Purple Marijuana: What Is It and What Are Its Effects?

By El Planteo

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Purple is the color of royalty, making it the perfect shade for classic marijuana varieties that any marijuana enthusiast should be familiar with.
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Although purple marijuana is not as common as other pioneering strains like Haze, Skunk, or Kush, it is loved by many people who have experienced this variety of the species.

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What new generations of marijuana users may not know is that purple marijuana has had great fame both in dispensaries and on the streets. The exact birthplace of these purple strains is unknown, but seed companies like Purple City Genetics believe they originated in Humboldt, California, and became popular in the San Francisco Bay Area. Some also point to producer Kenneth Morrow of Trichome Technologies as its creator, since he produced Purple Kush in 1995.

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One of the most popular purple strains, known as Granddaddy Purple, or GDP for short, was created by Ken Estes, an old-school cannabis legend. Estes attributes his famous GDP variety to Vietnam veterans who returned from overseas with seeds from Thailand and Afghanistan. Purple marijuana likely descends from an ancient Afghan variety, or even a Skunk version.

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What Is Purple Marijuana?

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The term "purple marijuana" is generic and encompasses a growing family of strains that share color, distinct flavor, aroma, or effect.

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There are some theories as to why some cannabis plants have a purple hue, ranging from lavender to deep black-purple. However, not all theories are correct. According to experienced cannabis breeder Todd McCormick, it is the flavonoids in certain genetics that make the plant purple and that "Afghan genetics are responsible for the purple colors in broad-leaf cannabis."

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One of the biggest attractions of purple marijuana, besides the color, is the flavor. Purple varieties also often have a "purple" flavor, like a grape candy that can even express floral notes.

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Due to their genetics, purple varieties are almost always indica (unless crossed with others). They are also known for the intense euphoria they generate in the body, which patients say is great for chronic pain without completely knocking out the mind. But despite this intense effect, purple marijuana has never produced high THC levels, averaging 15-16%.

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How Does Purple Marijuana Compare?

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Purple varieties are most comparable to Kush strains, as they share the intense relaxing effect of a pure indica and their plants have a similar appearance when flowering. The unique flavor type, which likely comes from terpenes like linalool, is something that Sour and Haze cannot achieve.

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The lead geneticist at Dark Heart Nursery, Kay Watt, says that purple varieties have always been commonly used by medicated patients as they have strong pain relief effects, but are not as sedative as Kush or Skunk can be.

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The only downside of purple cannabis is that it is very hard to find because the plants themselves do not yield large harvests, making it more expensive to grow.

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Conclusion

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The beauty of cannabis is that there is so much diversity that each person can find a variety that suits their personal tastes. The use of purple cannabis is very popular among people suffering from chronic pain and nausea, but it also provides a euphoria that doesn't leave you sleepy or dizzy.

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