FHWC (2009)
In 2009, Caleb Counts opened Fruitridge Health & Wellness Center (FHWC) in Sacramento, one of the city’s earliest polished dispensaries. A 36-light research room served as a pheno-hunting hub, running cultivars like Headband and SFV OG. Counts later connected with Luke—another local cultivator—after helping him solve a construction issue at his indoor facility. Their shared approach to quality cultivation would later shape California’s designer flower market.
Federal Pressure
By late 2011, the Department of Justice sent warning letters to Sacramento dispensaries, forcing widespread closures. FHWC was among those shut down. Counts stored his genetics and pivoted toward policy and compliance education—experience that proved essential when licensing returned under legalization.
Cookies916 (2012–2016)
Counts and Luke relaunched under the name Collective Efforts, later evolving into Cookies916 after a 2014 handshake with Berner at a cannabis cup. The shop quickly became Sacramento’s central hub for Cookie Fam genetics, fueling regional demand for GSC, Sunset Sherbert, and Gelato phenotypes. Their Instagram presence helped transform Cookies916 into a northern California landmark for designer drops.
The Gelato Play
Luke reportedly paid Sherbinski $72,000 in cash for Gelato cuts—#25, #33, #41, and #45. Connected’s team perfected their indoor runs, and many credited them with growing the cleanest and most consistent Gelato in California, particularly the #41 cut. These batches set a new production standard and helped push Gelato into statewide and eventually national fame.
The Mylar Wave
Connected revolutionized cannabis packaging, becoming one of the first California brands to sell eighths in branded mylar bags rather than jars or turkey bags. Their Connected and Cookies-branded pouches turned flower into fashion—introducing a visual aesthetic that defined “designer weed.” This model fused quality cultivation with recognizable design, creating the modern retail standard.
Biscotti and Gushers (2016)
The team’s next innovation came through a blind “red cup” pheno hunt that selected Biscotti (Gelato 41 × Motorbreath 15). Biscotti’s pastry-gas terp profile became a new lane, birthing Gushers (Gelato 41 × MB15) under breeder Dan Dango. These two strains became cornerstones of the modern California terp profile and some of the most influential genetics of the decade.
Rap Validation
Pop culture solidified the brand’s dominance. A Migos tour bus bust revealed Cookies and Connected bags, aligning the labels with rap notoriety. Around the same time, the Migos referenced Gelato in their 2017 Calvin Harris collaboration “Slide,” embedding the strain—and by association, Connected—into mainstream hip-hop lexicon.
The G41 Run
Connected’s mastery of the Gelato #41 cut secured multiple competition wins and firmly positioned the cultivar as California’s flagship strain. Biscotti and Gelato hybrids defined the state’s late-2010s market, marking the transition from legacy OGs to dessert-forward “exotic” cultivars.
Connected Is Born (2017)
As Cookies expanded its retail footprint, Caleb and Luke pivoted toward independence, officially rebranding as Connected Cannabis Co. Greenwolf became their first Southern California retail partner, and the brand scaled rapidly to over 400 California accounts. That same year, they partnered with Alien Labs, with Ted Lidie joining as co-owner and creative driver—uniting two of California’s most influential flower houses.
Scaling the Craft
Connected and Alien Labs expanded operations to Arizona and Florida, securing investment capital while maintaining elite cultivation standards. Since California’s adult-use launch in 2018, Connected has consistently ranked as the state’s top-selling premium flower brand. The Biscotti blueprint and the early Gelato/Mylar revolution they pioneered continue to define what “designer weed” means today.
YOUTUBE VIDEO
— Nugg Notes
SOURCES:
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Coleman, Luke (co-owner, Connected Cannabis Co.). Instagram direct message to the author. 27 Oct. 2025. (Primary source.)
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Devine, Jimi. “Connected Cannabis Co. Still Growing Heat.” LA Weekly, 1 Mar. 2024. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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“Feds Targeting California Pot Dispensaries; Told To Shut Down in 45 Days.” CBS Sacramento, 6 Oct. 2011. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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“Connected Cannabis Co. Announces $30 Million Capital Raise.” PR Newswire, 14 Apr. 2021. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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“California-based Connected Cannabis completes $30 million raise.” MJBizDaily, 14 Apr. 2021. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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“‘Slide’ (Calvin Harris song).” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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