History & Genetics

Named after everyone’s favorite hard candy, Jolly rancher is a well-balanced hybrid with sativa-leaning effects. Popular in West Coast cannabis markets and used to spin off crossbreeds like tasty Purple Jolly Rancher, this bud’s own lineage is shrouded in mystery. Whatever its backstory, though, Jolly Rancher is notable for its tart and fruity flavor, as well as its subtly stimulating high. This strain’s THC content has been measured at between 11% and 20%.

Appearance, Aroma & Flavor

Jolly Rancher’s flowers catch the eye with their size and cohesion. The medium to large buds hold together in a tapered, spade-like shape. The densely-packed leaves curl tightly inward toward their central stems. The leaves themselves are a drab shade of olive green, although may phenotypes are also streaked with hues of red and purple -- such vibrant colors come about when pigments called anthocyanins in the plant’s genetics are activated by cold weather during the growing process. Finally, capping off these colorful flowers is a tangle of hairy orange and red pistils, as well as a dusting of cloudy white trichomes.

Jolly Rancher offers a complex, multi-faceted odor when properly cured. The flowers may smell sweet at first, but successive sniffing may reveal some more sour, possibly unpleasant notes. Grinding up these dense buds gives off pungent fumes of skunk and diesel, possibly hinting at Sour Diesel in Jolly Rancher’s background. When combusted in a pipe or a joint, these flowers burn with smooth and easily palatable smoke. This smoke tastes like sour berries with a slight hint of grape on the exhale. Notably, Jolly Rancher’s grape flavor is coincidental to its purple coloring -- this is because the strains’ aroma is determined by terpenes, chemical compounds that are distinct from its pigmentation.

Effects

Jolly Rancher offers a slow, creeping high that may take as many as 10 or 15 minutes before revealing its mind-warping effects. The strain’s sativa side emerges first, boosting analytical thinking; some users may feel as if they’re able to step back and observe the progression of their own thoughts. Such free association makes Jolly Rancher a great way to power through both analytical and creative work. Similarly, this bud can clear the cobwebs out of a stuck or a troubled mind.

Smokers typically find that they’re able to function as they ordinarily would, free to converse and to engage in physical activity if so desired. Be warned, though, that Jolly Rancher’s indica effects reveal themselves as the high continues on. These qualities manifest as a slow, sinking feeling of relaxation that may inspire previously active smokers to lounge in the closest comfortable surroundings. This sedation is unlikely to lead to couch lock, but it’s a peaceful way to unwind with a soothing movie or with some trippy, atmospheric music.

Alternatively, Jolly Rancher’s relaxed and open-minded vibes can facilitate camaraderie and free-flowing conversation when shared with like-minded friends. Best consumed during the daytime through late afternoon, Jolly Rancher is an excellent wake-and-bake treat.

Despite its playful name, Jolly Rancher can also be of value to medical cannabis patients. The bud’s lucid, clear-eyed concentration can be a boon to those with attention deficit disorders. Mood-elevating effects may also temporarily improve the symptoms of stress and depression. Meanwhile, Jolly Rancher’s physically numbing properties can alleviate all kinds of aches and pains, whether temporary or chronic. Patients who are prone to panic and anxiety or who have a low tolerance for THC should consume Jolly Rancher with caution, as its cerebral effects may prove overwhelming for some.

Growing

Since no breeders have yet produced Jolly Rancher on a commercial scale, prospective home growers must obtain clippings from mature plants in order to grow clones. While there is little information available on specific best practices for cultivating this strain, we know that, like many hybrids, it can be successfully grown indoors or outdoors in a semi-humid, Mediterranean-like climate. Furthermore, growers looking to bring out the bud’s iridescent red and purple hues should expose their crops to nighttime temperatures between 10 and 15 degrees below average just before flowering begins. Finally, Jolly Rancher can be a pungently skunky plant to grow; discreet home growers may want to invest in odor control measures like carbon air filters.

With wide-reaching effects, Jolly Rancher is a solid strain for sativa and indica lovers alike. As it grows in popularity, we’ll be watching to see if it stirs up any controversy, as its tasty name could potentially appeal to children.