Freeborn Selections Sour Dubble x Jaro

Origins and Backstory:  Freeborn Selections has impressed recently with its Sour Dubble crosses, especially Dubble Limes which I can’t stop hearing positive things about. Sour Dubble (popularly known as Sour Dubb or Sour Dubs) is an extremely resinous clone-only that impressed Meangene with its breeding ability—he compares it more to an Afghan than to the Sour Diesel clone, while it does have some features similar to Sour Diesel. Sour Dubble was originally found by Greyskull in some seeds that were given to him by the late breeder BOG as Sour Diesel x Sour Bubble. Greyskull passed the clone around and it received a lot of hype maybe 10 or so years ago. Jaro, the pollen donor in this case, is a line from Meangene which he frequently compares to Sour Diesel. Given Jaro’s lineage is Sour Diesel x (Pure Kush x (Black Afghani x Hindu Kush)), bringing Sour Dubble in seems like a great choice to breed on paper. The full lineage appears as:
(Sour Diesel x Sour Bubble) x (Sour Diesel x (Pure Kush x (Black Afghani x Hindu Kush))), making this seed line 50% Sour Diesel genes.

I grew this plant both indoor as well as in a greenhouse at over 8300’ altitude.

Morphoology:  This plant was interesting. Super vigorous, it would grow somewhere between a beanstalk and Christmas tree indoors. In the greenhouse, it was more of a bushy Christmas tree. In both environments, plants were exceptional yielders with massive buds on each branch. The structure to the flowers is like Sour Diesel on PGRs or something; it looks like massive colas that are almost-fox tailing without being fluffy, whisps of floral material reaching for the sky. Flowers have the characteristic single green leaflet wrapping downward over them that is typical of Sour Diesel, and it really is a plant whose flowers looks like an ultra-robust Sour Diesel. Resin production is great, with finished flowers appearing almost white or platinum with trichome coverage. Plants are green and finish green without any purpling, regardless of temperatures. Dried flowers also look somewhat similar to Sour Diesel, but the smaller buds are more developed—larger, more substantial, and more mature-looking at finish. The plants in my greenhouse grew the largest colas of any plants I have ever grown, ever, and required pretty minimal support. Plants are relatively broadleafed.

Aroma:  Somewhat enigmatic, I notice different tones at different times. A jar comes off immediately as sweet-skunky gingerbread, with prominent notes of velveteen hash, burning rubber, diesel fuel, and leather conditioner. “Bubba Diesel” comes to mind, as it is sweet and skunky with metallic diesel fuel notes, but also features leather and leather conditioner so commonly found in Bubba Kush. There are cola-like notes that are reminiscent of Dr. Pepper, and at other times sweeter bubblegum aromas skirt the background. This weed does not have much offensive character, but is much more of a sweet-skunky (think Gorilla Glue #4 but way less funky) that doesn’t scream “I just smoked dank” after consuming as much as other skunky weeds. It is like a sweet and leathery-diesel-cola thing. It is unique and attractive, but not over-the-top-loud. There is a softness and subtlety to the smell, bringing in notes that bring a soft pillowy pile of hashish or kief to mind. Overall pleasant and complex without being intensely loud or obnoxious.

Flavor: Sweet, hashy, and chalky, the flavor comes off as mild and understated at first, although it does coat one’s whole mouth. There are definite notes of leather and leather conditioner akin to Bubba Kush, and a soft, velvety character not far from pressed kief. There is a diversity to the aroma, however, that is only discovered through numerous encounters with this weed. I have experienced notes as far as gingerbread, butterscotch, diesel, and even cherry cola. None of them are dominant, but there are times when you take a toke and think “whoa, that just tasted like ______.” Joints, bowls, vaporizers, or whatever is your preferred method of consumption, it is interesting that this weed tends to taste decent for a prolonged period—past the point where most strains just taste like ashes.

Effects:  The effects of this weed took me a long time to nail down. Just after harvest, I observed that sometimes I would get VERY high after consuming some, and at other times I did not feel like I consumed weed at all. That’s a crazy thing to say, because I can now definitively say that this is very potent and long-lasting weed. It is a bit heavy for a wake ‘n bake experience, as it can really make one feel like they’re living in a video game like Super Mario—thrusting the user into a cartoon-cloud-world of giggles, lightness, and simplicity. However, smoked after an OG or other heavyweight—it is so clear that it is almost not felt at all. The effect, when smoked earlier, begins as light and happy before becoming quite dreamy and surreal. It can be a thrust, especially if one overindulges. You do feel some effect relatively quickly, but the full onset takes significant time to fully manifest. In spite of this intensity and potency, it is also rarely too intense. Something about the Jaro brings in a clarity of character that is up, positive, happy, feel-good, but I would not describe it as a rushing euphoria. There is nothing about this weed that will make one feel crazy or psychotic, as can be the case (especially for casual users) with the intensity of OGs or Hazes. It has become my favorite ganja to enjoy early in the afternoon—it makes me feel great, hits with authority, will last for hours, but it doesn’t put me down. I find smoking the heavier, more intense varieties all day can be overwhelming, taking some of the joy out of both weed and life. If you consume this weed all day, you will be burnt out eventually. But for such a potent strain, the burnout effect is relatively mild, and one can avoid the pitfall-negative feelings that often accompany overindulgence.

Overall:  I have struggled wondering how to think of this plant—is it an uppity Afghan? A mass-yielding sweet diesel? An enigmatic hashplant? It’s all of these and more, really. From a structural standpoint, this plant is like a huge-yielding and easy-to-manage Sour Diesel. From a consumption standpoint, it has the relaxation of an Afghan but with minimal burnout, and the positivity (and at times, even clarity) of a landrace sativa. The aroma is recognizable but also feels somewhat new, and it’s hard to imagine the flavor being offensive to some. I appreciate the flavor but it isn’t my all time favorite. It is a daily driver for me, and one I am fortunate to have—it is really an amazing dailly answer to anxiety, depression, and some of the general bullshit that comes with life. If someone visits, this isn’t what I take out to blow their mind with novelty or extreme potency. However, if their stay is multiple days, undoubtedly we’ll end up consuming this one multiple times, with good reason. This is a great workhorse of a plant, and a great workhorse of a smoke! This was one of the hardest plants for me to review, as it really defies being put in conventional boxes, and shows you different faces at different times. Sour Dubble x Jaro is special in its own ways, without being obnoxious or extreme in novelty. Because of this, I think it will have a hard time winning any cups, but I could see it becoming some people’s favorite smoke, especially after they really get to know it. It’s also useful to consider I only evaluated two females—I am curious about the outliers in this line I haven’t seen, too! I felt this plant was worth pollenating with both Cherry Pyromancer and Piña as well as growing sensimilla. Sour Dub is indeed a plant great to breed with, adding potency, burning rubber afghan hashy flavor, and excellent resin production. Jaro really adds something to the effect and structure, and I really haven’t seen anything else like these plants!

The biggest colas I have ever grown were on this Sour Dubb x Jaro plant in our high-altitude greenhouse.

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This cola was grown indoors under LED lighting.

L.A. Pure Kush (Suge Nite cut)

Origins and Backstory:  A famous Kush clone from Los Angeles, California and truly a living legend, L.A. Pure Kush is an iconic plant so uniquely-identifiable that it could never be counterfeited. There are several different clones of L.A. Pure Kush; these are not different phenotypes, but are entirely different plants. This is what happens when a name as easily-ascribable as “L.A. Pure Kush” is used. Widely known amongst different Pure Kush clones are the ‘91 Hollywood Pure Kush, Malibu Pure Kush, Suge Nite cut of L.A. Pure Kush, Topanga Canyon Pure Kush (LINK NEEDED), and probably some others I am missing. As an aside, I am not sure why it has been written as “Suge Nite cut” for so many years, as the infamous character’s name is actually spelled “Suge Knight”— I am not sure, but if anyone has insight feel free to enlighten me…. As one can imagine, these clones have been confused and mislabeled and passed around over the years, leading to heterogenous opinions on which clone is the “real” version of any of the above. I was told that this clone was the L.A. Pure Kush (Suge Nite cut), and I sourced it from GMO’s House of Clones. This particular clone is well-known for its incense-forward aroma that so closely resembles sandalwood, and its super-stoney effect. It is obviously named after Los Angeles, the center of consumption when the Kush craze took hold of California and cannabis culture as a whole. Similar to the SoCal Master Kush, it is absolutely a Kush but distinct from an OG. In my opinion, it really is a perfect example of what I expect when I hear “Kush.”

I grew this plant both indoor under LEDs as well as in an unheated, naturally-lit greenhouse at over 8300’ altitude.

Morphology:  Growing short, stout, with heavy side-branching and broad leaves like a classic indica, the stretch in flower is minimal and consistent with other broad-leaf plants, as is the floral structure. Flowers are densely populated both with resin as well as plant matter itself, giving the impression that the genetics were originally selected in a hash-producing area. The resin is of a sandy or granular quality, with massive gland heads that readily fall off the flower. I try not to agitate my jars of this weed at all, because the trichome loss is visible each time one does so—the surfaces of the jar is coated with gland heads. Flowers are certainly more dense than average, giving a satisfying heft to a handful, and make breaking buds up extraordinarily satisfying. Plants and flowers did not exhibit any purple coloring at harvest, including the plant in the greenhouse which was seeing evening temperatures in the 20s and 30s Fahrenheit. Indoor flowering plants needed support, as the terminal buds were heavy and the side branches lanky, causing the tops to lean heavily. The greenhouse plants were strong enough to manage on their own, but also produced massive colas that were thick the whole way up, and put more of their focus into the central buds than the side-branches. A handful of this weed looks like really nice classic indica or Afghani weed, and one can almost anticipate the effects on appearance alone.

Aroma:  Probably the most distinctive trait of this plant, the trademark savory incense and sandalwood-like aroma is as unique to this plant as it is legendary. The aroma is therapeutic and enticing, and I am compelled to smell these flowers in jars even when I don’t have a desire to smoke this weed. The complexity and layering is remarkable: acrid incense, sandalwood and saffron, fresh-cut pine, ambiguous alliums, skunk, dusty old rug/carpet, hash, even subtle notes of preserved lemon, and botanical/apothecarial notes are all present. Surely, the notes resembling sandalwood and incense are the most favorable, but the complexities contribute to the whole, and it’s a great experience.

Flavor:  True to form, the aroma converts to flavor in an exceptional way, and is a huge part of what made LA.. Pure Kush stand out both in legend and actuality. The intensely spicey incense, sandalwood & saffron-like character is a pleasure in all respects and does a superb job at coating the mouth, offering an experience of flavor long after one is finished consuming. Some of the dusty, hashy, woody notes are present as well, but overall the trademark incense tones dominate, and are more than welcome to. Preserved lemon does come through subtly but surely on the backend of a toke in a sublime way.

Effects:  The effects are somewhat standard of Kush, but that doesn’t make them any less awesome. LAPK begins with each toke being noticeably felt in the head. LAPK comes on, like other kushes, immediately behind the eyes and around the temples. The immediate effect is relaxing with some euphoria, and does not reveal the potency due to hit later on. The euphoric wave is short-lived before fading into a warm, calm, lazy feeling for the remainder of the experience. What is interesting about this weed, is that one can go relatively deep with it—possibly a product of the creeper effect, where the full potency really doesn’t manifest for 15 minutes or so after consuming. Most indicas sort of “top out” or have a ceiling that is relatively fast to come to, and LAPK can catch one by surprise, as the ceiling is much higher (deeper?) than one might expect. If I smoke this all day or just keep going with it in a single session to see how far I can go, I end up in a much less casual feeling of relaxation, and enter a deep and dreamy stone. It can be exceptionally sleepy, tiring, munchy-inspiring, lazy, and memory-destroying. It can really be a challenge to keep one’s eyes open after heavily consuming this one, as it genuinely seems to make ones eyelids heavier! Great choice for serious medicinal use, pain, insomnia, etc. This one can get intense in the head after heavy use, but one almost needs to aim for overindulgence to get anywhere close to paranoia. If I smoke this before bed, there is a “hangover” effect the next morning—sheets and blankets feel impossibly cozy, and sleeping in is required, a non-negotiable. It just feels so good in the body, and physically in general—great for sex, culinary experiences, massage, meditation (if you can stay awake), or other activities when one’s focus is on physical sensations. Really a textbook example of a relaxing, feel-good Kush.

Overall:  LAPK has good reason for its legendary status. To date, I’ve never smoked weed with such an incensey and sandalwood-like character, which is probably its most shining virtue, alongside the effects. The dense, and intensely-resin-packed flowers are a pleasure to look at, hold, smell, and break up. They’re just great to have around and to handle. The aroma and flavor are worthy of a clean pipe or papers, and will encourage one to overconsume, as the consumption itself is pleasurable. This one is really a pleasure to simply sit, and smoke—lazy Sunday, porch chair weed. The character of the LAPK experience is such that the casual smoke can quickly turn into a deep and unproductive stone, potentially altering one’s sleep schedule. The potential for medicinal and recreational use is high, as so many people have found out for themselves over decades. A living legend worthy of its reputation, I feel honored in many ways to get to grow this plant and have it on the shelf. LAPK offers an exceptional experience for Kush and indica lovers, and has made me question whether SoCal Master Kush (link needed) really is my favorite kush of all time. Truly, I am not sure which I prefer, and they’ve both earned their spots in the pantheon of all time Kushes. L.A. Pure Kush is worthy of both name and legend.

Freeborn Selections Piña F4

Origins and Backstory:  I bought these attending the 2018 Emerald Cup, the only Emerald Cup I was able to see. I had already grown In the Pines, and had heard Meangene remark that Piña would “turn everything to Piña” in the context of breeding. So I was naturally curious, and wanted to revisit the genetic line. These seeds are F4s and Meangene has personally remarked the females are “all pretty much the same.” The lineage is officially listed as: Super Silver Haze x ((Dirt x Big Bud) x (Dirt x Purp)). However, I would advise the reader to look beyond this, as it doesn’t really tell the average person, or even a Freeborn nerd much. If the grower/smoker is expecting classic Super Silver Haze or something comparable, they’ll be confused. While I have not personally seen the data, it is reported that genetic analyses on platforms such as the Phylos galaxy on Piña reveal that it is one of the most genetically-unique and isolated cultivars tested. Popular cannabis has been bottlenecked and hybridized so many times that it all appears to be interrelated when analyzed through Phylos or similar platforms. Even plants with wildly-differing aromas/effects/morphology tend to show common ancestry; it appears that Piña is a genetic island of sorts. This is intriguing on its own, but warrants further curiosity after having had the subjective experience of this plant, as the reader will soon see. I grew these indoors under LED lights at over 8300’ altitude.

Morphology:  Piña was striking while growing for several reasons. Plants in the vegetative state grow short and stout with heavy branching, resembling shrubby hemp. I was not prepared for this, and have long-wondered why there are no circulating clones of Piña in spite of its stellar reputation and wide availability. I had my question answered when I was pursuing my own clones and was taking clones from seedlings of other varieties that I had started at the same time as Piña. Notable as well, is the fact that although the plant overall grows as an almost ball-like shrub, the leaves themselves are quite thin, slender, and relatively elegant, somewhat reminiscent of old Dutch hazes. As I cloned various Kushes and other Freeborn plants, I watched Piña veg with some anxiety—it appeared I’d have to essentially chop a plant in half, and then trim off most of the leaves to get a standard “clone.” I wasn’t really prepared to sacrifice half my plant, and ALL of the Piña plants were of identical structure. I ultimately decided to openly pollenate the population, and cross it to the Kushes I was growing concurrently, as opposed to taking clones of Piña to run again.

Piña has a minimal stretch when flowering, and if left untopped (I am not sure why you’d try to top a shrub anway), will develop a main cola, with not insubstantial flowers on the side-branching she has undoubtedly developed. This is when most commonalities to hemp break down, as the flowers appear to be dense and highly-resinous. Elongated stalks on the trichomes impart a distinctly-furry appearance on Piña flowers. The buds look dense on the plant, and I would say are about average density after being dried. Plants stayed green even after being exposed to some cold temperatures toward finish, and flowers finish green. Coloring of buds, leaves, pistils, etc. is relatively average and unremarkable. Finished and dried flowers also look like relatively average weed—nothing bad about it, just plain greenbud with furry-looking resin, in a shape halfway between a pinecone and fingerling. Flowers were finished relatively early, probably around 60 days and maybe even earlier in an indoor 12/12 setting (and I tend to take things late).

Aroma: Piña has a well-deserved reputation for its bouquet. A far cry from classic dank weed smells, Piña is refreshing, its bouquet overall coming across as a pineapple baby wipe, or Febreeze. Even vegetative plants have a distinctly-pineapple aroma, inspiring excitement throughout the entirety of the plant’s life. The character of the pineapple is somewhat vague, almost like a pineapple blossom or perfume. When buds are broken up, the pineapple is accentuated, and a sweeter, syrupy/cakey quality is revealed, at times bordering on candy. The seemingly-synthetic aromas of baby wipes, febreeze, sunscreen, and skincare products immediately become background layers that add to the pineapple; but the sweet, unmistakably pineapple aroma just pops. Piña is the first and only cannabis I have smelled that is dominated by pineapple in such an attractive way, and the synthetic notes give it depth that most growers are seeking. Really addictive to smell, super enticing, and not offensive at all.

It’s interesting to note that Piña has repeatedly tested high in the terpene ocimene, which is, at least in part, responsible for the tropical vibe of Piña. Ocimene is relatively rare in cannabis, and is associated with citrus, pineapple, and other bright fruit aromas. It also reportedly encourages a more uplifting, energetic, and positive effect.

Flavor:  Just as we would hope, the pineapple comes through most prominently when consuming Piña. It is an excellent choice for a vaporizer, and one feels as if they’re inhaling a ridiculously-realistic pineapple air freshener (except, without all the carcinogens). It’s a really awesome experience, again with the character of the pineapple suggesting ripe fruit, upside down cake, or canned pineapple in syrup. Again, the vibe of tropical febreeze is present and offers depth to the experience, but pineapple is the star of the show. It’s awesome and addictive and it’s still hard for me to believe that the plant naturally tastes this way, no additives or anything. A remarkable work of breeding and selection, as well as an attestation to the expressions of the Cannabis plant as a whole.

Effects:  I esteem Piña’s effects on the mind at least as much as her aroma. While all-day-every-day smokers might be underwhelmed by her potency, Piña’s character is nearly unmatched. It consistently imparts feelings of well-being, positivity and upliftedness, and satisfaction. All seems to be right in the world after smoking Piña. The experience is generally euphoric for those with lower tolerances, or casual smokers. It is never overwhelming or too strong for me personally, never even gets close. The effect is relatively short-lived, especially compared to a variety like Sour Dubble x Jaro (link needed) or TCPK(linnk needed) but is of such a remarkably high quality that I don’t understand why it’s not more sought after. I imagine potency can be attained relatively easily; quality and character of effect of this caliber is a rare achievement. It is quite similar to the experience I had with In the Pines so many years ago. Burnout is minimal, and after enjoying the perennially-positive and satisfying experience, I am always tempted to consume more. The same high cannot be had again or prolonged (at least until the next day, it seems), and the effect of deeper consumption is more of a classical weed feeling—warm, happy, mildly dreamy, and generally pleasant. The dragon of well-being is an easy one to get caught up chasing in the case of Piña, and one can actually catch it for a brief time if this plant is not abused in consumption. While the aroma and flavor are certainly highlights and some might consider them the high points of the plant, I really think plants that feel this way are often overlooked in favor of higher potency plants, and I believe Piña may have one of the best effects of any cannabis I’ve experienced. What if we could have both potency and quality of character? Is it possible to retain the exceptional character of Piña’s stone, while also introducing more potency? I am not sure about this, but I am sure that it is a question worthy of pursuit.

Overall:  One of the most unique varieties I have ever grown or smoked, Piña is a treasure. Having been bred to the F4 generation has made it a bonafide variety, with impressive uniformity across plants. What is most impressive, however, is the whole package that the consumer gets. Consuming this plant imparts the feelings that we are essentially seeking as cannabis users; who doesn’t want exotic & fruity olfactory experience, and then feel a wonderful sense of well-being? It has been all too easy, especially as modern cannabis consumers, to get caught up chasing potency. Every popular strain, every hyped up plant has almost extreme levels of potency, and trust me—I definitely get it. Piña is refreshing in every sense of the word, and if you can look past getting stoned out of your mind, it is an incredible plant. It certainly still has the potential to get one very high, and the aroma and flavor are beyond novel—they are truly spectacular. While I have not seen or heard of the experience myself, I do think Piña is an ideal candidate for first time smokers, or even just casual smokers. If I was getting high once a week or less frequently, Piña would probably be a perfect choice. Like so many other well-deserving plants, I don’t think Piña is going to be an overnight success, and will likely never become the hype plant of the mainstream. It does however, have potential to produce its own cult following, as it is worthy of always having some on your shelf, and I intend to! Who doesn’t want weed that smells and tastes like pineapple and puts one’s inner world at peace?

AK Bean Brains SSSC Durban

Origins and Backstory: I was gifted these by a friend who reproduced them, which were in turn reproduced by AK Bean Brains. These are a line of Durban Poison from the Super Sativa Seed Club (SSSC), a defunct mail-order seed catalogue from the 1980s. I guess I should note that AK Bean Brains simply calls this “Durban,” while the variety is more popularly renowned as “Durban Poison.” Durban Poison is a legend, hailing from Durban, South Africa. It has long been renowned for its anise and licorice dominated aroma and flavor, as well as its electrifying, psychedelic effect. Over the years, clones and seeds being called Durban Poison have been circulated, but many longtime smokers and cultivators report that these are watered down versions of the real thing. Personally, I have smoked many different samples of alleged Durban (it was nearly ubiquitous in Colorado around 2010), from many time periods and locales. Surely, the best I have experienced have the sweet, licorice-like aroma and flavor and the reputed high to match. I have also smoked samples that were likely hybrids (most likely, Durban Poison x Skunk #1), and one might describe them as “watered-down”—but I personally thought they were still good. Not as good as the pure thing, but close enough to still be pretty awesome. In any case, this seemed like a rare opportunity to see for myself what might be in some Durban Poison genetics that are relatively close to the original thing. I grew a single female at 8300’ altitude, and this female started flowering on her own after becoming rootbound. I bounced her around from indoor to outdoor to greenhouse back to indoor again etc., so it really is not the best representation of this plant. It is still stellar cannabis.

Morphology:  The plant itself grows with thin leaves and leaflets, characteristic of a narrow leaf plant, while branching is actually fairly heavy, with tight internode spacing. The plant grows relatively stout and bush-like for a narrow-leaf plant. It is quite vigorous, and I had to aggressively top plants while I waited for some other seedlings to catch up in size. I allowed my female plant to get rootbound when I did this, and she began to flower all on her own. I up-potted her and put her in 24/0 light, but she kept flowering. There was minimal stretch when she went into flower. Buds were somewhat light, not as well-developed as “modern” and especially broadleaf plants. Plants were a dark green while vegging, and stayed green throughout the entirety of its life, with no purpling. Dried flowers were relatively light and wispy, but I wouldn’t go so far as calling them fluffy. Relatively high resin production.

Aroma:  Dried flowers smell of terpinolene and black pepper, with a sweetness that conjures childhood memories of opening licorice jars at penny-candy stores. It is not unlike the sweetness of roasted fennel, and many people liken the aroma to anise. When flowers are broken up, the sweetness is accentuated, bringing licorice, metal, and a vague sweet-fruitiness (bordering on classic bubblegum) all to the foreground. It’s sweet and fruity and candy-like, and the mid-range notes of terpinolene and black pepper add dimensionality.

Flavor:  Sweet licorice and fruit dominate, with fennel, metal, and tones reminiscent of dental work and medical plastic adding complexity and mouthfeel. It is really a highlight, and I’m at a loss to come up with other smoke that offers a similar experience. It’s unique, enjoyable, and addictive, really pleasant in and of itself. The flavor is relatively long-lasting, but does go from being more nuanced and complex to generically fruity over the course of a session.

As an aside, my wife really does not like the smell of offensive cannabis strains, and does not enjoy the smell of my breath after smoking plants like ‘87 Limepop or TCPK (link needed). The first time I consumed this Durban, I met with my wife soon afterward and she gave me a kiss. She asked if she could have a piece of gum—I told her I didn’t have any, and she was incredulous. She tasted Durban on me, and it was so fruity that she thought I had been chewing gum to cover up cannabis. She thought it was so nice-tasting and unusual that she wanted to try it! I thought that was kind of amazing. She really doesn’t enjoy the aroma of vaporized cannabis either, but remarks that after I vaporize Durban, it leaves a fruity, perfumey aroma in the air that she actually enjoys. Obviously this aroma and flavor is desirable for all kinds of reasons—if you desire discretion for any reason, it seems this particular line of Durban Poison is a great option.

Effects:  Rivaling the aroma in its uniqueness, the effects of Durban are somewhat stunning, and deeply desirable. True to form, Durban is a cerebral, active, euphoric, happy and optimistic smoke that can be motivating and even psychedelic at times. The onset often begins with an almost-rushing and euphoric sensation, and does have a bit of creep to it. Notably, Durban is felt strongly in the body—which goes counter to the stereotype of broadleaf vs. narrowleaf plants. However, the character of the “body buzz” is almost a 180 degree turn from a smoke like LAPK (link needed). It is an energetic, vibrating sensation that is the best example of “electrifying” or “electric” cannabis that I have encountered. Instead of suggesting couchlock, there is a sense of creative urgency, like you need to get out in the world, move your body, do things, live your life, and make your mark on the world. It really is somewhat motivating in and of itself, but is also greatly complimented with a cup of coffee or tea (I recommend Maunamoku if you appreciate high-grade tea as much as cannabis—and tell them I sent you). The effect is satisfyingly-intense, which is often not the case with motivating and clear-headed varieties. Thoughts are consistently positive and euphoric and generally future-oriented, and can at times be of the psychedelic variety, while still staying quite functional overall. Although, it injects a bit of a Fear and Loathing vibe into my life sometimes—while I always find myself able to function outwardly well on this weed, sometimes the intensity and psychedelic nature can give conversations or other activities (even the mundane) a wacky and weird feeling, like everything (including yourself) is hanging on by a thread. Most of the time I don’t feel that way at all, I just feel great on this weed!

The soaring feeling does seem to be limited to about once a day—if I smoke this weed later in the day after coming down, hoping to achieve the same effect, I am always disappointed. I get more of a generic high, one that is less clear, euphoric, optimistic, and generally just overall awesome, and it feels like a waste of these super-special flowers. If I consume in the morning, Durban is my favorite and go-to, and I follow it up with Sour Dubb x Jaro (link needed), instead of more Durban. It’s really an ideal day-starter and motivator, and just incredible weed to fill the niche of clear-headed, euphoric, optimistic, functional high.

Overall:  I’m so glad this SSSC variety has been preserved by AK Bean Brains, and it really is one of the best representations of Durban Poison I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing. Other Durbans are likely Durban Poison x Skunk #1 or other similar crosses, but this one strikes me as being as real as it’s going to get. I can’t believe how well this plant managed all the moving about—from indoor to greenhouse back to indoor, then outside, all after being rootbound and auto-flowering on her own. The fact that the smoke is still so favorable after that amount of stress speaks volumes. The aroma and flavor are definitely unique and inherently very enjoyable, but their ability to afford discretion makes them doubly-valuable to someone like me. I love the sweet licorice thing, and I really love that my wife likes the smell. The effect though, is the real highlight, and reason enough to keep smoke like this around. Many sativas that breeders and smokers describe as '“motivating” are in my experience, not really motivating—they might be somewhat active relative to the more potent couchlock experiences, but they still generally put me in a relaxed and lazier state. It’s rare that I find genuinely-energizing and motivational smoke, and this is it. The fact it comes in a package with euphoria and such an enjoyable flavor really makes it a complete one, and it has quickly become my favorite morning smoke that I need more of. After checking AK Bean Brains website, I see he really undersells this one, simply noting its potency of concentrate, and “metallic terps.” If you like motivating smoke but don’t want to deal with some finicky, long-flowering sativa, Durban is the clear answer. This variety is my number one priority to increase seed of, I love it and want it around that much!

Freeborn Selections Hashplant 13 '08 Bagseed x 4Way x Northern Lights (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  I received these from Meangene as part of a larger package a few years back. HP13 is an absolute legend of a plant, and an extreme rarity. I have been seeking it ever since reading about it in the Cannabible about 15 years ago; I have never seen it, smoked it, or even met someone face-to-face claiming they had it. I’ve grown a few variants, such as Top Dawg’s HP13 F2 and Hawaiian Heirlooms’ HP13 x Pogdawg, which were pretty different from one another. I just acquired the HP13 clone only (allegedly), so hopefully I’ll get that review up prior to 2026. In any case, a real unattainable legend. I am not completely clued in on the 4Way x NL details, but I believe this came from @BobHempHill, or at least the 4Way, which I believe is the Fairfax 4Way—a plant known for its very strong skunky aromas, with a history of black market production. When Meangene sent me this along with some other testers, I was immediately intrigued by anything with HP13 in it that had the Meangene Midas touch on it. I haven’t seen any further work with 4Way x NL from Meangene, and I believe these may have been abandoned for more promising breeding endeavors.

Appearance:  These plants grow with cola buds from head to toe. Impressive yields of verdant grenade clusters on stems manifest at harvest, with classic green buds high in resin and classically-orange pistils. The buds do have some small leaves and leaflets around them, but they’re generally dwarfed by calyxes and not much issue. This is good looking, high resin, super-chunky green bud. The plants are particularly impressive right before harvest due to the high yields and high ratio of bud to leaf. Grenade-like finished flowers are equally appealing in the bag and in the hand.

Aroma:  The first and overwhelming impression when sniffing a jar, is that the aroma is strikingly sharp and acidic. There are some exotic and tropical fruit tones for sure, like guava and passionfruit, but both green and red apple aromas are primary. The fruitiness is not sweet or candied; the astringent acidity is so intense it is almost as sharp as fermented fruit, alcoholic fruit beverage, or turpentine and hairspray when the weed is fresh and freshly cured. Older jars of this weed smell more like apples and some of the sharpness has faded. Enjoyable, but missing some dimensionality for me. It just feels like we could go deeper, there could be more layers like some funk or nastiness. Interesting, enjoyable, and compelling, but not so compelling as “complete package” varieties that seem to offer diversity of aroma from every imaginable place.

Flavor:  The flavor is somewhat of a letdown after experiencing a relatively-intense aroma. It is fairly mild, sweet, floral, and botanical in nature, but not as sharp or as complex as its aroma. It is somewhat limited in its dimensionality, with some sweet apple and apple blossom notes on top of herbaceous botanical tones. Sweet, pleasant, unremarkable. A bowl retains flavor for a few tokes before tasting like charcoal.

Effects:  There is nothing wrong with this weed, there just isn’t anything special about it for me either. I always wanted to enjoy this weed more than I did. The sharpness of the smell indicated to me that this weed would have some potency to it. I would anticipate getting really ripped from this weed, pack a bowl and smell my fingers (ahhhh……), and smoke…and it just never hit me the way I wanted it to. It just felt like a generic, middle of the road kind of stone that never fully took off for me. Yes it gets you high and no it’s not CBD hemp or something, but for elite cannabis, it falls short.

Overall:  This weed is unfortunately missing something for me personally. The aroma is enticing and enjoyable, but lacks some diversity and dimensionality that I crave and look for, and have come to even expect with Freeborn gear. The flavor and effects fall in the same vein; the effects especially surprised me, as this is highly-resinous weed and does smell quite strong. However, the potency that I look for was simply not there. Even when I am wanting something different from my recent staple of ‘87 Limepop, and I reach for this jar, I am disappointed after smoking. The high doesn’t last that long and is pretty mellow, and I typically pick up a jar of something stronger an hour or so later. This weed would have been really amazing and epic when I was growing up and coming into the scene, but today it just doesn’t have much to stand out. As excited as I was for something with HP13 in it from Meangene, I don’t feel personally compelled to go deeper into this line. Highlights were for sure the yield and structure, as the plants and finished flowers looked fully developed and really great. The aroma was nice but just missing something deeper, and I feel the same about the stone. They can’t all be absolute winners!

Higher Thought Pyxy Styx x Royale with Cherries (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  I was gifted the Pyxy Styx clone by way of my friend, @divineareslain. While I am generally not motivated by “hype” cuts, he insisted the Pyxy Styx was worth growing, and gave me some indoor-grown flowers. I thought it was indeed some high quality ganja, and wanted to see how it would do in my outdoor setting. I pollenated this plant with Royale with Cherries, and after seeing them both flower that year, the pairing seemed almost ideal in hindsight. Both plants are colorful, fruity, did well outdoors, with good density and frost factor. This is one of the resulting progeny from that cross.

Appearance:  These plants were so cool to see grow outside. They grew large with chunky stems, chunky buds, and a noteworthy color. While some of my plants this year had purple accents from the Colorado Autumn temperature drops, Pyxy Styx x Royale with Cherries was the only plant that entirely turned purple. Stems, leaves, you name it—purple. It was really beautiful on its own, and added beauty by contrasting to my other entirely green plants. The plants grew huge colas on them, purple dense buds that were really covered in resin, giving them a frosty appearance. Really stout structure, vigorous and compact without being small. Finished flowers remind me almost of Grandaddy Purple or Grape Ape from years ago; the buds are small, rounded, heavily covered in resin, with all kinds of purple/reddish hues to them. The bag appeal is great. Resin glands feature huge heads, and I would guess that this variety yields pretty heavy in the wash.

Aroma:  A somewhat equal blend of the parentage, this one does lean to the fruity and candied side. While I think the fruit could be more complex, it is mostly a sort of generic cherry with tones of grape present. There are sugary-sweet, almost artificial notes as well that are reminiscent of Pixie Stix and other processed candies. Sweet, skunky, and very loud when it’s in a bag in your pocket, the aroma from afar is very enticing indeed, and you really cannot hide the fact you’ve got any weed on you. Up close, the smell is fruity like a cherry hard candy, sweet, and sugary. I do think this variety is worth looking through more, as I am sure this particular plant’s sisters harbor more nuanced and deeper aromatic profiles. However, friends did seem to enjoy this one and seemed to comment positively on the smell, so it must only be lacking a bit for snobby critics like me!

Flavor:  Following the aroma, the flavor is fruity with notes of cherry up front, and surprisingly more of a skunky rubber thing going on in the taste than in the smell. There are also strong herbal and botanical notes that I can’t quite place, but do remind me of being in an apothecary with varying dried botanics. It’s relatively complex, but I personally like a super-complex, candied fruit thing if the weed is going to be fruity, such as Cherry West. I appreciate fruit flavors that pop, and the fruit here is just a bit too generic for me. That said, nobody would say this weed tastes bad. I just prefer the mouth-coating punch of ‘87 Limepop (most of the time) when I’ve got them both on the shelf.

Effects:  A classic indica, and potent. Most indicas aren’t so strong that they inspire paranoia, but Pyxy Styx x Royale with Cherries does that to me from time to time. Maybe it is the sheer quantity of resin, but this plant always gets me in a red eyed, squinty, dream state where I have trouble keeping a conversation with strangers (and likely those I’m familiar with too). It is the great kind of high for sitting at home and watching movies or playing video games or whatever other low-responsibility, low-motor activities you might want to engage in. It’s great for getting the munchies, the giggles, killing pain, inspiring classic stoney thoughts (although I certainly wouldn’t say it brightens your bulb) and sleep. This kind of weed of course has it’s place and most of us have had it before, but is not the kind of feeling I want to have all the time, and definitely not all day.

Overall:  Overall, I think there is something here. I also know there are things to be improved on in these seeds, and selecting from a large number would be a worthwhile endeavor. I loved the resin, color, and structure of this particular plant. I loved how loud it was. However, I think the bouquet could be improved, could be fruitier and more complex. This plant was also very attractive to bud caterpillars, while all of the ‘87 Limepop and Black Lime 15 next to it didn’t have any caterpillar damage. Maybe there are sisters to this plant that are caterpillar-resistant—my point being, these are good and everyone who smoked the (caterpillar-free) weed really enjoyed it, myself included. However, any seasoned growers know that there are levels to cannabis, and I think this one has a notch to go in order to be classified as an “elite” that you might clone again and again. Definitely worth the grow, and I’d love to see more expressions in my own and others gardens.

Full sun, full term, outdoor flower rarely appears this good after the drying process. Pyxy Styx x Royale with Cherries is a looker.

Freeborn Selections '87 Limepop (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  Embarrassingly, I cannot recall if I bought these myself at Emerald Cup in 2018, or got them in an online auction—I believe it was the latter. In any case, they come with the Freeborn Selections bona fide packaging, and were initially sold as a cross of a 1987 Durban Poison/Pakistani F1, and Meangene’s famous limepop male. However, as has been related directly from Meangene on some podcasts, it would seem that the female used is most likely NOT a Durban/Paki F1, and is more likely an OG cut. This makes sense to me, as you’ll find it sure does smoke like an OG. In any case, it is some solid weed that comes with the Freeborn label.

Appearance:  Live plants grew massively—tall, with many branches, and substantial node spacing. As they matured, I thought these would be the biggest yielders I’ve ever grown. They were just huge plants that were really cool to watch grow. Once flowering hit, it became more apparent that the flowers were going to setup more like a classic OG, and the plants did not feature the massively dense colas that I foresaw them with earlier in the season. The colas were abundant and long, but buds grew somewhat fluffy with a relatively high amount of leaf, and finished entirely green, in spite of Colorado Autumn temperatures. The finished buds are a bright lime green with small stems, and are absolutely covered in resin like a high quality OG plant. The outdoor flowers do not appear to be outdoor-grown, and certainly don’t smoke that way!

Aroma:  Complex, layered, and stunningly attractive, ‘87 Limepop is overall and up front a very limey, chemically, citrus-heavy OG that smells kind of like Country Time Lime/lemonade mix that you might also be able to clean your floor with. Profoundly skunky, the flowers are incredibly loud and I would not recommend them in illegal states. Skunky, limey, sour, sweet, dank, with notes of cleaning products, hairspray, and petroleum-based fuel, the smell really is the complete package. Nobody will find it lacking.
Worth noting, is that our family took on a puppy soon after I harvested these. The puppy’s breath was spot on identical to some of the smells coming from my ‘87 Limepop jars. Our pup’s breath was kind of skunky and just kind of nasty in a unique way, as most puppy owners will know. It smelled so spot on this weed that I thought I had inadvertently brought some of the weed indoors with me. In any case, profoundly dank and wonderful.

Flavor:  Not to be outdid by the aroma, the flavor is on the same level of profundity. It is layered, nuanced, and intense. Lime and chemical notes are in the forefront, and one’s entire mouth, throat, palate, and nasal passages are completely coated in the richness of this smoke. Like an OG, the flavor is far-reaching and intense, and so enjoyable that you’ll keep smoking it despite of the oncoming headrush. My loved ones couldn’t help but comment after I would smoke or vape this one, always mentioning that I should go brush my teeth….sometimes, just after I brushed my teeth. The intensity and diverse character of this weed is so compelling that you really cannot stop smoking it until you’re too high to continue.

Effects: The effects of ‘87 Limepop are what bring me back repeatedly. It’s one of those smokes that hits you right away, beginning with an almost tobacco-like head rush to let you know that you’re in for it. However, the effects don’t come on completely for a full 15-20 minutes after smoking, a real creeper despite its immediate impact. I’ve mentioned it before in this review, but overall this smokes like an OG Kush variety. It is at least as hard-hitting in its effects as in its aroma, and there is no mistaking the intensity and potency of this ganja. ‘87 Limepop is supremely heady, inspiring new thoughts and perspectives while also being capable of bringing on giggles, paranoia, and social awkwardness. It can be pretty edgy at times due to potency, but is also euphoric and just so interesting. Effects are prevalent in the body as well, manifesting a strong, tingling warmth that just feels so nice. Great for sleep or sleeping in, getting cozy in bed or with a loved one feels amazinng on this weed. Smoking ‘87 Limepop is a long lasting experience that concludes with classic weed symptoms—sleepy, hungry, happy—and if you’re like me, wanting to repeat the experience once the euphoria finally fades away.

Overall:  Even two years after harvesting this plant, it is still some of my favorite smoke, and is my go-to daily. It is really the complete package that any consumer could desire; from the nearly white-crystalline appearance in a bag, to the extremely loud aromas that translate to spectacular flavor, with the effects really coming on as the grand finale. The only fault I can really find with this line is that it is a bit tough to process and trim, relative to other commercial varieties found today. If I am really looking for other things to gripe about, it would be that I was misled by the Pakistani and Durban lineage, but honestly who cares in the end. If it smokes great, that’s what I want to smoke, the genetics are good enough for me. All of that to say, the faults I might manufacture about this variety are pretty easy to offset with the other incredible features this variety offers. OG Kush has always been a challenge to consistently get into seed format. There are so many OG seeds, but they often don’t produce anything that will replace a clone-only OG. ‘87 Limepop is certainly an exception, and I would hold the smoke of this variety up to any clone-only OG, or really any elite for that matter. The aroma and taste are so profound that they really can garner no reasonable complaints, and are truly beautiful. The effect is stunning in more than one way, and is my personally-favorite aspect of this ganja. Putting the whole package together makes for such a compelling and complete smoke that I have a hard time even smoking my friend’s fresh indoor harvests. ‘87 Limepop is another stunner that embodies everything I love about Freeborn Selections and Meangene. it is safe to objectively call ‘87 Limepop an elite plant that could please anyone in the crowd.

Freeborn Selections Cherry West (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  Labeled as “Cherry West Backcross,” I received these seeds from @meangenefrommendocino a few years ago. They have since gone through several iterations, and I believe are currently available as a BX4 (meaning the variety has been backcrossed four times). Reputed as an early finisher as well as for its unique and diverse terpene profile, Cherry West is one of Freeborn Selections most differentiated varieties. I grew two females in two different gardens.

Appearance:  Plants grew small, short in stature and bushy in structure. Despite the two females finishing at August 25 and September 9 in Colorado when temperatures are still fairly high and Summer-like, the plants finished with a variety of colors ranging from light and dark greens to purple and even some reds. Finished and dried flowers are a dark green, with muted tangerine pistils. If one looks closely enough, there are some purple accents to the flowers, but the purples and reds are not as pronounced as they are on the living plant. Trichomes and calyxes are relatively small but plentiful. The flowers are fairly chunky in structure, more like pinecones than fingers. Living plants are pretty to look at while the dried flowers are relatively unremarkable, especially in today’s climate of “blingy” weed.

Aroma:  The high point of Cherry West, consistent with its reputation, is its aroma. Both living plant and dried flowers are a pleasure to smell, and ignite ones olfactory senses with pleasing sensations. Cherry West is certainly its own thing, but is reminiscent of Trainwreck, a variety of cannabis that was somewhat legendary in prohibition days but which I have not personally seen available in many years. It also reminds me of some Dutch weed, probably due to the high terpinolene (please don’t let that be a turn off. Cherry West is awesome). There are cherry-like fruit notes, bringing jolly ranchers and cough drops to mind. Overall the plant and dried flower are like a sweet, cherry-menthol cough drop, with distinct notes of sandalwood spice and even lemon-lime and lysol-like cleaning chemical tones present. This weed is also surprisingly skunky with classic “dank” tones, setting it apart from these older cultivars and sure to please the modern American palate. All of these notes make for a very diverse and complex aroma, one that seems to be universally appealing. People love huffing the jar as much as they enjoy breaking buds apart, and sniffing one’s fingers is essentially mandatory.

Flavor:  A clean and complete transition from aroma, the flavor is also very enjoyable. It is sweet, with notes of cherry cough drop (some menthol present) as well as its sweet-spice tones that remind me of the above-mentioned Dutch varieties as well as Trainwreck. The flavor differs from aroma in that the chemical tones are not as present, and instead a botanical earthiness is there in the smoke, not unlike the sensation one gets when walking into a tomato greenhouse. Tokes from a bowl range from cherry to lemon-lime, but always the sweet-sandalwood-spice is present. As diverse and far-ranging as the aroma, the flavor is a really enjoyable sensation and keeps me coming back.

Effects:  After watching this one grow and mentally placing it in a category with autoflowers and other oddball plants, I have been pleasantly surprised by the stoniness and very pleasant “satisfaction” element of Cherry West. Many strains bred for traits like early finishing tend to lack in potency and the satisfaction of smoking, either making me want to smoke much more than normal or even craving a different/another cultivar even just after smoking. Cherry West however is a warm, pleasing hybrid smoke that leans toward indica traits. It is relaxing and mellowing, but also inspires the unique perspective and way of thinking that is one of the pillar benefits of cannabis use. After a long day, a bowl of Cherry West brings on reflective thoughts both about the world as well as oneself. I also find music to be exceptionally enjoyable with Cherry West, and I find myself listening to songs I might normally skip with relish. Impressively and somewhat surprisingly, Cherry West’s smoke exhibits some of the best things we all know and love about cannabis.

Overall:  Maybe I had relatively low expectations of this one to begin with, as I have seen a lot of mixed feedback regarding Cherry West. Some growers have complained that it is essentially an auto-flowering plant, and others have expressed their dislike for the terpinolene-rich aroma. These reports certainly colored my anticipation for the harvest, but I have found it to be unique in many ways, and enjoyable in almost all. The aroma while growing and dried is relatively similar, and highly varied, making for a complex olfactory experience that frequently prompts jar-sniffers to say, “wow, that’s crazy.” Profound words, I know—but in seriousness, Cherry West does have a distinctive and diverse aroma that I (as well as those I’ve shared with) really enjoy. This translates well into the flavor of the smoke, and I really savor green hits from a bowl—the complexity is varied enough that sometimes the first hit tastes more like cherry cough drops, and at other times is more like a lemony-sandalwood spice. Equally as enjoyable, in my opinion, are the effects. Not at all overwhelming, but surprisingly satisfying—I love the relaxed mellow effect that is still strong, and the reflective and insightful thoughts it brings. Cherry West also imparts a sweetness to music, new or old, that is deeply enjoyable. My favorite way to enjoy Cherry West has been at the end of a long, sober day, alone on my deck or porch with some headphones on. I love smoking CW while listening to music, looking up at the stars, and reflecting on my day and life. Another one of my favorite features of this weed is the early harvest—I love that it spreads out the work of trimming, and gives me some fresh weed to smoke while watching the other varieties mature. In fact, I have almost finished smoking all this weed while most of my plants are still in the ground. Cherry West is one more win for Freeborn Selections—an incredibly unique variety in almost every way, and one that is certainly worth keeping around and potentially breeding with.

Emerald Mountain Legacy x Freeborn Selections Royale with Cherries (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  A collaboration of two exceptional breeders, Cherry Royale is a play on Cheese Royale from Pulp Fiction (or Royale w/ Cheese…?). A cross of the famed Royal Kush and Mean Gene’s Cherry Limepop, there’s really no way to lose here. These two varieties are proven outdoors, equally full of color and aroma, and certainly not lacking in effect. A friend purchased these seeds and generously gifted me a portion of the pack to look through. I felt obliged to breed with them, and so I made many F1 outcrosses as well as F2s with my favorite female of the bunch.

Appearance:  These are really beautiful plants, especially when grown outdoors and subjected to varying temperatures. My plants finished in October with reds, purples, violets, greens, and yellows all present to some degree, parts of the plant looking like a package of skittles the color is so diverse. Buds are dense and well-formed, and the plant itself has a sturdy structure with relatively low leaf-to-calyx ratio. In fact, the only plant that was more eye-catching in the garden this year was Pyxy Styx, due to her exceptionally dark and purple coloring, bordering on black at times. Royale with Cherries was only slightly eclipsed by this plant, but she was stunning in October exhibiting purples, blues, reds, yellows, and of course many shades of green—truly a full spectrum of color and vibrancy!

Aroma:  Absolutely my favorite aspect of this weed, Royale with Cherries is packed with aromatic sensation. Diverse and complex, it is challenging to articulate the subtleties. Royale with Cherries pulls notes from both parents. Fairly reminiscent of Royal Kush, there are notes of fuel, skunk, rubber, and floral tones. I would say the aroma is funky and “dank” more than fruity, although some sweeter fruit tones are present as well. There are fruity notes that are enjoyable and very present, yet vague at the same time—is it grape? Cherry? Hard for me to say, and seemingly shifting at times. In any case, it is like a Royal Kush with a lot more fruit up front, the fruitiness feeling even juicy at times. Really a highlight.

Flavor:  Mouth-coating and pleasurable, like a sweeter and fruitier Royal Kush. My mouth is coated in skunk, gasoline, and “dank” flavor, while the vague fruitiness is also secondarily present. There are botanical and floral notes, as well as burning rubber, pushing the whole petrol vibe, yet remaining sweet with the kind of candied grape/cherry generic fruitiness with it too. Like a remixed Royal Kush.

Effects:  At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this is not all that much unlike Royal Kush! This is mellow and relaxed, great for a day on the beach or staring across mountain views. It’s a warm effect which blankets the consumer with a sense of ease, well-being, and peace, and is somewhat euphoric too. The happy and relaxed vibes are an ideal combo, and part of what most of us really love about ganja to begin with. Personally, I think that sometimes euphoric weed has a place—sometimes relaxed weed has its place—but most often, it is the varieties that can emphasize both euphoria and low-stress feelings that I appreciate the most. For effect alone, this was my personally favorite plant of the season.

Overall:  One of my favorites from the outdoor season, Royale with Cherries is a unique and enjoyable variety. Featuring some of my favorite traits of Royal Kush, smoking Royale with Cherries is simultaneously both nostalgic and novel for me. The aroma, flavor, and character of effect that I associate with Royal Kush are all here, but with added nuance and detail. The colors on the plant and finished flowers are truly stunning, and I imagine the flowers in an indoor garden would be incredibly resinous, colorful, and beautiful. The structure is nicely dense, with a relatively easy trim. However, my favorite aspects of this plant are really the aroma and effect. The smell is almost intoxicating in itself; maybe this is because it is so clearly recognizable as a relative of Royal Kush, which I have always thoroughly enjoyed. However, the added fruit tones and sweetness are great compliments to the funky, skunky, gassiness of Royal. I’d love to look through more of these seeds as well as see them in an indoor setting. I believe the F2s I made, as well as the F1 with the Pyxy Styx mom, will be really worth running.

Freeborn Selections Headband x Sky Cuddler Double Kush

Origins and Backstory:  Grown indoors by my friend @beneath_the_dirt, I gifted him these seeds after I acquired them from @freebornselections. The 707 Headband was used, in contrast to Loompa’s or the Underdawg OG. I believe Meangene used the SCDK to pollenate a variety of plants, and I have some of the other crosses of the Sky Cuddler Double Kush.

Appearance:  The plants and flowers are reminiscent of Headband, clearly exhibiting many traits from their mother. However, the plants are more vigorous than Headband, higher yielding, and the buds are much beefier. No purple or blues arise even in cold temperatures, and these plants remain a strong healthy green with vibrantly-orange pistils all the way to harvest. As can be seen in the photos, there is no lacking of cola buds here! The plants grow large with massive, thick, and towering floral structures—potential home defense items in a pinch! Seriously though, the yields and structure are quite impressive. These plants offer robust frames that fill out with massive buds, relatively easy to trim.

Aroma:  Again, resembling mostly Headband, these plants are stinky and skunky, with some sweetness. Skunk, gasoline, and sweet burning rubber are prevalent, but none jump to the fore of consciousness. The WD-40 and melon notes, characteristic of SCDK, are sadly missing. Rather than combining in a novel way, it seems that Headband aromas dominate the cross. I am not complaining about it, but nothing was really added to the Headband aroma via SCDK, at least in the few females that I saw. This is classically dank weed, skunky, funky, burning rubber and nasty feet—but I was hoping for a bit more terp “pop” with unique tones that I am accustomed to getting from Meangene.

Flavor:  Following in the aroma’s footsteps, this is classic dank weed. The flavor is relatively intense, and the mouth is coated in that sweet skunky, gassy, burning rubber, acrid flavor that most smokers know well and associate with OGs or Headband. The burning rubber and a sense of asphalt or some kind of artificial, petroleum-based product is notable.

Effects:  Similar to Headband, but somewhat reminiscent of GMO—odd, because this same grower had GMO and Donny Burger in his garden. The effects are indica-dominated, not quite as heady as headband, but more chill, relaxing, and “down.” This weed is for low-energy activities indoors, at least in my estimation. I imagine this could be quite effective for physical pain management, but is lacking some of the euphoria that I personally love to experience from ganja. Primarily, Headband x SCDK is sedating, numbing, sort of dumbing, anxiolytic, and relaxing.

Overall:  Overall, the females of this cross that I saw were really dominated by the Headband. Headband’s influence can be seen in the appearance and growth characteristics, and even more profoundly in the aroma and flavor. I love Headband, but I’m not sure the SCDK greatly improved the smoke here. The aroma is dank but not quite as enticing as pure Headband; I feel the same about the flavor and effects. All of it is good, and it’s not lacking in anything I can put my finger on, other than the unique, kind of mind-boggling factor that I so frequently experience with @Freebornselections seeds. If you are a commercial cultivator, these plants could be incredible for you. Due to the impressive structure and yields, these could also be a building block for a breeding program—a few off-the-beaten-path terps thrown in, maybe some color or some other factor, and all the sudden I think there could be something special produced from these. That said, I personally will be moving onto other terpene monsters from Meangene that are a bit more unique and off the beaten path.

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Cannarado Genetics Pyxy Styx (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  A clone-only strain boasting a hype-worthy lineage of Grape Pie x Wedding Cake , this plant was gifted to me by @divineareslain. Originally released by Cannarado, this plant must have been selected by someone relatively locally to Colorado and eventually made its way to my garden. While mostly reviewing my outdoor plant that was grown beyond organically along a creek in one of Boulder’s little farming communities, I also have some indoor-grown organic flowers (grown by @divineareslain) pictured and incorporated in the review as well. This plant was pollenated in my garden by a Cherry Royale male. She was late to finish, the last plant I harvested, making it nearly to Halloweeen. Luckily the weather on the front range cooperated and we didn’t get any significant snow until Pyxy was ready.

Appearance: Certainly the most beautiful plant in my outdoor garden this year, and debatably the most beautiful in a bag as well, this plant finished entirely purple to the point of almost being black. I harvested it right around Halloween, and the aesthetic was completely fitting. While the plant and leaves do not generally turn purple indoors, the plant in its entirety (with the exception of some stems) turned purple in my outdoor garden. The buds are dense, fully-formed, and outdoor nugs are so frosty and multi-colored that they appear to be grown indoor. The flowers have an excellent structure, frost-factor, color variation, and the overall bag appeal is off the charts really.

Aroma:  Another high point of the strain, Pyxy Styx is an apt moniker. The smell is skunky, sweet, and is super-loud when cured properly. The outdoor plant’s flowers emphasized a super-sweet aroma that is present in powdered sugar, fun dip, and yes, Pixie Stix candies. It is something to behold in cannabis, and honestly makes me wonder—am I being duped through evolutionary means to smoke this weed? I mean, it smells like delicious artificial candies more than anything natural, and I wonder how much of my yearning to smoke this weed is wanting the effects (which are potent) or if I’m merely chasing the olfactory sensations that seem impossible to occur in a plant. In any case, the sweet, perfumey, candied, and skunky aroma is complex and wonderfully enjoyable, and warrants the name.

Flavor:   At least equally as enjoyable as the aroma, the flavor of Pyxy Styx is perfumey, sweet and candied, dankly skunky, with added floral tones that aren’t always detectable in the smell. Probably the high point right next to the effects, the flavor of this weed keeps everyone coming back for more, long after ideal blood levels of THC (and other cannabinoids) have been achieved. Of course the sugary-sweet candy notes are there, again bringing Pixie Stix and Fun Dip to mind. Additionally, classical “dank” notes are present as well, coating the palate in an herbal and perfumed skunkiness that really can only be associated with high-quality cannabis. Nobody has complained about this one!

Effects:  When you thought Pyxy Styx couldn’t shine any more, you feel her. The stone of Pyxy is immediate and strong, certainly not lacking in potency, or really anything else. This effect is a complete package and total representation of cannabis really. The effect is euphoric, wonder-inspiring, numbing, thought-provoking, stoney, and spacey. It is feel-good as well as relaxing, and tends to blast my mind into a silly space of introspection, reflection, contemplation, and giggles. While coming on immediately and strongly, the full effect takes maybe 20-30 minutes to fully onset and “bake in.” I tend to feel the more heady effects in the beginning of the experience, while the later experience is more stoney, felt in the body, numbing, and frankly a bit dumbing too. Sometimes my mind makes connections on Pyxy Styx that are pretty far out, and my ideas require some extra explaining to those around me. This is high-THC cannabis, guaranteed to stone you to the bone. What I really enjoy about Pyxy is that she isn’t a one-dimensional narcotic-like indica, but also features all the heady, giggly, fun, and enjoyable effects of cannabis that so many folks love.

I should also note, perhaps because of its potency (or some other trait), Pyxy can cause anxiety for some. Mainly, me! Sometimes I’d get paranoid when smoking Pyxy Styx, or start contemplating some of my deepest fears. This is a semi-typical experience for many folks on weed in general, but it was interesting to me that none of my friends had this experience with PS—just me. Go figure! I thought it was worth noting.

Overall:  A winner in every category, Pyxy Styx was the unanimous favorite among my friends from my own personal harvest this year. She really does hit in every category. Pyxy is beautiful to grow (especially outdoor), yielding cookie-structured buds with copious amounts of resin (yes, she is probably a fantastic hash producer). In cold temps outdoors, she has the potential to completely purple over, which is really something. Her loud and diverse aroma make her an instant hit, both with mainstream folk at parties as well as weed snobs. This translates beautifully into flavor, and leaves one’s mouth nearly sopping with sweet, skunky, perfumed and candied terps. Often, so much modern cannabis stops here, being bred merely for commercial production and bag appeal. Pyxy Styx distinguishes herself and offers a complete and impressive stone, one that frankly I don’t think anyone could complain about, with the exception of the guy who only smokes pure sativas and landraces (has anyone run into him recently?). This is an easy daily driver, because she is such a complete package. Personally, I do see potential for improvement in the aroma—I think there could be more funk, or chemicals, or fuel, or some other aromas to complement the sweet and candied side. However, that’s really just me trying to find something wrong here. She’s a complete package, very enjoyable to grow as well as smoke, and I have thoroughly enjoyed her in my stash.

This flower was grown outdoors, and then bounced around jars for about 6 months before this picture was taken. The trichome production is still apparent, but was astounding 6 months prior. Don’t let the sort of haggard outdoor appearance fool you—this is just as potent as its indoor counterpart!

This indoor sample of Pyxy Styx was grown indoors by @divineareslain and is an excellent representation of the plant. A similar aroma to the outdoor but with a bit more rubbery funk and a bit less candy-like sweetness.

Exotic Genetix Lip Smacker

Origins and Backstory:  Grown expertly and organically indoors near Denver, these flowers from @divineareslain appear to be divinely grown indeed! @Divineareslain received the plant as a clone, but originally it is from Exotic Genetix seed stock. A cross of Sherb (is this the Sunset Sherbet? I’d assume so) and Strawberries & Cream, we can expect this plant to be colorful, beautiful, and popping with aroma/flavor. We did manage to pollenate this gal with some Passionfruit Dakini F2 pollen as well. Certainly a strain that is following the hype train, pursuing beautiful bag appeal, candy-like aroma, and killer frost factor.

Appearance:  Stunningly beautiful in a bag or jar, the nugs of Lip Smacker are high on the list for bag appeal. Buds are dense, incredibly frosty with trichomes, and exhibit a diverse color array ranging from dark purples to lime greens on the foliage. Pistils are a classic and fiery orange-yellow, adding a wonderful contrast and skittle or candy-like appeal. Plants grew relatively compact in an indoor setting.

Aroma:  Sweet, powdery, dessert-like and confectionary, and surprisingly mild, the aroma of Lip Smacker is interesting but nothing revolutionary. It is actually very similar to Pyxy Styx in some ways, but like a muted and less-complex iteration. I detect tones of ice cream cake (think the aroma right when entering a Baskin-Robbins), baked goods, powdered sugar, a hint of skunk, and some mild sour tones. It’s pleasant, attractive, and enjoyable, but surprisingly mild given the appearance and lineage of this weed. Overall this is fine, but compared to elite quality plants, it is lacking in both complexity and intensity.

Flavor:  A bit of a surprise here, the flavor is significantly more enjoyable than the aroma. While I break nugs open to expect the smell to “pop” more, but flavor needs no such coaxing. It is primarily sweet, conveying many of the confectionary and powdered-sugar like notes from the aroma. However, the skunk and sour tones come out more in the flavor, as does the sense of a true dessert like ice cream or baked goods. These notes are all well-pronounced in the flavor and come together in a fairly complex and layered way. It isn’t sopping with flavor but not as lacking as the aroma.

Effects:  Again, a surprise here. The effect comes on slowly, smoothly, and easily. I feel it mostly behind my eyes and in my forehead as a generally relaxed feeling. Shoulders and the body relax, as I wait for it to really come on in my head. And continue to wait…..This is mild weed, it’s relaxing, enjoyable, not overwhelming, but also not particularly euphoric or feel-good. It does seem to convey a sense of energy and lightness, and a friend of mine felt inspired to go work out after a smoke session. There is a creeping aspect, and I do feel like the full potency takes 20-30 minutes to really manifest. Even still though, it is not at all overwhelming or going to satisfy OG orChem lovers. It’s enjoyable and light, but ultimately I generally end up craving something stronger and smoking a more potent variety to follow.

Overall:  I feel mixed about this one. The best things Lip Smacker has going for her are that she is beautiful, has an enjoyable aroma, is pleasant to break up/pack/roll etc., and is easy to grow. The buds look and feel absolutely beautiful, making it a real pleasure to go through the full ritual of smoking. The downsides, or perhaps more accurately, the unfulfilled expectations of Lip Smacker, consist of the lackluster aroma, flavor, and effect. The smell from this weed seems muted; there is no other way of putting it. It’s as if someone turned the intensity from 10 down to 5 or 6. It’s nice, but oddly does not match up to the appearance of this weed. The same is true of the flavor, although it is a bit of a step up from the aroma. The effect is also relatively unremarkable. While I am not exactly glowing here, I don’t want to convey the idea that this weed is garbage (because it surely isn’t), but it doesn’t stand out in any particular way, and I generally feel like I haven’t smoked enough even after a whole bowl by myself. With my strongest smokes around, I’ll take 3 or 4 hits and will put the bowl down because I’m satisfied! So, I feel like a snob to complain about this weed. In my youth, and certainly anyone in an illegal state, would absolutely love to receive a bag of this weed. However, in a world where we can pick and choose from the best of the best, Lip Smacker doesn’t compare to other so-called “elite” plants. There are so many other kinds of weed I’d prefer to smoke, but also can’t really feel like I can complain in earnest. Nothing wrong here, it’ll satisfy commercial growers and those going for bag appeal, but there are also many better smoking plants to be grown in my opinion and experience.

Higher Thought Golden Goat x Cherry Limepop F2 (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  Golden Goat is a clone-only strain that I grew for the better part of a decade. There was a time period where this electric-highed plant was ubiquitous on the Front Range of Colorado. It was on the menu at every dispensary, in the grow room of all your buddies, and anytime one looked for clones, Golden Goat was on the tray. Everyone either loved or hated her, and I have grown fond of Golden Goat over the years. She is quick to flower, full of uniquely-tropical flavor, and when grown expertly, can be mind-bogglingly potent. Some describe her as psychedelic, myself included, which can be a double-edged sword. While I still haven’t made it around to giving Golden Goat a full review, I did find her high quality enough to cross her with Meangenefrommendocino’s Cherry Limepop F2, after finding so many wonderful things about that plant too. Hopefully a match made in Heaven, this is a test of the seeds grown outside around a mile high on Colorado’s Front Range.

Appearance:  Stunningly beautiful, this cross of Golden Goat and Cherry Limepop F2 takes after her pollen donating father, CL F2. At harvest time, this plant was a rainbowed mixture of yellows, greens, purples, debatably even some bluer and indigo-like tones that made her a joy to have around and a beauty in the garden. Buds are an equal balance of spear, pine-cone, and grenade shaped—just a classic nug shape that sits well on the plant. Truthfully, the bud structure could use larger nugs with less leaf structure, but all things considered she still isn’t below average. This plant obviously put out many huge tops, and grew untopped as an evenly spherical bush. Many favorable traits with some room for improvement.

Aroma:  Bursting with aroma, and certainly one of the high points of this cross, it is sweet, candied, fruity, and seemingly artificial. Gummy bears, Flintstone vitamins (the mineral-rich kind from the ‘90s), skittles, yancha or wuyi rock tea, and a medicine cabinet all come to mind. It’s a stretch for some, but there’s a chlorine-like note in the background present as well. Most prominent is the note of gummy bear, followed closely by the sweet-minerally notes of vitamins or pharmaceuticals. The chlorine I imagine comes from the Cherry Limenade, as it is a note similar to that in Cherry Pyromancer—bleachy and awesome! Primarily sweet and fruity, but more than complex and balanced enough to keep me interested. When flowers are broken apart, the tropical fruit-smoothie and mineral notes are intensified as is the chlorine. There is a sugary note so sweet it reminds me of a concentrated or powdered drink mix—that note of powdered sugar as it hits your nostrils when you stick your nose in a container of Gatorade, Tang, or any other drink mix. It is one of the smells that’s addicting and rewarding, making you want to break into bud after bud to repeat the aromatic experience again and again.

Flavor:  Interestingly enough, the flavor of this cross keeps to the aroma as much as it differs from it. All the fruity notes are there, especially the specific Flintstone-vitamin-powdered-mineral note (very similar to Yancha and Wuyi tea varieties) among some generic fruity tones, but there are also velvety herbaceous and botanical notes present in the flavor. There is even some spice bordering on the back-end of the exhale that reminds me of some of the middle-eastern Kushes and landrace hash plants. Bright, sharp, fruity, sweet, complex, but quick-lived, this smoke is indeed a bit candy-like, with tones in the flavor leaning toward cotton candy. It’s very enjoyable, but the pleasure being so short-lived begs for more consumption. Dangerously tasty!

Effects:  Zippy to begin, this cross can have nose-crinkling and sinsus-tickling potency. Immediate in its onset, this cross is euphoric and feel-good, giggly and happy, almost celebratory even. However, the effect is as short-lived as it is zippy, recalling Cherry Limepop’s quick roller-coaster like high in my mind. This leads to frequent re-ups on the cannabinoids in here, making me want to keep toking every 30-60 minutes or so. The euphoria wears off relatively quickly, leading to a feeling of dreaminess edging on burn-out toward later sessions—a bit of chasing the dragon of euphoria, which can become disappointing. I suppose the effect is a low point of sorts—everything about this cross is really desirable and enjoyable, and the effect is not an exception—however, it does seem really short-lived and it’s annoying to chase after the desired effect multiple times a day, seemingly just pumping up my tolerance. Certainly not a downside, but also certainly leaving me wanting for more!

Overall:  All in all, I think we’ve actually achieved something here. Golden Goat is a fantastic clone-only that seems to have never made it outside of Colorado in a big way, but I have always thought should be more widely available and considered an elite. Cherry Limepop is one of Meangene’s creations that is a work of art in itself, a masterpiece of cannabis breeding in some ways. I’m of the opinion that this cross manages to wed the two varieties into something new and different. It doesn’t even necessarily exhibit the best of both parents, but does seem to pass on or otherwise combine their traits in ways that don’t really show up in the parents themselves. The aroma is vaguely reminiscient of both parents while also being unique enough to be something of its own, and the same could be said for effect and flavor as well. Overall, I love virtually everything about this plant, but I do wish that the effect was more pronounced and longer-lived. Perhaps a valuable piece of the puzzle for a future breeding project, and certainly an indicator that these are worth looking through further.

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Freeborn Selections Motorbreath 15 x Northern Lights/Oil Can (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  Received as a tester from @meangenefrommendocino, this intriguing seedling is a cross of the clone-only Motorbreath15 and one of Gene’s more obscure males, a cross of Northern Lights and Oil Can. Northern Lights needs no introduction, while Oil Can is an old northern California heirloom variety. I wasn’t told anything about these plants but was happy to get growing them and exploring the genes. These were grown outdoor on the Colorado Front Range just outside of Denver.

Appearance: Christmas-tree like, a bit tall and surprisingly an element of lankiness, but with solid and dense bud structure that goes every bit of the entirety of the branching. These plants remained completely green in spite of cooler fall temperatures, and other plants right next to them turning completely purple. These plants grew tall with extremely heavy flowers and the sizes of individual flowers as well as overall yields were excellent. Nugs are huge and full, very satisfying to look at in a bag, and relatively pale in coloring.

Aroma:  Distinguished from most of Mean Gene’s other gear, this cross is dry, woody, acrid, musty, smelling nostalgically of old-school indica weed from the ‘90s and early 2000s. It is not smack-you-in-the-face loud like most other Freeborn gear, but is layered with complexity. When broken up, these woody and herbaceous flowers release tones of mint, menthol, metals, pine, skunk, and something funky and inexplicably hard to place. It is at once attractive and off-putting, the indescribable note, asking for nugs to be broken up more and sniffed for further investigations. Overall it is a bit underwhelming.

Flavor: OK, so this is the surprise—while certainly herbaceous, woody, dry, and acrid upfront, this all shifts into a mouth-coating skunky dankness that reminds me of some of the more putrid smokes I received as a younger lad in the midwest. Occasionally, my area would be blessed with a variety of weed reeking of roadkill skunk, but would almost always come without any particular name. We’d always describe the aroma and flavor as “dank,” and this mouth-coating, pungent skunkiness is captured in Motorbreath 15 x NL/Oil Can. The flavor is really impressive and one certainly wouldn’t have picked up on it from the aroma alone. If you’re a skunk lover or miss classical “dank” weed from earlier years in cannabis, this is worth the experience.

Effects:  This weed is really a classic indica stone to the fullest. Eye-reddening, mellow, and easy-going describe the buzz from this weed. It isn’t too strong, and I usually end up smoking something else 30-60 minutes or so later. Maybe I’m a glutton. OK, I’m probably a glutton. However, I hold weed to a pretty high standard, and especially weed from Freeborn Genetics. This strikes me like a more basic smoke, and it doesn’t stand out in any particular direction.

Overall:   People are magnetized to Freeborn for a few different reasons—wanting something completely unique, wanting something stunningly loud and/or potent, or a combination of both. This strain certainly seems to fit in the former category, as I’m not sure if there’s really anything comparable that comes to mind. Landrace Afghanis and other varietals with origins in the middle east come to mind, but even then there is enough layered complexity here to warrant a category all of its own. This plant grew very easily and yielded spectacularly with little effort. The aroma is weird and intriguing and attractive, and the flavor follows suit. The buzz is a classically-relaxing indica stone, and relatively long lasting while also not being overwhelming by any means. From an overhead point of view, this plant is underwhelming in many respects. It is an impressive plant and the structure/growth are remarkable, but the aroma and effect leave me dissatisfied. The flavor is impressive, especially given the mild aroma, and gives me hope that there are likely more-favorable phenotypes to be found in these seeds. The reader should keep in mind that I grew a literal single seed of this variety—so it’s entirely possible that this plant is not representative of the genepool as a whole. In total transparency, I’d like to run a few more of these plants and see what else is inside this cross, as I suspect there are more desirable females to be found.

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Greenshock Seeds Long Valley Sleigh Ride F2 (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  Originally bred by Greenshock Seeds, Long Valley Sleigh Ride is a cross of Long Valley Royal Kush and Tropical Sleigh Ride, itself a cross of Meangene’s Pina and Purple Candy Cane. Known for its high ocimene content, Tropical Sleigh Ride has won the Emerald Cup. Pina is a plant from meangene known for its pineapple/caramel aromas as well as uplifting high and relatively high CBD content. These were taken to the F2 generation by a friend of mine, and gifted to me for this year’s season.

Appearance: I grew two females this year and they looked significantly different, but had some similarities. One grew like a Charlie Brown Christmas tree, while the other grew more stout and shrub-like. Both of them had purple stems so dark they were almost black, with buds of a similarly dark purple hue. The foliage on both plants was entirely green. The buds grown stout and compact like little golf balls. They have strange formations on top, not like a normal bud which comes down to a symmetrical point; these nugs grow almost fractal-like like Romanesco cauliflower. Both highly resinous and dense, the two plants were easy to trim with little leaf material.

Aroma:  The dried/cured flower differs significantly from the live plant, but I would say that both are enjoyable. The live plants smelled like apples, grapes, tropical fruit,honey, and Febreze-like chemicals, with a characteristic tone that Royal Kush enthusiasts would recognize at once as being common to Royal Kush and its progeny. My favorite of the two females is sweet and candy-like, leaning toward artificial grape, apple, honey, and sugary-sweet candy cane aromas. The shorter plant finished with less candy-like notes, and was heavier on a sort of sour fermented dairy (maybe a lactobacillus note?) that is similar to yogurt or a milkshake. Both aromas are enjoyable but most folks agreed with me that the aroma rich with fruit and candied tones was preferable. Both plants finished with heavy floral tones which could also be called perfumey, and I’d describe them overall as honey-fruit-blossom-candy. It’s really desirable and different from most offerings in the mainstream today—undoubtedly an attention-getter! Overall, the candied fruit, the floral perfume, and the notes from Royal Kush we know and love all come together for something unique and special. I often feel like most weed aromas these days are akin to remixed music—something played around with, but nothing truly original is expressed. LVSR sheds this stereotype of modern weed, offering something simultaneously novel and nostalgic, a total winner.

Flavor:  Echoing qualities of the bouquet, the flavor is at once unique and familiar, and thoroughly enjoyable. The flavor of LVSR’s smoke is soft and velvety, heavy on all of the floral, perfume, and candied fruit notes. Interestingly enough, there are also some more sour tones in the flavor than the aroma would let on about, almost like a sour patch kid. It all comes together in a wonderfully complex and deep flavor sensation, ranging from sweet grapes and apples to a sourness so pronounced a friend described it as “almost like hoisin.” The floral, perfumey, and herbaceous/botanical notes contribute significantly, maybe making up 50% of the profile. I don’t want to turn anyone off by saying that either—it is really these elements that makes the flavor so complex and multi-dimensional, and ulitmately so enjoyable—the sweet and sour fruit tones have something to contrast against, and it’s simply wonderful to smoke. Really unique and high grade, something to be sought after repeatedly.

Effects:  More relaxing than anything, Long Valley Sleigh Ride is some of the most chill new weed around. Despite the very mellow relaxing effect, Long Valley Sleigh Ride contributes strong feelings of euphoria, “feel-good,” and just a general strong sense of well-being. I’m guessing there are high levels of alternative cannabinoids in here. Whether CBD, the ocimene effect, or something more obscure (or even unknown), Long Valley Sleigh Ride is laid back and mellow, and consistently-so. Surprisingly, this has consistently been the favorite among my friends from this year’s grow. This weed is always “feel-good,” contrasted by the sometimes too-potent strains that are so common today. This is excellent beach weed, excellent movie weed, really it is great weed for just about anything making it an incredible “daily driver.” While relaxing, it can be enjoyed with some light activities and certainly could be categorized as recreational, or medicinal for certain things (but probably not pain). Overall, the effect is one that is universally loved and enjoyed, and I have a very hard time seeing anybody going overboard or having an overly-intense experience of any sort. Highly underrated, consistently and thoroughly enjoyable. Everyone loves how this weed feels, myself included.

Overall:  It should come as no surprise that combining genetics like Long Valley Royal Kush and Pina would produce something as high quality as Long Valley Sleigh Ride. This weed was some of the favorite from the season, and really stands out as a different smoke. The bud structure and ease of trim are icing on top of the cake that is the high quality aroma, flavor, and most importantly, effect of this fine cannabis. I love smoking LVSR as does everyone else I’ve put in contact with it. It’s a rare thing for everyone to enjoy any given strain these days, and for this (among other things) LVSR stands out. The aroma is an intriguing one, with the sour Febreeze notes a real pleasure to experience with the growing plant. This morphs into the sweet-sour-candied-perfume thing that I’ve come to love, which translates so magically and mysteriously into an flavor that one couldn’t predict from the aroma alone. The effect is really what we’re seeking though, and LVSR delivers. This is weed that simply makes one feel good, and confers all the benefits of cannabis that we’ve all come to appreciate. Highly underrated, very unique, and very high quality. I’ll be growing with this one again, and hopefully making selections to continue F3s and beyond in a direction more personal to me.

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Freeborn Selections Cherry Limenade ("4FB") x Sky Cuddler Double Kush (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  Labeled Cherry Limenade 4FB x SCDK 24, I received these as testers from Meangene at Freeborn. The CL4FB plant (labeled “from back” for the breeder) happened to be a lime-leaning selection from Cherry Limenade, and SCDK 24 is a male meangene used. Sky Cuddler Double Kush is an impressively-inbred line of Meangene’s choosing, and is known for its strong aroma, robust plants, heavy yield, and overall desirability. These sounded like they would be fantastic outside in every way, and were dry-farmed at about 5300’ in elevation on Colorado’s front range.

Appearance: These plants, between bushes and christmas trees, stayed completely green despite temperatures in the 30s. The buds are consistently and incredibly dense and highly resinous, creating a strong sense of bag appeal. Even the lower nugs retain their impressive structure and density, and the yields from seemingly-small branches are impressive. The buds are super-dense, certainly the most dense I grew this year, and a grinder is highly recommended for consumption. Overall a good looking live plant as well as beautiful in the bag. The most dense flowers of the season, each bud weighs 1.5-2x what you’d expect it to.

Aroma:  A stunning high point, this is loud cannabis at its finest. Foremost are notes of a sour, classically sweet-skunk dank tone (leaning toward lemon and lime) and a nose-crinkling kushy perfume, which are strongly complimented by bile-like vomit tones. Other phenotypes exhibited more of a sour fuel, and a note I still have trouble describing—but I have smelled it in Pink Kush before, and it is a distinct perfume-candy aroma that one doesn’t forget. This is the kind of jar that begs to be huffed from repeatedly, as the aroma is half the fun. Nugs broken open reveal intensified notes of cherry, chemical cleaners/solvents, and freshly manufactured plastic. Beautifully complex and layered, it’s cannabis like this that makes Meangene so relevant in today’s market. Overall I’d describe this one as very sour, very loud, dank, skunky chemical lime kush. If you smell this jar and say you don’t like it, there’s something wrong with you and we definitely can’t be friends. The variation in the line is heavy enough that each phenotype is significantly different from the last while obviously being related, and you can pick your favorite—like lobsters in a tank!

Flavor:  The aroma translates well to flavor, and nearly everyone I smoke with comments on the flavor (without prompting). Like the aroma, the flavor is sour, skunky, perfumey, mouth-coating, and classically dank. While I generally consider descriptions like “kushy” as a cop-out from really being able to describe the flavor, this is dictionary kush. The sour, skunky, petroleum-laden flavor coats the mouth in a sensation that I have really only experienced with high-grade weed. The petroleum notes are more subtle in some plants than others, but range from fresh plastic and rubber to gasoline to barely perceptible. In any case, the flavor is sour and dank, and nobody will complain about it.

Effects:  Impressively potent, this weed has been one of my favorites to smoke, and I’m 100% confident it could win the Emerald Cup (or other cannabis cups). It is warm, powerful, euphoric, completely encompassing (head, body, etc.), long-lasting, and generally everything that a smoker looks for. The stone can be felt almost immediately following exhaling the smoke; this is one of the quickest-acting flowers around. While the high does build some, the peak is near-immediate and frequently forces me to tap out on joints—even when shared with others! The immediate and powerful effect is highly desirable in my opinion—I love smoking it, and this is the flower I roll up when trying to impress a smoking buddy. CL4FB x SCDK is also predictable in its ability to lighten my mood and make me giggle. I tend to find most things funny under the influence of these flowers, and am frequently chuckling, giggling, or laughing—even in the most casual of conversations—which imparts a light mood on my interactions, makes me much “looser”, and I sprinkle more jokes into conversation (contrast to my sober mind, which is often grave in disposition for whatever reason). This one sends my thoughts swirling as well, and I’ve had extremely enjoyable times just laying down with my eyes closed after smoking this flower, pondering the ways of the world. Genuinely, the effect is everything one could want from cannabis.

Overall:  Everything about this weed, whether discussing the living plant or the consumable flower, is desirable and impressive. I have no doubt this weed could win a cannabis cup while also being a favorite of the cultivator. This one is a joy to break open, grind, smell, and consume, while also a pleasure to grow. My personally favorite traits have to be the strength and production of the plant, the obnoxiously loud and sour aroma, incredibly dense bud structure and resin production, and the always-desirable effect. The consistently fantastic stone, coupled with the addictive aroma, are what keep me returning to this jar more than all others this season. The flavor is also enjoyable and highly desirable, with the vast majority of tokers commenting on it when smoking a joint. They don’t say it tastes like anything in particular, just “really good”—while not helpful, I think that testifies to the loud, sour, and classical component of the profile as opposed to any novelty flavors. There is absolutely everything to like about this weed, and it will be a favorite of mine for years to come.

Freeborn Selections Red Hindu Kush F4 (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  Bred by Meangene (@meangenefrommendocino if you’re new), Red Hindu is a building block of many other cultivars. It was released via Aficianado Seeds in their debut, and I believe this is the F3 population that @deepoutthere pulled from to create these F4s. I acquired the F4 seeds, and grew them in full Colorado sun during the 2021 season.

Appearance: The plant was aggressively topped by a rabbit, and this resulted in the plant branching off and creating a shrub of itself—I’m not sure what it would have looked like otherwise, but it finished slightly shorter, and very much stouter than the rest of the plants in the garden. That being said, each branch on this plant was a towering cola of impressive girth, density, and production in every sense of the word. The plants yellowed strongly in senescence, with very mild red and purple coloring on some of the foliage. The buds are thick, dense, and look like high quality greenbud from the 90s and 2000s. It’s just big, chunky nugs that are both resin-heavy and pistil-apparent. Despite finishing late in very low temperatures, neither plants nor flowers turned purple. Very dense buds and a satisfyingly compact structure.

Aroma: I haven’t smelled or drunk mondo juice in likely 2 decades, and actually forgot about its existence, but on smelling the live flowers I immediately recalled Mondo juice. The dried flower is rich and fruity, juicy even, noticeably of grapefruit and citrus. Lavender is also prominent, both floral and perfumey, as well as a crisco-like note that is in the same vein of last season’s And It’s Deep Too!. The two strains actually have a lot of similarities in aroma and other traits, and are related somewhere. Finally, lurking in the background are earthy, mineral heavy loam and mossy forest floor-like notes. Overall, a very enjoyable reminiscent of weed from years past while remaining a thing of its own.

Flavor:  Grapefruit candy-lavender-moss (there are definite notes on the palate of all the above) with strong mineral notes makes for a compelling profile and smoke. My favorite aspect of consuming Red Hindu, the flavor is unique, understated, but surprisingly satisfying. While floral, sweet, and perfumey up front, the aftertaste is thoroughly mouth-coating and telltale dank—it is unmistakably high grade botanical-skunky-weed in a way that neither the aroma or flavor are in a direct way. The aftertaste is just as fun of an experience as the taste itself, as it seems to shift in character entirely. I love it.

Effects:  A chill and laid-back smoke, Red Hindu exhibits traits typical of indica weed. This is high-inertia bud, good for just chilling. Depending on exactly what you like, Red Hindu might be a decent social smoke too. Red Hindu is relaxing without being overwhelming, and makes for mellow conversations and social interactions. I appreciate smoking it in the evenings after dinner and/or before bed, especially if I haven’t smoked earlier in the day. It’s whatever the weed equivalent of having a beer would be. You get an enjoyable effect great for couch surfing, but it’s not debilitating or paranoia-inducing either. This lack of smacky-effect might be off-putting for some heavy tokers, but there’s definitely a place on my shelf for weed like this.

Overall:  Overall, Red Hindu Kush features many desirable traits. It’s vigorous and easy-growing, high-yielding with girthy, dense flowers, responds well to training, has a strong and diverse aroma (and an even better flavor). I can see why Mean Gene of Freeborn Selections has made Red Hindu a contributor of so many of his breeding projects—it’s a genetic line that seems to have nothing but great traits for the grower. However, I can also see why it wasn’t a stopping point, and more of a stepping stone—smoking pure Red Hindu may leave smokers wanting something more. The flavor is unique, complex, and interesting, but the current popular demand for artificial-like aromas would not find it overly attractive (my speculation anyway). I appreciate breeders who do unique things that you can’t find elsewhere, and Red Hindu has a lot of that. It’s special weed but is not popular among everyone—some of my friends really enjoy it while others really do not. That’s fine, more for me!

Freeborn Selections Limenade Kush (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  I received these seeds via Meangene (@meangenefrommendocino) and I believe the cross is OG Kush/Sour Diesel x Limepop 5, making her a half-sister to Limepop Kush. I loved my experience with Limepop Kush, and have always enjoyed OG/Sour crosses. Between both of these affections, I knew I’d love Limenade Kush—and the thought of grenades made of lime-flavored cannabis has had me drooling ever since acquiring these beans. I believe Limenade Kush was sold at Emerald Cup as well. These plants were grown outside in several gardens along Colorado’s front range during the 2021 outdoor season.

Appearance:  Grenade-like indeed, these completely green buds are chunky and resinous. Similar to calyx-stacking OG but chunkier/thicker/fuller, these green nugs scream “high quality” from inside of a jar or bag. Other plants yielded smaller fingerling-like nugs, but the common traits were high resin, completely green flowers and plants, and low amounts of leaf present around the buds. My favorite plants looked like thicker and higher-yielding OG.

Aroma:  Intensely loud and pungent, there are notes of bitter lemon peel and pith, fresh-cut lime, and super-sour fuel like OG or Sour Diesel. While I always think of “dank” as a descriptor as being a way around genuine and more articulate descriptions, Limenade Kush is the sort of dictionary definition of “dank” in the context of weed. Chemical components are definitely present here as well, leaning toward lysol and other industrial cleaning products. These become especially apparent as flowers are broken up or ground. Other phenotypes lean more toward lemon-lime pez, an almost-cloying and candied aroma, but my favorite phenotypes tend to lean more toward OG and Sour Diesel in character. I believe the candy-like plants lean toward the Limepop 5.

Flavor:  Palate-coating and far from understated, this in-your-face flavor will please OG heads and hardcore smokers. This is sour with notes of bitter lemon, limeade or lime kool-aid (does that exist?), and specifically lysol. Loud as can be, Limenade Kush is simultaneously both classic and novel. Smokers who appreciate old Sour and OG cuts will love the flavor of Limenade Kush, as it exhibits intensified qualities from both strains and frankly improves on both of them. The sour fuel and skunky character is present in spades (although “light” on fuel compared to some other elite cuts), and wonderfully dovetails with lemon, lime, lysol, warhead candy, and pez. Limenade Kush is like blending a salad* of weed, balancing notes from the OG and Sour families with the candied sweet Lime of Meangene’s stock. Incredible.

*People have different terms (seemingly differences in geography correlate to differences in terminology) for this, but I always considered a “salad” a bowl or joint when two or more different strains of weed are combined. It’s really just a blend of two or more flowers.

Effects: Limenade Kush hits immediately in the forehead and is felt in the sinuses, causing nose crinkling, eye squinting, and feelings of regret wondering if you’ve already gone too deep. Similar to smoking OG, the effects are potent and hard-hitting like a true Kush varietal, the stone is reminiscent of OG&Sour Diesel crosses (like Sour OG, Headband, etc.) and is the type of flower that could give you a head rush and instant sweats out of a bong. The effect is at once sedative and creative, making the writing of this exciting, engaging, and honestly cerebrally thrilling. I’m having the time of my life in my head, while by all appearances I’m hanging out on my couch with a laptop. This is super strong weed that most daily smokers (and especially those who had the experience of smoking OG or Sour in their youth) will love. The effect is relatively long-lived before dying into a tired, groggy, and foggy state of mind. Highly enjoyable on the front end.

Overall:  Meangene continues to find new angles to approach “lime” from. Every time I germinate a new Lime ____ or ____lime, I know I’ll be getting something different and unique. Limenade Kush significantly differs from the various iterations of Lime I have already grown or smoked, and in a direction that I love (it might be my favorite, next to Black Lime 15). I have enjoyed Lime and Limepop crosses in the past, but I do think the OG/Sour cross used here really adds to the profile. I’m of the opinion that both Limepop5 and Sour OG are great cuts, but crossing them is an improvement on both ends—an ideal breeding achievement. The buds are thick and the plants are strong, and I imagine these would be decent or better for a commercial grower. For home-growers like me, there is a laundry list of reasons to grow Limenade Kush. That being said, there was some selecting involved—some plants were super-sweet candied and not my particular favorites (they have a short lived high but the flavor is an experience), but I thought the flowers exhibiting both parents were the preferred keepers. I will definitely be making more of these seeds and it’s worth keeping a favorite female around.

Freeborn Selections Cherry Limenade x Pina (Outdoor)

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Origins and Backstory:  Acquired from Freeborn Selections, this F1 was originally released at The Emerald Cup. Cherry Limenade is one of Mean Gene’s better known strains, having won the Emerald Cup at least once. Pina is an old heirloom bred by Meangene as well, and is renowned for her sweetly acidic pineapple aroma, uplifting effect, and general plant strength (pest resistance etc.). I first heard of Pina as it was the father of Aficinado’s In the Pines release. I will minimize my digression and encourage the reader to see that review as well, but In the Pines first put Meangene into my personal awareness, and I was deeply impressed. That’s ultimately the mother I used for Passionfruit Dakini as well. The lineage here is two winners, but also two very different genetic lines. F1s can be pretty consistent contrary to popular belief, and the Cherry Limenade x Pina is a great example of that. This genetic pool is similar enough that it’s obvious the plants are sisters, but diverse enough that each cultivator can hunt a favorite plant from the bunch.

Appearance: Beautiful plants, Cherry Limenade x Pina is richly colored. Ranging from a typical green at the beginning of season to a fading finch-yellow beginning senescence, ultimately concluding with purples and reds on both flower and foliage, growing these plants is an aesthetic experience. Flowers and colas are good-sized, with grenade-like structure after drying. Finished flowers are consistently a pretty mix of green and purple, with light orange pistils and a satisfyingly chunky structure. Resin production is good, and bag appeal is great.

Aroma:  A freshly opened jar brings notes of ripe fruit, baby wipes & baby lotion, and is even mildly reminiscent of freshly-laundered clothes. Predominantly sweet and fruity, phenotypes vary from vague cherry notes (the same present in some of my own Cherry Limenade x Pina crosses, like this one), to acidic pineapple, to coconut-based lotion or baby oil, to laundry detergent. My favorite plants exhibited all of the above, but leaned strongest toward the sweet candied fruit, with the sort of beachy sunscreen/baby oil notes lingering in the background. The smell of this one is enticing to all, a real people pleaser! People frequently comment that they love the smell of this one, both as a living plant and as dried flowers.

Flavor:  Cherry Limenade x Pina is sweet, smooth, fruity, and an easeful pleasure to smoke. Cherry is brought to the forefront and certainly dominates. However, the acidic pineapple-fruit and baby oil are still noticeable. My favorite phenotypes are those that taste uncannily like cherry and pineapple in a joint. here seems to be no laundry flavor, but occasionally I do get a far-off chemical tone of hairspray or another barber/salon product. This isn’t mouth-coating, palate-painting weed, but it’s definitely tasty and far from a weak point. It’s a fairly clean and direct translation of the aroma and altogether enjoyable and unique.

Effects:  Jockeying with the bouquet for the supreme highlight of Cherry Limenade x Pina, the effects are some of the most consistently feel-good and pleasurable to be had. This weed is a well-blended balance of THC, CBD, and presumably a few other cannabinoids and psychoactive terpenes—it offers a strong sense of well-being, optimism, euphoria, and is compatible with activity and worldly engagement. If I didn’t know it was likely high CBD, I’m not sure I’d know—tokes from a joint produce an instant head change and feel of stoniness behind the eyes. However, I never feel even close to being too high or otherwise overwhelmed. This is great party weed, ideal for yoga or skiing (or presumably other athletic endeavors) or really any kind of activity that one already enjoys. This is the kind of weed that enhances life in myriad ways, and won’t keep you from living it (as some other more narcotic strains can do). While I do like to smoke thought-obliterating strains and occasionally even get overwhelmed by potency, I am never found jonesing for a different weed after smoking this. I cannot say the same about many other high-CBD varieties! Overall, the best aspects of the effects of this weed remind me of Aficianado’s In the Pines, which shares the same Pina parentage—probably not a coincidence. Optimistic, uplifting, feel-good, relaxed, active, loose and easy-going—it’s not OG, and that’s not a bad thing in my book.

Overall:  As alluded to earlier in this review, I’ve really enjoyed smoking Pina’s descendants (Long Valley Sleigh Ride, In the Pines, and some of my own Cherry Limenade x Pina crosses). Cherry Limenade x Pina is certainly no exception, as it offers a rich and unique bouquet. The effects are top-notch, and Pina crosses are consistently my favorite thing to smoke early in the day, or along with activities of all kinds—but especially physical and outdoor ones! The complex and uniquely fruity aroma is unanimously enjoyed, and this is probably the strain that garners the most unsolicited comments on the flavor (with the exception of Cherry Limenade x Sky Cuddler Double Kush). Like most Freeborn, this plant and variety checks all the boxes and leaves nothing to be desired. It’s worthy of giving a shot in nearly every garden, but will find a special place in the heart’s, minds, and lungs of enthusiasts of such uplifting, optimistic, and day-brightening smokes. A Mendo heirloom at its finest!

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Freeborn Selections Black Lime 15 (Outdoor)

Origins and Backstory:  Prior to Root Beer, Black Lime held the status of being Meangene’s most famous and coveted variety. Black Lime Reserve, daughter of Black Lime, was popularized through Aficionado Seeds, and has since made her way through the community. I’ve smoked some BLR, and it has been of varying quality. After growing/smoking Black Lime 15, a specific delineation of meangene’s Black Lime, it is clear to me that Black Lime Reserve is a sort of watered-down Black Lime, and BL more powerfully exhibits every desirable trait present in BLR. I believe Black Lime is an old inbred line of Northern Lights, Oil Can (another long-held Mendocino heirloom, and Burmese. I am also of the impression that Black Lime 15 is a specific offshoot of this line, tending more toward the darker chemical aromas.

Appearance: Plants grew with a classic sativa cannabis structure with the majority of the plants resources ending in the elongated, spear-shaped buds at the ends of each branch. Plants faded strongly to yellow, with hints of purple, pink, and magenta lining tips of foliage and calyxes. However, this overall finishes like standard spear-shaped green buds. Relatively abundant leaflets end narrowly around the buds, which annoyingly mean higher trim effort is required. Very high resin production, and the buds look highly resinous and high quality with very plumped calyxes at finish.

Aroma:  The defining attribute of this plant and flower, the aroma is absolutely very bit as iconic as OG Kush, Sour Diesel, or any other world-famous clone-only. I genuinely cannot believe Meangene has managed to keep this one so close to home after all these years, it is simply that incredible! Both living plants and dried flower are very similar, with an overwhelmingly strong lime-chemical aroma. Depending on the plant, the character of the lime can move from juice to outer or even inner rind, but it is dominantly lime—not even a hint of lemon. There is an element of rotting or overripe fruit here too, like if limes could get super overripe and wet in a tropical environment. The intense lime character would be enough for novelty on its own, but is almost outdone by the accompanying chemical aromas present in this plant. I could detect both sharpie marker (MUCH more intense than an actual sharpie) as well as nail polish remover. Each plant seemed to have lime juice/lime rind/sharpie/nail polish remover notes present, but these were more/less intense depending on pheno. To clarify, I mean that some plants were heavy on lime juice and nail polish remover with some sharpie and rind tones, while other plants tended to be heavier on lime rind and sharpie but lighter on the juice and solvents. In any case, the gene pool is just unstable enough that you’ll be able to pick a personal favorite. Black Lime 15 offers unparalleled richness in its bouquet, and I would grow this based on scent alone—it is that unique, intense, and desirable. Friends who have smelled her agree.

Flavor:  An enjoyable translation from the aroma, the flavor tends to be much juicier, sweeter and lime-dominated, accentuating the lime notes as well as those of rotting or overripened fruit (although I cannot articulate any specific fruit outside of limes). Chemical tones of nail polish remover and some solvents are lightly present. While losing slight intensity of the chemical funk, the flavor is still entirely enjoyable and different and new, unlike anything I have smoked or am aware of on the market. The flavor is definitively more like the actual fruit and flesh of a lime than the aroma, and my only critique is that I wish it would have kept the intensely industrial and seemingly-artificial character of the bouquet. After the initially juicy lime flavor fades, there is a lingering aftertaste on the back of my palate that is of lime rind and nail polish—a work of art.

Effects: Black Lime is strong, stoney, and relaxed. Most would call this one indica-dominant in its effects, but lighter doses are equally creative, spacy, and thoughtful. While felt instantly in the head, the majority of Black lime comes on gradually behind the eyes, and noticeably in the body—I feel that it can instantly resolve tension in my shoulders and back, as well as in my mind. Smoking Black Lime is, metaphorically speaking, like taking a deep breath from life. It slows everything down a bit and offers some breathing room. In higher doses however, Black Lime can be disorienting and borderline psychedelic in its effect. For brief moments after smoking a lot, the world can feel like it’s moving about or otherwise seem alien and anomalous. Sometimes, weed is so tasty that breeders are willing to sacrifice all quality and potency of effect to preserve it—however, Black Lime makes no such compromise, and is as potent and deeply stoning as any weed on the shelf. It isn’t particularly giggly or giddy, and it isn’t lazy either—but Black Lime is certainly a treat for the introspective among us. I enjoy Black Lime alone or on nights spent inside with music, youtube, podcasting, gaming, etc. Not my favorite smoke for outdoor adventure excursions or socializing.

Overall:  This is a plant worthy of keeping, breeding, and generally doing everything else with. It’s an incredible plant and in my opinion, just as worthy of the unofficial weed smoker’s Hall of Fame as OG Kush, Sour Diesel, Purple Urkel, Haze, and any other undisputable icon that one could name. It features a greasy finger-feel and lime&chemical-dominant aroma that are nearly Trademarks of Freeborn Selections. The aroma of Black Lime is so complex, unique, and nuanced, it would genuinely be worth growing if it only had half the buzz that it offers. Hell, I might grow hemp plants every year if they smelled like this one. The combination of lime and sinus-clearing chemicals is stunning, and one I can’t say enough good things about. Most people have never truly experienced lime flavor in cannabis, and this weed offers just that. The flavor and head experiences of a joint are wholly unique, and I can’t find a bad thing to say about it. This is a plant that I’d like to have around for a lifetime.

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