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.