It’s a cold, drizzly night on the University of Washington campus, and I’m chasing a ghost story. They say that in the early ’90s a UW grad student stole a cannabis plant from a university research lab – a strain so potent and unique it became a Northwest legend. They call it UW Purple (or sometimes UW Black), and folks around here speak of it in hushed tones – a local strain as notorious as Sasquatch in these parts .
The Lab Heist Legend
The story goes like this: Back in the early 1990s, UW was conducting some kind of medical research on cannabis. One rogue graduate student (or lab tech) decided that this top-secret strain shouldn’t stay locked in academia. In a move straight out of a comic book, they liberated a clone from the facility and snuck it out into the world . That cutting, so the legend says, became the mother of all UW Purple plants grown outside the lab.
Once in the wild, the strain thrived under the care of underground growers. Popular rumor had it this stolen plant was a pure indica masterpiece, immediately recognizable by its dense, sticky buds flashing hints of purple (showing their university pride) and its knock-out potency . In other words, UW Purple was top shelf indica all the way – sedative, body-heavy, and perfect for pain relief and insomnia . By the mid-90s, “U-Dub” was being whispered about at smoke sessions around Seattle with an almost reverent tone.
Of course, the University never officially confirmed any of this. (UW today even has a Cannabis Research Center, but there’s no public record or statement about UW Purp – and likely never will be .) The lack of confirmation only made the legend grow. Seattle tokers joked that UW Purple was as local and elusive as Bigfoot – everyone talked about it, few actually had it. Clones were closely guarded; if you managed to snag a cut or even a nug, you definitely bragged.
Emerald City Legend
Throughout the 2000s, as Washington inched toward medical marijuana legalization, UW Purple remained an underground delicacy. It was rarely (if ever) seen on dispensary shelves; you heard about it more than you saw it. Still, its reputation was massive. Patients dealing with chronic pain or insomnia would speak in awe of UW’s effects, often claiming nothing else came close. For Seattle natives, having our own clandestine strain – one allegedly stolen from under the nose of the establishment – became a point of pride. It symbolized the rebellious, DIY spirit of PNW cannabis culture.
From Myth to Market
Fast forward to Washington’s legalization era, and the UW Purple strain has stepped out of the shadows a bit. Old-school growers who kept that cut alive for decades can now cultivate it legally. Small batches of UW Purple have popped up from local producers. One Seattle grower (Blue Roots Cannabis) even released a limited run of UW Purple flower – dark, resinous buds that instantly sold out to curious consumers eager to taste the legend . Now and then, a dispensary menu will feature “UW Purple,” allowing a new generation to sample this storied strain. (And yes, it’s every bit as strong as advertised.)
So what’s it like? In short, powerful and pure. UW Purple is an almost 100% indica strain, and it shows. The high is profoundly relaxing and sedating – true couch-lock cannabis. A few hits and you feel a wave of calm wash from your head to your toes. Stress? Gone. Aches and pains? Dull and distant. Many users report it brings on a deep, restful sleep shortly after a heavy session (hence its popularity with insomniacs). The buds themselves are pungent, with a tropical fruit sweetness layered over dank earth and spice . It’s the kind of smoke where one bowl is often plenty.
Ultimately, the UW Purple strain is a testament to the rich folklore of cannabis culture. Maybe it was just a happy accident, or maybe it truly leaked from a lab in Seattle’s ivory towers – either way, it’s become part of PNW lore. So the next time you’re in Washington on a rainy evening and luck into some U-Dub bud, light it up. As that purple smoke swirls, toast to the bold spirit (real or imagined) of whoever liberated the University of Washington’s finest herb for all of us to enjoy. Some legends are worth puffing on.
