As of this year, the University of St. Augustine (USAHS) reports that 19.1% of adults in the US have anxiety disorder, making it the most common form of mental illness reported. Nineteen percent of the US population means 40 million Americans suffer from the symptoms of mild, moderate, and severe anxiety. 

This level of impairment can be devastating for your health and quality of life, often requiring various forms of therapy and medication in some cases.

Both cannabis and CBD show a great deal of potential when it comes to managing the acute and chronic symptoms of anxiety and are currently being examined for their anxiolytic effects in clinical trials as of 2024.

But what do we currently know about weed and mental health, and is it possible to already utilize specific cannabis strains for anxiety? 

In this article, we will explore how cannabis can provide stress relief and which products and cultivars work best for keeping you calm and comfortable.

What is stress and anxiety?

Stress is the body’s mental and physiological response to an external cause or threat, such as a fight with a friend or a fast-approaching deadline.

This can sometimes manifest as muscle tension, chest pain, and difficulty concentrating. The long-term impact of stress and inflammation (physical stress) happen to the most common underlying factors for illnesses. 

Other signs of stress may look like: 

• Difficulty breathing

• Panic attacks

• Blurred eyesight or sore eyes

• Sleep problems

• Fatigue

• Muscle and headaches

• Feeling sick, dizzy

• Sweating

• Weight fluctuation 

• Irregular menstrual cycle

• Existing physical health problems worsening 

How does anxiety compare to acute stress

Anxiety can often feel and look similar to long-term stress however its cause is slightly different. Anxiety is defined as the body’s reaction to stress, which can occur even when there is no threat or danger. The body’s flight, fight, freeze, or fawn response can be triggered by daily tasks, conversations, and situations. 

Most forms of anxiety are very treatable but require a lot of dedication, upkeep, and discernment between treatments and medications. There are pharmaceutical and holistic approaches used to balance the nervous system and soothe burnout, but many of these methods can lead to dependency, psychoactive effects, and tolerance issues.

Cannabis offers promise as a new path towards a still mind and body without the serious side effects of alternative anxiolytic drugs. 

What are the best cannabis strains for anxiety?

There are two ways you can approach using cannabis for anxiety. While some strains are great at reducing anxiety symptoms, they may be potent in THC and can thus cause similar effects to anxiety if not dosed properly. 

For individuals that feel regular marijuana strains high in THC are too much, there are many new flavorful strains high in CBD that are great for treating anxiety symptoms head-on. 

Most strains that restore balance to the mind and body are often hybrids rather than sativa or indica dominant varieties.

Some of these strains may be best used to treat anxiety related to insomnia, while others are great for alleviating social anxiety, stress, or a subtle change in mindset. 

The best CBD and THC strains for anxiety relief

13 Classic hybrid strains for anxiety 

1. Gas OG

2. Banana Dawg

3. Zereal

4. Jet Lag

5. Violet Sky

6. New York Cheesecake

7. Tsunami

8. Grape Z

9. Sour Runtz

10. Grape Fritter

11. Mule Fuel

12. Strawberry Sunset

13. Mendo Purple

11 CBD strains to soothe your mind and body

1. Remedy

2. ACDC

3. Lifter

4. Charlotte’s Web

5. Cherry Wine

6. Ringo’s Gift

7. Sour Tsunami

8. Elektra

9. Sour Space Candy

10. Suzy Q

11. Critical Mass

And speaking of finding the right strains, why not check out MJ Seeds Canada? MJ Seeds is a world-renowned seed bank offering top-quality cannabis seeds. With a wide array of cannabis strains, including popular feminized and autoflowering hybrids, they cater to growers and marijuana users alike.

So why wait? Explore their catalog today and find your preferred strain!

How cannabis can provide anxiety relief

Earlier this year, the Journal of Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research published a study conducted via the Institute of Cognitive Science on the therapeutic benefits of cannabis and CBD for anxiety disorders. 

Researchers found that of all four testing groups, the cannabis group saw the greatest reductions in perceived anxiety compared to the non-cannabis group. What was even more exciting was that the CBD group showed the most improvement overall.

This could mean that CBD may relieve stress without the potential risks that come with THC. This non-psychoactive alternative can soothe and restore balance in the body without any intoxicating effects. 

This promising news requires more research but may be a solution to restore the quality of life for adults suffering from anxiety and depression. 

What strains Promote relaxation?

In the same way, there are strains for soothing anxiety or stress; there are also cannabis strains known for promoting deep relaxation.

These strains may even come with potent minor cannabinoids like CBG or CBN to intensify physical or mental calmness and chronic pain relief. 

Whether you’re looking to recover from a stressful day, a stressful year, or simply quiet your mind for a while, these are the strains you must try!

The best Marijuana strains for relaxation

Weed strains for sleeping

• Granddaddy Purple

• Northern Lights

• Girl Scout Cookies

• Snoop Dogg OG

• Sunset

• Cosmic Glue

Weed strains for a restful day

• Strawberry Cough

• Bubba Kush

• MAC 1

• White Widow

• Purple Gelato

Weed strains for an active body & still mind

• ACDC

• Blue Dream

• Jack Herer

• Cannatonic

• Garlic Juice

What strains make you feel motivated?

The comorbidity of anxiety and depression can leave you in a vicious loop of stress and fatigue, significantly impacting your energy and inspiration.

Strains rich in some minor cannabinoids may prove to be an excellent option for boosting your mood, relieve physical and mental pain, and leave you feeling more energized.

Cannabinoids like THCV have been observed to significantly increase motivation, activity, energy, and well-being when compared to placebo supplements. 

Many edibles are now infused with added THCV and other minor cannabinoids to target specific uses and needs, so cannabis lovers can enjoy the wide spectrum of cannabis effects – not just the munchies and couch lock. 

Strains high in THCV

• Durban Poison

• Pineapple Purps

• Girl Scout Cookies

• Jack the Ripper

• Malawi Gold

• WIllie Nelson

• Chocolope Haze

• Tangie

• Durban Cheese

• Edibles infused with THCV isolate 

The difference between Indica, sativa, and hybrid cannabis strains

An important factor in selecting the best strains for you is understanding how your body responds to the three general effect categories available: indica, sativa, and hybrid strain.

These distinct categories are the easiest way to identify if a cannabis strain is more sedative, stimulating, or has a combined effect of the two. 

Indica strains

Indica cannabis strains are known for their heavy, sleepy, and pain-relieving qualities. These strains typically come at a higher THC potency than other types, making it a stronger option suited for experienced cannabis users and anyone who likes to rest when consuming cannabis.

It is possible to experience dry mouth, drowsiness, or fatigue when consuming indica strains, as most of the effects target the body rather than your mind. 

Sativa strains

A Sativa dominant strain, on the other hand, are less potent in THC but slightly more psychoactive. This is due to the synergistic effects of terpenes like pinene, limonene, and terpinolene found in many sativa strains.

This type of cannabis is ideal for energizing your body and mind, inspiring creativity, and keeping you calm while active. This can be both euphoric and pleasant but must be dosed properly. Many sativas tend to have less body-load and more heady effects. 

Hybrid strains

Finally, hybrids are variations of the two primary types of strains described above.

They can be both heady and pain-relieving and often feel like the perfect balance between indica and sativa effects. This is what makes them the most diverse category for relieving anxiety, as they are less likely to induce paranoia, panic, or an overactive mind. 

Different ways to consume cannabis for anxiety relief

When deciding the type of product you want to try for anxiety relief, it will come down to two factors: what kind of symptoms are you treating, and how fast do you need relief?

While edibles and tinctures are amazing for long term balance and prevention of symptoms, they often take 30-90 minutes to take effect.

These can be a great daily option to relieve acute stress and restore your nervous system health, but they may not offer noticeable relief if you are actively in a panic. 

Cannabis products like vapes, pre-rolls, inhalers, and transdermal patches can reach the bloodstream slightly faster.

Inhaled products take about 2 minutes to take effect, offering instant relief when you need it most. These products are great for rapid relief but may not last as long in your body as an edible, capsule, or tincture product. 

Pairing multiple products together can often be a great way to achieve both short-term and long-term relief from anxiety, just as long as you are staying within a safe dosing range (roughly 2-25 mg THC, 2-70 mg CBD daily maximum use). 

We hope you have fun exploring the world of medicinal cannabis and find the comfort and balance in body and mind that you truly deserve!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is indica or sativa better for calming anxiety?

Generally, a rule is to use indica to stimulate your body while Indica relaxes and calms, but that isn’t simple. Generally, a variety of cannabis plant species may have different effects on each other.

What Weed strain makes you relax the most?

OG Kush has a reputation for producing high body weight and makes for an ideal option for relaxation. Purple Kush is one of the popular strains of Indica, and it has an incredibly strong body-calming effect. This is incredibly good for relaxing during sleep.

Does CBD really work for anxiety?

This benefit is supported by studies demonstrating that CBD helps reduce anxiety.

What weed is good for ADHD and anxiety?

However, indica strains contain high doses of CBD, which has proved to be most effective among those who suffer from ADD and ADHD. CBD can be a powerful stimulant but may be a better alternative for people who want to avoid THC.