Weedipedia

Wikipedia has everything. Almost everything. What it doesn’t have is a comprehensive look at medical-cannabis strains. For instance, if you type the term “Afgoo” into Wikipedia’s search engine, it asks if you were looking for “afo.”

No, I wasn’t.

Lesson learned: Wikipedia is not a Weedipedia.

Which is a shame: Life is fine when things combine. Cannabis growers are constantly mixing and interbreeding plants to create new strains. So, if you find Trainwreck nice but a little too heady, why not crossbreed it with a good indica. Mix that OG Kush with a Sour Diesel and you get a strain known as Headband. Combine Hash Plant with G-13 and you get a plant known as Mr. Nice.

And Wikipedia, the resource for everything it seems, should embrace this. Until then, however, let’s play science experiment and look at a few strains and the hybrids they’ve helped create, Weedipedia style.

The Progenitors

Trainwreck. Why is it called Trainwreck? Because this superstrong pure sativa (mostly Colombian crossed with Mexican sativa with a little Afghani) comes on crazy strong? Is it because of the rumor that this legendary, light-green, long-leaved, delicious plant was first grown in Humboldt County near the site of an old trainwreck? The world may never know.

But we do know that for at least 15 years this plant, with the strong head effects and the smell of pine and skunk, has been a favorite of patients and growers everywhere. The effects of Trainwreck can be overwhelming for some new cannabis users.

Bubblegum. This strong indica originated in the Midwest. Known for its sweet, sweet flavor (it smells like bubblegum—surprise) and strong couch-lock effects, Bubblegum is often hard to find in its pure form, but it has been used to create many different popular strains.

Afgoo. Another indica from the Midwest, known for its pain-relieving properties. Tasty, strong and a big yielder, Afgoo can be found at almost every cannabis dispensary.

Blueberry. As the name implies, this indica smells and tastes like blueberries. Like Bubblegum, Blueberry is often hard to find, but it shows up in many different hybrids.

Haze. Haze is an old-school pure sativa from Jamaica. Haze is a very strong breed, and many patients have reported psychedeliclike effects. The flavor is spicy and earthy, with a hint of lemon.

The Hybrids

Blue Dream. A cross between Blueberry and Haze, Blue Dream has become one of the most popular strains in California. This strain is very balanced, neither too heady nor too debilitating.

Green Ribbon. Derived from three strains (Afgoo, Trainwreck and Green Crack), Green Ribbon is definitely a winner. The light green and frosty look gives way to a fresh and slightly fruity aroma, which leads to an earthy sweet flavor. Green Ribbon definitely exudes sativa dominancy. Its uplifting and cerebral goodness lets the mind wander creatively or focus intently during a task. Patients often praise the pain-relief benefits. Green Ribbon typically tests over 18 percent THC and commonly reaches numbers in the low 20s. Cannabidiol content is normally present as well. Many patients find that the CBD content makes this herb not as likely to produce the anxiety that can be associated with high THC sativa strains like Trainwreck.

Bubba Kush. A cross between Bubblegum and the Kush plant, Bubba Kush is my favorite of all the kushes. Sweet skunky flavors combined with a nice balanced high make this strain effective for a variety of ailments. Bubba Kush is good for anxiety and depression, plus it will most likely give you the munchies.

The Cure. Afgoo, Bubba Kush and a strain called Monkeypaw mixed together. Earthy and fruity, The Cure (named after the ‘80s band, not the slang term for entering rehab) is a mostly indica plant that won’t slow you down too much.

BOG Sour Bubble. Created by the legendary cannabis cultivator known as Bushy Old Grower, Sour Bubble is a cross between Bubblegum and Bubblegum. By selecting different Bubblegum plants and breeding for desired characteristics, BOG has created a Bubblegum strain that is sour, smooth and strong. This plant is a heavy indica, good for insomnia but not for when you have something to do. Occasionally, samples of this strain grown by BOG himself show up in Sacramento.

Other nice hybrids

Girl Scout Cookies. A wonderful plant with a terrible name, GSC is OG Kush crossed with Durban Poison and Cherry Kush. It does indeed smell like cookies. It is also very tasty and powerful. A Bay Area favorite.

Jack Herer. Named after the late great marijuana superhero Jack Herer, this mix of Haze, Skunk No. 1 and Northern Lights No. 5 is a sativa dominant breed good for clear thinking and stress relief.