History of marijuana strains

Zamal, a legendary cannabis strain from Reunion

Zamal, cannabis from Reunion Island

Cannabis or marijuana is a plant that currently can be found in all corners of the world. There is clear evidence that the cannabis plant originated in the Eastern/Central Asian regions. Then, it spread to the Middle East, and afterwards, to both the African and American continents.

Over the centuries, through traveling and commercial activities, humanity established cannabis cultivation in areas where it didn’t grow naturally. A perfect example of this expansion is Zamal, the strain that reached Reunion Island and acclimatized to the point of growing spontaneously as a pure landrace for over two centuries.

Cannabis in Afghanistan

Landscape Mountains Rocky Rocks Afghanistan Valley

Afghanistan is a landlocked country in central Asia, wedged between the western foothills of the Hindu Kush and the deserts of Iran, is a country with one of the greatest traditions of cannabis cultivation and, more specifically, of hashish production. Since it is believed that cannabis originated thousands of years ago on the slopes of the Himalayas (home of the largest mountains in the world), today it seems obvious that this was one of the first places where this plant was cultivated in a controlled manner, although even now there is still some confusion as to what kind of varieties have been traditionally grown in this area, as well as the "emergence" of the Afghan genotype, or in other words, what we now refer to as Afghan varieties.

What is clear is that Afghanistan is one of the cradles of cannabis and especially of hashish, with a tradition that today represents what would probably be the world's oldest in terms of the development of hash. In addition, and according to the UNODC, in recent years Afghanistan has become the world's largest producer of this resin concentrate, surpassing Morocco and seeing the cultivation of cannabis gradually displace that of another traditional crop in the Golden Triangle area, that of opium.

Origins of cannabis cultivation

Where did cannabis originate?

Mankind and cannabis have maintained a close relationship throughout the History. Although scientific and archaeological evidence allows us to estimate the date and place where it originated, it is difficult to establish its exact place - and time - of origin.

Critical Mass by Mr. Nice, a legendary cannabis strain

Mr. Nice Seedbank, a project by Shantibaba, Nevil and Howard Marks

Almost 20 years have passed since Mr. Nice Seedbank was founded in 1998 by Scott Blakey, Nevil Shoenmakers and Howard Marks. Scott and Nevil, former partners of Arjan Roskam in the Green House Seed Company, decided to share their strains by creating a new seed company that quickly earned its place in the market and which got the name of the alias of the third partner, Howard Marks. At the time when feminized seeds were entering the market and demand was increasing every day (in countries like Spain and thanks to grow shops people were starting to grow their own pot), Shantibaba (Scott) and Nevil developed some of the most popular genetics of that time, like Black Widow (their own version of the White Widow), Neville's Haze, La Niña or the renowned Critical Mass.

The origins of Haze

What?s the story of Haze?

Haze is, probably, the most grown and renowned 100% sativa hybrid throughout the world. Its origins date back to the early 1970's in the region of Santa Cruz, California (USA).During this time, two brothers known as the "Haze Brothers" (R. Haze and J. Haze) cultivated and crossed different cannabis lines using seeds of the best imported sativa strains, most times offered by their friend and neighbor Sam "The Skunkman".It all began with a hybrid between a landrace sativa from Mexico and another landrace from Colombia. One year later, the best females selected from this hybrid were crossed with a landrace strain from southern India. Finally, the female offspring of this new hybrid was crossed again with a landrace male from Thailand.

The Origins of Diesel

Origins of Diesel cannabis strains

In recent years, Diesel strains have become, by their own merits, one of the most popular cannabis genetics, seeked by growers and users both for its intense and special taste and for its strong effect, mainly caused by THC contents which can exceed 20% in most specimens. As it often happens in the world of cannabis, the exact origin of this genetics is uncertain, although one of the most commonly accepted theories tells us that it'd be directly related to the Chemdog and, later, also to the OG Kush marijuana.

The origins of Skunk

The Skunk gene pool

The origins of Northern Lights

The history of Northern Lights

The Northern Lights cannabis strain is, probably, one of the most renowned and appreciated Indicas around the world. Winner of countless awards and born as pure Afghani for the first years, it seems like some Thai Sativa genetics were added to its genepool at some time, what probably accounts for the fruity taste and intense cerebral high for which this variety is known. In this way, and despite it is a mostly Indica strain, Sativa phenotypes are found from time to time, rare individuals with spectacular features.

According to most sources, it is believed that it was created on the 70's by a breeder known as "The Indian" on an island near Seattle, WA, although others claim that the strain originated in California before The Indian started growing it. The story goes that there were 11 Northern Lights plants (labeled #1-#11), being #5 and #1 the best ones, all of them truly Afghani plants with strong Indica features: resinous, compact, dark green and very stable.

The origins of Blueberry

About the Blueberry cannabis strain

Dutch Passion's Think Different auto

Dutch Passion Think Different auto grow review

Dutch Passion have seen their automatic ‘Think Different’ variety become one of their best sellers, more popular even than some of their established photoperiod varieties which have been on sale for years. It has been surprising to see how quickly the best automatics have become so popular so we followed a Think Different grow review by European grower ‘Tang’ to find out more.

All about Orange Bud from Dutch Passion

Orange Bud is still at the top of Dutch Passions best seller list 25 years after she was introduced, you will still find her in the coffee shops of Amsterdam and she remains a favourite Orange Skunk selection. How does a variety remain iconic for so long? Alchimia took a trip to Amsterdam and met the Dutch Passion team to ask them for some inside information.