Internet cannabis resource Leafly has announced its cannabis Strain of the Year for 2022.
This year, the award goes to Jealousy (Hybrid), a hybrid strain that Leafly says has demonstrated unparalleled breakthrough market impact.
Leafly chose the strain from its massive database for the fifth annual award.
Previous winners include Dosidos (2021), Runtz (2020), Wedding Cake (2019), and Gelato (2018).
Leafly says its experts comb the industry to find standout strains that can affect cannabis consumer demand.
The company says its Strain of the Year is a kingmaker, influencing preferences, tastes, and retailer purchasing decisions.
But as influential as Strain of the Year may be, Leafly says money has nothing to do with it.
“Advertisers cannot buy a Leafly Strain of the Year,” states a company press release. “Leafly’s award-winning experts follow emerging strains, analyzing year-over-year changes in strain page views, growth in menu-availability, and orders placed.”
Leafly says breeding, strain effects, adult-use state availability, and market-fit influence its decision.
Jealousy is a Sherbert and Gelato mix that Cookies and Seed Junky Genetics collaboration brand The Minntz debuted in 2019.
Leafly says Jealousy’s dominant terpene is caryophyllene, giving it a spicy aroma.
Caryophyllene is also present in black pepper, cloves, and cinnamon.
The company says reviewers describe Jealosy as earthy and funky in flavor with mentally relaxing and physically-energizing effects.
According to the company, Jealousy flew off the shelves in Southern California upon its release and has gained popularity.
Jealousy sits in Leafly’s Top 100 among more than 6,000 strains in the company’s database.
“If your local dispensary has Jealousy in stock, it’s safe to say that they’re savvy to the connoisseur cannabis conversation in the US right now,” says Leafly California Bureau Chief David Downs. “Cannabis breeders constantly create new strains to meet evolving consumer trends and future demand. Jealousy’s waves continue to reverberate. More than a dozen new, notable strains crossed with Jealousy to capitalize on its lineage and prestige.”