If you’re a skeptic like Mulder, X Files is sure to turn you into a believer like Scully. This well-balanced hybrid is a cross between Mask, Sour Diesel, and the colorful Purple Drank. With a strong, memorable flavor and trippy effects, it’s a strain worth sampling by indica and sativa fans alike. The THC content of X Files has been measured at between 15% and 22%.

X Files impresses right away with large, otherworldly flowers. The buds have chunky, irregular shapes and a seemingly hybridized internal structure that blends a solid, indica-typical core with wispy, ragged-looking leaves. These long leaves are a vivid shade of spring green and are contrasted against orange and rust-colored hairs (which are actually pistils, meant to catch pollen from fertilizing male cannabis plants). Finally, dewy-looking white trichomes cover the inner and outer nooks and crannies of these craggy flowers.

Flowers of X Files have a complex aroma that begins with some musky and slightly herbal top notes, similar to dried wood. There are also some tangy, fruity scents lurking underneath. Grinding up or picking apart these buds, meanwhile, gives off more of a pungent skunky odor. When burnt, X Files gives off a surprisingly smooth and easily ingested smoke. On the exhale, this smoke carries blended flavors of citrus and earth.

X Files’ palpable high takes hold quickly, rocketing smokers to a new plane of consciousness. After some initial, unfamiliar sensations like a concerted pressure around the temples, consumers may detect a marked cognitive change. Thoughts may move more quickly and may seem to take on a new significance. Similarly, ideas can bounce around in a chain of free associations that may not make much sense to bystanders who aren’t similarly intoxicated. This cerebral stimulation can be a good way to achieve productivity on complicated, detail-oriented tasks. In some cases, X Files’ mental effects may also manifest in sensory distortions, including a warping of depth perception or slight auditory and visual hallucinations. Those who are so inclined can bask in these psychedelic vibes by watching some engaging TV (The X-Files feels like an obvious choice here) or turning on some spacey music.

After a while, some bodily effects emerge to make this high even more dynamic. Smokers may feel progressively more relaxed and can experience a relief from any tightly-help muscular tension; they may also be able to breathe more deeply and fully. Those who might be active or out on the town may suddenly want to rush home and stretch out on the couch. Even though users at this stage may still feel some mental buzz, they’re typically less inclined to get through a mountain of work or a long to-do list. As such, X Files is recommended for consumption later on in the day or in the early evening, when its slow burn of sedation can be fully appreciated.

X Files’ wide-ranging properties can be beneficial for medical cannabis patients as well as recreational consumers. Its pervasive sense of concentration can be a good study or work aid for those with attention deficit disorders. Additionally, its enhanced mood can temporarily counteract the difficult symptoms of stress and depression. Physically speaking, X Files can be a balm for all kinds of aches and pains, both chronic and inflammation-related. In high enough doses and a properly relaxed set and setting, it can even be a remedy for insomnia, bringing about a deep, soothing sleep. Because its early effects come with some risk of obsessive, recursive thinking, X Files is not recommended for patients who are prone to panic or paranoia.

Seeds of X Files are not available for sale online. Those looking to grow the strain at home should seek out a reliable breeding source from which to obtain clippings of mature, healthy plants. These clippings can be propagated as clones and may be grown indoors or out. Successful outdoor cultivation depends on a semi-humid climate with daytime temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. X Files’ plants tend to grow short and squat, with strong sideways-growing branches; gardeners may need to trim away any broad fan leaves from time to time in order to encourage the flowering of any low-growing nodes. X Files flowers within 9 to 10 weeks.

X Files achieves an ideal balance between mental and physical effects, making it a great smoke for all kinds of occasions. It’s especially well-suited to contemplating some of life’s great mysteries -- after all, the truth is out there.