Fluent Cannabis Flower Review: “Polaris” (Grandaddy Purple – Indica)

“Polaris” is Fluent Cannabis’ name for Grandaddy Purple, a very popular West Coast strain that is said to have been initially bred in the San Francisco Bay Area.

This was the first strain that Fluent released in full-flower form, and seems to come around every couple of months since then. This is a classic indica strain in terms of its effects, and is an absolutely beautiful flower.

Quick Facts:

Grandaddy Purple (Indica)

Price at time of review: $50/eighth 

Lineage: Purple Urkle x Big Bud

Batch/Harvest Number: 1278483223053005

Cannabinoids

THC: 19.166%

CBD: 0.049%

Total Cannabinoids: 19.215%

Terpenes

Unfortunately, Fluent doesn’t make their lab reports available, so I have no terpene percentages to provide for this strain. However, their product catalog shows the “major terpenes” for each strain.

Grandaddy Purple (“Polaris”) Major Terpenes

B-Myrcene: Often responsible for earthy, musky, spicy, or peppery smells. May produce sedative and muscle-relaxant effects.

Ocimene: Sweet, herbal, earthy aroma. Possible hints of citrus. Anti-inflammatory properties, possible uplifting effects.

Appearance/Cure

Full disclosure: I’m a sucker for purple buds, but beyond that, Fluent has produced an absolutely beautiful batch of flower with this batch. Grandaddy Purple obviously gets it name for its dominant color, but these buds have a very synergetic color pallette. Purple buds with flecks of green are topped off with a heavy resinous coating of milky golden trichomes and a generous amount of burnt orange-colored pistils.

This batch of Fluent’s “Polaris” may have one of the best cures of any flower I’ve seen lately. The buds are naturally dense, but the moisture content is nearly perfect for breaking down and burning; the buds will leave your fingers sticky as well.

Fluent has been generally known for high-quality flower, and this eighth is certainly a step in the right direction for continuing the momentum of that excellence.

Appearance/Cure Rating: 8.50/10.00

Smell/Taste

Grandaddy Purple initially hits me with a sweet, fresh smell – possibly with a very slight hint of spice. Further inspection finds a musky, earthy smell present as well. While this isn’t an especially pungent strain, it has a nice terpene profile and a good smell.

Interestingly, breaking open the buds yields even more variety of smells, with the inside of the buds have a very funky, nearly fuel-like aroma that reminds me of strains like Northern Hash Plant.

When smoked, the sweet taste seems to be dominant on the inhale, with a more peppery and earthy/musky taste on the exhale. Overall, this is a pleasant smelling and tasting strain.

Smell/Taste Rating: 6.80/10.00

Effects/Medical Use

Grandaddy Purple is said to be 75% indica, and I would have to agree with that assessment when describing the effects. The first 20-30 minutes after the initial inhalation features an almost even balance between very gentle cerebral effects and a relaxed body sensation. As time passes, the scales begin to tip much more towards heavy, almost sedating body effects; only a small hint of cerebral stimulation remains.

After 45 minutes, this strain usually has me couch locked, and TV/video games seem to be the activity of choice if I’m going to remain conscious. Heavier doses of Grandaddy Purple/Polaris end up putting me to sleep most of the time. For that reason, I’d recommend this strain primarily for evening use.

In my experience, this is a great indica strain for relaxation, pain relief, and for sleep (in higher doses). A few hits of this around 45 minutes to an hour before bedtime seem to always make for a good quality sleep.

I find this to be one of the better strains for anxiety as well, since the cerebral effects are never too powerful or concentrated. However, patients with a low tolerance should still start low and go slow (1 hit and then wait 30 minutes), as it is still a potent medication.

Possibly good for treating:

• Anxiety 
• Moderate aches and pains
• Moderate nausea/gastrointestinal issues
• General Relaxation 
• Insomnia (especially in higher doses)
• Lack of appetite

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: 7.40/10.00

Overall Rating: 7.56/10.00

Overall, I would best describe “Polaris” as a “very good” indica strain from Fluent Cannabis.

Though I feel $50 is too expensive for eighths of non-exotic strains in the current Florida cannabis market, I didn’t feel too terrible about what I paid for the quality of this eighth. The prices across the market will inevitably continue to come down, so it’s only a matter of time before $50 are an exception reserved for extremely powerful flower strains.

If you’re looking for a relaxing indica that helps you ease into a restful sleep, I absolutely recommend this strain. I’ll most likely purchase it again in the future – hopefully at a lower price, in time.

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