Like a kid in the candy shop. That’s how it feels when it’s time to replenish your stash. Hundreds of choices make finding the best strain for stress a dizzying journey. And at the wild rate marijuana harvesters keep breeding new strains, we get why you’d be overwhelmed. 

Luckily, you have advice from medical marijuana patients and recreational smokers to help you crack the code. Although researchers haven’t pinned down which strains arebetter for specific health conditions, some names you can’t seem to stop hearing about. 

People develop personal favorites based on the time of day they like to use cannabis for stress. Sativas for the day, indicas for the night, as they say. It’s all a subjective debate, really, but the general consensus is that marijuanahelps manage anxiety and stress.

Here’s a small but potent list of highly-rated strains for mental relaxation:  

 

Best marijuana strains for reducing stress at a glance

Strain	Terpenes	THC% & CBD%	Why it’s great for reducing stress
Girl Scout Cookies (GSC)	Linalool, Myrcene, and Caryophyllene.	Indica-dominant Hybrid.  THC 22-28%,<1% CBD.	Uplifting and calming effects Minty aroma, great for sociability, happy high
Sour Tsunami	Myrcene, Pinene, and Terpinolene.	Sativa-dominant Hybrid.  CBD 11-13%,<10%THC.	Body relaxation Suppresses pain
Pineapple Express	Caryophyllene, Limonene, and Humulene.	Sativa-dominant Hybrid.  THC 17-27%,<1% CBD	Fun, creative high Ideal for daytime focus
OG Shark	Limonene and myrcene.	Hybrid THC 20-25%,<1% CBD	May subdue stress headaches Nap-friendly
ACDC	Myrcene and pinene.	Hybrid CBD 14- 20%,<6% THC	Brings balance to mind and body Low THC, reduces paranoia
Bubba Kush	Caryophyllene, Limonene, and Humulene.	Indica-dominant Hybrid.  THC 17-23%,<1%CBD.	Helps with overthinking Stimulating, grounding effects
Skywalker OG Kush	Linalool, Pinene, Myrcene.	Indica-dominant Hybrid.  THC 20-26%,<1%CBD.	Positive, euphoric high Forces you to push the pause button and chill
Strawberry Cough	Limonene, Myrcene, and Caryophyllene.	Sativa.  THC 17-23%,<1%CBD.	Clear head high Fruity sweetness for blissful vibes

Best cannabis strains for reducing stress 

Girl Scout Cookies (GSC) 

Cannabinoid profile:Indica-dominant Hybrid. 

Main Terpenes:Linalool, Myrcene, and Caryophyllene.

Award-winning, lip-smacking, and sweeter than candy—GSC delivers on the promise of sugar-coated euphoria. With a name carrying a legacy like this, you can expect minty, delicate tokes of joy from this Indica-dominant hybrid. The earthy and sweet mixture of linalool, myrcene, and caryophyllene lulls you into aterpene-induced stupor. 

The GSC recipe starts by cross-breeding OG Kush and Durban Poison for an anxiety-free high with relief practically oozing out of each nug. Like your classic Girl Scout Cookies, the cannabis version is one of the best strains for stress because it uplifts and relaxes, as hybrids are meant to do.  A happy-go-lucky sort of high, plus possible relief fromstubborn headaches makes GSC a dainty little indulgence. 

Sour Tsunami 

Cannabinoid profile:Sativa-dominant Hybrid.

Main Terpenes:Myrcene, Pinene, and Terpinolene.

For those unsure about the spacey effects of THC, Sour Tsunami is a CBD-friendly strain with the potential to flood your body with waves of relaxation. People using cannabis forstress, pain, and inflammation gush over the musky and sweet smell of Sour Tsunami. 

As a Sativa-dominant hybrid, you feel calm and loose but alert enough to push through daily tasks. Sour Tsunami rolls in on the list because it’s a great introductory strain if you’re anxious about trying cannabis for the first time. CBD is non-psychoactive, which takes the pressure off of newbies looking to cannabis for medicinal reasons. 

Pineapple Express 

Cannabinoid profile:Sativa-dominant Hybrid. 

Main Terpenes:Caryophyllene, Limonene, and Humulene.

Where there are pineapples, there’s sun, and Pineapple Express is a star strain in the cannabis community. This Dutch-born strain has been featured in many popular films and songs. On the nose, Pineapple Express releases tropical aromas and tastes woody and apple-ly when burned. 

The effects measure up to other Sativa-dominant hybrids: a balanced dose of peppy energy and childlike carelessness to make you forget your worries. If you’re looking for amood elevator, limonene-rich Pineapple Express will not disappoint. 

OG Shark

Cannabinoid profile: Hybrid. 

Main Terpenes:Caryophyllene and myrcene.

OG Shark, Canada’s rare and legendary species, is a 1:1 hybrid that’s ideal for anxiety relief. In fact, experienced smokers selected OG Shark as thebest strain for migraines, which suggests that it could also diminish stress levels. With both cerebral and body effects, OG Shark swims straight and balanced. The taste and aroma are described as skunky and spicy due to the caryophyllene and myrcene-terpene combination. Proceed with caution as the waters are full of THC-dominant currents. 

 

ACDC 

Cannabinoid profile:Hybrid. 

Main Terpenes:Myrcene and pinene.

Here’s another CBD-abundant strain for anxiety relief, minus the stoney rockstar effects. ACDC packs in a staggering 20% potency of CBD to calm your mind and body. Reports fromveterans with PTSD reinforce the medicinal use of cannabis for anxiety, contrary to popular stereotypes about smokers who only want to get high. You’re likely to detect skunky and piney terpenes on ACDC. Honorable mention goes to this strain for delivering on all the mellow marijuana notes without the psychoactive head buzz. 

Bubba Kush

Cannabinoid profile:Indica-dominant Hybrid. 

Main Terpenes:Caryophyllene, Limonene, and Humulene. 

Strains with the word kush are code for Indica-dominant buds. Bubba Kush forces you to relax and unwind, or drift off to sleep if you need it. Medical marijuana patients ranked Bubba Kush as theirtop choice for anxiety relief, which makes it a kushy force to be reckoned with.  

Bubba Kush’s caryophyllene, limonene, and humulene-terpene profile teases your palate with sweet and earthy notes. Go for this strain if you want to feel grounded and in the present.   

Skywalker OG Kush

Cannabinoid profile:Indica-dominant Hybrid. 

Main Terpenes:Linalool, Pinene, Myrcene.

Skywalker OG Kush jets you off on an adventure up, up, and way. The heady Indica formula ranked right below Bubba Kush as one of the best strains for stress according tosurveyed medical marijuana patients. Be aware, though, as this spicy, diesel-forward terpene blend may zap you into a dreamy trance for hours. 

People describe a potent head and body high from Skywalker OG Kush, presumably due to its supreme THC content and Indica-leaning effects. You’ll be riding this spaceship to sleep if you smoke too much. 

If there’s a strain tomicrodose and savor slowly, this is the one. 

Strawberry Cough 

Cannabinoid profile:Sativa.

Main Terpenes:Limonene, Myrcene, and Caryophyllene.

Plump, sexy strawberries sweet enough to make you nostalgic for summertime picnics—that’s the sensory experience to expect from Strawberry Cough. Medicating with this strain helps your concentration and stress thanks to themood-enhancing terpene blend of limonene, myrcene, and caryophyllene. These sun-dappled buds make you feel motivated and excited. Strawberry Cough is a Sativa that produces a clear head high and delightful bursts of productivity. 

To sum it up:

Cannabis for stress is on track to becoming a widely-accepted treatment for chronic anxiety, if research and legalization continue in the promising direction they’re headed. Only time will tell, but for now, the future seems green and serene for folks using cannabis to treat anxiety.