Lemon Skunk Medical Marijuana Strain Review

From:  The Herbal Cure

Grade:  A

Type:  Sativa-dominant hybrid

Lineage:  Clone-only Skunk strain supposedly derived from old Sacred Seeds stock, originted in Las Vegas — see the KindReviews Strain Profile on Lemon Skunk for more info

Price:  $45/8th

Appearance:  (8.5/10)  This strain was a classic-looking one which had the perfect bright oranges and greens that recalled its old-school origins in the Skunk #1 family.  We appreciated how dense the trichomes were, and also how well-preserved everything was in general.  This sample was of average density, but the dryness level seemed to make it feel more dense than normal because there was little give before it began snapping and breaking apart.  Harvest-timing was well-done in our estimation, with about 15% amber trichomes creeping in among the mostly swelled-up, large-headed clear and cloudy heads.  We found some tiny seeds in some areas of the buds, but the presence was minor overall.  We also thought the trim could have been tightened up a bit to show off the large calyxed structure, but the remaining leaves were very frosty, and it wasn’t seen as a real flaw.  This is certainly an appealing strain, both in the hand and up-close, and this particular example was frostier than many Lemon Skunks we’ve seen.

Aroma:  (8.25/10)  Though it wasn’t the most pungent aroma prior to being broken apart, this sample still had a definite lemon presence, with a sweet but not candy-like aroma.  Having reviewed our share of Super Lemon Haze, the Lemon Skunk influence in that strain was clear from this one.  Once it was broken apart, the pungency stepped up a big notch, and a crisp lemony sweetness came out more directly, with a hint of sweet Skunk in the background.

Taste: (8/10)  The flavor was enjoyable, though less sweet and more earthy/skunky, with the only real lemon presence coming on the exhale.  We felt that the smoke was fairly expansive and it seemed to fill the chest easily, causing coughing on the unexpectedly large hits but otherwise hitting the throat smoothly.  It burned away to a mottled medium gray ash with some white specks, showing it received a quality flush, though not a perfect one.

Effects:  This was a rather “facial” med to start, getting right into the eyes and face and creating a pressure that seemed to push outwards.  Noticable effects were also present through the jaw and neck area, but mostly stayed above the shoulders initially.  We felt a definite increase in mental activity and mood, but also noticed that our bodies seemed to lag behind, feeling comfortable and and smoothly relaxed compared to the excitable mental state.  We felt a little spacey at times, jumping back and forth between mental tasks and sometimes losing the details in the mix, but overall it was functional.  One thing we noticed is that though the effects were not astoundingly potent, the decrease that normally happens at about an hour of effects seemed to be very slight,  and we felt that it stayed medicinally-potent longer than most strains.  A smooth decline did have us a little on the sleepy side once it receded, but nothing too dramatic.

Medicinal Traits:  (We are NOT doctors – personal opinion ONLY)  Mood elevation, mental energy, muscle relaxation, minor to moderate pain relief, appetite stimulation, fatigue, and migraines.

Overall:  This was a very good example of this genetic line, displaying a distinct lemon quality in the aroma and flavor areas while checking off a variety of our boxes in the other areas.  Though we did find a few small flaws, the grow overall was very well-done, as was the post-harvest care.  We really liked how quick the effects came on, as well as how the potency seemed to stay at a nice even ’7′ throughout most of the experience, making this a lasting med that worked espeically well for the morning (seemed to make the duration even longer).  This one is versatile though, as the final effects were somewhat sedative, making this one that

Name:  Bruce Banner #3 and Super Silver Sour Diesel Haze (SSSDH) Bud Budder

From:  Green Dream Health Services (extraction performed by Top Shelf Extracts)

Type:  Butane-extracted hash oil, in a ‘budder’ consistency — this sample was made from a mix of the two above strains using nothing but lower buds rather than trim

Price:  $40/g

Grade:  A

Consumption Method:  Various, including a triple-screened glass pipe, Essential Vape, TI vapor swing, and glass hash wand

Visual: (9.75/10)  Beyond the luminous golden caramel color and the perfect malleable yet not sticky/gooey texture, this sample was just extremely clean-looking.  Unlike many otherwise quality samples of BHO, we saw absolutely no particulate in this one; no anonymous specks of dust, no hairs, just a wonderfully homogeneous extraction.  Perhaps the cleanliness of this extraction was partially due to it being made with 100% lower buds rather than shake and trim — there’s just less of a chance to get particulate into the extraction, and it paid off with this one.  This budder was very easy to work with no matter what method you’re using to consume it, not sticking to the hands or crumbling as many do.  Simply put, all of our reviewers (veteran BHO consumers) were thoroughly impressed by the appearance and texture of this extraction and consequently couldn’t wait to try it.

Aroma: (9.5/10)  What impressed us about this sample was the overall pungency of the aroma, which was easily-detected, even for those reviewers who only saw a tiny piece in a small jar.  The aroma was mostly the standard pure extract aroma, which we’ve come to identify as pure trichomes — it’s a combination of pine tar, floral citrus cleaner, and a bit of fuel that tickles the nose, but doesn’t directly recall the parent strains aside from the tinge of fuel, or perhaps the lemony aspect from the Banner #3.  Regardless, this was one of the more pungent-smelling wax/budder extractions we’ve come across.

Flavor: (9.25/10)  Like the aroma, it was mostly the flavor of pure trichomes, but we did pick up a more distinct lemon-fuel flavor which definitely brought Diesel and Kush to mind, two major players in the lineage of the strains that went into this extraction.  The flavor wasn’t as pungent as the aroma, and it had a fresh quality that left the mouth feeling clean after the exhale.  The smoke was very expansive for the triple-screened pipe reviewer, but was incredibly smooth for the Essential Vape reviewer (unusual for that device, which often causes long coughing bouts) and the vapor swing  reviewer.

Consumption:  In the triple-screened pipe, it bubbled fiercely with large, completely clear bubbles, eventually just disappearing into the screen once it was gone.  In the Essential, it pooled into a nearly clear liquid which eventually turned more of an amber, leaving behind only a slight golden film on the ampule which had no signs of particulate.  Using the vapor swing and hash wand, it practically flashes in the heat, disappearing with a slight hiss and no crackling or spattering — to our eyes, this extract was perfectly purged.

Effects:  Starting with a whirlwind of pressure fluctuations in the head, face, and eyes, this extract definitely came on quickly and with high potency.  The initial stages (15 – 45 minutes) could be overwhelming for users with anxiety issues, as it made our heart rates jump and caused some beading sweat early on.  That rush of potency declined at about 45 minutes to an hour, converting to a wonderfully uplifting and energizing Sativa-dominant experience that had us hesitant to sit down, instead opting for active pursuits (especially outdoors).  A strong enhancement of the senses was noticed, and everything just seemed interesting and beautiful — unlike some extracts with just play with the eyes and ears (tracers, slight enhancement of sounds, etc.), this one seemed to be a complete sensory enhancement.  The effects were smooth and continued at a fairly high level through 2 hours, beginning a decline from there but never had us feeling “crashed”, rather keeping us aware and positive through the end of effects.  We felt very few body effects other than a buzz of energy, but the reviewers who suffer from regular back and joint pain reported that they didn’t think about it at all, making this a useful “pain distraction” type of med.

Duration:  2 hours medicinal-level potency, 3 – 4 hours overall duration

Medicinal Traits:  (We are NOT doctors – personal opinion ONLY)  Energy boost, strong ocular and facial effects, sensory enhancement, creativity, reduction/distraction from pain, aid with migraines, relief of stomach discomfort/digestion issues, and strong mood elevation.

Overall:  This extract was so close to getting an A+ — the only real reason it didn’t get that mark was because we’ve had some BHO extractions which more directly reproduce the flavor and aromas of the parent strains rather than the “standard oil” smell that this one had for the most part.  These other extracts are primarily “shatter”-grade hash oil, but we grade all BHO extractions against one another.  This was basically the best budder we have tried and don’t hesitate to recommend it to those who love the easy-to-handle texture of budder over the at-times difficult oil or crumbly wax.  The cleanliness of this extraction, the gorgeous color, and the pungent aroma all showed its high quality, and the superbly uplifting and energetic effects cemented it as something we want to keep in our ‘medicine cabinet’ regularly.  We felt that this one was most suited and enjoyed during the daytime, but a night out, or even a night spent socializing with friends at home would be enhanced to a great degree with this buddder.  It does keep the mind moving to a great extent, so we’d not recommend it as a night-ender for those who need help sleeping.

Ghost Train Haze Medical Marijuana Strain Review

From:  Southwest Alternative Care

Grade:  A

Type:  Sativa-dominant hybrid

Lineage:  Ghost’s OG Kush x Nevil’s Wreck (E32 Arcata Trainwreck x Neville’s Haze), from Rare Dankness Seeds

Price:  $35/8th

Appearance:  (9.25/10)  This strain had a wonderful Sativa structure which was open without being airy, and had a well-dried, crisp texture with just a bit of stickiness left when broken apart by hand.  The light minty green and creamy orange coloration was made even lighter by a thick coating of densely-packed trichomes that ranged from clear to soft amber, with plenty of milky heads in-between.  While we did find one large seed, the rest of the sample was free of the tiny seeds that are so common, and otherwise seemed to have been well-grown and cared-for.  The trim was a little bit shaggy, but the leaves were so frosty that we didn’t mind much.  One interesting note is that we noticed some globes of what looked to be resin or sap on the calyx surfaces of the tip of one of the buds — flip through the gallery to see for yourselves.

Aroma:  (9.5/10)  Universally loved by our staff, the aroma didn’t have any real hints of the Ghost’s OG side of the lineage, but that didn’t seem to matter at all.  The scent is a wonderfully sweet yet fresh scent that has hints of anise, grenadine, and citrus mixed together into what several reviewers described as “cherry-limeade” or a similar sweet-tangy-tart combination.  It’s very complex and engaging, and also has just enough of a bite post-grind to remind you of the OG and Haze lineage.  Top-notch aroma here, one that Trainwreck and Haze lovers especially will enjoy.

Taste: (8.5/10)  After the world-class aroma experience, it’s hard not to be slightly disappointed with the flavor, but this one held up very well.  The flavor was a little more OG-tinged than the smell was, giving hints of the pine cleaner type of sharpness combined with a hint of the floral Haze sweetness.  One this we really enjoyed about this strain was its extremely smooth smoking experience, which never really gave us the urge to cough and retained flavor to about the midway point of the bowl.  The final ash was a very light gray with flecks of white, showing a very good flush.

Effects:  We had some slight disagreements on the overall potency of this hybrid among the review staff — some staff felt that it was in the top 10% of medicine potency-wise, while others (one of whom who has had the strain previously) thought that it just didn’t get to that upper level.  That said, the uplifting and energizing effects that kick off this experience will make any real Sativa-lover happy, but might border on anxious for those who struggle with the more energizing strains.  A strong ‘facial mask’ feeling of buzzing pressure kept up at a high level, and our eyes tended to be rather red during the early parts of the duration especially… not a ‘stealth’ med really.  Multiple reviewers reported quite a lot of borderline psychedelic activity, including slight auditory and visual hallucinations and at times felt a bit of sensory overload.  At lower dosages than our standard KR review portion, the effect was more manageable and sociable, but otherwise it was a bit too challenging mentally to stay engaged with anything other than one’s own thoughts for the most part.  The main effects began their decline at about 1.5 hours, but the energy and mental activity kept up through almost the end, when a little bit of a Sativa crash crept in and we felt a little stunted mentally and in a somewhat dreamlike mental state to finish.

Medicinal Traits:  (We are NOT doctors – personal opinion ONLY)  Energy (those who suffer from anxiety may want to lower the dosage), cerebral stimulation, anti-depression, creativity, strong ocular effects, appetite stimulation, and minor pain relief.  One reviewer reported this strain aggravating his nerves slightly, making him sort of tense and twitchy at times.

Overall:  While our most veteran reviewers commented that this particular sample of Ghost Train Haze did not stack up to the one that was entered into the High Times Denver Medical Cannabis Cup in terms of peak potency and flavor, the reviewers who were not jaded by that near-perfect sample really enjoyed this one.  One reviewer gave it his first and only ‘A+’ rating , while the rest of us felt it was more situated in the strong ‘A’ area, largely due to the potential we’d seen previously.  Regardless of expectations going in, this strain had very high marks in all areas, with the smell and appearance especially drawing our attention.  We definitely think that this is daytime medicine, as the mental and physical stimulation it gave would likely keep a patient awake at night with mind racing.  We actually liked a lower dosage of this strain in terms of daily use, as the psychedelic elements we experienced at high dosages made it less functional both mentally and socially — but those adventurous ‘psychonaut’ types among the MMJ patient population will likely enjoy those elements of the experience.  High marks here, and a great job all-around by the grow and post-harvest team in preserving the great qualities that these genetics hold.

Chem #4 x Sour Diesel Medical Marijuana Strain Review

From:  Green Dream Health Services

Grade:  A

Type:  Sativa-dominant hybrid

Lineage:  ChemDawg #4 x Sour Diesel

Price:  $50/8th

Appearance:  (8.75/10)  The dense “budlet” style structure and snappy cure of this Sativa-dominant sample gave it great texture and reminded us of well-done Sour Diesels of the past.  Though it was overall rather impressive, we did find that there were a few too many guard leaves left on and it hurt the overall trichome coverage, which was only average for an otherwise visually striking strain.  The harvest was maybe a little early, but we did spot a couple of amber trichomes among the mostly clear patches.  The trichs were well-preserved and showed a high amount of care, which was also evident in the grow itself.

Aroma:  (9/10)  Pungency was the name of the game here, and this sample was easily-noticed, whether it was sealed in a bag or not.  The dank rubber-fuel-skunk front notes has a background of spice and citrus, making for an almost overwhelming scent package before it’s even ground up.  The post-grind aroma brought to mind a bit more of the Sour Diesel, with a stronger kick of fresh citrus and an almost floral quality once it settled.  This strain is one of those that is a matter of personal preference — most of our crew loved it, but it is a challenging scent like most Chem and Diesel strains.

Taste: (9/10)  The pungent aroma translated directly to the flavor, which again was Chem-dominant, with a Sour Diesel-influenced citrusy finish.  Deeply spicy with notes of rubber, skunk, and chemical cleaner on the inhale, the exhale left an almost anise-like flavor on the lips, and a fuely scent in the nostrils.  Again, this whole family of strains are a bit of an acquired taste, but Chem and Diesel-lovers will certainly appreciate this example’s flavor.  The smoke was moderately harsh and expansive, causing coughing on large hits — the final ash was a medium light gray, showing an adequate but not perfect flush.

Effects:  White this strain’s effects were felt immediately with the increase in face/eye/head pressure and temperature as well as heart rate, we all felt that it was at its peak between 30 minutes and 1 hour into the experience.  The time of day seemed to affect the results of the reviews, as the reviewer who sampled the strain at night felt it shift gears around the 1 hour point to a meditative relaxation, while the daytime reviewers got a lasting boost in energy, mood, and physical activity.  The surging energy was felt throughout the body and kept us up on our feet, at times pacing around smiling for no reason in particular.  It wound down for most of the staff around the 2 – 2.5 hour mark , but left a lasting feeling of energy and focus, unlike some Sativas which give a drained, “crash” feeling as they fade out… a worthy ending to an overall very satisfying experience.

Medicinal Traits:  (We are NOT doctors – personal opinion ONLY)  Energy, ocular attention, appetite stimulation, major mood elevation, anti-nausea properties, and one reviewer reported significant relief from an arthritic back.

Overall:  One of our veteran staff called this one of his favorites of this year effects-wise, ranking it in the upper echelon of potency and rating both the smell and flavor a 9+.  Not all of the staff were quite as enthusiastic about the flavor and smell, but the effects were universally enjoyed for their energetic uplift that only had a tiny edge of anxiety to it early on — great balance of energy and comfort.  This was a thoroughly enjoyable medicine, and we felt that it fits best for the daytime, especially a day off when you can really appreciate and indulge in its mind-expanding and mood-elevating effects.  One reviewer commented that this was as much a recreational “fun” med as a medical one, while another got great relief from back problems and nausea, so it seems to show a versatile nature.  Minor nitpicking aside, we were very impressed with the total package here.

Name:  Grape Ape Wax

From:  The Herbal Cure

Type:  Butane-extracted hash oil made from 100% in-house Grape Ape trim, whipped to a wax/budder consistency

Price:  $50/gram

Grade:  A

See full report here: https://secure.fullspectrumlabs.com/report/1104146

Consumption Method:  TI Skillet via bubbler

Visual: (9/10)  This wax had a medium golden color which had some whiter areas within it, especially when the chunks were broken apart.  The texture was soft enough to dab by just squeezing something against the wax, but it was also able to be scooped, making it easy to handle no matter what type of implement is used.  We saw a few random hairs and flecks of debris, but the actual extraction itself seemed extremely clean, judging from the color and the lack of visible plant matter.  Like their Papaya Wax, we’d suggest calling this one “budder”, as its consistency and color was more in line with that than standard (and lower-grade) “wax”.

Aroma: (9/10)  This extract was fairly unique in that it really smelled like the parent strain (see our review of the flowers this extract was made from here), with a mix of skunky and sweet smells which are uncommon in the “lemon-pine” world of BHO, where that pure trichome taste seems to overwhelm the more subtle nuances of smell and flavor.  Not here — the extract artist did a great job preserving the strain’s aroma, and it was one of the more pungent-smelling BHO samples we’ve had overall.

Flavor: (9/10)  Like the aroma, the flavor seemed to come through as a true Grape Ape experience, as we picked up some of the “purple” incense-floral-sweetness taste on the inhale, and there’s a lingering sweetness on the exhale as well.  It caused a good amount of coughing among our staff, but there was no lingering chest constriction or continual coughing/throat-clearing as happens with some BHO.  Seems clean, and it was very flavorful — again, great job by the extract artist.

Consumption:  Like most high-grade butane extractions, this wax disappeared when dabbed onto a skillet, leaving behind only an oily golden sheen on the dabber.  There was zero sizzling or other noises when it was vaporizing, and it seemed to be very clean overall.  Though we did cough, it was nothing out of the ordinary for a large dab and we were breathing free and clear a minute later.

Effects:  This extract had a smoothly relaxing effect that didn’t really come with much of the early jitters or Sativa-like raw potency that many BHO samples come with.  From the start, we felt fairly clear-headed and mentally active and able to function and focus on tasks, but there was an underlying deep relaxation that seemed to lay in wait over the first hour and a half or so of the experience.  One reviewer was dealing with terrible back spasms while performing the review, and while this extract didn’t outright kill the pain, it did relax the area and took his mind off the pain, which is really the battle when nearly any movement causes crippling pain.  This Grape Ape induced relaxation and we felt most comfortable sitting or laying down for sure.  As the second half of effects began to kick in, the body became heavier than before, and the eyes followed — sleep can definitely come with this extract if one allows it to — some of our staff were asleep at the 2-2.5 hour mark, waking up a few hours later and still feeling slightly medicated.  This is a long-lasting extract, and the lingering effects/comedown seem to add to the medicinal value for those seeking sleep, muscle relaxation, and pain distraction.

Duration:  Main effects 2.5 – 3 hours, lingering effects 4+ hours

Medicinal Traits:  (We are NOT doctors – personal opinion ONLY)

Overall:  This is one of our favorite wax samples lately, and The Herbal Cure continues to show that their extract artist is someone to be reckoned with in the MMJ community, turning out clean, great-tasting BHO routinely testing among the tops we see.  This Grape Ape was even more flavorful and like the initial strain than the Papaya Wax was, reminding us immediately of the parent strain and also having some of the same “up then down” qualities as the flowers have.  The long-lasting effects were smooth and enjoyable, lasting longer than most samples and carrying a high medicinal value for those struggling with pain, muscle tension, and sleep problems especially.