鈥淗ey, let鈥檚 get really baked!鈥�
鈥淥K, great. What have you got?鈥�
鈥淚 just got a quarter.鈥�
鈥淐ool, but what is it?鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 pot, man. Hand me that lighter already.鈥�
To some smokers, it鈥檚 鈥渁ny port in a storm.鈥� (Maybe that should be 鈥渁ny pot in a storm.鈥�) Or in regular language, 鈥渁ny weed is good weed.鈥�
Experienced smokers know that鈥檚 not really true. If you want to get blasted out of your mind, you鈥檙e not going to do it on Harlequin. Godfather OG or Amnesia Haze? Now we鈥檙e talking.
Strains matter. Buying a specific strain of cannabis doesn鈥檛 guarantee a certain percentage of THC or overall potency, just as a steak-and-cheese Hotpocket may not be as satisfying as a sandwich from Pat鈥檚 or Geno鈥檚 in Philadelphia (the city鈥檚 two famous steak-and-cheese joints).
But choosing a strain known for high THC content is the best starting point.
Here鈥檚 how to do it.
Pot and THC Content
There are several plants other than cannabis that contain cannabinoids, including coneflower, strawflower, and liverwort. But only one contains the cannabinoid Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, which we all know and love as THC.
(In truth, not even cannabis contains THC; it actually produces a cannabinoid acid known as THCA, which is a precursor to the real thing. It鈥檚 only turned into actual THC when it鈥檚 activated by heat (burning when smoked, heated when vaped, or 鈥渄ecarbed鈥� in the oven before being used for other purposes. The same applies to the cannabinoid 嫩草影院 and a number of others in the pot plant.)
There are actually more than 100 different cannabinoids or precursors (at last count) in the marijuana plant, but THC is the only one that鈥檚 known to be psychoactive. Many other cannabinoids do affect how THC affects the user, though. So do some of the terpenes that determine the plant鈥檚 aroma and taste, and contribute to its health benefits. That鈥檚 why one strain with 25% THC content may produce a stronger high than another with 27%.
Is Weed Stronger Than It Used To Be?
It certainly is. The THC content of weed has increased substantially over the years. Back in your parents鈥� day (or your grandparents鈥� day, or maybe even your own day if you鈥檙e a boomer), the average THC content in pot was less than 1%. Today, most strains sold commercially have at least 10-15% THC, and strains twice as strong are commonplace.
There are several reasons for that. Growers now look for strains that contain as much THC as possible; they鈥檙e usually unfertilized, female sinsemilla plants that aren鈥檛 allowed to produce seeds. There鈥檚 also been an enormous increase in the creation of hybrid plants, bred specifically from two THC-high strains to create another with even higher THC content.
Why Choose a High THC Percentage Strain?
We probably don鈥檛 have to mention the obvious: the more THC, the more wasted you can get. Of course, all highs are not the same, so some high-THC bud will induce euphoric or calming effects, while other strains can be more intoxicating or even trippy.
There are other reasons people choose a strain with high THC content. Some of THC鈥檚 proven health effects are to treat the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, to ease nerve pain brought on by diseases ranging from diabetes to HIV, and to lessen the side effects of chemotherapy. Many other benefits have not yet been scientifically confirmed, but anecdotal evidence is strong that THC is effective against glaucoma, insulin sensitivity, and nausea.
More benefits will undoubtedly be found in the coming years 鈥� but that鈥檚 not really why you鈥檙e here, is it? Here are the strains with enough THC to provide the mind-blowing high you鈥檙e after.
Highest THC Strains
One note before we start: some strains bred to have monster THC levels can only be purchased in certain states or from certain growers. Examples are The Toad, sold by Tyson Ranch and tested at 37% THC, and Brownie Scout, developed by an Illinois cultivator and tested at 37.5%.
For that reason, we鈥檙e only listing strains that are more widely available. Enjoy!
Godfather OG
There are several different varieties of Godfather OG on the market. There鈥檚 the old standby that鈥檚 a hybrid of Alpha OG and XXX OG, others that are crosses of two or three other high-THC strains, plus some that are 鈥� shall we say 鈥� less than reputable. Be sure you know who you鈥檙e buying from if you want to ensure getting the good stuff. The different varieties mean there can be different THC levels in this strain, but they鈥檒l all be at least 25% and some have tested as high as 34%.
This is a hybrid that leans about 60/40 indica, so the high is both mind- and body-blowing. It starts with a euphoric feeling that immediately whisks away all stress, and which quickly expands to blast your body as well. Don鈥檛 be surprised to get a wicked case of couch-lock, but you鈥檒l enjoy it immensely.
GG4
This Sativa-dominant strain goes by a lot of names, including Gorilla Glue #4, Gorilla Glue and Original Glue (after a lawsuit, the cultivators had to officially stop calling it Gorilla Glue). Like Godfather OG, it鈥檚 won Cannabis Cup awards, it hits hard and it hits fast. Save it for the evening since in addition to its full-blast and immediately uplifting high, it normally causes body lock even though it鈥檚 not an indica. THC levels have regularly tested between 25 to 30%.
Many medical marijuana patients choose GG4 to treat depression since it reduces anxiety and produces a pleasant, chill feeling. It鈥檚 also effective against migraines and body pain. As with almost all high-THC strains, it鈥檚 not recommended for those suffering from anxiety, because it can make that condition worse, not better.
Bubba Kush
Here鈥檚 an indica which can lay you out flat in no time 鈥� although that may be exactly what you鈥檙e after. Bubba Kush produces a dreamy and powerful euphoria that eliminates stress while making muscles heavy before you may need to hit the couch. Not all users react the same way to this strain, though; experienced indica smokers often say they can maintain focus (and conversations) during this high. Either way, you鈥檒l probably have a major case of the munchies.
Some samples from dealers may only hit about 22-23% THC, but if you get you weed at quality dispensaries you鈥檒l find that it鈥檚 more like 27-28%. Bubba Kush is a good choice to treat depression, ADHD and chronic pain. It has a sweet taste, too, although you should be aware that it鈥檚 pretty pungent.
Bruce Banner #3
Some variants of Bruce Banner (like #1 and #5) regularly come in with around 25% THC content, but this favored iteration comes closer to 30%. It鈥檚 a 60/40 Sativa-dominant strain which doesn鈥檛 lock your body up like some of the choices we鈥檝e already listed; you鈥檒l be able to (almost) fully function while enjoying the intense, creative and euphoric head high and overall mellow relaxation.
Medical applications for Bruce Banner #3 include treating stress and depression, chronic pain and insomnia, although its low 嫩草影院 content means there may be better choices for serious medical conditions. We avoided including Incredible Hulk jokes or puns in this review, so feel free to insert your own here.
Strawberry Banana
A slow-developing, relaxing and powerful high that tastes amazing? Yes, please. This is yet another multiple Cannabis Cup winner which has tested in the 27% THC content range, and some specimens have tested as high as 31%. At first, the Strawberry Banana experience is relaxing and cerebral, but it eventually gives way to a more sedating effect that may end up with couch-lock due to the strain鈥檚 indica leanings.
The sense of focus initially produced has proven effective for temporary treatment of conditions like ADHD, and the overall relaxation works well for those dealing with depression or stress. There are some decent pain relief effects felt by Strawberry Banana users as well. And it really is delicious.