Junk is the throwback candy arm of popular Oregon edibles brand Leif Goods. And while Leif Goods’ chocolate bars, topicals, and tinctures maintain contemporary millennial branding, Junk is just straight-up weed candy.
Its line of carnivalesque treats is a low-key stoner fever dream: fizzy popping candy edibles, chocolate-coated cookies, and fat, squishy marshmallows dipped in dark chocolate and topped with chocolate salt — that’s right, chocolate salt exists. The doses max out at 100 milligrams of THC, but are available in 50 milligrams, and — in the case of the marshmallows — CBD is an option as well.
I spent the first scorching weekend of summer auditioning Junk’s Holy Moly O’s, Marshmallow Super Bon Bons, and Candy Dynamites as I slurped ice cream at the mall, floated on my back in an icy river, and comfortably napped away the peak heat hours.
First impressions
Junk is doing something unique in the cannabis edibles space by tapping into nostalgia. The branding is, put simply, darling.
Each item is housed in brightly colored packaging emblazoned with the JUNK brand logo, and though each package differs slightly, they all seem to have been dressed from the same closet, and the result is a cohesive set of edibles that are borderline collectible in their cuteness.
Each of these edibles is made with full-spectrum cannabis oil, rather than isolate. Though the effects were robust for each, none of them has the trademark skunky smack of cannabis, a take-it-or-leave-it note for cannaisseurs who prefer a bit of diesel in their edibles. Personally, I found that the novelty eclipsed what may be construed as a lack of authentic cannabis flavors and aromas, but that begs the question: who’s going to shade pop rocks for not tasting weedy enough?
Marshmallow Super Bon-Bons
These simple vegan marshmallow bon-bons won Best Edible at Oregon High Times in 2019. The fluffy, ultra-aerated texture is a confectionary wonder made even more delicious with the addition of super-rich dark chocolate. The whole affair is finished with chocolate-infused sea salt and party sprinkles, giving the same energy as the truffles and bon-bons you would see in old-timey candy shop windows.
They come in two to a package with 50 milligrams of total THC. Without intending to, I ate both 25-milligram bon-bons in one sitting. It just happened that I became distracted while rage scrolling my newsfeed (as one does) and in my dopamine desperation, I went on autopilot, treating the edibles not like edibles, but like the extra special, boutique candy that I deserved for surviving another day of being American.
The effect of these edibles was compounded by a plush mouthfeel and satisfying indulgence. I was blissed out on a top-shelf sugar high as soon as the second bon-bon landed in my stomach. Once activated, the effects were potently relaxing for me, and not just because I accidentally doubled my dose.
For me, the full dose was a panacea in both the head and body, gently clouding cognition while delivering a velvety, pacifying body high, both of which lingered for the better part of three hours while I escaped the summer heat by wandering the mall, Dairy Queen dip cone in hand.
Popping Candy Dynamites
Exploding candy has always been an event. Who hasn’t loaded their tongue with a tiny mountain of candy shards only to wag their open mouth at their friends while it popped and visibly sizzled? If you’re a stoner who has, at some point in your life, truly enjoyed those little candy explosions, then do yourself a favor and pick up this charming effigy to a corner store all-star.
Popping Candy Dynamites deliver the same observable effects as their OG inspiration, with the slick addition of either 100 or 50 milligrams of THC from full-spectrum cannabis oil. These Dynamites come equipped with a tiny spoon for dosing and sharing, though licking up a palmful is precisely as gratifying as one would expect.
A spoonful is a 5-10 milligram serving depending on the package’s total THC, and the entire package contains 10 servings. From a practical standpoint, this is an exceptional edible for sharing or for coolly dosing yourself through the day.
My partner and I shared a full package of the watermelon Dynamites before sunning by the Columbia River. Consider the flavor designations as suggestions rather than the rule — the watermelon and strawberry flavors just taste of sugar and electricity, but the sour orange flavor had a summery, citrus punch. At a lower dose for us, (about 25 milligrams THC each) the effects, once activated, were bright and giggly before evaporating into manageable munchies.
Though nostalgic, these rocks give adult contemporary vibes. You can experiment with them as rimmers for mocktails, decorations for baked sweets, or toppings for stoney ice cream sundaes.
Find Popping Candy Dynamites at High Quality
Holy Moly-Os
Holy Moly-O’s are chocolate sandwich cookies coated in THC-infused dark chocolate and bejeweled with party sprinkles. The aesthetic is over the top: tea party opulence but in a restrained, accessible way. They could be served alongside petit fours on vintage china, or eaten from a food stand at a county fair.
Each cookie delivered 25 milligrams of THC with the same heavy intonation as the Super Bon-Bons. The effects were velvety and soothing, and depending on the dose could be deeply mollifying or just relaxing. When eaten alongside an iced coffee on the third consecutive day of 90+ degree temperatures, one cookie canceled out my 16 ounces of caffeine completely, so I was able to take an afternoon nap. The few hours of cozy effects were mostly felt in my murky nap dreams. Having slept through the worst of the afternoon heat, I appreciated them nonetheless.
Of all the products, Holy Moly-Os struck me as the most functional. A day later, I tried the mint flavor and found the mood effects soothing yet uplifting — perfect for a relaxed workday. If you eat one when you’re already hot and exhausted, it might put you to sleep, but you probably needed it anyway.
Bottom line
All of Junk’s edibles are approachable for both varsity consumers and newbies alike. The nostalgia factor alone of the Dynamites is worth pothead attention, and each item in the lineup delivers a similarly evocative, standout experience.
Strain specificity isn’t listed on the package, though in testing all flavors of the 50-milligram Dynamites and Holy Moly-Os, I found the effects to be consistent.
Bottom line: these edibles are more than just a stoner tea party necessity, they are low-key comfort food.
