In many indigenous cultures of the Great Plains region, a white buffalo is so rare that it’s considered an important spiritual symbol. The potent White Buffalo strain is also prized for its rarity. This sativa-leaning hybrid is the product of pure indica Romulan and an unnamed cross between Blackberry Kush and Bay 11. It provides energetic and stimulating cerebral effects and has appeal for cannabis novices and veterans alike. Depending on the individual plant’s phenotype, White Buffalo may have as much as 25% THC.

For the most part, this strain is visually unremarkable -- flowers are typically small and cluster together in popcorn-like nuggets. The buds have the dense, solid structure typical of indica varieties, with leaves tightly coiled around their central stem. The leaves are various shades of dark green, with relatively few pollen-catching orange pistils. One way White Buffalo’s flowers stand out, though, is their high resin production -- like the similarly-named White Widow, White Buffalo is coated in a layer of white trichomes that give it a soft, pale sheen. This resin also gives the flowers a very sticky texture that make the strain very difficult to break up by hand. When properly cured, the buds smell musky and sour, with some traces of berry aroma passed on from the Blackberry Kush grandparent strain. Breaking open or grinding the buds yields a woodsy scent of pine. When combusted, this strain gives off a harsh smoke that may induce coughing and irritate smoker’s sinuses. On the exhale, smoke tastes distinctly earthy and herbal.

White Buffalo hits users with a quick headrush: they may feel increased circulation in the face, particularly around the eyes and temples. Some may also detect a slight dizziness. As they acclimate to the high, users will notice that their perception is sharper. Ordinary stimuli or thoughts may take on new significance, leading users into a cerebral and freely-associative sort of “mindrace.” In a comfortable set and setting, this stimulated thinking can be accompanied by surges of positive euphoric energy. Although some users report increased physical relaxation as their high wears on, White Buffalo is unlikely to immobilize you with couchlock. This strain’s energy and lucidity makes it a great accompaniment to mundane daily tasks like cleaning. It can also be extremely chatty and social, giving you a good excuse to stay up all night with friends. Potent for even those with a high tolerance, White Buffalo is not recommended for use at night because of its tendency to keep users awake and wired.

These strong mental effects have medical applications as well. Patients with mild stress or depression may be able to channel White Buffalo’s emotional uplift into temporary relief from their troubling symptoms. Those with attention deficit disorders might find that the strain’s strong cerebral vibe helps them to sustain focus on a single task. White Buffalo has anti-inflammatory properties as well, making it an analgesic for mild aches and pains or headaches. Although dry mouth is a common undesirable side effect, patients who are prone to paranoia or anxiety should be more wary of White Buffalo’s tendency to bring about a disorienting mindrace.

Seeds of White Buffalo are not available online, and any retailers purporting to sell such seeds should be investigated with some healthy consumer caution. Instead, prospective growers need to rely on clippings of mature plants that they can grow as genetically identical “clones.” White Buffalo can be grown indoors or outdoors, although outdoor cultivation calls for a semi-humid, Mediterranean-like climate. Indoor growers should keep an eye on their plants’ growth -- this strain can stretch as tall as 6 feet, and growers may need to train stems and branches to fit within smaller spaces by trimming and pruning early in the vegetative stage. White Buffalo flowers within 9 to 10 weeks when grown indoors and is ready for harvest in early October when grown outdoors. Depending on the phenotype, it offers growers a medium to high yield for their efforts.

Somewhat difficult to come by, White Buffalo is not a strain to miss if it is spotted in a dispensary. It will please sativa lovers looking for a buzzy daytime strain with some traces of indica relaxation. White Buffalo’s high resin content also makes it valuable in the production of hash and other THC concentrates.