What Type of Cannabis Is Best for Chronic Pain Treatment

It is estimated that one in five people worldwide suffers from chronic pain. As cannabis awareness intensifies, more people are becoming aware of its potential health benefits, particularly its effectiveness in pain relief.

Traditionally, doctors have prescribed pharmaceuticals, mainly opiates, for pain relief. But, due to their side effects and potential to cause dependency, they are not a sustainable solution for chronic pain.

Compared to typical pain relief medication, cannabis is much less addictive and presents fewer side effects. Some cannabis strains are more effective in relieving pain than others. Read on to find out some of the best cannabis strains for pain relief.

Best Cannabis Strains for Pain Relief

Before you go out shopping for a cannabis strain to treat your chronic pain, there are a few things that you should consider. Your choice depends entirely on the level of pain you’re experiencing and the level of psychoactivity you’re prepared to deal with.

It’s also important to note that cannabis works differently for everyone. So selecting the best strain might take some trial and error. And although both types of cannabis strains (indica and sativa) have pain relief qualities, indica is known to have the most powerful pain-relieving properties.

Blueberry

Blueberry is one of the oldest cannabis hybrids. It was created in the 70s and has retained its popularity ever since. This sativa-dominant hybrid is used for pain relief mainly due to its highly soothing and relaxing effects.

Although it’s a high THC strain, it contains a substantial amount of CBD, which works well to minimize some of the psychoactive effects of THC. This makes it a perfect daytime strain. But you should make sure that you don’t have anything planned for the day before you use it, especially if you have a low tolerance to weed.

Sour Diesel

Sour Diezel is a sativa-dominant hybrid that offers an energetic effect similar to caffeine. It has a considerably higher THC content than most sativas, which effectively relieves pain.

It is, however, not the best option if you’re looking for a strain that gives you the couch-lock effect. Most people use it for their wake and bake sessions as it helps them feel energized and ready to take on the day.

White Widow

White Widow is a very potent cannabis strain, so it might not be ideal for beginners. But, if you want a heavy-hitting strain that will leave you relaxed while alleviating your pain, it might be a good fit for you.

Although it’s an indica-dominant hybrid, White Widow doesn’t induce intense couch-lock effects. However, it has some pretty powerful relaxing and sedating effects. So you might drift off to sleep soon after you light up.

OG Kush

Like most indica hybrids, OG Kush is mainly used as a sleep aid. But its hard-hitting effects also make it a popular go-to strain for pain relief. The strain is very potent, so taking even a little bit of it will have significant effects. You might want to pace yourself if you want to have the best experience with OG Kush.

Northern Lights

Northern Lights is one of the most popular indica strains out there. It is well known for its pain relief and relaxing effects and has won several awards due to its powerful yet well-rounded effects.

When taking this strain, expect to have a nice couch-lock feeling, coupled with an enjoyable body high to alleviate your pain as you relax and slowly drift off to sleep.

ACDC

ACDC gets its name from one of the most popular rock n roll bands. Although it’s a Sativa-dominant strain with a high THC content, it has a surprisingly low intoxicating effect on most people.

This is mainly due to its comparably high CBD content that counteracts the psychoactive effects of THC. Due to its high potency, you should start off with small doses, especially if you’re just starting on weed.

ACDC has excellent pain relief qualities and moderate relaxation effects that leave you with enough energy to tackle social situations that you might otherwise avoid due to social anxiety.

Harlequin

If THC-dominant strains aren’t your cup of tea, then you might want to try out this high CBD strain. Harlequin is a sativa-dominant hybrid and one of the most popular strains for pain relief. And, despite being a sativa, it produces soothing effects that will leave you clear-headed but without a sudden burst of energy.

Due to its high CBD content, its effects are pretty mild. But since it still contains a substantial amount of THC, you shouldn’t take it before work or before operating heavy machinery. On the upside, its effects kick in pretty quickly, so you might expect to experience its pain-relief benefits after just a few whiffs.

Afghan Kush

Afghan Kush is very effective in alleviating nerve pain. Like our previous pick, it is a high CBD strain, making it suitable for beginners. Its pain relief and relaxing effects make it suitable for use before bed or simply unwinding in the evening.

Cataracts Kush

This Indica-dominant strain is one of the most powerful strains on our list. Most users describe it as a creeper since it keeps on hitting hard long after you’ve stopped smoking it. It has excellent pain-relief qualities, but due to its high potency, it’s not suitable for beginners.

CBD Critical Mass

CBD Critical Mass is a crossbreed of In-House’s Critical Mass and CBD Crew Strains. It has a perfect THC-CBD balance that gives it strong relaxation qualities, making it pretty effective in reducing inflammation.

The CBD in this strain works in unison with THC to increase its potency and eliminate much of the psychoactive effects associated with THC. It is therefore ideal for those seeking for medicinal benefits of cannabis without the added ‘high.’

The Bottom Line

As cannabis legalization catches on, so does its popularity among people looking for effective alternatives and supplements for treating chronic pain. Although more research needs to be done to validate its efficacy, numerous anecdotal studies suggest that cannabis may have some pretty beneficial pain relief. But before you turn to cannabis for pain relief, you should first consult your physician.