Leafly partnered with Trends Dispensary in Queens to analyze New York’s top trending strains and how they change each month. Here’s how Lemon Cherry Gelato, Runtz, and GUMBO got to the top of the charts.
Leafly strain search data shows which strains are trending around the world. Each year, millions of cannabis users search Leafly’s database to learn more about their cannabis. Leafly partnered with Trends Dispensary in Long Island City, New York to analyze the top trending strains New Yorkers are looking for in 2024.
2024’s top viewed strains in New York [November 2024]
We measure the zaza zeitgeist with how users navigate the 6,000+ strains in our database. This month, the 2023 Leafly Strain of the Year (Permanent Marker) is on a roll. It took Jack Herer‘s #5 spot in the top 10 of New York’s most viewed strains. It was the only new addition in 3 months. With just one more month left in the year, here’s the full list of New York’s top trending strains, according to user data from the Leafly strain database.
- Lemon Cherry Gelato
- Blue Dream
- GG4
- Wedding Cake
- Permanent Marker
- Runtz
- Sour Diesel
- GUMBO
- Gelato
- Ice Cream Cake
According to Leafly search data, the top four spots in New York’s top 10 have remained the same for most of the year—New Yorkers like what they like. Since July, we’ve seen Jack Herer, Apple Fritter and Oreoz fall out of the top 10, while newer strains like GUMBO and Ice Cream Cake storm back after short stints away.
Oldies like Blue Dream and Sour Diesel are still giving the popular designer and candy strains a run for their money in New York. But new-era hitters like Runtz and Gelato are hard to beat, given their monster yield and bag appeal.
How GG4 lost New York’s top spot to Lemon Cherry Gelato
GG4 is a grandchild of classics Sour Diesel and Chemdawg. New York loves sour, and these vintage sour genetics helped make GG4 (aka Gorilla Glue #4) the most searched strain in New York for half of 2022 (Runtz took the number one spot for the other half).
In spring 2023, GG4 lost ground to Runtz, Blue Dream, and Lemon Cherry Gelato on the Leafly strain chart. In May 2023, Lemon Cherry Gelato shot all the way to the top spot. LCG has now held on to the crown for 19 straight months.
A top strain like Lemon Cherry Gelato becomes a hit because of genetics first. It’s durable and resilient. “You can grow it in most climates and get great yields with low margin for error,” said Joe Grows, a Queens grower who applied for a micro-business cultivation license with New York state.
Macro economics make strains like LCG an easy pick for the wholesale market. The bag appeal, high THC content, and versatile terpene profile make it an easy sell to the average customer.
Trends
27-25 44th Dr, Long Island City, NY — recreational
Leafly Trends is brought to you by Trends dispensary, New York’s 100th legal cannabis dispensary. Located in Long Island City, Queens, the Trends experience includes wellness, education, and art.
New York’s rising strains [November 2024]
As with fashion, culture, and food, cannabis in New York is trending ahead. According to Leafly search data, these strains are gaining traction through views, searches and purchases across New York state year over year in November 2024.
- Hash Burger (+593%)
- Strawberry Haze (+522%)
- Blue Lobster (+386%)
- Purple Panty Dropper (+356%)
- Baby Yoda (+268%)
- Grape Guava (+205%)
- Blueberry Haze (+191%)
- Brownie Scout (+188%)
- Tropical Cherries (+182%)
- Notorious THC (+175%)
November 2024’s hottest strains in New York [November 2024]
On a smaller scope, some more niche strains like Zushi and Blue Widow are making gains this month. Now that harvest season is over, stores will soon get a boost in variety with Croptober gains.
- Strawberry Haze (+286%)
- Cheese & Chong (+262%)
- Dosi OG (+187%)
- Astral Works (+181%)
- Zushi (+180%)
- Purple Skunk (+147%)
- Royal Gorilla (+140%)
- Blue Widow (+130%)
- Cherry Tart (+130%)
- Sour Papaya (+113%)
Lemon Cherry’s Gelato’s cousin Runtz is back on the rise
Runtz as a strain and cannabis institution made its official debut in 2017 at the Emerald Cup, and went on to become the 2020 Leafly Strain of the Year. Powered by Gelato and Original Z genetics, plus genius marketing from Yung LB and Ray Bama, Runtz has a lot in common with Lemon Cherry Gelato. They’re relatives, with ties to other lauded strains like Permanent Marker (Leafly SOTY 2023), Jealousy (Leafly SOTY 2022), and Biscotti—a true family of winners.
GUMBO is another hot strand (strain + brand) in New York
Much like Runtz, GUMBO is a strain with monster branding. Luka Brazi and Alexis Major told Leafly about their plan to take over cannabis in 2022, and they’ve followed through so far. The strain charts show that GUMBO has been hovering around the top 10 in New York since 2023, thanks in large part to Brazi and Major’s massive influence.
Blue Lobster, Brownie Scout, and Pluto are rising fast in 2024
Look out for these top searched strains last month, including Afghani and Durban Poison, which hint that New Yorkers are hungry for earthy and skunky terps associated more with classic kush and sour strains than popular candy and dessert flavors that have dominated the past decade. If you’re ready for some undiscovered terps, try Blue Lobster (+258%), Pluto (+159%) and Brownie Scout (+426%). They’re all up huge compared to 2023, making them some of the fastest rising strains in Leafly’s database.
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What are you smoking, New York? Keep up with New York’s favorite strains, brands, dispensaries, and events on Leafly‘s New York homepage.
