Strongest Weed Strains

At the start of 2016, we examined the six HIGH TIMES Cannabis Cups from the previous year and the thousands of entries they tallied. The goal? To ascertain exactly which of the entries deserve to be called the strongest strains on planet Earth. There are many types of weed strains with varying levels of THC. Our goal was to determine the strongest weed strain.
In years past, we’ve built our “Strongest Strains on Earth” list simply in order of potency. We’ve reorganized the article to categorize these potent strains by their place of birth. (Readers enjoyed this format last year, so we’ll use it again.) These rankings represent only one data point: THC potency, as determined by lab testing. They do not include the judges’ scores or notations, or any other cannabinoids or terpenes (the latter can be read about in our new annual feature, “The Best-Tasting Buds on Earth”). However, this year we’ve included a short list of the strongest CBD strains from 2015 to complement our THC charts.
So if you’re looking for a strain with a knockout punch, one that will get you high when you’re feeling low—you’re in the right place!
1. Emperor Cookie Dough
Competitor: Greenwolf LA
2015 Cannabis Cup: Denver Cup
Category: Hybrid Flowers (US)
2. Karmasutra
Competitor: Cali Kush Farms with Karma Squad and Reeferman Genetics
2015 Cannabis Cup: World Cannabis Cup
3. Strawberry Banana
Competitor: Green Country Rebellion with Cali Natural
2015 Cannabis Cup: LA Cup
Category: Medical Hybrid
% THC: 28.4
4. Veganic Strawberry Cough
Competitor: Private Stock for Buds & Roses of LA
2015 Cannabis Cup: Denver Cup
Category: Sativa (US)
% THC: 28.31
5. Life Is Good OG (bx OG F6)
Competitor: Life Is Good
2015 Cannabis Cup: World Cannabis Cup
Category: Medical Indica
% THC: 27.2
Northern California
1. Chiquita Banana
Competitor: Utopia Farms
2015 Cannabis Cup: World Cannabis Cup
Category: Medical Hybrid
% THC: 27.16
2. Strawberry Banana
Competitor: Crockett Family Farms
2015 Cannabis Cup: Michigan Cup
Category: Medical Hybrid
% THC: 26.0
3. Gorilla Glue #4
Competitor: Green Acres
2015 Cannabis Cup: SF Cup
Category: Medical Hybrid
% THC: 25.8
4. Kosher Kush
Competitor: Santa Cruz Veterans Alliance
2015 Cannabis Cup: SF Cup
Category: Medical Indica
% THC: 25.6
5. Tahoe Chem
Competitor: C.R.A.F.T.
2015 Cannabis Cup: SF Cup
Category: Medical Hybrid
% THC: 25.5
Notes:
Chiquita Banana, a relatively new name in the fruity strains, is likely a backcross of the Banana Kush (or Banana OG) out of NorCal, with her potency derived from one of her parents, the epic Ghost OG cut.
Appearing twice on The List for 2015, the Strawberry Banana also was named one of “The Strongest Strains on Earth” in 2014, coming in at 22.51% THC. Additionally, she recently showed up in our “Best-Tasting Buds” feature (March ’16) boasting a very prolific terpene profile. A cross between Bubblegum and Banana Kush (OG), the SB goes nine weeks in flower.
Gorilla Glue #4 has been steadily gaining in popularity over the past few years, combining a unique flavor with a very potent high. A super-cross of Sour Dubb x (Chem’s Sister x Chocolate Diesel), she’s a sativa-dominant hybrid that’s been making her way across the country, and has reportedly even been seen on a menu or two in Dutch coffeeshops.
Notes:
The Emperor Cookie Dough, a cross between Emperor OG andGirl Scout Cookies, was entered into the Denver US Cannabis Cup by the Greenwolf LA crew and is one of only two strains ever to cross the 30% threshold for THC. The other strain to do so? Keep on reading….
Karmasutra, a collaboration project, is a hybrid of the Karma OG crossed with Rockstar. Rockstar has two known versions: The Canadian version is a Bubba Kush x Lemon OG, while the European version is Rockbud x Sensi Star.
Veganic Strawberry Cough has been included in our “Strongest Strains on Earth” compilation (hereafter, The List) for three out of the five years that HIGH TIMES has been running it. In 2012, the VSC maxed out at just over 20% THC. Meanwhile, veganically grown strains (using Kyle Kushman’s Vegamatrix line) have made The List seven times over the course of those five years.
Biscotti is a rare indica dominant hybrid strain (80% indica/20% sativa) created through a delicious cross of the classic Gelato #25 X Girl Scout Cookies X South Florida OG strains. If you’re looking for a classic indica with an insanely delicious flavor, you’ve found it. Biscotti packs everything you want and more in the effects and taste department into each delicious toke, all fueled by a super high 25% average THC level.
The Biscotti high comes on with a rush of cerebral effects that launch your mind into a pure lifted state of unfocused bliss. As your mind settles, a calming body high will wash over our physical form, allowing you to kick back and relax without a care in the world.
This high will quickly become giggly and stoney, leaving you laughing at anything and everything around you. Thanks to these effects and its high THC level, Biscotti is often chosen to treat conditions such as chronic stress or anxiety, depression, mood swings, and chronic pain. This bud has an insanely delicious sugary cookie flavor with a rich spicy exhale. The aroma is of earthy herbs and fruits with a notable cookie effect. Biscotti buds have spade-shaped dark olive green nugs with long dark orange hairs and a thick frosty coating of bright white crystal trichomes.