LSD Strain

LSD Strain: Barney's Farm's Trippy Skunk Indica

The LSD strain is a cannabis strain — Barney's Farm's cross of Skunk #1 and Mazar-I-Sharif, an Afghan indica. It does not contain any LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) or any other psychedelic. The breeders named it for how trippy its high feels: a fast, spacey, euphoric head rush that settles into a heavy body melt. It smells like old-school skunk, earth and pine, and it's a well-known indica-dominant hybrid in the same family as Afghan Kush and Northern Lights. For flower in this spirit, browse our THCA flower collection.

Because of the name, LSD is one of the most misunderstood strains out there. Below: what's really in it, where it came from, why sources disagree on its potency and lineage, how the high unfolds, how it compares to similar strains, how to use it, how to grow it, and how to judge a bag.

LSD Strain Genetics & Lineage

• Type: Indica-dominant hybrid. Sources disagree on the split — SeedFinder lists it "mostly indica," AllBud 55% indica, Zamnesia's seed listing 70% indica, and Leafly simply "hybrid."
• Ancestry: Skunk #1 × Mazar-I-Sharif. The breeder describes it as "an old Skunk variety crossed with Mazar." Zamnesia's data sheet lists the second parent as "Afghan Indica" — not really a contradiction, since Mazar-I-Sharif is an Afghan indica named after the city in northern Afghanistan.
• Breeder: Barney's Farm, Amsterdam — credited by Leafly, SeedFinder and Westword. Barney's sells it as feminized seeds, plus an autoflowering LSD Auto.
• THC: Leafly lists 18%; SeedFinder, Zamnesia and AllBud list 24%. Older Leafly data put the average around 16%.
• CBD: Low — about 1–1.3% per SeedFinder and Zamnesia. AllBud's 5% figure is an outlier. Leafly lists about 1% CBG.
• Offspring: Leafly lists Blue Sky and Alien Hallucination; SeedFinder counts 34 descendants, including Acid Reign, Chem Valley LSD and Purple LSD crosses.

Why is it called LSD? (And no, it contains none)

The name is marketing, not chemistry. According to the breeder description on SeedFinder, the Barney's Farm crew named it for its strong, trippy effect; Zamnesia's listing says users described the experience as "almost psychedelic," and the name stuck. Cannabis cannot contain LSD — LSD is a lab-made compound, not something a plant produces. What people call "trippy" here is the normal effect of a potent, high-THC cannabis strain: a big mood lift, time slowing down, and a fuzzy, absorbed focus on whatever is in front of you. Most users report no hallucinations at all.

Mazar-I-Sharif and Skunk #1: the parents

Mazar-I-Sharif is an Afghan "hash plant" indica, bred for heavy resin, with an earthy, spicy, incense-like smell and a deeply relaxing body effect. Skunk #1 is the classic 1970s–80s Afghan × Colombian × Mexican hybrid that defined "skunk" for a generation — vigorous, fast and pungent. LSD takes the Mazar resin and body with the Skunk #1 vigor and head lift. That pairing is also behind its reputation as an easy, high-yielding grow.

LSD vs LSD-25, Purple LSD and other LSD-named strains

Several unrelated or partly related strains share the name. LSD-25 Auto (Fast Buds) is a different plant entirely — Leafly lists it as terpinolene-led with pineapple and diesel flavors and energetic, talkative effects. Purple LSD is Purple Kush × LSD, a balanced hybrid with a grape edge. LSD circa 1963 is a separate sativa from Elev8 Seeds. If a menu just says "LSD," it usually means the Barney's Farm cut described here.

LSD Terpene Profile

Leafly lists myrcene as the dominant terpene, followed by caryophyllene and limonene. One seed bank instead lists myrcene, terpinolene and pinene — the pine-forward nose many reviewers describe fits pinene, so expect some batch-to-batch variation. Caryophyllene is notable in its own right: a 2008 PNAS study identified beta-caryophyllene as a "dietary cannabinoid" that binds CB2 receptors.

• Myrcene: Earthy and musky — the Mazar side's signature, and a big part of why the high ends heavy.
• Caryophyllene: The peppery, hashy spice on the exhale, and the only common terpene known to act directly on CB2 receptors.
• Limonene: The faint lemon-citrus sweetness reviewers pick up under the skunk, and part of the euphoric onset.
• Pinene: The fresh pine that Westword and SeedFinder users describe, and part of why the first hour feels alert rather than foggy.

The "skunk" itself isn't one terpene. Researchers have tied that classic skunky smell mainly to volatile sulfur compounds, which is why old Skunk #1 descendants like LSD smell so loud in the jar.

Appearance

LSD has the classic indica look. Westword describes round, cone-shaped, dense buds ranging from dark green to wintergreen, with limited orange pistils and a fine coat of trichomes; a Colorado grower called the plant "squat-y." Leafly notes buds that form in "curved triangles," and some phenotypes show purple hints and a sticky resin coat. Look for dense, frosty nugs that hold their shape when squeezed.

Aroma and Flavor

Open a jar and the skunk hits first — pungent, earthy and loud — with strong pine behind it. Westword's reviewer found an underlying sweetness like "freshly dewed juniper berries." SeedFinder's breeder notes describe it as musky, earthy and pine, with users adding lemon, grapefruit and chestnut. Leafly's top flavors are skunk, earthy and tobacco. On the inhale it's pine and hash; on the exhale, dank skunk with faint berry, citrus and a subtle bubble-gum sweetness at the finish. It's the kind of nose people describe as "good 1990s weed."

Recreational Effects

LSD's high has two clear stages: a fast, cerebral, euphoric rush, then a heavy body that takes over about an hour in. On Leafly, with well over a thousand ratings, the most-reported effects are:

• Euphoric: the headline effect — a quick, strong mood lift.
• Tingly: a buzzing, full-body tingle in the first stage.
• Creative: an absorbed, spacey focus that suits music, art and films.
• Relaxed, then couch-locked: the Mazar side pulling you into the seat, especially at higher doses.

Does the LSD strain make you trip or hallucinate?

No. It's a potent cannabis high, not a psychedelic one. Some Leafly reviewers describe "psychedelic-like" moments — fuzzy edges, feeling absorbed in a screen, time stretching — while many others report no visuals at all, just a strong, dreamy buzz. Westword's writer said it narrowed their attention to what was directly in front of them. That's how a high-THC indica can feel, and it's where the name came from — but nothing about it resembles the actual drug.

How the high unfolds: onset, peak and duration

• First 5 minutes: a fast, strong head change — reviewers describe an immediate come-up.
• 15–60 minutes: the peak — euphoric, spacey, creative and giggly.
• After about an hour: the head high gives way to a body melt. Reviewers report roughly 2–3 hours total, often ending in sleep.

One Colorado grower told Westword he smokes it one to two hours before bed — a good rule of thumb for timing.

→ Experience it yourself — shop Diesel Hemp's THCA Flower

How Strong Is the LSD Strain?

LSD has a big reputation, but the published numbers are moderate to high rather than record-breaking:

• Leafly: 18% THC, about 1% CBG — "higher THC than average."
• SeedFinder (breeder data): 24% THC, 1.3% CBD.
• Zamnesia and AllBud: 24% THC.
• Older Leafly data: around 16%.

Most of its punch comes from how it hits — fast, spacey and heavy — rather than a headline number. The breeder calls it a "very powerful Indica strain," and both Leafly reviewers and AllBud warn that newer users can get "stuck." It reportedly took 3rd place in the Indica category at the 2008 High Times Cannabis Cup (per SeedFinder and Zamnesia).

THCA flower is labeled differently from dispensary flower: the lab reports THCA, which converts to THC when heated, plus a small amount of delta-9 THC. When you compare a batch of LSD against the 18–24% range above, compare total THC on the COA, not the headline number — our guide on how to read a THCA flower COA walks through the math.

LSD vs Similar Strains

• vs Skunk #1: the parent. Skunk #1 is more balanced and upbeat; LSD adds the Mazar resin and a much heavier body.
• vs Afghan Kush and Black Afghan: pure Afghan heaviness, earthier and hashier. LSD has more head rush up front.
• vs Northern Lights: another Afghan-rooted classic. Northern Lights is smoother and more sedating from the start; LSD is spacier first.
• vs Critical Mass: also Afghani × Skunk #1 — a close cousin with a sweeter nose and a huge yield.
• vs UK Cheese: a Skunk #1 descendant with a funkier, cheesier nose and a more social high.
• vs Purple Haze: the other "psychedelic" name, but a sativa — more energetic and less body.
• vs Dayglow Mousse: our closest in-stock match for LSD's bright, euphoric head high. It's a sativa-leaning citrus hybrid, so it's sunnier and lighter on the body, without the skunk. For LSD's heavier landing, Mule Fuel is the earthy, indica-leaning option on our shelf.

Who LSD Is (and Isn't) For

Good fit: experienced smokers who want a strong, dreamy evening high; music, movies and creative sessions; fans of old-school skunk and pine.

Poor fit: beginners, anyone prone to THC anxiety, or someone who needs to stay productive — LSD tends to end on the couch. For a gentler daytime option, Strawberry 2.1 is the lighter pick on our shelf.

How to Use LSD THCA Flower — and How Much

THCA has to be heated to do anything. Raw, it isn't intoxicating; heat converts it to THC (decarboxylation), which is why the method matters as much as the strain.

• Smoking (joint, pipe, bong): the fastest onset. Take one or two small hits, then wait 10–15 minutes before deciding on more.
• Dry-herb vaporizer: a good way to taste the pine and citrus under the skunk. Around 350–380°F keeps the head high brighter; 390–410°F brings on the heavy body faster.
• Pre-rolls: the no-prep option — see our THCA pre-rolls.
• Homemade edibles: decarb the flower first. Edibles take 30–120 minutes to kick in and last far longer, so start low and wait the full two hours.

How much? New or occasional users: one small puff, then wait 15–30 minutes — the high builds fast and gets heavier after the first hour. Regular users usually find two or three hits delivers the full arc. You can always add more; you can't take it back.

Medicinal Benefits

These are uses consumers report on Leafly, not established clinical outcomes. Individual response varies with dose, tolerance and chemotype.

• Stress: the most-cited reason in Leafly reviews (about 36%).
• Anxiety: about 30% report help — though "anxious" is also one of its top negatives, so dose matters.
• Low mood: about 30% of reviewers, consistent with the euphoric headline effect.
• Sleep and body tension: the heavy second stage makes it an evening pick for many reviewers.

For a plain-language primer on how terpenes are thought to shape these effects, see Project CBD on terpenes. Nothing here is medical advice, and nothing on this page is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you take prescription medication or have a health condition, talk to your doctor before using any cannabis product.

Side Effects and Cautions

• Dry mouth and dry eyes — the most common complaints.
• Dizziness — among Leafly's top negatives.
• Anxiety or paranoia — reported at high doses or low tolerance; some reviewers mention sensory overload on a stressful day.
• Spacing out or couch-lock — feeling detached or "stuck," especially for newer users.

Is LSD good for sleep? Often, once the body stage kicks in — use it in the evening. Don't drive after using it, and talk to your doctor first if you take prescription medication, are pregnant or nursing, or have a heart condition.

Is LSD Top Shelf? How to Judge a Good Bag

• Ask whose LSD it is. "LSD" usually means Barney's Farm's Skunk #1 × Mazar; LSD-25 and Purple LSD are different strains with different profiles.
• A current third-party COA naming the lab, with THCA, delta-9 and total THC. A realistic batch lands somewhere in the high teens to mid-20s. Ours are on the lab results page.
• Skunk you can smell through the bag. A real LSD is loud — skunk, earth and pine. A faint or hay-like smell means old or rushed flower.
• Dense, frosty buds with trichomes inside, not just on top. Dense buds are also mold-prone, so check the core for any gray or fuzzy spots.
• A proper cure — sticky but not wet, and it should break apart cleanly.

Growing LSD

LSD is known as one of the easier, more forgiving indica-dominant grows — hardy, disease-resistant and heavy-yielding. Leafly's grow guide rates it easy; a Colorado commercial grower told Westword it stands up well to thrips and mites.

• Flowering: about 8–9 weeks indoors. SeedFinder lists 60–65 days, Zamnesia 60–70, and Leafly's grow guide 7–8 weeks.
• Yield: about 600 g/m² indoors (Leafly, SeedFinder); Zamnesia lists up to 700 g/m².
• Height: compact — 50–60 cm indoors per SeedFinder, around 100 cm per Zamnesia.
• Climate: best at 65–80°F with low humidity. The dense buds can mold in rain or high humidity, so keep air moving.
• Training: topping and pruning lower branches push energy into the top colas.
• Outdoors: harvest around mid-September in the Northern Hemisphere (SeedFinder).
• Seeds: Barney's Farm feminized seeds, plus an LSD Auto version.

Is LSD THCA Flower Legal?

Under the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp is federally legal when it contains no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis — see the USDA hemp program. THCA flower is sold under that rule. State laws differ and are changing, so check your state before you order. And whatever the label says, THCA flower will show up on a drug test — heated, it is THC.

Shop Premium Flower at Diesel Hemp

• Dayglow Mousse THCA Flower — a sativa-leaning citrus hybrid with the bright, euphoric head lift LSD is known for.
• THCA Flower — the full lineup, grown in Colorado by Diesel Hemp and partner farms.
• THCA Pre-Rolls — the same flower, pre-rolled.
• THCA Small Buds — same genetics, smaller nugs, better price per gram.
• What THCA flower actually is — the encyclopedia explainer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the LSD strain contain LSD?

No. LSD is a cannabis strain bred by Barney's Farm from Skunk #1 and Mazar-I-Sharif. It contains cannabinoids like THC and terpenes like myrcene — no lysergic acid diethylamide or any other psychedelic. The name refers to its trippy-feeling high.

Is LSD strain indica or sativa?

LSD is an indica-dominant hybrid. SeedFinder calls it mostly indica, AllBud lists 55% indica and Zamnesia 70%. The high starts heady and euphoric, then turns heavy and relaxing.

Does the LSD strain make you hallucinate?

Not usually. It's a potent cannabis high, not a psychedelic one. Some reviewers describe fuzzy edges or feeling absorbed and dreamy, but most report no visuals at all.

Why is it called LSD?

Per the breeder description on SeedFinder, the Barney's Farm crew named it for its strong, trippy effect — users described the experience as almost psychedelic.

What is LSD strain a cross of?

Skunk #1 × Mazar-I-Sharif, an Afghan indica. Zamnesia's data sheet lists the second parent simply as 'Afghan Indica.'

How strong is the LSD strain?

Leafly lists 18% THC; SeedFinder, Zamnesia and AllBud list 24%. It hits fast and gets heavy after the first hour, so start with one small puff.

What does LSD strain taste like?

Skunky, earthy and piney, with hash and tobacco notes and a faint sweet berry or citrus finish. The smell is loud, old-school skunk.

How does LSD strain make you feel?

Euphoric, tingly and creative at first, then deeply relaxed. Leafly reviewers report about 2–3 hours, often ending in couch-lock or sleep.

Is LSD strain good for sleep?

Often, yes — once the heavy body stage kicks in about an hour after smoking. One Colorado grower recommends using it one to two hours before bed.

Is LSD strain good for beginners?

Not really. Reviewers often say newer users get 'stuck' or spaced out. If you try it, take one small puff and wait 15–30 minutes.

Is LSD the same as LSD-25?

No. LSD-25 Auto from Fast Buds is a different strain, listed by Leafly as terpinolene-led with pineapple and diesel flavors and energetic effects.

How long does LSD take to flower?

About 8–9 weeks indoors (60–65 days per SeedFinder), with outdoor harvests around mid-September. It's hardy and high-yielding, around 600 g/m².

Where can I buy LSD THCA flower online?

LSD isn't in the Diesel Hemp shop right now. For its bright, euphoric head high, the closest match is Dayglow Mousse THCA Flower — a sativa-leaning citrus hybrid, from $29, third-party lab tested, with free shipping over $75. For LSD's heavier indica side, try Mule Fuel, from $65.

Related Strains

• Skunk #1 — the classic parent behind LSD's skunky nose and vigor.
• Afghan Kush — the Afghan indica heaviness LSD inherits from Mazar.
• Critical Mass — another Afghani × Skunk #1 cross — a close cousin.
• Northern Lights — an Afghan-rooted classic indica for comparison.
• Black Afghan — earthy, hashy Afghan genetics.
• UK Cheese — a famous Skunk #1 descendant.
• Purple Haze — the other strain named for a psychedelic vibe.
• MK Ultra — a heavy indica with a name borrowed from the LSD-experiment era.
• Dayglow Mousse — our closest in-stock match for LSD's euphoric head high.
• Browse the Full Diesel Hemp Encyclopedia