Origins and Backstory: Grown next to HP13 and New Lime x (Makrat Mandarin x Limepop), this was grown around 4800’ in a beyond-organic setting. POG is a selection from @meangenefrommendocino and Freeborn Selections, and actually originates with his own mother’s stock—to be sure, that is Mean gene’s human mother, not some reference to cannabis moms! That makes POG a multi-generational traditional market heirloom variety, and I am incredibly honored to be able to grow such special and purposefully-kept seeds in my own garden. The (most likely) genetic make-up of the cross is Northern Lights x Oil Can. Oil Can is in turn a cross of Oaxacan and an Afghan, and was being passed around the Emerald Triangle in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Appearance: Classic greenbud, POG produces relatively dense little grenades of satisfyingly-plump nugs. The plant itself exhibited some purple/pink in the early season cold weather, but did not produce much coloring later in the season, despite hitting below-freezing temperatures prior to harvest. I am not sure if this is representative of the cultivar though, as I’d like to assume purples show up more typically. The pistils are indeed the classic orange color that most readers will associate with nice greenbud of their youth.
Aroma: POG reeks. I mean, it stinks like something putrid, like the garbage that you really should have taken out two weeks ago. Skunk aromas are heavy, as are those of coffee, methane, sour bile, day-old dog shit, and something reminiscent of when I let coffee grounds and tea leaves sit in my own garbage can for an unreasonably extended period of time. It is an anaerobic fermentation profile that is genuinely off-putting—one of my friend’s described it as stagnant pond scum smell. This is exactly what many readers will be looking for, as it is putrid and disgusting garbage weed that is fairly hard to come by these days! However, after repeatedly huffing the jar or breaking up buds, sweeter and more attractive notes manifest. I There are definite tones of watermelon rind (specifically the green rind when the red flesh is eaten away), a sweet-sour perfume note, and burning rubber. It is a note that seems to dance between burning rubber and cheap diner coffee, but is simultaneously attractive and offensive. The final notes I can detect are those in a Hall’s cough drop. It really is exactly like a cough drop, but the mentholated notes are turned down some.
Flavor: Funnily, all of the putrid and offensive notes either drop away or transform through the smoke. Immediate on the palate is the green-watermelon-rind flavor. It is sweet, sour, musky, perfumey, and fruity. This lingers as well, leaving a mildly-sweet and fruity tang in the mouth. There is more of a bonafide watermelon fruit flavor in the smoke as well, almost akin to Bubblicious Watermelon gum. It is mild, but definitively sweeter and fruitier than the dried flower. I wouldn’t describe the taste as Kushy, but it is interesting to note there is an acrid sort of dusty musk present in the flavor too. It is a background note, but reminds me of Hollywood Pure Kush, Master Kush, Pura Vida, etc. It is not typically in the more hyped up commercial varieties, which are so saturated with sweet, seemingly-artificial candy-like notes. It is welcome, but again, unexpected here—it certainly inspires some nostalgia for weed going around in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. Overall, the flavor is sweet and perfumey without being overly so. While not “popping” in any singular dimension, it is still quite unique and very enjoyable, inspiring more smoking for the flavor experience alone. The final note worth mentioning is that cough-drop like note, with the menthol turned down—this is certainly present in the flavor. Overall, the flavor is a watermelon-gum-coughdrop-acrid thing that begs for more smoking.
Effects: I can feel the first effects within a few seconds of exhaling. The onset is quick and warm, producing a relaxed effect behind my eyes, in my eyelids, and felt in my general demeanor. This is strong weed too, with each hit noticeably adding to the effect, taking one deeper in as opposed to higher up. This is warm indica weed. It isn’t too debilitating, but it certainly isn’t super heady and motivating either. This is really pretty classical cannabis across dimensions: it gives a heightened sense of well-being, while also being relaxing and mellowing. This is feel-good herb that slows things down some, reduces stress levels, and generally just improves on the moment. POG reliably gives me a warm and optimistic buzz, one that changes my perspective for the better. I generally feel a heightened sense of gratitude, happiness, and well-being with POG.
Overall: POG is classic cannabis across every dimension of analysis. Almost everything about this plant reminds me of weed from the early 2000s in the midwest US, or at least the bags of “headies” that would occasionally grace my small city. The appearance of the plant and structure of the bud, the mix of sweet-sour-skunk, fruit and putridity, the warm happy buzz—it all really takes me back to my earlier days of smoking. Freeborn selections has a knack for selecting plants that simultaneously feature familiar traits as well as novel ones, really bringing about the best of both worlds in cannabis. POG is an excellent exemplar of this practice; POG offers a nostalgic reliving of old smoke, while also offering nuances in the aroma and flavor that seem entirely new. The fact that POG has been bred in the infamous hills of Northern California for multiple generations just adds to its appeal and mystique, and frankly I feel that plants like this are worthy of the hype that cuttings like “Rootbeer” (which admittedly I have not tried) receive. POG is a fascinating and desirable plant in all respects, and is worthy of approbation from flower enthusiasts everywhere.
