Strain Type: Two strains, CBD rich.   Strain Lineage: Unknown

Medicinal Uses: Low Anxiety, Chronic Pain, Body relief without mental intoxication, Insomnia, Muscle Spasms, Nausea, MS, Gastrointestinal Issues, Arthritis.

PCC Report:

Despite the recent rise in popularity of CBD rich strains, many patients still remain unaware of their benefits.  At Berkeley Patients Care Collective, we consider it of the utmost importance to educate ourselves and our patients to the best of our abilities in order to better understand what cannabis can do for us.  For this reason, this weeks review will take a good hard look at two CBD rich strains: ‘Harlequin’ and ‘Terpene Queen’.

Harlequin - CBD rich strain.

After a toss of the coin I pick up my sample of Harlequin for a quick once over.  Upon first appraisal, I’m struck immediately by it’s appearance: dense and chunky, with buds larger than golf balls, but just as round.  Trichome coverage is impressive, specifically as I pull apart the bud, displaying a ripe amber sheen hinting at a well finished flower.  The scent that accompanies my examination is sweet and slightly earthy, with an underlying spiciness.  Harlequin’s look and smell seem a bit contrary to me, I am anxious to see how it will affect me.

Before I can get to testing, I need to take a look at our other sample: Terpene Queen.  Unlike Harlequin, I am not immediately struck by its appearance, nor overly impressed with the amount of trichome coverage.  I am, however, blown away by the complexity of scents emanating from the bag.  Bright and floral with just a touch of sweetness, Terpene Queen’s smell is more easily compared to that of a french perfume than a cannabis strain.  The overabundance of terpenes bodes well: they each have their own medicinal effect as well as imparting their own scent.

Although it is difficult to resist immediately sampling them both, I decide its best to take it slow and make sure not to miss any of the subtleties in affect.  First is my coin toss winner, Harlequin.  To keep things easy, I roll my usual joint.  The dry-pull yields a more saturated melon flavor, with a tickle of spiciness at the end.  The smoke is enjoyable, but nothing of note, the onset of effect however is quite fast and certainly worth remark. A general easing of the body, coupled with mild mental relaxation, makes for a very medicinally beneficial herb.  The high is functionally clear, the hallmark of CBD, tempered with deep physical relief, allowing the patient to focus as needed without impediment.  Because of Harlequin’s significant pain-relieving physical effect, and overall benefits as a relaxation aid, I would recommend it for evening use, a way to unwind after a long day and take care of the aches and pains.

While I was excited to try Harlequin, the smell of Terpene Queen still had me dreaming.  It seemed only right and fair to roll a joint, the better to appreciate the subtleties in flavor.  Despite my efforts, I find the taste to be much less complex than the smell, while still remaining enjoyable.  The effect was something different entirely: a more subtle physical effect paired with an uplifting and almost completely clear mental stimulation.  While this may not sound ideal to some patients, it is perfect for those who desire relief without the risk of feeling over-medicated or out of sorts.  Although it doesn’t energize me like some Sativa’s, Terpene Queen offers an alternative for days when I desire something on the milder side.

Terpene Queen - CBD rich strain

After a thorough testing of both, I feel they each have their own benefits.  Both exhibit the characteristic pain-relieving and high-functioning clear effect of CBD, just expressed differently. While I found the physical heaviness of Harlequin to be excellent for the evening, I found the relaxing aspect of it to be too much for the day, where I preferred the clarity of it’s counterpart Terpene Queen.  I feel both have really whet my appetite for CBD, I look forward to seeing what else will come of it.

Choosing the right strain of medical cannabis can be confusing at first with so many different and occasionally unusual names – the strain names are not always representative of the desired medicinal effects. This being said, it is much easier to decide what your desired effects are before you decide which strain to go with. To make things easier we have split the effects into two categories: HEAD and BODY.

Most cannabis strains effect your HEAD or brain within minutes after medicating. The effect either consists of a heavy and foggy feeling, or a clear and active feeling and can be classified on a scale of 1-7. with number 1 being heavy and foggy, and 7 being the clearest and most active . Head effects may start sooner than body effects, but tend to ware off quicker.

The BODY or physical effect usually creeps in about 5 to 15 minutes after the “head effect”. This effect can vary from being relaxing and sleepy, to being uplifting and energetic.  We can also apply the 1-7 scale to the “body effects”, with 1 being the most relaxing and 7 being the most uplifting.  Body effects usually take longer to set in but tend to last longer than head (mental) effects.

Types of Strains

Here are some examples of how to use our system. To simplify things we have made seven categories of the most common kinds of medicinal relief provided by cannabis: 1 being the heaviest Indica and 7 being the clearest Sativa. Depending on which category, or desired effect you wish to achieve, you can use the scale to find out which type of medicine you are looking for and suggested strains of that kind.

Type 1: Long lasting physical relief with a heavy and intense head effect. This kind of medicine is known as Heavy Indica, and is recommended for sleep, relaxation and pain related issues. Here are some examples of some strains with Heavy Indica attributes: MK Ultra, Grand Daddy Purple, Peak 19, Romulan, Ogre, Hash Plant and Afghani Goo.

Type 2: Long lasting physical relief with a clear and easy to function on head effect. This kind of medicine is known as Clear Indica, and is recommended for day time physical relief. Here are some examples of some strains with Clear Indica attributes: Sensi Star, Blackberry Kush, Northern Lights, Morning Star, Bubba Kush, Snow Cap and Shiva.

Example

Type 3: A physical and mental balance that is more on the heavy side. This kind of medicine is known as a Heavy Hybrid, and is recommended for patients seeking pain relief or relaxation that is not too drowsy.  Here are some examples of some strains with Heavy Hybrid attributes: Sage and Sour, Blueberry, White Rhino, Grape Ape, Champagne, Purple Kush and Cotton Candy.

Type 4: An even balance of Head and Body effects. This kind of medicine is known as a Even Hybrid, and is recommended for patients who don’t want to be too active or too drowsy. Here are some examples of some strains with Even Hybrid attributes: S.A.G.E., Northern Lights X Haze, Purple Skunk, Cali-O, Bubblegum, Silver Haze and Cherry Pie.

Type 5: An even balance of head and body effect which is more on the clear side. This kind of medicine is known as a Clear Hybrid, and is recommended for patients looking for a balance of Head and Body that is a little bit more on the clear side. Here are some examples of strains with Clear Hybrid attributes: Blue Dream, Cali-O, Odyssey, Bubbleberry, Super Silver Haze, AK-47 and White Widow.

Type 6: An uplifting body effect alongside some strong physical and mental relief. This kind of medicine is known as Heavy Sativa, and is recommended for patients looking for an Intense and uplifting Body with a Heavy head effect. Here are some examples of strains that have Heavy Sativa attributes: OG Kush, Cheese, Trainwreck, Sour Diesel, Headband, Jack Frost and Skunk #1.

Type 7: An uplifting and clear effect without a physical side to it. This type of medicine is known as Clear Sativa and is recommended for patients who are looking for a Clear Head with little or no Physical effects that is easy to function on. Here are some examples of strains that have Clear Sativa attributes: Kali Mist, Strawberry Kush, Old Mother Sativa, Durban Poison, Jack Herer, Purple God and Power Plant.

One very important factor in choosing the right medicine for yourself is that each strain has a ceiling or limit to the amount and type of cannabiniods that can be received by your body at a certain time. This is why you gain a tolerance faster to certain strains and others seem to medicate the same way for longer. By choosing to use different strains, about three of four, that you can rely on, it is easier to keep your cannabiniod receptors fresh and ready to be activated by the next type of medicine you are using. This will help you conserve your medicine and get the maximum effect from it.  Having a few strains to medicate with can also help to reach the desired cannabiniod balance you are looking for.  It is also worth mentioning that accurately estimating cannabis effects must be treated with some subjectivity. Each patient has an individual reaction to each type of medicine tried, and experimentation with different types of strains is essential for the new patient.

We are learning so much more about this wonderful plant all the time. We now know other aspects of cannabis such as the flavor (terpenes and flaviniods) also contributes to the effect. Remember, “the nose knows” – So trust your instincts and keep a personal cannabis journal to note how certain strains affected you.  In very little time, you’ll be a pro at finding the strains that suit.

We love feedback and would appreciate a patient testimonial of your experiences so that we can compile our findings and be able to provide even more accurate details on our medicine. Email: testimonials@berkeleypatientscare.com

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Blue Dream Trading card

Genetics:
Blueberry crossed with Haze. A vigorous and consistent strain known for its high yields and copious resin production.

Flavor:
Sweet and refreshing like fresh baked blueberry doughnuts with a unique spicy undertone of its own. A blissful and unforgettable scent.

Effect:
A clear relaxing balance of body and head. Not too heavy and not too cerebral. Strong and long lasting medication for day or night.

Medicinal uses:
Day time pain relief, Muscle spasms, Nausea, Appetite, MS, Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, Glaucoma, Migraines, Gastrointestinal Issues, AIDS, Cancer, Epilepsy, Alcoholism, Arthritis, Anorexia.

Blue Dream Trading card