Though not as famous as its cousin strain Maui Wowie, Maui is a potent sativa native to Hawaii. This landrace strain offers smokers steadily mounting cerebral effects that may even culminate in euphoria. Maui is a useful tool for motivation as well as for buzzy entertainment. Maui also has an appealing tropical flavor that feels characteristic of its birthplace. Cannabis testing lab Analytical 360 has found flowers of this strain to have between 16% and 26% THC.

Maui impresses right away with large, solid flowers. These buds hold together in an almost cylindrical, elongated shape. The buds have the loose, piecey structure that is characteristic of sativa varieties -- the fluffy leaves can be easily torn away from their central stems. Maui’s leaves are a vibrant shade of spring green and are twisted through with dark rust-colored pistils. A blanket of cloudy white trichomes covers the inner and outer surfaces of these large flowers, giving them a sticky texture and making them even more colorful than they already are.

When they’re properly cured, Maui’s flowers give off a powerful aroma redolent of fresh lemon zest. On closer inspection, there’s also a dank, skunky odor lurking underneath these bright scents. Meanwhile, breaking apart Maui’s fluffy buds yields pungent notes of skunk, providing further contrast to its fruitiness. When combusted in a pipe or a joint, Maui burns with a smooth and palatable smoke. On the exhale, this smoke has a tropical, almost pineapple taste.

As with many pure sativa strains, Maui’s buzzy effects take hold quickly. Smokers may feel a sudden tingle or a pressure around the eyes and forehead. Some changes to sensory perception can be expected, ranging from intensified sights and sounds to powerful feelings of time dilation. As users adjust to these odd sensations, they may also notice that their thoughts take on a fast-paced, freely-associative character. This cerebral mindset can be useful for accomplishing task-based, analytical work, as well as more open-ended creative pursuits. Maui’s high may also be a good way to enhance mundane activities like cleaning the house or running a long list of errands. When shared in social settings, this strain may spark easy conversation and camaraderie among friends and strangers alike. Consumers should note that in certain circumstances, this bud’s intense, recursive patterns of thought can prove disorienting or overwhelming. Maui comes with almost no discernible physical effects, leaving consumers mobile and clear-headed enough to power through a busy agenda. Because of its stimulating effects and relative lack of couchlock, Maui is best enjoyed during the day -- it makes an ideal wake-and-bake strain

Maui’s energetic properties may also have several applications for medical cannabis patients. Its long-lasting sense of focus may be of aid to those with attention deficit disorders, helping them to concentrate on single tasks. Its buzzy, upbeat character can also temporarily improve the difficult symptoms of mild to moderate stress and depression. On the physical side, this strain’s subtly relaxing effects can ease mild, muscle-related aches as well as chronic, nerve-based pain. Its anti-inflammatory properties may also soothe annoyances like headaches and nausea. As noted, its mindrace can be too fast-paced for some -- Maui is not recommended for patients who are prone to panic or paranoia or who have a low tolerance for THC.

Although some seeds that are available online purport to be authentic Maui, home growers should use discretion in buying seed stock of this landrace. Clippings from mature, healthy plants of Maui can be grown as genetically identical “clones.” Once obtained it can be grown indoor or outdoors in climates similar to those of its native Hawaii. That said, this bud’s pure landrace background gives it the hardiness to survive many adverse growing conditions. As with most pure sativas, these plants can grow to be very tall; growers can manage this height by pruning back the plants early on in the vegetative stage.

Maui is as enjoyable for introspective solo use as it is for buzzy social use. If you break it out in public, be sure bring enough to share, as Maui’s tropical aroma is certain to turn some heads.