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What Are Terpenes?

“Terpenes can enhance the effects of cannabinoids when combined or take with them.”

-Montana Department of Revenue

Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy, go away. Today, I want to talk to you about terpenes. I am going to do my best to break it down in the easiest way possible.

In plants, terpenes are a natural defense against herbivores and pests. They also play a part in the attraction of beneficial organisms ensuring plant survival and reproduction. Some terpenes protect the plants from environmental stressors like heat and UV radiation. They also function as signaling defense mechanisms (www.nature.com, 2025).

Terpenes are organic compounds responsible for the aromas and flavors of cannabis strains and other plants. And cannabis has over 150 identified terpenes in the plant. However, many exist in such low concentrations that  there may not significantly contribute. 

Beyond aromatic qualities terpenes are also studied for therapeutic benefits like pain relief, anti-inflammatory, and anti-anxiety effects, among others. The factors that influence terpene profiles are genetics, growing conditions and the plant’s developmental  stage. Here are a few terpenes and explanations.

§  Myrcene: known for earthy flavors and associated with  pain relief and relaxation. This is one of the main terpenes that I look for in my medicine. It is a  big one that helps with chronic pain.

§  Caryophyllene: has the “pepper like” flavor that also helps with pain relief.

§  Limonene: responsible for the citrusy aroma. And helps with mood elevation.

§  Pinene: correct! This one is responsible for the pine scent which can also help to elevate mood. I will tell you that most of the negative anxiety experiences that I have with cannabis is due to this “panic attack provoker.” And that is why I tend to enjoy hybrids.

§  Linalool: responsible for flora aromas and relaxation. Helps with the ability to combat stress and ease body aches, reduce muscle spasms, relieve pain, and anxiety.

§  Humulene: is used for inflammation and weight control. And helps to tame those terrible munchies.

§  Terpinolene: has been shown to help inhibit tumor growth and have positive effects on cardiovascular disease (www.cannaflower.com, 2021).

Terpenes and other medical benefits:

§  Aromatherapy and Flavoring: Terpenes are used in essential oil, perfumes, and food.

§  Potential Therapeutic Effects: Research indicates potential health benefits include:

o   Anti-inflammatory: Helps with chronic inflammation

o   Analgesic: pain relief

o   Anti-anxiety and antidepressant:they promote calming effects and improve mood. Linalool is found in lavender.

o   Antioxidant: Protects cells against damage

o   Antimicrobial and antifungal combat bacterial and fungal infections

o   Sleep improvements: Terpenes like myrcene have sedating effect and promote relaxation.

o   Neuroprotective effects:Potentially help protect neurons from damage and degradation.

o   Cancer research: Early studies suggest potential anticancer properties (www.medicalnewstoday.com, 2025).

All these points describe how the terpenes in cannabis and other plants can be so helpful to us and to our ecosystem. I invite you to know the terpenes that work best for you even if you are not personally use cannabis. They are an essential part in healing and management of various debilitating conditions. Thanks for reading! And Know Your Terpenes!

Affirmation: I will allow myself to accept my pain today and embrace the things that relieve it.

***Don’t forget to watch the video!***

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darnold1975

Budtender Moment: Coffee Creamer Strain Review

“The best conversations happen with a little cannabis and a lot of honesty.”

 — Unknown

Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy go away. Today, as we’re facing 2026 with our horrible administration, what would go great with those discussions with friends and family. We all know that many of us are coffee drinkers. And what better strain to go with the coffee and conversations but a little bit of coffee creamer.

Coffee Creamer is a 70/30 indica-dominant hybrid. It is a cross between Zkittlez x Kush Mints. I immediately tasted the creamy flavoring in this strain.

Top terpenes in this strain are Myrcene, Caryophyllene, and Limonene. Patients report relief from conditions such as stress, anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, muscle tension, and appetite stimulation. And for me, it helped gently rock me to sleep. And if you’re needing something after a hard day to relax, this strain will do it. Thanks for reading! Keep blazin’.

Affirmation: I deserve relief, peace, and moments of ease.

***Don’t forget to watch the video!***

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darnold1975

Budtender Moment: Apple Banana Bread Strain Review

“If weed puns are a sin, then I’ll see you inhale.”

-Unknown

Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy go away. Today, I want to talk to you about the strain known as Apple Banana Bread. And this time of the year a freshly baked bread sounds pretty good.

Apple Banana Bread is an indica-dominant strain. The genetics include Platinum Cookies x Grandaddy Purple x Blue Power x Gelatti. And this might be one of my new favorite strains. Let’s look at the diverse genetic line a little closer. Platinum Cookies is a cross between OG Kush x Durban Poison. Grandaddy Purple is a cross between Mendo Purps x Skunk x Afghanistan. Blue Power is a 4-way cross between Sour Double x Master Kush x The White x Blue Moonshine. Gelatti is a cross between Gelato x OG Biscotti. What a truly beautiful genetic line. No wonder I love this strain.

On inhale the first taste is something very sweet and somewhat floral. The dominant terpenes in this strain are Pinene, Caryophyllene and Myrcene. The medical benefits include relief from stress, anxiety, pain, mood, appetite, and sleep. This strain has some truly hard-core munchies that hit with gusto. It’s not so strong that it will give you “couch lock.” It feels a lot like blue dream with more indica. 

I highly suggest this strain as an everyday use. It can be used on a lunch break if used in moderation. And for nighttime use, it works good enough to send you gently into dreamland. The only thing that would be better would be a concentrate in this strain. And I am headed out to look for it. Thanks for reading! Keep blazin.’

Affirmation: I make health choices when it comes to weed.

***Don’t forget to watch the video***

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darnold1975

Top Cannabis Strains Of 2025

“When in doubt, smoke it out.”

-Unknown

Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy go away. Today, I want to give you a list of the stop cannabis strains of 2025. I know. I have smoked acres of weed this year. And I always enjoy seeing the top weed strains of the year. 

It’s that time of year where we find out top strains from across the country. I manage my healthcare by researching strains that work best on my symptoms. And then, I look to see if any of the strains are found locally. See if you recognize any of these strains.

1.        Blue Dream: a hybrid that gives you that nice balanced high. This strain works very well for PTSD.

2.        Gelato 41: A balanced hybrid known for sweet flavoring.

3.        Cocolato: A daytime use with chocolate and coconut flavoring.

4.        Sour Diesel: This is a classic sativa-dominant hybrid strain used to help with anxiety and fatigue.

5.        Lemon Cherry Gelato: An uplifting hybrid popular for citrus and berry flavors.

6.        White Runtz: A good strain to help with both relaxation and mental clarity.

7.        Pink Certz: Uplifting hybrid that I tried recently that is very impressive with its balanced effects.

8.        Godfather OG: A potent indica-dominant strain that has the potential to grant you a “couch lock” session.

9.        Ice Cream Cake: I love this strain! It works well on pain, stress, anxiety, and insomnia. And it will make sure you drift off into a nice little cannabis coma.

10.   OG Kush: Another classic blend of indica-dominance. This is just a good all-around strain.

11.   Permanent Marker: I tried this indica-dominant strain this year. It definitely has the potency and stink that aims to please.

12.   South Diesel: Classic sativa-dominant hybrid that is sure to give you some “get-up-and-go” effects while putting a the sour and stink flavors in one luscious bud.

13.   Biscotti: This is an indica-dominant hybrid  that is known as a “dessert strain” flavoring.

14.   Super Boof: This is a stain that is sativa-dominant that didn’t push my anxiety into a panic attack. But use sparingly if you’re really sensitive to sativa strains. Just a “WOW” strain in my opinion.

15.   Cereal Milk: This strain is known for its sweet and creamy taste profile. It’s said to be sativa leaning. However, it feels like a balanced hybrid. A must try for anyone!

16.   Blueberry: A classic indica dominant strain that is known as a suppressor for many conditions and rich berry flavoring. This strain is often crossbred to many different strains. And a big genetic factor for strains that work is known to work well on PTSD.

I can say with certainty that these are not the only strains that have been spotlighted for 2025. But it is a list that maybe you have tried and can attest to the power of their medicine. Thanks for reading! Keep blazin.”

Affirmation: Love flows to me, through me, and around me.

***Don’t forget to watch the video!***

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darnold1975

Budtender Moment: Polar Plunge Strain Review

“Don’t kill my high because you’re low.”

-Unknown

Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy, go away. Welcome again! Today, I want to review a strain known as Polar Plunge. I thought that while we are in a cooler season of the year, I would pick one to reflect that.

Polar Plunge is an interesting strain. Parent strains are a cross between Early Riser x Ice Box Pie. Early Riser is a 50/50 hybrid. However, the exact lineage is unknown. Ice Box Pie is a 70/30 indica-dominant hybrid. The genetics are a cross between Wedding Cake x Freeworld Chem. This strain has a little more sativa than what I like. However, it’s not too much to induce anxiety. Thank you, indicas.

Patients report relief from depression, nausea, stress, mood swings, chronic fatigue, and pain relief. This strain would be a good one for lunch break. It feels like a good balance. If you are sensitive to sativas, make sure and use in moderation. The terpene profile for these strains are B-Caryophyllene, a-Humulene, B-Myrcene. THC percentage is about mid-range. Thanks for reading. Keep blazin’.

Affirmation: Full bowls. Clean bongs. Can’t lose.

***Don’t forget to watch the video!****

#Thispuzzledlife

darnold1975

Budtender Moment: Jelly Breath Strain Review

“A marijuana high can enhance core human mental abilities.”

-Sebastian Marincolo

 Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negativity energy, go away. Today, I want to talk to you about a strain called Jelly Breath. And thinking about warm toast with butter and jelly goes perfectly with this one.

The strain Jelly Breath is an indica-dominant hybrid. The genetics are a cross between Mendo Breath x Do-si-do. Now let’s break this down and talk about this strains heritage. Mendo Breath is an indica strain made by crossing OGKB x Mendo Montage. Sounds like dankness to me. And Do-si-do is a cross between  OGKB (OG Kush Breath is a Girl Scout Cookies phenotype) x Face Off OG. I don’t know about you, but if a strain has GSC in the lineage, it’s bound to be good.

There is a lot of indica in this strain. Medical benefits provide relief from insomnia, depression,  and muscle spasms. And I will agree 100%! The taste is earthy, fruity, and sweet. The major terpenes in this strain are trans-Caryophyllene, Limonene and Linalool. This is considered a top in hybrids for me. Because it gives you just enough “get-up-and-go” to satisfy any smoker without the worry about an anxiety provoking sativa overload. Thanks for reading! And keep blazin.’

Affirmation: Being a stoner has taught me that I can problem solve, build new things and give old things new life.

***Don’t forget to watch the video!***

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darnold1975

Budtender Moment: Green Crack Strain Review

“The best way I could describe the effect of the marijuana and hashish is that it would make me relaxed and creative.”

-Steve Jobs

Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy go away. I’m going to tell you about a strain that will be the perfect “get up and go”  that you need to help make it through this Thanksgiving Holiday and beyond.

Green Crack was the name that Snoop Dogg gave to the strain Green Cush. It is a sativa hybrid that will give you a shot of energy and a calmness for dealing with all of the crowds surrounding Thanksgiving. I will warn you about this strain being known to cause an increase in anxiety. For those that enjoy sativas, I will not fight you for this one. But for people like us who have panic attacks, this is an arch nemesis.

This strain’s genetics are a cross between Skunk #1 x and an unknown indica. It’s a 65/35 sativa dominant. And trust me, it’s very sativa. The top terpenes in this strain are myrcene, caryophyllene, and pinene. Pinene is the big anxiety terpene. The other two are used with pain which is usually seen in indica-dominant strains. Don’t get too brave with this one if you have anxiety.

The taste is one that is a mixture of fruity, pine and sweet. And if I’m honest, I would tell you that the taste is actually pretty good compared to heavy indicas that taste hazy. Medical benefits include depression, ADHD, migraines, fatigue, bipolar, chronic pain, appetite, and stress.

The opinion about the effects of this strain are mine only. However, it might work differently for you. The beauty of cannabis is that there is no “one size fits all.” What works for me might not work for you and vice versa. Thanks for reading! Keep blazin’!

Affirmation: I love that I love weed as much as I love weed.

***Don’t forget to watch the video!***

#Thispuzzledlife

darnold1975

Budtender Moment: Banana Cream Cake Strain Review

“Some of my finest hours have been spent on my back veranda, hemp and observing as far as my eye can see.”

-Thomas Jefferson

Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negativity energy, go away. Today, I want to review the strain Banana Cream Pie. Yep, doesn’t it sound like a strain that would go well during the Thanksgiving holiday? Sit tight, while I describe this nice add to the holidays.

Banana Cream Cake a.k.a Banana Cake is a sativa-dominant hybrid. This strain is made by crossing Wedding Cake x Monkey Banana. This has become one to add to my list of likes. With it being a sativa-dominant strain, I was a little skeptical about whether I would like it. But this little girl is a nice strain.

This strain hit me directly in the eyes like a prized fighter. But it’s not too anxiety provoking. I would be cautious with novice users. Because it will sneak up on you with it’s powerful kick. Patients choose this strain to help with symptoms of chronic depression, anxiety, and pain. I know. There is enough indica in it to tame that anxiety associated with sativas.

This strain was on Leafly’s top 12 strains of 2022 harvest. And what a sweet beauty she is. The sweetness of vanilla combined with chestnuts give this strain a sweet and hardy flavoring. Dominant terpenes are Limonene, trans-Caryophyllene and Linalool. Those with anxiety issues can enjoy but need to be careful and not overdo it.

Thanks for reading! Keep smilin’ and blazin.’

Affirmation: I am grateful for how cannabis expands my creative ability.

***Don’t forget to watch the video!***

#Thispuzzledlife

darnold1975

Budtender Moment: Ghost Vapor OG Strain Review

“It’s hard to be mean when you’re stoned.”

-Bill Lee, Naked Lunch

 Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy go away. Today, I want to share a strain that keeps with the image of Halloween. It’s a paranormal strain known as Ghost Vapor OG. This little beauty is one to help keep you beautifully high.

Ghost Vapor OG is an indica-dominant hybrid cross between Purple Punch x Ghost OG. And if we want to dive into the “grandparent” strains, Purple Punch is a cross of Grandaddy Purple x Larry OG. And Ghost OG is a cross of Afghani Indica x OG Kush. It’s said to be similar to the strain Brue Banner. Top terpenes are a-Bisabolol, B-Myrcene, and a-Pinene. There is supposed to be a heavy pine taste. However, I’m using a  concentrated vape cart. The taste has zero pine taste. It has a sweet taste instead. 

On a 5 scale this product is a solid 4. It’s one that needs to be used with caution with novice users. The medical effects include treating anxiety, stress and also helps with depression. I also used it for chronic pain. And it’s said to also be good for the pain of arthritis, headaches and back pain. And I totally agree. Thanks for reading! Keep smiling. And keep blazin’!

Affirmation: I am worthy of being hydrated, high, and happy.

***Don’t forget to watch the video!***

#Thispuzzledlife

darnold1975

Budtender Moment: Mike Tyson Knockout 2.0 Strain Review

“I think America’s view on weed is ridiculous. If everyone smoked weed, the world would be a better place.”

-Kirsten Dunst

 Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy go away. Today, I’m going to review strains that go along with Domestic Violence Awareness. Don’t get offended by the names of the products. This strain is called Mike Tyson Knockout 2.0. And boy does it have power in its makeup. 

The name itself is one that fits this strain perfectly. It is also known as “Mike Tyson” and “Mike Tyson OG.” The exact lineage is unknown. However, I can tell you that this strain is dank and powerful. If I were to describe the odor of this strain. It is STANKY! It’s got aromas of diesel, pungent and skunky.

The dominant terpene is myrcene which arrests pain at its origin. And the side effects are sleepy, happy and hungry. This is a strain for experienced consumers. This strain won’t “couch lock” you. It will bury you under the couch. And does wonders for chronic pain and insomnia. This strain will hit you with a 1-2 punch. Make sure you have nothing that needs to be done for a couple of hours after toking. Thanks for reading! Keep Smiling. Keep Laughing. And keep blazing!

Affirmation: I am sativa happy and indica relaxed.

***Don’t forget to watch the video!***

#Thispuzzledlife