Is Purple Weed Good?

Purple strains have been appearing on dispensary shelves and causing quite a sensation, but is purple weed good? Are the effects more “purple” than regular green weed? If you can buy weed in Seattle or another city with legal cannabis, knowing a little bit about the reasons for the purple coloring in cannabis will help you decide whether these varieties might be for you.

What Is Special About Purple Cannabis? 

A cannabis plant with purple buds, leaves, or hairs won't necessarily produce a high that's any different or more potent than regular green flower. The high is more closely connected to the cannabinoid and terpene profile of the plant—not its concentration of flavonoids.

And interestingly, even though the word "flavonoids" sounds like it should have something to do with flavor, it actually comes from the Latin word for "yellow," so purple weed strains are only distinctive because of their color. They don't taste more "purple" than other strains!

What Makes Weed Purple?

The purple pigmentation in purple weed strains occurs thanks to the production of a flavonoid called anthocyanin. If you've ever changed an ink cartridge on your computer, you'll probably know that "cyan" is the blue color that's loaded into black and color cartridges along with yellow and magenta. The "cyan" (blue) together with "antho" ("plant" in Greek), forms a word that literally means "blue plant."

Other Plants with Anthocyanin Pigments

Anthocyanins are responsible for the red to blue pigmentation in raspberries, blueberries, cornflowers, roses, and dahlias. In soil or solution with an acid pH, the anthocyanin pigment appears red. In soil or solution with an alkaline pH, the pigment comes out as blue. At a neutral pH, the typical anthocyanin pigment appears violet—the hue associated with purple weed.

The Effect of Temperature on Purple Strains

In the heat of summer, the green color is more pronounced because that's when cannabis plants capture more sunlight. However, in the fall, the green coloring in purple strains takes a backseat and purple comes to the fore—attracting pollinating insects to the marijuana plant and encouraging reproduction.

If you want to grow purple weed (and home grows are legal in your state), horticulturalists recommend growing purple strains indoors where the temperatures are easier to control. Keep temperatures around those that are typical of fall to bring out the purple coloring: 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit at night.

Popular Purple Weed Strains

There are several well-known purple weed strains available in sativa, indica, and hybrid varieties with a range of options as far as THC content, aromas, and effects. If you are interested in trying good purple weed or a purple pre-roll, any of these strains should fit the bill.

Purple Indica Strains

Granddaddy Purple

Granddaddy Purple is a cross between Purple Urkle and Big Bud and is the most famous purple strain in the world. It has vibrant purple buds with vivid orange hairs. This strain tastes like sweet grape at the beginning with a spicy aroma and pungent aftertaste. Expect THC content between 20% and 27%.

Grape Ape

Grape Ape was created by crossing Mendocino Purps, Skunk, and Original Afghani and has a delicious flavor with notes of berries and candy. The plant has dark purple leaves that darken as they age and the THC content is around 18-21%.

Purple Kush

If you're looking for a pure indica, Purple Kush is your strain. Purple Kush is one of the most popular purple weed varieties for growers due to the ease of cultivation and short flowering phase. This relaxing cannabis plant variety has a THC level of around 22% and is ideal for smoking before you sleep.

Purple Sativa Strains

Purple Haze

Purple Haze became famous thanks to the Jimi Hendrix song by the same name, released in 1967. It is a cross between Purple Thai and Haze and offers sweet berry, earthy, and spicy flavors. This strain is perfect for cerebral stimulation, creativity, and bliss. The THC content is around 26%.

Other Purple Strains

Grape Skunk

Grape Skunk is an indica-dominant hybrid made from a mix of Blueberry, Super Skunk, and Grapefruit with 24% THC and 3% CBD. The aroma is mostly skunky (as expected!) with overtones of sweet berries and a taste with hints of cheese.

Obama Kush

Obama Kush is a relaxing strain with purple flowers that resulted from a cross between OG Kush and Afghani landrace strains. It's a little heavier on the indica, contains 14-21% THC, and has a sweet flavor and skunky smell.

Purple Diesel

Purple Diesel has large, olive greenish purple buds as well as purple leaves and stems. This strain has the highest THC content at 28% and has blissfully euphoric, uplifting effects. If you consume cannabis pre-rolls for their therapeutic benefits, try Purple Diesel for relaxation, a boost in mood, and pain relief.

Sour Grape

Sour Grape is a cross between Sour Diesel and Granddaddy Purple. This energizing strain has 18% THC and a distinctive sour grape aroma that may have you puckering up. Try this strain for winding down in the evening without experiencing couch-lock.

Please note: Sour Grape is different from the craft strain "Sour Grapes," which is a cross between Sour Diesel and Grape Ape.

Get the Best Purple Bud Dispensaries Have to Offer

Purple buds are often an indicator of quality cannabis in and of themselves because it takes a certain amount of horticultural expertise to get the pH and temperatures just right for the cannabis plant to express its full potential for purple-ness. However, if you're really looking for top-shelf weed, look for the usual markers of quality: vibrant color and sticky white trichomes with clearly developed trichome heads.

When you take the purple buds out of the container, feel to make sure that the cannabis is slightly spongy and easily breaks apart. If you get a nose full of delicious aromas when you remove the lid, your purple weed most likely has a delightful bouquet of terpenes and your buds or pre-rolls will be a pleasure to smoke!

So, is purple weed good? Most likely, but check for vibrant colors and abundant trichomes. At the end of the day, a purple weed strain will be good if it gives you the experience you want. So go ahead, try that purple weed. You might just find a new favorite strain.