This week’s cannabis strain comes from Mendocino Grasslands and is called Rolls Choice. This strain is a cross of Tahoe OG and C4. I’m very familiar with Tahoe OG, a herb I find to be a heavy-hitting Indica hybrid that’s rather stony. But C4 is a strain I’ve never tried and is a mystery to me – it’s a cross of Shiskaberry (smoked it before) and Cotton Candy Kush (never smoked before).

Look and Smell

First off, Mendocino Grasslands doesn’t just put 3.50 grams in their eighth jars – they put in 4.20 grams in a clever nod to herb smoker’s favorite smoking time of day. I certainly appreciate the extra herb, that’s a couple of bowls of smoking pleasure right there. Mendocino Grasslands’ herb comes in glass jars that have a classy and understated design… there is a sense that they put much thought into the graphic look, something I appreciate.

The herb itself underwhelmed me at first… half the contents was shake along with a couple nice size buds. Not what I expect when paying over $50 an eighth. The two buds were a patchy mix of pale green, sage green and dark yellow colors.

The nugs literally fell apart while cutting them up…

The aroma was very earthy, on the low-end of the smell spectrum. By low-end I mean it’s got that heavy earthy aroma instead of the bright fruity notes that I would call the high-end of the spectrum. I could smell that nice old-school OG aroma lingering in the air when I started to cut up a nug (which fell apart) to see how good the cure was… and the cure didn’t disappoint! The herb was still pretty fresh even though it was packaged in January and I’m reviewing this at the end of August.

The Taste and Effects

The taste followed the smell and was earthy with a bit of a soapy taste. The smoke left a sandalwood aftertaste in my mouth. On a blind taste test I would have called this a descendant of OG Kush crossed with a Mexican strain that I would have bought back in 1984-86… it had those flavors that took me back to hanging out with my old friends in the eighties, passing a joint around. Good times and good memories!

I took a couple hits of the herb on camera and by the time we headed to the ten minute break I was feeling the effects rolling in… and it had that old-school feel – in that way where everything shifts and changes suddenly, as my eyes got slightly lidded and my body got the “fuzzies” – classic marijuana.

There were no surprises from this herb, but it was strong – very strong. I took four hits before going back on screen to finish the review, and I was stoned in such a pleasant fashion – but not in a disoriented way – everything was well under control.

The effects of this one hit quickly and strongly, as I noted above, but they also built over about ten to fifteen minutes. The THC level on this one was 26.5% – that’s a pretty big engine to drive the high, and it felt like it… easily a “one hit and quit” strain if you don’t have a high tolerance.

The Wrap Up

This herb reminded me so much of smoking joints back in the day that I had to roll one up and see how this one smoked in a fatty. I enjoyed the joint this afternoon sitting on our patio overlooking Joshua Tree and the hi-desert – it was a great high. The herb smoked all the way down to the roach – flavorful and smooth the whole way. It wasn’t quite the same as hanging with my old friends and passing the joint around, as I only had a roadrunner and a lizard for company. But by the time I had smoked the joint all the way down I was ready to start having a conversation with the lizard who was sitting by me, hanging out on the wood pile – yeah, it’s that strong!

In my mind, this is the way a good Indica hybrid is supposed to feel. This strain was listed online as a Sativa hybrid, but that’s not the way it felt to me. Nothing about this herb indicated that it was a Sativa, not the smell, the look, the taste or the effects.

One last note about the name… I’m guessing the name Rolls Choice was given because it sounds like “Rolls Royce”… I don’t know for sure. If you have better information about the name, drop me a line.

Now it’s time to load up the bong and go for another sesh with this Rolls Choice…

Until later, best of health.

I was pleasantly surprised this last week when I went to the post office… there was an unexpected package from Five Leaf Wellness! I’ve learned this year that only good things come in packages from Five Leaf Wellness so I was rather excited to get back home and see what was inside.

Inside the package was a couple of plastic bottles sealed in a smell-proof bag. One of the bottles contained the sample we decided to look at this week – OZ Kush.

This is an indoor-grown Indica hybrid strain (70% Indica – 30% Sativa) that tested at 19.8% CBD! The sample said it had 2.58 grams inside, and that turned out to be one sweet-looking bud.

[Disclaimer: This herb was provided by Five Leaf Wellness in exchange for an honest review]

Look and Smell

Popping open the plastic bottle released a pungent, sweet aroma into the cabin. There was a lot of purple in the smell, and not just one type of purple. There was a sweet candy purple and a deep, earthy purple – there was a grape juice purple in there as well, along with a few other purples… wonderful purples!

The bud was beautiful – so photogenic! The hand-trimmed nug was light-green with an abundance of red hairs, covered in trichomes – frosty and a pleasure to photograph… and I should note, in the photo lightbox the aroma was loud.

The nug had only hints of purple in the colors – but wow, if I had my eyes closed I could imagine I was smelling an old-school Granddaddy Purple or Mendo Purps nug.

The well-cured nug cut-up like fresh pizza dough, and cutting up the bud released a sage-like aroma that reminded me of a Haze and made me wonder what the genetics of this bud were… I was unable to find any genetic information on the hemp version of OZ Kush online, but I discovered there are several different cannabis versions of this strain.

One cannabis version of this strain is made by crossing OG Kush and Zkittlez and has the same light-green look as this version. I also read that there is a version that came from crossing Kush (OG Kush?) and Silver Haze… hmmm, there’s that Haze. Oh, the mystery! I will try to get to the bottom of this, and I will update this post when I get the answers we seek.

The Taste and Effects

I was expecting a strong purple flavor when I took the first bong toke, and was completely surprised by an earthy, woody, campfire taste. There were hints of purple in the flavor, but that was it – just hints. As a note – I smoked this one from both my bong and my pipe and the flavor was consistent every time I smoked… roasted wood, earthy, hints of purple candy.

It didn’t take very long for the strong Indica effects to roll in. The first noticeable thing was the fuzzies – that wonderful feeling of having all your nerves insulated with inches of soft, fuzzy sensations. By the third or fourth hit I was in a seriously relaxed and chill mood. I was writing notes in my Sesh Journal while the effects hit me, and I must say, my manual dexterity definitively suffered from taking just these few rips… writing with a pen became a challenge.

After I finished the first bowl and started the second I found I was slipping into a contemplative, thoughtful mood. I was having a stream of thoughts pass through my mind – one thought following another, leading to other thoughts – and then I’d try and remember a thought, and that would lead to some other new thought – just loops upon soft fuzzy loops of thoughts with random thoughts careening in from out of the blue. I sat with my eyes closed during the break in filming, and for a bit I forgot we were filming a review because my mind had traveled so far away.

The high lasted for nearly an hour before slipping into a general sense of well-being, body comfort and chill relaxation. That’s when I re-upped with another bowl… you could say I was loving the OZ Kush at this point!

The Wrap Up

In my opinion this is a great evening strain. When the day is done, and it’s time to put the feet up – it’s time to light up some OZ Kush. This is a strong one, but even an occasional smoker could enjoy the chill, relaxing qualities this herb brings to the table if they start slow and dose low. The seasoned smoker is going to enjoy the strong Indica effects that can be felt after smoking a handful of hits – I know I did!

This is definitely a strain I am going to buy again. On the scale of 1 to 5 I’d give this a 4.75 on the effects – powerfully strong for a CBD strain! Over the last twenty-four hours since I first tried this one it’s been my favorite smoke. I’ve been trying to nurse it along so I can make it last… but it’s going way too fast! Thank goodness this is ordered online – I know I’ll be placing an order ASAP… before this one is gone!

Until later, best of health.

I don’t know about you, but the name Incredible Hulk on a hemp strain made me think this was going to be a monster with a powerful high – something that would transform me from a mild-mannered reviewer into a big, green, clothes-shredding beast. That is not what happened, in fact – this was one of the more subtle hemp strains I’ve tried… let me tell you about it.

[Disclaimer: This herb was provided by Flame Train CBD in exchange for an honest review]

Look and Smell

Incredible Hulk is a cross of Green Crack and Jack Herer – both strains I’ve enjoyed before. I’m guessing that the name Incredible Hulk comes from the size of the dense, compact khaki green nugs this strain produced. I poured out the very generous eighth that weighed in at 5.41 grams on the tray and basked in the strong, sweet berry aromas wafting up at me.

As I just mentioned, the aroma of berries, like a bowl of mixed berries that are very ripe, jumped up from the tray and mixed with a pungent earthiness. There was an undertone of pine mixed in there… and it all smelled so good I couldn’t wait to get this in the bong.

I cut up the first nug and not only did the aromas I was enjoying increase, but I was very impressed by the cure – the scissors cut through the nug like cutting through a fine Gouda cheese, as I like to say. At this point, even though I knew this was a Sativa strain, I was half expecting a strong Indica buzz because the look was strongly like a Kush – like a dense, compact Indica strain…

Taste and Effects

The smell of this one carried directly over to the taste, but the sweetness was understated and the earthy qualities stood out more. My mental flashback picture was to smoking some Blackberry Kush years ago – it had much of the same flavors. With the second hit I really started to notice the pine flavors and once I noticed the pine I couldn’t un-taste it. Every hit after that tasted earthy and piney with a hint of the berry sweetness.

The smell in the room after a few hits was a little different than the usual marijuana smell… Tania and I decided it smelled like “a sweet pine forest in the spring after a rain”. I also noted there was the noticeable smell of sandalwood mixed in…

This was a creeper herb and took about 7-8 minutes to really show all it’s effects. After the first few hits I noticed that I could breath easier – the effect was very noticeable. The herb was providing a lifted feeling – in a subtle way, but was a definite eye opener.

Most of the effects of this one were subtle except the body comfort and breathing easier. After the effects really saturated me the most noticeable thing I was experiencing was a relaxed feeling in my neck and shoulders. There must have been tension in my shoulders because everything felt loosened up after about 8 minutes.

This herb had barely any – if any at all – noticeable psychoactive properties. I felt at peace, but I attribute that to the body comfort I felt. Some hemp strains can really make me CBD stoned, but not this one. This just relaxed my body, gave me a slight lift, and led to some good conversations.

The Wrap Up

Tania, my wife and the director of our videos, doesn’t smoke that much and when she does she prefers CBD because she doesn’t want to feel the strong effects like I do. While reviewing this herb I immediately thought this might be one she’d like, and later I asked her to give it a try. Well, she loved this strain! It was peaceful and relaxing, it felt good and clear-headed and she agreed that it definitely helped relax the neck and shoulders.

The only drawback to this strain is the effects seemed to fade rather quickly and after 30-45 minutes I needed to smoke more to continue feeling the body comfort. Tania also noted that the herb seemed to wear off rather quickly. It’s a shame, because the body comfort is just right when it’s at its peak.

All and all this one got a 4.3 rating, mainly based on the look and smell. The effects on this one are prefect for that person who wants a great tasting smoke with a mentally lifting and subtle high, and a shot of relaxing body comfort. Not a bad combination, if you ask me…

Until later, best of health.

Would you like to try this herb? Flame Train CBD has provided a 15% off deal for all Red Bench Review readers and viewers. Just use the code “redbench” at check out and save yourself a few dollars!

Website link: https://flametraincbd.com/shop/ols/products/incredible-hulk

I was at Desert’s Finest in Desert Hot Springs, my usual dispensary, picking up an herb to review a couple of weeks ago. I asked the budtender what was the most popular herb. He said they were sold out of the most popular herb, but just got in some Garcia Hand Picked that was going to fly out the door. The strain was PB Souffle, one I’ve never had before, but it’s lineage is Do-Si-Dos crossed with Lava Cake, both strains I’ve enjoyed in the past. I was curious to see what the cross was like, and taking the budtender’s advice I picked up an eighth of this Indica, even though it was a bit pricey at sixty dollars.

When I got home I glanced at the calendar and realized that Jerry Garcia’s birthday was coming up… I know this because my wife Tania shares the same birth date. So today we are celebrating what would be Jerry’s 79^th birthday by trying out the brand that bears his name.

Garcia Hand Picked is a brand put out by Jerry’s Garcia’s family, and their herb is curated by the Garcia family itself “to create an inspired cannabis experience that’s spontaneous, harmonious and can bring people together the way only Jerry could.” That all sounds good to me, but what’s in the package?

The Look and Smell

The box that this herb comes in is very artfully designed, as you can see from the photos…

inside the box was an oversized silk-screened jar that contained the eighth. While the jar seemed a little big for the herb inside, it’s a keeper for sure!

Opening the jar released a room-filling aroma that was hard to define… deep, rich, earthy with hints of vanilla, ginger, pine and a handful of other aromas I couldn’t quite place – a very complex aroma that seemed to have a different smell each time I took a whiff. The box listed the following terpenes – Myrcene (1.24%), Pinene (0.79%), Beta Caryophyllene (0.34%), Linalool (0.13%) and Limonene (0.11%).

The eighth weighed out at 3.55 grams and consisted of one nice 1.73 gram nug, a couple mediums and a couple smalls.

Dense, chunky and frosted with trichomes – the pungently aromatic nugs were a pleasure to photograph. The buds were well-cured and rather sticky when I cut them up. I quickly loaded up a bowl in my trusty bong so I could get to the heart of the matter.

The Taste and Effects

The taste was much like the smell – rich and deep… the herb had a heavy thickness when I smoked it and it made me cough with every hit. The Limonene was noticeable to me in the flavor as it created a strong lemon flavor on the exhale.

From the first hit my PB Souffle adventure began… and my first time smoking this one was definitely an adventure! Few strains have the ability to disorient me, but by five hits into this one I was there – my brain felt like it had been smacked with a baseball bat, but in the best, marijuana kind of way. No one needed to tell me that this wasn’t a good time to operate heavy machinery! I tried walking across the room and I was feeling rather wobbly. I felt goofy, and my timing seemed to be all off… I was getting ripped.

This herb tested at 28.91% THC, and combined with the 2.92% terpenes was causing a powerful entourage effect. The high was strongly a head high, and was only mildly noticeable in the body (except when I walked across the room). Usually an herb this strong will make me very body conscious but this didn’t hit me like that at all… mainly just a mental adventure. To see how stoned this one got me I recommend checking out the video review… I got toasted. Good times!

After about a half-hour the strongest disorienting effects had started to fade and the herb settled down into a very good social smoke. Tania and I hung out after the video review was finished, and just a little while later I was happy to find that I was now in a zone of mental and physical comfort, and I had gotten rather talkative… I felt lifted, upbeat and focused.

The Wrap Up

I’ve been smoking this one now for the last few days and my body has gotten used to the strongest effects. It’s not so disorienting now, and has turned out to be a really good social herb. I find I’m very productive after smoking, interested in having a good conversation, or just in a very mental active zone.

I tried this one in my bong and in my pipe and I found I preferred smoking this one from my pipe, in small hits so I wouldn’t cough so much. In the video review I make a point of talking about how thick and heavy this one is, and that is a fact – the smoke of this herb is very resiny – thicker than I’ve experienced in a long time.

Out of the handful of strains I have on hand right now – and I have a few superstars – this has become my go-to jar, and it probably will until it’s gone. I must note that this has been my first time trying out a Garcia Hand Picked herb, and I will definitely check out more from the Garcia family. Mark me impressed!

Until later, best of health.

I received a package at the post office a couple weeks ago, an unexpected box from Five Leaf Wellness in Tennessee. I’d done a review of Five Leaf’s Abacus Diesel about a month earlier, and I was surprised to find something at the post office when I picked up my mail.

I quickly opened the box when I got home, and inside was a plastic jar in a vacuum sealed bag that said Mendo X Royal Kush on the side.

Oh yeah… they said they were going to send me some Mendo when it came in back in stock. I remembered the photos I’d seen of this herb, and happily added it to our review schedule.

Last night this herb came up for review and I was blown away! Such a strong herb, but lets not get ahead of ourselves… let me tell you how the review unfolded.

Look and Smell

As I cut open the smell-proof bag that sealed the jar a deeply earthy aroma escaped from the bag. It’s a good thing they had this in a smell-proof bag because it was pungent with a room-filling smell. My nose caught that first whiff and my attention was captured. “That is dank,” I said. Deeply earthy, as I mentioned, with a purple aroma.

Purple. As I’ve mentioned in the past there is a distinct flavor and aroma that is purple herb. This one had it but not a bright version of that aroma, but like a dark purple.

The jar held just over a quarter of herb and that included six nice sized nugs – well-trimmed, well-cured, dense and covered with frosty trichomes. The hemp flowers were beautiful and photogenic.

The Kush look came through strongly on these nugs, and they had the compact quality one would expect from that kind of herb. I was in hemp heaven taking photos as the nugs gave off sweet dank aroma that got me excited to load this in the bong.

When I cut up one of the dark green nugs with hints of purple the aroma increased and started to come on strong with a lemony smell. The lemon quickly overtook the purple and the blend was delightful.

Taste and Feel

The first hit had a dank, earthy quality like the aroma followed by a lemony flavor. The exhale was very tart with more of the lemon flavor with a touch on mintiness. The aftertaste was a deep, rich flavor with an undertone of pine and a lemon flavor lying on top. When I took a second hit the lemon seemed more prevalent, but it was the deep, earthy quality of the hits that really won me over to this one.

I wondered for a couple minutes whether this was going to have any effects because it took a few moments for the effects to start rolling in. But once they started I was pleasantly on a Kush-like ride, the kind of marijuana body high I love most – eyes lidded, body fuzzy like it’s wrapped in a thick layer of cotton-candy, and super-relaxed.

I took about five or six hits and finished off the first bowl. I felt like this herb could take me a little farther, so I packed I second bowl and took a hit. I don’t know why, but that first hit off of a second bowl usually floors me, and this herb was no exception – it was a home run hit.

Wrap Up

When it comes to blurring the line between the relaxed body effects of hemp and the psychoactive effects of cannabis, this strain definitely had a stony quality that made me wonder where that line really was… this herb had 21% CBD – a high level, and at that strength the lines blur, for sure. This one had a great entourage effect with a combination of the CBD, a small amount of THC (<.3%), and abundant terpenes.

I gave this one a 4.75 rating – very high for me. The look of the herb was perfect. Kush heaven. The aroma was room filling, the flavor was a delight and the effects were top-shelf. Five Leaf Wellness informed me that this was one of their best-sellers, and I’m not surprised. I’ll be back for more!

Until later, best of health.

Iced Lemonade is a Sativa strain that was bred by Annunaki Genetics by crossing Pink Lemonaid #2 with Huckleberry Soda. The jar we looked at came from Coastal Sun Farm, where this herb was grown organically under the California sun with regenerative farming techniques. Those that have read my reviews of Coastal Sun Farm’s herb in the past know that I think very highly of this brand – and the people behind it. They have grown some of the best herb I’ve smoked over the last year, and continue to impress. I was certainly excited to try this strain when they put it in my hands a week ago.

[Disclaimer: This herb was provided by Coastal Sun Farm in exchange for an honest review]

I picked up this jar at Desert’s Finest in Desert Hot Springs where it is priced at a reasonable $38, and that’s with tax included!

Look and Smell

When I opened the jar I caught a whiff of something sweet – but my first smelling of the jar gave me the impression of a distinct tea smell with lemon in the background. Tea has an interesting aroma signature, with heavy amounts of Mrycene and Limonene, with a sprinkling of Beta-Caryophyllene – that’s the peppery, spicy background. I’m not a tea drinker, so that’s my generic description of the smell of the tea that this herb reminded me of right off the bat.

The more I smelled the herb the more I detected a sweet berry aroma, and when I cut into the first small well-cured nug, the sweet aroma became room-filling. The jar was filled with a healthy 3.60 grams of small dark green and purple nugs – the dense little buds were like little solid pebbles and had the shape of small popcorn pieces… they were almost too small to call nugs and were more like nugglets.

Taste and Effects

The pieces of herb were pretty sticky when I’d cut them up to load in my bong. The first hit was so smooth and the flavor I tasted was this earthy, spicy flavor… a bit tea-like but I couldn’t place it at first. Then it hit me, this herb tastes like an iced tea, especially the aftertaste… I’m not a regular iced tea drinker, but I recognized the flavor and I couldn’t untaste it after that. After a few hits Tania remarked to me that the smoke in the air didn’t smell like regular pot, but smelled more like a tea bag.

Within a few moments, and after a few hits from the bong I felt the Sativa effects of this one start to move through my body. I quickly felt uplifted with a mind-clearing wave of mental energy. My eyes felt opened, like I could see better, like my eyes were brightened. My body had an invigorating burst of energy, not too powerful, but a definite increase – very active and mentally stimulating.

This one got me talkative off camera while we were filming the review… everything seemed so interesting to talk about as my mind moved into a free-association mode. But at the same time my mind was very focused. I didn’t have any problem organizing my thoughts as I jotted down notes in my Sesh Journal. I guessed that this would be a good herb for writing and that has turned out to be true! It made my brain brain feel like it was firing on all it’s cylinders.

After a took a handful of bong tokes I got up from the Red Bench and walked around. Floaty would be the best word to describe the feeling. I suddenly felt the high in my body, in my legs – and while they seemed to be walking correctly, I felt like there was several inches of air between my soles and the floor.

When I returned to the Red Bench to continue filming the video review we came to the profound realization that this whole experience could be summed up in one word – positive.

The Wrap Up

I’ve had a few more seshes with Iced Lemonade since filming the video review. I’ve been going slow with this eighth – I keep wanting to hang on to the herb like it’s a precious commodity. The effects were so positive I want to put it away for that special day.

After several seshes I realized that I actually preferred smoking this one from the pipe. The flavor seemed richer and earthier without reminding me constantly of tea. For some reason it tastes more like tea from the bong – and I mean, every time.

I would definitely put this one high on my Sativa list, almost up there with a high quality Sour Diesel or a Jack Herer – uplifting, social, mentally stimulating… it checks off so many boxes on my list of what I look for in a Sativa high.

Until later, best of health.

Cat’s Meow is a strain that comes from Flame Train CBD and is a cross of wild Thai, a strain called Cat Piss and Sage Kush – an interesting mix that creates a Sativa hybrid. This is an indoor-grown herb and just glancing at the buds you can see this is craft herb…

[Disclaimer: This herb was provided by Flame Train CBD in exchange for an honest review]

Look and Smell

Flame Train CBD packages their herb in a Mylar bag that has a peek-a-boo window on the back.

I could see that the buds looks great in the bag through the window and when I opened the bag I wasn’t disappointed. Even though I had slightly crushed the package when I received it, the two nugs in the eighth were thick, chunky and impressive. The nugs were frosty with trichomes and packed with orange hairs.

The smell of the herb was packed with citrus aromas. Serious tangerine – the sweet fruit, the rind, heck… it’s like walking through a tangerine orchard smelling the bag. Cutting up the first nug you could tell this craft herb was grown and cured with care. The nugs were well-manicured and very sticky when I cut them up. I already knew this was going to be a great smoker…

The Taste and Effects

The aromas carried straight over to the flavor – sweet tangerine! The first hit was thick with the flavor, both on the inhale and the exhale. I am definitely partial to citrus-flavored herb, and this one was pushing all the right buttons. I quickly jumped into a second hit to savor the flavor. The smoke was sooo smooth making the smoking process a great pleasure, and I ended up smoking two bowls from the bong during my first sesh.

By the time I finished the second bowl I was seriously CBD stoned with a very positive, happy energy. The good energy this herb has was noticeable after just the first few hits. The effects felt so good I decided to push the envelope and take this one for a full run. Those few hits turned into four or five hits and by this time the body effects started to kick in – relaxed and comfortable with a distinct fuzzy feeling in the back of my head.

By the sixth hit everything in my body seemed to align properly and it felt like my spirit and body were vibrating at the same speed – everything in it’s right place. And for a good ten to fifteen minutes I felt so stoned. The stoned quality faded into a motivated, contemplative, and energetic high that led to some great conversation with my wife after the review was finished. A great socializing herb, for sure.

The Wrap Up

Cat’s Meow is definitely the cat’s meow, as they say. I loved this herb and was so glad I got to try it. Would I order it again? In a heartbeat! The nugs are premium, the smell is amazing, the cure is fantastic and the smoking experience was a quality sesh!

Would you like to try this herb? Flame Train CBD has provided a 15% off deal for all Red Bench Review readers and viewers. Just use the code “redbench” at check out and save yourself a few dollars!

Website link: https://flametraincbd.com/shop/ols/products/indoor-light-dep-cat-s-meow

Sour Strawberry is a rather rare hybrid strain, or it was until Coastal Sun Farm came out with their version of the strain this last year. Now available around California, this herb has a big engine at 31% THC! This strain is a cross of Strawberry Kush (Sour Bubble X East Coast Sour Diesel X Strawberry Cough) and Razzberry. Even though I’ve smoked hundreds of strains over the years, this is my first time trying this one. I’ve been curious about it for months since I first saw photos of it posted by Coastal Sun Farm on Instagram…

[Disclaimer: This herb was provided by Coastal Sun Farm in exchange for an honest review]

Healthy Plants Heal Humans®

Coastal Sun is a cannabis farm in the Santa Cruz area that practices regenerative and bioponic farming techniques, and they are passionate about growing great herb. They are certified EnvirOganic and have achieved the highest level of certification! They believe that healthy plants heal humans – so-much-so that it’s their slogan.

I’ve already reviewed a handful of Coastal Sun’s herbs over the last year and I’ve always been impressed by what I found in the jar. Not only do I review their product, but I buy jars of their herb for my own personal use on a regular basis. Consequentially, when they provided a jar of Sour Strawberry to be reviewed, I jumped at the chance, because this one was already on my “to-do” list.

The Look and Smell

The herb from Coastal Sun Farm comes in nice compact jars, sealed with an induction seal on the top of the jar that does a pretty good job of keeping the herb fresh.

This jar was packaged on February 24, 2021 and opening it at the very end of May the herb was still fresh, and displaying the high-quality cure that Coastal Sun always does with their herb. One thing that really surprised me was the eighth weighed in at only 3.30 grams!

The bright-green, trichome covered herb was a collection of several mediums and a few smalls.

The slightly fluffy nugs had a dense core, and a strong musty scent to them… both sweet and sour at the same time with the powerful aroma of overripe fruit or berries.

The smell reminded both me and Tania of the smell of an attic. Tania said that the smell had all kinds of cozy associations from her Grandmother’s house in Minneapolis.

The Taste and Effects

The taste of the herb was both sweet with an overripe fruit flavor that was reminiscent of strawberries or mangoes, and sour with a musty flavor – just like the smell. This was mixed with an earthy quality that made the whole flavor really tasty and unique – pleasant in that marijuana kind of way.

This one was a cougher… the quality of the smoke was smooth going in, but made me cough on every single hit while doing the video review. I got all heated up and my ears got plugged. That only lasted a short bit, but happened enough that I should mention it. The coughing made getting high a bit of an adventure, a bit like the effort it takes to climb a hill, but once you get to the top, the view is fantastic… and that’s how it was with this one! Once the high kicked in I enjoyed it in an introspective kind of way.

The high was a very cozy buzz, like sitting in the middle of a pile of cushions – centered, comfortable and contemplative. But it was a very powerful physical high – intense, and almost hash-like in it’s strength… and I noticed it mostly in my chest. Mentally it had a fuzzy quality to it that made me think of an Indica high… like my brain was wrapped in a thick sweater.

The more the high settled in the more introspective I became. When it was time for me to give my impressions of the high for the video review I found speaking to be a real effort. I wanted to just sit blissfully and enjoy the fuzzy thinking on my mountain of cushions.

I would consider this to be a great herb for a personal sesh when I know I’m not going to have to socialize for awhile. The high lasted over an hour and was a comfortable, no-surprise ride the whole time.

The Wrap Up

Some people (like my wife, Tania) absolutely do not like herbs that have strong physical sensations and this is not the herb for them. But on the other hand, some people love the powerful physical ride, or like me, have medical issues that are helped by an herb that provides strong body comfort, and this one nailed it – after I finished coughing after each hit, that is… I found I could avoid the crazy coughing problem by using my hand pipe and taking smaller hits.

31% THC is not to be taken lightly on this one. I had several times where I sat down to have a sesh, and one hit was enough to send my mind into fuzzy, comfortable cushion land… I ended up leaving the Red Bench before the bowl was even close to finished. That doesn’t happen very often, let me tell you – that’s intense herb!

Until later, best of health.

This year I’ve become a big fan of Runtz. I’ve officially joined the millions of pot smokers that have fallen in love with this strain. So far I’ve reviewed Strawberry Runtz and White Runtz – and both strains were amazing. I smoked Strawberry Runtz for about half a month after reviewing the herb, and it was consistently the best smoke I’ve had… and that got me very curious to review the strain that started this craze.

Runtz is a cross of Gelato and Zkittles, and has a reputation of being an incredibly tasty strain. It has been climbing in popularity since it was introduced in 2017, being hyped by several rappers including Yung LB, who is one of the owners of the Runtz brand. The fact that Runtz is an amazing strain led to it being crowned as Leafly’s top strain of 2020 – an honor I believe it rightly deserves.

My local delivery service got some about a month ago and that herb sold out so fast… but I was lucky to get my hands on some, and it was some of the best cannabis I’ve had since the Strawberry Runtz – fantastic taste and high!

Last week, while I was herb shopping at Desert’s Finest in Desert Hot Springs, I noticed this jar of Runtz from Madame Munchie…

the jar was on sale for $30, and I couldn’t pass it up. I must note here that Madame Munchie is an award winning edibles company that has decided to get into selling flowers.

Look and Smell

Madame Munchie’s flowers came packaged in a pretty standard jar with a label proclaiming this as “2020 strain of the year”, with Runtz written in a graffiti font. The THC label says this herb has 21.756% THC and a total of 26.663% cannabinoids. Not bad!

There was a small tamper-proof seal on the side of the jar which I opened and twisted off the lid. The lid didn’t seem very tight and I was surprised that there was no inner induction seal on the jar. No seal means this jar has been leaking moisture since it was packaged in January. Sure enough, the nugs were rather dry when I poured them out on the tray.

I have to say that dry herb is a pet-peeve of mine, and when I come across it in a review it really disappoints me. I bet when this herb was first packaged it was fire. The nugs still had an inner sweetness and stickiness when I cut them up that hinted how great this herb might have been. As a side note – I put a Boost humidity pack in the jar, and overnight it regained a lot of aroma – and the herb was much better.

Despite the dryness, the herb still had a very pleasant aroma that smelled a lot like artificial grape candy. The grape smell rested on a bed of earthy and diesel, gassy tones. I liked those aromas, and quickly loaded it up in my bong so I could take this Runtz for a run.

Taste and Effects

The immediate flavor from my first hit was pure artificial grape. Nothing but grape, and then a lot of coughing. I quickly took a second hit when I stopped coughing to get more of that great flavor. The second hit was full of more of that grape taste, with earthy and gassy flavors on the exhale. And when I exhaled I coughed like crazy again – and I did that on every single hit during the video review! I believe that was a bit of harshness from the herb being dry. (Note – once I refreshed the herb with a humidity pack, the coughing went away completely.) I took about four or five hits, and waited for the effects to kick in.

I did not have to wait long because the effects started to saturate my body after about three-four minutes, and the herb hit powerfully with a serious case of cottonmouth. The high was powerful, but not overwhelming – and it made my body comfortable in that way where everything feels like it’s slipped into the right place. The herb made me lidded from the inside, like I had a bandanna around my forehead, pulled low over the top of my eyes – Suicidal Tendencies-style. The vibe was laid-back, confident, and cool…

Some herbs make me feel “cool” when I smoke them. A true OG Kush will do that to me, and this strain had endless amounts of coolness. The herb just makes me feel like I’m on top of the world… it brims with confidence, and makes one feel like a million bucks! This is the kind of herb I like to smoke before going to an event because it had no-anxiety and a ton of moxie.

The powerful rush of the herb lasted for about fifteen minutes, and then I entered a serious chill zone – cerebral, contemplative and thoughtful, but not withdrawn into myself – I actually found this to be a good socializing herb.

The Wrap Up

This one was a winner – when it came to the effects. The Runtz experience is one I want to have again and again! But you might have noticed that this brand just got a four star rating. The dryness of the herb brought the score down… and I’m sure that’s why it was on sale for just $30. Note to reviewer – check the date on the side of the jar before you purchase.

As I mentioned, once I refreshed the herb with a humidity pack, the herb smelled and tasted better, the harshness of the smoke went away and because of these things the high was just that much better. This is why I always make sure I have humidity packs on hand!

Runtz is still very high on my shopping list, and I’m sure we’ll revisit this strain again before the year is up. I don’t feel like I’ve really had the penultimate Runtz reviewing experience yet.

One last note – I made sure to have water on hand every time I smoked this strain because of the cottonmouth. Water and Runtz – a match made in heaven!

Until next week, best of health.

It’s been years since the last time I smoked Super Silver Haze, and I have some fond memories of the strain’s high. But because I tend to gravitate to Indica strains, I always seem to pass by this strain when I’m herb shopping. Well, I decided to change it up last week when I went to the dispensary, and I came home with a box from High Garden with an eighth of the strain to review.

Super Silver Haze was created back in the 1990s in Holland by Green House Seeds who combined Skunk#1 (25%), Northern Lights #5 (25%), and Haze (50%) – all classics in their own right – to create this Sativa masterpiece! The strain was a winner from the beginning, collecting a number of awards in the High Times Cannabis Cup in the late 90s.

Look and Smell

Sativas are tricky for me. Usually the nugs are fluffier than Indicas, the high can get me jittery, and I can smoke through an eighth of a Sativa in about half the time it takes me to go through an Indica. As a consumer whose always had to be careful with his herb budget, I preferred Indicas because they give me more bang for my buck, as they say.

I was surprised when I looked through the peek-a-boo window on the box from High Garden – I could see this version of Super Silver Haze had what looked like dense nugs!

That was not what I was expecting, and I bought the box immediately, curious to find out how High Garden’s version compared with my memories.

Cutting open the Mylar freshness bag inside the box released a fantastic aroma that quickly filled the cabin. We’re talking strong! Deep, earthy and rich, spicy, fruity and sweet. The fruity aromas were strong in pineapple and mangoes. I really wish we had smell-o-vision for this review because the room-filling aromas were heavenly.

I poured the bright green nugs out on the tray and there was a nice collection of mediums and a handful of very small pieces… not quite shake, but close.

Surprisingly the eighth weighed in at only 3.45 grams. High Garden is a low to medium priced brand, so the nug sizes were on par with what I was expecting. The cure of the nugs was great – it seemed like they packaged this herb when it was at the peak of freshness! The cut up herb was aromatic, fresh, sticky and I quickly loaded it up in my bong.

The Taste and Effects

The first hit went in smooth but had a bit of roughness on the exhale that made me cough a lot. The flavors were rich and spicy, earthy, woody and strong on sweet fruit flavors – all classic marijuana flavors! Sometimes I take a hit of an herb and it tastes so much like “marijuana” that it’s the only way to describe it… this one sent my mind reeling backwards through the years to the nineties with these particular flavors.

In the nineties I bought a lot of herb on the black market that had no strain name, it was just “pot”. Most of it was imported Mexican marijuana, but sometimes my dealer would have something special – pot that was so tasty that even when I was stoned I always wanted to take “one more hit”. This herb brought back that one more hit desire… even after the high hit me I kept wanting to take just one more hit.

The high started to hit after about three-four minutes with a euphoric, energetic buzz that kept building for the next fifteen minutes. My synapses started to bubble and pop with random, free-association thoughts combined with a pleasantly unfocused outlook – perfect for jumping into a creative project or doing some brainstorming.

Super Silver Haze is said to be an 80% Sativa to 20% Indica mix, but this one felt like it had more of a thick Indica feel that made the high very solid. I could feel this one rather physically, as my arms and legs felt stoned and tingly. The high felt about as thick as the chunky nug I cut up to load in my bong. As a side note, I’ve noticed that often that the “thickness” of the high often is about the same as the density of the nugs. Fluffy nugs tend to give me an airy high, and dense nugs can smoke so solid. This is not a perfect correlation, but it has happened often enough that it’s worth mentioning.

Also worth mentioning is this is the kind of herb that makes me want to stay away from brightly lit places like grocery stores. I felt stoned and I was sure I looked stoned… plus, I could feel a case of the munchies coming on so that’s another good reason not to send me to the store – who knows what I’d come home with… lots of sugary and salty snacks, no doubt.

The Wrap Up

This week’s review makes me so happy I do cannabis reviews, because it forces me to check out herb that I would normally pass by on my way to my usual strains. I forgot how great of a strain Super Silver Haze can be! Next time I see a box of this one from High Garden I won’t hesitate to pick it up. I feel like I’ve been re-introduced to an old friend I forgot how much I liked hanging out with…

For those of you keeping score at home, this one is definitely in the race for the best Sativa on my list, which looks like this right now:

1. Sour Diesel (Glass House Farms)
2. Banjo (Coast Sun Farm)
3. Jack Herer (Classix)
4. Super Silver Haze (High Garden)
5. Pink Panther (WNC CBD – hemp)
6. Lifter (Cannaflower – hemp)
7. Sour Dubble (Glass House Farms)

The search for the holy Grail of herb continues! Until later, best of health.

Rarely have I been so perfectly stoned by an herb as I have been by White Runtz from Herb & Zen. As I’m sitting here typing – I’ve just taken a few hits – my mind is feeling the strong, yet not overwhelming, power of the high coming on – and I feeling amazing. Now – let’s backtrack a bit and talk about how I got here…

[Disclaimer: This herb was provided by Herb & Zen in exchange for an honest review]

White Runtz is a cross of Gelato and Zkittles. This strain is part of the incredibly popular family of Runtz strains and I’m just beginning to understand why. So far this year I’ve smoked both Runtz and Strawberry Runtz, and each time I had to go back and get more of the herb, they were so good. This strain that we looked at this week came in at 26.289% THC – and I call that a big engine!

The Look and Smell

Herb & Zen has nice compact jar, dressed in black it gets straight to the point and tells you this jar contains potent herb!

The understated white writing on the side of jar says this herb has 29.828% total cannabinoids. I opened the simple seal on the side and immediately caught a whiff of the aromas from the jar. Hold on!

The first scents I noticed was a gassy, diesel, sulfuric aroma that just knocked me out! I love gassy herb! My nose was in heaven and if we weren’t filming a video, I would have just kept smelling the jar for a while longer. But smell isn’t everything… there is the flavor and the high, and there is also the look of the nugs, so I poured them out on the tray as we moved forward with the video review.

The nugs hit the tray with a solid sound that made me know this was some dense herb, and they turned out to be even more dense than I’d thought.

The nugs looked little compact flower clusters – well cured, but a touch dry as I cut the first nug up. I quickly loaded up my bong so I could taste this herb!

The Taste and Effects

[Note: OMG – the munchies from this one are over the top. I just ate a half bag of nacho Doritos and I’m scouting around for more junk food!]

I held the first hit in way longer than necessary, not because I expected to get higher, but just to savor the flavor. The truth of the matter is – you only need to hold the hit in for three seconds, but I didn’t care… I just wanted to live for a moment in the taste.

The taste was like a song! Deeply earthy notes on the bottom, woody and dank tones just above that and on top of the whole thing was a sulfuric, gassy melody that was the catchiest tune I’ve heard since I first tried OG Kush many years ago. It was the kind of flavor that lets my mind know something great is about to happen.

Of course, the messages running to my brain about the flavor were just barely outrunning the THC racing through my bloodstream. The high started to hit within a couple of minutes. From the first hints of the coming high I knew this was going to be a good one!

Uplifting, euphoric and solid with a very old school feel… like when I first smoked the real OG. OG Kush always feels to me like the coolest herb around, like I just slipped on a pair of sunglasses and leaned back against a building to watch the world go by. And you feel cool because you know you feel better than anyone around because you just smoked the OG. Runtz had that same feel and more!

I was relaxed immediately as the herb completely saturated my body! I was mentally relaxed and overtaken with a creative vibe. This herb got my mind hopping and jumping with all the synapses popping! Every thought hatched a dozen more as I entered a free association, intuitive mind space.

For me, this high knocks it out of the park! This is pretty much why I smoke cannabis, so I can find this kind of high. The herb only took a few hits to send my mind off and put a well-seasoned smoker like myself “there”.

I must note that the high that I’ve experienced so far with White Runtz is mostly a head high… but the label on the jar says this is an Indica, so I expect that a heavier dosage, and a longer sesh, might really send me over the edge. I think I’ll enjoy the lower dose high – three or four bong tokes seemed just right for me.

The Wrap Up

So the next thing I need to figure out is how to get an ounce of this one – I mean, it’s that good! And these jars are in the $25-$30 range… I wouldn’t imagine you could have this kind of high at those prices, but it’s true. It’s like 1986 prices, but with better herb!

My only disappointment was the herb was a bit dry and the eighth weighed in at 3.41 grams. I would say the look was a bit lacking, or the rating on this one would have been through the roof.

I think the dryness affected the smell and kept it from becoming room-filling, and that is a requirement for Holy Grail herb – room-filling aromas. I wish I could smell these buds just after they were cured and waiting to be put in jars… now that might have been room-filling!

Meanwhile, until I get more of this herb, I will be slowing smoking this eighth, a few precious hits at a time. When herb like this comes around, you just thank the Good Lord, savor the moment, and hope it lasts.

Until later, best of health.

This week we got a jar of cannabis from Herb & Zen that struck me a bit unusual for GG4 – it had 2.981% CBD – the highest CBD levels I’ve ever seen in a GG4 strain! I was so curious to see if the extra CBD would add to the “entourage effect” – when the cannabinoids, the terpenes, the THC and the CBD all work together to create the experience we call getting high. The high is caused by so much more than just the THC levels, and as more people become aware of this we may see herb strains developed that mix in more CBD.

[Disclaimer: This herb was provided by Herb & Zen in exchange for an honest review]

Just a quick note about the name – GG4 is sometimes called Original Glue, and was first called Gorilla Glue #4. Due to trademark issues most companies that sell a GG4 strain have dropped the original Gorilla Glue name. The name is said to come from A) the extremely sticky quality of the fresh buds and B) because you’ll be stuck to the sofa like glue.

The Look and Smell

The herb came packaged in a glass jar dressed in all black with silver lettering that is Herb & Zen’s signature style.

On the side, next to the California warning, was a listing of the THC levels of 25.472%, and also says that this one had over 32% total cannabinoids.

Opening the jar the smell was a bit subdued, but still rich, earthy and dank. There was a hint of something citrus and fruity with an undeniable sweetness… but mostly my nose attached itself to the deeply earthy and dank aromas.

Cutting up the first nug the sweet aroma leapt up from my tray. The nug was well-cured, slightly sticky but a bit dry*. Much to my surprise, a seed popped out of the nug onto the tray! I consider this a lucky thing because now I can grow a GG4 plant… so cool. And it is a healthy-looking, mature seed.

I’m old enough to remember when a lot of commercial (illegal) marijuana was full of seeds and getting seedless marijuana was more unusual than you might imagine. Removing seeds and stems was always a chore that had to be performed before any smoking could be done. It was a pain! Now I rarely see a seed, and when I do I get excited, because I look at it as a freebie! Cannabis seeds are expensive so a seed in the bag doesn’t bother me – it’s a little gift that will keep on giving once I grow it! 🙂

The Taste and Effects

I’ve smoked GG4 (not this brand’s version) many times before and I love the high – a big first impression that turns into a very comfortable high… very relaxing. I’ve had Gorilla Glue that led to very active times and I’ve been couch-locked. Depending on how the grower handles their plants the strain can swing either Indica-strong or Sativa-dominant, in my experience. It was with these thoughts in the background that I packed my bowl and got my bong ready for a sesh.

The first hit greeted me with a deep, solid, earthy/dank flavor that made me happy. Whenever a sesh starts with those flavors good things are sure to follow. As I enjoyed the flavor, the THC entered my bloodstream and wham, the high flooded me like being hit with a wave while standing on the beach. It rushed over me and faded just as quickly. I like that, I thought, and got ready for hit number two…

The second toke had even more of the solid earthy and dank flavors, and I also noticed a touch of sweetness. The hit rushed over me again, making my eyes lidded feeling, filling my head and body with a numb fuzziness for about fifteen seconds, before fading again. This time a lot of stoniness stuck around after the fade, and by the time I got to my third hit, everything felt like it was slowing down, in such a pleasant fashion.

The strong first effects lasted about fifteen to twenty minutes before fading into a very relaxing, stony buzz (and I mean STONY) that lasted well over an hour for me. The body comfort was more than I remember from previous GG4 experiences and I wondered if it was the extra CBD in there?!

One different thing I noticed was how much this one relaxed my back muscles. After a couple of hits I felt a warm feeling in my back muscles, especially the shoulder blades. I didn’t realize how tight my muscles were until the herb “massaged” my back. I noticed this effect again during a later sesh, however the next day I didn’t… but my back felt a lot better too!

Surprisingly, this one did NOT make me couch-locked. I was expecting that after the first half dozen hits, but the stony high turned into a great time of hanging out with my love – very fun and euphoric. Later I got into working on a creative project, boosted by a few more hits of the GG4. If I had to say which way this one swings, I’d say about 60% Sativa and 40% Indica.

The Wrap Up

I gave this one a “5” for effects because the high had so much good stuff going on… a big first impression followed by a profound sense of relaxation – just like I’d expect from a GG4, and pretty much exactly how I like to feel. There was just enough of the Indica to have a pleasantly heavy bottom, but a strong Sativa lift and amazing amount of euphoria.

Let’s talk about euphoria for a moment. When I say this I’m talking about that deeply positive shift that goes on after smoking the herb, when a smile comes to your face as the smoke releases your inner bliss. Sometimes it hits quickly and suddenly, sometimes it comes on slowly – but because this is a psychoactive substance, some strains will cause these mental shifts. This one rates pretty high up there on the euphoria scale for me!

For those of you following along at home, you’ll probably note this is the second time Herb & Zen have knocked it out of the park on the effects. I think that’s a testament to the folks over at Herb & Zen, and the quality of the herb they are putting out at a medium to low price. I like to think of them as providing “top shelf herb at a working person’s price”. I’d buy this in a heart beat, and at these working person friendly prices, I’d pick up two or three jars!

*One last note – I mentioned this herb was a bit dry. I put it in a Mason jar overnight with a Boveda humidity pack and the herb bounced back with deeper and richer aromas. The cure was great and the flavor just a bit deeper. Yum – I love smoking GG4 when it’s like this!

Until later, best of health.

I felt the first hit of Sour Dubble by Glass House Farms tingle in my brain as the THC started to move through my bloodstream. I felt the hit completely in my head, and assumed I was getting ready for a Sativa high, and then it started to seriously shift…

Sour Dubble, or Sour Dubb as it’s sometimes called, is a cross of East Coast Sour Diesel and Sour Bubble. Whenever I see that an herb has some Sour Diesel in it I anticipate a great Sativa high that is super chill. I’ve seen Sour Dubb listed a Sativa-dominant hybrid, and the label on the jar called this a Sativa, so I wasn’t mistaken to expect a Sativa high… boy, was I surprised when the high veered in a Indica direction. And with 21.55% THC in the engine, when it veered, it drove off in a completely different direction then I expected.

The Look and Smell

Glass House Farms packages their herb in tall, slender glass jars.

Surprisingly they don’t use an induction seal on the jar to preserve the freshness. I think the herb suffered a little bit for this because the small nugs were a bit dry when I poured them out on the tray. I was a little disappointed when the eighth weighed in short at just 3.41 grams.

The jar smell of the herb was strong but not overpowering, and reminded me of Sour Diesel right off the bat. Sour and sweet, with a dank earthiness that had a diesel aroma. I am a diesel lover, and the aroma was enough to get me excited.

The nugs had an airy, Sativa look – and they were frosted with lots of trichomes.

The buds were well-cured, and as I mentioned just a bit dry, but there was still enough moisture that the cut-up herb was sticky and aromatic.

The Taste and Effects

I loaded up my bong with an anticipation of a Sour Diesel-esque experience, like I noted above. Sour Diesel is my favorite Sativa – so I was expecting a euphoric, talkative high with a boost of body energy which is my typical reaction to smoking that strain.

The first hit was delicious, but a bit understated. I wondered if the taste was not as strong as it could have been because of the herb was a bit dry? There was a dank, diesel taste on the inhale and a light sweetness on the exhale. I guessed the sweetness came from the Sour Bubble parent because of a slight bubblegum flavor. The smoke was smooth and by the time the second hit settled in, the high was already going straight to my head – just like I’d expect from a Sativa.

Surprisingly, the high took a different direction once it started to fill my head – very quickly I noticed the lidded feeling on my eyes, and the nerves in my head got the marijuana fuzzies, both of which I would expect from an Indica… hmm. And then I got quiet as I became deeply contemplative, in a serious way. I slipped into a mood of thoughtfulness that had a ponderous weight, and my mind was ready to tackle heavy issues.

Meanwhile the high was slowly taking off in a physical way, with my body hardly feeling anything until I smoked my fifth or sixth hit. The slow takeoff of the high reminded me of trying to fly in a dream… lots of effort and concentration is involved in leaving the ground, but once I’m airborne I begin to cruise. After my sixth hit I got to cruising altitude and stayed there for over an hour.

At cruising altitude the high was completely encompassing – I felt the herb all over, but still it was mainly sitting on my shoulders, filling my head with the satisfying feeling of being well-stoned. The seriousness continued but never in an overwhelming fashion – and I had plenty of stoned thoughts that caused me to laugh to myself, adding a subtle sense of humor to the serious high.

The Wrap Up

I smoked this one several more times over the weekend and the seriousness hit me every time. Strangely, getting high on Sour Dubble reminded me of hanging out with my mom, whom I loved and miss enormously. Though she never smoked herb in her life, I can imagine her appreciating this herb’s high. My mother had a serious, no-nonsense demeanor, a sharply inquisitive mind, and a subtle sense of humor. The Sour Dubble high had all those qualities.

As I continue the search for the Holy Grail of herb, I’m glad we visited this strain on the way. I can only remember a handful of herbs I’ve smoked over the years that made me feel so serious, but this was a good reminder that not all highs are euphoric and uplifting. Some herb will take your mind into serious contemplation… not that there is anything wrong with that. There is a time and a place for all kinds of thinking.

After an hour at cruising altitude the high started to descend and came in for a nice and gentle landing. I gave this one a 4.1 rating, mainly based on the smell and the effects. I really enjoyed this one’s high once I reached cruising altitude. I have a little of the eighth of Sour Dubble left, and I’m saving it (in a jar with a Boveda humidity pack) for the day I need to do some serious thinking. Use the right tool for the right job, as they say.

Until later, best of health.

This week we got into a powerful strain called GMO from Screaming Trumpets. The packaging of this sample that we looked at from Screaming Trumpets is flat-out cool! The herb comes in a stylish stamped tin and inside the tin is a flavor-seal bag that holds 10 grams of ready-to-roll herb. Also included is a pack of RAW rolling papers and a box of wood matches. Everything you need to roll one up and light it up!

[Disclaimer: This herb was provided by Screaming Trumpets in exchange for an honest review]

This strain is a cross of Girl Scout Cookies and Chemdawg. The name GMO refers to the taste and smell of the herb – garlic, mushrooms and onions… there are no genetically modified organisms in this herb. Just to be clear. 😉 This is a savory herb, and even if the smell and taste aren’t exactly garlic, mushroom and onions, there is a lot of that sulfuric, diesel smell in there along with a dank earthiness that makes one think they’re smelling those aromas.

When I opened the bag and poured it out on my tray, the herb looked ready to roll.

There were a few small nugs, but the majority was just perfectly ground for joint rolling. I hunted for stems and didn’t find any. The aroma was so fresh and enticing. This was not trim, sugar leaves and shake – it’s ten grams of high quality, well-cured herb in my opinion, just like it says on the side of the tin.

Several weeks ago I did a review of another Screaming Trumpets strain – Sundae Driver – and the quality was the same. I’m getting the impression that Screaming Trumpets are serious about developing a good reputation for top shelf, ready-to-roll cannabis. So far, I’m super impressed.

Knocked Sideways

Generally speaking, I have no problem writing a cannanis review… it’s a pleasure for me in many ways. I simply smoke some of the herb and report it as I experience it. But this week has been different because I’ve been smoking GMO, a seriously powerful strain – sure, my brain is very active from the cannabis I smoked, I just can’t seem to get it to focus on my writing. It’s like herding cats. Let me explain.

I can smoke just about any strain of cannabis and write. It comes very easy to me. I wrote a whole novel (a good novel too) stoned off my… you know. Smoking the herb always lubricates my brain and makes it hum along at a nice pace when I sit down at my computer to write. It’s been that way for so long, I sometimes take it for granted.

And then I tried this GMO. This is a whole different ballgame – we’re talking about a herb with 33.09% THC!

After taking the first couple of hits, it felt like the herb was doing donuts in the field of my mind… a big powerful engine all revved up with nowhere to go – just spinning it’s tires, doing donuts. It’s like the high that came on very quickly had no idea what to do with itself. I was just flat-out getting stoned – and for once, after smoking I felt all my motivation melt away. I seriously felt like doing nothing…

I’ll just sit here and let thoughts run around my brain – that’s what I’ve been telling myself after several seshes with the GMO over the last few days. This herb is great for zoning out, maybe the best, happiest zone-out herb ever, but I wasn’t satisfied with that… I felt like my tires were spinning in the loose sand. So much high and no direction.

It took me a few seshes to wrap my head around this version of GMO… how do you make good use of this powerful high, besides just zoning-out?

Today I realized that this is a great social herb!

That may sound counter-intuitive considering how powerful the high is, but this is how it worked for me. First off – I’m not a “phone person”. But today, uncharacteristically, I found myself making a few phone calls after getting stoned – nice long phone calls with good friends that delved into the cosmic and strange, with discussions of time-travel, art and dreams, just to mention a few of the topics. The herb, with it’s active stimulation of the mind just fueled the conversations, focusing my mind, making me attentive and in the moment.

The Wrap Up

Every herb has it’s purpose and sometimes what we’re trying to do doesn’t fit the herb we’re smoking. This was the case for me this week. If I wasn’t trying to write a review, I’d give this herb two thumbs up, just for it’s relaxed, zone-out qualities. But discovering the social side of this herb made me realize it was me trying to fit a round peg in a square hole by trying to make this a “productive” herb.

One last note. When you roll a joint of this herb, use a crutch at the end! This herb is extremely resinous, oh my.

Until later, best of health.

It’s the middle of the afternoon and I am sitting on our patio in the hi-desert – looking out towards Joshua Tree…

The temperature is around 78 degrees in the shade with a slight breeze. It’s a near perfect spring afternoon, and I’m taking advantage of it by indulging in a nice fat joint I’d just rolled up. The herb is of a strain called Hippie Crippler and this one came to me from Herb & Zen.

[Disclaimer: This herb was provided by Herb & Zen in exchange for an honest review]

I just finished editing the video review and I feel relaxed. My only plans for the rest of the afternoon is writing this review, which is a pleasure, so I’ve got very little stress and anxiety as I head into this joint. This is my set and setting, and quite frankly, it’s pretty close to perfect – just me, a joint and my thoughts.

Hippie Crippler is, in my opinion, a rather strange name – and I wish I had some background information on how the name originated. When I first heard the name I had several thoughts. The first was picturing a bunch of stoned hippies sprawled out on sofas, too zoned out to move. The second thought was someone taking out old hippies’ kneecaps with a baseball bat. Somewhere in my thoughts was definitely the idea of incapacitation!

This strain is not likely to cripple you – in that couch-lock fashion, because it is a strongly Sativa-leaning herb at 70% Sativa to 30% Indica. The herb is a cross of the Sativa classic AK-47, and Blue Satellite, which is a cross of Blueberry and Shiskaberry, making it rather Indica-dominant. This sample I looked at had 22.687% THC…

The Look and Smell

Meanwhile, back at the red bench while filming the review – I opened the eighth jar and immediately I smelled something earthy. Holding the jar to my nose I was hit with a strong, stanky cheese aroma. Very pungent and powerful. It was hard to detect any other smells as the cheese aroma was so strong. This was more dank than the cheese nose of a UK Cheese strain, for sure.

I took the nugs out of the jar and there were four nice mediums that looked very frosty – light green with orange hues.

The trim on the dense, chunky nugs was like a buzz cut, and I couldn’t find any sugar leaves left behind. Cutting up the first nug I could tell the cure was very good, and the buds were just a touch dry, but certainly not dry enough to affect the smell.

I must mention that the eighth I looked at weighed in at 3.69 grams, which is generous! The herb was mildly sticky as I loaded it up in the bong for the video review – and I was in anticipation of what this one would taste like, having such a strong cheese nose.

The Taste and Effects

Because of my anticipation, the flavor of the first hit underwhelmed me a bit… sure there was a cheese taste, but it was very mild. All the flavors seemed muted. There were sweet and sour notes, and I think I detected some mint in the background. I quickly took a second hit to see if I could further define what I was experiencing.

The second hit left me puzzled. Such a quiet flavor from such a loud aroma?! I don’t want you to get the impression there was anything wrong with the taste – I was just a little thrown off, and it’s evident in the video.

The flavor, once I got past my expectations, was a classic “marijuana” taste – in an understated way. It was earthy and mildly dank, it had a slight sour cheese flavor mixed with an undefinable sweetness. Nothing unpleasant at all, just a little quiet. I smoked through the bowl and by that time the effects were already saturating my system – mentally and physically.

Buzzed! That’s the simplest way to describe the strong effects that hit after just a minute or two. Something about the buzz that rolled in made me think of being in a single engine airplane. Once, a long time ago, I flew from Orange County to Catalina Island in a small Cessna plane and the initial effects of the herb took me back to flying along in that plane – the buzz of the engine, the rumble, the sound of the wind… just everything in that one instant.

I found this is to be a great herb for flying through my day, because it has an energetic high that doesn’t leave me couch-locked – even after a bunch of hits. The high has a pick-me-up, can-do attitude. Pleasant, upbeat, happy – all these words describe my mood after smoking the Hippie Crippler. I got thoughtful and contemplative from the herb, yet talkative. In my opinion it’s a great herb for socializing, sitting with your thoughts, or getting up and working on a creative project.

The Wrap Up

I smoked this one using my bong in the video review, but after taking more time with this herb I enjoyed this strain best in a joint. I ended up having a few seshes, kicking back with a joint on the patio and every time it was a great high – very contemplative with an active mind. And then I felt all motivated to get to work! One joint got me through editing this week’s video, and another for writing this review, then another just for the fun of it… there really was no down side for me in smoking this herb.

This one might work for a well-seasoned smoker who wants a nice, motivating Sativa buzz – or a new smoker who is feeling adventurous and likes a Sativa high.

Do you like to make mixes of your herb? I do, and I thought this strain would mix well with a strain I reviewed a few weeks ago, also from Herb & Zen – Strawberry Runtz. Well, the mix was even better than I expected in both flavor and effects. I’ll be smoking the last of my Hippie Crippler mixed with Strawberry Runtz – it was that good!

Until later, best of health.

Daily, as I do my regular research, I’m reminded that there are so many strains out there in the big wide world that I still need to try, let alone review. I make mental notes to try this strain or that strain, but honestly, lack of time (and money) is the only thing stopping me from trying out more herb. Today’s strain, Sundae Driver, has been on my mental list for quite awhile. I first noted it when we started Red Bench ReviewS, and it’s taken this long to finally try this strain.

Last week I had a unique tin of herb put into my hands by a brand called Screaming Trumpets, a product of a company called Desert Underground that makes Desert Hot Springs its home. Desert Hot Springs, right next door to cannabis-friendly Palm Springs, is one of the rapidly expanding centers of the modern cannabis industry.

[Disclaimer: This herb was provided by Screaming Trumpets in exchange for an honest review]

Sundae Driver is a 50/50 hybrid that is a cross of Fruity Pebbles OG and Grape Pie, both delicious strains, in and of themselves. This version that we looked at tested at 21.46% THC, which I understand is a bit high for Sundae Driver.

The Look and Smell

So, first off – I was really blown away by the packaging of this product. The tin box the herb comes in is made of stamped tin with raised lettering all around. Very old-school, like when people used to use an old tin Band-aid container to hide their baggie of weed in… back in the day I had a friend who did that.

Opening the tin I immediately saw that there were several items inside… the first thing I pulled out was the resealable, paper and Mylar pouch that held the herb – “premium loose leaf cannabis”, as the box said on the outside. It must also be noted that “Quality Cannabis” and “High Potency” were stamped on the sides of the box, raising expectations.

The package also included a pack of RAW brand rolling papers and a pack of matches with the Screaming Trumpets logo printed on top… everything you need to get going! So cool. Roll ‘em up, light ‘em up, and smoke ‘em up!

I was very impressed at this point… the graphic artist in me was over the moon, as they say. But this great packaging is just that, great packaging, if the herb inside isn’t worth smoking. I mean, I’ve bought a few bags of “rolling herb” in the past that wasn’t worth the Mylar bag they were sold in. Part of me was a bit skeptical of “loose leaf” herb part of this deal… I don’t want to smoke shaky sugar leaf and trim that tastes like grass cuttings. Been there, done that.

I tore open the top of the bag and the aromas immediately hit me – deep and rich… a bit fruity and something else. I smelled the bag several times and I realized that other smell was a faint chocolate aroma. Once I smelled the chocolate it became more prominent.

Pouring the herb out on the tray I could see there was a mix of shake with small pieces of buds. I saw just a few sugar leaves and I found one small stem.

The cure was fresh and rich, and the herb almost seemed alive as I turned over the pile with the edge of the rolling papers. I could easily see this was really good herb. The herb was ready to go – straight to being rolled up in the papers without any processing time. From pouch to paper – easy peasy.

The chocolate aromas coming off of tray was like having a light but rich chocolate drink sitting in front of me. As I looked down at the tray I was quite pleased with the amount of herb Screaming Trumpets had packed into that resealable bag – 10 grams! I’ve seen this tin of herb on menus online and this goes for about $65. Not bad for a collectible tin, 10 grams of premium cannabis – ready to roll, with papers and matches.

Not being the best at rolling joints I got out my rolling machine and proceeded to roll one that was way tighter than necessary. Oh my, I think I was trying to stuff too much herb into the machine because I don’t like skinny joints – I like ‘em fat! The joint was, indeed, fat – and the dry hit I took tasted strongly of a deep, rich earthiness and chocolate. The air flowed through the joint well enough, so I lit it up…

The Taste and Feel

This herb tasted exactly as it smelled, but deeper and richer. I’m not a fan of RAW rolling papers because I can always taste the papers, but the flavor of the herb seemed to overwhelm the paper taste in this case. As I kept hitting the joint the flavor just got more intense. I don’t know how many hits I took, but five to seven minutes later I had smoked two thirds of the joint and I was seriously feeling the effects stone me.

The first thing that I noticed was the smile on my face. Oh, this is a fun herb, a good time herb, I thought. The strength of the effects started to build at this point, and kept going while we filmed the rest of the review. I was so stoned when we came back from the ten minute break, that I wondered at one point if we would be able to finish filming the video…

By this time the “fuzzies” had settled in, insulating all my nerves with that wonderful cushion that the herb sometimes provides. Soon I forgot about my body entirely. All the little aches and pains went away… I was just so content to sit, pleasantly stoned off my gourd, and let my mind just run around.

After the filming was done – yes, there were many extra takes on this one and enough stuff to fill a bloopers reel – I ventured to get up from the bench. I was surprised how energetic I felt. I danced around a little, just feeling great, happy and stoned… I felt refreshed and talkative. I was loving the high!

The Wrap Up

I must note that this is a great herb for music making. The next day after the review I packed a king-size cone with the herb and relaxed outside, looking out at the hi-desert landscape of the five acres we live on, and spent awhile with the herb. And then the singing started. Everything was like a song to me and I couldn’t help but break into vocalizing. As Jim James says, “it just feels good to sing”. Well, the singing continued for several hours, and I might of driven Tania a little crazy, but I was having a great time 🙂

I’ve also noticed how well this herb works for other creative projects, as I got lost in one project this afternoon in Photoshop after a sesh with Sundae Driver. The feel of the herb was definitely Sativa-leaning in my experience. I have several creative projects I’m working on this week, and I think this is going to be the perfect herb for them.

Public service message here: Don’t smoke this herb and drive. Don’t be a Sundae Driver driver… because this is one of those strains that really distorted time for me. I imagine I’d be driving 30 in a 55 zone after smoking a joint of this one. But I’d love to smoke a fatty, and be the passenger in a convertible cruising through the desert on a spring Sunday afternoon… ah – Sundae Passenger.

I must note that this herb tasted even better smoked through my bong. I also tried this herb in my pipe, but of all the methods, I liked this strain through my bong the best, and that has become my go-to as I’ve spent the last few days with this extraordinary strain. But, leaving the bong aside, this strain does smoke well as joints, and that was my second favorite method.

One last, small point – Screaming Trumpets has four different strains in their lineup, each with it’s own colored tin – Sundae Driver, Wedding Cake, GMO (Garlic, Mushrooms and Onions) and Durban. Yes, I’m going to try and collect all four tins! I mean, what’s not to love about some GMO, Wedding Cake or Durban if it’s as good as this Sundae Driver?

Until later, best of health.

I’ve spent the last few months trying to get my hands on a strain called Runtz. I’ve been reading about it all over the place, and Leafly rated it as one of the best strains of 2020 – so you could say my curiously level has been very high!

Runtz is a cross of Zkittlez and Gelato – two delicious strains that are hugely popular on their own – and is named after the candy called Runts because of its sweet taste, at least that’s what I’ve read. I got my hands on a gram of Runtz a couple of weeks ago from the High Caliber brand, and it was wonderful, but not very sweet… much more gassy. The high from smoking the gram just got me excited to try more Runtz… so when this sample eighth of Strawberry Runtz from Herb & Zen was put into my hands last week, I was just super-excited to get into the jar and start reviewing!

[Disclaimer: This herb was provided by Herb & Zen in exchange for an honest review]

Strawberry Runtz is one of the growing number of Runtz hybrids that I’m starting to see show up on menus – White Runtz, Pink Runtz, etc. This strain is a cross of Strawnana (AKA Strawberry Banana) and Runtz and comes in at 29.737% THC! The total cannabinoids are over 36%… that’s a powerful engine!

The Look and Smell

The jars from Herb & Zen are what I expect good herb to be packaged in these days – a glass jar with good labeling, child-proof lids and an induction flavor seal to keep it all fresh.

The label on the herb I was reviewing stated that it had just been packaged a week or so earlier – so it was very fresh!

Opening the flavor seal caused a rush of aromas to fill our cabin. The smells were sweet like freshly cut strawberries and fruit candies. There was an earthy quality that created a solid floor for the sweet smells which swirled above that nearly screamed “this is great herb!!!”

My first thought was – if you pour this out on a tray at a (post COVID) party everyone would be gathering around to see what was creating that powerful, delicious aroma. I wouldn’t get this one out at a party unless I’m ready to share, because everyone is gonna want to smoke these nugs… and these nugs are almost too precious for that. Strike that. Herb & Zen have nice pricing – quality nugs that a working person can afford. So buy two jars and share one with your friends is my suggestion!

The three nugs in the jar were dense and chunky, with nice light purples, some oranges, and a variety of shades of green.

As I cut into the biggest nug I was immediately impressed with the cure. There was no dry dust or crumbs on the tray once this flower was cut up, just a beautiful pile of fresh, well-cured herb that now smelled even stronger than before.

So here’s a new Holy Grail of herb requirement – room-filling smell! I had to get up from the red bench and walk out of the room just to walk back in and smell the air. Why don’t air fresheners smell like this?! I thought.

My fingers were very sticky by the time my bong was loaded, and that’s after trying to be extremely careful cutting up the nugs. As I often mention, you have to respect the herb, and you don’t want to brutalize it while cutting it up. That sticky feeling on my fingers and scissors were trichomes that didn’t make it into the bowl – I try and keep that to a minimum.

The Taste and Effects

What is a word that means more than delicious? Heavenly, exquisite, scrumptious, the food of the gods… I searched my mind as I held the first hit in for longer than the necessary three seconds. That smoke had a lot of the flavors I want to taste when I smoke herb! It had a sweetness that tasted like cut strawberries covered in sugar mixed with an earthy quality that was amazingly balanced. And the smoke itself was smooth and thick… the next couple hits from my bong were a pleasure ride of cannabis perfection.

And when the effects came in I was on a serious ride! I called this one a “Born To Run” high, because I could almost hear the Bruce Springsteen song in my head as the high started to hit me. The empowering rush of THC made me feel like I was in the driver seat of a powerful muscle car. I could feel the engine of THC revving, with the high just asking me, “where do you want to go?”

Some herbs, especially high THC herbs, can make me feel like a passenger on the ride, but this one made me feel in control – like the driver. The feeling of being in control was a great anxiety reducer, and the high put me completely at ease. I took just four hits my first time out with this one, and that was all I needed for the next few hours.

The high came in nearly immediately with a very relaxed and comfortable feeling in the body. For the next several hours while the high lasted I forgot about the little aches and pains I’m so used to. Noticeably absent was any marijuana “fuzzies”, that feeling of the nerves being insulated. Instead I felt like the herb really pulled things together, tightened down the nuts and bolts and pulled in the loose threads.

I pleasantly buzzed around our cabin, just loving the high! I felt good, I felt stoned, I felt groovy, and I was sure I didn’t look stoned. There was not an overwhelming lidded feeling to my eyes, but looking in the mirror I could see that feelings can be deceptive – my eyes were lidded, glassy and red.

As I just mentioned, this was a high that makes you know you are stoned, no question about it. Solidly stoned, yet very cool feeling, like when I smoke a great OG. When the high wore off I re-upped right away because I wanted to stay in the zone…

The Wrap Up

Repeated re-ups all afternoon of Strawberry Runtz made me head to bed for a short nap. So beware, this one will bite you if you hit it too hard. A sesh of nearly seven hits made me reel – I had to pause for awhile… and that’s unusual for me. I can usually smoke until the cows come home, as they say.

Mark me as very impressed by this strain from Herb & Zen. I’m a little extra critical when I’ve been given herb to review, so I looked for flaws in this one, but I couldn’t find any… and this one ends up with the highest score I’ve given any herb (they earned it). It sets a new high bar for herb!

One last note – I’m nearly two-thirds of the way through the eighth at this point and it’s going way too fast! This herb has become my serious go-to. “Why smoke anything else when you have some Strawberry Runtz?” I keep answering Tania when she asks me what I’m smoking. And that’s the way it’ll be until this jar is empty.

Until later, best of health.

The Low Down

Let’s talk about Jack Herer, both the legendary hemp activist and the cannabis strain named after him…

Jack Herer lived his entire life in the midst of the War on Drugs and the nefarious prohibition against the herb, born just after marijuana was made illegal and dying before the long-awaited legalization of his beloved plant.

Jack, who is said to have had a heart of gold, was the writer of the hugely influential book – The Emperor Wears No Clothes, a compilation of everything known about cannabis and hemp up to 1985, when the first edition was published.

I’ve owned two copies of the book (I bought one of the first editions, loaned it out, and never saw it again) and it has been regularly updated, continuously in print for 36 years now.

This is the book that kept me sane while we endured the lies and tragedies of the Drug War. Reading The Emperor Wears No Clothes reminded me constantly that we stood on the right side of history, we had reality on our side. Jack was the first person I read that talked about using marijuana as medicine, about the industrial uses of hemp, about the long and useful history of this amazing plant. Jack also opened my eyes to the various economic forces and corporations that despise the herb, and how they have conspired over the years to keep cannabis and hemp illegal.

I also have a connection to Jack – we share the same birthday, June 18. Odd fact here – everyone I’ve ever known who shares my birthday has also been a big fan of the herb. For instance, Paul McCartney, the famous pot-smoking musician, shares our birth date as well. Weird, but true!

Here’s a link to an article from Ganjapreneur that goes in-depth on Jack Herer, the icon.

Jack Herer – The Strain

Jack Herer, the strain developed by Sensi Seed, a Dutch cannabis company, is a cross of some classics – Haze, a straight up Sativa; Northern Lights #5, an amazing Indica; and Shiva Skunk, another pure Indica that comes from crossing Skunk#1 with Northern Lights #5. That’s an amazing lineage!

Despite all that Indica in the background, Jack is a very balanced plant, about 50/50 on the Sativa/Indica split, and has a huge reputation of a stony, creative, uplifting, and energizing high. I’ve tried Jack a number of times over the years and I would agree that the reputation is well-deserved. Sensi Seeds released this strain in 1994, and it has gone on to win just about every award imaginable since then, which has helped build that reputation into what it is today.

This week we looked at a version of Jack Herer from a brand called Classix. Quite frankly, I bought this one because of the box it came in, which looked like an old cassette tape.

A really cool design idea, in my opinion. I picked this one up at Desert’s Finest in Desert Hot Springs, my go-to dispensary for all my cannabis review needs.

Look and Smell

Once I unsealed the box and got into it, there was a white Mylar bag inside with a clear panel on the back. Looking through the panel I could see that there were some nice looking nugs just waiting to bust out. I was happy to help them escape the bag!

Opening the bag I detected the immediately recognizable smell of Jack Herer! It’s medicinal smelling, in my opinion – full of ammonia-like aromas, a bit antiseptic and piney. A strain that I might mistake this for is Trainwreck – it has a very similar aroma. The terpenes causing this distinct Jack Herer nose in Terpenolene, Myrcene, Beta-Caryophyllene, Ocimene and a few others. Together they create a magical experience and an unforgettable aroma.

Herb like this makes me think of having an exotic meal prepared for me, and I love to revel in the new and interesting flavors I’m experiencing. Taste and smell are such primary senses, they are two of the reasons herb gives us the high it does…

The terpenes in this version of Jack were abundant and caused the herb to be sticky, frosty and a delight to look at… the bag included about four nice-sized nugs – they were very photogenic and photographing them was a pleasure!

The eighth of indoor-grown flowers weighed in at 3.54 grams and the herb tested at 21.98% THC – just what you might expect for Jack Herer… and the cure and freshness – just right!

As I mentioned, these nugs were on the sticky side, especially as I was cutting them up. I handled them gently so the trichomes that contained the precious terpenes didn’t get damaged. I quickly loaded up the bong and got to the heart of the issue…

The Taste and Effects

The taste was classic. Piney, medicinal, but deeply earthy and with a touch of sandalwood. There was something that reminded me strongly of incense or potpourri in the taste. It’s a taste that triggers all kinds of Sativa memories in my mind, because I associate this flavor with smoking a good Haze. After smoking the room was filled with the mix of the classic marijuana smell and this incense aroma… almost floral.

The smoke was thick and smooth, the well-cured nugs smoked beautifully so I quickly dove into a second hit, savoring the Jack Herer experience and knowing the high was about to hit. This strain has about four known phenotypes, or styles that it grows into, depending on the mix of genetics in the seed and growing conditions. Three of those phenotypes are strongly Sativa and one is an Indica. I was curious to see what phenotype showed up…

This one was apparently a Sativa, and it was what I considered a classic Jack Herer. I was energized with a creative vibe, focused and motivated. This was a “get up and do stuff” herb! I was expecting that, and this one delivered… by the time I had taken a fifth hit from the bong I was feeling the full range of what Jack has to offer.

My head was full of creative vibes. Though I was focused on doing the review, my mind was having a stream-of-consciousness party with a number of interesting ideas percolating in my synapses. My mood definitely shifted to an upbeat direction and my day really started to improve, physically.

The physical effects of Jack Herer are well-known, and are recognized by the Dutch authorities to be real, actual medicine. And I like the medicine that Jack provides… my experience with depression includes a lot of body discomfort, aches and pains that are my regular experience. Before starting the review I was in that all-too familiar place of discomfort, but about five minutes after taking the first hit the discomfort disappeared… I forgot about it entirely.

And it stayed away for hours, even after the obvious head effects dissipated. For someone like me, that’s some powerful magic!

The Wrap Up

I definitely recommend this strain for users all across the board, from beginners to the well-seasoned veterans, like myself. For the beginner, here is a Sativa-leaning hybrid that will give you a classic experience. You can learn a lot for smoking this one, and while you’re at it, check out Jack Herer’s book! It’s available FREE to read online!

If you’ve been smoking herb for awhile, then you probably already know Jack, and you don’t need me to tell you try this one, which nails the Jack Herer experience just perfectly. Indica lovers… well, there is a lot of Northern Lights #5 in the lineage of this strain, I suggest giving Jack a try and see if there is enough of that Indica feel on the bottom end, I think there is. Sativa lover – oh my, you know what to do… get down to your dispensary and get Classix’s Jack Herer – you will be happy!

And to all you well-seasoned veterans – I’m mixing up my smoking game and throwing some Jack Herer in my morning bowl… I am definitely glad to be reminded, once again, how fun it is to hang out with Jack!

Until later, best of health.

The Low Down

Before we get this review started, let me just say right up front that Sour Diesel is my absolute favorite Sativa strain. And that means I am both very excited when I try a new version of the strain, and also very critical of a Sour Diesel that doesn’t hold up.

I’ve smoked numerous versions of this strain over the years, from the very top shelf to some rather questionable versions. I expect two very special qualities from a Sour D – a pungent gassy aroma and a gentle, lifting high. When I don’t find these two things I wonder what I’ve just smoked… back in the day I had dealers and collectives try and pass off lesser quality herb as Sour D, just because the name recognition. Sad, but true. My bad experiences with substandard Sour D is what helped me learn to really appreciate it when I came across the real thing!

I am, by default, an Indica guy… I really like Indica-leaning hybrids, the OGs, and the Kush strains. Many Sativas leave me jittery and unsatisfied, so I tend to steer away from them. This is kind of funny because a lot of my first experiences with the herb was smoking Sativa-dominant strains like the original Humboldt Skunk of the early eighties.

The first time I smelled the amazing gassy, diesel aroma of a genuine Sour Diesel, I was hooked – I didn’t care if it was a Sativa or an Indica – I just wanted to smoke that smell. This must have been about twenty years ago. It stood out so strongly from the piney, earthy, grassy herb that was so common at the time… herb my dealers just called “pot” because it wasn’t even a known strain.

Fast forward to 2021, and my, times have changed, haven’t they?!

I was herb shopping last weekend down in Desert Hot Springs at Desert’s Finest – the closest dispensary to our hi-desert cabin. I keep going back to Desert’s Finest for several reasons – they include all the taxes in their menu prices, and they give me a 10% discount because I’m over 55. I had gone there with my mind on an herb from Glass House Farms called True OG. While the bud tender was looking for the jar I noticed they had some Sour Diesel from the same company, and I quickly changed my order!

We had just filmed a review of a hemp version of Sour Diesel that left me a bit disappointed and I needed a positive experience with a classic, old school cannabis Sour D. I recently had a positive experience with Glass House Farms’ version of GG4, so I had high hopes (no pun intended) as I left the dispensary with my herb.

The Look, Smell and Taste

Sour Diesel tends to be a light green color with abundant orange hairs. Because it’s a Sativa it doesn’t have the density that chunky Kush nugs have, but instead have elongated buds that are on the small side and a bit airy and fluffy. This version looked exactly as I would have expected from a genuine Sour D… we were definitely headed in the right direction!

When I poured the 3.46 gram eighth out on the tray I was already in diesel heaven… from the moment I opened the jar a cloud hit me – there was a hint of sweetness, but mostly the smell was intensely diesel. It was exactly what I was hoping for when I saw the jar sitting on the shelf at the dispensary! Just from the smell I could tell we were looking at a premium version of Sour Diesel. Unfortunately the herb was just a bit dry, so when I cut up the well-cured nugs they crumbled a bit… if I had been using my new grinder I would have collected a good amount of kief. [Note: I put the nugs in a mason jar with a Boveda humidity pack and that solved the dryness overnight.]

I loaded the herb up in to my bong and eagerly took a hit! The flavor was delightfully lemony with an atmosphere of diesel. The first taste sensation was sweet lemon, like a Lemonhead candy, and that quickly changed to a sour lemon flavor. The gassy flavors that permeated the smoke were not overwhelming, which is good because enormous diesel flavors can be quite a mouthful. The aftertaste was subtly minty… all-in-all, a great flavor profile!

The smell and taste were so close to Holy Grail territory and was nearly a religious experience – I just wanted to thank God for creating such an amazing plant!

The Effects

There are times I want the herb to hit me like a Mack truck – times when I really need to shift my perspective, fast! That is not what I’m looking for when I settle into a sesh with Sour Diesel, no sir! Instead I am looking for a powerful, yet gentle high – a high that comes in like a good friend, ready to give me a hand up and lift me above the aches and pains of life. It is my Holy Grail of Sativa effects.

This version by Glass House Farms nailed the Sour D effects to a tee – completely spot on! The first few minutes after smoking I felt the cannabinoids move peacefully through my body, relaxing my muscles and my slightly over-stressed nerves. It felt like all my nerves became untangled and insulated with an air cushion. As the relaxed feelings saturated my body the mental lifting began. Within ten minutes I transitioned from a low energy state to a higher state without a discernible line between when I wasn’t high, and when I knew I was high.

If you want an herb that motivates you, puts a lift in your step and puts the day on the right track, I recommend Sour Diesel because that’s exactly what it does for me. Of course we all are a bit different, so this herb may affect you differently, just saying…

The high continued on a subtle level for at least an hour, I’m not exactly sure when it faded out because it wasn’t like a drug wearing off and all of life’s troubles come rushing back in… when this faded so had the aches and pains and I had a lifted mindset for the rest of the evening!

That subtle high was very powerful though – empowering – motivating me to dive into a project that I could have easily put off and just chilled. Instead, I got into the project and enjoyed the process the whole way! I stopped to re-up on another bong toke, but was so involved in my project I forgot to finish the bowl.

The Wrap Up

My hat is off to Glass House Farms, they have done it again, and made me a very happy customer! Their GG4 was great and this Sour D was even better, at least in my book. This is exactly the high I was looking for when I bought the jar, so I’m giving this two thumbs up – and if I had a little extra cash on hand I’d get in my car a drive down to Desert’s Finest and stock up on as many jars as I could afford!

Until later, best of health.

The Low Down

You might have noticed by watching my videos that I’ve reviewed herb from Arcanna Cannabis Flowers more than a few times. This company produces amazing herb, and I’ve made it a personal mission to smoke every strain in their catalog. Every time I see something new of theirs at the dispensary I pick up a jar, knowing I’ll probably find something good inside.

I’d seen photos of the Lemon Fire OG on Instagram that were very impressive, and when I saw this bright yellow jar sitting in the display case at Desert’s Finest I asked the budtender to please add that to my order.

Lemon Fire OG is a cross of White Fire OG with a Blue Dream X True Kush cross. I’ve never smoked Lemon Skunk before and it’s been years since the last time I smoked Fire OG… I don’t even remember what was special about the strain – so I went into this review with no idea what to expect from this herb.

The Look, Smell, and Taste

Opening the opaque jar with it’s bright yellow label I was greeted by an almost cheesy smell, but that was just the pent up aromas inside the jar bursting to get out. After the initial rush of smells I was able to start to sort out the complex aromas this strain brings to the table. Something spicy stood out for a bit, replaced by earthy aromas, then I started to notice the lemon aromas. The lemon aroma was accompanied by a skunky smell… a truly complex profile!

I poured the nugs out on the tray and was immediately impressed by the rather large nug that rolled out.

There were a few smalls included, but a nice 2.91 gram nug dominated the jar. The nug, and the smalls, were all well-trimmed. I cut up a small bud that was about a half gram, and the cure was just right. As the pile of cut up herb on the tray grew so did the smell… shortly I was encased in a small micro-environment dominated by lemony and skunky, spicy aromas.

As you could imagine, I was very excited to get this herb in my bong. One of the best things about doing these reviews is trying an herb I’ve never experienced before. Every strain has unique qualities that make it a new and interesting adventure.

The smoke was thick and smooth on the first hit, but I still coughed a lot smoking this one. However, it was such a delightful smoke – very satisfying! The flavor was full of the lemony and skunky flavors, quite earthy, a bit woody – very delicious. After the first hit I immediately jumped into a second hit. Where on earth can you find this collection of flavors in one mouthful of smoke? Amazing! It makes me really glad to live on this planet!

The Effects

Coughing when you take a hit will affect the initial effects of an herb, and I certainly experienced that with this one. I coughed, a lot, and consequentially the high first hit me squarely in the chest. I have to remember to take smaller hits in front of the camera, oh my! I sat at the red bench during the filming break and just felt the rush of the THC vibrating in my chest. It made me very body conscious for a few minutes. It was a bit of a rough lift off…

The focus of the effects of the herb moved up from my chest into my throat, which became a bit tingly, like something in my throat was activated or stimulated by the herb. After that the focus moved to the top of my head, or just above the top of my head, which made me feel like I was wearing a cap or a hat.

After ten minutes of experiencing this very strong lift off, the high reached a new plateau. I started to feel the familiar effects that I associate with smoking a good OG Kush. Oh, I love the OG Kush feel… it’s so comfortable on the body. It has a “cool” feel, like you’re just hanging out behind your sunglasses and watching the world pass by…

Motivating, cerebral, contemplative yet social, relaxed… I really saw no downside to the Lemon Fire OG high, once I got past the first ten minutes. It lasted for a pleasant couple of hours. Later, I spent a whole day smoking nothing but this strain and it was a great way to spend a day, that’s for sure. Each sesh with this herb left me thinking about the projects I was focused on in a clear-headed and creative fashion, and was very motivating for getting to work.

The Wrap Up

This herb reminded me of the fact that the initial rush from cannabis may be nothing like the eventual ride. When I first started smoking herb I wanted that first rush to last through the whole high – I was chasing the high, as they say – but that’s not the way the high from herb is best experienced. It’s a gradual process that has a lift off, a ride and a landing… and every phase of the adventure is different. I learned that over time, and now I like to enjoy each different moment of the high, from lift off to landing.

And I liked this one! The lift off was much smoother after I got used to the effects and took smaller hits so I didn’t cough as much. The focus on my chest never repeated itself, and the high came in with a rush through my body, but very smooth. And once the OG feel hit, well, I was loving it! This is truly another great strain from Arcanna Cannabis Flowers and I’m very glad I tried it – I wish I had a whole bunch of this one so I could spend more time with it because I know this eighth is going to go way too fast! But don’t they all 😉

Until later, best of health.

Before we get into this review, I’ll tell you straight up, this one is for the diesel lovers – the ones who love the delightfully stinky, gassy, fuel-soaked aromas. If that’s you, then skip this review, go straight to your local dispensary that sells Coastal Sun Farm herb and tell them to give you a jar of Fatso – you will be in heaven!

For those of you that aren’t out the door already, let me tell you about one of the best herbs I’ve ever smoked. This one checked off all the right boxes for me, because I am a lover of the gassy, diesely herbs. Those aromas are at the top of my list of things I hope for when I open a fresh jar of a new strain.

I picked up this jar of Fatso from Desert’s Finest in Desert Hot Springs here in Southern California. Desert’s Finest always carries the freshest drops from Coastal Sun Farm, so I keep going back for more. It’s rather hard to believe that this top shelf herb only costs $38 for an eighth, and that’s with all taxes included!

The Look, Smell and Taste

The jar was packed with dense, chunky nugs, from mediums to smalls and weighed in at 3.52 grams. The herb was light to medium green and covered with a dense field of trichomes making the herb sticky if handled too roughly… I felt like I was handling fine jewels as I weighed out the nugs.

Fatso is the offspring of GMO Cookies and Legend OG. The shape of the nugs reminded me of the look of GMO Cookies – very chunky bits that grow into uniquely-shaped nugs.

The cure was just right, and the scissors sliced through the nugs just as you would expect from well-cured, dense, chunky, sticky herb.

I got so distracted while cutting up the nugs because the aroma was huge and it got loud. An atmosphere of rich, deep, pungent, fuel-soaked, sulfuric yumminess surrounded me… oh my! All I wanted at this point was to load the herb up in the bong and take a rip!

It surprised me how sweet the first taste was, the leading edge of the flavor, which was quickly followed up with sour undertones and then a rush of the diesel flavor. Rich in sulfuric notes, and hints of earthiness, the flavor was like savoring a fine meal prepared to perfection.

The smoke was thick, and on the heavy side. As you can see from the video review, this one made me cough on nearly every hit because I kept trying to take too big a hit… it was so delicious tasting I wanted to saturate myself with the flavor! Meanwhile, as I was savoring the flavor the effects were coming in like a soft breeze.

The Effects

There was something very sensual about the way this herb presented itself. The effects came in and seemed to swirl around my body like silk, very comfortable, yet high class. There was no jolt to the high, just a gently ramping up of effects that took about ten minutes to fully engulf me. And when the high saturated me, I was in a comfortable, relaxed, mentally stimulated place!

This particular version of Fatso came in at 28% THC, and it felt like the gentle high from taking just a few of hits was just a hint of the power behind this herb. But even after a good, solid sesh – where I really let this one go full throttle, the stony high was still delightfully pleasant and under control. It was a great ride with no unpleasant surprises… though I would have stayed away from brightly lit places like grocery stores. 😉

The feel of the high, over all, was like slipping into a well-tailored suit with a silk lining. You feel like a million bucks – like a boss – stylin’… floating in a bit of heaven and ready for action!

The high lasted over an hour, settling into a blissful kind of comfort for the whole ride. The end faded out at some point, but I had gotten involved in a project and didn’t notice until several hours later.

The Wrap Up

I fall in love with cannabis over and over again. New strains come along, or like in this case, a version from a grower I really respect and appreciate, and I’m convinced that this is my new favorite, my new go to… well, this one did that to me again. I’m in love with Fatso from Coastal Sun Farm!

There is much to love about the state of herb these days, and Fatso is a testament to fine times we live in, cannabis-wise. Breeders have the time and freedom to put together such a fine strain as Fatso, and farms can grow it legally under the golden California sunshine. Legalization will soon be upon us, I have my fingers crossed on that one, and the changes we’ve seen since 2018 here in California with spread nationwide.

As I say to myself when I walk into a dispensary like Desert’s Finest, it’s a good time to be a herb smoker!

Until later, best of health.

I have about a fifty mile round trip from our cabin in the hi-desert near Joshua Tree to the nearest cannabis dispensary, Desert’s Finest, which is in Desert Hot Springs. I once saw the sign for the city doctored with graffiti that changed it to read Desert Pot Springs. I think about that at some point on nearly every drive to pick up herb to review, and it makes me smile. Anyway, every visit I’ve had to Desert’s Finest has been easy, pleasant, and quick – and they have a good selection of products – so I wanted recommend them if you’re in the area.

But this time on my drive, I wasn’t thinking so much about the sign with clever graffiti, I had my mind on the herb I was going to pick up. I’d seen a few Instagram posts of the new strain called Lava Cake that Coastal Sun had just dropped a few weeks earlier, and I was very intrigued. Everything I’ve smoked from Coastal Sun has been exceptional, so, this rare strain called Lava Cake had me quite curious – what would it be like?

Lava Cake, also called Lava Cake #11, is a cross of Grape Pie and Thin Mint Cookies (Thin Mints GSC), and is an Indica-dominant hybrid. This jar that I was picking up had 26% THC, which is just one way to judge the strength of an herb… this herb also had 2.5% terpenes and a total of 31% total cannabinoids!

Lava Cake is part of that branch of strains called Cookies, Cakes, and Pies. These strains have been very popular for the last few years, and have been ever since Girl Scout Cookies burst on the scene nearly a decade ago and started winning awards. Consumers love these strains for their creamy, delicious flavors and soothing highs and are considered “dessert strains” because of their sweet, yummy taste.

I was expecting that same dessert quality from a strain called Lava Cake, which is named after the delightful dessert known as lava cake – of course – which is gooey, chocolaty and completely yum… serve that with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and I am so there!

The Look, Smell and Taste

This jar from Coastal Sun is part of their “Partner Farm Series” – this is herb grown on other farms and released under the Coastal Sun brand.

The partner farm for this herb is Bird Valley Organics, who grow organic cannabis using the centuries-old farming method called hügelkultur. This nutrient-rich method of growing fruits, vegetables and, of course, cannabis – has many ecological benefits and I encourage you to look it up if you’re curious.

Opening the jar I caught a hint of the aromas from inside – sweet, earthy and a touch of diesel. Nothing too exotic, but instead it was familiar, like catching a whiff of your favorite comfort food.

I poured the nugs out of the jar onto the tray and they formed a nice little pile of nugglets. The eighth weighed in a 3.59 grams – very generous! None of the individual nugglets were photogenic enough on their own, so here’s a group shot…

The cure of the first nug I cut up was perfect! Five stars! Cutting up the olive-green nug my fingers got sticky… if I had been using my old grinder this herb would have just gummed the thing up. The herb had just the perfect amount of resistance to the scissors and cut up, as I like to say, like slicing through a nice Gouda cheese.

The pile on the tray was so inviting that I quickly loaded it up in the bong, and got ready to give this herb a test run…

The first taste impression was a creamy flavor – sweet and earthy, much like the smell of the herb. But there were a whole host of interesting undertones and delightfully pleasurable flavor notes, many of which I struggled to put a name on…

The smoke looked rather thin on the exhale, but felt like a big, thick hit. I coughed on nearly every hit from this dense, rich smoke. The exhale was very full of the flavors I mentioned, and it even made my nose tingle a little.

The Effects

In a way, those of us who love the mental and physical adventures that different herbs provide are like roller coaster enthusiasts – we’re always looking for those novel and exciting roller coaster rides that new and different strains often provide.

This particular roller coaster ride started with a burst of THC to the system that felt like I was shot out of a cannon. Zero to 120 in seconds! There was a definite sense of change from the moment before I smoked, and then about forty seconds after, when the rush of cannabinoids hit my system. By the time I had finished the second bong toke I was getting overwhelmed by the rush, but in such a fun way! I thought I was in for a Sativa ride, but the rush dissipated after about seven or eight minutes and the ride started to change…

I noticed a stoned, fuzzy feeling taking over parts of my body, piece by piece, inch by inch. It felt like an invading army advancing, taking over my body. By the fourth hit I was getting so blazed! After about ten minutes the “army of the stoned” had completed their conquest and I was completely occupied by the invading forces… and it felt great! Relaxed, comfortable, meditative with a healthy amount of marijuana fuzzies. My eyes assumed the lidded position that’s so familiar. I was ready to chill, kick back and let my mind float off downstream…

While navigating this fun high I came to think of it as kind of goofy – and I mean that in the best way. My mind was constantly coming up with a stream of silly thoughts… I thought about how pleasant my fuzzy eyes felt, I laughed at thoughts that didn’t sound so funny when I said them out-loud, but they were cracking me up… heck – just about any thought seemed funny! You could say this herb had a euphoric lift, and it lasted for well over an hour.

When the roller coaster ride came to an end, I was ready for some sleep – and falling asleep after this ride was easy and quick.

The Wrap Up

Straight away, I give this one two thumbs up. I really liked the pile of nugglets, but I would have rated this one a bit higher on looks if there had been a larger, more photogenic nug in the jar – but that’s just me being picky… still this one rated exceptional, because the cure on the nugs was absolutely perfect!

The nose on this herb was light, more towards the subtle side of things… but the aromas I detected truly outstanding – delightful by any standard. It was the taste that really won me over on this herb! A perfect five, in my humble opinion! Not overwhelming in flavor, just perfectly balanced between sweet and earthy – and then there was that whole assortment of other flavors that danced on my taste buds like a party from Heaven, oh my!

I was using a bit of hyperbole when I said during the review that if I could have one thing in the world, it would be to smoke the same hit of this herb over and over again. The second hit from the bong was such a perfect hit – the taste was swimming in my mouth and the effects were just starting to rush my body…

Oh yes, the effects! Lava Cake provides all the fun and adventure, the roller coaster ride, the mental playground, the body comfort and relaxation… each and every time I’ve had a sesh with it.

Until later, best of health.

The Low Down

Back in the day… maybe thirty years ago we would refer to very strong herb as a “one-hit wonder”, referring to the legendary idea that just one hit would get you stoned. Rarely did I come across an herb that lived up to the claim of being a one-hit wonder, but now that high-quality herb we dreamed about back then is available in nice little jars at dispensaries! How great is that?!

This week I experienced a “one-hit wonder” called GMO Garlic Cookies from Coastal Sun Farm. This powerful strain came in a 33% THC, which is very strong… but THC isn’t the whole story, and we’ll get into that in a moment.

I picked up this jar of herb at Desert’s Finest in Desert Hot Springs. Coastal Sun Farm likes to price their herb at consumer-friendly prices and this jar was just $35 – tax included! I love that, because herb prices can get a little outrageous – I think $60-70 an eighth is a little out of my range. When I picked up this jar it was one of the last jars of this strain they had left… the bud tender said it had just flown out the door. That high THC level sure grabs people’s attention!

High THC levels – I think this is a misleading factor when it comes to judging a herb’s strength. I smoked a hemp flower a week ago with only 8% CBD and less than 0.3% THC that got me more of a heavy “stoned” feeling than this delightful GMO Garlic Cookies. That’s not to dismiss this strain, but just to highlight how judging an herb by it’s THC level can be very misleading.

I think of it like this – THC and CBD are just the powerful engines that drive the high. There are other cannabinoids and terpenes that actually steer the high and controls how powerful the effects are felt. This strain had 39% total cannabinoids and 1.9% terpenes! But, that being said, this strain sure had a powerful engine and a powerful high… a one-hit wonder for sure, like I just mentioned.

The Aroma, The Cure and The Taste

This herb had a great nose, as they call it! The moment I opened the jar I was hit with a strong odor of diesel, gassy aromas that made me want to take deep inhales of the jar smell. The terpenes were really powerful and working overtime. The smell is deeply savory and lived up to name – GMO – garlic, mushrooms and onions. There were hints of a nice steak, cooked very rare, in there – and maybe a hint of perspiration… a truly complex aroma.

I poured the herb out on the tray and that complex smell engulfed me. There was a big nug that weighed in at 1.80 grams and a handful of smalls.

The whole eighth weighed 3.58 gram – nice and generous! I picked out one of the smalls and gave it the cut-test to see how well cured this herb was, and I wasn’t surprised that it was perfectly cured. Every jar I’ve gotten from Coastal Sun Farms has been well-cured!

The smoke from the first hit was thick and oily, with a slightly medicinal flavor, and somewhat cheesy, like a cheddar cheese… followed by a strong earthy flavor. The flavors were rather subdued and had a fluffy feeling. That fluffy feeling quickly translated into a fluffy body feeling. I took about four big, delicious bong rips, and by the time I was exhaling the last hit the high was hitting me, big time!

The Effects

The herb gave me what I’m calling “the big bubble high”. If you could imagine feeling your body all the way out to the edge of your personal space, that 2-3 feet that surrounds you. That’s how this herb felt to me… I walked around our cabin, all stoned and feeling like a big bubble. And it’s a happy bubble! The high was so airy and balanced – that after the first fifteen minutes of the THC rush, it settled into a delightful head high with nice body comfort – a big bubble of body comfort.

After my first time getting high on this herb I took it easier the next time and tried just two hits. That was the sweet spot for me, and I have a pretty high tolerance. With just a couple hits I found this to be a very functional herb. Writing, and just about everything else, just became a smooth and effortless activity. Being surrounded with a big bubble of a cotton candy high, full of happiness, makes doing anything a pleasure.

This herb really did make me miss hanging out with friends and smoking a big fatty. This herb would be perfect to hang out with about four or five friends, passing a thick, well-rolled joint around the circle. This is the kind of pot that is going to make the conversation take a cosmic direction, and I love to get into a deep and drifting cosmic conversation!

So, to sum it up – this Indica-leaning hybrid had a well balanced high when taken in moderation, but with the potential to launch you into the stratosphere, if that’s where you want to go – and it’ll send you there in a big bubble of happiness.

My final thought – if you can find a jar of this herb, snap it up! I’ve been trying to get a jar of this one for the last three months. It sells out sooo quickly, because the word is out – GMO Garlic Cookies is a great, powerful strain with a fun high. I know I’ll grab another jar of this one-hit (maybe two hits) wonder if I can find it again!

Until later, best of health.

The Low Down

The Review

New Review Wednesday- 2021 | Episode #2 | Coastal Sun | Ice Cream Cake

“This Ice Cream Cake just melts your stress away… goodbye tough day!”

Stress melting, delicious Indica goodness, a sweetness that delights the senses and a euphoric lift – I call this one a top-notch “dessert herb”!

Ice Cream Cake is a cross of Wedding Cake and Gelato 33 – and it is an Indica-dominant hybrid. The jar that we looked at contained herb with 21% THC and was grown by Foothill River Farms as part of Coastal Sun’s Partner Farm Series.

Coastal Sun always puts something good in their jars so I had high expectations from this herb from their partner farm…

The herb was nicely trimmed and very well-cured – the eighth weighed in at 3.49 grams, and the jar contained one big nug and several smalls.

That very dense, rather large nug in the jar weighed in at 2.31 grams. The nug was so chunky that I thought that the herb had dried out when I first picked it up… but I was wrong – the cure was perfect and the jar moisture was just right.

When we filmed the review I quickly realized that this herb is something special. The Indica stone from the initial high left me seriously impressed… impressed in that way where you set the jar aside for the evening – like dessert time!

What is a dessert herb, you might ask? For me, a dessert herb has to have some sweet qualities to it – like a dessert should, and this one nailed that… the first taste was creamy and sweet, followed by a nice earthy flavor and then some gassy notes.

Smell

Cutting up the nug released a pungent, diesel, gassy smell, with just a hint of sweetness. There were some slight skunky notes – I love that! The more I smelled the herb the more aromas I detected – like rosemary – it had such a complex smell.

When I cut up the nug the herb got rather sticky. I always try and treat the herb with great respect – I don’t want to waste the trichomes by getting my fingers sticky, but with this one I couldn’t help it. My fingers were covered in a delightful aroma I wanted to keep smelling… lots of yum, and anticipation of what was ahead!

I always use my wide-base GRAV bong to test a new strain of herb. I know the feel of the bong, how it hits, and how to take a strong, powerful hit when I want to. But this herb made me want to go the opposite direction – I wanted to take in gentle, slow hits… I wanted to enjoy the flavor of the smoke so much I didn’t want to hurry the process.

Having A Sesh

The smoke from the herb was smooth and had a medium thickness. It took about five minutes for the high to fully hit – and then Ka-bammy, it hit like a hammer!

The herb had such a pronounced effect that there was a definite “before” getting stoned, and “after” getting stoned. The high was strong in the marijuana fuzzies. My body got sooo relaxed, almost too relaxed. Once I was stoned everything became rather… difficult – in that stony way – like trying to write this review. My fingers were stumbling all over the keyboard… and I’m very good at writing while stoned, so that says a lot about this herb!

After about fifteen minutes the initial effects of the high settled down into a euphoric buzz, full of body comfort. This was a high I really loved… contemplative, happy, good for brainstorming or chilling – just what I want to do after a good dinner meal while enjoying a cup of coffee…

At this point – now that my body was getting used to the herb, I had no problem writing.

The delightfully happy Indica stone lasted for over an hour… and when the effects started to fade, it brought me in for a landing, nice and easy. I did find out later that multiple seshes of this herb in a row will bring on a heavier Indica stone, one that made me want to lie down and take a little nap. Not that there’s anything wrong with a nice stony nap!

Just a side note: Later on, a day later, I smoked this herb using my pipe, and something seemed missing so I loaded a couple hits up in the bong – and there was the sweet flavor, and then Ka-bammy – what a stone! I’m recommending using the bong on this sweet herb because the pipe just didn’t do it justice.

Once again Coastal Sun has impressed me – this time by sharing some herb from their Partner Farm Series, Foothill River Farms. I give this two thumbs up and highly recommend this for Indica lovers, gassy, diesel lovers and anyone looking for a delightful dessert strain.

Until later, best of health.

The Low Down

The Review

New Review Wednesday- 2021 | Episode #1 | Farmer And The Felon | Peanut Butter Breath

Some herb catches your eye with nice big nugs, some you’ve heard tales about the effects and so you want to give it a try, and then some herb – it’s the smell. The smell of this week’s herb was a winner! It gets the first “5” rating I’ve ever given, I was that impressed!

I am talking about a strain called Peanut Butter Breath that comes from Farmer And The Felon Cannabis Company. Before you start thinking that this is an herb that smells and tastes like peanut butter, I’ll tell you straight up that it doesn’t…. it’s even better that!

I picked this strain up at Desert’s Finest in Desert Hot Springs a few weeks back for $45 an eighth. This eighth, that weighed in at 3.55 grams, came in a Mylar smell-proof bag.

Even though the amount of herb looked small when I poured it out on the tray, the nugs were very chunky – denser than dense! And the smell, oh my!

The Smell And The Taste

Dank, earthy, sulfuric, diesel… not overwhelming, but like a master chef had blended the aromas together just to make my senses dance. I detected a hint of rosemary in there, a bit of a nutty smell… all reminiscent of a really good OG. I loved it! I kept smelling the herb over and over – it was a euphoric, aromatherapy moment.

Cutting up the chunky nugs was a delight. The first nug I cut up was a bit dry, but just barely – on the borderline of dry, but you could tell the herb was very well-cured. A side note – I put the two bigger nugs left after my review in a mason jar with a Boveda 62% humidity pack and the next time I checked, the dryness was completely gone, and the smell was even stronger.

My scissors got all sticky cutting up the nugs, and my fingers too. Even carefully handling the herb got that heavenly sour, dank smell on my fingers, and while the smell was beyond delightful, I mourned the lost trichomes that didn’t make it into the bowl. But the trichomes that did make it into the bowl more than made up for the loss, because the second I lit the bowl I got hit with an amazing flavor sensation.

Oh wow to the third power!!! I held the first hit in for much longer than the three seconds that it takes for your lungs to suck up all the great cannabinoids and terpenes in the smoke. By the way – that is a fact – a person only needs to hold a hit in for three seconds. Any longer than three seconds is just holding your breath, which is why a person might get light-headed holding a hit in for as long as possible. But I digress…

Again, I say wow! That first hit… oh my! The second hit I took in slower and completely savored the flavor swimming around my mouth. How can a smoke smell and taste so good? It was almost beyond comprehension, so I was leaning towards giving this herb a high rating – but first, what did it feel like?

The Effects

The effects rolled in like a fog bank with fuzzy waves of euphoria. I’m talking about a comforting, happy fog that took about ten minutes to really show up – a classic creeper herb. The high made me think of sitting in cafe in a city like San Francisco, a place I love, and being cozy in a booth, sipping my coffee as the fog swirled around outside the large windows – with nowhere to go and nothing to do but chill!

The effects after the fog bank rolled in included that wonderful marijuana fuzzy feel in the body that is like insulation on all the nerves. The head high was rather strong for the first few minutes, but once I got used to the feel, I found it very pleasant and mentally active – relaxing, comfortable, and very laid back… the perfect smoke for a day when I don’t have any plans except where the high carries me!

While the THC level for this strain was 23.86%, the high was not overwhelming. Instead, this hybrid felt very balanced, maybe leaning a little towards the Indica side. I really wish I knew what the terpene profile of this one looks like, because I have a feeling that the flavor and smell has a profound affect on the high. Lately I’ve been thinking that our obsession with THC percentages might be taking us down a misguided path, but that’s a subject for another post.

This was a fun herb, flat out! My brain felt like a mental playground after smoking. Smoking just a few hits – hard to do when it tastes so good – caused a nice, mild high that was rather mentally animating. My thoughts were running down funny little trails, having just a great time with free-association. I found myself laughing at my own thoughts several times.

I consider this a great herb for writing, making art, making music or whatever creative impulse strikes you. I say that mainly for the fact that it does turn the brain into a playground which is, for me, the perfect playing field for any creative endeavor.

The Wrap-up

I am definitely going to buy this one again! The whole aroma profile hits that Holy Grail level, my Holy Grail that is. The look and effects are great, and all-in-all, an extraordinary herb for the price.

Not only that, but when you buy herb from Farmer And The Felon you are supporting a great cause – Last Prisoner Project. These wonderful people are looking to find social justice for the more than 40,000 prisoners still locked up across the nation for marijuana offenses. A noble cause indeed, and a lot of hard work – these people deserve not only our support, but a round of applause!

I think it’s crazy that many people are still in jail for doing the same thing that other people are making millions of legal dollars doing today. It’s time to end the failed Drug War, release the non-violent prisoners and find a way to fix the damage done by decades of this morally reprehensible public policy. Buying this herb helps with that fight, and in my book, that’s a win-win!

Until next time, best of health.

The Lowdown