Item 9

Item 9 may sound like a science experiment (in a sense, all new cannabis strains are!) but its pleasant warming and happiness-inducing effects make up for it. Item 9 is a cross between three strains (G13, Exodus Cheese, and Hawaiian), bred by the folks at Cryptic Labs. Based on the strain’s heritage, you may have realized that the strain has a funky mix of flavors that go from potent cheese to tropical fruit. The heavy nugs and high THC make it seem like a power hitter even in your hand. Continue reading to learn about what you can expect from the strain if you decide to light up.

The Item 9 buds are heavy, round balls, light minty green in color but struck with bright pinpoints of orange hairs and a few light orange trichomes. The buds themselves are pungent, foreshadowing the stinky cheese and mango concoction they contain. With THC levels in the mid-20s, users with a little experience may get more from Item 9. Growing the strain may require a little more experience too as you take on the strain’s 63–70-day average growing time indoors (expect a mid-October harvest if you grow it outside).

GROWING TIPS: We recommend using the Screen of Green growing method (ScrOg) to maximize the yield of your Item 9 plants. This allows you to coax the branches into horizontal growing positions and expose them to more light, which is a particularly useful tactic with the Item 9’s more Sativa-like growing structure (it’s genetically 70/30 in Sativa/Indica).

The terpenes give the strain a sweet tropical flavor at first, like mango mixed with sour pineapple, that evolves into something funkier as tastes of savory blue cheese, chemmy undertones, and a hint of tobacco creep in. These flavors may not be for everyone, but they come with a lifting, energetic high that fans of high-class Sativas know and love.

The Item 9 high begins as a sense of rushing clarity and energy. You’ll feel creatively focused and motivated as energy gradually mounts in your mind and body. You’ll feel more focused than normal, with a hint of tingling relaxation. Your to-do list won’t stand a chance on Item 9! Neither will a bout of nausea, a chronic pain condition, or a low-level appetite. Those who find themselves down for the count with headaches and migraines at the end of a long week could use Item 9’s citrus-cheese cocktail to get a grip on their headspace.

Don’t dose it too high if you’re not prepared for the rush! With 25% THC and a pungent funk on its side, Item 9 can be a lot to handle. But it’s worth the effort if your stomach is up to the challenge.