“Weighing In” Reviews

Royal Addiction strain review:

Does a strain with the name “Royal Addiction” live up to its title? *Spoiler Alert* it 100 percent does. Jump on into our review of Royal Addiction grown by our friends over at Pacific Grove PDX.          

            Royal Addiction is a cross between Animal Mints BX1 #3 and SeedJunky OG #32. If you have followed our reviews in the past, you likely already know the breeder of this strain: SeedJunky Genetics! Just for some clarification when we pick out strains we typically try them before doing research, so this is honestly just a testament to how good the cultivars that are bred from SeedJunky. We want to note though that these results would not be possible if it were not for all the great growers that we have in the state of Oregon. They are the ones growing these strains to their absolute fullest potential, and we are so spoiled out here in the Oregon recreational and medical Cannabis industry. Animal Mints has been one of SeedJunky’s more popular strains, especially in the 2020 window, and we expect to see more crosses of it in the future. Animal Mints is a peculiar strain, it is a cross between Animal Cookies, GSC, and Blue Power. What makes Animal Mints so peculiar is the Blue power in it, Blue power is this absolute smorgasbord of various strains. Blue power is a combination of: Sour Double, Master Kush, The White, and Blue Moonshine. Just to add a note there are two versions of Blue Power one from Sin City Seeds and the other from Vision seeds, the one being referred to in this case is the former. Animal Mints has become remarkably popular for it’s appearance, it’s nice smooth floral taste, and it’s mellow but yet stimulating high. It’s important to note that there is a big difference between Animal Mints and Animal Mints BX1. Animal Mints BX1 is a cross between Animal Mints and Wedding Cake aka (Triangle Mints #23). This gives it some more unique traits we feel not only boosts the potency of this strain, but also gives it a creamier flavor than the traditional Animal Mints. As for SeedJunky OG this one seems to remain a mystery. From what our research suggests this strain is exclusive to Seedjunky and it is unreleased. We believe it to carry some OG in it of course, but it has been hard to research because they only run this strain as a parent. Most of the time they put out SeedJunky OG they cross it with something else, and then limit who receives those packs. So not many growers out there even have access to any strains that carry SeedJunky OG in it. Whatever the strain is it seems to be it carries some heavy OG lineage because Royal Addiction carries a lot of familiar OG traits.

            These buds are crazy light green, and the color just stays consistent throughout. The buds are so light green it is difficult to tell if they’re lightened up from the trichomes. The trichome coverage on this strain is quite impressive, you’ll have to get a closer look but you can see that it layers the inside and outside of the buds. The look seems to represent the classic shape that OG’s tend to carry, and the color hue of the Animal Mints BX1. In a lot of ways this strain looks a lot like Wedding Cake. If this were just a cross between Animal Mints and SeedJunky OG #32 we feel that this strain would look vastly different.  On closer inspection it almost seems to have those turning colors, but the shift is just to a gradual tone change of green. From it’s genetic lineage of carrying the OG this strain is absolutely beautiful, many OG’s never have the great appearance that their effect lives up to.

            OG is absolutely encapsulated in the nose. OG’s are tough to describe, once you smoke enough of them you start to get the feel of the traits. The best way we can describe OG’s at almost as if you get the smell of Gas/Fuel but then it turns into another note that is a lot earthier that becomes the main note, and the fuel sort of lingers behind it. There is an added note to this strain that pure OG’s do not carry, and that is a more subtle creamy smell. It is a little bit reminiscent of Wedding Cake. This helps round off the smell of the OG and makes it something unique. That creamy smell has always interested us because it offers a sort of pro and con to the flower itself. The pro is that it tends to smooth out the flavor and taste of the strain, leading to a much more fulfilling taste that is less harsh on the throat. The con however is it tends to reduce some of the loudness of the nose itself. In the grand scheme of things, the pro outweighs the con. Simply because while you might not be able to get the initial smell bursting from the jar, once you break this up and grind it, you’ll get what you’ve been searching for.

            So Royal Addiction certainly is making a case for itself in this review, but how are the effects? We found that the most impressive thing to us about Royal Addiction is its effects. This strain is a remarkably high tester, which a little goes a long way. It’s effects however seem to affect the body the most, and because of that we feel it is more versatile strain than say GMO Cookies. We are surprised considering its lineage how functional the strain is. Potency on Cannabis is not the easiest thing to measure. This is due to multiple factors; the primary one being that THC percentage does not tell the final story when it comes to Cannabis. This strain is one of the higher testers on our shelf at 31.34%. However, there are other strains on the shelf that might give more impact, or a noticeable head change even though they may test far lower. Typically, these effects are more noticeable when it comes to Sativa, or Sativa Hybrids. That is not to say that the head change is not apparent when it comes to the Royal Addiction. You just do not have to fight as hard to stay grounded. We feel that this makes the strain much more approachable to a wider variety of people, as it might not give some of the paranoia inducing effects that some people experience. Royal Addiction would be paired well with indoor as well as outdoor activities. Just be careful with dosing control, as it may make you want to stick to just indoor activities, primarily ones that do not involve much movement.

            Pacific Grove PDX is the grower of this cultivar. Pacific Grove is an indoor grower in Portland that specializes in growing top-shelf craft Cannabis. Pacific Grove sets themselves from apart from other growers with their unique line of strains. They grow Alien Cookies, Notorious #11, Sour Tropicanna, Billy Idol, and Rhubarb Pie. Their lineup consists of a good variety of different types of strains from the strong, to the flavorful. Pacific Grove PDX has done a great job of carrying some of the top genetics from some of the best seed breeders in the world. You can see the hard work they put in into their craft! We look forward to seeing what Pacific Grove PDX puts out next!

• Appearance 4/5
• Smell 4/5
• Flavor 5/5
• Effect 5/5

            We feel that this Royal Addiction very much lives up to its name. The main reason is that the effects are just so darn pleasant. It is the kind of Cannabis that hits exactly right, it doesn’t take you to the moon, but it also doesn’t leave you wanting for more. The strain is quite beautiful it maintains with shade of light green throughout, with a lovely even trichome coverage throughout the flower. The mixture of the OG and that creaminess from the Triangle mints brings together this tango of flavor. It is nice when you have two very different flavors of Cannabis vibe this well together. There can be a tendency in certain strains where one strain overpowers the other, and it throws off what made either parent so great. This is however not the case with the Royal Addiction, that mixture of creaminess from the Animal Mints BX1 just enhances the flavor of the OG just drawing the flavor out on the tongue. If you are looking for something with nice OG effects that leans a little more on the Indica side this is right up your alley. Even if you are newer to Cannabis, we recommend giving this strain a shot, it does not carry a lot of those mind racing effects that many other Hybrids do on the top shelf. Just make sure to go slow otherwise you might end up spending the rest of your day at home on the couch.

GMO Cookies Strain Review:

GMO Cookies is finally here to review! We have spoken about this strain in many of our prior reviews, and how important of a parent it is to so many other strains; Sangiovese, Garlic Sherbet, Mule Fuel, Velvet Glove, and Tropsantos are all strains we’ve reviewed that carry GMO Cookies in it’s lineage. Come check in on our review on why GMO Cookies is conquering the Oregon recreational and medical market.

            GMO Cookies also known as (Garlic Cookies) has conflicting information as to it’s origin. There are two main origin stories that are passed around with this strain. We will start off with the story most people online report on. GMO Cookies was created by Divine Genetics when a cut of their Chem Cookies developed a unique gassy and spicy terpene profile. Divine Genetics has went on to win many awards for this cut of Chem Cookies; as it tests well, has a very unique terpene profile, it grows quite quickly, and it is very potent. The other story that goes around and seems to be accepted by many people in the Cannabis growing industry is that @SkunkMasterFlex1 found an absolute gem of a phenotype from a pack of Mamiko Seed’s D-Cookies. This cut contained such a strong savory aroma that it can be described as Garlicky, Bad Breath, or Umami (Mushroom). It’s honestly hard to say which story is true, when a strain becomes this popular everyone and their dog seems to come out of the woodworks to claim creation. An interesting fact about GMO is that a lot of people claim it is called that because it carries a nose of garlic, mushroom, and onion. This is not why it is referred to as GMO Cookies, it is referred to as GMO Cookies because it grows as if it has been genetically modified. As stated above this plant grows quickly, it tests incredibly well somewhere typically between 26%-36%, it looks phenomenal it carries a multitude of different green and purple hues, the nose is absolutely one of a kind, and it is probably one of the most potent main-stream strains on the current market.

            Analyzing GMO Cookies this strain is an absolute anomaly and a testament that even different cuts within the same strain can be so vastly different. GMO Cookies is a cross between two legendary strains Chem Dawg and G.S.C. There are many strains that are so similar in terms of their ancestry, however none of them have attained the almost cult like following that GMO Cookies has. Dawgy Treats which is and exclusive cut to Hydrus hydroponics is a cross between Chem4 and Forum Cookies (Which we will review sometime in the distant future). Chem Cookies which carries the exact same parents as GMO Cookies. Merit Badge is a cross between G.S.C and ChemDawg Bx3. Chem Scout a cross between Chemdawg 91 and G.S.C. These four strains are all fantastic strains and in fact many of them have won awards, but they are all missing a piece of the puzzle that GMO Cookies puts together. Chem Dawg origin is truly puzzling, no one knows who created it or what it’s genetics are. The most important thing to know about Chem Dawg is it has laid a foundation for the Cannabis market in the entire United States. The strain is very potent and carries an extraordinarily strong cerebral effect. Which makes it a perfect strain for breeding. G.S.C speaks for itself in many ways a cross of between OG Kush and Durban Poison. Origins are hotly debated as to who came up with the original G.S.C cut and even what cut should be considered the “True” G.S.C. This Cookie strain has created 100’s of cuts and crosses along the way, and there are more being created today all thanks to this strain. It carries a very stimulating cerebral effect, with nice effects of body relaxation. The cross of these two strains creates a very potent mix of mind and body that few strains achieve.

            Visual aesthetic when it comes to GMO Cookies is striking to say the least. We have seen many cuts of GMO come through and they all vary from batch to batch and grower to grower. This one from Tao carries so many different shades of green and purple it is hard to follow where all the different shades where they start and end. The trichome coverage on this strain is no joke. It has got that layered sugar effect where the trichomes are just crammed in between the nooks and crannies of the buds. It does not carry the most trichome coverage we have seen, for instance M.A.C looks as if it’s been rolled in powdered sugar. You know however though once you open the GMO Cookies up, you are in for a sticky surprise. The bud structure on GMO is also vastly different to many other strains. It carries this mix of a longer Sativa buds that taper off near the top, but they are very dense which is unusual to see that combination.  This strain is a trendsetter and absolutely changes the game when it comes to top-shelf Cannabis.

            Now let us get to the exciting part about the strain, the scent/flavor/nose. GMO Cookies has one of the most unique noses in Cannabis. The best way to describe the initial scent of the strain is pungent. It has this strong savory thick umami Garlicky mushroom smell that just cuts through whatever is in the vicinity. As you keep getting a whiff the strain turns from a savory into a much sweeter smoother smell to round it off. The best way to describe it is once you smell it, and you try some GMO Cookies, you will keep wanting to get it in the future. That signature nose will come a calling time and time again. As for the flavor we found that trying it through a dry-herb vaporizer the umami notes fade and turn much more into a chemmy gas. As you begin to vape the bowl through it begins to show more of it is sweet cookie notes. This leaves an awesome case of terp tongue. That umami smell will linger with you for quite a while. We are going to put out there that GMO Cookies does vary from batch to batch, some tend to have more of a savory funk, while others carry a more familiar cookies sweetness throughout. We feel that if you want to try a true batch of this strain, try a GMO Cookies such as Tao’s they are absolutely nailing the way this strain is supposed to be. We have found that the more savory and funky the better.

            The Effects of GMO Cookies regardless of the way it makes you feel are very potent. Even the most seasoned veteran of smokers should take great care when trying this strain. Chem Dawg has a remarkable way of even making the most simple of concepts get lost somewhere around your short term memory. GMO Cookies is end game weed. It carries both very potent cerebral effects as well as effects on the body. It carries a very traditional stoney feel, however it does not necessarily put you to sleep because that ChemDawg will keep you going. The perfect pairings for GMO Cookies is if your day is over, you have no plans, or you are looking to get very stoned with your friends. We do not recommend this strain for productivity, reading, or for going on hikes. It is absolutely meant to put people out, and remind them they are very stoned. Versatility of this strain is a bit lower than some because of Chem Dawg. Unfortunately Chem Dawg falls into a line of strains that people either love or hate, and if Sativas like Chem Dawg give you anxiety be cautious with trying GMO Cookies. We recommend for people who are sensitive to Sativas or new to Cannabis to microdose it and see how it makes you feel. We do know people who are sensitive to Sativa’s that absolutely adore this strain.

            Now to speak about the grower of this GMO Cookies it is our friends over at Tao Gardens. Tao has been slaying the No-till Organics growing game. Their philosophy on growing strains with similar terpenes in the same room, has led to some amazing Cannabis. A great example is Purple Punch, that strain comes and goes on menus. Many growers have shifted from growing it once the market became more about percentages. Not a single grower has grown a batch of Purple Punch as well as Tao has. It remains in their lineup even though it is not the best testing strain, because it tastes phenomenal and it gives great anxiety relief. This will not be the last time we review Tao Gardens that is for sure. They keep putting out new strains in their rotations and we look forward to seeing what is in the next rotation.

• Appearance 5/5
• Smell 5/5
• Flavor 5/5
• Effect 5/5

            As far as just this strain review goes GMO Cookies is about as close to perfect as it gets for a strain. This strain has some many other reasons of why it is such a top choice for us. This strain is changing the entire industry. It has created so many popular strains on the market, that every grower has some piece of GMO Cookies on their menu in Oregon. The strain looks remarkable nice shifts in colors and shades with a nice sticky sugary interior. The nose is unlike any other strain out there, it is the definition of dank. Not “Gas” Dank; it’s this savory/sweet funk that just wont quit. For a strain with such a stronge terpene profile it is also extremely potent. It’s lineage of Chem Dawg and G.S.C give this strain a cerebral lasting potent effect, that will go up with any top shelf. We are impressed that this does carry the body that it does because both of parents do tend to have more noticeable Sativa effects. GMO Cookies is a next level strain. If you see Tao’s GMO Cookies on the shelf get it while you can, it does not last long.

WEIGHING-IN

Orange Push Pop #5 Strain Review

May we interest you in an Orange Push Pop? Orange strains come and go but Orange Push Pop certainly makes a case for staying on the shelf. Take a closer look at our review, on why Orange Push Pop #5 might be the most innovative Orange strain on the market today.

Orange Push Pop #5 comes from two unique parents that have begun to gather interest among many Cannabis Connoisseurs. Orange Push Pop was bred by SeedJunky Genetics who has created some of the best strains on the market today. We have in fact reviewed many strains already in our weighing-in section from Seed Junky Animal Face, La Kush Cake, Sour Kush Mints, and Wedding Cake. Orange Push Pop is one of the more unique offerings from Seed Junky. Orange Push Pop is a cross between Orange Cookies and Triangle Kush F2. Orange Cookies was bred by Franchise Genetics which seems to be known as Obsoul33t genetics currently. Orange Cookies is a cross of G.S.C and Orange Juice. Orange Cookies has certainly seen some popularity among many of it’s famous crosses such as Alien Orange Cookies, and Orange Cookie M.A.C. Orange Cookies on it’s own does seem to be difficult to locate in the Oregon Recreational market. Even it when it comes to these Orange Cookie and these crosses listed they are difficult to locate in flower, though you don’t see quite a few concentrates and cartridges. Triangle Kush F2 is really making a name for itself, people really enjoy this Florida iteration of an OG Kush Phenotype. The breeder is unknown for the most part, other than they believe that this cut did originate from Florida. Triangle Kush is a more Indica heavy cut of OG Kush. It was pretty popular on the market a few years ago, however it seems breeders and growers see it more for it’s breeding potential; as many different crosses have begun to come out using Triangle Kush as a parent. Some of these strains are the famous Bubba Kush, GMO TK Skunk, Gushers, Pre 98 Bubba Kush, Triangle Mints, Triple OG, and Seedjunkies amazing cut of Wedding Cake aka (Triangle Mints #23).   Triangle Kush embodies a lot of traits that connoisseurs are looking for, so it’s no surprise why it is so popular.

                We were surprised with how consistent the Orange Push Pop is when it comes down to it’s appearance. It is very green just like driving through Eugene in the Spring. The buds themselves have a few orange pistils here and there, but overall it’s this consistently forest to lighter shades of green throughout.  The trichome coverage is nice, it seems to lighten parts of the forest green in certain areas on the bud. The structure is pretty tight on the buds with a medium to medium heavy density, if you squeeze the buds they give a squeeze back. We do not feel that the appearance is the main highlight for this strain.

                Where this strain shines are on the nose, there are a lot of different orange strains out there however few seem to nail the actual smell of orange. This absolutely nails the scent profile for an orange strain. Many of the other “Orange” strains take the overt citrus smells from a Jack Herer or a Super Lemon Haze and pass it off as orange. The nose carries this greasy almost artificial Orange funk that just lingers. It carries a hint of nostalgia toward Gojo orange soap if anyone ever used to work in a garage, or workshop you will remember that distinct smell. The Orange really comes through and lingers around for quite some time. This certainly passes the scent test, and as soon as you open the jar even with a mask in it will pierce right through to your nose.

                The effects of the Orange Push Pop #5 are similar to another popular Orange Strain, Agent Orange. This Orange Push Pop carries quite an uplifting cerebral effect. Which is different from many of the other offerings that Seed Junky Genetics has bred. We found that this Orange Push Pop might be a little more versatile than the Agent Orange. It seems to carry a bit more body relaxation, and pain-relieving effects than Agent Orange. Orange Push Pop’s potency is somewhere near the middle of everything on the market. Great for people who are new to Cannabis and want to try something stimulating without being overtly racy. It still hits hard enough though to not leave connoisseurs and longtime Cannabis users wanting for more. This strain is great for all day use, and we recommend pairing with both indoor and outdoor activities. Indoor activities such as gaming, Zoom calls, painting, cooking, cleaning, or reading a book. Outdoor activities that pair well would be hiking, going for a walk, landscaping, cleaning out the car. This strain works quite well for chores; if you have tried other Sativas in the past and they may have made you too scatterbrained to even do chores, give Orange Push Pop a shot. As they say through “All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.” So, make sure to take advantage of the effects when you are done with your chores and move onto more recreational activities.

                Rolen Stone is the cultivator of the Orange Push Pop #5, this lines up with many of the other strains that they carry in their lineup. Rolen Stone grows a lot of terp-forward strains such as Watermelon Mimosa, Apple Rock Candy, Sherbet Breath, Tropsantos, and Lemon Granita. Rolen stone does solventless extraction in house and collaborates with Rebel Roots for Hydrocarbon based extraction. Rolen Stone is one of the few OLCC approved Recreational growers to do indoor, greenhouse, and outdoor. Rolen Stone has certainly been keeping themselves busy, and the results show in both their flower and their concentrates. We look forward to seeing what new terpy cultivars Rolen Stone will put out next!

• Appearance 3/5
• Smell 5/5
• Flavor 4/5
• Effect 4/5

                Orange Push Pop #5 certainly popped out quite a few surprises for us. We were not expecting a strain that maintains such a consistency of green throughout the entire bud. It might not be the most triched-out flower on the shelf but it certainly holds it’s own among the other criteria’s it is being judged on. The nose and flavor on this Orange Push Pop are where this strain stands out, it hits you with a flurry of this greasy artificial orange, and it leaves you with a serious case of terp tongue. We hope to see more crosses come out of the Orange Push Pop #5 because this terp profile needs to be carried on. The effects surprised us as well as it deviates from many of the other more Indica-leaning offerings from Seed Junky Genetics. It is much more uplifting than we anticipated, but it carries a lot of great body forward effects from the Triangle Kush as well. It carries a good balance which we feel makes it more versatile than strains such as Agent Orange, which can carry a tendency to be a tad too Sativa forward for some. Orange Push Pop #5 can be paired with both indoor and outdoor activities, whether they are fun or necessary and tedious. If you have been searching for something new to try that deviates from some of the other popular hybrid strains, give Orange Push Pop #5 a shot!

Light Saber Strain Review:

            It is always fun to be able to review a strain that fits so well into the theme of Spacebuds. Many strains contain memorable names to help the strain stand out, but do they ever end up being any good? Follow us through a bit of history and our thoughts on the Lightsaber strain.

            Lightsaber is a creation of Exotic Genetix, it is a cross between Starfighter F1 and Predator Pink. Exotic Genetix is a pretty well known breeder in the Pacific Northwest. Mostly known for their popular crosses of Grease Monkey, Donkey Butter, Mint Chocolate Chip, and Thug Life. Grease Monkey has been their most popular strain, as well as the many different crosses that have come from it such as Donkey Butter. The parents of Lightsaber are not the most popular strains on the market, Starfighter however has made quite a name for itself in terms of being a popular strain parent to many of the current strains on the market. Starfighter comes from Alien Genetics and is a cross of Lemon Alien Dawg and Tahoe Alien. Both of these strains are nearly impossible to find in Oregon’s recreational market, even Starfighter on it’s own is very difficult to find. Starfighter is prominent in a lot of popular strains that are out on the market today however Cookies and Cream, Miracle Alien Cookes (Starfighter F2), and Kimbo Kush. The strain has potent effects that put it in the hybrid category noticeable body effects, with a noticeable euphoric and stimulating head change. The high itself seems to change overtime from a cerebral head high to a more mellow body heavy feel, depending on how much you use. Predator Pink the father of the strain also bred by Exotic Genetix brings more Starfighter to the table it is a cross between Starfighter and Plushberry. Predator Pink is another one of those strains that is really difficult to find in the Oregon Recreational Market. We have seen it before in the form of a sugar wax from Buddies, but we have yet to have seen it in flower in the last few years. Predator Pink differentiates itself from Starfighter with it’s cross of Plush berry which is a cross between the tasty Black Cherry Soda and the ever popular Space Queen. Predator Pink is a strain known more for it’s terps than it’s effects with a fruity nose.

            Lightsaber’s background is certainly different than most strains that end up in the legal recreational market. It is one of the few strains out there that does not carry a direct link to a Cookies, Chemdawg, or Gelato, heritage. This is a pleasant surprise to see something unique in a market that does tend to carry a lot of crossover. There is nothing wrong with the popular  strains on the market, they test well, look good, and they are popular to the consumer. However as they say “Variety is the spice of life” and we can always appreciate some diversity in the market.  

            Well this Lightsaber might as well be powered by a Kyber Crystals, because this bud shines! The main thing that we see on this strain is just how coated in trichomes it is. It carries this powdered sugar effect all over the bud, and lightens up the color of the bud dramatically. We are impressed with the trichome coverage up close as you can see in the picture, when you get up close into the bud you can just see how sandwiched with trichomes this strain is. There is some nice color on these buds it has a nice mix of light green, with these big spots of dark purple all the way around the buds. The Lightsaber certainly passes the Instagram weed test(Although these days that also makes you pass the banhammer test on Insta it would seem).

            Lightsabers nose is a bit tough to discern on the first whiff. The first smell we noticed is this floral creamy smell that is more on the subtle side. We have had Lightsaber before in the past and this smells the same, honestly this one has more jar appeal than it does on the nose. However, when you actually end up smoking it, it is very enjoyable for it’s taste. That creaminess translate to a nice smooth smoke/vape. In this regard it reminds us quite a bit of the strain Cookies and Cream, which as we know has Starfighter in it.  

            The effects of Lightsaber make it one of the more unique Indica Hybrids on the market. We found that even though it carries the typical pain-relieving and muscle relaxing effects of other Indica Hybrids, it differentiates itself by having an intense euphoric energy inducing effect. This effect makes the strain a little less versatile than some of the other hybrids. We feel that because of this; people are going to either be in love with this strain, or try it and never touch it again. This strain would be paired best with a game night, reading a book, or creating art. We felt that the strains surprisingly cerebral effects make it hard to recommend with more relaxing activities, and due to the nature of it’s relaxing body effects it’s hard to recommend with really active activities as well. If you enjoy other sativa leaning cookies strains that carry that classic uplifting head change, we think you would really enjoy this. Especially if you are looking for something to use much later in the day.

            The cultivator of the Lightsaber is Looking Glass Farms. Looking Glass Farms is a Micro Tier Craft Cannabis indoor grower from Portland Oregon. Their Cultivar lineup seems to carry quite a few strain from the breeder Exotic Genetix. As well as some other strains that are unique to the Oregon Recreational market such as 3xcrazy, Oregon Afghani, Ultra Violet, and Hippie Crippler. Looking Glass seems to be changing their lineup regularly, and we look forward to what they put out next!

• Appearance 5/5
• Smell 3/5
• Flavor 4/5
• Effect 3/5

            Overall Lightsaber does enough to separate itself from others not only from Exotic Genetixs lineup, but all other top shelf hybrids on the market. This strain is gorgeous and could certainly be a contender as one of the prettiest strains on the planet. Trichome coverage can tend to lighten the colors of the buds, this however is on another a level. The bud already has a nice coverage of various hues of green and purple, and then you have trichomes just layered throughout and practically glazing the outside. The Nose on the Lightsaber is not the strongest. The creamy earth tones do a good job of mellowing the overall nose; however we loved the taste. The floral-creamy notes really come through when vaping this on a volcano, and the vapor comes out plentiful and smooth. This fits the case of tastes better than it smells. The effects of this strain throw a curveball in our normal reviewing sample, many of the hybrids we have reviewed in the past have a ton of versatility to them. Making them essentially great for all day use, this strain is a vastly different beast. Even as connoisseurs we were really surprised just how much this strain hits both ends of the spectrum for a hybrid, and it is surprisingly potent. If you are looking for something that can help your body relax, but you want your mind to stay up this is as good of a strain as we have seen for this use case. It just seems that this use case is a little rarer than most. In any case we are glad that we got to try the Lightsaber, as it goes to show just how unique hybrid strains can be. In an industry where there is to believed to be over 20,000 unique strains, it is nice to see Lightsaber cutting its way through many other hybrids that are hard to discern from one to another.

Animal Face Strain Review:

            We can appreciate the simplicity in the name Animal Face as it is pretty bold to just state what the strain is a cross between Animal Mints and Face Off OG.  With the Mint strains beginning to make their mark on the Oregon market, what does Animal Face bring to the stable that the others do not?

            Animal Face being a cross of Animal Mints and Face Off OG gives it some mystique. Animal Mints has seen quite a rise in popularity in the last few years. Animal Mints has quite the genetic backstory. It is a cross between Animal Cookies, G.S.C, and Blue Power. Animal Cookies which is G.S.C and Fire OG crossed together. This is a wildly popular G.S.C cookie cross it takes an already strong cerebral strain and crosses it with another very potent OG. G.S.C is arguably one of the most popular strains of all time is a cross between O.G Kush and Durban Poison. Then There is Blue Power which is a creation from Sin City Seeds, it is a cross from Sour Double, Master Kush, The White, and Blue Moonshine. Animal Mints on paper is wild it has a lot of cookie origins, but it seems to carry at least some trait from every popular strain out on the market today. Animal Mints in terms of it’s effects shares more Indica dominant characteristics, it’s not as cerebral as we were expecting and reminds us a lot of Kush Mints. Face Off OG on the other hand is quite different from Animal Mints. Face Off OG was bred by Archive Seeds in the 90’s and is a derivative of a special batch of OG Kush. Many people who enjoy OG Kush have reported that the strain is very potent, euphoric, and body heavy. Face Off OG is pretty rarely seen in todays market, however there are still quite a few crosses that we see regularly on the market most of these crosses were bred by Archive Seeds; Hazmat OG, Double Dosido, Rocket Fuel, Scooby Snacks, and Valley Girl. 

Animal Face was bred by Seed Junky Genetics, there is no coincidence that Seed Junky has managed to be the predominant breeder in most of our reviews. Seed Junky seems to put out some of the most popular strains out on the market. If you were to sample the Oregon market right now, it would be highly likely that your favorite top shelf indoor grower, would have one cultivar from their breeding lineup. The simple reason that we see is they have developed some of the most popular strains to date. Wedding Cake, LA Kush Cake, Animal Mints, Kush Mints, and Ice Cream Cake have all been developed by Seed Junky Genetics. Wedding Cake has led to a huge number of different strains that pretty much nail everything a connoisseur is looking for. We were excited to see Animal Face being bred by Seed Junky because it is a combination of their Animal Mints crossed with a much older strain that was originally bred by Archive.

Animal Face has a dense but elongated structure, it carries a traditional Sativa structure to it. The structure reminds us quite a bit of the Sour Kush Mints, where the structure is elongated but is still quite dense. The Animal Face does have very small flecks of purple throughout the bud, and is very sugary on the outside. Sugarbud is certainly living up to its name with this one. It seems to carry both a sugary look as well as that more glazed coating that strains such as Miracle Alien Cookies carry. The trichome coverage on this strain brightens the look of the buds, and certainly gives it an edge in its appeal. It carries more of the phenotypic traits from the Animal Mints than it does from Face Off OG.

Deep down this Animal Face has the smell we have been missing most that comes from Face Off OG. That deep gassy earthy smell that many OG’s tend to carry. Notes of Fuel and Pine are certainly the two that stand out. Animal Mints carries the cookie smell that tends to be on the smoother side, which we certainly get out of the end notes on the Animal Face. We feel that like many other OG’s the smell doesn’t carry as far as some of the newer strains, but when it comes down to actual flavor of the strain it does certainly have some linger of the flavor on the tongue. We have noticed that when Gas strains mix with earth notes such as pine, the waft of the bud tends to be subdued.

 Now for the most important part of the review, the effects. When it comes to Animal Face it reminds us a lot of a less stoney, and more euphoric Face Off OG. This strain contains a good mix of pain-relief as well as the typical head change and euphoria people come to expect with the cookie strains. Animal Face has a lot of strengths because of this, and we see it becoming more popular in general than Face Off OG for this reason. OG Kush is universally loved as a strain, however it is known to be something to be used after the day is over and before bed. The big strength that we see with the Animal Face is that it provides enough pain-relief and stimulation without being too overbearing on the mind and body. For this reason, we suggest it for both indoor, as well as outdoor activities. Some websites have listed this strain to be more Sativa leaning, however there is not really anything in the genetics that we have found to support that. We feel that the strain can sort of lean either way most likely depending on how much you have consumed. Hybrid strains have become some of the most popular and are continuing to be the ones that end up on the shelf, so no doubt that Animal Face will continue to be in that same vain.

Sugarbud is the grower of the Animal Face, and as far as we know they are the only recreational producer in the Oregon Market that grows the strain. Sugarbud has done a great job with their extensive cultivar lineup of new and distinctive strains. Strains such as Blueberry Cheesecake, True OG, Grapehead, Robots, and Hidden Pastry. Are all pretty different from what most growers on the market are offering. Sugarbud is an indoor Craft producer that is very proud of the standards they set for their flower. As they say on their website “Quality is our craft” and we certainly agree. They have been incredibly consistent with the flower they put out, and we feel that they have nailed their curing process. Their strains come out the way the way they are intended to.

• Appearance 4/5
• Smell 4/5
• Flavor 4/5
• Effect 5/5

Trying this on the podcast, we found that this helped fuel our discussions of movie technology influencing the real world. Animal Face is a pleasant strain to see when there has been such an absence of Face Off OG. The strain is nice and frosty and carries a look from both the Animal Mints as well as the Face Off OG. Long and dense body with a heft coating of trichomes. Smell has a hint of OG with more earthy overtones layered throughout. This is a great hybrid that can lean both ways depending on how much you consume. It is a fantastic pairing for active activities as well as activities where participation is not as necessary. We would recommend you give Animal Face a shot if you’re looking for something with an OG background but are not looking to get locked down for the day.