Pull up to your favorite dispensary and check out the flower menu. There are so many amazing weed strains it can be hard to choose. When you stop to think about it, it’s kind of mind-blowing.

Back in the day, when we were still hunting and gathering and running from sabertooth tigers, there were only a handful of landrace strains. You were stuck with whatever grew outside your cave. Today, there are hundreds.

There has simply never been a better time to be a stoner.

But how did we get here? Let’s talk about it in our guide to the most popular weed strains!

The Designer Weed Era

Evolution is a process that unfolds over millions of years, and landrace cultivars existed unchanged for millennia. But today, cannabis breeders are like cannabis gods, creating more and more new weed strains in their quest for the holy grail — the new “It Strain” that becomes the next big thing.

So, what makes new weed strains the next big thing?

Here are some factors that play a major role with the most popular weed strains:

• Bag appeal

• Nose and flavor

• Effects

The most popular weed strains that hit it big always crush it in those categories. Here’s our list of the 15 most popular weed strains that do just that.

Let’s Talk about the Most Popular Strains of Weed

The next time you feel overwhelmed by a menu, just try one of these weed strains. They’re popular for all the best reasons!

1.Blue Dream

A cross of Blueberry and Super Silver Haze, the Blue Dream strain is a Sativa dominant strain that blends soothing Indica effects with her uplifting Sativa sensations, making Blue Deam a classic old-school favorite.

Bag Appeal

Blue Dream nugs are big, fat, and fluffy. Dusted in a heavy trichome frost, Blue Dream has colors unlike any other. Greens merge with blues and soft lilac tints, making Blue Dream unmistakable for anything other than what she is.

Nose and Flavor

Blue Dream has a nose that smells like sweet berries combined with subtle earth and floral undertones. Her smoke is smooth and coats the palate with a peppery sweetness.

Effects

Blue Dream is known as a gentle, daytime, get-things-done smoke. Her high starts as cerebral, creative, and euphoric. Then soothing Indica effects gently come on for a relaxed body high that stops short of sedation.

Shop Blue Dream strain products with Phenotopia:

• STIIIZY Blue Dream Pod
• Lost Farm Chews Blueberry 100 MG Blue Dream
• Jetty Cart Blue Dream 1G Sativa (510 Thread)
• PLUGPLAY DNA Blue Dream 1G Pod
• Heavy Hitters Blue Dream Strain 1G Cart
• Smoakland Blue Dream Flower 28G Sativa 

2.Girl Scout Cookies

Girl Scout Cookies (“GSC”) cemented its legendary status by blending the notorious OG Kush with the Sativa landrace Durban Poison. This strain blew up so big it became the namesake and claim to fame of one of the biggest brands in the cannabis industry — Cookies.

Bag Appeal

Girl Scout Cookies’ flowers are simply compelling. Dense and calyxed like her OG parent, they’re vibrant green interspersed with purple and orange undertones and vivid orange pistils that create a killer contrast. Glistening trichomes cover it all, showcasing the strain’s potency and rich cannabinoid profile.

Nose and Flavor

Her buds have a sweet and earthy scent punctuated by mint and spice with gassy undertones from her Kush ancestry. Her smoke is a symphony of flavors, blending sweet cookies with mint and exotic spices. Smooth and pungent, her sweetness lingers on the palette. Yum.

Effects

GSC is a potent Indica dominant strain. Her high begins with an uplifting cerebral rush that settles into a warm wave of relaxation throughout the body that just melts the stress away.

Shop GSC strain products like Smoakland’s Girl Scout Cookies strain flower!

3.Sour Diesel

Sour Diesel (“Sour D”) is a Sativa-dominant hybrid revered for her energizing effects and unique flavor profile. Originating way, way back in the early ’90s, Sour D is still in demand today and considered one of the best cannabis strains due to her extraordinary appearance, aroma, and effects.

Bag Appeal

Sour D’s flowers are large and cylindrical. A vivid green hue dominates her nugs, with an occasional pop of yellow accentuated by a generous sprinkling of bright orange and amber pistils. A crystalline layer of trichomes covers the flowers, illuminating her potency.

Nose and Flavor

Sour D lives up to her name with a pungent diesel nose, complemented by hints of citrus and earthy undertones. Some may also detect notes of sweet pine when she’s fresh from the grinder. Sour D’s flavor is just as distinctive, with a rich lemon pine smoke and a dash of diesel that lingers on the palate.

Effects

Sour Diesel is a high THC strain renowned for its uplifting and energizing effects. She comes on fast with an invigorating head high and free-flowing thoughts without losing clarity. This makes her a daytime favorite.

Shop Sour Diesel strain products with Phenotopia:

• STIIIZY Sour Diesel Pod 1G
• Jeeter Strawberry Sour Diesel 2G Jeeter XL
• STIIIZY Sour Diesel LIIL .5G All-in-One
• KGB Sour Diesel 1G Preroll

4.Durban Poison

Durban Poison is a potent strain. One of the only true pure Sativa strains, she comes from Durban, a city in South Africa. Many consider her an original Landrace sativa strain, making her one of the very few still commercially available today.

Bag Appeal

Durban Poison’s nugs are chunky, round, and layered with a thick coating of sticky trichomes. Exceptionally resinous, her bright green flowers are threaded with bold, amber pistils.

Nose and Flavor

Durban Poison exudes a sweet piney nose that’s very pleasing to the senses. Just beneath that are subtle undertones of citrus and spice, adding complexity. Her smoke tastes sweet and piney with hints of citrus, herbs, and spices, making for a refreshing experience.

Effects

Celebrated for her uplifting and energizing effects, Durban Poison is cerebral and euphoric, invigorating the mind and enhancing focus and creativity. Due to her energetic and uplifting high, Durban Poison is another go-to daytime smoke.

Shop Durban Poison strain products with Phenotopia:

• Jeeter Durban Poison Infused 1G Preroll
• UPNORTH Durban Poison Flower Strain
• Animal Durban Poison 6X 0.5G Infused Prerolls
• Animal Durban Poison 1G Distallate 510

5.Gelato

Gelato is one of the more potent marijuana strains, bred by the infamous Cookie Fam. A descendant of Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies and Sunset Sherbet, Gelato is a fruity exotic that’s made her mark on cannabis culture and is here to stay.

Bag Appeal

Although technically a hybrid strain, Gelato’s buds are nothing short of visually stunning with a tight, dense structure like many Indica strains and a myriad of colors ranging from deep green to shades of purple and blue. Vivid orange pistils and a lavish coating of trichomes enhance this fantastic palette.

Nose and Flavor

Gelato is known for her delectable aroma and taste. She has a sweet, dessert-like scent reminiscent of berries and citrus with subtle minty and earthy undertones. Fire her up, and Gelato delivers rich flavors evocative of a deliciously fruity dessert.

Effects

Gelato is a balanced hybrid and delivers a harmonious blend of Sativa and Indica effects. Typically, the experience begins with a wave of cerebral stimulation and a gentle euphoria. As the experience progresses, a soothing calm and tranquility settle in without excessive sedation.

Shop Gelato strain products with Phenotopia:

• Jeeter Gelato Infused 1G
• Jeeter Gelato .5G X 5 Infused Baby Jeeter
• STIIIZY Gelato Pod 1G
• STIIIZY Gelato 40’s Mini Blunts 
• Punch Extracts Gelato Distillate Cart 1G

 

6.Pineapple Express

Pineapple Express is a legendary strain that rose to global fame after being featured in a Hollywood movie of the same name. She carries a balanced blend of Sativa and Indica genetics and delivers a mix of uplifting and relaxing effects.

Bag Appeal

Pineapple Express has a dense structure with flowers that blend green with undertones of yellow and subtle hints of red. Her heavy trichomes intertwine with her amber pistils, making her a real stunner that cannabis consumers love.

Nose and Flavor

As the name suggests, Pineapple Express has a deliciously tropical aroma of fresh pineapple with notes of pine and earth. Her smoke is just like her nose, with clear pineapple tones and nuances of pine and wood, resulting in a flavorful smoking experience.

Effects

Pineapple Express is celebrated for evoking feelings of happiness and creativity, followed by a gentle wave of a soothing all-body stone.

Shop Pineapple Express strain products with Phenotopia:

• Heavy Hitter Pineapple Express 1G
• STIIIZY Pineapple Express Infused 40’s Preroll Pack
• Jetty Pineapple Express 1G 510 Thread
• PLUGPLAY DNA Pineapple Express Pod
• Froot Preroll Pineapple Express 1G

7.Ice Cream Cake

This sumptuous Indica-dominant hybrid was created by crossing Wedding Cake and Gelato #33. With parent genetics like that, it’s not hard to understand why Ice Cream Cake has a delectable array of flavors and potent effects that people just love.

Bag Appeal

Ice Cream Cake’s nugs are dense and visually stunning, with shades of green intermingled with hints of purple, vivid orange pistils, and a heavy glaze of trichomes.

Nose and Flavor

True to her name, Ice Cream Cake offers a bouquet of aromas and flavors reminiscent of a sweet dessert. Her nose has hints of creamy vanilla and sugary dough combined with subtle citrus undertones. Her smoke is smooth and creamy, with flavors of sweet vanilla and savory earth.

Effects

Ice Cream Cake is Indica dominant, and her effects reflect that. Her high begins with a subtle, happy lift followed by a powerful wave of relaxation that melts away stress and tension.

Shop Ice Cream Cake strain products like Smoakland’s Ice Cream Cake Flower!

8.wedding Cake

Wedding Cake is a cross of the deliciously sweet Girl Scout Cookies and Cherry Pie. She took the cannabis community by storm with her distinctive flavor and potent effects.

Bag Appeal

Wedding Cake’s allure is undeniable with heavy, dense, frosty flowers that combine a beautiful blend of green with flashes of purple and prominent orange hairs.

Nose and Flavor

Wedding Cake was named for her nose, which evokes, you guessed it, wedding cake. Underlying tones of vanilla and cream further enhance the olfactory experience. Her flavor profile mirrors her aroma, delivering a sweet, rich taste of vanilla and cream.

Effects

Wedding Cake is notorious for her effects. They start with an uplifted mood and increased sociability that’s soon accompanied by full-body relaxation without sedation.

Shop products like Gas Gang Wedding Cake 1G!

9.Lemon Cherry Gelato

Lemon Cherry Gelato is a rare and exotic hybrid with a unique flavor profile and potent effects. A cross of the parent strains Lemon Cherry and Gelato, this strain delivers a remarkable smoking experience.

Bag Appeal

With a dense structure, heavy frost, and vivid colors ranging from deep green to vibrant purple, Lemon Cherry Gelato is simply stunning and a favorite within the cannabis industry.

Nose and Flavor

Lemon Cherry Gelato’s nose is robust, dominated by citrus and sweet cherry nuances. Undertones of earth and herbs mingle with the fruitiness, adding complexity to her aroma. Her smoke is also a delicious blend of lemon and cherry flavor that caresses the palate, complemented by subtle hints of creamy sweetness.

Effects

Lemon Cherry Gelato starts with an uplifting cerebral high, stimulating a joyful mood. As the high evolves, a soothing body stone creates a balanced harmony of effects.

Shop Lemon Cherry Gelato strain products with Phenotopia:

• Fig Farms Lemon Cherry Gelato 3.5G Pre-pack
• Lime Lemon Cherry Gelato Hybrid 1G All-in-one Vape
• Moon Valley Lemon Cherry Gelato Flower Preroll
• Midzotics Rollies Lemon Cherry Gelato Prerolls

10.Strawberry Cough

This Sativa-dominant hybrid has captivated stoners with its robust strawberry flavor and uplifting effects. Strawberry Cough is renowned for its ability to manage stress and anxiety, providing a soothing yet energizing high.

Bag Appeal

Strawberry Cough’s flowers captivate with vibrant green hues interspersed with subtle undertones of red and pink, just like the colors of a ripe strawberry. Frosty for days, her bright orange pistils add to the strain’s visual allure.

Aroma and Flavor

True to its name, Strawberry Cough exudes a sweet and unmistakable strawberry aroma. In terms of flavor, Strawberry Cough doesn’t disappoint. She offers a palatable strawberry taste with a hint of skunky sharpness, making for a memorable smoking experience.

Effects

Celebrated for an uplifting high that enhances mood, Strawberry Cough is chatty and sociable. While she’s Sativa dominant, she stays chill and rarely induces anxiety or paranoia.

Shop Strawberry Cough strain products with Phenotopia

• STIIIZY Strawberry Cough 1G Pod
• STIIIZY Infused 40’s Strawberry Cough Blunt 2G
• West Coast Cure Strawberry Cough Jeffery .65G Infused Joint
• Humboldt Origins Strawberry Cough 1G Cart

11.Purple Punch

THIS Indica-dominant hybrid is a cross between two legendary strains — Larry OG and Granddaddy Purple. With such prestigious parentage, you just can’t go wrong with Purple Punch.

Bag Appeal

Purple Punch nugs are large and dense, with a striking array of purples mixed with deep shades of green and vivid orange pistils. With a thick layer of frosty trichomes, she’s simply gorgeous.

Nose and Flavor

Purple Punch has a captivating nose, enveloping the senses in sweet fruit reminiscent of freshly baked blueberry muffins and grape Kool-Aid. Her flavor is much the same, with a smoke that tastes of sweet berries and grapes with a hint of freshly baked pastry.

Effects

Purple Punch is renowned for its relaxing and soothing effects. Her powerful and calming body high envelops the user like a warm blanket, sedating, making her an excellent choice for evening or nighttime use.

Shop Purple Punch strain products with Phenotopia

• Heavy Hitters Kush Crasher X Purple Punch Rosin Jelly Joint
• STIIIZY Purple Punch 1G POD
• STIIIZY Purple Punch 40’s Multi-pack 2.5G
• STIIIZY Purple Punch 40’s Mini Blunts
• Humboldt Origins Purple Punch 1G Cart

12.Super Silver Haze

Super Silver Haze (“SSH”) is a sativa-dominant hybrid with dazzling effects and a robust genetic lineage. A cross between Skunk, Northern Lights, and Haze, Super Silver Haze carries a legendary legacy.

Bag Appeal

Super Silver Haze buds captivate. Her heavy trichomes glaze her fluffy, elongated Sativa flowers. Electric green, her orange pistils add a vibrant splash.

Nose and Flavor

Super Silver Haze has a nose as dynamic as her genetics. Pungent and skunky, with citrus undertones, a subtle sweetness pervades her overall aroma, adding a layer of complexity and allure.

SSH delivers a rich smoke that’s sweet and spicy, complemented by citrus and herbal undertones.

Effects

A sativa-dominant hybrid, Super Silver Haze is celebrated for its uplifting and energizing effects. Her high creates heightened sensory awareness and promotes focus and motivation.

Shop products like the Lime Super Silver Haze Live Resin Wet Batter!

13.Lemon Diesel

Lemon Diesel is a remarkable hybrid and the offspring of two renowned parents — California Sour and Lost Coast OG. With her robust genetic lineage, it’s no wonder that Lemon Diesel is such an excellent strain.

Bag Appeal

Lemon Diesel is super frosty, chunky, and dense. Her flowers are a captivating shade of green, interspersed with rich orange hairs that add a touch of warmth and contrast.

Nose and Flavor

Lemon Diesel exudes a potent lemon citrus nose with gassy diesel undertones that add a layer of complexity. Her flavor mirrors her nose with a robust lemon-flavored smoke that floods the palate, followed by the unmistakable skunky dank of diesel.

14.Gorilla Glue

Gorilla Glue is a cross of Sour Dubb and Chocolate Diesel that puts the sticky in that sticky-icky.

Bag Appeal

Gorilla Glue’s bulky, resin-covered buds are magnificent. Dark green with a thick coating of sticky trichomes, it’s plain to see how she got her name.

Nose and Flavor

Gorilla Glue has a potent and complex nose of earth, pine, and sour with strong undertones of diesel and chocolate. Her flavor is powerful, earthy, and sweet, with a robust diesel exhale.

Effects

Gorilla Glue delivers a heavy, full-bodied effect that’s great for unwinding after a challenging day. She also enhances mood and alleviates stress.

15.Runtz

Runtz is a cross between the deliciously fruity strains Zkittlez and Gelato. Her symphony of flavors, aromas, and effects delight the senses.

Bag Appeal

Runtz flowers are colorful and resinous, with various shades of green mixed with subtle purple hues. Vibrant orange pistils weave through the buds, enhancing their aesthetic allure.

Nose and Flavor

Runtz has a fruit-forward flavor and a sweet and fruity nose, with strong notes of tropical fruits, berries, and candy. There’s also a subtle undertone of earth and fresh herbs that add depth, making her incredibly enticing. But her flavor is where she truly shines. She tastes just like the candy she was named after.

Effects

Runtz is loved for the way she affects both the mind and body. The high is euphoric and uplifting, and this mental stimulation is paired with a relaxing body high that soothes muscles and eases tension, creating a feeling of tranquility.

Phenotopia has the most popular cannabis strains!

Phenotopia is a cannabis lover’s paradise. Our team has carefully curated a wide selection of cannabis products sourced from California’s finest growers and craftspeople. Shop our selection of flower, pre-rolls, edibles, and more to find exactly what you’re looking for!