Puff Your Way Through the Decades With 6 Iconic THC Cannabis Strains

Gone are the days of cheefing just any old strain. Now, adults pine over labels, reread terpene profiles, pore over effects, and swear by sativas, indicas, or hybrids. But what happened to the good old days? The days when only a few strains captured the mainstream and smoked out the zeitgeist? (Am I qualified to speak about “the good old days,” you ask? Well I mean, technically, I’m Gen Z, but by, like, just a few days. So … sure, totally qualified!) 

Here, we’re gonna do a deep dive into the most popular strains of the past six decades and apply today’s standards to ’em. We’ll investigate their effects, flavors, and place in the modern cannabis user’s rotation. We’ll get in the minds of cheefers from those decades and recommend some TRĒ House dankery to help you do the same. We’ll figuratively “puff our way” through the decades. (The more puffs you take, the more blurred that figurative line gets.)

Today, we’re cheefing the best strains of the last six decades, but before we retrofit a flux capacitor to our e-bikes, let’s get a li’l foundational knowledge first. 

The Cannabis Science Behind Strains

Pop the hood of any cannabis strain, and you’ll see just how unique each one is. Each strain has a peculiar tapestry of flavor profiles, cellular compositions, aromas, and effects. And classifying these strains all starts with one question: is it an indica, sativa, or hybrid?

Indica vs. Sativa vs. Hybrid

The delineation and classification of the characterization between sativas, indicas, and hybrids is predicated by the strain’s—blah, blah, blah. There’s a lotta science behind sativa vs. indica vs. hybrid, and we can’t get into all that now; we’ve got some tokin’ to do! 

So, check out these fast facts about the three types of cannabis and get the taste buds, brain buds, and best buds ready!

• Sativas are known for their energizing, cerebral effects, best enjoyed during the day.
• Indicas offer relaxing, body-heavy effects, perfect for sleep.
• Hybrids are a mix of the two, delivering both mental and physical sensations.

How Are We Scorin’ This THC Strain Space Race?

We’ve scoured the web, researched popular strains, and factored in our personal faves to bring you a list of six strains we love, love, love. This list was determined by flavor, effects, and (most importantly) whether we’d cheef it again. It’s safe to say that every strain featured is one we’ll revisit happily and often. Each strain captured something special about their decade and helped this little Gen Z-er try on fresh sets of red eyes. 

Now, I know what you’re thinking: Isn’t this list biased? Yeah, but also, it’s accurate! (Every ranking list on the internet is biased, dude; they’re all based on opinions; break free from the matrix.)

Without further ado, the vapes are charged, and the lighter is itching for action. Set the flux capacitor to 1971, please!

Visit the Movin’ Groovin’ ’70s

The year is ’71. Apollo 14 just came back from the moon—our third trip to the great wheel of celestial cheese; Led Zeppelin ends their Belfast show with the first public performance of “Stairway to Heaven”; and Disney World opens their gates in Orlando, Florida. For the next decade, a couple cannabis strains will bubble to the top and pepper the flames of disco fever, but only one will claim the pole position and become an icon for years to come. 

Winner: Acapulco Gold

A fan-favorite sativa, Acapulco Gold was many cheefers’ introduction to the wide world of cannabis. In fact, legendary cannabis advocate Jack Herer (immortalized by his own strong sativa) credits Acapulco Gold for opening the curtains to his love of cannabis. During the ’70s, when strains didn’t matter and the common wisdom was “all grass is good grass,” Acapulco Gold stood out from the murk and became a strain many sought out. 

Naturally grown Acapulco Gold buds don a golden hue with little wispy orange hairs coated in a plaster of gooey live resin. Today, you can still find Acapulco Gold in circulation, but it’s slowly being edged out by more modern strains.

Fast Facts on Acapulco Gold

Effects	As a strong sativa, Acapulco Gold is beloved for its energizing, uplifting, and focusing effects.
Flavors	The most common terpenes in Acapulco Gold are caryophyllene (peppery taste), myrcene (herbal taste), and limonene (citrus taste). These terpenes give the strain a honey espresso flavor.
Where to Find Acapulco Gold	You can find this sweet-tasting sativa in our Acapulco Gold HHC Prerolls, made with ½ a gram of hemp-based flower in each![SHOP NOW]

Visit the Bitchin’ ’80s

Trade in the record player for a Walkman, and get ready to moonwalk like MJ! The year is 1982. The first compact disc (CD) is introduced to confused consumers; Columbia completes its third mission, taking a hard landing at White Sands National Park; and the album Thriller begins its meteoric rise to eventually become the highest-grossing album of all time. During these next few years, cheefers will turn to a strain that helps them keep up with a world that feels like it’s on the verge of super-sonic. (Spoiler alert: It is.)

Winner: Skunk #1

In the canon of most beloved strains, Skunk #1 is perhaps among the top three, but its impact is mainly felt behind the scenes. Today, you may have never dabbled with or even heard of this sativa-leaning hybrid; but you’ve undoubtedly experienced its influence. Skunk #1 is a pillar in most modern strains’ genetics, especially potent sativas. Growers rely on Skunk #1’s energetic, focused effects to offset the unfortunate waves of couch-lock from some indicas. One of the modern strains made from the ’80s classic Skunk #1 is Green Crack, a seriously strong sativa that offers silly, goofy moods coupled with uplifting vibes!

Fast Facts on Skunk #1

Effects	As a sativa-leaning hybrid, Skunk #1 is beloved for its energizing, uplifting, and focusing effects.
Flavors	The most common terpenes in Skunk #1 are myrcene (herbal taste), limonene (citrus taste), and pinene (pine taste). These terpenes give the strain an earthy, skunky aroma.
Where to Find Skunk #1	While we don’t carry any Skunk #1 products, you can enjoy similar effects and flavors with our Green Crack Live Resin Delta 8 Cartridge, made with a full gram of potent vape juice![SHOP NOW]

Visit the Grungy ’90s

The year is 1994. Grunge has lost its footing and fallen headfirst into the mainstream; Pulp Fiction premiers to a mob of soon-to-be crow-eating critics; the first pictures of Pluto flash on the nightly news; and Amazon, an internet-based book store, opens up shop. During this time, cannabis strains have gradually been retooled by underground groups of growers. These strains have been crossed and re-bred to make complicated family trees. And now, we have a vast number of strains to choose from. But only one sticks out as the ’90s strain, capturing the decade’s post-Cold War solace and pre-millennium excitement.

Winner: White Widow

As a sativa-leaning hybrid, White Widow is very close to being an evenly balanced strain, brushing the mind and body with identical strokes of colorful euphoria. White Widow is a cross between a Brazilian sativa and a South Indian indica—one of the first to thrive successfully under indoor cultivation. White Widow is popular for its energetic, talkative effects that gradually careen into a warm body buzz, making this strain groovy for beginners and experienced cannabis enjoyers alike. 

Fast Facts on White Widow

Effects	As a sativa-leaning hybrid, White Widow is beloved for its euphoric, talkative, and uplifting effects.
Flavors	The most common terpenes in White Widow are myrcene (herbal taste), caryophyllene (pepper taste), and pinene (pine taste). These terpenes give the strain a woody, earthy aroma.
Where to Find White Widow	You can dabble with the White Widow one of two ways (or both!) with our White Widow Live Resin THC-P Cartridge and White Widow THC-A Live Resin Liquid Budder Vape Pen![SHOP NOW]

Half-Time

We are officially halfway through our trip, and I hope you were taking baby tokes, because the strains from here on get stronger—much stronger. After 1995, we see a 212% increase in THC concentration across cannabis strains. Hope you brought a strong THC tolerance!

Visit the Y2K 2000s

The year is 2008. The Phoenix spacecraft finds ice water on Mars; Katy Perry makes cherry Chapsticks cool again; Michael Phelps claims bragging rights forever; and a buddy comedy skyrockets a strain to eternal fame. Pineapple Express, starring Seth Rogen, shows what happens when you’ve found the perfect, most totally awesome strain—and the chaos it takes to keep it all to yourself. 

After growers took cannabis cultivation indoors, they had a better handle on fostering the right conditions, highlighting ideal flavors and effects while jettisoning unwanted traits. All these efforts brought us a strain worthy of its silver-screen fame!

Winner: Pineapple Express

Pineapple Express is a sativa-leaning hybrid that is more energizing than calming—the perfect wake ’n’ bake strain. Compared to its predecessors on this list, Pineapple Express contains much more THC, letting you enjoy a wicked cerebral swirl of creative effects. Pineapple Express buds are bulbous and light green, garnished with white and orange diamonds, and pack a pretty bright citrus flavor. If you’re just getting started with Pineapple Express, prepare to relive the THC renaissance that was the 2000s. 

Fast Facts on Pineapple Express

Effects	As a sativa-leaning hybrid, Pineapple Express is beloved for its happy, giggly, and energetic effects.
Flavors	The most common terpenes in Pineapple Express are myrcene (herbal taste), caryophyllene (pepper taste), and pinene (pine taste). These terpenes give the strain a pineapple, tropical, citrus flavor.
Where to Find Pineapple Express	You can enjoy true-to-strain Pineapple Express flavors with our Pineapple Express Live Rosin Liquid Diamonds Vape Pen![SHOP NOW]

Visit the Era of Likes 2010s

The year is 2011. (Anyone else feeling blitzed after that last puff?) IBM’s supercomputer AI ousts two of our smartest on Jeopardy!; Messenger becomes the first man-made object to find its groove in Mercury’s orbit; Adele rolls in the deep; and Bruno Mars would catch a grenade for ya’. We’ve finally reached a decade where cannabis strains have become more mainstream. 

Thanks to state-wide legalizations and about-faces in public opinion, policies are starting to steer more for than against, and cultivators are beginning to grow bud with seriously delicious flavor profiles, all culminating in a strain that captures this decade’s bubbly pop persona!

Winner: Sunset Sherbet

An indica-leaning hybrid, Sunset Sherbet is a legend of many names: Sherbet, Sunset Sherbert [sic], Sherbinskis, and Sherbet OG. This calming, happy-feels strain delivers an elevated jolt of energy in your mind that soon spills over into your body, resulting in a nose-to-toe relaxing buzz. With its unique terpene profile, Sunset Sherbet emits a skunky citrus aroma with hints of sweet berries. (Seriously, this strain is too tasty.)

Fast Facts on Sunset Sherbet

Effects	As an indica-leaning hybrid, Sunset Sherbet is beloved for its relaxed, tingly, and happy effects.
Flavors	The most common terpenes in Sunset Sherbet are myrcene (herbal taste), caryophyllene (pepper taste), and pinene (pine taste). These terpenes give the strain a sugary, citrus flavor.
Where to Find Sunset Sherbet	To really enjoy the effects and flavors of Sunset Sherbet, might we recommend our Sunset Sherbet THC-A Live Resin Liquid Budder Vape Pen?[SHOP NOW]

Visit the Purely Chaotic 2020s

And now, our last stop will look familiar, but just because we’re home doesn’t mean the tour’s over. Keep your hands and feet inside the ride. We need to explore the 2020s and dive into the last few years in grave detail—just kidding! You lived ’em! Go read your lockdown journals and pore over your endless at-home bread recipes to really get a sense of what the chaos felt like. Here, we’re just gonna toke the strain that got us through the first half of this decade—and probably the back half, too!

Winner: Rainbow Runtz

As the strongest indica on our list, Rainbow Runtz settles the mind and lulls the body in a deep pool of jellified relaxation, perfect for keeping stress out of sight like a VR headset. This strain is a cross of Zkittles and DoSiDos with an influence of Runtz and RS11. Adults say Rainbow Runtz delivers a relaxed buzz that pairs well with most creative endeavors or other non-adrenaline-focused hobbies. This strain is more for knitting than boxing, more crochet than tennis, more leisure than lightning.

Fast Facts on Rainbow Runtz

Effects	As an indica-leaning hybrid, Rainbow Runtz is beloved for its euphoric, talkative, and uplifting effects.
Flavors	The most common terpenes in Rainbow Runtz are myrcene (herbal taste), caryophyllene (pepper taste), and pinene (pine taste). These terpenes give the strain a candy, tropical, and berry aroma.
Where to Find Rainbow Runtz	You can enjoy Rainbow Runtz the old-fashioned way: with a lighter, an ashtray, and a puff of loud clouds, thanks to our Rainbow Runtz Delta 8 Prerolls![SHOP NOW]

Find Your Favorite Strains at TRĒ House!

At TRĒ House, we’ve curated our selection of strains from the most popular, the best tasting, and the ones that’ll be beloved years from now. We like to mix our selection of weed strains with classics, staples, and modern wonders, giving you a path to follow when you puff your way through the decades! 

So, which decade are you going to first? How far down this list are you getting? And which strain did we leave out?

Safe travels, TRĒ Huggers!