Cannabis vs. Hemp: Decoding the Key Differences and Similarities
Cannabis, hemp, marijuana — the plant with the Latin name cannabis sativa and its derivatives have so many names that confusion almost seems bound to arise. Luckily, Jorge Olson, co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of two publicly traded companies,Hempacco (HPCO) andGreen Globe International (GGII), helps decode what’s what when it comes to this pointed leaf.
“Cannabis is the same as marijuana, but that term has a discriminatory history,” Olson explains. “Cannabis is wonderful. Hemp, however, is the most wonderful plant in the world.”
The amount of THC makes all the difference
Cannabis and hemp are both essentially the same plant. One major difference divides the two: the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is more than 0.3 percent in cannabis, whereas hemp has equal to or less than that amount.
Since THC is psychoactive, cannabis delivers that famous “high.” Most products derived from hemp do not, although there are some exceptions. For instance, high concentrations of Delta-8, a cannabinoid extracted from hemp, can. Unlike cannabis, however, Delta-8 is legal nationwide in the US.
“Delta-8 is also cheaper than cannabis,” Olson asserts. “You pay a quarter of the price and get the same effect, although Delta-8 is a nicer high, in my opinion. There’s no paranoia or fear, it can help you doze off and get rest, and is widely available — you can buy it at a liquor store.”
Hemp and its derivatives — such as CBD and, yes, Delta-8 — are legal nationwide in the US. THC, on the other hand, is illegal on the federal level, but some states have legalized it for medical and/or recreational use.
The way hemp is taxed is also different from cannabis. Customers are only responsible for normal sales taxes on hemp products, while cannabis is often subject to higher taxes, like alcohol or cigarettes.
“The special tax on cannabis skyrockets all the way up to 40 percent in some states,” Olson explains. For this reason, hemp products tend to be much less expensive.
Controlling the amount of THC
Since the amount of THC is what distinguishes hemp from cannabis, producers and distributors of hemp products must carefully test every batch to ensure it doesn’t have too much of this cannabinoid. Olson and his team not only have farmers test every harvest they send to their facilities, but also do their own testing to double-check each shipment. While they can comply with the law by diluting hemp that comes in a little too hot, they return harvests that are too high.
“It’s a persistent problem for the whole industry,” he says. “If your products have too much THC, the FBI can raid your facility, and the FDA can remove your products from store shelves.”
According to Olson, scientists are currently mapping the genome for hemp, looking for ways to control the amount of THC in hemp and produce it more reliably, as well as unleash its massive therapeutic potential.
“We hardly know anything about hemp yet,” he says. “So far, about 140 cannabinoids have been identified. But we are still in our infancy of studying their possible purposes.”
Hemp: The most wonderful plant in the world
Despite the newness of this field, studies have already hinted at hemp’s incredible potential. “We know that CBD is a natural anti-inflammatory,” Olson says. “Numerous clinical studies have suggested it can relieve pain. Some people just roll CBD on their joints, and that’s enough to ease their arthritis. CBD can also restore movement in hands for people who want to continue playing musical instruments as they age. One of CBD’s largest impacts is stopping seizures in children.”
Another cannabinoid called cannabigerol shows great promise in reducing depression and anxiety, ameliorating chronic pain, and even breast cancer. This compound is found in greater concentrations in young plants than in mature ones.
The most precious plant on the planet
In the end, cannabis is just one use of the hemp plant, and THC is just one cannabinoid out of more than 140. Cannabis sativa presents a treasure chest of untapped potential.
“Hemp is a spectacular plant we’re just starting to discover,” Olson says. “Imagine the benefits all these compounds can provide.”
The hemp plant grows so profusely, cannabis has often been called “weed.” But given all its therapeutic applications, this “weed” may actually be the most precious plant on the planet.
By now the shock has likely worn off—Seed Junky didn’t go three for three in Strain of the Year wins?!?! It feels unnecessary to say that Seed Junky and his strain empire will be just fine (and he makes plenty of appearances here.) The crown goes to lowkey California-based breeder Blockhead’s Blockberry aka Superboof, a playful strain that broke the gassy cream and candy profile streak of past SOTY winners for something more tangy, more rooted in fruit than fuel.
As editor David Downs reports in our 2024 Strain of the Year announcement, Super Boof descends from two strains that weed snobs have long underestimated: Tangie and Purple Punch. Looks like some apologies are in order! Or, if you’d still rather laugh at the Boof bandwagon, we deduced these six alternatives provide similar effects and flavor experiences.
If Gelato is the muse of rap songs, Sherbanger better suits a house beat. The electro-house duo Havoc on World created their song, Sherbanger, in perfect harmony with what the strain offers. It has Sherbet’s sweet notes, but it also blooms with Headbanger’s kushy, sour aroma. This is a great strain before a night on the dance floor, one that keeps your nerves at bay but gives you the guts to bust out all your best moves. Sherbanger is in nearly 1,000 stores on Leafly, but that is only half of Super Boof.
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6th runner-up—Gastropop
GastroPop. (Courtesy Sonoma Hills Farm)
Another Compound Genetics winner evokes sweetness over savory terps. Gastro Pop descends from strains Apples & Bananas x Grape Gas, making it a cousin to Superboof with a crazy extended family. Apples & Bananas itself comes from braiding in old legacy strains like GDP with newer hitters like Gelatti and Blue Power; paired with Grape Gas, it runs the flavor spectrum of sweet berry, diesel fumes, and creamy.
5th runner-up—Cap Junky
Panic attack mode: Cap Junky is for people who’ve smoked it all. Hybrid. (David Downs/Leafly)
Has anyone seen Gladiator II? If so, imagine if Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal got to team up and breed weed strains fit for an emperor instead of killing each other. That’s Cap Junky—a cross of Alien Cookies x Kush Mints #11, but also a cross of the talents of Capulator and Seed Junky, two canna-coliseum champions. Cap Junky evokes that same Super Boof playfulness, with a palate that favors a more menthol and earthy experience. Cap Junky is in nearly as many stores as Super Boof, but the experience is less versatile and more aggressive.
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4th runner-up—Zoap
Zoap combines two of Deo Farms’ OZ Kush breeding projects—Rainbow Sherbet V2 x Pink Guava #16 F2. (David Downs/Leafly)
When you need a palate cleanse, wash your mouth out with Zoap. The Bay Area’s Deo Farms crafted Zoap from many disparate parts, including OZ Kush and the Rainbow Sherbet, aka RS line of strain. Zoap captures the kind of soap you’d buy at a farmer’s market—floral, earthy, and sweet. It has also carved out a place at cups, nabbing spots in multiple Zalympix and Hash Bashes. Your brain needs Zoap like your body needs soap. Zoap had a great run this year, but it’s still not as prevalent as Super Boof, nor as well-liked by budtenders.
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3rd runner-up—Lemon Cherry Gelato
Lemon Cherry Gelato. (David Downs/Leafly)
Oh, LCG. Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art as loud, and as sweet. This Backpackboyz creation takes a familiar cross, Sunset Sherbet x Thin Mint, but their spin on it reveals a visually-popping strain with strong tart citrus terps, plus Gelato’s signature euphoria. It has a trophy case full of reasons to try, including two High Times Cup wins, a handful of Farmer’s Cup wins, and placements on multiple best-of lists. It’s made its round across the country, appearing on dispensary menus from California to New York. We love LCG, but it was just not new enough to be Leafly Strain of the Year.
2nd runner-up—Tropical Slushie
Slushie, more specifically Tropical Slushie, comes from the not-very-tropical state of Colorado and its breeding don, Cannarado. Blending Snowman’s blizzard of trichomes with Papaya’s enigmatic fruitiness creates a strain sweet enough to sip on.
It’s new to our database, but it already has a reputation for complex terps and, surprisingly, an arousing effect. Slushie is in half as many clubs as Super Boof, and it hasn’t caught on with budtenders or the awards circuit—yet!
1st runner-up—Glitter Bomb
Lowers of Glitterbomb at Sonoma Hills Farm. (David Downs/Leafly)
A glitter bomb requires vibrancy and surprise, so any strain named for it must also wow its audience. Compound Genetics’s complex breeding of OGKB Blueberry Headband x Grape Gas #10 creates both a prismatic plant, but also prismatic terps. Glitter Bomb catches the eye with its thick, opaque trichomes, and the nose with its sharp, petrol berry aromas. Still, Glitter Bomb is on 400 fewer menus than Super Boof, and lacked budtender or contest excitement.
How do we choose Leafly Strain of the Year each year?
Leafly Strain of the Year aims to bottle the essence of the connoisseur cannabis conversation unfolding across the country and online globally over the last year.
We fuse two approaches to land on Leafly Strain of the Year each year: 1) a qualitative approach informed by 2) data from unparalleled quantitative insight into national strain trends.
The qualitative: Leafly has nearly full access to the qualitative aspects of weed. We smoke hundreds of new cultivars per year and travel the world interviewing breeders, growers, buyers, budtenders, smokers, and influencers to get a tactile sense of what’s smoking. We got literal file cabinets full of new weed.
… there’s no ChatGPT prompt that’ll ever hallucinate anything close to Leafly Strain of the Year.
The quantitative: We take all those smoking notes and insights and go back to our analytics looking for new strains that had a break-out year in terms of national menu penetration, sessions to the Strain Detail Page, and other data factors—similar to the NFL picking its Most Valuable Player each year. With nearly 6,000 strains in the database, thousands of store menus listed, and millions of monthly active users—only Leafly has this level of insight into both the data of modern cultivars and the sensory attributes of smoking them.
As long as computers can’t walk the US weed beat, smelling, tasting, and getting high, there’s no ChatGPT prompt that’ll ever hallucinate anything close to Leafly Strain of the Year. So thanks for rocking with us.
Think we missed something great? Comment below with your Leafly Strain of the Year and be sure to tell us why.
This may be niche, Leafly Nation, but walk with me. There’s an old children’s rhyme I remember as a little girl that went “make new friends / but keep the old. One is silver / and the other’s gold.” It’s a nice mantra—don’t forget your old friends when you inevitably, in life, meet new people.
I think the same should be said for weed. The 2020s have so far shown remarkable innovation and growth in the strains bred, grown, and sold across the country. But does that mean we should abandon the old faithfuls that got us through tough times, all those years ago? I say ‘No,’ and it seems like you do too, Leafly Nation, because our 2024 bestsellers look a lot like our 2023 bestsellers. Here’s the rundown.
Listen, if you don’t want to keep seeing Blue Dream top the list, stop buying it! The Blueberry x Haze combination out of Santa Cruz, CA, may bore many cannasseurs, but it still offers whimsy to those willing to give it a chance. It still has tasty, skunky blueberry terps and the unique euphoria of the Haze family. Plus, it still offers patients an aid for both mood enhancement and some minor aches.
Winner, winner, Apple Fritter. This Lumpy’s cross of Sour Apple and Animal Cookies has climbed the ranks year after year, taking the coveted #2 spot on our list, plus some cup wins. Does it have what it takes to overthrow Blue Dream? Maybe. Leafly reviewers revere it for its palate of “sweet, but also has this funky, pungent dankness,” and effects that impart a “true, psychedelic happy euphoria.” Time will tell if this heady hybrid will reach the heights of #1.
“I got gelato in the air / I got money everywhere” raps Young Dolph in his 2017 song Gelato. Gelato is a strain for winners—it’s played some role in nearly every Strain of the Year (including its own crown) we’ve ever anointed. But it’s not just the awards circuit that loves Gelato. People love it, year after year. It helps that many phenotypes exist to provide nuance to what started the “candy gas” trend. Check out the best dozen with our The 12 best Gelato crosses of all time.
Even the snobbiest weed head can’t deny the allure of Wedding Cake—who doesn’t love cake? Wedding Cake has been on our most-sold and most-searched-for strains for years now, and the foot stays on the pedal. Since we dubbed it Strain of the Year in 2019, its legacy has increased exponentially with offshoots like Ice Cream Cake, Purple Push Pop, and E85 with cult followings of their own. As Matt Jackson writes in Top 12 Wedding Cake strains of all time, Wedding Cake has made its name due to its “prismatic, colorful buds and blend of vanilla, fuel, and doughy flavors.”
Purple will never die. While its heydays of popularity and access have long ended, plenty of consumers coast to coast still seek it and its strain progeny out. Jeffrey Oropeza of Oakland’s Dark Heart Nursery told us about GDP’s allure back in 2021, saying it “has always been held in high esteem due to its dark coloration and taste, but its effect is what makes it truly special…GDP just simply makes things stop hurting.” That combination of niche terps and pain management fits right in at the end of a tumultuous year.
I’ve been writing these bestselling strains lists for a couple years now, and I’ve never seen so many sativas on the list. Durban Poison is the sole landrace strain here, and the most intensely uplifting and energizing pick of the bunch. Durban Poison comes from South Africa, and has been growing in American soil for decades. It has a unique peppercorn nose, so sharp and skunky that it nearly burns the nose.
Let’s get it straight—the movie Pineapple Express predates the strain, and not vice versa. The onus is on the strain then, to match the zany, full-bellied laughs that come when watching Seth Rogen, James Franco, and a supporting cast of comedians get into increasingly dangerous (and thus hilarious) situations due to the weed that smells like God’s, well. Pineapple Express the real strain is Trainwreck x Hawaiian, a blend of tropical tang and turpentine. A review from 2010 calls it “The dopest dope I’ve ever smoked,” and one from 2024 says it’s “the king of strains.
Ring the alarm! Strawberry Cough has entered the chat. This strain, despite its many years in stores, still carries mystique. It’s not entirely clear who initially bred it, and its genetics may or may not be Strawberry Fields x Haze. Either way, it still intrigues consumers to this day, whether it’s to lift the fog of anxiety or enjoy its skunky berry terps.
Just in time for Thanksgiving and the holiday season, we have your best buds and flower brands, Leafly Nation.
How do we know? Easy. In fall 2024, we enticed over 900 budtenders to pick the best weed strain and brand in their state. When they point out smoke, you can bet it’s fire.
The results are in, the votes tallied, and we’re ready to announce who took home awards in 17 different states.
Whether you’re staying home or traveling this holiday season and into 2025, shop smarter with this distilled list of Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024 award-winning strains and brands across legal America.
Overview of Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024 strains and brands:
State
LeaflyBudtenders’ Choice 2024 —Best Strain
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024 —Best Flower Brand
Arizona
Permanent Marker by Connected
Alien Labs
California
Permanent Marker from various
Cannabiotix
Colorado
Chemmy Jones
Green Dot Labs
Illinois
Bubba’s Girl (grown by CAM)
IC Collective
Maryland
Snoop Dogg OG
Sunmed
Massachusetts
Chem D
Smash Hits
Michigan
Candy Cake
Grown Rogue
Mississippi
Zoap
Sea of Green South
Missouri
Kumquat
Good Day Farms
New Jersey
Animal Face
Garden Greens
New York
Trop Cherry
Matter
Ohio
Orange 43
Klutch Cannabis
Oklahoma
Kitchen Sink
D&D Nursery
Oregon
Toad Venom
Deep Greek Gardens
Pennsylvania
Animal Face
Rythm
Vermont
Grape GMO
Upstate Elevators
Washington
One Piece
Heavenly
Arizona
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best strain of Arizona: Permanent Marker (grown by Connected, bred by Seed Junky Genetics)
Leafly strain of the year in 2023. Bred by Seed Junky and selected by hypemakers Doja Pak, this takes a mix of Biscotti and a Sherb backcross and crosses that to Seed Junky’s Jealousy strain. Permanent Marker really put the game on its side by spawning waves of people chasing that astringent marker ink note. Doja has said that the name for this actually started back when they first smelled this type of aroma in the jars of RS11 but that later when this strain hit, it perfectly exemplified that smell. Beyond just that telltale whiff of polyurethane resin, you can also get floral notes that come along with the Jealousy strain, and even moments of detergent soap as well. Connected Permanent Marker is a slightly sweeter version with a greener hue and more of those subtle smells. Leafly users across multiple states all say this strain produces a blissful experience that they consider top-shelf. (Matt Jackson)
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best flower brand of Arizona: Alien Labs
Fan favorites of the Sunshine State, Ted Liddie and the crew piloting the Alien Labs mothership have managed to take their top shelf game and deliver a similar experience to the smokers of Arizona. Though the team out there started small, the dedication to keeping things the same as their larger California crew is something that should be applauded. Unlike many other deals to take brands out of state, Alien Labs controls all their Arizona efforts, with Lidie himself making regular trips out to ensure that things are running up to par and that the new strains they’re preparing in California are also on track in Arizona as well. This push to create cohesion in the brand across state lines is part of what has made them so popular with Arizona’s budtender population. (Matt Jackson)
Another win for this unstoppable strain that delivers for smokers looking to find something that’s incredibly potent and speaks to the taste profiles of today. Seed Junky and Doja Pak again hit the podium to accept an award for the most recommendations from Budtenders, this time in California. With so many different high profile strains and breeders based out of Cali, winning this distinction is no small battle. This goes to show why Permanent Marker was chosen as the winner for Leafly’s 2023 Strain of the Year and returned to be the strain highlight for October. On the West Coast, Doja Pak of course has their amazing example but so does Connected, LA Family Farms, and MOCA Humboldt which Leafly Senior Editor David Downs recently reviewed as, “the best Markers this fall.” (Matt Jackson)
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best flower brand of California: Cannabiotix
Cannabiotix, or CBX, has a decade of history behind it and stands as one of California’s highest ranking flower brands in terms of statewide sales, especially for their Cereal Milk flower. Also available in Nevada, CBX keeps a large menu of around 40 strains, many of them exclusives made through the 8 different large-scale pheno hunts it maintains across 2 different facilities every year. It’s through these efforts that they’ve released top-selling strains like Tropicanna, Gluetopia, French Alps, and L’Orange. At Hall of Flowers this year, the public was introduced to Cannabiotix founder Neema Samari who, during their ICONOCLAST speaker series, said the brand name is a combination of the words Cannabis and Antibiotics. A nod to the company’s 2014 beginnings during the medical cannabis movement. As the market moved from medical to recreational, the brand has been known more by their abbreviation. (Matt Jackson)
Colorado
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best strain of Colorado: Chemmy Jones
Chemmy Jones stands out as Colorado’s top cannabis strain, offering a perfect blend of potency, flavor, and smoothness. Known for its powerful effects and complex aroma, this hybrid delivers a euphoric high while maintaining relaxation. With its distinct citrus and earthy notes, Chemmy Jones is a favorite among both connoisseurs and casual users. Its consistent quality, balanced effects, and impressive terpene profile make it the undisputed Budtenders’ Choice Best Strain of Colorado.
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best flower brand of Colorado: Green Dot
Green Dot ROYGBIV Orange up close. (Courtesy Green Dot Labs)
Green Dot sets the standard for premium cannabis in Colorado, offering consistently exceptional flower. With a commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovative cultivation practices, Green Dot delivers top-tier strains that satisfy both novice and experienced consumers. Their dedication to excellence earns them the title of Budtenders’ Choice Best Flower Brand of Colorado.
Illinois
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best strain of Illinois: Bubba’s Girl
A combination of old-school ’98 Bubba and GSC, smoking this strain will transport you back to an era of hacky sacks and YOLO hats. Grown by CAM, a brand that’s grown over the years to an impressive size, Founder and CEO Anna Willey told Leafly this strain represents the overall goal of their lineup: to combine the rich legacy of cannabis with modern demands for potency and flavor. “It’s not just a flower,” she said, “it’s a statement about CAM’s commitment to honoring the classics while pushing the boundaries of cannabis innovation.” When you squeeze the nugs your hands come away smelling like gasoline but underneath, you’ll pick up an orange peel smell that together, has the creaminess of a push-pop. Bubba’s Girl is a first-class blending of GSC’s fruitiness with the earthiness of Bubba, giving you a dense flavor that sinks straight to the bottom of your mouth. (Matt Jackson)
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best flower brand of Illinois: IC Collective
(Courtesy IC Collective)
After garnering a huge following as a mainstay for discerning flower smokers in The Bay Area, IC Collective has grown to become Illinois’ choice for Bartender’s favorite flower brand. What’s amazing about IC Collective is their dedication to keeping alive some of the harder to grow and not always hyped strains of cannabis that will forever hold a place in the hearts of serious weed heads. IC stands for “Integrity Code,” referring to the company’s mission to hold the line (quite literally) in the face of trends. Chem and Sour are some of the building blocks of this brand and they offer an astounding seven different varieties of Chem flower on their strain menu. Every time this brand manages to deliver beautiful nugs and the move to Illionois has given them the space to work on some of the surprise leads from their 2016 pheno hunt, as well as modern hunts that are underway now. (Matt Jackson)
Maryland
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best strain of Maryland: Snoop Dogg OG
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best flower brand of Maryland: Sunmed
Massachusetts
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best strain of Massachusetts: Chem D
Massachusetts’ home state breeder, Chemdog, adds to his wins with a Budtenders’ Choice 2024 award for Chem D.
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best flower brand of Massachusetts: Smash Hits
Massachusetts’ home state breeder, Chemdog and his brand Smash Hits adds to his trophy case with a Budtenders’ Choice 2024 award for best flower brand.
Michigan
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best strain of Michigan: Candy Cake (Zkittlez Cake x Jungle Cake)
When asked what strain is sending Michigan to the stores in droves, budtenders told Leafly that the clear winner was Candy Cake. This sweet treat which smells like cherry muffin candy brings together two flavorful strains that have been big winners for the Jungle Boyz brand. Zkittlez Cake is, like it sounds, a combo of Z and Seed Junky’s Wedding Cake. The Jungle Cake is also Wedding Cake, but this time with Seed Junky’s White Fire #43 which adds an element of gas to the cake mix. Both halves are rooted in the Seed Junky world but have achieved mainstream commercial success through Jungle Boyz. Over in Michigan, Bud & Mary’s told us they consider this a great end of the day smoke that gives a nice body high and Freshly Fine, who produces this strain for the state, says they consider this giggly high a great way to combat stress and even cramps. (Matt Jackson)
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best flower brand of Michigan: Grown Rogue
Grown Rogue is a name that seemed to easily spring to mind with budtenders across Michigan on the subject of favorite flower companies. An affordable brand of smoke, When it comes to bringing West Coast flavors to the Michigan market, Grown Rogue delivers cultivars like Apples & Bananas, Biscotti, MAC1, Kush Mints, Gelonade, Georgia Pie, and Cheetah Piss. Operating in both Oregon and Michigan, this year they increased the personal ownership of their midwest operations to 80% in an effort to keep the same low cost, quality products they strive for on the West Coast. Obie and Sarah Strickler started the brand as a medical cannabis grow over a decade ago and now through investors and valuable genetics, they’ve secured a reputation for delivering bang for the buck that seems to have resonated with Michigan. (Matt Jackson)
Mississippi
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best strain of Mississippi: Zoap (Rainbow Sherbert x Pink Guava) created by Deep East Oakland.
It’s no real surprise Zoap was nominated by budtenders of Mississippi after the flower went on to win Best Indica at a contest held this year. Zoap is part of a storied RS lineage that produced warships like Studio 54, Pink Guava, Jelly Roll, and RS11. After popping 12 packs of Dying Breed Seeds OZK, Bay Area cultivator DEO Farms eventually selected #16 (Pink Guava) to cross to Sunset Sherbert and spawn the Rainbow Sherbert line. Later, he would cross that Pink Guava back to the Rainbow Sherbert and from those 100 plants, #21 was selected for its soapy citrus flavor. Smokers on Leafly agree that this strain has a robust, and creative head high. Deep East spoke with Leafly and told us fans of Zoap will go crazy for the strains they’re working on next, including two that pair this cultivar with some Bay Area classics: Cookies and Vintage OG. (Matt Jackson)
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best flower brand of Mississippi: Sea of Green South (SOG ARMY)
Grape Headband. (Courtesy Sea of Green South)
Sea Of Green, or SOG, is a multi-state company that’s always striving to offer a diverse range of rare and in-demand strains produced in small, high quality batches. Their name is taken from a method of cultivation they’ve used since the brand first started. After success on the California market, their first batches to the Mississippi scene were released in March of this year and it’s already had a noticeable impact on budtenders. Owner/Operator BJ said they offer the same menu of strains in both California and Mississippi but consumers in each state are looking for different things. “They seem to be chasing terps more than THC,” he told Leafly. As for which strains have been most in demand, he listed their Pink Zaza, along with Deo Farm’s Zoap which helped them secure that title for Best Indica at the Sippi Cup competition, only two months after their debut onto the market. (Matt Jackson)
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Missouri
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best strain of Missouri: Kumquat
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best flower brand of Missouri: Good Day Farms
New Jersey
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best strain of New Jersey: Animal Face
A personal favorite of this writer, Animal Face has the gassy, pine-laden aroma from the Face Off, but also carries with it the mint, doughy profile of Animal Mints. Seed Junky must have been thinking of how to create the perfect after-work smoke when he made this strain because it causes all the stress and worries of the day to positively melt away. Leafly reviews use words like “creeper” and “permagrin” to talk about how this sneaks up and relaxes your mind, a perfect reason this was chosen as a first place winner for Best Hybrid at the 2022 Emerald Cup in California. Since being released onto the market, East Coast smokers have found this to be a reliable way to take the edge off, providing good flavor and potent results. (Matt Jackson)
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best flower brand of New Jersey: Garden Greens
There are a number of things that stand out about New Jersey brand Garden Greens, including being backed by a fourth-generation, family-owned farming operation which lends over 100 years of agricultural experience to their cannabis cultivation efforts. Another is their win for Z Pie, which took first at the 2024 New Jersey Dispensary Awards. Or perhaps you’d prefer we list the collaboration with West Coast giants Golden State Banana which brought strains like Banana Mochi and Banana Bubblegum to the New Jersey crowd. Along with this, Garden Greens claims that they don’t want to be in every dispensary, only the ones that align with their brand ideals and mission, something that hasn’t slowed down their popularity it would seem. With a menu that also includes a number of heaters from Compound Genetics, Budtenders have made it clear there’s a lot to sample from this brand. (Matt Jackson)
New York
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best strain of New York: Trop Cherry (Tropicana Cookies x Cherry Cookies)
Part of the stoner’s essential daytime smoke, this is a killer from Colorado’s Relentless Genetics, who also produced the famous Rozay strain. Crossing Tropicana Cookies and Cherry Cookies releases an aroma that conveys the richly sweet and tart qualities of both cherries and tangerines. Sometimes this can even look like fake movie weed from the crazy purple hue the buds can take on. A version of this Trop Cherry took first place in the Michigan Cannabis Cup in 2022 and listening to the reviewers on Leafly, the accolades keep piling up.
“Never have I had such a flavorful strain. perfect strain for a calm productive mind. Trop Cherry is the only one that truthfully tastes like a delicious cup of fresh…no pulp orange juice,””I could smoke this morning, afternoon, or early evening.” This winning Budtender’s choice for favorite strain seems like an apt winner for the home of the city that never sleeps. (Matt Jackson)
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best flower brand of New York: Matter
Started in Illinois, now in seven states, Matter is part of the Pharmacann portfolio which represents one of the largest vertically integrated MSO’s in the country. As such, the brand seems to have access to a lot of popular strains like Larry Burger and Scottie’s Cake, but also newer contest winners like Grape Gas. They also make a bacon tincture which I’m curious to put in the gravy at Thanksgiving this year. (Matt Jackson)
Ohio
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best strain of Ohio: Orange 43
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best flower brand of Ohio: Klutch Cannabis
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Oklahoma
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best strain of Oklahoma: Kitchen Sink
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best flower brand of Oklahoma: D&D Nursery
Oregon
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best strain of Oregon: Toad Venom
Undoubtedly, one of the most sought after cultivars of 2024 has been Toad Venom. Created by Ronin Seeds and West Coast Connoisseurs, budtenders in Oregon told Leafly this flower sells out in a matter of days, especially since Evan’s Creek is the only contracted producer of the strain. Toad Venom packs a punch. Besides being incredibly stony, even to an experienced smoker, the nugs give off that doughy, minty profile that fans of Animal Face or Animal Mints will respond to immediately. Once you squeeze and grind the nugs, there‘s a gassy, fruity explosion that the breeder described to us as, “citrus and soft green fruits.” When we reached out to Evan’s Creek, they told Leafly this is just part of their work to highlight Ronin’s strains like Banana Cannons, Pi-Chew, and the upcoming Fire Belly Toad which combines the venom with Zikigai from Raw Genetics. (Matt Jackson)
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best flower brand of Oregon: Deep Creek Gardens
Deep Creek Gardens’ Firebird (Deep Jungle x Maui Sour OG). (Courtesy Deep Creek Gardens)
Deep Creek calls themselves Oregon’s home for Headies and Exotics. Organically grown, their flower is sometimes referred to as “slept on” when you ask budtenders at shops around the state. Their Supa Durban is a consistent purchase by many steady smokers, their Grape Pie also gets rave reviews and there’s debate as to if they grew some of the best GMO in the state. Since the beginning Deep Creek has had close ties to Dynasty Genetics and the company has won awards for their Ice Queen and Huckleberry Web CBD strain. You won’t find a website where you can look through their current selections and their Instagram presence hasn’t been updated since 2019 however they do look at the DMs. The proof is in the pudding after all, which means smoking is the best way to see what budenders in Oregon have chosen for their favorite. (Matt Jackson)
Pennsylvania
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best strain of Pennsylvania: Animal Face
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best flower brand of Pennsylvania: Rythm
Rythm has earned its reputation as Pennsylvania’s top flower brand through meticulous cultivation and exceptional quality. Their premium strains, rich in flavor and potency, offer a perfect balance of effects. Committed to consistency and innovation, Rythm delivers an outstanding cannabis experience, making them the Budtenders’ Choice Best Flower Brand in Pennsylvania.
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best strain of Vermont: Grape GMO
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best flower brand of Vermont: Upstate Elevators
Washington
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best strain of Washington: One Piece
One Piece. (Courtesy Svin)
Hitting the high seas is Washington’s winner for Budtender’s Favorite. A mysterious strain that gives off a creamy vanilla cake smell, you can also pick out notes of citrus and even gas in there. Curtis at Svin Gardens told Leafly the name is not just a reference to the popular long-running Anime series, but also to how you only need one piece to get you super stoned.
He also said that One Piece came to them as part of a happy accident. They had phased out a whole series of different Wedding Cake crosses, but afterwards someone in the garden brought him a clone that had a tiny seedling growing out the side which must have come from those crosses. The team kept it, let it grow, and now that happy accident accounts for 3/5ths of their flowering rooms. Though the team can never truly be sure what the Wedding Cake cross really is, Curtis says everyone has their own idea. We love happy accidents. (Matt Jackson)
Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2024—Best flower brand of Washington: Heavenly
Budtenders of Washington wrote in and told Leafly that when it comes to flower, their favorite producer right now is Heavenly Buds from Southern Washington. On the grind since 2015, this family-owned and operated brand has a current menu that reflects some of the more memorable strains of the last decade. Legends like Apple Fritter, Gushers, and Purple Punch can be found listed next to currently high-in-demand strains like RS11, Honey Banana, and Superboof. Heavenly has a long history of outreach and education with people in the state, even throwing budtender educational meetups as far back as 7 years ago. One thing that’s also different about the brand is their love for old school, Moroccan-style hash which they release onto the market as well. (Matt Jackson)
How we chose the Leafly Budtenders’ Choice Awards
Budtender Shanara at 7 Stars in Richmond, CA shares her favorite strain and brand and got three chances at a $1,000 check. (David Downs/Leafly)
Budtenders did. We polled more than 900 of them in October for International Budtenders’ Day. We enticed answers by giving away three, $1,000 checks to respondents. The unprecedented insight into state weed tastes allowed us to make picks for 17 states this November.
Budtenders’ Choice awards went to the strains and brands most frequently mentioned by budtenders in that state. We also looked for regional flavors, and budtenders from multiple different stores all recommending the same thing.
Some nascent weed states like Arkansas lacked enough data to make a definitive pick. Other states like California, and Colorado had multiple top strains and brands loved by lots of budtenders. For example, 43 budtenders voted in California, and 56 budtenders voted in Colorado. When they point out smoke, you can bet it’s fire.
