Bubba Kush: Cultivar Profile With Sources, Lineage Claims and Lab Data Limits
Bubba Kush is a Florida-linked cannabis cultivar with competing origin stories. See lineage claims, name variants, one published terpene dataset, and why no verified potency figure is shown.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Documented data at a glance
Source status: Includes documented laboratory measurements. Names and market labels do not guarantee composition or effects, and a batch result is not a typical value for the cultivar.
- Preferred name
- Bubba Kush
- Aliases
- BK, Bubba, Bubba OG Kush
- Name conflicts
- Variants such as 'Bubba Kush 98' and 'Pre-98 Bubba Kush' appear as separate names in a genetics study.
- Breeder attribution
- Matt 'Bubba' Berger, per his own interview account. (Reported)
- Retail label
- Indica (retail label) (a marketing category, not a measurement)
- Cannabinoid dominance
- THC-dominant
Reported lineage
- OG Kush pollinated an unknown indica from New Orleans; mother supposedly Northern Lights; emerged just after 1996. (Disputed; source: Leafly. Bubba Kush strain information. Attributed marketplace description, not evidence of composition or effect. Read 2026-10-22.)
- Original plant from Northern Lights seeds, pollinated around 1997 by a Kush plant found in South Florida. (Disputed; source: The Cannigma. Bubba Kush weed strain. Attributed media description, not evidence of composition or effect. Read 2026-10-22.)
Laboratory measurements: cannabinoids
Maryland (6 analytes)
dataset (Maryland flower, N=24 samples; test dates 2018-02-12 to 2020-12-23; median of 22 samples with a value). Laboratory: lab ID 1101 (22); lab ID 6401 (1); lab ID 1201 (1). Dates: 2018-02-12 to 2020-12-23. Method: not reported in dataset. Source: Cannlytics. cannabis_results dataset, data/md/md-results-latest.csv (Maryland lab/regulator results, 105,013 rows; flower rows product_type 'Buds'; test dates 2017-12 to 2023-12). Licence CC BY 4.0. Read 2026-10-22.
| Analyte | Median | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBD | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| CBDA | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| CBG | 0 | 0 | 0.3 |
| CBN | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Delta-9 THC | 0.2 | 0 | 0.7 |
| THCA | 16.165 | 0.6 | 25 |
Values are percent by weight as inferred from the dataset (the source does not label units per column). The median is calculated from the dataset; minimum and maximum are reported.
Nevada (7 analytes)
dataset (Nevada flower, N=45 samples; test dates 2020-01-15 to 2022-01-15; median of 45 samples with a value). Laboratory: DB LABS LLC (23); NV CANN LABS LLC (20); G3 LABS LLC (2). Dates: 2020-01-15 to 2022-01-15. Method: not reported in dataset. Source: Cannlytics. cannabis_results dataset, data/nv/nv-results-latest.csv (Nevada, 153,064 rows; flower rows product_type 'Marijuana Flowers/Buds'; test dates 2020-01 to 2023-12). Licence CC BY 4.0. Read 2026-10-22.
| Analyte | Median | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBD | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| CBDA | 0 | 0 | 0.092 |
| CBN | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Delta-9 THC | 0.66 | 0 | 2.449 |
| THCA | 20.022 | 15.404 | 24.02 |
| Total cannabinoids | 20.75 | 15.4 | 24.87 |
| Total THC | 18.22 | 13.51 | 21.87 |
Values are percent by weight as inferred from the dataset (the source does not label units per column). The median is calculated from the dataset; minimum and maximum are reported.
Hawaii (5 analytes)
dataset (Hawaii flower, N=1 samples; test dates 2022-02-17 to 2022-02-17; median of 1 samples with a value). Laboratory: not reported in dataset (1). Dates: 2022-02-17 to 2022-02-17. Method: not reported in dataset. Source: Cannlytics. cannabis_results dataset, data/hi/hi-results-latest.csv (Hawaii, 13,485 rows; flower rows product_type 'Flower Lot'). Licence CC BY 4.0. Read 2026-10-22.
| Analyte | Median | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBD | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| CBDA | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.02 |
| CBG | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.02 |
| CBN | 0.35 | 0.35 | 0.35 |
| Total cannabinoids | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 |
Values are percent by weight as inferred from the dataset (the source does not label units per column). The median is calculated from the dataset; minimum and maximum are reported.
| Analyte | Value | Scope | Sample / batch | Laboratory | Test date | Method | Reported or calculated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CBC | 0.02 % w/w | dataset (N=3 plants; mean of two replicas per plant) | Table 3 | Institute of Forensic Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Switzerland | not reported in source (plants harvested mid-October 2020) | HPLC coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry, methanol extract of dried inflorescence | reported |
| CBCA | 0.17 % w/w | dataset (N=3 plants; mean of two replicas per plant) | Table 3 | Institute of Forensic Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Switzerland | not reported in source (plants harvested mid-October 2020) | HPLC coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry, methanol extract of dried inflorescence | reported |
| CBDA | 0.04 % w/w | dataset (N=3 plants; mean of two replicas per plant) | Table 3 | Institute of Forensic Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Switzerland | not reported in source (plants harvested mid-October 2020) | HPLC coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry, methanol extract of dried inflorescence | reported |
| CBG | 0.08 % w/w | dataset (N=3 plants; mean of two replicas per plant) | Table 3 | Institute of Forensic Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Switzerland | not reported in source (plants harvested mid-October 2020) | HPLC coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry, methanol extract of dried inflorescence | reported |
| CBGA | 0.09 % w/w | dataset (N=3 plants; mean of two replicas per plant) | Table 3 | Institute of Forensic Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Switzerland | not reported in source (plants harvested mid-October 2020) | HPLC coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry, methanol extract of dried inflorescence | reported |
| CBN | 0.02 % w/w | dataset (N=3 plants; mean of two replicas per plant) | Table 3 | Institute of Forensic Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Switzerland | not reported in source (plants harvested mid-October 2020) | HPLC coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry, methanol extract of dried inflorescence | reported |
| CBNA | 0.08 % w/w | dataset (N=3 plants; mean of two replicas per plant) | Table 3 | Institute of Forensic Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Switzerland | not reported in source (plants harvested mid-October 2020) | HPLC coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry, methanol extract of dried inflorescence | reported |
| THC | 0.94 % w/w | dataset (N=3 plants; mean of two replicas per plant) | Table 3 | Institute of Forensic Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Switzerland | not reported in source (plants harvested mid-October 2020) | HPLC coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry, methanol extract of dried inflorescence | reported |
| THCA | 11.9 % w/w | dataset (N=3 plants; mean of two replicas per plant) | Table 3 | Institute of Forensic Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Switzerland | not reported in source (plants harvested mid-October 2020) | HPLC coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry, methanol extract of dried inflorescence | reported |
| THCVA | 0.05 % w/w | dataset (N=3 plants; mean of two replicas per plant) | Table 3 | Institute of Forensic Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Switzerland | not reported in source (plants harvested mid-October 2020) | HPLC coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry, methanol extract of dried inflorescence | reported |
Each row describes the stated sample or dataset only. Composition varies between batches. Sources are listed in the page references.
Laboratory measurements: terpenes
Nevada (11 terpenes)
dataset (Nevada flower, N=45 samples; test dates 2020-01-15 to 2022-01-15; median of 45 samples with a value). Laboratory: DB LABS LLC (23); NV CANN LABS LLC (20); G3 LABS LLC (2). Dates: 2020-01-15 to 2022-01-15. Method: not reported in dataset. Source: Cannlytics. cannabis_results dataset, data/nv/nv-results-latest.csv (Nevada, 153,064 rows; flower rows product_type 'Marijuana Flowers/Buds'; test dates 2020-01 to 2023-12). Licence CC BY 4.0. Read 2026-10-22.
| Terpene | Median | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| alpha-Bisabolol | 0.098 | 0.006 | 0.22 |
| alpha-Humulene | 0.135 | 0.021 | 0.236 |
| alpha-Pinene | 0.035 | 0.011 | 0.046 |
| beta-Caryophyllene | 0.342 | 0.15 | 0.673 |
| beta-Myrcene | 0.201 | 0.086 | 0.28 |
| beta-Pinene | 0.032 | 0.009 | 0.069 |
| Caryophyllene oxide | 0.023 | 0.001 | 0.036 |
| D-Limonene | 0.151 | 0.071 | 0.25 |
| Linalool | 0.157 | 0.031 | 0.236 |
| Terpinolene | 0.006 | 0.006 | 0.006 |
| Total terpenes | 1.15 | 0.55 | 1.73 |
Percent by weight as inferred from the dataset. The median is calculated; minimum and maximum are reported. A terpene is listed only when the dataset gave a value above zero.
| Terpene | Value | Scope | Sample / batch | Laboratory | Test date | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humulene | 1.8 mg/g | dataset (N=7 samples from one California dispensary, Feb 2015-Feb 2016; mean, SD 1.1 as printed; dry-weight basis not stated) | not reported in source | Excelsior Analytical Laboratory, Inc. | not reported in source (samples collected Feb 2015 to Feb 2016) | GC-FID, peak identity confirmed by GC-MS |
| Limonene (peak may overlap with β-phellandrene) | 3 mg/g | dataset (N=7 samples from one California dispensary, Feb 2015-Feb 2016; mean, SD 1.1 as printed; dry-weight basis not stated) | not reported in source | Excelsior Analytical Laboratory, Inc. | not reported in source (samples collected Feb 2015 to Feb 2016) | GC-FID, peak identity confirmed by GC-MS |
| Linalool | 0.7 mg/g | dataset (N=7 samples from one California dispensary, Feb 2015-Feb 2016; mean, SD 0.4 as printed; dry-weight basis not stated) | not reported in source | Excelsior Analytical Laboratory, Inc. | not reported in source (samples collected Feb 2015 to Feb 2016) | GC-FID, peak identity confirmed by GC-MS |
| Myrcene | 1.7 mg/g | dataset (N=7 samples from one California dispensary, Feb 2015-Feb 2016; mean, SD 0.8 as printed; dry-weight basis not stated) | not reported in source | Excelsior Analytical Laboratory, Inc. | not reported in source (samples collected Feb 2015 to Feb 2016) | GC-FID, peak identity confirmed by GC-MS |
| α-Bisabolol | 0.9 mg/g | dataset (N=7 samples from one California dispensary, Feb 2015-Feb 2016; mean, SD 0.5 as printed; dry-weight basis not stated) | not reported in source | Excelsior Analytical Laboratory, Inc. | not reported in source (samples collected Feb 2015 to Feb 2016) | GC-FID, peak identity confirmed by GC-MS |
| β-Caryophyllene | 4.1 mg/g | dataset (N=7 samples from one California dispensary, Feb 2015-Feb 2016; mean, SD 1.9 as printed; dry-weight basis not stated) | not reported in source | Excelsior Analytical Laboratory, Inc. | not reported in source (samples collected Feb 2015 to Feb 2016) | GC-FID, peak identity confirmed by GC-MS |
| β-Pinene | 0.3 mg/g | dataset (N=7 samples from one California dispensary, Feb 2015-Feb 2016; mean, SD 0.3 as printed; dry-weight basis not stated) | not reported in source | Excelsior Analytical Laboratory, Inc. | not reported in source (samples collected Feb 2015 to Feb 2016) | GC-FID, peak identity confirmed by GC-MS |
| alpha-bisabolol | 0.9 mg/g flower (dataset mean; SD 0.5; n=7) | dataset | samples labeled with the cultivar name from one California medical dispensary, n=7 | Excelsior Analytical Laboratory, Inc. (Union City, California) | not stated (samples collected over one year; paper published 2017) | GC with flame ionization detection; peaks confirmed by GC-MS |
| beta-caryophyllene | 4.1 mg/g flower (dataset mean; SD 1.9; n=7) | dataset | samples labeled with the cultivar name from one California medical dispensary, n=7 | Excelsior Analytical Laboratory, Inc. (Union City, California) | not stated (samples collected over one year; paper published 2017) | GC with flame ionization detection; peaks confirmed by GC-MS |
| humulene | 1.8 mg/g flower (dataset mean; SD 1.1; n=7) | dataset | samples labeled with the cultivar name from one California medical dispensary, n=7 | Excelsior Analytical Laboratory, Inc. (Union City, California) | not stated (samples collected over one year; paper published 2017) | GC with flame ionization detection; peaks confirmed by GC-MS |
| limonene | 3 mg/g flower (dataset mean; SD 1.1; n=7) | dataset | samples labeled with the cultivar name from one California medical dispensary, n=7 | Excelsior Analytical Laboratory, Inc. (Union City, California) | not stated (samples collected over one year; paper published 2017) | GC with flame ionization detection; peaks confirmed by GC-MS |
| linalool | 0.7 mg/g flower (dataset mean; SD 0.4; n=7) | dataset | samples labeled with the cultivar name from one California medical dispensary, n=7 | Excelsior Analytical Laboratory, Inc. (Union City, California) | not stated (samples collected over one year; paper published 2017) | GC with flame ionization detection; peaks confirmed by GC-MS |
| myrcene | 1.7 mg/g flower (dataset mean; SD 0.8; n=7) | dataset | samples labeled with the cultivar name from one California medical dispensary, n=7 | Excelsior Analytical Laboratory, Inc. (Union City, California) | not stated (samples collected over one year; paper published 2017) | GC with flame ionization detection; peaks confirmed by GC-MS |
| Humulene | 1.8 mg/g | dataset (N=7 dried flower samples; mean, SD 1.1) | dispensary samples pooled by cultivar name (n=7) | Excelsior Analytical Laboratory, Inc. (Union City, CA) | samples collected Feb 2015 to Feb 2016 (analysis date not reported) | GC-FID, peak identity confirmed by GC-MS; methanol extraction of 1 g |
| Limonene | 3 mg/g | dataset (N=7 dried flower samples; mean, SD 1.1) | dispensary samples pooled by cultivar name (n=7) | Excelsior Analytical Laboratory, Inc. (Union City, CA) | samples collected Feb 2015 to Feb 2016 (analysis date not reported) | GC-FID, peak identity confirmed by GC-MS; methanol extraction of 1 g; limonene peak overlaps beta-phellandrene in cultivars containing alpha-phellandrene |
| Linalool | 0.7 mg/g | dataset (N=7 dried flower samples; mean, SD 0.4) | dispensary samples pooled by cultivar name (n=7) | Excelsior Analytical Laboratory, Inc. (Union City, CA) | samples collected Feb 2015 to Feb 2016 (analysis date not reported) | GC-FID, peak identity confirmed by GC-MS; methanol extraction of 1 g |
| Myrcene | 1.7 mg/g | dataset (N=7 dried flower samples; mean, SD 0.8) | dispensary samples pooled by cultivar name (n=7) | Excelsior Analytical Laboratory, Inc. (Union City, CA) | samples collected Feb 2015 to Feb 2016 (analysis date not reported) | GC-FID, peak identity confirmed by GC-MS; methanol extraction of 1 g |
| α-Bisabolol | 0.9 mg/g | dataset (N=7 dried flower samples; mean, SD 0.5) | dispensary samples pooled by cultivar name (n=7) | Excelsior Analytical Laboratory, Inc. (Union City, CA) | samples collected Feb 2015 to Feb 2016 (analysis date not reported) | GC-FID, peak identity confirmed by GC-MS; methanol extraction of 1 g |
| β-Caryophyllene | 4.1 mg/g | dataset (N=7 dried flower samples; mean, SD 1.9) | dispensary samples pooled by cultivar name (n=7) | Excelsior Analytical Laboratory, Inc. (Union City, CA) | samples collected Feb 2015 to Feb 2016 (analysis date not reported) | GC-FID, peak identity confirmed by GC-MS; methanol extraction of 1 g |
| β-Pinene | 0.3 mg/g | dataset (N=7 dried flower samples; mean, SD 0.3) | dispensary samples pooled by cultivar name (n=7) | Excelsior Analytical Laboratory, Inc. (Union City, CA) | samples collected Feb 2015 to Feb 2016 (analysis date not reported) | GC-FID, peak identity confirmed by GC-MS; methanol extraction of 1 g |
Quick answer
Bubba Kush is a cultivar name (commonly called a strain) linked to a breeder nicknamed "Bubba" in the late 1990s. Two accounts of its origin agree on a Northern Lights connection and a Kush plant, but disagree on which was the mother. One published terpene dataset includes it, and no verified potency data was found. This page is information only, not medical or legal advice.Identity and names
Aliases listed by one encyclopedia are "BK," "Bubba," and "Bubba OG Kush."[1] Name variants also appear in research. A 2019 genetics study lists samples named "Bubba Kush 98" and "Pre-98 Bubba Kush" as separate names.[2] The same study notes a database record for "Pineapple Banana Bubba Kush" that it found only in one public database, as an example of how names get confused in public records.[2] A name that includes "Bubba" is therefore not proof of the original plant.Reported lineage and breeder claims
- Breeder attribution (reported). A cannabis media site traces the cultivar to Matt "Bubba" Berger, who in an interview called himself the creator of Bubba Kush and one of the original "godfathers" of OG Kush.[3] An encyclopedia says the breeder the strain is named after states it emerged just after 1996.[1]
- Story one (reported). The encyclopedia says an OG Kush pollinated an unknown indica obtained in New Orleans, and that the mother plant was supposedly Northern Lights.[1]
- Story two (reported). The media site quotes the breeder saying the original Bubba plant came from Northern Lights seeds, and that around 1997 it was pollinated by a Kush plant found in a bag of cannabis in South Florida.[3]
- Genetics (reported). The encyclopedia says its stocky plant structure suggests Afghani descent, but that its genetic origins are not certain.[1]
- Genetic evidence. We found no study confirming the parents. Broader work on named cultivars found genetic inconsistencies among samples sold under the same name.[2]
Confidence: low to moderate. The breeder's accounts differ in detail, and no genetic confirmation was found.
Classification
Retail sources call it indica or indica-dominant.[1][3] That is a market label. A large study of commercial samples found labels do not consistently match chemistry,[4] and genetic groupings in a cultivar study did not follow indica, sativa or hybrid labels.[2] A 2017 terpene study analyzed Bubba Kush among high-THC cultivars,[5] which supports a THC-dominant category for the samples tested but does not provide cannabinoid values. See why labels do not predict effects.Appearance (reported)
The encyclopedia describes bulky, dense buds in shades from forest green to pale purple.[1] The media site describes dense, dark green buds.[3]Terpene data: one dataset, not a standard
A 2017 study analyzed samples from a single California medical dispensary over one year, using gas chromatography.[5] Seven samples were labeled Bubba Kush. Averages are in milligrams per gram of flower (1 mg/g equals 0.1% by weight); the plus-or-minus is the spread between samples, which is large here.[5]| Terpene | Average, mg/g (n = 7) |
|---|---|
| Beta-caryophyllene | 4.1 ± 1.9 |
| Limonene | 3.0 ± 1.1 |
| Humulene | 1.8 ± 1.1 |
| Myrcene | 1.7 ± 0.8 |
| Alpha-bisabolol | 0.9 ± 0.5 |
| Linalool | 0.7 ± 0.4 |
The study grouped Bubba Kush with Master Kush in a class with a limonene, beta-caryophyllene and myrcene ratio of about 2:2:1.[5] This is one dispensary's samples, not a guarantee for any product. Learn more in terpenes in cannabis.
Aroma and potency
Reported flavors are coffee, earthy and pungent, with sweet hashish notes.[1] Verified batch data on THC or CBD was not available. Web pages give headline percentages without batch, laboratory, date or method, so we do not repeat them. Composition varies by batch. See how to read a cannabis COA.Reported experiences (anecdote)
A marketplace summary of reader reports lists sleepy, relaxed and hungry as the top effects.[1] These are consumer self-reports, not controlled research and not guaranteed effects.Research
Proper evidence not found for clinical research on Bubba Kush. We searched Europe PMC for the name: it appears in genetics and terpene datasets[2][5] and in lists of names, not in trials of this cultivar. General pages such as THC do not validate claims about it.Safety
Cannabis can impair thinking, memory and body movement, and anxiety, fear or panic is more common with strong products or little experience.[6] See impairment and driving and anxiety, panic and paranoia. In the US, call 911 in an emergency or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.Frequently asked questions
Who created Bubba Kush?
A breeder nicknamed Bubba, identified by one site as Matt Berger, is credited.[3] The details are the breeder's own account and unverified.
Is Bubba Kush a mix of Northern Lights and OG Kush?
Both reported accounts involve Northern Lights and a Kush plant, but they differ on which was the mother.[1][3]
What terpenes does Bubba Kush have?
In one dispensary dataset, beta-caryophyllene and limonene had the highest averages.[5] Other batches may differ.
What is the THC percentage of Bubba Kush?
We could not establish a verified figure. Composition varies by batch, so check the certificate of analysis on the actual product.
References
- Leafly. Bubba Kush strain information. Attributed marketplace description, not evidence of composition or effect. Read 2026-10-22.
- Schwabe AL, McGlaughlin ME. Genetic tools weed out misconceptions of strain reliability in Cannabis sativa: implications for a budding industry. Journal of Cannabis Research, 2019. Read 2026-10-22.
- The Cannigma. Bubba Kush weed strain. Attributed media description, not evidence of composition or effect. Read 2026-10-22.
- Smith CJ, Vergara D, Keegan B, et al. The phytochemical diversity of commercial Cannabis in the United States. PLoS ONE, 2022. Read 2026-10-22.
- Fischedick JT. Identification of Terpenoid Chemotypes Among High (-)-trans-Delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol-Producing Cannabis sativa L. Cultivars. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 2017. Read 2026-10-22.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. Cannabis (Marijuana). Read 2026-10-22.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.