I would like to pause and express my incredible gratitude to all of the people who have grown cannabis for my consumption for years and fought for my right to grow and consume it now. I never thought this would be possible to share/experience something like this in my lifetime.
My first harvest in November 2023 resulted in a little more than ⅛ of an ounce. My second harvest in March 2024 was slightly more than a ¼ of an oz. But this grow yielded just under a pound! It has been an incredibly humbling journey to get to this moment, and I still have so much to learn, but it feels amazing to be able to enjoy cannabis grown with my own two hands.
I will admit, I was concerned I would grow tired of consuming the same strain–because I am one of those people who always need to try the next new strain–but there has not been a single moment where I don’t enjoy what I grew. In fact, and perhaps this is biased, I enjoy this cannabis more than anything I have ever had.
Banizzle combines (Banana Punch x Star Dawg) x Wedding Cake x Wilson F2, an intriguing combination of old-school meets new-school, with very high THC (25%-30%). It is a true hybrid, with a buzz of physical energy and an easing of all pain in the body. But what seems so unique is that I feel both things simultaneously instead of one after the other.
I enjoy this strain equally well during the day and at night without any sense of unease or paranoia. If I consume enough, it stops me and makes the present so big I can’t consider anything else–but it is a benevolent energy that provokes gratitude and appreciation.
The flavor is wonderful–a light banana with a tiny bite of grapefruit and lime. At times, I detect a hint of berry and rose hips. But there’s a certain richness, like a fine cigar or the oakiness of a good Cabernet. And there’s a long finish, spicy at times, with buttery popcorn notes. The flavor lingers and dances on your tongue, tingling and satisfying like a cigarette, but light and smooth.
I thought it would be fun to meet other home growers and share what I had made. So, I entered a home grow competition. There were so many incredibly talented/knowledgeable people there, including TheCannaProphet (definitely check out his diaries if you have some time, with 45+ years of growing experience, he is a true pro). I will have to admit–I had a massive sense of imposter syndrome when I saw the incredible stuff they grew. But everyone there was so incredibly kind and generous, and I walked away with some powerful tips.
After all the highs and lows, lessons learned, and researching to the point of obsession, I am incredibly excited to take that knowledge and experience to grow again.
