Strain Integrity

According to Leafly, “Known for its sweet smell of fresh strawberries and an expanding sensation that can make even the most seasoned consumer cough, Strawberry Cough is a potent strain with mysterious genetic origins. The skunky, berry flavors will capture your senses while the cerebral, uplifting effects provide an aura of euphoria that is sure to leave a smile on your face. Strawberry Cough is a great solution in times of elevated stress.”

According to Qwest, “ Vision Qwest boasts a heritage of satisfaction spanning generations. Revered for its affluent lineage it has a rich & sprawling variety of phenotypes. The enticing taste of strawberry will please any sweet tooth.  Cerebral and uplifting, a productive smoke. This is Strawberry Cough the way it was meant to be. ”

A perfect coffee replacement?

We are particularly excited to try Qwest’s Strawberry Cough for the first time from this licensed producer.  The pricing is $56.65 for 3.5 grams, which is second only to Whistler Medical’s recreational price of $79.30 for 3.5 grams.  This is crazy pricing.  So, it better be crazy good.  We are excited.

The buds are dense but light typical of hybrids.  There is no over powering scent but hints of floral sweetness is there.  Unlike Leafly description of the Cough part, Qwest Strawberry Cough is smooth and flavourful.  THC was 19.51%, which is competitive against Whistler Medical’s Strawberry Short Cookies of 21.46%.  The effects are similar.

The high hits fast and by the time you finish your joint you are on the express train.  It doesn’t slow down.  The first change is immediate clarity and calmness followed by an uplifting mood.  There is an energy rise but it is in the background and there is no edginess.   Over the next half hour your neurons will light up and the cerebral explosion can be a bit debilitating, which can be moderated by the right dosing.   It is a very enjoyable high.

Uplifting cerebral intensity with a calmness is what Qwest Strawberry delivers.  There is very little tiredness at the end of 3 or 4 hours.  This is a perfect coffee replacement.

Conclusion

Vision Qwest aka Strawberry Cough by Qwest

Our take away from this review is “there are really good producers out there and they are coming to market.”   We are splitting hairs when comparing top producers and their products.  Whistler Medical rendition of Strawberry Short Cookies  is as good or a tiny bit better than Qwest Strawberry Cough and they both deliver similar effects.  The pricing, however, is not the same and therefore warrants some consideration.  At $56.65 for 3.5 grams, we are at the stratosphere of cannabis pricing.  And, that cannot be good.

THC:  19.51%

Quality:  8.2

Intensity:  8.2

Duration:  8.0

Total:  8.1

Market conditions are expected and will improve and pricing will decline.  If the grey market top shelf pricing is $300 an ounce pre-legalisation, that is a bench mark of what the market will bear for the best products.  Grey market pricing have been stable for decades.  If we were to add the extra cost related to legal production protocols, we would arrive at the current pricing for top shelf products like Qwest who are clearly delivering one of the highest quality cannabis.  The legal production protocols include government distribution cost and regulatory requirements for packaging, which are areas where further cost reduction is possible.  Infrastructure optimization will reduce cost and expand product offering.   We believe this will happen.

As for Qwest, they are based in the interior of BC, another prolific area of pre-legalization cannabis production.  The techniques and philosophy of cannabis growing emanated from the west coast (the Sunshine Coast and the Vancouver Islands) in the last two decades to the east coast.  Qwest appears to be private.  For potential cannabis investor, this is an interesting investment opportunity.   These are the type of companies investors should pay attention to … companies that can produce great products … not capacity but quality.

Activity pairing for this strain is anything that goes well with coffee will go well with this strain.