10/06/2026
Ever smoke something called Toad Venom? Roadkill Skunk?
I know, I know... the names sound ridiculous. But every one of them came from somewhere, and Forbes just dug into the whole wild story behind how this plant gets its names. They called up one of my guys, Mojave Richmond, our Director of R&D and one of the finest breeders I've ever met. Mojave's been at this for decades.
Back in the '60s and '70s, folks named their w**d for where it grew: Maui Wowie, Acapulco Gold, Big Sur Holy W**d. Then came names for how it looked, smelled, and made you feel.
That's how you got Purple Haze and Skunk. Somewhere along the way it got silly. Everybody chasing a name wild enough to make you laugh and curious enough to try it. And hey, I love a good laugh. But the best names carry a story.
Mojave's S.A.G.E. stands for Sativa Afghani Genetic Equilibrium, which tells you exactly what the plant is. And our new Holy Pie ties the old-school Big Sur Holy W**d right into the Cherry Pie everybody loves today. The name means something. That's the magic right there.
Go give it a read.
From Maui Wowie to Toad Venom, why are cannabis strain names so weird? Breeders, scientists and marketers explain the history, humor and branding behind them.