Purple Cannabis – Here’s Why You Should Try It

Purple is the color of royalty, so the perfect shade for a classic cannabis strain that anyone who calls themselves a connoisseur should know.

Although purple isn’t as common as other groundbreaking strains like Haze, Skunk, or Kush, it’s loved by everyone lucky enough to try it, from medicinal patients to celebrities. Actor Jaleel White has released a whole line of Purple Cannabis Loads earlier this year.

Here is everything you need to know about purple cannabis.

Photo by Esteban Lopez via Unsplash

Origin of purple cannabis

What newer generations of cannabis users may not know is that purple was once the hottest strain in both pharmacies and on the street. The exact birthplace of Purple cannabis is unknown, but seed companies like Purple City Genetics believe it originated in Humboldt, California and was popularized in the San Francisco Bay Area. Others refer to breeders Trichome Technologies’ Kenneth Morrow as creator when he produced Purple Kush in 1995.

RELATED: What Are Skunk, Haze, and Kush? The basis of today’s cannabis strains

One of the most popular purples, known as Granddaddy Purple, or GDP for short, was grown by Ken Estes, an old school cannabis legend who credits his famous cut of GDP of Vietnam veterans returning from overseas with seeds from Thailand and Afghanistan. It’s likely that purples are descended from an old Afghan landrace cut or even a version of skunk.

What is purple cannabis?

Purple cannabis is an umbrella term for a growing family of strains that share both a color and distinct taste, smell, and stony effect.

There are a few theories about what gives some cannabis plants a purple hue that ranges from lavender to deep blackish purple, but not all of them are true. What defines Purple, says long-time cannabis breeder Todd McCormick, are the flavonoids of certain genetics, and that “Afghan genetics are the genetics responsible for the purple colors in broad leaflet cannabis. “

One of the greatest charms of purple cannabis, besides its color, is its taste. Purple cannabis strains also often taste “purple”, like a sweet candy grape that can even express floral notes.

Due to their genetics, purple strains are almost always indicas unless crossed with something else known for the intense body high that patients reported was great for chronic pain without completely killing the mind . But despite this intense effect, Purple Cannabis was never a high THC producer with an average of 15-16%.

How does it compare?

Purple strains are most closely related to Kush strains, as they share the intense couch lock of a pure indica and a squat look similar to the plants during flowering. The unique flavor profile, likely based on terpenes like linalool, is something that sour and haze cannot match.

Photo by Daniel Norin via Unsplash

Kay Watt, the senior geneticist at Dark Heart Nursery, says purples have always been popular with medical patients for their intense pain relieving effects, but weren’t as mentally calming as Kush or Skunk could be.

RELATED: This is Why Cannabis Terpenes Are So Important

The only downside to purple might be that it’s so hard to find because the plants themselves don’t produce large yields, making them more expensive to grow.

Bottom line

The beauty of cannabis is that it is so abundant that everyone can find the right strain for themselves. Purple cannabis was an incredibly popular strain among people with chronic pain and nausea, but it was also a euphoric high that didn’t leave its users asleep or drowsy.

It doesn’t deliver the energy of a sativa like Haze or Sour Diesel, so it’s not best for a busy or active lifestyle. Ask anyone who’s tried Purple and probably liked it. Do not believe me? There is only one way to know for sure – try it for yourself!