Northern Lights Genetics

Origins – Seattle in the 1970s

In the mid-1970s, Seattle was an unlikely incubator for a cannabis revolution. A skilled local grower, Steve Murphy (pen name Murphy Stevens), was on the cutting edge of indoor cultivation, experimenting with new techniques and lighting. In 1975, he published How to Grow Marijuana Indoors Under Lights, followed by more manuals in 1977 and 1979. These books shared not only methods but also showcased his prized Afghani cannabis plants – a strain he called “Purest Indica.” This short, broad-leaf Afghani, reportedly obtained via travelers on the Hippie Trail, became the backbone of what would evolve into Northern Lights. As Murphy’s reputation grew, he opened Seattle’s Indoor Sun Shoppe, a store selling hydroponic equipment and offering advice. The shop became a gathering place for like-minded enthusiasts and Vietnam War veterans seeking potent medicine. This tight-knit community of breeders – later dubbed the Northern Lights Crew – coalesced around Murphy’s guidance and genetics. Their goal was bold but clear: create the most resinous, fast-flowering cannabis suited for indoor grows. By inbreeding the “Purest Indica” line over many generations, Murphy did produce an exceptionally sticky indica (High Times called it a “state of the art indoor indica” with unrivaled resin content). However, it lacked complex flavor, so the crew began cross-breeding this Afghani with other varieties to add vigor and character. Each new hybrid was labeled with a number, and thus the legendary numbered phenotypes of Northern Lights were born.

Cover of Steve Murphy’s 1975 book, How to Grow Marijuana Indoors Under Lights, published under the pseudonym “Murphy Stevens.” This influential guide helped spark Seattle’s indoor cultivation scene and attracted future Northern Lights breeders to Murphy’s shop.

The Northern Lights Crew – Steve, Greg, Herbie & “The Indian”

Among those who gravitated to Steve Murphy’s circle was Greg McAllister, later known as “Seattle Greg.” Greg discovered Murphy’s book and, eager to learn more, visited the Indoor Sun Shoppe in 1978. The two became close friends over their shared passion for cannabis. In 1979, as a gesture of trust, Murphy gifted Greg four seeds from his Purest Indica Afghani line. With these seeds, Greg began making selective crosses and stabilizing the genetics, working to combine potency with hardiness. “Seattle Greg” would eventually play a pivotal role in standardizing the Northern Lights line and sharing it beyond the Pacific Northwest.

Other key members enriched the gene pool. “Herbie,” an employee at Murphy’s shop, introduced a Hawaiian sativa into the mix. In the early 1980s, he crossed this tropical sativa with Murphy’s Afghani, creating an especially robust hybrid. The result was dubbed Northern Lights #5, a plant that dazzled the crew with its 50/50 blend of Afghan indica and Hawaiian sativa genetics. NL #5 was taller and more flavorful than the pure Afghans, yet still resin-soaked – a “resin champ” F1 hybrid, as Greg later described it. Meanwhile, another collaborator known as Don, “The Indian,” contributed his own twist. Don was a member of the local Native American (Queets) tribe and an avid grower who had been cultivating a distinct Afghan line he nicknamed “the Indian.” After buying equipment from Murphy’s shop, Don received some Purest Indica seeds and brought them to his secluded grow location (rumored to be an island near Seattle). There he crossed Murphy’s Afghani with his Afghani–creating Northern Lights #2, a strain that inherited tremendous resin production and hardiness. Each crew member’s contribution was assigned a number based on the plant’s traits, with lower numbers denoting the most indica-dominant expressions and higher numbers reserved for those with more sativa influence. What began as Murphy’s one-man project thus evolved into a suite of Northern Lights phenotypes (reportedly numbered #1 through #11), bred cooperatively by this Seattle crew over years of experimentation.

By the early 1980s, Northern Lights had solidified its reputation in West Coast growing circles. The plants were short, fast to flower, and exceptionally suited to indoor cultivation, which was crucial at a time when cultivating tall tropical sativas under lights was proving impractical. Crew members like Greg and Don were also combat veterans seeking relief for PTSD-induced insomnia, and the heavy, sedative indica effects of Northern Lights met their needs. This focus on medicinal quality gave the project added purpose. Still, extreme secrecy surrounded the grows; the “Northern Lights crew” remained very small and localized in the Seattle, Washington area (with friends in nearby Bellingham, Olympia, and Portland), and outsiders were generally unwelcome. In those prohibition days, paranoia ran high, for good reason. Yet despite the risks, this circle pressed onward, exchanging seeds and know-how in pursuit of the perfect indoor strain.

Expansion to Amsterdam – Nevil Schoenmakers and the Global Debut

In 1984, the Northern Lights story took an international turn. Nevil Schoenmakers, a young Dutch-Australian breeder who ran The Seed Bank in Amsterdam, got wind of the extraordinary plants coming out of Seattle. Greg McAllister had mailed Nevil a sample of Northern Lights seeds, piquing his interest. According to Greg, Nevil soon traveled to the U.S. to meet the crew in person. The visit paid off: by 1985, Nevil returned to Holland with a cache of Northern Lights genetics – including seeds of various NL lines and a prized cutting of the Northern Lights #5 female. This marked the beginning of Northern Lights on the world stage. Nevil began reproducing and hybridizing the NL strains through The Seed Bank. He reportedly obtained “11 packets of seed” corresponding to Northern Lights #1 through #11. The #1, #2, and #3 lines were pure indica types (100% Afghan), while the famous NL #5 clone was a 50/50 Afghan-Hawaiian from Herbie’s work. Higher-numbered seeds (#6–#11) contained varying Sativa genetics – Thai, Colombian, and Mexican blood – reflecting the Crew’s experiments to introduce new flavors and vigor.

Nevil was floored by the resinous potency of Northern Lights. In his 1987 High Times interview “Inside Cannabis Castle,” he showed off the NL#5 cutting as his personal favorite, calling Northern Lights “the result of many years of indoor breeding” and challenging that “if anyone can come up with anything more resinous... I’d like to see it.” At first, The Seed Bank offered Northern Lights #1 and #2 as pure indica seed lines, and used the NL #5 clone as a mother plant for hybrid crosses (since #5 was then clone-only). One early hybrid combined NL #5 and NL #2 – a cross of the Crew’s two superstar phenos, which produced short, juniper-scented plants loaded with resin (advertised in seed catalogs as one of the best indoor varieties of the time).

In 1985–1987, Northern Lights genetics quickly spread through Amsterdam’s nascent cannabis scene. Nevil shared the NL cuttings with other Dutch breeders to ensure the strain’s preservation and foster further crosses. By the late 1980s, Northern Lights had become a cornerstone of Dutch cannabis breeding, alongside the other two major building blocks of that era: Skunk #1 and Original Haze.

The impact was soon evident to growers and judges alike. In 1988, Schoenmakers famously combined the Seattle-bred indica with a Haze male to create Northern Lights #5 x Haze, an astounding balance of raw power and uplifting high. When this NL#5 x Haze hit the competition circuit, it dominated – Northern Lights #5 and its hybrids won multiple High Times Cannabis Cups, including back-to-back victories in 1989 and 1990, and again in 1992. Northern Lights was now an international legend. Ironically, just as its fame peaked, the original American crew that created NL fell on hard times. In October 1989, the DEA launched Operation Green Merchant, a nationwide crackdown targeting grow stores and indoor cultivators. Steve Murphy’s Indoor Sun Shoppe was raided that fall as part of the sweep. Murphy and many others were arrested, effectively dismantling the Northern Lights Crew’s operations in the U.S. The beloved NL #5 mother plant was said to be lost in the chaos of law enforcement pressure. Fortunately, because Greg and others had earlier secured clones and sent material overseas, Northern Lights survived – safely propagated by Nevil and his Dutch colleagues during those turbulent years. The strain’s center of gravity had shifted to the Netherlands, where it continued to thrive in relative freedom.

Phenotypes and Lineage – The Numbered Northern Lights

One of the unique aspects of Northern Lights’ early development was the numbered phenotype system the breeders used. Rather than a single uniform strain, “Northern Lights” became an extended family of related plants. Over a dozen distinct seed lines and hybrids were experimented with, but a few stood out and became the foundation of modern NL. Below are the most famous Northern Lights phenotypes and their genetic origins, as understood from breeder accounts:

Northern Lights #1: Considered the pure Afghani indica strain – essentially an inbred “Purest Indica.” NL #1 was a short, fast-flowering plant with thick resin, representing the strain in its most unadulterated form. In later years, some seed banks also used the label “NL #1” for an indica line derived from the original, sometimes adding new Afghan stock to maintain vigor.
Northern Lights #2: A slightly more complex hybrid, NL #2 was the creation of Don “The Indian.” It was the result of crossing Murphy’s Purest Indica with Don’s own Afghani (“The Indian”). Essentially an Afghan×Afghan pairing, this strain reinforced the indica qualities and was celebrated for rock-solid consistency and heavy resin production. NL #2’s robust genetics later proved valuable in breeding programs (for example, it was used in conjunction with NL #5 to produce new hybrids).
Northern Lights #5: The most renowned of the bunch, NL #5 was an Afghani × Hawaiian sativa F1 hybrid introduced by Herbie. Unlike #1 and #2, which were mostly or entirely indica, #5 brought a dash of tropical sativa into the Northern Lights lineage. The plant was taller, with a sweeter, more complex aroma and incredible hybrid vigor, yet it retained the quick flowering and resin density of its Afghan mother. Greg obtained the NL #5 as a clone in 1982 via a trade with Herbie and recognized it as a superstar. “It was a nice mix,” Greg said of the Hawaiian cross, noting the explosive growth and resin output. He produced seeds from this standout female and christened it “#5,” preserving it as both bud and cuttings. NL #5 became the crown jewel of Northern Lights – so special that it was kept as a clone-only mother for many years (no pure #5 seeds were distributed, only hybrids). Many credit NL #5’s balanced genetics (half indica, half sativa) for the strain’s all-around appeal and “lightning in a bottle” potency.
Other Northern Lights variants: The crew experimented with numerous other crosses using the Purest Indica line as a base. Northern Lights #3, for instance, is often cited as involving a Thai sativa line. Higher numbers like #6, #7, #8, etc., incorporated Colombian and Mexican sativa genetics in various combinations. These were attempts to push the strain’s boundaries in flavor and effect. According to Seattle Greg, by the time Nevil acquired the set in 1985, the #6–#11 lines all had some Southeast Asian or Central American sativa heritage, making them taller and more exotic in terpene profile. Ultimately, those higher-numbered phenos (and #3) were less widely preserved than #1, #2, and #5, which the crew considered their core, perfected lines.

It’s important to note that the numbering was not a ranking of quality, but rather a way to catalog different genetic mixes. In fact, Northern Lights #5 – which became the most famous – got its number simply because it was the fifth distinct plant type on hand, not because it was an iterative improvement over #4. In practice, all the Northern Lights variants were closely related and shared hallmark traits: fast indoor finishing, stout form, and a shimmering coat of trichomes. The numbering system lives on mainly in legend and in the names of hybrid descendants that still carry those numbers.

A page from an late-1980s seed catalog shows a Northern Lights #5 x #2 F-1 hybrid, combining the resin champion NL#5 with the sturdy NL#2. Such hybrids were highly regarded by indoor growers for their short, stocky stature (36–48 inches), 7–8 week bloom, and abundant yields of sticky buds. By the end of the 1980s, the best Northern Lights phenotypes were being interbred and sold globally, spreading the genetics far beyond their Seattle origin.

Impact on Modern Breeding

Few cannabis strains have had as profound and wide-reaching an influence as Northern Lights. By the 1990s, Northern Lights genetics had permeated breeding programs on virtually every continent. In the Netherlands – then the epicenter of the seed trade – Northern Lights, Haze, and Skunk #1 emerged as the “three pillars” of modern cannabis hybrids, with NL representing the indica side of the spectrum. Almost every major Dutch seed company incorporated Northern Lights into their offerings. For example, Sensi Seed Bank (which absorbed Nevil’s Seed Bank in the early ’90s) produced their own stabilized Northern Lights strain by interbreeding multiple NL phenotypes (often referred to as “Sensi’s NL”, an IBL combining NL#1, NL#2, and NL#5 lines). Sensi also introduced Shiva Skunk in 1987 under the name “NL#5 x Sk#1,” crossing Northern Lights #5 with Skunk #1 to create one of the era’s strongest indica-dominant hybrids.

Meanwhile, Nevil’s groundbreaking Northern Lights #5 x Haze cross became the backbone of a new generation of sativa-dominant super hybrids. In the 1990 Cannabis Cup, an NL#5 x Haze won top honors and impressed breeders like Shantibaba and Arjan, who later used it in breeding Super Silver Haze (a three-way mix of Haze, NL#5, and Skunk). Jack Herer, another 1990s classic from Sensi Seeds, likewise blended Northern Lights #5, Haze, and Skunk genetics to achieve its award-winning balance of euphoria and resinous fury. In fact, as cannabis historians note, NL#5, Skunk#1, and Haze form the genetic backbone of the vast majority of prized hybrids released from the late 1980s onward. Whether the goal was to add potency, shorten flowering time, or improve indoor performance, Northern Lights was the go-to ingredient.

Even outside the Dutch scene, Northern Lights spread far and wide. In the U.S. and Canada, myriad strains were born from NL stock. For instance, the strain P-91 (short for Poway Class of 1991), which arose in San Diego, was literally Northern Lights cubed – NL crossed with itself three times to fix its traits in a new local line. British Columbia Seed Company famously worked with an NL #5 cutting in the 1990s, ensuring Northern Lights genetics were accessible to Canadian growers. By the 2000s, “Northern Lights” became a staple offering in coffee shops, dispensaries, and seed catalogs worldwide, albeit in many slightly different forms. Countless modern strains have a bit of NL in their family tree. To name just a few: Super Silver Haze (NL#5 x Haze x Skunk), Northern Lights #5 x Haze (often just called NL#5 x Haze, a legend on its own), Nordle (a CBD-rich Afghani hybrid named by Mr. Nice that includes NL heritage), and many iterations of “Aurora”- or “Lights”-branded indica strains that pay homage to the original. In legal markets today, pure Northern Lights (largely descended from Sensi Seeds’ version) is still a popular, nearly pure indica (95% indica, 5% sativa) known for its THC potency and therapeutic relaxation. It has become a mainstay in breeding programs because of its stability and uniform growth traits, highly valued by commercial growers. Indeed, decades after its debut, Northern Lights continues illuminating the path for cannabis breeders.

Cultural Legacy and Human Story

Beyond its botanical impact, Northern Lights carries a rich cultural legacy and a story of human ingenuity and resilience. The strain’s development is interwoven with the lives of the passionate breeders who created it – people like Steve Murphy, Greg McAllister, Herbie, and Don, each of whom took great personal risks to advance cannabis during an era of prohibition. Their collaborative spirit, as seen in the Northern Lights Crew, was ahead of its time. They freely shared knowledge and even genetics (such as Greg giving Nevil seeds, or trading clones with Herbie) in an effort to create the best medicine possible. Greg later remarked that he distributed some of his Northern Lights seeds to fellow breeders and even sent a batch to Sensi Seeds “for free... to promote competition,” rather than monopolize the genetics. This generosity helped ensure the strain’s survival. And when Operation Green Merchant struck in 1989, it was the prior sharing of NL clones overseas that preserved the line for future generations.

In the years since, Northern Lights has achieved almost mythical status. Its exact origins were once shrouded in mystery, fueled by forum debates and tall tales about “The Indian on an island” or “eleven magic seeds.” Only recently have the principal figures, like Seattle Greg and others, recounted the true story in interviews and online forums, setting the record straight. What emerges is a narrative of a small, dedicated community in the Pacific Northwest whose innovation changed the trajectory of cannabis breeding worldwide. The name “Northern Lights” itself, evoking the aurora borealis, has become iconic, synonymous with powerful indica cannabis. It’s a strain that has been romanticized in countless dispensary menus, written about in magazines, and celebrated by growers from Amsterdam to Afghanistan. High Times once ranked Northern Lights among the most influential strains of all time, alongside Haze and Skunk #1, a testament to the legacy that sprang from that Seattle grow room in the 1970s.

Today, nearly fifty years on, Northern Lights remains a fixture in the cannabis world. Original copies of the strain (or close approximations of it) can still be found through seed banks like Mr. Nice (run by Shantibaba, a colleague of Nevil’s) or Sensi Seeds, and through preservationists who have hunted down old NL cuts. Breeders like Bodhi Seeds and others have undertaken projects to revive vintage NL lines (#1 and #5) from decades-old stock, recognizing the importance of keeping this heritage alive. In legal markets, Northern Lights continues to win over new consumers as a reliable strain known for its mellow, comforting high and earthy pine aroma – a “couch-lock” indica that, for many, feels like an old familiar friend.

The story of Northern Lights is a shining example of how cannabis culture and genetics evolve hand in hand. From a basement in Seattle to the greenhouses of Amsterdam and beyond, Northern Lights’ journey is filled with innovation, risk, collaboration, and yes, a bit of luck. It gave us not just one celebrated strain, but a genetic legacy that underpins a significant portion of modern cannabis cultivars. And it gave the cannabis community an enduring legend – a strain that truly lives up to its name, forever illuminating the possibilities of cannabis breeding.

Resources

Beard Bros Pharms – “Breeding the Culture: The Northern Lights Crew” (2021)beardbrospharms.combeardbrospharms.combeardbrospharms.com
International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums – Posts by “Seattle Greg” (2024)icmag.comicmag.com
SeedFinder.eu – Strain description for Northern Lights (Unknown or Legendary)seedfinder.euicmag.com
Leafly – Strain databases for Northern Lights #5 and P-91leafly.comleafly.com
Leafwell – “Northern Lights Strain Profile” (2022)leafwell.comleafwell.com
High Times – “Inside Cannabis Castle” by Steven Hager (Mar 1987) via SeedFinderseedfinder.eu

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