by Nebula Haze
Unfortunately, there is no “best” medical marijuana strain just like there is no best medicine, but each strain has something different to offer, and may or may not be suited to your needs!
“Medical” vs “Non-Medical” Marijuana
What’s the difference between medical vs non-medical marijuana? There’s a range of effects that people can get from different strains of cannabis, and even each strain can affect people differently.
The main ingredient in cannabis is a special class of compounds known as cannabinoids. These interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system (which is known to affect many of our body’s natural functions, including mood, appetite, and the ability to feel pain).
THC, CBD and a variety of other “cannabinoids” are responsible for many of the recreational and medical properties people associate with cannabis
The most commonly known cannabinoid is THC, which affects appetite and is what causes many of the psychoactive mental effects people associate with cannabis. However, there are hundreds of other cannabinoids found in different strains, many of which we’re just starting to learn about.
The second most famous cannabinoid is CBD, which has the potential to help people with anxiety and also seems to help prevent some adults and children from experiencing seizures.
All the cannabinoids react with each other! For example, higher levels of CBD actually reduce the mental affects of THC, which can be good or bad depending on what you’re looking for. On top of all the interactions between cannabinoids, there are lots of other compounds in cannabis (known as terpenes) which give cannabis its smell and and may alter the effects even further.
So without a whole lot of scientific research (which luckily is changing now that cannabis is becoming legalized all over the country!) the best guidance for choosing the best medical marijuana strain comes from anecdotal information and a lot of experimentation!
Learn more about different cannabinoids
What to Look For in a Medical Strain
When shopping for strains online, you usually have the ability to see what to expect from each strain before you buy. Most breeders provide basic information about the potency, smell and mental/physical effects, which will guide you towards finding what you want.
Learn more on how to research strains online
But there are some general things to remember when it comes to cannabinoids…
THC (delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol)
THC is the main psychoactive component in marijuana buds, and mimics the action of anandamide, which is a naturally occurring cannabinoid in the brain.
Quick Summary of THC
- THC has the strongest psychoactive effects
- THC can cause feelings of creativity, curiosity, or excited well-being
- High THC levels may cause people to feel anxious, disorientated, drugged or “messed up”
THC appears to…
- Relieve Certain Types of Pain, Especially Nerve Pain
- Help with Nausea and Lack of Appetite
- Be Neuroprotective (help stop brain from degenerating over time)
- Cause Relaxation
- Cause Euphoria
- Contribute to Altered Space-Time Perception
Learn how to get high levels of THC in your buds
Having a high THC content by itself does not necessarily mean that the marijuana is great. It’s important to look at the whole experience caused by the plant, which includes considering the effects of CBD.
In fact, the following negative effects of THC are often prevented when higher levels of CBD are present:
- Lapses in Memory
- Disorientation
- Anxiety
CBD (Cannabidiol)
Quick Summary of CBD
- CBD is not psychoactive and doesn’t make you feel impaired
- CBD appears to have many positive health implications
- The presence of CBD can alter some of the subjective effects of THC. Higher levels of CBD reduces the psychoactive effects of THC, which can be a great way for some patients to get the medical benefits of THC without having to feel “high”.
We’ve known for a long time that CBD is found in cannabis and hemp plants, but it’s only recently that we’ve started to study and explore the health benefits.
CBD appears to:
- Reduce pain
- Prevent seizures and spasms for some people
- Relieve some types of inflammation
- Reduce anxiety
CBD has also been shown to:
- Have a calming effect
- Act as an antipsychotic for people suffering from schizophrenia
- Offer relief for some patients suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, and Epilepsy
- Possibly help stop the growth of cancer by inhibiting cancer cell growth
- Prevent the memory impairment and disorientation associated with THC
Learn how to get high levels of CBD in your buds
In addition to the THC and CBD levels, each strain can cause other general effects. Some strains tend to make people feel energetic and creative, while other strains can be sedating and relaxing.
When choosing strains, the breeder will tell you in general what you can expect. With the best breeders, you get what they say you will get. With less trustworthy breeders, you might get more variation than you might expect.
Learn more about the difference between medical and non-medical cannabis!
Examples of Some of the Best Medical Strains
There are thousands and thousands of cannabis strains, and there are new ones every day! Because of the sheer number of strains there is now way I could possibly list them all .
So I just wanted to share a short list of some of the best and most consistent strains for medical marijuana patients, to help you start your journey!
High-THC Strains
- Many of the modern strains and cannabis cup winners have been selectively bred to be high in THC. This produces the most mind-altering effects.
- After a certain point, higher levels of THC don’t necessarily mean the buds feel more potent. I’ve tried cannabis with 20% THC that feels even more potent than buds that have been tested at 30% THC. After about 15-20% THC, I believe the potency of strains should be determined on a case-by-case basis as opposed to just the THC numbers. In fact, all strains should be judged on a case-by-case basis if possible.
- It’s easy to find a huge variety of high-THC strains – the sky is the limit!
Some of my favorite High-THC Strains
> Sour Diesel by Reserva Privada (this breeder now goes by DNA Genetics) – this strain has been described as “insanely strong” and there’s a good reason for that! Growers should be aware that this strain gets really big, really tall, really fast. With careful plant training you can achieve great yields with this strain. It does really well with heat but tends to grow slowly if it gets cold. Unfortunately, the strain is often sold out these days so grab it if you see it on sale!
> OG Kush by Dinafem – OG Kush is a world famous strain which is very high in THC and low in CBD, giving it a very potent overall effect. It has an “up” (or sometimes even “hallucinogenic”) effect that people love.
> White Widow by Dutch Passion has become a legendary strain, and continues to win Cannabis Cups and be served coffee shops and dispensaries around the world. The popularity of White Widow is based on its appearance, strength, and ability to make people feel uplifted and happy. It’s known as White Widow because its buds become so covered in trichomes/glitter that buds can actually look white. The version of White Widow by Nirvana is another great choice that is extremely easy to grow (it is actually one of the first strains I ever grew).
High-CBD Strains
- Auto-flowering strains tend to have higher levels of CBD than photoperiod strains because they are descended from high-CBD wild hemp plants. There are also autos that have been specifically bred to produce high CBD levels.
- Many high-CBD strains are becoming available online as seed, since many breeders are now selecting for plants with higher levels of CBD and lower THC
- Unfortunately, the best high-CBD plants to grow are the ones that have already been tested for CBD content, which means starting with clones or getting your buds tested. However, for those who don’t have access to medical marijuana clones (most of us), there are now seed options that allow you to produce high-CBD levels at home
Trustworthy High-CBD Strains Available as Seeds
> CBD Amnesia – powerful high-CBD strain
> CBD Critical Mass by CBD Crew – This breeder has specialized in breeding high-CBD strains since 2009, and offers some of the best high-CBD strains.
> CBD Med Gom Auto by CBD Crew – Same great breeder, this time an auto-flowering high-CBD strain
Hopefully, these lists will help get you started on your journey to find the best medical marijuana strain for you!
Learn More About Researching Strains to Get the Right Effects!
