What is Kush? It's a family of cannabis strains named for the Hindu Kush, a mountain range in Afghanistan and Pakistan where local cannabis has long been grown for hashish. Today "Kush" appears in many strain names, and it's also casual slang for cannabis in general. Here's where the name comes from, how those genetics reached the West, and what the name can and can't tell you.
What is Kush? Its roots in the Hindu Kush
The Hindu Kush is a mountain system about 500 miles (800 km) long. It begins at the Pamirs, near where the borders of Afghanistan, China and Pakistani-administered Kashmir meet, and runs southwest through Pakistan into Afghanistan. Its highest peak, Tirich Mir, rises 25,230 feet.
Farmers there kept local cannabis varieties going for generations, the kind of long-established strains growers call landraces. Afghan plants grown for hashish caught botanists' attention, and early classifiers described them as short, densely branched plants with broad leaflets.
Indica, sativa or hybrid?
Kush strains are usually sold as indica or as hybrids that lean indica, because 20th-century botanists used Afghan hashish plants as their model for Cannabis indica. That short, bushy, broad-leaf look became the popular picture of an indica.
Genetics tell a messier story. A 2021 study that genotyped more than 100 cannabis samples found that plants labeled sativa and indica were genetically indistinct across the genome. An earlier study of 30 dispensary strains likewise found no clear genetic support for the indica, sativa and hybrid categories. So "indica" on a Kush label reflects tradition, not reliable genetics or a promised effect. Our guide to indica vs. sativa explains the labels in depth.
Kush as everyday slang
So what does kush mean in everyday talk? It has become casual shorthand for cannabis in general, often with a hint of quality, and you'll hear it in music and everyday talk about flower with no Kush genetics at all. Our roundup of other names for cannabis covers more of the vocabulary.
How Kush genetics traveled west in the 1960s and 1970s
The story usually told goes like this: in the 1960s and 1970s, young Western travelers crossed Afghanistan on the overland route nicknamed the Hippie Trail, and some carried cannabis seeds home. Growers in North America and Europe then bred those plants, prizing their compact size and resin. Firm records are scarce, so take the details as lore. Whatever the route, Afghan-type plants left a mark: their short, bushy shape suits indoor growing, and "Kush" turns up in the names of many later strains.
OG Kush and the 1990s
OG Kush is the family's breakout strain. Most accounts date its fame to the early 1990s, first in South Florida and then in Los Angeles, where it became a West Coast favorite. Its parentage is disputed, and even the meaning of "OG" has several competing explanations. Our guide to what OG means sorts through the stories.
Common Kush traits: aroma, bud structure and reported effects
- Aroma: often described as earthy, woody or piney, with spicy, hashy or fuel-like notes.
- Bud structure: dense, chunky flowers, frequently with a heavy frosting of trichomes.
- Reported effects: many people describe Kush as relaxing and body-focused, but experiences vary with the plant, the dose and the person.
Think of these as tendencies, not promises, since Kush crosses can lean in very different directions.
Well-known Kush strains
A few Kush names come up often:
- Hindu Kush: named straight for the mountains and often sold as a classic, landrace-style line
- OG Kush: the 1990s strain behind a large family of "OG" crosses
- Bubba Kush: often described as heavy and earthy-sweet
- Purple Kush: known for its purple hues; researchers have even used a sequenced Purple Kush genome to build genetic markers for studying other strains
These are examples, not a list of what's in stock; selection varies by store and changes often. Our look at notable strains this year shows what's catching attention now.
Shopping tip: read the lab data, not just the name
A strain name is only a clue. In one genetic study, most strains had at least one genetic outlier when bought from different dispensaries, so two jars with the same Kush name can look, smell and feel different.
So read the label: check the THC and CBD figures, look at any terpenes listed, and ask our budtenders what they're noticing in a particular batch. When you're ready, browse your store's menu to see what's available today. Kush or not, it's for adults 21 and older; please consume responsibly.
