The History of Modern Cannabis Varieties in America

In The Beginning

Prior to 1970 cannabis varieties were largely dominated by low potency strains mostly from Mexico.  In the early to mid-1970’s the first Afghani indica and Thai sativa cannabis seeds made their way to America thanks to the participants of the Vietnam war.  Soldiers found the local varieties sold there far more powerful than what they consumed back home and shipped copious amounts of the cherished flowers stateside.

At roughly the same time, in Mexico, Guadalajara Cartel co-founder Rafael Caro Quintero started producing quality sinsemilla (seedless) at Rancho El Búfalo in mass scale with the primary purpose for it to be shipped to America.  As a young boy he grew marijuana on a smaller scale and developed quite a talent for its cultivation.

From the product produced at Rancho El Búfalo, Rafael dominated cannabis imports to America from Mexico from the early 1970s until 1984 when the DEA performed their infamous raid of the 2,500-acre farm.

These historical imports gave rise to a new appreciation for a higher quality product and the black market exploded given that pot was, and still is, the third most popular drug (behind alcohol and nicotine) in the U.S.A.  After the raid at Rancho El Búfalo a void was created in the pot trade and its lack of availability drove up prices which, in turn, rendered opportunities for local growers, especially those growing “hydro”; indoor plants grown hydroponically who could demand anywhere from $400-$600 an ounce.

This also resulted in intensified efforts by the Drug Enforcement Agency to curb the usage of these newer more potent plants.  Which included spraying tens of thousands of acres of state land with the herbicide paraquat and then the lesser deadly glyphosate (after 1985) in order to kill marijuana plants.  This led to the near eradication of wild hemp in America, ironically freeing up large swaths of the country to now grow and breed high potency plants without the influence of that lower quality hemp pollen which generally thwarted those endeavors in the past.

Given that Quintero’s Mexican sinsemilla was grown outdoors in mass scale meant that a minor number of seeds would be present in the end product shipped northward.  Those were inevitably cultivated by Americans and gave birth to legendary varieties like “Panama Red”, “Acapulco Gold” and “Oaxacan” which was eventually modified into the long line of “haze” strains, among others.  These sativa plants are also suspected of being the origin genetics behind the famous Hawaiian Kona Gold and Maui Wowie strains since the plant is not indigenous to the to the most isolated archipelago in the world.  The surfer community was well entrenched within the “Hippie Movement” of the 1960’s which resulted in a fair share of quality Mexican produce making its way to the Islands.

The Drug War

Supply and demand are forces beyond the control of any government.  Leadership is best served by reasonably taxing an industry and, in turn, providing the business and security infrastructure in which companies can thrive. 

Failing to do so only leads to an underground marketplace devoid of taxation or any guarantee, safety and otherwise for any of the participants or customers.

None-the-less, that failed control is the exact trap the United States opted for when their political and racist desires accounted for the biggest fraud ever perpetrated on the American people.  The drug war has jailed millions of people, ruined countless lives, costs the tax payers billions annually and has never posted any level of diminished use of marijuana, specifically.

The Netherlands, an Island of Sanity

Fear of arrest and decades of jail time was enough to motivate serious American breeders into moving abroad to the Netherlands where the government there tolerated the usage and small-time cultivation of cannabis plants.  It served as a sanctuary for people who needed to become well known in order for their craft to succeed.  Not exactly the preferred MO during the height of the Drug War. 

Thankfully the Dutch did not cave into American influence as did most of the rest of the world, preferring their “common sense” approach to drugs and the people who use them.  American breeders moved there, binging their seed stock with them and eventually helping to establish the first Cannabis Cup in 1988.

The Cannabis Cup

High-end marijuana strains were thrust into the main stream cultural pot movement thanks to the Cannabis Cup and its primary sponsor, High Times Magazine.  The first cup was held in Amsterdam in 1988.

That first cup and subsequent years forever immortalizing Skunk #1, Northern Lights, Haze, White Widow, Master Kush and Blueberry to name just a few.  All these cup winners have become the cornerstone genetics to many of the offerings now available at dispensaries in states where it is legal.  In 2010 the Cannabis Cup was hosted in San Francisco after Dutch authorities were no longer tolerant of the foreign “pot tourist market”. 

Americans Just Say No!

In 1996 California passed prop 215 (Compassionate Use Act of 1996) essentially legalizing the use of medical marijuana.  

Some two and half decades later local election power continues to defy federal law.  Twenty-six states have legalized the usage and sale of pot to some degree whether by medical necessity or even fully legalized recreational use, sale and cultivation of the plant. Giving birth to the new economic bubble known as the “Green Rush”.  Today there are multiple Cannabis Cups across America hosted in Northern and Southern California, Denver, Michigan, Seattle, and Oregon.

Landrace Strains

These are origin strains that developed naturally within their specific geographical locations.  This is probably the one topic most open to interpretation.  Take, for example, the Jamaican variety “Lamb’s Bread” (purportedly Bob Marley’s favorite) was almost certainly interbred by local Jamaicans given the plant’s intrinsic part of the Rastafarian culture.  So, is it really “landrace”?

Fundamentally the modern marketplace has well superseded the need for origin strains. Even the best of which would be severely outclassed by any modern offering.  However, breeders have become more cognizant of some of the lost gems, one of them being Durban Poison emerging from the eastern coastal regions of Southern Africa.

There are also the efforts of companies like Strain Hunters who made it their business to hunt down origin strains from local farmers all over the world, but, especially in areas like the Hindu Mountains and other parts of India, where I believe many of the varieties we consume today emanated from.

The Modern Era

The cannabis market in, for example; California, is indistinguishable from what it was in the early 90’s; even after 1996 with the passage of prop 215; the sheer availability of products just blows the mind.  From pot-infused sodas and gummies to flavored vape pens; it’s a brave new world!