The top 10 best cannabis strains of November 2026: The final stretch to Strain of the Year

Why we picked it

November’s strain with the highest THC, Bananaconda is an indica-hybrid out of Maine that frequently tests around 28-32% THC. While your cut may vary, Bananaconda is one of the best strains for going 0-60. Honey Sticks Genetics is responsible for this monster, and it’s been percolating up in the Northeast since 2020 before making its way into the national scene. Don’t come to Bananaconda looking for heaps of banana flavor, despite the name, which I suspect is more for the giggle and the nod to the ancestry than the accuracy. Instead, you’ll find it’s got a minty nose over a layer of gas, the former of which particularly comes out if you’ve opted for hash.

Bananaconda is so potent that it’ll compress your brain space so you can only hold a single thought in your head at any given moment. That makes the cross between Snakes Cake and Dual OG #4 into a strain that’s better for focusing than the impressive THC percentage may lead you to believe. If you’ve got a bathroom to clean or a mountain of laundry to fold, sic the Bananaconda on the problem to make it disappear in a cloud of good vibes. If your tolerance is truly terrible to behold, then Bananaconda is tough enough for you to tango with.

Why we picked it

A delightful descendant of Leafly Strain of the Year 2025 NomineeDulce De Uva and Sherbanger, Black Maple is a full, well-rounded sensory experience that leaves you feeling satisfied, and my favorite indica-leaner of the month. Black Maple is the creation of the legendary Harry Palms of Bloom Seed Co., who is a person with an exceptional understanding of euphoria; this strain really is an all-purpose day improver.

It’s a harmonious smoke that helps you connect to your body and the natural world through its deep, woody flavors, and its exceptional THC percentage can lead you on an odyssey of good vibes and peaceful feelings, all without collapsing into a giggling heap.

I first encountered Black Maple last year, and it’s been in my heavy rotation ever since. Our data is showing that I’m not alone; more and more dispensaries are catching on and stocking Black Maple, and a SOTY nomination might be in the cards. If you haven’t caught it yet, try it now.

Why we picked it

The winner of this month’s user poll, Moonbow is a strain that shows the value of persistence. While legendary breeder Archive Seedbank released the original Moonbow in the late 2010s, they’ve been ceaselessly refining and tuning the balanced hybrid into an impeccable strain. Moonbow #112 (not a typo) is the result of years and years of breeding expertise by breeder Fletch and the rest of the Archive team, distilled into a single strain that’s charmed me and our users alike.

The original Moonbow is a cross between 2021’s Leafly Strain of the Year and Archive creation Do-si-dos, and the colossus itself, The Original Z. The result is a strain whose floral bouquet aroma is as poetic as its name implies, but with a very high THC percentage that keeps the strain a nighttime favorite. Imagine frolicking barefoot through a starlit meadow in the bloom of spring before being suplexed into a bed of clover by a woodland creature; that’s the Moonbow experience.

Why we picked it

A nominee for Leafly Strain of the Year 2025, Blue Lobster has shown itself to have some impressive staying power. It’s only grown in 2026, and as the legend of the Lobster spreads across the country, more and more people are taking note of the Cipher Genetics strain that Maine Trees launched to stardom, putting Maine on the cannabis map as a scene worth paying attention to. Blue Lobster has undoubtedly had a red-letter year, and it may just earn a repeat nomination for Leafly’s highest honor this year as well.

If you think you’ve had your fill of fruit salad, then I still recommend giving Blue Lobster a shot. Subtlety is often a lost art in weed, as market pressures dictate breeders grow the most, the biggest, the flashiest. The Apples and Bananas x Eye Candy cross goes against the grain, displaying delicate flavors that aren’t completely overwhelmed by gas. It’s such a precisely dialed indica-hybrid that I’m not afraid to engage with it during the day, as its potent high does not leave you slack-jawed, but talkative and activated. One in a million indeed.

Why we picked it

You can say a lot of things about Glitter Bomb: impeccable fruity flavor and aroma, killer bag appeal, impressive potency. But what you can’t call it is subtle. The strain announces itself with a turned-to-eleven aroma that says yes, Glitter Bomb has arrived, and no, you won’t get it out of your nose, clothes, or hair anytime soon. Consumers, dispensary owners, and critics are all digging on Glitter Bomb, and it may just be a nominee for Strain of the Year this winter. If you haven’t tried it yet, jump on now; you don’t want to be the only one without some sparkle in your step.

Glitter Bomb comes from Compound Genetics, who teamed up with NorCal IC Mag for the indica-hybrid cross between Grape Gas and OGKB Blueberry Headband back in 2022. It’s been growing in popularity ever since and is now some of the best after-dark weed on dispensary shelves right now in most legal US states. Get an eighth, your favorite TV show, and a snack of choice, and your Wednesday will hit in a way it never has before.

Why we picked it

Due to a confluence of industry factors, sativas, and even sativa-leaning hybrid strains are harder and harder to find these days. That makes Chimera all the more special: a sativa-leaning hybrid that is my pick for the sativa strain you most need to try this November. Chimera is a strain that I recommend to those who tend not to play well with sativas due to a tendency towards paranoia when they smoke. There’s a calming element to Chimera that, despite its ferocious potency, won’t send you spiraling off into space, but keeps you grounded, focused, and energized. Chimera says relax.

BeLeaf Cannabis out of Tulsa is the collection of mad scientists responsible for this monster. They bred the strain by crossing White Truffle and The Creature, leading to a strain with more frost than the Arctic Circle. The strain snagged second place at the 2023 High Times MA Cannabis Cup and has developed a following from there. It’s a big hit in the Mountain West, but Chimera is available in dispensaries all over the nation, so don’t worry; you won’t need to go to any cryptid websites to catch a peek of this beast.

Why we picked it

Permanent Marker, Leafly Strain of the Year 2023 and one of the parents of Scented Marker, is one of my absolute favorite strains, and I’m pleased as goddamn punch that Seed Junky is still in the lab with this all-timer. One of their recent PM crosses, Scented Marker, definitely deserves your attention; it combines the chemical, antiseptic smell that made Permanent Marker a hit with a slight cut of citrus, courtesy of the other half of its parentage, Pineapple Fruz.

Of all the Permanent Marker crosses out there that I’ve tried, Scented Marker is easily one of the most interesting; in my experience, it’s certainly a strain that encourages you to color outside the lines. It’s going to bring you waaayyy up and keep you there, with a bright-eyed euphoria that gets a touch cerebral and abstract.

Why we picked it

A child of 2024 Leafly Strain of the Year Super Boof and Oreoz, Sub Zero is a strain that has been biding its time, but I think the indica-leaning hybrid is just about ready to explode into national prominence. To be clear, I’m specifically talking about the strain from GrowMoreFire Genetics, not the (also good) strain of the same name from North Genetics. GrowMoreFire’s creation is the equivalent of a matinee on a Saturday afternoon: it’s not a strain that’s going to totally redirect your day, but a fabulous way to spend an afternoon before getting on to something more energetic in the evening.

Sub Zero is an indica-hybrid that’s heavy on the calm but light on the couch lock. It’s cerebral, giving you a sense of mental well-being but leaves your motor faculties (mostly) intact, making it a great pick for something like exercising. Sub Zero is also a great pre-event smoke for a social situation you may need a little help surviving. It’ll keep the anxiety down without sedating you so heavily that you’ll have trouble following the conversation and hanging with whatever crowd you find yourself in.

Why we picked it

Deo Farms RS11 (aka Rainbow Sherbert #11) is a balanced hybrid that’s become ubiquitous in recent years, meaning that after you read this review and you still haven’t tried it, it’s officially Your Fault if you haven’t had the pleasure of smoking or vaping this strain yet. RS11 has been riding the hype train for around four years now and has truly made an effort to conquer the world with its fruity terpene profile, with a significant number of homegrowers choosing RS11 seeds for their home grows as well.

While RS11 is related to Deo Farms’ slightly more famous offering, Zoap, RS11 is its own animal. The Pink Guava x Sunset Sherbert cross has less chemical aroma and more fruit than Zoap, making a strain that can make some consumers feel nostalgic. If you’ve spent decades looking for a lost cut of Maui Wowie or another classic tropical strain, then RS11 may just give you the vibes you’ve been searching for all these years. But even if it’s your first time in a dispensary, RS11 has carved an impressive niche for itself in the modern market.