Next Level: The OG Upgrade
Next Level: The OG Upgrade
Strain Overview
Type: Indica-Dominant Hybrid (70% Indica / 30% Sativa)
Breeder: Exotic Genetix
Lineage: Kush Co. OG x Scotty 2 Hotty
Market Status: The "Modern Gas"; Next Level was released as part of the highly successful "Scotty 2 Hotty" lineup. It was bred to answer a specific challenge: How do you improve upon a legend like Kush Co. OG? By crossing this classic, lemon-fuel heavy OG cut with the dark, dense, and vigorous Scotty 2 Hotty, Breeder Mike created a plant that hits with the familiar knockout power of an OG but grows with the rock-hard density and "Exotic" bag appeal of the modern era. It is widely considered an "OG on steroids."
THC Content: Very High (24% – 29%)
Dominant Terpenes: Limonene, Caryophyllene, Myrcene, Pinene
Key Effects: Instant Cerebral Rush, Heavy Body Stone, Pain Relief, Narcotic Sedation
Next Level is for the smoker who refuses to compromise on potency.
It is a strain that respects the roots of American cannabis culture (OG Kush) while embracing the future (Cookies/Biscotti structure). It offers a smoke that is aggressive, expansive, and undeniably loud, smelling of a lemon grove soaked in diesel fuel. It doesn't try to be dessert; it tries to be the strongest thing in your stash.
History and Lineage: The Titan Meets the Tank
This strain is a collision between an old-school heavyweight and a new-school champion.
The Mother (Kush Co. OG): One of the most respected cuts of OG Kush in California. It is famous for its distinct "Lemon Pledge" and pine-sol aroma, its vine-like growth structure, and its ability to crush high-tolerance smokers. It provides the Gas and the Potency.
The Father (Scotty 2 Hotty): The Exotic Genetix stud (Biscotti x Rainbow Chip). As established, this male is used to add density, purple coloration, and vigor to a cross. It provides the Structure and the Bag Appeal.
The Synthesis: Next Level takes the lanky, difficult-to-grow nature of the Kush Co. OG and reinforces it with the sturdy frame of the Scotty. The result is a plant that smells and hits like a classic OG but looks like a modern, purple-hued exotic.
Terpene Profile: Lemon Pledge and Biscotti
The aroma of Next Level is a masterclass in "Gas." It is sharp, acidic, and chemical.
Dominant Terpenes
Limonene (The Lemon): The dominant terpene, inherited directly from the Kush Co. mother. It screams industrial lemon cleaner and citrus rind.
Caryophyllene (The Fuel): Provides a heavy spicy pepper and diesel kick that creates the "nose burn" OG lovers crave.
Myrcene (The Musk): Adds a background of damp earth and herbal musk that rounds out the sharp citrus.
Flavor Notes:
The Aroma: It is incredibly loud. It smells of lemon floor cleaner, spilled gasoline, and spicy pine.
The Smoke: Thick and lung-expanding. It tastes of sour lemon candy, earthy kush, and a hint of nutty dough (from the Scotty) on the exhale.
Strain Effects: The Elevator
Next Level gets its name because it elevates the high to a point that can be overwhelming for novices.
The Experience
The Rush: The high hits immediately behind the eyes (the classic "headband" feeling). It is a cerebral, disorienting rush of energy and euphoria.
The Stone: Within 30 minutes, the OG genetics pull the parachute. A heavy, warm physical sedation washes over the body.
The Lock: You become couch-locked and content. Motivation to do physical labor evaporates.
The Relief: It is a top-tier medical strain. It numbs pain, quiets the mind, and stimulates a ravenous appetite.
Best For: High tolerance veterans, chronic pain management, insomnia, appetite stimulation, and "checking out" after a long week.
Growing Next Level: The Structured OG
Growers love this strain because it allows them to grow that classic OG terpene profile without dealing with the finicky, low-yielding nature of pure OG Kush.
Growth Structure
The Structure: It grows Tall and Stretchy. Even with the Scotty influence, the OG genes are strong. Expect a significant stretch in flower. Trellising is mandatory.
The Yield: High. This is the big upgrade. Unlike the Kush Co. mother, which produces smaller "popcorn" buds, Next Level stacks large, dense colas.
The Colors: While traditional OGs are green, Next Level often fades to deep forest green and purple in the final weeks, adding serious shelf appeal.
The Feeding: It is a Calcium hog. Like all OGs, it demands high levels of CalMag and P-K boosters in flower.
The Time: It finishes flowering in 9 weeks.
Grower’s Tip: To get the truest "OG" expression, do not harvest early. Let the trichomes turn 10–20% amber. This ensures the high is heavy and narcotic rather than racy and anxious.
Final Verdict: The OG Upgrade
Next Level is exactly what it claims to be: the next step in the evolution of OG Kush. It takes the legendary lemon-gas flavor and knockout power of Kush Co. OG and packages it in a plant that yields better, looks better, and grows stronger. If you are a gas lover who is tired of the low yields of older genetics, this strain will take your garden (and your tolerance) to the next level.
You should choose Next Level if:
You love Lemon/Gas flavors.
You are an "OG Kush" purist.
You have a Very High Tolerance.
You want Dense/Heavy buds.
Score: 9.5/10 (The Modern OG)