Strains

Mac 1 Marijuana Strain Information & Review

Sophia Delphi July 27, 2022 - 6 min read
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Image of Mac 1 strain in a container

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Weed strains are often described as being “rare,” but Mac 1 deserves the label. The breeder who created it, Capulator, only allows selected cultivators to grow Mac 1 (also known as Mac #1, Capulator’s Cut, or Caps Cut) in order to preserve the strain’s consistency and quality. You can find it for sale, but certainly not at every dispensary.

The flower is a gorgeous mix of colors with a thick covering of extremely potent trichomes, its scent is pungent, and its flavor combines sweet citrus and sour diesel with spices and herbs. Mac 1 is a well-balanced 50/50 hybrid that delivers soaring euphoria and creativity, followed by strong relaxation.

There are several possible genetic backstories for Mac 1, but it may be a backcross of the universally-praised MAC strain. Mac 1 is even better.

Effects and Side Effects

Mac 1 may not be the right strain for new or occasional smokers; it can blow even seasoned stoners away after just a few tokes. On paper, the average THC content is around 21%, but the Mac 1 bud sold in some dispensaries is said to have THC levels approaching 30% — a potency usually only seen in the samples that growers submit to labs for analysis.

The Mac 1 experience begins quickly, with an uplifting cerebral blast that some users say makes them feel as happy as they’ve been in years. Negative thoughts immediately vanish, focus increases, and creative juices flow. This strain delivers a nearly-perfect soaring and sociable sativa head high.

But Mac 1 has an indica side that’s just as potent. The strongly-relaxing body high ensures that you don’t float away, and it makes the head high even more enjoyable by relieving physical tension and calming any nagging aches or pains. Some users find the strain to be sedating, but most just find it to be incredibly relaxing. The effects can last for hours.

There can be a downside to this type of experience, at least for those who are inexperienced users, have low THC tolerance, or are prone to anxiety issues. Mac 1 can make anxiety worse or cause dizziness for those people, and in rare cases, it may cause paranoia or panic attacks. It can also put them down for the count pretty quickly.

Otherwise, Mac 1’s common side effects are limited to dry eyes and cottonmouth, along with the possibility of increased coughing while smoking.

Positive Effects:

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

Negative Effects:

  • Paranoid: 2/5
  • Dry Mouth: 5/5
  • Dry Eyes: 4/5
  • Lethargy: 2/5
  • Cough: 3/5

Bottom Line: Mac 1 delivers a nearly-perfect “balanced strain” experience; a soaring, creative and happy head high is combined with deep mind and body relaxation. Its one of the strains with high THC levels and may be problematic for novice users, however.

Medical Conditions

The euphoric and relaxing properties of Mac 1 make it a popular strain among medical marijuana patients. They use it to help with stress and depression, and many find that it can help with the many forms of clinically-diagnosed anxiety. (Others may find it increases their anxiety levels, though, as we’ve discussed.)

Patients find Mac 1 ideal for dealing with a lot more than just stress. They say it is also able to relieve chronic muscle and joint pain, headaches, and often more serious pain; those with insomnia often use it to help them ease into a good night’s sleep, and patients with low appetites find that the strain helps them as well.

Flavor and Aroma

Mac 1 is a dank strain. Its aroma is a mix of sour diesel, citrus, floral, and herbal scents, and its flavor is similar. Diesel, oranges, and other citrus fruits, flowers, and pepper are among the tastes that discerning users will notice, along with a sweet and earthy aftertaste.

That may not sound enticing to some readers — but it’s definitely tasty.

Flavor and Aroma Ratings:

  • Earthy: 3/5
  • Citrus: 3/5
  • Fruity: 3/5
  • Spice: 3/5
  • Wood: 3/5

Cannabinoids and Terpenes

We’ve already hit the highlight here: Mac 1 averages 21% THC content, but if you’re able to find the strain, it’s quite possible the flower you purchase will contain much higher levels of the cannabinoid. In short, Mac 1 is a heavy hitter. There’s very little CBD in this strain, although CBG can approach 1%.

The dominant terpenes in Mac 1 are limonene (which contributes to citrus notes), terpinolene (floral and sweet), myrcene, and pinene (earthy).

Lineage

Mac 1 is the product of the Oregon breeder Capulator, which also created its namesake strain Miracle Alien Cookies (MAC for short). And there are several theories on how Capulator came up with Mac 1.

The most popular theory claims that Mac 1 is a backcross strain of MAC, meaning that MAC was crossbred with a clone of itself to strengthen its most desirable characteristics.

Another possibility is that the original MAC was crossed with Starfighter (a revered indica-dominant strain) and a Columbian landrace strain to produce Mac 1. And some believe that Mac 1 is the product of Alien Cookies F2 crossed with Miracle 15.

Capulator isn’t saying, and it won’t release genetic information for Mac 1. But whatever the breeder did, it definitely worked.

Similar Strains

Strains that can produce similar effects to Mac 1 include Sugar Cookies, LSD, Purple Punch, and Blueberry Haze; weed that tastes a lot like Mac 1 includes Trainwreck and Cereal Milk.

But of course, the closest strain to Mac 1 will be its parent and namesake, Miracle Alien Cookies.

Mac 1 Strain: FAQ

Q: Is Mac 1 better than the original MAC strain?
A: Yes, but not by much. Mac 1 usually has a higher THC content, its buds are frostier, and the Mac 1 high is usually longer lasting. You can’t go wrong either way, though.

Q: Can you grow Mac 1 at home?
A: Theoretically, yes. But unfortunately, Capulator is keeping the strain’s seeds proprietary, meaning only approved growers can get them. Some online seed banks sell “Mac 1 seeds,” but caveat emptor; those may or not be real Mac 1 seeds. And if you’re able to get actual Mac 1 seeds, you’d better be an experienced grower, because the crossbreeding that produced them has made them very temperamental plants that need lots of patience and expert care and are slow to grow.