The Pick: Jack Herer
Jack Herer tests between 15% and 24% THC. Terpinolene is the lead terpene in most cuts, with pinene and limonene behind it. Terpinolene also shows up in lilac, tea tree, and cumin. Pinene shows up in pine needles and rosemary. A pinene heavy profile is the reason people reach for this strain during work instead of after it.
Jack Herer comes from Sensi Seeds and is named for the cannabis activist. Flower time runs 8 to 10 weeks. Inhaled effects start in 5 to 10 minutes and peak near 30 minutes.
Buy flower in a 3.5 gram jar if you want dose control. Pre rolls vary in fill weight from brand to brand.
How to Find the Best Strain for Creativity
Options, In Order
1. Sour Diesel
THC 19% to 25%. Lead terpenes are limonene, myrcene, and caryophyllene. Lineage is disputed. Most accounts list Chemdawg 91. The smell is diesel and citrus. Onset is fast. Duration runs 2 to 3 hours. This is the strongest option on the list for most people.
Creative High Strains: A Guide to Focused, Uplifting Cannabis
2. Super Lemon Haze
THC 17% to 25%. Terpinolene and limonene lead. Parentage is Lemon Skunk and Super Silver Haze. It won the High Times Cannabis Cup in 2008 and 2009. Flavor is lemon peel and sugar. Body effect is light.
3. Green Crack
THC 15% to 25%. Myrcene and pinene lead in most samples. Reports credit Snoop Dogg with the name Green Crack. The original breeder label is Green Cush. Sweet citrus on the inhale. Users report a racing head high. Skip it if THC makes you anxious.
4. Durban Poison
THC 15% to 25%. Terpinolene dominant. Landrace from Durban, South Africa, brought to the US market in the 1970s. Flower time is 8 to 9 weeks. The effect is dry and alert, with little body weight.
Terpenes To Check On The Label
- Terpinolene: Jack Herer, Super Lemon Haze, Durban Poison.
- Pinene: alpha pinene and beta pinene, found in conifers and rosemary.
- Limonene: citrus peel, the second most common terpene in this group.
Ask for the terpene panel. A jar with 22% THC and 1.8% total terpenes can hit harder than a 28% jar with 0.4%.
Dose
Start at 2 to 3 mg THC. Wait 15 minutes before the next inhale. Oral doses take 30 to 120 minutes to start and last longer than inhaled doses. Keep the dose the same across strains when you compare. Change one variable at a time.
Legal Notes
Cannabis is a Schedule I controlled substance under US federal law. A federal rescheduling review was pending at the time of writing. State rules differ. Check your state before you buy. Do not drive after use.