The 1990s were revolutionary for some truly iconic strains of marijuana like White Widow, OG Kush, Super Silver Haze, and today’s strain spotlight: Chemdawg. Let’s talk about this strain, its unique origin story, and some of its most infamous characteristics.

What is Chemdawg? 

Chemdawg is a potent, nearly balanced hybrid strain—it leans just slightly in favor of indica—that has been popular since the moment it was first introduced in the 1990s. While on the high end of moderately potent (19% THC), Chemdawg has taken both the recreational and medical marijuana markets by storm. There’s just one catch about Chemdawg, though—we don’t exactly know where it comes from.

The origin story for Chemdawg is as infamous as the strain itself. If you believe the tale, a man nicknamed Chemdog went to a Grateful Dead concert in 1991. While Chemdog was looking for marijuana, he met Pbud. Pbud and Chemdog shared some flower, and Chemdog was so impressed with it that he promised to reach out to get more. And that’s exactly what he did. 

Pbud eventually sent the Chemdog strain an ounce of marijuana with a couple of handfuls of seeds inside of it. Those seeds helped to create the original phenotypes of Chemdawg which, when bred together, created Chem 4. Proud of his strains, Chemdog shared them with Pbud, and Pbud called the strain Dogbud. Because Dogbud had a chemical-like flavor, the name was eventually changed to Chemdawg. 

Whether this is how it really went down is something only Chemdog and Pbud know, but it’s a fun story to tell nevertheless.

White Widow’s aromatic profile is an interesting one. At first spark, it tends to be a bit sweet, but then that sweetness shifts to a spicy citrus, like kumquat, and ends on a flavor similar to lemon bars, likely thanks to its limonene terpene content. Just approach this strain with caution—it has been known to make even the most seasoned of cannabis connoisseurs cough if they aren’t careful.

Like its scent, Chemdawg’s flavor is pungent and consuming. Indulging in this strain, you’re going to taste those earthy flavors marijuana is known for mixed with a hefty dose of diesel fuel. There are some cannabis enthusiasts who also say it has a hint of spiciness to its flavor too. If you want that classic marijuana taste without a single hint of sweetness, Chemdawg is perfect for you.

Chemdawg has created some truly popular strains, including Sour Diesel, but if you’re looking for our favorite Chem strains, we’d recommend these three:

Sativa-Dominant Hybrid

Though its parent strain, Chemdawg, might be indica-leaning, this hybrid strain showcases its sativa origins with 70% sativa and 30% indica. It’s possible you won’t find a strain on the market with such prolific parents—both Chemdawg and OG Kush. ChemOG makes a name for itself with up to 20% THC, 1% CBD, and an aroma of diesel fuel that will absolutely stop you in your tracks. The flavor, however, is a little lighter with just a little bit of sweetness to it. If you’re looking for a Chem strain with a unique flavor, this is the one to pick.

Hybrid

50% indica and 50% sativa, this balanced hybrid may just be the strain that brought us Chemdawg, though there’s really no way to know if that’s the case. What we do know is that Chem91 packs a wallop at up to 27% THC so handle it with caution. Its flavor is slightly different from Chemdawg too, with that diesel-meets-earth aroma and a citrusy flavor mixed with pine. Don’t think that that makes it less pungent, though. You can’t indulge in a strain with “Chem” in the name and not expect something that’s going to hit your olfactory senses hard.

Indica-Dominant Hybrid

When Chemdawg met Granddaddy Purple, it created this indica-dominant hybrid. It takes characteristics from both of its parent strains, with a chemical-grape flavor and a pungently sweet aroma. Purple Chemdawg tends to be a more beginner-friendly Chem strain because it has 17% THC, but it can go as high as 21%. Its pleasant flavors and moderate THC levels make it a popular strain for both recreational consumers and medical marijuana patients.

The moment people learn about Chemdawg, they’ve got questions. Here are some of those answers:

Is Chemdawg an indica or sativa?
Chemdawg is an indica-leaning hybrid.

What is Chemdawg mixed with?
We aren’t entirely sure what Chemdawg is mixed with. There are some enthusiasts who believe Chemdawg comes from a mix of Nepalese and Thai landraces. Others say it’s a mix of San Fernando Valley OG and Chem 91. And then, of course, there’s an origin story floating around that only says there were some random seeds obtained after a Grateful Dead concert. Whatever the truth is, we’re left with one of the most popular strains on the market.

How strong is Chemdawg?
Chemdawg is typically considered a strong strain. This is because it has 19% THC.

Purchasing Chemdawg

White Widow may be an exotic strain, but thanks to its popularity, it’s not hard to find—especially if you’re shopping for premium flower. White Widow will be easy to spot on the top shelves thanks to its crystal-white blanket of trichomes decorating each beautiful bud. If you can’t find White Widow at your dispensary, just talk to your budtender. They’ll point out anything in stock or direct you to something similar to enjoy.