Have you met our buddy Bubba? If you’re interested in the world of cannabis, you’ve probably crossed paths with the infamous Bubba Kush strain.
A potent and relaxing flower that’s world-renowned for its ability to wipe out stress, chronic pain, and insomnia, the Bubba strain is a perennial favorite in our Michigan dispensaries. And if you’re interested in the Bubba Kush experience—including its medical benefits and growing characteristics—you’ve come to the right place.
In this strain profile, we’ll take a close look at the Bubba Kush strain. Chances are that by the end, you may find yourself hankering for a taste of this sweet, earthy, and uniquely powerful strain of cannabis.
A Classic Indica Strain That Never Goes Out of Style
In the twenty-five years or so since it emerged from a California grow room, Bubba Kush has earned itself quite a reputation. As a fairly classic indica strain, it delivers the expected relaxing effects—a topic we’ll explore in more detail in just a moment.
Indica, along with sativa, is one of the two most recognized categories of cannabis. And while there’s some debate in the cannabis world as to how useful these labels—created by ancient botanists—really are, we still use them at Exclusive. Why? Because we believe they make it easier for our customers to comprehend and forecast a given strain’s effects. You can check out some of the other indica strains we sell here.
What’s the Bubba Kush experience? Indicas are beloved for imparting a heavy “body high” and deeply relaxing effects, and Bubba Kush delivers all this and more. Considered a classic indica, it’s powerfully relaxing—even sedative. If you’re looking for creative inspiration, Bubba Kush probably isn’t the best choice. But if you’re looking to unwind and giggle a little bit, you can’t do much better.
What about Bubba Kush’s flavor and scents? Often described as “sweet,” “earthy” and “hashish-like,” it delivers an enticingly pungent scent that some fans compare with dark-roasted coffee.
Potential Medical Benefits of Bubba Kush
As we hope we’ve made clear, Bubba Kush delivers a powerful and enjoyable high. But what about its medical effects? To answer that question, we first need to dive into the topic of cannabinoids and how they work with the body.
Cannabinoids are the major “active ingredients” in cannabis. Along with CBN and CBG, the major ones are THC and CBD. In fact, THC is the single most important constituent of cannabis, accounting for anywhere from 2% to over 25% of cannabis flower by weight, depending upon the strain and its specific THC levels. High-THC strains such as Bubba Kush typically have a THC content of at least 20%, and these days the most potent strains can surpass the 30% mark.
THC is what makes us feel “high” after imbibing, but that’s not all it does. For medical users, the primary benefit of THC is potent relief from symptoms such as loss of appetite, anxiety, and stress. THC is also used to help combat pain, in part due to its natural anti-inflammatory properties. And as we’ll discuss in a moment, the characteristic euphoria from high-THC strains such as Bubba Kush also help modulate our experience of pain and discomfort.
What about CBD? While it’s a hugely important cannabinoid in its own right, we won’t go too far into its story here. That’s because the OG Bubba Kush strain typically doesn’t contain CBD, a compound known for helping manage pain and inflammation, soothing stress, and potentially helping us find deeper, more restorative sleep. All that said, certain Bubba cannabis strains such as “Bubba Kush CBD” have been specially bred to provide potent CBD content. (We’ll return to that topic in just a moment.)
No matter their type, all cannabinoids interface with our bodies through a network called the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). Though only identified in the past several decades, the ECS is believed to be one of our body’s most important regulatory networks.
There, cannabinoids bind to specialized receptor cells known as CB1 and CB2, which in turn impart the euphoria, pain-fighting, and other medical benefits the Bubba Kush strain is so renowned for. And if you’ve ever sampled it for yourself, you know those complex chemical interactions only take seconds to take effect!
Bubba Kush and Bubba Kush CBD Effects
As it turns out, the characteristic THC-inspired euphoria that Bubba Kush delivers isn’t just for fun: It has a real medical benefit, too.
Because so many people use cannabis for pain relief—at Exclusive, our experience is that pain reduction is the #1 reason people turn to medical cannabis—the Bubba Kush strain is noteworthy for delivering strong pain relief. And as studies demonstrate, the euphoria associated with THC has a powerful and beneficial effect on the experience of pain. Over and above this, THC also imparts a natural anti-inflammatory action, a mechanism also demonstrated by numerous clinical studies.
What about anxiety and stress? In this regard, Bubba Kush demands caution, as high levels of THC can provoke anxious feelings. In this case, less is more: One 2017 study found that while larger doses of THC can trigger anxious feelings, low doses may actually provide relief from anxiety. A dose of 7.5 mg of THC seemed to lower self-reported distress, while a dose of 12.5 mg increased negative mood.
THC—especially when taken in moderate amounts—can also help fight insomnia. As research suggests, CBD may actually be more effective in taming sleeplessness. And while Bubba Kush contains essentially no CBD whatsoever, a related strain—Bubba Kush CBD—supplies plenty.
So, what about Bubba Kush CBD? While it retains much the same flavor profile as Bubba Kush, Bubba Kush CBD may help reduce stress, anxiety, and insomnia in different ways. In terms of its effects, the high-CBD version of Bubba Kush should deliver a slight cerebral uplift and a gentle relaxation without notable intoxication. That’s because many growers offer a Bubba Kush CBD that’s actually hemp flower, which produces extremely low amounts of THC. If it’s in doubt, be sure to ask one of our helpful and friendly budtenders next time you visit. And remember: You can always peruse our selection of high-CBD flower, edibles, topicals and more to see if we currently stock it.
Bubba Kush Genetics and Grower’s Notes
Like many “legacy” cannabis strains, the details of Bubba Kush’s origin story are slightly hazy. Supposedly, the strain takes its name from a California-based grower who transplanted an unknown indica seedling from New Orleans back to the West Coast. There it was pollinated by an OG Kush plant and the rest, as they say, is cannabis history.
When it comes to growing Bubba Kush, we should warn you that it’s not a strain for beginners. Because its large and dense flowers can trap moisture in damp environments, it’s recommended for indoor growing. It’s also a heavy feeder, requiring significant inputs of nitrogen, calcium, and magnesium to thrive. But if you keep a close eye on temperature, humidity, and other ambient conditions, you’ll be rewarded with a bountiful crop of heavy, trichome-rich flower.
What Is the Best Bubba Strain?
With so many spinoffs, it’s a tough choice picking the “best” one. Here at Exclusive, we love all the Bubba strains, including Bubba Kush 59, the punny Bubba Fett, Platinum Bubba, and Purple Bubba, to name a few. All of them tend to be classic, hard-hitting indicas that deliver potent and long-lasting effects.
Do you have a favorite you’d like us to source? Just ask and we’ll see if we can find it for you!
Explore Bubba Kush and More at Exclusive
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about this unique—and uniquely potent—cannabis strain. Across decades and countless fans, Bubba Kush remains a classic strain that has incredible staying power.
Because our stock changes hourly based on what’s fresh, we recommend you check our various Michigan dispensary live menus to see if we’ve got Bubba Kush in stock. We always have an impressive variety of Michigan’s very best indica strains on hand, and we’re likely to have something comparable to Bubba—so be sure to ask our budtenders for guidance!If you have any other questions about the Bubba Kush strain (or any other topics in the cannabis world), just ask. We’re always here to help.
