White Widow Weed Strain Information & Review

White Widow is, without exaggeration, one of the most popular weed strains in the world. This 60/40 sativa hybrid first appeared in 1990s Amsterdam coffee shops, won a High Times Cannabis Cup way back in 1995, and became even more famous (if that’s possible) because of its prominence in the TV show Weeds.

White Widow delivers an upbeat, fully-enjoyable high. Its cerebral effects are energetic and social, while the body buzz is light, relaxing, and unlikely to interfere with any activities you might want to undertake. It’s a terrific choice for get-togethers with friends.

The weed is pungent and earthy, with notes of wood and sweetness. And while its THC content is on the high end of moderate, White Widow is famous for the huge blanket of potent trichomes on its flowers.

Effects and Side Effects

The head high kicks in quickly when you fire up some White Widow. It starts with a mood boost that eliminates all negative thoughts, day-to-day concerns, and longer-term mental stresses.

There’s also an influx of energy and focus that can motivate people to take on mental or physical tasks they’ve been putting off and an increase in creativity that can be valuable in exploring new solutions to old problems. Some users also report mild psychedelic effects that enhance colors and sounds or distort visual appearances.

White Widow does have an effect on the body as well, but it’s a mild one. Muscles relax, and stress eases, but the buzz doesn’t normally cause couch lock or even a desire to just take it easy for a while. It’s a pleasant feeling but only causes a light numbness that won’t interfere with the energy generated by the head high.

These balanced effects make White Widow a terrific bud for just about any time of day. It can get wake-and-bakers going in the morning, provide a pick-me-up during the day, or enliven evening activities. It’s not difficult to understand why this strain is so popular.

Cottonmouth and coughs are the most common side effects of White Widow; dry eyes are also possible. More serious issues like anxiety and paranoia are unlikely, except in patients already dealing with serious anxiety, because of the strain’s mellow high and moderate THC content. Headaches and dizziness are occasional problems for those who overindulge.

Positive Effects:

• Energy: 4/5
• Creative: 4/5
• Pain: 3/5
• Stress: 4/5
• Sleep: 2/5
• Mood: 5/5

Negative Effects:

• Paranoid: 1/5
• Dry Mouth: 5/5
• Dry Eyes: 4/5
• Lethargy: 2/5
• Cough: 4/5

Bottom Line: White Widow is a fun strain to use. Its balanced high delivers energetic, social, and often creative cerebral effects with a body stone that’s light and relaxing without locking users to the couch.

Medical Conditions

Any strain whose most powerful effects involve the brain more than the body is going to be valued by patients dealing with psychological issues. That describes White Widow perfectly. MMJ users say this herb is particularly effective at helping them cope with chronic stress (including PTSD), anxiety, and depression.

The focus provided by this strain is also said to be able to help those with ADD and ADHD, and its energy boost may help patients with chronic fatigue. Some pain patients do use White Widow for its apparent medical benefits (including muscle relaxation), but they’re more likely to use it for less-serious chronic pain and body aches than for serious pain issues.

Flavor and Aroma

White Widow’s scent is quite dank. There’s lots of earthiness, along with the aromas of pine and other woods, herbs and spice, and a little fruity sweetness. Some users have compared the smell to ammonia or incense, but the more common description is “skunk.”

There’s no secret flavor in the thick smoke, which is well-known to induce coughing. Expect it to be much like the weed’s aroma; earth predominates, tempered by pine, citrus, and a bit more sweetness than there is in the flower’s scent.

Flavor and Aroma Ratings:

• Earthy: 5/5
• Citrus: 2/5
• Fruity: 2/5
• Spice: 3/5
• Wood: 4/5

Cannabinoids and Terpenes

It’s commonly assumed that White Widow’s legendary status means that the weed is loaded with THC. That’s actually not the case. The average THC content in this strain is “only” 15%, although some batches produced by reputable growers may come in over 20%. Other major cannabinoids like CBD, CBG, and CBC are present at very low levels, usually less than 0.5%.

White Widow contains a large number of terpenes in largely equal percentages. They include caryophyllene, myrcene, phellandrene, carene, pinene, camphene, and limonene.

Lineage

It’s often said that White Widow was produced by Amsterdam’s Green House Seeds as a cross of Brazilian and Indian landrace strains. However, there’s disagreement on the backstory among the people originally involved with Green House Seeds,

One group says that the original breeding was done a decade earlier by a different cultivator, who sold the weed under the strain name Arnhem’s Wonder in the 1980s and eventually gave the strain to Green House.

Another group says that Green House obtained seeds in India and bred them to a Brazilian sativa in the 90s; after a disagreement, those genetics supposedly went with one of the breeders to another company where the weed was sold as “Black Widow” to avoid legal problems.

Either way, everyone agrees that White Widow’s lineage traces back to Brazilian and Indian landraces – and that the resulting strain is incredible.

Where to Buy White Widow Seeds

Virtually every major seed bank carries White Widow seeds. Seedsman sells both standard and feminized seeds; you can buy feminized seeds from Royal Queen Seeds, Pacific Seed Bank, and Quebec Cannabis Seeds, among many others. Homegrown Cannabis and ILGM (I Love Growing Marijuana) offer autoflower versions of White Widow.

Similar Strains

It’s difficult to replicate the balanced, extremely enjoyable effects of White Widow, but if you’re looking for a strain that comes close, you can give Tangerine, Orange #43, Lemon Cake, or Strawberry Lemonade a try.

White Widow Strain Review: FAQ

Q: What are the ideal growing conditions for White Widow?
A: Hot. Temperatures should always be above 70 degrees during the day and above 60° at night, and many growers say their plants do best in temperatures between 80° and 90°. These plants will be shocked and potentially damaged if the temperature ever gets below 50°.

Q: When should you harvest White Widow?
A: Outdoor plants usually won’t be ready for harvest until late October; indoor grows will be ready after 7-9 weeks of flowering (after a vegetative stage that lasts about two months).