Maximum Yield Cannabis USA February/March 2018 | Page 36

strain review
CUT AND DRIED:
A MONTHLY LOOK AT DIFFERENT MMJ STRAINS
BY RACHEL WILDE
In need of a boost, our hybrid-loving author
tries out a classic, pure sativa: Durban
Poison. Here’s what went down.
durban poison
I
enter my neighborhood dispensary on a mish. Winter blues
and a wicked head cold have worn me down. I struggle to get
off the couch and into the gym, my house is a mess, and my
girlfriend repeatedly asks me if everything is ok.
I want something to pick me up, clear the fog,
and kick me in the ass.
Without hesitation, the budtenders hand me
a sample jar filled with Durban Poison.
I waver. I know of this strain—it is a classic,
after all—but I haven’t looked too deeply into
it. Something about the word “poison” puts
me off. I also generally avoid pure sativas. As
someone with a brain that never slows down,
I usually reach for something to apply the
brakes in the evening. Taking the cannabis
version of rocket fuel just seems like a recipe for anxiety.
Still, the budtenders insist I try the sweet, earthy African
landrace. It’ll give me the clear-headed boost I want, one says.
Just take it at the right time, the other warns.
I concede. The staff members at this dispensary are usually
spot-on with their recommendations.
When I get home, I pluck a bud from the foil bag. It’s chunky
and round, and the bright green color is laced with plenty of
orange hairs. There’s also a thick frost of oversized trichomes.
According to the budtenders, those crystals contain anywhere
from 16-25 per cent THC and almost no CBD. Though I prefer
flower, the sheer quantity of trichomes—there are so many
that they end up coating the entire plant—also make Durban
Poison a popular candidate for concentrates.
I roll a joint and take a few spicy-sweet draws. Immediately,
my head and spirits feel lighter. My morning coffee has
nothing on this.
Within minutes, I don’t want to sit still. So, I happily fold
the laundry that’s been on the drying rack for days. When I
take half the pile into my room, I notice four water glasses
on my nightstand. I’m compelled to take them to the kitchen.
according to the budtenders, those crystals contain
anywhere from 16-25 per cent thc and almost no cbd.
The countertop catastrophe draws me in and I fill the sink
with soapy water.
I spend the next few hours zipping from task to partially
finished task. Though I’m focused, this lack of direction isn’t
like me. I feel a touch anxious. But, I reminded myself I don’t
need to settle down and concentrate. I drink some water to
combat cotton mouth, do a little stretch, and keep moving.
Everything is ok.
An hour later, I’ve only one thing left to do: write this review.
Thankfully, the Durban Poison’s espresso start has worn off,
leaving me alert and creative. I attack the keyboard, letting
words flow abnormally unhindered. The little editor in my
head is quiet for once—which may or may not be a good thing.
Within a few hours, my energy wanes. I feel like I’ve run
around the block a few dozen times, and my brain doesn’t
want to think anymore. Not surprising; I had just done more
on a Saturday afternoon than I’d managed to do in a week.
I’m grateful for the slower pace and take a breather.
When the little editor wakes up, I return to this story
and find it’s lucid.
Turns out, Durban Poison isn’t so scary after all. In fact,
it’s damn useful.
Rachel Wilde is a BC-based freelance writer who regularly uses cannabis as part of a healthy and active lifestyle.
36
grow. heal. learn. enjoy.
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