Future is a hybrid strain with a trippy combination of mental and physical effects that may make you feel like you’re traveling through time. The creation of prolific growers Exotic Genetix, Future is a cross between Starfighter and notorious Gorilla Glue #4. It smokes with a complex, fruity flavor before hitting consumers with a therapeutically well-balanced high. Its THC content has been measured at between 17% and 24%.

Future is marked by its medium-sized flowers that hold a chunky, roughly spherical shape. The structure leans more indica than sativa, with small leaves that curl closely inward toward their central stems. The tightly-wound leaves are a dark shade of forest green and are threaded through with a few hairy orange pistils. They’re also dotted with a profusion of cloudy white trichomes, making the flowers very hard to break up by hand.

When properly cured, Future gives off a pleasant berry scent with a slightly dank undertone. There are also some distinct whiffs of lemon. Grinding up the buds, meanwhile, releases a more skunky odor, possibly passed on from Gorilla Glue. When it’s burnt, Future gives off a harsh and acrid smoke that can tickle the palate. This smoke carries a sour berry flavor on the exhale.

Future doesn’t take long to show up, exerting some cognitive changes even as consumers begin to exhale its thick smoke. Initial effects may include some sped-up thinking, with ideas jumping from one to the next in a freely-associative stream of consciousness. Smokers may also notice that some concepts or even words can take on a fascination that they might not otherwise have. Changes to sensory perception like visual and auditory distortions may also happen, like a flattening of any visual depth. Thanks of all this mental stimulation, Future can be a powerful aid in accomplishing analytical and complicated tasks. For those feeling less productive, though, the strain can provide some nice background brightness of boring chores like laundry. As time passes -- or as dosage is increased -- this high becomes progressively more relaxing, with the user’s limbs and eyelids suddenly weighted down. While Future allows its users to carry on lucid conversations and keep a more or less clear head, some of their earlier motivation may start to evaporate. At this point, this strain is best suited to lazier activities like snacking or gaming. When shared in a social context, it can also facilitate easy laughter and chattiness. It sufficiently relaxed, those enjoying Future may even find themselves suddenly drifting off to sleep under its weight. Because of its slide downward from buzzy energy into lethargy, Future is recommended for consumption between late afternoon and early evening.

Thanks to its versatility, Future can also have a wide range of applications for medical cannabis patients. Its early feelings of focus can allow for concentration on one thing at a time for those with attention deficit disorders. Its uplifted mood may also temporarily soothe the symptoms of stress and depression. As its body stone creeps in, Future can even take the sting out of physical pain, whether it’s short-term, as due to injury or chronic, as due to conditions like arthritis or lupus. Anti-inflammatory effects, meanwhile, may relieve everyday irritations like headaches. Because its cerebral energy can take a turn towards obsessive, recursive patterns of thinking, Future is a good option for those who are prone to panic or who have a low tolerance for THC.

Seeds of Future are not available for sale online. Instead, prospective growers should seek out clippings from mature plants of the strain in order to foster genetically identical “clones.” These clones can be cultivated indoors or out, although outdoor success calls for a semi-humid, Mediterranean-like climate. Plants tend to grow short and bushy with strong lateral branching. Future flowering within a brief 8 to 9 weeks when grown indoors.

Future’s ideal balance between mental and physical effects makes it a great option for indica and sativa lovers alike. If you’re breaking it out at a party, make sure you have enough to share, as its funky aroma is sure to turn some heads.