Strain Spotlight: White Widow

From Popular Science declaring it "among the most popular in the world" to its victory at the High Times Cannabis Cup in 1995, the White Widow strain has long been revered by cannabis connoisseurs across the globe.

If you're interested in learning the ins and outs of this strain and even trying it for yourself, you've come to the right place. This blog post will cover all the strain information you need about White Widow, from its origins to its effects and everything in between.

Let's begin!

There are two versions of the White Widow origin story depending on who you ask, but what's generally accepted is:

Now, let's dive into the two different origin stories.

Scott Blakely, also known as "Shantibaba," is a famous cannabis breeder who worked closely with Nevil Schoenmakers, the founder of "The First Seedbank of Holland," which was the first cannabis seed bank in the world.

Later, Blakely went on to work with entrepreneur (and self-proclaimed "King of Cannabis") Arjan Roskam and establish Greenhouse Seeds, which has since won at least 40 High Times Cannabis Cups. It was from Greenhouse Seeds that White Widow first emerged. 

Where the Brazilian landrace in this story came from isn’t clear, but according to Canna Connection, rumor has it that it was “Magna Rosa,” a South American stain native to Brazil. 

For the indica, legend has it that Blakely acquired the seeds on a trip to India (“indica” is Latin for  “of India”) from a cannabis farmer operating out of the mountains within the state of Kerala who was cultivating a marijuana strain ideal for resin production. 

When Blakely returned from his trip, he bred the Brazilian sativa with the Indian indica while working at Greenhouse Seeds, thus bringing about the earthy-tasting White Widow strain. 

Another story of how White Widow “weed strain” came to be starts with a South Holland breeder named Ingemar. In this story version, Ingemar accidentally found seeds in a batch of hand-rubbed hash. 

Over six years, he used these seeds to selectively breed the White Widow strain, eventually offering them to Roskam and permitting Roskam to use the strain name and genetics. 

In a 2018 interview with DINA FEM seeds, Roskam backs Ingemar’s story stating, “ White Widow was created by Ingemar. Everybody in Holland knows this. And Super Silver Haze is Neville's invention.”

When discussing “weed strain” information, such as their origins, you’ll often hear the term “landrace” thrown around a lot.

In short, a landrace strain is considered practically “native” to a specific geographic region. Hence, you have names such as “Hindu Kush” for an indica native to the Hindu Kush mountain range and “Durban Poison” from Durban, South Africa. 

We put “native” in quotes here because all cannabis originates from the Tibetan Plateau, and it “migrated” mainly through trade since hemp is an excellent material for making rope, clothes, and other essential goods. 

By the Middle Ages, people were cultivating cannabis in various regions across Europe, Africa, and Asia, and colonists brought it over to the Americas as early as the 16th century. 

Even if Blakely’s White Widow story isn’t the most accurate one, it is true that since the 1960s, many cultivators have embarked on expeditions on the “Hippie Trail” around the world to collect these “indigenous” strains for preservation and creation of new breeds.

Although this movement has faded, in recent years, a “Second Wave” has emerged with cultivators traveling to destinations such as India, Thailand, Malawi, Morocco, and Jamaica to collect and preserve more landraces. 

Generally, most enthusiasts will describe the effects of White Widow as: 

It’s in these perceived effects that you can really feel White Widow’s  “hybrid-ness” since it has a mix of the uplifting effects of a sativa and the unwinding effects of an indica. Think of it as feeling “uppity yet chill” at the same time.  

People enjoy cannabis for all sorts of reasons. Naturally, people who want to enjoy it first thing in the morning or with an activity like hiking or paddleboarding will gravitate towards sativas. 

Then you have the other side of the coin, which is people just wanting to relax after a long day, watch a movie, read a book, or consume it before bed—the perfect occasions for indicas. 

If you feel like you fall into both camps a bit, then a hybrid such as White Widow is an exceptional choice. With its socially-stimulating yet calming properties, White Widow is a perfect companion for parties and get-togethers if you want to feel present/engaged but also want to “kick back” a bit. 

However, it’s best to keep in mind that cannabis will affect everyone a bit differently, and that also applies to strains as well.

The best way to gauge what White Widow can offer to you is to try it using the “low and slow” approach. With this method, you try just a little bit, wait for the effects to set in, and then decide if you want to consume more or just “stay put.” 

Terpenes are aromatic plant compounds found in a wide variety of species, from pine trees to lemons and, yes, even cannabis. While terpenes govern the overall taste and smell of a cannabis strain, they can also play a role in how the body processes THC (which is why effects can vary from strain to strain). 

Here are the dominant terpenes that makeup the flavor profile of White Widow: 

When it comes to cannabis research in general, things are pretty early on due to years and years of prohibition. But one interesting fact about White Widow’s dominant terpene, “myrcene,” is that it has been found to potentially help THC cross the blood-brain barrier.