I’m actually a bit surprised to be writing a review for loose, smokable flower before April 2019, but here we are. For those who may have been out of the loop, Governor Ron Desantis signed SB 182 into law on 03.18.2019, which allowed cannabis flower in a form intended for smoking to be sold at all Florida dispensaries. 3 days later, on 03.21.2019, Trulieve released their first batches of freed, smokable cannabis flower.
One week later, I was able to obtain my smoking recommendation and purchase my first two eighths of smokable flower from Trulieve. I chose Bubble Gum and 9lb Hammer (updated review coming soon; you can view the old review here.)
Bubble Gum is a strain that’s been around since the early 1990s; it won several awards in various Cannabis Cups throughout the mid ’90s, and has long been a popular hybrid strain known for its uplifting effects. Trulieve’s first batch of Bubble Gum flower was released in ceramic vape cups a couple of month ago, but I was unable to get any before it sold out. I’m glad I waited – it is so much nicer to get home and be able to open a jar of cannabis, rather than open up a jar of ceramic cups and proceed to spend 20-30 minutes working the metal screens off to get to the flower. The buds are absolutely beautiful now that they aren’t compressed into ceramic pods.
Quick Facts:
Bubble Gum (Hybrid)
Parent Strains: Unknown (Originated in Indiana, USA)
Batch/Harvest Number: FFOBBULBAF000002 (that’s an “O” at the beginning and zeroes at the end)
Cannabinoids
THC: 17.5%
CBD: 0.0%
CBG: 0.9%
Total Cannabinoids: 18.4%
Terpenes
“*” denotes the two dominant terpenes in this strain (in this case, the only two terpenes!)
*Beta-Myrcene: 0.2153%
*Alpha-Pinene: 0.1039%
Total Terpenes: 0.3192%
Appearance/Cure
As you can see in the images above, this is an absolutely stunning flower. The mostly mid to dark greens are covered in golden-green trichomes and dark pink pistils. This eighth of flower weighed at 3.8 grams, and consisted entirely of buds; the largest and most aesthetically pleasing bud weighed near a gram, and is the one that is pictured above. There is no shake, no small stems (the only stems are the ones that run up through the bud as pictured above), and no seeds. This is some of the prettiest flower I’ve ever seen in either the medical industry or the black market.
The one slightly negative aspect of this batch was the moisture content; most of you who regularly read my reviews know that I like for there to be a certain amount of stickiness/moisture left in the flower. This batch is pretty dry – not so much that it crumbles apart when handled, but it can be easily broken down between the fingers, and is quick work in a grinder. If this batch was ever so slightly less dry, it would have been a homerun. Overall, however, this is an absolutely excellent rollout of smokable flower from Trulieve.
Appearance Rating: 5.00/10.00
Smell/Taste
I’m not sure if this strain is supposed to smell like Bubble Gum, but it doesn’t. I find it to resemble Sunset Sherbert in its terpene profile. There is definitely a floral sweetness that makes itself known almost immediately, but there is also a nearly equally noticeable sour/musty smell as well. I wouldn’t say this is necessarily my favorite smelling strain, but it is not bad by any means.
Perhaps the name of the strain comes from its taste when smoked, because the “greens” from a smoked bowl of Bubble Gum do slightly resemble the taste of actual bubble gum. The sweet terpenes are more dominant in the taste, leading to a pleasant smoke on the exhale. In some ways, the taste of this strain when smoked reminds me a bit of the taste of Girl Scout Cookies flower when smoked.
Smell/Taste Rating: 4.90/10.00
Effects/Medical Use
I find the effects of Bubble Gum to be notably pleasant and enjoyable; for me, this behaves like a well-balanced hybrid. Uplifting cerebral effects and a boost of creativity are common, and a warming sensation throughout the body is notable as well. As often is my experience when consuming hybrid strains, lighter doses tend to exhibit more sativa-like effects, while indica effects become more noticeable when consumed in higher doses.
For me, Bubble Gum is good at nay time of the day. I’ve used it as my first line of medication in the morning for its invigorating boost, and I’ve used it to ease myself back to sleep when I woke up in the middle of the night. Bubble Gum is versatile, and can be enjoyed medically and/or recreationally. I find music to be especially enjoyable after smoking it. This strain also is notably relaxing; it does a pretty nice job of alleviating my anxiety.
Possibly good for treating:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Minor to moderate aches and pains
- Lack of motivation (in lower doses)
- General relaxation/relief
- Relief of nausea and other gastrointestinal symptoms
- Minor insomnia (in higher doses)
I’m definitely no medical doctor, so please take the preceding conditions only as my own personal observations from using this strain and having experience with a multitude of different cannabis strains. Every body is different, and every body reacts different to various medications.
Effects Rating: 5.50/10.00
Overall Rating: 5.13/10.00
Overall, I would best describe Bubble Gum as an “average” hybrid strain.
I am truly impressed with Trulieve’s rollout of smokable flower, and can’t wait to try and review more strains. It’s so nice to be able to open up the jar and see beautiful, whole flower buds that are ready to smoke without the hassle of getting into 3 tightly clamped ceramic pods. This is how it should be!
I’m also looking forward to trying and reviewing flower from the other MMTCs as well; Curaleaf already has several strains available in select locations, and most all of the other MMTCs have announced that they will release smokable flower in the next few weeks to months.
For patients looking for relief for a wide variety of symptoms, I highly recommend giving Bubble Gum a try. It’s definitely one of the better hybrid strains I’ve tried (I normally prefer either sativa or indica), and I will probably buy it again in the future. Not for a while though – too many new strains to try first!
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As always, thank you for taking the time to read this review. Truly hope it helps you – we are here for you!
Florida Medical Cannabis Collective 