By Luke Sumpter

When people enter the world of cannabis, they quickly discover the enormous amounts of strains that are out there. Growers have the luxury of choosing from a huge library of genetics, with each cultivar offering different tastes, effects, and growth traits. Smokers are treated to shelves full of all different kinds of varieties that all offer a slightly different experience.

Out of this ocean of choice, some varieties stand out from the rest. It doesn't take long after first smoking or growing cannabis to hear the names "Skunk", "Kush", and "Haze". These strains have earned a legendary status and proudly sit upon the pantheon of classic cannabis genetics.

This trio achieved their status because they offer something powerful and attractive. They're potent, loaded with flavor, and provide growers with superb yields year after year.

They've earned even more notoriety in recent times as breeders continue to use their genetics as the building blocks for hundreds of new hybrid strains.

Continue reading to discover everything you need to know about Skunk, Kush, and Haze genetics. You'll find out what makes them unique, their individual histories, and a few examples of the best strains that contain their genetics.


What is skunk cannabis?

You've probably seen the term "skunk" plastered all over the news in reference to the super-strong forms of cannabis sweeping the streets and corrupting the youth.

It appears as though a journalist at some point in time failed to differentiate between the variety of Skunk and the fact that many modern strains possess THC levels that far surpass those of only a decade ago. Skunk, is in fact, one of the oldest bred hybrids on the modern market!

In reality, Skunk references a specific hybrid strain that stems from landrace genetics from different locations across the world. Known official as Skunk #1, breeders harnessed this variety to give rise to hundreds of new strains infused with Skunk genetics.

This smelly strain received its title from its namesake animal. Some cannabis users describe the scent of skunk terpenes as reminiscent of that sprayed from the rear of a certain black and white mammal. The name also simply hints at the strength and pungency of the aroma of Skunk #1.

It makes sense that the media, and other cannabis users, also use the term "skunk" to describe strong and smelly cannabis in general.

  • Skunk cannabis characteristics

So, what makes Skunk so special? Why has it ascended to such great heights within the world of cannabis? And what made so many breeders opt to use this strain to make new cultivars?

Well, Skunk offers a well-rounded package of phytochemicals, solid and reliable genetics, and delicious tastes. This slightly indica-dominant strain features a typically indica morphology. It grows in a compact and bushy manner and possesses thick-fingered fan leaves and a dense canopy.

On average, the strain contains a THC content of 17%, although this can fluctuate based on nutrition and lighting. When smoked, Skunk #1 elevates the mood, relaxes the body, and offers a relaxing and peaceful state of mind.

More recent analysis also suggests that Skunk #1 flowers contain around 1% CBG, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that provides a soothing effect.

The flowers of this strain offer a pleasant and slightly sour taste. They contain high levels of the terpene myrcene that underpin the relaxing effects of the cultivar.

The strain makes a good smoke during the late afternoon and evening after you've completed all of the tasks of the day. Despite exerting a more sleepy effect, Skunk #1 still inspires creative thoughts and works great when writing or drawing.

Skunk #1 harbours reliable and hardy genetics. The strain can tolerate a range of growing environments but produces the best results in a warm and sunny environment. If you chose to grow this variety, you can expect to harvest her buds after a flowering time of 8-9 weeks.

Skunk cannabis characteristics

History of skunk cannabis

Skunk has had a huge impact on cannabis culture. But where exactly does this legendary variety come from?

Skunk has quite an impressive past. It first appeared in the United States during the 1970s. At the time, most of the cannabis within the country arrived as imports from other nations. Much of the flowers came through the southern border, including huge amounts of the Mexican variety Acapulco Gold, as well as Colombian Gold from Colombia.

Although the exact truth behind the origins of Skunk #1 remains fairly obscure, the story goes that a breeder by the name of Sam the Skunkman created the first generation of this variety by crossing Colombian Gold, Acapulco Gold, and Afghani #1.

Sam then headed for Amsterdam, the cannabis hotspot of Europe, in 1983. Here, he teamed up with innovative breeders in the country. Together, they perfected Skunk #1 and made it into the strain we know today.

Best skunk cannabis strains

Since its inception, Skunk has given rise to hundreds of unique strains. Sweet Skunk Automatic represents the merging of skunk and autoflowering genetics. This fast-growing strain has maintained the original taste and potency but offers much quicker harvests. Skunk XL shows a completely different manifestation of Skunk genetics. This large strain grows up to 200cm outdoors and provides large yields that will keep your jars topped up for months.

Lemon Shining Silver Haze lies quite far down the Skunk family tree. This modern variety features the original sour taste of Skunk but contains much higher THC levels than the original. Speedy Chile combines the power of Skunk with the speed and efficiency of Chile Indica for a swift and satisfying harvest. Royal Critical descends from legendary varieties Afghani and Skunk. She provides a heavy and relaxing high, alongside a complex terpene profile defined by notes of candy, earthiness, pine, and fruit.

Best skunk cannabis strains

What is kush cannabis?

If it takes one day to hear the word "Skunk" after smoking weed for the first time, it will only take another 24 hours before you come across the word "Kush". Members of the Kush lineage are some of the most popular strains in the world and have come out on top during countless cannabis competitions.

These strains occupy the stoning indica end of the spectrum and have treated smokers to their deeply relaxing and euphoric effects for decades in the West. Humans also enjoyed the landrace ancestors of Kush, possibly for thousands of years, in their homeland of the Himalayas.

  • Kush cannabis characteristics

Kush cannabis strains possess unique traits that make it apparent they belong to the same family. A strong presence of Kush genetics in a cultivar will usually result in a recognisable appearance, smell, flavor, and effect.

The indica nature of Kush means that plants display a similar morphology to their Skunk cousins. They grow shorter and bushier than tall and lanky sativa plants. Their leaves are wide, their stems thick, and their canopies grow laterally.

Kush flowers are often dense, compact, and chunky. They feature pistils that vary in color from bright orange to rust bronze.

These buds also carry a distinctive smell. The abundant trichomes on these flowers work hard during the flowering phase to pump out terpenes that converge to create scents of grape, flowers, diesel, earthiness, and citrus. These terpenes also create delicious flavors as the smoke passes over the taste buds.

Sure, Kush tastes great, but what about the effects? Kush strains provide a physical body high that melts the muscles. With THC levels averaging at around 18%, these flowers offer a pleasant and enjoyable high without overwhelming the user.

High levels of myrcene synergise with the psychoactive cannabinoid to add a further element of sleepiness. This cocktail of phytochemicals goes down well when smoked, but also offer a wild ride when consumed as an edible. These preparations taste superb and exert an intense high that lasts for hours at a time.

Kush cannabis characteristics

History of kush cannabis

Much like the other legendary cannabis strains, Kush boasts a rich and interesting history. The story of Kush all starts in the Hindu Kush region of the Himalayas. The borders of this region stem through countries including Afghanistan, India, and China — nations with an ancient historical use of the herb.

The Kush landrace developed naturally in this region. Generations of inbreeding at the hands of nature led to the creation of hardy and reliable genetics that are now precious to cannabis breeders all over the world.

It was the legendary Hippie Trail that resulted in the transportation of Kush genetics to the west. Many members of the hippie subculture made this overland journey from the mid-1950s to the late 1970s.

Starting from Europe and ending in India, Nepal, and Thailand, these peace and love enthusiasts sought new cultural experiences, mystical elements of religions, and good weed! Many of them ended up bringing home cannabis seeds, including those of the Hindu Kush variety.

When these seeds landed in the US, breeders became enthralled with the stability of these robust genetics. As an indica, the variety also boasted a much shorter flowering period than the popular sativa strains of those times.

Best kush cannabis strains

Because of the strains desirable traits, breeders have elected to use them in the creation of countless new varieties. OG Kush remains one of the most popular Kush strains of all time. She descends from a blend of Kush genetics and rose to fame thanks to her delicious fruity tastes and hard-hitting indica body high. Royal Kush Automatic merges the best Kush traits with the speed of ruderalis genetics. She's ideal for beginner growers and offers the benefits of increased stealth.

Special Kush 1 descends directly from pure Kush and Afghan. She provides moderate levels of THC, impressive yields, and a stoning high perfect for bedtime. If you're in the mood for something more powerful, you need to sample Critical Kush. This progeny of OG Kush and Critical Mass packs THC levels of 20% and a long-lasting physical high.

Best kush cannabis strains

What is haze cannabis?

Haze completes this trio of legendary cannabis strains. As with the other two varieties discussed above, breeders in the United States also gave rise to this equally loved family of weed.

Haze brings something slightly different to the table than the other two varieties. In contrast to their stoning nature, Haze packs an energising sativa punch. Instead of stoning the body and making the user sleepy, Haze lights up the mind, fills the body with energy, and makes sitting on the couch almost unappealing.

Whether you're in a California dispensary or a Dutch coffee store, you'll see a host of Haze genetics lining the shelves. These cultivars have gained massive traction over the last few decades precisely because of their motivating and happy highs.

  • Haze cannabis characteristics

As a sativa dominant hybrid, haze reaches much taller heights than her indica counterparts. Growers can keep indoor plants at a modest height with training techniques, but left to her own devices she can easily climb up to 300cm if given the room.

Haze plants also produce taller and thinner colas. These pillar-like structures are loaded with trichomes and occupy large expansive canopies.

Her tall colas are filled with sweet and citrus terpenes that bring the cognitive and energising characteristic to this high. Alongside THC levels of 16%, they create a clear-headed, happy, and often euphoric effect.

Haze cannabis characteristics

History of haze cannabis

Two talented breeders created Haze within the borders of California. During the early 1970s, brothers R. Haze and J. Haze created the hybrid by crossing Mexican and Colombian landraces.

After whittling away at the progeny over several generations of breeding, they finally landed on something that they decided to call Original Haze. Loaded with sweet terpenes, this strain provided the cerebral and mentally active high that they were looking for.

Interestingly, the Haze brothers were in contact with Sam The Skunkman around this time. The creator of Skunk #1 managed to get his hands on some Original Haze.

Sam took some of these seeds with him to Amsterdam in the 1980s and eventually gifted them to the famous Australian breeder Neville Schoenmakers. The Aussie went on to use the genetics to create Neville's Haze, a strain famous for its vibrant high and Cannabis Cup awards.

Best haze cannabis strains

Although most Haze strains offer a buzzing mental high, they also all offer something slightly different from each other. Royal Haze Auto packs a moderate THC content of 15% and will leave you feeling ready to conquer the day. Plus, you'll be harvesting flowers only 8-9 weeks after germination. As if Haze didn't taste good enough already, Haze Berry adds a whole new element of sweetness, alongside higher THC levels of around 20%.

Chocolate Haze also brings whole new flavors to these classic strains. This sativa variety treats the taste buds to hints of chocolate and jolts the mind to life with an intense head high. Finally, the legendary Amnesia Haze, one of the most famous and powerful cannabis strains of All Times.

Best haze cannabis strains

 

Skunk vs Kush vs Haze: Which is better?

It all depends! Every cannabis user has their own personal preference. Some love nothing more than to snuggle down on the couch with a good indica and get lost in their favorite TV show. Others are the complete opposite and would rather be hiking forest trails or surfing with the help of a powerful sativa.

Skunk and Kush are similar in that they both offer an intense body high that relaxes the body, clears the mind, and boosts the appetite. If you prefer to blaze during the evening after you've finished with work for the day, you'll love these strains.

Both of them also offer a similar growth pattern. Their shorter stature makes them great for indoor growers, especially those looking to keep things stealth.

Haze differs quite drastically in its size and effects. These plants come into their own when given a load of space outdoors. Plant them into beds and watch them climb to tall heights and produce massive yields.

You'll prefer Haze strains, too, if you prefer to blaze during the day while staying fully functional and engaged.

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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: