Even if you’re new to the world of marijuana, you’ve probably heard names like Skunk #1, NYC Diesel and White Widow. These are just some popular examples of hybrid strains of cannabis.
Thanks to hybrids, you don’t have to choose between marijuana that is strictly indica or sativa. Today, most of the cannabis strains you encounter are of the hybrid variety.
What is a Hybrid Strain?
There are two basic types of cannabis plants: indica and sativa.
Sativa strains are notorious for making users feel energetic and happy. Cannabis indica, on the other hand, is generally considered relaxing and mellow.
The vast majority of cannabis strains are hybrids, which means they combine the best properties of both kinds of cannabis. They are deliberately crossed by cannabis breeders to include properties of both indica and sativa strains.
A Question of Dominance
Some hybrids are balanced evenly, with a 50/50 split on both the indica and sativa side. These are called balanced hybrids. Not very many hybrid strains of cannabis are evenly divided.
Most hybrid strains of marijuana are indica dominant or sativa dominant. These types favor one side over the other and you can choose based on your personal preferences.
If you want more of an energetic, cerebral high, but with some of the added benefits of an indica to relax your body, then you would choose a sativa dominant. Those who would prefer more of a physically relaxing experience but a milder buzz would enjoy an indica dominant.
This is not only an interesting challenge for cannabis breeders, but creates a myriad of choices for consumers with varying preferences..
By My 420 Tours – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69349115
The Science and the Effects of Hybrid Cannabis
The idea behind creating hybrid strains is more than just combining two different types of weed. Anyone can put a seed in the dirt for fun. Professional breeders use complex knowledge about genetics and Mendel’s laws of inheritance to create plants that win awards and become internally renowned.
Sometimes hybrids are created to make a cannabis plant more hardy, increase production or control their size.
Cross a tall sativa with a shorter indica so the plant can grow indoors. Indica genetics will take the cerebral edge off a powerful sativa and give it a more mellow effect, or thicken the resin and make the plant more suitable for making cannabis products such as hash or budder.
There are literally thousands of different combinations and possibilities.
Canadian growers like Jordan of the Islands have a reputation for crossing tall sativas with shorter indicas. This gives the plants a tougher edge to grow outdoors in the northern rain forest or shorter height so the plants can stay indoors. The practice has resulted in some stellar hybrid marijuana strains like God Bud and Blue Shiva.
The Roots of the Hybrid Strains
photo: http://trimready.com
Cannabis indica and cannabis sativa trace their origins back to two major regions; modern day India and Central Asia. Marijuana aficionados from around the world have worked with these two basic elements to create thousands of modified final products.
Modern travel and tourism have also been a big contributor to the many new hybrid cannabis strains. Cannabis tourism and global seed sales are now mainstream industries and are a subculture onto themselves.
These are a few international locations that have been the most influential to the creation of the vast majority of today’s hybrid cannabis strains.
India
The medical use of cannabis has always remained legal in India and several states recreational use used to be permitted, but the authoritarian government of Modi has restricted the practise.
The history of the cannabis plant traces some of its earliest origins to India where it was (and continues to be) celebrated in festivals, used in food, and forms an integral part of Ayurvedic medicine. Plants that originated in India are indica dominant.
Thailand
We’re not sure what drew the tourist trade here first, the breathtaking landmarks or legendary stories about the Thai Stick strain. Either way, this south Asian paradise has given the world some of the most impressive hybrids with an emphasis on sativa strains. Until a brutal crackdown that started in 2003 (courtesy of Prime Minister Thaksin) Thailand was a safe and tolerant haven for cannabis users. Today, even more so, thanks to legalization.
Hawaii
A mix of rich, volcanic soil and a humid tropical climate means an ideal growing area for potent sativa strains. Maui Wowi and Kona Gold are just two of many famous plants that trace their ancestry back to Hawaii and the surrounding islands. Many of the oldest strains that have been historically cultivated on these islands have been lost or gone extinct. Others have simply been pushed out by foreign imports.
Mexico
“I got the plug on Oaxaca.”
The lyrics in Childish Gambino’s song, “This is America” contain a reference to the state of Oaxaca in Mexico’s southernmost region in regards to drug trafficking. Mexico’s association with marijuana is deeply ingrained in North American pop culture. The sunny slopes of Mexico are ideal for sativa dominant hybrid strains, and plants from south of the border include famous names like Acapulco Gold and Mexican Sativa. Mexico is ahead of the curve when it comes to legalizing medicinal marijuana and CBD, but the cartels still use cannabis as a cash cow.
Afghanistan
The indica side of the marijuana hybrid strain has its earliest origins in Afghanistan. The Kush family of marijuana strains, a group of hybrids with an indica dominant lineage, traces its history here. Legend has it this is also where the first varieties of hashish were developed, which is likely given these varieties are heavy in resin.
Consuming Hybrid Strains of Marijuana
Yet another great thing about hybrids is their versatility. You don’t have to choose based on effects alone. Modern breeders have created varieties that taste, smell, smoke, vaporize or cook exactly the way you want.
Whatever your preference, from advanced vaporizers to that classic hand-rolled joint, there’s a type of cannabis hybrid for you. Other forms of cannabis that are currently available include extracts and oils along with a wide variety of edible products.
Medical users that need to be discreet but also require frequent use and quick results can use their hybrid of choice with a small portable vaporizer. Those who are handy in the kitchen can either buy cannabis-infused cooking oil or follow a handy recipe to make their own.
The Most Popular Hybrid Strains of Cannabis
Some of the most notorious hybrid strains of cannabis are associated with interesting urban legends. Many notable hybrids are attributed to the work of modern breeding companies and have won global awards. They are famous as ancestors of other types of marijuana, leading to a whole new generation of strains.
Occasionally the names of the original breeders and exact genetic background have been lost to the ages. Some strains of hybrid cannabis become so popular and prevalent that their genetics essentially become part of the public domain.
Here are a few interesting stories that you might hear or share at the local Compassion Club. The following strains are famous for their notable pedigree, appearances in popular culture and their contribution to other modern strains.
White Widow
An indica-dominant strain from India’s cannabis cradle was crossed with a potent Brazilian sativa, and the result was the iconic White Widow. This hybrid strain was bred in the Netherlands more than 20 years ago with from plants had origins in the Kerala Mountains of southern India.
The other “whites” like White Rhino, for example, have a similar lineage. The White Widow shines with a thick layer of frosty, sticky trichomes, hence its name. The high is energetic and sustaining but also has a pleasant relaxing effect, with a 60/40 balance that’s heavy on the indica.
Skunk #1
Skunk #1 could be one of the first strains to be bred and grown on a professional level, the genesis of what would become a billion dollar industry. It was so well-known and widely consumed that virtually all types of cannabis were simply referred to as “skunk” back in the 1970s and early 1980s. The strain itself was often known only as #1, which was specific enough given its massive popularity and notorious aroma.
A hybrid originally bred by the Dutch company Soma Seeds the 1970s, Skunk #1 hovers in the neighborhood of 65/35 indica dominant. Skunk mixes the best of several strains from all over the world, including Thai, Afghani and Mexican, but it’s exact origins and family tree are unknown.
Jack Herer
This is a name you’ve heard spoken with reverence in any community that consumes and uses the cannabis plant. Jack Herer is a hybrid named after the author of a book called The Emperor Wears No Clothes which is a comprehensive collection of myths, history and facts about cannabis. Like the book, the strain is an ideal choice for those that are not yet familiar with cannabis but would like to learn more.
Jack Herer is another creation from across the pond, this time from renowned breeder Sensi Seeds based in the United Kingdom. It’s one of the few truly balanced hybrid strains of cannabis with an even 50/50 in terms of sativa versus indica effects. The Dutch authorities have acknowledged its medical uses and the strain has won several awards and competitions.
OG Kush
A lasting testament to the brilliant growers and breeders of California, the myriad of choices with “Kush” in the name can be traced back to this famous strain. Many in the current industry compare its modern influence to the vintage Skunk #1 of the bygone hippie days, especially in the sense that it lent its name to so many other strains and even grew to be another word for weed itself.
Legend has it that the original breeders were based out of Florida, then moved their operations to Los Angeles in the 1990s. OG Kush appeared on the market in 1995 before taking the cannabis world by storm at the turn of the century. Other famous Kush names include Bubba and Lemon. Virtually all varieties of Kush are known for being close to balanced, with a slight favoritism towards the sativa side at about 60/40.
Pineapple Express
Made famous by the film of the same name, Pineapple Express was already one of the more popular hybrid strains in Holland before it appeared on the silver screen. The name itself is a clever callback to the famous parent plants, with Hawaiian on the sativa side and Trainwreck on the indica side.
The original breeders are unknown, but the folks at Barney’s Farm in Amsterdam currently offer an auto-flowering variety. Although the combination is not far from a balanced hybrid at 60/40, this strain is recognized for its energetic and long lasting high which which is often associated with stronger sativas. It has a distinctively fruity taste and smell.
Juicy Fruit
Another significant contribution to cannabis culture from Sensi Seeds, Juicy Fruit, a.k.a. Fruity Juice, is the product of two heavy hitters. This hybrid strain is the product of a classic Thai sativa and an old-school Afghani indica. It’s very close to a balanced hybrid like its compatriot Jack Herer, but leans slightly more to the sativa side with a 55/45 split.
The story of how Sensi Seeds perfected this particular plant is an adventure that literally took decades. The plants were difficult to isolate and finally breed into a plant that could grow under almost any conditions and present such a typical example of both parents. The exotic taste and smell recall this hybrid strain’s exotic heritage.
Himalayan Gold
The Kashmiri Mountains of Nepal and Northern India are home to some of the oldest cannabis genetics in the world. India is home to the indica variety and Nepal has contributed to the sativa side. It makes logical sense that this geographical area would be the first to combine the two.
Sonmarg Valley in Kashmir, By Biswarup Bhattacharjee – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49795885
Nobody is sure who succeeded first, but we do know that a strain called Himalayan Gold was making headway into cannabis culture as early as the 1960s. Various companies have bred different versions that include some feminized varieties.
The indica side of Himalayan Gold is the dominant influence at 60/40, but it can grow to sativa size, about five feet, if it’s grown outdoors.
NYC Diesel
This hybrid strain is also known as Soma Sour Diesel, a reference to the breeder that created the strain. Amsterdam based Soma Sacred Seeds currently sells the classic version of this now-famous strain. It has won nine Cannabis Cup awards, two of which have been first-place showings.
NYC Diesel is a what happens when modern cannabis breeding goes truly international. It was originally developed in New York, a cross between a classic Mexican sativa and an Afghani indica, touched by every corner of the planet. The strain is on the sativa-dominant side at 60/40 and is known for a distinctive fruity smell.
God Bud
God Bud distinguished the breeders of Canada’s West Coast as some of the best in the world when the practice was still fairly new north of the border. It was the flagship strain of the original developer, BC Bud Depot, which also developed strains like Blue Dream and Girl Scout Cookies.
God Bud is hard to find in its pure form today, but is the basis for several of their other notable hybrid cannabis strains. The genetics are a mix of Hawaiian sativas and some of South Asia’s most powerful indicas, making this an indica dominant hybrid. This is one of the less-balanced entries on our list, with a 75/25 division.
Thai Lights
You’ve also heard this cannabis variety referred to as Thai Stick, another famous classic that dates from the hippie days. This sativa dominant hybrid strain is only available through certain Canadian seed banks.
The exact genetics come from the mountains of northeastern Thailand, an area known for its sativas, and the notorious indica-dominant hybrid strain Northern Lights.
The plant is close to balanced at 60/40 favoring the indica side. Like most plants that come from Canadian companies, the plant is designed to grow indoors and does well in smaller spaces.
Are Marijuana Hybrids Right for You?
Browsing the many different types of cannabis strains and finding the right one for you can feel overwhelming.
Do you need to stay focused while medicating? Choose a hybrid that’s indica dominant but with a strong sativa pedigree.
Are you using cannabis to relax after work but still want to stay active? A hybrid strain of marijuana that favors the sativa side is an ideal choice.
Are you looking for something can combines a benefit like pain relief with a happy, social feeling? Try a balanced hybrid strain that combines both recreational and medical effects.
Consider discretion, safety and security when choosing both your ingestion method and your preferred hybrid strain of cannabis. Take your time and enjoy everything hybrids can offer.
