Green Crack Strain

The Green Crack strain is a popular sativa dominant hybrid cannabis strain best known for its energizing and motivating high. Believed to be a hybrid between Skunk #1 and an unknown indica landrace parent, this strain has been circulating in the US since the 1980s. Green Crack has average THC levels of around 16% and boasts a spicy, fruity flavor reminiscent of mangos and cracked pepper. 

Read on to learn more about the unique history, attributes, and effects of this notorious strain.

Where Does Green Crack Come From?

The exact origins of Green Crack are disputed, but the strain is believed to have originated in Athens, Ohio in the 1980s under the name Green Cush. The strain is known to be a cross between Skunk #1 and an unknown indica parent, possibly a landrace such as Afghani.

When Did Green Crack Come Out?

While the genetics for this strain were circulating in the US under names such as Green Cush or Mango Cush in the 1980s and 90s, it wasn’t until the early 2000s that the strain became known as “Green Crack”. This controversial new name allegedly came about after Snoop Dog first smoked the strain. He soon began referring to it as Green Crack due to the potent and energizing head high he experienced.

Since the strain was first produced decades ago, many growers have carefully refined the genetics of Green Crack into the phenotypes you may find available today. In 2015, Green Crack won third place in the Sativa category at the Denver High Times Cannabis Cup, while in 2017 Green Crack was named one of Rolling Stone’s top five strains of the year.

What Does Green Crack Look Like?

Despite being a Sativa dominant hybrid, Green Crack has very dense, chunky buds similar to many indicas. The buds are bright green with rusty orange hairs and a heavy coating of milky white trichomes that give the nugs a sticky texture. Green Crack grown in cooler climates may also display streaks of darker green or even purple coloration.

What Does Green Crack Taste Like?

Green Crack has a tangy, somewhat fruity flavor reminiscent of mango or other tropical fruits. It produces a smooth smoke with a spicy, herbal taste that lingers in the mouth.

What Does Green Crack Smell Like?

Green crack has a fresh scent with notes of citrus, mango, and spice. Some phenotypes have a more tropical, fruity scent, while others are more earthy and peppery. This difference amongst plants of the same strain is likely due to varying levels of Green Crack’s primary terpenes, which will be discussed in greater depth later in the article.

Is Green Crack an Indica or Sativa?

Green Crack is a sativa dominant hybrid, and is believed to have approximately 65% sativa and 35% indica genetics. The primary genetic contributor to modern Green Crack is probably the Skunk #1 hybrid known as 1989 Super Sativa Seed Club Skunk #1, which has been further crossed with an unknown indica parent.

Although the buds have a more typical indica structure, the growth habits and effects of Green Crack are far more similar to other Sativas.

How Strong is Green Crack?

While the strength of this strain was unusually high for the 1980s and 90s, by modern dispensary standards it is considered a more moderate potency strain. Even still, Green Crack is capable of delivering a powerful and highly enjoyable cerebral high.

While most buds labeled Green Crack today are sativa dominant hybrids, some Green Crack on the market has a higher than average percentage of indica ancestry. These variants have a particularly tight bud structure and a more relaxing, body focused high than classic Green Crack, although they contain approximately the same levels of THC/

How Much THC in Green Crack?

Green Crack has an average THC value of 16%, although some batches have tested at 20% THC or higher. Since Green Crack has been on the market for decades and is grown by a large number of people, some variation in potency can be expected when purchasing this strain. If you are buying Green Crack from a dispensary, they should be able to provide you with an exact THC percentage for that specific batch.

How Much CBD in Green Crack?

Green Crack is a low CBD strain, with average CBD values of 0.2% and CBG values of around 1%.

Users who are looking for a more CBD heavy experience may consider the strain Green Crack CBD, which is a hybrid of the original Green Crack and California Orange CBD. Green Crack CBD has 12% CBD and only 6% THC, offering a mellow high with strong pain relieving properties.

What is the Terpene Profile of Green Crack?

The primary terpenes present in Green Crack are Beta-Caryophyllene, Myrcene, and Pinene. 

In most Green Crack phenotypes, myrcene is the most prominent terpene. Also found in thyme, mangos, and lemongrass, this terpene adds a spicy and tangy flavor to Green Crack.

The terpenes Beta-Caryophyllene and pinene are also found in relatively high quantities on Green Crack. Beta-Caryophyllene is a primary terpene in spices such as black pepper, cloves, and cinnamon, while pinene can be found in pine needles, basil, and rosemary. 

What Effects Does Green Crack Have?

The effects of Green Crack are often described as uplifting, energizing, and cerebral. Many users prefer to smoke Green Crack relatively early in the day or before doing chores or art projects to increase motivation and creativity. Unlike many indica dominant strains, Green Crack rarely causes symptoms like couchlock or munchies that could interfere with daytime activities.

While Green Crack can produce feelings of euphoria and inspiration in moderation, smoking excessive quantities of this strain can cause anxiety, paranoia, dry mouth, or other uncomfortable symptoms. If Green Crack is smoked too close to bedtime, some users report that the energizing effects of this strain keep them from falling asleep.

What Conditions is Green Crack Good For?

The energizing effects of Green Crack make this strain a good choice for patients struggling with fatigue or depression. Green Crack may also help users quell certain types of anxiety, such as social or generalized anxiety. However, smoking excessive amounts of Green Crack can cause a rebound of anxiety symptoms, so it is advisable to start with a small dose of this strain at first to gauge its effects on your symptoms.

What is the Flowering Time of Green Crack?

Green Crack takes around 8 weeks to mature and reach the flowering stage when grown indoors. For its size, Green Crack has a rapid growth rate, and 2-3 full harvests of this strain can typically be completed in a single year.

How Tall Does Green Crack Grow?

Green Crack is a very tall plant, reaching up to 5 feet when grown indoors, and even taller when grown outdoors. It can become bushy as well as tall, so topping and other training techniques are usually used to direct the growth of this plant.

One interesting quirk of Green Crack is that it grows very rapidly during the vegetative stage, then maintains or slows down growth during flowering. In comparison, most cannabis strains will reach only about 50% of their maximum height during the vegetative stage, then speed up growth during the first few weeks of flowering to reach their max height.

When to Harvest Green Crack?

After 7-9 weeks of flowering, your plant will be approaching harvest time. Instead of planning to harvest a specific number of days or weeks after flowering is induced, most growers will inspect the plant’s trichomes to decide when to harvest.

Use a small magnifying glass to inspect the buds or sugar leaves of your plant. When the trichomes are about 50/50 milky white and amber in color, the buds are ready to be harvested. Transparent trichomes with no stickiness indicate that the buds are not yet ripe, while buds with mostly amber to brown trichomes may be past their peak ripeness already.

Buds harvested earlier are said to have a lighter, more energetic effect, while buds harvested later may have a more relaxing, sedative effect. Buds picked a little early will also have a lighter flavor than those picked late, as they have developed fewer terpenes and other flavor compounds.

How Much Does Green Crack Yield?

When grown indoors, Green Crack usually yields about 16 ounces of fresh buds per square meter, or around 8 ounces per plant. This initial quantity is known as the ‘wet weight’.

During the ensuing drying and curing process, the buds will lose 60-70% of their weight through evaporation. This means that an 8 ounce wet weight yield from one plant will be reduced to between 2.4-3.2 ounces in dry weight.

Summary

Green Crack is a sativa dominant hybrid first produced in the 1980s by crossing Skunk #1 with an unknown indica parent. Although the strain was originally known by the name Green Cush, the strain was allegedly renamed Green Crack after Snoop Dog first smoked it and was delighted by its energetic high.

This strain has dense, bright green buds and a spicy, tropical aroma. It has an average of 16% THC and 0.2% CBD, with a sativa-like cerebral high that leaves users feeling uplifted, creative, and energized. Green Crack plants are large and fast growing, producing yields of around 8 ounces of fresh buds per plant indoors.