What is Your Strain Guide System?

[fernand]

We're living in interesting times. I still think Leafly is very VERY useful. Their basic data structures are decent. Not always as intended, and it's often the funny personal stories in the reviews that fill in the detail. But they have gathered up a lot of reports, and unlike BudGenius, it's mostly recent data. If for instance I see that the Euphoric bar is higher than the Happy bar, I expect (and usually get) too much THC flutter.

This plant can work wonders IF you find the right strains for you. But it's a lock and key relationship, strain/genotype -> phenotype/harvest -> patient's genetics -> patient's current state.

People who are just after getting distorted are missing out, it's like people who guzzle good alcohol. Not my specialty, but a good cognac is special, a fiery up, and a good champagne is nearly euphoric.

We have a far greater range of flavors, and effects. It calls for some homework. Sherlock Holmes would have had a field day. Dr Watson would have developed a sense of humor. I write comments in Leafly, keep notes and samples. The little Magic Flight Launch Box is perfect for testing tiny quantities without cross-contamination.

I found a thick oil locally that was lab tested around 72% THC, yet selling for $15/g. I had a hard time finding the base strains, as it was sold under a cute new name. They said it was a Tangerine derivative. They also said it's not super "strong", and that's why it was inexpensive. The only way that could happen is if the 72% THC was being modulated downward by other actives, so I figured most likely lots of CBD, who knows what else. Needless to say, I got a g. And sure enough, it's a gold mine of CBD, which is normally premium-priced, like in a good RSO. Analgesia with no confusion or flutter.

Another great $15/g oil at another vendor turned out to be a primo PRIMO Indica, and that one too was under-rated. I wrote an accurate review and (duh!) they sold out by the time I arrived to get more. I don't know if there's a single perfect "system", but Leafly is a good foundation.

 

[luckypucky]

Head effects, Body effects, Taste, Yield and Overall Rating.

I also nave a "notes" column for additional thoughts.

I need to make of these, kool idea wish I thought of it lol

 

[CarolKing]

I was at a couple of dispensaries and I see a strain called Joseph OG. I hadn't seen it before until lately. Does anybody know anything about it? I can't find much info.

I guess one of my strain system guide is finding info about a particular strain a head of time. Or buying a gram then go back if it's something I really like. Taking some notes after you try it out.

I am really careful with Sativas. I only get Sativa Hybrids. I don't want anything racy.

 

[grokit]

My strain guide is anything that knocks me down is indica or indica-dominant. And anything that doesn't is sativa or sativa-dominant. I look forward to having a more sophisticated system of differentiation.

 

[fernand]

My core division is I vs. S. Both have uses but if OD leads to couch lock it's more I. If OD leads to confusion and anxiety it's more S.

The Leafly reviews and bars are IMHO remarkably useful, even when people just write a sentence or two. But it takes some practice or "calibration" to your own reactions so you can compensate.

There's another division and that's the intended use: recreational vs medicinal, but is that mostly attitude? perhaps most correlated with age?

 

[grokit]

There's another division and that's the intended use: recreational vs medicinal, but is that mostly attitude? perhaps most correlated with age?

I think it's more about the ailment being treated; for examples indicas can be great for great for anxiety and insomnia, while sativas can be better used for their anti-inflammatory properties during the daytime.

 

[fernand]

Yes, of course, different effects for different problems. But I must confess ... when I was much younger, after some initial cool cannabinic realizations, like about sound and the resonant universe ;-), the consistency of the available herb on the market then became nil. You got what you got. Mostly mediocre weed, the term fits. So my approach to it became what they call recreational. That got old pretty fast, as there were more interesting things to do.

A little older, a little more damaged at baseline, we're here on this thread, most of us looking for information on how to optimize the effects to improve our state.

I can see why recreational users exist. Some even mix booze and Cannabis, which strikes me as a bad idea, but then again to each his own, fer sure. It was fun years ago to get damaged for the hell of it.

But that's what I meant about the two different user types and how the "recreational" users are likely younger, and not as interested in the specific effects of different strains.

I suspect that over time the recreationals will become more selective, more "scientific". In Leafly even the one line hilarious comments can help me predict how a strain will affect me. And the "medicalizing" of the culture as a whole will have a positive impact. Like I recently saw a tip in some pop MJ publication about vaping a high CBD strain to counteract an excessive THC effect from an edible. Pretty sophisticated for a stoner mag. Right on!

 

[elvenflow]

I like the crumbly bits from the bottom of the dispensary jars, with all the red hairs in it. All mixed together.

Every time I find something that I really like, when I go back for more of it, its completely different.

 

[lwien]

Yes, of course, different effects for different problems. But I must confess ... when I was much younger, after some initial cool cannabinic realizations, like about sound and the resonant universe ;-), the consistency of the available herb on the market then became nil. You got what you got. Mostly mediocre weed, the term fits. So my approach to it became what they call recreational. That got old pretty fast, as there were more interesting things to do.

A little older, a little more damaged at baseline, we're here on this thread, most of us looking for information on how to optimize the effects to improve our state.

I can see why recreational users exist. Some even mix booze and Cannabis, which strikes me as a bad idea, but then again to each his own, fer sure. It was fun years ago to get damaged for the hell of it.

But that's what I meant about the two different user types and how the "recreational" users are likely younger, and not as interested in the specific effects of different strains.

I suspect that over time the recreationals will become more selective, more "scientific". In Leafly even the one line hilarious comments can help me predict how a strain will affect me. And the "medicalizing" of the culture as a whole will have a positive impact. Like I recently saw a tip in some pop MJ publication about vaping a high CBD strain to counteract an excessive THC effect from an edible. Pretty sophisticated for a stoner mag. Right on!

An argument could be made though that ALL users are medical users in that EVERYONE that consumes cannabis is self-medicating in a way, either to address physiological issues, psychological issues or emotional issues, eh?

 

[grokit]

That's what I am starting to think, that even booze is self-medication for the masses.
What is the the ailment you ask?
How about the sorry state of the human condition.

 

[fernand]

That's what I am starting to think, that even booze is self-medication for the masses.
What is the the ailment you ask?
How about the sorry state of the human condition.

No disagreement on that, but there's a different mind set, I think. It's how you look at it. Am I getting blasted to have fun, or am I trying to feel well enough to get by? There's perhaps an element of self-awareness in saying "I'm not in good shape, XYZ helps me". That's medicating.


@elvenflow I guess I've been lucky. In Northern Calif, I'm more impressed with the consistency than disappointed by variation.

There are BS strains like "Girl Scout Cookies" that are little more than popular labels, could be any kind of a strong hybrid. But when I buy a Red Congolese, a Sour Diesel or a Master Kush, it's been very consistent. Even Purple Diesel, Purple Sour, Purple D, etc, those are all variants of a single concept: Sour Diesel crossed with an Indica-rich plant, and I've always gotten what I expected, whatever the exact name.

 

[Jared]

In my opinion this isn't very useful. The exact same sour diesel strain grown by the same person in the same setup can yield different effects each time it's grown. Much less the same strain being grown by completely different people using completely different soil and nutrients.

 

[grokit]

I think it's still useful; as a guide it doesn't have to be definitive just provide general guidelines

 

[zor]

I've started geeking out with Leafly since the start of this year and the great variety of strains that caregivers offer...and my journals try to reflect whatever effects I feel for as long as I can remember to keep noticing them and jotting them down. The mobile app doesn't allow me to add my own sensations, so I put it in the description and it seems to work well so far.

The problem I have, and it has been mentioned before, is that I kinda doubt the authenticity of my materials; couple that with variations in production, variations in the user, etc and it begins to break down the same way I treat my beer intake with Untappd...3.5-5 stars and I'm happy to return to the brew/strain, 2-3 stars indicate something that may be worth revisiting, 0-1.5 stars mean I'm never having it again.
So far, with weed, it's been nothing but 3.5 and up because, well, they all work to make me feel better And, much like a novice beer drinker who can't broadly distinguish between hops, perhaps I just don't have the experience and vernacular for realizing and describing what I feel (e.g. all the purported sativas I've had have given me couchlock akin to the indicas I've tried).

 

[SamuraiSam]

Has anyone heard of / tried budfolio.com?

 

[zor]

I'm getting annoyed with leafly, some of my reviews are duplicated while other times the pictures I take and upload don't appear, this is really annoying.

As I alluded to in my post above, I'd like to be able to track my use and reviews (especially with pictures), do any of you guys have suggestions for a better online resources to use? Or should I abandon the idea of using a strain guide?