Picking a Medical Marijuana Strain
(While this post speaks specifically towards the medical use of marijuana, the information and effects apply to recreational cannabis as well.)
Spending the day dealing with the pain and or nausea of any of the many ailments that can be treated with medical marijuana sucks. Sometimes, it can be down right impossible to even get out of bed. Finding sweet relief in medical marijuana can feel like a god send to anyone who has tried multiple conventional medicines. But how do you know which strain is right for you?
Not all Medical Marijuana Strains Are Created Equal.
Back in the day, people used to say weed was weed, but nowadays there is truly a science and an art to growing the mighty cannabis plant. If you don’t believe me, then take a look at the big bear city menu of different types of weed that is readily available. However, most of the time cannabis is broadly classified by its strains. One of the first things you should know is that strains can be broken down into 2 main strain groups. Cannabis Sativa and Cannabis Indica. Each has its own properties and reacts differently in your body. Now, truth be told, everyone reacts differently to marijuana. The same strain, even batch, of weed can have completely different effects on two different people. However, strains are very important to create CBD products with different intensities and strengths. For instance, some of the best strains for rosin and CBD concentrates can be Cherry Abacus Hemp Flower, Lifter Kief, etc. A thorough research can help you understand the science behind it.
Cannabis Sativa Strains
Generally speaking, Sativa strains are higher in THC content. That’s the chemical that gives marijuana is psychological effects. Since it has such an effect on the brain, Sativas are usually called a cerebral weed. These strains can make some people feel more focused, creative or energetic. Some people like these strains as a wake and bake alternative or helper to the morning cup of coffee. Sometimes though, if your pain is severe enough you might need something a little stronger.
Cannabis Indica Strains
Most patients report that Indica medical marijuana strains work far better at relieving pain. They usually have a more balanced chemical makeup, or even tend to be higher in CBDs. CBDs step-up the pain killing properties of THC while keeping it’s psychoactive properties under control. Other medicinal properties of CBDs include anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, anti-oxidant, and anti-convulsant. Studies have found that CBDs can reduce the growth of cancer cells. These awesome pain fighting super-powers come at a price. Often times Indica will make people feel tired or sleepy.
An easy way to remember the differences in the strains is Indica sounds like “In Da Couch”, seriously, someone told me that a while ago and I use it to remember the difference to this day.
Best of both marijuana worlds
Send in the hybrids! Hybrid strains try and combine the best of both plant types. These can be separated into Indica dominant or Sativa dominant varieties. As the name implies, the characteristics of one plant or the other are stronger than the other in hybrids. They can give you the pain-fighting power of Indicas without feeling sleepy. Or give you the focus and creativity that comes with a Sativa and still fight that chronic neck pain or nausea. You can get cannabis strains, concentrates, and other products that have better effectiveness by looking for a cannabis dispensary in your locality or online (for instance, you can search for lakewood dispensary) depending on your preference.
Hope that helps you understand the differences in medical marijuana that is available to you. Hopefully it gives you the confidence to try some new strains or even some hybrids. If you want to narrow it down even farther, check out the strain explorer at Leaf.ly it can help you narrow down your ideal strain and don’t forget, when in doubt, don’t forget to ask our bud tenders. Let us know if there is a strain you’d like to see in our stores.
Thanks to Strainwise.com for this information.
BEGINNERS GUIDE TO MEDICAL CANNABIS – CHOOSING THE RIGHT STRAIN
Choosing the right strain of medical cannabis can be confusing at first with so many different and occasionally unusual names – the strain names are not always representative of the desired medicinal effects. This being said, it is much easier to decide what your desired effects are before you decide which strain to go with. To make things easier we have split the effects into two categories: HEAD and BODY.
Most cannabis strains effect your HEAD or brain within minutes after medicating. The effect either consists of a heavy and foggy feeling, or a clear and active feeling and can be classified on a scale of 1-7. with number 1being heavy and foggy, and 7 being the clearest and most active . Head effects may start sooner than body effects, but tend to wear off quicker.
The BODY or physical effect usually creeps in about 5 to 15 minutes after the “head effect”. This effect can vary from being relaxing and sleepy, to being uplifting and energetic. We can also apply the 1-7 scale to the “body effects”, with 1 being the most relaxing and 7 being the most uplifting. Body effects usually take longer to set in but tend to last longer than head (mental) effects.
Here are some examples of how to use our system. To simplify things we have made seven categories of the most common kinds of medicinal relief provided by cannabis: 1 being the heaviest Indica and 7 being the clearest Sativa. Depending on which category, or desired effect you wish to achieve, you can use the scale to find out which type of medicine you are looking for and suggested strains of that kind.
Type 1: Long lasting physical relief with a heavy and intense head effect. This kind of medicine is known asHeavy Indica, and is recommended for sleep, relaxation and pain related issues. Here are some examples of some strains with Heavy Indica attributes: MK Ultra, Grand Daddy Purple, Peak 19, Romulan, Ogre, Hash Plant and Afghani Goo.
Type 2: Long lasting physical relief with a clear and easy to function on head effect. This kind of medicine is known as Clear Indica, and is recommended for day time physical relief. Here are some examples of some strains with Clear Indica attributes: Sensi Star, Blackberry Kush, Northern Lights, Morning Star, Bubba Kush, Snow Cap and Shiva.
Type 3: A physical and mental balance that is more on the heavy side. This kind of medicine is known as a Heavy Hybrid, and is recommended for patients seeking pain relief or relaxation that is not too drowsy. Here are some examples of some strains with Heavy Hybrid attributes: Sage and Sour, Blueberry, White Rhino, Grape Ape, Champagne, Purple Kush and Cotton Candy.
Type 4: An even balance of Head and Body effects. This kind of medicine is known as a Even Hybrid, and is recommended for patients who don’t want to be too active or too drowsy. Here are some examples of some strains with Even Hybrid attributes: S.A.G.E., Northern Lights X Haze, Purple Skunk, Cali-O, Bubblegum, Silver Haze and Cherry Pie.
Type 5: An even balance of head and body effect which is more on the clear side. This kind of medicine is known as a Clear Hybrid, and is recommended for patients looking for a balance of Head and Body that is a little bit more on the clear side. Here are some examples of strains with Clear Hybrid attributes: Blue Dream, Cali-O, Odyssey, Bubbleberry, Super Silver Haze, AK-47 and White Widow.
Type 6: An uplifting body effect alongside some strong physical and mental relief. This kind of medicine is known as Heavy Sativa, and is recommended for patients looking for an Intense and uplifting Body with a Heavy head effect. Here are some examples of strains that have Heavy Sativa attributes: OG Kush, Cheese, Trainwreck, Sour Diesel, Headband, Jack Frost and Skunk #1.
Type 7: An uplifting and clear effect without a physical side to it. This type of medicine is known as Clear Sativa and is recommended for patients who are looking for a Clear Head with little or no Physical effects that is easy to function on. Here are some examples of strains that have Clear Sativa attributes: Kali Mist,Strawberry Kush, Old Mother Sativa, Durban Poison, Jack Herer, Purple God and Power Plant.
One very important factor in choosing the right medicine for yourself is that each strain has a ceiling or limit to the amount and type of cannabinoids that can be received by your body at a certain time. This is why you gain a tolerance faster to certain strains and others seem to medicate the same way for longer. By choosing to use different strains, about three of four, that you can rely on, it is easier to keep your cannabinoid receptors fresh and ready to be activated by the next type of medicine you are using. This will help you conserve your medicine and get the maximum effect from it. Having a few strains to medicate with can also help to reach the desired cannabinoid balance you are looking for. Certain websites like West Coast might provide you with products where you could Order Edibles Online for medical treatments. It is also worth mentioning that accurately estimating cannabis effects must be treated with some subjectivity. Each patient has an individual reaction to each type of medicine tried, and experimentation with different types of strains is essential for the new patient.
We are learning so much more about this wonderful plant all the time. We now know other aspects of cannabis such as the flavor (terpenes and flaviniods) also contributes to the effect. Remember, “the nose knows” – So trust your instincts and keep a personal cannabis journal to note how certain strains affected you. In very little time, you’ll be a pro at finding the strains that suit.
Thanks from Positive Vibrations for learning with me, and also thanks to berkeleypatientscare.com for all this wonderfully useful information and keep up the great work your doing.
