The strain that’s sweeping the nation, Blue Dream is the top-choice for many smokers. It’s so popular, in fact, that it’s begun being recognized/mentioned in current American TV shows. It got its start and popularity rise in California, and though it’s commonplace amongst dispensaries and the arsenals of weed smokers across the counter, Blue Dream is nothing to turn your nose up at. As a sativa-dominant hybrid, you’ll get fast acting pain relief with little sedation, comparable to popping an aspirin or two (but much better for you overall).
With parents of Blueberry and Haze, Blue Dream smells just how you’d think– like sweet, fruity berries. The body high is long lasting and settles nauseous stomaches, eases pain, and lifts depression and fatigue. Blue Dream tends to be a high THC strain perfect for medicinal users, who need day-to-day relief without a heavy punch or need for lazing around. Good for headaches but bad for dry mouth, just keep hydrated and you’ll get only the benefits of BD.
Nuggets of Blue Dream often look blue, with rich purple/green leaves the same blueberry color as its indica mother, Blueberry. Buds are compact, dense, sweet-smelling cones that break off like wads of cotton candy. The taste is both earthy and fruity. Many folks describe the effects as being cerebral, like a lucid dream, and that it’s both the first strain they’ve tried and it’s their favorite. Reliable, tried-and-true, it’s easy to see why Blue Dream is the go-to for so many cannabis users.
The high has been described as “energizing” and “enlightening”, a go-to for hyperactive people or for someone who desires both focus and the drive to carry their will out. Great for appetite control, relaxation, and the energy of a coffee boost without the caffeine crash. It seems to round out with the mellow indica parts, so try smoking Blue Dream later at night if you suffer from insomnia. Try a puff or two of BD instead of a sleeping pill next time you can’t get to bed! You might wake up less groggy, more refreshed, and without worry. Cannabis is non-habit forming, unlike many prescription meds. So relax, and let your head hit the pillow for a Blue Dream.
Chemical makeup
THC: 17-24%
CBD: 0.1-0.2%
CBN: 0-0.1%
CBG: 0.2-0.6%
THCV: 0.01-0.2%
CBC: 0.01-0.2%
CBL: 0-0%
β-Linalool: 0-0.1%
β-Myrcene: 0.3-1.1%
a-Pinene: 0-0.7%
D-Limonene: 0-0.2%
β-Caryophyllene: 0-0.2%
image credit: medicaljane

Liberty Haze fazes over you like a thick, fluffy green blanket of tingling warmth. The nuggets do smell of bright limes, but to the more sensitive nose, subtle flowers and sharp tangy cheese come through. On first inhale (provided you don’t cough and splutter immediately), the taste is near divine. Liberty Haze is more powerfully citrus in flavor than it is in smell, and on the exhale you may be able to taste the earthy tones it gets from it’s Chemdawg roots. Before you’ve even consumed it, just a whiff from the bag is enough to make you grin and feel giddy.
Created by Barney’s Farm, Liberty Haze also has parentage in G13, an indica strain with legendary pain relief. Liberty herself is often very potent! 25% THC content–though some test at 34% THC– tested and approved by many. It’s commonly reported as providing heavy relaxation, and in my personal experience, it really brings on the giggles. I’d recommend this strain to someone who has difficulties falling asleep at night, from having too many thoughts or an overactive imagination.
The high is both creeping and long-lasting. Two hits from a pipe had me off and doing the tasks I’d been putting off the day before. If you smoke during the day, you might find the energy to complete that project, beat that video game level, or get outside and explore a hiking trail. Keep breathing in deep, clean lungfuls of oxygen between hits, and you’ll escape the insufferable paranoia that too much smoke can bring on. My only issue with Liberty Haze is the intense dry-eye and cotton mouth that came on after only the first bowl. However, that really only speaks volumes of its potency!
My favorite way of intake tends to be through a water pipe, but experiment and experiment variably with how you consume your cannabis! Try Liberty Haze through a vaporizer, low setting, to experience in full the pinene and limonene terpenes that give the strain her distinct, lime forest smell. Or, grind a few nugs and roll them up into an apple-flavored blunt wrap, and enjoy the sour-green serenade while puffing your troubles away.
image: strainspot

I’ve encountered Big Buddha Cheese several times across coffeeshops in Amsterdam. The strain Cheese, cloned from Skunk #1 seeds, has been around since the 80s. Very popular and common strain in the UK, until grower “Big Buddha” crossed Cheese with Afghani to create a new seed. From there, it won the High Times 2006 Cannabis Cup, and has since garnered recognition as an exceptional hybrid amongst cannabis users across the world.
All variations of Buddha claim for big laughs and smiles, and Big Buddha Cheese is no different. In fact, the bud tender at one particular coffeeshop said, “You like the big belly laughs? Buddha Cheese. You’re uplifted, one hit, I swear.” He was not far from the truth. Smoking it brought on some good laughs, and was much better enjoyed in a group of friends. Though relaxing, it’s a very social weed.  As most cheesy strains go, Big Buddha falls right in line. It manages to be both a sticky-sweet fruit flavor, and the sort of sour cheesiness that feels like to coats your teeth. It was hard not to eat nuggets straight from the bag.
Most would describe BBC as ‘dank.’ If you live around sensitive noses, I suggest keeping this weed tightly bagged and sealed in a mason jar. Both to keep you safe, and to preserve bud freshness. Not everyone enjoys the potency of flavor and smell. I mean it when I say this strain is cheesy–all the odor, pungency, and sharpness of cheddar included. Physically, the nuggets are often compact and loaded with orange hair and trichomes. The batch I found in Amsterdam had beautiful tinges of blue, and broke apart like clumps of sugar in my hand.
The high lasts a few solid hours. I don’t recall how I felt physically after it wore off, but some users report feeling well-rested. Several say they feel it “right behind the eyes”, so you might experience some pressure, or that feeling of a head stuffed full of wool and white noise. If that’s what you’re looking for, great! If you want to stay coherent and cerebrally functional, either go easy on the Cheese, or avoid the strain entirely.
image: cannasos