Doctor Jamaica is a well-balanced strain with a distinct citrus flavor. Selectively bred by Dutch company Vision Seeds, this bud is actually a phenotype of classic hybrid California Orange. It offers users a slow-blooming sense of relaxation alongside palpable mental effects. With THC levels ranging from 15% to 20%, Doctor Jamaica can pack a solid punch for newcomers to cannabis.

Flowers of Doctor Jamaica stand out with a larger than average size and a solid formation. The buds have a flame-like shape, flaring out in the middle before tapering down to a pointed tip. The leaves, which spiral outward in the manner more typical of sativas, are a mossy green and are shot through with orange and dark brown pistils. Finally, a high volume of translucent, sticky trichomes coats all nooks and crannies of these eye-catching flowers.

Much like its parent strain California Orange, Doctor Jamaica erupts with a bold citrus aroma -- notes of fresh orange and lemon mingle with an underlying sour funk. Grinding up or breaking apart the flowers can yield more of a zesty, herbal aroma, reminiscent of staple sativa Haze. When Doctor Jamaica is burnt in a pipe or a joint, meanwhile, it gives off a thick, acrid smoke that may cause watery eyes or coughing fits. On the exhale, this smoke may carry an overly sweet, almost fermented flavor.

Doctor Jamaica’s high can take a while to manifest, sometimes only showing up some 10 to 15 minutes post-consumption. Eventually, smokers are struck by a lightheaded feeling that may come with odd head-focused tics like a throbbing around the temples or some flushing in the cheeks. As these sensations die down, though, consumers tend to find themselves in a significantly altered headspace. Thoughts may seem to flow more quickly than usual and may seem to adopt a new significance; this cerebral intensity can facilitate everything from concentration on complicated, work-related tasks to openended brainstorming sessions. In addition to an increase in mental sharpness, Doctor Jamaica’s users may experience some sensory distortions. These can include mild visual or auditory hallucinations as well as trippy, ineffable phenomena like a sense of time dilation.

As this high endures, its physical components become more and more apparent. Within about an hour, smokers may feel some heaviness in the core and limbs. While subtle at first, this sensation may progress into full-on couchlock, especially if dosage is increased. At this stage, the user’s powers of concentration and analysis may give way to a more dreamy mindset, better suited to kicking back with a movie and some snacks than to poring over complex tasks. Because of its slow descent into sedation, Doctor Jamaica is recommended for consumption beginning in late afternoon or early evening.

Doctor Jamaica’s versatile recreational effects can have some usefulness for medical cannabis patients as well. Its ability to focus mental energy can boost productivity for those with attention deficit disorders. Additionally, its steady glow of euphoria can temporarily improve the symptoms of stress, depression, and even anxiety. On the physical side of the spectrum, Doctor Jamaica can soothe aches and pains, whether they’re due to temporary inflammation or to chronic conditions like fibromyalgia or lupus. In a properly relaxed set and setting, this strain may even pull insomniacs into a thorough, fulfilling sleep. Because it carries some risk of obsessive, recursive thought patterns, Doctor Jamaica may not be the best choice for patients who are prone to panic or paranoia.

Fortunately for prospective growers, seeds of Doctor Jamaica are widely available for sale online. Once obtained, the strain 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. Doctor Jamaica’s plants tend to be of medium height, maxing out at about four feet. Gardeners may need to occasionally prune their crops of any broad, obstructive fan leaves. Doctor Jamaica reaches flowering maturity within about 9 weeks when grown indoors and is ready for outdoor harvest by September. For indoor growers, Vision Seeds estimates a yield of between 37 and 46 grams (or 1.3 to 1.6 ounces) of bud per square foot of plant.

A strain that’s as potent as it is fragrant, Doctor Jamaica offers a dynamic high that’s sure to appeal to both indica and sativa lovers.