Mary Jane Review: CHEM VALLEY KUSH

Type: Indica
Purchased: Eighth
Where: San Diego
Instrument: Pipe and Bubbler

Texture: It's not the easiest task to break this nugget into pieces appropriately sized for a bowl. It is practically a hardened glob of weed, and you may need your fingernails to break off those smaller pieces. I'm reminded of Styrofoam, which somehow manages to be strong and reluctantly malleable at the same time.

Looks: These nuggets are dense. As you can see from the photos it is a solid, rounded mold of weed. The nuggets boast a soft green color with plenty of amber trichomes.

Smell: Chem Valley Kush is the smell of weed at it finest. It is sweet, piney, and has the quintessential great-outdoors smell. I've had this strain for over a week and it still smells like I walked through some field this morning and picked some for myself.

Taste: A strong, solid taste of everything it smells like. The smoke is nice and heavy but smooth. I have a friend who coughs like a hyena every time he smokes - I have to admit, it's not the most pleasant sound to be around. But no such problem while smoking Chem Valley Kush with him. It's smooth and non-irritating, so no fits of coughing for you or for your smoking partner. Let us smoke in peace.

Buzz: Chem Valley Kush gives a strong, wonderful body high. I have been complaining of muscle pain these past couple of week (I started moving beyond the cardio room for my workout and my abs are not used to it!), and spending the weekend with some good weed was the perfect way to melt away the pain and tension. After only taking two hits of Chem Valley Kush I felt the tension in my arms and abs muffle, and I was able to go about my day feeling more cheery. There is barely an effect of a head high in this strain, which is good for when you want to make sure you remain clear-headed throughout the day.

Grade: A

Listening to New York City's Killing Me by Ray LaMontagne

Mary Jane Review: J1 (JACK HERER + HAZE)

Type: Hybrid
Purchased: Eighth
Where: San Francisco
Instrument: Pipe

Texture: It's slightly dry but not flaky. Although it lacks any moisture it maintains its smooth, even surface. Like Blue Dream, J1 is very easy to pull apart and does so in clean, quality pieces. I hate when I have to tear at the nuggets in order to break off smaller pieces - I don't like touching the weed so much, as it compromises the quality. With this J1 strain I only gently pull and small pieces easily come off, pieces that are perfect for packing a bowl.

Looks: The eighth I happened to come across was in the form of one HUGE nugget, it was literally almost the size of an acorn. Alas, I failed to take a photograph of it and the photos you see feature the almost-acorn-sized-nugget broken apart. Regardless, the color of this strain is one of my favorites, olive green. The nuggets are slightly airy because of the Sativa in there, but barely so - I think it has an overall good density.

Smell: It smells like artificially-flavored melon candy. It really does. J1 doesn't have that outdoorsy, musty smell that a lot of strains have. It's rather sweet, and smells as if there were fragrance added to it. I was reluctant to be a fan at first, but the smell quickly grew on me. Cheers for the smell of artificially flavored candy!

Taste: Slightly sweet, but not too strong. The taste in your mouth disappears before you know it.

Buzz: This J1 strain is of flawless quality, so the high is very strong. One hit will last upwards of one hour. I usually avoid Sativas because I simply have no use for them, I only come across them when someone insists upon an amazing hybrid. This J1 strain was recommended to me on a similar guarantee. I felt this to cause too much of a head high for me, I almost felt like I was getting a headache. But I have to say that I think smaller hits would solve that problem, as my first attempts were rather ambitious. If you like that head high and you somehow avoid that pounding effect in your head, this is perfect. But I definitely need a little more of the Indica to kick in. At least it looks great on camera.

Grade: B–

P.S. Does anyone like Taylor Swift? I just listened to her new song "Mean" from her album coming out next week – I love it. So plug in your earphones so no one can catch you listening, and check it out here. She's at her most country and simply sounds so endearing - I imagine all of these little girls singing along to this song and feeling good about themselves and life.

xoxo, Rose

Mary Jane Review: BLUE DREAM

Just took a hit of Blue Dream before starting this review. I'm also listening to John Mayer and drinking green tea. A completely non-threatening stoner, doing a completely non-threatening activity, causing no trouble for anyone. How novel! Anyways, on with the review.

Type: Sativa
Purchased: Eighth
Where: San Diego (Delta Nine Healing)
Instrument: Pipe

Texture: Blue Dream is soft and fluffy. It's easy to pull apart and breaks into long, beautiful pieces. Did I mention it's soft? And super fluffy?

Looks: There is a gray-ish, silver-ish tint that covers these Blue Dream nuggets. As a result, the green and orange is is very subdued. The strain is a lot denser than my usual Sativa, but because it is soft there remains an airy quality to it.

Smell: Flawless. Absolutely amazing. There is a sweet, minty quality to it - perhaps like pine (which is perfect for the fall season)!

Taste: It is musty and rich. The aftertaste is stellar, there is a slightsweet hint of what you just smoked, but it doesn't linger too long.

Buzz: Strong and immediate. This Blue Dream is the perfect blend of body high and head high. Because it is a Sativa, I definitely feel the head high first. I find that as you take hits, the body high kicks in, until there is a perfect balance. I would say for me, this would be more of a recreational buzz rather than a buzz that remedies any specific ailment. Sometimes you never really know until you try the weed.

Buzz Length: Four strong hits, two small hits, lasted way over an hour.

Grade: A+

I picked up this strain of Blue Dream in San Diego, at Delta Nine Healing. It was my first time there, in fact my first time at a medicinal marijuana dispensary in the city. I'll admit, no matter what I want to think about dispensaries I know there are some pretty sketchy ones out there. When I first started purchasing weed at clubs, I would research for hours on Google, reading reviews and making sure I wasn't heading through a dark alleyway towards my doom. Well, luckily that hasn't happened to me - far from it. I've only been impressed with marijuana dispensaries, and Delta Nine Healing is no exception. It got rave reviews on Weed Maps so I decided to give it a shot. As soon as I arrived and saw the wide open space, clean waiting area, and friendly guy at the desk, I was relieved. I even had a great conversation with a woman at the front desk, who let me know about networks of women in marijuana around San Diego. Not only that, the strains are of AMAZING quality. Seriously, this Blue Dream is fantastic. Burns slowly, smooth smoke, great taste, incredible high, I could go on.

Review: Caramel Heart

As mentioned before, I'm not the biggest fan of edibles - I still have to try an edible that actually tastes good. I've tried chocolate chip cookie dough made with cannabutter, the requisite weed brownies, and some weird fruity drink I didn't like. I'm always willing to prove myself wrong (well, sometimes), so on my last visit to my new favorite club I picked up this hard candy made with hemp oil. It's made local in San Diego, tastes like caramel, and shaped like a heart. What could be better, right? I think it's the heart that sold me. And, the friendly guy gave it to me for half-price.

I immediately cut the candy in half and saw the dark, rich center seeped with the goodness of hemp oil. That center is slightly bitter, it is biting, but it contrasts well with the surrounding sweet caramel. It's a hard candy so it lasts awhile until it melts in your mouth, resulting in a high that arrives gradually and subtly.

This high is not for the impatient. If that doesn't describe you, good news! After about 45 minutes and half of a caramel heart, I starting to feel a soft, flirty high. It's subtle, but I like that. Sometimes I don't want to feel high, I just want to feel a little less on edge - this is perfect for that. But then again, I could just smoke a really small bowl to have that same effect - which I prefer to the taste of caramel - so I give it a B. But since this is coming from someone who in general does not like edibles, objectively speaking it may be an A. No, A-.

Mary Jane Review: SOUR GRAPE

Type: Indica
Purchased: Eighth
Where: Los Angeles
Instrument: Bubbler and Piece



Texture: Sour Grape is very, very dry. When I pick it up, it starts to crumble. It reminds of me of the infinite number of potpourri-filled mason jars decorating my mom’s house. 



Looks: Though this strain boasts more than a few hues of green, in general it is a very light, muted green. There are some leaves that almost look faded yellow, bordering on white. The stems are almost gray-white. It's a light, airy bud.

Smell: Lemon zest.


Taste: Fresh and slightly tangy - aftertaste is mildly bitter. Not my favorite, but the high makes up for it. 



Buzz: I really, really like the buzz from Sour Grape. If I didn’t know it was an Indica strain I would assume it was at least a hybrid. I feel comfortable, cheerful, and also perhaps a bit more energetic than I usually would with a pure Indica strain. Similar to how I’ve felt with most marijuana I’ve tried, I feel like I could easily engage in a variety of activities - I don’t feel foggy or lazy.

Buzz Length: I packed a small bowl (equivalent to around 4-5 hits for me) and felt the buzz for upwards of one hour.

Grade: A. The high is strong, but doesn’t leave me lost. I’ve got a firm grip on my surroundings and myself. I love that although the high allows me to be at ease, I still feel upbeat and mentally engaged. It’s like I’m physically calm but mentally alert. Another major plus is that I am able to get a lot of smoke per hit with Sour Grape. There is heavy smoke, but the smoke is very smooth - so no tingling in my throat or coughing.

Mary Jane Review: GREEN SEA

Type: Sativa
Purchased: Eighth
Instrument: Piece

Texture: Slightly sticky, rough ends, a classic nugget of weed.

Looks: Long and leafy – even those tiny twigs are long. It looks long and fibrous, very distinct from other strains. It’s a muted green, like a used sea green crayon.

Smell: It smells tangy. When smelling the weed dry, for better or for worse, I can’t help thinking of that spice you put over top ramen. But it smells nothing like this once you burn it, it smells clean and wonderful.

Taste: Slightly minty, faintly bitter, and a mouthful of it. So clean and fresh!

Buzz: The buzz approaches very quickly but quietly. I was not overwhelmed, but I definitely felt something immediately. After that I just felt upbeat and really up to do anything. I ended up working on two collages I am creating for my new room. It’s the perfect high if you are going to go out with friends, or maybe watch a movie or read a book. Engaging in an activity is not a problem, I just felt warm and fuzzy. Perhaps an analogy may be drinking the hottest, yummiest pumpkin spice latte during the holiday season - the perfect pick-me-up.

Buzz Length: I packed a good-sized bowl and was high for probably upwards of one hour. Awesome in my book.

Grade: A-. The hits are easy to take, the smoke goes down smoothly, and I never, ever cough with this one. I’m really lucky in that I rarely ever cough due to smoking weed. But this strain Green Sea is especially smooth, I swear. It’s gentle, but be patient, don’t indulge with too many hits thinking you are not feeling it. It will come.

P.S. Apologies for the incredibly low quality of the photos. the lighting was so out of control, and i don't know my camera enough. getting better acquainted with it is on my to-do list.

Mary Jane Review: LAMB'S BREAD

Type: Sativa

Purchased: Eighth

Instrument: Pipe

Texture: Dense and moist – simple as it should be.

Looks: It is a very rich rusty green, slightly lighter than my favorite forest green crayon. This is mixed with beautiful dark orange trichomes that are quite longer than most strains I am familiar with (as in smoked before).

Smell: Sweet with a bit of a ting. I absolutely love it – in the words of Seth Rogen from Pineapple Express, I want to shove it in my nose and have that smell all day. The best descriptor I can think of is clean- it smells wonderfully clean and sweet with a bit of a ting.

Taste: It left me the impression that it was a bit bitter (in the most casual use of the word). But it was a smooth taste, it filled my mouth.

Buzz: After my first hit I felt warm and fuzzy and cuddly – I felt like I am hugging a stuffed bear. But perhaps that’s because I was wearing a super comfortable sweater (scrunched shoulder black-v-neck from H&M). Regardless, it’s a great feel-good high. After a bit of time passed and I had a few more hits, I simply felt well and alive, alert and ready to go. The strain also involves a bit of that body high effect. It manifests at the end and it brings you down to a smooth landing.

Buzz Length: 50 minutes, mais ou menos (pretty small bowl)

Grade: A.

In general I prefer Indicas to Sativas (because medically I respond to Indicas more, and that smooth chillin’ out beats everything else). But this sativa will go on my pay-roll. Lamb’s Bread was made famous by Bob Marley, who made it well known that it was his favorite.

Mary Jane Review: PEANUT BUTTER GOO

As I previewed in my last post, my latest purchase was Peanut Butter Goo - and who wouldn't love a strain of Peanut Butter-inspired weed? only yummy thoughts come to mind. i tried it for the first time, here is the low down.

Type: Indica

Purchased: Eighth

Instrument: Pipe

Texture: dry, rough, and slightly stuff - a bit like Styrofoam.

Looks: Olive green calyx scattered along with forest-green and yellow-green sprinklings, completely smothered in those high-inducing trichromes.

Smell: Peanut Butter. I'm not kidding, it smells like peanut butter. Perhaps this it due to the power of suggestion (very possible), but i'm going to assume not. there is a slightly buttery smell to it, even slightly sweet.

Taste: Yum! It tastes sweet and biting - at first you feel good, but then it becomes a little sharp. It is as if a blue bird landed on your shoulder and sang a beautiful song - a little too loudly in your ear.

Buzz: It's lighter than other strains i have had, which is fantastic if that is the mood you are in. it doesn't leave you tired or unproductive. i feel a little clear headed and simply relaxed. i feel very put together, and i think it's the perfect weed to unwind to. perhaps it's best comparable to a glass of wine at the end of the day.

Buzz Length: 1 bowl = 45 min-1 hour (the high lasts just the right amount of time, i think easily adjustable).

Grade: B+

Mary Jane Review: SNOWCAP

Type: Sativa

Purchased: Eighth

Instrument: Bubbler and Pipe

Texture: There is definitely some moisture - not a lot, but there is a slightly sticky quality. Despite the way it looks, Snowcap is not bristly and it doesn't crumble apart. It's light in your fingers but not delicate.

Looks: A dark, rich, olive green with brown-yellow scatterings.

Smell: Minty, slightly refreshing, and distinct. It's very good, I just want to keep on smelling it!

Taste: It tastes like you are breathing in rusty mint - if tastes exactly like it smells.

Buzz: It hits you fast, and it hits you hard. It's fantastic because you are able to completely focus on a given task and not be easily distracted. Snowcap is a Sativa (head-high) so you will definitely feel a little boost, your brain will get a pick-me-up. But it won't lead you to just be jumpy or obnoxiously loud and funny. Whatever task you pick, you approach with a warm energy.

Buzz Length: 1-1.5 hours (it lasted this long despite the fact that I packed the smallest bowl)

Grade: A+

Mary Jane Review: INGRID

Type: Indica

Purchased: Eighth

Instrument: Pipe

Texture: It looks puffy and light, but it's pretty dense and has a sticky quality to it. You have to tug a little to tear it up.

Looks: Almost neon-green leaves (some are narrow-width and long, which are amongst slightly thicker kernels). Yellow haze scatterings and silvery fur everywhere!

Smell: It reminds me of a bright and sunny summer afternoon. It's FRESH!

Taste: Very distinct, yummy, but unknown...there is definitely a taste, and I'm thinking of the most adequate way to describe it. Maybe a hint of lemon, and something more smoky.

Buzz: AMAZING. It's quick, strong, and it's steady. It really leaves you to do whatever you want. You can completely relax, doze off, ponder over the complex nature of the universe, or engage in an activity (an activity that would most likely be intellectually and cognitively based rather than physically based). I would say it is an overall strong head and body high.

Buzz Length: One bowl= 1.5 hours (i'm kind of a light smoker)

Grade: A

(this is my first review, any recommendations? the photos are not best quality, but i'll work on that).