Elmer's Glue

Named after the omnipresent craft supply of your childhood, Elmer’s Glue is an indica-leaning hybrid with prestigious parents. It is a cross between Gorilla Glue #4 and notoriously resinous The White. Elmer’s Glue offers a complex flavor profile and a very sedative high. Its THC content has been measured at between 18% and 24%.

A dank, earthy scent wafts up from cured buds of Elmer’s Glue, accented with notes of wood and pine. There’s also a sour-sweet aroma lurking underneath, similar to fermented vegetable matter. Grinding up the flowers gives off some eye-watering fumes of diesel. Despite its somewhat strong scent, though, Elmer’s Glue burns with a smooth and easily inhaled smoke when combusted. On the exhale, this smoke has a subtly sweet and piney flavor of the exhale.

Flowers of Elmer’s Glue tend to be on the smaller side, clinging together in dense, pebbly clusters. The compact buds are clearly indica-influenced, with small leaves that curl tightly inward. The leaves themselves are a pale sage green and are twisted through with copper-colored hairs — which are actually pistils, botanical structures meant to catch pollen from fertilizing male plants. Finally, parent strain The White passes on its propensity for high trichome production, leaving these flowers covered in crystalline white trichomes that make them very sticky.

Elmer’s Glue can be a true creeper, sometimes taking as long as 10 to 15 minutes before it arrives. At first, the strain acts on the head and face, conferring an increase in blood pressure that may result in a tingly feeling around the temples; some consumers also describe a sudden increase in salivation. These odd sensations are followed up with a transformation of thought, as ideas and concepts can take on a new intensity or dimension. Smokers may also find their thoughts jumping from one to the next in strange categorical associations. All this mental stimulation can be a good way to enhance both detailed, analytical work and creative, freeform projects. Provided that they aren’t overwhelmed by its effects, users may also enjoy this feeling of “mindrace” in social settings, as it can inspire conversation and camaraderie, even among strangers. As the high wears on — or as dosage is increased — Elmer’s Glue reveals its true indica nature. The consumer’s previously cerebral mindset starts to give way to a dopey, dreamy mood. Physical energy levels tend to dip as well, and smokers who may have been active may suddenly want to stretch out on a comfortable surface. Instead of working on a puzzle, smokers at this stage are more likely to enjoy a passive activity like binge-watching or lounging with an atmospheric playlist. It’s at this point that the “glue” in Elmer’s Glue becomes apparent, sticking users intractably in place on the couch. Thanks to its late-blooming sedation, Elmer’s Glue is recommended for consumption starting in the early evening, when its full spectrum of effects can be fully appreciated.

Elmer’s Glue can also have many uses for medical cannabis patients. Its initially cerebral effects can help those with attention deficit disorders to concentrate on a single task. Its later sedation, meanwhile, can temporarily treat the symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety. Elmer’s Glue can also dull physical pain, whether it’s serious and chronic or an everyday inflammation like a headache. In the right set and setting, this sleepy bud can even help insomniacs enjoy a restful sleep. Because of the intense, introspective thought patterns that come at its onset, patients who are prone to panic or paranoia should consume this strain with some caution.

Breeders Relentless Genetics has sold seeds of Elmer’s Glue online, but do not appear to be frequently stocked. Instead, growers should seek out clippings of the strain that can be grown as “clones.” Once obtained, Elmer’s Glue can be grown indoors or out, although outdoor growing calls for a sunny, semi-humid climate. Plants tend to be squat and bushy and may require occasional pruning of broad, light-blocking fan leaves. Elmer’s Glue flowers within 9 to 10 weeks when grown indoors and offers an average-sized yield.

Elmer’s Glue is not a strain for cannabis newcomers, as phenotypes frequently test with THC levels above 20%. For others, though, the strain makes a great slow burn of a high for later in the day.