Barbara Bud

Barbara Bud is an indica with a strong, subduing body high and a surprisingly tropical aroma. The creation of British Columbia-based breeders House of the Great Gardener, Barbara Bud is a cross between flavorful Shiskaberry and an Afghani indica landrace. The strain’s therapeutic sedative effects and bag appeal have earned it several European and Canadian cannabis awards. Its THC content has been measured at between 10% and 19%. Some phenotypes of Barbara Bud are also bred for high levels of CBD.

Flowers of Barbara Bud are typically medium to large in size and have an elongated, almost cylindrical shape. These long buds make their indica heritage clear with compact, densely-packed leaves that curl tightly inward toward their central stems. The leaves themselves are a pale sage green and are twisted through with hairy, copper-colored pistils. Finally, a blanket of translucent white trichomes covers the surfaces of these flowers and gives their pale leaves a white, almost silvery sheen when viewed from afar.

When properly cured, Barbara Bud carries a fruity tropical essence. On closer inspection, there’s also a mellow undertone with some dank, earthy notes. Meanwhile, grinding up Barbara’s thick buds gives off a hashy, spicy scent that reveals the double dose of Afghani in the strain’s background. When combusted in a pipe or a joint, the flowers burn with a smooth, pleasant smoke. This smoke tastes like tangy citrus on the exhale.

Barbara Bud’s high creeps up on the user with initially subtle effects. Smokers begin to detect Barbara’s effects after a few minutes as a tingle around the eyes and temples. At the same time, many consumers also notice a general improvement in mood, with any prior stresses or preoccupations melting into the background. Barbara Bud works primarily on the body, sending feelings of relaxation through the core and extremities. Consumers may feel relief from any muscular soreness; several are also able to breathe more deeply and easily. Fortunately, this strain is not known to be a knockout and can be savored without incapacitating users by gluing them to the couch. There’s also a relative lack of intense cerebral stimulation, although some increase in freely-associative thinking can help to keep the conversation flowing in buzzy social situations. As such, Barbara Bud can be a pleasant background accompaniment in a variety of settings, helping to take the edge off as you plow through a mountain of work or to set the stage for some mellow solo time. As this high wears on, the physical effects become somewhat more intense and may have susceptible smokers heading for the closest comfortable surroundings in which to take a load off. Overall, though, this strain’s mellow balance of physical and mental stimulation is a good end-of-day treat that allows fans to function as they ordinarily would. Because its feelings of relaxation are pleasant but not overwhelming, Barbara Bud is appropriate for consumption between the afternoon and evening.

This strain’s versatile effects can also have potential uses for medical cannabis patients. Its mood-altering properties can temporarily improve the symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety. Barbara Bud can also ease physical discomfort, ranging from injury-related pain to the chronic pain that comes from conditions like arthritis or fibromyalgia. Meanwhile, anti-inflammatory properties can soothe common irritations like headaches. Finally, Barbara Bud may stimulate hunger, making it a useful supplement for those who experience decreased appetite due to disease or to treatments like chemotherapy. Because it is not known to bring about the kind of intense, obsessive thinking marked by more sativa-dominant strains, this bud is a good choice for those who are prone to panic or paranoia.

Fortunately for home growers, seeds of Barbara Bud are available through several online retailers. It can be cultivated indoors or out, although outdoor growing calls for a semi-humid, Mediterranean-like climate. Plants tend to grow short and bushy and can be easily accommodated in indoor growing environments. Barbara Bud flowers within a brief 7 to 8 weeks when grown indoors.

Thanks to its balanced high and relatively modest THC levels, Barbara Bud is a solid option for cannabis newcomers, or for those with a low THC tolerance. The strain’s high resin content also makes it valuable in the production of hash.