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Strain Spotlight: OG Kush

May 08, 2023

It doesn’t take long in the cannabis world to hear someone mention OG Kush. There’s a good reason for that—it is one of the most popular and influential marijuana strains to date. In this strain spotlight, we’ll answer some of the most common questions we get about OG Kush.

What Is OG Kush?

OG Kush aka Kush or Premium OG Kush was first grown and cultivated in Florida about three decades ago during the 1990s.¹ While we aren’t completely certain about its heritage, the rumors say it’s a cross between Chemdawg, Lemon Thai, Hindu Kush, and a mystery strain right out of Northern California. Once the first OG Kush was made, it was brought to the west coast and given to a prolific cultivator. The rest, as they say, is history, and OG quickly became one of the most popular strains in the world.²

Where Did OG Kush Come From?

The OG Kush origin story is one that spans the globe and is shrouded in just a hint of mystery. At some point in the early 90s, strains of Chemdawg and Lemon Thai met a Hindu Kush cannabis flower that hailed from Amsterdam.¹ This alone would be enough to create a historic strain, but with OG Kush, there was one more strain that joined the mix—a mystery cannabis cultivar that we only know hailed from Northern California. These four strains were brought together by a grower in Florida to create OG Kush.²

Eventually, Matt “Bubba” Berger (he’s the man responsible for Bubba Kush) brought that Florida OG Kush to California and put it into the hands of Josh D, one of the most famous cultivators at the time. Josh D helped to turn OG Kush from a bistate sensation to a world famous strain we still enjoy today.¹

What Does OG Kush Smell Like?

If you think OG Kush has to have a classic marijuana scent given it’s truly an original strain in the cannabis world, you’re right.³ OG Kush is dank and skunky with a little bit of sour lemon. It even has a hint of spice to it, making it exactly what you should expect from one of the most famous marijuana strains in the world.

What Does OG Kush Taste Like?

The sour citrus in the scent of OG Kush also carries over to its flavor.³ It’s mostly tangy and herbal, but there are some pungent notes of earth and pine in its taste that give it that classic flavor people think of when they think of marijuana. While OG Kush might not be winning any awards for flavor like some of the newer hybrids, it definitely has a taste to it deserving of the OG in its name.

What Other Types of OG Kush Strains Are There?

OG Kush started an OG movement that still continues today, and you can find a wide variety of OG Kush strains on the market. Here are our three favorite OG Kush strains stocking our shelves:

Ghost OG

Indica-Dominant Hybrid

An indica-dominant hybrid, Ghost OG comes from a crossing of Afghani, an indica landrace, and OG Kush. This strain takes herbal citrus scents and flavors of OG Kush and adds a pungent sweetness from Afghani, creating an aromatic and delicious experience. While we’re not exactly sure how Ghost OG got its moniker, it absolutely can sneak up on you if you’re not careful. Its THC levels top off at 24%, making it a strain to consume slowly.⁴

SFV OG or San Fernando Valley OG

Indica-Dominant Hybrid

There are just some strains that can only be described as complex when you first consume them, and SFV OG, a phenotype of OG Kush, is exactly that. It combines the scent of tangerines stuck in a diesel engine with a pine tree-and-orange slices flavor, making it an absolutely unique sensory journey to indulge in. This potent indica-dominant hybrid packs 22% THC into its buds, but it also carries 1% of both CBD and CBN.⁵

Tahoe OG

Indica-Dominant Hybrid

With only 20% THC, which for the record is still high, Tahoe OG contains the lowest amount of THC of all our favorite OG strains on this list. While Tahoe OG was created by inbreeding OG Kush near Lake Tahoe, giving it its name, this strain is actually indica-dominant. As for flavor and aroma, both carry lemony notes with woodsy undertones.⁶

Answering OG Kush FAQs

OG Kush may have been around for a while, but it’s still being introduced to new cannabis enthusiasts every day. Because of this, we get questions all the time. Here are some of their answers:

Is OG Kush a sativa or indica?

OG Kush is a sativa-leaning hybrid. It is 55% sativa and 45% indica.

What does “OG” stand for in cannabis?

There’s a lot of speculation around where the “OG” came from in OG Kush. There are four theories that have risen to the surface:²

Theory 1: Some people think it stands for “Original Gangster,” a nod to 1990s Southern Cali hip-hop.
Theory 2: These cannabis enthusiasts say that while Theory 1 is close, it’s not quite right. They believe OG does, in fact, mean “Original Gangsta” but it’s a term that was started by Cypress Hill in the 90s.
Theory 3: OG stands for “Ocean Grown” and was coined by a grower because OG Kush is grown indoors on the west coast along the Pacific ocean.
Theory 4: Coined by growers featured on Netflix’s Murder Mountain, OG is said to mean “Original Grower” because marijuana growers would fly to Afghanistan and pocket marijuana seeds back to the US.

While these theories are all great options for how OG Kush got its name, the OG in OG Kush now simply stands for “original.” OG is a term used for things that are original and authentic, and OG Kush is exactly that.

Is OG Kush strong?

Yes, OG Kush is strong. In fact, OG Kush has up to 26% THC in it, making it a strain you should definitely enjoy slowly.³

Purchasing OG Kush

While we can never say with absolute certainty that you’ll be able to walk into any dispensary and find OG Kush, we can say that most dispensaries will have their hands on this strain. It’s popular for a reason, and while it may have started in Florida and moved to the west coast, this strain name can be seen on the shelves of dispensaries across the country. If you don’t see it, talk to your budtender. They may just need to show you where they keep this hall of fame strain.

Find a Dispensary

Sources:

1. “OG Kush,” Leafly, https://www.leafly.com/strains/og-kush

2. “What Does the ‘OG’ in OG Kush Stand For?” Way of Leaf, May 14, 2024 https://wayofleaf.com/cannabis/education/what-does-the-og-in-og-kush-stand-for/

3. “OG Kush Marijuana Stain,” Allbud, https://www.allbud.com/marijuana-strains/sativa-dominant-hybrid/og-kush

4. “Ghost OG Marijuana Strain,” Allbud, https://www.allbud.com/marijuana-strains/indica-dominant-hybrid/ghost-og

5. “SFV OG Marijuana Strain,” Allbud, https://www.allbud.com/marijuana-strains/indica-dominant-hybrid/sfv-og

6. “Tahoe OG,” Allbud, https://www.allbud.com/marijuana-strains/indica-dominant-hybrid/tahoe-og