The Ultimate Guide to Types of Cannabis Strains

Whether you refer to cannabis as weed, marijuana, bud, flower, or any other name, it’s now easier than ever to get high-quality products. Anyone aged 21 or over can buy cannabis online in Canada and the variety of products available is staggering. However, with so many different types of cannabis strains available to order, you might have a hard time deciding which ones are right for you.

While cannabis strains are all derived from the same plant, they still have significant differences based on the strain of the plant. Not only does each strain look, smell, and taste different, but the effects you get from marijuana can vary wildly based on the strain you choose. As such, users often buy strains based on their personal preferences.

Some strains are better for deep relaxation whereas some are better for mental stimulation. What’s more, some users may prefer a sweet and fruity strain whereas others prefer the taste of dank and earthy strains. You can also pick the strain you want based on how strong it is or even how dense and appealing the buds look.

Luckily you can find all of these types of strains at MMJ Express and try as many as you want. But where should you start? Here’s the Ultimate Guide to Types of Cannabis Strains to help you out.

Indica Strains

Indica strains are probably the most common type of cannabis strain you’ll see. These are strains that have been produced by cannabis indica plants- a short and bushy type of cannabis plant that’s known for being quick and easy to grow. As such, indica strains are in high supply and there are more than enough to choose from.

The general consensus on indica strains is that they’re much better than other types of strains for deep relaxation. The physical effects of indica strains are especially dominant and they’ll help relieve your body of pain and tension swiftly. They also provide enjoyable mental effects- often providing a burst of cerebral euphoria before calming you into a stress-free mental state.

These effects make indica strains ideal for evening or nighttime sessions when you want to relax, mellow out, and forget about any worries on your mind. As for medical uses, indica strains are the best choice for those who want to relieve chronic or nagging pain, migraines, nausea, or sleep problems. They can also help reduce stress.

Everyone should try a few indica strains out for themselves. They’re the best strains for kicking back on the couch and soaking up some of your favorite music, movies, or TV shows. They can also help ease you into a night of peaceful, relaxing sleep. Some of the best indica strains to try are Pink Kush, Cherry Pie, Love Potion OG, and Gas Leak.

Sativa Strains

Sativa strains are on the other end of the spectrum from indica strains, and many people choose which strain to buy based on whether they’re looking for indica or sativa effects. Compared to indica plants, sativa cannabis plants are taller, narrower, and even produce thinner buds. They also take longer to grow, but the effort is worth it.

While indica strains are known for deep physical relaxation, sativa strains are usually much more uplifting and mentally-focused. Users often report experiencing increased creativity, focus, happiness, and chattiness when they smoke sativa strains. They can also soothe your body, although the physical effects usually feel more invigorating and energizing than sedating.

If you’re looking for a good wake-and-bake strain to boost your mood and motivation in the morning, sativa strains are perfect. They’re also great for daytime use and social situations as they can make you more positive, chatty, and giggly. Medical users often use sativa strains to counteract symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic fatigue among other issues.

You should use sativa strains when you want an uplifting and exhilarating high- especially if you’re planning on getting high during the day and don’t want to feel sleepy. They’re also great for enhancing your creativity if you’re planning on writing, making music, or doing other creative tasks. Some of the most popular sativa strains include Durban Poison, Gelato Dream, Maui Waui, and Silver Haze. 

Hybrid Strains

While indica and sativa cannabis plants are the two main types of plants that produce marijuana buds, there’s also a third option. When an indica plant is crossbred with a sativa plant, you get a cannabis plant that features properties of both types. These are known as hybrid cannabis plants and they produce some of the most interesting strains.

Hybrid cannabis plants feature the physical properties of both indica and sativa strains. What’s more, the marijuana grown from them can also give you a mix of typical indica and sativa effects. As such, hybrid strains are some of the most well-balanced and versatile cannabis strains on the market.

Many hybrid strains lean more towards indica or sativa genetics and these are often known as indica-dominant or sativa-dominant hybrids. Other hybrid strains have an almost even balance of indica and sativa genetics, meaning that they can simultaneously provide sharp mental stimulation and deep physical relaxation.

Naturally, these strains are great for users who want to get the best of both worlds. If you want a relaxing strain that isn’t too sedating, an indica-dominant hybrid often does the job. For a powerful mental boost along with potent pain-relieving properties, try a sativa-dominant strain. For a good mix of effects, a balanced-hybrid strain is ideal.

Hybrid strains can also be great for medical users as they often help with a wide range of symptoms. For instance, many hybrid strains can provide effective relief for physical issues like pain, nausea, migraines, and inflammation while also relieving your mind of stress, anxiety, and depression.

Many marijuana strains available today are technically hybrid strains due to years of crossbreeding. If you’re looking for a good mix of indica and sativa effects, some of the best strains available are Dragon’s Breath, Orange Sunshine, and Purple Candy.

A – AAAAA Grade Strains

When you buy marijuana, you might notice that many strains are graded with a simple letter grade spanning from A to AAAAA. This isn’t necessarily an indicator of how potent they are or how enjoyable the effects are, but rather the quality of the marijuana buds themselves.

Marijuana Flower can vary significantly in quality and, while some batches of weed may be fresh, colorful, and full of flavor, others can end up dry and brittle with more stems and leaves. This is usually what the letter grade of a marijuana strain refers to.

AAAA strains and AAAA+ strains are premium-quality strains that will impress even the pickiest of cannabis connoisseurs. These strains will generally be extra flavorful, colorful, and covered in shiny trichomes. You’ll have to pay more for these strains but if you want your weed to be extra fresh and give you the smoothest and tastiest hits, it’s worth the money.

AAA strains are usually dense, colorful, aromatic, and more than satisfactory. Those who don’t analyze their buds closely might not notice much of a difference between AAA Grade strains and higher-quality strains. They might lack some of the color and freshness of AAAA Grade strains, but they’ll save you some money while still giving you a stellar high.

AA strains are usually noticeably worse in quality and can be slightly discolored, brittle, or lack the strong aroma of higher-quality strains. With that said, these strains can still be perfectly potent and enjoyable despite lacking some of the aesthetic qualities of better strains.

A strains are the lowest-quality available and these strains may be brittle, colorless, and covered in stems. Although you can still get a good high from A Grade strains, they’re also more likely to give you harsh hits and may give you dizziness or headaches. However, if you’re not fussy about your weed and want something cheap and effective, they’re still worth buying.

High-THC Strains

If you’re looking for some of the strongest strains out there, you might want to seek out high-THC strains. THC is the psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis that’s responsible for its psychoactive effects. As such, high-THC cannabis strains will give you a much stronger high than you’d get from strains with low levels of THC.

Each user’s idea of a high-THC strain will vary but, generally, strains with THC levels of 20% or above are considered high-THC strains. These strains will give most users powerful effects even if you don’t smoke too much. Experienced users may prefer strains with extra high THC levels of 25% or higher.

High-THC strains are ideal for those who want the strongest effects possible or experienced users with high tolerance levels. They can also help medical users who need a potent strain to help with severe symptoms such as chronic pain, inflammation, insomnia, and other issues. Examples of high-THC strains include Biscotti Gushers, Gelato Dream, and Love Potion OG.

However, high-THC strains aren’t ideal for anyone. Some users may find high-THC strains too overwhelming and will likely prefer strains with THC levels of around 15-20%. Some strains contain even lower levels of THC, and these are good for anyone who wants a milder and more manageable high.

High-CBD Strains

While some users enjoy the hard-hitting effects of high-THC strains, some don’t enjoy the psychoactive effects of THC as much and may prefer high-CBD strains. CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis that’s known to deliver many of the same benefits while also counteracting some of the uncomfortable effects of THC.

High-CBD strains usually still contain a moderate amount of THC. However, they also contain higher-than-average levels of CBD to balance it out. As such, you’ll still experience potent physical relaxation and mental stimulation but the high will feel calmer and more manageable than what you’d get from a high-THC strain.

Some strains even contain higher levels of CBD than THC, but these types of strains are usually much rarer and harder to find than high-THC strains. Fortunately, those who prefer the effects of CBD to THC can use pure CBD products instead such as CBD Edibles, Tinctures, Capsules, Topicals, and more.

Other Types Of Cannabis Products

While there are tons of cannabis strains to choose from, you might also want to consider some of the alternative options. Those who don’t enjoy smoking weed can enjoy various other types of cannabis-infused products, some of which are even stronger or more convenient to use than Cannabis Flower.

Concentrates are marijuana-derived products made by extracting the most potent parts of cannabis buds. These can come in all kinds of strains and vary wildly depending on the extraction process used. Concentrates contain much higher levels of THC than weed and can be smoked, vaped, or dabbed for powerful effects. Popular examples include Shatter, Hash, and Crumble.

Edibles are marijuana-infused food products that can get you extremely high. A 10mg dose is enough for most users and, although you’ll have to wait anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours for the effects to kick in, they’ll last for hours once they do. Those who don’t want such an overpowering high can also microdose Edibles for subtle yet enjoyable effects.

Oils and Tinctures provide a unique and convenient way to get the effects of cannabis. Simply apply your desired dose of the liquid under your tongue and hold it there for a minute or two. Although you may need to wait around half an hour for the effects to kick in, they can provide potent effects. You can also add a dose of Cannabis Oil or Tincture to your favorite foods or drinks.

Vape Products such as Vape Cartridges and Vape Oils can be used with compatible Vape devices for inhalable, cannabis-infused vapor. You can also buy Disposable Vape Pens that already contain THC-infused vapor. These offer a similar experience to smoking that’s said to be smoother and healthier.

Topicals are marijuana-infused topical products that can be applied directly to the skin. These won’t get you high but can be useful for relieving pain and dealing with skin problems. They come in many forms such as Creams, Balms, Lotions, and bath products.

Conclusion

With so many types of cannabis strains to choose from, it’s worth trying out a range of different strains to find your favorites. Whether you’re looking for an AAA-Grade indica strain, a high-THC hybrid strain, or anything in between, you can find all kinds of cannabis products online at MMJ Express.