Dispensary weed comes with way more oversight than anything you’ll buy on the street. But what if you want to take it to the next level?
This summer, the Los Angeles Times reported finding exotic pesticides like chlorfenapyr in some batches of cannabis sold in licensed stores. If you’re looking for an extra layer of protection against such chemicals—you can shop for the “OCal” label on more and more products in stores.
For example, California State Fair award-winning Jetty Extracts of Oakland, CA touts its “OCal” certification. Jetty and brands like them know they can make money and stand out in the market by going beyond the legal bare minimum to offer something super-clean. Shout-out, the free market.
Look for that OCal label for ‘comparable-to-organic’. (Courtesy Jetty)
Nate Ferguson, co-founder and chief product officer at Jetty Extracts, stated, “Jetty’s OCal certification is a testament to our consistent efforts to create the cleanest, most sustainable and innovative products on the market and we’re committed to meeting the growing consumer demand for transparent cannabis products.”
Here is the complete list of the three dozen or so OCal-certified weed brands in California.
Look for the OCal logo on packages.
What does OCal mean?
Oh, California. We’re so organic, we came up with our own “organic” label when the federal government blocked us from using the “organic” word.
When you see the OCal label, you’re seeing “comparable-to-organic” cannabis laws in effect. California taxpayers voted for the government to set up a system where brands can pay neutral inspectors to come into their grows and hash labs. Pretty much every synthetic pesticide is banned under OCal.
“They are literally identical to the national organic standards. … The organic standards are strict. They’re not easy to do,” stated Certification Services Manager Caitlin Slay, from inspection company, CCOF, in a video. “This is a really big deal. A lot of states have tried to get these out. Nobody has done it yet outside of California.”
That means no GMOs, no toxic chemicals, and farms must take care of the water, soil, and trash.
All those gnarly chemicals the L.A. Times founds in those batches? Banned under OCal, and inspected by independent companies.
“If needed, we may do unannounced inspections,” said CCOF’s Slay, in a video.
All those gnarly chemicals the LA Times founds in those batches? Banned under OCal and inspected by independent companies.
Chlorfenapyr, Bifenazate, Clofentezine, Paclobutrazol, Spiromesifen, Tebuconazole, Fenvalerate, Bifenthrin, and Chlordane? Banned, banned, banned, banned, banned, banned, banned, banned, and banned.
Regular legal weed lab testing screens for 66 pesticides. The OCal list runs nearly 200 long. They really mean it when they say, “comparable-to-organic.”
CCOF has been around for 50 years and certifies 4,000 members across the continent.
They’re both in Santa Cruz, CA. Brands can prepare to file a bunch of paperwork and get inspected.
Jetty Extracts has brought that OCal energy to its new line of solventless (aka rosin) carts and dabs, as well as infused joints.
I’m confused—isn’t all legal pot tested for pesticides?
There’s levels to it.
Street weed is tested for zero pesticides. It’s a total crapshoot if you’re guy is poisoning you. There’s no OCal for unlicensed producers.
Dispensary cannabis comes pre-screened for 66 pesticides. That weeds out a lot of villains, but it’s not airtight.
OCal-certified weed is screened for almost 200 pesticides and includes inspections. It’s pretty hard to sneak something gnarly through.
“It’s more of guarantee of that clean cannabis in the end,” stated Slay.
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Is it bad to smoke pesticides?
As far as we know, no pesticide has ever been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for combustion and inhalation onto lung tissue.
We also do know that pesticides can cause health damage. The most common exposure comes from a home gardener hurting themselves by spraying something.
How do OCal brands grow weed without pesticides?
It’s more time-consuming and expensive.
They use a whole toolkit to battle nature in a natural way—like beneficial bacteria, predatory insects, and physical barriers. Think: ladybugs and praying mantises, instead of petro-chemicals.
One brand brought in bats and bat boxes to cut down on bugs.
Related
Predators Over Pesticides: An Introduction to Chemical-Free Pest Control
How else can I avoid smoking pesticides?
You can eat cannabis edibles, or use topicals on the skin. Those routes avoid burning volatile chemicals. The gut or skin also bypasses sensitive lung tissue to deliver cannabinoids to the body.
You can also grow your own weed, and chose not to spray it.
What’s next?
We’re going to keep adding brands to the OCal list, and broadening the coverage to include other states with pesticide-free options.
Brands expect the OCal program to come to other states. Hit us up with more OCal brands, as well as questions.
It’s time to roll up the thickest joints, pack the biggest party bowls, and charge the Puffco for oversized dabs.
Millions of weed lovers nationwide have record amounts of flavors and pounds to smoke through this fall and winter. Bright, hot sun and no wildfires mean the full-sun outdoor weed crop in America’s Emerald Triangle simply killed it this year. Drying rooms have overflowed into guest bedrooms, growers report, and the flavors have never been more advanced.
“It’s been a great season. Everyone is bringing their A-game,” said Mia Moore, retail sales director for Redwood Roots—an Emerald Triangle brand packager and distributor.
“Everything honestly looks fucking amazing. It was a wonderful year!!!” said owner and farmer Mary Polson at Seed 707. “I’m stoked about everything. I can’t wait to smoke it.”
How does Leafly pick just a dozen exemplars? We smoke hundreds of strains, walk the fields, and talk to farmers. We ask the cloners that stocked the fields in spring, and the buyers vetting all the pounds to pick out gems this fall. We survey the biggest, best, most influential growers, and probably spend too long liking bud photos on Instagram.
Here are 12 top cannabis strains of Harvest 2024.
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Stone cold classic
Blue Dream
(David Downs/Leafly)
Just in time for an anxious fall, the anti-anxiety hybrid Blue Dream is back on top out west.
This 1990s Santa Cruz, CA strain goes through waves of peak interest and decline. In 2024, it rides a tide of nostalgia sweeping through the stoner nation.
“Blue Dream is back and better than ever. It’s flying off the shelf at 17% THC,” said Eli Melrod at California’s leading outdoor store Solful.
Farmer/retailer Marjo Lak at Humboldt Nation said “Blue Dream is huge. It just flies off the wall. Haze, too.”
Blue Dream is a model outdoor variety—withstanding the test of time and trends. A top outdoor strain has to work outdoors, and not just inside. It has to yield. It must withstand weather, stress, mold, and pests. It must dry and cure true without turning into hay. It has to trim up nicely and sparkle in the bag. That’s Blueberry x Haze.
Farmers again over-grew Lemon Cherry Gelato and bulk prices will be brutal, growers say. Northern California remains awash in this type of Gelato #33. Why? LCG has become the Taylor Swift of trees. So-called ‘candy-gas’ tasting dessert strains are the dominant genre in the market. LCG typifies what customers craze. It’s got that loud creamy berry smell, pretty look, and stress-killing indica hybrid effects. This year, large-scale outdoor farmer Honeydew touts its cross of LCG to Apple Fritter—LCG Fritter—which should add some tart, pastry notes to the LCG. So many LCGs and friends await your grinder. See also: Miracle Candy, Jelly Donutz
Modern crusher
Governmint Oasis
Governmint Oasis bred by Purple City Genetics. (Courtesy PCG)
GMO Cookies x Gush Mints aka Governmint Oasis has hit big yet again this year, said the leading clone provider Purple City Genetics of Oakland, CA.
“Governmint Oasis continues to crush for people. Just inundated with pictures of huge plants.”
Auryn, Purple City Genetics
Both the GMO and Gush Mints set records for fatness in the fields, and combined with the perfect weather this season—expect a crazy, gorgeous, bumper crop of this potent, versatile hybrid to drive prices through the floor. Berkeley Patients Group advertises 3.5 grams for $7—that’s $7, not $70.
Perfect for before a big meal—Governmint Oasis leaves folks tingly, hungry, and relaxed.
New zaza
Ridgelion
Ridgelion. (Photo by Ginja Club, courtesy Ridgeline Farms)
One of California’s most award-winning outdoor growers Ridgeline Farms is excited to debut this new cross of Ridgeline Lantz to Cookies’ top cat Cheetah Piss.
“Ridgelion came out next-level beautiful,” said Ridgeline’s Jason Gellman.
Lantz is Runtz crossed to Ridgeline’s proprietary Green Lantern. Cheetah Piss is Lemonnade, Gelato, and London Poundcake.
Ridgeline leads the way with a slew of Lantz crosses, including the superb Blackberry Caviar (Grape Gas x LANTZ); and Blueberry Caviar for Woody Harrelson’s LA lounge, which specializes in outdoor.
Top hasher
Honey Banana
Hash rules more and more of the flower market these days, and as much as half of all cannabis flowers get frozen instead of dried. Leading the pack of hashers are strains like Papaya, Wilson, as well as Honey Banana. Though it’s this old cross of Strawberry Banana and Honey Boo-Boo from this old-school brand Elemental Seeds. Many breeders now work with it. Hit or miss as dried flower, Honey Banana shines as live rosin with a pronounced honeyed banana smell and taste. It’s considered a good ‘washer’—meaning the flower yields upwards of 5% hash when agitated by ice water and seized through a fine screen.
“It did great outside,” said Harry at hashmaker Errl Hill. “It’s becoming a standard—everyone kind of got that one. If it doesn’t yield, people won’t wash it over and over, year after year.”
Sour waves
Double OG Sour
(Courtesy Rebel Grown)
Maybe it’s the bitter election. Maybe it’s New York’s ‘sour’ influence making itself known. Maybe we all just want to feel something again. Either way—2024 has been a banner year for Sour Diesel-related weed. Our pick goes to Rebel Grown seed’s Double OG Sour. It bested the competition in California to win 1st place at the Emerald Cup 2024. Double OG Sour grew well outside on both coasts—built off the time-tested genetics of OG Kush and Sour Diesel. It’s (OG Kush X (OG x Sour) F5). It’s green, pungent bud with lemon, pine, fuel, and sour notes; and zingy hybrid effects. There are so many good sours to get at this year.
See also: Booney Acres’ Sour Bears (Symbiotic Genetics’ Kombucha #6 x Sour Diesel BX3), Sour Trop x Lime Sour (from CHA Genetics), PCG Sour Peaches (AJ’s Sour x Moroccan Peaches), and classic Headband.
A Z to beat
4 Z’s
4 Z’s bred and grown by Lempire Farmaseed. (David Downs/Leafly)
The tropical taffy candy-smelling and lip-smacking strain Original Z offers some of the best indoor tree around. But it can be tricky outdoors, where one must harvest it early to avoid mold in the spongy bud. Medical marijuana-era brand Lempire Farmaseed has persisted into the recreational age with their standout 4 Z’s. It’s this killer cross of Dirty Z x ZOZ back-crossed to the Dirty Z. See? Four “Z”s. Easy. That’s the kind of intense Z work that pushes the culture forward.
Lempire’s Wes tells Leafly: “The selection we bred is brighter, faster, and highly resistant to pests and mold. The terps lean heavily towards the Original Z but retain the neon chunk of the Lem OG, and finishes in an amazing 40-45 days. Lab results hit high in THC and shops love the 4 Z’s.”
4 Z’s stood out among the crowd at Hall of Flowers in Santa Rosa, CA in September, and it’s so heartening to see a true legendary grower/breeder on fully legal shelves.
Rose’s moment
Whitethorn Rose and crosses
Huckleberry Hill Farms’ award-winning, floral-smelling, and tasty sativa hybrid Whitethorn Rose is the belle of the harvest ball this year. After breaking out over a series of Emerald Cup wins, Whitethorn Rose has made its way into many gardens and the first crosses of it are starting to hit as well. Whitethorn Rose is a selection from a cross of Paradise Punch x Lemon OG but it smells completely different than a punch or an OG. It’s got this floral, rose, funk with a sweet terpinolene back. Sick of the LCG ‘candy-gas’ dominance in weed, seek out this increasingly popular strain, as well as all its new crosses. See also: Ridgeline Rose (Whitethorn Rose x Lantz); Country Rose (Whitethorn Rose x Canna Country 38).
New and influential
Pineapple Mojito
Weed diversity improves even more this season with the new Pineapple Mojito from California State Fair award-winning Higher Heights in Mendocino, CA. Both the grower Nate and buyers like Eli Melrod at Solful are psyched about this loud, modern pineapple and mint weed. Higher Heights has been laser-focused on breeding unique stuff through his Broze line, into his Carambola, and now the Pineapple Mojito. Unpack the world-class selection going on here. Pineapple Mojito is Carambola x Lemon Limez from Enzo the 420 Nomad. Lemon Limez is (Sour Diesel x Biker Kush) x Key Lime Pie. Carambola is (Sunburn x Green Tea) x Brozé with a crazy-loud citrus/incense/myrrh/gas smell. Nate always selects for terpy loudness and feel-good effects, and his unique work commands 3 to 4 times the going rate for outdoor in 2024.
Savory counter-point
Ooh Mami
Savory weed like GMO Cookies has a special, stanky place in our hearts. This year’s savory to search for comes from Phinest—one of California’s biggest cloners out in Sacramento. Originally dubbed “Gravy” by its creator Cannarado of Colorado. Phinest renamed it Ooh Mami to help it sell better. Ooh Mami mixes Lemon G, OG Kush Breath, and Sour Kush smells “exactly like a bowl of warm turkey gravy” with a sour lemon finish. Super-weird. It washes great for rosin and carts. Ian at Phinest describes it as “a 3-day pho broth with shameless amounts of hoisin sauce added in. Big yielder, beautiful giant sun worshiping monsters.” Ooh Mami—Daddy like.
One of a kind terp
Strawberry Pop
Strawberry Pop. Grown by Talking Trees. (David Downs/Leafly)
Ready for a different candy strain? Check out Talking Trees’ Strawberry Pop—a selection of Red Runtz bred by Washington breeder Exotic Genetix. Exotic Genetix Mike crossed Red Pop into Runtz, but we didn’t get any of the Runtz, rather a record amount of the strawberry soda pop flavor—a refreshing surprise. One hit and we’re back in Kansas City, MO sipping on a tooth-crackingly sweet strawberry soda to wash down some barbecue. Love it. “We just harvested our 2nd round and it’s more fire than the first,” said Talking Trees’ Matt Weston. See also: Booney Acres’ Redvine (Tractor Fuel #14 x Strawberry Meltshake #24).
Best effect
Canna Country 26
Canna Country #26. (David Downs/Leafly)
The best herb comes down to the effect, and one standout from 2024 will always be the proprietary Canna Country #26 from Canna Country. Why? It has such a great color and smell and the effect beats about 90% of the weed out there. Canna Country says “She is So cool,” and describes the high as “Texturing perception,” with a “hug from grandma” high. Facts. Canna Country 26 grows into gorgeous, purple, outdoor weed that reminds us of old-school Afgooey, and Jah Goo. You can smoke it from breakfast till dinner, and it’ll always feel right, and never make you anxious or edgy like many other modern maximum-THC strains will. Canna Country 26 is Forbidden Fruit crossed to the breeder’s proprietary Cherimoya.
And that’s a swing through some of the best and brightest trees from the fields this harvest season. The pace of innovation keeps accelerating, so we’re bound to leave something out when we have to settle on just 12 out of the hundreds or thousands of strains out there. Did we miss a bona fide champion? Make your reader’s choice below.
Reader’s choice: Pick a top strain of the 2024 harvest
What strain crushed it outside for you? We’ll add a 13th strain based on reader responses to make it a cool baker’s dozen harvest strains.
The West Coast is awash in za-za whether you’re into indoor or outs. As Croptober dries in barns and rooms, the indoor growers keep pumping out near-flawless gas, candy, cake, and classic strains.
The last 30 days of reporting took us from Hall of Flowers seshes with Wiz Khalifa, to hash hookahs deep in Mendocino County, CA, to road-testing the new Puffco Pivot high up in the fall trees of Montana.
Here’s your monthly cheat codes for the best bong loads of October. Here’s October’s Leafly Buzz.
Data grinder
Which strains are on the move in Leafly’s 9,000-strain database? (Sasha Beck/Leafly)
We broke out our calculators, plugged into the Leafly strain database, and ran a scan for zaza. Here’s what the stats tell us.
Connie Chung
This rare strain jumped from No. 3,769 to No. 120 after the iconic female anchor mentioned her namesake strain in an interview to promote her new book. Connie Chung is a DNA Genetics LA Flavor x G13.
Moroccan Peaches
Watch out for Purple City Genetics’ Moroccan Peaches—it’s up from #983 to #287 in just a single month. So much good Moroccan Peaches is being made into hash right now. It’s a cross of Spanish Barbara x Lemon Tree Skorange.
Street Tarts
Here comes the next new thing. Street Tarts is a cross of cross of Guava Tart x Street Guru by Purple City Genetics. It’s up more than 200 places in a month to No. 521.
Amnesia Haze
A 20 year-old classic stays strong this October. Amnesia Haze jumps up 25 spots to No. 108 in our 9,000-strain databse.
New in the Leafly strain database
Leafly adds or fixes 1,000 strains in its database each year. Here’s some of the new-new. (Sasha Beck/Leafly)
Dark Web
Hack into this. (Courtesy Lindsey Bartlett)
Zoap bagseed is out there in the wild seeding whole new adventures. Among them, Alien Labs Dark Web—everything we’d want in an OGZ x Sherbert.
Gotti and Rainbow Beltz makes for a more aggressive candy strain in Gotti Beltz, which is taking off from Phinest/Dubplatez. Gotti Beltz held court amid a table of zaza at the Phinest booth at Hall of Flowers.
Ridgeline Throbber
One of California’s top growers—Ridgeline Farms is working on new crosses of its hit LANTZ. We got our hands on Ridgeline LANTZ x Gushmints, known as Ridgeline Throbber. If you like your LANTZ even bigger and more minty—this is it.
Gary Satan
Tiki Madman’s Gary Payton x Jealousy project Gary Satan enter the database this month. Look for it among the pack of hype, new-new.
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Picks of the dispensaries
(Sasha Beck/Leafly)
New on shelves
Headbanger by Wood Wide Farms
Burning up the charts
Permanent Marker by MOCA Humboldt
Best-sellers
Ballin out
Scotty’s Cake by CAM in Cali
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Scotties Cake—CAM, California, fall 2024
Ballin’ on a budget
Golden Pineapple by Phat Panda
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Golden Pineapple—Phat Panda, California, fall 2024
High Note
We end with something fuerte. (Sasha Beck/Leafly)
Puffco Pivot with Alien Labs Z-squared rosin
Dabs and globs go in, potent vapor comes out. (Courtesy Puffco)
The world’s leader in electronic dabbing tech, Puffco, returns to refresh thei dab pen for 2024. You load a glob of top-notch rosin into the silicone, flip-top chamber, then stash that thang in your jacket pocket until it’s time to really get zooted. Just double-click the sleek black button on the unit to unleash a huge heat cycle inside the micro-sized ‘360 chamber.’ When the Pivot buzzes, it’s time to sip fresh, bright, maximally flavorful vapor until you tap out.
It’s perfect for one-and-done dabbers who value traveling light.
The $130 device comes with little cotton swabs you use between dabs to keep the chamber clean and tidy. Be prepared—the black silicone tip gets a little gunky as you rip all those resinous dabs. But we’re not mad at it. The Pivot proved easy to master and a delight to experienced dabbers and novices alike. It’s perfect for one-and-done dabbers who value traveling light. Stick some brand new Alien Labs Z2 rosin in there to hit a new peak for a dab pen. Available on Puffco.
OK, we’re turning and burning into Croptober and Green Wednesday. Keep your notifications on.
About Leafly Buzz
So good they steal it—the popular, monthly strain review roundup Leafly Buzz is in its third year. We report independently on the connoisseur cannabis conversation, focusing on strains and branded flower of the US West. Reporting includes:
Our pick for Leafly Strain of the Year 2023 was so dead-on it could be Strain of the Year again. Permanent Marker is now a top 10 strain out west. It’s available in any modality—from bubble hash to flower to cart. Indoor soil growers MOCA Humboldt in Eureka, CA compete with the best Markers this fall. The package says 35.16% total THC and the iced-out nugs sure look like it.
Myrcene, limonene, and linalool cooperate to create that ‘Gelato times 1,000’ marker fuel fume smell. Peak cure, freshness, and flawless manicuring all worked in the bud’s favor. MOCA’s cut could technically be more marker-like, but only because the competition is so steep. Maybe it’s the sky-high THC, but this cut also felt more racey, and less chill than the average marker. We gamed with a twitchy, ‘I’m in danger’ edge instead of zoning out and giggling.
90-94 Outstanding: a cannabis product of superior character and style
85-89 Very good: a weed with special qualities
80-84 Good: a solid, well-made weed
75-79 Mediocre: a smokeable weed that may have minor flaws
50-74 Not recommended
How we rate
Dried, cured, packaged, and sold buds, reviewed from bag in tastings, are given a single score. We focus on aroma, taste, effect, look, pedigree, cultivation method, and more. Special Designations Our editors focus on excellent, widely available ganja at a reasonable price. Special qualities include:
Top-shelf: It ain’t cheap, or necessarily plentiful, but it’s really good. Welcome to the top shelf. Smart Buys: Fine, affordable, broadly available pot.
Leafly News cannabis ratings and ethics
Leafly News aims to retain and expand its expertise, authority, and trust.
Expertise is built through years of reviews, interviews with growers, visits to weed regions, and accumulated knowledge about cannabis horticulture, flavors, history, and culture. Leafly News’ editors and freelancers have a combined 50 years of experience with cannabis. We aim to be accurate and independent, with policies including:
Actual tastings—If we didn’t smoke it, we’re not reviewing it. At Leafly Ratings, all ratings come from multiple tastings.
Independence—Leafly expert reviewers are paid by Leafly and are independent. We accept review samples with no promise of coverage. Leafly rating staff cannot accept bribes. We generally pay our own expenses and report on what the readers want to see.
