Since the beginning of cannabis’ appearance and growing popularity in the United States, it has long been debated what region produces the best weed. Although the marijuana community will probably never reach an actual consensus, it is a fun topic to discuss and consider all the possibilities.

In reality, this is not that easy of a question to answer, primarily because the marijuana front runners in the US have changed drastically in the past 10 years, especially as more and more states have begun cultivating their own herb, and people are really perfecting their skill sets. This shift in extraordinary growing practices is a result of the widespread legalization of recreational cannabis, particularly throughout the states that would be considered candidates for a list of “the best”.

Nowadays, there is actually way more competition. Early on, it used to be that California had the best green, hands down. After the West Coast went fully legal, Washington and Oregon began to consume some of the Golden State’s hype, and then came in Colorado, the in-land, unexpected competitor that seems to just have totally nailed indoor growing methods on the head with a hammer.

Even though it is challenging to make sense of who stands above the rest in regards to marijuana cultivation, in this article we will try to make sense of all the candidates and ultimately select a winner. You, of course, do not have to agree with us, but based off our carefully collected research, personal experience, and in depth analysis, you will be able to learn who we consider to be the best.

Keep reading to discover who grows the best weed in the United States…

Categories Considered:

In deciding who cultivates the best cannabis, these are the categories that we were considering while making our decision…

• Cost of marijuana for the customer
• Growing conditions and environment, whether outdoor or indoor
• Legalization status and overall attitude towards cannabis
• Quality of the weed itself, in addition to access of cannabis-derived products (edibles, CBD oils, concentrates, etc.)
• Production of cutting-edge technologies and growing methods, as well as seed breeding advancements.

Who are the Candidates?

It is important to begin by stating that there is a massive difference between states where you can purchase the best quality weed versus the states that grow the best marijuana. This article specifically focuses on the regions that are known for their quality ganja grows, and this product is typically widely distributed to other locations where it is enjoyed and consumed.

Colorado (CO):

One of the first states to legalize recreational cannabis, in 2014 Colorado made its way up the ladder by becoming a frontrunner of the legal marijuana scene, inspiring many other states to follow suit after they witnessed just how much success CO achieved after starting on its path towards legalization. For this specific reason, Colorado ranks high when it comes to the overall attitude and legalization status of this state. Aside from a few of the more conservative counties, residents of this mountainous state usually see marijuana as beneficial not only for the people, but also for the local economy.

In addition to a generally positive attitude towards pot, Colorado is also home to a lot of popular and even famous seed banks and marijuana genetics breeders. Some names you may have heard of include The Farm (based out of Boulder), Colorado Seed Inc. (also based out of Boulder), The Bank Cannabis Genetics (based out of Denver), and 303 Seeds and Green Point Seeds (also based out of Denver). With so many seed banks and cutting-edge breeders, you can bet that the quality of the cannabis grown out of CO is really something special.

This is why Coloradians are so satisfied with their homegrown product – it hits the spot! Plus, edibles, concentrates, and CBD oil, are all just as easily accessible. In Denver and Boulder especially, there is an endless amount of both recreational marijuana shops and medical marijuana dispensaries to choose from. On top of all this, Colorado is said to have the third cheapest cannabis in the United States, which is a huge added bonus.

The downsides?
Colorado does not typically possess the right outdoor temperatures to support the cultivation of a multitude of different strains. For this reason, it rates quite low in regards to ideal climate and environment, but this is why this state has learned to perfect its indoor growing techniques.

Washington State (WA):

Ranking in as the second cheapest producer of marijuana in the country, Washington State is a location to visit if you want to come across some inexpensive ganja. Just below Colorado regarding international fame, Washington ranks in second, because the world seems to be so curious about this gorgeous state that legalized cannabis in 2012 – the first region to do so in the United States. The surrounding states soon followed suit, as WA became the spark that fueled the fire for the entire West Coast, which is now all legalized.

Washington State is home to numerous pioneers in the world of cannabis, including Northwest Cannabis Solutions, BMF Washington, Harmony Farms, Grow Op Farms, Spinning Heads, and so many others. The overall quality of weed in Washington is said to be quite phenomenal, but it is almost all indoor grown, making certain strain types more prevalent than others if they are locally raised.

The downsides?

Just like Colorado, Washington does not possess the right outdoor temperatures to support the cultivation of a multitude of different strains outdoors, unless you go over to Eastern Washington, where mentalities and attitudes towards cannabis are not very positive… Seattle primarily, where plenty of dank weed is cultivated, can be rather cold and humid, so indoor growing is prefered over outdoor. Additionally, legal weed is not such an old decision in Washington, so some people are still getting used to this change and do not possess a positive attitude yet towards the medicinal green.

Oregon (OR):

One aspect of Oregon cannabis that seems to set it above the rest is the affordability. Oregon, by far, has the greatest affordability of almost any other state, and for this reason you might even be able to purchase an out-of-this-world ounce for $200 or less. The price point alone might have you convinced that OR ganja is the best out there, but there is also some solid quality product being produced out of this forest-covered state.

In Southern Oregon especially, which is considered to be a pretty good place to grow, weed is being grown both indoors and outdoors, because the outside environment during growing season is superb in this region. It is a bit too cold during the growing season in Northern Oregon to have the same results, but Portland and the surrounding areas have perfected their indoor cultivation techniques, and they are stocking up dispensaries all over the US with some top-notch herb.

Portland is extremely positive towards cannabis and its legalization, while this is slightly less common an attitude in Southern Oregon and other parts of Northern Oregon. What is especially cool about Oregon is actually the amount of momentum taking place in the state regarding the latest developments and advancements.

Home to Subcool and TGA Genetics, as well as to the legendary dab maker Ganja Jon, there is a lot of insane pot related material arising out of OR, especially when it comes to concentrates, extracts and dabbing. In addition, the famous Jack Herer strain is seen as an Oregon strain, and we all know how amazing that one is.

The downsides?
There is not a huge public interest regarding marijuana in Oregon, especially not in Eastern Oregon where the demographic is still quite conservative and not particularly accepting towards enjoying 420. Regardless, in areas like Southern Oregon and Northern Oregon (Portland), people seem to overall really love weed and are quite open towards its consumption.

California (CA):

Seen by many as having some of the all-time best weed, California is a massive state, and a massive cannabis culture has arisen from within it. With prices that are the fourth lowest in the United States, parts of CA have the perfect climate for outdoor cultivation, which is part of what makes the ganja out of this state so incredible. Although you may not discover a $200 ounce like in Oregon, if you are purchasing from a reputable dispensary or recreational pot shop, even the cheapest larf is almost always top-shelf product in many places.

Parts of California, especially Humboldt County in the “Emerald Triangle”, are known for supplying pot to a lot of the rest of the United States, stretching as far as the East Coast where they originally brought quality back to a region that was known for its poor quality weed.

Overall, one thing that is really incredible about The Golden State is that the general attitude towards weed is positive; many people enjoy it and have for decades, so it is no surprise this area recently became legalized.

On top of California cannabis just being overall mind-blowing by the standards of many, there are a multitude of cutting-edge cannabis breeders and other related companies coming out of California, including Aficionado Seeds, Exotic Genetix, Brothers Grimm Seeds, Bodhi Seeds, The Source Genetics, Top Dawg Seeds, Crockett Family Farms, Swamp Boys Seeds and Gage Green Group, just to name a few.

Southern California:

With sunshine almost all year and temperatures that do not typically reach any lower than 40 degrees farenheit, Southern California is a perfect place to grow cannabis, all year round.

The Bay Area:

The Bay Area definitely has a much trickier climate than Southern California, but part of the year it is possible to cultivate the green even outside, although indoor growing methods are normally preferred, especially in this densely populated area that consists of many big cities and a high population of residents. Oakland, San Francisco, and Chico in particular are notorious for their top-quality Mary Jane, as well as the culture surrounding cannabis.

Humboldt County:

A part of the famous “Emerald Triangle”, Humboldt County is widely recognized for its top-shelf marijuana being grown outdoors, which of course can only be cultivated during the season from April/May until the end of October, when weather conditions tend to take a massive turn. Humboldt County is seen as a region that is ideal climate-wise for producing amazing cannabis, and the weed that has hit the market from this area definitely lives up to its reputation.

The downsides?
You do not always know the quality of your cannabis in California. Cartels and other illegal organizations do also cultivate a lot of cannabis, because marijuana is no doubt a cash crop, and for this reason you are not always getting organic quality in The Golden State. You have to be careful and know your source. If you are purchasing from a reputable dispensary or recreational pot shop, this will likely not be the case, and you can trust what your knowledgeable budtender is offering you. A recently passed law may have only improved the trust in cannabis vendors, however, because it is now required for California dispensaries to apply stricter laws and testing for pesticides, etc. if they want to sell cannabis in their storefronts. Although this is a financial hit for vendors, it definitely does keep the health of the consume as a priority.

The Consensus:

After considering a lot of research, we have ultimately concluded that the regions that consist of the “Emerald Triangle” are considered to possess the best weed in the United States. If you are not familiar with the Emerald Triangle and what it consists of, the next section will explain in further detail what this zone is all about.

What is the Emerald Triangle?

The Emerald Triangle is made up of 3 counties in Northern California, including Humboldt County, Mendocino County and Trinity County. This is a region that is notorious for its top quality cannabis, and many individuals in this region are marijuana cultivators. Our research has exemplified that this area possibly possesses the best quality ganja, because not only is the practice of growing cannabis totally normal and widely accepted, it is essentially what fuels the economy of this region. Additionally, herb being supplied to dispensaries all over the US is derived from regions throughout the Emerald Triangle, which only adds to the concreteness of its top-shelf quality.

The Final Verdict:

Although the debate still probably stands – and likely always will – if you have ever wondered who exactly grows the best weed in the United States, we have compiled all the information to the best of our ability in order to provide an unbiased opinion of what region exactly is pumping out the best cannabis. We hope you not only found this article to be entertaining, but also educational and informative. It is important to remember that the consumption of marijuana is the sole responsibility of the user, and discretion should always be taken.