P........s

Disclaimer: I'm not usually a sativa smoker, so if you prefer sativas, this review probably won't mean much to you. For curious smokers, be aware that BD is VERY potent stuff--up to 26% THC. It gives you a strong head-heavy feeling, and like most sativas, it's a "cerebral" high. Personally, I prefer indica hybrids, especially high CBD stuff to treat my anxiety disorder, and if you have trouble with anxiety attacks and high-THC strains, I advise you to look elsewhere. BD is a sativa-heavy hybrid that has a delicious aroma and taste (fruity and sweet), but it's not for beginners or nervous types. If you're experienced and have a high tolerance for sativas, BD is just what the doctor ordered. But if you prefer a mellow body high without your thoughts and heart racing, BD isn't your lady. And like many sativas (at least for me), be prepared for bit of potential headache or dizziness too (sativas can do that sometimes). Friends of mine who love BD feel creative, energized, talkative, and sometimes aren't able to sit still for awhile. They also say it's good for feeling uplifted out of depression and can help stop you from feeling sad (if you can handle sativa's energy). For me, I need a strain that slows down my thoughts so I can examine them calmly and deal with things that make me feel anxious (without getting a panic attack), as well as cannabis that relaxes my body and eases my daily tension, so stuff like BD isn't really up my alley. If you're like me, and you're looking for a strain that'll melt you into the couch and carry you away on cool clouds of smoke, go with an indica or heavy-indica hybrid and not BD. Blue Dream is also a ladies' favorite, as many believe this strain is excellent for treating PMS and menstrual cramps (both the mood swings and the pain), as well as providing pain relief for migraines (most migraine sufferers are women). For a sweet, fruity taste and aroma in something less powerful, I suggest Sweet Pea (about 1-2% THC and 18-20% CBD), Cannatonic, or Critical Cure (both between 3-6% THC and about 15-20% CBD). All three are indica-leaning hybrids that give a relaxing body stone with a healthy dose of CBD to keep things calm and relaxed. If strong weed makes you nervous, do yourself a fave and skip Blue Dream. She's gorgeous and smells amazing, but she's anything but a wilting flower...in fact, she's the cannabis equivalent of a Viking shieldmaiden, strong and powerful and ready to kick your ass if you aren't prepared ;)

Everyone at Nature's Care is amazing--the managers, the patient care specialists, the counter folks, even the security guards are friendly, welcoming, and very helpful. Their staff always has time to answer your questions or explain their products. This is especially great for patients who're new to medicinal cannabis. The staff's patience and knowledge is so helpful and essential, and they always make me feel comfortable, cared for, and valued. I look forward to seeing my regular staff members, who always have time for a quick friendly chat but always offer quick service if I'm in a hurry. I love this dispensary, and I have no desire to go elsewhere. I kinda wish they offered a bigger selection of high-CBD strains, but that's dependent on what individual growers have for sale, and not on the dispensary's management or purchasing choices. Many thanks to Stephanie and the staff for making my experiences positive and pleasant.

WHOA, this purple lady is definitely the strong, silent type! A heavy indica strain, Purp Dream is just like it sounds--dreamy, heavy, and sleep inducing. You pretty much feel like your body and mind are floating away on soft, puffy clouds of violet smoke. She has a delicious flowery/fruity flavor, quite a potent fruity aroma, with big chunky nugs featuring gorgeous purple shades. My advice for new or anxious users: take it VERY slow and micro-dose Purp Dream, at least while you're still a beginner. At around 27-30% THC, you don't wanna test the boundaries of this lady's power! Start with a VERY small toke from a bowl or one-hitter, chill for about 15-30 minutes, and take another tiny hit if you want to get deeper into relaxation. You WILL get sleepy and melt into your bed or couch (it's a strong indica), you'll start grinning and getting a little loopy as your body and mind settle down into a warm, happy puddle. Just go slow to start with--respect her and she'll treat you right! =)

Also called "Goohead" (which I prefer because it's funnier sounding), this indica-leaning hybrid is a less potent cannabis that's great for relaxing or getting some rest. It has a sweetish fruity aroma and flavor, not overly strong and sweet like Strawberry Cough or Blueberry, but pretty mellow tasting. It tends to be calming and relaxing in small doses, and can make you sleepy in larger doses (it's mostly indica). As for potency, I advise new or anxious smokers to take it easy and GO SLOW with these higher-THC strains. Start with one small toke from a bowl or one-hitter, chill for 15-30 minutes, then take another tiny toke if you want to feel it stronger. It has about 15-20% THC and virtually no CBD, so be aware--if you're a very anxious smoker, you might want to try something like Harlequin, Cherry Wu, Deadlights, or another high-CBD strain instead. But strains like Goohead are fun if you remember to take it easy and go slow with it.

WOW. Northern Lights is one amazing indica--chill and mellow, with just enough "oomph" to get you high if you smoke enough of it. Many people report it putting them to sleep, but I don't experience that--just relaxation and "couch melt", no racing thoughts or heart pounding. That being said, I advise new or anxious users to GO SLOW with this stuff--at 19% THC (or higher) and very little (if any) CBD, it's kinda like a pillow. One pillow is comfy, but a ton of pillows will crush you. GO SLOW. Northern Lights is potent stuff. Take ONE little toke, then chill for 15-30 minutes. If you want a little more, take another TINY hit, then chill and feel its cozy embrace. I use cannabis to treat social and generalized anxiety, and while strains like NL don't have the juicy CBD I love, a little bit of the "good stuff" can be very relaxing IF you don't overdo it. I enjoy this in small doses from my glass one-hitter, or a tiny hit from my bong, but I'm sure a little vape hit would taste and feel amazing too. It has a sweet, fruity, delicious flavor and it's very smooth, so no coughing from me. She's a lovely lady, but go easy with her--with Northern Lights, less really is more. A gentle strain if you take it slow and steady, but a hard-hitting strain if you take big bong blasts, so respect this girl and she'll love you back =)

If there were "One Strain to Rule Them All" (that is, one strain that pretty much ALL cannabis users would agree is great), I believe Harlequin would be it. It's the utility infielder of bud, the workhorse, that guy or girl in highschool or at work that everyone likes and gets along with. Simply put, Harlequin is a chill, relaxing strain that won't put you to sleep (indica) or get your thoughts and heartbeat racing (many sativas)--instead, you get the best of both worlds. The calm, mellow body high of an indica, plus the mental clarity of a good sativa. I always keep some Quin on hand in case I run out of Critical Cure (my absolute #1 fave strain), because I get VERY anxious if the THC is too high (above 10-12%). Quin deals with that by keeping the THC low and the CBD strong, so you can puff away and enjoy a fun little buzz plus the relaxation comfort of CBD preventing paranoia and anxiety. I only took off one star because Quin tends to make my eyes very dry, it can make me feel a little spacey, I get a little bit fatigued on the comedown, and it makes me VERY hungry--but remember, everyone reacts differently to strains. Overall, Quin is fantastic and it's very widely available, so if you're looking for something that will give you a bit of a buzz while offering you the calming effects of CBD, Quin is a great choice. I just suggest keeping some eyedrops and your fave food on hand in case it dries out your eyes and gives you the munchos like it typically does for me.

WOW--Crit Cure is LOVE IN A BOWL. I take med cannabis for PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder, and I get bad panic attacks from smoking even middle-potency strains (anything over 10% or so). I've tried super low THC/high CBD like Cherry Wu and Euphurkle, and while they're ok, they don't give much in the way of the buzz that makes smoking cannabis enjoyable. But Crit Cure--holy s**t, this stuff is like a perfect cocktail mixed just right by a super sexy bartender with a great smile. At just over 5% THC and about 13% CBD, this strain delivers a little buzz with ZERO of the racing thoughts, nervousness, or pounding heart that higher THC strains always give me. Instead, 2-3 medium sized bong hits makes me feel calm, chill, peaceful, relaxed--but not tired or lazy. It also makes me very patient--when I get anxious, I jabber nonstop to distract myself from the fear and worry, so I interrupt people and get agitated when they take their time in conversations. But with Crit Cure, NOPE! I'm chill and happy, and I can focus on enjoying a good conversation, a movie, or a video game feeling relaxed and patient and able to actually care what the other person is saying--just like when I was younger, before these problems started in my life. It's clean, smooth smoke too, unlike Strawberry Cough (another great strain, but it's named that for a good reason). I don't taste tobacco like the description on Leafly says--I taste a deep berry or fruity flavor, sort of like blackberry. Anyway, it smells and tastes delicious, but it's not overpowering. And unlike Harlequin and Deadlights (at least for me), it doesn't give me very dry eyes or make me sleepy, even though it's an Indica-dominant strain. I just feel calm, mellow, and happy to take things slow and easy--such a relief from the racing thoughts and nervousness I've lived with for so long. If you enjoy a bit of a buzz to go along with your CBD dosing, grab some Crit Cure and give it a whirl. If you want to increase your buzz, just take another hit or two, then sit back and let the CBD work its anxiety-killing magic on you. No exaggeration--for me anyway, Crit Cure is literally a PERFECT strain. I tried about 30 strains before finding Crit Cure, and this is it--I've officially fallen in love. Ahhhh, the RELIEF!!! =)

WOW! Such an amazing strain--perfect if (like me) you smoked heavily during your teens/20s and now you're experiencing anxiety or panic attacks from hard-hitting, high-THC strains. I suffer from generalized anxiety/social anxiety caused by PTSD, so while I'd love to smoke crazy bud like I used to, even 1-2 tokes of THC stuff can literally make me start sweating and freaking out. I guess I just think too much for my own good, lol. AC/DC isn't available in my area right now (Chicago burbs), so my dispensary suggested Cherry Wu until some AC/DC is in stock. They were SO right! With a very low THC/high CBD presence (about 1-3% THC and 18-20% CBD), you get a little buzz that's very relaxed, mellow, and chill. I pack up a fat bowl of Cherry, take 2-4 good hits, then sit back and feel myself getting a little buzzy with absolutely NO anxiety effects--no racing thoughts, no pounding heartbeat, no sweating, no trembling or shakiness at ALL. It's so amazing that I can once again enjoy my medicine without the negative effects of paranoia and anxiety. Plus it tastes delicious and has pretty smooth smoke, so I don't cough my brains out. It also doesn't leave me feeling groggy, tired, or headachy like high-THC does. It does seem to give me the munchies, but hey, weed will do that for ya. It's also excellent for a "mixer", so if you want more of a buzz, you can blend some Cherry with a higher THC bud and let its CBD knock out the negative THC effects. Just do something like 75% Cherry and 25% other weed of your choice, and enjoy stress-free times! =) I've noticed it pairs VERY well with Granddaddy Purple and Purple Dream for sedating night smoking--those two strains are very high in THC and make you couchlocked and ready for bed, but the high THC can cause anxiety--but blend with some high-CBD Cherry and you're good to go. Cherry is definitely on my "permanent" shopping list. Enjoyable by itself or as a mixer with stronger weed, this stuff is pretty much a miracle for anxious tokers like myself. Highly recommended!

This was recommended for my PTSD and generalized anxiety. After about 18 years of near daily smoking, I somehow acquired acute anxiety episodes after smoking even a little bit of weed. The lower THC content helps, but this strain still can be a bit much if I take more than 2 small pipe puffs. It can be a little head heavy--for me, it goes straight to my eyes and gives me that dopey, starey feeling that spreads over my eyes to my temples. Sometimes it makes me a little dizzy, which can trigger my anxiety pretty fast. It also seems to dry out my eyes and makes them feel heavy. But its low THC means its effects don't last very long. So if I get a little dizzy or nervous it goes away within 30 mins or so. It tends to make my eyes feel very tired within 30-60 mins. I usually need a nap after smoking, and the tiredness seems to persist until I close my eyes awhile. This is my first CBD strain, so maybe I just gotta get used to that. It tastes good and is pretty smooth. Gonna try AC/DC next to see whether even lower THC works better for me.