Sativas of Old vs. Modern Hybrids

[Lady Codone]

Not here to start a debate, just looking for opinions. %)

I know today's weed is more "potent", prettier and more expertly grown than in the '70s and '80s. That's not really up for debate. From my reading, weed of the olden days was more enjoyable, causing uncontrollable laughter, psychedelia and euphoric stimulation. (I assume these were mainly sativa landrace strains).

My main complaint with today's weed is the obsession with smell/taste/appearance, which I could give 2 shits about. It's obviously more convenient to grow hybrids but I can't stand the retarded couchlock feeling and comedown drowsiness of the indicas.

What are your favorite modern sativa strains? If you were a toker in the '70s/'80s, how does that weed compare with today's? In terms of quality, not potency.

 

[xx001]

Unfortunately, we don't have medical marijuana here, so my access to particular strains is less than I would like. Fortunately, even the street markets are changing as most of the weed I have encountered recently is from medical states, though the strain may not always be known.. However I have been able to draw some conclusions based on the times when I did know the strain.

I generally prefer hybrids. My favorite strain so far has been white widow, a 50/50 or 40/60 hybrid. It is my favorite in terms of the subjective effects and the smell/taste. Its very strong too.

Sour diesel isn't exactly a sativa, but I believe it's a 90/10 hybrid, so its close enough. The effects are very smooth and the unique taste and smell is nice. Maybe the only strain I would prefer to smoke in blunts. I guess I would say the same about headband for taste, but it is a derivative of sour d anyway.

The best sativa's I have had were actually potent no-name strains.


Your right about potency not necessarily equating to enjoyable effects. Sure, I may have to smoke more, and the taste might not be quite as pleasant, but the effects are still the most important quality. The second best weed I have ever had behind my beloved widow in terms of effects, was a no-name, above-average but not quite dank indica. When the dealer first showed it too me, I was a bit skeptical, but later found it to be excellent.

I do care a lot about smell and taste though, especially as a fan of vaporizers. I think one can treat high quality cannabis just like fine cigars or wine.(except its way better )

 

[Lady Codone]

Nice! I actually loved Sour D but, like you, I don't have access to medical marijuana so I rarely know the strain name. Hopefully that changes in my lifetime Half the fun is knowing the specifics and seeing how others reviewed it.

I was raised on Mexican brickweed/redneck ditchweed, so the whole pot connoisseur thing is intriguing.

 

[freehugs]

Space Queen is great. I'm growing Malawi Gold this summer and I'm pretty stoked about that

 

[Livinginthealps]

I don't think today's strains are any more potent then "old school" genetics. Prettier and better manicured... yes but, more potent I think that is open for debate.

^ Space queen (romulan x cindy 99) crosses are very tasty. I have a few in my farm for this outdoor season.
My last indoor run had a number of Agent Orange plants which is a space queen cross. Very heady and is heavy on the jack herer in it's cross. It is a very nice sativa dom strain.

Here is a picture of one agent orange plant...



Btw freehugs I see your growing malawi gold this summer and your location is "Nor cal". What general area do you reside in? (if you don't mind me asking)
I am a fellow nor- cal farmer.

 

[xx001]

I don't think today's strains are any more potent then "old school" genetics. Prettier and better manicured... yes but, more potent I think that is open for debate.

This is partially true. Some people have the idea that better genetics are primarily responsible for the current abundance of very good bud compared to the past. The main difference is that the growing techniques used now are far superior.

 

[Lady Codone]

Well, today's top shelf strains contain more THC than high-grade strains of the past, making them technically more "potent". Some contain over 20% THC which just wasn't seen in the '70s and '80s. But more potent doesn't necessarily equal more fun. That's my main point. And of course there's always been the schwag and mid-grade, but I'm referring to the good stuff.

I'll have to look into Space Queen. Sounds delish! I'd kill to have a garden like that, Livinginthealps. Maybe one day...a girl can dream.

 

[justsayknow]

I'm pretty sure some land race african weed has been tested at +20% thc and some thai stuff was pretty close. I haven't smoked enough of the modern hybrids to say if they are better or not but I have had pure sativa that was strong enough to make me freak out and it wasn't pleasant at all the hybrids were much more pleasant in comparison. My personal taste is not for high potency at all though.

I think the giggling and euphoria you are talking about have a lot to do with the mood you are in before you smoke and the company you are in. It helps if you can keep your eyelids open though...

Some of the old genetics are still around too if you can either travel or get seeds and grow them.

 

[Artificial Emotion]

Lady Codone that is not correct. The evidence suggests that more potent weed today is more common, pushing up 'average' potency, but back in the 70s and 80s you could easily find highly potent sinsemilla weed. It's just the growing techniques with the availability of grow lights etc. and a lesser reliance on imported cannabis that has made more potent weed much more common today.

But the idea that cannabis has been bred to be so much more potent than in the 70s or 80s is a complete myth. People underestimate the accomplishments of old school line breeding. This was done for thousands of years successfully and produced some excellent strains indeed.

By the way strains like skunk #1 or haze strains which are famous for potent high quality bud were around in the 80s if you weren't aware.

 

[rollinstoner]

Lady Codone that is not correct. The evidence suggests that more potent weed today is more common, pushing up 'average' potency, but back in the 70s and 80s you could easily find highly potent sinsemilla weed. It's just the growing techniques with the availability of grow lights etc. and a lesser reliance on imported cannabis that has made more potent weed much more common today.

But the idea that cannabis has been bred to be so much more potent than in the 70s or 80s is a complete myth. People underestimate the accomplishments of old school line breeding. This was done for thousands of years successfully and produced some excellent strains indeed.

By the way strains like skunk #1 or haze strains which are famous for potent high quality bud were around in the 80s if you weren't aware.

^ This.

People are starting to sound like Dare officers.

 

[Bunker madness]

are you saying you don't enjoy the bud with higher THC content? if so why? i usually don't buy low quality weed because i need to smoke so much more of it to get the high i prefer.

 

[xx001]

Bunker, I think what we are trying to say is that %thc by mass isn't the best way to judge the quality of weed. It judges potency but potency, and quality are different things. There are numerous compounds in weed other than thc, and the ratio between all the different compounds is the important factor for what the high feels like. I would rather have weed that gives a better high, even if I have to smoke more than have a different type of weed that is "one-hit-shit" but gives a crappy high.

This is not to say that potent weed isn't good though. Weed that is potent usually is grown much better and has a superior taste, smell, and appearance. It is also more likely to have been cured well. Of course, what the high feels like is still the most important thing.

 

[DrunkardsDream]

The best sativa's I have had were actually potent no-name strains.

Same here. I started smoking back when people didn't care about strain names or "brands" of strains just if it was kind bud, OK stuff, or Mexican stuff full of seeds that was good for rolling large joints with and cooking with.

@Alex S.-No vaping does not give you the sedating high or couch lock like you get from some Indicas from smoking them, or from eating too much herb. If you vape correctly you can get only THC and no CBD.

 

[Lady Codone]

As stated before, I really don't wish to debate the "pot is stronger today" thing, but here's a source:

One study found average THC levels for all forms of marijuana, including garden-variety marijuana, high-powered sinsemilla, and barely-beats-oregano ditchweed, were well under 3 percent until about 1982, with samples collected in the 1975-1976 time frame having under 1 percent THC. Between 1975 and 2009 the potency of imported cannabis seized by the DEA rose steadily, eventually reaching 6 or 7 percent. (Source: The Straight Dope)

Of course that's just one study, but still. Other sources say it's just a myth that pot is stronger today. Can't really go back in time and prove it, so I'll leave it at that. I can't imagine how all the advanced grow techniques, feminization of seeds, careful breeding and other stuff could result in WEAKER pot than the outdoor stuff of the '70s, but anything's possible.

In any case, I'd really love to try a sativa landrace strain just to see how it feels. My main complaint with pot is that it's just too sedating to really function on. If I want to nod out, I'll take a lortab

 

[xx001]

Does vaping weed instead of smoking give you the same sedating effects?

edit: I meant this for Lady Codone, not a general question

 

[freehugs]

I don't think today's strains are any more potent then "old school" genetics. Prettier and better manicured... yes but, more potent I think that is open for debate.

^ Space queen (romulan x cindy 99) crosses are very tasty. I have a few in my farm for this outdoor season.
My last indoor run had a number of Agent Orange plants which is a space queen cross. Very heady and is heavy on the jack herer in it's cross. It is a very nice sativa dom strain.

Here is a picture of one agent orange plant...



Btw freehugs I see your growing malawi gold this summer and your location is "Nor cal". What general area do you reside in? (if you don't mind me asking)
I am a fellow nor- cal farmer.

That is one damn fine looking plant
And I reside in Butte County.

 

[freehugs]

As stated before, I really don't wish to debate the "pot is stronger today" thing, but here's a source:

One study found average THC levels for all forms of marijuana, including garden-variety marijuana, high-powered sinsemilla, and barely-beats-oregano ditchweed, were well under 3 percent until about 1982, with samples collected in the 1975-1976 time frame having under 1 percent THC. Between 1975 and 2009 the potency of imported cannabis seized by the DEA rose steadily, eventually reaching 6 or 7 percent. (Source: The Straight Dope)

Of course that's just one study, but still. Other sources say it's just a myth that pot is stronger today. Can't really go back in time and prove it, so I'll leave it at that. I can't imagine how all the advanced grow techniques, feminization of seeds, careful breeding and other stuff could result in WEAKER pot than the outdoor stuff of the '70s, but anything's possible.

In any case, I'd really love to try a sativa landrace strain just to see how it feels. My main complaint with pot is that it's just too sedating to really function on. If I want to nod out, I'll take a lortab

The way that testing strains has changed. Some strains that tested at say 8% THC back in the day would test at 20%+ today. Check out the landrace sativa forums at ICMAG and you'll find some great info there.

 

[laugh]

indeed a great looking lady, kinda looks to me like ak or even bd with that blueish coloration, though its probably somewhat skewed considering its under the grow light in the pic. what are the details on the grow medium, nutrients, lighting, etc.

Does vaping weed instead of smoking give you the same sedating effects?

run a search using the search bar in the top right of your page. there is a number of threads regarding vaporising.

 

[justsayknow]

In any case, I'd really love to try a sativa landrace strain just to see how it feels.

You should try them for sure. Might take a while to grow some but the seeds are out there. Or just visit one of the source countries Colombia, Malawi, Thailand whichever ones closer to you and have an awesome holiday while you're there.

 

[RobotRipping]

Does vaping weed instead of smoking give you the same sedating effects?

that depends on the temps you vape at. THC vaporizes at a lower temp than many CBDs in cannabis do, so yeah you can effectively use a vape to get a higher amount of THC (thus less sedating high but more mind racing/paranoia IMO). In general people do not like pure THC though, a fine balance with the many other cannabinoids is why people like hybrids so much. I hate smoking very high THC strains, i much prefer smoking shitty hybrids that are low in THC or pure indicas or indica doms, but that's just personal preference. I think northern lights is my favourite of all, just a solid classic.