Morgan Rosendale, Leafly editor, cannabis journalist, and friend to all budtenders, takes you through the best weed strains of the month as we close in on Strain of the Year 2026.
Happy October, Leafly Nation! The Leafly Picks team and I are back with the strains you need to get you through spooky season with your chill intact. I’ve got five new strains you deserve to treat yourself with, plus five returning favorites that deserve another month in the limelight.
Our hunt for Leafly Strain of the Year has entered its final stages, and we’re neck-deep in data looking for which strain has defined 2026. There’s still time to make your voice heard; check out the user poll on this page, or take to social media to tell us which strain you think deserves to wear the crown.
Though this list is numbered, it isn’t ranked. The Leafly Picks team loves all our best strain picks equally. If something isn’t available behind your nearest dispensary counter, don’t worry, it’s likely on the way.
I’ll be back next month with an update to this list as the hunt for 2026’s Strain of the Year reaches its peak. We’ll be announcing the strains soon, so get to smoking the strains below so you can have an informed opinion.
Leafly Picks: Chosen by our editors
Leafly Picks are the strains our editorial team thinks are worth your attention. We make every selection ourselves, informed by our community, trusted budtenders, and what we’re seeing across Leafly.
“At Leafly, we try out strains for ourselves. The ones we’d recommend to a friend become Leafly Picks.” – Leafly Editorial Staff
Community reviews
We examine hundreds of reviews on Leafly to see what users find exciting.
Budtender favorites
Through Counter Culture, we ask budtenders across the nation for their favorites.
What’s trending
We use Leafly’s massive database to track consumer trends.
| Strain name | Indica, sativa, hybrid | Top effect |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Blue Lobster (New) | Indica-hybrid | Relaxed |
| 2. Glitter Bomb | Hybrid | Tingly |
| 3. Black Maple | Indica-hybrid | Relaxed |
| 4. Zoap (New) | Hybrid | Relaxed |
| 5. Jokerz (New) | Indica-hybrid | Focused |
| 6. Toad Venom | Indica-hybrid | Aroused |
| 7. Gas Face (New) | Indica-hybrid | Creative |
| 8. Dante’s Inferno | Hybrid | Relaxed |
| 9. Splash (New) | Hybrid | Uplifted |
| 10. Scented Marker | Indica-hybrid | Euphoric |
1. Editor’s Pick of the month: Blue Lobster
The strain a member of our team simply can’t get enough of right now, influenced by the data and your user responses. You may not be able to find it in your area yet, but keep your eyes peeled, because it’s well worth the hunt.
THC: 27%Indica hybridEffects: relaxed, euphoric, talkative
calmingenergizing
low thchigh thc
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.
It certainly seems that a nomination is likely, given how you all feel about it. Enough folks love lobster to make it this month’s winner of the user poll, and this month, we are in the same lobster boat; the Apples and Bananas x Eye Candy cross with a unique spin on the fruity candy terps has certainly left me charmed and reinvested in a flavor profile that can be hard to escape.
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. Blue Lobster 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.
In addition to its Strain of the Year nod last year, Blue Lobster pulled off an impressive showing at the East Coast Zalympix in 2023, winning Best Terps and Gassiest Flower. The strain has done nothing but grow since then, taking over state after state and spawning crosses that are springing up nationwide. It’s one of the year’s strongest strains, and October is the perfect time to try it out. One in a million indeed.
User review
Blue Lobster is my favorite indica-hybrid. Sweet, fruity, yet lightly gassy terps. The effects are relaxing and euphoric without much couchlock. Perfect strain to enjoy a good relaxing time.
2. Glitter Bomb
THC: 21%CBG: 1%HybridEffects: Tingly, giggly, relaxed
calmingenergizing
low thchigh thc
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.
User review
After I opened the jar it exploded with crystals! The buds are dusty and it got everywhere. It was as if I had spilled sparkling glitter everywhere! This was a really good smoke and hope to find some more man.
3. Black Maple
THC: 26%HybridEffects: relaxed, sleepy, euphoric
calmingenergizing
low thchigh thc
Why we picked it
A delightful descendant of Leafly Strain of the Year 2025 Nominee Dulce De Uva and Sherbanger, Black Maple is a full, well-rounded sensory experience that leaves you feeling satisfied. 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.
User review
In colloquial terms, “This shit is good!”
4. Zoap
THC: 21%CBG: 1%HybridEffects: relaxed, giggly, hungry
calmingenergizing
low thchigh thc
Why we picked it
Zoap made its bones in the California scene right in the first part of the decade, and really rose to national prominence in 2025, before reaching a new level of status and prestige this year. Its growth has led Zoap to being one of the strains we’re looking at for SOTY contention; sometimes it takes a strain a bit of time to spread throughout the weed smoking world, and our data is showing that Zoap has seldom been more popular than it is right now. Zoap is the creation of DEO Farms, an Oakland-based outfit that struck gold with the cross between Rainbow Sherbet and Pink Guava. (That’s the headline; check out the strain page for the whole genetic story.)
Zoap boasts a fruity flavor profile with just a bit of a soapy edge; just enough to give you something interesting to mull over, not enough to give you the experience of having your mother wash your mouth for swearing. Get some buddies over, and put on a game or movie to experience Zoap to the fullest. Make sure you order the pizza ahead of time, though. When the Zoap-fueled munchies come on, they come on strong.
User review
What a beauty, I deal with chronic pain in my feet and back and smoking this completely puts me at ease
5. Jokerz
THC: 25%CBG: 1%Indica hybridEffects: focused, relaxed, euphoric
calmingenergizing
low thchigh thc
Why we picked it
An indica-leaning hybrid that smokes like butter and that many Leafly reviewers say delivers a shock of creative, social energy most associate with the sativa side of the spectrum, Compound Genetics Jokerz really is a wild card. It’s a descendant of White Runtz and Jet Fuel Gelato, and you can think of it as sort of a Jet Fuel Gelato-lite. It retains the resin and heavy gas of JFG but adds a layer of the classic Runtz flavors, with a mid-20s THC percentage that is going to be more than a match for most consumers out there, but with a bit of a smoother flavor and less chemical dankness.
Jokerz hype has grown to the point where your local dispensary is likely to have whatever form of the strain you like: flower, concentrate, or cart. As an experienced consumer, I like to have a go with Jokerz when I’m looking for gas but not enough to bowl me over—it’s great weed for gaming or cleaning. But if you’ve got a lower tolerance, sit down like a good audience member, and let Jokerz entertain you with a barrel of laughs.
User review
This stuff takes me from first person POV to third. it’s great.
6. Toad Venom
THC: 24%Indica hybridEffects: aroused, energetic, creative
calmingenergizing
low thchigh thc
Why we picked it
The Animal Face x Sin Mintz aka Sinmint Cookies hybrid is one of the most hyped strains of this year by far (hyped it myself back in the Spring roundup, and in last month’s roundup as well), and yet, the strain is so good I felt compelled to bring it back and add more accolades to Ronin Seeds and Toad Venom’s rapidly growing pile of kudos, and it may keep coming back until Strain of the Year.
Underneath all the hype is a rock-solid strain that deserves the praise: a peppery, funky phenom that could be laying the foundation to become a superstar. It’s good enough that you’re going to want to start befriending budtenders to get the inside scoop on where you can find some. But be warned: if you’re in Seattle, you’re gonna have to fight me for it.
User review
fire weed, flavor taste very good it has like cactus soda taste to it and smokes hella smooth with an energizing and euphoric high with a buzz afterwards. Straight cinematic high, highly recommend.
7. Gas Face
THC: 28%CBG: 1%Indica hybridEffects: relaxed, creative, uplifted
calmingenergizing
low thchigh thc
Why we picked it
Alright, motorheads, this one’s for you. If you want the real-deal diesel you can’t find at a gas station, Gas Face from the masters at Seed Junky will fill your tank just fine. What makes Gas Face stand out from the rat race of gas strains is the touch of fresh mint from the Kush Mints line. Think of it like a big rig with a roaring six-cylinder diesel under the hood and a fresh pine air freshener in the cab. Gas Face is most likely Face Mints crossed with a (Biscotti x Sherbert) backcross, leading to a strain that tastes, looks, and smells like a first-place finish.
Gas Face is not a daytime weed; don’t even think about it. Not only will the smell alert everyone on your block, but Gas Face routinely tests at the upper limits of THC percentages, often breaking the 30% THC ceiling. Once the sun goes down and you can really let the throttle out, Gas Face will drive you to new creative heights before taking you home to sleep it off.
User review
As soon as you open the bag, you’re blasted in the face with this gas (hence the name). This strain has a bulbous bud structure, and a smell that will knock your socks off and singe your eyebrow hairs. Funky, cheesy, lemony, Gas Face is a strong flavored, high THC strain perfect for starting or ending your day. Small amounts will lift you up, large amounts will have you laughing too hard to go out in public. My PTSD melts away as soon as I finish a joint of this. Flavor 10/10 Smell 8/10 (makes you recoil) High 10/10 PICK THIS UP WHEN YOU SEE IT!!!
8. Dante’s Inferno
THC: 26%HybridEffects: relaxed, tingly, focused
calmingenergizing
low thchigh thc
Why we picked it
You may have seen Dante’s Inferno on dispensary shelves already, tempting you into damnation with its frosty, resin-coated buds, and if you haven’t taken the plunge just yet, let me be the one to evangelize this sinful strain. The indica-hybrid is the result of a collab between Clearwater and Tiki Madman, who crossed Oreoz with Tiki Madman’s own Devil Driver for a spectacular strain that’s had an impressive rise and isn’t slowing.
Unlike the residents of the strain’s namesake, you’ll be having a pretty good time with Dante’s Inferno; its luscious ammonia, pepper, and cream flavor will give way to a lifting euphoria that’ll help you leave your earthly worries behind. Dante was my editor’s choice back in August, and another strain that we’re scouting for Strain of the Year; nothing’s guaranteed, but the rest of the pack may have some stiff competition with Dante around.
User review
So. Good. Mellow taste, smooth smoke. Starts slow and then hits hard with that sweet indica vibe. My body feels like a feather. I’m super relaxed but not overly sleepy. It’s a good strain for watching tv and just chillin out. Could be a good one for getting intimate. My brain feels like satin. No edges on anything. All is well. Wonderful strain to have in your apothecary.
9. Splash
THC: 28%HybridEffects: uplifted, talkative, creative
calmingenergizing
low thchigh thc
Why we picked it
A very new strain that seems to already be making some waves in our database, Splash is a cross of TK41 and Chauffeur, itself a cross between Wedding Cake and Daily Driver. While there are a few different strains available with the name Splash, this particular variant is bred by Uncle Dad Vibes, a brand with deep roots in the Californian market, and this small-batch sensation is still mostly limited to the western half of the country, but is showing signs in our database that it might be fixing to really pop off, so if you can, now is the time to find the strain so you can still say you were on it before it was cool.
On the smoke, it’s got a citrus lead with a little bit of berry; think strawberry lemonade, the drink, not the strain. The Chauffeur lineage adds an extra dollop of icing to the affair and the lightest touch of gas. As Splash is still a newer strain, each batch may vary, but at this point Splash has a reputation for being very strong, just like Chauffeur. But if you’ve got the tolerance for it and enjoy a solid citrus strain, then Splash may be in your rotation for a long time to come.
User review
WI love the high it’s very good for insomnia hunger issues and stress I love this strain a lot now
10. Scented Marker
THC: 25%Indica hybridEffects: euphoric, creative, relaxed
calmingenergizing
low thchigh thc
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.
User review
I’m a huge fan of the “marker’s”, Permanent Marker was the first one I fell in love with, but Scented Marker is a step above, I feel actually smarter after I smoke flowers. Sounds crazy but I feel more critical of others instructions, I.e. I’m slower to just accept things on this strain, I want to question, educate, and active after a couple puffs!! Do yourself a favor and grab some of you have the opportunity.
The roaches
Strains from other roundups this year that didn’t make the cut this month.
- Chrome Dome
- Pineapple Mojito
- Nectarine Jelly
- Blü Frōōt
- Gas Station Sushi
- Black Amber
- Point Breeze
- Orange Drizzle
- Ruby Violet
- Strawberries and Cream
- Sour Haze
- Crunch Berries
- Devil Driver
- Kombucha
- Ginger Tea
- One Piece
- Jack of Diamonds
- Purple Headies
- Toronja
- Disco
- Titan Express
- Super Runtz
- Power
- Trophy Wife
- Blue Nerds
- Baby Yoda
- Horchata
- Cadillac Rainbows
- Moroccan Peaches
How we make our picks
Every recommendation starts with editorial judgment. We combine firsthand experience from the Leafly Picks team with input from trusted contributors, experienced cannabis professionals, and patterns across millions of reviews from the Leafly community. We also consider availability, consistency, and seasonal relevance. Not every editor has personally tried every product we recommend, but every pick is reviewed through this editorial process before publication. This monthly effort informs our selection of Leafly’s highest honor: our annual Strain of the Year award.
Final thoughts
That’s it from me and the Leafly Picks team! Check back next month for even more strains and let me know what you’re smoking this month in the poll above; your favorite may find its way to the list next month. Happy smoking!
Morgan Rosendale: Content Editor
Morgan Rosendale is a Seattle-based writer, editor, and lover of all things cannabis. She’s been with Leafly since 2022, where she currently works as the site’s Content Editor. She spends her time writing about and researching the wide and wonderful world of weed, surfacing innovative brands and products that treat both cannabis and the consumer with respect. She has been writing professionally for nearly a decade, primarily covering food and wine before her time at Leafly. You can often spot her at the movie theatre or smoking Super Lemon Haze out of the weirdest bong she can find.
Anna Elliott: Senior Content Editor
Anna Elliott is a writer, editor, and longtime cannabis nerd based in Seattle. She joined Leafly in 2021 and currently works as the brand’s Senior Content Editor, where she helps shape stories about the best in weed from must-try strains to standout gear and gifts. Before Leafly, she spent nearly a decade reviewing products, covering emerging brands, and championing the people behind them. She’s passionate about making cannabis content accessible, fun, and genuinely helpful. And yes, she really does believe Space Mints hits different when you’re alphabetizing vinyl by mood.
