Is this strain better for flower or hash production? Is it better to relax or exercise? Better for anxiety or for sleeping? Each cannabis strain has its own unique characteristics. Here, we will make a small guide to help you choose yours.

Strains for chronic pain, for inflammation, for depression, for insomnia… Each of the varieties of cannabis can be chosen for different reasons – either the effects or functionalities of this magnificent plant. But why?

To begin with, we need to understand that each strain has its specific characteristics that are linked not only to the profile of cannabinoids, or the indica/sativa dichotomy, but also to their terpenes, and the synergy of different compounds present in that plant. All of this will influence how you should choose the strains either to grow it yourself or just to consume it.

It is important to be aware of the names of these substances and their main effects on our body. Therefore, we have organized this small guide for you to choose what you need to know the most to find the perfect strain for you!

Come with us to learn about it!

Cannabinoid profile

When discussing different strains, it is important to remember a lot has changed to how we understand them as much as the number of strains available. Due to new technologies and knowledge, breeders started to develop a big variety of crossings – what guided them was far beyond the smells and the cannabinoid profile of the plants. It was also about the whole sinergy of the cannabis plant: composed of terpenes, cannabinoids, flavonoids: a very wide range of effects and substances present in this magical plant.

This makes it increasingly difficult to find the famous OGs, the original strains. Where’s that 90’s ChemDawg?

Cannabinoids present in the plant

Cannabis has over 100 compounds in its composition – and, among them, are cannabinoids. They interact directly with our endocannabinoid system, which is part of the central nervous system and is distributed throughout our body.

• Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC): substance responsible for the psychoactive effects of the plant. It is the first cannabinoid that comes to mind when considering the adult use of the herb. It is a partial agonist of both CB1 receptors, found mainly in the central nervous system, and CB2 receptors, located mainly in immune cells, both belonging to the endocannabinoid system. It is the activation of CB1 receptors, present in different brain structures, that causes the psychotomimetic effect – that is, the sensation of a plating device itself.

• Cannabidiol (CBD): CBD is the most talked about when it comes to therapeutic and medicinal cannabis. The substance is well-known for its calming effects. It also does not have the same interaction with endocannabinoid receptors as THC. Recent studies indicate that its affinity for cannabinoid receptors is low, and may behave as a negative allosteric modulator of the CB1 receptor. Thus, in addition to not causing the common effects observed in THC, it can modulate and decrease it.

• Cannabigerol (CBG): few people hear about it, but CBG is one of the most important cannabinoids we find in the plant. He is the chemical father of THC and CBD, that is, both are derived from this substance and appear in the plant through it. Without this substance, there would be no way to produce cannabinoids that provide medicinal benefits.

• Cannabinol (CBN): not everyone likes it very much – after all, CBN is created when the THC of the cannabis plant degrades due to age or exposure to light. However, when ingested, cannabinol provides a sedative effect that makes it ideal if you have insomnia. Steep Hill Labs claims that just 5 mg of CBN is a more effective way to relax the body than 10 mg of Valium.

• Tetracanabidinol acid (THCA): it is nothing more than the acid form of THC, which becomes the psychoactive compound when exposed to heat by means of decarboxylation. Despite its importance, there is much research on it. There is a study by Rock et al., Published in The British Journal of Pharmacology in October 2013, which showed that THCA reduced nausea and vomiting in rats.

As we have already mentioned above, there are numerous cannabinoids and we have chosen only a few important ones to get out of the dichotomous view between THC and CBD.

Talking about these synergistic interactions of these numerous compounds present in cannabis is very important! In current medicine, there is a common practice: to isolate CBD from the rest of cannabinoids and use it alone. However, as we see in research on the Entourage Effect, the substances work as a team to deliver only the best effects. CBD alone, therefore, may not perform as well as quality full-spectrum medicine.

The stigma surrounding THC, which places it as the “bad” component of cannabis due to its psychoactive effects, is a practice that comes directly from prohibitionism. But it is essential to remember that it also has its importance in our body and is one of the main agents for the treatment of various conditions, such as glaucoma, for example – in addition to enhancing the effects of CBD itself, working much better together than isolated.

Using the plant in full form is the best way to ensure that the effects will be the best and most balanced!

Terpenes

The properties of cannabis are not only found in cannabinoids, but also in their terpenes and terpenoids. Substances found in nature, they serve as a kind of natural repellent against pests on plants and even some insects! In addition, they are widely used today in aromatherapy – and have incredible therapeutic effects, which also interact with THC and CBD, complementing them.

They have varied aromas and effects, such as:

• Citrus fragrances have been shown to normalize neuroendocrine hormone levels and the immune function of patients, and have been far more effective than antidepressants.

• Terpenes obtained in forests, such as pinene, from pine and other trees of the species, have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumorigenic or neuroprotective properties.

• Linalool plays an important role in anti-inflammatory activity, and there is evidence to suggest that the species producing linalool and linalyl acetate are potentially anti-inflammatory agents.

• Mircene and limonene have a relaxing and potentially sedative action, according to research.

We’ve talked a lot about terpenes here on the blog, but it’s always good to recap:

It is important to remember that the way it is grown also has a direct relationship with the result and its percentages of THC, CBD and amount of terpenes! All of these properties, together, make each cannabis strain unique and have its own “fingerprint”, so to speak (and this is one of the reasons why the simple separation between Indica and Sativa has become obsolete).

From there, you must combine all your favorite effects and find your favorite strain. An incredible place to look for it is Leafly: on the website, they are separated by class, effect, terpenes, functions and flavors or even strains for specific conditions, such as: insomnia, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, etc. On this website, the strains are represented by mandalas with visual indications that give an account of the cannabinoid profile, terpenoid and effect of each one.

In addition to all this information, we also separated some of our favorite strains of the moment and their effects to launch the tip:

Note: terpenes and effects are in order from highest to lowest!

Did you see how important chemistry classes are and why you should have paid more attention during high school? It would help a lot when it comes to understanding this fascinating little thing that is cannabis! This is ancient knowledge that has been taken from us, and it is our time to win it back.

Did you like to know more about all this? Any questions, just leave a comment and we’ll answer!