Anxiety has never been more prevalent, especially given the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before COVID-19, around 5 percent of Canadians reported that they had mild to high levels of anxiety. You may have heard that cannabis can effectively treat anxiety. We are often asked: What is the best weed for anxiety? In this article, we’ll give some background and provide some strains that can provide treatment.
It has long been thought that cannabis can ease feelings of anxiety. In a 2017 survey in the United States, more than 81 percent of respondents believed that cannabis has one or more health benefits, and that “anxiety, stress, and depression relief” was a key benefit.
Before you start to order various products in order to help ease feelings of anxiety, it is important to understand the components of cannabis and how they have an effect. This will help you to make a much more informed decision about the best weed for anxiety.
CBD and THC: which is the best weed for anxiety?
Weed contains more than 400 different compounds, but the two best known are CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). There are lots of differences between the two compounds, but essentially, CBD is the non-psychoactive compound, used for various medicinal and therapeutic treatments. THC is the psychoactive part of the cannabis plant that is going to make you feel high.
For that reason, if you are looking for the best weed for anxiety, you want to look for a high CBD and low THC potency and ratio.
Sativa and Indica – which is the best weed for anxiety?
When you are looking for the best weed for anxiety, you may also want to take into consideration whether the strain is sativa or indica. Sativa is usually used to refer to the tall, narrow leaf varieties of the cannabis plant, while Indica is the stout, broad leaf strains. These have different effects on the consumer: Sativa is thought to have more of an energizing effect, while Indica is more for chilling out and relaxing. Sativa also has a higher THC content. This can sometimes exaggerate the feelings of anxiety, so when it comes to looking for the best weed for anxiety, it is probably better to avoid it.
This obviously points to indica-based cannabis as being the best weed for anxiety, although hybrids—a combination of both indica and sativa—are also a good call for one that helps relieve anxiety while giving you a bit of a boost at the same time.
Here are some strains we recommend:
Blueberry: As far as indica strains go, blueberry is up there at the top. Not only does it have a beautiful sweet aroma, but blueberry is a great weed for anxiety as it hits hard, leaving you feeling deliciously spaced out, making it much easier to get lost in the moment and forget whatever it is that is bothering you.
Blueberries are great for:
- Relieving pain
- Relieving nausea
- Increasing appetite
- Combat restlessness and insomnia
- Eases muscle cramps, spasms, and migraines
Death Bubba is an indica-dominant hybrid (70% indica, 30% sativa) produced by crossing the infamous Bubba Kush and Death Star. This highly sought-after strain is bred in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia. It boasts an intensely high level of THC (between 25 and 27%), taking users on a bit of a wild, dream-like journey. The color of the bud is deep forest green with rich, dark purple hues and fierce orange hairs. Each nug is covered with thick, frosty white trichomes, making it furry and super sticky to touch. This dank bud smells of pine and musk and tastes of lemon zest and spiced rum. True to its name, Death Bubba is described as leaving you in a waking coma. Upon the first puff, a feeling of floating on a cloud will pursue all throughout the body before sinking into a completely sedated state of deep relaxation. This strain is best used at night, before bed, or at least on a day when your schedule is clear and you are in the mood for an adventure.
Death Bubba is effective for relieving various symptoms, including:
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Pain
- Insomnia
- Muscle spasms
Sour Tangie: This surprisingly is a Sativa-dominant hybrid strain, which as we mentioned before usually means it is not the best weed for anxiety. However, the high that this tangy London based strain gives (it can be up to 30 per cent THC) the consumer is not overpowering. It gives more of a sense of clear-headedness and clarity, allowing you to take control of your feelings and emotions and kick anxiety over the fence. It leaves you feeling happy, without being over-the-top hyper.
Sour Tangie relieves:
- Loss of appetite
- Depression
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Chronic pain
Northern Lights: Northern lights has an almost sedative ‘couch-lock’ effect on the consumer, so a great one for when you do not need to go anywhere or for night-time use to knock you out. It is particularly useful for intrusive thoughts and overwhelming anxiety. Across the United States, Northern lights is dispensed by pharmacies for its medicinal purposes – it is one of the most popular Indica strains of weed.
Northern lights may help relieve:
- Anxiety
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Pain
- Insomnia
- Headaches
Chocolate Chunk
Chocolate Chunk is an Indica that does not sacrifice potency for the sake of flavour. It is especially good if your worries keep you up at night, thanks to its sleep-inducing tendencies. It is not one to take if you have to drive, go to work or operate any heavy machinery. Chocolate chunk particularly high in terpenes, especially myrcene and caryophyllene. Myrcene is known to relax muscles and promote sleep, while caryophyllene can help alleviate pain and lower anxiety. This makes is one of the best strains of weed for anxiety.
Chocolate Chunk may help relieve:
- Anxiety
- Chronic pain
- Insomnia
- Muscle spasms and tension
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
There are many strains of weed which will help to relieve anxiety, or at least take the edge off the symptoms that are contributing to anxiety. Different strains affect different people in different ways, so it is important to experiment and try a range to find the best weed for anxiety for you.