sam from his Verano days, but his journey with cannabis started when he was a teenager. In fact, Stephan, David Nicholas’s brother and the founder of Prolific Growhouse, who first got Sam into smoking weed!
After a few possession charges and watching close friends overdose on oxy, Sam made the decision to check himself into rehab. He got clean, worked a variety of jobs and eventually found his way back to his original passion, cannabis.
During the pandemic, he enrolled in the Raritan Valley Community College cannabis course, taught by Sarah Trent (who also happened to be the one to let him Verano was hiring). From there, Sam started out hand-watering plants and eventually helped build Verano’s wholesale program from the ground up. Thanks to his hustle, connections and love for the plant, Sam became Shady Extracts’ very first hire.
The Collabs
When it comes to extracts, Shady Extracts does not cut corners. Their lab runs at an impressive -80°C, preserving all the terpenes and cannabinoids for a clean, flavorful hit.
“We’re for the people, by the people.” says Sam and that includes supporting local growers such as Happy Farmer, Nova Farms, Justice Grown, FullTilt and more.
“If we’re collaborating with a local grower or a partner, we’re going to shout them out. We’re all in the same boat, and we want people to know where the product’s coming from.” explains Sam.
Keep an eye out for more collabs and fresh drops!
The Resin Rundown: Cured vs. Live
The main difference between cured resin and live resin comes down to the stage at which the flower is processed. However, both are full-spectrum options, meaning your getting the full effects of the plant.
As the name suggests, cured resin is made from dried and cured flower. According to Sam, “Cured (resin) is definitely a step above distillate.” It tends to be smoother on inhalation and delivers a stronger body high than distillate, thanks to its retention of most cannabinoids and terpenes.
Live resin, on the other hand, is made from fresh frozen flower, harvested and immediately frozen to preserve its terpenes and cannabinoids. “Essentially (with live resin) you’re getting the freshest terpene profile and the fresh cannabinoid profile.” says Sam.
The Shady Vapes
Shady Extracts’ cured and live resin disposables come in a sleek all-in-one device that honestly feels and smokes wonderfully (plus it can stand on its own). The digital display makes it easy to check your battery life and oil levels and you can toggle between two temp settings.
Tips from the team:
- Give it a few seconds between draws for a smoother experience
- Keep it out of extreme heat or cold
- Preheat: 2 clicks
- Power it off between seshes
💚 Note to the Community 💚
“I love everybody in this industry. It’s the only industry where, when you go to events, everyone’s like, ‘Hey, what are you up to?’ It feels like you’re greeted with open arms. I want people to know I’m always down to work together. If you’re willing to work with me, I’d love to collab. So shoutout to everyone out here doing this. It’s not easy, with all the regulations and different loopholes.” says Sam.
Visit Pure Blossom for Cannabis and Other Essentials
Pure Blossom is a woman-owned and -operated, licensed dispensary. Founded on the values of education, destigmatization and community, Pure Blossom is creating a truly welcoming cannabis retail experience with a curated menu of New Jersey’s worthy cannabis products, an emphasis on increasing customer knowledge and a holistic approach to wellbeing.
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 the best Jersey-Grown greens (and other essentials). We’ll see you there!