You’ve probably heard of them…Blue Dream…Purple Kush…LA Confidential…Platinum OG. You probably know the difference between Sativa, Indica, and a hybrid. Maybe you even have a favorite, but have you ever really broken down the chemical content that’s lighting you up?
Let’s start with testing. One of the distinct advantages of going into a dispensary to get your product is that it’s been tested for pesticides, toxins, metals, and a whole lot more.
When I first got into the business of growing and selling weed legally, my mentor at the time told me that the cannabis industry was much like any other industry when it comes to selling a product or service. Which is, brand awareness is as important as the quality of what you’re selling. To breakdown that concept even further, she shared that having the purest, most potent weed available to the market means absolutely nothing if that first time or casual buyer can’t connect to the product and/or company. So, how does that connection take place you ask? It’s simple, you play the strain name game.
If you’re wondering how the name of a particular strain of weed can get a sell, think of this way. The Blueberry strain of weed is marketed as an indica dominant hybrid, but that really doesn’t matter. What’s important is the subliminal vibe being sent to the person who may be interested in trying out that particular strain. One of the most obvious subliminal messages will revolve around the smell…it must smell like blueberries, next would be it must taste like blueberries. For the person who loves blueberries, getting this strain is an easy decision to make. Therefore, if you are developing a brand awareness you may want to have a popular strain like the Blueberry strain on deck.
The same holds true for other strains like OG Kush, Pineapple Express, Blue Dream, and the list could go on and on. The strain name game is all about connecting a personal and/or cultural experience to the product.
But get this, there’s only three types of weed. Sativa, Indica, and a hybrid of the two. A 2018 study discovered that for the most part all cannabis is similar if not identical…so you can generate all the names you want because it’s a marketing tool. If you ever find yourself in the middle of a conversation between a stoner and a cannabis connoisseur (yes, there’s a difference…be on the lookout for an article about it) you’ll come to understand the pop cannabis culture, media, and even medicinal advocates talk about THC or CBD and fail to use the words Cannabichromene and Cannabinol which are where the hits come from.
Just do me a favor, do some research on cannabinoids and you’ll discover the lab numbers for some of the most popular THC strains hit pretty much the same. It’s more important to determine if your medicinal need is more in line with Sativa or Indica.
Spend more time micro-dosing and move away from the social distraction of talking about what you use because ultimately, it’s about your individual health and overall wellness and walking away from the pharmaceutical addiction game.