7 More Popular Weed Strains in California

In the early days of marijuana in California, there were only a few strains available for smokers to enjoy. This was because most of the marijuana consumed in California was smuggled in from Latin America and Asia.

It went by names like Acapulco Gold and Thai Stick. As time went on, breeders began crossing the few strains that were available and created new hybrid strains. Today, there are hundreds if not thousands of different strains in California's now legal marijuana market. However, only some of them can claim to be Cali's most popular.

Sour Diesel

Marijuana that smells like diesel or gas is very popular in California and the rest of the states. Sour Diesel, also known as SD or Sour D, earns its name due to its gas-like aroma. This diesel smell sets it apart from the sweeter smelling strains and gives it an air of potency which is well deserved. Sour Diesel has one of the highest levels of THC out there.

It is a sativa-dominant hybrid, believed to be created from a cross between Chem Dawg 91 and Super Skunk. Because of its sativa dominance, recreational users generally report that the effects of SD make them euphoric and happy. They also report that it gives them energy. In general, sativa dominant strains tend to energize users more than indica strains, which often have a heavy effect on the body.

Medical users find relief from a variety of ails and symptoms from the consumption of SD. Patients say that this flower helps them relieve stress. They also state that it helps them relieve pain. For some, Sour Diesel even helps with depression and fatigue.

OG Kush

This may be the most popular strain in California. It is definitely one of the most recognizable by name. OG Kush appears regularly in movies and TV and can be found in many dispensaries and gardens throughout California.

Undoubtedly, its potency is definitely one of its more desired characteristics. When dispensary bud tenders are recommending strong weed, they definitely highlight OG Kush (or OG as it is called) if they have it in stock. Farmers who grow it find it very difficult to keep up with the demand for this celebrity strain.

In addition to its potency, OG Kush posses a complex and pleasant aroma profile. It is most often described as spicy with some diesel tones and sweetness. As far as its effects, relaxing, happy, and uplifting are adjectives often used to describe them by both medical and recreational users.

GSC

This popular purple and orange strain, formerly and still sometimes known as Girl Scout Cookies, is a newbie compared to the others on this list. It arrived onto the cannabis scene just after the mid-2000s with a massive impact. Consumers just couldn't get enough of it. At one point, demand was so high for this pungent smelling flower, that individual plants for cultivation were selling at up to ten times their normal rate.

The craze has died down a little, but GSC still remains one of the Golden State's most popular strains. Its parents are OG Kush (written of above) and Durban Poison, which is a pure sativa strain from South Africa. Users report GSC to be uplifting and energy providing and that it brings on moods of creativity. Medically, it does well as a relief from anxiety and some pains.

Gorilla Glue #4

This strain was born and bred in Colorado. Its high quality all but assured that it would make its way to the connoisseurs of California. The name allegedly comes from the fact that the flowers are so resinous, they cause marijuana trimming scissors to stick to them like glue.

This fairly new strain has a few different parents. Sour Diesel, Sour Dubb, Chem’s Sister, and Chocolate Diesel all come together to make this cleverly named bud, bringing not only their flavor, but also their high THC levels. Gorilla Glue #4 is well known for its potency.

Although it is a sativa-dominant hybrid, users report a heavy body feeling, and sometimes couch-lock. That being said, the customary cerebral effects of sativas are also present, according to users. Medicinal users like Gorilla Glue #4 for its effect on pain. They say it's an effective help for the relief of aches and pains. Others have said it helps them with stress and allows them to relax.

Granddaddy Purple

Purple marijuana is often sold at a premium, and there is nothing more purple than good ole Granddaddy Purple. She's a cross between another famous strain called Purple Urkle and one called Big Bud. Together, they formed a dense and colorful hybrid that has forever made its mark on California marijuana culture.

Recreational smokers of Granddaddy Purple overwhelmingly report couch-lock, a testament to its strength and dominant indica genetics. Those using it medicinally often say Granddaddy Purple works well with aches and pains, as well as with anxiety and stresses. For some, it has helped with insomnia.

Jack Herrer

This flower is named after the pot activist who spearheaded the marijuana legalization movement in its early days. He is the author of The Emperor Wears No Clothes, a book that helped deconstruct the faulty prohibition on marijuana. The flower is slightly sativa dominant and has a few parents: a Haze hybrid, Northern Lights Number 5, and a Shiva Skunk cross.

It is known to produce blissfulness and relaxed euphoria. This is a welcome effect for medicinal users. Many of them find the relief from stress and depression they are looking for when they smoke this flower.

Blue Dream

Blue Dream was once the most cultivated strain in California. Because cultivators could get high yields from this easier-to-grow plant, it became the growers' choice for a few years. Lucky for them, consumers love Blue Dream. Even so, those years of high cultivation led to an oversupply of Blue Dream, which in turn led to a drop in its price.

It's a 50/50 hybrid, crossed between Blueberry, which is indica, and Haze, which is sativa. This means smokers get the best of both worlds equally: body high along with uplifting and cerebral energy. For those taking it medically, not only does it help with various types of pain, Blue Dream also helps relieve mental stress and anxiety.

This list is in no way exhaustive. There are numbers of well-known strains to be found throughout the California marijuana market place. However, those that are listed above are undoubtedly some of the most popular strains you will find, and they will likely stay popular regardless of what new hybrids arrive on the scene.