Cultivar record / durban-poison
Durban Poison
Durban Poison is a sativa cultivar with South African Landrace in its recorded lineage. Reported characteristics include pine, citrus, earthy, sweet and spicy flavours and energetic, focused, uplifted, creative and euphoric effects.
- Type
- sativa
- THC
- 19%
- CBD
- <1%
- Breeder
- Dutch Passion
Photography
No photo yet
We don't have an original photo of Durban Poison yet.
Cover reference: The photograph above shows Strawberry Cough, not Durban Poison. Similar energising, uplifted sativa profile.
Have a photo of Durban Poison that you took yourself? Send it to [email protected].
Archive descriptors
Record notes
Only descriptors supported by both the archive record and supplementary cultivar data are listed here.
Reported feelings
Flavour notes
Terpenes
Genetics
- South African Landrace
Reported negatives
- Dry mouth
- Dry eyes
- Paranoid
Reported sensory and character descriptors vary by phenotype, batch and individual experience. They are not medical guidance.
Overview
Durban Poison is a sativa cannabis cultivar. Durban Poison is noted for its sweet aroma and energetic, uplifting character. It is one of the few pure sativa landraces to achieve widespread commercial availability and is recognised as a building block in several breeding programmes.
History and origin
Originating from Durban, South Africa, this pure sativa was brought to Amsterdam by Ed Rosenthal in the 1970s and became a staple of Dutch coffee shops.
Genetics and lineage
Durban Poison is a pure South African landrace sativa, refined and stabilised by Dutch breeders after being brought to Amsterdam in the 1970s.
Flavour
The flavour vocabulary includes Pine, Citrus, Earthy, Sweet and Spicy.
Reported character
Commonly reported effects include Energetic, Focused, Uplifted, Creative and Euphoric.
Awards and reputation
Durban Poison is one of the most famous landrace sativas and a parent of Girl Scout Cookies.
Uncertainty and variation
This profile has no independently recorded aroma data. Cultivar names, potency and characteristics vary between growers, batches and phenotypes. The archive records a specific reviewed sample — it is not a current product specification.
Reported Effects of Durban Poison
Users most commonly report feeling energetic, focused, uplifted, creative and euphoric after consuming Durban Poison. These subjective effects are drawn from user-reported data and individual experiences vary considerably. The effects profile is influenced by the strain's dominant terpenes — Terpinolene (aroma and mood), Myrcene (comfort and ease), and Pinene (freshness and energy) — as well as individual tolerance, consumption method and dosage.
Terpene Profile
The dominant terpenes recorded for Durban Poison are Terpinolene (a complex floral-pine-citrus scent associated with uplifting experiences), Myrcene (an earthy, musky profile commonly associated with relaxation and the classic sedative sensation) and Pinene (a sharp pine aroma linked to alertness and mental clarity). Terpene profiles can vary between phenotypes, growing conditions and curing methods.
For more on how terpenes influence the cannabis experience, see our guide to cannabis terpenes and browse the terpene directory.
Durban Poison Questions
What is Durban Poison?
Durban Poison is classified as sativa. Its recorded parent strain is South African Landrace.
Is Durban Poison indica or sativa?
Durban Poison is recorded as sativa. Most modern cultivars are hybrids with both indica and sativa ancestry, so individual experiences can vary.
How strong is Durban Poison?
The archive record notes THC 19% and CBD <1% for Durban Poison. Actual potency varies between batches, growers and phenotypes.
Is Durban Poison suitable for beginners?
Some consumers report feeling paranoid or anxious with Durban Poison, so beginners should start with a very small amount and give it time before consuming more. Individual tolerance varies considerably.
What does Durban Poison taste like?
The archive lists pine, citrus, earthy, sweet and spicy as flavour notes for Durban Poison.
What effects are reported for Durban Poison?
Community-reported effects include energetic, focused, uplifted, creative and euphoric. Individual experience varies considerably.
What are the potential downsides of Durban Poison?
Commonly reported side effects include dry mouth, dry eyes and paranoid. These are self-reported and vary widely between consumers.
What terpenes are in Durban Poison?
The archive record lists terpinolene, myrcene and pinene as terpenes associated with Durban Poison.
What is the genetic lineage of Durban Poison?
The recorded parent strain is South African Landrace. Lineage accounts can differ by breeder and source.
Is every Durban Poison sample identical?
No. Phenotype, cultivation methods, storage conditions and batch differences can materially change appearance, aroma, flavour and reported character. The archive records what was observed in specific samples — your experience may differ.