‼️Disclaimer:
This Substack aims to share anecdotal information from my personal experiences to encourage meaningful conversations with your healthcare professional about medicinal cannabis. I have no formal training in medicine or science. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or an endorsement of any therapeutic product. Always consult a registered health professional before making treatment decisions. ⚠️

MUNCHIESTASH’s Kim’s Sweet Diesel is the cultivar Miss Kim’s Sweet Diesel, a 28% THC sativa-dominant medicinal cannabis flower created by crossing Lilac Diesel and Cherry Cheesecake. Grown in Canada in coco under artificial lighting, Kim’s Sweet Diesel is hand-harvested and trimmed, then cold-cured for three weeks. MUNCHIESTASH’s Kim’s Sweet Diesel boasts a total terpene content of 3.13%, with Terpinolene, Caryophyllene, Myrcene, Ocimene, and Farnesene being the most dominant.

(Full disclosure: Lilac Diesel’s genetics are copied and pasted from my notes on ANTG’s Miss Kim.)

Lilacs, also known as “Lilac Diesel”, was originally bred by Ethos Genetics by combining Silver Lemon Haze and Forbidden Fruit with Cherry Pie and Citral Glue, producing a unique chemy profile. Lilacs is typically high in Terpinolene, Caryophyllene, and Pinene.

Silver Lemon Haze, also known as “Super Lemon Haze”, is a cross between the legendary Lemon Skunk and Super Silver Haze. Super Lemon Haze has won multiple awards, including first place at the High Times Cannabis Cup in 2008, 2009, and 2010. It also took first place at the Seattle Medical Cup in 2012. Super Lemon Haze is known for its tart and sweet lemonheads candy flavour and euphoric, uplifting, and energetic effects. Silver Lemon Haze is typically high in Terpinolene, Caryophyllene and Myrcene.

Forbidden Fruit is a cross between Cherry Pie and Tangie. Sweet fruit overtones dominate Forbidden Fruit’s aroma. Her effects come on quickly, a mentally euphoric high followed by long-lasting, deep physical sedation. Forbidden Fruit is typically high in Myrcene, followed by Caryophyllene, and Limonene.

Cherry Pie was created between 2003 and 2004 by Ken Dumetz, better known as PieGuy of Powerzzzup Genetics, and Jai Chang, better known as Jigga, two members of the Bay Area’s famous Cookie Family. (The Cookie Family members have bred many well-known genetics like Gelato, Sherbert, and Girl Scout Cookies.) We covered Cherry Pie’s genetics in the Tasmanian Botanic’s Moonstone review. But quick refresh… Cherry Pie is a cross between Grand Daddy Purple and Durban Poison. Cherry Pie has a sweet and fruity aroma that many people find reminiscent of cherries. She is a favourite in the American medicinal cannabis scene, winning 3rd place in the Medical Sativa category at the 2014 High Times Cannabis Cup. Cherry Pie is typically high in Myrcene, Caryophyllene, and Pinene.

Citral Glue is a hybrid bred by Ethos Genetics, created by crossing their own Citral Skunk with GG4 and has only ever been available as feminised seeds. Citral Glue is typically high in Caryophyllene, Myrcene, and Limonene and is popular in the US recreational market for its blissful and giggly high.

Cherry Cheesecake, also known as Cherry Cheese Cake, is an indica-dominant hybrid created by crossing Kimbo Kush with Cherry Pie, popularised by growers Gold Seal of San Francisco. The combination brings together the genetics behind its sweet cherry, berry and creamy cheese flavour profile, with a lightly chocolatey finish. It is known for a deeply relaxing, hazy high, with calming physical effects alongside a touch of creativity and energy. Cherry Cheesecake is typically high in Caryophyllene, followed by Ocimene and Pinene.

Notes

Opening my 15-gram Mylar bag of MUNCHIESTASH’s Kim’s Sweet Diesel (Batch: MUS001 Price: $110 EXP: 20/May/2027), I’m greeted by a rather muted Terpinolene aroma mixed with hints of mint and sweet citrus.

MUNCHIESTASH’s Kim’s Sweet Diesel buds have well-developed bracts and are predominantly spade-shaped. The flowers are olive green, with darker green sugar leaves and the slightest hint of purple throughout. They’re visibly frosty, with a mix of bright orange and terracotta pistils adding contrast.

Kim’s Sweet Diesel’s buds are dense and firm, with very little bounce back when squeezed. The stems give a noticeable snap under pressure, while the buds themselves slowly give way as the trichome heads break, rolling away from my fingers and leaving more plant matter than resin behind. Coming out of my grinder, the chop is chunky but holds together with familiar kinetic sand characteristics, although the plant material itself feels dry in my hand.

MUNCHIESTASH’s Kim’s Sweet Diesel doesn’t pass the Sticky Icky test.

Under the microscope, all four images (taken from different buds) show dense, well-developed trichome coverage, with predominantly capitate-stalked trichomes. Image 1 is largely clear, with some cloudy heads beginning to develop, while Image 2 shows a greater mix of clear and cloudy trichomes, with only occasional amber heads. Image 3 is more noticeably cloudy-dominant, with a small number of amber heads beginning to appear, while Image 4 shows the most pronounced mix of cloudy and amber trichomes, with a few heads appearing slightly degraded or collapsed.

Overall, there’s a noticeable range of trichome maturity across the four images, with no obvious signs of significant damage.

Starting at 180C in my Venty, MUNCHIESTASH’s Kim’s Sweet Diesel tastes much like she smells… piney and floral, with hints of mint and sweet citrus. While Kim’s Sweet Diesel produces robust vape clouds, it becomes a tad harsh in the back of the throat above 205C.

MUNCHIESTASH’s Kim’s Sweet Diesel’s effects come on quickly, bringing a clear-headed, energetic euphoria that leaves me feeling light on my feet and physically relaxed, without any noticeable muscle tension or sluggishness.

As Kim’s Sweet Diesel’s effects settle in, that energy carries through, but my attention becomes increasingly scattered. I find myself jumping from one thing to another, following whatever catches my attention rather than settling into any sustained focus.

As the effects begin to wear off, the comedown is noticeable rather than gradual. Both my mood and energy levels drop off, leaving me feeling lower by the end of my medicating session than I did at the beginning. It isn’t a heavy crash per se, but the change over the course of my medicating session is clear.

Will I refill this prescription? No. MUNCHIESTASH’s Kim’s Sweet Diesel works well as a daytime, get-things-done flower for me, but the increasingly restless and scattered headspace makes it less suited to the sustained focus I’m looking for. I enjoy the energy and light physical effects, but it ultimately isn’t the right fit for me.

Back Shed Takeaway: Physically at ease, plenty of energy, but my attention has other plans

In this episode of the AusCannaPodcast, I sit down with Jenny Hillam, one of the people who was willing to stand up and fight for cannabis patients long before doing so was easy, accepted, or particularly safe.

Jenny shares the story of how cannabis became part of her own life, how that led her into advocacy, and what happened when helping other people turned into something much bigger than she ever expected.

We talk about the early days of cannabis advocacy in Australia, making medicine when there was very little information available, the patients who came looking for help, and the moment the police came knocking.

Jenny also opens up about the legal battle that followed, facing the possibility of 18 years in prison, the decision to plead guilty, and the part of that experience she still struggles with today.

But this conversation goes well beyond Jenny’s story.

We talk about where Australian cannabis advocacy has come from, where it has fallen short, the importance of evidence, the role of patients, and what Jenny thinks needs to happen if we actually want to see meaningful change.

There are some stories you hear and move on from.

And some that stay with you.

I think Jenny’s is one of them.

Chapters:

• Rapid Fire (2:00)

• If You Don’t Try, You’ll Never Know (15:34)

• From Patient to Advocate (15:51)

• Figuring It Out When Nobody Would Tell Her How (18:16)

• “I Was Playing God” (26:27)

• When Helping People Came at a Cost (27:09)

• “If You Haven’t Got Haters, You’re Not Doing It Right” (31:49)

• The Raid (31:54)

• Eighteen Years, $300,000 and No Way Out (38:51)

• The Hardest Day of Her Life (41:51)

• Criminal, Pariah, Legend (43:34)

• Free the Fucking Plant (48:28)

• Stop Watching. Start Fighting (51:05)

• We Need to Support Each Other (54:20)

• What Jenny Wishes People Understood (55:01)

• Still Fighting (56:52)

• The Next Fight Is the Evidence (58:18)

• Get Mad. Get Involved. (61:25)

• Wrap Up (62:12)

Show Notes:

• Cannabis oil advocate Jenny Hallam spared conviction for supplying medicinal cannabis

• Norman Rockwell

Where to Find Guest:

• Jenny on Instagram

Where to Find Christina:

• @AusCannaReviews on SubStack

• @AusCannaReviews on Instagram

• @AusCannaReviews on Twitter/X

• 👉 Got a Rapid Fire question? Email AusCannaReviews@gmail.com

• 💚 Want to support the podcast? Buy Me A Coffee/AusCannaPodcast

It really was an incredible trip. I got to celebrate five years with Satinca at Vert Dispensary, watch Hawthorn take on Collingwood from a private box at the MCG thanks to Easy Dose, catch up with people I love, meet new people and have some genuinely exciting conversations about what’s next.

But underneath all of that, there’s a feeling I can’t quite shake.

That strange feeling of being somewhere you desperately want to belong, while never quite knowing if there’s actually a place for you there.

I’m close enough to this industry to love it, to want it to succeed so badly it aches, to have built an entire platform around talking about it. But yet… I’m not really part of it.

It started with me trying to make sense of my own experience as a patient.

One review became another, and before I really knew what was happening, AusCannaReviews existed. A year later, I wanted to take the education further, so I started the AusCannaPodcast. And somewhere along the way, the thing I started because I needed better information became a community I never planned to build, with thousands of people now reading, listening and trusting me to help them navigate this space.

That means more to me than I can probably put into words and I’m genuinely proud of it.

But some days, I’m just tired… Tired of trying to work out where I fit. Tired of looking at all the boxes this industry seems to have for people and thinking, which one am I supposed to squeeze myself into? Because the truth is, I don’t think I belong in any of them.

Melbourne brought all of that up.

On the Tuesday night, I attended the Cannabiz Awards as a finalist for the Best Education & Engagement Initiative. However, when the presenter opened the category with “this award goes to the company or organisation who...” I outwardly laughed, but inside my heart sank, because there it was, the thing I’ve been feeling for years… I’m not a company. I’m not an organisation. There’s no marketing department, no education budget, no corporate backing, no team sitting behind me.

I have a microphone, a laptop, a whole lot of stubbornness and a husband who has occasionally had to remind me that the “Bank of My Husband” is not, in fact, an unlimited source of venture capital.

I didn’t win, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t hurt. But I was there.

Just a girl who somehow built something big enough to stand solo alongside an industry, reminding them that the patient voice was never meant to be an afterthought.

I don’t need to win an award to know I’ve come a fucking long way.

Then came Wednesday afternoon.

I went to Parliament, sat in the public gallery, and listened to David Ettershank and Rachel Payne, Members of the Victorian Legislative Council representing the Legalise Cannabis Party of Victoria, put forward the Cannabis Legalisation Plebiscite Bill.

I looked around the gallery before the vote, and there was a multitude of empty seats. But the people who were there were patients, from all walks of life. They weren’t being paid to be there. There wasn’t a brand angle. There wasn’t a networking opportunity. Nobody was handing out a lanyard or a canapé.

They were there because this was their healthcare. Because this was their lives.

But where was everyone else? Because a huge chunk of the cannabis industry was in Melbourne that week for ACannabis, while Parliament was happening. Right there… not even a 20-minute Uber away!

The bill was defeated, 27 votes to 8.

Twenty-seven to eight. Everyone wants a village - right up until it’s their turn to actually be one of the villagers.

We shuffled out of the gallery in silence. Down on the floor, it was just normal chitchat… People already making plans for after-parliament drinks.

And there it was, in plain sight… How do we expect the Australian Government to take medicinal cannabis seriously if the cannabis industry can’t be bothered showing up when cannabis is actually being debated?

I’m not saying every company needed to back that bill, or that everyone has to become an activist. I’m saying if you tell patients you’re building this for them, if you talk about changing how cannabis is perceived, about wanting government to take it seriously, then at some point you actually have to show up!

Not at the conference. Not at the awards night. At Parliament, when it’s actually on the line… because you know what? The patients were there!

Maybe that’s why my week in Melbourne left me so conflicted. I’ve never been more proud of what I’ve built, and I’ve never felt more aware of how alone it can be to build something from outside the system. There’s a particular loneliness in pushing at the edge of what people think is possible. You don’t always get invited in. You don’t always get understood or recognised, and sometimes you sit in a room and realise the people who say they want change aren’t actually there when it’s being discussed.

Sometimes you wonder if you’re just shouting into the fucking void.

I don’t have a neat ending for this like I normally do. Truthfully, I think I just mostly needed to get some of this off my chest so I could breathe again.

Maybe I don’t need to fit neatly into this industry to make a difference to it.

Maybe belonging was never the point.

I don’t need everyone to understand what I’m doing. I don’t even need everyone to like it.

I just need to know that it matters.

And if that means standing a little outside the room, saying the things that make people uncomfortable, and making space for the patient voice where there isn’t one...

Then I think I’m okay with that.

For now.

~ Christina 💚

P.S. If you’re in Brisbane tomorrow please consider coming to the rally organized by the Legalise Cannabis Queensland Party on the steps of the Queensland Parliament.

‼️Disclaimer:
This Substack aims to share anecdotal information from my personal experiences to encourage meaningful conversations with your healthcare professional about medicinal cannabis. I have no formal training in medicine or science. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or an endorsement of any therapeutic product. Always consult a registered health professional before making treatment decisions. ⚠️

Golden Day’s Strawberry Froyo is a 22% THC Indica-leaning medicinal cannabis flower created from a cross of Grape Cream Pie and Grandpa’s Gun Chest. Grown fully indoors in Adelaide, South Australia, under full-spectrum LED, using coco coir and Athena Nutrients, with beneficial insects used as a natural pest management strategy. Strawberry Froyo is hang-dried for 14 days, followed by a 21-day cure in Grove Bags, before being hand-trimmed and packed into Mylar bags. Strawberry Froyo’s teperne profile is dominated by Limonene, Caryophyllene, Myrcene and Linalool.

Grape Cream Pie is a balanced hybrid from Heisenbeans Genetics, bred from Sherb Cream Pie and Joker Juice. It’s known for a dessert-forward flavour profile, combining creamy sweetness with tropical fruit notes. Reported effects are generally euphoric and energising. Cultivars in the “Grapes and Cream” family are typically associated with Caryophyllene, Limonene, and Humulene.

Grandpa’s Gun Chest is an evenly balanced hybrid originally bred by Capulator from Animal Mints #15 and Redneck Wedding. It’s known for a sweet, creamy vanilla cookie flavour with notes of mint and spice, backed by a dank, woody and piney aroma. The effects are generally described as starting with a bright, happy cerebral lift before gradually settling into deep physical relaxation. The onset can be slow and progressive, with the experience becoming increasingly heavy and sedating as it develops. The most abundant terpenes in Grandpa's Gun Chest are typically Caryophyllene, Myrcene, and Limonene.

Notes

Opening my 10-gram Mylar bag of Golden Day’s Strawberry Froyo (Batch: B60130 EXP: 28-ARP-2027 Price: $129), I’m instantly greeted by a strawberry yoghurt, creamy dairy sweetness, with that slightly tangy fermented yoghurt note rather than an artificial strawberry candy smell.

Strawberry Froyo’s buds are predominantly olive green, with splashes of purple and darker green and an abundance of terracotta-coloured pistils winding throughout. They are dense with good bounce-back when squeezed, with the buds slowly rolling away from my fingers as the trichomes begin to break rather than simply dropping away, leaving a noticeable resinous tackiness on my fingers.

Strawberry Froyo has an even, consistent grind that holds together nicely without becoming overly dry or powdery, displaying kinetic sand characteristics.

Golden Days’ Strawberry Froyo passes my Sticky Icky Test.

Under the microscope, Golden Days’ Strawberry Froyo shows heavy, even trichome coverage across the buds and sugar leaves, with predominantly intact, well-developed capitate stalked trichomes and smaller capitate sessile and bulbous trichomes also present. The majority of the visible trichomes are cloudy or milky, with a small number beginning to turn amber, suggesting the flower was harvested within a mature resin window. Trichome heads appear largely intact with minimal breakage, indicating careful handling through harvest, drying and curing. Overall, the density, maturity and integrity of the trichomes point to strong resin production and good preservation of the flower.

Starting at 175C in my Venty, Golden Days’ Strawberry Froyo closely mirrors its aroma, with sweet strawberry fruit paired with a creamy strawberry yoghurt note that reminds me of NESQUIK® Strawberry flavoured milk.

Strawberry Froyo’s effects come on quickly with a distinctly euphoric, uplifting and social quality. There’s an immediate shift in mood that feels bright and positive, followed by a comfortable sense of relaxation without any heaviness or couch-lock. I feel more open to conversation, engaged with the people around me and genuinely interested in being part of whatever is happening.

As the effects settle in, that initial euphoria develops into a cruisy, easygoing feeling without leaving me overstimulated or foggy. It creates an almost effortless experience, gently shifting my mood into a happy, comfortable and sociable space that lets me simply enjoy the moment and the company around me.

Will I refill this prescription? Yes. Golden Days’ Strawberry Froyo has earned a place in my rotation because it makes me want to get out, be social and enjoy life rather than simply switch off. It’s the kind of flower I’d choose when I’m heading into something fun and want to be open to the people, places and experiences around me. There’s a real “let’s see where this takes me” quality to it, and I’m definitely up for the adventure.

Back Shed Takeaway: Strawberry yoghurt in, good vibes out. Social, euphoric and ready for whatever adventure comes next.

P.S. Congratulations to Golden Days Cultivators for winning Start-Up/Launch of the Year at the 2026 Cannabiz Awards! For those of you who listen to the AusCannaPodcast, I think you know what this means… (The AusCannaPodcast S3 | E3 Sacha La Forgia: From Award-Winning Winemaker to Craft Cannabis Cultivator)

Most conversations about cannabis reform focus on policy.

This one focuses on people.

In this episode of the AusCannaPodcast, Christina McMullan sits down with Xavier Menta to explore the relationship between lived experience, advocacy, and political engagement and what it looks like when someone chooses to step beyond frustration and into participation.

Xavier shares how his journey through injury and recovery led him into the cannabis space, and eventually into grassroots organising, election campaigns, and community-led initiatives like The Grassroots Collective.

Rather than speaking about the system from the outside, this conversation looks at what happens when patients step inside it and the challenges, tensions, and opportunities that come with that.

This episode explores:
🌿 The gap between patients and policy
🗳️ Why cannabis reform requires more than observation
🧠 What happens inside polling booths and election campaigns
🤝 The role of community in shaping the future of cannabis in Australia

If you’re interested in where cannabis reform is heading, and the role individuals play in shaping it… This conversation offers a grounded, real-world perspective.

Chapters:

• Rapid Fire: Meet Xavier Menta (01:54)

• The Workplace Injury That Changed Everything (08:08)

• When the Painkillers Weren't Enough (14:32)

• Why Cannabis Changed Everything (20:47)

• From Recovery to Advocacy (27:15)

• What I Learned Working Election Booths (35:02)

• The Biggest Myth About Voting (43:26)

• Building The Grassroots Collective (50:41)

• Why Community Beats Complaining (57:18)

Show Notes:

• Sir Joseph Banks and the Question of Hemp by Dr John Giggins

• Kyla Canna Curious

• Daniel Let’s Budvocate

• Hemp Building Directory

• Anthony Bourdain Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly

• The Grassroots Collective on Facebook

• The Grassroots Collective on Instagram

• The Grassroots Collective Email lcp.grassrootsco@gmail.com

Where to Find Xavier:

• Xavier on Instagram

• Xavier on LinkedIn

• Xavier on Facebook

Where to Find Christina:

• @AusCannaReviews on SubStack

• @AusCannaReviews on Instagram

• @AusCannaReviews on Twitter/X

• 👉 Got a Rapid Fire question? Email AusCannaReviews@gmail.com

• 💚 Want to support the podcast? Buy Me A Coffee/AusCannaPodcast

Hello AusCannaFamily,

Quick one this week — I’m off to Melbourne for the Cannabiz Awards, so no proper article from me.

Some of you probably already know: AusCannaReviews has been shortlisted for Best Education & Engagement Initiative. Trophy or not, I’m just chuffed to be in the running alongside people doing such good work in this industry.

I’m also planning to soak up a bit of Melbourne while I’m there… good coffee, catching up with friends, a bit of exploring, and... my first ever AFL game at the MCG! (Ambitious for someone who’s usually asleep by 8:45pm 😂)

No new articles this week, but there’s still a new AusCannaPodcast episode dropping Thursday with Xavier Menta.

I’ve been looking forward to sharing this one. It’s less about the usual policy debates and more about the people actually doing the work. Xavier’s story goes from an injury and the recovery that followed, into advocacy, grassroots organising, and eventually politics.

I’ll be popping up on Instagram Stories with behind-the-scenes bits from the trip if you want to follow along.

Thank you, as always, for being here… This whole thing only works because you keep showing up for it!

I’ll see you on Instagram, and I’ll be back here next week.

~ Christina 💚

Over time, I’ve shared a growing collection of articles exploring the science behind cannabis. Today, I’m bringing them all together in one place… Beyond the Bud: The Sticky Icky Science Collection.

As always, thank you for being part of this community. Whether you’ve been here since my first article or have only recently discovered AusCannaReviews, I hope this collection helps you explore cannabis from a different perspective and better understand the science behind the plant.

Happy reading!

~ Christina 💚

Cannabis is a complex plant made up of hundreds of different compounds, each contributing to the unique ways the plant interacts with our bodies.

Beyond the Bud: The Sticky Icky Science Collection brings together AusCannaReviews articles exploring the science behind cannabinoids, terpenes, the endocannabinoid system, the entourage effect, and the many factors that shape our understanding of cannabis.

These articles are designed to make the science of cannabis easier to understand, whether you’re exploring a specific cannabinoid, curious about the role of terpenes, or wanting to learn more about how this plant works beyond THC.

Explore the collection below and discover the science behind the compounds that make cannabis such a fascinating plant to study.

🧬 Cannabinoids

• Cannabichromene (CBC)

• Cannabidiol (CBD)

• Cannabigerol (CBG)

• Cannabinol (CBN)

• Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

• Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid (THCA)

• Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)

🌿 Terpenes

• Bisabolol

• Borneol

• Camphor

• Caryophyllene

• Citronellol

• Delta-3-carene

• Eucalyptol

• Farnesene

• Fenchol

• Geraniol

• Germacrene

• Guaiol

• Humulene

• Limonene

• Linalool

• Myrcene

• Nerolidol

• Ocimeme

• Phellandrene

• Pinene

• Sabinene

• Terpineol

• Terpinolene

• Valencene

🧠 Cannabis Science

• Endocannabinoid System (ECS)

• Entourage Effect

‼️Disclaimer:
This Substack aims to share anecdotal information from my personal experiences to encourage meaningful conversations with your healthcare professional about medicinal cannabis. I have no formal training in medicine or science. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or an endorsement of any therapeutic product. Always consult a registered health professional before making treatment decisions. ⚠️

Mediquest’s Life Mode is a permilled medicinal cannabis flower that is a combination of Modified Gas and Diet Durban. Rather than following the typical medicinal cannabis trend of chasing higher THC percentages, Life Mode takes a different approach by pairing moderate THC with an elevated THCV content. This creates a cannabinoid profile of 13% THC and 5% THCV that stands apart from many THC-dominant cultivars currently available.

I first explored THCV in my Cannabinoid of the Month series back in 2024, so if you'd like to learn more about this fascinating minor cannabinoid, I'd encourage you to read that article before diving into this review.

Grown in Canada in coco, under artificial light, Mediquest’s Life Mode’s total terpene content of 4.68% is led by Terpinolene, Pinene, Ocimene, Limonene and Farnesene.

Modified Gas is an indica-dominant hybrid developed by Compound Genetics through a cross of First Class Funk and Grape Gasoline. Its lineage combines the fuel-forward characteristics of GMO, Jet Fuel Gelato and Chemdog with the sweeter grape and candy notes inherited from Grape Pie, resulting in a cultivar known for its complex aromatic profile, often expressing diesel, citrus, pepper and subtle grape undertones. Typically, Modified Gas is high in Limonene, Caryophyllene, Germacrene, and Myrcene.

Diet Durban is a predominantly sativa-leaning cultivar developed by Seedsman from a cross of a Thai landrace and Caprichosa Thai, selectively bred for its rare ability to produce elevated levels of THCV and THC in roughly equal proportions. Unlike most cannabis cultivars, which contain only trace amounts of THCV, Diet Durban consistently expresses this uncommon cannabinoid. Seedsman describes the cultivar as having a floral and spicy terpene profile with notes of pine, aniseed and bright citrus, complemented by an energetic and stimulating effect profile.

Notes

When I first opened my 15g amber glass jar of Mediquest’s Life Mode (Batch: B60102 EXP: 03-May-2027 Price: $145), the seal came away with the lid. Because Life Mode is a pre-milled flower, the loose material quickly went everywhere, and I ended up spilling some it across the table.

Once I got everything under control and stopped giggling at the mess I had made, I noticed the remaining mostly olive green plant material sat comfortably inside the amber glass jar without appearing compressed or overpacked.

Mediquest’s Life Mode has a very terpinolene-forward aroma. Rather than leaning into heavier earthy or fuel-driven aromas, it presents as clean and vibrant citrus notes, with a crisp green freshness and a familiar pine-like sharpness. Underneath those brighter top notes, there’s a softer sweetness that helps round out the overall profile.

Because Mediquest’s Life Mode was supplied ready to use, there isn’t a traditional bud or grind assessment. Instead, I focused on the consistency, texture and how the flower handled throughout the two weeks I had it in rotation.

The plant material had an even consistency with a soft, cohesive texture that displayed the characteristics of kinetic sand. There were some denser clumps throughout the batch that remained present over the two weeks, becoming slightly firmer over time but still collapsing easily with pressure.

While a humidity pack was included, the flower did gradually become drier throughout the review period. However, it maintained its soft, cohesive texture without becoming overly dry or dusty.

As a milled product, Mediquest’s Life Mode presents a different trichome profile compared with intact flower.

Under magnification, numerous capitate-stalked trichomes were visible, with many no longer retaining their glandular heads, which is expected after mechanical processing. A small number of intact heads remained, with the majority appearing cloudy or milky, alongside a scattering of amber heads and very few clear heads observed.

The milling process also makes it difficult to assess resin coverage in the same way as whole flower, but the remaining trichomes suggest the original flower reached a suitable level of maturity before processing.

Starting at 180C in my Venty, Mediquest’s Life Mode delivers a bright citrus-forward experience with fresh herbal and pine undertones. There is a subtle mint-like note that adds a cooling freshness to the profile, creating a clean and vibrant vapour experience throughout my medicating session.

The effects are similarly clean and clear-headed, but they weren’t the energetic or euphoric experience I initially expected from a THCV-forward cultivar. Instead, Life Mode settled into a more even middle ground, providing a balanced and functional experience without being overly stimulating or sedating.

What stood out most was the absence of heaviness. I remained clear, present and able to move through my day without feeling mentally clouded or weighed down, producing a calm daytime experience that sat somewhere between relaxed and alert.

Mediquest’s Life Mode didn’t create a dramatic cognitive shift. Instead, it offered a balanced middle ground where the standout characteristic was consistency rather than intensity.

Will I refill this prescription? No. Mediquest’s Life Mode is an interesting addition to the Australian medicinal cannabis landscape because it challenges the idea that THC percentage alone determines the quality or usefulness of a flower.

Going into this review, I deliberately tapered down my THC intake to give a 13% THC cultivar with elevated THCV the best opportunity to showcase its more nuanced effects. While Life Mode delivered a clear-headed and functional experience, the heightened focus and sharper cognitive edge I was hoping for weren’t as pronounced as anticipated. Instead, the effects were more subtle and steady, providing a comfortable daytime experience without the noticeable shift in productivity or mental drive I was expecting.

Ultimately, Mediquest’s Life Mode feels like a cultivar built around a different approach. It highlights that cannabinoid ratios and terpene expression can play an important role in shaping the overall experience, rather than focusing solely on THC percentage. While I appreciated what makes this cultivar unique, the experience didn’t quite align with what I personally look for from a daytime flower.

Back Shed Takeaway: THCV brought the curiosity, but balance was the real headline.

In this episode of The AusCannaPodcast, Christina sits down with Erick Englehart, founder of Buttheadz Grow Shop, Buttheadz Organic Soil, and the Buttheadz Growers Club, for a conversation that starts with living soil and grows into something much bigger.

From his early days growing in the era of brick weed to building a purpose-driven community, Erick shares how cannabis can be a tool for connection, education, and real impact. We talk soil health, cultivation misconceptions, and why what’s happening beneath the plant matters just as much as what’s above it.

But this isn’t just about growing cannabis. It’s about breaking stigma, supporting patients, building community gardens, and creating spaces where people can learn, connect, and give back. Erick’s work shows what cannabis culture can look like when it’s rooted in purpose, not just product.

This episode covers:
🌱 Living soil and why it matters
🧪 The biggest misconceptions in cannabis cultivation
🤝 Building community through education and access
💬 Challenging stigma and advocating for patients
🎯 Growing with intention, not just yield

If you care about cannabis, community, or doing things differently, this one’s for you.

Chapters:

• Rapid Fire (2:44)

• From Brick Weed to Building a Movement (7:42)

• The Soil Secrets Most Growers Get Wrong (13:36)

• How a Grow Shop Became a Community (23:24)

• Cannabis Is Just the Vehicle (29:11)

• Why We Keep Fighting the Stigma (35:54)

• Teaching the Next Generation to Grow (41:35)

• The Best Crops for Beginner Gardeners (43:48)

• What’s Next for Buttheadz? (48:23)

• Wrap Up (51:30)

Show Notes:

• Crisco

• Southern Illinois University (SIU) cannabis science and horticulture courses

• SIU Hemp Cannabis Symposium

Where to Find Erick:

• Buttheadz Soil on TikTok

• Buttheadz Grow Shop on Instagram

• Buttheadz Organic Soil Company on LinkedIn

• Buttheadz on Facebook

• Buttheadz YouTube Channel

• Buttheadz Website

Where to Find Christina:

• @AusCannaReviews on SubStack

• @AusCannaReviews on Instagram

• @AusCannaReviews on Twitter/X

• 👉 Got a Rapid Fire question? Email AusCannaReviews@gmail.com

• 💚 Want to support the podcast? Buy Me A Coffee/AusCannaPodcast

‼️Disclaimer:
This Substack aims to share anecdotal information from my personal experiences to encourage meaningful conversations with your healthcare professional about medicinal cannabis. I have no formal training in medicine or science. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or an endorsement of any therapeutic product. Always consult a registered health professional before making treatment decisions. ⚠️

Medibis’ Twelve Apostles is the cultivar Organic Divine Intervention, a 22% THC Sativa-dominant medicinal cannabis flower originally bred by Bodhi Seeds by crossing Congo Kashmir with Wookie. The flower is grown by Sweetgrass Cannabis, an independent micro-cultivator and processor based in British Columbia’s renowned Kootenay region.

Certified under the BC Certified Organic Program, Sweetgrass has built its reputation around producing small-batch craft cannabis using regenerative living soil practices. Every plant is grown in a no-till living soil ecosystem, helping to preserve soil health and microbial diversity, before being hand-watered, hand-trimmed and slow cold cured for 10 to 14 days. With a total terpene content of 4.16%, Medibis’ Twelve Apostles is dominated by Terpinolene, followed by Myrcene, Limonene, Ocimene, and Pinene.

Congo Kashmir is a collaboration between Bodhi Seeds and the Cookies Family, created by crossing a Congo mother with a Kashmir father. Described as a fusion of old-school and modern genetics, the cultivar combines the bright, energetic characteristics of Congolese genetics with the earthy depth and resinous qualities associated with Kashmir. Congo Kashmir’s terpene profile is typically led by Pinene and Limonene, supporting the cultivar's citrus, floral and earthy aroma profile.

Wookie is another Bodhi Seeds cultivar with genetics rooted in a cross between The White and Wookie 15, bringing together resin production, potency and complex aromatic expression. The cultivar is known for its dense, resinous flowers and a terpene profile that typically leans towards earthy, sweet and citrus-forward characteristics. Dominant terpenes reported across Wookie varieties include Myrcene, Limonene and Caryophyllene.

Notes

Cracking open my 10-gram black plastic jar of Medibis' Twelve Apostles (Batch: MED072501 EXP: 05/27 Price: $175), I was immediately greeted by a vibrant terpinolene-forward aroma. Bright citrus and fresh evergreen led the way, followed by subtle earthy spice and a gentle tropical sweetness. As I broke the flower apart, the profile continued to evolve, revealing sweeter herbal notes that added another layer of complexity.

There is no denying that Medibis’ Twelve Apostles makes an impressive first impression. Sitting front and centre was a 5.25 gram nug, making it the largest single flower I’ve ever received in a medicinal cannabis tub.

The remaining flowers were chunky, well-developed buds displaying a mix of rounded and slightly elongated spade-like structures. They displayed vibrant shades of lime and olive green, woven together with burnt orange pistils and a generous dusting of trichomes that gave the buds a frosted appearance.

Medibis’ Twelve Apostles’ buds felt soft and spongy when gently squeezed, with only a slight cling to my fingertips, leaving more plant material than resin left behind. While the buds felt nice to handle, they also had a slightly delicate, almost fragile feel. Once ground, however, the flower produced a light, fluffy, kinetic sand-like consistency, passing my Sticky Icky Test.

Under magnification, Medibis’ Twelve Apostles displayed a dense layer of capitate-stalked glandular trichomes across the flower surface. The majority of trichome heads appeared cloudy and milky, with a scattering of amber heads visible across three different samples, with very few remaining clear.

The trichome stalks remained upright with minimal evidence of collapse or damage, and most gland heads appeared intact.

Starting at 170C in my Venty, Medibis’ Twelve Apostles’ flavour translated exceptionally well from the aroma, with bright lemon and fresh pine leading the experience. A subtle sweetness appeared alongside gentle earthy spice, creating a balanced and enjoyable vapour profile. Twelve Apostles’ effects arrived gently, bringing with them a clear-headed sense of calm that was easy to settle into. I noticed a subtle lift in mood, leaving me feeling comfortable, content and quietly happy without tipping into excessive euphoria or mental fog. The experience was relaxing without becoming physically heavy, allowing me to remain present and functional.

While Medibis’ Twelve Apostles’ remained clearheaded, rather than helping me lock into the task at hand, my attention tended to drift into what I’d describe as “adjacent work.” It wasn’t a case of creative inspiration pulling me in an unexpected direction or one idea naturally leading to another. Instead, my focus simply wandered, making it difficult to stay committed to the priorities I had originally set out to complete.

Will I refill this prescription? No. Medibis’ Twelve Apostles makes an excellent first impression. It’s a beautifully grown cultivar with impressive bag appeal, a well-executed cure and an enjoyable terpinolene-forward terpene profile. Opening the tub to find a single 5.25 gram nug was certainly impressive, and in more than 100 tubs reviewed, I’ve only received one other flower with a bud larger than 5 grams, Mother Labs’ Tangerine Skies at 5.13 grams.

But for me, a daytime flower needs to do more than provide an enjoyable experience. It needs to help me move from intention to action. I’m looking for a cultivar that provides clarity, motivation and that gentle push that helps me get started on the things I need to accomplish.

I’ve made no secret of the fact that my favourite flower on the Australian medical market has been Promethean BioPharma’s Super Silver Haze. Ever since my very first tub, I’ve been searching for a flower that could sit alongside it in my rotation, knowing that at 17% THC, tolerance would eventually become a factor in how consistently those effects landed. Unfortunately, Super Silver Haze has since been discontinued, leaving me on what sometimes feels like a search for a mythical unicorn: a daytime cultivar that delivers that same combination of clarity, motivation and functionality.

Sometimes the hardest flowers to review are the almost perfect ones. Medibis’ Twelve Apostles had everything I wanted to love, except the one thing that matters most: the effects.

Back Shed Takeaway: A flower can be objectively impressive and still not be personally effective.

I’ve included the handwritten journal notes that sit behind this review, exactly as they were captured in the moment before any writing or editing began. Over the years, many of you have asked how I approach documenting flowers, so consider this a look behind the scenes. If you want to use the same template for your own sessions, grab it via the link below. I’d love to see how you make it your own!

Buy Me A Coffee ☕️🌱

‼️Disclaimer:
This Substack aims to share anecdotal information from my personal experiences to encourage meaningful conversations with your healthcare professional about medicinal cannabis. I have no formal training in medicine or science. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or an endorsement of any therapeutic product. Always consult a registered health professional before making treatment decisions. ⚠️

Before we get into this week’s flower notes, I wanted to share something from someone in our community who is doing incredibly important work.

My friend Kyla from Canna Curious has launched a survey exploring how women actually want to be spoken to about cannabis.

The anonymous survey is open until Wednesday, July 22, 2026, and takes around five minutes to complete. The goal is to gather insights from at least 300 women to help create a white paper that reflects real experiences and improves the way we communicate about cannabis.

If you’re a woman who uses cannabis, has considered cannabis, or simply has experiences and perspectives to share, I’d love for you to take part. And if you know someone who might have something valuable to contribute, please pass it along.

Take the survey here: https://tally.so/r/b5zpz6

Thanks for helping support this important project and ensuring women’s voices are part of the conversation.

~ Christina 💚

SatiVite’s Azsend HBx is a 22% THC indica-dominant medicinal cannabis flower and the Australian-grown expression of Heladosa Bx.

Heladosa was created via a collaboration by Shuga Seeds and Umami Seed Co. from a cross of Zelatti and Jealousy Bx. The “Bx” designation refers to a backcross, where breeders return to the original genetics to reinforce the traits they value most. Rather than creating an entirely new cultivar, the aim is to produce a more consistent expression of the original line. Heladosa has earned recognition across the South American cannabis scene, taking home more than 15 cups across Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, and Chile in hash and rosin categories.

Due to recent changes to the Catalyst platform, companies now have the option to upgrade to a “premium listing” to provide additional product information. As SatiVite has not opted for this additional listing tier, some product details previously available through the Catalyst listing are no longer displayed.

For these notes, cultivation information was sourced from the description section on Canna Reviews, which lists this product as being “grown indoors”. Canna Reviews also lists the reported dominant terpenes as Limonene, Linalool, and Caryophyllene.

Zelatti is a balanced hybrid bred from Gelatti and Zuchi by Umami Seed Co. It's best known for its dessert-inspired aroma, combining sweet berries, creamy vanilla and subtle fuel notes that have made it a favourite among flavour chasers. Visually, Zelatti produces dense, olive green flowers with vibrant orange pistils. Zelatti is typically high in Limonene, Caryophyllene, and Myrcene.

I first covered Jealousy back in May of 2024 with my notes on Sativite’s Truro. For a quick refresher, Jealousy was originally bred by Seed Junky Genetics by crossing Sherbert Bx1 with Gelato #41. Jealousy’s aroma profile is typically dominated by sour citrus notes layered with fresh fruit, creamy vanilla, and a hint of sweet candy, creating an inviting dessert-like nose. On the palate, those same characteristics carry through, delivering a super sweet and creamy fruity candy flavour with a sharp citrus tang that becomes more pronounced on the exhale. Jealousy is commonly associated with a terpene profile rich in Caryophyllene, Limonene, and Myrcene.

Notes

Opening my 10-gram amber glass jar of SatiVite’s Azsend HBx (Batch: B-90596 EXP: 04/2027 Price: $159), I’m greeted by an earthy diesel aroma with subtle citrus notes lingering underneath. Breaking the buds apart significantly intensifies the profile, bringing forward a much heavier fuel character alongside deeper earthy tones. As the flower continues to open up, layers of creamy vanilla and sweet chocolate emerge, with a subtle floral note adding to the complexity to the overall aroma profile.

SatiVite’s Azsend HBx features dense, mostly spade-shaped and oblong buds. The flowers display a mix of olive green tones layered with deep purple hues and occasional splash of dark green, complemented by contrasting terracotta pistils throughout.

SatiVite’s Azsend HBx buds have a noticeable bounce-back when gently squeezed, briefly clinging to my fingers before rolling away. However, they left more plant material than resin behind than I would have liked. While still very pleasant to handle, the flower leaned slightly on the drier side.

Coming out of my grinder, SatiVite’s Azsend HBx buds produced a fluffy kinetic sand consistency, just passing my Sticky Icky Test.

There was no humidity pack in my jar.

Microscopic inspection across four separate bud samples revealed a highly consistent trichome profile, demonstrating excellent uniformity throughout the batch, with no obvious signs of uneven ripening, suggesting a well-timed harvest.

Only a small number of clear trichomes were observed, with the majority appearing cloudy to milky, indicating strong resin maturity. Scattered amber trichomes were present but not dominant.

Starting at 175C in my Venty, SatiVite’s Azsend HBx produces smooth, dense vapour clouds. The flavour leans heavily into the gassy diesel profile while remaining balanced by subtle citrus. As my medicating session progressed and I pushed the temps up towards 210C, creamy herbal undertones developed alongside delicate notes of vanilla and chocolate, creating a layered flavour experience that remained enjoyable from the first draw through to the last.

The effects of Azend HBx leaned more towards the creeper side, with a slower onset that gradually built throughout my medicating session rather than arriving all at once. The first signs were subtle, bringing a gentle shift in headspace before a wave of euphoria began to emerge. As the effects developed, Azend HBx offered a balanced experience with a clear-headed sense of calm alongside a relaxed body feel. Rather than leaning into sedation, it didn’t flatten the room around me; it simply turned down the volume, helping me unwind while still feeling present and engaged. Because of this, Azend HBx felt best suited to mid-afternoon through to early evening use when I was looking to decompress without being pushed into a heavy experience.

Will I refill this prescription? No. After documenting notes on 100+ flowers, I can confidently say I’ve developed a genuine appreciation for earthy diesel profiles, especially when they continue to evolve throughout a vaping session like SatiVite’s Azend HBx does. This cultivar places flavour and aroma front and centre, with a fuel-heavy, earthy backbone layered with citrus, vanilla, and chocolate, creating a profile that feels both bold and refined.

While Azend HBx delivers a memorable and well-executed flavour experience, it’s not a profile I naturally gravitate towards in my regular rotation. The cultivars that tend to earn a permanent place for me are those that bring a little more sweetness or fruit-forward complexity.

Back Shed Takeaway: Azend HBx is gas done right. Bold diesel meets citrus, vanilla, and chocolate in a flavour journey that keeps evolving, paired with a clear-headed euphoria that challenges what you’d expect from an indica-leaning cultivar.

I’ve included the handwritten journal notes that sit behind this review, exactly as they were captured in the moment before any writing or editing began. Over the years, many of you have asked how I approach documenting flowers, so consider this a look behind the scenes. If you want to use the same template for your own sessions, grab it via the link below. I’d love to see how you make it your own!

Buy Me A Coffee ☕️🌱

How often do you actually stop and think about why you’re using cannabis?

In this episode, Christina sits down with Daniel Robinson Croft, founder at Let’s Budvocate to explore something that doesn’t get talked about enough: the difference between intentional use and just doing what we’ve always done.

Because whether it’s chasing higher THC, sticking to the same habits, or not questioning our patterns… It’s easy to fall into autopilot without even realising it.

We get into:

• What intentional cannabis use actually looks like 🤔

• Why tolerance breaks don’t have to mean quitting cold turkey 🔄

• The role of harm reduction in everyday consumption 🛠️

• How stigma still shows up — even for people who use cannabis themselves 🧠

• And why learning to advocate for yourself as a patient really matters 🗣️

This isn’t about telling you what to do; it’s about giving you the tools to understand your own patterns and make decisions that actually work for you.

If you’ve ever found yourself going through the motions with your cannabis use… this one’s worth a listen. 🎧

Chapters:

• Rapid Fire (2:00)

• From Mental Health to Cannabis Advocacy (13:03)

• Why Cannabis Education Is Broken (17:43)

• Where Cannabis Stigma Comes From (19:20)

• Harm Reduction (What It Actually Means) (22:15)

• Tolerance Breaks Are Done Wrong (25:32)

• Can You Use Cannabis Daily Intentionally? (32:59)

• Are You Using on Autopilot? (34:02)

• Is Cannabis Helping You… or Not? (36:08)

• Why You Should Care About CBG, CBD & More (37:02)

• What’s Changing in Cannabis Right Now (39:32)

• The One Thing to Change After This Episode (41:23)

Show Notes:

• Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs by Johann Hari

• Does holding cannabis smoke in longer make a difference?

Where to Find Daniel Robinson Croft:

• Let’s Budvocate on Instagram

• Daniel on LinkedIn

• Let’s Budvocate Website

Where to Find Christina:

• @AusCannaReviews on SubStack

• @AusCannaReviews on Instagram

• @AusCannaReviews on Twitter/X

• 👉 Got a Rapid Fire question? Email AusCannaReviews@gmail.com

• 💚 Want to support the podcast? Buy Me A Coffee/AusCannaPodcast

Since then, I’ve watched Gabriel immerse himself more deeply into the industry while staying closely connected to the patient community that shaped both of our starts. In 2026, he presented at both the United in Compassion (UIC) conference and the Nimbin MardiGrass, sharing insights with patients, clinicians, and industry voices in a way that still feels very true to where he started.

This new feature series in AusCannaReviews marks a shift toward more guest voices and lived perspectives across the cannabis community. Gabriel felt like the right place to begin. I’ve watched how far he’s come, and this piece reflects that journey. He brings a grounded mix of lived experience and industry insight, with a genuine passion for education, product quality, and improving patient understanding. I’m genuinely proud to be sharing his perspective with the community.

Of all the myths and misconceptions surrounding cannabis, there are two at the core of terpene science that are almost never corrected: the idea that myrcene results in “couch-locking” effects, and that limonene results in uplifting effects. I’m amazed that these myths have stuck around for so long, given that terpene testing for cannabis has been commonplace for around 10 years now. I see these claims repeated by just about everyone everywhere, as pretty much every source about myrcene and limonene mentions them, academic or otherwise. Some of the points I will make are conjecture, but this is unavoidable with the current state of cannabis research and the elephants in the room need to be addressed.

Myrcene-dominant strains are not sedating by default. In fact, heavily myrcene-dominant strains can be among the most activating, as any skunk devotee can tell you. I’m a little limited in what I can say as I won’t be referencing any medical conditions or specific products, but I’ll do my best to explain.

Here is an example of how pervasive this myth is, even in the scientific community. This claim is commonly repeated by both academic and non-academic sources.

“Cannabis strains which contain high concentrations of myrcene (>0.5% myrcene), are likely to induce sedative qualities (“couch-lock effect”), which are classically attributed to Cannabis indica... On the other hand, strains low in β-myrcene (<0.5%) are likely to induce a more energetic “high”.” (From a literature review by Surendran et al., 2021)

Now, a high myrcene content does not strictly indicate that the flower will be better suited for nighttime, or that it will render the user “couch-locked” (unable or unwilling to stand). While myrcene-dominant cultivars may be some of the most couchlocking, their myrcene content does not strictly imply this, and equally as many are considered daytime strains. In fact, most modern strains that are cited by patients as being suited for nighttime (although perhaps not always couchlocking) are often high in caryophyllene and its associated terpenes limonene, linalool, and humulene (belonging to Cluster 1, which is a way of categorising cannabis based on commonly co-occurring terpenes). Next time you hear about a sedative cultivar, look up the terpene profile. I’m sure the vast majority of the time it will have caryophyllene and limonene in the top 3 terpenes, and a small concentration of myrcene with a caryophyllene: myrcene ratio somewhere between 1:1 and 10:1. Much less often do you see one where the concentration of myrcene is more than twice that of caryophyllene, although it does occur, and these are among the most physical strains. Perhaps they used to be more prevalent before the rise of caryophyllene and limonene that has occurred since around 2014, but that’s a topic for another article.

Plenty of daytime strains are heavily myrcene-dominant (Cluster 2), typically those that are descended from the skunk lineage. However, it is likely true that the most wakeful myrcene-dominant flower will not be as wakeful as a terpinolene-dominant flower (Cluster 3) could be, which are typically descended from the haze lineage or other tropical “sativas”, and are often referenced as the most stimulating cultivars. Unfortunately, there is no scientific source for this, as there is very little data relating to how terpene profiles impact the effects of cannabis.

In fact, these Cluster 3 cultivars, as described by Smith et al., are associated with myrcene, which often occurs in ratios of between 1:1 and 4:1 of terpinolene: myrcene. Thus, what matters more than the dominance of one terpene is the synergy of several different terpenes working together, as well as countless other compounds that may be associated with certain terpene profiles. One cannot point to a particular terpene or terpene cluster to predict its effects with certainty, even with terpinolene and Cluster 3 - more just its general character or potential range of effects.

So how did this myrcene myth originate and why is it so pervasive?

The original source I could find for this claim comes from a 2011 review by Dr Ethan Russo in which he drew from 2 studies unrelated to cannabis to hypothesise that myrcene is responsible for the “couch-locking” effects of cannabis, and this hypothesis has been repeated as an established fact by other researchers and cannabis users ever since. The first paper he cited was a 2002 study on the effects of isolated myrcene and myrcene+barbiturates in mice, in which myrcene, limonene, and citral presented sedative and muscle relaxant effects at the highest doses tested. The second association between myrcene and sedation was made based on a 2004 handbook on herbal drugs (Bisset and Wichtl, 2004) stating that preparations of the hops plant, which contains myrcene, are employed to aid sleep in Germany. Neither of these sources are particularly convincing in the context of cannabis, which has an extraordinarily complex chemical profile. Nevertheless, credit must be given to Dr Russo - while this was a fair hypothesis to make at the time, it was never intended to be taken as factual.

The idea that a single terpene can predictably result in a single effect is very attractive, and it would simplify things hugely if it were the case. Unfortunately, the reality is more complex, but two things are certain: there is no robust source for the claim that myrcene-dominant cannabis is generally couch-locking, and many classic “sativa”-type strains are heavily myrcene-dominant. To be clear, there does not appear to be a strong correlation between myrcene content and indica/sativa labels. While different studies with limited datasets report conflicting results (Hazekamp et al. 2016, Watts et al. 2021), the largest chemotaxonomic analysis of commercial Cannabis-derived flower to date by Smith et al., 2022 observed no such correlation.

Edit 15.7.26: Since writing this, I have found a recent study from 2024 that observed sedative-hypnotic effects of myrcene in computational models of pharmacology and in mice (Chen et al. 2024). I don’t believe this changes much, as isolated myrcene may behave quite differently compared to when it is part of the full spectrum of cannabis compounds. We’ve seen this exact thing with terpinolene - it was found to have sedative effects in mice when inhaled (Ito & Ito, 2013), despite terpinolene being notoriously stimulating in probably 80-90% of strains that contain it. Regardless, if roughly half of myrcene dominant strains are activating as opposed to sedating, then that study doesn’t offer much predictive value in the context of cannabis.

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The other elephant in the room is limonene, which is often cited as a terpene with uplifting effects. This is not typically the case, and high amounts of limonene are often found in the most sedating cultivars (Cluster 1). Confusion may arise due to the fact that citrus aromas are correlated with uplifting, energetic, and talkative effects (De la Fuente et al. 2020); however, strains with citrus aromas are often not high in limonene (Oswald et al. 2023), and are instead high in certain Volatile Sulphur Compounds (VSCs), esters, and other compounds. This lack of association between limonene and citrus aroma was first explored in a 2021 paper titled “Limonene in Citrus: A String of Unchecked Literature Citings?” which sounds awfully similar to what is going on here with cannabis. This idea was further developed in a 2025 paper titled “The Persistent Myth of Limonene’s Smell”.

So what I think is happening here is that people start out by believing that limonene is uplifting, and when they consume strains that smell of lemons or citrus, they feel like this reinforces that idea, despite that strain not having a particularly high limonene content (the strains that have the highest limonene tend to have aromas of candied berries and baked goods, and not citrus - Oswald et al. 2023). You see this very often in online discussions where users ask for recommendations for uplifting products that are high in limonene. The recommendations you see are almost always low in limonene and tend to be high in other terpenes such as terpinolene and myrcene. Currently, the only effect observed from a combination of limonene and THC is that it may offset some of the anxious feelings induced by THC isolate (Spindle et al. 2024).

Ultimately, both the cannabis industry and the scientific community have spent over a decade repeating hypotheses as established facts. What started out as an innocent hypothesis by Dr Russo has snowballed into dogma and run unchecked through every single piece of educational material about cannabis. Terpenes are nuanced beyond our current comprehension, and care must be taken when communicating about them to avoid misleading users. It’s clear that more research needs to be done in order to truly understand the relationship between cannabis terpenes and their subjective effects.

If you would like to discuss this topic further, feel free to reach out to me at gabriel.younes@gmail.com.

To be recognised alongside organisations, industry leaders, and university collaborations is something I never imagined when I started this journey.

When I first launched AusCannaReviews, I simply wanted to help patients make more informed decisions about their treatment. The podcast came later, with the same goal: creating a space for honest conversations, education, and giving a voice to people who are often overlooked.

I never started this journey thinking about awards.

So, whether I take home the trophy on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 or not, being shortlisted for a second year in a row is already an incredible honour.

For me, this nomination is a reminder that the patient voice matters. Every review, every podcast episode, every conversation, and every story shared by this community has helped show that lived experience deserves a place in shaping the future of medical cannabis. Patients deserve a seat at the table.

A special thank you to everyone who took the time to write testimonials in support of my application. Reading your words was one of the most emotional parts of this process. Your stories reminded me why I started AusCannaReviews and the AusCannaPodcast in the first place. I genuinely couldn’t have put together such a strong application without you, and this recognition belongs to all of you just as much as it does to me.

Thank you as well to everyone who has subscribed, listened to the podcast, read my reviews, shared an episode, or reached out to tell me that something I created made a difference. Your support has kept me going through the tough days and reminded me why this work matters.

A huge congratulations to my fellow finalists:
• Duty of Care Education Series by Medical Cannabis Australia
• PlantEd
• Rua Bioscience
• Spring Sciences Australia with The University of Queensland

It is an incredible group to be nominated alongside, and I’m looking forward to celebrating everyone’s achievements in a few short weeks.

No matter what happens on the night, I’ll keep doing what I’ve always set out to do: educate, advocate, and continue working towards a future where patients are not only listened to, but invited to be part of the conversation.

Thank you all for believing in this mission.

~ Christina 💚

In this episode of the AusCannaPodcast, Christina sits down with Columbia University chemist and professor Colin P. Nuckolls and systems strategist Alec Koudijs to unpack a hard truth about medicinal cannabis.

👉 It is far less predictable than most people think.

Patients are often making decisions with limited information. Strain names, basic COAs, and a whole lot of trust. But even when the label is accurate, it still does not tell you how a product will actually affect you.

So why can two people take the same product and have completely different experiences?

🧠 This conversation explores metabolism, delivery methods, and the biology behind why cannabis behaves so differently from one person to the next.

🌿 Flower, oils, and edibles are not interchangeable. This episode breaks down what is happening in the body, including first-pass metabolism, and why oral products can feel delayed, inconsistent, or sometimes ineffective for certain patients.

⚡ The discussion then shifts into emerging approaches like nanotechnology, and what a faster onset and improved absorption could mean for predictability, control, and overall patient experience.

No scripts. No polished answers. Just an honest, science-informed conversation about what is actually happening beneath the surface, and what patients really need from modern cannabis medicine.

Chapters:

• Rapid Fire (3:00)

• Patient Reality: Limited Info & Blind Trust (7:00

• Cultivar Names vs Real Genetics (10:30)

• Trust vs COAs: What Matters (13:30

• Why Cannabis Affects Everyone Differently (17:00)

• Flower & Vaporisation Explained (20:00)

• You’re Not Just Consuming the Plant (25:30)

• Why Oils Are Inconsistent (30:00)

• When Oils Don’t Work (34:00)

• Edibles: Same Dose, Different Outcomes (37:30)

• First-Pass Metabolism Explained (42:30)

• What Is Nanotechnology? (46:30)

• Why Nano Works (50:30)

• Not All Nano Is Equal (55:00)

• Predictability & Dosing Control (58:30)

• The “Clean” Nano Experience (1:02:30)

• Future of Delivery Systems (1:06:30)

• Wrap Up (1:10:30)

Show Notes:

• Dr Adder Book

• Pink Boost Goddess

Where to Find Colin & Alec:

• Colin on LinkedIn

• Alec on LinkedIn

Where to Find Christina:

• @AusCannaReviews on SubStack

• @AusCannaReviews on Instagram

• @AusCannaReviews on Twitter/X

• 👉 Got a Rapid Fire question? Email AusCannaReviews@gmail.com

• 💚 Want to support the podcast? Buy Me A Coffee/AusCannaPodcast

‼️Disclaimer:
This Substack aims to share anecdotal information from my personal experiences to encourage meaningful conversations with your healthcare professional about medicinal cannabis. I have no formal training in medicine or science. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or an endorsement of any therapeutic product. Always consult a registered health professional before making treatment decisions. ⚠️

Ouid’s Nina is an effervescent tablet containing 10mg of isolate THC and 20mg isolate CBD, designed to be dissolved in water and consumed as a drink. Each tube contains 10 x 4.5g tablets, with a reported onset of 15 to 30 minutes and a duration of around 4 to 6 hours.

Unlike traditional cannabis oils or capsules, Nina utilises a water-soluble cannabinoid formulation. The product is designed to offer an alternative oral delivery method for patients who prefer not to inhale cannabis or who are looking for an option that does not require measuring oils or swallowing capsules.

Delivery Technology

If you’ve been following AusCannaReviews for a while, you’ll know this isn’t the first time I’ve spoken about nano and water-soluble cannabinoid delivery systems. In my 2023 review of Promethean BioPharma’s High THC Emulsion, I explored the science behind these technologies.

At their core, water-soluble and nano-enabled cannabinoid formulations are designed to address one of the long-standing challenges associated with oral cannabis medicines: absorption.

Cannabinoids such as THC and CBD are naturally lipophilic, meaning they dissolve more readily in fats than in water. Traditional oil-based products rely heavily on digestion and gastrointestinal absorption, which can contribute to variability in onset times and bioavailability between patients.

Research published in the Journal of Cannabis Research in June of 2025 investigating nano-emulsified and self nano-emulsifying cannabinoid formulations showed faster absorption, earlier peak plasma concentrations and improved bioavailability when compared with conventional oil-based oral preparations.

Rather than changing the pharmacology of THC or CBD, these technologies are designed to optimise delivery. For patients, this may translate to a more predictable administration experience.

Notes

Uncapping my white plastic tube of Ouid's Nina effervescent tablets (Batch: 25 L 178, EXP: 11/2027, Price: $99) releases a comforting, nostalgic aroma. Vibrant raspberry syrup and cream soda top notes give way to a dry, powdery sweetness reminiscent of high-end baby powder and Turkish delights. There’s a distinctly confectionery quality to it, sweet and playful, almost like a berry-scented body lotion I would have worn in my teenage years.

The tablets themselves are clean, well presented and exactly what you’d expect from a modern effervescent formulation. Drop one into a glass of water, and it starts fizzing almost immediately, with the reaction moving through the tablet quickly. It took around three minutes to fully dissolve in cold water. In warmer water, it dissolved slightly faster, but I actually preferred it cold.

Once fully dissolved, a thin film remained on the water’s surface, and a slight chalky residue was left on the glass after drinking. Neither affected the overall experience or performance.

Ouid’s Nina features a raspberry cream soda flavour that changes character depending on dilution.

With about 250ml of water, the cream soda dominates while the raspberry offers a gentle, sweet undertone, creating a slightly syrupy mouthfeel. As you add more water, the drink becomes smoother and more refreshing. Occasionally, a subtle Turkish delight note emerges on the finish, providing a delicate confectionery nuance without overpowering the core flavours.

Overall, it’s a sweet, dessert-like flavour that might not appeal to everyone.

After some experimentation, I found that about 500ml of water with one Ouid’s Nina tablet and an apple-blackberry electrolyte tablet provided the best balance.

Because I suffer from the First Pass Effect, 10mg THC was never going to be a strong dose for me. My therapeutic needs sit much higher, so I wasn’t expecting any significant psychoactive effect.

What stood out instead was the CBD. The 20mg dose delivered a clean, full-body relaxation that came on within about 15 minutes, which matched its rapid-onset positioning. My shoulders dropped first, then the rest of my body followed in quiet succession. Not a heavy sedation, just an unhurried loosening that moved slowly through me and felt less like a drug effect and more like my body finally exhaling after a long day.

Mentally, I stayed clear throughout, thinking sharp and steady while the rest of me quietly settled. No fog, no slowing down, nothing that pulled me sideways. The overall feeling was cruisy and slightly floaty, not disorienting, just a light ease that made everything feel a little more comfortable to sit inside.

Will I refill this prescription? Yes. When I say I’ve been waiting three years for Ouid’s Nina effervescent tablets, I’m not exaggerating. If you read my Promethean BioPharma review, you’ll know I was already experimenting with nanoemulsions mixed into water with added electrolytes, so seeing this arrive in a commercially available format feels like a genuine full-circle moment.

The medicinal cannabis space gets pulled into conversations about potency, percentages, and cannabinoid ratios constantly. But sometimes it’s the unglamorous stuff: convenience, consistency, ease of use, that actually changes whether a product works in someone’s daily life.

Ouid’s Nina effervescent tablets aren’t something you quickly chug. On average, it took me around 15 to 20 minutes to finish one tablet, which naturally paces the experience. At $10 per tablet (on par with a schooner at my local pub), it won’t be the cheapest option, but for patients who value portability, discretion, and consistency, the appeal is obvious. Because the longer I spent with Nina, the less I thought about cannabinoid ratios and the more I appreciated what the format was actually delivering.

Nina won’t replace my higher-dose products. But after three years of waiting, it’s earned a place alongside them. In a space full of products chasing bigger numbers, that kind of quiet reliability is what patients are actually looking for.

Back Shed Takeaway: The real win isn’t what’s in it, it’s when cannabis becomes predictable and easy to use. Everything else starts to feel like noise.

‼️Disclaimer:
This Substack aims to share anecdotal information from my personal experiences to encourage meaningful conversations with your healthcare professional about medicinal cannabis. I have no formal training in medicine or science. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or an endorsement of any therapeutic product. Always consult a registered health professional before making treatment decisions. ⚠️

Golden Days' Mandarin Sunset is a 20% THC indica-dominant medicinal cannabis flower that’s a cross of Herijuana and Orange Skunk originally bred by Ethos Genetics. Mandarin Sunset is cultivated in Adelaide, South Australia, under full-spectrum LED in coco coir with Athena Nutrients and natural pest management via beneficial insects. Each plant undergoes a 21-day veg before heading into flower. Once in flower, the plants receive a lollipop trim on Day 7, followed by hand defoliation on Days 21 and 42. After harvest, the flower is hang-dried for 14 days and cured for 21 days in Grove Bags before being hand-trimmed and packaged.

Mandarin Sunset is certified PGR-free with a terpene profile led by Myrcene, Limonene, Caryophyllene, and Pinene.

Herijuana is an indica-dominant cultivar, also known as "Herojuana," originally bred by Woodhorse Seeds. While its father, Killer New Haven, is thought to be a hybrid from Kentucky, the Petrolia Headstash mother was bred by Reeferman in Northern California’s Humboldt County. Aromatically, Herijuana tends to lean toward earthy, woody, and sandalwood-like notes. While flavour is often described as subtle and understated, the cultivar is best known for its powerful body effects and calming nature. Herijuana's long-standing popularity comes from its ability to promote relaxation while still offering moments of euphoria, creativity, and mood elevation before heavier sedation begins to emerge at higher doses. The most abundant terpene in Herijuana is Myrcene, followed by Limonene and Caryophyllene.

Orange Skunk, sometimes referred to as “The Original Californian Orange Skunk”, is a sativa-dominant hybrid created by crossing California Orange and Skunk #1. This cultivar is known for its sweet citrus profile layered with sour and earthy skunk undertones. Orange Skunk is often reported to deliver an initial burst of cerebral stimulation before gradually transitioning into a more relaxed and comfortable physical state. Orange Skunk is typically high in Limonene, Myrcene and Caryophyllene.

Notes

Opening my 10-gram mylar bag of Golden Days’ Mandarin Sunset (Batch: B60132 EXP: 28-APR-2027 Price: $129), I'm greeted by a citrus-forward aroma accompanied by hay-like notes, keeping the brighter citrus character from fully expressing itself. However, once the buds are broken apart, sweet orange peel and earthy, gassy undertones become more prominent.

Golden Days’ Mandarin Sunset’s buds presented as a collection of small to medium-sized buds, with the largest being 1.94 grams. Colouration was predominantly olive green, complemented by lighter sage-green highlights, occasional deeper forest-green tones, and fine orange-to-light-amber pistils that had largely receded into the flower as the buds matured.

Under the microscope, Mandarin Sunset revealed mostly cloudy trichomes, with clear and amber ones notably scarce. The majority of the resin gland heads remained intact and well-formed.

Mandarin Sunset’s buds felt dense and well-formed in the hand, with a slow bounce back when gently squeezed. Despite their solid appearance, they showed very little tackiness on handling and left a slightly dry impression overall. There was no fingertip cling, with the flower simply dropping away from my fingers rather than showing any real resin grip or surface tack. Through the grinder, it broke down into a fluffy even consistency with minimal kinetic sand-like behaviour.

Golden Days’ Mandarin Sunset did not pass my Sticky Icky Test.

Starting at 175C in my Venty, Golden Days’ Mandarin Sunset delivers a flavour profile that mirrors its aroma, opening with an orangey citrus on the inhale followed by an earthy, gassy finish on the exhale. Effects arrive swiftly with a clear lift in mood and an immediate tendency toward increased conversation, making social interaction feel easier and more natural rather than introspective or isolating. There is a light, easygoing quality to my medicating experience, with giggles emerging as the effects settle in. Stress feels softened rather than intensified, and while there is clear mood enhancement, it never becomes overwhelming or disruptive. Mandarin Sunset encourages engagement and presence, with a functional clarity that makes it easy to move through the day while still feeling noticeably relaxed.

Will I refill this prescription? No, but I will finish my repeats. I picked Golden Days' Mandarin Sunset up partly because I enjoyed Grandiosa's Mandarin Cookies, and it delivers on that familiar genetic thread, sitting in the same space of light, social, and noticeably giggly effects that make it a reliable daytime option for unwinding without being couchlocked for the day. Where Mandarin Sunset falls short is in presentation rather than performance. The aroma lacks freshness, and the handling experience suggests some loss in terpene preservation and resin expression along the post-harvest journey, which is notable given how structurally sound the flower appears under the microscope.

Back Shed Takeaway: Orangey, giggly, and social. Mandarin Sunset is a good time, just not an every-time.

I’ve included the handwritten journal notes that sit behind this review, exactly as they were captured in the moment before any writing or editing began. Over the years, many of you have asked how I approach documenting flowers, so consider this a look behind the scenes. If you want to use the same template for your own sessions, grab it via the link below. I’d love to see how you make it your own!

Buy Me A Coffee ☕️🌱

What happens when the science is advancing, patient numbers are growing, and outcomes are improving... yet stigma and misinformation continue to dominate the conversation?

In this episode of the AusCannaPodcast, Christina sits down with Matt Shales, Founder and CEO of MediCann Health and MediCann Clinics, for a wide-ranging discussion about the current state of medicinal cannabis in Australia and where the industry may be heading next.

From patient access and clinic models to prescribing trends, product quality, education, and policy reform, Matt shares his unique perspective from the front lines of one of Australia’s leading medicinal cannabis clinic networks.

They also explore some of the emerging research that isn’t getting nearly enough attention, including promising studies involving CBD and endometriosis, concussion recovery, and why real-world patient outcomes often tell a very different story from headline-grabbing laboratory studies.

Along the way, they discuss:

🌿 Why high-THC products aren’t always the answer

🌿 The growing disconnect between experienced patients and traditional healthcare models

🌿 How stigma continues to influence policy, prescribing, and public perception

🌿 Why Australia’s driving laws remain one of the biggest barriers facing patients

🌿 The role education will play in the next phase of industry growth

🌿 What a truly patient-centred cannabis system could look like in Australia

Most importantly, this conversation explores a question that continues to shape the future of medicinal cannabis:

How do we bridge the gap between what the evidence is showing, what patients are experiencing, and what the broader community understands?

Whether you’re a patient, healthcare professional, industry stakeholder, or simply curious about the future of medicinal cannabis, this episode offers an honest, balanced, and insightful look at where we are today and where we may be headed tomorrow.

Chapters:

• Rapid Fire (3:17)

• The Endometriosis Trial No One’s Talking About (16:00)

• Cannabis & Concussion: New Research (19:20)

• Cannabis Stigma in Science & Medicine (21:00)

• From Diver to Cannabis Founder (23:00)

• Why Matt Started a Cannabis Clinic (25:25)

• Are Clinics Actually Helping Patients? (26:58)

• Managing Patient Expectations (Reality vs Hype) (29:15)

• “We’re Not the Gatekeepers” (32:31)

• When Doctors Get It Wrong (34:15)

• The Truth Behind Product Recommendations (36:00)

• CBD vs THC: What Patients Get Wrong (37:00)

• The Future of Over-the-Counter CBD (39:00)

• Aussie Growers Are Struggling (40:00)

• The Ideal Cannabis System… Matt’s Vision (44:02)

• Driving Laws vs Reality (49:45)

• Matt’s Call to Action… Hemp for Animals, Environment & More (56:01)

Show Notes:

• Ananda Hemp and Ecofiber

• Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics

• Hemp Brothers

• Cannabinoids in Traumatic Brain Injury Study (Funding for this project was provided by MediCann Health Aust Pty Ltd.)

Where to Find Matt Shales:

• Matt on LinkedIn

• MediCann Health Website

Where to Find Christina:

• @AusCannaReviews on SubStack

• @AusCannaReviews on Instagram

• @AusCannaReviews on Twitter/X

• 👉 Got a Rapid Fire question? Email AusCannaReviews@gmail.com

• 💚 Want to support the podcast? Buy Me A Coffee/AusCannaPodcast

Doctors. Lawyers. Politicians. Journalists. Everyone seems to have an opinion. But the thing I keep coming back to is simple.

We’ve spent over a decade telling Australia that medicinal cannabis is a legitimate medicine.

So why are patients still treated like an exception?

Let’s Talk About Road Safety

Before anyone accuses me of ignoring road safety, let me be clear.

Impaired driving is dangerous. It should remain illegal.

If someone is impaired, whether that’s from alcohol, cannabis, prescription medication, fatigue or anything else, they shouldn’t be behind the wheel.

I don’t think that’s controversial.

Police have a difficult job, and keeping dangerous drivers off the road is an important public safety responsibility.

The challenge isn’t whether we should keep roads safe. The challenge is whether the current approach is the best way to achieve that goal while also treating patients fairly. Because right now, those two objectives are often presented as mutually exclusive… They aren’t.

Patients Aren’t Asking For A Free Pass

One thing that gets lost in these discussions is that patients aren’t asking for permission to drive while impaired. They’re asking for recognition that presence and impairment are not the same thing… Because they’re not.

I’ve lost count of how many patients have told me they avoid medication the night before work. Or put up with pain because they need to drive the next day. Or spend every trip in the car wondering what would happen if they got pulled over.

That’s a conversation we’ve been having for years, without resolution.

The Science Is More Complicated Than The Headlines

Part of the reason this debate is so difficult is that cannabis doesn’t fit neatly into the framework we’ve built around alcohol. With alcohol, there is a reasonably predictable relationship between blood alcohol concentration and impairment.

THC behaves very differently.

THC is highly lipophilic, meaning it accumulates in body fat and soft tissue and is slowly released over time. It can remain detectable in blood for days or even weeks after use, long after impairment has resolved. A University of California, San Diego study published in September of 2025 found that frequent cannabis users showed no driving deficits after at least two days of abstinence, even when THC remained detectable in their blood and as the study’s senior author noted, relying on blood THC concentrations as indicators of impairment “is not justified.” Research published in May 2022 in Scientific Reports went further, finding no clear relationship between blood THC concentrations and impairment, and no scientific justification for per se THC blood concentration limits.

That doesn’t mean cannabis can never impair driving. Of course it can.

The question is whether the presence of THC automatically proves impairment, and that’s where things become far less clear-cut than many headlines would have us believe. It’s also why countries around the world continue to grapple with the challenge of balancing road safety, patient rights and practical enforcement.

The More I Read, The More Uncomfortable I Became

When I first heard about the reforms, my initial reaction was probably the same as everyone else’s. Finally! We’re making progress, and to be fair, we are. The current system is clearly broken. However, the more I read, the more uncomfortable I felt.

Medicinal cannabis patients are once again getting their own set of rules. Their own framework. Their own conditions. And I found myself asking the same question I always seem to ask in this industry.

Why? If medicinal cannabis is genuinely a medicine, why does it keep ending up in a category of its own?

The Contradiction Nobody Talks About

When governments talk about medicinal cannabis, it’s medicine.

When companies talk about medicinal cannabis, it’s medicine.

When doctors prescribe it, it’s medicine.

When patient numbers are announced, it’s medicine.

When industry growth figures are celebrated, it’s medicine.

But the moment patients ask to be treated the same as every other patient… Suddenly, medicinal cannabis becomes something different.

Something that needs additional rules. Additional scrutiny. Additional oversight. There may be practical reasons for some of that. It still doesn’t resolve the contradiction.

I mean, surely we’re at the point where we can at least acknowledge the contradiction. We’ve spent the last decade trying to convince Australians that medicinal cannabis patients aren’t different.

So why does every proposed solution seem to start from the assumption that they are?

What If We’re Asking The Wrong Question?

Authorities need a way to distinguish lawful medicinal cannabis use from unlawful use. What I don’t understand is why patients are expected to carry the burden of that problem.

If the problem is that our testing framework struggles to distinguish between legal patients and illegal use, maybe the conversation shouldn’t start with what patients need to do differently. Maybe it should start with whether the framework itself is fit for purpose.

Because from where I sit, it feels like medicinal cannabis patients are constantly being asked to adapt themselves to systems that were never designed with them in mind. After more than a decade of reform, the question is whether that’s good enough anymore.

This Is Bigger Than Driving

This debate isn’t really about driving. Driving is simply where the issue has become impossible to ignore. The bigger question is why medicinal cannabis continues to sit in a category of its own.

We see it in workplace policies.

We see it in stigma.

We see it in patient privacy concerns.

We see it in insurance discussions.

We see it in the way patients are spoken about in the media.

Again and again, medicinal cannabis is described as a legitimate medicine, while patients are treated as an exception.

What Real Progress Looks Like

I don’t pretend to have all the answers. This is a genuinely complex issue. Maybe part of the solution is better impairment testing, clearer prescribing guidelines, or better patient education. Maybe it’s learning from other jurisdictions that have already wrestled with these challenges.

But I do know this.

Patients should not carry the burden of a system struggling to keep pace with medical reality. And they shouldn’t have to settle for close enough.

Patients aren't asking for special treatment. They're asking not to be singled out. If medicinal cannabis is truly a medicine, that shouldn't still be up for debate.

Until it isn't, we're not talking about progress. We're talking about tolerance. And tolerance has never been the same as equality.

Looking back across all 100, what stands out most isn’t just the cultivars themselves, but the evolution of the writing. From the very first review of MedCan’s HGH to the hundredth with Kayf’s Blueberry Royalé, there’s a clear shift in how I observe, structure, and interpret each flower. Early pieces were more narrative. Over time, they became more layered, more intentional, and more focused on chronicling what I was actually seeing and feeling rather than just reacting to it.

These reviews were never really about what I liked or didn’t like. They became about patterns. A single observation doesn’t tell you much, but when certain traits recur, they start to mean something. That’s what I’ve been trying to capture: not my preferences, but the recurring signals that build a clearer picture of each cultivar.

The visual language of AusCannaReviews has shifted shape, too. The leaf infographic that now sits across reviews didn’t begin as an original asset. It was refined from an Adobe Stock image into something that now feels distinctly “AusCannaReviews”. The rotation chart followed a similar path, evolving through feedback from you, the subscribers. The introduction of the Back Shed Takeaway, following the TGA letter, was another turning point. Neither change was part of the original vision, but both became important steps in refining how observations were recorded, interpreted, and shared. Together, they helped shape the framework that underpins AusCannaReviews today.

Seeing it all together in one index makes that progression harder to dismiss. It’s not just a list of cultivars. This is an archive of how my work has developed, how the format has tightened, and how something that started as individual posts has become its own language.

Whether you've been here from the start or you're just finding your way in, welcome.

~ Christina 💚

One hundred reviews wouldn't have been possible without the support of readers who continue to follow, share, and engage with this work. If you'd like to help support the next hundred, please consider purchasing the AusCannaReviews Journal or making a small donation using the button below.

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A

Alfie Therapeutics’s Queen Sangria

ANTG Global Selects’s Coffee Creamer

ANTG Global Selects’ Miss Kim (Discontinued)

AURA Therapeutics’s Key Lime Kush

AURA Therapeutics’ Super Sativa (Discontinued)

Aussie Budz’s Velvet Thunder

Australian Natural Therapeutics Group’s ANTG Solace

Austranna’s Indigo (Discontinued)

Avani’s Lime Haze

B

Bathera’s Blue Z

Beacon Medical's Critical Super Silver Haze

Beacon Medical Select’s Korean BBQ

Beacon Medical’s Ventura Dawg

BOB’s Bob 21 (Mandarin Delights) (Discontinued)

Broken Coast’s EmergenZ (EMZ)

Byron Bioceuticals’ Daybreak Don Green

C

Cannasseur’s Flapjacks

Cannatrek’s T24 Sapphire

Cannatrek’s T21 Tilba (Discontinued)

Cannatrek’s T25 Topaz

Chemovar’s Bling Blaow (Discontinued)

Chemovar’s Britney’s Frozen Lemons (Discontinued)

Chemovar’s Daily Grape

Chemovar’s Facetz

Chemovar’s Premo OG Kush (Discontinued)

Chemovar’s Royal Gorilla (Discontinued)

Craft Botanics’ Spritzer

Cultiva’s Lee Anne Womac

D

DENTY’s Dentys SLU (Slurricane)

E

Endoca’s Apples and Bananas

F

FOMO’s GG#4

FOMO’s Godfather’s Gift

G

Grandiosa’s Bubba Jungle Pie (Discontinued)

Grandiosa’s Bubba Mandarin Cookies (Discontinued)

GreenLit’s Zero Gravity (Discontinued)

Green Shepherd’s Queen Nandi

Green Shepherd’s Slurricane (Discontinued)

GROW’s Balanced (Mango Cheese)

GROW’s Lemon Cream Cake

GROW’s Pink Lilac

GROW’s Strawberry Cough

H

Heyday’s Biscotti Gushers

Heyday’s Double Black CBG Flower

Heyday’s Kākāriki Koha

High Country’s KK Mints

I

Iridescent Med’s (IrdcMed) Nuke

J

K

KAYF Industries’ Blueberry Royalé

KAYF Industries’ Churros

KAYF Industries’ Larry OG

KAYF Industries’ Mellows

Kind Medical’s Azure

Kind Medical’s Berry Animal (Discontinued)

Kind Medical’s Dulce

L

Little Green Pharma’s LGP Silver Mist

Lyphe Australia’s Aelleve WF Balance (Mango Haze) (Discontinued)

M

Maali’s Sky

MCA’s Exos (Ultra Pink)

MCA’s Helio (Rose Gold Pavé)

MedCan’s Frozen Lemons

MedCan’s HGH 01

MedCan’s Space Age Cake

MedCan’s Strawberry Cake

Medibis’s Maleny

MGC Pharma’s French Cookies (Discontinued)

Mother Labs’ Beta 808 (Discontinued)

Mother Labs’ Tangerine Skies (Discontinued)

Motherplant’s MRZ (Discontinued)

Mystery Mountain’s Sunset Faceoff (Discontinued)

N

O

P

Patch Therapeutics’s Jack of Hearts

Peak Harvest’s 25 CitrusQuest

PharmaCrop’s Noosa Select’s T25 (Platinum GrandDaddy Purple)

Phytoca’s Amnesia Haze

Phytoca’s Cherry Skunk

Phytoca’s Monkey Business

Phytoca’s Zurple Punch

Promethean BioParma’s Super Silver Haze (Discontinued)

Q

R

Rua Bioscience’s Rau Hiwa T23 Legacy Cultivar 01

S

SatiVite’s Moorok

Sativite’s Truro (Discontinued)

Single Estate’s Fruit Loopz

Solstrain’s Agent Orange (Discontinued)

Spectrum Therapeutics’s Canopy Hindu Kush

Spirit Bear’s Citrus Temple

Superbly Green’s Superbly Blissy

Superbly Green’s Superbly Buzzy

Superbly Green’s Superbly Dusky

Superseed’s Blueberry Purp

Superseed’s Cereal Dreams (Discontinued)

T

Tasmanian Botanics’ Amber

Tasmanian Botanics’ Amethyst

Tasmanian Botanics’ Huon (Chunky Wombat)

Tasmanian Botanics’ Garnet

Tasmanian Botanics’ Jade

Tasmanian Botanics’ Jet

Tasmanian Botanics’ King Billy (Discontinued)

Tasmanian Botanics’ Moonstone (Discontinued)

Tasmanian Botanics’ Opal

Tasmanian Botanics’ Royale

U

V

W

West Coast Palms’s Hawaiian Rain

West Coast Palms x Golden Days’ Purple Milk

X

Y

Z

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