People compare cannabis to alcohol often, although, strictly just on the basis of the fact that it is the only other common intoxicant they know, and no other similarities. If you actually look at the facts, however, it’s easy to see how ludicrous of a comparison this actually is. Ethyl alcohol is a nervous system depressant that slows down your bodily functions and mental capacities; it can cause dissociation, lack of consciousness and self-awareness, and then even death if taken in too large of a dose. Alcohol is easily abused, can cause problem addiction, and not only can overdosing on it kill you, but so can severe alcohol withdrawals. In addition to its use as an intoxicant, alcohol also performs functions as an antiseptic capable of destroying bio-organisms, as a solvent for stuff like paint or perfume, and as combustible fuel. Cannabis is a holistic herb too complex to be classified into one psychoactive category, as it has effects that are mildly psychedelic, effects that are stimulating, and effects that are sedating, sometimes all in the same strain. Destructive cannabis abuse is rarely heard of, and there are no real deaths that have ever been directly attributed to cannabis. Cannabis has abundant medical properties, functions as a rich source of dietary protein and essential oils, and can be used for paper, plastic alternatives, and textiles. At the end of the day, comparing alcohol to cannabis is simply just crass, because the differences between the two substances are much larger than the few commonalities.
I spent a little time working in a bar, so I know that a Sour Jack is a shooter made by combing equal parts Jack Daniels and Raspberry Sour Puss. The shot is syrupy sweet and then stings at the end with a sharp whiskey punch. I have spent a lot of time in the cannabis community, so I also know that a Sour Jack is a mostly sativa hybrid born from two legendary strains: Jack Herer and Sour Diesel. The strain is delicate in scent and taste, although she does have some things in common with her brasher whiskey sister; her effects start all in the head, they make you happy and giggly, then maybe kind of horny, then finally, lazy and sleepy.
For my first time sampling this strain I took her out with a single companion for a cool breezy summer stroll just as the sun was beginning to set. The buds for this strain are very beautiful, with a leaf structure resembling its more visually attractive Jack Herer parent; and the Jack Herer parent also passes down a very visible coating of trichomes for her progeny. If I stick my nose in my baggie, very little aroma is present, except for a faint lemony and chemical diesel smell, although, the smoke is quite flavourful, with distinct tastes of citrus, sweetness, and diesel. The effects can be felt after just a few passes of the joint, and they go almost exclusively to your head. The initial high felt like tingles heavily concentrated in my head and face; the tingling may travel down to the base of your spine, but other than that I felt almost zero body effects. I started out feeling really uplifted and really at peace, I felt like I could be alone and get immersed in my thoughts, or I could also carry on a lengthy conversation with other people. It was really cerebral and bubbly, the world seemed brighter and more beautiful, and I felt like I could keep on walking forever. I also really felt like laughing, and so I kept on making these little silly observations to try and get the friend who was with me to start laughing. It seemed like he wasn’t quite with me on the giggles and instead was in a zone, focused and in his own head-space.
Once I arrived back home, I scrubbed my filthy bathtub from top to bottom, before taking a shower myself, since I still had a bunch of motivation and energy left over after my walk. Even though I had barely eaten and was starting to get light-headed and a bit dizzy, I still stayed so determinedly fixated on my task, and I couldn’t think about eating food until I was finished what I was doing. This may have been a mistake, since the munchies from Sour Jack hit harder than I would have anticipated. As soon as I got to the kitchen, I had no choice but to instantly satisfy the hunger by slamming two bowls of cereal straight to my face. After being reasonably satiated, I grabbed some additional snacks to munch on while I turned on a comedy special. The high for Sour Jack soon mellows out into light full body sensations, and I can see this strain being a great aphrodisiac, if you know what I mean. And although the effects of Sour Jack seem 100% sativa dominant, I quickly and unexpectedly felt my eyes start to close an hour into the stand-up routine I was watching. It turns out that this strain can also be recommended for insomnia, and it indeed ended up allowing me to take a nice two-hour power nap, then wake up fresh and bright. Although, don’t reach for this strain if you are looking for a deep full night’s rest, because chances are that she will make you sleepy, but then have you back up again in just a few hours.
After having had a number of very positive and uplifting experiences with Sour Jack, I decided to see how well this strain would relieve stress after a shift at work. Seeing as many people gravitate to a glass of whiskey after a day of work, I thought that maybe I could substitute this ritual with a Jack of my own. Unfortunately, Sour Jack did not take my stresses away like a glass full of distilled liquor, and instead actually made me feel even more wound up than I was before. I had had a pretty awful shift that day, and my mind just kept fixating on all the horrible people I had seen, plus my heart was beating super-fast, making me feel quite anxious and a little bit panicky. I would describe this as the type of anxiety that makes you feel like you have ants crawling under your skin and you have to get up and move. I felt a similar sort of agitation when trying to sleep more than just a few hours after smoking this strain, and basically, I’ve noticed that there are some conditions where Sour Jack can have you feeling uncomfortably restless, anxious and even paranoid. I have come to observe that Jack Herer can also induce the same sort of anxiety in me, in certain conditions. Therefore, I have come to label strains like Jack Herer, Super Lemon Haze, and Sour Jack as “active” strains, or strains that demand physical activity while using them, in order to avoid feelings of heart race and panic.
The combination of Jack Herer and Sour Diesel sounds like it could create one extremely exceptional sativa, however, I’ve concluded now that both of these strains are usually more enjoyable individually. Overall, Sour Jack is a really fun and upbeat smoke, but due to its racy effects and very low CBD content, it can easily induce panic or anxiety in less experienced users. Although, when used in the right settings, the Sour Jack experience can indeed be something that is pretty amazing. She won’t get you quite as loose as a shot of Jack, but for better or for worse, she does know how to make a person’s head twirl.
2017-06-28