AMSTERDAM BEGINNINGS
In the early 1990s, breeder Simon developed AK-47 while working in Amsterdam. After a brief tenure at Sensi Seeds and a short-lived partnership with Cerebral Seeds, he founded Serious Seeds in 1995. AK-47’s early splash at the 1994 High Times Cannabis Cup provided the launchpad for both the strain and the company.
FOUR-WAY FIREPOWER
First bred in 1992, AK-47 was built from a diverse genetic palette: Colombian, Mexican, and Thai sativas blended with Afghan indica. The goal was precision—fast turnaround, manageable growth indoors, and serious potency.
QUICK FINISH
At a time when most sativa-dominant strains took 12+ weeks, AK-47 finished in just 8–9 weeks (53–63 days). This balance of speed and sativa traits set it apart, especially for European growers working within tight indoor spaces.
CUP CORONATION
AK-47 debuted at the 1994 High Times Cannabis Cup, quickly earning recognition. It went on to stack more than 27 international awards across decades, with Serious Seeds branding it “the most awarded cannabis strain on the market.” In 2003, High Times gave it special recognition for its sustained impact.
THE NAME, EXPLAINED
The name “AK-47” wasn’t meant as glorification of violence, but rather a metaphor for its strength. Simon described it as a “one-hit wonder,” emphasizing its immediate potency.
POTENCY NOTE (1999)
At the 1999 High Times Cup, an independent lab measured AK-47 at 21.5% THC—reportedly the highest result among that year’s entries, cementing its reputation as one of the strongest strains of its era.
OFFSPRING AND PHENOS
The line spawned fan favorites and spinoffs. White Russian (AK-47 × White Widow) became a standout in its own right, while Cherry AK emerged as one of the most celebrated phenotype variations within the AK family.
GROWER’S ALLY
AK-47 earned a reputation as a grower-friendly strain: compact, highly resinous, with a high calyx-to-leaf ratio that made trimming easier. Its pungent aroma demanded odor control, but its versatility in both hydro and soil setups made it a reliable performer from Amsterdam coffeeshops to global gardens.
WORLDWIDE SPREAD
Serious Seeds notes that AK-47 has been extensively copied and used as the backbone for countless hybrids. “AK” riffs spread globally, appearing in seed catalogs, underground breeding projects, and clone-only circles from Europe to North America.
LEGACY SECURED
Three decades after its creation, AK-47 remains one of the definitive hybrids of the 1990s. It fused speed, yield, potency, and flavor into a balanced blueprint—becoming a cornerstone of modern cannabis genetics and one of the most recognized strain names worldwide.
YOUTUBE VIDEO
— Presented by Nugg Notes
sources:
•Serious Seeds. “AK-47 Strain ® Originally Bred by Serious Seeds.” SeriousSeeds.com. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
•Serious Seeds. “History.” SeriousSeeds.com. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
•SeedFinder. “AK47 (Serious Seeds) :: Cannabis Strain Info.” SeedFinder.eu. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
•SeedFinder. “Winners of the #7 High Times Cannabis Cup 1994.” SeedFinder.eu. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
•Cannabis Cup Winners Archive. “1994 High Times Cannabis Cup.” CannabisCupWinners.com. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
•Leafly Staff. “AK-47 (aka AK) Weed Strain Information.” Leafly. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
•Amsterdam Seed Center. “A Short History of the AK-47 Cannabis Strain.” AmsterdamSeedCenter.com. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
•Beard Bros Pharms. “Breeding the Culture: Simon and Serious Seeds.” BeardBrosPharms.com, 3 June 2021. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
•CannaConnection. “AK-47 – Strain Information.” CannaConnection.com. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
•CannaConnection. “Interview with Serious Seeds.” CannaConnection.com, 18 Nov. 2022. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
•Kind Green Buds. “1994 High Times Cannabis Cup Winners.” KindGreenBuds.com. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
•Wikipedia Contributors. “AK-47 (cannabis).” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, last modified 2025. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
Notes:
•The Serious Seeds strain page covers lineage (Colombian × Mexican × Thai × Afghani), flowering time (8–9 weeks), award count, and the official “one-hit wonder” name explanation.
•Cup placements for 1994 (Grey Area 3rd overall; Cerebral Seeds 2nd Hydro) are logged in both SeedFinder and independent Cup archives.
•Simon’s path from early collaborations to founding Serious Seeds in 1995 is documented by Serious Seeds and secondary histories.
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