Kush CBD: 5 catalogue varieties compared, batch by batch

1.1 A mountain origin

The term comes from the Hindu Kush, the mountain range running between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The varieties called Kush descend from local cannabis populations of that region and of the neighbouring Pamir and Tian Shan ranges. Afghan lines were brought back to California in the early 1970s, and from there spread through seed-bank catalogues.

Kush varieties close to the original populations (Afghani #1, Master Kush, Purple Kush) sit alongside hybrids that kept the name: Hindu Kush, Bubba Kush and above all OG Kush, whose history is traced in the Journal. Kosher Kush descends from it: selected by DNA Genetics from an OG Kush line, it won the Cannabis Cup (indica) in 2010 and 2011.

1.2 What the name says, and what it does not

In a hemp catalogue, "Kush" tells you two things: a claimed descent and an aromatic palette, most often earthy, resinous or spicy, carried by terpenes such as β-caryophyllene, myrcene or limonene. It tells you nothing else. The name fixes neither the CBD content, nor the THC content, nor the growing method: an open-field Guava Kush and an indoor Kosher Kush carry the same word for very different batches. The pages claim no property; they display a measurement.

Reputation can even contradict the batch: varietal descriptions of Kosher Kush readily cite myrcene and limonene, while batch PG-26-A1F2 sold here opens on linalool and α-pinene.

2.1 Kosher Kush (batch PG-26-A1F2)

Kosher Kush is grown indoors, with no growth regulator and no synthetic pesticide. Batch PG-26-A1F2 assays at 7.4% CBD by HPLC (7.43% to the second decimal), 0.7% CBDA, 0.2% Δ⁹-THC and 0.1% THCA. A floral, herbaceous profile, opening on linalool and α-pinene.

2.2 Strawberry Kush (batch PG-26-4457)

Strawberry Kush is grown indoors on a coco-perlite substrate, under a controlled photoperiod. Batch PG-26-4457 measures 9.3% CBD (9.26%), 0.9% CBDA, 0.2% Δ⁹-THC and 0.0% THCA. An earthy, spicy profile, carried by myrcene.

2.3 Diamond Kush (batch PG-26-69D2)

Diamond Kush comes from the open field, in living soil. Batch PG-26-69D2 shows 12.7% CBD, 1.3% CBDA, 0.0% THCA and a Δ⁹-THC displayed at 0.3% to one decimal, which the page states is strictly below the 0.30% threshold. A deep resinous nose, β-caryophyllene leading.

2.4 Guava Kush (batch PG-26-263D)

Guava Kush is likewise grown in the open field, in living soil. Batch PG-26-263D is the most concentrated of the five: 13.5% CBD, 1.1% CBDA, 0.2% Δ⁹-THC, 0.1% THCA. A lemony, zesty profile, dominated by limonene, against the earthy image the Kush name carries.

2.5 Lemon Kush (batch PG-26-C3EE)

Lemon Kush is grown under glass, under integrated farming, with natural light topped up. Batch PG-26-C3EE is the least concentrated in this comparison: 6.9% CBD, 0.6% CBDA, 0.0% THCA and a Δ⁹-THC displayed at 0.3%, here again below the threshold according to the page. Despite its name, the profile described is deeply resinous, β-caryophyllene leading.

Intermediate tiers: €4.38/g at 5 g and €2.70/g at 20 g for the four pages on the shared grid, €6.78/g and €4.10/g for Diamond Kush. These are five dated batches, read off the pages at the time of writing.

All five flowers are grown without synthetic pesticides and carry the same analysis file: cannabinoids by HPLC, terpenes by GC-MS, pesticides by LC-MS/MS, heavy metals by ICP-MS, in an independent ISO 17025-accredited laboratory. What varies is the batch, and four readings help with the comparison.

• CBD and CBDA are two separate lines. CBDA is the acid form found in the fresh plant; it is not added to the CBD figure on these pages.
• THC is read to the decimal, with its rule. Two batches display 0.3%; for both, the page states a Δ⁹-THC strictly below the 0.30% threshold. The value with its measurement precision appears on the downloadable certificate.
• The label rounds, the batch does not. Two pages carry a round figure in their catalogue label (8% and 10%); the value to keep is the batch's, 7.4% and 9.3%, shown at the top of the page and on the pouch.
• Price per gram and price per gram of CBD do not rank the same way. At the 50 g tier, four pages sit at €1.92/g; brought back to measured CBD, Guava Kush works out at €14.2 per gram of CBD (1.92 ÷ 13.5%) and Lemon Kush at €27.8 (1.92 ÷ 6.9%). Diamond Kush, at €2.90/g, lands between the two (€22.8).

The growing method, for its part, is read on the page, not on the certificate: two indoor flowers, one greenhouse, two open field. What those three methods really change comes down to the terpene profile and the energy footprint, not to the legal framework.

The arrêté du 30 décembre 2021 (the French ministerial order on hemp) restricts the sector to Cannabis sativa L. varieties listed in the common catalogue or the French catalogue, with a Δ⁹-THC content no higher than 0.30%. The Conseil d'État (France's supreme administrative court), in decision no. 444887 of 29 December 2022, annulled the ban on selling raw flowers that this same order had laid down. The five pages fit inside that: listed variety, analysed batch, THC below the threshold, sale restricted to adults, non-food product.

MILDECA (the French interministerial mission for combating drugs) points out that these products may carry no claims of any kind. A Kush CBD page therefore keeps to measurements; the word "Kush" adds an origin to that, and nothing more.

• Phytogrammes, Kosher Kush page, batch PG-26-A1F2
• Phytogrammes, Strawberry Kush page, batch PG-26-4457
• Phytogrammes, Diamond Kush page, batch PG-26-69D2
• Phytogrammes, Guava Kush page, batch PG-26-263D
• Phytogrammes, Lemon Kush page, batch PG-26-C3EE
• Phytogrammes, CBD flowers category
• Wikipedia, "Kush (cannabis)" (geographic origin, arrival in California, named varieties)
• Leafly, "Kosher Kush" (DNA Genetics, OG Kush line, Cannabis Cup 2010 and 2011)
• Légifrance, arrêté du 30 décembre 2021 (article 1)
• Conseil d'État, decision of 29 December 2022, no. 444887
• MILDECA, "Le CBD" (framework, ban on claims)
• ISO/IEC 17025