OG Kush is definitely one of the big names when it comes to the cannabis industry, a strain with highly appreciated qualities that have helped to create a lot of the most popular strains in circulation today.
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OG Kush has caused quite the uproar among growers and consumers around the planet thanks to its intense, exquisite flavor. This, plus its potent effect, is the reason it’s been the favorite strain of many artists hailing from the West Coast and is still a best seller at many dispensaries.
As is usual with a lot of other cannabis legends, the legal state of cannabis when this strain was grown makes it hard to establish its origins accurately. However, cannabis history was transmitted by word of mouth during the years it was more underground.
The origins of OG Kush are a little bit mysterious due to the previously mentioned circumstances. However, the version that has stuck the most is that this strain comes from a cross between a Hindu Kush landrace strain (a mountainy area between Afghanistan and Pakistan), and Chemdawg.
But..,. How did this Hindu Kush Landrace strain get from Asia to California?
In order for that Hindu Kush strain to get to California and become one of the origins of the famous OG Kush, a series of things happened more to do with the hippie cultural movement than with cannabis breeders.
During the decades of the 60s and 70s, a phenomenon called the Hippie Trail or Overland began, which we went over in the second installment of The History of Cannabis. It was a route that many young people set out on from Europe towards South Asia, with destinations mainly in India and Nepal.
On their journeys, some brought home with them seeds of cannabis strains they had found on their trip. Relaxing strains with short flowering periods, resinous and full of different aromas that
were a breath of fresh air and brought quite the change to US growers and breeders.
Back then, in some isolated regions along the West Coast, there were communities of growers that hid away in inhospitable areas such as Humboldt County, where it was easy for them to hide.
These growers, who decided to keep growing cannabis regardless of the so-called war on drugs, found themselves with a few weather-related issues. The strains that they had access to were from tropical and mild areas, long-flowering sativa plants.
These strains came from seeds that were found in cannabis that came into the US from Colombia and Mexico; long-flowering landrace strains that weren’t right for the climate of the region, as the rain and bad weather would often ruin harvests.
When those who had gone on the Hippie Trail came back with these short-flowering indica strains, growers began to cross them and create the first hybrids; strains that came about from the combination of central-American landrace sativas and indica strains.
It’s believed that one of the strains from Hindu Kush was one of the strains used to create OG Kush alongside Chemdawg, another renowned indica created in the West Coast. Although, there are many that believe that this Hindu Kush strain was previously crossed with a Thai landrace plant, and that it wasn’t 100% indica, as landrace strains from Thailand (as well as those from Colombia, Mexico, Jamaica etc.) are usually considered sativa strains.
Now that we know where part of OG Kush’s genes come from, let’s have a look at the other part, Chemdawg, also known as Chem Dog.
While it’s true that, as with all strains created back then, it’s hard to know its exact origins and verify them, this following version is the most widely accepted.
In June of 1991, in Deer Creek Indiana, during a concert by the band Grateful Dead, a grower called Chem bough an ounce of weed in the parking lot of the concert venue from a guy called Joe Brand.
When Chem got home after the concert, he discovered 13 seeds in the buds; keep in mind that sinsemilla cannabis was a rarity back then, and finding seeds in cannabis was normal.
After germinating a few of them, he got rid of one male and he catalogued the three females as Chemdawg 91, Chemdawg A, also known as chemdawg’s Sister, and Chemdawg B. Later on, in 2001, he germinated more and ended up selecting a phenotype that he called Chemdawg D. These are the four pillars upon which many strains have been created; legends such as Sour Diesel, Bubba Kush and OG Kush itself.
It’s quite hard to discern who actually created the original OG Kush, as there are a few versions to the story, however many agree that it was two men, Matt “Bubba” Berger, a grower from Florida, and Josh D, a breeder from Los Angeles.
According to the story, Josh D challenged Berger to grow better strains than the growers in Los Angeles, out in Florida; basically, an excuse to exchange clones and diversify their genetic resources.
Berger accepted and sent various clones out to LA of one of his best hybrids, OG Kush, which was called Kryptonite or Krippy back then due to its intense aroma. Out of all of the clones he sent, only one survived.
According to legend, Josh D realized that this strain wasn’t necessarily the easiest to grow, but it was definitely worth the effort as its aroma and flavor were incredibly unique. He preserved the phenotype and distributed it among LA growers, who were fascinated by how dense it was, its strength and its flavors. It could be said that Josh D was in charge of preserving this elite clone and creating the foundations upon which growers learned how to make the most of OG Kush.
However, what really have OG Kush its popularity was a trip that Josh D made to North Cali to visit his friend Ian. This was around 1997, and in San Francisco Bay there was a small cannabis competition happening. Josh D went with his second OG Kush harvest, which did amazingly with the judged, and won a 10/10 in all categories. The race was on and this strain was shooting straight for first place.
As time went on, OG Kush has been used to create hybrids such as Larry Kush, Bubba Kush Pre’98, and Purple Kush. Without a doubt, one of the pillars of the modern cannabis industry.
The true meaning behind OG is another thing that’s been a topic of debate over the years, and the truth is, it’s impossible to know for sure. There are a few theories:
The quality of the flowers produced by OG Kush is what drove this strain to worldwide stardom. Its flavor and aroma, alongside its potent effect and five star bag appeal made it incredibly popular at dispensaries.
This strain hasn’t made its way to the cannabis hall of fame for its massive yields, such as other strains like Amnesia. In truth, OG Kush doesn’t stand out for offering a large amount of flowers, it’s more average – it actually stands out for reaching such high quality and standards.
Many describe the aroma and flavor of this strain as a combination of berries, with an earthy aftertaste, and citric, spicy tones with a marked Diesel flavor.
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Thanks to this particular characteristic, OG Kush has managed to be used in many other strains that end up inheriting its characteristic aroma. Many other Diesel strains also became part of the American Brand, which soon spread around the world, but… What gives OG Kush such a special flavor?
Of course, the answer is terpenes. Specifically, a combination of different terpenes in different proportions, which creates a complex and unique aroma.
The main terpenes found in OG Kush are the following:
The terpenes found in cannabis are not just in charge of providing flavor and aroma to strains, they also produce their own effect on the body. These properties, which in many cases can be used therapeutically, can be increased or combined with cannabinoids, creating what’s called an entourage effect.
It’s due to this complex synergy between substances and molecules found in cannabis that it can be so hard to replicate its properties. Attempting to synthesize cannabinoids, for example, has lead to the discovery that the effect of compounds made in a laboratory is not as effective as resin from a cannabis plant.
As well as terpenes’ therapeutic potential, it’s also been recently discovered that these aromatic molecules are actually responsible for the effects known as Sativa/Indica.
Which is to say, depending on the terpene composition of a strain, it can be more relaxing or stimulating.
The terpenes that can be found in the highest concentrations in OG Kush are Caryophyllene, Limonene, Myrcene, Linalool and Pinene. Let’s have a look at the properties that each of these terpenes offer:
Now that you know more about terpenes that can be found in OG Kush, maybe you’ll understand more about its effects and amazing aroma. However, it’s still hard to define exactly what effect a certain strain will have on someone, as it doesn’t only depend on the composition of cannabinoids found in it, it also depends on each individuals organism. There are some who define the effect produced by OG Kush as a relaxing, nocturnal effect, whereas others find it more cerebral, halfway between relaxing and stimulating.
Whatever it may be, it’s definitely clear that it’s an exceptional strain and it holds (and will possibly continue to hold for years) a high spot on the Best Seller list when it comes to the cannabis market.
Any questions? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Until next time,
Cali Terpenes
Danny Danko travels in search of the mysterious truth behind the murky history of the legendary cannabis variety known as the Kush.
Origins of the Kush
The disputed region known as the Hindu Kush shares its boundaries with Pakistan and Afghanistan just north of Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir. The area has long been known for its ongoing conflicts as well as its history of cannabis and hashish production. Part of the legendary Himalayas mountain range, the fertile valleys and hillsides of the Hindu Kush have, for centuries, produced the world’s finest hash. Years of natural and human selection for the most resinous, indica-dominant plants have resulted in short, stocky bushes covered with huge, shiny trichomes.
In the 1960s and early ’70s, intrepid travelers on the “Hippie Trail” (including members of the Brotherhood of Eternal Love) returned to the US, Canada and Europe with primo seeds and began growing Afghani, Skunk and Kush strains in earnest. Sadly, in 1973, bowing to pressure from the United States, the newly self-appointed president of Afghanistan, who took power in a bloodless coup against the long-serving and hashish-friendly Afghan king, declared the production and sale of hashish illegal. He was overthrown by Afghan Communists in 1978, and the country was invaded by the Soviets in 1979, sparking another 30 years of warfare and bloodshed that continue to this day.
The Afghani hashish of the pre-war era remains legendary among older heads, and the strains that it spawned changed the cannabis growing scene completely. The indica-dominant genetics shortened typical flowering times, allowing plants to be grown all the way up to Alaska. In the process, the concept of “homegrown” changed from a term of derision to a point of pride.
Kush and the HIGH TIMES Cannabis Cup
Many Kush varieties have won prizes for their breeders at our annual pot-tasting festival in Amsterdam each November. From the original Skunks of the 1980s to the Kushage, Vanilla and Kaia Kush of the current era, the strain’s potency and flavor are undeniable. While Haze varieties dominate the sativa category in the seed-bank contest, Kushes traditionally prevail among the indicas. Kush strains have also provided the genetic basis for many perennial winners that don’t have the word “Kush” in their names, such as White Widow, Sensi Star and AK-47.
Breeders know that one of the best ways to wow discerning judges is to use genetics laden with Afghani heritage. Long prized for its medicinal properties, this is the bud known for its “couch-lock” – a perfect strain for an evening nightcap, but also one capable of changing all your plans when puffed at mid-day. The intense citrus flavor, skunky odor and extremely long-lasting stone aren’t soon forgotten.
The Kush and the High Times Cannabis Cup have a long and storied history – one that’s guaranteed to continue for many years to come. Future Cups are sure to be won by plants bearing these illustrious genetics, and much of the best hashish in Holland continues to be made from these strains as well. Plus the centuries-long Afghan tradition of separating the trichomes from Kush plants to press into bricks of tasty hash has persisted into the 21st century worldwide.
The Current State of Kush
Nowhere are Kush strains more prevalent than in Southern California. Many medical-marijuana dispensaries specialize in carrying as many varieties of Kush as they can get their hands on, and there are literally hundreds to chose from (OG, Larry, Tahoe, Russian Master and Lemon come to mind). These days, there are also sativa-dominant Kushes, Purple Kushes and “pretender” Kush strains with the name, but not the flavor or power of the true OG.
True Kush strains have also spread far and wide throughout Northern California and beyond. The OG is actually rumored to have come to Cali through the Lake Tahoe area from a Chemdog clone from the East Coast. True or not, the legends surrounding this famed variety continue to circulate, and the mysteries won’t all be solved anytime soon.
Thanks to these many changes, however, the word “Kush” seems to have lost some of its meaning – but those who know can immediately discern that particular lemon-fuel odor and telltale tiny nuggets as the real deal. Strains with “Kush” in their name boast such a reputation for potency that, just last year, Republican Congressman Mark Kirk of Illinois introduced a bill to increase penalties for the distribution of “Kush.”
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