Red Level is a modern hybrid cannabis cultivar developed and brought to prominence by the Ohio-based licensed producer King City Gardens, also featured within their collaborative PAC24 product line. Produced by crossing Next Level with Gary Poppins, Red Level unites high-potency dessert and fuel genetics from modern breeding pools. The variety is distinguished by its dense resin coverage, caryophyllene- and limonene-forward chemical composition, and an aromatic footprint balancing cracked black pepper, bright citrus, and earthy botanicals.
Strain Profile & Genetics
- Breeder: King City Gardens
- Genetics: Next Level × Gary Poppins
- Cultivar Type: Hybrid
- THC Content: 20% to 25.6%
- CBD Content: 0.06%
- Dominant Terpenes: Beta-Caryophyllene, Limonene, Humulene
- Aroma: Cracked black pepper, citrus zest, earthiness, faint fuel
- Flavor: Spicy herbal, sharp citrus peel, sweet dough, light diesel
- Mental Effects: Mentally engaging, clear-headed calm, mild euphoria
- Body Effects: Physical ease, muscle relaxation, non-sedating relief
- Resin & Extraction: High trichome density; suitable for solventless extraction
Appearance
Red Level flowers are compact, moderately dense clusters characterized by tight bract stacking. The calyxes display shades of forest and olive green, occasionally developing darker accents during late maturation. A prominent layer of stalked glandular trichomes blankets the exterior surface, providing a frosty, frosted sheen. Deep orange-to-amber pistils weave through the bracts, adding visual contrast to the resin-heavy cured buds.
Aroma & Flavor
The olfactory profile of Red Level is predominantly savory and spicy with a sharp citrus overlay. Breaking the cured flower releases an initial wave of pungent cracked black pepper and woody spice, anchored by sweet citrus notes reminiscent of orange and lemon peel. Secondary undertones reveal earthy soil and faint diesel fumes inherited from its lineage.
On the palate, Red Level translates its aroma cleanly. Inhalation delivers a brisk herbal spice paired with tart citrus notes, while the exhale leaves a prolonged finish of warm pepper, sweet dough, and faint earthy gas.
Terpene Profile
Laboratory Certificates of Analysis (COAs) for Red Level demonstrate a total terpene concentration ranging from 1.51% to 2.4%. Analytical testing consistently identifies a terpene architecture led by sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes:
- Beta-Caryophyllene: 0.73% – 0.75%
- Limonene: 0.59% – 0.65%
- Humulene: 0.20% – 0.21%
- Alpha-Bisabolol: Approximately 0.14%
- Beta-Myrcene: Approximately 0.11%
- Linalool: Approximately 0.11%
- Pinene (Alpha & Beta): Approximately 0.10% each
The synergy between beta-caryophyllene and humulene generates the cultivar’s distinctive peppery pungency, while limonene balances the aroma with sweet citrus brightness.
Potency & Cannabinoids
Red Level is classified as a high-potency chemotype I cannabis cultivar. Commercial testing batches from state-regulated testing laboratories demonstrate total THC values typically measuring between 20% and 25.6%. In these profiles, delta-9-THCA constitutes the overwhelming majority of the cannabinoid spectrum, with active delta-9-THC remaining under 1% in cured flower. Cannabidiol (CBD) levels are minor, typically testing at approximately 0.06%, while secondary cannabinoids such as CBGA and CBG are present in trace amounts.
Reported Effects
Consumer reports and dispensary reviews characterize Red Level as an evenly balanced hybrid experience that engages both mental and somatic channels without severe sedation.
- Mental Effects: Users report an immediate onset of cerebral clarity, gentle euphoria, and steady mood elevation that encourages focus and creative tasks.
- Body Effects: Somatically, the cultivar offers a soothing sensation across the shoulders and neck, promoting physical comfort and tension relief while allowing consumers to remain functional throughout the day.
Cultivation Characteristics
Commercial production data for Red Level originates primarily from indoor commercial facilities operated by licensed producers such as King City Gardens. Formal botanical grow specs, such as precise flowering day schedules, indoor yields per square meter, and outdoor harvest weeks, have not been formally released by the breeder. However, like its parental lines, the plants display vigorous resin production and moderate internodal spacing during generative development.
Scientific & Botanical Overview
Taxonomically, Red Level represents an advanced interline polyhybrid belonging to Cannabis sativa L. Its chemical phenotype (chemotype I) is geared almost entirely toward monoterpene and sesquiterpene accumulation alongside high THCA synthesis. The substantial presence of beta-caryophyllene gives the cultivar an affinity for human CB2 cannabinoid receptors, a pharmacological trait frequently studied in the context of physiological tension and inflammation modulation.
Lineage & Related Strains
The genetic background of Red Level traces back to two elite contemporary lineages created by Exotic Genetix:
- Next Level (Kush Co OG × Scotty 2 Hotty): Contributes heavy resin gland production, structural density, and classic fuel-leaning Kush nuances.
- Gary Poppins (Gary Payton × Red Runtz): Imparts a complex dessert-and-gas profile, combining the peppery, savory qualities of Gary Payton with the candied sweetness of Red Runtz.
Sources & Data Notes
Cultivar metrics and genetic classifications are compiled from primary licensed producer declarations by King City Gardens and independent laboratory certificates of analysis (Dutchie, Jane Technologies, and Ohio DCC dispensary menus). Because home-grower seed stock documentation remains undocumented by the original cultivator, environmental cultivation metrics (flowering duration, outdoor harvest dates, and quantitative yields) are designated as not reliably established.
Red Level Summary
Red Level is an evenly balanced hybrid cannabis strain created from Next Level and Gary Poppins. Testing between 20% and 25.6% THC, with total terpenes reaching up to 2.4%, it stands out for its high resin production, dominant beta-caryophyllene and limonene contents, and a signature peppery citrus flavor profile.
