The Best Medical Strains to Grow in Rhode Island

Rhode Island is ideal for growing cannabis thanks to its humid continental climate and warm summers. The growing season, which lasts 150 days, gives you an adequate amount of time to veg your cannabis plants for a better yield.

Depending on where you are in the state, the first frost typically hits Rhode Island as early as September or as late as November. The last frost is around April, so ideally, you should put marijuana seeds in the ground by April or May.

If you want to grow cannabis in Rhode Island, look for fast-flowering plants. Strains with shorter flowering times perform best as they get ahead of the state’s frost.

Genetics from Thai, Mexican, and Haze lineages are a bonus since these heirlooms provide the heat and humidity resistance necessary for a strain to thrive in Rhode Island’s outdoor growing conditions. However, they may have a drawback, as these heirloom strains are also known for their long flowering times, which pass down to their offspring.

Afghan

Afghan is one of the best indica strains for Rhode Island because of its hardy and fast-flowering weed plants. Through decades of cultivation and millenia growing wildly in its harsh, native climate of the Hindu Kush mountain range, Afghan has adapted to thrive in less-than-ideal climates and still produces considerable yields, often used for hashish.

Afghan Feminized Seeds

Afghan is a very popular indica heritage strain that delivers a heavy-bodied high. Afghan seeds grow large, fragrant buds known for their happy, relaxed effect.

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One of the best features that makes Afghan an ideal strain to grow in Rhode Island is its fast flowering. Because of the harsh climate and short growing season of its native land, this strain flowers much earlier, ensuring that the next generation of Afghan cannabis sprouts.

Afghan cannabis plants are typically ready for harvest by September, which lets you get ahead of the weather before it deteriorates at the first frost. For yields, you can expect to reap a considerable amount that ranges from 15 to 22 ounces, depending on how you veg your Afghan plants. If you prefer autoflowers however, it is also available in autoflower!

Afghan cultivar profile

Purple Haze

Purple Haze is a sativa-dominant strain that produces hardy plants that thrive in Rhode Island's climate. Haze and Thai genetics give Purple Haze a natural resilience against the state’s high heat and humidity. Additionally, while it has a reasonably long flowering time, it’s far shorter than other Haze strains. Purple Haze is often ready for harvest before the first frost.

Purple Haze Feminized Seeds

Do you want to experience a high so great they named it after one of Hendrix's classics? You need Purple Haze seeds!

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You can expect 21 to 25 ounces of smokable flowers per plant by October. Purple Haze has you covered if you're not used to tending to tall plants. It only grows to around 4 to 7 feet tall, considerably shorter than other sativa strains.

Purple Haze is also an excellent choice for Rhode Island’s growers because of its effects. A sesh from this strain will have you feeling energized and euphoric, perfect for those who need a buzz of energy to carry them through the day. For medical users, the presence of limonene in Purple Haze eases anxiety and depression.

Purple Haze cultivar profile

Rainbow Glue

Rainbow Glue, made by crossing Zkittlez with Gorilla Glue #4, is an indica-dominant strain that grows well in Rhode Island. Rainbow Glue inherited its robust nature from the hardy GG4, which thrives well in warmer climates. It also inherited its flavorful taste from Zkittlez, its other parent strain.

Rainbow Glue feminized seeds

When flavor and yield matter, you want a cultivar that doesn't just taste good; it also delivers. Gorilla Glue crossed with Zkittlez is that strain.

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When cultivating, Rainbow Glue acquired Zkittlez' and GG4's fast-flowering nature, allowing you to see a harvest of about 70 ounces per marijuana plant by September if you give it the time to fully veg and reach its maximum height of about 4 to 5 feet.

For medical users, the myrcene in Rainbow Glue relieves chronic pain and inflammation due to the terpene's analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Myrcene's ability to act like a muscle relaxant helps reduce stress in the body, adding to its relaxing and uplifting high.

Rainbow Glue cultivar profile

Candy Kush

Like Rainbow Glue, Candy Kush is an indica-hybrid with myrcene in its flowers. Myrcene gives Candy Kush analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, making the strain a good alternative for medical patients seeking relief from chronic pain and inflammation. Candy Kush also contains caryophyllene, a terpene known for its anxiolytic properties that can help reduce feelings of anxiety. It also has limonene, which is said to help reduce stress and depressive symptoms.

Candy Kush Feminized Seeds

Candy Kush is a marijuana strain that is perfect for enjoying at the end of the day. It's not too pungent or strong taste-wise or smell-wise, but recognizable and pleasant just the same.

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You can grow Candy Kush in Rhode Island since it inherited traits from Mexican and Thai heirlooms through Trainwreck, giving it the resilience it needs to thrive in the sunny and warm summers of the state.

Candy Kush is also a fast-flowering cultivar thanks to its Hindu Kush genetics, inherited from OG Kush. Hindu Kush flowers quickly for the same reason as Afghan: to ensure the strain's survival. For growers, this translates to a fast-flowering indica-hybrid that you can expect to harvest by late September and yields up to 17 ounces per plant.

Candy Kush cultivar profile

Critical Mass

Scott Blakey (Shantibaba) and Nevil Martin Schoenmakers created Critical Mass to redefine the well-loved Big Bud cannabis strain. The two legendary breeders crossed Afghani #1 with Skunk #1, the same strains used to make Big Bud.

Critical Mass Feminized Seeds

Critical Mass is particularly known for having high levels of CBD, making it an excellent choice for those who want to relieve their symptoms and still be able to function.

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The resulting indica-hybrid was a high-yielding cultivar known for its vigorous growth and dense flowers. When cultivating Critical Mass, outdoor plants reach heights of 4 to 9 feet, with a harvest of around 17 to 21 ounces per plant by September.

Its Afghani genetics ensure Critical Mass cannabis plants thrive during Rhode Island's warm summers. And if you grow indoors, feel free to use the autoflower variant as well!

Critical Mass cultivar profile

Durban Poison

When growing cannabis in a coastal state like Rhode Island, consider Durban Poison. This South African strain grew natively in Durban, adapting to the coastal city's hot and humid growing conditions.

Durban Poison Feminized Seeds

Durban Poison is a pure sativa named after its city of origin: Durban, South Africa. Despite its name, it is a delightful strain that gives the user energy, joy, and creativity.

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While Durban Poison may seem like the ideal strain to grow in Rhode Island since it is a coastal city like Durban, growers must keep a close watch on the weather. Durban doesn't experience Rhode Island’s cold winters; it has milder and drier ones, meaning that this heirloom sativa may not be so well-adapted to colder winter climates. The cold winter can slow down or stop plant growth, causing your plants to start wilting.

Durban Poison usually gets ahead of Rhode Island's first frost because its plants are fast-flowering and are often ready for harvest by late September or mid-October. If you still need to grow more confidently, you can always grow Durban Poison Auto. Due to ruderalis genetics, Durban Poison Auto is much more resilient to colder winters. It has a faster turnaround, letting you harvest much sooner than growing regular, feminized cannabis seeds.

Durban Poison cultivar profile

Master Kush

Another strain that thrives in the coastal state of Rhode Island is Master Kush, an indica-dominant strain made crossing Hindu Kush with Skunk #1. These parent strains help Master Kush produce resilient plants that thrive in most conditions, even in Rhode Island’s humid continental climate. Its Hindu Kush and Skunk #1 lineage made its plants flower much quicker, meaning you can see harvest before the first frost.

Master Kush Feminized Seeds

his almost pure indica is a powerhouse on the Cannabis market - partly due to very public shoutouts from weed connoisseurs, such as rapper Snoop Dogg.

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Typically, Master Kush grows to about 4 to 5 feet tall, and the plants are ready for harvest by late September or early October. Depending on how long you let them veg, they yield about 15 to 19 ounces per plant.

If you're looking for a strain that can help with insomnia, Master Kush is a good choice. This indica-hybrid is a good end-of-day strain as it provides a strong body high that will leave you deeply relaxed and euphoric. The presence of limonene in its flowers can help reduce feelings of stress and depression, while myrcene and caryophyllene help with pain and inflammation.

Master Kush cultivar profile

OG Kush

OG Kush is an indica-dominant strain with genetics that allow it to thrive in Rhode Island's humid continental climate. Thanks to the Hawaiian and Thai traits that OG Kush inherited from Lemon Thai, it flourishes under the state's warm growing conditions. It also has an autoflower variant for our autoflower fans!

OG Kush Feminized Seeds

OG Kush produces a mood-elevating, heavy euphoria making it great for people looking to wash away stress. Its blend of 75% indica and 25% sativa brings a balance between physical and mental experience.

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Since OG Kush originated in California during the 1990s, this strain naturally thrives in coastal states. Many people say the 'OG' in its name means 'Ocean Grown' because it was often grown near the California coast.

OG Kush and, in general, Kush varieties are some of the best strains to smoke for medical users who suffer from anxiety. OG Kush has concentrations of limonene, which helps reduce feelings of stress and increase feelings of satisfaction by releasing GABA and dopamine.

OG Kush cultivar profile

Blue Dream

Another strain that thrives in Rhode Island is Blue Dream. This sativa-dominant strain was made by crossing Blueberry and Haze, resulting in a hybrid that flourishes best in climates with warm summers.

Blue Dream Feminized Seeds

Without a doubt, Blue Dream seeds are one of the most popular marijuana strains in the U.S. Blue Dream gives that 'Cool West Coast Vibe' high sativa-dominant hybrids are known for.

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Blue Dream plants typically reach heights of 4 to 6 feet, which is considerably smaller and easier to manage than most other sativa strains. It's usually ready for harvest by October, so you can harvest before the first frost. It also is available in autoflower variant, if interested!

Blue Dream’s effects provide a cerebral buzz that makes you feel relaxed and euphoric. For medical users, the pinene in Blue Dream's flowers helps relieve neuropathic pain in the body. It may even help with migraines. With myrcene as its primary terpene, Blue Dream may also reduce muscle pain and inflammation.

Sunset Sherbet

Sunset Sherbet is an indica-dominant strain made by crossing Girl Scout Cookies with Pink Panties. This strain is an excellent option for growing in Rhode Island as it inherited traits from Durban Poison and OG Kush through Girl Scout Cookies and Pink Panties. The resulting strain is an indica-hybrid that thrives well in the warm summer climate of the coastal state.

Sunset Sherbet Feminized Seeds

Sunset Sherbet is an indica dominant hybrid that will spark your creativity. Sweet like a scoop of sherbet while watching the sunset, this strain is a tasty descendant of Girl Scout Cookies.

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The bushy plants from Sunset Sherbet grow to the size of an average indica, which is around 4 to 6 feet tall. This indica-hybrid is typically ready to harvest by late September to early October, yielding 10 to 14 ounces per plant.

Its effects include a relaxing, uplifting body buzz. In addition to the high it gives, Sunset Sherbet offers therapeutic benefits from the caryophyllene in its flowers, such as reducing stress and anxiety.

Sunset Sherbert cultivar profile

Sources used in this article

• Song, Y. et al. (2021) Limonene has anti-anxiety activity via adenosine A2A receptor-mediated regulation of dopaminergic and GABAergic neuronal function in the striatum [ScienceDirect]⁽¹⁾
• Hanus, L. & Hod, Y. (2020) Terpenes/Terpenoids in Cannabis: Are They Important? [PubMed Central]⁽²⁾
• Schwarz, A. et al. (2023) Terpenes from Cannabis sativa Induce Antinociception in Mouse Chronic Neuropathic Pain via Activation of Spinal Cord Adenosine A2A Receptors [PubMed Central]⁽³⁾