The Best Retro Cannabis Strains of the 90s

While some of us may bristle at the idea of referring to the 1990s as ‘retro’, it’s a sobering thought to remember that the 90s began 30 years ago.

A lot happened in the 1990s – scientists discovered cannabinoid receptors, Clinton admitted he lit it but didn’t inhale, Proposition 215 came into effect, and some of the music was fantastic. The era of Grunge was also the era of ganja, with some choice strains taking centre stage during the 1990s.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane and highlight some of the finer strains of the era.

White Widow

Bred primarily for a high trichome count, White Widow is arguably the quintessential 1990s strain. The Christmas-y looking beauty made her debut in 1994 and was quickly rewarded with a Cannabis Cup in 1995 – talk about an immediate impact! Initially bred by Dutch masters Green House Seeds, this perennial favourite was an instant hit, famed for its high THC content of around 20%, coupled with a resin production that was off the charts. An indica/sativa hybrid, White Widow, resulted from a pure Brazilian sativa mother and a South Indian Keralan hybrid father.

White Widow has a high mould resistance, making it an excellent choice for outdoor grows but perfectly happy to sprout indoors with the correct set-up. A reasonably short plant, with yields on the medium-high side, White Widow has a pungent scent when lit and carries a spicy, earthy taste with notes described as pine. It’s a far cry from the tastier, fruitier strains of today, but rest assured – once the effect hits, that won’t matter. You’ll be too blissfully high to care. This strain made its name on its potency, and it’s easy to see when you try it. White Widow’s effect is an instantly uplifting, cerebral one that boosts the mood. If you’ve never tried White Widow, you owe it to yourself to remedy that. White Widow is a 1990s weed. Buy White Widow auto on Seedsman today.

Sour Diesel

A rich, trichome-heavy sativa-dominant hybrid, Sour D emerged from New York’s underground cannabis scene in the early 1990s. It’s thankfully still available and remains one of the most pungent strains around – so pungent that you could probably keep a bud of this in a lead briefcase and still be able to smell it!

The true origins of Sour Diesel remain the subject of debate even today, but it’s believed to be a hybrid between a Chemdawg plant and a Skunk, with some sources suggesting there’s even Northern Lights genetics in play. Sour Diesel has a high THC content (around or above 20%) and is best suited to indoor grows for obtaining maximum yield and minimum noticeable smell! Upon flowering, it produces dense, sticky buds covered in resin, and its high trichome coverage gives it a pale, sugary appearance. Sour D carries an incredible taste profile with citrus, Diesel, fruity, and woody flavours all to the fore.

This 90s staple is a highly potent strain that provides an extremely powerful and long-lasting body and head effect, making it an ideal choice for evening use.

AK47

Named after Mikhail Kalashnikov’s famous assault rifle, you’d expect this strain to have some kick – and you’d be right. A strongly aromatic, high THC sativa-dominant strain, AK47 emerged around 1992, although its lineage dates back to the 1970s. It quickly became a favoured strain of smokers from Alaska to Zimbabwe, attaining legendary status in a short time and gaining the nickname ‘one-hit wonder’. AK47 was highly celebrated in the 1990s but continued to collect awards well beyond the 2000s.

When growing AK47, you’ll need to bring your A-game in terms of odour control – this is an amazingly pungent strain, but the reward is worth it. AK47 is best grown indoors in a milder climate, but will produce respectable yields between 350-500g/m2.

This sativa has a spicy, skunky aroma that follows through in the taste, where it’s coupled with a refreshing citrus flavour and a powerful, relaxing, mellow cerebral effect. The buzz is long-lasting and can aid with relaxation or social situations. Did I mention it was pungent? Grab your AK47 seeds from Seedsman now.

Jack Herer

Ah, Jack Herer – the nostalgia is almost as strong as the weed itself! One of the first recognised medical-grade strains, this absolute legend of a strain, named after an absolute legend of a man, first surfaced in the 1990s and became not only an instant hit but a must-have strain – cannaseurs scrambled to get their hands on this tribute to the Hemperor, and were not disappointed. The Jack Herer strain is of such high quality that it has won NINE cannabis cup titles!

The sweet, peppery taste of Jack is the first thing you’ll experience – then, prepare for a sudden outbreak of euphoria from the high THC content (above 20%). This indica/sativa hybrid strain has a strong but pleasant headrush that energises. Eventually, it spreads through the body to leave a warm, happy tingle throughout, but with complete control and awareness/alertness.

Seedsman’s Jack Herer tribute strain is ready after 9 weeks, and the tall plants have some respectable medium to high yields. Get your Jack Herer Seeds from Seedsman here.

OG Kush

First cultivated in the early 1990s, this cross of Chemdawg and a Hindu Kush quickly became not only a must-have strain but built a reputation as a vigorous parent plant, going on to lend its genetics to a lot of West Coast cannabis strains in the years that followed – most notably, the revered Girl Scout Cookies strain.

OG Kush’s potency and flavour made breeding new strains a great starting point. Fittingly, with a name like OG, this strain was a massive hit on the West Coast Hip-Hop scene and remains as much today.

OG Kush is a fairly small plant but has decent yields of around 400 gr/m2 and delivers thick buds with a high THC content around the 20% mark. Smokers like it for its citrus and pepper taste profile, but it has a fabulous bouquet of scents into the bargain. The effect of OG Kush is a heavy wave of relaxing euphoria and a mixed head and body sensation. Try our OG Kush autoflowering seeds today.