Alien Labs
Alien Labs - Permanent Shade - Pre-Roll - 1g
Alien Labs - Permanent Shade - Pre-Roll - 1g
Permanent Shade is Alien Labs' cross of Permanent Marker and Nightshade #40, sold here as a one-gram straight-roll pre-roll of indoor flower. The brand labels it an indica-leaning hybrid, then calls it a heavy-hitting indica that pins you to the couch and sends you hunting for snacks. One parent was Leafly's 2023 Strain of the Year; the other is a Connected house strain whose parents Connected keeps to itself. Among our Alien Labs singles, this is the one for after dark.
Quick Specs
| Type | Indica-leaning hybrid, per Alien Labs' strain page, whose copy also calls it a heavy-hitting indica; Weedmaps files it as an indica |
| Format | 1g pre-roll, straight roll, single, plain indoor flower, not infused |
| Onset | 2-5 minutes |
| Duration | 2-3 hours |
| Best Time | Evening, after dinner |
Genetics & Lineage
Permanent Marker x Nightshade #40 is the cross on Alien Labs' strain page, and California Leaf's March 2026 flower issue reported the same. Permanent Marker is the famous half. Seed Junky Genetics bred and grew it in Los Angeles from Biscotti, Jealousy and Sherbet BX, it reached shelves on both coasts in 2022, and Leafly named it Strain of the Year for 2023. That honor belongs to Seed Junky's strain, not this joint, but it explains the demand.
Nightshade is the mystery half. It is a Connected Cannabis Co. heavy indica, and Leafly notes that Connected does not disclose its parents. The #40 marks a specific selection that Alien Labs has not described. Do not confuse it with Barney's Farm's Night Shade, a European indica bred from Kashmir and Nepalese landraces that shares only the name.
Flavor & Aroma
The brand describes three layers: sweet top notes, a sharp ethanol hit it calls "nostril-stinging," and a creamy, candy-like inhale that finishes slightly astringent. California Leaf's reviewer, Matt Jackson, found fruit on the first sniff with an earthy bite at the edges. Grinding pushed it toward gas and something like fruit snacks, and the exhale tasted of creamy candy with a cleanser edge.
That chemical streak runs in the family. Leafly's top flavors for Permanent Marker are ammonia, chemical and tobacco, and Connected describes Nightshade as earthy, sweet and gassy. The brand's Weedmaps tags for Permanent Shade read chemical, diesel, pungent and earthy, softened by citrus, sweet and vanilla.
Unlike Atomic Apple and Biskanté, Permanent Shade comes with no published terpene list, though Alien Labs' copy argues that the full mix of cannabinoids and terpenes says more about strength than THC alone.
Effects
Alien Labs does not hedge: couch first, then snacks. Its Weedmaps tags run relaxed, sleepy, hungry, euphoric, giggly and happy. In California Leaf, founder Ted Lidie summed up the high with a gleeful sound effect instead of an adjective.
Reviews of Permanent Shade itself are still thin, so lean on the parents. Leafly's Permanent Marker reviewers lead with tingly, relaxed and euphoric, and its Nightshade page, which also covers the unrelated Barney's strain, puts sleepy first. Leafly's reported downsides for the parents include dry mouth, dry eyes, headache, dizziness and some anxiousness. With a strain built this heavy, the classic mistake is finishing the gram before the first half has landed.
Best For
- The end of the night: dinner done, calendar clear, couch within reach
- Permanent Marker fans: the same soapy, candied funk with a heavier landing from the Nightshade side
- Movie night: the giggly first stretch suits a comedy before the sleepy part takes over
- Hungry evenings: Alien Labs warns the munchies arrive in force
Not for: daytime plans, a first-ever joint, or anything that needs a clear head tonight.
Pairings
Food: order before you light it. A few squares from Golden Boy, or a box from Stella Pastry to answer the creamy candy finish. Music: Sade, for the pun and the pace, or Massive Attack's Mezzanine with the lights down. Activity: a movie at home, or a slow Embarcadero walk before the couch claims you.
Construction
Lay this next to a cone and the difference is plain: no taper. It arrives on our Metrc manifest as Alien Labs' 1g Straight Roll, shipped 25 per case and sold here as singles, and the fill is plain flower with nothing infused. Alien Labs' website says nothing about the build, but its Weedmaps listing for this straight roll makes four claims, which we repeat as the brand's words, not our lab results: a proprietary grind done in three stages, straight walls for a consistent pack and an even burn, a wider 10mm filter for a cool pull, and a spiral tip to limit clogging. The paper goes unnamed.
KJZZ reported in 2025 that Alien Labs grows indoors in California and Arizona, and California Leaf says the brand still calls California home. The Nightshade half is Connected's, and Connected describes Alien Labs as a longtime partner on breeding and cultivation.
Dosing
New to it: a single pull, then wait fifteen minutes before deciding on a second. This is not the strain to rush.
Regular smoker: a third of the joint, then check in after twenty minutes. Heavy indicas keep settling in after you stop.
Heavy tolerance: the full gram works as a nightcap, ideally with food already on the table.
Storage
Keep it sealed, cool and dark, away from the stove and the sunny windowsill. Heat strips the sweet top notes first, and what remains is mostly the chemical bite. Once the package is open, smoke it within a couple of weeks.
Similar Products
- Connected Permanent Marker Pre-Roll 1g: the famous parent on its own, from Alien Labs' sister brand
- Connected Gascotti Pre-Roll 1g: another heavy end-of-day joint, mentholated gas and kerosene with a powdered-sugar finish
- Connected Biscotti Pre-Roll 1g: the cookie strain inside Permanent Marker's lineage, coffee and chocolate, indica-leaning
- Alien Labs Brain Wash Pre-Roll 1g: the brand's calmer hybrid, sedating without overwhelming by Alien Labs' account
FAQ
Is Alien Labs Permanent Shade indica or sativa? Indica-leaning: Alien Labs says indica-leaning hybrid, and Weedmaps files it as an indica.
What is Permanent Shade a cross of? Permanent Marker x Nightshade #40, per Alien Labs. Seed Junky Genetics bred Permanent Marker; Nightshade is a Connected strain with undisclosed parents.
Is Nightshade the same as Barney's Farm Night Shade? No. That is a European landrace cross; the parent here is Connected's Nightshade.
What does Permanent Shade taste like? Sweet on top, sharp and solvent-like on the nose, creamy candy on the inhale, per Alien Labs. California Leaf added fruit snacks, gas and a cleanser edge.
What terpenes are in Permanent Shade? Alien Labs has not published a terpene list for it. Leafly lists myrcene as the top terpene in the Permanent Marker parent.
How strong is this pre-roll? Strong, by Alien Labs' account, and nothing is added to the flower. Check the batch label and go slowly.
Where can I buy Alien Labs Permanent Shade in San Francisco? At Gemme Verdi, 899 Columbus Ave in North Beach. Check gemmeverdi.com for today's stock.
Available at Gemme Verdi 899 Columbus Ave, North Beach, San Francisco gemmeverdi.com See today's deals at Gemme Verdi