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Are you confused about which brand's delta-9 gummies to use? Here's a list of the best delta-9 gummies out there, plus some tips to make a choice easier!
Sponsored Content Provided by Rad Revenue
Delta-9 THC is the reason that marijuana gets such a bad rep. The compound is psychoactive, meaning it can lead to a high. Depending on the dosage and potency, that high can be good or bad. However, most folks use delta-9 to manage their medical conditions and relax.
Unfortunately, delta-9 isn’t legal in a lot of places. But, it’s pretty popular in the states where it is legal. Thus, brands have been releasing different product lines with delta-9 THC. These brands have saturated the market, each claiming to be the best.
So far, delta-9 gummies are the most popular of the lot. That’s because they taste great. Plus, people can take them discreetly. Not all brands are the same, though. Some are better than others, and it’s your job to ensure you choose the right one. That way, you can reap all the benefits of delta-9 without the risks.
After looking into all that and more, we narrowed our list until we had only four contenders left. These four brands have built a reputation for themselves in the cannabis industry. These are:
Exhale Wellness – Overall Best Delta-9 Gummies On The Market, Editor’s Pick
BudPop – Most Potent & Strongest THC gummies
Delta Extrax – Affordable & Delicious Premium THC Products
Mr. Hemp Flower – Top-Rated Brand For Tasty Delta-9 Gummies
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Exhale Wellness started its work in Los Angeles with delta-8 products. However, they have grown far beyond that. The brand now offers CBD, HHC, Delta-10, and delta-9 products. As expected from a brand like Exhale Wellness, none of these products is anything less than extraordinary.
The folks behind the brand describe themselves as a tribe of cannabis enthusiasts from the organic food and CBD industry. They have come together to distribute quality CBD and THC products to the public. These people believe in using natural medicine to ensure physical and spiritual well-being.
The brand has carved out its place in the hemp and cannabis industry. So much so that they’re now acknowledged as a household name. Given all that, it’s not surprising that various publications have endorsed them. These publications include the Ministry of Hemp, LA Weekly, Forbes, Los Angeles Times, and Observer.
The brand is serious about using quality ingredients in its hemp-derived products. That’s why they’re partnered with Colorado-based farms to get their hemp. Since these farms are in the USA, they’re federally regulated. These farms adhere to strict cultivation practices and don’t use pesticides, GMO technology, or other methods to boost growth artificially. Consequently, you get organic, high-quality hemp.
When we look at customer response for Exhale Wellness, it’s pretty positive. The brand has built its image around excellent customer service. As such, they enjoy a 4.4-star rating on Trustpilot. Users were pleasantly surprised by the superior product quality and the brand’s dedication to customer care. Exhale wellness has been ranked as the number one brand on The Island Now to buy delta-9 products.
Organic Ingredients: Exhale Wellness prides itself on its organic products. The brand does not use any artificial flavors or ingredients in its products. Furthermore, the products are cruelty-free and vegan-friendly. The brand substitutes animal gelatin with plant pectin.
Lab Testing: The brand is pretty uptight regarding product safety. It gets the products tested in its labs and then sends them to independent labs for testing. Then, they publish the results on their website. The lab report includes a cannabinoid profile and potency report. The total THC content is less than 0.3% of the dry weight following the Farm Bill.
Bottle Size and Gummy Potency: The brand offers two potency options for the gummies; 225 mg and 450 mg. Each bottle has thirty gummies. The 225 mg version has 7.5 mg THC per gummy, whereas the 450 mg version has 15 mg per gummy.
Flavors: The gummies are fruit-flavored. Each bottle comes with four differently flavored gummies. These include berries, passionfruit, watermelon, and apples. Exhale Wellness infuses all these flavors naturally using plant terpenes.
Industrial hemp from US farms
Two potencies: 225 mg and 450 mg
Vegan and organic gummies
Multiple flavors
30-day money-back guarantee
Farm Bill compliant
Free shipping
Only available in the US
Lab reports lack toxin profiles
=> Click here to visit the official website of Exhale Wellness
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BudPop is relatively new to the cannabis industry, but that hasn’t stopped it from delivering top-tier products. The brand started with delta-8 products. They’re one of the best companies in delta-8. Recently, they even launched products with other compounds like CBD, HHC, and delta-9. Of course, these lines are also as high-quality as the delta-8 series.
The team behind BudPop has over thirty years of cumulative experience, and they have combined their expertise to get quality cannabis products to us. Of course, all their products are hemp-derived, as the Farm Bill dictates. The brand is mainly focused on transparency since the lack of transparency in the industry is why it started in the first place.
The brand has been doing fantastic, which is why the big guns are noticing it in the cannabis world. We mean major publications like LA Weekly, Forbes, Observer, Men’s Journal, Ministry of Hemp, and US Weekly by big guns.
BudPop sources its hemp from hemp farms in Nevada. These farms are federally licensed and regulated. Thus, they ensure that the soil is free of toxic contaminants. Furthermore, they do not use GMO technology or pesticides during cultivation to ensure high-quality hemp. After they get the hemp, they process it in their facility in Nevada using CO2 extraction to get the best products.
Moreover, the customer reception has been quite positive. The Better Business Bureau accredits the brand. The website features an almost perfect rating from over eleven hundred positive reviews. Moreover, customers love these potent and delicious gummies. Furthermore, they love how the brand is so dedicated to them.
Lab Tests: Lab Tests are a priority for any brand concerned with product quality. BudPop is no different. The brand tests its products through independent labs to ensure transparency. You can find the results on their website, which are pretty detailed. You can find results for pathogens, fungi, heavy metals, pesticides, and residual solvents. Moreover, they give a potency result and cannabinoid profile.
Flavor: BudPop only offers one flavor; Fruit Punch. As the name indicates, the bottle has fruit-flavored gummies. The particular flavors are kiwi, blueberry, watermelon, strawberry, and mango. The brand doesn’t use artificial flavors.
Potency: The gummies are extremely potent as each has 15 mg THC. Unfortunately, there’s no lower potency option. Additionally, each gummy has 2 mg of CBG, CBN, and CBC. Each bottle has thirty gummies.
Vegan: The brand advertises these gummies as vegan-friendly. That means the brand doesn’t use animal gelatin or other byproducts during manufacture. Instead, they use pectin to give the gummies their texture.
Hemp from Nevada
Multi-flavored gummies
Potent gummies
30-day money-back guarantee
Detailed Certificate of Analysis
Free shipping
Bundles deals
No potency choices
Flavors are not available separately
=> Click here to visit the official website of BudPop
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Delta Extrax started as Delta Effex. Later, they rebranded and continued launching hemp products. Of course, that’s not surprising, considering it is a brand affiliated with Savage Enterprises.
Savage Enterprises is one of the biggest players in the hemp space. They have worked for years and have continued to improve during this time. Delta Extrax is aimed at the general public and works to provide them with quality hemp products at affordable prices.
Like the other brands in this list, Delta Extrax started by developing delta-8 products. Since then, it has launched multiple other cannabinoid lines, including delta-10, delta-11, HHC, THC-O, THCh + THCjd, THCP, THCV, and Live Resins. When it comes to product variety, Delta Extrax is an absolute winner.
Delta Extrax uses local industrial hemp to ensure that it’s organic. This hemp is free of pesticides, heavy metals, GMO technology, and other undesirable traits. Once the brand secures the hemp, they transport it to their facility in Irving, California.
Delta Extrax has a pretty strong user base which isn’t surprising considering how long they’ve been around. They have been featured by GQ, Leafly, Vogue, Dope Magazine, and Forbes.
Users have praised the brand for how good the gummies taste. They’ve also appreciated how much variety they get to choose from and the product potency. The only complaints they had were about shipping and packaging. All the reviews on the website are legit and powered by a third party called YotPo. The brand has a 4.5-star rating from ninety-nine hundred reviews.
Lab Testing: Like any other reputable brand, Delta Extrax ensures its products undergo rigorous testing procedures. The brand follows a two-phase testing protocol. They’ve partnered with Kaycha labs and Desert Valley for this purpose. Unfortunately, the reports only show the cannabinoid profile for the gummies.
Flavor Variety: Delta Extrax probably offers the largest variety of flavors for delta-9 gummies. These flavors include Wild Cherry Chronix, Green Apple Chronix, Blueberry Citrus Burst, Guavaberry Fruit, Kiwi Mixer, Pinkberry Live Resin, Sweet Slices, Caribbean Cool Live Resin, Sweet Watermelon, Sour Strawberry, Peach Citrus Pomegranate, and Tropical Raspberry.
Sizing Options: Delta Extrax offers the delta-9 gummies in two sizes. You can get twelve or twenty-five gummy packs. Each gummy has 10 mg THC. However, they also have other cannabinoids that fortify the effects.
Subscription Service: If you want to save some money, you can opt for Delta Extrax’s subscription service. The subscription results in monthly automatic orders, and you get a 15% discount on each order.
Hemp from US farms
Multiple flavors
Two sizing options
Two-phase lab testing
Subscription offer
Dedicated information center
Limited potency options
No money-back guarantee
No free shipping
=> Click here to visit the official website of Delta Extrax
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Mr. Hemp Flower is an emerging name in the hemp industry. Even though the brand is new, its product quality is no joke. It specializes in delta-8 products but has also launched other cannabinoid products like delta-9, HHC, and CBD.
The brand aims to promote healthy lifestyles and spiritual well-being through natural products. It believes that the answer lies with nature, and that’s why they are developing hemp products. They want folks to reap the plant’s benefits and lead healthier lives.
The brand has been growing remarkably quickly. It’s already a member of the National Hemp Association. Additionally, notable websites like Hemp Industries Association and the North Carolina Industrial Hemp Association. At this rate, it’ll soon make its way to more mainstream sites like Forbes and Vogue.
Mr. Hemp Flower has allied itself with hemp farms in Oregon, Colorado, and Washington State, and the brand only works with farms cultivating hemp for over five years.
These farms have licenses to operate. Thus, they don’t use GMO technology or pesticides during cultivation. Additionally, they ensure that their soil is safe and free from toxins like heavy metals.
The brand is pretty strict about hemp quality. Thus, the farmers have first to test the hemp at their end and submit the results to the brand. If the brand is satisfied with the lab results, they’ll accept the hemp.
So far, the customer response has been pretty positive for the brand. The website displays all the reviews, but since a third party manages them, we can safely say they’re real. The brand has a 4.8-star rating from over fifty-nine hundred reviews.
Customers say that the product is potent and that they help them manage their conditions. Additionally, the gummies taste great. The brand’s customer service is also phenomenal. If you have any queries, the customer care representatives will be more than happy to solve them.
Third-Party Lab Testing:Mr. Hemp Flower has a two-phase lab testing policy. The first phase is carried out at the farm when the farmers submit the cannabinoid profile of their hemp. The second occurs through independent labs. You can find the lab results on the website. The lab reports have a complete cannabinoid profile.
Potency: Each gummy comes with 10 mg THC content. There are two sizing options: 50 mg and 300 mg. The 50 mg pack has five gummies, while the 300 mg pack has 30 gummies.
Vegan: The gummies are completely vegan and organic. The brand uses plant terpenes and pectin to create the gummies and give them their taste.
Flavors: The gummies are available in two flavors; Blue Raspberry and Watermelon.
US-based hemp
Two-phase lab testing
Two sizing options
Organic
Vegan
Two flavors
No toxin report
Not as potent
=> Click here to visit the official website of Mr Hemp Flower
As we said, not all delta-9 brands are equal. Some are here to extort money from their customers in the name of sub-standard products. These brands aren’t clear about their ingredients, nor are they clear about the source of these ingredients. Given all that, you possibly can’t trust them.
To ensure that we selected only the best for you, we went through the most active brands on the delta-9 scene. Once we had the list, we checked them against the criteria we had created for quality delta-9 THC gummies.
If they passed these criteria, we included them in the list of the best delta-9 gummies. Of course, we should let you know what factors we considered. So here goes:
Ingredients: When you’re ingesting something, it only makes sense to go over the ingredients. When selecting delta-9 products, this is all the more important because the ingredients decide whether or not your gummies are legal. You see, delta-9 comes from cannabis plants, but marijuana is still illegal in most states. Brands overcome this hurdle by using hemp-derived delta 9 THC gummies. Hemp plants are considered federally legal as long as they’re farm-bill compliant with less than 0.3% THC content.
Manufacturing Process: We opted for transparent brands about the entire production process. That’s because even if the ingredients are legit, the manufacturing process decides the extent of product safety. CO2 extraction is the best process because it preserves the ingredient’s integrity. However, some brands use solvent distillation methods too. We also looked into the manufacturing facilities to see if they were any good.
Lab Testing: Lab testing is another important aspect because it ensures the product’s potency and safety. We used brands that don’t have their products lab-tested in-house. That’s because third-party lab testing is much more reliable. Of course, we don’t mind if the brands test the product twice. First, by themselves, and then through independent labs. Of course, the results should be available to the public.
Brand Reputation: Brand reputation is pretty important in the CBD industry. Hemp products can be tricky, so we need brands that follow due diligence. For this, we turned to review sites. We looked through the consensus there and then checked their histories. We avoided brands that had prior scandals about their products. The scandals could be about ingredient discrepancies, forged lab reports, or poor customer service.
Now, you have the list of trusted brands that you can use to purchase your delta-9 gummies. However, the journey doesn’t end here. There are still things that you must learn before you can choose the best product for yourself. These are:
Hemp Source is pretty essential in delta-9 and other cannabinoid products. That’s because the Farm Bill legalized industrial hemp and its derivatives and defined it as a plant with less than 0.3% THC content.
If the farms are in the US, they’ll know the law and ensure that the hemp complies with it. However, foreign farms are obligated to adhere to these standards. Plus, local hemp will remain fresher for longer periods.
US Farms also ensure that the plants are non-GMO and that there was no pesticide use during cultivation. Since hemp is very absorbent, there is a high chance that it will absorb any impurities like pesticides, which can end up in you.
The same goes for heavy metals too. If the soil has heavy metals, there’s a high chance that the hemp will absorb them. That’s why the soil must be completely clean before cultivating hemp.
There are three types of hemp extracts; broad spectrum, full spectrum, and isolate. Brands use these extracts and then convert them into delta-9 THC for the gummies. Resultantly, the strength of your gummies depends on the kind of extract that the brand has used.
Broad spectrum extracts tend to have every cannabinoid except THC. Since the cannabinoids work together to fortify their effects, the broad-spectrum extract should be of sufficient strength even if it doesn’t have THC. However, since you want delta-9 THC gummies, the broad-spectrum extract isn’t an option.
The second type is an isolate. These are generally CBD isolates; they only contain CBD and are the least effective of the three types. Since you want something with THC, isolates are not an option.
The third option is full spectrum extract. This type contains all the cannabinoids along with THC. It’s also the strongest because all the cannabinoids work together to produce an entourage effect. You should use full spectrum CBD oil or hemp extract products if you want something with THC.
Independent lab testing is important for establishing that the gummies are as potent as the company says. It also ensures that the THC levels are within the legal limit. However, that’s not all they can establish.
It’s common for agricultural land to be contaminated with heavy metals. Moreover, hemp is so absorbent that it’s used for heavy metal removal in compromised sites. If the soil is contaminated, the hemp plant will also become contaminated. The same goes for pesticides.
Additionally, the plant could be infected with fungi which can release mycotoxins. Ultimately, all this can end up in the final product making it unfit for consumption. That’s why lab testing is so important.
Only buy delta-9 gummies from brands that have their products tested through independent labs. Furthermore, you should look at the reports before you buy the gummies. If you can’t find the reports, ask for them.
The reports should have a complete cannabinoid profile and the percentage of each cannabinoid. Furthermore, they should have an analysis for pathogenic presence, mycotoxins, solvent residue, pesticides, and heavy metals. Don’t accept lab reports with only half the information.
Delta-9 dosage for each person will vary based on their metabolic rate, weight, age, and more. Most gummies are pre-measured, so you shouldn’t have difficulty determining the dosage.
Start with half a gummy or the recommended amount. You can gradually increase the dosage based on how your body reacts. Always start with small quantities to see if there is any adverse reaction.
Since gummies are flavored, they taste delicious. Once you start eating them, it may be hard for you to stop; however, you must stick to the recommended amount to avoid any adverse reactions.
You should take your doctor’s advice before starting delta-9 gummy bears or other products if you’re on prescription medications. You don’t know how they’ll interact. If you’re pregnant, avoid taking delta-9, as it could affect your baby.
Customer reviews are as important a part as any when it comes to selecting a brand of delta-9 gummies. Look through customer reviews to see how the products work and how the brand accommodates its clients. Additionally, look at the brand’s privacy policy before purchasing to see how they’ll use your data.
Go through refund policies and opt for brands that offer guarantees or exchanges. They’re easier to test out, and the guarantee is a testament to the brand’s confidence in their product. Also, look for free shipping and discounts to save a few bucks. Once you settle for a brand, you can use their subscription service.
Delta-9 THC can help you manage several conditions if you use it moderately. Some of the most common benefits include reduced anxiety, relaxation, euphoria, increased appetite, greater sensory perception, and enhanced creativity. It can also help with chronic pain and insomnia.
It depends on how they are made and how much THC they have. The 2018 Farm Bill made hemp and its derivatives legal. These derivatives include delta-9 THC; however, the THC content should be below 0.3% of the dry weight.
Remember, delta-9 THC is federally illegal. However, some states do allow recreational use. Some states have declared delta-9 illegal, so you can’t order or consume delta-9 gummies in these states. Furthermore, even if delta-9 is legal, you must be 18 or 21 to consume it. Just be sure to check your state’s laws before doing anything.
It is different for every person. Ingestion is usually the slowest way of taking delta-9. However, the effects last a lot longer. Remember, when you’re under the influence of delta-9, you can not operate any heavy machinery like cars. We recommend clearing your schedule beforehand and staying inside after taking the gummies.
Generally, the effects should peak in two hours and last five to six hours. Do not take the gummies before going to school. Moreover, do not put them within reach of children and pets.
Yes, drug tests detect THC and delta-9 gummies have THC. So if you have drug tests, avoid taking the gummies for a while. Athletes are forbidden from taking delta-9 THC as it can make them fail the doping test.
We haven’t seen cases of death via overdose in delta-9 users. However, using more than the recommended amount still has consequences. You might experience paranoia, anxiety, dry mouth, red eyes, sedation, confusion, and dysphoria. Delta-9 may also affect blood pressure causing hypotension.
Get a doctor’s advice if you have severe symptoms like nausea, extreme vomiting, abdominal pain, and dehydration. Some studies have shown that prolonged delta-9 use can lead to psychological issues similar to substance abuse.
It depends on the airport’s location. If delta-9 is legal there, you shouldn’t have a problem. However, if it’s illegal, you may get in trouble. That’s because the authorities think you’re trying to smuggle the delta-9. We don’t recommend taking such a risk. Read up on the local laws before taking delta-9 gummies anywhere.
Delta-9 and delta-8 are pretty similar as both have psychoactive effects. However, delta-8 is generally much less potent than delta-9. Additionally, delta-8 THC is federally legal, while delta-9 remains a controlled substance.
Many brands offer delta-9 products, which are federally legal. However, the thing is that they only have 0.3% THC. Plus, they’re derived from hemp, not marijuana. So, the high won’t be as intense as the marijuana-derived delta-9.
That winds up our guide on delta-9 gummies and which brands suit you. We have also added some tips and instructions on how you can decide if a brand is safe enough for you. Remember, go for transparent brands about the manufacturing process and other details like hemp source and THC content. Don’t compromise on lab reports.
Some brands offer a variety of flavors and potencies to choose from. However, if you’re new to delta-9, go for the lowest potency product. Once you get used to how it feels, you can change the dosage according to what’s best for you. If you have a pre-existing condition, ask your doctor before starting delta-9 gummies.
We recommend using Exhale Wellness’s delta-9 gummies because they are two potency options. Plus, they’re multi-flavored so that things won’t get boring. If unsatisfied with the results, you can simply return the product and apply for a refund.
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The San Diego home remodeling company works on full homes, kitchens, bathrooms, home additions, ADUs, garages, landscapes, and hardscapes.
Most homeowners want two things before they commit to a remodel: a realistic sense of cost and a clear picture of what the finished space will look like. Milan Design + Build helps deliver both through its online remodeling estimator and personalized design consultations, supported by a showroom experience and 3D renderings.
“The online estimate gives homeowners a starting number in about a minute, and the showroom and 3D renderings let them see materials and layouts before anything is built,” says David Noriani, CEO of Milan Design + Build. “Keeping design, permits, and construction with one team helps us manage expectations and keep everyone working toward the same vision.”

Modern design is a particular focus for Milan, with an emphasis on clean lines, natural light, functional layouts, and carefully selected materials. The team adapts each design to the homeowner’s lifestyle and the character of the property. Milan Design + Build combines thoughtful design with construction expertise, creating spaces that are as functional as they are beautiful.
The online estimator covers kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations, full-home remodels, and ADU construction. At Milan’s showroom on Carroll Road, visitors can review real materials, finishes, and design options, meet the design-build team, and discuss project scope, budget, and timing. Consultations can also be held virtually for homeowners who prefer to start remotely.
At Milan Design + Build, one integrated team works on the entire project. Design and construction aren’t divided between separate firms. The process begins with a consultation and feasibility review, followed by design, space planning, and 3D renderings developed from detailed measurements and digital scans. The team also coordinates architectural plans, structural engineering, city approvals, and material selection, with construction overseen by a dedicated project manager.
Homeowners can explore their remodeling options, get an initial estimate, or request a design consultation at MilanBuild.com.

The Campaign for La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) will fuel scientific innovation and medical advances
La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) is going public with a bold bet: a $55 million campaign to propel medical research into a new era. The Campaign for LJI will fuel discovery, empower scientific innovation, and expand the impact of immunology on human health.
The Institute quietly kicked things off in 2023, guided by its Board, campaign volunteers, and early believers. Nearly 80% of the $55 million goal is already in hand. Now LJI is opening the doors and inviting the whole community to carry their visions across the finish line and back discoveries that change how LJI researchers understand, treat, and prevent disease.
And there’s a bonus. To mark the public launch, LJI Board member and Campaign Honorary Chair Anthony R. Carr is offering a special matching gift so new donors can double their impact. Full details are here.
Immunology has already rewritten human history. Advances in immune science helped wipe out smallpox, pushed polio to the brink of elimination, and revolutionized how we prevent and treat infectious disease. Today, immune-based therapies are opening doors for patients with cancer, autoimmune disorders, and other serious illnesses once considered untreatable.
For nearly four decades, LJI scientists have stood on the front lines, driven by one insight: the immune system shapes disease in virtually every organ in the body. By decoding how the immune system works and how to harness it to prevent and treat disease, LJI researchers are chasing the Institute’s ultimate mission: Life Without Disease®.
To make that mission real, the Institute pairs world-class scientists with cutting-edge technology, speeding up breakthroughs and turning discoveries into transformative new therapies that ease suffering worldwide.
The Campaign for LJI supercharges that momentum, uniting the vision of the Institute’s scientists with a community that believes in research. Focused on advancing LJI’s most promising areas of study, the campaign aims to help build a future free from the burden of disease, a goal that demands bold ideas, lasting partnerships, and generous philanthropic support.
The Campaign for LJI will advance research across three critical pillars:
1. President’s Priority Fund. Flexible, unrestricted dollars let big ideas move now, not later. Scientists can launch high-risk, high-reward projects, bring experts together across disciplines, build transformative technologies, and train tomorrow’s scientific leaders.
2. Center for Sex-Based Differences in the Immune System. Male and female immune systems don’t respond the same way, and LJI researchers are tracing the fundamental differences down to individual cells and molecular pathways. The Campaign will speed up this pioneering work, revealing hidden drivers of disease and paving the way for more precise, biologically informed therapies for autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, cancer, and beyond.
3. Center for Vaccine Innovation. Immunologists, bioengineers, and vaccine experts are teaming up to design the next generation of vaccines and immune-based therapies. With donor support, LJI scientists can engineer longer-lasting and more personalized vaccines, pinpoint the cellular mechanisms driving protective immunity, and refine delivery methods to prevent autoimmune disease and treat cancer.
As the campaign enters its public phase, LJI welcomes new partners and supporters to join this landmark initiative. Community support is essential to accelerating scientific discovery, and there are many meaningful ways to help shape the future of immunology. Donors may direct their gifts to any campaign priority or other area of interest. As a comprehensive campaign, all gifts to LJI count toward the campaign goal, regardless of designation. Join the campaign, and multiply your impact with our limited-time matching opportunity.
To explore the campaign, visit imagine.lji.org.
Scripps orthopedic surgeons are investigating stem cells as an alternative to joint replacement
Shiley Center for Orthopaedic Research and Education at Scripps Clinic recently received a $12.7 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to investigate whether they can transform stem cells into tissue that can repair some types of knee injuries. Currently, if a patient has lost most, if not all, of the cartilage in their knee, then their doctor will recommend a total joint replacement. Joint replacement is safe and effective, but patients who’ve only lost part of their cartilage often don’t qualify. A stem cell-based treatment would provide these patients an option that doesn’t involve donor tissue. Click here for more on the preclinical trial process.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
Artwork throughout the Lusardi Tower at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas promotes hope and healing
The recently opened Lusardi Tower at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas is a state-of-the-art addition to the hospital staffed by dedicated team members who’ve helped make Scripps one of the nation’s leading healthcare systems. Complementary to that medical excellence, the Lusardi Tower also represents the latest expansion of the Scripps Arts for Healing Program. The philanthropic initiative strategically places nature- and community-based artwork throughout the hospital to support health and well-being. Both Scripps Encinitas and Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla have healing arts programs as part of new building projects and growth on the campuses. Click here to read more about the Healing Arts Program and how residents from a nearby retirement community showed their support.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
From century-old Craftsman homes to vegan fantasy bars, dive bars, and a tiki room built for exactly two people, this is one of San Diego’s great little neighborhoods
You may not realize it, but Balboa Park is bigger than Central Park (in fact, 1.5 times larger). Pressed right up against its southeastern edge is a little architecture farm built on old trolley bones, where houses look like someone was collecting architectural styles and local businesses are still run by people who seem personally invested in keeping this place interesting.
This is South Park.
To understand why it feels the way it does today—less like one commercial strip and more like a handful of tiny villages—you have to go back to the trolley.
The land that became the original South Park Addition (the subdivision’s original name) was surveyed in 1870 and officially filed in 1890, but the neighborhood really started becoming a neighborhood in the early 1900s. The Bartlett Estate Company began developing and marketing the tract in earnest around 1906, pairing lots and new homes with something extremely useful if you lived outside Downtown in the horse-and-buggy era: an electric streetcar.
On May 1, 1906, the South Park and East Side Railway made its first trip. Developers didn’t just build near transportation; they helped pay for the transportation, then used it to sell the dream. Downtown had industry, noise, and congestion. Out here were palms, sidewalks, utilities, room to breathe and a four-cent ride back to the city.
It worked. Homes began filling in around the streetcar route, and little commercial clusters grew around the places where people got on and off. That transportation pattern is still written into South Park’s geography. Some of the neighborhood’s odd street geometry is also due in part to the trolley—the old line cut across parcels instead of politely obeying the grid, leaving behind pieces of land that later businesses learned to build around. Places like Station Tavern sit on the former easement and station site of San Diego’s No. 2 trolley line.
Then San Diego went big for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in neighboring Balboa Park. The exposition transformed much of the park and helped push the city through another burst of building and growth. South Park was right there to absorb some of that momentum.
And the people building houses here had taste.
Walk the residential streets now and it can feel like somebody planted an architectural sample garden: Craftsman, Prairie, Mission Revival, Tudor Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival. Creedence Clearwater Revival. All the revivals. The neighborhood includes work by Irving Gill, one of the defining architects of early modern California; Gill-designed Prairie homes still stand along Granada Avenue.
The city formally designated the South Park Historic District in 2017, recognizing roughly 400 properties and a period of significance stretching from 1906 through 1949. In other words, a lot of what makes the place feel old is actually old.
While the trolley eventually disappeared, the basic idea behind it didn’t. South Park is still a neighborhood organized around little pockets of human activity: a couple blocks where you can buy a record, drink a beer, find a 60-year-old lamp, eat a vegan burger beneath gothic beasts, browse a bookstore, and walk home past a century-old Craftsman.
The 30th-and-Fern area may be the clearest example. Several surviving buildings there date to South Park’s early development, including the old Fire Station No. 9, Rose Grocery building, and Burlingame Garage. What began as infrastructure for a young streetcar suburb became the neighborhood’s commercial heart.
That history is also partly why buying a house here can be competitive. There isn’t some endless supply of vacant land waiting around the corner for another subdivision. Much of the neighborhood filled in generations ago, and the architecture itself is part of the appeal.
San Diego Mag’s been documenting the city for 78 years. And we’ve been looking for a partner who loved the city enough to help us tell its stories. Redfin is that partner. They’re helping us tell the story of some of the city’s most unique neighborhoods. They launched Redfin Early Access this year to get their people in first and to see certain coming-soon and exclusive listings on Redfin before they appear on other major real-estate sites.
First up: South Park.
Here are some of the people and places worth knowing here:

Start with Judy “the Beauty” Forman, because it’s difficult to explain South Park without her. The former social worker bought Big Kitchen in 1980 and turned a neighborhood breakfast joint into a gathering place for artists, musicians, activists, politicians, eccentrics, and pretty much anyone who needed somewhere to belong. As Judy puts it, “I built this for people who others passed over.”
One of those people was a young single mom named Whoopi Goldberg, who worked as a dishwasher here before the Whoopi Goldberg part of her career happened. Today Big Kitchen still serves breakfast and lunch Thursday through Monday.
3003 Grape Street
Whistle Stop reopened in 2001, right as South Park’s little independent-business ecosystem was finding a new generation. Owner Sam Chammas—also connected to Live Wire and, later, Station Tavern—helped turn it into the kind of neighborhood bar where the calendar can jump from a DJ night to live bands to some strange communal event nobody at a normal sports bar would propose.
The room still has that laid-back, slightly sweaty house-party quality. Check what’s happening before you go, because Whistle Stop changes personality depending on the night: sometimes neighborhood beer, sometimes everyone dancing beneath the disco ball like work tomorrow was canceled.
2236 Fern Street
Station Tavern may be the most literal example of old South Park becoming new South Park. It opened in 2009 on land once crossed diagonally by the No. 2 trolley line, and architect Lloyd Russell incorporated that history into the design rather than pretending the weirdly shaped lot wasn’t weirdly shaped. The project won the San Diego Architectural Foundation’s Grand Orchid Award the same year it opened.
Sam Chammas built the place as an open-air burger-and-beer spot with big communal tables, a backyard, room for kids, and room for dogs. It still works exactly that way: get a burger, get the tots, let everybody spread out, stay awhile.
2204 Fern Street
Kindred arrived in late 2015 looking nothing like the beige-and-leafy vegan restaurant stereotype. The place went full gothic fever dream—heavy music, wild cocktails, decadent plant-based food—and eventually collected national vegan accolades plus local Restaurant of the Year and design honors.
And in 2026, it got even weirder. Hidden behind a chain-mail passage inside Kindred is Throne Room, a medieval-fantasy cocktail chamber whose mythology grew out of a Dungeons & Dragons-inspired map the Kindred team created for a 2017 Coachella pop-up. The 90-minute experience has scroll menus, plant-based mezze, cocktails and zero interest in pretending restaurants need to behave normally.
1503 30th Street

Vinyl Junkies has good music-scene DNA. Founder Eric Howarth previously ran indie label Hi-Speed Soul, whose roster included acts like Nada Surf and Swervedriver, then teamed with Casbah owner Tim Mays after the pair had spent years putting on Vinyl Junkies record swaps.
They opened the South Park brick-and-mortar shop in 2017, and it remains a buy-sell-trade temple for people who understand that owning music on a physical object is irrational in exactly the right way. Go flip through the new arrivals. Leave holding something you had absolutely no intention of buying.
2235 Fern Street
Bad Madge is what happens when “vintage store” doesn’t quite explain the situation. Owner Tanya McAnear and her team fill the shop with furniture, clothing, barware, records, art, jewelry, collectibles, and various objects that seem like they may know things about their previous owners. The shop opened in 2011 and has made reuse and upcycling part of its identity ever since. Go in without looking for anything specific—specificity will only slow you down.
2205 Fern Street
Across the neighborhood’s vintage-and-vinyl universe sits Thread + Seed, a local boutique built around clothing, denim, gifts, and personal styling. Its South Park shop has an especially deep denim program—petite, tall, wide-leg, straight, flare—and the store also offers one-on-one styling built around color and body type. In other words, this is where you go after deciding the jeans currently on your body have betrayed you. South Park understands that sometimes personal renewal begins with pants.
2220 Fern Street
Seth Marko started The Book Catapult as a book blog in 2006. In 2017, he and his wife, Jennifer Powell, turned it into an actual bookstore in South Park, specializing loosely in fiction, local interest, and children’s books while maintaining the more important bookseller skill: putting something into your hands that you didn’t know you needed.
There are staff picks, author events, signed books, and the dangerous possibility of walking in for one title and emerging with four. Because no one ever died thinking, “I shoulda read less.”
3010-B Juniper Street
Chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, and craft mixers - meet our 2026 Tastemakers, the minds behind the magic.
Chef Roberto Alcocer showcases all that Mexican cuisine and culture has to offer at Oceanside’s Valle. The Michelin-guide recommended restaurant takes inspiration and techniques from all over Mexico—with a heavy Baja influence—and blends them with local San Diego ingredients to create original and delectable contemporary Mexican cuisine. The seasonal tasting menu allows Chef Alcocer to experiment with the freshest available ingredients, creating dishes that defy guests’ expectations, while the wine list features more than 100 labels from Mexican artisans. Even the restaurant’s walls are a celebration of Mexican culture, all decorated with work from artists of Baja.
“My favorite part of being a chef of Valle is being able to showcase the Mexico that I know to everyone who visits,” Chef Alococer says. “Not only through the food, but with the design, culture, and welcoming service.”
Lobster Taco: Flour sourdough tortilla with lobster shell bisque and local red spiny lobster

222 North Pacific Street, Oceanside, California 92054
866-723-8906 | valleoceanside.com