Strains
THE STRAINS EVERYBODY IS CHASING RIGHT NOW IN THE 518
Why Finding Fire Weed Costs More Than You Think
by OG Strain
People always ask me how I find the best weed.
The answer is simple:
I spend a ridiculous amount of money doing it so you don’t have to.
Everybody sees the reviews. Everybody sees the rankings. Everybody sees the articles and videos. What they don’t see are the road trips, the dispensary visits, the pop-up events, the underground sessions, the networking, the vendor meetings, and the countless dollars spent chasing the next great strain.
What they definitely don’t see are the times somebody confidently hands me an eighth and says, “Bro, this is absolute fire,” only for me to discover that it smokes like somebody rolled up a lawnmower bag.
That happens more often than you’d think.
Over the years, I’ve built relationships with growers, breeders, distributors, and vendors throughout New York. I’ve smoked more strains than I could ever count and attended enough events that my GPS probably thinks I work for the cannabis industry.
The goal has always been the same:
Find the best cannabis available and help people avoid wasting their hard-earned money.
But before I get into my current top strains, I need to make something crystal clear.
It’s Not Just The Strain — It’s The Grower
One of the biggest misconceptions in cannabis is that a strain name automatically guarantees quality.
It doesn’t.
If I tell you that Super Boof is fire, that does not mean every Super Boof you’ve ever seen is fire.
If I tell you that NYC Haze is incredible, that does not mean every grower growing NYC Haze is producing the same quality flower.
A great strain can become average in the wrong hands.
An elite grower can make a great strain become unforgettable.
When I’m talking about flower that impressed me enough to write about it, I’m talking about a specific grower, a specific batch, and a specific source.
You can’t buy the same strain from a completely different grower and automatically expect the same results.
That’s like eating at a five-star steakhouse and assuming every gas station hot dog is going to taste the same because technically they’re both beef.
That’s not how this works.
So today, I’m doing something most reviewers don’t do.
I’m telling you exactly where I found the fire.
- NYC HAZE (A.K.A. GOOD BURGER)
Let’s start with the heavyweight champion.
Real NYC Haze.
The authentic stuff still has one of the most recognizable aromas and effects in cannabis. It’s loud, flavorful, energetic, and carries that classic old-school profile that made New York Haze legendary.
The best examples I’ve found recently are coming from two trusted sources.
The first is The Gas Station, a vendor frequently found at Crisxotics events. He’s not always the cheapest option in the room, but he’s consistent, reliable, and almost always has quality NYC Haze available.
The second source is Higher Beings powered by Hudson Valley Green, where the same Haze lineage is often sold under the name Good Burger.
And let me tell you something.
Good Burger is ridiculous.
Every time I get my hands on it, I’m reminded why people still obsess over authentic Haze genetics. The aroma jumps out of the bag, the flavor translates perfectly, and the effects are exactly what experienced smokers are looking for.
This isn’t hype.
This is one of the best flowers I’ve smoked recently.
- SUPER BOOF
If there were a Cannabis Hall of Fame for strains currently dominating the 518, Super Boof would absolutely have a first-ballot nomination.
The strain itself has become famous for its loud terpene profile, frosty appearance, and potent effects.
But the batches that have impressed me the most are coming from one specific grower.
My man Mullet from Adekrondack.
He grows the Super Boof himself, and if you’ve attended Crisxotics events, you’ve probably seen his work.
To put it simply, Super Boof is his lane.
Every grower has that one strain they seem to understand better than everybody else.
For some people it’s Sour Diesel.
For others it’s OG Kush.
For Mullet, it’s Super Boof.
The consistency has been outstanding, and every batch I’ve encountered has been fresh, flavorful, sticky, and loaded with quality.
If you’re trying to understand why people are still talking about Super Boof, this is where I’d start.
- TOAD VENOM
Last but definitely not least is Toad Venom.
This strain continues to gain traction throughout the region, and for good reason.
The standout version I’ve encountered recently is the Maine Cut from Buddah Brothers.
Fresh.
Potent.
Flavorful.
Exactly what serious smokers are looking for.
The Maine Cut has a unique profile that separates itself from many of the other exotics floating around right now. It delivers the kind of quality that makes people immediately ask where it came from after the first session.
That’s usually the sign you’re smoking something special.
Everywhere I go, people are talking about Toad Venom, and after trying this version, I understand why.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE SKUNKS
Now here’s where things get interesting.
I haven’t personally tested the latest wave of Skunk genetics making their way around the 518 yet.
But I’ve heard enough positive reports from trusted smokers that they’ve officially landed on my radar.
The whispers are getting louder.
And in cannabis, today’s whispers often become tomorrow’s obsession.
So while I can’t officially rank them yet, don’t be surprised if some elite Skunk varieties crash this list in the near future.
FINAL HIT
At this moment, throughout Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga, Amsterdam, and the surrounding 518 region, these are the flowers that have impressed me the most:
NYC Haze / Good Burger
Super Boof
Toad Venom
More importantly, these are the specific growers and sources behind those flowers that made them stand out.
Because anybody can tell you a strain name.
What really matters is knowing who grew it right.
That’s the difference between good weed and unforgettable weed.
So the next time somebody asks how I always seem to know where the fire is, remember:
You’re seeing the final review.
You’re not seeing the gas money, the vendor conversations, the event admissions, the disappointing purchases, the trial and error, the networking, or the countless hours spent searching.
That’s my job.
I sort through the mids to find the fire so that you don’t have to.
— OG Strain
The Plug’s Pages Magazine
“Finding the fire so you don’t waste your money chasing smoke.”