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Thai Cannabis Genetics: History and Origins
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Marijuana wasn’t always bred in highly controlled environments. For most of history, cannabis has grown wild or alongside human beings, with one gently influencing the other. Thai landraces form the basis of many of today’s leading hybrid strains, so it’s worth learning more about them, especially for those interested in cannabis breeding and history.
Thai Cannabis — History and Origins
Thai landraces are unique and highly prized cannabis plants bearing a 100% sativa genetic makeup. "Landrace" is the name given to cultivated cannabis varieties that have successfully adapted to a given location or environment and have not been crossed with other distinct cannabis varieties.
Cannabis is believed to have made its way to Thailand and surrounding countries by way of India, after which the herb experienced centuries of recreational, culinary, and holistic use among local communities, where it was grown widely on a domestic basis[1].
Despite being called Thai, perhaps “Southeast Asian landrace” would be more accurate, as these varieties hail from multiple humid, hot, and tropical regions in this part of the world. How long have they been growing there? It’s unclear—but we know it’s a long time.
Thai genetics first made their way westward in the 1960s when US troops sent them back from Vietnam. Then, the bundles of cannabis were known as “Thai sticks”, and were far more potent that anything being produced in the US. Not only this, but these tight bundles of cannabis were seedless, showing advanced cultivation techniques that had not yet been mastered in the West.
Thai Marijuana Characteristics
Like other landraces from around the globe, the distinct traits unique to Thai quickly made them popular following their introduction in the West. Everything from their growth pattern to their flavor and effect offered something exciting and valuable to consumers and breeders alike.
1. Thai Cannabis Growing Characteristics
In terms of growth, they are large plants, more like a willow tree than a typical Christmas tree-shaped hybrid. Rather than long colas, the buds tend to grow dense and more concentrated. The branches extend and bow. Sativas are known to have long flowering times, and Thai is the queen—14–16 weeks is not unusual, and up to 20 weeks is not unheard of.
Why do they take so long? As they come from tropical regions, Thai landraces do not have to contend with darkening days and cooling temperatures that more northerly or southerly strains do. As a result, they are at liberty to take their time when flowering.
The hot, humid climate they adapted to can be hard to imitate elsewhere, but greenhouses offer the best bet of successful cultivation. To grow pure Thai plants, though, you need a lot of patience and the ability to keep them warm.
2. The Effects of Thai Weed
Given the length of time these plants take to grow, you could be wondering why Thai became so popular in the West, compared to quick and easy indicas.
Well, Thai sativa packs a punch that, until then, could not be found elsewhere. With modern breeding techniques, the potency of contemporary strains can get close to 30% THC, with some breeders even claiming to have crossed this threshold. But back in the 60s, it is thought that Thai strains sat around 13% THC, which at the time was incredibly strong. Coupled with their energising, clear-headed effects, it’s no wonder they became so popular among smokers and innovative breeders.
Some of the most common effects of Thai sativa are:
| Euphoric buzz | Cerebral | Energetic | Creative | Potent |
| Euphoric buzz | Cerebral | ||||||
| Energetic | Creative | ||||||
| Potent | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3. Thai Cannabis Flavors and Aromas
Thai landraces have rich, earthy flavors. Pinning down exactly how they taste is hard, as different plants exhibit varying terpene profiles, and as such taste different. A plant growing on the soaked plains of northern Thailand is going to taste different to one carefully cultivated in a greenhouse or under artificial lights. Nevertheless, there are some common notes:
| Earth | Wood | Chocolate | Citrus | Diesel |
| Earth | Wood | ||||||
| Chocolate | Citrus | ||||||
| Diesel | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cannabis Strains With Thai Genetics
Although the supply of Thai to the US dwindled when they pulled troops out of Vietnam, its legacy lives on. It is possible to get seeds that claim to be pure Thai landraces, although it’s up for debate whether they really are.
Regardless, Thai forms the foundation of many modern strains. Here are some of our favorites.
Blueberry
Developed in the 70s on the States’ West Coast by breeder DJ Short, Blueberry is thought to be the hybrid offspring of Highland Thai x Purple Thai x Afghan. Its exact genetic origins will forever remain a mystery, but one thing we are certain of is how good it is.
As the name suggests, it has fruity, succulent flavors of which blueberry notes are dominant. Thanks to its indica influence, Blueberry grows quicker than pure Thai, but retains the tight, dense colas and many of the invigorating effects.
Below are some of the leading strains derived from this lineage.
Blue Mystic
Blue Mystic is our very own interpretation of Blueberry. Although indica-dominant (unlike classic Thai landraces), it combines the best parts of the ultra-relaxing Northern Light with the dynamic flavor and vigorous growth of Blueberry for a dreamy and chill experience. Not only that, but it takes only 7–9 weeks to flower. Expect big yields of large, dense nugs.
Carrying over the terpenes from Blueberry, but offering slightly heavier, more classically stoned effects, Blue Mystic is best suited to evenings or days when you just want to chill out.
Blue Mystic
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Oregon Blueberry x Northern Light |
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13 to 15 oz/m² |
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2 to 3 feet |
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8 - 9 weeks |
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THC: 18% |
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Sativa 20% Indica 80% |
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14 to 16 oz/plant |
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6 to 7 feet |
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October |
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Stoned |
Royal Bluematic
If you like the sound of Blueberry, but you want something that’s speedy and requires minimal care, get some Royal Bluematic seeds in the soil. By crossing Blueberry with ruderalis, we’ve created an autoflowering cannabis superstar that is robust and generous.
It stays low, as little as 60cm, but offers good yields considering its humble size. The effects are mixed, but lean more into relaxing and stoned than energetic and euphoric. All in all, the total life cycle of this strain is around 12 weeks.
Royal Bluematic
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Blueberry x Ruderalis |
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15 to 17 oz/m² |
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2 feet |
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7 - 8 weeks |
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THC: 14% |
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Sativa 10% Indica 60% Ruderalis 30% |
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2 to 4 oz/plant |
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2 to 3 feet |
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11 - 12 weeks after sprouting |
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Powerful , Stoned |
Fruit Spirit
Fruit Spirit is a cannabis strain that combines Blueberry with White Widow. The result? An incredibly potent variety with powerful, heady effects that will keep you energetic and engaged. Despite its indica-dominant nature, in terms of effects, this plant really exhibits her sativa origins.
Fruit Spirit can get very big—over 200cm—and offers a whole lot of bud as a result. It has a moderate flowering time, 8–10 weeks, but for those who love big performers, it’s well worth the wait. With rich flavor, invigorating effects, and loads of resin, you’ll be well-rewarded for your efforts.
Fruit Spirit
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Blueberry x White Widow |
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13 to 15 oz/m² |
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3 to 4 feet |
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9 - 10 weeks |
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THC: 18% |
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Sativa 30% Indica 70% |
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17 to 18 oz/plant |
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6 to 7 feet |
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Early October |
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Clear |
Haze
Haze is another derivative of Thai sativa, among other landraces—namely those from Colombia, Mexico, and India. Bearing a sensational sativa high alongside distinct flavors of spice, fuel, and citrus, Haze will brighten up any smoker’s day.
What follows are some of our Haze-centric strains that draw upon this family’s Thai influence.
Haze Berry
A juicy cross of Blueberry x Silver Shining Haze, Haze Berry packs a punch and offers easy cultivation—what more could you ask for? Silver Shining Haze is known as “the king of sativas”, though presumably “queen” would be more apt. Thanks to the Thai influence bestowed upon her from both her Blueberry and Haze parents, Haze Berry bears an 80% sativa makeup.
Despite this, the strain flowers relatively quickly—9–10 weeks—and offers 525–575g/m² come the end of this period indoors. The flavors are a mix of blueberry, vanilla, earth, and spice—and the effects will blow you away. A powerful cerebral buzz mixes with a deep body stone, making for a versatile and exciting high.
Haze Berry
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Blueberry x Shining Silver Haze |
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18 to 20 oz/m² |
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2 to 3 feet |
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9 - 11 weeks |
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THC: 20% |
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Sativa 60% Indica 40% |
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21 to 23 oz/plant |
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5 to 6 feet |
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Late October |
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Long Lasting , Physically Relaxing, Powerful |
Silver Shining Haze
Haze has a long and glorious history, and we wanted in on the action! But rather than just create another Haze strain, we thought we’d add our own little touch to it, and give the world something unique. So, we put a little bit of indica in there too. We opted for Northern Light, one of the best indicas around.
This gives us a strain that is at once energising and relaxing. The head will buzz while the body reclines comfortably. Far from clashing, these two characteristics complement one another and make for a very special high indeed.
Shining Silver Haze
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Haze x (Skunk x Northern Light) |
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21 to 23 oz/m² |
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3 to 4 feet |
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9 - 11 weeks |
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THC: 21% |
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Sativa 75% Indica 25% |
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21 to 23 oz/plant |
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6 to 7 feet |
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Late October |
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Heavy |
Amnesia Haze
Amnesia Haze is one of the most well-known strains of cannabis in the world, and with good reason. With 70% sativa genetics, it was an early hybrid that provided the benefits of sativa with some of the ease of indica. For lovers of uplifting effects, Amnesia Haze is, and perhaps always will be, an absolute favorite.
In terms of flavor, it’s fruity, floral, and has that classic citrus tang underlying it all. The buds are resin-coated, which makes it great for lovers of extractions, concentrates, or just sticky buds. The effects are highly stimulating, and the THC content can top 22% if grown carefully. This makes it a strain that offers a lot of pleasure, but one that must also be treated with respect.
Amnesia Haze
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Original Amnesia Haze |
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21 to 23 oz/m² |
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3 to 5 feet |
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10 - 11 weeks |
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THC: 22% |
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Sativa 70% Indica 30% |
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23 to 25 oz/plant |
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6 to 7 feet |
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Late October |
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Long Lasting , Physically Relaxing, Powerful |
Chocolate Haze
Cannalope Haze x OG Chocolate Thai gave rise to our very own Cannalope Haze. We sought to create a strain that could offer hard-to-rival sweetness alongside a big buzz. And we managed to achieve it!
This strain has a whopping 95% sativa influence, and effects to match. Expect powerful stimulation, euphoria, and focused creativity. Perhaps not one to smoke before hitting the hay! It doesn’t take a genius to guess what the flavors of Chocolate Haze are going to be, but you’d be forgiven for being surprised at just how chocolatey they turn out to be. Wave after wave of rich chocolate goodness makes this an extremely moreish smoke.
Chocolate Haze
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OG Chocolate Thai x Cannalope Haze |
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17 to 18 oz/m² |
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3 to 5 feet |
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9 - 11 weeks |
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THC: 20% |
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Sativa 95% Indica 5% |
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16 to 18 oz/plant |
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5 to 7 feet |
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Late October |
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Heavy |
AK-47
The strain AK-47, not to be confused with the synthetic cannabinoid of the same name, is an iconic strain combining Thai, Mexican, Colombian, and Afghan influence into one super sativa hybrid. With a name that’s significantly more intimidating than its high, you can enjoy a chill cerebral buzz with the following AK-derived strains.
Royal AK
For many, AK strains are the perfect hybrids. Royal AK offers 60% sativa and 40% indica genetics, and you can tell. In terms of growth and effects, she offers the very best of both worlds, and as such is a favorite among cultivators and smokers the world over.
Expect a strong body stone with an equally potent head buzz. Due to its strength, the high can get pretty powerful if you overdo it, so go steady! Fortunately, despite the aggressive name, Royal AK is particularly pleasant. Flavors are varied, with fruit and diesel notes dominating.
Royal AK
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Columbian, Mexican, Thai & Afghan |
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18 to 20 oz/m² |
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3 to 5 feet |
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8 - 9 weeks |
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THC: 19% |
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Sativa 60% Indica 40% |
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21 to 23 oz/plant |
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4 to 6 feet |
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Early October |
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Balanced, Clear, Stoned |
Royal AK Automatic
Imagine all of the above, but packed into an autoflowering seed with a 12-week life cycle! By crossing Royal AK with ruderalis, we have made a plant that is easy to cultivate without sacrificing all the best bits of AK. Expect the same great flavors and unique high.
Royal AK Auto
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AK 47 x Ruderalis |
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10 to 12 oz/m² |
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2 feet |
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6 - 8 weeks |
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THC: 15% |
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Sativa 35% Indica 40% Ruderalis 25% |
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4 to 5 oz/plant |
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2 to 3 feet |
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11 - 12 weeks after sprouting |
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Laughter, Motivating |
OG Kush
A mix of Chemdawg x Lemon Thai x Pakistani Kush, our very own OG Kush is about as good as cannabis can get. Now, it’s an indica-dominant strain, with only 25% sativa genetics packed into its nuclei, yet it deserves a mention due to just how wonderful it is.
One reason for its popularity is its distinctly “upper” effect, despite its indica-dominant nature. As such, you can expect a powerful mental buzz, with an underlying physical stone to balance it out a little. The unique dank, earthy flavors are another reason for its broad appeal, and we’d really recommend you savour them!
OG Kush
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Chemdawg x Lemon Thai x Pakistani Kush |
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15 to 17 oz/m² |
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3 to 5 feet |
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7 - 9 weeks |
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THC: 19% |
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Sativa 25% Indica 75% |
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18 to 19 oz/plant |
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6 to 7 feet |
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October |
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Calming, Uplifting |
Northern Light
Northern Light’s heritage is somewhat unclear, but it’s believed to derive from a Thai landrace and an Afghan landrace. That said, this hybrid is 100% indica, or damn near close.
Recipient of many awards and bred and loved for decades, Northern Lights is an important milestone in cannabis history, and one worth trying as soon as possible, if you have yet to.
Our own Northern Light strain is renowned for its incredibly physically relaxing effects while offering a little head buzz—unusual for a strain that’s all indica.
Northern Light
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Northern Light S1 |
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18 to 19 oz/m² |
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3 to 5 feet |
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8 - 9 weeks |
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THC: 18% |
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Sativa 0% Indica 100% |
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20 to 22 oz/plant |
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6 to 7 feet |
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Late September |
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Balanced, Clear, Stoned |
External Resources:
- Thailand’s Legendary Marijuana – The Diplomat https://thediplomat.com
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.
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