As cannabis enthusiasts, we have been telling everyone that medical marijuana can serve as an alternate treatment for various health conditions. Well, there is no doubt in that as there is reliable evidence that supports the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. 420 doctors have been recommending medical marijuana to patients for managing several symptoms and health conditions.
But it is important to understand that medical marijuana is not just one type of plant. It’s not like there is just one plant that is called marijuana and every plant that falls under that category exhibits the same characteristics and effects.
A Brief About Marijuana Strains
Marijuana is broadly categorized into three families. They are also called strains. Now again, there are around 700+ marijuana strains available in the market and the number is still emerging as the botanists cross different marijuana strains and grow a new plant that has different properties than the rest of the lot. But because of their common, primary effects, they can be categorized as:
- Sativa
- Indica
- Hybrid
To understand in-depth how differences in the properties of a strain create a difference in your experience, let’s understand the effects these strains deliver.
Sativa
If you are looking for the cerebral high, a high that will help you bring out your creative side, increase focus and enhance your concentration, Sativa is the strain for you. Sativa strains offer energy. So, the right time to consume Sativa strains is in the morning or during the day.
Indica
Indica strains offer relaxed, sedating effects. Its name can also be interpreted as “In da couch” because of the couch locking effects these strains can offer. The high is more of a body high as after consuming Indica strains your body will feel heavy and you may find it a little difficult to move. Indica strains are great if insomnia and sleeplessness are something you are struggling with. The best time to consume Indica strains is at night or in the late evenings when you are ready to wind up and just hit the bed.
Hybrid
Hybrid strains are a cross of both Sativa and Indica strains. They are produced to offer the best of both worlds to the consumers. Hybrid strains can be further divided into three subcategories:
- Indica-dominant strains
- Sativa-dominant strains
- Balanced strains
It is pretty evident from the names that Indica dominant hybrid strains will have stronger Indica effects and Sativa dominant strains will offer strong Sativa effects. Balanced strains have a balanced CBD to THC ratio.
Terpene Profile Can Make a Difference
Terpenes are compounds found in various plants and animals that are responsible for the aroma, flavor, and color. Terpenes are the reason why different marijuana strains have different flavors and aromas. While a lot of people believe this is the only responsibility of terpenes, they even have the potential to alter the effects of strains. It is important to note that differences in flavor and aroma can create a significant difference in the experience of an individual. Secondly, some terpenes have medicinal properties and can offer therapeutic effects.
The terpene profile of a strain can totally make a difference in the effects you receive so it is important to keep terpenes in check as well.
Best Strains According to the Effects You Expect
While one can simply learn about the basics of different types of marijuana strains available in the market and choose to experiment with different strains, it is better if you choose strains according to your body and health condition.
Pain Relief
If you are looking for pain-relieving properties in your marijuana strain, it is suggested to choose a strain depending on the type of pain you have. Sativa and Sativa dominant strains would work better for morning stiffness and pain whereas Indica and Indica dominant strains would be a better choice if you are consuming marijuana before bed. Some of the best marijuana strains for pain relief include:
- ACDC
- Northern Lights
- Harlequin
- White Widow
- OG Kush
- Critical Mass
- Platinum Bubba Kush
Euphoria
THC is a cannabinoid that is known to offer euphoric effects. While a lot of people consider the euphoric effects of marijuana negative, these effects can help in uplifting mood, alleviating social anxiety, stress, panic, and depression. So, if you are looking for these benefits, strains that have high THC content will work in your favor. Some of the best high THC strains that offer decent euphoric effects include:
- Tangerine Power
- Headband
- Green Crack
- Super Sour Diesel
- Classic Cookies
Quality Sleep
Indica and Indica dominant strains are going to offer you the sedating effects. Again, these are going to be high THC strains. Sleeplessness or waking up multiple times at night are common sleeping issues that a lot of people face. It’s not just insomnia, unfortunately. And to manage these conditions, marijuana can be a reliable medication. Some of the best strains for insomnia and other sleeping disorders include:
- Girl Scout Cookies
- Harlequin
- Grandaddy Purple
- Blackberry Kush
- Wedding Cake
- Bubba Kush
Creative High
Creative minds who find it difficult to concentrate at times, marijuana can be your savior. The plant is used by various artists and even Hollywood celebs and famous singers have mentioned multiple times how the plant has helped them in creating some of their best pieces. Not just that, if you are someone struggling with ADHD and its symptoms, these strains can work for you as well. Some of the best marijuana strains for creativity are:
- Berry White
- LSD
- Purple Haze
- Jack Herer
- Space Queen
- Kali Mist
Tips for Beginners
The first experience with medical marijuana can be a little overwhelming. Especially if you have little knowledge regarding the basics of marijuana and its dosage. Even though we strongly believe the internet is filled with information that can help you get familiar with marijuana, it is very generalized. It is important to note that marijuana does not work the same for everyone. What may work for one patient with the same health condition as yours may not work for you.
The reason behind that is the difference in body, metabolism, tolerance, and severity of the condition. So, in order to have a positive, beneficial experience with marijuana as a beginner, it is important to take care of a few things.
- Always start low and slow. It is better to microdose and give medication some time to hit you. Taking a high dose as a beginner can offer unexpected and undesired effects that may be difficult to handle.
- Take care of the potency. Marijuana strains can have different potency levels. As beginners, it is advised to start from strains that are less potent so that the effects are not too strong for your system.
- Consider your metabolism. You know your metabolism better so you would know if your body can tolerate marijuana or not. We get it, you wish to experiment but take your body metabolism into consideration so that you can consume the plant in the right dose.
- Choose marijuana strains according to the time of consumption. It is not like one strain is going to work for you at all times. You will have to choose a different strain if you are going to change the time of consumption.
- Similar to the previous point, consider your mood and environment before choosing marijuana strain. It is not like you stay in the same mood all the time. Some days you will feel low, some days you will be very energetic. For different days you will require different marijuana strains otherwise you may not receive expected effects.
Final Words
Using medical marijuana as a treatment seems a very simple and intriguing option but it can be very overwhelming to actually find a strain that works in your favor. A novice may experience several undesired effects and even consider giving up, especially if they have zero knowledge regarding the subject. But once you know the basics, marijuana is going to do wonders for you. The idea is to learn, explore, research, and experiment with the plant to embrace its medicinal properties and benefits. We highly recommend talking to a medical marijuana doctor before self-medicating so that you can get an idea of what shall work specifically for you.