5 Low-THC Strains You Should Try | Strains & Products

Updated May 27, 2022

For many cannabis consumers, a trip to the dispensary is all about comparing THC levels and finding the most potent flower possible. After all, THC is the main factor in getting you high. Its the most hyped-up and well-understood cannabinoid, and the more of it, the better! Right? Well, not exactly. The truth of the matter is more nuanced than that simplistic picture. Today, we recognize that other cannabinoids, like CBD, have a massive role in the overall cannabis use experience. As the legal cannabis industry grows and cultivators hone their techniques, many high-CBD and low-THC strains emerge as connoisseur favorites.

Known for their subtle high, unique terpene profiles and entourage effect, today's crop of low-THC marijuana is far from mid-grade weed. This isnt your average bag of stems and seeds weed. Suppose you're looking for a mellow cannabis experience that will give you the satisfaction of smoking marijuana without the potential for an overwhelming freak-out. In that case, low-THC weed is a perfect place to start. Great for legal cannabis newbies, someone just off a tolerance break, or someone looking to chill out after a long day, these unique strains have carved out their own space in the overall legal cannabis community. Thankfully, we here at Wheres Weed want to make choosing the right low-THC, high-CBD strain as straightforward as possible.

To help you find the perfect low-THC, high-CBD strains, we've put together a quick one-stop guide for anything and everything youll need to know before picking out a top-notch high-CBD strain from your local dispensary. This piece will be your one-stop shop for anything and everything youll need to know regarding low-THC and high-CBD strains. Whether thats a comprehensive breakdown of the difference between THC and CBD, the benefits of low-THC cannabis, and, of course, a few suggestions for your next trip to the dispensary, weve got your back here!

What are THC and CBD?

Tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol - or THC and CBD as they are more commonly known - are the two most significant active chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant.

For decades, cannabis users and researchers focused mainly on THC, responsible for the high or intoxication associated with smoking weed. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, however, cannabis users quickly gradually discovered CBD, a non-psychoactive compound that aids pain relief, relaxation, and more. Both THC and CBD are often found in your average cannabis flower and extracted products like edibles, topicals, tinctures, and concentrates.

By selectively breeding plants based on their THC and CBD contents, cannabis cultivators have been able to establish strains containing high-THC and low-CBD, high-CBD and low-THC, and strains with equal amounts of both compounds. When shopping at a dispensary, many of them typically label products with a ratio of THC to CBD. For example, a tincture labeled "1:1" would contain equal amounts of THC and CBD, while a THC dominant tincture labeled "10:1" would contain ten times as much THC as CBD.

Benefits of Low-THC Marijuana

THC and CBD become the first two stepping stones towards what cannabis researchers call the entourage effect. By consuming a mix of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, many users say that the plant's medicinal benefits are enhanced, even if the smoke session doesn't come with an intense high. Low-THC, high-CBD weed strains are a great way to experience the entourage effect, especially for medical cannabis users who arent just looking to bake like many recreational users.

Additionally, high-CBD strains are an excellent option for cannabis users who simply don't like the intense intoxication of high-THC weed. You can smoke weed with high levels of CBD throughout the day without the fatigue or loss of function that sometimes comes with high-THC bud. In some cases, former cigarette smokers have used low-THC, high-CBD weed to curb nicotine cravings and eventually quit altogether.

Like all cannabis strains, high-CBD cannabis strains contain unique terpene profiles, offering marijuana aficionados smell and flavor combinations that may not be available in high-THC strains.

Our Favorite Low THC Strains

So now that weve given you a closer look at what exactly CBD is, why high-CBD strains are helpful, and how the legal weed industry has crafted them over time, lets highlight some of the best and brightest on the market today.
Think of this high-CBD, low-THC strains list as the greatest hits for what to grab on your next trip to the dispensary. Trust us; weve done our research and provide you with the best of the best here for premium high CBD strains!

Ringo's Gift

Ringo's Gift is a CBD super-strain that can reach CBD/THC ratios as high as 24:1. The strain crossed ACDC and Harle-Tsu and was named after its original breeder, legendary CBD grower Lawrence Ringo. The aromatic flower smells heavily of grapefruit and hoppy beer, with CBD percentages usually hovering around 10 percent and THC quantities up to 7 percent and even as low as 1 percent. Ringo's Gift is one of the lowest THC strains available today.

Harlequin

Harlequin is one of the most unique and sought-after high-THC, low-CBD strains. The earthy, fruity flower is a Sativa-dominant old-school mix of Colombian Gold and three separate landrace strains from Nepali, Switzerland, and Thailand. The resulting bud is high in CBD, low in THC, and known for its pain relief, anxiety halting, and relaxing effects.

Cannatonic

As you might have guessed from the strain name, Cannatonic is a perfect low-THC strain when you need help sleeping. Cannatonic is a hybrid of MK Ultra and G13 Haze, initially bred by Resin Seeds in Spain. The peppery and herbaceous pot is usually low in THC but still offers sedative effects without any intoxication.

ACDC

ACDC is a genetic child of Cannatonic but typically comes with an even more CBD dominant cannabinoid ratio - as high as 20:1. The electric bud was first selected in seed form by Dr. William Courtney, has a piney terpene structure, and is known in medical marijuana communities for its pain-relieving qualities. Because of its potent medicinal properties, breeders often extract ACDC plants into a low-THC oil used in topicals, tinctures, edibles, and more.

Sour Tsunami

Like Ringo's Gift, Sour Tsunami is another brainchild of California-based CBD cannabis breeder Laurence Ringo. A cross of Sour Diesel and NYC Diesel, Ringo was able to keep Sour Tsunami's Sativa-heavy effects and terpenes without the fast-paced high of its parent strains. Sour Tsunami's dark green buds reek of gasoline with hints of fruity tones. The CBD-dominant Sativa can reach CBD quantities in the mid to high teens, with THC percentages usually in the low single digits.

How to Consume High-CBD Cannabis

Now that you've got your dispensary shopping list or seed bank order ready and your questions like "can low-THC make you high?" and "cannabis seeds near me" have been answered, let's get down to packing bowls twisting joints.

In many instances, low-THC bud is cheaper than high-THC flower, so rolling a personal joint or a whole eighth into a hemp or tobacco blunt is a great way to make the session last and share with your friends. On the other hand, packing bowls of CBD-dominant flower is a great way to take the edge off without getting uncomfortably high.

Outside of flower, many hemp and legal weed companies offer strain-specific products made from high-CBD strains. So if smoking isn't your thing, look for CBD-dominant full-spectrum tinctures, topicals, vape cartridges, and more made from the strains listed above.

No matter how you slice it, theres bound to be a high-CBD strain right for you. Whether youre looking to take the edge off of a painful condition, ease some anxiety, sleep better, or just relax on the couch after a long day or week at work, low-THC and high-CBD strains have their place!

Did we skip over your favorite high-CBD strain? Let us know what to look for in the comments below!