“What do I need to get done today?” — for many, it’s a question that keeps them up at night or greets them first thing in the morning. As workplace stress and the concept of ‘having it all’ remains an issue fora considerable amount of American adults, some are turning to cannabis for answers. 

While marijuana has long been popular for its calming, soothing effects, it’s more recently gained traction for its potential help with mental focus and productivity. It may be of no coincidence that people are researching what the best strain for productivity is and turning to cannabis for focus, consideringrecent job burnout trends anda sharp rise in adult ADHD diagnoses over the last decade. 

Though certainly not magic,cannabis has been known to curb some of the issues often correlated with feeling overwhelmed, unfocused, or unable to complete simple tasks without difficulty. So, instead of searching up the best meditations for concentration before starting another long day at the office, a better search may be for the best cannabis strains for focus. 

Best marijuana strains for focus at a glance

Strain	Terpenes	THC% & CBD%	Why it’s great for focus
Harle-Tsu	Myrcene, Terpinolene and Pinene.	CBD dominant.  <1% THC, 9-11% CBD.	Contains only trace amounts of THC. Results in no intoxicating effects, but physical relaxation.
Sour Diesel	Caryophyllene, Limonene and Myrcene.	Sativa. 16-20% THC, <1% CBD	Acts quickly on the body and mind. Uplifts the mood with a pleasant head-rush.
Cinex	Limonene, Caryophyllene and Pinene.	Hybrid. 13-17% THC, <1% CBD.	Brings on a creative, cerebral high. A popular strain used in treating mood disorders / issues.
Green Crack	Myrcene, Caryophyllene and Limonene.	Sativa.  15-18% THC, <1% CBD.	Helps to zero in focus, especially on creatively driven projects. Enables for an energizing wake and bake.
Harlequin	Myrcene, Pinene and Caryophyllene.	Sativa-dominant Hybrid. 3-6% THC, 7-10% CBD.	Encourages a mellow, calm and mild high. Offers pain relief from both mild and chronic conditions.
Zkittlez	Caryophyllene, Humulene and Linalool.	Indica-dominant Hybrid. 16-21% THC, <1% CBD.	Enhances one’s perspective of their atmosphere / improves senses. Soothes symptoms of stress and allows for better concentration.
Durban Poison	Terpinolene, Myrcene and Ocimene.	Sativa. 14-19% THC, <1% CBD	Quickly creates a buzzing, active high. Helps to maintain deep, intense focus.
Critical Jack	Terpinolene, Caryophyllene and Pinene.	Hybrid. 15-18% THC, <1% CBD	Creates long-lasting cerebral effects. Sports a very balanced body and psychoactive high.

Best cannabis strains for focus

Harle-Tsu

Cannabinoid profile:CBD dominant.

Main Terpenes:Myrcene, Terpinolene and Pinene.  

A cross between Harlequin and Sour Tsunami, Harle-Tsu is a CBD-hybrid. With a verysmall amount of THC and high CBD content, this strain is known for its pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties without bringing forward feelings of THC intoxication or sluggishness. With terpenes like Myrcene, Terpinolene and Pinene, Harle-Tsu sports a more earthy, bitter taste, but typically makes users feel extremely relaxed in the body and focused in the mind. Users looking for this strain for focus can also look for its parent strains or others closely related, like Canna-Tsu, if hard to find. 

Sour Diesel 

Cannabinoid profile:Sativa.

Main Terpenes:Caryophyllene, Limonene and Myrcene. 

Sour Diesel, sometimes referred to as Sour D, is a strong Sativa that brings on those classic energizing effects. A first choice among medical patients, as one of the best strains for focus, Sour Diesel helps fade away feelings of stress, physical pain and mental blocks.A terpene profile including, Caryophyllene, Limonene and Myrcene helps the strain bring forward an especially peppery taste and pungent scents of diesel. Sour Diesel is known best for its incredibly quick impacts on users, creating immediate waves of euphoria that still allow for a sharp mind. Dosing is very important with this strain though, as too much Sour Diesel can bring on feelings of anxiety and paranoia. 

Cinex

Cannabinoid profile:Hybrid.

Main Terpenes:Limonene, Caryophyllene and Pinene. 

Known for its ability to boost one’s mood, Cinex is a hybrid result of parent strains Cinderella99 and Vortex. With terpenes Limonene, Caryophyllene and Pinene, the cannabis for focus in question brings citrusy and skunky notes along with its uplifting effects. Users often find themselves feeling more inspired and creative with the strain. It’s thought that Cinex encourages divergent thinking, allowing for a more energized workflow over a considerable amount of time. Like Sour Diesel, those using this strain of marijuana for focus should start off small and see how it impacts them before creating too much of a buzzing high. 

Green Crack 

Cannabinoid profile:Sativa.

Main Terpenes:Myrcene, Caryophyllene and Limonene.

Green Crack is an incredibly strong Sativa, popular for its pure potency and energizing results. With tasty terpenes like Myrcene, Caryophyllene and Limonene, this strain introduces a sweet, citrusy aroma and flavor. Users typically enjoy Green Crack for its ability to curb fatigue and encourage sustainable levels of energy. With that being said, novice cannabis users should be fully aware of the strain’s potency and avoid it if issues of paranoia or extreme anxiety are common with them. Green Crack’s high THC levels can be perfect for some, and too much for others — it’s up to personal preference. 

Harlequin

Cannabinoid profile:Sativa-dominant Hybrid. 

Main Terpenes:Myrcene, Pinene and Caryophyllene. 

A 75/25 Sativa-dominant hybrid, Harlequin is popular amongst those looking for significant CBD effects and light psychoactive results. Thanks to the strain’s many parents — Colombian Gold, Nepali indica, and Thai and Swiss landrace — Harlequin typically provides clear-headed relaxation that promotes a calm alertness. Considering the best strains for productivity, Harlequin makes a great case for itself because of its high levels of CBD; its help with pain relief and anxiety reduction allows users to focus on their work / passion projects without intrusive thoughts about physical or mental discomforts. A terpene profile complete with Myrcene, Pinene and Caryophyllene makes Harlequin earthy but sweet in both taste and scent. This strain may be perfect for beginners looking to try out marijuana for focus. 

Zkittlez

Cannabinoid profile:Indica-dominant Hybrid.

Main Terpenes:Caryophyllene, Humulene and Linalool. 

For those looking to actually calm down a bit while using weed for focus, Zkittlez may be a good option. As an Indica-dominant hybrid, the strain gained fairly recent popularity for its calming but focused effects that help the body and mind wind down without feelings of grogginess. Zkittlez’s strong, sweet and tropical scent makes it an aromatic, tasty strain of cannabis for focus. With terpenes Caryophyllene, Linalool and the more unique Humulene, Zkittlez acts as a potentially strong pain reliever. If chronic pain is an issue, this strain may have a positive impact on productivity levels, given its abilities to provide physical comfort. 

Durban Poison

Cannabinoid profile:Sativa.

Main Terpenes:Terpinolene, Myrcene and Ocimene. 

Durban Poison is a classic, pure sativa that has roots in South Africa. Thanks to its sugary sweet smell and uplifting effects on the mind, the strain quickly gained popularity over the years. A favorite of growers thanks to its large resin glands, Durban Poison is perfect for concentrate extraction; it’s basically asking to be used for your benefit. Many users especially like this strain for focus when it comes to creative work and interacting with the natural world. With the terpene Ocimene at play, Durban Poison may also be a good pick for users who actuallyenjoy those classic high coughs and rich marijuana scents. 

Critical Jack

Cannabinoid profile:Hybrid.

Main Terpenes:Terpinolene, Caryophyllene and Pinene.

 

A fairly even hybrid, Critical Jack is a cross between parent strains Critical Plus and Jack Herer. The strain often brings strong cerebral effects and light physical effects, allowing your mind to focus and fixate on whatever task is in front of it. Critical Jack originally gained popularity for its remedy-like qualities, helping with everything from mood issues to appetite loss. However, the strain’s uplifting qualities are really what sells it for many users. Citrusy and floral notes, thanks to Terpinolene, Caryophyllene and Pinene’s prominence, entice users and create Critical Jack’s case for best strain for productivity. 

To sum it up

Weed for focus— sure, it may sound counterintuitive, but itjust might be the answer for those mind-wandering hang-ups and lack of productivity. Like any adventure with cannabis, trying marijuana for focus is all about finding what’s best foreach individual and their needs. It’s for this reason that it’s important to understand the difference between strains and their unique compositions. Any choice from the list above should provide a step in the right direction in finding the best strains for focus and productivity.