Recently I’ve come across some amazing genetics that I’m pretty excited about. These are the nine strains I’ll be on the hunt for in 2018.

SUNSET SHERBET

ZKITTLEZ

ZKittlez is an Indica dominant hybrid strain created through a cross of the powerful Grape Ape and the Grapefruit strains. Although the exact Indica to Sativa ratio varies based on breeder practices, ZKittlez has been measured consistently at having a low THC level of 15% but still has a powerful flavorful punch. Zkittlez has a sweet, tropical blend of fruit flavour. It tastes like sweet candy, with shocks of fresh grape and berries and slight herbal effect to it.

The effects of Zkittlez are surprisingly uplifting for an Indica and starts with an uplifting head buzz that leaves you euphoric and creatively inspired. It also comes with a relaxing body buzz leaving you completely calm without limiting your movement.

This bud has large and lumpy pepper-shaped dark olive green nugs with sparse rich amber hairs and a thick frosty coating of tiny crystal white trichomes. This award-winning combination took 1st Place at the 2016 Emerald Cup and 1st Place Indica at the 2015 Cannabis Cups in San Francisco and in Michigan.

GORILLA GLUE #4

Cannabis Cup winner Gorilla Glue #4 was born in 2014 in Colorado by GG. It is is the offspring of Chem Sister, crossed with Sour Dubb, and Chocolate Diesel. This high-THC strain is said to be named for its sticky trichomes, so bountiful that it makes the weed extra sticky.

Gorilla Glue #4 is a potent hybrid strain with sky-high THC levels, up to 30%, and low CBD levels. It delivers heavy-handed euphoria and relaxation. It is also said to be named Gorilla Glue for the fact that the couchlock will make you feel as if glued to the couch.

Its chunky, resin-covered buds fill the room with pungent earthy and sour aromas inherited from its parent strains. In 2014, Gorilla Glue #4 won two Cannabis Cups and a Jamaican Cup for its potent, yet balanced effects.

GELATO

Gelato is a hybrid native to California produced by Cookie Fam Genetics. Greatly following in the footsteps of its parents strains Sunset Sherbet and Thin Mint GSC, Gelato is named after the dessert popular in Italy. One of Gelato’s features that really sticks out, is its huge THC content, which is between 18% and 26%.

Gelato is a strong relaxant weed with a slight psychedelic effect. This typically contradictory combination truly works with Gelato as just a tiny bit of this strain can go a long way. Physical relaxation comes on strong, but you can still find mentally agile enough to stay productive and creative when enjoying Gelato during the day.

Gelato has a distinct taste with an aftertaste of berry and citrus. It leaves a thick white smoke and after a hit has been taken, the taste transforms into a mix of berries and citrus. The Gelato plant is short and stocky with buds that tend to bloom in dark purple hues illuminated by fiery orange hairs. Aside from being pungent, this strain has a sweet and fragrant fruity smell, with hints of blueberry and orange.

STARKILLER

Star Killer is a 70% Indica-dominant hybrid that crosses Skywalker OG X Rare Dankness #2 strains. Winner of Best Hybrid Flower at the 2016 Colorado Cannabis Cup, the Star Killer strain is famous for its insanely high THC level that falls around the 26% mark on average.  

The Star Killer works differently compared to others high Indica strains. The high hits you hard with a stoney feeling in the head that comes complete with red droopy eyes and mental haziness. It is almost guaranteed that users are going to stay on their couches due to its strong sedative effects.

Star Killer buds have large lumpy spade-shaped bright forest green nugs with fiery orange hairs and a thick frosty coating of crystal white trichomes and sweet sticky resin. It has has a pungent and skunky taste that can surprise some people with its unique blend of lemon and pine along with an earthy taste.

Mimosa

Mimosa, Sativa-dominant bred by Symbiotic Genetics, is a cross between Clementine and Purple Punch. Mimosa is 2018 rising star thanks to its outstanding fruit punch, citrus rind aroma and pleasurable mid-level buzz.

Containing around 20% THC the effect of Mimosa is happy and giggly. Mimosa's blend of terpenes limonene, beta-caryophyllene and linalool make this an ideal strain for inducing relaxation, creativity and euphoria.

This strain presents itself with several exotic and fruity phenotypes. The Clementine influence brings a heavy orange citrus while the Purple Punch lends some sweet berry flavouring.  A beautiful bud with shimmering trichomes that sparkle in the sunlight, Mimosa looks as good as she smells. The smell is very sweet with undertones of oranges.

Wedding Cake

The Wedding Cake, also known as Birthday Cake or Pink Cookies, is a delicious Indica dominant hybrid descended from Girl Scout Cookies and Cherry Pie strain. Its high THC levels, upward 25% and greater, are a result of its grandparents, which include the powerful standard of OG Kush, Durban Poison, and Granddaddy Purple.

The Wedding Cake Strain can make you feel pleasantly heavy so don’t be surprised if you slip off into a peaceful snooze.  As you sink into the cerebral euphoria, your body will begin to relax and you will melt into the couch in a haze of pleasure and peaceful contentment.  This hybrid gives an exceptionally sweet aromatic essence and a fruity flavour, a perfect combination of the sweetness of cookies and fruitiness of a cherry pie

The Wedding Cake plants are expected to be of a medium to tall height covered in potent, white trichomes. It is full of bright green, orange pistils, and thick, sugary-looking white trichomes blanketing the buds. It is quite frosty looking and has dark green leaves.

BERNER’S COOKIES

Berner’s Cookies is a Sativa dominant hybrid (80% sativa/20% Indica) strain created by the infamous Berner himself, a rapper friend of Wiz Khalifa. With its crazy potent THC level that hits above 27% on average, this heavy-hitting cut of Girl Scout Cookies is not to be underestimated.

The effects creep up on you a few minutes after your first toke. Berner’s Cookies cannabis strain induces a highly sociable, talkative, yet distracted high. It is recommended for lazy days off or evening use.

This Berner’s Cookies has the definite smell of fresh vanilla and nut flavour. Its aroma is misleadingly simple, with dank and earthy notes. The bud has small round grape-shaped forest green nugs with bright fiery orange hairs. Experienced smokers love the intense potency of this strain.

SMARTIES

Smarties is excellence bred from cookie genetics that provides a distinctive experience. It is a skilled cross of Girl Scout Cookies and Blue City Diesel. This hybrid can contain up to 27% THC.

Producing a pleasant, moderate, and long-lasting body buzz, Smarties is optimal for day-time use. It presents as a calm and mellow euphoria backlit by hints of full-scale relaxation.  The blueberry and diesel genetics lend to a sensationally smooth smoke; it is earthy, but also berry-like and sweet.