Mad Scientist is an indica-dominant hybrid with a skunky, old-school scent and an appealing balance between indica and sativa effects. It can also be an excellent sedative when consumed in larger quantities. Produced by breeders Sannie’s Seeds, it is a cross between the notorious White Widow and Herijuana, a hybrid derived from Afghani landrace genetics. Cannabis testing lab Analytical 360 has found flowers of Mad Scientist to have an average THC content of 15% -- although Sannie’s claims THC levels can reach as high as 24%.

Mad Scientist has strikingly large, spherical flowers composed of tightly curled leaves and pistils. The dense, indica-typical buds are hard and solid. Leaves themselves are a mossy green and contrast with a high concentration of bright orange, pollen-catching pistils. Parent strain White Widow passes on a tendency for high resin production, giving these buds a thick coating of silvery trichomes. When properly cured, flowers of Mad Scientist have the heady aroma of citrus and musk. Some acrid skunkiness is present as a base note, likely the influence of Afghani indica roots. When combusted, this strain can have a harsh, eye-stinging smoke that leaves behind the taste of pine and lemon when exhaled.

This hybrid’s high creeps up, often taking effect well after smokers have finished savoring its unique taste. Effects begin in the mind, with a notably altered perception of setting; sounds and visuals may appear sharper or more intense. Thoughts may begin to race -- but this strain won’t turn you into an actual mad scientist. Instead, as users adjust to the high, they may experience their surroundings as psychedelic or surreal. Mad Scientist also has some palpable physical effects. As the high progresses, relaxation spreads down from the shoulders and through the core, killing tension and facilitating deep, cleansing breathing. The combination of effects on mind and body makes this a great choice for an afternoon stroll, a creative project, or simply a lazy lounge session. Perhaps unsurprisingly because of its THC content, this can be a potent strain even for more experienced cannabis smokers.

Mad Scientist can also be beneficial for medical cannabis patients. Its relaxing physical properties can provide relief from aches and pains -- both incidental, due to injury, or chronic, due to conditions like fibromyalgia or lupus. It can ease headaches and, in large enough doses, can lull insomnia patients into a restful sleep. This strain’s uplifting sativa side can help boost the moods of those struggling against stress or depression. Its feeling of lucid focus can also aid users with attention deficit disorders. Because of the uptick in cerebral activity in early stages of the high, Mad Scientist may not be the best choice for those prone to paranoia or anxiety.

Producers Sannie’s Seeds have made seeds of Mad Scientist available for commercial retail. Prospective growers can also take clippings of mature plants of this strain in order to grow genetic clones. Mad Scientist can be grown indoors or out. Outdoor cultivation requires Mediterranean-like climates with consistent daytime temperatures in the 72 to 80 degree Fahrenheit range. It has short and bushy plants, characteristic of other indica varieties, that can easily fit in indoor grow spaces. This plant should also be trimmed of any high-growing fan leaves that could block air and light from reaching the lower flowering nodes. Mad Scientist flowers within 8 to 9 weeks when grown indoors. It offers a solid yield of about 51 grams (or 1.8 ounces) of flower per square foot of plant. Curing the buds -- by first hanging them up to dry and then sealing them in airtight containers with moderate humidity -- can help preserve their sticky trichomes and kushy citrus flavor.

Versatile enough for use at any time of day, Mad Scientist is well-rounded enough to gain a substantial following among fans of hybrids. Its genes have already proved useful enough to cross with buzzy sativa Timewreck to yield the cleverly-named Dr. Who. Mad Scientist’s sky-high resin production also makes it a valuable strain for the production of hash and other concentrates.