How to Choose the Best Cannabis Strain

You walk into a local marijuana dispensary in Washington, D.C., to purchase some cannabis. If you are new to using marijuana products, you may be surprised at the sheer number of available options. As you start shopping, you may realize that purchasing isn’t as simple as you expected. 

By understanding the different types of marijuana strains out there and what exactly makes each unique, you can make a better, more informed decision when it comes to choosing the best cannabis strain for you.

Why Choosing the Right Marijuana Strain is Important

Picking the right cannabis strain is essential to ensuring you have the experience you want and expect.

Choosing the wrong strain can leave you with:

• The opposite effects you were hoping to experience
• A bud with a taste and smell you don’t like
• A high that is either too potent or not near potent enough

How Marijuana Strains Differ

There are many factors that make every marijuana strain unique. First, let’s look at what makes up a cannabis plant.

The plant’s cannabinoid content, terpene profile, and environmental factors all determine the effects it will provide, its flavor and aroma profile, and its quality. When you’re choosing the right cannabis strain for yourself, you will want to know all these considerations. Luckily, all of this information can usually be found online, in strain reviews, or by asking your local D.C. budtender.

When choosing a cannabis strain, you’ll also need to know what type of plant you should be looking at: Indica, Sativa, or a Hybrid.

These three types of marijuana plants dictate the effects users will experience, so knowing which type of plant your strain is made from can help you prepare.

Indica plants are known for giving users a full-body high and producing relaxing effects. They are best used in the evening and nighttime as they will help you relax and can also make users quite drowsy.

Sativa plants are the opposite. They are best used during the daytime and give users a head-high that can increase energy, boost creativity, and improve their mood.

Hybrids are a combination of the two. You’ll need to look at the hybrid’s breakdown to understand what effects you are most likely to experience. For example, a Hybrid that is a 50/50 split will provide more well-balanced effects. A hybrid that is listed as 70 percent Indica, however, will likely lean toward Indica’s general effects.

6 Tips for Choosing the Right Cannabis Strain for You

Now that you understand what makes up different cannabis strains, it’s time to choose the one you want to try. Here are some tips to help:

1. Decide what type of effects you want to experience. Do you need help relaxing after a long day? If so, an Indica strain will likely be the best option for you. If you need a boost of energy to get you through the day, go for a Sativa or Sativa-dominant strain. Knowing what you hope to experience will help immediately and considerably narrow down your choices. 
2. Know your limits. If you are new to using cannabis, you likely will want something that is on the lighter side when it comes to potency. Experienced users, however, will be able to handle plants with much higher potency. You can check the plant’s potency by looking at the amount of THC it contains. Anything over 16 percent (and with little or no CBD) is often considered to be on the high end of the potency spectrum. 
3. Think about flavor and smell. A strain’s terpene profile determines how it smells and tastes. You can find strains that offer hints of citrus, sweet or earthy notes, and other profiles. You can read about the terpene profile particular strains offer or look at strain reviews to make sure it offers a taste and smell you enjoy and can handle. 
4. Think about your budget. Certain marijuana strains are considered elite or hard to get, and this can drive up their price. If you have a specific budget, only research strains that are priced within it. This will save time and prevent you from finding a strain only to discover you can’t afford it.
5. Ask for recommendations. If you know someone who uses marijuana regularly, ask them if there is a strain they’d recommend you to try. You can also reach out to local budtenders at D.C. dispensaries. 

Check availability. Not all strains are available in all areas or through all dispensaries. Once you’ve created a list of strains, check with local dispensaries in the D.C. area to locate your selections. 

Finding Quality Product

Once you’ve selected the perfect cannabis strain to try next, you’ll want to make sure you purchase it from a reputable and legal seller. Doing so will ensure you get a quality product at a fair price.

If you are looking for marijuana dispensaries in the Washington D.C. area, we can help. Browse our site to find a dispensary in your area. You can narrow your search to open ones and even ones with high ratings to help you feel more confident in your purchasing decision.

In Summary

Choosing a marijuana strain to try can be challenging, especially for those new to using it all. With thousands of marijuana strains out there (and more being created all the time), it can be difficult to know where to start.

Before you head to the store to make a purchase, take some time to think about the effects you want to experience or why you want to take weed (e.g., to relax, for fun, or another reason).

Once you know your goals, you can do some research to find strains that will help you achieve them. Narrow your list further by looking at the flavor, potency, and aroma each specific strain offers before looking to make sure it fits in your budget and is available in the D.C. area.