Time for the first review of 2009 – including 1 of a few new wrinkles we’ll be adding to reviews for the new year. Before we get drop the first feature, let’s get to the star of the show, one absolutely killer bud called Christmas Kush.

We all know there’s variance in everyday strains, there’s also heavy variance in different grades of Kush, and this one is straight deadly. As soon as you open the canister, Xmas hits you with a deep, dank smell. The buds are a dense, medium green with patches of lighter coloring in certain areas.

Santa must have dropped some extra THC down the chimney because Xmas Kush is sticky-dusted with crystals. You better use a grinder when prepping this for a joint or blunt, because finger-breaking the herb is a real pain in the ass. Still, you can power through if you need to because after the effort comes the fun part… smoking.

First hit of Christmas Kush is almost guaranteed to make you cough, it feels like getting punched in the chest. The high hits you ridiculously quickly, if not by the 1st hit, you’ll feel it on the 2nd. It spreads almost exactly the way it enters the body, basically getting whatever it touches immediately high – first the face, then into your chest, then dispersed to the rest of the body – 10 to 15 minutes after smoking, your whole body is lit up.

This bud was so good, we decided to take a macro look at it. Then we started messing with some lighting conditions. Then we started taking some hi-res shots. Finally, we decided to make it into a wallpaper – the first official tFS strain shot wallpaper.

The wallpaper is 2560×1600 and does some serious justice to this seasonal strain.

Check out all the glory in full resolution (open in new tab or window).

Today we’re reviewing Rowdy OG Kush.

If you just follow naming conventions when picking up strains, you might figure anything x OG Kush = amazing bud. That’s what I was hoping too, but straight away it was obvious something was rotten in Denmark.

The first indicators were smell and looks. This is a really, really dark bud that felt unusually dry. Anyone who smokes Kush knows ‘that’ smell. It’s the aroma all of us love. Rowdy OG just didn’t have it… no distinct, pungent smell that says, “Hope you’ve got nothing planned buddy.”

It appears as though this batch wasn’t cured correctly. While smoking, it again lacked the classic Kush taste. Instead, you got a chlorophyl aftertaste, which isn’t a great sign. Rowdy still tastes solid, but not as scrumptious as it should have.

Highness on this is strain is also solid (catching the trend yet?), which helped contribute to the 7 rating. It starts in the shoulder area and radiates from there, lasting anywhere between 1.5 to 2 hours.

Let’s hope this was an off batch, which is highly likely. Next time Rowdy is spotted at any local dispensaries, let us know. We definitely want to do a follow-up on this bud and see if this Kush variant can redeem its name.

I know you’ve all been waiting for tFS Reviews to come back, and we’re happy to drop our first of 2008, so let’s jump straight into the fire.

One thing I’m sure you’ll notice is our new tFS Summary Card. It was designed with giving you an ‘At A Glance’ view of everything important about a strain. Also, you can minimize the summary card by clicking on the link in the top-right corner.

Ok, back to the star of the show…

This strain is called GDP and instantly reminds me of a personal favorite – Trainwreck. The bud is a light shade of green. It’s got more hairs than the average Sativa and is dusted with trichromes. You can tell this strain was cured correctly, GDP is crisp and the nug itself is nice and dense.

What’s interesting, is we found some purple leaves once the bud was broken open. Something I definitely didn’t expect, and makes me wonder about the heritage of this plant. Still, when ripped open, this bud looks killer.

If you’ve ever smoked Trainwreck, then you know its smell, totally unmistakable. GDP is very similar; it’s a light, sweet, citrus-y smell that makes your mouth water.

When smoked, GDP is smooth but doesn’t pack too much flavor. It can easily be overpowered by flavored papers or blunt wraps. The high starts in your shoulders and quickly moves up to the head, within 10 minutes of smoking. As time goes on, it radiates back down your body all the way to the lower extremities. Maybe that’s the purple heritage breaking through?

The high is outstanding – lasts long and doesn’t make you feel groggy. You won’t be doing any scientific experiments or anything, but it’s easy to function while this bud makes its presence known. Ping pong was a good call after our research was done.

Overall, considering the price, I was pleasantly surprised with GDP and am thinking about picking up some more next time I’m down in the valley.

There is one word that dominates this entire review — crystals! The medical marijuana strain pictured above is called Hollywood OG and has just about as many crystals as any strain I’ve come across yet. What better reason to review it?

This particular plant is not the strongest OG strain, but hey, can you really go wrong with any Kush? This bud got me medicated very quickly and effectively, starting in the head and slowly moving downwards to the body. Still, the strongest effects are felt in the head region. It left me high for almost 3 hours and provided a smooth come down.

While stizzied up on this bud, I strongly suggest watching a good movie or listening to a great album because once the full high kicks in, it’s tough do anything that requires lots of movement.

My overall impression of this Hollywood OG is that it is one high-end marijuana bud. Though a bit on the steep side, the high it provides more than makes up for any deficiences. Still, I’m not so sure why this particular OG strain is called Hollywood other than I purchased it in Hollywood. Go figure.

The ever-popular Kush strain is highly sought after and also highly available in Southern California. One of the more popular sub-strains of this eye-reddening varietal is Super Bubba Kush.

Effects from this strain are powerful and heavy. The high starts in the face and spreads rapidly towards the rest of the body. Super Bubba puts in a solid day’s work with well over 2 hours of body-numbing effects. Unfortunately, the come down is harsh and abrupt, leaving you almost brain dead for a few hours afterwards.

Super Bubba Kush is an all around all-star bud, if you can afford it. One thing you get along with the VIP name and effects is the VIP price.

Make sure you clear your calendar accordingly after burning this strain and plan something to do that doesn’t require a lot of movement and/or thought.

White Widow is one of the most famous cannabis strains in the modern era. I have only come across this strain twice and both times it has really done the job. This indica and sativa hybrid is a great all around bud that gets you lifted quickly and heavily.

The effects from this top-quality herb are extreme. The buzz is powerful and energetic, yet social, leaving you feeling somewhat energized. The taste is divine and very sweet. A must for anyone who thinks they are a true strain connoisseur!

Most people automatically assume that kush’s are the best strains around, but beware of the mighty White Widow. A mid-priced bud that is sure to hit the spot and then some.

Most dispensaries tend to have high-profile buds like a trainwreck or kush variant alongside some very random strains. Today, its the lesser known strain that gets the spotlight and it goes by the simple-yet-descriptive name of Mango.

As expected, the taste follows the constant theme of this mango bud. It’s extremely fruity and the smoke any hint of harshness or a nasty afterbite. The high hits the body quickly remaining for around 2 hours. On the positive side, the effects aren’t overpowering to the point where you can’t function after smoking.

This hybrid of indica’s is a great experience with its big rich colorful buds and is sure to make and keep you satisfied. Dispensaries always seem to have random strains, however, this one is a diamond in the rough.

I’m not quite sure why they call this strain Werewolf, nevertheless I find it an all-around good bud. The sativa gives you a light high without a harsh come-down afterwards.

The high starts fairly quickly but never becomes overpowering as it dissipates from your body with pleasant effects. Great for a late afternoon session. The medication lasts just under two hours but is effective.

Tucked away and hidden in the rough, one-off strains can be a nice surprise and this is a great example. A sativa that is a quality bud for the price… yet I am still trying to figure out why it’s called Werewolf.

Most people I talk to always comment on trainwreck being one of their favorite strains. After trying this Outdoor Trainwreck, I can definitely agree with them! This strain really does make you feel like a train hit you.

The high hits quickly in the face & head area and stays there for about two hours. I would also recommend some eye drops for this high, might experience some dryness or itchiness. The effects are pretty straight forward – smacks you in the face and stays there. The body isn’t really affected except for sporadic spots on the feet.

It took me a while to become a fan of trainwreck, but this strain has changed my opinion entirely. This mid-range bud sure does the trick when in search of a well-rounded sativa, it has exceeded expectations.

Looking for a no non-sense herb without the frills? Hash Plant is one of those indeed, lacking just about everything besides the stone.

The earthy flavor of the smoke left something to be desired, a taste similar to chlorophyll (a likely symptom of improper curing.) A good aspect about Hash Plant is its very resinous nature, so you know the end result will be just fine. The high is very nice. It starts in the chest area and gradually works its way up north. The stone lasts for around two to three hours.

If you don’t like all that glitz and glamor with rock star buds like kush, then Hash Plant might be right for you. Although it’s over-priced, doesn’t taste very good, and is kind of malodorous; it tries to compensate in the effects department and does so admirably. Honestly, if you spend an extra five bucks, you can get a bud that excels in all departments. Spend the extra five bucks.

Well, this is a definite first for tFS. The rating and name speaks for itself. Master Kush, an indica strain, is the best medical marijuana money can buy.

In addition, the smoke has a sweet zip to it and doesn’t leave a bad aftertaste in the mouth. The high hits hard & quickly from the beginning, mostly starting in the head and moving its way throughout in a matter of minutes.

There aren’t many significant negatives that stand out other than the fact that it can be too intense at times. Yes, too intense. And this 10 out of 10 kush strain is not cheap by any means, but hey if you can afford it, saddle up cowboy! You will not be disappointed.

True OG Kush is one of the “ultimate” kush strains found in sunny Southern California. Very few other strains seem to compare to True OG’s unique scent, taste, and mental & physical effects.

This strain is no joke, seriously. If you want the cream of the crop in the kush realm, here it is. Come to think of it, True OG should come with a warning label about inducing an extreme level of munchie impulses.

While checking out the edibles at my local dispensary, I decided to pick up Chef Boyarweed’s Dank Brownie and it made my night turn out especially relaxing.

Misty Haze is a sativa strain that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg yet provides a nice, quick high. A great break from the low range buds ranging to the super intense buds.

When you take everything into consideration, this strain is a very decent bud for the level of highness and the price tag attached to it. You probably won’t come across this variety too often, but if you do, make sure not to look away too quickly.

To start this week off with something a little different, I’m reviewing Concentr8’s Dumb Drops in Lemon flavor.

Edibles are always a challenge to review because their effects are so subjective – how big you are, what you’ve eaten and if you drink any alcohol all massively alter the effectiveness of THC being delivered to the body through the GI tract.

These gumdrops creep up on you, with the first of the effects being felt around 25 minutes after taking the lemon drop. It’s hard to describe the exact feeling, but if you’ve taken an edible you know how it affects your body and spreads from there. This is one of the strongest edibles I’ve come across and it definitely puts you in your seat.

For the cost of $20 a pop, this is a great deal. An edible that you can rely on is a nice change of pace and Concentr8 has created something that’s worth the cash.