Northern Lights

By

Oulawgrower/JessE

You're traveling through another dimension -- a dimension not only

of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land
whose boundaries are that of imagination. That's a signpost up
ahead: your next stop: the Twilight Zone! - Rod Serling

Described as a “state of the art indoor indica”, Northern Lights became a

house hold name after making its way from the Pacific North West to the
Netherlands, where it arrived in the possession of Nevil Schoenmakers,
owner of The Seed Bank, Holland’s first cannabis seed company and the
original “King of Cannabis”. According to Jorge Cervantes, a long time writer
for High Times magazine, Northern Lights was originally bred by a man
known as “The Indian” on an Island near Seattle, Washington in the United
States of America. In Jorge’s version of events detailing the history of
Northern Lights there were a total of eleven seeds held by “The Indian” that
were labeled Northern Lights #1 through Northern Lights # 11. Among the
eleven Northern Lights plants, Northern Lights #5 is said to have been the
best of the group with Northern Lights #8 and #1 said to have been of above
average quality as well. Described as a 70 day variety indoors which finishes
by October in the Northern Hemisphere outdoors, Cervantes’ description of
Northern Lights states that is primarily an Afghani Indica which was
hybridized with a Thai sativa. Described as very stable, with a piney taste
and a THC percentage of over 15% this description has become synonymous
with reports of Northern Lights the world over. With a very favorable flower
to leaf ratio, it is described as having a purple tinge to the leaves late in the
flowering cycle.

According to Sam the Skunk Man, Northern Lights originated near Seattle,
Washington (with origins said to be ultimately out of California according to
Sam) and arrived in the Netherlands in clone form only in 1985. Available
exclusively from Nevil at The Seed Bank, it was quickly hybridized with many
outstanding varieties in their own right and marketed to customers across
the globe. Said to be the most resinated variety known at the time, by some
accounts at least 70 varieties of cannabis were hybridized with Northern
Lights or Northern Light derivatives by the mid 1990’s alone. Northern Light
hybrids quickly dominated the High Times Cannabis Cup (HTCC) festivals,
taking first place in the 2nd, 6th and 7th annual HTCC competitions
respectively. With the pure Northern Lights #5 cut winning the 3rd annual
HTCC competition. The Seed Banks 1987 catalogue listed several Northern
Lights varieties, including (Northern Lights #1 x Big Bud) x Big Bud, Hash
Plant x Northern Lights #1, G13 x Northern Lights #2 F-1 hybrid, Northern
Lights #1, Haze x Northern Lights #1 F- 1 hybrid, (Hash Plant x Northern
Lights #1) x Swazi, Northern Lights #5 x Skunk #1 F-1 hybrid and a
wonderful photograph by ganja guru Ed Rosenthal of the original Northern
Lights #5 cutting. The Northern Lights #1 variety is described as a “true
breeding Afghani, with extreme indica characteristics. These are short,
stocky plants, with leathery, dark green, extremely broad leaves. The stems
are very strong, and it is easy to clone.” Indoors, the yield was approximated
at 1000 grams per 100 days. Outdoors, two pounds was not out of the
question. This variety is described as having an approximate finishing time of
55 days, while indoors reaching heights approaching 50 inches, outdoors one
could expect five to seven feet by the end of the season. The description
went on to state the Northern Lights #1 is “very vigorous and cold resistant,”
being “resinous, potent, and sweet, not nasty and acrid like some Afghanis.”
The very first Big Bud hybrids were also marketed in Nevils 1987 The Seed
Bank catalog. A three fourths Big Bud variety, (Northern Lights #1 x Big Bud)
x Big Bud, the hybridization with the Northern Lights line was expected to
create “super plants” that increased both the yield and overall quality of the
original Big Bud line. Interestingly, the mention of subsequent Big Bud
hybrids to follow, including Big Bud x Northern Lights #2 (Hindu Kush) as
well as “a 4-way hybrid of (Big Bud x NL#1) x (Skunk #1 x Early Girl) was
mentioned as well. The G13 x Northern Lights #2 F-1 hybrid was described
as a variety that “really fizzed, producing an excellent yield of fat, sweet
buds. The pungent sweetness of the NL #2 really came through in this blend,
adding a touch of Thai fruitiness to the full-bodied Indica aroma.” The Hash
Plant x Northern Lights #1 F-1 hybrid was developed using “the best
Northern Lights #1 males,” which was said to attribute to this varieties
particular unique characteristics. Described as producing among the
strongest narcotic effects known from cannabis varieties at the time, this
variety finished remarkably fast in approximately 45 days. The Haze x
Northern Lights #1 F-1 hybrid was described as, “the most reliable haze
hybrid so far, and is our favorite smoke. It is a bit stretchy and difficult to
grow, but well worth it.” The Haze is described as being a Sativa variety from
the United States, which was quite popular and common in the 1970s. The
Seed Bank is said to have “managed to salvage a few viable seeds from the
last crop grown in America, and we have used them to produce some
remarkable hybrids.” The (Hash Plant x Northern Lights #1) x Swazi is a
three way hybrid in which, “the sweet, fresh, piney taste of Swazi” was
combined with the powerful and high yielding Hash Plant x Northern Lights
#1 variety. This variety is described as growing quite tall, at approximately
seven to nine feet outdoors and yielding nearly two pounds come harvest
time. The Northern Lights #5 x Skunk #1 variety is of course a legendary
variety in its own right, a High Times Cannabis Cup winner described as
being the plant recommended above all others. This variety has a “high-
calyx-to-leaf ratio, (with) very little manicuring required.” This variety
finished within a 55 day flowering period, with an estimated yield of one and
a half to three pounds possible outdoors. In 1989, Nevil’s varieties found
success in all five categories in route to putting on a truly dominant
performance. The Seed Banks 1990 cannabis seed catalog is a treasure trove
of information for the Northern Lights enthusiast.

Northern Lights #1 F3 is described as “one of the purest, most potent, most

extreme Indica varieties in the world.” Described as a 40-45 variety with very
broad, dark green leaves and an extremely resinated appearance, Northern
Lights #1 F3 is a must for the amateur breeder and hobbyist. Northern Lights
#2 F3 is a Hindu Kush dominant variety being “wonderfully potent but not
devastating” with a pungency and sweetness found to be very intoxicating.
Northern Lights #2 of course also being known as Oasis, a variety today
offered by the Dutch Passion seed company, said to originally consist of a
union between Northern Lights #1 and Hindu Kush. A description which
would seem to match up with The Seed Banks 1990 description of their
Northern Lights #2 F3. Said to be “surprisingly vigorous” despite its inbred
status, also a 40-45 day variety, they weren’t kidding when they mentioned
this was an absolute must for the connoisseur or collector. Northern Lights
#5 x 2 was a hybrid made between the now infamous Northern Lights #5 cut
and Northern Lights #2 (Northern Lights #1 x Hindu Kush). Said to be a
variety ready in approximately 50 days, with a “juniper berry taste” and
favorable resin production. Hashplant x Northern Lights #1 is said to have
been one of the most powerful varieties ever encountered, with the
Hashplant itself having origins in the Pacific North West of the United States.
Coming in at around 45 days itself, this variety is said to have challenged
even the most experienced smokers in Holland at the time at finishing a
joint. G13 x Northern Lights #2 was also offered in The Seed Banks 1990
cannabis seed catalog and was described as carrying the pungency and
sweetness of the Northern Lights #2 variety, with a typically higher yield
with commercial potential. The potency was described and superb with equal
resin production with a flowering time right around 50-55 days. Perhaps
among the most famous of all Northern Lights hybrids, is the world renowned
Northern Lights #5 x Haze. Quite possible the first variety with a warning
label attached to the breeders’ description, “side effects may include
nausea, dizziness, fainting, and loss of bowel and bladder control.” Whether
through pranksters who wanted to humiliate their friends or hardcore stoners
whose tolerance had reached epic proportions, Northern Lights #5 x Haze
quickly became the talk of the town and won Cannabis Cups and praise from
all corners of the globe.

The Haze in Northern Lights # 5 x haze was actually said to have been
salvaged from the last Haze crop grown in the United States, and according
to Sam the Skunk Man the general vicinity of which was Santa Cruz,
California to be exact. The actual pedigree of Haze is somewhat of a debate,
with Sam the Skunk Man claiming the Original Haze was a Mexican x
Colombian variety, with Thai and south Indian lines added later in the Hazes
development and the Mr. Nice Camp, who possess the earliest known
examples of Haze in the world, which are said to be Colombian x Thai
primarily in origin dating back to 1969. Where even in the ideal conditions of
the Californian climate the Haze was said to require green houses to finish,
and in some cases never truly finished at all. Northern Lights x Haze is
described as being at least a 75 day variety that usually translated into a 9-
10 week flowering schedule roughly. Northern Lights #5 x Skunk # 1, also
known as Shiva Skunk is said to have been one of the most reliable indoor
hybrids possessed by Nevil’s The Seed Bank. Touted as a variety that is “a
snap to grow” and one of the first varieties the novice grower should
consider, scissors were said to not be required with this variety come harvest
time with an expected flowering time right around 55 days. A more obscure
Northern Lights variety listed in the 1990 The Seed Bank catalog was the
Hash plant/Northern Lights #1 x Swazi, described as an indoor/outdoor
cultivar that which was originally intended to be an outdoor strain only. This
multiple hybrid variety is described as yielding sweet and chunky flowers,
with a harvest time right around mid September. The Northern Lights #5
pedigree actually consists of Northern Lights #1 x Northern Lights #1 and
efforts are already underway to revive this Queen of Queens by Shantibaba
of Mr. Nice seeds (MNS) with seed stock from 1988 where the #5 cutting
originated. By last report, a germination rate of approximately 50% was
obtained (55 out of 80 seeds) after only two days. Contrary to previously
published reports, there is no Thai lineage in the Mr. Nice Northern Lights
lines which are the exact lines Neville was marketing in the mid to late
1980’s in The Seed Bank cannabis catalogs. The existence of Northern Lights
# 9 x 5 has been speculated on for a number of years now, ultimately said to
have went off the market upon The Seed Banks stock retailing by Ben
Dronkers at Sensi Seeds. The Sagarmatha seed company “has engineered a
superior version of the Northern Lights legend” with their version of the
Northern Lights # 9, which is a back cross between “Northern Lights X” and
the old Sagarmatha Slyder.

Shortly after dominating the High Times Cannabis Cup in 1989, Nevil is said
to have been visiting family back home in Perth, Australia in 1990 when he
was apprehended by the authorities after making an appearance on the
television show, "America’s Most Wanted." At the same time Operation
Green Merchant is said to have been in full swing, with particular interest
aimed at High Times magazine itself. It is said that Hightimes editor in chief
Steven Hagar was subpoenaed to testify at Nevil’s trial, luckily however that
never came to fruition. After spending some time incarcerated in a Western
Australia jail, Nevil is said to have successfully defended his extradition to
the United States with grounds for appeal being his dual citizenship status in
both the Netherlands and Australia. Interestingly enough, it is also
speculated Nevil escaped imprisonment and vanished, ultimately making his
way back to Holland while remaining underground for quite sometime before
re-emerging in the 21st century as a breeder and consultant with Mr. Nice
Seeds, along side legendary hash smuggler Howard Marks and the honorable
Shantibaba. Quite possibly the finest collection of Cannabis minds ever
assembled, Mr. Nice seeds offers’ possibly the finest selection of cannabis
genetics in the world today. With a great deal of the original The Seed Bank
lines and many more recently crowned lines of divine and royal descent,
such as the world famous original White Widow (now known as Black Widow),
as well as the Great White Shark aka Peace Maker (now known as Shark
Shock) and Medicine Man(formally known as White Rhino).

Consistencies in the Northern Lights oral history are that it originated from
the Pacific North West region of the United States, quite possibly in the
Seattle region of the state of Washington. From there the variety made its
way to Nevil Schoenmakers at The Seed Bank in the Netherlands, where it
was promptly bred with numerous hybrids and marketed the world over.
From there the varieties reputation spread globally, with little question as to
the validity of these parts of the story. Among the consumers best options on
the market today are the Sensi Seeds Northern Lights variety and the Dutch
Passion Oasis (Northern Lights #2). With news that the Northern Lights #5
line has resurfaced on Shantibaba’s agenda at Mr. Nice seeds, and the
release of the MNS Northern Lights #5 x Haze x Skunk in early 2009 hope
has been instilled into the hearts of thousands of Northern Lights enthusiast
the world over. Shortly before Nevil’s incarceration in Perth, Australia it was
published that, “After 8 generations of selective breeding we are able to
reproduce our Northern Lights #5 from seed. This is the breakthrough indoor
and outdoor growers have been waiting for, for a long time. This current
outdoor season will be devoted to mass-producing Northern Lights #5 seeds
for the 1991 season. As a breeder I consider this to be my greatest
achievement yet. Look for this one, it will change the world.” It is these very
same Northern Lights varieties that were released all those years ago, which
literally became famous world wide that Shantibaba at Mr. Nice seeds has
exclusive access too, with the Northern Lights 5a still being in possession of
the MNS team and future Northern Lights releases looming in the future.
There for my friends, there is truly hope in the world after all for Northern
Lights enthusiast the world over. With Northern Lights being among the most
prolific varieties of cannabis used in the modern breeding today, its little
wonder why Northern Lights remains one of the most intriguing varieties of
cannabis in modern times.