What are the most expensive cannabis strains on the market?

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been republished with permission.

You may be shocked to know that many of the expensive premium cannabis strains on the market – past and present – have affordable alternatives. There is no need to spend hundreds of dollars growing or purchasing a cannabis strain with quality genetics when you can settle for their cheap counterparts.

Pharmacies in most parts of the world group varieties by price. Some of these products are highly priced due to their fanciful names and the expensive cultivation techniques used to create them. Yes, not all cannabis strains have a standardized breeding process. Some strains are produced using the Citizen Science approach – a system where breeders infrequently mess with cannabis genetics to bring out something unique. Nothing laudable comes of this approach, but a few times it does result in cannabis strains with the best of the best genetics.

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Several strains have been created from extensive cannabis breeding practices. Here, high-tech equipment and first-class genetic material are handled by highly skilled, experienced breeders. The prices of the products manufactured here are often calculated according to the input into the program, regardless of the origin of the plant. Most of these strains appear at far higher prices than regular strains.

The point is that some of these premium seeds aren’t worth the price tags they come with. Few are. While I won’t excuse the fact that these premium strains offer unique effects, I do want to point out that some are actually overrated for easy marketing and quick sales. There are far better strains out there, with better generic qualities and “psychoactive” highs, than these premium, high-priced strains.

To further clarify my point, I’ve highlighted some of the most expensive cannabis strains around the world and relatively cheaper alternatives that you can grow or use instead. That means you can have a similar experience at a fraction of the intended price.

Fruity pebbles

Fruity pebbles have long been out of fashion. Most growers, breeders, and consumers can attest to how this strain came and went like nothing.

Fruity Pebbles originated as a limited time offer from Alien Genetics. The seed bank geneticists created this hybrid by mixing strains Granddaddy Purple, Tahoe Alien, and Green Ribbon. With such potent parent strains, fruity pebbles had little choice but to live up to her tantalizingly sweet reputation.

The strain exhibited some uniquely alluring effects that leaned more towards indica morphology. The plant grew in a dense canopy and featured large, broad leaves with lateral growth. The buds were loaded with a very high THC content, which enabled the product to deliver an intoxicating body high. Even seasoned seasoned cannabis users couldn’t escape the couch lock effect of using fruity pebbles.

During the limited period fruity pebbles were sold, Alien Genetics scientists did not feminize them. Even if they did, the feminized strain never made it to market. Enthusiastic growers had to buy the seeds and hope the universe would bring them a feminized plant. This would have been acceptable if each seed didn’t cost $1,500. In the long run, the unreal terpene and cannabinoid profile wasn’t worth the exorbitant price tag.

Inexpensive alternative: Runtz

Developed by Zamnesia’s genetics team, the Runtz strain is a better tasting and more potent strain with effects similar to fruity pebbles. The breeding team discovered that Runtz was created by crossing Zkittlez with Gelato.

Runtz has a fairly rich terpene and cannabinoid profile. She is currently one of the tastiest and most highly potent strains with 27% THC and guarantees big yields. The price is $9 per seed. Another advantage is that the seeds are feminized.

Photo by Christina Winter via Unsplash

oracle

In 2009, a new mysterious strain burst onto the cannabis sphere. Then reports flying around claimed that the Oracle strain could be the most significant breakthrough in potency. Everyone wanted a hit with this strain.

In the end it turned out to be an overrated product. The Oracle team spread a rumor that their strain has a massive THC profile of up to 45%. The rumors also claimed that the strain could complete its growth cycle in less time than any other strain in existence. Based on these unproven anecdotal claims, the strain’s price skyrocketed to $1,000.

It wasn’t until 2013 that these claims were proven false. Not only did Oracle not grow in record time, it also did not contain a reasonable amount of THC. It was also a CBD dominant strain.

Alternative: CBD Fix Automatic

There’s no point paying up to $1,000 for a CBD-based strain. Instead, you can buy the CBD Fix Automatic strain, especially if you want a similar experience to the Oracle strain.

RELATED: Why you should mix your cannabis strains

Produced by Zamnesia, this strain contains around 14% CBD and 0.8% THC. The hybrid was created from a cross between Northern Light Auto and another CBD-rich offspring. It costs less than $10 per seed.

island OG

This strain has undefined origins. It first came to light when famous rapper 2 Chainz smoked it on a 24k gold rolling paper. At the moment I think it was a perfect marketing ploy to raise the price too much.

Experienced cannabis geneticists said they suspect sativa-dominant parents created the strain. The two suspects were Hawaiian and OG Kush. The current price is unknown.

A cheap alternative: OG Kush

OG Kush offers a remarkably similar experience to Isla OG. All the more reason why OG Kush is often considered the strain’s potential parent.

OG Kush is popular with experienced and novice smokers alike. She is known for her high THC levels and her unique tastes and aromas. With OG Kush, you get similar flavors and effects to Isla OG at a significantly lower price point. With $5 you can buy a seed of this feminized strain.

bottom line

Many breeders, including Zamnesia, offer highly potent strains at cheaper prices. These strains are designed for the average smoker. Not everyone can afford the most expensive strains on the market, so these affordable alternatives with great cannabinoid profiles shouldn’t be out of place. You can have a similar or better cannabis experience without breaking the bank.

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been republished with permission.