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Cannabis history is as colorful and diverse as the plants themselves. There are anecdotes, myths, legends and an endless amount of stories about weed and how it has impacted peoples’ lives since the earliest recorded histories of ancient civilisations. Since we could pass down stories from one generation to another, we’ve seemingly been dabbling in dabs, pontificating about pot and waxing tales of weed’s benefits.
Because there is so much rich history surrounding cannabis like a smoke haze, we thought we’d start a new series of articles about the origins of weed. In these blogs we’ll toke on some myths, legends and folklore about cannabis in all its glory while we dig for the truths about our puff-puff-past. Our relationship with ganja likely stretches back hundreds of thousands of years past what we know of our own human story, but we figure there are many nugs of truth to be found along the way.
The first article in this new history & origins series is going to put some emphasis on the “original origin”: OG strains. What does OG stand for? Is OG and Kush the same? Who created OG Kush? Where does OG cannabis come from? What are the best og strain names and where did they get their monikers from? Let’s dust off some old tomes of lore and turn the pages to the origins of the infamous OG kush strains.
What Does OG Stand For?
To understand the meanings behind OG strain names you need to know about the origins of one of cannabis most regal, royal families: kush. Is OG and kush the same? Not exactly, but they usually go together like peanut butter and jelly – they’re a perfect combo brought to life by random acts of nature, or they’re of ingenious human design. The history of kush is a lot more far-reaching than that of “OG”, but we’ll cover both origin stories and theorize when/how they come together in perfect hash-harmony.
We’ll start with kush cannabis because like we mentioned earlier it has a long and storied tradition on this planet. Kush cannabis has been around for thousands of years – so long, in fact, we don’t really know how old this famous landrace strain truly is. Found in one of the cradles of cannabis – the Hindu Kush mountain range – kush cannabis strains have been used as medicine & spiritual enhancement in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India for generations.
The Kushlands of Cannabis Paradise
Not to be confused with the kingdom of Kush, which reigned for almost 1500 years in Northern Africa, kush weed was fruitful and multiplied all over the Middle East, becoming synonymous with famous hashish from the same area. Some say these particular og kush strain names are fashioned after the mountains they grew around – obviously – while others suggest it has something to do with the kingdom of Kush itself, who were known to cultivate this particular cultivar. The leading theory is that kush cannabis is one of the progenitor landraces of cannabis, meaning it is as “original ganja” as ganja gets. Speaking of OG kush strains…
What does OG stand for? Is it “Original Ganja”? It certainly can be, because OG strains are among the most iconic cultivars in the world. It’s difficult to get stoners to agree on everything, but something they don’t mince words on is quality weed. Everyone who lights up, dabs, drops edibles or rubs on THC is in sync when it comes to their love for OG kush strains. Where the haze comes in is when you ask the questions: Is OG and Kush the same?… Where does OG cannabis come from?… Who created OG Kush?… What does OG stand for?!
Here are some more theories that all have their own following to this day:
OG – Original Gangster/Gangsta
Original gangster honors the 1990s when this cannabis strain became popular in California. At that time, hip-hop culture thrived alongside cannabis culture. References to this suave-defiant mix appeared in every part of stoner culture. But there are two main claims regarding the origins of OG cannabis.
One group, the “Original Gangster” crew, suggests a collective origin. They believe no single person or group coined “Original Gangster.” Instead, it was a term that emerged naturally as part of the 90s hip-hop scene.
Another side, the “Original Gangsta” supporters, credits a specific trio in Cypress Hill. According to legend, Sen Dog, B-Real, and DJ Muggs experienced an exceptional kush at a concert. They were amazed by its uniqueness and potency. This “original gangsta” story spread quickly, bringing the term into the spotlight.
Further backing for this claim comes from DNA Genetics in Amsterdam. This cannabis company began selling OG Kush after hearing the story. They created a similar OG Kush strain that gained fame in the 1990s and 2000s.
OG – Ocean Grown
OG strain names could very well have ties to coastal cannabis, because many of the most prolific growers in California, British Columbia, Mexico and more are found along the coasts of the Pacific Ocean. This particular OG kush strain story centers on California, in the San Fernando Valley area. The tale goes that a mysterious grower, referred to as ‘Kush Dawg’, bred a unique new kind of kush that he was extremely proud of. Weeks after growing this potent, colorful and incredibly aromatic cultivar, Kush Dawg was at one of his local haunts when a fellow patron came up to him and offered him “some of the dopest dope you’ll ever smoke”.
Kush Dawg opened the bag, took one whiff and smiled from ear-to-ear: he’d recognize his new kush anywhere. The enthusiastic patron and Kush Dawg rolled a doob and smoke it together, remarking on how incredibly delicious this strain was. The patron said “it must be mountain grown” to which Kush Dawg corrected him, “No… this is Ocean Grown”. Hence, OG strain names have used this Ocean Grown moniker ever since in Cali.
OG – Original Grower
Whether you’re “old school” and have been growing for decades with your own DIY set up, or you’re an innovator that always finds new ways to cultivate new kinds of cannabis, the term “Original Grower” makes a lot of sense for where OG cannabis comes from. During the 1970’s, a wave of cannabis pioneers sought out strains from all over the world in their attempts to hybridize new, potent and flavorful cultivars.
Many greenthumbs made a pilgrimage of sorts to the holy land of kush – Afghanistan, India and along the Hindu Kush mountains. Here they found the landraces of kush buds and brought seeds back to the west coasts of North America, dubbing themselves “Original Growers” of some of the most iconic strains of their times.
The Potfather of OG Kush Strains
To uncover the creator of OG Kush, there’s really only one answer. The ‘original gangsta’ is highly respected in cannabis circles. Stories still circulate about individuals or groups that first bred this iconic strain. Some say others coined “OG” before this famous grower, but evidence for these claims is scarce.
True OG strains emerged in the 1990s. A grower named “Bubba” created the Bubba cannabis strain. Bubba, whose real name is Matt Berger, was a skilled grower from Florida. Renowned for his Kryptonite strain, many referred to it as “krippy” or “kushberries” due to its kush lineage.
Bubba then moved to California, a cannabis hub at the time. There, he teamed up with two friends to create legendary strains. They developed Bubba Kush, KY, and OG Kush. The meaning of “OG” was never fully explained. However, fans of these powerful strains have come up with their own stories.
Strong Gangsta-Ganja Roots
These “original gangstas” played a key role in popularizing OG strains. They also boosted the fame of kush strains during a pivotal time in cannabis history. Whether you think of Ocean Grown, Original Gangster, or your own Original Grower strain, the OG lineage holds a significant place in cannabis culture. OG kush strains rank among the most sought-after buds globally. They will remain at the forefront as expert growers like Bubba enhance cannabis potency, quality, and diversity.
Not familiar with many OG strains? Here’s a few of the hottest sellers and highest reviewed OG cannabis products you’ll find at your favorite online weed shop, Haute Health:
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does OG cannabis come from?
OG kush cannabis strains originate from the Hindu Kush mountain range – spanning from Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. OG cannabis strains are believed to be hybrids of Chemdawg and Kush strains, but these genetics are almost impossible to confirm without having past data on their parentage.
Who created OG Kush?
Matt Berger, aka Bubba, is thought to be the original grower of the first OG Kush strain. Hailing from Florida, this famous grower of the 1990’s came together with some of his friends in California to create several famous strains, including Bubba Kush, KY and OG Kush.
Is OG and Kush the same?
OG and Kush strains are commonly combined into strains like OG Kush or varieties of this iconic strain. However, their cannabinoids and terpenes contents are quite distinct under normal cultivation circumstances. For instance, OG strains typically contain higher values of myrcene, pinene and guaiol whereas Kush dominant strains show concentrations of camphene, terpineol and linalool.
