Ostensibly named for Tupac and Dr. Dre’s 1995 hit single, California Love OG is a potent, well-balanced hybrid. The creation of Spectrum Genetics, this strain is a cross between Pie Face OG and Coastal Haze. It offers up dynamic, long-lasting effects and a complex flavor profile. California Love OG’s THC content ranges from 15% to 23%.

California Love OG is marked by medium to large buds that cling together in tapered, spade-like formations. The internal structure of these flowers shows more of an indica influence, with small, broad leaves that curl tightly inward on themselves. The actual leaves are a bright shade of spring green, with occasional phenotypes showing off muted blue and purple hues. Curly orange and pink pistils twist their way through these dense flowers, providing additional color contrast. Finally, a thick coat of cloudy, translucent trichomes covers all visible nooks and crannies.

When properly cured, California Love OG bursts with the scent of fresh orange; a closer inspection may also pick up on some tropical, pineapple-like aromas. Grinding up these buds can give off more of an earthy, piney odor -- a scent that becomes deeper and richer when the flowers are combusted in a pipe or a joint. The smoke from California Love OG can be somewhat acrid and harsh on the palate but leaves behind a piney, citrus-like taste on the exhale, similar to that of hybrid favorite Jack Herer.

The high from California Love OG tends to hit hard and fast, exerting head-focused effects like flushing in the cheeks and a constricted “headband”-like feeling around the temples. As these strange sensations dissolve, smokers may feel some changes in their thoughts and perceptions. Ideas may flow more quickly than usual and concepts that might not otherwise be interesting can seem to take on a new fascination. Similarly, users may be prone to a kind of freely-associative mood in which they can expound on inexplicable connections between disparate things. For the properly motivated, this cerebral engagement can lead to productivity on all kinds of tasks. Alternatively, California Love OG’s steady mental buzz can simply make a boring agenda much more enjoyable.

After a little over an hour, California Love OG’s heady properties start to melt into more of a body stone. An initial tingle of relaxation may morph into heavy limbs and eyelids, especially with increased dosage. While users are usually still able to maintain a lucid mental state, they may be stripped of any earlier energy or motivation. Because of its slow effects, California Love OG’s later high is better spent lounging at home and engaging in passive pursuits like binge-watching. This multifaceted strain is recommended for late afternoon through nighttime consumption.

California Love OG’s versatile properties lend themselves to a range of medical uses. The strain’s initial cerebral state can help those with attention deficit disorders to sustain concentration on one task at a time. Its generally agreeable vibe can also relieve some of the symptoms of stress and depression. Physically speaking, this hybrid may take the sting out of chronic, disease-related aches and pains as well as inflammation-related discomforts like headaches and cramps. Its aforementioned headband effect can even soothe some of the intraocular pressure associated with glaucoma. Because of its moderate risk of mindrace and paranoia, however, California Love OG should be consumed with caution by patients who have a low THC tolerance or who are prone to panic.

Unfortunately for home growers, seeds of California Love OG have not been made available for sale online. Those looking to cultivate the strain may be able to source clippings from mature, healthy plants in order to propagate “clones.” Plants can be grown indoors or out, with outdoor success depending on a hot, semi-humid climate. Gardeners who want to bring out the colorful blue and purple potential in these buds’ leaves should briefly expose their crops to nighttime temperatures between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. California Love OG flowers within about 8 to 9 weeks when grown indoors.

A smooth and well-rounded hybrid, California Love OG is a treat whether you’re toking in sunny California or in a much colder climate.