Pineapple Express: Quick Overview
A slightly sativa-leaning hybrid, the Pineapple Express strain was a creative idea that ended up becoming a delicious reality. A cross of the Trainwreck and Hawaiian strains, Pineapple Express is a high flavor, sweet offering that gives you every bit of taste from the Hawaiian lineage, plus notes of tangerine and apple.
In this post we have everything you need to know about the Pineapple Express strain and about buying Pineapple Express feminized seeds, Pineapple Express auto-flowering seeds, and Pineapple Express regular seeds online.
| Type | 60:40 Sativa-dominant hybrid |
| THC Level | Up to 21%, 17% average |
| Effects | Happy, euphoric, uplifted, energetic, relaxed |
| Smell and Flavor Profile | Sweet, fruity, pineapple, tropical, pepper, cedar, earthy |
| Grow Difficulty | Medium |
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Pineapple Express Benefits/Effects
The bad news: the Pineapple Express cannabis strain was literally a figment of Seth Rogen’s imagination. He made the strain up for the movie, and history changed as cannabis breeders met that demand.
[Yes, some say that the strain was popular in the Netherlands for five years before the movie came out in 2008. But Rogen wrote the movie in 2001, so even if that’s true, he was still first, so we’ll give it to him.]
And that’s also the good news, because growers saw and met that challenge. They wanted to create a fruity, energizing, sativa-dominant hybrid marijuana strain worthy of its own damn movie, and they did.
With high THC content of up to 21% and 17% on average, Pineapple Express turns out to be a potent enough marijuana strain to turn James Franco into a bigger idiot, no question. Many varieties these days have CBD levels of around 0.5% to 1%, and some even boast other cannabinoids—see our discussion of the terpenes and cannabinoid profile below—so Pineapple Express is also a notable medical marijuana strain.
Even if you aren’t familiar with the 2008 stoner classic or cannabis culture more generally, chances are excellent that you have heard of this famous strain. But its fame goes beyond the screen, thanks to truly inspired genetics and benefits.
Its uplifting and energizing high produces a focused, creative energy that’s perfect for doing something new, going on an adventure, or at least just hanging out and having fun. Pineapple Express is a well-balanced strain that tastes delicious enough for anyone, keeps you up and running but mellow, and just all around works for people.
Another thing to remember: Pineapple Express really is pretty balanced. In other words, it’s not nearly as stupid-making as the 2008 film makes it seem. On the contrary, expect happy cerebral effects, lots of mellow energy, melting into blissful relaxation.
It’s not the wake-and-bake focus you need to hammer out that big project. But Pineapple Express will keep you chugging along in a happy, social way, getting through that day feeling blissed out while you do it.
Pineapple Express Medical Benefits
Clinical depression is probably the most common—yet severe—condition that medical marijuana patients use Pineapple Express for due to its energizing and uplifting benefits. Depression and the fatigue it induces in particular are a natural fit for the Pineapple Express strain. If you’re struggling to get things done because getting out of bed is hard, this is a great strain to try.
Pineapple Express cannabis is also excellent for putting yourself into a social mood and lifting your spirits if you need to socialize. For patients who are dealing with stress, anxiety, restlessness, and even PTSD, Pineapple Express can be a source of tropical relief, relaxing, yet also stimulating.
In addition to mental health issues, the Pineapple Express strain can be useful for those managing chronic pain, inflammation, headaches including migraines, and muscle tightness. At high enough levels you might experience minor sedative properties, and some insomnia relief.
Pineapple Express Taste and Smell
The initial smell of this world-famous ganja will have you feeling like you’re on vacation, especially if you’re interested in tropical locations. Pineapple Express really is aptly named, and it has a pungent aroma of floral, fruity Hawaiian beaches. With overtones of fresh mango and juicy pineapple, you will also smell undertones of pine and green apple, a real treat in terms of fragrance right out of the bag.
Tasting Pineapple Express brings you that fresh fruit flavor—not exactly straight up fruity, but citrusy, crisp, with tangerines, and apples and a floral note as well. The fruitiness lingers on the palate as does the sweetness from this strain. On the exhale, you’ll experience woodsy, pine flavors and hints of spice. This is an excellent weed strain for the vape, full of tropical fruit and fresh apple flavor.
Pineapple Express Cannabinoid/Terpene Profile
Typical THC levels of Pineapple Express are at least 22 percent—no joke. And CBD levels are typically 0.5% to 1%, certainly enough to qualify as a decent medical strain.
Most also contain detectable levels of minor cannabinoids such as CBG and CBN. This helps offset many of the typical cannabis side effects such as dry eyes and dry mouth, and enhances the medical effects of the strain, placing it in the zone with favorites like Blue Dream.
In general, Pineapple Express is high in Caryophyllene, moderate in Limonene and Myrcene, with smaller amounts of Humulene.
Caryophyllene, the only terpene that binds to the CB2 receptors, is known to be an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. This powerful terpene can help relieve anxiety, stress, and pain, and offers a boost to the immune system.
Limonene is known for its uplifting energizing effects, offering stress and anxiety relief, and enhancing the mood. It is also an antifungal and antibacterial, and improves digestion. Myrcene is known for soothing, herbal benefits and shares many of the pain relieving qualities as these other terpenes.
Humulene boasts many of the same pain soothing benefits as these other terpenes, and it may also help an overactive appetite like a more sativa-dominant strain would.
Pineapple Express History and Genetics
Comedian and actor Seth Rogen has said that the Pineapple Express strain didn’t exist until after the 2008 movie. Cannabis growers, always inspired by something, were in this case moved by the film to create this potent cultivar that was called “the dopest dope” in the movie. (And as we said, he did write it in 2001.)
According to G13 Labs, they originated the strain in the mid-2000s, although multiple growers and seed banks all claim to have created the “real” Pineapple Express strain. In any case, the parents of this strain are the landrace sativa Hawaiian strain and the hybrid strain Trainwreck.
Pineapple Express soon gained fame along the West Coast, especially in medical marijuana dispensaries in California. Multiple variations exist today, but thanks to major fame, the strain is mostly consistent.
If You Love Pineapple Express Marijuana, Try These Strains
If you love the happy head effects of Acapulco Gold but want more relaxation, Pineapple Express cannabis is a great strain. If you love either the mood or medical benefits of Candyland or Lemon Skunk but want an even more uplifting mood boost, Pineapple Express is a perfect choice.
If you like the party Sour Diesel throws in your head but want a little more focus and pain relief, Pineapple Express may be an excellent choice. And if you enjoy Alaskan Thunder Fuck or Amnesia Haze but want more medical relief or social lubricant, go for some Pineapple Express.
Growing Pineapple Express Strain
In appearance, the Pineapple Express strain has the densely-packed buds of an indica plant that are tapered and long with the shape of a standard sativa—a real hybrid grow. Long, deep green water leaves grow tall, and in colder temperatures you’ll also see shades of burgundy reds and burnt oranges. These appealing crystalline, sugary green buds with amber-orange pistils and frosty trichomes are a sight for any grower.
Pineapple Express weed is not fit for complete novices, because it is moderate in difficulty to grow. Climate control is the biggest issue, because Pineapple Express requires a warm, balmy, tropical climate to thrive. On the other hand, this strain is highly resistant to disease, powdery mildew, mold, pests, and other such issues, so this type of maintenance is low.
Leave plenty of clearance for your Pineapple Express plants, which will grow tall. Indoors, Pineapple Express thrives in soil or in hydroponic systems. Pineapple Express is a high yielding strain, with about 18 ounces per square meter indoors and 19 ounces per plant outside. The flowering period for Pineapple Express is around 7 to 8 weeks inside, and outside you’ll harvest crops around mid-October.
Buy Pineapple Express Seeds
For the kind of high people make a stoner movie about, Pineapple Express cannabis is the strain you are looking for. The powerhouse hybrid Pineapple Express is a delicious, fruity, sweet party-making strain for just about anytime—and it packs some surprising medical benefits.