Northern Lights strain guide
Northern Lights is one of the most famous indicas ever grown, and a parent or grandparent of many strains you'll see today. It's known for an earthy, sweet pine smell and a slow, settled feel, and it has stayed popular for decades because it's simple and dependable.
Where does Northern Lights come from?
Northern Lights descends from Afghani indica landraces. Most accounts say it was first grown in the Pacific Northwest of the United States in the 1970s or early 1980s, then brought to the Netherlands, where it was stabilized and released to the world. The exact details are not well documented, but its influence is. Strains with Northern Lights in their family include:
- Jack Herer: through Northern Lights #5 and Shiva Skunk.
- Shiva Skunk: Northern Lights #5 crossed with Skunk #1.
- Super Silver Haze: a cross of Skunk, Northern Lights and Haze.
What does Northern Lights smell and taste like?
Northern Lights smells earthy and sweet, with pine and a little spice. It's a classic hash-plant profile, less dessert-like than most modern strains.
Myrcene often leads its terpene results, giving the earthy, musky base, with caryophyllene and pinene adding spice and pine. The flavour is smooth and earthy with a sweet finish.
Northern Lights effects: what people report
People most often describe Northern Lights as relaxed and sleepy, with a calm head and a heavy body. Many keep it for the end of the day.
As with any strain, how it feels depends on the product, the amount and you, so treat these as reports. Dry mouth and dry eyes are the most common complaints.
How strong is Northern Lights?
Northern Lights is moderate by today's standards. Published lab results usually put it around 16% to 21% THC, with little CBD.
That makes it a friendlier choice than many newer indicas, but it can still be a lot for beginners. Start with a small amount and check your batch's label.
Buying Northern Lights in Canada
You'll find Northern Lights from several Canadian producers, mostly as dried flower and pre-rolls.
Because it's an old, well-known strain, many seed lines carry the name, so versions differ. An earthy, piney smell with some sweetness is the classic profile.
Northern Lights vs Bubba Kush
Two heavy classics from different corners. Northern Lights is earthy, sweet and piney, with a calm feel many describe as smooth rather than knockout. Bubba Kush is richer, with coffee and chocolate notes, and reports skew even sleepier. Both usually test in a similar moderate THC range. Pick Northern Lights for a clean, classic hash-plant profile, and Bubba Kush if you want deeper, roasty flavours.
Strains like Northern Lights
If you like Northern Lights, try these next:
- Bubba Kush: another heavy classic, with coffee and chocolate notes.
- Pink Kush: a similar calm, with a sweeter vanilla smell.
- Ice Cream Cake: heavier and creamier, for a more modern take.
- Jack Herer: its grandchild, if you want the clear, upbeat side of the family.