How to Choose a Marijuana Strain in 2020

With many states having finally legalized marijuana for recreational and medical use over the past few years, choosing a marijuana strain in 2020 is easier than ever before.

Whether you’re already familiar with cannabis or are using it for the first time, it’s a good idea to know pertinent information about the different strains.

With so many varieties available, it can be challenging to find the strain of marijuana to suit your recreational or medicinal needs.

While there are far too many strains available to go into complete detail here, we can help you learn about the different types of strains, their effects and some of their more common uses.

Without further ado, here are some tips to help you make a better strain selection.

Select a Strain by Knowing the Different Types of Strains

Cannabis strains come in a wide variety of types. Cultivators create a marijuana strain by selecting the traits of the plant needed to produce the desired effects through crossbreeding of different plants and careful cultivation.

The strains themselves are typically categorized as three distinct categories: hybrid, indica and sativa. Each one has different aspects and effects:

Indica strains tend to possess a calming, physically sedating characteristic making it ideal for relaxation or cooling down. The plant itself is shorter with broad leaves.
Sativa strains are the opposite, providing an energy boost with uplifting effects. The plant from which sativa strains are cultivated is long with narrow leaves.
Hybrid strains mix the best of the two to create something altogether unique.

Selecting a Strain Based on its Effects

Before selecting a strain, it is important to follow appropriate safety procedures regarding your limits, medical history, purpose and consumption method.

After taking the appropriate safety precautions, selecting strains based on your desired effect is easy when you know what they are. Typical effects include better energy, a sense of euphoria, increased focus, relaxation and sleepiness.

Various strains also possess different flavors. Some are more herbal while others may be spicy, woody or have other flavor profiles. Some strains are ideal for their therapeutic applications, while others are better suited to relaxing or exercising.

Selecting a Strain for Workouts and Exercise

Exercising and losing weight is always a bit of a challenge. Recovery is a big part of the process and perhaps just as (or more) important as regular exercise routines.

Several studies indicate the CBD and THC components of marijuana are useful for mitigating and treating pain and inflammation. When you work out, you’re effectively tearing your muscle fibers and forcing them to repair themselves in a process called muscle hypertrophy.

For the process to work effectively, your body requires recovery time—something a strain with the proper effects can enhance. Sativa strains can help.

Whether you’re hiking, lifting or doing yoga pairing the right strain with the activity can help reduce inflammation, increase focus or help you calm down.

Selecting a Strain for Relaxation

If you’re looking to relax, the right cannabis strain can be very beneficial. Strains like Bubba Kush and GG4 can help you relax after a long day. While strains like Blue Dream give you the relaxing benefit with a built-in uplifting effect.

Others (like Harlequin) may have an anxiety-reducing or therapeutic quality. But ultimately it comes down to learning all about potential strains and choosing the one that’s right for you.

Indica strains will typically be more relaxing, but there is great relaxation potential in hybrid strains as well.

Learn More About Each Strain Before Making a Selection

It can be difficult to choose a marijuana strain due to the differing nature, effects and flavor of each type. Learning more about each one can not only give you a broader perspective of each strain but provide insight into how it will affect your own health.

The most important things to learn about are potential side effects like dry mouth, dry eyes, and dizziness—all of which are common side effects you may experience listed for many strains.

The internet is full of excellent resources for learning about cannabis and various strains with detailed, information-dense websites that can answer all your burning questions about weed strains and their associated effects.

Spending a little bit of time doing your research will help you better understand marijuana strains and create an overall better experience regarding their use.

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Evita T.

She is a free spirit who is most passionate about writing. She has been working for the cannabis industry as a freelance copywriter for quite some time. She can dabble writing while traveling because she is just simply super.