As part of a promotion for its new series Disjointed—which premiered this past Friday and is quite hilarious in this writer’s humble opinion—Netflix is apparently developing strains of marijuana inspired by its episodes, as well as other Netflix original series.
Disjointed, probably the most mainstream weed-related comedy series out there, is about Ruth’s Alternative Caring Medical Marijuana dispensary.
Like so many others these days, Ruth’s Dispensary exists in the usual gray area between state and federal laws, but with the additional twist that California has voted to usher in legal recreational pot.
None of this, however, stops the generous Ruth Whitefeather Feldman (played by Kathy Bates), founder of the MMJ dispensary and aging hippie whose values remain much the same as they were when formed during the 1960s counterculture.
The show’s collection of kookie cast members, including Ruth’s biracial, serious MBA-holding son, and visitors to the dispensary keep the 10-episode show moving along just fine.
Now, word has it that Netflix is developing a selection of boutique weed strains inspired by its shows.
Netflix, reported Variety, says each strain was cultivated with specific episodes in mind, designed to complement each title based on their tone.
For example, sillier shows may be more indica dominant, while dramedies (like when the dispensary guard, an Iraq war vet, realizes he suffers from PTSD) will be more sativa dominant “to help the more powerful scenes resonate,” said Variety
Due to federal regulations, the strains will not be available for mail-order purchase. Instead, they’ll will be selling at a West Hollywood pop-up shop at Alternative Health Herbal Services this Friday to Sunday. And, of course, one needs an MMJ recommendation to be able to buy them.
Dubbed “The Netflix Collection,” the streaming service won’t actually receive any profit from the sales of these carefully curated strains.
“Orange is the New Black has inspired Poussey Riot, which is meant for ‘kicking it with somebody, talking, making mad stupid jokes,’ while Arrested Development fans will want to check out Banana Stand Kush for use in a ‘big yellow joint,'” noted Slash Gear. “Other show-inspired strains include Moon 13 (Mystery Science Theater 3000), Peyotea 73 (Grace and Frankie), Prickly Muffin (Bojack Horseman) and Baka Bile (Santa Clarita Diet).”
Three of the strains inspired by Disjointed are Omega Strain, Eve’s Bush and Rutherford B. Haze. When you start watching the series, if you haven’t already, you’ll know why they have these names.
Kathy Bates, at 69, does a great job as Ruth, with her long gray hair and colorful outfits. Ruth still has a ’60s revolutionary spirit and an unflappable attitude toward community and medical marijuana, much to her son’s dismay who wants the dispensary to become “the Walmart of cannabis.”
In a recent interview in the New York Times, Bates was asked if she smoked weed:
“Yeah, I do. I’ve had a prescription for some time for chronic pain. I’ve really become a believer. I find it just as, if not more, effective than other pain relief. Originally, when I was going through breast cancer, my oncologist prescribed some, because my recovery was painful and the marijuana was a tremendous help. And now they have vape pens, which are a lot less caustic in terms of smoke.”
