Cali weed is now on a shelf in New York City. And we were there for it.

First Smoke of the Day pulled up to Torches by Palanco Brothers on 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan for 420 weekend. Right above us, Alien Labs and Connected flower legally sitting on a shelf in one of the most historic buildings in New York City. A 100 year old cigar lounge where Frank Sinatra, Giuliani and every major hedge fund in New York once had a box. Now it belongs to the culture.

We sat down with Ted from Alien Labs, Malik the product brand manager at Connected and Alien Labs, and the Palanco Brothers Jose and Santana who fought for over a year just to get this location approved and got denied four times before they made it happen.

This is history. First time. New York City. 420 weekend. Alien Labs. Connected. Torches. All in one room.

Subscribe to First Smoke of the Day for weekly cannabis culture, strain drops and the realest voices in the industry.

Brands we trust:

HGV Elevated — https://hydrobuilder.com/pages/fsotd

Faven Lighting — https://favenlighting.com/

RAW Rolling Papers — https://rawthentic.com/

SlapHub LA — https://www.slaphub.la/

Chapters:

0:00 - Welcome To Torches

6:30 - Meet The Team

14:20 - Building The Menu

24:45 - The Fight To Open

36:10 - Cali Weed In New York

48:30 - The NYC Consumer

58:15 - Favorite 420 Memories

1:08:40 - Best Munchie Spots

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You are probably doing it wrong every single time you get pulled over.

The Pot Brothers at Law are back for Part 2 and this one could literally keep you out of handcuffs. Whether you are driving through a legal state, crossing state lines, heading to a 420 event, or just going about your day with weed on you, this conversation covers everything you need to know right now.

Most people think cannabis is legal so they are protected. It is not fully legal. It is semi legal. And the moment you open your mouth to a cop, you are doing their job for them.

This is required watching before 420. This is required watching before you ever drive with weed again.

Subscribe to First Smoke of the Day for weekly cannabis culture, legal education, growing conversations and the realest voices in the industry.

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Nobody knew his name. Now everyone wants his pack.

Ron from Elusive has been one of the most quietly influential figures in the Los Angeles cannabis market for years. Growing for some of the biggest names in the game, hunting strains that move markets, and building a facility that cost seven figures to get right. This is the full story and it has never been told like this before.

From buying a dispensary with fake paperwork, getting robbed by the same two cops every single month, blowing the power on a seven figure rebuild, to paying fifty thousand dollars for a single cut that changed everything. Ron has been through every version of this industry and came out the other side with one of the most respected brands in Los Angeles.

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It is 420. Mendo Dope is here. And they brought 10 year old hash made with Frenchy Canoli.

This is the 420 special First Smoke of the Day has been waiting to do. Mendo Dope pulls up on the most important day of the year with their brand new album Censored dropping today, the first episode of Battle of the Trees Season 2 dropping today, and a jar of hash made a decade ago under the moonlight with the legendary Frenchy Canoli. Triple drop on 420. This is what it looks like when the culture shows up for itself.

Subscribe to First Smoke of the Day for weekly cannabis culture, growing conversations, and the realest voices in the industry.

Early access and unreleased content at fsotd.com

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The man who built the Secret Cup, launched Chalice, and has been at every major hash competition in the world sits down with Lance to judge the American Autoflower Cup live and he doesn't hold back.

Jeremy breaks down the real history of hash competitions, why he thinks rosin ruined the BHO market, and what autoflower is about to do to the entire cannabis industry. Plus — live judging on camera. Watch him go through the entries in real time.

Whether you're a grower, a hash maker, or just love the culture, this one's for you.

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This one’s different.

Episode 200 and we had to bring in someone who’s been moving behind the scenes long before most people were paying attention.

G PUT isn’t just part of the culture, he’s helped build it.

From streetwear to cannabis, music, branding, and real business moves, this episode breaks down what most people never see:

• The real power of teams

• How brands actually get built

• Why relationships hype

• And how to turn passion into something that pays

This isn’t surface-level talk.

This is about longevity, legacy, and knowing your lane, then mastering it.

If you’re building something, trying to break in, or figuring out your next move…

This episode is for you. Tap in. Roll up. Episode 200. 💨

Chapters:

00:00 – Episode 200 Intro + G PUT Introduction

02:15 – From Streetwear to Cannabis: The Real Origin Story

08:40 – Working with Major Brands & Building Behind the Scenes

15:20 – Music, Culture & Cannabis Colliding

24:10 – How to Build a Brand That Lasts

34:30 – The Power of Teamwork & Finding the Right People

45:50 – Monetizing Your Passion (Real Talk)

56:20 – Final Advice: Purpose, Timing & Staying Real

#fsotd #firstsmokeoftheday #cannabisculture #cultivation #GPUTT #streetwear

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In this episode of First Smoke of the Day, we sit down with Robertson Glass, one of the most respected glass artists in the cannabis industry.

From building high-end custom glass pieces to navigating the evolution of glass rigs, tips, and smoking culture — Robertson shares his full journey. We get into how the glass industry grew alongside cannabis, what makes certain pieces worth thousands, and how innovation like glass tips is changing the game.

He also breaks down the business side of glass blowing, global demand, collaborations, and the reality of selling luxury functional art in today’s market.

This episode dives deep into:

• The connection between cannabis culture and glass
• The rise of high-end glass pieces and collectors
• How glass artists develop their style and brand
• The future of glass tips, rigs, and smoking accessories
• Real stories from the early days of the industry

If you’re into cannabis culture, glass art, or the business behind it — this one is packed with insight.

Tap in and see how the glass world really moves.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction & Glass Culture Origins

03:45 First Glass Pieces & Early Cannabis Influence

10:20 How the Glass Industry Evolved

18:10 High-End Glass & Pricing Explained

27:30 Glass Tips & New Innovations

36:40 Business, Collabs & Global Market

47:50 The Future of Glass & Closing Thoughts

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This episode is something special.

We brought together some of the most respected genetic hunters and breeders in the game to break down one thing: the art of the pheno hunt.

At the table we’ve got Raw Genetics, Elusive, the Cannabis Brothers, and OG breeder Umami — all sitting down with Lance to go through jars, smoke through fenos, and talk about what it really takes to find the next legendary strain.

We’re talking 100+ years of combined growing experience in one room.

This episode dives into:

• What a real pheno hunt looks like

• How breeders select winning genetics

• Why Z / Skittles-style terp profiles changed cannabis breeding

• The difference between bag appeal, flavor, and true smokability

• Why some strains become legends while others disappear

• How breeders chase the next evolution of flavor

You’ll hear stories about legendary strains, lost genetics, breeding strategies, and the constant hunt for something better.

This is the kind of conversation that usually happens off camera in grow rooms and breeding labs — and today we captured it.

If you’re into cannabis culture, breeding, cultivation, or just want to understand how the best genetics in the world are found… this one’s for you.

Roll something up and tap in.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro – The Pheno Hunt Special

02:18 What Is a Pheno Hunt?

07:46 Meeting the Breeders at the Table

15:12 100+ Years of Growing Experience

24:30 How Breeders Select Winning Phenotypes

34:05 Smoking Through the Fenos

46:22 The Search for the Perfect Z Terp Profile

58:40 Bag Appeal vs Real Smokability

1:10:55 Why Some Strains Become Legendary

1:22:10 The Future of Cannabis Breeding

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Humboldt Seed Company joins First Smoke of the Day for a long-awaited conversation about legacy, breeding, and the story behind Blueberry Pancakes and Blueberry Muffin.

This episode is three years in the making.

Blackleaf sits down with the father-and-daughter team behind Humboldt Seed Co to talk about modern seed development, large-scale phenohunts, global expansion, and what it actually takes to build elite genetics from the ground up.

We dive into:

• The origin of Blueberry Muffin & Blueberry Pancakes

• How large phenohunts really work

• What separates stable genetics from hype

• Building a seed company from Humboldt to worldwide

• The evolution from small mountain grows to global distribution

• Why family still matters in modern breeding

Humboldt Seed Co has become one of the most recognized names in seed development, with cultivars now grown across the U.S., Europe, and beyond. This conversation breaks down how it started, how it scaled, and what it takes to maintain quality over time.

Follow First Smoke of the Day for more conversations with breeders, growers, and leaders shaping the future of plant genetics.

Website: https://fsotd.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firstsmokeoftheday/

Business inquiries: [email protected]

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Marigold Sweets joins First Smoke of the Day to break down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about edibles. From her time on Bong Appétit to becoming a leading voice in cannabis cooking, Vanessa dives deep into infusion techniques, dosing, decarboxylation, temperature control, concentrates vs flower, and how to make edibles that actually taste good. We talk about the science behind infusing butter, oils, tinctures, and concentrates, common edible mistakes, how long infusion really takes, and why most people are doing it wrong.

This episode covers cannabis cooking for beginners and experienced consumers alike, including how to calculate potency, avoid overconsumption, improve bioavailability, and cook with intention. Whether you’re into infused savory dishes, desserts, nano-emulsions, or just want to understand how edibles work in the body, this conversation is packed with real knowledge backed by testing and experience. We also get into the cannabis industry, legalization, labor conversations, and the future of infused dining.

Tap in for one of the most informative edible discussions we’ve had on FSOTD.

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On this episode of First Smoke of the Day, Blackleaf sits down with Ridgeline Farms and Huckleberry Hill Farms for a real conversation about cultivation, standards, and protecting the culture.

This isn’t a sales pitch. It’s growers talking about process, pressure, and what it actually takes to maintain quality in today’s cannabis industry.

We get into:

• Craft vs large-scale production

• Sungrown and indoor cultivation philosophies

• Why consistency matters more than hype

• The realities of operating in California

• Legacy farms and the responsibility of carrying the culture forward

Ridgeline brings precision and discipline. Huckleberry Hill brings legacy and roots.

Different approaches, same respect for the plant.

We highlight the operators who care about the details, the standards, and the long game. This episode is about cultivation done with intention, not shortcuts.

Subscribe for more real conversations with the growers and brands shaping the industry from the inside.

Let's connect!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firstsmokeo...

Business inquiries: [email protected]

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