Strain Reviews

Three time 1st-prize winner of the Cannabis Cup awards, Super Silver Haze is a must-try breed of mostly sativa phenotypes. One of the first top-shelf strains I ever tried in Amsterdam was a Super Silver Haze, and it left me in wonder and excited creative pursuit. Its lineage lies in Skunk, Northern Lights, and Haze, making it a sweet, sticky blend best for those who love the feeling of not knowing what hit them after a puff.
The body high is incredibly long-lasting, and great for people with hyper tension or high stress levels. Vape some SSH to take care of nausea or an upset stomach, a lack of appetite, or anxiety. Take care of dry mouth with some juice or water, and ease yourself into the day with pain relief and an energy uplift.
Buds of Super Silver Haze look almost exactly as they sound– large, sugar-studded nuggets with a silvery crystal coating, thick and curled green leaves (loaded with those crystals), and often a purply-grey dusting or huge orange fuzzes. The citrus taste is sharp often on the first inhale, but mouth-watering and sweet without being overpowering. A go-to smoke for many, start out light to see how it affects your mood/body/spirit.
Some users have said it’s one of the only strains that doesn’t give a headache or dry them out. Great for aching muscles in need of relaxation, but be aware of how the sativa can give you energy to get up and use those muscles. If it helps you focus, use the focus well! Do something productive while enjoying the stress-free effects, the sweet candy-like taste, and the potent sour smell inherited from the great Skunk #1.
Offers a calm without the heaviness of sedation. Pain and spasms subside, but in lighter doses it might be hard to fall asleep, so try it out a few times before using it for insomnia or as a bedtime routine. Sometimes a single hit may be enough to last the average user 2 or more hours! For many, the Haze genetic produces euphoria, happiness, and a lightness in the chest radiating upward. This is the weed that could send you straight to the clouds.
Image: medicaljan

GSC or Girl Scout Cookie is one of THE most popular strains in the US, and growers have created strains like Thin Mint and Platinum Cookie (keeping in line with the theme) off the back of GSC’s popularity and fabled buds. The grow period is quick and the average yield per plant is anywhere between 25 and 30 grams, so expect to find this strain housed in dispensaries across the country. Because it’s won numerous Cannabis Cup awards, expect quality, reliability, and a high you can count on sticking around. Effects are reported to begin within 10 minutes, with mild tingling, laughing, and smiling.
Medical patients favor GSC for its pain relieving capabilities, from moderate to severe, and because it often helps with nausea and loss of appetite. Cancer patients going through chemo or suffering from no appetite may try Girl Scout Cookies and be amazed at how it might help. Many users report intense food cravings, or the “munchies”, and people with eating disorders often find relief using GSC to gain an appetite and actually enjoy food.
The taste profile is sweet, with some reports of chocolate, coffee, or vanilla, and often matched in flavor. Others have smelled and tasted mango, cookie batter, or citrus. The nuggets are small, dense, and look a little like OG Kush–orange hairs, long leaves. No surprise there, as GSC comes from a blend of OGK and the sativa strain Durban Poison. Regardless of which flavors you encounter, GSC is definitely a hybrid treat you’ll need to hit up a dispensary to try (please no harassing any little girls in Girl Scout uniform–they won’t have these cookies).
Feelings of stress disappear and are replaced with euphoria, a gentle sleepiness, and a pleasant full-body buzz in the muscles that creeps in and lasts long. Hardly any reports of paranoia or anxiety with this strain, and it’s enjoyed both indoors on the couch or outdoors in the sunshine. Not as great for multi-tasking stoners, Girl Scout Cookie provides head highs with a boost in spirits, so plan for a goofy adventure or just chilling out with some friends. Expect the giggles, feelings of happiness, and relief from anxiety, stress, and potentially migraines for those that suffer.
Chemical Makeup
THC: 17-28%
CBD: 0.09-0.2%
CBN: 0-0.5%
CBG: 0.4-2.2%
THCV: 0-0.6%
CBC: 0-0.7%
CBL: 0-0.4%
β-Linalool: 0.09-0.3%
β-Myrcene: 0-0.5%
a-Pinene: 0-0.3%
D-Limonene: 0.08-0.5%
β-Caryophyllene: 0-0.9%
image: leafly

Scented like pine and lemon with fuzzy, orange hairs and dark green leaves, OG Kush is another top favorite hybrid strain. With a THC content as high as 31%, this strain provides many users with relief from migraines, ADHD symptoms, and stress and insomnia. Fantastic for first-time users looking to start big. The effects are an intense relaxation, euphoria, and an increase in the munchies. This makes it popular for those with a lack of appetite, needing a way to relax and eat what they need. OG Kush is good to the last drop, right down to the crystals found studded on every nugget.
Variations of the phenotype include Tahoe OG and Alpha OG, with parentage of Chemdawg (seemingly the father of most cannabis strains) and Hindu Kush. OG Kush grows best outdoors, and is especially earthy, woodsy, and a true original grown in the right conditions. The strain has bred hybrids, knock-offs, and variations alike, but you’ll know when you get your hands on the ‘OG’ OG. The scent when smoked is often lemony, hazy, and the feeling overall reaps the benefit of both sativa and indica, depending on which is more dominant in the crop.
OG Kush buds are some of the most easily recognizable, with long, sticky leaves and those little orange hairs. Some crops yield buds with purplish or brownish tint, while others are dense, coated in kief crystals, and moist as all get out. Unless left to dry out, OG Kush stays on the stem, so not much shake towards the end. Nugs break apart more easily in a grinder, but pulling apart each leaf and savoring in the beauty could add whole new dimensions to your cannabis experience.
There are a few potentially negative affects, such as dry mouth and dry eyes, increase in paranoia, and possible dizziness. Take it slow, and you might feel more benefits like increased appetite, lower stress, and pain relief. Other reports say it brings on the giggles, light-headed relaxation, and some claim relief from symptoms of PTSD. Try smoking a joint of OG Kush before bed, if you have trouble sleeping or suffer from depression and insomnia. Be warned of variations leaning harder on the indica genes, as they’ll cause a deeper body high, so avoid this strain if you need to be active or want to keep alert.
Chemical makeup

 
image creadit: thecannabist.co

On a trip to Denver last year, one of the first dispensaries I went to was Herban Underground on Broadway. Easy entry, clean and well-organized shop front, and friendly faces in store and around the counter made it clear I’d find something good there. In amongst strains I’d heard of before and ones with fantastic names (Death Star, Chiesel), I spied ‘STARDAWG’ and promptly asked to see the jar.
I recall the jar being full of purple, almost blue-looking nuggets, dense and fragrant like Chemdawg. Hybrid strains like Stardawg come in incredible variety, as each strain expresses different parts of its parent genes. The batch I sampled was both sour and woodsy. Like others’ have reviewed, I felt a clarity from the sativa that normally can hang heavy in hybrid blends. Clear mind, no racing heart. Absolutely great feeling after just a hit or two, and I was ready blaze trails through the streets of Denver.
The nuggets were positively saturated in sparkling trichomes, so I can see where Stardawg gets its name. The main flavors tend to be listed as earthy, or the strong diesel of both Chemdawg 4 and Tres Dawg, but I found a fruitiness in the first hit of a fresh bowl. I could feel how extended use of Stardawg would bring on deeper anxiety and tension relief. I felt no restlessness, rather a clear energy that smoothed out aches that normally drag things down. Top notch smoke if you need energy for the activity, then want time and space for a nap.
Other folks have said Stardawg enhances their appetite. It also kills nausea, though the initial smell could make you a little faint–especially if your body is low on cannabinoids. The best way to take care of that deficiency? Make some potent cannabis oil (weed needs to be decarboxylated, or activated, so that the THCA turns to psychoactive THC– toast your weed between 220 and 240 degrees F to be sure it’s activated), and make a batch of edibles. As great as smoking is, one of the best ways for your body to process and get benefit from cannabis is to orally consume it. Munch that cookie, eat a brownie, or try something more savory. Just get that weed in your belly!
image credit: TheCCC420 / youtube

Literally like candy. Any strain of weed that’s fruit-based, tangy, citrusy, is like candy to me. Strawberry Cough will not disappoint on either part of its name. I wish even the buds were pink, but the flavor of them is bright enough to make you THINK they’re pink. Before you’ve even smoked them you’ll be hit with the aroma of a freshly-poured bowl of Fruity Pebbles. Have you ever wished you could just light the end of a Twizzler, and it’d smoke and taste like delicious strawberry candy smoke? Roll up some Strawberry Cough into a joint, and you’ll be living that dream.
I liked the happy feelings I got from consuming this strain. Strong anxiety relief would make it perfect for helping let go of whatever’s plaguing your thoughts, as well as providing a physical and energetic body high. Take your Twizzler outside to the woods, by the lake, or up a mountain, and get in touch with yourself and nature. I highly suggest solo adventuring to somewhere high, with a view. Smoke on the way up, then when you get to the summit or viewpoint, take the largest breath you possibly can, and just let the beauty wash over you. Strawberry Cough is brilliant for allowing the space to step back, ground yourself where you are, and find some peace in the moment.
Another sativa to hit you “right in the eyes.” Frosty, sweet, and very pungent in berries and skunk. It’s a strain that ages well, starting out as tight, small green buds with subtle effects. If curated, the strawberry color and flavor will become sharper, and the smoking effects will intensify. The sativa elements come through strongly to give motivation and energy, with an added positive outlook.
I bet a concentrate of this would be fantastic for chronic anxiety, and the smell would go virtually unnoticed amongst someone puffing from a vape pen. I felt only an initial fog when I tried Strawberry Cough, and like many, experienced a mellowing out. I was able to focus on the task at hand (rolling another) with little trouble, and I’m sure that would extend to larger or more complicated tasks if necessary.
image: medicaljane

Granddaddy Purple or GDP has been in the game for 13 years now, originating in California. Purple Urkle and Big Bud are its parents, passing on the grape scent of P.U. and the large, dense bud structure you get from BB. True to its name, Grandaddy Purple blooms in varying shades of purple, with snow white crystal resin coating the leaves. Batches that are more on the green side are still potent, and shouldn’t deter you from trying GDP. However, breaking into a deep-purple nugget and smelling the delicious and candy-like grape terpenes, is incredibly satisfying.
GDP is a staple in many dispensaries and you’d often find it recommended for pain relief. Stress, insomnia, muscle spasms, and loss of appetite are other symptoms treatable with use of Granddaddy Purple. Relaxation is a guarantee in batches indica dominant as is a raised desire for sleep, so try it out when you next have trouble catching some z’s. This indoor strain is a sweet blend of CBD, which helps the muscle relaxant and pain relieving effect, and a high THC content to smooth it out and give a solid physical high. It has a short grow period, around 2 months, so consumers can look forward to seeing it often from commercial distributors.
Berry, sweet, and grape have all been attached to descriptions of Granddaddy Purple. The aroma, taste, and high are all mouth-watering–like with most cannabis flower, the worst you’ll feel is dry mouth. A body high like warm sunlight, fantastic taste, and lacking the cloudiness heavy indica breeds can bring on, GDP will still provide ample amount of freedom from stress, aches, and soreness. Named consistently to be potent and effective for psychoactivity, so try some GDB before your next solo activity, if you’re stuck creatively and need a fresh perspective, or if you and a friend are looking to plunk down and consider the universe.
Most people suggest it at bedtime, since a solid batch of GDP will knock you off your feet. Fast-acting and long lasting. Great for winding down at the end of a day, laying in bed and listening to music. During the day, try smoking some Granddaddy Purple and meditating outside. You might find it easier to settle in your body, relax, and focus your attention on whatever you’d like to.
Chemical makeup
THC: 17-23%
CBD: 0.1-0.1%
CBN: 0.01-0.05%
CBG: 0.16-0.8%
THCV: 0-0.4%
CBC: 0.05-0.3%
CBL: 0-0.2%
β-Linalool: 0.05-0.1%
β-Myrcene: 0.3-1.6%
a-Pinene: 0.04-0.5%
D-Limonene: 0-0.2%
β-Caryophyllene: 0-0.5%
image: thecannabist

White Widow is one of the first ever strains I can remember trying. A friend laid out a few nuggets that were bright green, densely coated in white crystals, and smelled thickly of dank earth and grass. The high afterward was so sweet and floaty, free from stress or any paranoia about being caught by someone’s parents (as I’m sure many smokers have been through). The same night I tried Blue Dream, and the two combined were an intense, and as you could probably imagine, hazy experience.
Another one of the world’s most popular and most-accessible strains, White Widow is a hybrid of Brazilian sativa and South Indian indica that bursts in with euphoric qualities and stimulating energy. You might be familiar with some of its genetic offsprings– White Russian, White Rhino, and Blue Widow. However, White Widow is the Netherlands-born classic found in just about every coffee shop and dispensary across the world.
Like I described before, the white crystals give a cheesy, resiny hit that coats the inside of your mouth and sets off the potent effects of the strain. High relaxation, creativity, happiness, and euphoria are all named benefits of using White Widow. Some batches lean more on the indica side, so you’d get high pain relief and relaxation with minor cerebral effects. Other times, the hybrid combination is in full force, and the high creeps slowly in until you are completely swamped in a state of euphoria. A solid dose of White Widow in an edible just might be the thing to knock a person off their feet! Try it out vaping or smoking before experimenting with any baking, since ingesting cannabis is an entirely different experience than it is with smoking.
Users say they like the body high for dancing, working out, or being outside, while others feel bubbly and more personable, cracking jokes and feeling little anxiety. Some feel relief from stomach pain and muscle cramps while others may feel a heavy sedative quality. Enjoy productivity, make tasks pleasurable and find new ways to look at the world or shift your perspective by trying some White Widow. Great for wake-and-bakes!
image: medicaljane

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