The Runtz Strain Family
Runtz is a popular strain name, and many strains carry it. The original has a published origin with named people, and many of the others do not. This page sorts out what is published and where AC fits.
Where the original Runtz came from
Runtz is what happened when Ray Bama and his partner Nick decided to cross Cookies' Gelato genetics with Dying Breed Seeds' Zkittlez(Weedmaps News).
After a soft premier of the strain at the December 2017 Santa Rosa Emerald Cup, Runtz started to get noticed(Weedmaps News).
The strain was officially added to the Cookies lineup in 2018(Weedmaps News).
The Gelato strain family page covers the Gelato parent.
Offshoots and unclear cases
Other breeders outside of Cookies are working with Runtz genetics, and there are dozens of crosses to choose from(Weedmaps News).
Obama Runtz went viral in 2020, but whether or not its genetics had anything to do with Runtz remains unclear(Weedmaps News).
The genetics of Azul Runtz are shrouded in mystery, though it is believed to be a cross between OG Runtz and Blueberry Muffin(Weedmaps News).
Why the name covers so many strains
The study found that marijuana strain names often do not reflect a meaningful genetic identity, per its summary(strain genetics study).
In plain terms, two jars labeled Runtz can be different plants, and the grower's record for the batch is the thing to ask about.
AC strains with Runtz in the record
| AC strain | What AC reports | Lab report |
|---|---|---|
| Pave Runtz | AC has not published parents for this cut. | AC publishes the lab report for one tested batch |
| RS-1000 | AC's product record lists it as RS-11 x Obama Runtz. That is what AC reports, not a genetic test. Weedmaps News says it is unclear whether Obama Runtz has anything to do with Runtz. | AC publishes the lab report for one tested batch |
How to check what you are buying
- Read the strain name on the package and the batch number.
- Find the lab report for that batch in the COA library. AC publishes one tested batch per strain, so match the batch number.
- Ask the store which grower made it. The same name from two growers is two products.
Short answers
What is the Runtz strain?
Runtz is what happened when Ray Bama and his partner Nick decided to cross Cookies' Gelato genetics with Dying Breed Seeds' Zkittlez, per Weedmaps News(Weedmaps News).
What is Pave Runtz?
Pave Runtz is a strain AC grows indoors in Lowell, Massachusetts. AC publishes the lab report for one tested batch and has not published parents for this cut.
Are all Runtz strains related?
Not necessarily. Whether or not the genetics of Obama Runtz had anything to do with Runtz remains unclear, per Weedmaps News(Weedmaps News).
Keep reading
Sources
- Weedmaps News, “Where did Runtz strains come from?” (archived copy captured October 12, 2025) (read November 5, 2026): "Runtz is what happened when Ray Bama and his partner Nick decided to cross Cookies' Gelato genetics with Dying Breed Seeds' Zkittlez."
- Weedmaps News, “Where did Runtz strains come from?” (archived copy captured October 12, 2025) (read November 5, 2026): "After a soft premier of the strain at the December 2017 Santa Rosa Emerald Cup"
- Weedmaps News, “Where did Runtz strains come from?” (archived copy captured October 12, 2025) (read November 5, 2026): "the strain was officially added to the Cookies lineup in 2018"
- Weedmaps News, “Where did Runtz strains come from?” (archived copy captured October 12, 2025) (read November 5, 2026): "now that other breeders outside of Cookies are working with Runtz genetics, there are dozens of crosses to choose from"
- Weedmaps News, “Where did Runtz strains come from?” (archived copy captured October 12, 2025) (read November 5, 2026): "In 2020, we also saw the viral sensation of Obama Runtz, but whether or not its genetics actually had anything to do with Runtz remains unclear."
- Weedmaps News, “Where did Runtz strains come from?” (archived copy captured October 12, 2025) (read November 5, 2026): "While the genetics of another official Cookies offering, Azul Runtz, is shrouded in mystery, it's believed to be a cross between OG Runtz and Blueberry Muffin."
- Sawler et al., “The Genetic Structure of Marijuana and Hemp,” PLOS ONE 10(8) (2015) (read November 5, 2026): "marijuana strain names often do not reflect a meaningful genetic identity"