By Steven Voser

AK-47 is a Dutch coffeeshop classic. Officially brought to market in 1992, AK-47 was created from a mix of Asian and American landrace strains, and it quickly became a hit due to its fantastic aromas and strong effects. Since its launch in the 1990s, countless seed banks have tried to copy this iconic Dutch favourite. Keep reading as we shine our strain spotlight on AK-47 and uncover its origins, growth traits, aromas, and more.


The History of AK-47 Cannabis

To the modern smoker, the name AK-47 is synonymous with award-winning weed. In fact, AK-47 is arguably the most awarded strain on the market, boasting a total of 27 accolades and awards from cannabis competitions including the Barcelona High Life Cup, the High Times Cannabis Cup, the Toronto Treat Yourself EXPO, the Great Canadian Canna Cup, and Argentina's Copa Cata Zona Norte.

While many seed banks now offer their own version of this strain, the original AK-47 was bred in the Netherlands. AK-47 is the proud creation of Simon Smit. Simon is a former biology teacher from the Netherlands who first discovered his love for cannabis after travelling to Africa in 1986, where he first tried smoking the plant on its own—something that is not a common practice in the Netherlands or Europe. Simon immediately fell in love with the aromas, flavours, and effects of the plant in its pure form and began collecting seeds from his travels to grow and breed back home in the Netherlands.

AK-47 Cannabis Strain
AK-47 Cannabis Strain

In the late 1980s/early 1990s, Simon was offered a job at an already well-known seed bank. After a brief stint, Simon decided to start his own seed company. In 1992, AK-47 made it onto its catalogue and quickly began winning over growers and smokers everywhere.

Thanks to its great effects and delicious aromas and flavours, AK-47 quickly earned its spot on coffeeshop menus across Amsterdam, along with other strains.

Coffeeshops like De Dampkring and Green House won cannabis cups in 1995 and 1996 with Simon strains like Kali Mist and White Russian.

Simon created AK-47 from a combination of seeds he gathered during his travels. While Simon hasn't disclosed the exact genetic origins of AK-47, he has revealed that she is a descendant of Colombian, Mexican, Thai, and Afghani landraces. AK-47 is roughly 65% sativa dominant, which shines through in her physical traits and effects.

The Effects of AK-47

AK-47 is a very potent cannabis strain. In fact, it's her strong effects that got AK-47 her name. "The name was given not out of any idea of violence, but more in association with its ‘one hit wonder’ effect", writes Simon on its website. Even for experienced smokers, one hit of AK-47 is all you'll need to bask in her effects. Almost immediately after lighting up, AK-47 produces a euphoric cerebral sensation that many users find uplifting, social, and creatively stimulating. At the same time, AK-47 also produces a strong underlying body high.

Many recreational users enjoy smoking AK-47 while listening to music or enjoying the outdoors. Depending on your tolerance, you may also enjoy it as a daytime strain as its euphoric, cerebral effects may help to heighten your mood and increase your focus. Some users, however, may prefer using AK-47 in the comfort of their homes to soak up the strain's warm physical buzz as they watch a movie and later retire to bed for a restorative night's sleep. Either way, be sure to keep some snacks handy—AK-47 is known to cause the munchies.

Note that, in larger quantities or in people with a low tolerance, AK-47 may produce couch-lock. Some people may also experience dry eyes and cotton mouth, and the high THC content of AK-47 (over 20%) may cause paranoia in some people.

Thanks to its relaxing physical stone, AK-47 has become particularly popular among holistic cannabis users.

AK-47 Cannabis Strain Effects
AK-47 Cannabis Strain Effects

Aromas and Flavours of AK-47

AK-47 produces a ton of sticky resin, which gives its flowers a stunning frosty appearance and mouth-watering aroma. In fact, Simon warns that AK-47 plants give off a very pungent aroma as they grow, which may be a problem for some growers.

Simon describes the strain's aroma as "sweet and fruity", though users often also pick up on sour, earthy undertones, hints of Skunk, and subtle floral hints. Meanwhile, AK-47 boasts a mild, sweet floral flavour with hints of sandalwood and incense.

Unfortunately, Simon doesn't provide any testing of the plant's terpene profile, but users report the strain being rich in:

  • Myrcene, which is known for its musky aromas and relaxing properties.
  • Pinene, which has a fresh pine scent and is said to reduce tension.
  • Caryophyllene, which provides a peppery bite and has been studied for its anti-inflammatory potential.
AK-47 Cannabis Strain Taste
AK-47 Cannabis Strain Taste

Cultivation Difficulties — Is AK-47 Easy to Grow?

AK-47 is renowned for being a breeze to cultivate. Like many of Simon's strains, AK-47 has been tailored to the harsh, temperate Dutch climate. That means that she veges vigorously, quickly achieving a compact structure with strong side branches and broad, dark green leaves. As a token of Simon's hard breeding work, the original AK-47 is known for producing very uniform plants—something that isn't the norm in the world of cannabis genetics.

As they flower, AK-47 plants develop long buds with clusters of swollen calyxes and a thick, white coating of trichomes. To accommodate the Dutch season, AK-47 plants flower very quickly and are resilient against mould and mildew.

Note that AK-47 plants are very smelly and it is recommended to keep them far away from your neighbours to avoid causing a nuisance when growing this strain outdoors. Indoors, you'll want to use a carbon filter to help mitigate the strong smell coming from your tent, room, or closet.

Royal AK — A True Descendant of AK-47

Can't get your hands on the original AK-47, or tempted to try another variant of this classic? Our Royal AK is bred from a unique blend of Colombian, Mexican, Thai, and Afghani landrace strains, resulting in a 60% sativa-dominant hybrid that's easy to grow in a variety of setups. Like the original AK-47, Royal AK is a compact strain that delivers great yields in express time. It also boasts a fruity aroma and has a balanced effect that couples mental clarity and euphoria with a physical stone.

Royal AK
23_genetic background_1 Columbian, Mexican, Thai & Afghan
33_Yield indoors_1 525 - 575 gr/m2
31_plant height outdoor_1 80 - 140 cm
25_flowering time_1 8 - 9 weeks
29_THC_1 THC: 19%
28_Type Blend_1 Sativa 60% Indica 40%
34_yield outdoor_1 600 - 650 gr/plant
32_plant height outdoors_1 130 - 170 cm
27_harvest period_1 Early October
22_Effect_1 Balanced, Clear, Stoned

Buy Royal AK

AK-47 Weed Strain: FAQ

Q: Is AK-47 marijuana indica or sativa?
A: AK-47 is a sativa-dominant hybrid cannabis strain. The original AK-47 is 65% sativa-dominant, but varieties from other seed banks may vary.
Q: What is AK-47 weed good for?
A: AK-47 is a great strain for growers in need of a fast, resilient, and easy-to-grow variety. Its balanced effects are great for both daytime and nighttime use.
Q: How strong is the AK-47 strain?
A: AK-47 is a high-potency cannabis strain capable of producing over 20% THC. Independent lab results published reported THC levels of 21.5% in 1999.
Q: What are the parents of the AK-47 strain?
A: AK-47 was bred from a combination of Colombian, Mexican, Thai, and Afghani landrace genetics.
Q: What are the effects of AK-47?
A: AK-47 is a strong strain that produces a euphoric/uplifting cerebral high and a relaxing physical stone at the same time.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: