Love Potion #1 (not to be confused with Love Potion #9) is a sativa-dominant strain that provides buzzy energy and an intense cerebral mindset.True to its name, Love Potion #1 can also serve as a strong aphrodisiac in right set and setting. Created by Reeferman Seeds, this upbeat bud is a cross between alleged government mind control substance G13 and a Colombian Gold sativa landrace. What results is a dank, lemon-tinged flavor profile and a laser-focused high that’s potent for even experienced cannabis consumers. Love Potion’s effects even earned it the title of Best Sativa in the 2004 High Times Cannabis Cup. This strain’s THC content has been measured at between 8% and 18%.

Love Potion #1’s flowers are small to medium in size and cling together in solid, almost spherical nugs. These buds have the dense structure usually associated with indicas. The leaves are a deep, rich olive green and are twisted through with orange to brown hairs (which are actually pistils, structures intended to catch pollen from fertilizing male plants). Finally, amber-colored trichomes cover the inner and outer surfaces of these heavy flowers, giving them a resinous texture and a slightly yellow sheen.

When properly cured, Love Potion #1’s flowers give off a woodsy scent that mixes notes of damp earth and pine. There are also some citrus hints lurking underneath to brighten up the overall impression. Meanwhile, grinding up the sticky buds gives off a skunky-sweet pungency, a testament to the strain’s Colombian heritage. When combusted in a joint or a pipe, Love Potion’s smoke can give off a harsh, acrid smoke that might induce coughing for the uninitiated. On the exhale though, this smoke has a refreshingly piney and lime flavor.

Love Potion #1 takes hold quickly, striking the smoker with a tingle that affects the neck and forehead at first. This sensation soon spreads throughout the body, accompanied by a newfound alertness that can open users up to otherwise uninteresting external stimuli. As the soothing, subtle body high sets in, it begins to calm nerves and any lingering muscular tension. As such, Love Potion is often said to lower inhibitions and provoke the libido, making for some enjoyable intoxicated sex. Even if you’re not exactly in the mood, though, Love Potion’s unique combination of physical and mental stimulation makes it a great way to enjoy activities that call for both physical and mental coordination — including, but not limited to, exercise and video games. The strain is also good for accomplishing work, whether it’s task-based and analytical or more free and creative. As the high wears on or as dosage is increased, the body stone becomes slightly more pronounced, allowing smokers to kick back and savor the bud’s glowing euphoria. Best enjoyed during the daytime, Love Potion #1 is your ticket to some afternoon delight.

Love Potion #1 can also have several applications for medical cannabis patients. Its lucid sense of focus can be a boon to those with attention deficit disorders, while its mood-elevating properties may temporarily improve the symptoms of stress and depression. Physiologically speaking, Love Potion’s body high can relieve all kinds of aches and pains, both temporary and chronic. Its anti-inflammatory properties can also take care of irritations like headaches and nausea. Because it can bring about some fairly intense, recursive patterns of thinking, this strain is not recommended for patients who are prone to panic and paranoia or who have a low THC tolerance.

Seeds of Love Potion #1 can be obtained from some online retailers. Alternatively, home growers can seek clippings of mature, healthy plants in order to grow genetically identical “clones.” The strain can be grown indoors or out, although success outdoors calls for a semi-humid, almost Mediterranean climate. Breeder Reeferman cautions that Love Potion is particularly sensitive to light, and that indoor growers should allow for total darkness at nighttime. As with many sativas, this strain has a long flowering time and is only ready for harvest after 10 to 11 weeks.

Whether or not you’re using it to enhance your sex life, Love Potion #1’s high-powered energy makes it a must-try for sativa lovers. It’s also a very social strain that can be a treat to break out at parties.