AK-47 strain

Despite the name, the AK-47 strain has a reputation for mellowness. Serious Seeds, which bred it in 1992, says the name refers to its "one hit wonder" potency rather than anything aggressive. Is AK-47 indica or sativa? It is a sativa-leaning hybrid: Serious describes a 65:35 sativa/indica mix built from Colombian, Mexican, Thai and Afghan genetics, although the effects carry more body than that ratio suggests.

Leafly reviewers describe the smell as skunky, tobacco-like, earthy and woody, with floral notes that come through more clearly in the taste; Serious Seeds adds a spicy base with sweet citrus on top. Lab data on Leafly shows myrcene clearly in front, followed by pinene and beta-caryophyllene. That myrcene-pinene pairing gives an earthy, resinous nose with a fresh edge, while the Afghani side supplies the old-school skunk.

AK-47 effects sit between social and relaxed. In Leafly's user data hungry, happy and talkative lead, with uplifted, euphoric and creative right behind and relaxed not far off, and consumers most often mention stress, aches and low mood. Serious Seeds itself describes a long-lasting, indica-dominant high despite the sativa-leaning genetics. Side effects are reported more often than for mellower strains: dry mouth and dry eyes lead, followed by dizziness, headache and paranoia. Potency varies by source; AllBud lists 13–20% THC, Leafly's lab median is 19%, and Serious Seeds cites an independent 21.5% test at the 1999 Cannabis Cup, which it says topped every other entry that year.

AK-47 became a building block for other breeders, and Serious Seeds itself crossed it with White Widow to create White Russian. For growers it is one of the more forgiving classics: Serious describes a medium-height, Christmas-tree-shaped plant with a high calyx-to-leaf ratio that finishes in 53–63 days and is easy for beginners. The one real warning is odor — Serious describes it as extremely strong, so carbon filtration is worth planning for.

Simon of Serious Seeds created AK-47 in the Netherlands in 1992 after testing thousands of plants from different breeding lines. He has kept the exact pedigree secret, saying only that it combines Colombian, Mexican, Thai and Afghani stock into a roughly 65:35 sativa-leaning hybrid. At the 1999 Cannabis Cup an independent lab measured 21.5% THC in its sample, the highest of all entries. High Times readers voted it Plant of the Year in 2003. Serious Seeds now claims more than 27 awards; Wikipedia's older count is 16.