Everyone loves a good pre-roll, they’re easy, convenient, and don’t require any work beyond maybe a quick finger roll to loosen them up. Whether it’s infused pre-rolls, singles, or big party packs, they’ve become a staple for busy or casual consumers alike.
As someone who shops in Michigan often, I’ve gotten used to deals that actually make sense. My go-to is the Border Bundle Pre-Roll Pack by Redemption, which includes twenty-eight one-gram pre-rolls for just $90. That’s a solid deal for quality flower, and it’s perfect for wake-and-bakes, events, bike trips, or those lazy days when I don’t feel like rolling myself.
Illinois, on the other hand, is a completely different story. We’ve seen a few brands attempt 10-packs of pre-rolls, but nothing even close to the Border Bundle in value or quality. Instead, Illinois consumers are being offered products like NGW’s new “Bud Box.” On paper, it sounds like a party pack dream: fifty-two half-gram pre-rolls. But the sticker price? $250 pre-tax.
To put that into perspective, NGW sells an ounce of shake, the same material I’m assuming they’re using for these pre-rolls, for $120 pre-tax. That’s $4.28 a gram. The Bud Box breaks down to $8.92 a gram—more than double the price, for what appears to be the same dry, low-quality flower. And that’s before taxes.
Why the massive markup? Illinois already has some of the highest cannabis prices in the country, and this feels like another example of squeezing consumers simply because they can. Instead of rewarding customers with bulk savings, the Bud Box turns the concept of a “value pack” into a premium-priced disappointment.
There’s definitely a place for party packs like this in Illinois, but only if the pricing and quality line up. Right now, it feels like a race to the bottom: brands cut corners on quality while charging premium prices, banking on consumers not doing the math. It’s one thing to offer a budget-friendly option and be upfront about what it is; it’s another to package up dry shake, call it a deal, and slap on a luxury price tag.
Illinois consumers deserve better. We’ve already been dealing with limited options, high taxes, and inconsistent quality. If brands want to win loyalty, they need to offer products that make sense, not products that insult our intelligence.
What do you think? Have you tried the Bud Box or other pre-roll packs from NGW? Are there any Illinois pre-roll deals you think actually deliver value? Drop your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
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