Cannabis enthusiasts, canna-soeurs, canna-nerds… whatever you like to call it, one thing is for sure: we’re all constantly searching for the most potent, best tasting high-quality cannabis strains we can find. A word that may have come up once or twice in this endless quest is sensimilla. It’s not quite a strain of cannabis, but more accurately a classification that has to do with the methodology of growing the plant that has a big bang effect on the end flower. Roll up your joint, pack your bowl, fire up that vape, and buckle up as we explore what sinsemilla is, the science behind its unique effects, and why it has become so dominant in the modern cannabis market.

First off, what is Sinsemilla? Sinsemilla is a cannabis flower that is known for its high potency and resinous buds. The word “sinsemilla” is Spanish for “without seed,” and this variety is produced by selectively breeding female cannabis plants that have not been pollinated by male plants. This selective breeding results in a plant that has a higher concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes; most specifically THC, which is the psychoactive compound responsible for producing the “high” associated with cannabis use.

Why does selective breeding yield this result you may ask? Let’s get into the basic science behind Sinsemilla. To understand the science behind sinsemilla, we need to first understand how cannabis plants reproduce. Cannabis plants are dioecious (pronounced: dai – ee – shuhs), meaning they have separate male and female plants. The male plants produce pollen, which is then used to fertilize the female plants. Once fertilized, the female plant will produce seeds for future reproduction.

After a female cannabis plant is pollinated by a male plant, it diverts its energy towards producing seeds rather than producing resin and THC. This energy diversion results in a lower concentration of THC in the plant. By selectively breeding female plants and keeping them isolated from males, the female plants will become sexually frustrated and continue to produce high levels of terpenes, THC, and other cannabinoids in a desperate attempt to attract pollinators. This is the basic scientific mechanism behind those juicy, sticky-icky buds that we all know and love.

It’s not hard to understand why sinsemilla has become so dominant in the modern market. First and foremost, as mentioned above, it’s simply stronger than any flower produced by pollinated plants. Ask your parents or grandparents what the “weed,” “bush,” or “skunk,” was like in their day. I can almost guarantee you it was nothing like the now-everywhere sensimilla that we have today that pushes well into the THC percentages of the high twenties.

In addition to its potency, a less thought of benefit of sinsemilla is it’s seedless and has less prominent stems throughout the buds. This results in an easier and less annoying process of breaking down your buds to smoke – no picking out seeds and stems. This also results in a generally higher quality smoke. With more resin and less plant material being burned, the modern smoke is often smoother and tastier than it was back in the day.

Finally, sinsemilla is also popular because it just straight up looks pretty. The bag appeal of sensimilla is unequivocal, often earning labels such as “designer-weed,” and with good merit. The big, juicy, resinous, and vibrantly colorful flowers are almost impossible to not drool over. And as we consumers buy with our eyes, it’s only logical that sensimilla has become the dominant methodology of cultivating cannabis.

We hope this little bit of Cirrus education will pop into your mind the next time you light up and enjoy a tasty puff of ganj! Always remember to pay homage to the pioneers who created what we love and enjoy today!

Happy tokes!