Strain Review: Sage n’ Sour

The sensation on my lips reminded me of an electrifying kiss with a friend at a costume party nearly 20 years ago. But instead of carbonated lemonade, MTL’s sativa-dominant Sage n’ Sour strain tasted more like root beer. With a charming name and an exotic-sounding cannabinoid in the mix, my friendly neighborhood cannabis retailer easily twisted my arm into a 3.5-gram bag of Sage n’ Sour flower late last fall. “CBG is your new best friend to solve the morning blues or any blues,” says Matt Willis, store manager at Value Buds in Toronto.

Besides boasting 21-28 percent THC, the cross between Sour Diesel and S.A.G.E. has more than one percent CBG, a rare cannabinoid that features an equally unusual terpene called terpinolene. While the cannabis plant contains much smaller quantities of CBG compared to the THC and CBD cannabinoids, interest is growing because of its unique physiological effects and health benefits. The human body contains two cannabinoid receptors: CB1 and CB2. The first receptors are found in the nervous system and brain, while the second receptors are in the immune system and other areas of the body.

"As someone who is experienced in consuming cannabis for over a decade, I start to look for things in my bud other than just high THC."

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CBG works by binding to both receptors, where it’s thought by researchers to stimulate pleasure and motivation, regulate appetite and sleep, and ease pain. “As someone who is experienced in consuming cannabis for over a decade, I start to look for things in my bud other than just high THC and punch-worthy hits,” Willis says.

Emerging research is looking at CBG’s potential to reduce the risk of heart disease and its role in inhibiting the growth of cancer cells. As an essential oil, its dominant terpene may also have antibacterial qualities which make it appealing for makers of soaps and cleaning products. “CBG has many properties, but the one I am most excited about is how it balances your amino acids to get you feeling ready to take on anything,” says Willis, adding the Sage n’ Sour strain delivers a pick me up from “zero to 60 in less than a second.”

A euphoric and long-lasting daytime high, it was so much so that I bought the strain more than once, despite my extreme dislike for rolling joints. Equally visually appealing, Sage n’ Sour boasts bright lime green crystallin buds, splendid violet leaves and speckled delicate amber hairs. Though Sage n’ Sour may sound vanilla to consumers who are used to hardcore strain names like Green Crack and Train Wreck, this plant is rich in its own way.

Much like the carbonated lemonade kiss that can still burn my lips today, Sage n’ Sour’s rush of hot pepper, zesty lime, and sweet cedar accents are almost equally unforgettable.

More strain reviews:

• Strain Review: Shishkaberry
• Strain Review: Grape Crush
• Strain Review: Strawberry Lemonade