Candyland Cannabis Strain Review

Candyland (sometimes called Kandyland, Candyland Kush, or Candyland OG) is a sativa-dominant hybrid that delivers a high that’s energetic and creative, with effects that have the potential to be overwhelming with heavy use.

Top-shelf Candyland is often a kaleidoscope of green, purple, and orange, with a thick layer of enticing, glistening trichomes accenting the colorful package. The raw flower is also pungent and sweet.

Combined with its extremely enjoyable head high and the absence of a strong body stone, Candyland provides an overall sensory experience that makes it a go-to strain for groups of like-minded friends.

This strain won the gold medal for best sativa at the widely-attended KushCon in 2012, shortly after it was introduced to the market.

Candyland Strain: Effects and Side Effects

As a heavily-dominant sativa hybrid (75% or so), Candyland provides the mental stimulation you would expect. It can boost creativity and mental energy and create a happy mood and even euphoria in some users. However, the high isn’t overly energetic for most, so the experience is likely to be more mellow and cerebral than over-the-top.

This strain has high THC content, averaging almost 20%. That makes it quite psychoactive and probably not the best choice for inexperienced smokers.

Expect Candyland to liven up any gathering or party in small doses, stimulating interaction and fun discussion. In larger doses, the conversation may become more “stoned,” and users may feel more of a body high as well.

Candyland isn’t only suitable for social use. It’s also an excellent choice for daytime use, especially if mental stimulation or a creative energy boost is needed.

Common side effects are the same as with any weed strain, including dry eyes and cottonmouth. But as a sativa, Candyland may also induce anxiety or paranoia in users who are prone to those issues. That’s not common, though; those problems are only likely to occur with overconsumption. Oh — and the munchies quite often accompany a Candyland sesh.

Positive Effects:

Energy: 5/5
Creative: 5/5
Pain: 3/5
Stress: 4/5
Sleep: 1/5
Mood: 5/5

Negative Effects:

Paranoid: 3/5
Dry Mouth: 4/5
Dry Eyes: 4/5
Lethargy: 1/5
Cough: 3/5

Bottom Line: Candyland is likely to make you happy, energetic, creative, focused, and sociable, but there’s an outside chance it may cause paranoia.

Medical Conditions

Patients suffering from serious pain will usually find more relief with an indica than a sativa. But Candyland is considered to be one of the better sativa-dominant strains for those who want to combine pain relief with a happy high that takes their mind off things.

The more common medical uses for this strain are for depression, stress, and anxiety, because of its uplifting effects. (Bear in mind our cautions about overindulgence and paranoia, however.) Candyland could also be a good choice for those dealing with ADD or ADHD because of the creativity it can spark and help those with poor appetite.

Flavor and Aroma

Smokers who enjoy complex scents and tastes will love Candyland.

The basic sensory experience is sweet and pleasant. The flower’s aroma mixes scents of berries, citrus, and pine with more pungent earthy undertones. And once you take a hit, the taste doesn’t surprise, with candy-like berry, vanilla, and honey flavors blended with herbal, pepper, and earthy notes. You may notice some spice in the smoke and the aftertaste as well.

So does Candyland taste like candy? Definitely. But there’s a lot more to savor, particularly if you’re vaping at a temperature that allows the terpenes to deliver all of their goodness.

Flavor and Aroma Ratings:

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

Cannabinoids and Terpenes

Candyland is a potent strain with an average THC content of 19% (depending on how the plants were grown and the batch your bud comes from, of course). There’s less than 1% CBD content in this strain.

An interesting mix of terpenes is found in Candyland, the reason why its aroma and flavor are so complex. Caryophyllene dominates, explaining the spicy notes that emerge when smoking, but there are also notable amounts of limonene, humulene, and myrcene.

Lineage

Candyland was created by the same legendary grower who developed the equally-legendary Granddaddy Purple.

Ken Estes says that he was trying to create a “daytime” version of GDP that wasn’t as sedating. He crossed GDP with a phenotype of Bay Platinum Cookies quite similar to Platinum GSC, and Candyland was the satisfying result.

GDP is a potent, sedating indica, and Platinum GSC is a potent, calming indica. Somehow, the cross emerged as a well-balanced, happy, and energizing strain, which also provides its parents’ mellowing effects and potency.

Similar Strains

Several popular weed strains deliver effects similar to Candyland. They include Pineapple Express, Lemon Haze, and Mimosa, although Candy Rain may be closer to Candyland in aroma and flavor while providing most of the same effects.

Candyland Strain Review: FAQ

Q: Does Candyland have a Kush heritage as well, since it’s sometimes called Candyland Kush?
A: Good catch. Candyland parent Platinum GSC is a cross between Durban Poison and OG Kush, which is probably where Candyland’s euphoric and uplifting effects come from.

Q: Does Candyland create a “giggly happy” type of high or more of a relaxed and satisfying experience?
A: It depends on the user, of course, but it’s usually somewhere in the middle. The euphoria isn’t normally great enough to send users into fits of laughter, but the high is more likely to be a sociable and talkative one rather than creating a pleasant, introspective feeling.

Q: Can Candyland be grown at home?
A: It’s a terrific choice for home growers because it’s mold- and mildew-resistant, meaning that humidity levels aren’t as great a concern in the grow room. If you want to plant outdoors, you’ll have to live in a sunny, dry, and warm climate, but the rewards are great; Candyland produces almost double its indoor yield when grown outdoors.