Which Medical Marijuana Strain Is Right for Your Condition?

As of late 2020, few states in the U.S. ban cannabis in all forms, for all uses. In most states, you have the opportunity to make use of medical marijuana or recreational cannabis in some form or another.

Cannabis soothes pain, wards off panic and flashbacks, helps you relax, explore your mind, and more. Yet, just because something’s labeled a medical marijuana strain doesn’t mean it’s going to work the way you want it to. It’s important to know different types of medical marijuana in order to best meet your goals.

There are a lot of strains out there, and there’s a learning curve if you’re new to weed. Lucky for you, you’re in the right place to learn about choosing the best type of medical marijuana for you. Take a look at some tips on choosing cannabis strains for medical use.

Indicas, Sativas, and Hybrids Galore

The first step in choosing a strain is determining whether an indica, sativa, or hybrid strain is best for your needs. Starting with pure indicas and sativas is a good way to gauge how you might react to different kinds of medical marijuana strains.

Sativas tend to be energizing and uplifting and have more of a mental or “head high.” Indicas, on the other hand, come with a calming high that you feel in your body.

Some people find they experience paranoia from sativa strains more than they do from indica strains, but that’s by no means across the board. The downside of using indica strains is that they’re often so calming that they have you stuck on the couch, and are often better around bedtime.

Don’t be scared away from pure indicas and sativa based on occasional side effects. Everyone reacts in different ways to different strains in the same way that people have varying reactions to any other medication. The grand majority of patients use the strongest pure sativas and indicas to feel better with no negative effects at all.

Yet, if you’d rather start out with something in-between, there are just as many hybrid options. Some of them are either sativa- or indica-dominant, and the effects tend towards the dominant variety. Others are a 50/50 mix and offer a comforting blend of body and head highs.

Choosing the Right Strains for Pain

One of the most common reasons people decide to try medical cannabis is chronic pain. The opioid epidemic in the United States made opioid pain killers hard to get, and cannabis is a good replacement. Cannabis doesn’t have the same harsh side effects or dangers of overdose and withdrawal.

When it comes time to choose a kind of pot for pain management, you have an endless variety of options between indica, sativa, and hybrid cannabis varieties. The truth is that most cannabis strains are good for easing pain, especially if you take a sizable dose.

Many pain patients prefer the heavy “body high” of indica strains to highs from sativa varieties that often energize and can heighten awareness. Those effects are great for getting work done most of the time, but in some cases can mean you notice aches and pains even more. OG Kush is an excellent example of a famous Indica marijuana strain. This strain will leave you feeling euphoric and energized thanks to its Indica effects and high THC levels. It is a great choice for treating depression, stress, and chronic pain conditions.

You’ve probably heard about CBD for chronic pain relief. Most CBD on the market is derived from hemp, a variety of the cannabis plant bred for strong fibers and nearly 0 THC—that’s why you can get it at supermarkets.

Many pain patients find they need the combination of CBD and at least a little THC for relief, so they turn to medical marijuana instead of hemp-derived CBD. CBD marijuana strains are a great solution for plenty of aches and pains, but THC helps a lot all by itself, too.

Picking a Medical Marijuana Strain to Ease Your Worries

Cannabis is great for bodily complaints like pain and nausea, but it’s best known for its mental effects. Uplifting sativa head highs that encourage productivity and creative bursts help many psychiatric complaints. Kicking back with a pipe, joint, taking edibles, and other iconic ways of consuming marijuana aren’t for entertainment alone.

It’s not much of a stretch from the average perception of cannabis use to say it helps people with social and generalized anxiety and those with general depression. It calms worries and chases the blues away.

You may also know of cannabis use for PTSD—its uplifting and focusing properties help patients avoid flashbacks and negative spirals from wandering minds.

Medical Marijuana to Stop Psychosis

Many people who experience psychosis find using cannabis stops hallucinations and delusions in their tracks. If that’s what you’re looking for, do a lot of research and try a variety of strains because effects vary a lot.

Some strains work better than others on psychosis, and some have the unfortunate side effect of causing paranoia. You can get help from a local budtender or use a site like Leafly to explore strains and choose one that doesn’t cause paranoia for most. Yet, because everyone has their own reaction, you can’t be sure of how you’ll do with a strain until you try it out.

Autistic Adults Make Use of Cannabis, Too

Another use you might not know about is medical cannabis for autism. Mainstream media often suggests that autism is a childhood disorder, but that’s not true. Autistic kids turn into autistic adults, and many are left to manage their own symptoms.

Symptoms of autism include social dysfunction and awkwardness, which leads to a lot of anxiety and feelings of isolation for many adults. So, cannabis works for autistic adults in the same way it helps ease anxiety and depression for anyone else. It can help you be more social and less lonely.

That’s not all it does, though: Another hallmark of autism is sensory processing disorder. This means that bright light, vivid colors, small noises like the sound of a refrigerator, and similar mundane irritants can feel like torture.

Cannabis is a great way to calm your mind, and it makes the outside world seem calmer and nicer, too. That makes it a great remedy for sensory struggles. Indicas and hybrids are often best for this, because they’re less likely to heighten the senses than sativa strains.

Well-Rounded Reading for Well-Rounded People

Now that you know how to choose the right medical marijuana strain for your needs, you’ll be able to start reaping the benefits without wasting money on the wrong strains.

While you sit back and enjoy the high, take some time to look around the site. We have articles on all kinds of topics you can use to expand your horizons. Click on another article and learn something unexpected today!