We believe cannabis to be one of the best medicines on the planet, and that it can be used to treat most minor and severe illnesses. Just like over-the-counter medicines, everybody reacts to and prefers certain cannabis strains over others; they work differently from person to person, so you need to find the right strain in order for it to be effective.
With so many strains to choose from, where do you start?
Wedding Cake developing beautifully in a greenhouse
When selecting a strain for treatment, keep the following questions in mind:
- What do I want to treat? THC vs CBD?
- Do I want it to make me relaxed or productive? Day or night?
- How many hours of relief am I looking for? How strong?
When selecting a strain for your garden, ask yourself:
- How much experience do I have growing?
- What characteristics am I looking for?
- Is this for indoor or outdoor?
Popular cannabis strains to consider, in alphabetical order, are:
ACDC
Hours of Relief: 2+ hours
Effects: Mild to moderate strength, high CBD, Sativa
Good For: Inflammation, relaxation, preventing the spread of cancer
Plant Characteristics: Quick veg, short internode spacing, low bract to leaf ratio, moderate to large yield
Best For: Indoor or greenhouse
Flowering Time: 10-11 weeks
Hours of Relief: 3+ hours
Effects: Strong, not as euphoric as Forum
Good For: Anxiety, pain relief, PTSD, relaxation, insomnia, depression, appetite stimulation
Flower Characteristics: Similar aroma to regular Cookies, but more gassy aroma and taste
Plant Characteristics: Slow to moderate veg, medium internode spacing, high bract to leaf ratio, beautiful color in cool temperatures, moderately yielding
Best For: Indoor or greenhouse
Flowering Time: 9-10 weeks
Hours of Relief: 3+ hours
Effects: Strong, not as euphoric as Forum Cookies
Good For: Anxiety, pain relief, PTSD, relaxation, insomnia, depression, appetite stimulation
Flower Characteristics: Similar to regular Cookies, but apply pastry aroma and taste
Plant Characteristics: Fast veg, medium internode spacing, high bract to leaf ratio, beautiful color in cool temperatures, moderately yielding
Best For: Indoor or greenhouse
Flowering Time: 9-10 weeks
Blue Dream
Hours of Relief: 2.5+ hours
Effects: Moderate strength
Good For: Motivation, depression, can trigger anxiety
Flower Characteristics: Blueberry and sandalwood aroma and taste
Plant Characteristics: Quick veg, large internode spacing, moderate bract to leaf ratio, dense flowers, extremely high yielding
Best For: Indoor or greenhouse
Flowering Time: 9-10 weeks
Hours of Relief: 3.5+ hours
Effects: Extremely strong, Indica hybrid
Good For: Anxiety, pain relief, PTSD, relaxation, insomnia, depression, appetite stimulation
Flower Characteristics: Diesel, cookie dough, and vanilla aroma, diesel cookie taste
Plant Characteristics: Slow veg, tight internode spacing, high bract to leaf ratio, prefers LST for multiple tops, needs defoliation for maximum production, sturdy stems, frosty flowers, moderate to high yielding
Best For: Indoor or greenhouse
Flowering Time: 9-10 weeks
Broke Da Mouf
Hours of Relief: 2+ hours
Effects: Moderate strength
Good For: Euphoria, productivity, creativity, depression
Flower Characteristics: Skittles candy with fuel aroma and taste
Plant Characteristics: Medium internode spacing, high bract to leaf ratio, sticky, extremely frosty flowers, smaller flowers
Best For: Indoor or greenhouse
Flowering Time: 8-9 weeks
Caramel Apple Cake
Hours of Relief: 3+ hours
Effects: Strong, Indica hybrid
Good For: Pain relief, insomnia, relaxation, creativity, depression, appetite stimulation
Flower Characteristics: Caramel candy apple and gas taste and aroma
Plant Characteristics: Quick veg, large internode spacing, high bract to leaf ratio, dense and frosty flowers, high yielding
Best For: Indoor or greenhouse
Flowering Time: 10-11 weeks
Hours of Relief: 2.5+ hours
Effects: Moderate strength, Indica
Good For: Anxiety, relaxation, depression
Flower Characteristics: Cherry pie aroma, cherry fuel taste
Plant Characteristics: Medium internode spacing, greasy, beautiful color, prone to mold in high humidity, can herm when stressed but pollen is sterile, moderately yielding
Best For: Indoor
Flowering Time: 8-9 weeks
Hours of Relief: 3.5+ hours
Effects: Extremely strong, Indica
Good For: Anxiety, pain relief, best strain for PTSD, relaxation, insomnia, appetite stimulation
Flower Characteristics: Piney, earthy aroma, pine sol taste
Plant Characteristics: Moderate veg, high bract to leaf ratio, exotic, viny, thin branches, needs plenty of support, smaller flowers, highest testing OG terpenes, greasy, moderately yielding
Best For: Indoor or greenhouse, experienced growers
Flowering Time: 10-12 weeks
Da Crip
Hours of Relief: 3.5+ hours
Effects: Extremely strong, Indica
Good For: Anxiety, pain relief, best strain for PTSD, relaxation, insomnia, appetite stimulation
Flower Characteristics: Gas, chem, gas station aroma and taste
Plant Characteristics: Moderate veg, high bract to leaf ratio, exotic, viny, needs plenty of support, smaller flowers, greasy, moderately yielding
Best For: Indoor or greenhouse, experienced growers
Flowering Time: 10-12 weeks
Hours of Relief: 3+ hours
Effects: Strong
Good For: Euphoria, creativity, functional pain relief
Flower Characteristics: Fresh ground pepper and cookie dough aroma
Plant Characteristics: Slow to moderate veg, medium internode spacing, high bract to leaf ratio, beautiful color in cooler temperatures, small to moderate yield
Best For: Indoor or greenhouse
Flowering Time: 9-10 weeks
Hours of Relief: 3+ hours
Effects: Strong, Sativa-Indica polyhybrid
Good For: Relaxation, pain relief, depression, can trigger anxiety
Flower Characteristics: Chocolate Kushy aroma, chocolate skunk taste
Plant Characteristics: Extremely fast veg, bushy, large internode spacing, needs plenty of support, mold resistant, high yielding
Best For: Indoor or greenhouse
Flowering Time: 9-10 weeks
Hours of Relief: 3+ hours
Effects: Strong, Indica hybrid
Good For: Pain relief, relaxation, creativity, depression, appetite stimulation
Flower Characteristics: Vanilla cream aroma, vanilla gas taste and flavor
Plant Characteristics: Quick veg, large internode spacing, high bract to leaf ratio, dense and frosty flowers, high yielding
Best For: Indoor or greenhouse
Flowering Time: 10-11 weeks
Hours of Relief: 3+ hours
Effects: Strong, Indica hybrid
Good For: Pain relief, relaxation, cancer, depression, appetite stimulation
Flower Characteristics: Gas, chem, skunk, kush aroma and taste
Plant Characteristics: Quick veg, large internode spacing, high bract to leaf ratio, dense and frosty flowers with nice colors and resin rails, moderate to high yielding
Best For: Indoor or greenhouse
Flowering Time: 9-10 weeks
Kauai Macnut
Hours of Relief: 3+ hours
Effects: Strong, Sativa-Indica polyhybrid
Good For: Relaxation, pain relief, depression, can trigger anxiety
Flower Characteristics: Skunk, cookie dough, and gas aroma and taste
Plant Characteristics: Quick veg, bushy, large internode spacing, needs plenty of support, mold resistant, high yielding
Best For: Indoor or greenhouse
Flowering Time: 9-10 weeks
Kauai Mints
Hours of Relief: 3+ hours
Effects: Strong
Good For: Euphoria, creativity, functional pain relief
Flower Characteristics: Cookie dough and gas aroma and flavor
Plant Characteristics: Moderate veg, medium internode spacing, high bract to leaf ratio, beautiful color in cooler temperatures, small to moderate yield
Best For: Indoor or greenhouse
Flowering Time: 9-10 weeks
Hours of Relief: 3+ hours
Effects: Strong, mind and body
Good For: Anxiety, pain relief, PTSD, relaxation, insomnia, depression, appetite stimulation
Flower Characteristics: Kushy minty goodness aroma and taste
Plant Characteristics: Slow to moderate veg, tight internode spacing, high bract to leaf ratio, beautiful color in cool temperatures, high yielding
Best For: Indoor or greenhouse
Flowering Time: 9-10 weeks
Hours of Relief: 2+ hours
Effects: Moderate strength
Good For: Motivation, stimulation, depression
Flower Characteristics: Lemon zest aroma and taste
Plant Characteristics: Extremely slow veg, tight internode spacing, medium bract to leaf ratio, dense flowers, high yielding
Best For: Indoor or greenhouse
Flowering Time: 9 weeks
OGKB
Hours of Relief: 3+ hours
Effects: Strong
Good For: Pain relief, PTSD, insomnia, depression, appetite stimulation
Flower Characteristics: Gas and cookie dough aroma and taste
Plant Characteristics: Extremely slow veg, extremely tight internode spacing, prefers LST, moderately yielding
Best For: Indoor, experienced growers
Flowering Time: 10-11 weeks
Hours of Relief: 3+ hours
Effects: Strong, relaxing
Good For: Uplifting, creativity, depression, appetite stimulation
Flower Characteristics: Sweet tropical papayas with bubblegum and dank aroma and taste
Plant Characteristics: Slow to moderate veg, tight internode spacing, moderate bract to leaf ratio, high yielding
Best For: Indoor or greenhouse
Flowering Time: 8-9 weeks
Hours of Relief: 2.5+ hours
Effects: Moderate strength, relaxing, good head space
Good For: Anxiety, relaxation, depression, appetite stimulation
Flower Characteristics: Very similar to fruit candy with Gelato creaminess aroma and taste
Plant Characteristics: Fast veg, medium internode spacing, high bract to leaf ratio, beautiful color in cool temperatures, moderately yielding
Best For: Indoor or greenhouse
Flowering Time: 8-9 weeks
Sour Diesel
Hours of Relief: 2.5+ hours
Effects: Strong
Good For: Motivation, depression, appetite stimulation
Flower Characteristics: Sour citrus diesel aroma and taste
Plant Characteristics: Quick veg, large internode spacing, high bract to leaf ratio, moderately dense flowers, high yielding
Best For: Indoor or greenhouse
Flowering Time: 9-10 weeks
Hours of Relief: 3.5+ hours
Effects: Strong
Good For: Anxiety, pain relief, PTSD, relaxation, insomnia, appetite stimulation
Flower Characteristics: Aroma and taste are fruity and sweet with a hint of creaminess
Plant Characteristics: Medium internode spacing, dense flowers, beautiful color in cooler temperatures, prone to mold in high humidity, moderately yielding
Best For: Indoor
Flowering Time: 9-10 weeks
Tropical Trip
Hours of Relief: 3.5+ hours
Effects: Strong
Good For: Anxiety, pain relief, PTSD, relaxation, insomnia, appetite stimulation
Flower Characteristics: Gas, blueberry syrup with chocolate notes and sweet licorice
Plant Characteristics: Medium internode spacing, dense flowers, high yielding
Best For: Indoor or greenhouse
Flowering Time: 10-11 weeks
Hours of Relief: 3+ hours
Effects: Strong, Indica-dominant hybrid
Good For: Pain relief, relaxation, creativity, depression, appetite stimulation
Flower Characteristics: Vanilla cream and gas aroma and taste
Plant Characteristics: Quick veg, large internode spacing, high bract to leaf ratio, dense and frosty flowers, high yielding
Best For: Indoor or greenhouse
Flowering Time: 10-11 weeks
Wifi 43
Hours of Relief: 2.5+ hours
Effects: Strong
Good For: Anxiety, pain relief, relaxation, insomnia, appetite stimulation
Flower Characteristics: Earthy aroma and taste
Plant Characteristics: Medium internode spacing, medium size flowers, greasy, moderately yielding
Best For: Indoor or greenhouse
Flowering Time: 9-10 weeks
Hours of Relief: 2+ hours
Effects: Moderate strength
Good For: Euphoria, productivity, creativity, depression
Flower Characteristics: Skittles candy aroma and taste
Plant Characteristics: Medium internode spacing, high bract to leaf ratio, sticky, extremely frosty flowers, smaller flowers, prone to mold in high humidity
Best For: Indoor or greenhouse
Flowering Time: 8-9 weeks
Enjoy the Process
We encourage you to try
new strains, ask questions, and go for something that provides adequate relief. Bag appeal, frostiness, and clever names are all nice, but medicinally speaking, have little to do with the effectiveness of a flower.
The more you familiarize yourself with cannabis, the better you’ll be able to differentiate the effects and characteristics of each strain. Finding the right one can take some time, but when you find that winner, it can be life-changing.
Happy hunting.
