Not to be confused with its South African landrace parent Durban Poison, Urban Poison is a sativa-leaning hybrid with well-balanced effects. A cross between Durban Poison and hybrid favorite Northern Lights, this strain makes the best of its powerful genetics. It gives off a sweet, woodsy aroma and late-blooming physical relaxation to temper its cerebral focus. The bud’s THC content has been measured at between 15% and 25%.

Urban Poison’s flowers stand out with their large size and overall solid formation. These buds, which have a compact, indica-typical structure, adhere in chunky, irregular shapes. The curled leaves tend to be a mossy green and are twisted through with orange and rust-colored pistils. A carpet of translucent amber trichomes finishes off these impressive flowers, accounting for their high potency and making them sticky to the touch.

On a first whiff of Urban Poison, you’ll likely notice the fresh scent of pine. This natural aroma is accent by some dank, sour-sweet undertones. Grinding up or breaking open the buds, meanwhile, gives off a more herbal, almost medicinal odor. When burnt, Urban Poison gives off a very smooth and easily ingested smoke. The smoke tastes woodsy and a little sweet on the exhale.

Much like its similarly-named parent strain, Urban Poison works its magic quickly, exerting a rush of blood that can cause some pulsing temples and increased salivation. Some smokers also report a flushing in the cheeks. These strange tics are accompanied by some changes to cognitive function, most notably, an inordinate focus on topics or ideas that might not otherwise seem interesting. In this state of mind, the smoker’s stream of consciousness may jump from one concept to the next in rapid free association, following an internal logic that might not make sense to outsiders. In the right set and setting, this kind of cerebral focus can allow for deep concentration on detailed analytical tasks. It may also open up creative pathways for the exploration of open-ended creative projects like brainstorming. As some time passes, these heady properties may start to dissipate, progressively becoming replaced by a palpable physical relaxation. Waves of calm begin to roll down from the neck and through the spine and core, weighing down the limbs and eyelids and relieving any lingering physical tension. While Urban Poison’s buzzy mental properties remain mostly intact, the user may feel decidedly less productive and instead choose to focus their trippy mindest on a conversation with friends or on a passive activity like binge-watching. The combination of body and brain stimulation that comes through on Urban Poison’s backend can also be a good way to enhance pursuits that require holistic concentration, like gaming, and, given the right mood and company, sex. Because of its gradual steps down in energy levels, Urban Poison is one sativa hybrid best reserved for late afternoon or early evening use.

Urban Poison can also have several benefits for medical cannabis patients. Its initial sense of focus and concentration can be an aid to those with attention deficit disorders, helping them to zone in on complicated tasks. Its mood-lifting properties, meanwhile, may soothe the symptoms of mild to moderate stress and depression. Urban Poison may have some physical advantages as well, relieving bodily pain whether it’s due to illness or to temporary inflammation, as in the case of headaches or cramps. Because its cerebral intensity can take a turn for paranoia in the wrong circumstances, this strain is not recommended for patients who are prone to panic or who have a low THC tolerance.

Although seeds of Urban Poison can be bought from some online retailers, consumers should always exercise caution and investigate the reliability of any digital merchants. Once obtained, the strain can be grown indoors or out; it may thrive particularly well outdoors, thanks to its hardy landrace roots. These plants tend to grow tall and branchy and may need to be pruned back somewhat if grown inside. Urban Poison flowers within 9 to 11 weeks when grown indoors; it is ready for harvest in late October when cultivated outdoors. The strain offers a moderate yield of flowers at maturity.

Enjoyable whether you’re toking it in the city or the countryside, Urban Poison is a sativa with enough of a body high to be savored by indica fans. Its earthy aroma is icing on the cake.