Black Widow Strain Review

This strain’s bite won’t be fatal, like those of the spider or the movie villains of the same name. But Black Widow still packs a big punch, with THC levels that average 22-24% and powerful effects that led to a Cannabis Cup victory in 1995.

The cerebral euphoria can be intense, erasing anxiety and stress in just an instant or two; the head high is generally creative and relaxing. Users also experience strong body relaxation which can become couch-locking and sedating with continued consumption. Black Widow is considered one of the best strains for enhancing appetite and easing mental health issues.

This weed has a sweet yet skunky aroma and a similar taste that also includes the flavors of berries, flowers, and pine. It’s most commonly found in the Western half of the nation.

Effects

The power of Black Widow’s effects is mostly dependent on the amount a user smokes.

Let’s start with the head high. It’s a powerful stress reliever, quickly eliminating the negative and recurring thoughts that cause anxiety and depression. It’s also an extremely happy buzz that provides powerful mental relaxation and may boost creativity and focus. When consumption increases, though, the cerebral effects can occasionally become trippy and disorienting.

The physical effects are similar in that last respect. Black Widow initially provides full body relaxation that isn’t incapacitating, but the more people smoke, the stronger the effects get — and they can easily become body-locking or even sleep-inducing. One other effect is worth mentioning: this strain produces some of the strongest munchies you can experience.

Black Widow can be used during the day by those who microdose with just a toke or two. They may find its creativity boost helpful at work or when tackling a to-do list. However, smoking more than that is likely to put you on the couch to enjoy the buzz for a few hours or even fall asleep, which is why most people find this strain to be a better choice for evening use.

Bottom Line: Black Widow is a potent marijuana weed that delivers exhilarating euphoria and stress relief, but unless it’s used in small doses, it’s likely to induce lethargy and can be sedating.

Positive Effects:

Energy: 2/5
Creative: 3/5
Pain: 4/5
Stress: 5/5
Sleep: 3/5
Mood: 5/5

Side Effects

Using Black Widow may lead to more side effects than most smokers are used to experiencing.

The usual dry throat and dry eyes are quite common, and the power of the strain’s cerebral euphoria can cause some users to become dizzy. The more problematic concerns are anxiety, paranoia, and panic attacks, which aren’t unusual among inexperienced smokers, those with low THC tolerance, and patients dealing with anxiety issues.

However, even veteran users may feel those same negative effects after taking one or two tokes too many, because of the potency of Black Widow. All users would be smart to go slowly with this strain until they’re familiar with its effects and its limits.

Negative Effects:

Paranoid: 3/5
Dry Mouth: 4/5
Dry Eyes: 4/5
Lethargy: 4/5
Cough: 3/5

Medical Conditions

Patients with diagnosed mental health conditions say that Black Widow is a terrific weapon against stress (including PTSD), anxiety, depression, OCD, and similar issues (as long as it doesn’t make their anxiety worse). That’s due to its ability to prevent negative thinking. Some with ADD and ADHD also say they appreciate the extra focus they get from the cerebral high.

MMJ users with insomnia say that smoking a good amount of Black Widow helps them get to sleep at night, and some with chronic pain have found that the weed can ease their muscles and joints. The medical issue that’s most often treated with this strain is poor appetite caused by eating disorders or chemotherapy; Black Widow is a common choice for those patients.

Flavor and Aroma

If there’s such a thing as a “typical weed smell,” Black Widow has one of the most enticing “typical weed smells” you can find. The aroma is a combination of classic scents: pine, skunk, berries, spice, and sweetness. Fruit and skunk are most prominent in the flavor of the smoke, but flowers, spice, and pine are also noticeable, along with some nuts, in the aftertaste.

Flavor and Aroma Ratings:

Earthy: 3/5
Citrus: 2/5
Fruity: 4/5
Spice: 3/5
Wood: 4/5

Cannabinoids and Terpenes

Hold onto your hats when you spark up; Black Widow has an average THC level between 22% and 24% and samples have tested as high as 28%. That’s among the most potent weed you can find in a dispensary. As for other cannabinoids, CBD and CBC are rarely present at levels higher than 0.5%, and there are only insignificant amounts of CBG and CBN in this strain.

Terpinolene, myrcene, and pinene are the terpenes in Black Widow that contribute much of its signature woodsy and earthy characteristics. Limonene, caryophyllene, ocimene, and humulene are in the terp mix as well.

Lineage

Black Widow was created by crossing South Indian indica and Brazilian sativa landrace strains. The origin story isn’t quite that straightforward, though.

The breeder known as Shantibaba was behind the project at Green House Seeds, and the original strain he cultivated was named and sold as White Widow. A few years later, though, he left Green House to form a new company, Mr. Nice Seeds, with the infamous Mr. Nice (Howard Marks).

Shantibaba then created a phenotype using the same landrace parents. But to avoid confusion with the original White Widow which was still being sold, he named it Black Widow. Both strains are still on the market and they each have similar characteristics, although Black Widow’s high is more relaxing and slightly less euphoric than its famous cousin.

Where to Buy Black Widow Seeds

Black Widow feminized seeds are easy to purchase online. ILGM (I Love Growing Marijuana), Home Grown Cannabis Company, and SeedSupreme are among the many vendors selling them. Standard Black Widow seeds are available from Seedsman and 420 Seeds, and auto-flowering seeds are sold by Crop King Seeds and Sunwest Genetics.

Similar Strains

As you could probably guess from our discussion of this strain’s lineage, White Widow is the bud that’s most similar to Black Widow. Others to consider include Girl Scout Cookies, Wedding Crasher, and Lava Cake.

Black Widow Strain Review: FAQ

Q: How do you grow Black Widow plants?
A: Black Widow is an easy strain to grow and it will produce good yields whether you plant it indoors or outdoors. It’s mold- and pest-resistant and takes about 8-10 weeks to flower; you’ll get the best harvest if you let it continue growing until the very end of the cycle when it becomes covered in frosty trichomes.

Q: Is there a purple version of Black Widow?
A: You’re probably thinking of the purple version of White Widow, which is a cross of White Widow and Purple Power and sold under the name Purple Widow.