If there was ever a holiday that inadvertently catered to the cannabis industry, it’s St. Patrick’s Day. It’s a day where we indulge in all things green, and for us that includes all things marijuana. If you’re a cannabis enthusiast looking to take the day off to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day festivities, we have a handful of strains you’re going to want to get your hands on before the holiday. First, let’s talk about marijuana and Ireland.

While we’re certain that cannabis can grow in Ireland if given the proper growing environment, as it stands as of 2022, marijuana is not legal in Ireland and cannot be grown there. There are also no landrace strains that originate from Ireland.

While cannabis may be illegal in Éire, bills introduced at the end of 2022 aim to decriminalize the possession of marijuana—to a certain point. The hope is that adults (18 years or older) would be able to possess up to 7 grams of cannabis or 2.5 grams of resin without any recourse. Though it’s a small step in the direction of legalizing cannabis in the country, there is still a long road ahead before marijuana would be welcome in Ireland. Still, a step is a step, and we look forward to seeing the bill debated in 2023. 

While Ireland does not have any landrace strains, there are still some strains that acknowledge Éire by name, at least. If you’re looking for some options to enjoy, these five hit home with our budtenders:

Indica-Dominant Hybrid

There’s a reason Irish Kush has “kush” in its name—it’s a descendent of OG Kush crossed with Sweet Tooth, two highly popular strains in the cannabis world. Sweet Kush tastes as great as its parent strain, Sweet Tooth, with its lemon-sweet candy flavor and just a hint of spice to make it interesting. Irish Kush is an indica-dominant strain with moderate levels of THC (16-19%), making it good for day or evening—though many people choose to indulge in this one as a nightcap.

Indica-Dominant Hybrid

Another indica-dominant strain on our list, Pot of Gold comes from a cross with a different kush (Hindu Kush) and Skunk #1, so you can imagine the smell of this strain has some skunk to its sweetness. The scent has been described as catching one of our furry black and white striped friends in an apple orchard—pleasant but also surprising. Pot of Gold has won 2nd Place at the 2003 Cannabis Cup for Best Hybrid strain, so it’s been popular in the cannabis industry for a while. If you’re looking to try this strain, go slow. It has a whopping 27% THC.
 

Hybrid

The White, crossed with Appalachia, created the delicious Lucky Charms—a balanced hybrid named after the cereal it tastes like. It’s sweet, sugary, and fruity, with a little nip of sour at the end much like a citrus fruit. While Lucky Charms is popular, you should take it easy if it’s your first time consuming this strain. Its high levels of THC (23-25%) can come on fast if you’re not careful with your dosing.

Sativa-Dominant Hybrid

There are a lot of popular sativa hybrids on the market, but Green Crack has to be in the top 10 for its popularity among cannabis connoisseurs young and old. It has a sweet, fruity flavor and aroma, and ranges anywhere from 15-25% THC, depending on a variety of factors. Though Green Crack got its original name from Snoop Dogg, many people choose to just refer to it as Green Cush or Cush in order to remove any relation to harder substances.

Indica-Dominant Hybrid

You might think, because of the name, that Irish Cream tastes like that sweet, rich cream it’s named after. Instead, it actually has both earthy flavors and aromas with just a little bit of sweetness to them. It contains moderate levels of THC (16-17%) and even a hint of CBD (1%) too, making this indica-dominant strain popular both among recreational consumers and medical marijuana patients.

While anything green will do when it comes to St. Patrick’s Day cannabis, it’s nice to be able to honor the day with strains that give a gentle nod to the Emerald Isle. Of course, if you prefer not to smoke or vape flower for the March holiday, you can always use the flower to make your own gummies. However you choose to celebrate the luck o’the Irish, be sure it’s your favorite way and your favorite strain.