Names Usually Start With Lineage

Most strains are crosses of two parents, and the name often nods to both. Blue Dream is widely described as a cross of Blueberry and Haze — you can hear both parents in the name. Banana Kush, Wedding Cake, and countless others follow the same logic: parent + parent, or parent + a defining trait.

Aroma & Flavor Do a Lot of Heavy Lifting

Cannabis gets its smell from terpenes, and breeders lean hard on scent for names. Lemon, Cheese, Sour Diesel, Grape Ape — if a strain smells like citrus, fuel, or dessert, odds are the name says so. It's honest marketing: the nose really is a preview of the experience for a lot of people.

👃 Fun fact: "Diesel" strains got their name from a genuinely gassy, fuel-like aroma. Love it or hate it, that smell became a whole lineage.

What Does "OG" Actually Mean?

The internet's favorite debate. OG Kush is one of the most influential strains in California history, and "OG" has been variously explained as "Ocean Grown" (a nod to coastal California cultivation) or simply "Original Gangster." Nobody fully agrees, which is very on-brand for cannabis culture. Either way, "OG" now signals a certain classic, earthy, piney heritage.

Geography & Landrace Roots

Some names point to a place of origin. Kush traces to the Hindu Kush mountain region. Durban Poison comes from Durban, South Africa. Acapulco Gold from Mexico. These "landrace" strains — varieties that developed in a specific region over time — are the ancestors of a huge share of modern hybrids.

And Then There's Pure Marketing

Girl Scout Cookies, Gorilla Glue, AK-47 — some names are simply memorable branding (and a couple have even prompted legal name-changes, like GG4). In a crowded market, a sticky name sells. That's why you'll see dessert names, celebrity mashups, and pop-culture references all over dispensary menus.

Why the Name Isn't the Whole Story

Here's the honest part: strain names aren't strictly regulated, and the same name can vary between growers. Two jars of "Blue Dream" from different farms won't be identical. That's why savvy shoppers look past the name to the terpene profile, the grower, and the lab-tested details — and why we publish COAs. If you want the real preview, read the terpenes, not just the branding.

Find Your Favorite

Whether you shop by name, nose, or lab report, our live menu has hundreds of options — each with the details that actually matter — delivered same-day across OC & the Inland Empire.