Being an old guy who started smoking in the 70's, I can attest to the fact that the old strains had that pungent, skunk smell that would fill up a room with funk whenever anyone had a baggie of it on them. I often was that guy!
Then there was period of time when I had to settle for whatever was available and it seemed to just keep getting harder and harder to locate the tasty weed after awhile! I lost interest in smoking because of getting ripped off on ditch weed.
So, when I got into the medical marijuana thing after the turn of the millennium, I was certain that all the weed on the shelves would be even more skunky and flavor-packed than anything from 40 years ago....right? WRONG! In fact none of it was. None of it even came close! I think I must have wanted to believe that "professional" weed would be so much better that I probably lied to myself about it for awhile. I wanted to believe. But, the truth is the truth. And, now, having listened to that guy (who is probably close to my age, too) say what he said about the incriminating terpenes to be bred out of the strains over the years....It's exactly what I had been thinking and saying, too. Maybe it's only the old guys who can really know this truth....I have seen younger growers smirk over this subject...like, "Sure, old man...rrrrrright! Your 9% THC weed was SOOoooo much better....suuurrrre!"
People will argue that modern weed is so much more
potent. But what does "potent" mean? It might have a higher THC content than ever before....but the terpenes are gone...nowhere near what they used to be on bags of weed that cost $40 at the time! -weed that was FULL of seeds, stems, leaves....poorly-grown/processed....It just didn't matter...it STILL stunk! And, now, IF you can find a flower that has some stink and flavor to it, it's treated like manna from Heaven....and rightfully so!
That's a great video! Thanks!
I get plants with old school pungent smells, flavors and effects constantly with seeds that are crosses of old classic strains from the original breeders.
I have ch9/ motorebel hybrids that the genetics go back to Woodhorse seeds that continually exhibit the traits of original sour diesel, Lemon Thai and pg13. Real original Herijuana too. Not the overbred indica leaning backcross sannie made. Thats is more of a heavy bland high.
And Mr. Nice (shantibaba) ones too that have original white widow, skunk and g-13. And critical mass. Which can come out with a sweet skunk pheno that is short and squat and a tall stretchier one with weird kinky leaves like gorilla glue 4 that smells like I hit a skunk.
I don't lab test anymore here. It was time to go under the radar in Michigan for a while while they set up the new dispensarie. But I am sure the strains I like are over 18% but no where near the claims like 27% thc.
Original award winning White Widow was 12%
Open a curing jar of these buds and the house will fill right up with the classic smells. Strong and pungent. I have to carry joints double zip locked or the car and I reek all day.
But it always takes 10 weeks or more flowering to get a quality flower. Many go 12 before the trichs look all cloudy and sometimes colorful (missing from most strains today)and are mature enough.
I believe short flowering and the quest for more trichomes visible on leaves in breeding and such is the problem.
And crossing elite clones rather than taking the proper steps to make a new cross. Or crossing everything with the same male just because it's a good one.
Try some seeds that are not from a newer strain of the week. And not from a newer legal state breeder. I compare often. Like you say. They can be uber potent. But have a short blaring high not a long lasting good one.
Legal weed and greedy breeders have accelerated the over breeding. And the new market wants a drug like fast hit rather than to get high on weed. I don't think they know the difference. And the dispensaries are loving the short flower cycles. Profit!
I did some dabs with a grower of some fruity purple indica cross recently and while I got a brief blast it did not get me high. Just a short stone. Very different effect. Too much thc and not enough balance for good weed. Strong as hell for a minute though. Note. I smoke and eat a lot of weed for many years. I have very high tolerance.
We smoked a joint of mine when we left. We were still laughing at stupid shit and high and happy hours later. Can't build tolerance to real good weed so much. I'm used to it but can still feel it plenty.
It is very much like I remember from the 80s and early 90's.
I grow because the Medical weed at the dispensaries here didn't keep me high or help with my illness.
I chose Greenhouse seeds auto northern lights for my first Grow. It came out way better than the dispensary weed. It was much like the northern lights I remembered. It put me on a quest for old school weed.
Don't forget that the individual Grow is more important than anything for quality. Especially the stable hospitable environment.
Sorry for the long post. The video got me thinking.
