Sour Diesel Medical Marijuana Strain Review

From:  Herbal Connections Cherry Creek

Grade:  A-

Type:  Mostly Sativa Hybrid, (Mass Super Skunk x Original Diesel) or {ChemDawg x Mass Super Skunk)… exact lineage disputed

Price:  $50/8th

Appearance:  (8/10)  Rather dark-looking overall for a Sativa variety, this Sour Diesel was mostly darker greens with some golden tones as it was broken open — thin but bold-colored red and orange pistils completed the fall color package, accompanied by many ambered trichome heads.  It was a little on the dry end of the spectrum but had great structure and was clearly well cared-for.  There were some tiny seed pods and a few leaves that should’ve been trimmed, but solid overall.

Aroma:  (8/10)  Stereotypical Sour Diesel that trended towards the acrid, skunky fuel side rather than the citrusy side, as some SD’s tend to do.  It had notes of menthol and eucalyptus that cooled off the diesel a bit, but was definitely a pungent fuel-heavy sample, one of those that you’ll notice across the room at times.

Taste: (7/10)  Not as pungent-tasting as some SD’s we’ve had, this one hit with an oddly sweet yet musky citrus taste but still carried an aftertaste of skunky fuel that lingered in the throat after smoking.  only moderately expansive for a Diesel, and smooth on the attack, this one is a more agreeable specimen that would do well for less-experienced Diesel patients.

Effects:  Typical effects package to start, with strong pressure building in the eyes, a bit of sweating, slightly ringing ears, and a floaty feeling in the chest.  After that set in, a sense of motivation and a burst of energy hit the majority of our staff, sending them into chorefests that made time fly by.  One reviewer was sent to a less active “crushed” Sativa state where the couch was about all he could handle for the first hour… this is a good example of a strain hitting different people (at a different time, different surroundings) in a variety of ways.  The motivated crew split off after about 1.5 hours, with one reviewer actually getting crushed and falling asleep while the other carried on full of energy and multi-tasking like crazy.  It seems that this one either kicks into gear very late, comes with some “drainage” where it leaves you tired after the Sativa start… hard to explain why it acted so differently.  Give it a try for yourself and see where it shakes out…

Medicinal Traits: (We are NOT doctors – personal opinion ONLY)  Energy, motivation, some sleep aid properties displayed in some reviewers… not a ‘stealth’ med, eyes were red and low.

Overall:  We see quite a lot of Sour Diesel, as it is a very popular strain here in Colorado and around the world.  This sample wasn’t one of the elite SD’s we’ve encountered, but it was still very good and fit the mold of what we expected almost perfectly.  Providing a varied effects package that went from extreme energy and motivation to a slug-like state where walking and sitting up straight was a bit of a mental chore depending on the situation and mood of the reviewer.  You can call this a ‘hair trigger’ type of Sativa, in that it can go either way on you.  Start easy with a small dose and see how it affects you, then work up if desired.  We loved the typical fuel stank this one had and its structure and overall grow quality was very good, another solid blueprint-style example of a strain from Herbal Connections Cherry Creek.

Blueberry Medical Marijuana Strain Review

From:  Herbal Connections Cherry Creek

Grade:  B+

Type:  Mostly Indica hybrid, Afghani x Thai varieties

Price:  $50/8th

Appearance:  (7/10)  Pretty stereotypical Blueberry — bright calyxes, dark green leaves, and orange pistils.  Average in almost every sense, it was dense enough to be substantial, dry enough to burn well, and covered in a moderately dense layer of trichs.  Good harvest timing, but the manicure could’ve been nicer, as there were some non-frosty leaves left on.

Aroma:  (8.5/10)  Yep, this is Blueberry… this sample had that perfect sugar-coated muffin smell and was rather pungent both pre and post-grind.  After the grind, a slightly musky and putrid sweetness came out, taking over for some of the sugary berry.  Simply put, if you like Blueberry, you’ll love this smell.

Taste: (7/10)  A tad disappointing after the sugary bouquet, the taste was a little more subdued, with only one reviewer getting the beautiful candy berry/muffin type taste out of it.  It seems to be in there, but coaxing it out wasn’t easy for everyone… there was an earthy element to it as well that came out in later hits.  Rather smooth and not particularly expansive, this one was an easy smoke.

Effects:  A very smooth and linear experience overall, this strain started off with some light Sativa effects such as eye/face/temple pressure fluctuations, but also immediate relief in the neck and shoulder blade area.  With elevated moods, this med took us on a relaxing ride that left us feeling capable the entire time and never overly medicated or fuzzy.  While it was more prone to sitting activities, the muscle relaxation and pain relief made active ones enjoyable as well.  A strangely enduring face feeling persisted well into the 2nd hour, and the eyes seemed to get redder as the experience went along rather than vice-versa, as is normally the case.

Medicinal Traits: (We are NOT doctors – personal opinion ONLY)  Muscle relaxation, mild pain relief (especially upper back/neck), mood elevation, anti-depression, anti-anxiety, appetite stimulation, and enduring ocular/sinus attention.

Overall:  We haven’t reviewed a proper Blueberry in some time now, and the whole staff really enjoyed the throwback.  This one was the perfect Blueberry for us smell-wise, with its unmistakable sugary berry scent and “pick it out of a lineup” appearance.  It was never too strong but was surprisingly enduring, ending a bit abruptly after holding steady for nearly 2 hours.  We love Blueberry as a versatile Indica, as it doesn’t leave you couchlocked or slow-witted but still lightens the mood and relieves the daily tensions and pains.  It’ll never be supreme top-level connoisseur grade, but it’s one that we always enjoy going back to — great for beginner and mid-level patients who desire a linear, positive, relaxing experience.

Afghanica Medical Marijuana Strain Review

From:  Herbal Connections Cherry Creek

Grade:  B+

Type:  Soil-grown, mostly Indica hybrid (Afghani x Skunk #1) from Flying Dutchmen Seeds

Price:  $50/8th

Appearance:  (7.5/10)  A little light in structure considering its parents, this sample was still loaded with well-timed trichomes that in places totally hid the green color underneath.  A standard blend of greens with orange-brown pistils, there was some purpling on calyxes and especially leaf surfaces.  The main knocks were the iffy manicure and the undeveloped seeds pods spotted in several areas.

Aroma:  (7/10)  Slightly musky and vegetal, with hints of skunk, citrus, and pine — not a particularly exciting or appealing aroma, but it was nice enough and developed when ground.  Like a less-musky Afghani, we kind of missed that powerful pungency they have at times.

Taste: (6.5/10)  Referred to by one reviewer as the “chicken of the medicine world”, the flavor this strain possessed was mainly in the hashy/vegetation/pine realm.  Nondescript but not bad, it did take on a bit of a campfire quality by the end, which wasn’t particularly nice.  It also got harsher as it went along, making the staff cough quite a bit.  It left behind a clean-looking light gray ash though, so the flush wasn’t to blame.

Effects:  A hint of early Sativa effects started things off, with pressure welling up in the eyes and some buzzing/burning.  That receded quickly though and gave way to a slightly dopey mood elevated state with a warm body and no real urge to get up.  A calm mental focus left us functional but a little scattered, where nothing actually seemed to get accomplished despite the mental drive.  Slightly heavy-feeling body that seemed to increase as it rolled past an hour, but it more or less scaled down from there, finishing cleanly and returning us back to a standard energy level.

Medicinal Traits: (We are NOT doctors – personal opinion ONLY)  Mental relaxation, some muscle relaxation, pain distraction, hypertension, ocular attention to start, and appetite stimulation properties.

Overall:  We felt that this was a solid middle-of-the-road Indica choice that left us feeling mostly functional if a little sedentary, and finished cleanly without leaving us tired or bleary-eyed.  The underlying mental focus that it provided was appreciated, and it was also fairly undetectable physically, with mostly clear eyes that simply looked relaxed.  The taste and smell were pleasant enough but not special, though the appearance certainly had its high points.  We think this is a good choice for beginner-to-average patients who are seeking a relaxing med but don’t require a lot of pain relief.

Colombian Gold Medical Marijuana Strain Review

From:  A Cut Above (Denver)

Grade:  A

Type:  Sativa-Dominant, specially-selected landrace strain from the Santa Marta mountains of Colombia (from Reeferman Seeds most likely)

Price:  $50/8th

Appearance:  (8.5/10)  The Sativa was evident in its overall light structure, with many super-frosty guard leaves shielding long teardrop calyxes and light camel-colored pistils.  Classic look to this one, we really loved the trichome coverage and the overall texture, which was easy to handle and prepare.  Some might complain about the lack of density, but this is fine by us, especially in an equatorial Sativa.

Aroma:  (8.5/10)  A blend of slightly musky yet fresh citrus (lemons and limes mainly) with a skunky quality, this strain could well be the template for what many modern Sativa hybrids smell like… it reminded us of so many other strains, most notably Durban Poison (another landrace Sativa).  The aroma was nicely pungent both in and out of the jar, but really freshened up and got a lovely tangy quality when ground up.

Taste: (7.5/10)  Very interesting tea tree/citronella oil taste, slightly floral and creamy… there was also the lemon/lime tang from the aroma that came through at times.  It was a complex and engaging taste, but we really enjoyed how smooth the smoke was… only one reviewer coughed at all, and the expansion was totally manageable.  Flavor was of average pungency, but the bowl burned down cleanly, producing a fluffy light gray ash.

Effects:  Strongly Sativa to start (like many strains), it hit the eyes and forehead strongly, producing a buzzing feeling and some pressure fluctuations.  Alert and active, this sample left us feeling strongly medicated yet totally functional and positive mentally — heads were upright and dialed-in to whatever activity was happening at the moment.  Cerebral but not overly racy or frantic at all, this would likely make a good at-work type of strain due to its mental clarity.  There was a solid muscle relaxation component that came along with it though, making this a good choice for those who require some relaxation and pain relief with their Sativa strains.  Stable and smooth, this one faded out cleanly and left us feeling great.

Medicinal Traits: (We are NOT doctors – personal opinion ONLY)  Energy, mood elevation, lots of ocular attention, possible relief for fibromyalgia/MS/RSD, mild pain relief, focus, sociability, and focus.

Overall:  We were excited to try this strain, as none of us had ever gotten the chance… it’s a piece of cannabis history and formed a key component of the original Sam the Skunkman Skunk #1, which has made its way into countless hybrids over the last 20+ years.  Needless to say, we really enjoyed this strain in the “bag appeal” areas, but it really shined with its mix of strongly Sativa yet functional effects package that had us feeling motivated, social, and focused.  A superb choice as a daytime medication for those who need to be on-point mentally, it packs enough power for veterans at higher dosages, but won’t totally overwhelm a newer patient either.  Superb grow job and post-harvest care, no complaints of note about this old-school classic.

Hong Kong Kush Medical Marijuana Strain Review

From:  Broadway Wellness

Grade:  A

Type:  Hybrid, Kong (Indica-dom clone strain) x Sour Diesel

Price:  $50/8th

Appearance:  (8.5/10)  The fields of perfect trichomes that are almost literally everywhere when scoping/taking pictures of this sample said it all really.  Not much else mattered, though the manicure could be tighter and it was a little damp at 14% moisture content.  No visible signs of stress though, and the moistness made this maybe the stickiest sample we’ve encountered in Colorado… it’ll dangle on the end of your finger after being handled.

Aroma:  (9/10)  Possibly the stinkiest Diesel cross we’ve come across as well… the stank is overwhelming.  The fuel smell is most prominent, followed by skunk, gun oil, garlic, musk, and body odor… basically any stinky, acrid thing you can imagine is in here somewhere.  Uber-pungent, it stinks up a room when a jar is popped and increases after grinding.

Taste: (7.5/10)  The moistness in this sample might’ve led to a more harsh burn, as it sizzled and snapped a bit when burnt, expanded readily, and made us cough quite a bit by the end.  However the taste was fairly strong, producing a fuel-dominant taste (surprise!), with frontal notes of citrus cleaner that fade into the skunky aftertaste.  The flush/dry/cure could’ve been better from the looks of it… the ash wasn’t totally clean, and the sizzling adds to that thought.

Effects:  A typical Sativa start, with some “headband” feeling, an increase in heart rate (accompanied by some internal fluttering), a bit of a light, euphoric feeling, and strong attention to the eyes, which were red, glassy, and low.  Some tunnel vision to start as well, but the ears and other senses seemed awakened and engaged.  The initial energy left after about 45 minutes and gave way to a more relaxed and couchlocked state where the mind was functional and engaged in tasks but jumped around a bit… the body however, only wanted to sit/lay down.  A clean finish brought us right back to the mood we left pre-medicating.

Medicinal Traits: (We are NOT doctors – personal opinion ONLY) Energy initially, strong muscle relaxation as it wore on, very strong ocular attention, appetite stimulation, anti-depression, minor pain relief, stomach issues, and sleep aid.

Overall:  Very potent, very sticky, ridiculously stinky… that’s pretty much the “take-home” on this one.  It ended up feeling like an Indica-dominant experience overall, but it was racy and Sativa to start.  For experienced users only, the potency came on very quickly and took even our experienced staff a little by surprise.  The strong muscle relaxation in particular was appreciated, but it produced a bevy of useful effects for a variety of afflictions.  If it was a little easier to smoke, flushed longer, and was a little more to our liking in the texture category, it may be a top contender.