Shoreline is a sativa-dominant hybrid with roots in an area not particularly known for prolific cannabis breeding: Houston, Texas. This strain was supposedly unveiled and popularized at a 1980s Grateful Dead concert at California’s Shoreline Amphitheatre, hence its name. Said to be a cross between pungent staple Skunk #1 and Northern Lights phenotype Oasis, Shoreline offers a soaring cerebral high that can open up adventurous and imaginative pathways for the intrepid smoke. This bud’s THC content has been measured at between 17% and 23%.

Shoreline’s buds catch the eye right away with relatively large and solid flowers. These buds adhere in the dense structure commonly associated with sativas, but have the tapered, spindly shape more often seen in sativa-dominant varieties. The leaves are a pale shade of bluish green. More often than not, phenotypes of Shoreline also have patches of vivid purple in their leaves -- these surprising hues come about when pigments called anthocyanins in the strain’s genetics are stimulated by cold weather during the growing process. Finally, a blanket of translucent white trichomes coats these already-colorful flowers, giving them an icy appearance and a very sticky texture.

When properly cured, Shoreline has an unmistakably dank, “old school” scent. Skunky, acrid notes jump off of these impressive flowers and mingle with an underlying sweetness. Grinding up the buds reveals some notes of peppery spice. When burnt in a joint or a pipe, Shoreline gives off a harsh smoke that may tickle the palate and induce coughing for some. This smoke tastes skunky and earthy on the exhale, and its odor can carry for quite a distance. As such, some precautions may be required for smokers who’d like to maintain some discretion.

Shoreline hits quickly, stunning the uninitiated with its strong head buzz. Smokers will feel a tingle around the temples and at the back of the neck, along with a sudden change in sensory perception. Certain external stimuli may take on new dimensions and users may be struck by such visual anomalies as distorted depth perception. Once consumers have adjusted to this trippy effect, a pattern of fast-paced cerebral thinking takes over. Some ideas or concepts may preoccupy the user, commanding more attention than they otherwise might. New avenues of association between seemingly unrelated concepts may also open themselves up to the thoughtful smoker. This alert mindset makes Shoreline a good aid in accomplishing work, whether it’s professional and task-based or more personal and open-ended. Alternatively, Shoreline is a great tool for unlocking a psychedelic experience, especially when enjoyed in the great outdoors -- for a trippy kick, enjoy it while kicking back at the beach, on an actual shoreline! This strain is not entirely without physical effects -- after some time, a mild body high creeps in and can take some edge off of the initially stimulating effects. Because of its high-flying energy, Shoreline is best consumed during the day; it makes a very good wake-and-bake treat.

Shoreline’s energetic properties may also have some application for medical cannabis patients. Its sustained presence of mind can help those with attention deficit disorders to stay focused on single tasks. Its reality-warping effects may also temporarily numb the symptoms of mild to moderate stress and depression. Meanwhile, its anti-inflammatory properties can soothe minor physical irritations like headaches and nausea. Because it can plunge users into deep and potentially paranoid modes of thinking, Shoreline is not recommended for those who are prone to panic or who have a low tolerance for THC.

Genuine seeds of Shoreline can be hard to come by, even from digital retailers. Clippings of mature, healthy plants that can be grown as clones are a better bet, especially if you live close to Houston. Once obtained, Shoreline can be grown indoors or out, although successful outdoor cultivation calls for a semi-humid, Mediterranean-like climate. Growers looking to bring out this bud’s full purple bag appeal should expose their crops to nighttime temperatures that are between 10 and 15 degrees below average. Like many potent sativas, Shoreline requires a long flowering time -- in this case, about 12 weeks. The strain rewards patient growers with a high yield of flowers.

This sky-high strain is not to be missed, especially for pure sativa lovers. Shoreline is also a prized strain for cannabis nerds and heirloom-chasers to cross off of their bucket lists.