As we’ve discussed before, 2019 will be a significant year in the growth and development of the Florida medical marijuana program. Trulieve and Curaleaf led the innovation of the market in 2018 by introducing their flower pod products; these come in a 3-pack of ceramic pods that are each filled with cannabis flower, totaling to around 3.5 grams or 1/8 ounce.
Trulieve in particular has already offered a relatively large selection of medicinally valuable strains like Sour Diesel and 9lb Hammer during 2018, and with the hearing on the smoking ban coming up on January 8, we expect to see some signs as to how extensively the Florida cannabis program will expand this year.
Either way, we expect to see more dispensaries offer flower products and a wider variety of strains in 2019. We’ve compiled a list of strains we’d like to see in this year, based on factors such as medicinal value and overall novelty. These are flower strains we think would sell well and expect to see at least of few of them making their way into the market this year.
1.) Blue Dream
We’ve already seen a few Blue Dream vaporizer products become available this year, particularly at Liberty Health Sciences. We expect to see at least one MMTC offer Blue Dream flower this year due to its overwhelming popularity in the national cannabis market and the fact that it produces a high yield, up to 3-6 oz per square foot of crop. With well-rounded medical benefits that come together for a calm euphoria, Blue Dream would be an excellent hybrid strain to introduce to the Florida program.
2.) Grandaddy Purple
Another strain that is already available in vape cart form, and even as a distillate in Trulieve’s Truclear line, GDP is a classic powerhouse indica that is known for its ability to counteract insomnia. As full flower sales gear up, we think that the high yield of this strain coupled with the novelty of its vibrant purple colors and the value of its heavy indica effects, we think we’ll see this strain become available in flower in the coming months.
Beyond the fact that it’s “hands down the dopest dope I’ve ever smoked” (bonus points if you catch the reference), Pineapple Express is another high-yield strain that would hold great value as sativa-dominant hybrid in the Florida MMJ program. We’ve noticed that most hybrid strains available to date have been indica-dominant, but we feel that sativa-dominant hybrids are extremely desirable and would do well in the program. Besides – what patient would turn down the opportunity to try the strain that is the namesake of a well-known stoner flick?
4.) Cheese
There aren’t currently any strains available that have any smell or taste reminiscent of Cheese, a classic hybrid strain known for obliterating depression, stress, and anxiety. With a medium yield of 1-3 oz per square foot of crop, this strain doesn’t yield quite as much as the other strains before it on this list, but the novelty and the name itself may make up for that setback. With medical benefits that would help hundreds of thousands of Florida cannabis patients suffering from mental ailments, we think Cheese would find its way into the hands of many Florida patients.
5.) Hindu Kush
A classic pure indica strain named for the Hindu Mountain range, this strain brings on relaxing and calming effects without necessarily putting the patient to sleep or making them overwhelmingly drowsy. Hindu Kush returns to the theme of high crop yield, making it desirable for growers, and is said to be a good treatment for stress, pain, insomnia, and depression. We think Hindu Kush would be a good alternative indica strain for patients who want to feel indica effects without being knocked out or heavily couch-locked while medicating.
6.) Maui Wowie
Like Colombian Gold, Maui Wowie is a classic landrace sativa that comes from its namesake in the Hawaiian Islands. Judging from how well reviewed and acclaimed Trulieve’s Colombian Golf flower has been, we think that Maui Wowie would be another good sativa strain to introduce to the Florida medical marijuana market. Maui Wowie is said to have light sativa effects that aren’t particularly racy, making it a good choice for patients who need extra motivation but dislike the anxiety that power sativa can sometimes induce.
7.) OG Kush
Another well-balanced hybrid strain that has gained considerable game on the west coast of the United States, the earthy and sour-lemon smells of OG Kush have become a stable scent of many west coast cannabis strains that came after it. We feel that the name of this strain alone will be familiar to many Florida cannabis patients and may be a good “familiar” choice for new patients who have had prior experience with cannabis, whether from the black market or another legal state. OG Kush could be a versatile choice for medication as it has both indica and sativa effects that are said to crush depression under a heavy euphoria.
8.) AK-47
Another well-known cannabis hybrid strain that produces the classic cannabis side-effects of “the munchies” and “the giggles”, AK47 provides that most people have come to associate with cannabis. AK-47, like most of the strains on this list, produces a high yield. With sativa-dominant effects that are said to be good for creativity and socializing, this strain would be a good choice for patients looking for relief from anxiety and depression. AK-47 is also said to be an effective appetite stimulant, adding versatility to its potential medicinal benefits. We currently don’t know of any AK-47 products in the Florida cannabis market, and we aren’t sure why – this strain is simply a classic. We hope to see that change in 2019.
Closing Thoughts
This list is by no means all-inclusive, but it is compromised of strains we think are some of the most well-known that aren’t already available in flower form in Florida. Trulieve and Curaleaf have really done Florida patients a great service by pushing the boundaries of the program and producing their ceramic pod flower products; they have managed to offer an impressive variety of strains while doing this. We expect to see that variety significantly increase this year, and hope that at least some of the strains on this list find their way into our homes.
What strains would you like to see available in Florida this year? Comment below and let us know!
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Florida Medical Cannabis Collective 