The Importance of Picking the Right Strain: A Beginners Guide To Smoking Marijuana
January 21st, 2016, the first day I smoked weed. I was 20 at the time and after always being curious about smoking (I mean I live in California), I decided that this was the perfect day to enter the world of the Devil’s Lettuce. From this day forward, I haven’t looked back. From starting with a little pipe, to perfecting my blunt rolling, I became something of an expert in a span of two years. I was smoking just about every day, anything from flower to dabs, it seems I knew it all.
In my journey, I was very fortunate to learn from experienced smokers and very unfortunate to learn things the hard way in terms of how much you can smoke before you are too high, how long the smell can stay in your car, and what each strain can do. One of the most important things I have learned in my time as a stoner is how important each strain is in regards to what high you want to achieve in a given sesh. Without further ado here is the guide to what each strain is and what kind of high each delicious strain gives you.
Indica
Indica is the chill, slow your roll kind off high, the type that you smoke before you go to bed or you watch a movie. It is essential you smoke indica with full intention of not doing anything but relaxing or going to sleep.
Popular Strains: Northern Lights, Purple OG Kush, Grape Ape
Personal Favorite: You can’t go wrong with Northern Lights. One of the most famous strains among pot smokers. Northern Lights is a purely Indica strain that’s famous for its sweet and spicy aroma with hints of pine while you gently slide into a state of deep relaxation. The best part is that most dispensaries will sell Northern Lights at a pretty good price for its great potential.
Sativa
Sativas are great for pre-gaming and getting ready for a night out. Another great benefit is that its sparks your creativity and focus, making it a very popular strain among writers. Sativa is a go to if you’re planning on getting started on that paper you have due in the morning or if you need to meet a deadline and you’ve wasted half your day watching YouTube videos.
Popular Strains: Maui Wowie, Sour Diesel, Jack Herrer, Tangie
Personal Favorite: This is a tough one but I would definitely say Maui Wowie has long been one of my favorites. Born and raised in none other than Hawaii, this classic sativa’s tropical flavors and stress-relieving qualities will float you straight to the shores of Hawaii. Since its commencement, Maui Wowie has spread across the world to bless us with its sweet aroma and high-energy euphoria. MW effects allow your mind to drift away to creative escapes, while it’s motivating, active effects may be all you need to get outside and enjoy the sun.
Hybrid
Hybrid contain a mix of sativa and indica genetics and, depending on their lineage, can take on characteristics from both strain families. Hybrids are good if you want the relief of an indica with the alertness of a sativa, the best of both worlds.
Popular Strains: Blue Dream, Skywalker, Sour Jack, Girl Scout Cookies, Tutti Frutti
Personal Favorite: A cross of Blueberry and Mazar-I-Sharif, Skywalker is my ultimate favorite strain (not because of my love for Star Wars). I love Skywalker because the high is a relaxed, euphoric, as well as a good mood boost. This strain is popular for those with insomnia, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, migraines, and PMS. It’s a really effective pain reliever. Dry mouth and red eyes are likely, but it’s definitely worth the taste, pungent and sweet, with some earthy tones.
Overall, each strain whether it be an indica, sativa, or hybrid, each has some sort of effect on you. Its best to be smart when you choose your strain because you don’t want to feel drowsy while you’re going to work or you don’t want to think about whether the “S” or “C” in “Scent” is silent before you go to bed. The best highs are the ones you plan and the ones that leave the desired effect on you.
