Greater Lansing crowns three strains as ‘Top of the Town’

Heads up:

Green Wednesday (the day before Thanksgiving) is quickly approaching. In 2020, it was the single most lucrative day of the year for Michigan’s dispensaries, presumably because so many smokers were re-upping their stashes to try to tolerate yet another family gathering. There’s no better time than now to stock up on these strains before the shelves run dry.”

The three marijuana strains featured in this week’s Lansterdam in Review were directly decided by the results of the 2021 Top of the Town contest, where our readers determined there were three clear favorites this year for the most delectably dank marijuana strains in Greater Lansing — one jazzy, energetic sativa; one sleepy, relaxing indica; and one middle-of-the-road hybrid.

I sampled all three varieties over the weekend and as an experienced toker who has already tried several dozen of the strains available locally, I have to say: Y’all have some great taste.

Skymint X DNA Genetics

Clementine (Sativa)
Price — $50/3.5g
THC — 16.4%

This is at least the third time that Clementine has been featured in the pages of City Pulse — most recently as one of my personal favorite strains of 2020. This jazzy crossbreed (between Tangie and Lemon Skunk) is the result of a cultivation collaboration between Skymint and Amsterdam-based DNA Genetics. It won out at the High Times’ Cannabis Cup in 2015 for its balanced and citrusy flavors and its euphoric, uplifting and energizing effects. 

Lansing clearly loves the stuff too.

With a pungent citrus smell that tingles the nose and carries straight through into an almost tart yet still ultra-smooth and balanced flavor profile, this is by far one of the tastiest strains on the market. For fun, I held up the jar to a freshly peeled clementine. They smelled nearly identical.

A clear-cut sativa, this strain also packs a whole new level of stoner energy — both physically and mentally. I spent way too much time overthinking about everything while playing fetch with my dogs for more than an hour on Saturday evening. A second joint kept me awake until 2 a.m. Smokers with anxiety, tread lightly: This is definitely the most energizing weed I’ve ever smoked.

With 46 votes, second place for the best sativa was awarded to Pure Options’ Citrus Farmer. Radicle Genetics — an in-house brand of Pincanna — was a runner-up with its Tangie Diesel.

Pure Options

Garlic Breath (Indica)

Don’t be deterred by the name: This strain won’t give you bad breath. It will, however, send you into a deep state of relaxation that walks the line between blissful couchlock and total sedation. Known for its ability to treat insomnia, stress and depression, this insanely powerful strain tests at a massive 32% THC and — by a wide margin — was named as Lansing’s best indica strain.

The buds were sizable and dense, and their bright orange pistils were completely coated in a frosty white layer of trichomes. This stuff is also one of the spiciest smelling strains on the market, with aromas reminiscent of pepper and diced garlic — and a flavor profile to match.

A wave of complete mental and physical relaxation crept up on me about 20 minutes after smoking — making this the perfect choice for after a long day at work or just before bedtime.

Second place in this category went to Skymint’s Platinum OG Kush, which was a neck-and-neck race with runner-up Deathwalker OG from Radicle Genetics, a Pincanna brand in East Lansing.

Skymint — 

Gelato 33 (Hybrid)
Price — $45/3.5g
THC — 23.2%

Gelato 33 (which has also been nicknamed “Larry Bird”) is a cross between Sunset Sherbert and Thin Mint GSC, often known for its entirely purple buds. Like you might expect from the name, it has a very sweet, fruit-like aroma that also translates to a sugary, complex flavor profile — think grapes, strawberries, maybe a touch of lime. It almost reminded me of Fruit Stripe gum.

A soothing body buzz gives way to a euphoric head high that also didn’t get in the way of accomplishing my normal daily activities — making this a perfectly balanced daily driver for just about all occasions. I smoked it before walking the dogs. I smoked it before grocery shopping. I smoked it before watching Netflix. Hell, I even smoked a couple puffs while writing this column.

It’s energetic, uplifting, relaxing, blissful; it’s a little bit of everything, all rolled into one dank joint.

Second place in the hybrid strain category was awarded to Pure Options’ Moonbow 112. Pink Cookies from Franklin Fields — the cultivation arm of The Botanical Co. — was the runner-up.

Kyle Kaminski is City Pulse’s managing editor and cannabis enthusiast who has been smoking marijuana just about every day for the last decade. Every week, Kaminski samples some of the best cannabis products available in Greater Lansing, gets real high and writes about them.

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