What does «OG» mean in weed names?

An age-old plant, used since the beginning for its medicinal and recreational properties, cannabis has contributed to the creation of a rich vocabulary to describe both the complexity of this plant and the range of experiences it enables. But with such a breadth of knowledge, which no one could claim to know in its entirety, the origins of certain terms have been lost in the corridors of time, or mutated into several explanations.

The same applies to the term« kief« originally used to refer to the mixture of tobacco and hash smoked by Moroccans as «kif». Today, it's commonly used as a synonym for «pollen», the trichomes that make up the base of the hash or remain under the sieve of the grinder. According to Frenchy Cannoli, Ed Rosenthal and other young Americans, who returned from a «hippie» trip to Morocco in the 1970s, incorrectly used the term in Amsterdam. The error persists to this day, but that's how a language evolves.

So, where does OG come from and what does it mean?

Ocean Grown

The strongest theory is that OG stands for Ocean Grown. According to California legend, a grower from the north of the state, specializing in Afghani Kush, meets one of his smoking friends who pulls out a pouch of weed. The grower immediately recognizes the smell of its own weed.

The owner of the pouch, not knowing who he was dealing with, asserted that it had been grown in the mountains (« mountain grown« ). Visit grower corrects him and tells him it was more of a weed«.« ocean grown« . The term has thus stuck among Californian growers and consumers alike.

Original Gangster

Another popular origin has its roots in California: Original Gangster. In hip-hop circles of the 80s and 90s, the term OG was used by rappers from the United States and Europe to describe a gangster. hoods a person who had made his way through all the gang wars and trafficking.

The term was popularized in 1991 by Ice-T with his album Original Gangster. It was then attached specifically to the Kush variety grown by farmers in the San Fernando Valley by the Cypress Hill group, a version corroborated by DNA Genetics, which was the first to market seeds of OG Kush, which had previously only been available as a clone.

«The term OG was tagged on the LA Kush in the 90s by Cypress Hill and stands for «Gangsta Original», explained DNA to a San Diego newspaper in 2011. «There are also stories of OG standing for Ocean Grown, but being from Los Angeles, we like to think that OG comes from the Cypress family.«

Origins of OG Kush

While the origins of the term OG remain controversial, the same is true of OG Kush.

Some farmers in southern California claim it is a cross between Chemdawg, Lemon Thai and a Pakistani landrace Kush, and popularized by the growers indoor of the San Fernando Valley. Northern California farmers see it more as a descendant of Afghan seeds grown on the lost coasts of Humboldt County.

A third version reckons it was first grown in Florida in the early 90s and was a mix of a Californian variety and a Hindu Kush from Amsterdam.

The result is a variety with complex aromas, a blend of diesel, skunk and spices.