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Top 10 High-THC Strains of 2023
Thanks to innovations in cannabis breeding, THC levels have climbed higher and higher in recent years, resulting in some extremely powerful strains. Read on to find out which 10 THC titans have taken the cannabis community by storm in 2023. Treat these strains with the respect they deserve!
We know what you’re looking for; you ended up on this page for a reason. And you won’t leave disappointed! All of the strains featured below will quench your thirst for THC, leaving you elevated, motivated, and euphoric. The unifying thread of high potency runs through all of these varieties, but each offers something different. You’ll find sugary terpenes, massive yields, rapid growing times, and even some CBD-rich strains to balance out your brain. Enjoy.
Fire Feminized Strains
Photoperiod-sensitive cannabis strains require a 12/12 light/dark cycle to transition from vegetative growth to flowering. Our phenomenally potent feminized varieties all punch through the 20% THC threshold for high-grade cannabis. The following are the nobility of RQS feminized seeds.
1. Cookies Gelato: Celebrity Dynamic Duo
The ever-popular Girl Scout Cookies teamed up with the newly minted cannabis celebrity Gelato. Joining dank forces in superhero fashion, the outcome of this pairing was made manifest in Cookies Gelato. Packing a punch with up to 28% THC, she’s pretty much as potent as you can get, delivering an immediate high that hits from the top down. Although not a smoke for novices, seasoned smokers love the cerebral, almost psychedelic buzz that comes with a nice relaxing touch. Sugary sweetness, a hallmark flavour of Cookies strains, makes it difficult to put the strain down, but then her massive potency helps keep you in line.
Cookies Gelato
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Girl Scout Cookie X Gelato 33 |
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550 - 600 gr/m2 |
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90 - 130 cm |
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8 - 9 weeks |
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THC: 28% |
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Sativa 50% Indica 50% |
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600 - 650 gr/plant |
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140 - 180 cm |
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Middle of October |
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Balanced, Calming, Physically Relaxing |
2. Royal Gorilla: Beastly Potency, Unleashed by Accident
Royal Gorilla is the strain taking THC levels into uncharted territory, with some phenotypes reaching 30%+. The original version of this potent strain is the result of dumb luck rather than dedicated breeding, but make no mistake, the finished product is Kong strong. The accidental crossing of Chem's Sis, Sour Dubb, and Chocolate Diesel genetics has unleashed a true cannabis cryptid far more powerful than previously known varieties. Even veteran stoners have been jellified within tokes. Like the best hybrids, Royal Gorilla targets the body and mind in equal measure, sending a cascade of euphoria and relaxation from head to toe.
Royal Gorilla
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Sour Dubb x Chem Sis x Chocolate Diesel |
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500 - 550 gr/m2 |
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90 - 160 cm |
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8 - 10 weeks |
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THC: 27% |
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Sativa 50% Indica 50% |
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550 - 600 gr/plant |
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130 - 170 cm |
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Middle of October |
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Calming, Clear |
3. Royal Runtz: Enormous Levels of THC
Royal Runtz holds the status of one of the most potent strains within the RQS archive. Our breeders harnessed the power of parent strains Gelato and Zkittlez to create this fresh, fruity cultivar. She produces dense, nugget-like flowers that may seem innocent, but, in reality, they deliver a massive THC content of 27%. Her perfect balance of sativa and indica genetics means this heavy load of THC hits the body and mind with equal force. You’ll feel a burst of cerebral and creative energy while your body starts to feel heavy and relaxed. These flowers make a perfect smoke for evenings in solitude when you have music to write, pictures to draw, and books to read. As these sensations set in, tastes of sweetness, candy, and fruits will tempt you to light another joint. Just be careful!
Royal Runtz
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Gelato x Zkittlez |
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450 - 500 gr/m2 |
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90 - 130 cm |
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8 - 9 weeks |
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THC: 27% |
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Sativa 50% Indica 50% |
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400 - 450 gr/plant |
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160 - 180 cm |
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Middle of October |
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Euphoric, Uplifting |
4. Green Gelato: Divine Mix of Flavour and Potency
Two top Cali strains come together in the mega-dank Green Gelato by Royal Queen Seeds. Thin Mint Cookies and Sunset Sherbet, arguably two of the best from the Cookies line, fuse to create a very rich and luscious dessert strain. Also known as “Larry Bird”, this slightly indica-dominant strain delivers up to 27% THC. An exceptionally potent animal, Green Gelato blasts your mind with waves of creativity and new energy as your body turns to jelly from deep relaxation. Green Gelato is an easy grower that responds well to plant training and races through flowering in approximately 8 weeks.
Green Gelato
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Sunset Sherbet x Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies |
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500 - 700 gr/m² |
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80 - 120 cm |
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8 - 10 weeks |
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THC: 27% |
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Sativa 45% Indica 55% |
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800 gr/plant |
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150 - 200 cm |
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Early October |
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Clear, Physically Relaxing |
Awesome Autoflowering Strains
Next-gen autoflowering hybrids race from seed to harvest within 2–3 months, independent of light cycle. The autoflowering elite have not just been engineered to outperform other autos, but traditional photoperiod cannabis too. That’s why RQS A-bombs are dropping below.
5. Green Gelato Automatic: One of the Most Potent Autoflowers
Green Gelato Automatic is the faster, automatic variant of the spectacular Green Gelato. But don’t think this translates to some sort of compromise in regards to flavour or potency. Even as an autoflower, this girl scores with an unbelievable 24% THC, making her one of the most powerful autos you can get your green thumbs on. Her autoflowering ability (given to her courtesy of Cookies Auto) also translates to a compact height of 120cm. Plus, she now races to harvest in a short 70 days from germination. And, just like the photoperiod original, she delivers an upbeat and creative high alongside a great smoke full of sweet and earthy flavours.
Green Gelato Auto
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Green Gelato x Cookies Auto |
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375 - 450 gr/m2 |
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70 - 120 cm |
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7 - 8 weeks |
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THC: 24% |
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Sativa 55% Indica 40% Ruderalis 5% |
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100 - 175 gr/plant |
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100 - 120 cm |
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9 - 10 weeks after sprouting |
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Clear, Physically Relaxing |
6. Fat Banana Automatic: Aromatic Indica Classic Made Faster and Easier
Fat Banana Automatic is RQS’ fabulous take on a real indica classic. As you might guess from looking at her name, among the highlights of the strain is her tropical flavour. She blends mouth-watering sweet banana notes with hints of citrus for a decadent experience. A THC content of 22% puts the strain high on the list of the most powerful autoflowers. Being mainly an indica (70%), she delivers a body-slamming effect that will have you stoned in no time. Very relaxing, and perfect to enjoy at night for some chilling with music or a movie. Sweet vibes ahead.
Fat Banana Auto
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Fat Banana x Cookies Auto |
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375 - 450 gr/m2 |
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70 - 100 cm |
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7 - 8 weeks |
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THC: 22% |
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Sativa 20% Indica 70% Ruderalis 10% |
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90 - 175 gr/plant |
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80 - 120 cm |
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9 - 10 weeks after sprouting |
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Calming, Clear |
7. Mimosa Automatic: Frosty, Fruity Nugs
Mimosa Automatic will confuse your taste buds in the best way possible. Her tangy citrus terpenes oddly complement pungent notes of diesel, making for a unique flavour profile that you’ll have a hard time finding elsewhere. Her moreish smoke quickly gives way to a fast-acting high that caresses the body and mind simultaneously. A THC content of 21% quickly elevates cognition and kindles creative thoughts while melting the muscles and inducing physical relaxation. This slightly sativa-dominant hybrid performs great indoors, where she churns out up to 400g/m² after a flowering time of 7–8 weeks. If you’re more of an outdoor grower, you can expect a return of 80–130g/plant only 9–10 weeks following germination.
Mimosa Auto
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Mimosa Auto x Orangeade Auto |
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350 - 400 gr/m2 |
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100 - 150 cm |
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7 - 8 weeks |
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THC: 21% |
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Sativa 65% Indica 30% Ruderalis 5% |
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80 - 130 gr/plant |
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120 – 160 cm |
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9 - 10 weeks after sprouting |
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Clear, Uplifting |
8. North Thunderfuck Automatic
North Thunderfuck Automatic has one of the best cannabis strain names of all time, but she’s much more than just a humorous title. This robust hybrid produces small yet dense colas coated in glistening trichomes. These sparkling structures work hard to unleash a THC content of 21%, making NTA one of the most potent autos out there. Her uplifting high makes her a great choice during the day to kick yourself into gear and get things done. All the while, you’ll enjoy a unique blend of earthy, skunk, and lime flavours. To top it off, North Thunderfuck Automatic treats indoor growers to up to 550g/m², and outdoor cultivators to 90–140g/plant. Prepare to harvest in as little as 10 weeks after germination.
North Thunderfuck Auto
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North Thunderfuck x Ruderalis |
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500 - 550 gr/m2 |
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90 – 140 cm |
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8 - 9 weeks |
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THC: 21% |
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Sativa 45%, Indica 50%, Ruderalis 5% |
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90 - 140 gr/plant |
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120 - 150 cm |
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10 - 12 weeks after sprouting |
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Physically Relaxing, Uplifting |
High-CBD Strains
CBD-rich cannabis has risen to prominence and popularised whole plant formulas around the world. By striking a balance between THC and CBD levels, RQS has successfully hybridised innovative cannabis strains that are second to none. Last, but certainly not least, are these top-tier CBD- and THC-rich strains.
9. Royal Highness: Perfect Balance of CBD and THC
1:1 THC:CBD is widely considered the optimal ratio of primary cannabinoids by the cannabis community. Royal Highness is an almost perfectly balanced CBD-rich strain. She is a sativa-dominant hybrid, although you would never tell by looking at her in the grow-op. Created by bringing together Dance Hall and Respect, compact, branchy plants deliver dense nugs with around 14% THC and similar CBD content. Royal Highness is one of the rare strains capable of getting you sufficiently buzzed, but without untoward effects of any kind. This is perfect daytime cannabis with its easy, energetic high.
Royal Highness
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Respect 13 x Dancehall 24 |
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550 - 600 gr/m2 |
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60 - 100 cm |
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9 - 10 weeks |
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THC: 14% |
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Sativa 60% Indica 40% |
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425 - 475 gr/plant |
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80 - 110 cm |
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Early October |
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Calming, Clear |
10. Dance World: Mood Booster (Not Just) for CBD Lovers
Through a rigorous selective breeding programme, RQS successfully hybridised two of the most CBD-rich phenotypes of Dance Hall to bring you Dance World. This refined specimen also achieves the optimal 1:1 THC:CBD ratio. Again, these sativa-dominant genetics are not identifiable until you smoke or vape the finished product. This sativa in disguise delivers dense 12% THC nugs with comparable CBD content. Dance World inspires an uplifting, mood-boosting effect. Not only that, but this small plant gallops through the flowering phase to deliver respectably large yields from compact plants under 1m.
Dance World
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Dancehall 20 x Juanita la Lagrímosa |
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475 - 525 gr/m2 |
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60 - 100 cm |
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8 - 10 weeks |
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THC: 12% |
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Sativa 75% Indica 25% |
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400 - 450 gr/plant |
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80 - 120 cm |
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Early October |
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Creative, Motivating |
