Welcome to the launch of Illinois News Joint’s inaugural Medical Patient Homegrown review series in which we showcases lab-tested homegrown medicine from Illinois patients in order to better educate our readers about exactly what Illinois patients are legally growing and why they are doing it.

The series starts with John Grow #1. JG1 submitted to Origo Labs his most recently harvested Cookies & Cream #7 for Cannabinoids and Terpenes tests. Cookies & Cream #7 is a hybrid cross between Starfighter F2 and an undisclosed Girl Scout Cookies phenotype.

Lab Results

Date Analyzed: 12/28/2020

Date Completed: 12/30/2020

The Cookies & Cream #7 tested at 20.205% total THC, 0.984% total CBGA, and 24.001% total Cannabinoids. As the Origo Labs pie chart reports, this strain’s top four terpenes included limonene (32.59%), trans-caryophyllene (25.02%), limonene (32.59%), and Linalool (20.19%). The secondary terpenes of α-humulene, β-pinene, α-Pinene, terpineol, camphene, fenchyl alcohol, and β-myrcene combined for the final 20%.

The Medical Results

The three sample buds of Cookies & Cream #7 are sticky and dark green and purple, almost gray, with rusty pistils and tiny trichomes beads throughout. The terpenes profile of this strain provides a diverse smell and flavor. The smell is overwhelmingly sweet with heavy notes of pepper and citrus. But the flavor is one of the creamiest and sweetest you’ll ever sample.

Though super sweet and creamy, the taste is dynamic, as if the top terpenes are battling for control over which one is going to push to the forefront of flavor for each toke. One toke leads with a dominant citrus from the limonene, then another leads with the pepper and spice from the caryophyllene, and yet another with a flowery pine from the minor terpenes.

The strong cerebral effects don’t overwhelm you at first but rather build and build into an incredible high that lands heavy in the forehead and temples. Early in the dosing, the cerebral buzz is clear headed enough to work or relax with music, television, or gaming. With higher doses though, the cerebral high gradually losses its focus and eventually leads to sedation (small amounts of terpineol and fenchyl alcohol seemed to do that).

The most impressive characteristic of this homegrown medicine is the hellacious body buzz. As with the cerebral high, the body buzz slowly builds and builds until it washes over in muscle-relaxing and pain-relieving waves. Both the cerebral and body highs last for hours and probably best used in the evening or early night to relax muscle aches and pains.

Medical Patient Homegrown vs. Cultivators

For each review, we will compare each strain to the access medical patients and recreational users have to dispensary flower for patients and future patients who are considering growing for themselves. The question we will answer: Is this Medical Patient Homegrown not as good as, as good as, or better than dispensary flower? Or is it the fire of Illinois medicine?

First, we have not seen Cookies & Cream #7 on any Illinois menu, so that’s an easy win for Medical Patient Homegrown. Second, the Medical Patient Homegrown’s drying, curing, and trimming are second to none. Next, the medical effects of the Cookies & Cream #7’s 20% total THC has stronger effects and a better terpenes profile than some of the dispensary flower listed in the high twenties or low thirty percent. So the sample of this Medical Patient Homegrown, John Grown #1, is caught in-between “better than the dispensary flower” and “the fire of Illinois medicine.”

Patient Growing Experience

How long have you been a registered Illinois medical patient? Six months.

How long have you been growing your own medicine? Around two years.

Why did you start growing your own medicine? To provide myself clean, safe cannabis. I feel best knowing everything that went into growing my medicine.

What do you want to add about growing at home in Illinois? Start with good genetics, perfect your environment, and there is no limit on the quality that you can produce!

The patient requested this information be released: Ben Pfeifer can be found on Instagram @ben.pfeifer.32 and Facebook or by email at fife4life7@yahoo.com.

If you are a registered patient in Illinois and would like for us to review your medicine, please contact J. L. Brown for more information at [wpmt_protect]editor@illinoisnewsjoint.com[/wpmt_protect]

For all Medical Patient Homegrown reviews, patients must have their medicine tested for Cannabinoids and Terpenes with our partners Origo Labs (use code ILNEWSJOINT in the submission application for a 10% discount). Patient names will not be released, unless requested. Each patient’s review is assigned a Jane Grow or John Grow #, which that patient will continue to use for all subsequent reviews. These reviews feature a patient’s medicine. IT IS NOT FOR SALE. DO NOT ASK US!

For more Medical Patient Homegrown reviews, click here.

FDA Disclaimer: The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from healthcare practitioners. Please consult your healthcare professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product.