Butter OG is a mysterious, indica-leaning strain with a superlatively sedative high. This potent strain’s breeders and lineage are unfortunately unknown -- but there’s no denying the power of Butter OG the lay even experienced smokers out flat with its palpable body high. Butter OG is also notable for the oddly creamy feeling to which its name refers. This strain’s THC content has been measured at between 15% and 24%.

Butter OG’s flowers are marked by their particularly small size. The tiny buds cling together in popcorn-like clusters and have the dense, solidly-packed structure usually associated with indicas. The rumpled leaves are a dark shade of forest green and are threaded through with curly orange and brown hairs -- which are actually pistils, structures intended to catch pollen when flowering female plants are in proximity to fertilizing male plants. Finally, a thick coating of sticky white trichomes sits on top of these already-colorful flowers, giving them a silvery sheen and making them very difficult to break up without a grinder.

Butter OG has a complex aroma that may provide some hints as to the bud’s background. At first, sweet and fruity notes predominate. On closer inspection, there are also hints of ammonia, suggesting the influence of popular sativa Chemdawg. On the other hand, grinding up the strain’s buds yields a dank and hashy odor, raising the specter of landrace Afghani. When combusted in a pipe or a joint, Butter OG burns with a smooth and easily palatable smoke. As noted, this smoke has a creamy, vanilla tastes on the exhale, roughly approximating the taste of sweet cream butter.

Butter OG offers a slow, creeping high -- it may take as many as 15 minutes after users have savored its smoke before they begin to feel a tingle and a mounting warmth at the temples and the back of the neck. This odd physical sensation is accompanied by some psychological ones. Smokers commonly experience some trippy sensory distortions, in which external stimuli take on odd new dimensions. Many users also report feelings of time dilation or a skewed depth perception. Once acclimated to this altered state, though, users begin to ease into Butter OG’s high as if climbing into a hot bath. Waves of relaxation roll down the spine and radiate out through the core and limbs. If they haven’t already assumed the position, Butter OG will inspire its consumers to kick back in the closest comfortable surroundings and indulge in a binge-watching session or to listen to some atmospheric music. Not a particularly focused or cerebral, this strain is best enjoyed as an accompaniment to daydreaming or relaxing with like-minded friends. As the high progresses or as dosage is increased, users may find themselves melting into whatever surface they happen to be nestled on. Because of its very sleepy vibes, Butter OG is recommended for nighttime -- and even bedtime -- use.

Butter OG’s sedative properties can have several uses for medical cannabis patients as well. Its soothing energy can be a temporary antidote to the symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety. It can also take care of physical pain, whether it’s chronic and disease-related or merely temporary, like a headache. Under the right conditions, this bud can even lull insomniacs into a deep and satisfying sleep. Because it is unlikely to force its consumers into a cerebral and paranoid headspace, Butter OG is a good option for patients who are prone to panic or who have a low tolerance for THC.

Since Butter OG seems not to have been grown on a large enough scale to facilitate commercial seed production, prospective growers must foster genetically identical “clones” from clippings of existing plants. Once obtained, Butter OG can be grown indoors or out, although successful outdoor cultivation calls for a semi-humid climate with daytime temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The strain’s indica properties suggest that its plants grow short and bushy and may requires growers to “top” them by trimming away any broad fan leaves that might prevent light and air from reaching low-growing flowering nodes.

An ideal option for unwinding after a long day or week of work, Butter OG is as enjoyable when savored alone as it is when shared with friends.