The Blood

Don’t be alarmed — The Blood is a pure sativa that’s named for its blood-red leaves and stems rather than any kind of violent effects it might exert. This strain is native to Hawaii and is a distinct phenotype of the famed Kona Gold varietal. The seed stock of this valuable strain is maintained by the state’s Pua Mana 1st Hawaiian Pakal?l? Seed Bank. Its THC content has been measured at between 15% and 26%.

The Blood is perhaps most noted for its uniquely-colored flowers. These large buds have an irregular, chunky shape and cling together in a characteristically loose structure. Actual plants of The Blood have red stems and deep red veins criss-crossing their broad fan leaves; the trimmed flowers also retain some traces of red in their leaves and pistils. Finally, a high volume of cloudy white trichomes accounts for the flowers’ psychoactivity and makes them very difficult to break up without the aid of a grinder.

When properly cured, flowers of The Blood give off a dank, sour that has definite skunky overtones. There’s also a fruity, tropical aroma that may be familiar to fans of Kona Gold. Meanwhile, grinding up these buds gives off a deep, woodsy aroma of pine. When burnt, The Blood gives off an acrid smoke that can irritate the eyes and palate and may cause a coughing fit. On the exhale, this thick smoke tastes earthy with hints of citrus on the exhale.

This potent sativa begins working very quickly and may even give you a headrush before you’ve exhaled its thick, acrid smoke. Some early feelings of increased salivation are possible, as is a flushing in the cheeks. As these odd sensations abate, The Blood’s cerebral power becomes clear. The user’s internal monologue may start to become gradually louder and, depending on individual tolerance, may drown out any external stimuli. While this kind of intense mental activity can be overwhelming in the wrong set and setting, those who are familiar with a sativa high — or those who are able to comfortably settle into the experience — can enjoy the benefits of freely-associative thinking. The Blood can illuminate surprising new connections between seemingly unrelated things and may lead the smoker to dwell on concepts or topics that they might not otherwise find interesting. This plugged-in energy makes the strain great for sparking conversation in social situations. It can also be helpful for accomplishing detailed, task-oriented work and open-ended creative projects like brainstorming. The Blood may also inspire a surge of physical energy on top of its mental stimulation and can provide the inspiration needed to accomplish a satisfying workout. This landrace strain comes with relatively little body high and those expecting physical relaxation will likely be disappointed. Thanks to its wide-awake vibes, The Blood is recommended for daytime (and even wake-and-bake) consumption.

The Blood’s active, engaging effects can have some uses for medical cannabis patients as well. It can help those with attention deficit disorders to stay zoned in on a single task. Its subtle euphoria can also temporarily relieve the symptoms of mild stress or depression. Physiologically, The Blood’s anti-inflammatory effects may also soothe irritations like headaches or cramps. Because it can induce a very focused, cerebral mindset, The Blood is not recommended for patients who are prone to panic or paranoia or who have a low THC tolerance.

Seeds of The Blood are not available for sale online. Instead, prospective growers should obtain “clones” (clippings from mature, healthy plants of the strain) from the Pua Mana Pakal?l? Seed Bank. These plants can be grown indoors or out; thanks to the strain’s hearty landrace genetics, it can particularly thrive in outdoor growth environments with humid, sunny climates. In indoor growing spaces, its height may need to be managed with some early pruning. The Blood typically flowers within 10 weeks when grown indoors.

The Blood may be difficult to find outside of Hawaii and some parts of California. If spotted on dispensary shelves, this rare sativa is worth sampling for its heady effects and landrace provenance.