Chemdawg strain

The Chemdawg strain is one of the most influential plants in American cannabis. Leafly lists Sour Diesel and OG Kush among its offspring, and High Times credits the Chem 91 cut as a parent of many of the best-loved strains since the 1990s. Is Chemdawg indica or sativa? It is a near-balanced hybrid with a slight indica lean: AllBud lists 55% indica and CannaConnection 60%.

The smell is its calling card. Leafly reviewers rate "chemical" far above anything else, followed by diesel, pungent and earthy notes, and the name itself comes from that: the original sellers called the bud "Chemweed" because it tasted so strong. Leafly's lab data shows beta-caryophyllene leading, with myrcene and limonene behind and some humulene and pinene. Caryophyllene and humulene give a peppery, woody backbone. Leafly singles out the pungent, diesel-like smell as Chemdog's defining trait, and it echoes through its descendants Sour Diesel and OG Kush.

Chemdawg effects blend head and body. In Leafly's user data euphoric leads, followed by relaxed, tingly, happy and uplifted, with creative behind. Consumers most often mention aches, stress, low mood and nausea. Leafly warns newcomers that it tends to be very potent and describes a cerebral experience paired with a heavy body feel, so small amounts are sensible. Reported side effects are moderate: dry mouth and dry eyes lead, with some dizziness. THC runs from Leafly's lab median of 18% to 24% in CannaConnection's listing.

Chemdawg is often confused with its descendants. Compared with Sour Diesel, it is heavier and more relaxing; compared with OG Kush, it is sharper and more chemical, with less lemon-pine. There are also several distinct Chem cuts — Chem 91, Chem's Sister and Chem 4 among them — so "Chemdawg" on a menu can mean slightly different plants. Growers describe a tall plant that trains well, needs about nine to ten weeks and produces medium yields with a smell that is difficult to hide.

According to High Times, the story starts in June 1991 at a Grateful Dead show in Deer Creek, Indiana, where a Massachusetts teenager later known as Chemdog (Greg Krzanowski) bought an ounce of "Dogbud". A later mail order contained 13 seeds. He germinated four in 1991; the three females were named Chem Dog, now Chem 91, plus Chem Dog A, later Chem's Sister, and a third plant, Chem Dog B. The seller said the bud came from Crested Butte, Colorado, and possibly the California–Oregon border; Leafly's retelling places the concert in Colorado. Chemdog insists the name was always "Chem Dog".