Columbian Gold

Colombian Gold is a legendary landrace sativa from mountainous northern Colombia. Extremely popular in the U.S. in the late 1960s and 1970s, this strain has become very rare, with some cannabis historians claiming that seeds or clones of the original landrace genotype no longer exist. Whether or not Colombian Gold is still around for consumption, it has been used to breed popular staples like Skunk #1. The strain’s THC content has been measured at between 14% and 20%.

Cured buds of Colombian Gold may be unfamiliar to consumers of commercially-grown indicas and hybrids. The flowers are small to medium in size and have a loose, leafy structure, characteristic of pure sativas — cannabis connoisseurs may recognize the silhouettes of these ragged flowers as similar to Jamaican or Thai sativa landraces. The leaves are a pale spring green and are threaded through with bright orange pistils. These long, tapered buds are also very resinous: amber trichomes cover the inner and outer surfaces, giving them the golden glow to which their name refers.

When properly cured, Colombian Gold emits the pungent odor of skunk, accounting for the pungency of child strain Skunk #1. On closer inspection, the citric tang of lemon and lime is also at play. When burned, Colombian Gold has an earthy, hashy scent. Its smoke can be harsh and lung-expanding when inhaled and carries an herbal taste on the exhale. Finally, this strain can be a particularly pungent smoke; those looking to keep their consumption discreet should take any necessary precautions.

Users of this storied strain have described very potent cerebral effects. The high comes on slowly and remains heady for its duration; effects are said to last much longer than average. Creativity and talkativeness are common, as smokers’ thoughts jump from one to the next in rapid free association. A general sense of well-being is also commonly reported, as any lingering environmental stressors tend to recede into the background. Colombian Gold’s powerfully analytical mindset can be especially valuable for powering through a to-do list, whether it’s mundane or intellectually demanding. Unlike many landrace sativas, Colombian Gold is said to provide all the benefits of cerebral thinking without the common disadvantages of paranoia or recursive thinking. This strain is not known for being physically soothing or sedative — instead, it provides a burst of energy that can be put use via exercise or tasks like cleaning the house. This overall buzzy character makes Colombian Gold the quintessential wake-and-bake strain; it is not recommended for use at night, as its active energy can keep smokers wired and hyper before bed.

Colombian Gold’s wide-ranging effects can also have value for medical cannabis patients. Its enduring sense of concentration can be a boon to those with attention deficit disorders. The strain’s mood-elevating properties can also temporarily improve the symptoms of mild to moderate stress and depression. Physiologically speaking, Colombian Gold may soothe deep-seated aches and pains and relieve minor, everyday irritations like nausea and headaches. Because of its strong cerebral nature, this bud is not recommended for those who are prone to panic or who have a low tolerance for THC.

Cultivation of Colombian Gold is complicated by its rarity. Although seeds are not widely available for sale online, home growers can obtain clippings from mature plants of the strain in order to cultivate genetically identical “clones.” That said, those concerned with genetic integrity should investigate the authenticity of both clones and commercially-packaged seeds  of this strain. If true Colombian Gold is obtained, it is best grown outdoors in a consistently warm climate with partial humidity and daytime temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Plants are very tall and branchy and can be particularly resistant to mold. Although the flowering period comes very late – plants are ready for harvest in late November – this strain offers a higher than average yield. Finally, just as it is a pungent smoke, Colombian Gold can be a pungent grow; those growing indoors can keep their operations under wraps by investing in odor control measures like carbon air filters or exhaust fans.