X
Leaf Nation Logo
Photos by Daniel Berman

Washington Flower Reviews

The top Cannabis varieties in the Northwest.

Blackberry Kush
Grown by Washington Bud Co.

DANIEL BERMAN

Founded in 2012, Washington Bud Co. has focused on growing craft indoor Cannabis that’s tested for pesticides and heavy metals, carrying on their legacy medical roots. Their Blackberry has thick, bouncy and frosty buds that reek with off-the-green-vine berries, rich syrupy notes of fruit and tart, and a frosted scone finish that teases the mind and tummy. With heavy sedative effects that chill the mind and loosen muscles, this Blackberry is perfect for chillaxing and relieving stress at the end of a busy day.

24.6% THC
wabudco.com | @washingtonbudco


Skymaster
Grown by Washington Bud Co.

DANIEL BERMAN

A true PNW classic, the Skymaster is a mossback strain bred locally in a beautiful combination of Blue Dream and Master Kush. This odd-couple strain combines the uplifting euphoria and sweet dreamy flavors of the Blue Dream with the deep, heavy high and earthy, hashy notes of the Master Kush. The final Skymaster strain has chunky buds that are coated in red hairs and trichomes, with a fluffier density that’s perfect for rolling. Breaking up buds releases a fizzy and fresh rush of blue and red berry notes with an apple-citrus-gas tang that’s sweet and complex. Effects build in the mind, sending a rush of euphoria that makes the body feel lighter and thoughts flow quickly – floating us along in a perfect social hour buzz worthy of the epic Skymaster moniker.

24.2% THC
wabudco.com | @washingtonbudco


Death Ray
Cherry Pie x Planter Purple F2 #144
Grown by Kindness Cannabis

DANIEL BERMAN

Like the threat of quicksand or volcanos, death rays featured heavily in cartoons from the ‘80s and ‘90s, which instantly pulled us towards these chunky, frosty buds. The buds have gentle foxtails jutting out with green and purple colors swirling with red hairs and a ton of trichomes. Breaking up the soft, sticky buds releases a wave of sour gas with notes of vanilla, citrus and a Cherry Pie finish – warning the mind of impending stoniness when the Death Ray is activated. Super smooth and full of tangy purple cherries on exhale, this strain melts the mind into the body in a couchlocked, puddled high that’s perfect for throwback cartoons and soggy cereal at midnight.

15.58% THC | 1.3% Terpenes
kindnesscannabis.com 


Chronberry Crunch
Cake Crasher x Tropical Sherbet F2 #144
Grown by Kindness Cannabis

DANIEL BERMAN

Crash into a tropical fruity flavor profile that’s reminiscent of Cap’n Crunch and the infamous Zebra Stripe gum that was a staple for any millennial growing up. These bright-green buds are so coated in trichomes that they look nearly white, and feature a beautiful classic structure that leaves fingers sticky while loading a bowl. First notes are gentle, wafting a candied-sugar-vanilla flavor that reminds us of cereal milk at the end of a bowl, with hints of the tropical Sherb and a citrus-gas funk lurking in the background that adds complexity. This is a flower that compels the mind to want to take a bite, but we loaded a bowl instead – relishing the smooth smoke and sweet, tangy exhale. Effects lighten the mind by slowing thoughts and pumping in euphoria for a stoney, feel-good buzz that’s a true hit of Kindness.

18.26% THC
kindnesscannabis.com


Fruity Cereal Milk
Grown by Gold Leaf

DANIEL BERMAN

Grown by OGs using Clean Green Certified practices in living soil, Gold Leaf has led the way with organic practices and LED lights, producing award-winning strains and hash for over a decade. The Fruity Cereal Milk is stunning, with dark-purple tinted buds that are frostier than Snoqualmie Pass after a big storm. The buds are fluffy and soft and leave lightly sticky trichomes on fingertips when loading a bowl – releasing a soft rush of creamy and tropical fruit terps with a vanilla-brioche-pudding finish that’s hard to stop smelling. Smooth and sharply sweet, this flower is both stoney and uplifting … a uniquely euphoric couchlock that’s perfect for lazy mornings.

goldleafgardens.com | @goldleafgardens420


Moonbow
Grown by Gold Leaf

DANIEL BERMAN

Bred by the local legends at Archive, whose Portland store offers the ability to buy clones for homegrow, the Moonbow is a unique cut of Zkittlez x Do-Si-Dos that has quickly become a coveted genetic cross around the country. The buds are a deep purple with a smattering of red hairs and tons of trichomes, boasting a fluffier bud structure that’s sticky and breaks up easily – releasing a warming aroma of earthy red wine alongside a gentle, vanilla-citrus-haze finish that’s relaxing and inviting. Exceptionally smooth, the smoke exhales with a tingle that ignites senses … sending the body a big hug while relaxing mental muscles as an aura of happy, floaty energy takes over the mind and body in a high worthy of lunar fame.

goldleafgardens.com | @goldleafgardens420


Purple Sunset
Purple Punch x Mandarin Sunset x Mandarin Cookies
Grown by PNDUB

DANIEL BERMAN

Embrace the fruity umami of this unique three-way cross of genetics that’s the perfect way to cut the edge at the end of the day. Dark purple and frosty, these buds reek of fermented fruit and a mandarin soy sauce/green apple funk that is complex and flavorful. The buds have a thicker density and break up with sticky fingers, and the fluffy flower burns with superb smoothness – sending a rush of relaxing euphoria to the mind that melts into the body, relaxing muscles and easing stress in a buzz that’s ready to chillax at the end of the day.

@420pndub | @pndublife


Gary Poppins
Gary Payton x Red Runtz
Grown by Freddy’s Finest by Freddy’s Fuego

DANIEL BERMAN

Floating like Mary Poppins before slamming dunks as a Seattle Supersonic, Gary Payton’s basketball legacy continues to carry power with the Cannabis strain that bears his namesake. The Gary Payton cultivar comes from Cookies, which the Exotic Genetix team combined with Red Runtz for a unique cut that’s sweet and powerful. The squat buds have a classic Cookies bud structure, with a dark purple color and a powerplay of frosty trichomes. First notes are full of fizzy, fermented red berries with hints of lavender and citrus gas, plus a mild earthiness that ignites senses while hinting at heavy effects. First hits are dense and fruity, with a thick smoke that exhales easily, but grabs the chest and frontal lobes in a euphoric grip that brightens the mind and eyes, leaving the body floating below in a relaxed bliss. Like the couple seconds of perfection in the air before a slam dunk (but lasting for hours), the Gary Poppins is an epic strain for a Seattle legend.

freddysfuego.com | @freddys.fuego


Blackbeard’s Truffle
White Truffle x Cherry Pie
Grown by Freddy’s Finest by Freddy’s Fuego

DANIEL BERMAN

Let out a y’arr and embrace the scallywag lifestyle with the true treasure of Blackbeard, the infamous pirate known for his smoking dreadlocks and theatrical flair. Being a pirate captain was a combination of outlaw style and the battlefield tactics of a general, all in search of treasure. And it’s this search for treasure that drives the team at Freddy’s Fuego in their annual pheno hunt, living the modern pirate’s life in a quest for the best genetics to join the treasure chest of strains. The Blackbeards Truffle has dense, round purple buds that look like they were rolled in a pile of frosty trichomes, glistening from the jar and hinting at glory inside. First notes are bright and sharp, with fresh green grapes and gassy-vanilla-cherries melting together with a loud, funky and cheesy white truffle for a complex and delicious strain. Dominating senses with a heady high that rolls over the mind and body in waves, this strain slows time and brightens sounds while dulling feelings in a stoned fog that we definitely don’t recommend for use while operating vessels of any kind. Chart a course for the fridge and couch, steer clear of cable news, and find something funny to go with the Freddy’s Fuego version of pirate’s grog.

freddysfuego.com | @freddys.fuego


The White CBG
Sungrown Flower
Grown by CannaSol Farms

DANIEL BERMAN

Experience the full-spectrum effects of sungrown flower and unique genetics that carry a high CBG buzz. Bred by Oregon CBD and grown full-term with organic practices, CannaSol specializes in tasty and terpy outdoor flower – and this high-CBG cut of The White does not disappoint. The flower has a dense bud structure and the deep green coloration of outdoor cultivated Cannabis, with a healthy coating of trichomes that The White is known for. Breaking up the flower releases a warming earthy-gassy-haze with a rush of ripe cherries that tastes fruity and extremely smooth when smoked – sending a rush of CBG to the brain that brings a calm, meditative state that’s perfect for a feel-good mental reset.

18% CBG | 7% THC | 5% Terpenes
cannasol.com | @cannasolfarms


Sin “N” Juice
Bahama Mama x Tropicanna Cookies
Grown by Mt. Baker Home Grown

DANIEL BERMAN

Deep purple and stunning, this beautiful and fruity strain feels so good that it must be naughty, living up to the fun name. Opening the bag releases a rush of tropical citrus and a honey-floral Fruit Loops flavor that tantalizes the mind and stomach, teasing the senses as the thick and fluffy purple buds are broken up. This weed smells so amazing it’s hard to tear it apart, but the sweetest treat comes on exhale – tingling the palate as a fizzy, tropical punch flavor lingers after each hit. Multiple hits send the mind on a mini vacation, slowing thoughts and amplifying happy sounds and feelings as a chillaxed, euphoric buzz takes hold. While preferably smoked on a sunny beach, this strain also has the right amount of power and energy to transform a lunch break in the parking lot into a balanced escape that won’t wreck your work day.

mtbakerhg.com | @mt.bakerhomegrown


Papaya
Sungrown Flower
Grown by Lish Organics

DANIEL BERMAN

Experience a taste of the tropics with this frosty, sungrown, living-soil flower from Lish Organics. Light green and covered in red hairs, this sweet and fruity strain is known as indica dominant – but from all smells and flavors, it seems more in the sativa-leaning hybrid space. The buds are thick and dense, releasing notes of cakey-hazey-citrus with a fresh, sliced-fruit tang that tantalizes taste buds. First tokes are bright and sugary, sending a rush to the frontal lobes with a high that’s mentally calming and physically relaxing, but not sedative. Perfect for outside adventures, this sungrown flower will have you in the mood – even if it’s watching adventures stoned on YouTube.

22% THC | 2.1% Terpenes
cannasol.com | @lish.organics | @cannasolfarms 


Mexican Flan
Grown by Fire Bros.

DANIEL BERMAN

Serve a double helping of dessert with a treat that will get you baked, instead of the other way around. The Mexican Flan has big, chunky and dense buds with yellow-orange hairs that contrast from a light-green body, all coated in a thick layer of frosty trichomes. Snapping a solid nug releases a thick, creamy and sour cinnamon funk with earthy-yeasty-vanilla notes that remind us of an infused loaf of bread that’s halfway through the baking process. First tokes finish the aforementioned baking process, slapping the frontal lobes and oozing over the body like frosting. Calming, happy and goofy, this buzz is perfect for dessert – even if it’s first thing in the morning.

27% THC
firebros206.com | @firebros


Scotty 2 Hotty
Biscotti x Rainbow Chip
Grown by Cloud 9 Farms

DANIEL BERMAN

It sounds like either a ‘90s movie or a TikTok dance, but it’s really a cross of two epic genetic lineages for a strain that’s so hot it’s in the name. With frosty, dark-purple colors and foxtails pointing out and dripping in trichomes, this flower screams bag appeal. The buds look fluffy but are surprisingly solid, leaving a slightly sticky layer while loading into a bowl. Flavors are subtle but complex, with a chocolate-diesel-haze plus hints of pine and vanilla that come alive in sharp, sweet and smooth tokes. Repeated hits relieve mental pressure, relaxing the forehead and jaw while sharpening senses in a creative, in-the-moment buzz that’s had us feeling extra hot for a few hours.

@cloud9i502


Super Boof
Black Cherry Punch x Tropicanna Cookies
Grown by Plaid Jacket

DANIEL BERMAN

Glistening and oozing with sugared lemons and sour Fruity Pebbles, the nose knows that this is certainly not boof – it’s the Super Boof! Iydk, ‘boof’ is a term for below average weed. If we lost you at’ iydk’ – consult the closest teenager and then try again. All that said, this gorgeous flower is light green, covered in frosty trichomes, and smells like it’s dripping wet with vibrant terpenes. Almost like a weedy version of a lemon drop with a gassy, orange-peel garnish, the Super Boof smells good enough to lick. First tokes delight the senses, zinging into the mind with a stoney flourish, elevating the mood with a social and creative high bringing just the right amount of stoniness to keep it silly – just like the name suggests.

22.2% THC
plaidjacket.com | @plaidjacketi502


Sour Dough
Grown by Cloud 9 Farms

DANIEL BERMAN

Rise to the occasion with a strain that you’ll need if you want to get in the mood, at least according to the internet. Regardless of aphrodisiac effects, this strain is loud and in your face with a sour-yeasty funk that ignites the senses. Breaking up a chunky purple bud releases a darker, grapefruit-chocolate-fuel with a minty-cookies kiss that smells oddly delicious. The sour power continues into the smoke, burning slow and smooth and smacking the senses in a hazy, heady high that put us in the mood for snacks in the kitchen first.

@cloud9i502


Thin Mint Magic
Girl Scout Cookies x Chocolate Kush
Grown by Captain Yeti

DANIEL BERMAN

The strain that best encompasses the first genetic gold rush was the Girl Scout Cookies, and the many potent and flavorful crosses it led to. Cookies lovers will delight in the Thin Mint Magic, which has oversized GSC nugs that are purple tinged and coated in dusty trichomes that sprinkle as a bud is broken up. This unique cut is loud and bright, with fermented fruit and sour-earthy-cocoa blending into a complex and sweet treat. Smooth tokes deliver a chillaxed and spacey buzz that calms stress and leaves the body and mind feeling baked with love – just like a cookie.

26.6% THC
captainyeti.com | @captainyeti_wa


Bacio Bars
Greenhouse/Sungrown Cannabis
Grown by Lazy Bee Gardens

DANIEL BERMAN

Lazy Bee’s flower embodies the best combination of sungrown terpenes with the controlled environment of a greenhouse and grown with living soil – delivering chunky, frosty and flavorful buds that are sustainable and pack a full-spectrum high. The Bacio Bars delivers a sour-choco-pine gas with a kick of funky garlic and rubber for an odious and complex flower. With a twist of CBG, the Bacio Bars has a sweet and superbly smooth smoke that makes big hits easy – filling the body and mind with a floaty, warming glow that’s perfect for adventures in real life, or from the safety of the couch.

23% THC | 1.92% CBG | 2.9% Terpenes
lazybeegardens.com | @lazybeegardens


Apple Zauce
Apple Fritter x Zuchi
Greenhouse/Sungrown Cannabis
Grown by Lazy Bee Gardens

DANIEL BERMAN

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, and if you really want to double down, you can use an apple as a pipe first and then eat it! Luckily most of us are past smoking out of apples, but we can definitely get down on the fruity twist of Apple Zauce. Big chunky buds trick the senses with fresh green-apple rinds and a sugary, light, honeyed-melon-rose petal finish that smells like an exotic garden in full bloom. Smooth and bright, this sticky flower burns easily – delivering a tingle of sunny euphoria while simultaneously slowing the body down. With slow movements and happy thoughts, this strain has us ready for lawn chairs and cold drinks with a terpy hit of summer.

lazybeegardens.com | @lazybeegardens


Blanco Braeburn
White Runtz x Apples & Bananas
Grown by Dank Czar

DANIEL BERMAN

Bright notes of green apples crash into a deep and sharp, Runtzy haze of vanilla funk that’s fresh and raw at the same time – teasing the mind and stomach with a new twist on the forbidden apple. Thick and chunky, the buds have little foxtails and a light green and purple tint, with tons of glistening trichomes coating the entire bud surface that sprinkle from fingers with a satisfying snap as the buds are broken up. Super smooth but heavy, this strain grips the lungs and smacks the forehead with a durred, drooly stoniness that is worthy of a big “woah” after a few tasty hits.

26% THC
dankczar.com | @dankczar_washington


Red 40
Red Pop x GMO
Grown by High End Farms

DANIEL BERMAN

Bright and undeniably red, this strain proves that a color can truly be a smell as well. An almost artificial red-cherry-wine fizz swirls out of the jar with a rush of bright citrus and limey gas, making this a top GMO cross for unique flavor. The buds are soft and pillowy and very sticky, releasing a sweet garlic/soy sauce tang while loading a fat bowl. The flower burns smooth and fast, and effects rush to the mind – speeding thoughts and filling the body with a stoney, euphoric energy that’s great for chores, work, and especially outdoor activities.

23.3% THC
@420_hef


Raspberry Gummiez
Red Pop x GMO
Grown by High End Farms

DANIEL BERMAN

Purple and frosty, these fluffy and sticky buds reek with a sour and fermented grape Kool-Aid that smells so funky, it’s hard to pull the nose out of the jar. A true sweet and sour strain, the Raspberry Gummiez has strong notes of red berries and gas with a sugary tang that had us seriously considering licking sticky fingers while loading a fat bowl. First tokes are smooth and full of more berry flavor, sending a relaxing wave of chill that places the mind and body into food and couch mode.

24.9% THC
@420_hef


Panama Red
Panama ’74 x Green Panama x Colombian Red Dot 
Sungrown Flower
Grown by CannaSol Farms

DANIEL BERMAN

Go old school with the bright and uplifting sativa grown in the natural earth and sun of Eastern Washington. CannaSol Farms has been growing with organic methods outdoors since the early days of medical Cannabis, staying true to their roots with long flowering sativas like the infamous Panama Red. One of the first strains to gain a name and fame, the Panama Red has giant and chunky golden-green nugs with sparkling, fully developed trichomes that come from a full summer of natural growth. Cannabis produces trichomes and terpenes as a pest deterrent, and outdoor plants double down on this – which is why these buds smell like a fresh-peeled lemon dripping in earthy gas and Kush. First tokes are superbly smooth and bright, with a lemon-lime exhale and a quick-hitting creative euphoria that had us longing for bare feet in the grass on a sunny day.

24.27% THC
cannasol.com | @cannasolfarms

Photos by @bermanphotos

About Wes Abney

Wes Abney is the founder and CEO of the Leaf Nation brand family, which began in 2010 as Northwest Leaf magazine. Recognized as the first Cannabis publication in the region, Northwest Leaf defined and developed the medical and recreational Cannabis communities in Washington with free publications focused on quality content and truthful journalism. The model’s success has led to Oregon Leaf in 2014, Alaska Leaf in 2016, Maryland Leaf in 2019, California Leaf in Spring of 2020, and Northeast Leaf in Fall of 2020. Wes’s writing and publishing background began with his college newspaper, The Ebbtide, which included a love for multimedia and creating content on many platforms. The nickname “Bearded Lorax” came after years of publishing millions of free magazines, using his voice to speak for a plant and those that benefit from it. Wes is an activist not only for Cannabis but for alternative medicine treatments, ending the drug war and freeing prisoners who have been wrongfully incarcerated for non-violent crimes. His passion for reaching people with written and spoken words led to the concept of Leaf Life Podcast in partnership with Mike Ricker, which began development in 2018 and launched in January 2019. With the combined passions of Cannabis and a love for broadcasting, the creation of Leaf Life was a natural progression for Leaf Nation as it spread roots across the United States. With over 100 shows recorded, and printing over 100,000 monthly copies, Leaf Nation has become the world’s largest Cannabis media company, while still celebrating the humble roots and truthful journalism that the model was founded upon. Beyond leading a team of 40+ passionate Cannabis creatives, Wes is the father to two beautiful daughters and two furry cats. He lives in Seattle, drinks coffee, and enjoys Cannabis daily, and hopes to eventually transition from a successful Cannabis journalist to a classic coffee shop author as the Leaf continues to grow in the coming decades. In true Lorax fashion, he enjoys hikes in the forest, communing with nature, and reminding people that “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.”

This article was originally published in the March 2024 issue of Northwest Leaf.

View our archive on issuu.

Are you 21 or older? This website requires you to be 21 years of age or older. Please verify your age to view the content, or click "Exit" to leave.