Kush refers to a family of cannabis strains, belonging to the genus C. indica, that originated in the Hindu Kush region. It has been heavily domesticated and interbred since its discovery by Western society, thus none can be sure of its exact ancestry. Due to its indica genetics, kush grows into a short, thick plant, with one main cola (as opposed to sativa strains, which usually produce multiple stalks). Kush is widely revered by cannabis users for its pungent aroma, pleasant taste, and high THC content.
Characteristics
Kush itself refers not to a single strain of cannabis, but a vaguely defined family of strains, and there are many types. However, almost all kush strains share common characteristics and qualities that distinguish them from other strains of cannabis. Most kush possesses a powerful sweet and spicy aroma, differing among types but easily recognizable. Like many other potent cannabis strains, kush produces extraordinary numbers of trichomes, the tiny exterior glands responsible for THC-production. Coloration varies by strain and growing conditions - the buds usually exhibit colors of green, orange or purple, with colors tending to be more bright and vibrant than average cannabis buds. When cured properly, the buds are large, soft, and resinous, breaking easily into small bits (a quality cherished by many smokers). The general structure of a kush bud is one of its most recognizable characteristics, as the leaflets are stubby and short, and the buds curl tightly into themselves - most cannabis is denser, darker, with less trichomes, and has more free-ranging leaves.
Strains
Kush has been bred and interbred by Western growers since as early as the 1940's, and as such many of the current kushes are not original strains, having been created in the past century. Nobody knows which strain, if any, fathered the wide array available today, however its geography places kush in the running as one of the oldest (and thus subject to natural selection for longer) cannabis types in existence. The list below includes hybrids (strains crossed with other types of cannabis, such as sativa). Since cannabis has been illegalized in the US, the terminology and strain names are unregulated, sometimes causing multiple names to surface for a single strain, or even completely fictional names. As such the strains are divided into two categories: those that definitely exist, and those that may be one-off generations or merely slang.
Confirmed Strains
- OG Kush
- Hindu Kush
- Bubba Kush
- California Kush
- Orange Kush
- Master Kush
- Lavender Kush
- Purple Kush (also POG, PK x OG K.)
- Grandaddy (Purple) Kush
- Kushage (a S.A.G.E. hybrid)
- Afghan Kush (sometimes known as AK, not to be confused with AK-47)
- Blueberry Kush (not to be confused with Blueberry, a separate cannabis strain)
Unconfirmed Strains
- Olive Shack Kush
- Kotton Kandy
- Candlestick Kush
- Pussy Kush
- Anal Rape Kush
- Pink Kush
- Sour Kush (possibly a cross with Sour Diesel/ChemDawg)
Culture
Although kush has likely been enjoyed by cannabis smokers for longer than we can measure, the increase in cannabis globalization during the 20th century brought it into the Western world. Recently, it has gained a reputation in hip-hop culture as an "elite" drug for both its superior quality and high price. Many rap artists reference their kush-smoking habits with bravado, including Young Jeezy, Fabolous, Snoop Dogg, Sly Boogy, The Game, Three 6 Mafia, Ghostface Killah, Method Man and many others.
Kush is often associated with the state of California, as the region is widely recognized for its' high-quality cannabis product.