Marijuana Strain Review: Afghani Kush at Magnolia Road Cannabis Co.

With so many pot shops to choose from in Denver, it’s sometimes easy to forget our skunky friends in Boulder. And shame on me for doing so: Unlike the generic adulting that many Denver dispensaries have gone through, almost every shop in Boulder gives off a vibe all its own. Magnolia Road Cannabis Co., at 1750 30th Street, might be the exception: From the bland Boulder strip mall where it’s located to the dull, gray bud rooms, there’s nothing about the shop that screams "Boulder bohemian." But I’m a strain reviewer, not an interior designer — so the weed jars were the only decorations I needed to check out.

My budtender said she was a cultivator for Magnolia Road’s medical grow (which has different strains than its retail side) and was filling in for an absent employee on the rec side, so she didn’t have much experience with the buds I was browsing. I decided to take a shot in the dark and pick the first one she presented, which happened to be some Afghani Kush. Happy to review a classic, I bought a gram for a little over $15 and saved it for a later evening.

Afghani Kush is a naturally growing indica from the Hindu Kush mountains and a founding father in the strain world. Sometimes referred to as a landrace because of its pure effects and genetics, Afghani Kush has an innate dankness that hits a warm spot in the heart of anyone looking to get sedated. When I opened the bottle, smells of berries and firewood jumped out, with a little tinge of hash lingering behind. Pinching one of the bright-green buds released even more pungent and sweet, earthy scents, and my fingers became sticky with ’Ghani resin.

My sticky fingers and Afghani’s reputation set me up for high expectations, so I finished my laundry and readied my junk food before lighting up a few bowls on a Sunday night. The smoke was smooth and dominated by berry flavors but also had a hint of bubble gum at the end. My body felt it quickly, and the three bowls I was planning turned into two — any more would’ve been unnecessary. The couch and I soon became one, and thank goodness for my munchie preparations: With plenty of Pringles, frozen Snickers and Gatorade at my disposal, I didn’t have to move for hours. Obviously made for nighttime and relaxation (or, in my case, pure hedonism), Magnolia Road’s Afghani Kush delivered on its well-deserved hype and once again proves that dispensary decor doesn’t mean shit.

Strain Gang is our weekly critique of a cannabis strain at a recreational store. Have a suggestion for a strain review? Send it to [email protected].