Back Forty Chemzilla Strain Review: Effects, THC & More

I grabbed 28 grams of Back Forty’s Chemzilla for this strain review for $121.80 and honestly, this strain is polarizing as hell. At 28.9% THC with Chemdawg x Godzilla Glue genetics, it sounds like it should be a heavy-hitting monster. Some people absolutely love it and find it smooth and relaxing. Others, including me, found the effects surprisingly weak for such high THC. At $4.35 per gram, it’s positioned in the mid-range category, but whether it delivers value depends entirely on how your body chemistry reacts to it.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• High THC at 28.9% looks good on paper
• Smooth smoke with no harsh throat burn
• Strong gassy, chemical aroma (if you like that)
• Dense, well-cured buds with good trichome coverage

Cons:

• Effects are surprisingly minimal for many users despite high THC
• Chemical, diesel flavour isn’t for everyone
• Inconsistent effects between users
• Overpriced at $4.35/g for what you get

Chemzilla Strain Effects: TL;DR

Chemzilla delivers a relaxing indica buzz that lifts your spirits without completely knocking you out. The high is mellow and functional, allowing you to kick back with friends or watch movies without total couch-lock. However, many users report surprisingly weak effects despite the 28.9% THC, making this a hit-or-miss strain depending on your body chemistry.

How We Reviewed Chemzilla

I worked through 28 grams of Chemzilla over several weeks, testing it at different times and in various consumption methods. I paid attention to onset, peak effects, duration, and how the high compared to other indicas in the same THC range. I also examined bud quality, aroma, flavour, and whether the $4.35/g price point represents decent value.

Strain Profile

• Brand: Back Forty (Auxly Ottawa Inc.)
• Strain: Chemzilla
• THC: 28.9%
• CBD: <1%
• Dominant Terpenes: Beta-Caryophyllene, Limonene, Humulene, Beta-Pinene, Myrcene
• Type: Indica-Dominant Hybrid (70% Indica / 30% Sativa)
• Package Size: 28g
• Price: $121.80 ($4.35/gram)
• Cultivation: Greenhouse-Grown, Hang-Dried, Dry-Trimmed, 14-Day Cure
• Value Rating: 5/10 (mid-range price but inconsistent effects)

Strain Lineage

Chemzilla is a cross between two legendary strains: Chemdawg and Godzilla Glue (also known as Gorilla Glue). Both parent strains are known for potent effects, distinct aromas, and heavy-hitting highs.

Genetics: Chemdawg x Godzilla Glue

Chemdawg is a 1991 hybrid with a rich history and mysterious origins. It’s the parent strain of Sour Diesel, OG Kush, and Headband, boasting THC levels that can reach up to 25%. Chemdawg is known for its pungent, diesel-fuel aroma and strong cerebral effects mixed with physical relaxation.

Godzilla Glue (Gorilla Glue) is a highly potent indica-dominant hybrid created by crossing Chem’s Sister, Sour Dubb, and Chocolate Diesel. Some phenotypes of Gorilla Glue can test at 30% THC or higher, delivering powerful couch-lock effects and sticky, resinous buds that live up to the “glue” name.

Together, these genetics should create an absolute monster of a strain. On paper, Chemzilla has all the credentials to be a heavy-hitting indica that glues you to the couch. In practice, results vary wildly depending on the user.

Back Forty Chemzilla Effects and High

This is where Chemzilla gets complicated. The effects are all over the map depending on who you ask. Some users report a relaxing, mellow indica buzz that’s perfect for evening unwinding. Others find the effects surprisingly weak and short-lived despite the 28.9% THC.

For those who do get solid effects, Chemzilla starts with a gentle cerebral lift that improves mood and brings on a sense of happiness and contentment. You’ll feel your spirits lifting and any stress or worries melting away. This initial phase is more uplifting than you’d expect from a 70% indica, likely thanks to that 30% sativa genetics showing through.

As the high develops, a warming body relaxation creeps in. Your muscles loosen up, tension drains away, and you settle into a comfortable lazy state. It’s not the type of couch-lock that completely incapacitates you, though. You can still move around, hold conversations, and engage with activities like watching movies or hanging out with friends.

The high tends to make you talkative and social in the early stages before transitioning into more sedative territory. If you smoke enough, the effects can become more pronounced and lead to proper sedation. But for me, even larger amounts did’nt produce the knockout effects you’d expect from 28.9% THC indica.

Here’s the problem, and it’s a big one, despite the high THC percentage, the actual psychoactive experience feels underwhelming. It’s been dubbed the “King of Mids” in some online communities, suggesting that while the numbers look impressive, the real-world performance doesn’t match up.

This could be due to several factors. The terpene profile might not be working synergistically with the cannabinoids for some people. The greenhouse cultivation method might not preserve potency as well as indoor growing. Or it could simply be that individual body chemistry plays a huge role in how this strain affects different users.

The high typically lasts around 2 hours, at least for me. before tapering off, which is standard for most cannabis strains but nothing exceptional.

Taste and Aroma

Chemzilla lives up to its name with a loud, chemical aroma that hits you as soon as you crack open the jar. The dominant scent is pungent diesel fuel mixed with earthy, spicy notes. There’s a sharp, almost industrial quality to the smell that comes from the Chemdawg genetics.

When you grind up the buds, the aroma intensifies into what can only be described as a dank explosion. It’s loud, it’s in-your-face, and it definitely requires smell-proof storage if discretion is important to you. We really did love this gassy, chemical profile. Others find it overwhelming and unpleasant.

The flavour profile follows the aroma closely. On the inhale, you get intensely dank, earthy notes with a chemical-like bite. There’s a spicy kick from the beta-caryophyllene and some citrus brightness from the limonene, but the dominant flavours are diesel, earth, and chem.

The exhale brings more of that sharp, spicy character with a slightly salty aftertaste that lingers on your tongue. It’s not a pleasant taste in the traditional sense, more of an acquired flavour for people who specifically enjoy gassy, diesel-forward strains.

The smoke itself is surprisingly smooth. Despite the harsh chemical flavours, Chemzilla doesn’t produce the throat burn or coughing fits you might expect. The 14-day cure process likely contributes to this smoothness, making it easy to smoke even if the flavour isn’t your favourite.

Back Forty Chemzilla Value Assessment

At $4.35 per gram for 28 grams ($121.80 total), Chemzilla sits firmly in the mid-range pricing category. This isn’t budget weed, but it’s not premium either. The question is whether you’re getting mid-range value or mid-range quality (hence the “King of Mids” reputation).

On the positive side, you’re getting 28.9% THC, proper curing with a 14-day hang dry, and buds that are sealed with a humidity pack to maintain freshness. The cultivation standards are solid, and the trichome coverage looks good. These are all markers of quality control.

On the negative side, the effects don’t seem to match the THC percentage for many users. If you’re one of the people who finds Chemzilla’s high underwhelming, you’re essentially paying $4.35/g for weed that performs more like 18-20% THC strains. That’s not great value.

There are other indica-dominant strains in the same price range or slightly higher that deliver more consistent, stronger effects. Spending an extra dollar or two per gram often gets you significantly better quality and more reliable performance.

For those of us who do respond well to Chemzilla and get solid effects, the value proposition is better. You’re getting high THC, smooth smoke, and reliable relaxation at a reasonable price. But the inconsistency is a problem.

The bigger issue is that Back Forty as a brand seems to have quality control problems. The “King of Mids” reputation suggests that this isn’t an isolated issue with Chemzilla but a broader pattern across their product line.

Bud Quality

The bud quality on Chemzilla is actually one of its stronger points. The buds are medium-sized, dense, and well-formed with typical indica structure. They’re forest green in colour with long, thin orange pistils and a generous coating of trichomes that have a slight lavender tint under light.

The buds are sticky and resinous, living up to the Gorilla Glue parentage. They have a slight squish to them when you squeeze, indicating good moisture retention from the humidity pack. They’re not rock-hard or overly dry, which is a common problem with some greenhouse-grown flower.

Trichome coverage is solid. The buds have that frosty, crystalline appearance that suggests high cannabinoid content. Under close inspection, the trichomes are milky white with some amber, indicating proper harvest timing.

The trim job is machine-done with hand finishing, which Back Forty openly states. The result is acceptable. It’s not hand-trimmed craft cannabis perfection, but it’s also not covered in excess sugar leaves. For a mid-range product, the trim quality is fine.

The 14-day cure process shows in the smoke quality. The buds burn evenly, don’t produce harsh smoke, and maintain good flavour throughout the joint or bowl. This is proper cannabis cultivation, even if the final effects don’t always deliver.

Overall, if you were judging Chemzilla purely on bag appeal and bud structure, you’d think it was a winner. The disconnect between appearance and effects is what makes this strain frustrating.

Strength Assessment

Here’s where things get really weird with Chemzilla. At 28.9% THC, this should be a heavy hitter. The numbers suggest serious potency that would knock experienced users on their ass and send beginners into orbit.

But the actual strength doesn’t match the testing results for many people. Anyone with with moderate to high tolerance wiuld most likely feel that Chemzilla is more like a 18-20% THC strain in terms of actual psychoactive effects. The high is present, but it’s not powerful or overwhelming.

For beginners or users with low tolerances, Chemzilla might still pack a decent punch. The 28.9% THC will produce noticeable effects even if they’re not as strong as expected.

For regular cannabis consumers, the strength is disappointing. You’ll get a baseline indica relaxation and some mood lift, but not the deep, powerful body high that 28.9% THC should deliver. You might find yourself smoking more to chase stronger effects, which obviously impacts value.

For experienced stoners with high tolerances, Chemzilla is likely to feel underwhelming. It’s functional daytime/evening indica that provides mild relaxation without much depth or intensity.

This disconnect between tested THC and felt effects is one of the most frustrating aspects of Chemzilla. It makes you question whether the testing is accurate, whether the terpene profile isn’t supporting the cannabinoids properly, or whether greenhouse cultivation degrades potency during the cure.

Would We Buy Chemzilla Again?

Honestly, probably not. While Chemzilla has some positive qualities (smooth smoke, decent bud quality, good aroma if you like diesel), the weak effects relative to the THC percentage and the $4.35/g price point make it hard to justify.

There are too many other indica options in the same price range or slightly higher that deliver more consistent, powerful effects. Why gamble on Chemzilla when you could spend the same money on strains with proven track records?

The “King of Mids” reputation exists for a reason. Back Forty seems to produce cannabis that looks good on paper and in the jar but underperforms when you actually smoke it. The high THC numbers don’t translate to high-quality experiences.

If you’re someone who has tried Chemzilla before and knows you respond well to it, then the value proposition might work for you. But for us and especially those trying it for the first time, there’s a good chance you’ll be disappointed.

We’d rather spend our money on brands that have better quality control, stronger online presence, and more consistent effects. Back Forty needs to step up their game if they want to compete beyond just hitting price points.