Our intrepid ganja chronnoisseur, Dragonfly, travels the world in search of the best cannabis and evaluates strains ranging from the popular and plentiful to the rare and exotic. She samples each strain in joints, glass bongs, vaporizers and bubblers, whenever available, taking careful notes of the smell, taste, and nuanced effects of each one. (photo Dragonfly de la Luz)

Famously known as the parent (along with Chem ’91) of the original Sour Diesel strain, Mass was a rare and outstanding phenotype discovered in an ’86 seed pack from the Super Sativa Seed Company’s (now Sensi Seeds) Super Skunk by a grower named Weasel. Unrelated to the more common Dutch Super Skunk, Massachusetts Super Skunk is a highly energetic strain that serves as a perfectly functional daytime high. Although it is not commonly found, Mass is widely held as one of the premier skunk strains, and highly regarded among cannabis enthusiasts.

The smell: Massachusetts Super Skunk smells sweet and sour, dank and skunky. Some phenotypes of this skunk are of the road-kill variety, but the one I sampled for this review has a lingering, sweet fruitiness.

The dry hit: A sweet and sour aroma at the onset gives way to a hint of mint in the after-taste.

The flavor: Featuring strong Chem Dawg and Diesel similarities, Mass has a pungent flavor of sweet skunky and fuel with soft creamy undertones to round out the sharp petrol notes. A distinct coating of the tongue lingers in the mouth.

The cloud: The smell of recently puffed Massachusetts Super Skunk is highly aromatic. Its predominant scent is on the sweeter side of skunk, but it is punctuated with soft citrus—something of a cross between lemon and mango.

The high: Massachusetts Super Skunk offers an uplifting sativa high that ranges from a mild, very natural-feeling buzz to an electrical, energetic charge. Surprisingly versatile, it also can produce a clear, introspective, cerebral experience, creating space for clarity and self-reflection. It is excellent at stimulating creativity. Mass is also reportedly useful for depression and mild pain relief. This creeper sets in after about 10 minutes.

The word: Although this closely-guarded boutique strain is somewhat of a rare find, it has been known to float around the East Coast and Northern California from time to time. It’s an excellent strain to have on hand to draw contentment from a rainy day, or to enhance an already good mood.