7 Popular Marijuana Strains in Dispensaries

Even with immense choices in marijuana strains, consumers regularly turn to these seven popular strains when shopping their local marijuana dispensary.

The seven popular strains listed below have gained notoriety in the cannabis world for their flavors, their potency, and their effects, becoming bestsellers in legal cannabis markets throughout the U.S. Did your favorite marijuana strain make the list?

Blue Dream

best selling marijuana strain in America

A great strain for beginners for its overall balanced effects, Blue Dream has the notable achievement of being the best selling strain in several major legal marijuana markets in the U.S. After enjoying a cult following in California for years, Blue Dream became a preeminent top seller in Colorado and Washington, topping marijuana sales charts in both states.

A cross between the indica Blueberry and the sativa Haze, the Blue Dream strain is a nearly balanced indica and sativa blend, perfect for making the most of all the effects that marijuana has to offer. 

While sativa leaning phenotypes are the most common, some Blue Dream cuts have stronger indica properties instead, providing more physically sedating effects.

Blue Dream buds can have a recognizably pale, almost pastel green coloration and dark, forest green leaves. The flavor profile is full of dark berry and purple grape and some cheesy funk. Some phenotypes smell and taste like warm blueberry pastry.

The mellow, vibrant effects from Blue Dream slice through tenseness. It is a very happy strain, putting users in a fantastically easy going mood. Many users turn to the Blue Dream strain during the day, but it can also double as an evening marijuana strain as you wind down before bed, especially at large doses.

Green Crack

dispensaries with Green Crack

Though the name has raised some controversy, Green Crack – supposedly given its name by rapper Snoop Dogg – has made a place for itself on dispensary menus as a popular daytime sativa strain.

Green Crack buds are usually a dark green, and when broken down to smoke, this popular strain gives off an unmistakable fruity tropical scent of mango and pineapple, with some tangy sour citrus.

High energy and inspiring, Green Crack’s sativa dominant effects provide cerebral invigoration and an outgoing, social tendency. Green Crack takes its genetics from Skunk #1 and an unknown (but likely Afghani) indica. The indica effects in this strain are not as pronounced but do provide a slight nerve calming physical relaxation.

Girl Scout Cookies

Thin Mints Girls Scout Cookies

A very approachable strain for beginners and the experienced alike, Girl Scout Cookies (now popularly known as GSC) provides a good spirited set of effects thanks to its breeding of Durban Poison and OG Kush. Both of these parents are well respected strains in their own rights. Bringing them together in the popular Girl Scout Cookies strain makes for a well balanced hybrid experience.

Girl Scout Cookies will give off a sweet citrus and earthy wood scent profile. Some users report a hint of richly herbal mint, perhaps lending this strain its name. GSC typically has a slight indica dominance in most cuts. This popular strain is reputed to put users in happy, mellow moods.

Phenotypes of Girl Scout Cookies include top sellers Platinum Cookies and Thin Mint. GSC has also given its genetics to a wide variety of new strains, ensuring that its genetics get the exposure they deserve.

Jack Herer


marijuana and hemp activist Jack Herer

Named for late cannabis activist and author of the 1985 pro-cannabis books The Emperor Wears No Clothes, Jack Herer is the sativa the cannabis world needed when it first made its appearance two decades ago. This popular strain’s recognizable earthy pine and sweet citrus are well known by cannabis connoisseurs everywhere.

Sensi Seeds created Jack Herer by combining a pure sativa Haze hybrid with a Northern Lights #5 and Shiva Skunk cross. The result was a sativa dominant strain that wouldn’t overwhelm the minds of users. With less sharp cerebral effects than some other sativas, Jack Herer won’t be too intense, helped by the indica genetics to offset any head rush with mellow looseness in the limbs.

A great strain choice for new medical marijuana patients or those that can be easily overwhelmed by a strain’s effects, Jack Herer is an excellent daytime strain for intense focus over long periods at a time.

Skywalker OG

Skywalker OG Marijuana Strain

Skywalker OG has taken its place among the pantheon of marijuana strains as a lazy, hazy, heavily relaxing strain. A breeding of Skywalker (Blueberry x Mazar I Sharif) and OG Kush gives Skywalker OG its superior indica effects.  

The heavy sedation and numbing effects of the indica Skywalker mix well with the mellow, happy relaxation of OG Kush. Best when used on days when responsibility is held to a minimum, Skywalker OG may lead to drowsiness, ideal for those looking to get a solid night’s sleep.

The Skywalker OG strain is sweet and pungent, with lots of the standard piney OG earthiness, a profile that has secured its wild popularity in California, especially in the north of the state.

Gorilla Glue #4

Gorilla Glue marijuana strain

Now known as GG #4, Gorilla Glue #4 was specifically bred to have one of the highest THC percentages possible, hitting up to 30 percent THC in high quality grows.

Gorilla Glue #4 pulls its genetics from Chem Sis x Sour Dubb x Chocolate Diesel. As the story goes, an unnoticed Chem Sis hermaphrodite plant pollinated a nearby Sour Dubb female. The seeds produced by this pollination would later be crossed with Chocolate Diesel to create the Gorilla Glue family. The fourth numbered phenotype, the Gorilla Glue #4 strain is noticeably sativa leaning.

There is also the phenotype Gorilla Glue #1, which is instead an indica leaning plant. The other popular member of the Gorilla Glue family is the hybrid Gorilla Glue #5, which blends Gorilla Glue #1 and #4.  

Typical Gorilla Glue #4 buds are laden with trichomes, giving them a frosty, almost shimmering quality. Dominant scent and flavor profiles may differ for each GG#4 harvest, but users often report hints of rich chocolate, pungent diesel, refreshing pine, and sweet nuttiness.

The effects from Gorilla Glue #4 can come on strong due to elevated THC levels, especially in inexperienced users, meaning that this one should be reserved for those who have explored marijuana more thoroughly and understand its effects.

The effects from Gorilla Glue #4 are creative, focused, and at times intense with cerebral stimulation. When combined with its namesake ability to “glue” you to your seat, these effects lend themselves to long days spent working on hobbies, completing projects around the house, or accomplishing long stretches on the computer.

The originators of Gorilla Glue #4 have recently settled their historic trademark infringement case against Gorilla Glue Co., the makers of the popular adhesive. As part of the settlement, Gorilla Glue #4 will be called GG #4 moving forward. 

Strawberry Cough

Kyle Kushman Veganic Strawberry Cough

A relative newcomer compared to other strains on this list, Strawberry Cough has undefined genetics, making its lineage a question mark, but it is accepted to be a mostly sativa hybrid. This strain’s overwhelmingly sweet strawberry scent gives it its namesake, and Strawberry Cough has hints of a funky sweet, overripe berry flavor.

Strawberry Cough has taken the LA market by storm, its popularity as a strain due to soaring THC potency. Even with these heightened THC levels, uplifting effects without anxious feelings are commonly reported by users, making Strawberry Cough a useful daytime strain.  

What’s Next in Popular Strains?

There are now thousands of uniquely named marijuana strains on the shelves of dispensaries and listed on strain wiki’s and resource sites. With such a wide variety, how does one choose their favorite?

If you’re new to dispensaries, these familiar strains might be a great place to start, as you’re likely to find them in stock consistently. Not sure what strain might be right for you? Start with the basics, like the differences between indica and sativa.

You can discover more about marijuana strains, ways to consume marijuana, and even read about the most potent strains in the world on our Cannabis 101 page.

LATEST NEWS