Watch your back around this sativa-dominant strain -- it’s liable to have you talking a bit more than you should. Not to be confused with the indica-dominant strain of the same name by Pisces Genetics, this bud is the brainchild of breeders in the Midwest and is a combination of G13, Trinity, and Pineapple. The result is a high-flying strain with focused mental effects.

Truthfully, Truth Serum’s flowers tend to be visually underwhelming, with a typically small to medium size. These little buds cling together in tight popcorn-like clusters and have a dense, indica-inflected bud structure. The small, curly leaves are a vivid shade of lime green and are twisted through with brown pistils. Finally, a high volume of icy trichomes makes these flowers glisten and makes them very sticky to the touch.

When properly cured, the dominant scent that wafts up from Truth Serum’s buds is that of sage and vegetal matter. A second whiff reveals a bright aroma of citrus. Grinding up the buds, meanwhile, releases some palate-tickling notes of spicy hash and sandalwood. When combusted in a pipe or a joint, Truth Serum gives off a strong, acrid smoke that can trigger a coughing fit. On the exhale, this smoke tastes like a blend of citrus and herbs.

Truth Serum begins to exert its effects shortly after it is consumed. Within short order, smokers experience a rush of blood to the head, marked by a sudden pressure or a slight twitching around the temples and eyelids. Once these strange sensations abate, they’re replaced by an uptick in cerebral thinking, in which ideas and concepts may take on a new significance or may jump from one to the next in free association. This mental acuity may make for easy concentration on complicated, task-based work, as well as facilitate open-ended, creative brainstorming. Truth Serum’s tendency to speed up and amplify inner monologues can also result in chattiness and friendliness in social settings, even among new acquaintances. The strain is also marked by a spark of physical energy that can get consumers up and moving if need be. If you have a long list of errands on your agenda, toking on Truth Serum can provide both motivation to get them done and some background mental stimulation to make them slightly more interesting. As this high progresses (or as dosage is increased), the strain can eventually slow down into slight relaxation. While not typically powerful enough to couchlock users, this sedative effect may just outstrip any prior motivation to go to the gym or to get out of the house. On the plus side, though, Truth Serum’s eventual combination of physical and mental stimulation can certainly enhance activities that involve both brain and body coordination, including gaming, and under the right circumstances, sex. On its backend, the strain may also have some distinct psychedelic properties that can be enjoyed in tandem with a trippy playlist or an absorbing movie. Because of its multi-stage high, Truth Serum is recommended for consumption starting anytime between late afternoon and early evening.

Truth Serum’s buzzy mental properties give it a few useful applications for medical cannabis patients as well. It can help those with attention deficit disorders to stay zoned in and focused on specific tasks. The bud’s subtle euphoric properties may also help to temporarily soothe the harsh symptoms of mild to moderate stress and depression. Some anti-inflammatory properties can guard against everyday irritations like headaches and nausea. Because it is known to induce intense, cerebral modes of thinking, Truth Serum may not be a good choice for patients who are prone to panic or who have a low tolerance for THC.

Seeds of Truth Serum are not available for sale online. Instead, prospective home growers should obtain clippings from mature plants of the strain in order to grow genetically identical “clones.” While there is little information available on specific best practices for cultivating this strain, we know that, like many hybrids, it can be grown indoors or outdoors in semi-humid, Mediterranean-like climates. The strain’s indica-leaning flowers also suggest that its plants grow short and bushy and take between 8 and 9 weeks to reach maturity.

Truth Serum is one bud that begs a revision of the old saying “in wine, there is truth.” There might just be more truth -- and more fun -- in cannabis. This strain is a must-try for lovers of long-lasting sativas.