Remember the Daze?

A retrospecive of the best marijuana varieties from the 70's and 80's

COLUMBIAN
Colombian Gold

Colombian Gold came from the highland Colombian valleys near the
equator, as well as on the coast (the Caribbean and the Pacific).

This was specialty pot offered commercially in the mid-70's, for about
$60 to $100 per ounce. It was seeded, but most of the seeds were
undeveloped, white and useless. A few rare, viable seeds were found
that were dark, small-sized and roundish. The buds were leafy and the
most beautiful golden blond color. Legend has it that upon maturity
the plants were girdled, then left standing to die and cure in the
mountain sun and mist.

The color and cure were unique, and the aroma, flavor and high were
equally so. The smell was that of sandalwood incense, almost like
frankincense. The flavor was that of a peppery cedar. It was some of
the most unique tasting herb in the world, and the high was just as
exciting. It was truly psychedelic, powerful and long lasting.

First came the great flavor, then the stupefying awe of the shift in
consciousness followed by a giddy excitement and bursts of joyous
laughter. Smile-lock and red-eye made it painfully obvious who was
under the influence of this great psychedelic herb.

The plants from the seeds of the Gold were primarily of Sativa origin.
They grew a medium to tall size outdoors at 45°N (Seattle), and were
mostly symmetrical. On occasion the symmetry was interrupted by one
side outgrowing the other, causing a rounded and bulging tipped bush
look. The leaves were long and slender.

When grown in Washington state, the finished product was a sweet,
spicy Sativa bud that matured around mid-November. The high was
adequate but not as good as the Oaxaca Highland grown at the same
latitude. The plants were also slightly hermaphroditic.

Colombian Red

Colombian Red was the near polar opposite of Colombian Gold. This
lowland jungle pot (possibly from Brazil) was made up of dark red,
almost black, chunky little nuggets of what appeared to be hash,
stems, leaf and seed. The aroma was that of cedar and hash.

In the early 1980's, the Red cost only $30 to $60 an ounce due to its
appearance, making it one of the best deals going. This pot was a
narcotic, knock-you-down- and-out, super munchie, red-eye express. The
joints would only burn half way before drowning in their own resin!
The smoke was very expansive in the lungs with a powerful pine/hash
flavor.

Before subjecting its victim to fits of gorging and deep snoozing, the
experience usually included ridiculously long spasms of uncontrollable
laughter. The silliest little image could induce hilarity beyond
belief. This was the main herb around when the Cheech and Chong movies
first came out.

The plants from the Red were among the first grown out by Americans.
There were many seeds, medium-sized and dark grey, that sprouted and
grew easily into a finished product that was more than adequate. The
plants grew low, dark, and bushy, with uneven and somewhat scraggly
branches that were easily broken from wind damage. The locally grown
varieties rarely budded very much, so it is not certain when they
would have finished. It would have been relatively late in November at
the earliest.

MEXICAN
Highland Oaxaca

Highland Gold, somewhat similar to the Colombian Gold, lacked bright
gold color but sported purple and red calyx tips on its
blondish-brownish- green buds. It had larger buds surrounded by long,
skinny leaves.

I smoked this variety during brief periods in the early 70's and again
in the late 70's, paying anywhere between $40 and $120 per ounce. It
was some of my all-time favorite because the aroma and flavor were of
a super-spicy cedar incense with a slight fermented berry taste, in a
very comfortable yet powerfully psychedelic pot. This herb contributed
to many great parties, concerts and events of the era because it
produced a very socially-conscious experience and mixed well with
other psychedelics.

With a long lasting, creeper high that kept coming on in waves over
the hours, this stuff had no ceiling. One phenomenon consistently
reported from the Highland Oaxaca experience was that of peripheral
visual distortions of primarily cartoon color images. This tended to
increase the visual distortions caused by other psychedelics such as
mushrooms or LSD.

The Oaxaca Highland Gold was a nearly pure Sativa which grew tall at
45°N, outdoors. It was also one of the most symmetrical Sativas I have
encountered. The plants grew long side branches toward the bottom, and
the even growth made these productive beauties look like Christmas
trees when mature.

The finished product was a very sweet and spicy herb of the highest
quality, with a hint of fruity pine aroma. The seeds for this variety
were small, dark and round, and the plants exhibited slight signs of
hermaphroditism and required surveillance to maintain seedlessness.

Guerrero

This strain from Mexico's coastal mountains came in famed green,
seeded spears and cost $60 to $120 per ounce in 1977. It had a spicy,
almost wintergreen fragrance compared to the other Mexicans with a
very clear head high and a most pleasant smoke. It was not as strong
as most, but this herb still had a way of satisfying all its own.

There was a legend about a group of entrepreneurs who imported seed
from Lebanon to Guerrero and grew the famed Lebanese Upper Mountain
(LUM) from the late 1970's to 1980. The LUM was electric, psychedelic
and slightly sedative as well. A unique herb that I wish there would
have been more of.

The seeds from the Guerrero were medium to large in size and grey to
green in color. The plants from these seeds grew similarly to other
Mexican and Colombian strains: a medium to tall, bushy, productive
plant. The Guerrero Green, however, is where some of the famed onion
and garlic flavored bud of the Pacific Northwest originated.

Michoacan Brown Spears

From the high valleys of Michoacan, this strain was very similar in
shape and texture to the Guerrero, but dark brown, and with a more
peppery, spicy, woody aroma. $40 to $60 bought a seeded ounce in 1975.
Although it was somewhat more bland tasting than the Guerrero , this
semi-commercial pot was by far better than the commercial Mexican that
was all too available. It had a more distinct, spicy flavor than the
regular Mexican, as well as a brighter high that was not as
susceptible to tolerance or burnout.

The plants from the Michoacan Spears were nothing great. They were
thick and bushy and matured earlier than the Colombians. Some were
ready in late October, but most were ready in early November. The
seeds were medium grey and plentiful. Like the Guerrero, they produced
some unique spicy flavors when grown outdoors in the Pacific Northwest.

THAI
Highland Thai

Highland Thai was among the absolute sweetest and fruitiest herb on
the planet. The delicate, sticky Sativa buds so efficiently tied to
the little sticks were among the finest of herb.

The Highland Thai, I believe, is at least partially where the Haze
variety originated. It was one of the finest Sativa plants grown for
its finished product at 45°N.

It is from this variety that Juicy Fruit Thai came. Juicy Fruit Thai
was one of the original (and very successful) P1's of my breed stock.
Juicy Fruit Thai grew fast, long and very unevenly. Every week or so
another side branch would erupt in a growth spurt, compete with and
conquer any existing meristem (main stem), and become the temporary
meristem until another faster shoot overtook it. The leaves were very
long and slender, containing as many as 13 leaflets, and deeply contoured.

The Juicy Fruit Thai took anywhere from one to 19 weeks in the indoor
bud cycle to finish. Outdoors, the Juicy fruit was smokable, but
undeveloped and leafy, by late September. Small buds developed during
October and would ripen and swell during November. The longest I was
ever capable of growing Juicy Fruit outdoors was until mid-December,
in a greenhouse, and the plant could have gone on longer.

The primary drawback to growing the Highland Thai, after its
leafiness, was its hermaphroditism. Though few seeds were found, and
plants grown from the seeds produced only minor quantities of seed,
all of the product was hermaphroditic. Also, many of the male flowers
were sterile on some of the plants, or on certain parts of certain plants.

Out of all of the varieties that I have worked with at 45°N, this Thai
produced some of the most powerful herb. This stuff was purely
cerebral, yet mentally devastating in quantity, with absolutely no
ceiling. Once, a seasoned smoker friend and I tested how far we could
go with the homegrown Juicy Fruit. I recall making it to the 14th bong
hit and being completely incapable of continuing. My coordination and
depth perception were so skewed that I was unable to physically
conquer the bong! The experience rivaled that of taking too much LSD,
causing an incapacitation of the psychedelic kind. Yet, it was also
uniquely enjoyable, entertaining and educational at the same time. I
had sparkly eyes for a day or two afterward.

The aroma was a super-sweet fruity tropical punch and the flavor
expressed itself both in the bud and the smoke.

Chocolate Thai

The Chocolate Thai was another being entirely. Chocolate Thai came in
larger wrapped sticks of a deep, rich, roasted coffee color and a
coffee-chocolate aroma that was heavenly. It is my uncertain
estimation that the Chocolate Thai was a lowland variety.

The imported product itself was unique not only in its aroma and
flavor but in its strength as well. This was a dreamy, sleepy,
narcotic high that was long lasting and consistent. The aroma
possessed a deep, rich chocolate, appeal.

The seeds, many of which were pure black, were extremely small and
round. They were few in numbers and only a few would sprout. The
plants that did survive were terribly difficult to grow, and all were
hermaphroditic. The leaves were long, dark and slender, with most
sprouting trichomes early on. This strain was successfully crossed
with the Oaxaca Highland to create what came to be known as Purple Thai.

Vietnamese

There was a bit of the Vietnamese herb around in the 70's, primarily
early harvest which was mostly badly-cured leaf. Nonetheless, it had a
quality all its own with a spicy, tangy flavor and crisp high. It was
great joint pot, but I never grew any.

I heard rumors that a Vietnamese strain was cultivated in the Emerald
Triangle in the 70's and early 80's.

Opium Soaked Herb

An element was added to certain shipments of Thai herb in the 70's:
"early water." A by-product of the heroin trade, early water was the
leftover water used to create the heroin from the raw opium. It
contained all of the constituents of opium except most of the heroin.

The curing Thai herb was soaked in the water and redried to absorb the
opiate alkaloids. The result was a high that was sought out by some,
but more than most bargained for. A good wash was an enjoyable thing,
but some were over-laced, which caused a dilemma for those who would
start spinning after a few hits on a joint.

SPECIALTY HERBS
Black Magic African

This herb is the strongest ever. Although I have only smoked the Black
Magic a very limited number of times, and I've never had more than a
joint of my own, I feel it needs mention. I did once get to see a bag
of this herb that belonged to someone else. It looked like rotted,
black leaf, some leaves intact but crumpled, plus a powdery black
shake. It had no particular odor other than sweet spicy moldy hay, and
rolled best into thin pinjoints.

The smoke was slightly harsh, but with a very deep, rich flavor. I
also recall that it produced lots of white smoke. Anyhow, this stuff
was dangerous! I often questioned if it was truly pure herb. I have,
however, sampled the same product from different sources at different
times, all with the same story.

It was equatorial Black African, the supposed herb of some tribe,
Pygmy group, or another equally incredible origin! It was likely an
indigenous Central African herb. One pinjoint between three or four
people was more than adequate. This was truly the most devastating and
consciously inebriating herb I have ever smoked.

I do not recall ever passing out or losing consciousness, but I did
have to let go in order to come back . This stuff alone could cause
one to reach 3.5 pluses on the Shulgin psychedelic rating scale!

I never was able to acquire seeds from the Black African, though I
have tried. It is one of the few indigenous strains that I am
interested in working with.

Durban Poison

Durban herb has reached semi-commercial levels in the past. All of the
South African herb that has made it to market that I have tried has
been a bit too powerful and speedy. I always get that heart racing
effect similar to the Jamaican. There are, however, very many people
who enjoy a good carnival ride herb, and Durban is a very powerful
choice, indeed.

The seeds of Durban that I grew during the early to mid-80's produced
medium/tall Sativas with spear shaped buds – uniform plants in both
structure and finished product. Although production was good, the
flavor was a sharp, astringent, chemical odor that burned the nose and
sinuses.

The high was intense and strong but not notably enjoyable, so the
Durban was dropped from any further breeding work.

Venezuelan

There was some fine Venezuelan herb available briefly in the
mid-1970's for between $50 to $70 an ounce. It was sort of like the
better commercial Colombian or Mexican of the day, but it was a bright
yellowish color and not as tightly bricked, making the buds fluffier
than most other bricked shipments.

The smoke was sweet, then spicy on the exhale – evidence of a good
cure. The head was also a bit more pleasant than the more commercial
varieties.

Unfortunately, I was never able to grow any of the many seeds
available from the Venezuelan. I remain curious as to how they would
fare both indoor and out.

Indian Elephant & Buddha Stick

There was a small supply of Indian tied stick pot available at the end
of the 70's and the beginning of the 80's. These sticks were
characterized by their large size compared to the smaller Thai Stick.

The Buddha stick was lighter colored and sweeter with a distinct
juniper flavor. It was very stimulating to the palate. The Elephant
stick was the largest tied sticks, some up to an ounce each, and
darker. Of the two, I preferred the Buddha due to its being more
cerebral and heady, but the Elephant stick was a fine and powerful
product as well.

I was able to grow some of the seeds from the Buddha stick. It
produced a pungent smelling herb of the juniper/licorice flavor. Most
of the plants grew medium bushy, and most, but not all, were
hermaphroditic. The harvest time was medium as well, 10 to 12 weeks
indoors, very late October to November outdoors at 45°N.

I called the product Gin Blossom and grew a bit of her in the late
70's and early 80's. It was not until I replicated the flavor in the
Blueberry lines that I retired the Gin Blossom strain.

Panama Red

From what I've gathered, Panama Red comes from any number of brash
entrepreneurs who have damned the tides of oppression and grown
copious amounts of primarily good old Colombian Red seeds in the
wonderfully situated country of Panama, or any of her many isles.

Located a mere eight or nine degrees north of the equator, this
tropical paradise has a coast on both the Pacific or the Caribbean
Sea, without much distance between them, but a lot of elevation. The
Panama Red that I am accustomed to was similar to the Colombian Red,
but airier – not as compressed. It had a unique island flavor to it,
with a spicy/sweet Sativa rush. Some called it the Tequila of herb, as
it produced a high that greatly lowered inhibitions, creating a desire
to consume more until it was too late!

For some drinkers, the Panama Red did not mix too well with alcohol,
but for most it was a pleasant party high.

I did grow some seeds of Panama Red on more than one occasion. The
plants were of the medium bushy character of the Colombian Red, with a
little more hermaphroditism, and very long flower cycle (12 weeks
indoor, late November outdoors). Unfortunately, however, this was at
the same time that I was also growing the famed Highland Thai and new
Afghan plants that were so unique, new and powerful, and the Panama
Red became neglected.

HASHISH
Moroccan

Moroccan hash is the North African staple. It appears anywhere from
deep brown to golden yellow and has a spicy leather flavor to it.
Almost all Moroccan hash is screened and pressed. Though lower in
potency than most black hash, this commercial offering costs less and
tends to be more readily available through the years.

Moroccan plants are shorter and designed to grow tightly together,
producing a single hemp-like stalk and a fat and dense single cola at
the top. It is an apparent Sativa/Indica cross.

Lebanese Red and Blonde

Lebanese is another Sativa/Indica cross of short stature and density.
A bit shorter and bushier than the Moroccan, it had a dark reddish hue.

The legendary Red Lebanese hash holds its own place. Red Leb had the
distinct pine/juniper flavor and aroma, with a tangy spice leather to
the exhaled smoke. It was sharp on the sinuses and nasal passages.

Most Red Leb hash was screened and pressed, except for the legendary
Red Lebanese Honey Oil. The famed oil, only available to me from
1973-77, was in a class all of its own. The oil had a sharp
juniper/cedar smell to it. It was the most powerful, lung expansive
cannabis product that I had ever encountered. We would buy these glass
oil pipes simply to find them useless, as no one could hold even the
smallest toke of this stuff.

The oil had to be smeared onto a rolling paper or the side of a
cigarette, or it had to be chased into a pile of herb with a flame
from below. It was truly some of the finest. The home-grown isomerized
oils of the 80's were pale in comparison to the great Red Leb.

Lebanese Blonde, the "working person's hash," was a lower grade of
hash than the Red, and quantities were less expensive as well. It was
less dense, making grams appear larger and giving the illusion of
economy. Good Blonde had character, a spicy/woody flavor and aroma,
plus a clean, woody taste. The high was a bit more than the Red,
furthering the appeal to working people.

Nepalese temple balls

The Buddhists have a saying: "May all beings be happy." They also have
a hash to back it up with: black finger rubbings from high in the
Himalayas. This was some of my all-time favorite.

Nepalese is among the most cerebral of hashish. A strong yet pleasant
head journey packed in every puff. This is some of the happiest hash I
have experienced. The taste is spicy/fruity/ earthen and among the most
enjoyable of hash flavors. Most Nepalese hash is from rubbings,
although I have heard from travelers to the area that screened and
pressed varieties are available.

Simply put: Nepalese Temple Ball is some of the happiest, fruitiest
and most pleasantly flavorful, highest quality hash that I have ever
experienced.

Afghanistan & Hindu Kush

Rolling off the great crest of the Himalayas to the west and to the
north are an apex of mountainous zones that define the northern
borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Squished among these is the
little region of Kashmir and the Hindu Kush mountains. This area may
well be the oldest hashish producing area in the world, perhaps the
birthplace of hash!

The plants of the area, the Indica variety, have been manipulated and
bred by humans since antiquity. Short, dense and stout, with wide,
dark leaves, these plants make the best of their high mountain,
short-seasoned environment. They were bred to produce large amounts of
easily detachable glandular resin heads, ideal for hashish production.
These areas incorporate both rubbed, screened and pressed methods of
hashish production.

Afghan hash, and the Indica strain for that matter, possess a much
more sedative, dreamy, narcotic effect compared to the Sativa. This is
true of the Afghan and Hindu Kush plants grown in the Pacific
Northwest since 1978.

I believe more Indicas should be made into hashish, which is where the
finer qualities of the Indica appear.

A quantity of Afghan seed was smuggled to the Emerald Triangle in
1978. Commercial production of the strain began shortly after that.
There may have been earlier trials with Afghan seed in the region
prior to 1978, but none ever made it to commercial production
quantities or to public market.

THE ISLANDS
Hawaiian

Hawaiian a true classic. There is something special about a good
island herb, and Hawaiian is among the best. When properly grown
outdoors it has a wonderful and unique bouquet of fruity spice,
similar to the sweetness of the fine Thai, but with a kind of tangy taste.

Good Hawaiian herb has always been a devastatingly powerful experience
for me. It is very psychedelic and internally focused, contemplative
and overpoweringly meditative. A Walk with the King, a Dance with the
Queen, and a sunset on the beach! Aah... Hawaiian!

I have tried to equal the Hawaiian experience outdoor on the mainland,
and indoors, with no success. Everything I have grown from Hawaiian
stock turned out to be nowhere near the quality of the parent stock.
This is true for three generations of trials. The product from
Hawaiian seed was equal to the best plants grown from mid-quality
Colombian stock!

This led me to a hypothesis about Hawaii: that just about any stock
grown in Hawaii will turn out to be of unique and relatively high
quality. Hawaii just happens to be one of those special places, I suppose.

All breeding attempts with Hawaiian stock were dumped from my garden
by 1983. It was a pretty and robust plant though, and also quite
productive. Just not all that impressive when grown outside its homeland.

Jamaican Lion's Herb

It has been on rare occasion that I have sampled truly enjoyable
Jamaican herb. These rare samples came directly from friends who knew
growers there. It was similar to the Hawaiian experience, but with
more of a take-your-breath- away feeling of excitement.

The problem I have encountered with the commercial Jamaican is that it
is too damned strong and speedy! Jamaican is renowned for its lively
herb, for which I can vouch. It is a heartlifting herb and I have a
sensitive heart. So I am careful with the samples of the commercial
Jamaican ganja that I try.

Much like Hawaiian, the Jamaican strains are perhaps best expressed in
their homeland, because I have had little success in producing an
adequate example. Both indoors and out, the Jamaican behaves and ends
up much the same as mid-level Colombian. Perhaps all Island herb is
unique in this fashion.

Philippine Thrilla from Manilla.

The Philippines are another Island chain renowned for producing great
herb. I once possessed a small quantity of what was supposed to be
Philippine herb in the late 1970's. It had a strong citrus aroma that
produced a spicy smoke and a heady high. I never grew the strain, so I
have nothing to report on the plants. The herb was a light green
Sativa and seeded, so hopefully someone has had experience with this
strain.