Wellness Connection of Maine - Gardiner, Maine

Miles B.

Took a trip to Wellness for the first time in ~4 years to stock up on some of their signature strains (MOB, GSC, LA Confidential). They have a poor reputation among connoisseurs, but I have shopped at Wellness countless times as a medical patient and enjoyed their wide menu, special sales and professionalism. Budtenders would bring up the time I saved up enough reward points to exchange for a full ounce.

When I entered, the budtender informed me that Wellness had just been sold to some LLC and that the menu had changed. Prices increased, the menu shrunk, and almost none of the signature strains remain; they have been replaced by a generic menu of strains one can find elsewhere for cheaper.

While explaining the menu, the budtender assured me without prompting that the new offerings would be fresh (red flag #1 - it goes without saying that buds should be fresh). There was also a hand printed sign which read "ALL SALES FINAL" by the checkout (red flag #2 - customers are returning with issues).

Against my better judgement (or perhaps because I was under the influence of products from a finer dispensary) I picked up two eighths. The total came to ~63(!) after tax and the 1/4 ounce discount. There is no first timer discount on your first purchase anymore, and they did away with any discount for medical users because "they made their prices lower".

I love a knockout indica before bed, and against my better judgement once again, I chose the Wellness Bubba Kush as my before-bed medication.
The bag appeal is low, but with Wellness it always kind of was, some strains better than others. The main appeal of Wellness bud was that you could easily differentiate one strain from the next, as they all strongly displayed their expected characteristics. As mentioned in another review, the Wellness GSC (no longer offered) was easily the best GSC I ever inhaled.

Back to the Bubba, which puts no effort into enticing me. This is the plain pasta of cannabis, void of any edge or pizazz. The batch date is almost two months ago, but the bud crumbles as if much older. The dry, pale green, mildly trichomed buds give off just a whiff of skunky and soapy odor which hints at the Bubba Kush it could've been. The flavor is a sweet hay with slight skunkiness, familiar to those who have consumed mids. The effect lacks euphoria, is somewhat sedative and exacerbates my headache, plus the potency wasn't high enough for a before-bed knockout. I laid awake regretting my purchase.
Is potency my problem? I'd argue not as I used to rely on Wellness bud for my before-bed medication, so it's obvious the quality has gone downhill. I have no desire to consume the rest of this product and would like a refund, but that's no longer policy because they don't stand by their products anymore.

This experience has left a bad taste in my mouth, from the higher prices to the lower quality. It appears Wellness will try and skate by with first mover advantage, even though legalization and the entry of other major players in the cannabis market have changed the marketplace and dimmed their catchet. If they continue on this path, operations will begin to minimize within 5 years.

As this is a place I care(d)about and want to be saved, here are my suggestions going forward:
- Increase innovation by continually expanding offerings, partnering with heirloom growers, and offering creative new products.
- Return to a competitive pricing schedule and honor a discount for medical users. Prices should not be going higher when there is increasing competition and ever decreasing price across the industry.
- Run a few great sales yearly and offer seasonal products to increase loyalty and get new customers in the door.
- Focus less on tiers of quality and ensure all products are meeting the same high standards.
- Fewer blue suits, more drug rugs. Put functional stoners in decision-making positions because this business appears to have lost its passion for anything but bean counting. To replace some of your beloved and truly medicinal strains with stuff like Bananaconda blows my mind.

iHoffman93

Mostly mids. under or improper cured buds. buds feel spongey and smell like hey. no love, probably rushed out to turn the profit. too much moister burns like ass lol

Unbiased R.

I can see why they are so desperate to get old customers to return. Today was my first time since 2023, and final time going there, even for an emergency fix.

*Edit: No problem, I'm mainly doing it for the customers to save them time, money and to find better quality products and services rendered elsewhere.

Brandon N.

First of all, I'm not being a Karen, this is insane what you guys are doing to this what used to be my favorite Maine business, whoever is making the decisions on what strains to grow is a complete moron that should be fired immediately, do they even smoke marijuana? I highly doubt it. You guys had it down to a science, all overpriced kakapoop now. You did away with the OG strains that kept me coming back for a solid almost 10 years. Very frustrating. You said you where keeping the skywalker strain but now it's 30$ an eighth (it was around 15$ normally) and 90% of the time there's no other sizes available. All you needed to do was was keep sky og, GSC and MOB.. The GSC was the cannabis cup winner of 2013, it should be a crime to throw away those genetics. Lower your damn prices and I'll check out your new strains, until then I'll be trying the other 50 different places to get bud in the area. Also I would of payed 30$ an eighth of GSC, why get rid of your most popular strain.. like I said , you had it.

Ryan E.

ATTENTION EVERYONE!!!! On 7/25/2024 I went to this dispensary to get CBG premium flower schoppe farms from wellness connection which they said they had in stock. After spending $107 on three 8ths got home and it was old weed by the looks and smell. It smelled like dirty old wood. Smoked a joint it gave me a bad headache I didn’t feel calm or relaxed at all. So I called wellness connection and complained about the flower I got and they told me it was a new batch they just got on Tuesday. Now let me tell you that just a week ago I bought the same brand flower annd strain from the same growers at nive dispo and it was the best stuff ever it had strong turpines it was not dry at all. The dispensary told me to call the farm that grows the flower. Witch I did and was surprised to find out that schoppe farms told me that they have not been working with wellness connection due to bad reasons and the batch they gave me was a year old and the farm has already stopped working with the dispo a long time ago. Mainers be careful with this diaper they will tell you there flower is the best and fresh but in fact years old and will get you sick. I will definitely be letting everyone know in town to stay away from this dispo. What such liers I was also told this dispo lets weed sit for over a year and still tells customers it’s brand new fresh what a let down I will discontinue my loyalty to this company and there product. I also just want to say that I am not down grading schoppe farms they have to me the best product out there on the market and I most definitely enjoy there flower and there costumer service is top tier!!!! If you or anyone is looking for good CBG and CBD high quality flower please go to there website and order some now

Kris P.

First time there…Was shopping across the street went online saw a 5 dollar discount. Ordered for like 27.00. Arrived and it was 53.00 with tax. Refused and rolled to my normal spot. Not sure what a “Round up fee” is for 10.00. Watch your staff is all I can say. First and last for this guy.

Sharon A.

Love, love, love this place. Amazing people, and excellent products. Pricing is fantastic as well.

Berk B.

Was surprised by their excellent personal service. Went with my 87-year-old friend who suffers from cancer. Neither of us were familiar with the products. Staff went out of their way to make us comfortable and informed us before they even suggested us what to buy. Thank you so much for your help and your understanding.