Cannabis is by no means a new phenomenon; its human consumption can be traced back thousands of years and is, according to ElSohly, indigenous to Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that the Thai Stick strain has the same endemic origins.
In the earlier centuries, cannabis resin, otherwise known as hash or hashish, was consumed in various different forms, not unlike the multiple ways it can be consumed today. According to John Charles Chasteen, author of “Getting High: Marijuana through the Ages,” hashish was taken in edible form up until the 1500s, as smoking was not commonly practiced until tobacco was introduced.
There are two major types of cannabis plants – indica and sativa – which yield different strains. These strains can impact each individual’s mind and body in a different way, resulting in both medical and recreational benefits. Indica is said to provide a physical high with deep relaxation whilst sativa is said to provide a more cerebral and vitalising effect.
With this knowledge in hand, let’s get into more detail on what kind of effects this popular strain can provide for its users.
Thai Stick Origins
Thai Stick is a sativa strain that originates from Thailand, a country where cannabis has a deep and storied past. Thai Stick’s name comes from the manner in which the northeast hill tribes in Thailand would dry and cure cannabis buds.
In order to increase the potency, flavour, longevity and quality of the cannabis buds, freshly harvested cannabis requires an additional processing step known as curing. These tribes processed their cannabis by tying them to sticks and using a silk line to hold the buds together around hemp or bamboo sticks, giving this strain its trademark name.
Thai Stick Strain: What Are Its Effects?
As a pure Sativa landrace cannabis type, this strain features a gradual high that builds over time into an energetic euphoria. Despite being so pure and reaping such zestful and dynamic benefits, it’s also claimed to be a great relaxant of the body as well.
A repercussion of the extra liveliness is an increased heart rate so, though it’s a great medical strain for mental illnesses such as depression or bipolar, it’s probably best avoided for those who suffer from mild to severe anxiety disorders as it runs the risk of aggravating symptoms.
Nevertheless, with a sweet and tropical flavour, the Thai Stick strain (which only made its way to the United States in the 1970s and 1980s) goes down smooth. It seems that this also comes across in its scent, tasting and smelling like a blend of sugar and potpourri. This sweet undertone is enhanced in equal measure through its spiciness.
Who, What and Where?
As earlier mentioned and as its name would suggest, the Thai Stick strain originates from Thailand. The traditional way to smoke the Thai Stick strain would be to skewer the buds onto sticks of bamboo or stalks of hemp. After this, the nugs would be secured with fibres pulled directly from the cannabis plant, rolled into a joint and dipped in hash oil and rolled around in kief for added strength before finally being burned.
With the strain being assimilated into western cannabis practices, any method of consumption involving dipping a joint in hash oil before covering it in kief is, confusingly, also known as a Thai Stick.
These practices are far more common in its native Thailand than elsewhere and, though the novelty of the physical blunt can be complicated to emulate, the strain is still cheap to obtain and enjoy on an international level.
The seeds can be readily found online and, as with most landrace strains, are typically simple to grow. To revert back to older forms of cannabis consumption, this makes the Thai Stick strain a great choice to turn into concentrates.
This plant can yield above average, especially in sub-tropical outdoor environments and, though it is also possible to grow indoors, will require a little patience. Grown indoors, it can take around eleven weeks to flower but, on the bright side and as a reward for your time, can yield around thirteen ounces per square meter planted.
One thing to bear in mind, however, is that it can be harder to grow indoors because it can grow up to about fifteen feet tall. If you’d rather grow it outdoors, you’ll need a humid climate to do so in. Again, this process should take about eleven weeks before it’s ready for harvest. The longer you leave it, though, the more potent it’ll be, and the taste will be unaffected!
Concluding Thoughts on Thai Stick
With such a long and storied past, you’ll be hard pressed to find any cannabis connoisseur who hasn’t heard of this famously potent sativa. Enjoyed in the west by tokers since its arrival into America in the 70s and 80s, this strain has been crossbred with many strains that you may already know and love today. Strains such as ‘Voodoo,’ ‘Juicy Fruit’ and even ‘Haze.’
With a uniquely fruity aroma coupled with notes of citrus, this cerebral sativa is perfect for daytime use and social events. Armed with such exhaustive knowledge, perhaps you’ll be more appreciative of the Thai Stick strain the next time you enjoy it!
