Trulieve TruFlower Review: Harlequin GDP (Ratio)

Harlequin GDP is a unique strain, well-known among many Florida medical cannabis patients for its closely matched ratio of both CBD and THC. In fact, this strain is CBD-dominant, making it an excellent choice for many medical purposes.

Trulieve has carried this strain in flower form ever since they were approved to sell flower inside ceramic pods (intended for vaporization) in 2018. The full flower form became available in Summer 2019, and with its widely positive reviews among Florida medical cannabis social media, I was eager to give it a try.

Quick Facts:

Harlequin GDP (Ratio)

Price at time of review: $43/eighth 

Lineage: Harlequin x Grandaddy Purple

Batch/Harvest Number: DUFLBLDH20PK2

Cannabinoids

THC: 8.4%

CBD: 9.6%

CBG: 0.4%

Total Cannabinoids: 18.4%

Terpenes

Beta-Myrcene: 0.6730%

Trans-Carophyllene: 0.1480%

R-Limonene: 0.1300%

Alpha-Pinene: 0.1810%

Total Terpenes: 1.1320%

Appearance/Cure

Harlequin GDP is a darker colored flower – primarily dark green, with some flecks of lighter green, and very faint shades of light purple in a few areas of the eighth that I purchased. All of the buds are covered in fiery dark red-orange pistils, with the usual coating of sparkling trichomes.

This isn’t necessarily the most spectacular flower from a pure aesthetic perspective, but Trulieve has cured it to perfection. The trim job is really good on this eighth as well.

Each bud is very dense, with (again) nearly perfect moisture content. From my experiences the past 2 months or so, Trulieve has truly dialed in to consistently wonderful cures of their flower. This batch of Harlequin GDP is another fine example of that. Great job, all around – the entire grow, cure, and trim team deserves a pat on the back for their consistent quality as of late.

Appearance/Cure Rating: 4.90/10.00

Smell/Taste

I used to have a preconceived notion that CBD, or CBD-dominant flower, would not have the same “punch” or amount of terpenes that high-THC flower does. I was incorrect in that assessment.

Harlequin GDP, in fact, has a pretty strong smell. At first, the main smells that were apparent were that of skunk and an almost ammonia-like chemical smell that I have noticed in many medical strains. However, further investigation found that the most dominant smell in this strain is reminiscent of fresh linen. I presumed that this would be due to a high content of linalool; to my surprise, there is no linalool detected in this batch.

Regardless, this strain has an enjoyable profile. The “fresh linen” smell is unique; I have not yet detected it in any other medical strains that I’ve tried, but that’s yet another positive factor that makes Harlequin GDP unique. This terpene also dominates the taste profile, both when vaporized and smoked.

Smell/Taste Rating: 5.50/10.00

Effects/Medical Use

Harlequin GDP has almost a perfect 1:1 ratio of CBD and THC, which puts it in an entirely different category of possibilities for medical use.

Don’t let the fact that CBD is the dominant cannabinoid fool you – this strain still packs a psychoactive punch, particularly for patients that have a low tolerance. The “head change” comes on almost immediately, and reminds me a bit of the energy from sativa strains, but without quite the same intensity. I also tend to feel this strain behind the eyes.

I am currently going through a “taper-off” into a T-Break, so my tolerance is much lower than it would normally be. I find that Harlequin GDP feels almost as potent in this lowered tolerance state, that high-THC normally feels to me when my tolerance is up. With that being said, I think this is an excellent “first” flower strain for new medical cannabis patients who want to experiment with smoking flower, and also a good choice for patients in my situation – the CBD keeps the effects from being uncomfortable, even if your tolerance is extremely low.

As far as the nature of the effects themselves, they feel like a sativa-dominant hybrid to me. Harlequin GDP is invigorating without being overpowering; it is also relaxing without being sedating. I do find that my body is notably more relaxed than it seems to be with a high-THC hybrid alone, and will attribute this to the relatively high CBD content in this strain.

Due to its relatively light effects, I think Harlequin GDP would be good for use at any time of the day. It won’t keep you up at night, nor will it put you into a “cannabis coma” during the day. In fact, this may be one of the most versatile flower strains I have tried.

Possibly good for treating:

• Depression and related anxiety 
• Motivation issues
• Good for general relaxation
• Relief of minor to moderate aches and pains
• Relief of minor to moderate nausea and gastrointestinal discomfort
• Research the specific effects of CBD – antibacterial, etc.

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: 6.40/10.00

Overall Rating: 5.60/10.00

Overall, I would best describe Harlequin GDP as a “versatile” strain from Trulieve.

At $43/eighth, I would definitely consider purchasing this strain again in the future. The added versatility and unique effects that come from the CBD:THC ratio make it very desirable from a medical perspective as well.

This is one strain that I would feel comfortable recommending to almost any cannabis patient – from new users, to seasoned veterans. The 1:1 ratio simply puts Harlequin GDP in a class of its own for medicinal benefits. Absolutely give it at least one try, regardless of what conditions you are treating – I believe it has potential to benefit almost any patient.

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