The Original Kush Strains: What Is OG Kush?

The OG Kush Strain: What’s In a Name?

The OG Kush strain can trace its origins back to the Hindu Kush mountain range, which forms the western edge of the Himalayas and includes the world’s tallest peak, Mount Everest. But even if the mountainsides are rocky and largely barren, the valleys between are famous for their fertile soil and lush vegetation. And for hundreds—if not thousands of years—farmers there have grown an unusually potent strain of native indica cannabis there named for this mountain range. 

How did the OG Kush strain come to be? According to cannabis lore, in 1996, legendary Florida grower Matt “Bubba” Berger brought an OG Kush plant from Florida to California. OG Kush was a hit—no pun intended—and it would eventually form the genetic backbone of such famed strains as GSC (formerly known as Girl Scout Cookies) and Headband. 

OG Kush Genetics

Though its exact origins are murky, it’s widely believed that OG Kush is a hybrid containing a high proportion of genetics from the classic landrace strain known as Hindu Kush. What does “landrace” mean? In this context, strains are those that are native to a specific geographic area, meaning that they’ve adapted specifically to that natural environment. Because landrace strains have also been largely isolated from other cannabis varieties, they’re generally considered to be botanically pure examples of their kind. 

Unless you’re a plant breeder, it’s safe to say that knowing whether a particular strain is a landrace or not isn’t vitally important. But as we hinted earlier, in the case of OG Kush strain, this genetic characteristic is a living link to Hindu Kush, one of the most important medicinal plant strains in history.

Like OG Kush, its parent strain Hindu (or “Hindi”) Kush is a true cannabis classic. It’s beloved for imparting a deep sense of calm that chases away pain, stress, and other symptoms while imparting a lovely aroma of sandalwood and sweet earth.

In addition to Hindu Kush, OG Kush is believed to be a cross with Chemdawg and Lemon Thai. Chemdawg (or “Chemdog”) is a potent and pungent-smelling hybrid strain, known for imparting a burst of euphoria and creative uplift. If you’re trying to be subtle about your cannabis use, steer clear of this powerfully diesel-scented strain. Lemon Thai, on the other hand, is a pure sativa strain. In addition to an appealing flavor of lemon and mint, it’s known to inspire introspection and creative focus. 

So is OG Kush sativa or indica? That’s a great question! We’ve discussed the two major subtypes of cannabis before, and how—even if many people consider them out-of-date—they still provide value to consumers when it comes to predicting a given strain’s effect. And thanks to its lineage it contains both indica and sativa genetics, making OG Kush a fairly balanced hybrid.

Strain Info: Flavors, Aromas and Effects

We’ve talked a little bit about the history of the original Kush strains. But what about their flavors and aromas? From the outset, one noticeable quality of the OG Kush strain is its characteristically rich, pungent, and earthy scent, both in its raw form and as it’s being smoked. Many cannabis connoisseurs love OG Kush for this “classic marijuana” scent profile.

Those who dig deeper into the taste of OG Kush will discover that those qualities—earthy, dank, even aggressively lemony and diesel-like at times—can be detected across a wide variety of other strains. Why? It’s a reminder of just how important OG Kush genetics are in so many beloved strains, and why they show up in a wide variety of other hybrid strains including Girl Scout Cookies (GSC) and Headband.

While there’s little doubt OG Kush is known as one of the better-tasting and more flavorful cannabis strains, it’s arguably the powerful OG Kush THC levels that keeps people coming back! Owing to its high proportion of classic indica genetics, OG Kush effects also deliver the full-body relief and relaxation you’d expect from an indica type. In addition to its delightful euphoric effects, the strain is also known for its beneficial medicinal qualities, a topic we’ll explore in depth in just a moment. 

But remember: OG Kush isn’t only an indica. Thanks to those hybrid genetics, OG Kush is also beloved as a great mood-boosting agent. Many OG Kush lovers report an all-encompassing, bubbly body sensation that helps create conditions for a fun and relaxed day. This also means it’s an ideal strain for sharing with other cannabis enthusiasts.

OG Kush is also known for its potency. With OG Kush THC level often surpassing the 20% mark, we counsel all our customers to “start low, and go slow.” Remember, you can always have a little more cannabis, but you can’t have less.

What Are Its Potential Medicinal Benefits?

OG Kush isn’t renowned only for its euphoric and enjoyable qualities. Many people have reported using OG Kush for sleep, and the strain’s signature medicinal effects may support the body to relieve stress, achieve better quality rest and provide relief. Particularly when smoked, OG Kush is fast-acting and can assist with settling the body into a more relaxed and relieved state.

These effects, by the way, aren’t only limited to the original Kush strains. As we’ve written before, clinical studies underline the cannabis plant’s potential to help us tame anxiety, fight pain, and even take the edge off depression.

For those who suffer from a lack of appetite, OG Kush has a reputation for inducing hunger along with that euphoric experience. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself feeling hungry, so be sure to have plenty of snacks and water on hand!

People often seek out cannabis to help with sleep issues, and many users consider OG Kush a champion in this regard. A little bit of this classic strain before bed can lull you into gentle and restorative rest. While optimal doses vary from person to person, many patients report that less is more when using cannabis medicinally. Especially with potent strains like OG Kush, many people experience greater benefit from using low doses.

Explore OG Kush with Exclusive’s Family of Dispensaries

We hope you’ve loved reading about the OG Kush strains as much as we’ve loved sharing what we know! If you have further questions about these potent strains, don’t hesitate to ask.

At Exclusive, we offer premium cannabis items sourced in-house and from a range of local growers and product manufacturers. Our extensive menu includes pre-rolls, concentrates, cartridges, edible products, and much more. Check out our menu or download our app to place your order today.