USA Express 
Untrimmed, full of sticks and seeds, and compressed into bricks – the mention of weed from the 70s doesn’t conjure up very enticing images. But were things really that bad back then, or did weed strains from the 70s have something special about them – something that would put them on par with some of the modern state-of-the-art genetics?
While overgeneralizing the past leaves out too many details and texture, we can still say that 70s weed strains definitely weren’t as potent as today. Nonetheless, some of them had that authentic Sativa character – enlightening, energizing, and psychedelic – that many modern commercial hybrids lack. Some of the old-school Indicas were remarkable as well for their sweet and flowery hashy taste and euphoric, calming properties.
Read on to learn which weed from the 70s has aged well and still ranks among the top sellers of the cannabis seed market.
What Was Weed in the 70s Like?
Frankly, even the top weed strains of the 70s weren’t much to look at. Back then, growers didn’t bother to trim their buds, and the buds themselves were pathetically wispy and light.
Moreover, the word ‘sinsemilla’ (meaning ‘without seeds’) and the related concept of culling all males in the garden before they pollinated the females weren’t in circulation until sometime in the 1970s – so, before rolling your joint, you had to manually remove all seeds or else hear them popping and crackling with every toke, sometimes sending a shower of sparks onto your lap.
However, the main difference lay in the way weed was transported. Having removed the main stalk and side branches as well as bigger fan leaves, growers compressed the remaining hodgepodge of seeded flowers, smaller leaves, twigs, and whatnot into bricks to smuggle them across the border. The resulting ‘grass’ was shapeless, over-dry, more brown than green, and often smelled of hay.
It was also weak sauce according to modern standards. Analyses of confiscated samples from the 1970s show that marijuana back then was nowhere near as strong as it is today. Part of the reason is that THC in the samples has degraded over the decades, but experts assume that most were not very potent to begin with. Having said that, some of the 1970s top weed strains were (and still are) pretty amazing.
Top Weed Strains of the 70s That Are Still Popular Today
From heirloom tropical Sativas and landrace Afghani Indicas to the early masterpieces of breeding, the top weed strains of the 70s in the list below are absolutely incredible and worthy of being either in the cannabis hall of fame or in your bowl. They’re also the direct ancestors of many modern bestselling hybrids.
Acapulco Gold
Acapulco Gold hails from Mexico, which was the source of the majority of weed smuggled to the US back in the day. This landrace Sativa created that signature electrifying and euphoric effect that made the 70s such a fun time to be in. Breeders at Barney’s Farm have backcrossed and stabilized this strain to bring it to modern standards of productivity (500g/m2) and potency (21% THC) without losing any of its original character. It’s really the same timeless classic in seed form.
Afghani #1
The breeder Sensi Seeds hasn’t tampered much with Afghani #1, which is a 95% pure landrace Indica, except for feminizing the seeds so that they only produce female plants. You can count on their exceptional stability, a short flowering time of only 45-55 days, and good yields. The smell is that legendary sweet and earthy aroma of Afghani hash from the 1970s, and the effect makes you feel perfectly happy, at peace with the whole world, and protected from any harm.
Panama
This unadulterated 100% Sativa from Central America boasts medium to high THC levels and creates a wave of clean and bright energy that you can ride for several hours. The plants are tall and take longer to flower than some middle-of-the-road hybrids, but frankly, 9-12 weeks of 12/12 isn’t THAT long, and the result is like nothing you’re probably accustomed to. Panama is your red-eye to a tropical paradise.
Mazar
Mazar seeds have been on the market forever and are likely to stay there as long as there’s demand for boutique-quality Indicas. Combining the hoary heritage of Mazar-i-Sharif – which is as exotic as it sounds – with the modernity of Skunk #1, this multiple award winner packs 22-26% THC in her super frosty aromatic buds. Not bad at all for such an ancient variety! The effect is a blissful relaxation of body and mind with a lot of cozy tranquility and an almost feminine touch.
Colombian Gold
The seed bank World of Seeds struck pure gold when they found this pure Sativa during one of their expeditions. Colombian Gold is probably the most psychedelic strain on our list. If this was what they smoked back in the 70s, it must have been a pretty wild decade. The yields might be just above average, but you’ll be happy with how fast these long and narrow colas mature – in just 65-75 days after you induce flowering.
Hawaii Maui Waui
Hawaii Maui Waui (Nirvana Seeds) - Photoperiod
- Produces cheerful waves around your body
- 12 - 18 %
- 350 - 450 g/m² indoors
Hawaii Maui Waui, although a popular strain of weed in the 70s, can actually be traced back to the 60s! It was the go-to daytime smoke for hippies thanks to its medium levels of THC (around 12-18%) and high CBD content. This marijuana elevates your mood and fends off stress like no other, and it does so without a trace of tiredness, which also makes it an excellent medicinal strain. Its generous tropical character manifests in the taste as well – an eruption of juicy fruitiness with zesty lemon notes.
Skunk #1
Among 70s weed strains, Skunk #1 stands out as the one that almost singlehandedly spawned the indoor cultivation revolution. With the advent of this fast, reliable, and high-yielding cultivar, gone were the days when all you could smoke was either imported cannabis or local ditch weed. Now you could grow fat, dense, and sticky buds with a wonderfully pungent smell and earthy taste, along with an effect both strong and balanced, equally perfect for any time of day or night. Many on the Herbies’ team count this classic among their present-day favorites.
Blueberry
For those unlucky few who find the effect of Indicas too heavy-handed or even depressing, this weed may be a revelation because of the way it caresses your soul with powerful but gentle waves of euphoria. It was created by the legendary DJ Short, back in the day when we had celebrity breeders and celebrity strains. This multiple-cup winner stood out from the crowd for its exquisite smell of sweet berries against a background of forest soil taste. The high is equally beautiful and memorable, making those who’ve tried Blueberry come back for more again and again.
Treat for Nostalgia Junkies and History Buffs
Whether you want to relive the joys and thrills of a bygone era or are curious to know what those famous classics were all about, Herbies offers you a chance to experience top weed strains of the 70s and grow them from seed. Start with our list or do your own search for the names you’ve been hearing forever but never had a chance to try.
Herbies Head Shop expressly refuses to support the use, production, or supply of illegal substances. For more details read our Legal Disclaimer.
How to post a comment
Thank you for leaving a comment for us!
Your feedback will be posted shortly after our moderator checks it.
Please note that we don’t publish reviews that: