Girl Scout Cookies

Strain Type: Indica Dominant Hybrid (60% Indica | 40% Sativa)

Dominant Terpenes: Caryophyllene, Limonene, Pinene, Myrcene

Cannabinoid Content: THC: 19-24% | CBD: 1%

Popular for Treating: Stress, Depression, Anxiety, Pain, Headaches

Positive Effects: Creative, Euphoric, Uplifting, Focused, Relaxed

Negative Effects: Paranoid, Dry Mouth, Dry Eyes, Short Term Memory Fog

Girl Scout Cookies (GSC) is an award-winning, indica-dominant hybrid renowned for its recreational and medical benefits. As one of the most popular strains on the market today, GSC is known to deliver a highly euphoric cerebral buzz, while relaxing the muscles to melt stress and discomfort away.

In addition to recreational effects that are described as “fun” and “happy” by consumers nationwide, GSC is also known to deliver serious medical benefits–particularly for those treating anxiety, depression, stress, pain, and much more.

Below, we discuss the full range of effects and benefits associated with GSC for both medical and recreational purposes. In collecting this information, we’ve combined hundreds of reviews from real consumers, with scientific studies on its dominant terpenes, to help patients decide whether GSC is right for them.

By synthesizing the scientifically-backed benefits of this strain’s compounds with feedback from real consumers, we aim to offer a more holistic, informative strain review than others available online.

Strain Characteristics & Cannabinoid Content

GSC is a fairly balanced hybrid, averaging 60% indica and 40% sativa, though consumers describe its effects as a perfect balance between the two. This high-potency strain has robust THC levels averaging 19-24%, with relatively low CBD levels of just 0-1%.

Girl Scout Cookies Genetics

Girl Scout Cookies is the award-winning creation of Cookies Cannabis, a San Francisco-based breeder collective headed by cannabis mogul Berner Cookies. This hybrid is the offspring of two classic, time-tested parent strains: OG Kush (hybrid) and Durban Poison (sativa).

OG Kush (aka Premium Kush) is a world-famous, balanced hybrid that gives GSC its signature euphoria and citrus-pine flavor. Averaging 55% sativa and 45% indica, OG Kush captures the best of both worlds, delivering a euphoric, cerebral head high and a calming, pain-relieving body buzz. Since it emerged in Florida in the 1990s, this strain has become a staple for recreational consumers looking for powerful psychoactive effects, and for relief from depression, anxiety, pain, and headaches.

Originating from the South African port city of Durban, Durban Poison is a pure sativa with THC levels averaging 19%. As one of the more stimulating sativas on the market today, Durban Poison delivers a heavily cerebral high that leaves consumers feeling energized, focused, and creative. These effects make Durban Poison popular for daytime use, and for treating depression, anxiety, and fatigue.

Smell, Taste, and Appearance

Girl Scout Cookies produces spear-shaped flowers in bright purple and green hues, featuring bold orange pistils and a thick, crystalline trichome coating. GSC is known for a pungent and sweet aroma and an earthy, citrusy flavor.

Terpene Profile

Girl Scout Cookies effects are consistent with the benefits of its dominant terpenes: caryophyllene, limonene, pinene, and myrcene. Terpenes are naturally-occurring compounds that give cannabis strains and other plants their distinctive aromas, while offering therapeutic benefits often harnessed in essential oils.

Why Terpenes Matter

Alongside cannabinoids, terpenes are key contributors to the distinctive characteristics of each strain. Different cannabis strains have different terpene profiles, which is why the high you experience from marijuana may differ from one strain to the next. GSC’s dominant terpenes are diverse in character: some are uplifting, while others are relaxing, which is why this strain delivers such balanced effects. But each terpene in GSC has serious medical benefits that have contributed to this strain’s popularity among recreational and medical consumers alike.

When selecting the right strain for you, it’s important to pay attention to terpene content. Most cannabis terpenes have been widely studied for their unique effects and benefits, and are linked to various therapeutic properties. By keeping track of the terpenes in your favorite strains, you can make an educated guess on which options will deliver both the recreational effects, and medicinal benefits, that are best-suited to your unique needs and desires.

Caryophyllene

Caryophyllene is a dominant terpene in GSC that delivers powerful antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects, supporting mental health by regulating the brain’s emotional responses to stress. Caryophyllene promotes emotional well-being, while relieving physical discomfort by reducing inflammation and pain, and its unique mechanisms of action may make this terpene particularly helpful in managing conditions such as arthritis, MS, and neuropathy. This terpene is also an antioxidant with neuroprotective benefits, and some studies suggest that it may even exhibit anticancer activity. All of these benefits make caryophyllene a key contributor to GSC’s signature blend of euphoria, relaxation, and relief.

Limonene

Limonene is a citrusy terpene found in lemons, and is known for its uplifting, mood-boosting effects, which makes it a key player in GSC’s renowned mental health benefits. Limonene benefits mental health by regulating neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, all of which are involved in conditions including anxiety, depression, ADHD, and OCD. This terpene elevates mood, enhances cognition, and improves alertness and focus. Moreover, its neuroprotective benefits could support cognitive health in the longer-term.

In addition, limonene acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, and is known for its ability to reduce pain, and to aid in the management of conditions such as GI disorders and fibromyalgia.

Pinene

Pinene is an uplifting, mood-boosting terpene that contributes to GSC’s invigorating cerebral effects. This terpene has been shown to enhance focus, alertness, and mood, while enhancing memory and cognition, enhancing mental clarity while inducing a state of mind that researchers describe as calm, content, and alert. Pinene is suggested to combat anxiety and depression, while alleviating physical and mental fatigue, and may support long-term cognitive health as an antioxidant and neuroprotective.

Pinene also offers relief from physical discomfort by combating inflammation, pain, and neuropathic pain, and has been shown to benefit those suffering from sciatica, osteoarthritis, and migraines. And when combined with THC, pinene also acts as a bronchodilator, opening the airways to increase the oxygen flow to the lungs.

Myrcene

Myrcene is the most prevalent compound in cannabis, and a predominant terpene in nearly all strains–including GSC. Though myrcene is found in all strains, it is more concentrated in indicas that produce sedating effects. But in GSC, a balanced hybrid, lower concentrations of myrcene allow consumers to bypass sedation while still reaping myrcene’s therapeutic benefits–which are highly significant, and not to be ignored when assessing the full medicinal potential of this strain. Myrcene is a key contributor to the physical comfort that GSC delivers: this terpene acts as a muscle relaxant, while providing relief from pain–possibly by acting upon opiate receptors--and easing inflammation and arthritis. And like other terpenes in this strain, myrcene is a powerful antioxidant that may exhibit antitumor and anticancer effects.

What Consumers are Saying:

The Positives

But what do consumers say about Girl Scout Cookies? Here at Nationwide Dispensaries, we’ve gathered thousands of firsthand reports to distill the most important benefits and effects that patients attribute to this strain.

Though reviews are inherently anecdotal, many of these reported benefits are, in fact, highly consistent with the scientifically-backed benefits of GSC’s dominant terpenes. This overlap suggests that in GSC, these therapeutic compounds synchronize with THC to deliver their benefits in prime form.

Below are some of the key traits and phrases that consumers have used to describe the effects of this strain.

The Perfect Mind-Body Balance. Though GSC is slightly indica-dominant, many consumers describe its effects as the perfect balance between indica and sativa strains. GSC delivers the pronounced euphoric, cerebral high that sativa fans love, while also delivering full-body relaxation and pain relief typically associated with indicas–minus the couchlock effect. This makes GSC ideal for a variety of occasions, allowing patients to manage symptoms anytime without feeling overly restless or sedated.

Euphoric, “Happy,” and “Fun.” Consumers of GSC can’t overemphasize the euphoria that this strain delivers. GSC boosts mood to deliver a high that is described in countless reviews as “happy” and “fun,” leaving consumers feeling uplifted, talkative, sociable, and giggly. For this reason, GSC is a go-to for many patients managing depression, anxiety, PTSD, and stress.

Great for Physical Discomfort & Symptom Relief. Despite its enticing recreational benefits, GSC is also touted as one of the most effective medical strains for relief from a variety of ailments. Consumers who struggle with pain, nausea, headaches, appetite loss, and other forms of physical discomfort often turn to GSC for instantaneous symptom relief.

Full Body Relaxation. GSC is packed with therapeutic terpenes that give it a pronounced muscle relaxing effect, making this strain excellent for muscle tension, spasms, and cramps. GSC is said to relax the body while easing the joints and muscles, assuaging aches, pains, and tension to leave the consumer feeling comfortable and content–all without the “couchlock” typically attributed to strong body highs.

Great for Anxiety and Stress Relief. GSC also helps consumers manage anxiety and stress. Some consumers call it a go-to when facing panic attacks, while others say GSC helps them put everyday stressors in perspective, allowing them to truly unwind.

Cerebral, “Heady,” & Meditative. Countless consumers have taken time to point out that though GSC may not be a pure or classic sativa, it is nonetheless highly cerebral, delivering effects that have been described as “heady” and “meditative.”

Creative & Focused. Patients also describe the GSC head high as creative and focused. This may be the result of key terpenes such as limonene and pinene, which have been shown to impact focus, perception, and cognitive function.

Talkative, Giggly, and Social. Because it delivers a powerful rush of euphoria and invigorating cerebral effects, GSC is also described as excellent for social occasions: this “fun” strain is known to leave consumers feeling giggly, talkative, and engaged in social situations, allowing consumers to embrace and enjoy the company of others.

Excellent for Pain and Headaches. A survey of GSC reviews reveals remarkable testimonies about its ability to relieve pain: in fact, many consumers say its among the best strains for pain they’ve ever tried, particularly among those struggling with chronic pain, nerve pain, and headaches.

Appetite Stimulant. Nearly all strains stimulate appetite–but consumers say that when it comes to feeling hungry, GSC is second to none, making this strain excellent for those suffering from nausea or reduced appetite.

The Negatives

GSC’s positive effects have given this strain nationwide popularity. Nonetheless, this strain may not be ideal for all consumers. In general, strains with high THC and low CBD levels may be a better fit for more experienced users, or for those looking for more intense symptom relief. Though negative experiences–like positive experiences–can be idiosyncratic, here are some of the main drawbacks that consumers have reported while using this strain.

Paranoia. With high levels of THC and little to no CBD, GSC can produce intense psychoactive effects–which can range from therapeutic and enjoyable, to anxious and paranoid. This is why we recommend starting in moderation until you get used to the effects of this potent yet popular strain.

Dry Mouth & Dry Eyes. Like many cannabis strains, GSC can produce dry mouth (or “cottonmouth”) and dry eyes. Contrary to popular belief, these effects are not caused by exposure to smoke while consuming marijuana. Instead, scientists believe that this is the result of THC binding to endocannabinoid receptors in the eyes and salivary glands, which may alter ocular pressure and saliva production. If you encounter these issues when you consume cannabis, we suggest keeping your favorite eye drops, gum, or mouthwash handy while indulging in GSC.

Short Term Memory Fog. Like many high THC strains, GSC can leave consumers a little foggy when it comes to focus and short term memory, which can make it slightly difficult to get things done–especially after consuming larger quantities of this strain.

Potential Medical Benefits

Below is a list of conditions that GSC may be helpful in managing. We have selected these conditions based upon two sources: reviews from consumers who report using the strain to manage these symptoms, and/or substantial scientific evidence suggesting that its dominant terpenes may help manage the conditions listed below.