Back to My Medicine: Why Choosing Your Strain Actually Matters

By OG Strain
The Plug’s Pages Magazine

Let me start by saying this loud and clear — being a Cannabis Cup judge was an incredible honor.

I got to sample 65 different strains, all grown locally, all entered by cultivators who put real love, time, and skill into their plants. Some of these growers are absolute heavy hitters in the area. Getting trusted with that responsibility isn’t something I take lightly, and I don’t want a single word of this article to be mistaken as disrespect. It wasn’t just fun — it was meaningful.

That said…

I’m really, really happy to be back to choosing my own weed again.

And if that sounds weird coming from someone who just spent weeks smoking some of the best cannabis around, let me explain — because this is where education matters.

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When Cannabis Is Medicine, Choice Is Everything

For the past few weeks, I didn’t get to choose what I smoked. I smoked what was next on the judging list. No skipping. No preference. No “this terpene works better for me.” Just: here’s strain number 37 — light it up.

On top of that, I was still doing my regular reviews — strains from Lazy Day Farm, Higher Beings powered by Hudson Valley Green, plus local craft growers who trust me to review their work. It was nonstop cannabis — but not always the cannabis my body actually needs.

And here’s the thing some people don’t understand:

I don’t smoke just to get fed up.*

Cannabis is my medicine. And if a strain doesn’t contain the specific terpenes my body responds to, then it’s not medicine — it’s just smoke.

Smoking random strains for weeks straight is the cannabis equivalent of walking into a pharmacy, ignoring your prescription, and saying, “Eh… just give me whatever’s back there.”
Sometimes it works.
Sometimes it doesn’t.
And sometimes you’re just… uncomfortable.

Those days? Yeah — I was low-key suffering.

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Why Judging a Cup Is Harder Than It Looks

Don’t get me wrong — discovering new strains is part of the job, and honestly, it’s one of the best parts. You have to try things that might not be perfect for you in order to find new go-to strains that are. That’s how dial-in happens — trial, error, and honest evaluation.

And I did find a few new strains that work beautifully for my needs — which made the entire experience worth it.

But let’s keep it real: when you’re forced to smoke strains that don’t match your medical needs, those are days you’re essentially going without your medicine. That’s something I have to seriously consider if I judge another cup — because while I’d absolutely do it again, it’s not without cost.

I do it anyway because:
    •    I enjoy serving the community
    •    I take fairness seriously
    •    And I believe honest judging helps the entire local scene grow

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Why My List Will Look Different — And That’s Okay

Here’s another thing people need to understand before the winners drop.

The official Cannabis Cup results are based on around 30 judges’ scores combined. That’s how you get the final top five — sometimes split indoor and outdoor.

My list?
That’s just me.

I’m putting together:
    •    Top 10 Outdoor strains (ranked 1–10)
    •    Top 10 Indoor strains (ranked 1–10)

That’s 20 total strains that impressed me enough to earn recognition. And mathematically speaking, there’s no way all of them make the official list — and that’s fine.

I already know:
    •    Some strains on my list won’t appear on the official results
    •    Some official winners won’t be in my personal top five
    •    Maybe one or two overlap — maybe not

But I don’t care what anyone says:
every cultivator on my list deserves recognition, even if it’s only from me.

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Coming Home to My Go-To Strains

As much fun as judging was — and it really was — I’m grateful to be back to my two or three core strains, the ones I know work. The ones with the terpene profiles my body actually responds to. The ones that let me function, think, move, and feel right.

That’s not about hype.
That’s not about THC numbers.
That’s about intentional cannabis use.

Cannabis isn’t one-size-fits-all. And when you treat it like medicine, choice isn’t optional — it’s essential.

So yeah… I’d judge another cup.
I’d do it again because it’s an honor.
But I’ll also be honest about the cost — because education means telling the whole truth.

Now if you’ll excuse me…
I’ve got my medicine back. 🌿