Good morning, growers, breeders, shop buyers, and aficionados. This week, we’re back in San Francisco, planning a trip to Seattle, and smoking on some Esensia Garden’s daytime sativa, Maracuya (Lavender x Afgoo), from America’s best outdoor cannabis shop, Solful.
The best breeders have some fire new releases to scoop up. And the California State Fair Cannabis Awards entry window is open. We’re picking out what seeds to grow in our garden this year. And we get our Emerald Cup judges’ kits this week—looking forward to seeing what strains make California’s best solvent hash.
Here’s what’s fresh in cannabis genetics—the white-hot magma core of the US’ $60 billion cannabis industry. (Too heady? Start with Leafly Learn and Leafly Glossary.)
New in the Leafly Strain Database
Sweet Cheesus; Orange Bang; and GelatoQuin.
14 fresh seed & clone drops
Abominable Runtz (YLife x White Runtz) by Tiki Madman.
Lemosa by Symbiotic Genetics is Str8 Lemonade x Mimosa v6.
GMO x Sherb Crasher by Seed Junky Genetics.
Flavor Burst by Exotic Genetix and Solfire Gardens is Baker’s Dozen x Gas Nana.
Big Hunk is Fatso x Papaya by Cannarado. “Funk and fruit!”
SolFire Gardens makes music with their Mixtape Vol. 2 of Hood Candyz crosses.
TriDog by Crockett Family Farm is Triangle Kush x Sour Chem.
The El Krem Collection by Purple City Genetics all wash >5%.
Chem 4 clone drop from Chemdog’s label Smash Hits (Massachusetts).
Lemon Cherry Pop by Cookies serves up Gastro Pop 5 x Double Lemon Cherry.
Banana God V2 by Masonic Seeds refines Banana OG x Wilson.
Louisiana Pine by Lovin in Her Eyes mixes (Triangle Kush x Fruity Pebbles OG) x Cajun Moon.
Year of the Chem(dog) 4/20 Box Set from Mass Medical Seeds.
Galaxy Glaze by Raw Genetics offers Bacio Mints x Georgia Pie.
Top strain and grow news
That live pay-per-view ‘King of Z Hill’ cannabis competition at San Francisco’s Hippie Hill on April 20 announced hash, rosin, and flower categories; all categories come with $40,000 purses.
Compound Genetics founder and ex-employee, Chris Lynch, sued his ex-colleagues last week, alleging violations of employment law. Here’s the complaint. Compound parent company Node Labs has responded.
Oregon Cup-winner Cannassentials alleges that Oregon’s new aspergillus testing rules are unscientific and penalize living soil farmers.
After the 13th atmospheric river, farmers cheer the drought’s end in the California Bay Area. Yessir!
Read this: Strain news stories of note
East Coast flower brand Nature’s Heritage hired Boston-based animator and artist Duncan Hatch to illustrate two new strain drops, Mimosa and Lamb’s Bread.
This Bay Area startup is preserving the world’s best pot strains on SFGate.
Sponsored Content: ILGM’s Robert Bergman profiled.
Pick a winner: Upcoming genetics releases and contests
Gelonade x Kombucha by Symbiotic Genetics is “dropping soon.”
Pre-orders have begun for Bodhi Seeds’ new ‘88G13 Hash Plant crosses from Speakeasy Seedbank.
Seattle’s Dockside Cup voting ends on April 5.
California State Faire Cannabis Awards’ submission window is now open. It closes on April 30.
1st National Hemp Grow-Off sign-ups have begun; clones out on May 1.
The High Times Hemp Cup plans it awards show for April 13.
“A night in Hollyweed” by Chronic Culture and Visit Hollyweed with Doja Pak goes down on April 13 in downtown LA.
Zalympix Michigan has its awards ceremony on April 14.
Free Seed Day is shaping up at Masonic on Fairfax, Los Angeles, on April 15th.
High Times Cannabis Cup People’s Choice Michigan judge’s kits are available on April 15.
Zalympix New York holds its awards ceremony on April 19.
High Times Cannabis Cup People’s Choice SoCal says product submissions are due by May 8.
The Emerald Cup says its awards ceremony will rage on May 13 in Richmond, CA.
High Times Cannabis Cup People’s Choice New Mexico product submissions are due June 5.
The Zalympix California awards ceremony is planned for June.
And Massachusetts Grow-Off clones are out June 23.
May the best flavors and effects win!
Artistic inspiration
“Ars longa, vita brevis.”
— Ryuichi Sakamoto (1952-2023)
Video of the week
Humboldt Seed Co’s recap of Spannabis in Barcelona showcased the reach of the new sativa Hella Jelly.
What is Leafly Strain News Weekly?
Leafly Strain News Weekly is the reporter’s notebook of Leafly News Senior Editor David Downs, focused on the core of cannabis culture—the genetics. It’s like Politico Pro, but a lot cooler. Send strain news to david.downs@leafly.com.
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