DuctTapeTheory

I've been a member since a week after ARC opened, when there were 20 or fewer collectives in SJ, and they are still my main provider.
I have been treated very well by each and every staff member--and there are many more than ever before. I remember a much quieter place, requiring only one bud tender. Now, they have at least two and usually three bud tenders assisting patients, and there's rarely a wait.
The flowers are divided into four different categories, ranging from recession to top-shelf ($33 to $58 per eighth). The flowers are showcased in small glass containers, and the display buds are always choice. The jeweler's illuminated magnifier allows me to take a good close look at the beautiful flower structure, color and frost. I am often offered a noseful from the bigger bud container, which saturates my head with delicious fragrances--is there anything finer than a headful of fresh green?
The bud quality is high. I'm not a good judge of the super potent strains of modern MJ, I prefer a comfortable buzz and find that most medicine is able to medicate me quite nicely. I can say that the most potent pot I ever smoked was ARC's Blackberry Kush from Spring, 2010! It was a marrow-gripping stone! Mostly I like ARC's hybrids. I also like the fact that they have high-quality outdoor-grown flowers. Their O/Ds are among my favorite medicines.
One drawback for me with ARC is that I have seen a lot of the same kinds of bud there over the course of a year, but not always the ones I like. That being said, I have recently picked up some Blue Dream that is perfect, and they introduced me to some Black Diesel I had never seen before--or since--that I liked very much.
Another drawback is that things have changed. The free wi-fi was shut off due to some bad behavior by collective members (I guess), and staff members I connected with last year are gone. Also, I never see Hector anymore. So it goes.
I am happy they are so successful. I hope they'll be one of the regulated collectives the city allows to operate.

Thank you to everyone who has helped ARC become such a valuable resource.

I asked the budtender for something that smoked smoothly and had a dynamic effect, i.e., head buzz transitioning to a body buzz, and he recommended this Blue Dream. I was a little hesitant to take his recommendation because I wanted something new and exciting. But looking at other buds and talking a little about buzzes, I decided to go with the recommendation.
This is a great batch. It smells sweet with a little spice at the end. The smoke is rich and flavorful. The buzz is strong but not overwhelming. It's a fully functional high that lets me focus on my work or conversations and then when I take a break I clearly feel its pleasant effects.
This batch of ARC Blue Dream has established this strain on my list of favorites. My hat is off to the budtender who was sure this was the right medicine for me. He knows his business!