I’ve never regretted my move from Arizona to Colorado a few years ago, even though I’m sure a lot of “natives” regret it for me. But while the scenery here is hard to beat, and seeing the Rocky Mountains on the way to work is a daily reminder of this state’s beauty, I’ll always miss the desert. And as I was longing for sherbet skies and shorts last week, cannabis provided a breath of home. Cactus Breath, to be exact.

It’s been a while since the name of a strain intimidated me. Herijuana was probably the last one that made me nervous, and that was at least five years ago. But a recent trip to The Health Center Uptown had me shaking in my shoes as I walked to the cash register. I was about to smoke some Death…by Lemons.

While flavors of hard candy, vanilla, sweet cream and milk chocolate aren’t as prevalent in cannabis as the taste of soil or citrus, I prefer the sweeter strains, especially when they’re grown right. Recent experiences with Cookies and Cream, Frankenberry and Hazelnut Cream had me hungry for something sugary during my holiday break, and a trip to Lightshade presented me with a sweet opportunity in Mother’s Milk.

It doesn’t really matter what part of the world a strain comes from, but all things being equal, I’ll choose the local bud. My lungs swell with pride whenever I inhale a hit of Commerce City Kush or Colorado Cough, so my choice was easy when I saw Denver Maple on the menu at Ballpark Holistic Dispensary.