What is a STRAIN?

The term used interchangeably with “cultivar,” “variety,” and “selection” within the industry. It has no official botanical meaning and used less in horticultural circles. In the world of hemp, the term “strain” refers to the flower’s particular variety, be it Lifter, Hawaiian Haze, or Suver Haze.

More About Strains

Most farmers define a strain by some combination of factors including botanical lineage, appearance, chemical profile, and accompanying effects. This is more or less the criteria that make up a “strain” in the eyes of the cannabis industry. The term itself is essentially a slang term for a variety of the cannabis plant, as well as its derivative products.

In horticultural and botanical circles, “cultivar” has become the preferred term to delineate the smell, flavors, yield, pharmacological effects and other distinct characteristics of a cultivated plant variety. The term cultivar only applies to cultivated varieties that were grown agriculturally and not in the wild, which are called landrace varieties.

What’s in a Strain Name?

Strain names frequently describe the lineage of a variety, a major aromatic component, or a possible effect. As a result, strains are often marketed based on the characteristics that their names advertise. Both Afghani and Kush are strain names that denote their origins (Afghanistan and the Hindu Kush mountain range, respectively), Tangie and GSC (more commonly known as Girl Scout Cookies) allude to their respective aromas, and Calm by Canndescent is meant to convey how the strain will make you feel. 

What’s in a Descriptor?

When descriptors are added to a strain name, they can provide a bit more information about the variety. For example, Bubba Kush and Pre-98 Bubba Kush are variations on the original OG Kush cultivar. Bubba Kush is named after its breeder, who crossbred OG Kush with a Northern Lights variety. Pre-98 Bubba Kush delineates the variety of Bubba Kush that existed before the cultivar took off and spread to other breeders. While these descriptors aren’t necessarily going to tell consumers everything they want to know about a strain, they are helpful in differentiating between horticultural variations on a particular variety.