Woody Harrelson greets me at the door wearing a black baseball cap and a friendly smile.

“Thanks for coming to The Woods for this special night.”

I’m here to celebrate the launch of Woody’s Personal Stash—a meticulously curated collection of sungrown flower and pre-rolls from the Emerald Triangle. Woody personally judged the contenders and will announce the winner this evening.

The place is filled with some of the most prolific farmers, operators, advocates—and celebrity guests. (Leonardo DiCaprio slips in barely noticed, cloaked in a hoodie and ball cap.) Everyone has gathered to find out which strain will take the crown.

THE PURPLE CANNABIS OF MATTOLE VALLEY

Lorien Curran, co-owner of POET, was charged with sourcing the cannabis for the competition, packaging, production, and manufacturing.

“The criteria for that selection was regenerative, sungrown legacy farms,” Curran says. “Obviously, he wants the best flower to put out under his name, but he also wants to promote smaller family farms.”

Jocelyn Sheltraw, co-founder of the Budist app, and sponsor of the event, adds:

“Woody has been a vocal advocate for sungrown cannabis and a return-to-the-earth movement for decades, which is reflected throughout The Woods’ ethos. That commitment shaped Woody’s Personal Stash and this collaboration highlights the unique terroir and craftsmanship of the most respected cannabis production region in the world.”

Woody spent weeks sampling the finalists. In the end, he was torn between Jefferson’s Trinity Alps Canna Craft Cherry Diesel and Purple Papaya from Mattole Valley Sungrown. They ultimately tied for first place.

I, however, fell hard for Purple Papaya.

I made my way to the Giggle Garden and sat beside the koi pond. I took a big hit and exhaled slowly. The first thing I noticed was a whiff of zesty citrus—then a lift in my mood. The effect came on quickly. The buzz wasn’t euphoric so much as steady and composed, with a gentle jolt of energy. My senses sharpened. My body tingled. I felt hyper-aware and pleasantly focused.

I’ve always leaned indica-dominant when choosing hybrids. Purple Papaya delivered—and then some.

It’s a near-perfect hybrid: 40% sativa, 60% indica. What sets it apart is the flavor. Crazy delicious—sweet and fruity, with a roaring symphony of papaya (one of my favorite fruits). The plumes of tropical smoke, married with the lush décor and squawking parrots, transported me—briefly—to the Big Island of Hawaii, where my mother was born and where I spent childhood summers. (We ate papayas doused in lemon for breakfast.)

The buds are voluptuous, grape-shaped, dark green, and dotted with tiny orange hairs. In just the right light, a purplish sheen sprinkled with sugary trichomes comes alive.

As I sat there toking, the hearty smoke perfumed the garden—a vibrant, sophisticated swirl of ripe fruit. I was practically swooning.

Why?

It all goes back to where—and how—the Purple Papaya is grown.

FROGS, AWAY!

The Mattole Valley lies in an untamed, remote stretch of Humboldt County—aka the Lost Coast. Guarded by towering redwoods, California scrub oaks, thick coyote brush, oceans of willows, and cut by a roaring river home to the endangered Chinook salmon, the region remains largely unspoiled. The soil is pristine. Combined with a cool coastal climate, hot afternoons, fog-choked mornings, and ample rainfall, the elements conspire to produce thriving cannabis plants.

At the wilderness’s edge sits Mattole Valley Sungrown Farm. The owners are second-generation farmers who grew up in the area. They gauge the health of their land by the abundance of “indicator species”—chief among them the Pacific tree frog (the frog is their logo).

They use only rainwater, enhancing the plant’s natural flavor, and rely on native soil. They were also the first cannabis farm to earn certification as a “Wildlife Conscious Cannabis Farm.” Livestock—including alpacas and sheep—provide natural fertilizer. This is cannabis rooted in the ecosystem, not ego.

CANNABIS WITH BENEFITS

Suddenly, I feel the urge to get my box signed by the man himself. The line is long, but I’m buoyant and present, so I join the waiting crowd.

I ask a guy in line what he thinks of Purple Papaya. He smiles.

“It tastes amazing. It’s also good to look at—like a green diamond. I can’t wait to get this box signed and take it home to my girlfriend.”

Someone else chimes in.

“It is fast-acting and has a very gentle fade.”

Another adds, “It puts me in a really good mood.”

That uplift likely comes from the juicy terpene profile: myrcene, caryo- phyllene, and limonene working in harmony.

IT SURE WILL HELP A LOT

Time stretches as we toke and talk. Suddenly, I find myself seated in the cabana, face-to-face with Woody. The room is thick with sweet, spicy smoke. He’s smoking a massive blunt.

He signs my box and with a wink says:

“The Emerald Triangle farmers grow the greatest herb in the world. I’m proud to launch Woody’s Personal Stash with two amazing strains— Mattole Valley Sungrown’s Purple Papaya and Trinity Alps Canna Craft’s Cherry Diesel. The ‘mandatory drug testing’—choosing these strains—was hard work and almost killed me. But I did my part.”

If you’re looking for a tropical, serene getaway from your worries, get your hands on Woody’s Personal Stash at The Woods. This first-ever, limited-edition stamped bamboo box includes a 7-gram jar of Purple Papaya, a five-pack tin of Cherry Diesel pre-rolls, a Cherry Diesel 1.3g pre-roll affectionately named “Li’l Woody,” an OG wooden grinder, OCB organic hemp papers, a wood-and-metal pipe, and a glass tube of green matches.

Cheers!