USA Genetics

Girl Scout Cookies Auto

What are USA genetics?

The key building blocks of the most sought-after genetics are come from relatively few breeding projects and very important landrace strains, which you need to know to understand the genesis of the modern varieties that are taking the market by storm.

A short history of the USA Hybrids

Despite the fact that in the 60s prohibition was applied with an iron fist, cannabis consumption among young Americans soared in this decade and is linked to the hippie culture, in which the consumption of marijuana (and other psychedelic substances) was a fundamental pillar of the movement, not only to spread its message, but also as a form of rebellion against the system.

In those years marijuana came mainly from Mexico and later from Colombia, so despite the efforts of the DEA, land race varieties (such as Acapulco Gold or Santa Marta Gold), became very popular. The term 'land race' is used to describe any genetically distinct strain that is indigenous to a specific geographic region, where it has adapted, over a long period of time and isolation, to the area's climate and traditional cultivation techniques. During those years many growers were lucky enough to experiment with the great potential of these pure genetics in terms of aroma, taste and potency.

However, seedless buds had not yet reached the market, so some consumers began to cultivate the marijuana seeds of those sativas arriving from neighboring countries, which offered a creative and vigorous effect, perfect for unleashing artistic production and spirituality.

California, cradle of the hippie movement, also became the chosen place to grow cannabis, especially in those areas where the climate was warmer and the summer was longer. And this first generation of marijuana growers fled the cities in search of a quieter, more peaceful existence in nature.

On makeshift farms, they grew scattered plots of cannabis for their own consumption or to exchange and share with neighbors. They also began to crossbreed different strains in order to combine the qualities they most appreciated.

The first hybrids

The first marijuana hybrids were born from the hand of incipient breeders who saw the rich possibilities of this plant. The strains from the north of Mexico or Jamaica finished flowering faster, but had a moderate potency. Breeders crossed these strains with more potent, longer flowering Panamanian and Colombian varieties, and then selectively crossed the hybrids to create the famous outdoor sativas of the 1970s.

However, Californian growers ran into a problem. No matter how much sun shone on the West Coast in the summer months, those sativas accustomed to the heat of tropical climates took too long to mature, and most were not ready until November or December - too late for the California climate.

Fortunately for these growers, the strong migration of the hippie movement throughout the world, starting in the seventies, caused genetics from different latitudes to reach areas far from their place of origin.

This migratory flow was called 'hippie trail' or 'hashish trail' and started in Europe, from where it continued through Afghanistan and Pakistan, until it reached India, Nepal and Thailand. Those who returned from these and other trips brought with them seeds of exotic varieties that they had collected in these places.

Thus came the Afghan and Pakistani varieties; short flowering indicas that completely changed the rules of the game.

Gelato #41 Fem

The birth of the Skunk Saga

Many different cannabis growers, mainly in Northern California, realized that most of the indica varieties - especially the Afghani varieties - performed very well thanks to their robust structure and small size. Their main advantage was their fast flowering, which allowed early harvesting and freedom from the heavy rains and low temperatures of autumn.

The only drawback was the sedative and narcotic effect typical of indicas - far from the creative and vigorous effect they were looking for. They understood, however, the possibilities of these new strains and began to cross them with the sativas they already knew. Their objective was to obtain new varieties with the maturation period of the indicas but the vigorous and creative effect of the sativas.

At that time the first hybrids began to appear, like the mythical Skunk#1 (cross of Acapulco Gold x Colombian Gold x Afghani Indica) created by the famous Sam 'The Skunkman'. Numerous exchanges of seeds and clones took place, and thus were born varieties of marijuana as Green Crack, Sweet Skunk or California Orange Skunk.

Skunk is a historical hybrid which was a revolution because it united the best of both worlds and above all because it was stable. Its controlled stature, its potency and the fact that it matured early was a combination of characteristics that won over cannabis cultivators. It is a powerful strain that has since been used to create many of the hybrids we find on the market today.

Other old school California hybrids

Although the arrival of indicas was a revolution for many, there were also those who remained faithful to the sativas of Mexico and Colombia, growing them in greenhouses and selecting those that matured earlier.

This was the case of the mysterious Haze Brothers, friends of Sam and creators of their first hybrid by crossing a Mexican and a Colombian land race sativa. This in turn was crossed with a strain from southern India and finally with a land race male from Thailand. Its most famous hybrid is surely Purple Haze or perhaps Original Haze, a lineage that has been the origin of legendary genetics such as Super Silver Haze and Jack Herer.

Neither can we forget Northern Lights, created in California but perfected in the Netherlands, where breeder Neville Schoenmaker imported it from the other side of the Atlantic, bringing fruity flavor notes and a dizzying cerebral high to the party.

Northern Lights also changed the rules of the game mainly by being a strain that was incredibly easy to grow indoors or outdoors in a wide variety of climates. That encouraged countless amateur growers to try their luck with it.

Purple Punch Fem

Do Si Dos Fem

Evolution in the 21st century

Nowadays, after the legalization of medical marijuana and more recently of the recreational market in sixteen states of the United States (California and Colorado being the pioneer states in its approval) the free exchange of genetics between the different North American breeders has been greatly facilitated.

The final consequence has been the appearance of an almost infinite number of hybrids, which we at Seedstockers have selected and grouped in our 'USA Genetics' section. Of all of them, the most recent and well-known are, Girl Scout Cookies, Do-Si-Dos, Cookies, Sherbet, Gelato, Wedding Cake or Runtz, although we could mention many more.

Knowledge of the history of cannabis is fundamental to predict the future of this plant. Understanding the origins of modern hybrids can also help growers use their resources as effectively as possible, guiding them in developing a diverse menu of strains and choosing specific cultural cultivation practices.