STRAIN OF THE MONTH

STRAIN OF THE MONTH Akcademics

By Rick Misterly EVERCANNABIS CORRESPONDENT

When I began writing strain reviews for Evercannabis, my interest was primarily in certain varieties, especially strains I had tried in the past or legendary ones that I had only heard of. The next phase was to try new strains produced by growers whose growing practices I found in keeping with a philosophy along the lines of growing organic (although cannabis cannot receive an official organic certification, due to federal restrictions) and with sun light.

Now when I go looking for something to review, I’m not looking for anything specific. Instead, I ask the budtender for their freshest flower. Whatever they have on hand will fulfill the intended purpose, and no one wants to get home and discover they bought a hard, dried-up bud.

Recently, after walking into Herbal E Scents in Colville. I asked Julian, one of the budtenders, for his recommendation of freshest flower. He recommended Akcademics by Driftboat Cannabis, based upon his own use. Driftboat has been around since the beginning of legal weed in Washington, and Akcademics has been in its lineup from the start. Great choice!

Appearance: Often when purchasing only a gram, you sometimes get whatever is at the bottom of the bucket; often, not great-looking little flowers. What I found here was two nearly identical, oblong clusters harvested in their prime. Fresh and nicely filled out with a moisture-perfect bounce, they appeared furry due to the dense frosting of protective trichomes. A medium green with some purple showing through, toned down to a paler showing from the psychoactive fuzz. Highly magnified, these fine, clear threads and globular growths reflected back the light from the microscope revealing inner worlds on a micro scale.

Aroma: With the growing

Grown by: Driftboat Cannabis, Spokane Valley Purchased from: Herbal E Scents, Colville Hybrid: Afghani/Coastal Kush x Sour Diesel THC: 21.42% CBD: 0.2%

awareness of the benefits of terpenes, it is unfortunate that the extra cost of testing prevents some growers from listing these vital ingredients. By becoming tuned into the subtle effects of terpenes, users can direct their high to levels that plain old THC doesn’t provide. I would say that if the terpenes aren’t printed on the label, there probably wasn’t a test.

I’ve become halfway decent in naming aromas and flavors, but to guess at what scent indicated a certain terpene would only be a guess. A deep, moist earthiness is upfront but is soon overpowered by a minty, herbal smell that transfers to the mouth with a slight numbing on the tip of the tongue. The beauty of this pleasant yet bitter menthol is that it stimulates hunger, not unlike a nice aperitif. In this case, Akcademics should work well in opening an invitation to excite the taste buds. The hits are smooth from an unhurried cure and the minty smoke permeates every oral pore leaving a noticeable signature on the tongue. Effects: True to its Central Asian origins, this weed comes on slowly and is so smooth that with a few easy tokes, you could almost think that you don’t feel much. Never fear! Trust that something is taking place which will soon transform your surroundings. An upbeat alertness is a bit of a surprise as the body and muscles lose a few degrees of tightness. Without urgent motivation it may seem perfectly fine to stay put, especially if you know your day is over. There is a reason that traditionally in Afghanistan, cannabis (charas) was smoked in the evening when the workday was over. The true Afghanica is where so many of the great hybrids have come from. If you are looking for something to relieve mental or physical tension while keeping a mind open to diverse thoughts, anything with strong Afghan roots will work. The Sour Diesel in this mix contributes a mind energizer while complementing the dreamy and creative heavy effects of Akcademics, as well.

PHOTO BY RICK MISTERLY