The history of Durban Poison

Timeline

1. 1970sEd Rosenthal brings Durban Poison seeds to the US; accounts differ on whether he found it in Durban or at an Amsterdam coffee shop.^2,3,4
2. 1970sDutch Passion says the seeds were inbred over many years during the decade.⁸
3. Before the mid-1980sRosenthal passes seeds to Mel Frank, who selects for resin and a quicker finish; Frank’s seeds later reach Sam the Skunkman, according to Weedmaps and GreenState.^3,4
4. Mid-1980sSam the Skunkman moves from California to Amsterdam with the line, and seeds reach Neville Schoenmakers of The Seed Bank of Holland, by GreenState’s account.^3,4
5. Late 2000sSan Francisco breeder Jigga crosses an OG Kush with his F1 Durb, a cross of his own F1 and Durban, to make GSC.^5,6,9
6. 2013–2014Second place in the Medical Sativa category at the Denver High Times Cannabis Cup in both years, per Weedmaps; High Times gives 22.43% (Denver, 2013) as its highest lab-tested THC at a High Times Cup.^3,10
7. Feb 2014Jigga tells High Times that the F1 behind GSC was crossed with Durban Poison and stabilized.⁷
8. Oct 2014High Times ranks it #20 of the 25 greatest strains of all time, the only one from Africa.¹⁰
9. 2015BDS Analytics data put it second to Blue Dream among Colorado’s most popular strains.¹¹
10. 2016Dutch Passion’s Durban Poison places seventh in the outdoor category of the Emerald Cup, per SeedFinder.¹²
11. 2018A genetic study of dispensary samples finds seven of nine sold as Durban Poison in the same genetic group.¹³
12. 2024–2025#6 in Leafly’s national dispensary orders in 2024, then #19 in 2025.¹⁴
13. Jul 2026Leafly’s list of the 100 best strains files it under feeling energetic.¹⁵
14. Oct 4, 2026174 stores within 50 miles of Los Angeles and 79 around New York list Durban Poison flower on Weedmaps.¹⁶

Why it spread

Growers selected it for traits they wanted. Weedmaps says Mel Frank hunted for more resin and a quicker finish, GreenState that Sam the Skunkman bred out the intersex trait, and High Times that breeders valued it as one of the first South African strains without the autoflowering traits of ruderalis.^3,4,10

Hash makers and breeders prized it too. Leafly says its chunky buds and thick coat of trichomes make it revered by hash makers; High Times’ profile calls it one of the foundational genetics behind countless modern hybrids, and Dutch Passion says it stood at the base of the GSC line that led to Sherbet and Gelato.^8,15,17

The disputed parts of the story

• Where Rosenthal found it: in Durban (Weedmaps) or at an Amsterdam coffee shop called Transvaal (GreenState).^3,4
• Skunk #1: Weedmaps says Durban genetics went into it; Leafly’s Skunk #1 page names only Afghani, Acapulco Gold and Colombian Gold (see genetics).^3,18
• GSC: Jigga told High Times in 2014 that his F1 had been crossed with Durban Poison; Mr. Sherbinski told Leafly the Durb in F1 Durb was not Durban Poison.^5,7
• Awards: Weedmaps lists second place in Denver’s Medical Sativa category in 2013 and 2014; GreenState says it was taking first prize for best sativa at the High Times Cup by 2010, without naming the event.^3,4