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The Official Cannabis collection · sheet 59No 59 · Durban PoisonFAQ

FAQ

Durban Poison: frequently asked questions

Short answers to the questions people search most about Durban Poison, each with its sources.

Is Durban Poison indica or sativa?

A pure sativa: Leafly and High Times call it one, and AllBud and ILGM list 100% sativa. Dutch Passion’s US shop is the exception, listing its seeds as sativa-dominant.1,2,3,4,5

What strain is Durban Poison?

A pure sativa from the South African port city of Durban, brought to the US by Ed Rosenthal in the 1970s and selected by growers into the line sold today.1,3,6

Is Durban Poison a landrace?

It is a selected line of one. Leafly and High Times call it a landrace; AllBud calls it the inbred descendant of a South African sativa.3,7,8

Where is Durban Poison from?

The South African port city of Durban, per Leafly; SeedFinder traces its genetics to South African sativa from the KwaZulu-Natal region.1,9

Who brought Durban Poison to the US?

Ed Rosenthal, in the 1970s, according to AllBud, Weedmaps and GreenState; Weedmaps and GreenState say he passed seeds to Mel Frank, whose selections reached Sam the Skunkman.3,6,10

How much THC is in Durban Poison?

The median is 19.45% across 528 state lab tests; half of all results fall between 17.33% and 21.99%.11 Leafly lists 19%.1

What terpenes are in Durban Poison?

By median, terpinolene 0.93%, β-myrcene 0.20%, β-caryophyllene 0.15% (percent by weight).11 Leafly and High Times also name ocimene.1,2

Does Durban Poison have CBD?

Almost none: 309 of the 434 tests that reported CBD found none, and the highest result was 0.49%.11 AllBud lists 1%.3

What does Durban Poison taste like?

Pine and earth, often with a licorice or anise note: Leafly lists pine, earthy and sage, and Dutch Passion and High Times describe aniseed or licorice.1,2,5

Does Durban Poison make you sleepy?

It is not known as a sleepy strain. Leafly rates it mostly energizing, and AllBud calls it best for active periods and daylight activities.1,3

Can Durban Poison make you anxious?

Some people report it: anxious is the first negative on Leafly, ahead of dry mouth and dry eyes, and AllBud lists paranoia.1,3

Is Durban Poison a parent of Girl Scout Cookies?

By most accounts it is a grandparent: GSC’s breeder Jigga crossed an OG Kush with his F1 Durb, and he told High Times the F1 had been crossed with Durban Poison. Mr. Sherbinski told Leafly the Durb was not Durban Poison.12,13,14,15

Is Durban the same as Durban Poison? What is Cherry Durban Poison?

Leafly keeps a separate page for Durban, a sativa-dominant hybrid from South Africa, though High Times and Weedmaps also use “Durban” as shorthand for Durban Poison. Cherry Durban Poison, also called Cherry Poison, is a separate hybrid that Leafly lists as bred from Durban Poison.6,8,16,17

How long does Durban Poison take to flower? Is there an autoflower?

About 8–9 weeks for Dutch Passion’s and Barney’s Farm’s seeds; Leafly gives 7–9 weeks. Dutch Passion’s AutoDurban Poison is ready 10–11 weeks after germination.1,5,18,19

Sources

  1. Leafly, Durban Poison strain information. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  2. High Times, Durban Poison: High Times strain profile. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  3. AllBud, Durban Poison marijuana strain information and reviews. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  4. ILGM, Durban Poison seeds (feminized). Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  5. Dutch Passion (US shop), Durban Poison cannabis seeds. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  6. Weedmaps, Durban Poison strain page. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  7. Leafly, 5 classic weed strains from the ’60s you can still find today (2024-06-20). Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  8. High Times, 25 greatest strains of all time (Nico Escondido) (2014-10-09). Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  9. SeedFinder, Durban Poison (Unknown or Legendary): strain info. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  10. GreenState, Durban Poison strain: an energetic landrace sativa (Cara Wietstock) (2023-09-14). Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  11. Cannlytics (CC BY 4.0), cannabis_results: public state lab results (filtered and aggregated by Official Cannabis). Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  12. Leafly, GSC (aka Girl Scout Cookies) strain information. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  13. Leafly, F1 Durb (aka F1 Durban) strain information. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  14. High Times, Inside Girl Scout Cookies (Chris Simunek) (2014-02-18). Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  15. Leafly, Just desserts: the Cookies and Cakes family genealogy (David Downs) (2021-04-15). Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  16. Leafly, Durban strain information. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  17. Leafly, Cherry Durban Poison (aka Cherry Poison, Cherry Durban) strain information. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  18. SeedFinder, Durban Poison (Barneys Farm): strain info and breeder description. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.
  19. SeedFinder, AutoDurban Poison (Dutch Passion): strain info. Accessed Oct 4, 2026.