The Top 50 Most Popular Cannabis Strains of the Past Decade

Over the past decade, hundreds of cannabis strains have appeared on menus at dispensaries and retail outlets across the numerous legal marijuana states in the U.S., but these stand out among the rest in terms of their continued popularity

OG Kush.

Using opinions provided to us by our readers, and data compiled by the research firm Headset and the strain review site Leafly, below are the 50 most popular cannabis strains of the past decade.

• Blue Dream – A classic known for its sweet blueberry aroma and balanced high. This sativa-dominant hybrid delivers a gentle cerebral uplift paired with mellow body relaxation, making it a versatile crowd-pleaser. Its approachable, creative buzz and consistent effects have kept Blue Dream a top shelf staple.

• OG Kush – OG Kush is an indica-leaning hybrid famous for its earthy pine and diesel nose. It offers a powerful euphoric high and full-body sedation, making it a go-to strain for stress relief and relaxation. OG Kush spawned countless popular crosses like Tahoe OG, and it remains a foundational heavyweight.

• Girl Scout Cookies (Thin Mint GSC) – A dessert-like hybrid combining sweet minty chocolate with a tangy gas note. GSC is beloved for its potent head high that inspires creativity and laughter, followed by deep relaxation. Its lineage (OG Kush × Durban Poison) and numerous cannabis cup wins helped it dominate menus nationwide.

Girl Scout Cookies.

• Wedding Cake – This indulgent hybrid (Triangle Kush × Animal Mints) smells of vanilla cake and peppery herbs. It provides a smooth, relaxing euphoria that can be both uplifting and sedating. Praised for its rich flavor and balanced high, Wedding Cake became a consumer favorite and even won Leafly’s Strain of the Year (2019) before remaining a mainstay.

• Gelato – A dessert strain that tastes like sweet sherbet, with notes of berries, cream, and diesel fuel. Gelato (Sunset Sherbet × Thin Mint GSC) is known for its deep euphoria and soothing body buzz without heavy sedation. Its potent, calming effects and vibrant purple buds made Gelato a trendsetter (Strain of the Year 2018) and the parent of countless new crosses.

• Sour Diesel – An iconic East Coast sativa with a pungent fuel aroma. Sour Diesel delivers a fast-acting, uplifting rush and energizing cerebral high that fans describe as invigorating and creative. Despite its decades-long lineage (Chemdawg × Super Skunk), Sour Diesel remains popular for its classic “gasoline” scent and motivating effects.

• Pineapple Express – A tropical sativa-hybrid famous thanks to the comedy film of the same name. This strain (Trainwreck × Hawaiian) combines mango and pineapple aromas with a smooth, happy high. Pineapple Express provides clean energy and focus without jitters, making it a favorite for daytime use and anyone chasing that sunny, giggly vibe.

Pineapple Express.

• Granddaddy Purple (GDP) – A legendary indica cross with a berry-grape flavor and deep purple buds. Granddaddy Purple is famed for delivering potent relaxation and couch-lock effects that melt stress away. With its heavy body buzz and pain-relief reputation, GDP has stayed popular for over a decade as the iconic “purple” chill-out strain.

• Gorilla Glue #4 (GG4) – A powerhouse hybrid named for its super sticky resin that can glue scissors shut. GG4 blends earth, pine, and chocolate scents with a very potent high that starts euphoric and ends in full-body relaxation (and often sedation). A Cannabis Cup winner, Gorilla Glue #4 solidified its cult status by reliably knocking even veteran users on their back.

• Ice Cream Cake – A sweet dessert strain (Wedding Cake × Gelato #33) bursting with vanilla and creamy notes. It produces deep relaxation and heavy sedation, often described as a “couch-lock” or sleep-inducing high. Ice Cream Cake’s comforting effects and Cup-winning lineage make it a hit for evening or insomnia relief, and its sugar-cookie flavor appeals even to recreational users.

• Apple Fritter – A tart, gassy hybrid that smells of apple pie with a hint of diesel. Apple Fritter offers a strong head high followed by mellow body euphoria, creating a quirky, uplifting vibe. As one of the newer kids on the block (Sour Apple × Animal Cookies), it quickly became a favorite for its unique flavor profile and busy potency.

Apple Fritter.

• MAC (Miracle Alien Cookies) – A heavy-hitting hybrid known for its pungent citrus and garlic aroma. MAC (formerly “Miracle Alien Cookies”) is loved for delivering a blissful, heady euphoria paired with body relax – the kind that tucks you in for a cozy evening. Emerging from Oregon bred by Capulator (Alien Cookies × Starfighter), MAC became a connoisseur’s choice for its powerful and unique terpene blend.

• Purple Punch – An indica-dominant hybrid bursting with Kool-Aid grape and berry aromas. This strain (Granddaddy Purple × Larry OG) provides deep relaxation without gluing you to the couch, making it ideal for stress relief and a chilled mood. Purple Punch remains popular for its sweet, fruity flavor and the gentle, happy high that earned it a spot among favorite purple strains.

• Durban Poison – A 100% pure sativa landrace from South Africa known for its spicy, earthy peppermint aroma. Durban Poison gives a clear-headed, energizing high that fans use for creativity and focus. Despite being over 40 years old, its legacy persists as one of the purest up lifts, and it’s a parent of classics like Girl Scout Cookies.

• Runtz – A candy-sweet hybrid (Zkittlez × Gelato) that became a viral sensation in the late 2010s. Runtz sports a rainbow of bright colors and a tropical fruit flavor reminiscent of the candy. Users love its euphoric, balanced high – it’s uplifting and social but also calmly relaxing – making it a go-to strain for fun times and its heavy social media hype.

• Biscotti – An indica-leaning hybrid with a rich dessert aroma, blending cookies and dough notes. This strain (Gelato × Sour Tangie offspring) packs a punch: a potent body buzz accompanied by a focused mental high. Highly regarded by connoisseurs, Biscotti is known for its dense trichomes and relaxing, sleep-friendly effects, often topping lists at dispensaries.

• Northern Lights – An old-school indica famous for its minty, sweet pine aroma. Northern Lights delivers a deeply soothing, couch-locking body high that eases pain and insomnia. It’s one of the most enduring strains in history – its relaxing qualities made it a favorite in the Pacific Northwest and remain in demand for anyone wanting a classic, sedating indica experience.

• White Widow – A balanced hybrid developed in the Netherlands, famous worldwide since the 1990s. With earthy, woody notes and glistening resin, White Widow provides a spark of euphoria and creativity along with a gentle body high. Its reliable, smooth effects and prolific resin production made it a global classic and cannabis-101 recommendation for decades.

White Widow.

• Chemdawg – A pungent hybrid with a strong diesel and pine scent that hits hard. Chemdawg offers a cerebral, slightly psychedelic high, often described as dreamy and creative. As the parent strain of Diesel varieties (and an ancestor of OG Kush), Chemdawg’s legacy includes countless hybrids, and fans love it for its distinctive fuel aroma and potent, lasting buzz.

• Jack Herer – A celebrated sativa-dominant hybrid named after the cannabis activist. It carries a spicy pine and citrus aroma, delivering a clear-headed, uplifting high with a spark of creativity. Jack Herer became popular for providing alert euphoria without heavy sedation, making it a daytime staple for both medical and recreational users who want focus and inspiration.

• Strawberry Cough – A sweet, berry-scented sativa known for its smooth smoke (that might make you cough). This uplifting strain provides a clear, energetic head high that leaves users happy and talkative. Its cinnamon-strawberry flavor and social buzz have earned it a loyal following, and it’s often recommended for easing anxiety while maintaining focus.

• Super Lemon Haze – A zesty, energetic sativa-hybrid packed with lemon and tropical fruit terpenes. This long-time award-winner (Green House’s years of Cannabis Cups) delivers a lively, citrusy high that’s perfect for focus and cheer. Fans pick Super Lemon Haze for a bright, creative experience without drowsiness, making it a signature daytime strain since the 2000s.

• AK-47 – A well-balanced hybrid (Afghani × Mexican × Thai × Columbian) with a sweet, skunky aroma. Despite its name, AK-47 gives a mellow euphoric high that blends relaxation with cerebral stimulation. It’s been a go-to strain for years because it sparks creativity and happiness without knocking people out, and its inviting flavor keeps it on the menu.

• Purple Kush – A pure indica (Kush phenotype of Hindu Kush) with a deep grape and berry scent. It produces a heavy, tranquilizing body high that often brings complete relaxation and sleepiness. Revered in the Pacific Northwest since the 1990s, Purple Kush is still prized for pain relief and unwinding at the end of the day, with loyal fans craving its classic “Kush” high.

• Blue Cheese – A pungent cross of UK Cheese and Blueberry, known for its sharp blue cheese funk and sweet berry notes. Blue Cheese delivers a deeply relaxing body buzz with gentle euphoric uplift and has a sedative edge. It remains popular among those who like heavy indicas that quiet the mind but still taste sweet, combining two well-known flavors into one potent package.

• Cherry Pie – A tasty indica-leaning hybrid (Durban Poison × Granddaddy Purple) with a bright cherry scent. It offers strong cerebral euphoria and relaxed body effects, often leading to couch-lock. Cherry Pie’s inviting dessert flavors and comforting high made it a classic in California dispensaries, and it keeps a steady fan base for evening relief.

• Do-Si-Dos – An indica-dominant offspring of Girl Scout Cookies, known for its minty sweet and earthy dough aroma. This potent strain smacks you with full-body sedation and euphoria, often leaving users glued to the couch. Fans picked up Do-Si-Dos for its heavy relaxation and unique “nuggetty” flavor, and it’s remained on menus where deep calm is sought.

• Mimosa – A bright, citrusy hybrid (Purple Punch × Clementine) that smells like orange juice at a brunch. Mimosa delivers an energetic, uplifting high that keeps you alert and happy, often touted as a good wake-and-bake choice. Its tangy fruit cocktail flavor and balanced, clear-headed effects have made Mimosa a go-to for daytime relief of stress or mood elevation.

• Zkittlez – A potent indica-leaning strain bursting with candy-like tropical and citrus aromas. Zkittlez offers a relaxed body buzz with a mellow, happy head high, living up to its name with a flavor reminiscent of the candy. Since its debut, it has become a market favorite, spawning numerous “z” crosses (Watermelon Zkittlez, Raspberry Zkittlez, etc.) and appealing to those craving sweet terpene profiles.

• Lemon Cherry Gelato – A vibrant hybrid known for its bold citrus cherry flavor. Crossing Sunset Sherbet with Girl Scout Cookies gives this strain a complex profile and a high that’s both euphoric and calming. It delivers tingly happiness and relaxation in equal measure, making it a trendy choice among West Coast users who want intense flavor and a pleasant all-around buzz.

• Green Crack – A lively sativa famous for its intense, fruity citrus aroma and energetic high. It’s often recommended to beat fatigue or get motivated, delivering mental focus and creativity without heavy sedation. Green Crack’s reliable stimulant effect and tangy flavor kept it hugely popular on the West Coast, where it’s prized as a go-to wake-up strain.

• Tangie – A tangerine-scented sativa hybrid from the late 2010s (NYC Diesel × Cinderella 99). Tangie delivers a cheerful, cerebral high and crisp citrus taste that made many fans swoon. It’s often described as a modern reimagining of the classic Tangerine dream, and its bright, happy effects have kept it in demand for daytime relief and creativity.

• Cereal Milk – A sweet, smooth hybrid that smells like a bowl of fruity cereal and milk. With a balanced THC punch, it offers a relaxed, euphoric high and is known for soothing tension without anxiety. This dessert-flavored strain (from Snowman genetics) shot to prominence in recent years for its delicious profile and potent, yet gentle, mood-lifting effects.

• London Pound Cake – A pungent hybrid with thick frosting of trichomes and a tangy sweet cake aroma. Bred by SF OG Labs, it’s a descendant of famous OG and Lemon strains. Users enjoy its heavy relaxation effects paired with clear-minded euphoria, and it has consistently appeared on premium menus for its intense flavor (think creamy lemon with skunky undertones) and potent impact.

• GMO (Garlic, Mushroom, Onion) – A rare cross of Girl Scout Cookies and Chemdog that lives up to its acronym with a skunky, garlic-forward scent. GMO produces a thick, stonking smoke and a profoundly sedating body buzz that can knock anyone out. Although niche, it gained cult fame for its unique flavor and power, often sought out by those who want a heavy indica buzz and unusual terpene profile.

• LSD – An indica-dominant strain named for its mind-bending high, combining Skunk #1 with Mazar. It delivers a sweet, earthy aroma and a powerful, trippy cerebral effect that can make one’s thoughts warp pleasantly. LSD is loved by creative types for its high THC potency and euphoric haze, often used to unwind or spark introspection.

• Candyland – A sweet and smooth hybrid that tastes like sugary candy. As the parent of Wedding Cake (and a GSC descendant), Candyland offers uplifting euphoria with a relaxing undertone. It’s a balanced crowd-pleaser that has remained in rotation for its happy effects and easy smoke, bridging old-school GSC genetics with modern fans.

• Fruity Pebbles OG – A tropical-flavored indica-leaning hybrid crossing Granddaddy Purple and Tahoe Alien. It tastes like a blend of fruit cereal and cream, with a potent, soothing high. Users seek out Fruity Pebbles OG for its ability to melt away stress and aches, and it became notable for being easy on the throat and heavy on the body buzz.

• Godfather OG – An extremely heavy indica (bodhi genetics creation) often called the “Don” of Kush strains. With a sweet grape and earthy flavor, this strain delivers a stony body high that can be overwhelmingly sedative at high doses. Its very high THC content (often in the upper 20s–30s) made it famous, and it’s still on menus for those chasing absolute knockout relaxation.

• Bruce Banner – A potent hybrid named after the Marvel superhero, combining sweet berries with diesel gas scents. This strain (Green Crack × Strawberry Diesel) hits hard and fast, with a euphoric, uplifted high noted for sparking creativity and laughter. Its budtender hype and consistently high THC levels have kept Bruce Banner at the top of potency charts and the shelves of headshops.

• Bubba Kush – A classic indica with a rich coffee-and-chocolate aroma. Bubba Kush’s effects lean heavily towards full-body relaxation and sedation, often leaving users in a dreamy, couch-locked state. It’s been a favorite since the ‘90s for end-of-day use, valued by novices and vets alike for its reliable, potent chill-out power.

• Ghost Train Haze – A legendary sativa known for being one of the strongest Haze cultivars. It has sharp citrus and pine notes and packs a serious cerebral kick that can feel almost psychedelic. Despite its monstrous potency, it’s sought for intensely energetic, creative highs, earning fame (and caution) among sativa aficionados.

• White Fire OG (WiFi OG) – A cross of two legendary strains (The White and Fire OG) that yields a super pungent, earthy-diesel aroma. This balanced hybrid offers strong relaxation coupled with a clear-headed buzz, so users feel uplifted and calm. Its name reflects the bright green, frosty buds, and it’s popular for its consistency and potent effects that please hybrid lovers.

• Strawberry Banana – A sweet and fruity indica-leaning strain from crossing Crockett’s Banana Kush and Strawberry Bubblegum. It delivers a smooth, heavy body high and a mellow, happy euphoria, often helping to relieve stress and pain. Its candy-like tropical flavor made it a staple in late-2010s dispensaries and earned it awards for its pleasant, sessionable smoke.

• Trainwreck – A classic West Coast sativa-hybrid with sharp pine and lemon aroma and a fast-hitting, intense high. It’s famous for inducing energetic creativity and a heady buzz that leaves people giggly and talkative. Over the years, Trainwreck has remained a go-to strain for those seeking a classic, uplifting Colorado-style high in a compact package.

• Sunset Sherbet – A sweet, fruity descendant of Girl Scout Cookies, known for its bright berry and citrus aroma. This indica-leaning hybrid (with Larry OG and Pink Panties in its lineage) delivers a mellow euphoric high and gentle full-body relaxation. It stayed popular as the “cherry gelato” alternative, softening the mind without knocking you out, often used to highlight desserts and chill vibes.

• Death Star – A heavy indica hybrid that smells like a blend of sweet pine and diesel fuel. Named for its potent punch, it combines Sensi Star and Sour Diesel genetics to produce a deep couch-lock effect. Fans use Death Star to alleviate pain and insomnia, appreciating its calming, sedating high and its notable potency.

• Pineapple Kush – A tropical-flavored hybrid (Pineapple × OG Kush) with a sweet pineapple aroma laced with earthy diesel notes. It provides a relaxing body high along with happy, uplifted cerebral effects. Although not as famous as Pineapple Express or OG, Pineapple Kush is cherished for its smooth taste and well-rounded buzz that suits afternoon or evening use.

• White Rhino – An indica-dominant strain (White Widow × Afghani) known for its heavy resin production and skunky, earthy aroma. White Rhino delivers a strong body-heavy high that helps ease pain and tension, often bringing on couch-lock. It has remained a consistent pick for patients and recreational users who want a traditional, potent indica effect without unexpected surprises.

• Purple Urkle – A pure indica from the early 1980s that reeks of grape candy and skunk. Its deeply sedating high and body buzz made it a West Coast legend. Although newer hybrids have eclipsed it in popularity, Purple Urkle still appears on menus for nostalgia and those seeking a classic Old School grape flavor and heavy indica punch.