Gage Green Sophisticated Lady

Origins and Backstory: This is a Gage Green release of high genetic variation.  Sophisticated Lady, as it is now named, is the famous Ghost OG crossed to a Grateful Breath male.  Grateful Breath is Gage's own creation:  OGKB crossed to their famous Joseph OG male.   The full genetics look like: Ghost OG x (OGKB x Joseph OG).

Appearance:  Phenotypes represented the whole spectrum of their parents, with my favorite being in the middle (as you could guess).  The Grateful Breath-structured plants were my favorites, with incredible hybrid vigor.  The best plants pitched huge towers of incredibly chunky, dense, resinous flowers that looked like some hulky variation of Girl Scout Cookies.  Flowers are colorful too, with greens, purples, reds, and some yellows showing up.  A lot of variation in this cross, but there are absolutely stunning phenotypes to be found.

Aroma:  First impressions of the flower are citrus, floral blossom notes, skunk, burning rubber OG, and even light notes of bittersweet chocolate.  Broken nugs smell intensely of citrus and chocolate, reminiscent of Toblerone and clementines. The background is fairly piney, and brings Pacific Northwest forest floors to mind, making for a very intense and diverse aroma. Both parents seem improved upon through this cross.  This is damp, dank, and terpene-filled flower that will stink up the neighborhood. The intense aroma draws users back to the jar to huff a the terpene-rich air within, and is therapeutic in itself.  All-around an impressively enjoyable twist on OG and Cookie genetics.  The chocolate clementine OG phenotypes were my favorites. There were some fuel-heavy gasoline phenotypes as well.

Flavor: Overall, I would describe the flavor like an orange blossom sugar cookie with hints of skunk and gasoline.  Similar to the aroma, the flavor is intensely citrusy, floral, skunky, and herbal.  Cookie flavors become much more prevalent in the smoke compared to the bouquet.  While most cookies express dough-like flavors, this variety has notes of freshly-baked sugar cookies, orange blossom honey, and gas.  I've never actually experienced anything like it in cannabis.  The flavor is unique, and really has won me over.  The tokes with the strongest cookie flavors are really something to experience, completely coating ones throat in sugar cookie flavored smoke.

Effects:  Devastating and potent, the best phenotypes from this variety are day-ruining.  They will immediately, completely, and irreversibly change one's headspace,. This is the kind of flower whose effects will cut through any others, and will render most other flower ineffective after smoking.  Sophisticated Lady is super potent, and can even be too intense for experienced smokers.  She is felt equally in the head as well as the body, providing a complete-being-stone experience.  She is euphoric, giggly, red eyed, happy, numbing, and dumbing.  The feeling simplifies things, and one feels like a child again.  Be warned.  Definitely not for social situations as it will shut you up, I prefer to use this variety for rainy days and mellow indoor activities.

Overall Experience:  The bag appeal of the phenomenally dense and trichome-encruste-flowers sing for attention alongside the citrus-sugar-cookie-gasoline-floral bouquet.  Like all other aspects of this cultivar, these flowers come on boldly.  The stone hits deeply across the brain, body, and soul, much like an OG.  The full effect sets in over time, resulting in a pillow-like dream state.  I love watching enthusiasts react to the experience of Sophisticated Lady.  She really is the whole package of beauty, brawn, and olfactory satisfaction, and is an incredible representation of the current trends in cannabis culture.  This cultivar truly embodies some of the best aspects of OG, Cookies, and something unique from Gage.

Gage Green Sour Diesel x White Shark Mandala

Origins and Backstory: Out of a tester package from Gage, I received several very uniform females.  I'm not aware of which Sour Diesel cut Gage used, or exactly what strains compose White Shark Mandala.  To my knowledge as of the publishing of this article, this strain does not have a name from Gage.  I have been calling her "Strawberry Poptart" after her sweet bouquet. 

Appearance:  The bag appeal is high with this flower due to the vivid colors and decent trichome coverage.  The buds are universally shaped like pine cones on this plant, which is oddly satisfying to see.  Her structure reminds me of commercial and typical california weed.  She has well-frosted bright green calyxes with vividly-fiery orange pistils.  The leaves are a dark green, and compliment the sparkling and stacked-calyx towers.  The flowers really are pretty, and are something that might come up if you googled "marijuana," they are that typical. 

Aroma:  The Sour Diesel ancestry is completely absent when smelling a jar of these flowers.  The raw flowers smell fruity, but not overwhelmingly sweet.  The first thing that comes to mind is Strawberry Poptarts and Strawberry Special K.  It is a bit skunky as well, and is the sort of strawberrynote present in Amnesia Haze and Moonshine Haze.  She has background notes of a warm summer compost pile, dill pickles, moss, and even the hashy spice associated with Bubba, Master, and Pure Kush.  It is also a bit honeyed and sugary.  The aroma is only mild to moderate but is overall surprisingly unique, enjoyable, and interesting.  When flowers are broken up, it becomes a more skunky, offensive aroma with tart raspberry tones. 

Flavor: Like the aroma, the flavor is a bit subtle and understated.  However, the aftertaste has kept me coming back for more, and is actually a unique change from the typical and currently-popular cannabis gene pool.  The flavor reminds me of Door County blood-red cherries, strawberries, and raspberries muddled in water with some forest moss.  It is a bit watered down, and therefore does not have the same draw as a more intensely-fruity strain, or a smoke that is actually sweet.  The aftertaste lingers very strongly, providing sort of a skunky-tangy sensation at the back of the throat.  I really appreciate this aspect of the smoke, but wish the flavor were more intense.

Effects:  She comes on immediately, mostly felt behind the eyes.  The mellowing effects foreshadow an indica stone to come.  Strawberry Poptart (as I've named her) picks up from a mellow, oceanside breeze into a steady wind of cannabinoids.  She is dreamy, soft, slow, and calming.  However, she still seems functional, one's faculties never fully vacating.  It puts the user into a dreamscape, feeling as if floating and drifting effortlessly around the world. The potency can sneak up on someone, but the soft and easy character of this flower tends to prevent the experience from becoming too intense.  This will provide a gentle and smooth experience.  While the effects mostly lean toward the broad leaf drug or indica spectrum, this flower inspires kind smiles as well as a sense of serenity.

Overall Experience:  I've changed my opinions about this plant and flower numerous times between germination and combustion, swaying back and forth from disappointment (mild aroma) to excitement and anticipation.  I regret this flower were not more aromatic, as the aroma she does contain is sublime.  I like the diverse and unsual fruit flavors that come to the front of the smoke, but am unimpressed with the intensity of these flavors.  The effects are enjoyable and calm, and I think this flower might be a good choice of smoke for a novice cannabis smoker.  This is simple, smiley, dreamy weed that sort of does what is expected.  While not super euphoric, this flower is still a happy smoke that is easy to put down and won't wreck a day or make one too paranoid.  I enjoy having this jar in my possession and certainly love the wafting aromas of honeyed-strawberry poptarts and jam, but it won't replace Chem or OG any time soon.

Bodhi Seeds Zamaldelica x Apollo 11 Genius F3

Origins and Backstory: I received these as testers from Bodhi.  Zamaldelica is highly-interesting threeway cross of Malawi and Thai (together making Golden Tiger) and Zamal.  Zamal is a landrace sativa coming from an island near Madagascar and is known for its trip-like psychedelic effects.  For sativa enthusiasts, I think the combination of exotic landraces from Malawi, Thailand, and Madagascar is almost too exhilarating to handle.  Apollo 11 is a personal favorite sativa of mine, originally from Brother's Grimm seeds.  Bodhi has inbred her genetics and selected for the Genius phenotype, known for making the user "become a genius" with accelerated and insightful thinking.  She is electrically-euphoric and inspiring, and has a floral pineapple cheeto aroma.  The lineage still gets me excited just thinking about it.  This can be a bit confusing, so here's the formal geneology:  (Zamal x (Malawi x Thai)) x Apollo 11 F3 'Genius'.

Appearance:  Phenotypes differed greatly.  Those leaning toward Apollo 11 put out giant sativa baseball bats of hairy, easy-to-trim colas.  I also had a phenotype that was incredibly-branchy, and begged to stretch through the ceiling.  She put out smaller, more spindly, landrace-looking flowers.  The other phenotypes finished buds were highly frosty, and really reminded me a lot of Apollo 11, and of Bodhi's Genius Thai which I have seen a friend grow.  The Apollo 11 structured plants definitely have bag appeal with a very high calyx-to-leaf ratio, gigantic and dense, and a good frost content.  The individual flowers look like big, hairy, green grenades or fat alien pine cones. 

Aroma:  The aromas were fairly diverse among phenotypes, exhibiting notes from tropical pineapple/mango/guava, red apples, savannah grasslands, hashy spice, and hops.  My favorite phenotype is a bit fruity, very reminiscient of red apple skins, freshly-sliced mango, dry summer grasslands, citrusy hops, and hints of caramel and vanilla.  While complex, the character of the aroma is only mild to moderate, as is the case with many landrace sativas.  I certainly appreciate all the different notes of this bouquet, but something like Amnesia Haze or Moonshine Haze will produce more of a "wow" factor from discerning noses.  This bouquet is complex and very intriguing on many different levels, but takes a sativa connoisseur to really appreciate.  I do not anticipate the masses having the same enthusiasm in smelling this jar as I personally do.

Flavor: The flavor of this variety is similar to the aroma.  It is complex but understated, mild yet enjoyable.  The flavor of red apple skins is prominent, with hoppy, India-Pale-Ale flavors coming in closely behind.  The flavor of mango and vanilla are unfortunately lost entirely, but the caramel retains a position in the background.  The flavor is a bit grassy, making me think of what ganja from the '60s and '70s must have tasted like.  While nice, I do not think the flavor will be the aspect of this flower that keeps the user coming back.  Overall, the flavor is a pleasurable but not entirely lip-smacking.

Effects:  Easily the highlight of this particular variety, I adore the unique effects of the Zamaldelica x Apollo 11.  Without wasting time, each toke of this flower will take the user noticeably and immediately higher.  There seems to be no cloudiness or dreary dream-state effects with this herb, even if one has over imbibed.  Each bit of smoke is like a hot air current for a balloon--it sweeps the user higher and higher with seemingly no limit, coming in waves.  It is light, floaty, and uplifting.  My favorite phenotypeis mildly psychedlic, creating a mindspace like the come-up of mushrooms.  While social and chatty with friends, this ganja can be a bit racey or inspire social paranoia with strangers.  However, the racy/paranoid aspect of this cannabis is really fun, unlike the sometimes-terrifying effects that I personally have experienced from pure Thai and Cambodian varieties.  This flower sweeps you up with the sort of floaty, light-headed feeling across the head that rosin or good hash can sometimes give, and regularly gives me butterflies in my stomach.  It produces a bubbly, energetic, curious, and even nervous sensation that makes one want to giggle and run around outside.  I would also consider this herb highly creative and personally insightful, and is beautifully positive.  It reminds me of a psychedelic and nervey version of "In the Pines," and I actually prefer this variety to the typical Hazes and other more terpene-rich narrow leaf drug varieties.  I cannot say enough good things about this wonderfully light and memorable, euphoric sensation.

Overall Experience:  The bag appeal, ease-of-growth, yield, and effect are enough for me to continue to grow and smoke this variety.  I have always had a soft spot in my heart (more likely my CB1 and CB2 receptors) for psychedelic, positive sativas or narrow-leaf drug varieties.  This one hits home in that respect, and has found a place among my favorite sativa plants.  It is such a beautiful and rare thing to be able to capture the awe, wonder, and happiness of a psychedelic experience in ganja, and this cultivar does it with short flowering time and high yields.  However, I will have to say that the aroma and flavor are really the low points of this flower.  Perhaps with a larger selection, I could have found more terpene-rich phenotypes. Despite this, she is a plant worth keeping just for the effects and convenience.  I cherish these flowers for my morning and day-time smoke, but I do not imagine the concentrates impressing flavor-hunters any time soon.  If you like zingy head-tripping-bright-day sativas, this is a must in your stable.  Another gem from Bodhi.

Aficionado Seeds In the Pines

Origins and Backstory: After first hearing of the company, I was intrigued by the Aficionado image portrayed by their website and social media.  I had seen pictures of their impressive packaging, and saw what seemed like an excessive price.  It was all certainly enough to get my attention.  I read about their seeds on their website, and decided that I would try out this highly-decorated strain of theirs.  I germinated two packages of seed, and received bountiful yields of consistently-amazing pineapple flowers.  I could have kept many phenotypes but ultimately selected one favorite.  In the Pines is a three way cross of Pineapple Thai, Mean Gene's Pineapple, and Master Kush.  I believe it has been bred to at least the third filial generation.

Appearance:  Long, full flowers with spiked tops comprise the majority of In the Pines phenotypes.  Some were more dense and stout, but most had a very sativa look to them.  Even with a cold finish, there was zero purple color to be found.  These buds are covered in resin and are pretty dense despite the long, thin, sativa-like character.  Many phenotypes have tops that look like mild fox tails, but upon closer examination seem to just be an abnormal bud structure, and are not fox tailing.  Green bud with orange hairs, nothing necessarily stand-out.

Aroma:  The bouquet from this strain is absolutely unbelievable, and is undoubtedly some of the most compelling cannabis I've smelled to date.  Most phenotypes were very floral with unmistakable notes of canned pineapple and syrup abounding.  Other phenotypes exhibited the whole spectrum of citrus fruits, with only lime absent.  Some were lemon, tangerine, orange, grapefruit, clementine, red apple, and even rotting mango.  Vanilla was noted in some plants, and almost all expressed blossomy, floral notes. Some phenotypes were like candied pineapple lifesavers, some like canned pineapple syrup, and others still like pineapple upside down cake. There are forest-like scents in the background, not as prominent as the fruit but still very much present.  It reminds me of Pacific Northwest forests in particular.  The aroma of this strain is so incredible and enticing.  It is truly incredible how much pineapple there is on the nose.

Flavor: As incredible as the aroma, the flavor is deep and complex.  It indeed mimics pineapple, and all of the aforementioned fruits. There is so much citrus and pineapple to the flavor.  Apt to the name, there are less bold flavors of pine trees and forest floor.  The smoke is also very floral, providing a delicate and unique experience that is almost tea-like.  It reminds me of connoisseur-quality white tea and pineapples, with so many subtle flavors coming through.  One is even compelled to eat the flowers.  Briefly stated, In the Pines tastes like a pineapple-cupcake-forest-flower. 

Effects:  I was mistaken when I thought the aroma and flavor were the highlights of this masterpiece.  The effects truly exhibitthe finest character and highest quality that I have had the pleasure of experiencing in cannabis.  It is so euphoric, feel-good, happy, uplifting, engaging, intriguing, and functional all the same.  I feel very euphoric from In the Pines, as well as more positive, uplifted, and curious in all-things-happening in the world.  Inspiring, it makes me want to call old friends, read new books, take a walk outside, express myself to loved ones, and engage with all the other beautiful activities in life.  What I love the most is that overindulging in this flower seems to be difficult.  Paranoia, social awkwardness, anxieties, and all of the other negatives that so-often accompany sativas is not remotely present.  I am consistently calmed and uplifted from this cannabis, with never a negative effect it seems.  This has become a favorite of mine across such a diverse array of activities and experiences due to its consistent nature.  The character of effect from In the Pines is something truly special.

Overall Experience:  Bravo.  Encore.  Aficionado takes the cake on this one.  Excelling in all categories, In the Pines captures the essences of pineapple, flowers, vanilla, and truly enjoyable cannabis.  It is pretty and somewhat classic in appearance, but shines to the olfactory senses and mind.  The pineapple and dessert-like flavors are so prevalent and enjoyable, it is truly amazing to experience them in the form of smoke.  The effect is even more enjoyable, which is hard for me to even say, as the aroma is so enticing on its own.  This variety seems to embody all of the positive mental aspects that cannabis advocates rejoice over.  It is happy, euphoric, positive, and gratitude-inspiring.  In the Pines also seems to lack the paranoia, over-sedation, dysfunction, etc. that users typically do not appreciate about cannabis.  This strain is truly something special, and I can't wait to see what else I can uncover from Aficionado's offerings.

Loompa's Headband aka Underdawg OG

Origins and Backstory: This is the famous clone-only from Loompa of Loompa Farms.  It is also known as Underdawg OG, and has been bred into seed into the popular Yeti OG.  To my knowledge, it is rumored that she is a cross of OG Kush and Sour Diesel.  I am not sure how true that is, but some diesel and OG ancestry is credible.  She is well-known for being very exclusive, but I have seen her more in recent years than ever before.  I grew her twice, and I can testify first-hand to this being a very sensitive plant.  It takes a keen eye to be able to grow this one well. 

Appearance:  Dense, fist-sized pine cone nuggets of glory come off of a well-grown Loompa's Headband plant, with very little larf or hash material.  She pitches beautifully green buds that look like Christmas trees, covered in tinsel of trichomes and bright red pistil ornaments.  She has the classic OG structure to her, very appetizing to the eye.

Aroma:  This is classic OG, the signature smell that regular tokers can consistently recognize with blindfolds on.  She smells of jet tarmac, fuel and burning rubber, sour lemon pinesol cleaner, pine forest, sourdough and rye bread, and green plaintains.  It is so complex, interesting, and high-octane smelling that it inspires one to repeatedly huff the jar.  It is really something incredible, and wildly bizarre that a plant exists that smells like this one.  She has the classic cannabis smell of the skunk-in-a-wet-field sort, and genuinely smelled like roadkill skunk when drying.  The cure brings out even more complex flavors and depth of OG that is nothing short of exquisite.  This is undeniably luxurious cannabis.

Flavor: Like her aroma, the flavor of Loompa's Headband is just incredible.  Flavors of jet and drag racing fuel lead the way with heavy notes of rubber, pinesol, and pine needles.  It is like experiencing a very sour race track or jet tarmac in your mouth.  There is also a sort of rye bread and sourdough flavor that comes through strongly.  She is sour and musty, but a different kind of musty.  It is not a must and spice ala the Kush varieties, but something that almost smells like moldy bread, or older yogurt.  Perhaps it is the way she was grown, but there is also a strong aftertaste of earth, loam, and wet soil.  Headband and OG Kush are akin to the cannabis varietals of fine Scotch.  The intense, interesting, unique flavor keeps you coming back for more, delving deeper into the stone.

Effects:  Loompa's cut is hard-hitting, immediate, and behind the eyes.  She is definitely indica dominant but has a strong sativa component as well.  This one actually is more reminiscient of Headband than OG, and is somewhat calm and relaxed while retaining heavy potency.  She is euphoric, mellow, feel-good, and very long lasting.  The lingering effect of Loompa's Headband smoke has stayed with me for 3-6 hours depending on circumstances.  Her full potency takes a while to creep up, but the full effect is something to behold. She is dreamy, but surprisingly not too debilitating.  The satisfaction factor of this ganja is very high--this plant is so strong, happy, relaxing, sweet, and mellowing.  All of the effects combine into a very satisfying smoke, making one content with minimal amounts. She is medicinal in every sense of the word, a deep soul healer and physical pain killer.  This is versatile herb as far as effects go, and is great for smoking pretty much every time except early morning.  Even then, it is not the worst thing in the world.

Overall Experience:  This is a clone with a much-deserved reputation.  One of, if not THE original Headband clone, this plant is sure to satisfy any OG, Headband, or Chem lover, and will surely leave nobody wanting in regards to potency.  The appearance is the classic look of strong OG Kush cannabis, but the aroma is the classic Headband.  It is so sour, musty, and fuel-piney which translates well into flavor.  It is thoroughly enjoyable and begs to be enjoyed over and over, which can lead to a dreamy, but surprisingly not-too-foggy afternoon.  This cannabis is a classic and will always be a favorite of mine, showing unique characteristics of the original diesel family as well as OG Kush.  She makes for a unique smoke, even if one is well-versed in diesels, chem, and ogs.  Even for the veteran with every elite clone in the garden, smoking Headband is satisfying and she never seems to cultivate a tolerance.  It seems I can always reach for my jar of Loompa's for a satisfying smoke, regardless of how often I've been smoking her or other potency powerhouses.  All around an epic and elite clone-only that deserves space in any garden.  Lovely bouquet, but an exquisite effect.

Gage Green Daybreaker x Chemdog/Sour Diesel

Origins and Backstory: A package of seeds was given to a friend of mine as a tester directly from Gage. I haven't seen these seeds anywhere from Gage and they must've been scrapped.  He then gave these seeds to me as part of a Sour Chem project.  I only had 50% germination rates, and a single female.  This is that female.

Appearance:  The flowers from this strain are gorgeous. However she is grown, the plant exhibits extreme trichome development, and bright green flowers.  The coldest of temperatures will not get her to darken, or purple.  However, she seems to get even frostier at cold temperatures, as if a dew of cannabinoids settles on the bud in the cold.  Beautiful, frosty, classic finger-like flowers.

Aroma:  This plant has one of the most bizarre aromas I've come across in cannabis. It is super sweetbut uniquely refreshing with unmistakable and prominent notes of baby wipes, aloe vera, and rubbing alcohol.  Others have described it as smelling very hoppy like an IPA, and "the cleaning product aisle at Whole Foods."  It's very strange, and I've never smelled anything like it in cannabis.  It is entirely different from the lemon-pinesol-fuel from chemdog, but is very chemical in nature.  I think baby wipes sums it up perfectly.  There are also strong notes of citrus, honey, and graham cracker.  It really smells like a graham cracker covered in orange blossom honey all wrapped up in a baby wipe and aloe vera leaves! The odd combination of bouquet certainly conjures up intrigue.

Flavor: The flavor is largely different from the aroma, and not nearly as refreshing.  It leans heavily toward aloe vera, hoppy IPA beer, and honey grahams.  There is almost no chemical flavor present, and this plant does not resemble the Chemdog or Sour Diesel lineage as I have ever known it.  It is pleasant and nostalgic for me personally to experience the flavor of honey grahams or graham crackers in cannabis, and the aloe vera is certainly an interesting note.  The flavor is enjoyable but nearly not as remarkable as the actual Chemdog genetic line. 

Effects:  Felt immediately, this cross is somewhat sativa-dominant in its effect.  It is happy and euphoric but remains potent and effective.  It will cut through previous smokes of the day, and the intensity gradually builds in waves in the frontal lobe.  This flower is felt behind the eyes but also strongly in the mind and brain itself.  It is fun, entertaining, motivating, but still has the comforting warm blanket effect that I typically associate with indicas.  This is very pleasant and day-dreamy herb without being too heavy.  It is very strong though, and in excess produces more stoney, confusing effects.  In moderation, this is really fun and a bit silly, and very comfortable.

Overall Experience:  This is really enjoyable ganja.  The smell is one of the strangest and most unique in cannabis I've come across, and the nuggets are an absolute gorgeous lime-green covered in a layer of resin.  The flavor is not quite as impressive or remarkable as the nose, but is nice nonetheless.  I appreciate this smoke mid-to-early afternoons.  It keeps you going in a productive manner but with a more relaxed state of mind.  This is all-around fun weed, but it will not take the place of any of my personal favorites.  It is enjoyable for a unique change every now and then, but that is really the niche of this flower.  It is meant to change things up in an unusual way, but I don't think anybody will replace the classic elite clone-only plants in their garden with this one.  Gage Green produced something beautiful, unique, and enjoyable here that is most certainly worth running. 

Greenpoint Seeds Chem 34

Origins and Backstory: I bought these as testers from Greenpoint Seeds during their first release.  Chem 34 is Famine x Stardawg.  Famine is originally from Illuminati Seeds, and its full lineage looks like this: Chem 3 x (Abusive OG/West Coast Dog).  I have seen Chem 3 hybrids excel before, and have no experience with the West Coast Dog.  The genetics intrigued me and I thought they would exhibit heavy Chem traits, so I germinated them as part of the Sour Chem project.

Appearance:  Phenotypes varied, but all were extraordinary resin producers.  One phenotype was more stout in structure, and put out fist-sized chunky floral clusters.  Other phenotypes grew taller with finger-like buds that practically oozed cannabinoids.  These nuggets always impress friends as they are so dense, chunky, and absolutely caked in resin.  These flowers consistently make eyes into dinner plates. 

Aroma:  The aroma of the Chem 34 phenotypes was similar across the board.  Very Chemdog-apparent, these flowers smelled of sour lemon, bitter lemon peel, chlorine bleach, lysol, bromine, watered-down lemon warhead candies, and other strange cleaning agents.  The aroma reminded me of walking past one of the hotel cleaner's carts in the hallway, or what the janitor smelled like in elementary school.  There is also a strong lemon character that is very sour and slightly bitter, very reminiscent of warhead candies.  This is like a lemon-cleaner side of Chemdog without much fuel or gasoline.  A spectacular lemon cleaner-centric take on Chemdog.

Flavor: Chem 34 gets all the best of the Chemdog genetic line wrapped up in her flavor.  Chem 3 contributes bleach, chlorine, and mild lemon flavors, while the Chem 4 lends nail polish, solvent, and some fuel smells.  The great-grandmother of this cross, Abusive OG, is even noticed.  It could be the Chem 4 as well, but there are tones of fuel and the signature lemon pinesol of OG Kush.  Chem D from the Stardawg line is also prevalent, giving this herb an overhwelmingly sour, dank, skunky, almost-nasty odor.  To sum up the flavor, this is a sweet and skunky lemon bleach cleaner smoke.  It is incredibly satisfying and invites smoking a lot of this herb.

Effects:  This is a deadly-potent OG-Chemdog hybrid that leans heavily to the Chem side of things.  A face-smasher of the highest order, this is sure to impress any and every head.  She is satisfying and incredibly strong.  While her full effects take some time to fully manifest, this is the kind of herb that will put beads of sweat on your forehead, and you have to take a seat for a minute while your blood pressure changes.  This is a warm, complete and total mind-body stone that would knock an elephant out.  She is sedative but also perspective-changing and interesting.  Very introspective, this ganja is not recommended for social situations.  This mind-warper is perfect for snowy nights in or epic movies.  It is fairly imaginative, creative, and fun.  You just need to make sure to write down any ideas that pop up, as they will be nearly-immediately forgotten. Your mind slowly drifts from interesting thought to interesting thought, like cloudson a mellow day.  I personally enjoyed this ganja during our most recent Super Bowl.  I was not as interested in the actual game as I was in the whole production of the thing, and the context that the Super Bowl and all its parts take in our society.  It was mind-blowing to say the least, and I couldn't believe what humanity had turned into as I watched fireballs spewing out of the ground behind gorgeous women dressed in sequins with plastic smiles and choreographed dance.  This story should illustrate how this flower effects the mind.  This period of intense curiosity and couch-lock is followed up with overpowering drowsiness, red eyes, and laughs from friends as they think you are ridiculous.  This is giggly herb, so you will probably chuckle at yourself as you fall asleep. 

Overall Experience:  Simply an amazing indica.  This is an incredible Chemdog leaning cross that exhibits traits from Chem 3, Chem 4, Chem D, and even a trait or two of the OG line.  Her appearance is incredible, and seems to improve upon most other Chemdog hybrids.  Her perfectly dense and chunky buds glisten with copious resin, and the sour lemon Chemdog cleaner aroma is even more compelling.  This plant is deadly potent, and can cut through any effect from previous smoke during the day.  The bleachy lemon cleaner flavor is enticing and invites overindulgence.  Overindulging should be done carefully however, as this puckering flower will knock your body down so your mind can travel.  This is mind-blowing, stupefying, sedating, and fun flower that has all of the best flavors from the Chemdog lines, and is guaranteed to hit hard enough to satisfy anyone.  This is a must-try for those who appreciate potency and hard-hitting effects, or just enthusiasts of the Sour and Chemdog clones.  An amazing representation of the overall Chemdog genetic line, this is an all-time favorite smoke of mine.

Hollywood Pure Kush

Origins and Backstory: One of the classic Kush varieties coming from California, this plant is very similar to the Bubba Kush, SoCal Master Kush, and Suge Pure Kush.  She has been passed around for over 20 years and is still known to be an elite clone-only.  Her original birthplace is most likely from mountainous areas of hashish-producing regions in the middle-east, or she is some sort of hybrid of varieties from these same areas.

Appearance: Pure Kush puts out golf-ball shaped buds that are dense and covered in resin.  Once one has seen and handled the buds, they can be recognized anywhere.  Very stout and dense, the tops never protrude into the spearhead or pine cone shape.  This plant will develop a very slight purple tint if exposed to low temperatures consistently at the end of harvest, but almost always ends up light green, nearly identical to the nugget pictured above.

Aroma:  This is one of the first plans to really define the aroma and flavor of "Kush."  It is a spicy and very hashy aroma, with strong skunk notes from the strains so lovingly-selected in the '80s and 90's. This plant is a sweeter skunky smell than a Chemdog, but is much skunkier than many other varieties boasting the "skunk" nomenclature.  She smells of exotic spices and old musty places like basements and dank carpets, notes that can be found in nearly any typical Kush variety.  This particular Kush plant has nuances of marshmallow and vanilla.  Hints of spearmint are in the background as well.  I think the easiest thing to identify Hollywood Pure Kush from the other Kushes is the marshmallow, vanilla, and spearmint that is so prevalent and unique.  This musty, kushy plant has a trademark aroma that brings back relaxed beach-vibe memories when I inhale from a jar.

Flavor: Very similar to her aroma, the Pure Kush is a musty, skunky and dank variety with strong flavors of old-world traditional hashish and marshmallow spice.  It is sweet and vanilla can be noted more subtly.  The spice and hash flavors come first and most upfront, with marshmallow somewhere as a midtone. Exhales can have very light mint accents, and are followed up by a skunky flavor lingering on the palate.  Very enjoyable, this flavor is consistent with this variety.  It is hard to tell if I enjoy the flavor in its own rite, or because I associate it with the relaxed, happy effects.

Effects:  Very mellow and relaxing, this is a classic California Kush variety.  It is not overwhelmingly potent, but certainly strong enough to satisfy.  The effect is mildly sedating, but overall very pleasant, enjoyable, and laid back.  Despite the strength and indica-like character, these flowers will still have a functional effect.  Because the smoke is so relaxing, issues like paranoia, racing heart, etc. never become problems, even after overindulging.  This herb is very easy-going, relaxing, and pleasant.  It is not psychedelic in the slightest, and has a mellowing effect in the head, and nothing more.  Great for hanging out with friends at outdoor activities like camping or barbecuing because of its chill, mellow, happy nature.  This plant just puts out chill, happy, relaxed, no-problem-here vibes.

Overall Experience:  I love this plant and I'm certainly not alone in this sentiment; it is still being passed around and bred with after over 20 years of cultivation.  This particular Kush variety is spicy, hashy, and has uniquely beautiful flavors and aromas that bring marshmallow, vanilla, and hashish to mind.  The signature shape and aroma of the flowers always get me excited to just chill out and relax.  The smoke from Hollywood Pure Kush is such a classic and is a fun, enjoyable indica on sunny social days.  It is also good for pain management, insomnia, and other illnesses that are typically addressed by indicas, but seems to avoid the dulling or out-of-this-world feelings that can come from overwhelmingly-potent varieties.  Hollywood Pure Kush and her sisters will hopefully remain in the cannabis gene pool for years to come. 

Gorilla Glue #4

Origins and Backstory: Bred by a grower known as Joesy Wales, Gorilla Glue #4 is a clone-only cultivar named after its extreme stickiness.  It is unclear to me whether the strain is a cross of Chem Sis x Sour Dubb, or if it is a three-way cross of Chem Sis, Sour Dubb, and Chocolate Diesel.  However, it is basically the accidental product of home-growing from a group in the northwest.  It has become famous with extreme quickness.

Appearance: Extremely resinous, GG4 is known for its near-white appearance that makes it so appealing.  It occasionally shoots out stacking towers of calyxes on top of the buds in a trademark sort of way.  GG4 is as frosty as could be, and is very visually pleasing.

Aroma:  Gorilla Glue 4 in my garden came out to be sour, chemmy, with notes of chocolate, diesel fuel, and lemons. A jar reminds me of a well-done Mexican mole sauce, and chocolate biscotti.  It is hashy, spicy, sweet, sour like milk gone bad, a bit acrid, with heavy notes of chocolate.  It is a bit musty, reminding me of old basement and carpeting.

Flavor: It tastes almost exactly as it smells.  It is sweet, sour, chem-like, with some background notes of chocolate.  When smoked, the flavor seems to lose a bit of its complexity, with the Mexican mole spice not really noticeable.  It still retains multiple dimensions of flavor though, and is an enjoyable sweet and sour smoke. The chocolate isn't overwhelming, and it would be interesting to see Gorilla Glue selected for chocolate scent.  I really love the chocolate in the aroma of the Glue, and would love to see some breeding done to highlight that trait.

Effects:  Coming on immediately, Gorilla Glue is good day smoke for veterans.  It is mostly in the head, and is somewhat inspiring actually.  It can be a bit nervous but is mostly relaxed, fun, easygoing, pleasant, and fairly functional.  It is potent enough to be satisfying smoke and is not overwhelming.  It feels great on a summer day, and is good herb for relaxing outside in a hammock or on the beach.  You could even get active and hike around, surf, etc. but I would prefer a haze or more sativa-dominant plant for more active endeavors.  Very enjoyable, mildly creative, and motivating.  This flower makes me want to move a bit and get things done, and then makes relaxing easy when it's all over.  Those who associate extreme frost with potency will be disappointed though, as a Chemdog or OG variety will hit harder than this plant every day of the year. 

Overall Experience:  Gorilla Glue #4 has a lot of hype behind it, and it is clearly a commercial strain.  It appears to be absolutely covered and dominated by resin, and has an attractively offensive and unique scent that catches attention.  Coupled with high yields, it is no wonder why this variety has made its way around growing circles so quickly.  However, I do not find it to be exceptional connoisseur smoke. I like the flavor, and the effects are enjoyable.  However, there is nothing spectacular or unique about the effects in any way.  If you're growing this strain, it is probably for the excellent bag appeal and decent character of effect.  Great commercial strain and is sure to wow your friends with resin, but Gorilla Glue is not a game-changing mind-dazzler.

East Coast Sour Diesel

Origins and Backstory: There is so much controversy pertaining to Sour Diesel now.  We also grow the AJ's Sour Diesel, which is a different cut than ECSD.  Rezdog also did some breeding with a plant he calls Sour Diesel but does not resemble the ECSD or AJ cut very accurately.  I have been told they set the story straight on the whole Sour Diesel story and origins on the Adam Dunn Show, but have not looked into it personally.  In any case, this is a Diesel plant that is obviously closely related to the Chemdog genetic line, and it comes from the east coast of the US.

Appearance: The ECSD has a trademark look to her.  The pistils are lighter, sometimes even pink, light orange, but never getting to fire-engine red.  The leaves on ECSD typically stay dark green even close to harvest, and it creates a signature look of dark green leaves, lime green bud, and bright pistils in long, fingerling shapes.

Aroma:  Skunky, offensive, and dank.  She is very similar to the Chemdog line, but seems to be a bit more lemony.  There are definite fuel tones (hence the name "Diesel") and is indeed sour lemon peel on the nose as well.  ECSD is like a sour lemon warhead version of Chemdog, with less emphasis on the motor oil, grease, and mechanic shop smells.  A sour lemon aroma dominates alongside pungent country road skunk and heady, fuely, fume-like scents.  I'd swear this ganja puts off fumes from the flower, and is definitely not covert.  When buds are broken up, the scent is intensified and sour fuel notes are definitely emphasized. 

Flavor:  You'd probably think you inhaled some sort of mechanic's cleaner if you didn't know any better.  The flavor is a lot more diesel than anything else, which crinkles the nose and hits the back of the throat hard.  The smoke is sharp and immediately sour-lemon-fuel.  It tastes like lemon warhead candies mixed with diesel fuel and maybe some sugar removed.  This is wild stuff, and there is no wonder why this clone is so sought-after. 

Effects:  Like the flavor, the effects of the ECSD are notable as well.  It is more head-oriented than the rest of the Chem family, and seems to be almost electric at times.  It is very strong smoke that satisfies nearly any head, but isn't too debilitating or sedating.  The potency can make you a bit confused, but for the most part this ganja inspires creativity and is for getting up and going.  I seem to get good thinking done on this herb, and have enhanced idea-generation.  This is a potent pick me up that even hardcore OG and Chem lovers could appreciate.  It seems to be strong and satisfying without being devastating. The effect is long-lasting too, coming down into a mellowed out, mildly dreamy state, where more ECSD seems like a pretty good idea.

Overall Experience:  One of the many sour-themed clones, ECSD is one of the most coveted cultivars available.  It has been around nearly as long as Chemdog, almost 20 years.  This fact alone is testament to the value of this plant.  The nose on the ECSD is intriguing to say the least, and seems to match the effect.  The electric lemon diesel smoke seems to invigorate the body while still zapping the mind with the joy of cannabinoids.  This plant is an all-around pleaser.  I might be critical, but I think this clone could use some invigoration from other genetic lines, and I think it could make some incredible hybrids.  Solid smoke on its own, but I tend to reach for other jars instead.

Greenpoint Seeds Copper Chem

Origins and Backstory: I bought these in the first round of releases from Greenpoint Seeds.  Copper Chem is an incredible cross of Chem 4 and a Stardawg male, making it a Chem 4 backcross.  I popped the whole pack as part of a Sour Chem project to breed further. 

Appearance:  Phenotypes ranged from purple calyx clusters to pistil-dominated dark-green floral clusters.  Personally, my favorite was a phenotype that settled somewhere in the middle.  Dark green with purple accents and bright red pistils, she is covered in resin and absolutely stunning.  She reminds me of Chemdog bags I would get in the early 2000s in the mountain towns of Colorado.

Aroma:  This is the epitome of Chemdog.  Notes of gasoline, motor oil, gear grease, pinesol cleaner, sour lemon rind, rotten lime peel, diesel fuel, nail polish remover, acetone, and sour rye bread are prevalent among the different phenotypes.  Each plant displayed its own biases--one was very much a sour lemon pinesol cleaner with nail polish remover, while another phenotype heavily expressed gasoline, diesel, and sour rye bread.  I had a very hard time picking a keeper, as all phenotypes were something to be desired.  Very stinky herb, it is even more potent when combusted.  This smells like classic old school dank when it's burned.  The uninitiated complain of an offensive rotting-dead-body-skunk odor.  The nose from this one is incredibly powerful, loved by veteran potheads and abhorred by republicans. 

Flavor: The flavor is complex, with strong lemon peel bitterness and a velvety-seeming nail polish remover leading the way.  This is followed by a sweet, skunky dank flavor coating the whole mouth, with notes of gasoline and distinct diesel lingering on the tongue.  There is really a lot going on, and all of it is intriguing and pleasant.  All phenotypes remind me of the bags of Chemdog weed I bought as a teenager.  This is a great example of what comes to mind when I hear "dank." I could briefly sum the flavor up as sweet 'n sour lemon peel janitor's closet oil spill cave. This is phenomenally flavored ganja.

Effects:  Copper Chem is very body oriented, and is a very sedating flower.  It hits hard, immediately, and is very euphoric but a bit dulling.  It is how I would imagine opiates.  Dreamy and mellowing, the effect of copper chem is very pleasant but not so functional.  The whole of the experience in one word would be 'pleasant,' and it becomes immediately clear why the entire Chemdog genetic line and its descendants are so highly-favored.  The experience is probably pretty universally loved.  Thoughts become more interesting, and new perspectives and philosophies rear their heads.  It becomes easier to relate to others, and rational thoughts become abundantly clear.  However, this is dreamy herb, the kind that needs *DO NOT OPERATE HEAVY MACHINERY* stickers slapped all over it.  It's potency is nearly unparalleled (save for OGs and other Chemdog varieties) and very much has effects that are drug-like.  All in all a lovely, warm, sedating experience.  Very enjoyable, but not much for engaging in social situations or physical activities.

Overall Experience:  The Chemdog genetic line is some of the most coveted in all of cannabis, and this inbred version is an amazing representation of the entire Chemdog family.  Chem lovers will rejoice over this strain and genetics being available in seed form.  Females capture the incredible essence of Chemdog, the fuel-chemical-sour character that has stoners puckering up everywhere.  The bouquet of the Chemdog clone is preserved and maybe even improved on in this cross, giving these beautiful flowers their extraordinarily heady flavor.  The flavor, however beautiful, is just the beginning.  The warm, happy, sweet effect from these flowers is enticing and dream-like, providing a sort of sedating, trippy experience.  It is felt strongly in the body, providing pain relief but also causing drowsiness.  The smoke yields a slight grin, little red eyes, and a sweet, happy disposition.  I frequently forget things and can be a bit clumsy after smoking this one due to its potency, and I never seem to get any real work done after imbibing with this one.  I even fell asleep on 'movie night' about 20 minutes in.  While drowsy, Chemdog is perhaps a perfect indica, and has dominated the cannabis scene for the past 20 years with good reason.

Amnesia Haze

Origins and Backstory:  First bred in Amsterdam, many clones and seeds of this variety are available stateside.  The clone I was able to source is famed around Colorado as the Amnesia Haze, and for good reason.  She has won the cannabis cup as a spectacular sativa, and is an ancestor of the award-winning Moonshine Haze from Rare Dankness.

Appearance:  While all-around stunning, the appearance of Amnesia Haze is the first trait to raise eyebrows.  Flowers look like skinny spear-tips, bright green with copious resin covering the calyxes.  Fire-engine red pistils protrude from the flowers, giving the appearance of flaming buds.  She looks like a well-adapted indoor sativa, with huge calyxes and surprisingly-dense floral clusters.  Her look is like a haze-leaning Jack Herer; elongated spear tips of lime-green with bright red accents certainly impress.

Aroma:  The aroma of Amnesia Haze is its most spectacular trait.  Bursting with flavor, an open jar is almost overwhelmingly-sweet, and the reaction from smokers is remarkably consistent when smelling: "whoa."  It reminds me of bubblelicious bubblegum, bazooka joe, old french cheeses, hotel fruit baskets, earthy forest floor, and honestly, Amsterdam in general.  For any smokers familiar with typical Haze flowers, Amnesia does not fall far from the tree.  Amnesia however has less sandalwood, spice, and herbal tones that I typically associate with Hazes.  It has clearly been bred and selected for the sweet candied side of things, and smells like some sort of exotic alien dessert.  It is very difficult to put your finger on exact tones with this variety, but some fruits I can detect are nectarine and unripe peach.  A mild buttery flavor is in the background like popcorn and aged soft cheese.  The real essence of this weedis like a child's perfume.  It is truly bizarre and incredible that something from nature smells like this.

Flavor:  The aroma somewhat translates to flavor, but some nuances are left by the wayside.  The flavor is very much sweet and fruity, slightly sour.  It is a nose-tingling unique flavor that will keep the user coming back again and again.  The flavor is sweet and sour like a nectarine or early-picked peach, and reminds me of Sour Patch Kids and Swedish Fish candy.  The notes of old cheese are missing entirely, and bubblegum drops to a faint background tone.  The flavor is more hazy than the aroma, but is still sweeter than traditional Hazes.  It definitely contains sandalwood, moss, and other notes that simply defy description.   There is also some black pepper.  One of the most intriguing aspects of this flower is that the smell and flavor are so unique that they are not found outside of cannabis, and cannot even be described.

Effects:  Amnesia Haze is one that has to be respected.  It is a sativa, which sometimes veterans mistakenly associate with weak or underwhelming effects.  This is not the case with Amnesia, or any Hazes in my experience.  Amnesia Haze, when ideally dosed, provides a mildly trippy experience that is bright, uplifting, happy, and positive.  It has provided me with a positive perspective of my relationship after an argument, and completely brought me around on a point.  It seems to heal up emotional wounds and is very positive--almost like an optimist is whispering in your ear.  Amnesia enhances creativity and can even be motivating as well.  For example, it motivated me to get back to blogging!  I love the zippy sort of feeling it gives, not felt in the body like so many sedating indica plants.  This plant is powerfully uplifting and active, almost like coffee.  It is easy to overdo this flower though, because the flavor is so amazing.  If you chase the flavor, you will find yourself with all of the above effects, as well as some heart-racing paranoia, social awkwardness, racing thoughts, incessant planning, etc.  She is surprisingly potent, and deserves to be used in moderation for ideal effects.  Amnesia Haze is ideal for creative and active endeavors, and would not serve one well with insomnia or something.  Excellent for outdoors, artwork, or just opening up a happier perspective on things.

Overall Experience:  Amnesia Haze is a delicious product of Amsterdam breeding and genetics, and is very deserving of all the fame she receives.  Even this strain is "Amsterdamized", becoming sweeter, fruitier, and less of what I would traditionally call "dank."  However, I think in this rare case, it works to the favor of Amnesia Haze.  She is so positive, uplifting, and bright, it seems that her aroma and bouquet perfectly match the effects.  Everything about this flower is uplifting, happy, beautiful, and positive.  I love her flavor and it keeps me coming back, but overindulging in potent sativas is usually not fun.  More than a bowl, and my heart will race, I become paranoid about almost everything, and social situations become dangerous to navigate.  They almost become like obstacles to be avoided or worked through, but are not really pleasurable.  With a light dose though, and social situations become unusually interesting, engaging, and satisfying.  It seems dose is very important with this strain.  Overall, this is a nearly-ideal sativa that will keep me coming back for its consistent day-brightening and positive effects.