A Guide to Choosing a Cannabis Strain

When visiting your local Los Angeles dispensary, a budtender can assist you in choosing a strain, even if you do not know much about weed yourself. By asking about the flavors and effects you most enjoy, they can recommend a strain that suits your preferences.

But, what happens when you’re browsing the online menu of seemingly endless choices of product, wondering how to choose a strain? For those who are not as familiar with weed, the label on the jar – complete with information on brand, lab testing, strain type, and cannabinoid content – may only make choosing a strain more difficult and confusing.

The good news is, understanding some basic information about cannabis can help you learn more about which strains are likely to be the best fit for you – and which ones you’ll probably want to avoid. By learning your tastes and preferences, as well as the basics of weed, you can become an expert stoner in no time at all, and can feel confident in choosing a strain to smoke next.

 

A Look at a Cannabis Label

Choosing a good strain is entirely subjective. How each person defines good weed is different and is unique to them and their tastes. Whether you prefer sweet, piney, fruity, or even spicy flavors, it’s possible to find a strain you will love. However, the label on the jar can give you an idea of the quality of the product.

Here are some things that a cannabis label contains:

• Type: There are three types of strains – indica, sativa, and hybrid. Indica causes relaxation and sedation, and tends to help with pain. Sativas are uplifting and energizing and can help with depression. Hybrids offer balanced mind and body effects, offering both types of high.
• Brand: This part of the label tells you who grew or produced the flower. Don’t choose a brand just because it’s popular. Instead, take into account the other factors and what type of high you’re looking for.
• Cannabinoid content: This will tell you how much THC and CBD are in the strain. Flower potency ranges from 5%-30 THC, with some strains even reaching higher. Strains with more than 1% CBD tend to mitigate the negative side-effects of the THC. So, if you get paranoid or anxious when you smoke, go for a strain with higher amounts of CBD.

Do keep in mind the fact THC isn’t everything. Because of how the other cannabinoids affect your body, a strain with 18% THC can give you a similar experience to a strain with 30% THC.

• Testing lab and information: When choosing a strain, always select products that have been lab-tested with publicly available lab results. This will ensure you’re not smoking something you don’t want to be smoking, such as pesticides.
• Harvest date and batch ID: This is not the product’s expiration date. This is when the product was harvested. Regulations require all cannabis products to be tested in batches. The batch ID refers to the specific product in that jar and identifies it all the way from seed to sale. Make sure the label has this information listed.
• State law compliance label: All cannabis product labels should contain a sticker or printed text that shows they are in compliance with the state law.

 

Tips on Choosing a Strain

Because “good weed” is so subjective, knowing how to choose a strain means taking into account several different factors – including effects, flavor and aroma preferences, labels, and price. While the combination of all of these factors will be different for each person, the following tips will help anyone in search of that elusive, perfect strain for them.

 

1. If you are new to weed, start with an indica or hybrid

Just as your food preferences change, the strains you enjoy are also likely to change over time. However, when it comes to effects, there are some strains that are better for beginners than others.

Indicas tend to make people feel calm and relaxed, and some can bring on the giggles. Hybrids offer the best of sativa and indica strains, bringing on both body and mind effects. Sativas are uplifting and energizing, but can also lead to mind race, anxiety, and paranoia if the THC content is high.

While each person’s experience with weed is different, an early dislike of smoking or of sativas may be due to these adverse effects. If you’re new to weed, start with an indica or a hybrid, or opt for a sativa with high amounts of CBD.

You can also start with a CBD strain as a good introduction into cannabis strains without the high.

2. Think about the flavors you most enjoy

Cannabis flavors are pretty unique, but that doesn’t mean the flavors you enjoy in food and beverages don’t influence what you’ll consider to be a good strain. Rather, your other taste preferences can help you identify which strains you’ll most enjoy.

For example, if you have a sweet tooth, chances are you’ll enjoy a sweet, fruity strain. If you love spices, then more hashy strains would be perfect for you. It can be that easy.

Here are two questions to help you out:

• Do you prefer berries or lemons? Berry lovers are more likely to enjoy a sweet, fruity strain, while the lemon fans will likely find they enjoy the more sour, diesel type strains.
• Do you add cream to your coffee or drink it black? Black coffee drinkers are more likely to love a diesel or pine strain. If you prefer cream, try a sweet and earthy strain.

3. Consider the occasion

Are you choosing a strain to sesh solo, or are you smoking with friends? Are you trying to unwind and relax, or do you want to feel euphoric and energized? Maybe you want something in between. Weed can serve different purposes, and different effects and occasions can influence how you choose a strain.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself when shopping for weed:

• Are you seshing with friends? If you’re going to be seshing with other people, consider picking up a hybrid. Since weed preferences are so subjective, having a hybrid will offer the best of both worlds – physical relaxation paired with uplifting mental effects. You can also opt for strains that are more in the middle when it comes to flavors and THC content. More balanced or moderate flavors are likely to appeal to more people. Having a mid-range THC content will make it less likely for someone to get paranoid or have a generally unpleasant smoking experience by getting too high.
• What’s the occasion? If you just got off work and are trying to de-stress, then opt for an indica, such as a Kush strain. If you’re waking and baking, start the day off with an energizing sativa, such as a Haze strain. If it’s the middle of the day, and you just want to smoke something, go for a balanced hybrid.
• How high do you want to get? The cannabinoid content in a strain determines how potent it is and how intense the effects are. If you want to get as high as possible, pick the strain with high THC and low CBD. If you don’t want to get very high, but just want a buzz, opt for a strain with low THC and high CBD.

4. Read strain reviews

Before you head out to your local dispensary, take some time to browse their website and check out their blog for strain and product reviews. If they have product information on their blog, you can use that to decide if a strain is right for you.

Read strain reviews from cannabis enthusiasts and influencers. How do they describe the effects, aromas, and flavors of the strain? If it sounds like something you’d enjoy, make note of that strain and look for it at your favorite dispensary.

5. Be sure to read the label

Eye-catching art, pretty fonts, and a clever strain name can sometimes persuade a person into purchasing a strain that may not be the best choice for them, especially when there are so many options in the dispensary. However, it is essential to read the cannabis label, rather than just looking at the art or going by the name.

While the amount of information on a label can seem overwhelming, reading a cannabis label is actually pretty simple when you know what to look for.

First, look for the amount of information the label has. Does it seem like there’s quite a bit of specific information about the lineage, type of strain, and terpenes? In general, the more information that is provided, the better.

Next, know what you’re reading on the label. You will find the brand, the harvest date, the lab that tested the product, the cannabinoid content, and possibly, the lineage and terpene profile. Refer back to the first section of this post that breaks down a cannabis label. If you read that section, reading a cannabis label will be much easier. The more familiar you get with reading cannabis labels, the easier it will be when you’re choosing a strain.

6. Don’t let the price outweigh the rest

If a strain is on sale, it is likely because there is a deal going on or it has been in the dispensary’s inventory for a while. These reasons do not mean the product is of lower quality or that it’s not a delicious strain with effects you’d enjoy. These specials can even be a great opportunity to find a good deal on weed, so you are able to try a strain you’ve never had before.

Choosing an expensive strain for its price can also be a mistake – a more expensive jar of weed does not always mean it’s a better jar of weed. When choosing a strain, start with the flavors and aromas you prefer, as well as the effects, then allow price to be a secondary aspect.

7. Don’t ignore the bagged weed

While the bags of weed are often less preferred to the jarred products, they can still hold delicious strains. These bags of weed are to be consumed or stored in the same day or two – due to freshness and static of the plastic. So, if you are interested in weed without a lid, don’t be afraid to smoke it. Those resealable bags can also be more convenient for occasions like when you’re out and about, where you need to shove some weed in your pocket or have to worry about the jar breaking. They’re also easier to pack in bags and take with you for an evening out.

8. Keep track of the strains you smoke

Once you’ve chosen a strain, be sure to make a note of it, the type, the aromas and flavors, the effects, and the brand. This will help you find it again later, as well as find other strains like it. As we said from the beginning of this post, finding “good weed” is really about personal preference, so keeping track of what you do and don’t like will help you continue to choose strains you’ll love. Keeping these notes on your phone will ensure they’re with you when you next go to the dispensary.

9. Keep trying new strains

While your notes will help you learn which strains you like, it’s important to try new things. As you smoke more strains, your preferences may change. But, without experimenting with a new strain every now and then, you may miss out on a new favorite.

Choosing a Strain from LA Cannabis Co

Now that you know more about choosing a strain, shop LA Cannabis Co’s delicious selection! With a range of prices and brands, you can experiment with a new strain or pick up one you know you’ll enjoy.

This blog post can help you choose a new strain, regardless of which of our locations you visit. Our menu lets you filter your selections or look up a specific product – so you can choose a strain to get blazing quickly and then find similar strains when you need to re-up.

Get started by browsing our menu!

Disclaimer: Marijuana has intoxicating effects and may be habit-forming. Smoking is hazardous to your health. There may be health risks associated with consumption of Marijuana. Marijuana, in any form, should not be used by individuals that are pregnant or breastfeeding. Marijuana is intended for use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. This product may be unlawful outside of California State.