Laughing Gas

Laughing Gas is a sativa-dominant hybrid that offers a breezy, lightheaded high. Sharing its name with the slang term for dental anesthetic nitrous oxide, Laughing Gas is the creation of Oregon-based growers TKO Reserve, and is a cross between Cherry Pie and pungent Sour Diesel. This strain’s THC content has been measured at levels ranging from 18% to 24%.

Flowers are average in size and maintain chunky, irregular shapes. Despite mostly sativa influences, their internal structure leans more towards indica, with a dense core that is made up of small, tightly-coiled leaves that are a dark shade of forest green. Curly yellow hairs, which are actually botanical reproductive structures called pistils, provide some visual contrast, as do a high volume of glassy white trichomes.

A first whiff of strong gasoline odor dominates the Laughing Gas’ flowers, paying testament to the strain’s name and passed down from its parent strain Sour Diesel. A second inspection may detect some tangy, fruity scents lurking underneath. When these flowers are broken apart or ground up, they can give off a more ‘skunky’ character. Burning Laughing Gas’ buds in a pipe or a joint yields a light but deeply sour smoke that may irritate the sinuses or palate. On the exhale, this smoke tastes like diesel fumes mixed with some lemon.

Similar to other sativa-dominant strains, Laughing Gas starts working quickly. Initially users may feel a mild head rush accompanied by facial sensations like a flushing in the cheeks or a stimulation of the salivary glands. As these sensations die down, smokers are immersed in a newly activated headspace in which thoughts may flow more freely and easily. This kind of cerebral engagement can help find long-sought solutions to entrenched problems. It may also facilitate productive work on everything from demanding, complicated tasks to open-ended brainstorming sessions. On the other hand, those who aren’t feeling very motivated can simply enjoy Laughing Gas’ head high as they go about enjoying mundane chores, such as doing the dishes.

After about an hour, smokers may start to feel mild physical effects, such as tingling in the limbs or capacity for deep, easy breathing. For those trying to stay active, this relaxation doesn’t typically progress into total couch-lock. Instead, Laughing Gas’ singular combination of mental and physical effects can enhance activities that call for complex, full-body coordination — in the right circumstances, it can even be a potent aphrodisiac. Because of its unabated energy, Laughing Gas is appropriate for daytime or evening use. If consumed right before bed, though, it’s liable to keep users awake.

Laughing Gas’ versatile high can also be of value to medical cannabis patients. For one, its focused, zoned-in way of thinking can help those with ADD to improve concentration. Additionally, its mood-boosting qualities can temporarily distract from the difficult symptoms of mild to moderate stress and depression. Physically speaking, Laughing Gas can numb aches and pains, whether they’re mild due to everyday inflammation, or to chronic conditions like arthritis. This strain’s tendency to induce the munchies may even make it a solid appetite stimulant for those dealing with digestive conditions or undergoing hunger-disruptive treatments like chemotherapy. That said, because it can bring about some obsessive patterns of thinking, Laughing Gas may not be the best option for patients who are inexperienced with THC.

TKO Reserve does not appear to have made seeds available for commercial sale. Instead, those looking to grow this strain at home may be able to obtain clippings from mature, healthy plants. These can be fostered as identical “clones” and can be grown indoors or out; outdoor success calls for a semi-humid climate with daytime temperatures in the 70 °F. While there isn’t much information available on best practices specific to its cultivation, Laughing Gas’ indica-looking flowers suggest that they grow short and bushy, and flower within eight to nine weeks.

An upbeat, energetic strain, Laughing Gas is worth seeking out by sativa lovers. If you’re sharing it in public, be prepared for its pungent, lemony flavor profile to turn some heads.