STRAIN REVIEW // SIN VALLEY OG KUSH

//  ANALYSIS  //

STRAIN NAME | SIN VALLEY OG KUSH
BRAND | JACKPOT SEAWEED
RETAILER | GREEN THEORY
HERITAGE | SFV OG x BLUE POWER
THC | 20.8% *
CBD | 0.2% *
INDICA | 60%
SATIVA | 40%
NUG APPEARANCE | ROUND CONE
COLOR | LIGHT GREEN
TEXTURE | SOFT
AROMA (Outside) | OAK
NUG DENSITY | THICK
AROMA (Inside) | CITRUS / HINT OF CINNAMON
BURN TIME | SLOW
TASTE | OAK
AROMA (Smoke) | HEAVY SKUNK
STRENGTH | STRONG
CHILL FACTOR | STRONG
CREEP FACTOR | 45 MIN. (FULL EFFECT)
AUDITORY EFFECT | STRONG
ENERGY LEVEL | SUSTAINED (TAPERS OFF)
OCCASION | DAY OR NITE
GRADE | A+

* Potency Analysis is taken from the information the producer affixed to the packaging.

//  OPINION  //

Simply great.

These guys did it right.

Hard hitting, long lasting, great tasting, and slow burning; these are a few of my favorite things.

I really haven't been too impressed lately when it comes to the development of emerging strains. Let's just say, Sin Valley OG Kush has changed my tune.

OG Kush has been around for a long time. The influence of pop culture still has many incorrectly referring to the OG abbreviation as 'original gangster', when it really stands for Ocean Grown. This is an homage to the location of it's origin; the west coast of California near the Pacific Ocean.

A little tip; it's easy to tell when you have a really good original OG Kush strain...it smells like ammonia.

Well-made OG Kush plants produced from non-feminized original heirloom seeds may be difficult to grow if you're not experienced, but in my opinion, are well worth the trouble.

To cut down on the trouble, breeders went to work on this strain.

Since the original OG Kush strains produce lighter, more fragile, and less-dense nuggetry; the goal was to bring traits of beefier sativa strains to breed into OG Kush, increasing hardiness and yield.

Over the years, all this breeding has resulted in some great, and not-so-great buds. I can't begin to tell you how many variants of OG I have seen, even with OG itself being a variant. (Lemon Thai x Hindu Kush x Chemdawg)

But the producers of Sin Valley OG Kush sure found the right mix of breeds here. The flavor that Sin Valley OG gives you is only outdone by it's feeling. On top of that, the look and feel of Sin Valley OG Kush nugs are a lot like the feeling you get, thick and long-lasting.

So very dank, so very good.

Highly recommended.

BECAUSE, NUGS

Sin Valley OG Kush

New Review Coming Soon.

Election Day is upon us, check the Twitter feed for all the latest news - https://twitter.com/NationalMRC

STRAIN REVIEW // TRAINING DAY

//  ANALYSIS  //

STRAIN NAME | TRAINING DAY
BRAND | JACKPOT SEAWEED
RETAILER | GREEN THEORY
HERITAGE | TRAINWRECK x LA CONFIDENTIAL
THC | 20.8% *
CBD | 0.3% *
INDICA | 70% *
SATIVA | 30% *
NUG APPEARANCE | CHUNKY / NUBBY
COLOR | DARK GREEN / LT GREEN
TEXTURE | HARD / ROUGH
AROMA (Outside) | LIME
NUG DENSITY | THICK
AROMA (Inside) | COTTON CANDY
BURN TIME | FAST
TASTE | TANGY
AROMA (Smoke) | DEISEL
STRENGTH | MODERATE
CHILL FACTOR | MODERATE
CREEP FACTOR | 10 MIN. (FULL EFFECT)
AUDITORY EFFECT | MODERATE
ENERGY LEVEL | ELEVATED
OCASSION | DAYTIME
GRADE | A-

* Potency Analysis is taken from the information the producer affixed to the packaging.

//  OPINION  //

Admittedly, regardless of the heritage, when the strain name says 'training', I tend to be skeptical.

No worries though. I'm pretty confident that whoever was in-charge of production for this batch, knew what they were doing, and weren't actually in training.

With this review, we'll discuss density and burn time.

Let's talk value. One of my primary requirements I look for when scoping a quality strain, is the density. Now there are plenty of great strains that come from light and fluffy nugs, and many are well suited for use in joints. But it's been more that once that I've heard "that's it?" when smoking what looked to be a well-stuffed bowl, but turned out to be something that lights up quicker than flash paper.

So, if you're concern is thickness, you'll have no need to be on the fence when debating whether or not to pick up this strain. And if you want to dig further on what makes for dense buds, there's a great post over on GrowWeedEasy that should help bring some clarity.

As far as the high, Training Day sets in quick; probably due to the Trainwreck genetics. Roughly ten minutes after use, you're feeling the full effects. It's not much of a creeper, but the high is sustained for a good deal of time.

So plain and simple, this strain does it for me.

The only reason Training Day got an A- and not an A, is because I found a few tiny seeds in the nugs. Hey, it happens sometimes.

By the way, my daily piece is a plain ol' glass pipe, usually of the pyrex variety. I applaud Etsy for making them on available on their site.

When I'm looking for something to smoke, I tend to reach for the thicker buds like those here. Because, the longer the bowl, the better.

BECAUSE, NUGS.

Next Review: Training Day

Coming Soon!

STRAIN REVIEW // STRAWBERRY MANGO HAZE

//  ANALYSIS  //

STRAIN NAME | STRAWBERRY MANGO HAZE
BRAND | JACKPOT SEAWEED
RETAILER | GREEN THEORY
HERITAGE | STRAWBERRY COUGH x MANGO HAZE
THC | 23.4 *
CBD | 0.3 *
INDICA | 25% *
SATIVA | 75% *
NUG APPEARANCE | FLUFFY / LOOSE
COLOR | DARK GREEN / ORANGE
TEXTURE | SOFT
AROMA (Outside) | MANGO
NUG DENSITY | LOOSE
AROMA (Inside) | STRAWBERRY / MANGO
BURN TIME | FAST
TASTE | MANGO
AROMA (Smoke) | MANGO
STRENGTH | MODERATE
CHILL FACTOR | STRONG
CREEP FACTOR | 20 MIN. (FULL EFFECT)
AUDITORY EFFECT | STRONG
ENERGY LEVEL | LOW
OCASSION | NITE
GRADE | A-

* Potency Analysis is taken from the information the producer affixed to the packaging.

//  OPINION  //

Strawberry Mango Haze does what it says on the tin. The flavor and aroma is a distinctly strong marrying of mango and strawberry, while it's effects slowly put you in a deep haze.

I like it. It does the trick.

The first noticeable effects of the buds come in a quick initial burst; you're feeling it right away. Audible moments become clearer, your attention for the time-being is mildly more focused, and tension is slightly lifted.

The haze portion of Strawberry Mango Haze I described earlier is more of a body-rich high that creeps in about twenty minutes after initial use. If you're looking to deeply relax, you'll find that here with this strain...if you don't mind a short wait.

So overall, like I said before, it does the trick.

Just want to mention one thing about the smell. You can infuse the smell of other ingredients into your cannabis by working it into your curing cycle. That being said, I'm not sure if that's what was done with this batch. Using fruit can introduce mold easily, so make sure you know what you're doing before trying it.

If you don't know what you're doing when it comes to harvesting marijuana, then I suggest this thorough step-by-step guide by made one of the fine peoples over at Grasscity Forums. Personally, it's the best method I've ever used.

Read up, it's the best advice I can give you if you're looking to grow.

Smoke up, it's the best advice I can give you if you're looking to get high.

BECAUSE, NUGS.

Next review will be Strawberry Mango Haze. Coming soon.
In the meantime be sure to check out the Twitter & IG -

• TWITTER - https://twitter.com/NationalMRC

• INSTAGRAM - https://instagram.com/natmrc/

STRAIN REVIEW // PRESIDENTIAL OG KUSH

STRAIN NAME | PRESIDENTIAL OG KUSH
BRAND | JACKPOT SEAWEED
RETAILER | GREEN THEORY
HERITAGE | KUSH x BUBBLEGUM
THC | 18.6 *
CBD | 0.3% *
INDICA | 90% *
SATIVA | 10% *
NUG APPEARANCE | FLUFFY / BUMPY
COLOR | LIGHT GREEN
TEXTURE | SOFT
AROMA (Outside) | EUCALYPTUS
NUG DENSITY | THICK
AROMA (Inside) | EARTHY
BURN TIME | AVERAGE
TASTE | EUCALYPTUS
AROMA (Smoke) | DIESEL
STRENGTH | MODERATE
CHILL FACTOR | MODERATE
CREEP FACTOR | 20 MIN. (FULL EFFECT)
AUDITORY EFFECT | MILD
ENERGY LEVEL | HIGH
OCASSION | EARLY AFTERNOON
GRADE | B+

* Potency Analysis is taken from the information the producer affixed to the packaging.

// OPINION //

Honest reviews. Too many reviewers seem eager to write a good review, and not an honest one. It can be hard to write a bad review though, it is weed after all.

I smoke, I don't vape with my analysis.

Vaping for me, is done with oil and wax. For those that like to vape the flower, go ahead, it's all good. I just wanted to be clear with how I get to my conclusions that get posted on the breakdown list.

I've picked up this strain a few times. Not necessarily because it's so great, but to get a gauge on the range of quality when it comes to what individual cannabis producers and distributors offer.

Hopefully my breakdown list and pictures have given you an idea of what this strain has to offer, because I only have one word for this batch of this strain: "meh".

I can tell a lot nurturing went into this grow, but I believe certain strains don't produce enhanced effects when crossed with others. That might be the case here.

Since the marijuana availability opened up here in Washington, I haven't had near the amount of negative experiences with herb quality when compared to pre-legalization times. 

Product quality and potency can still vary wildly batch to batch, even for the exact same strain. For reference, one 2g package of the Presidential OG Kush I picked up was roughly 18% THC, while the other 2g package of the same thing registers at more like 23% THC.

Lesson: Read package labeling closely. It'll save you a lot of headache. Enjoy it, soak it in. Back in the day, they didn't tell you what was in the marijuana, and you probably didn't want to know anyways.

BECAUSE, NUGS.

A peek at the next strain review; Presidential OG Kush. Will post as soon as the analysis is finished. 

In the meantime, check out the Twitter feed and see what's new - https://twitter.com/NationalMRC

Have a great weekend!

STRAIN REVIEW // THAI GIRL

// ANALYSIS //

• Strain: THAI GIRL
• Producer: JACKPOT SEAWEED
• Retailer: GREEN THEORY
• Heritage: THAI x WHITE WIDOW
• THC: 22.0 *
• CBD: 0.2% *
• Indica: 45% *
• Sativa: 55% *
• Appearance: EGG SHAPED
• Color: LT  / DARK GREEN, HINT OF ORANGE
• Texture: HARD & GOOEY
• Aroma (Outside): VERY LIGHT DIESEL
• Density: THICK
• Aroma (Inside): DIESEL, HINT OF LIME
• Burn Time: MODERATELY SLOW
• Taste: DIESEL
• Aroma (Smoke): DIESEL
• Strength: STRONG
• Chill Factor: VERY MILD
• Creep Factor: 30 MIN. (FULL EFFECT)
• Auditory Effect: MILD
• Energy Level: HIGH
• Occasion: DAYTIME
• Grade: A

* Potency Analysis is taken from the information the producer affixed to the packaging.

// OPINION //

BECAUSE, NUGS.

New strain. Thai Girl. Thumbs up! Full review soon.

WHAT ARE THE ACTIVE CANNABINOIDS IN MARIJUANA?

In an earlier post I discussed trichrome maturity.

Trichrome maturity can affect the way the body and brain interact with different cannabinoids. So I thought I'd move the conversation towards cannabinoids with a couple of resources talking about the science behind them.

Well, for starters, let's take a look at what Wikipedia has to say -

"Cannabinoids are a class of diverse chemical compounds that act on cannabinoid receptors in cells that repress neurotransmitter release in the brain. Ligands for these receptor proteins include the endocannabinoids (produced naturally in the body by humans and animals)..." - Wikipedia

Here's a pretty picture that breaks down some of the cannabinoid types -

© sespe.org

As you can see from the infographic produced by the good folks over at sespe.org, there's a lot more to the story. There's also an excellent article that accompanies this infosheet.

As the medical community begins to realize the healing potential of cannabis, hopefully we'll see more targeted therapies derived from concentrated forms of select cannabinoids, and not just THC and CBD.

STRAIN REVIEW // CHERRY PIE

• Strain: CHERRY PIE   
• Producer: N/A
• Retailer: NW CANNABIS MARKET
• Heritage: N/A
• Indica: N/A
• Sativa: N/A
• Appearance:  WELL TRIMMED CONE
• Color: LIGHT GREEN / HINT OF PURPLE
• Texture: SPONGY
• Aroma (Outside): PINE
• Density: MEDIUM
• Aroma (Inside): SWEET PINE
• Burn Time: MODERATELY SLOW
• Taste: PINE, SKUNK
• Aroma (Smoke): SKUNK
• Strength: WEAK
• Chill Factor: NOT RELAXING
• Creep Factor: LOW (2 MIN. FULL EFFECT)
• Auditory Effect: MILD
• Energy Level: UNAFFECTED
• Occasion: MORNING
• Grade: B-

We are going to balance things out a bit. The last review was a positive one, this one, not so much.

Now here in Seattle, the NW Cannabis Market is known to house some of the original talent and expertise that helped devise this new landscape for both recreational, and medical marijuana here in Washington state.

It’s definitely worth your time to visit the market if you’re an authorized Washington MMJ patient, just for the experience alone.

If you know your vendors well, most times, you know what to expect; but not always.

The marketing and retail laws that apply to MMJ are much different than those that exist for recreational.

For example, sampling cannabis is much, much easier with the medical outlets. You can touch, see, smell and feel the buds.

With the I-502 stores, you get to do virtually none of the above. You’ll be lucky with what you can see and smell through the packaging.

I’ll have articles in the future going into more detail about the differences between recreational and medical marijuana.

But for now, back to the review at hand.  

In simple terms; quite a disappointment.

This was a quick impulse buy, based on mostly smell and density, and I should’ve inspected this bud a little closer before purchase.

Clear-ish trichromes indicate this bud may have been harvested just a bit too soon. The nutes seem to have been flushed, and the overall flavor is favorable, but the high is not.

If it was an early harvest, it probably wasn’t on purpose. Many times an early harvest can be needed to save the batch from a complete loss.

The high is weak, but immediate. No creeper effect.

Gives you a moderate body high, with very little psychoactive goodness going on.

Can’t recommend this one; but stay tuned, I’ll be back soon with one that I do!

Thanks again for stopping by!