The Best Types of Hybrid Weed Strains, And the Hybrid High Explained

Many people look to types of hybrid weed strains for medicinal relief and recreational enjoyment. The hybrid high often combines some of the best aspects of both sativa and indica marijuana. What is hybrid cannabis, though? Read on to find out.

Hybrid marijuana strains have unique properties that combine traits from their indica and sativa parents. Effects from the types of hybrid weed strains you smoke vary according to the parent gene donors. Growing conditions and random gene expression count for a lot, too.

A hybrid high often run the gamut from an indica “body” high to a sativa “heady” high and an interesting combination of the two. As a result, there is no such thing as a single type of “hybrid high.”

Instead, hybrid marijuana varieties represent a grab bag of effects that aren’t truly known until breeders carefully test new experimental strains. The end products from these experiments often produce new favorites, like Girl Scout Cookies or Orange Velvet.

But exactly what is hybrid cannabis? How did it become so popular? And what are the best types of hybrid weed strains to try?

Find out the answer to all these questions by reading our quick guide to hybrid cannabis history, the hybrid high, and our recommended strains below.

What Is Hybrid Cannabis?

Marijuana hybrids have been crossbred since the ancient Chinese and Indians were taking bong rips back in 2,000 BC. Genetic engineering for most types of hybrid weed strains popular today kicked into overdrive in the late ‘90s.

Around 10,000 years ago, humans began their transition from hunter-gatherer culture to agriculture.

Early farmers had to deal with plants that were tough and didn’t yield very much of the wanted end product. For instance, early types of wheat grew the nutrient-rich seed kernels but then scattered them into the wind the first chance they got.

Over time, though, farmers chose wheat plants that were more likely to have kernels that clung to the plant as a result of a genetic mutation. Gradually, wheat plants grown became less likely to go to seed and more likely to grow fat kernels.

The same thing happened to weed! Wild weed is chock full of seeds, and it spends a lot of its energy growing them, as well as fibrous leaves and stalks.

But, what early ganja lovers discovered was that they could breed together certain plants that grew fatter buds. People then began to select plants that had better smells, better taste, and higher levels of cannabinoids that got them high.

A Really Brief History of Crossbreeding and Hybrid Weed

Marijuana hybrids have been crossbred since the ancient Chinese and Indians were taking bong rips back in 2,000 BC. Genetic engineering for most types of hybrid weed strains popular today kicked into overdrive in the late ‘90s.

Around 10,000 years ago, humans began their transition from hunter-gatherer culture to agriculture.

Early farmers had to deal with plants that were tough and didn’t yield very much of the wanted end product. For instance, early types of wheat grew the nutrient-rich seed kernels but then scattered them into the wind the first chance they got.

Over time, though, farmers chose wheat plants that were more likely to have kernels that clung to the plant as a result of a genetic mutation. Gradually, wheat plants grown became less likely to go to seed and more likely to grow fat kernels.

The same thing happened to weed! Wild weed is chock full of seeds, and it spends a lot of its energy growing them, as well as fibrous leaves and stalks.

But, what early ganja lovers discovered was that they could breed together certain plants that grew fatter buds. People then began to select plants that had better smells, better taste, and higher levels of cannabinoids that got them high.

Fast forward to the 1970s, and people got crazy with this notion. Popular neo-landrace strains like Acapulco Gold and Maui Wowie came about after a few generations of being grown on native soil.

Then, people crossbred these plants to discover what weed was truly capable of. This boom in crossbreeding led to “godfather” heirloom strains like Haze, Diesel, OG Kush, Blueberry, Northern Lights, and others.

Another huge explosion in new strains arose in the 80s and gained full steam by the 2000s. Breeders got super scientific about grow conditions and labelling of child plant hybrids.

They also began to mark phenotype expression in child plants. This lead to numberings like “Northern Lights #6” based on which genes came out expressed in the child plant.

By being creative and bold with experimentation, we have developed ultra-powerful hybrids that have unique effects.

What Is a Hybrid High Like?

You can imagine a hybrid high as mixing sativa and indica weed in a bowl together.

From the sativa, you are likely to get a clear-headed, energizing high helped along by a boosted THC content.

From the indica, you are going to feel deeper relaxation, euphoria, pain relief, and a “body high” that can make you feel like just sitting on the couch.

Smoking both together can create a push-pull effect where you feel relaxed and cloudy headed but also energized.

But, breeders know that most people aren’t looking to get obliterated by the hybrid strain they smoke. So, instead of just combining the most powerful effects of each strain type, they try to breed out certain traits and enhance others.

How does this affect the hybrid high? In lots of different ways.

To give you examples and encourage you to try some new strains, take a look at some of our favorite types of hybrid weed strains below.

The 5 Best Types of Hybrid Weed Strains for a Great Hybrid High

• Trainwreck — A huge THC content and heavy body high properties deliver intense euphoria and pain relief but without the paranoia.
• Blue Dream — Cerebral, uplifting but also relaxing, Blue Dream keeps your mind engaged while also helping you feel upbeat and avoid anxiety.
• Girl Scout Cookies — Strong enough to put even an experienced smoker on their rear, Girl Scout Cookies still avoid “couch lock” with its energizing properties.
• Super Lemon Haze — When life hands you lemons, you crossbreed them to get super lemons. In this case, the 50/50 hybrid Lemon Skunk is crossbred with sativa-dominant Super Silver Haze to create a sweet yet zesty citrus flavor. The hybrid high it creates will make you energized and focused yet with a touch of euphoria.
• Skywalker — Despite a heavy dose of sativa genes, Skywalker’s hybrid high is almost all indica. You will feel deeply relaxed, euphoric and a touch sleepy. Yet, you will feel enough pep from the sativa to keep you engaged.

Try any or all types of hybrid weed strains to keep some of your favorite killer combos on hand.

You can also use them to give someone a genetics lesson anytime someone asks “what is hybrid cannabis?”