ltecato
Well-Known Member
Saturday I visited Higher Level of Care on Merritt Street in Castroville. Far as I know, only two dispensaries are operating in Monterey County, and this is one of them.
Higher Level was originally in the Carmel area (Clint Eastwood's back yard) and moved to Castroville just recently. The new place is inside a smoke shop on the "main drag" in Castroville. I would not have even known it was there if I had not seen it on WeedMaps. Local media seem to be ignoring the place, just like they did when it was in Carmel.
So, anyway, the dispensary is still in the "pardon our dust" stage of starting up. The smoke shop looks a little on the seedy side, like business hasn't been outstanding in the past few years -- but practically every other store, restaurant or gas station in town looks equally run-down.
Obviously, the operators have more work to do getting the place set up and running. I was really glad to see a sign on the wall announcing that they'd be stocking clones soon. I only bought a quarter of Trainwreck (on sale), and it was OK for the price ($70, I think).
Overall, atmosphere is about the same as a lot of storefront dispensaries elsewhere in the state, which is a bit on the scuzzy side like you're visiting a tattoo parlor, bail bondsman, dive bar or massage place. I don't mean that as a rap on Higher Level, which I'm glad to see opening for the benefit of those of us who live in and around Salinas.
If you're picky and paranoid about your surroundings, I'd advise driving to Santa Cruz, which has some very nice "boutique" or "spa" type places that are more "respectable" in appearance. They're all on WeedMaps. But for now, I'm glad to welcome Higher Level to the neighborhood.
Higher Level was originally in the Carmel area (Clint Eastwood's back yard) and moved to Castroville just recently. The new place is inside a smoke shop on the "main drag" in Castroville. I would not have even known it was there if I had not seen it on WeedMaps. Local media seem to be ignoring the place, just like they did when it was in Carmel.
So, anyway, the dispensary is still in the "pardon our dust" stage of starting up. The smoke shop looks a little on the seedy side, like business hasn't been outstanding in the past few years -- but practically every other store, restaurant or gas station in town looks equally run-down.
Obviously, the operators have more work to do getting the place set up and running. I was really glad to see a sign on the wall announcing that they'd be stocking clones soon. I only bought a quarter of Trainwreck (on sale), and it was OK for the price ($70, I think).
Overall, atmosphere is about the same as a lot of storefront dispensaries elsewhere in the state, which is a bit on the scuzzy side like you're visiting a tattoo parlor, bail bondsman, dive bar or massage place. I don't mean that as a rap on Higher Level, which I'm glad to see opening for the benefit of those of us who live in and around Salinas.
If you're picky and paranoid about your surroundings, I'd advise driving to Santa Cruz, which has some very nice "boutique" or "spa" type places that are more "respectable" in appearance. They're all on WeedMaps. But for now, I'm glad to welcome Higher Level to the neighborhood.
