‘A Golden State’ OG Kush Line: Economics And Nostalgia For A Timeless Strain Bridging Generations
In an exclusive interview with Benzinga Cannabis, Robert Masterson, co-founder and chief of cultivation at A Golden State, shared insights crucial for cannabis investors, including costs, efficiency, the broader market landscape and the unique characteristics of cannabis genetic OG Kush.
Challenges And Cultivation
In 2004, Masterson brokered OG Kush from a grower in Redding, California, later trading a unique purple phenotype for the OG Kush clone he still cultivates today. OG Kush was the queen of the late ’90s and early ‘2000s, dominating the medical marijuana market in Los Angeles with pounds selling for up to $4,200.
Masterson emphasized the difficulty of growing OG Kush, noting that it’s “very finicky and requires a specific nutrient program.” The strain does not respond well to high heat and humidity, and attempts to increase yield can sacrifice quality. Masterson’s approach focuses on maximizing the purest genetic expression of the plant rather than yield.
For OG Kush, increasing yield often results in lower quality. “OG Kush will throw a lot more hairs in this. The stack will be a lot bigger, but that will diminish the final look and quality of the flower,” Masterson explained. Lower temperatures and humidity, along with lower wattage lights, help maintain the plant’s unique characteristics, including its earthy aroma and oily, spade-shaped …