Have you ever wondered how many strains of weed there are? Between indicas, sativas, and hybrid strains, it’s nearly impossible to keep track of them all. What’s more, the cannabis-growing scene is always evolving. It seems like every week, an enterprising breeder comes out with new weed strains. But as we like to say here at Mission Dispensaries, we’re on a mission to bring you the most exciting, unusual, and potent strains of weed we possibly can. And with that in mind, we’d like to share a few of the most popular strains of weed we’re currently offering (and enjoying!).
What makes weed strains popular? As we’ll explore, sometimes it’s potency, sometimes it’s flavor or aroma, sometimes it’s familiarity and sometimes it’s the opposite. If you’ve ever tried a new weed strain and been knocked out by its sheer unusualness, you know exactly what we’re talking about. It’s that “what the heck was that?” factor that makes you want to try it again and again.
Trust us, we know it can be hard to keep track of which strains of weed are currently trending and which ones just aren’t making the cut anymore. In fact, that’s precisely why we’re sharing this post! In it, we’ll cover some classic weed strains and some you probably haven’t heard of yet (but are rising to the top of our list fast).
Ready? Let’s get rolling!
What Makes a Strain of Weed Popular?
Needless to say, we had to put in a lot of hard hours to come up with this list of the most popular strains of weed. We distilled a lot of information, picking some strains that come from our list of best sellers. Others come directly from some of our top staff picks, giving you an insider’s view on the hottest weed strains of 2023.
But before we share the list, this is a good time to review some basic weed terminology. As we’ve shared previously, the two major classifications of cannabis are known as sativa and indica. Those two words are actually ancient botanical terms, and while from some perspectives they may be outdated, we (and more importantly, our customers) find that they’re a useful way to help people understand the range of effects you can expect from any given strain of weed.
Sativas are often described as being uplifting and energizing, delivering a subtle (or sometimes not-so-subtle!) cerebral stimulation. So if you encountered, for instance, some fresh Durban Poison, you could expect that this classic sativa would impart an energizing, creatively stimulating high that inspires you to get out and explore.
Indicas, on the other hand, are typically categorized as imparting a heavy, relaxing body-centered high. Members of the Kush family, for example, are among the most common strains of weed, and these archetypal indicas are renowned for their ability to impart a sensation of deep calm and relaxation.
All that said, there’s a disclaimer. While these rough guidelines are helpful in predicting a given strain’s effects, it’s important to keep in mind the significance of cannabinoid content. As you likely know, THC is the cannabinoid most responsible for the cannabis plant’s psychoactive “high,” in addition to other important effects. So it follows that strains with high percentages of THC will impart subjectively stronger experiences than those with lower percentages.
The other major cannabinoid is called CBD. While it’s not considered intoxicating—imparting at most a gentle cerebral “buzz”—it does contribute some very useful effects. These include helping us fight anxiety and find deeper rest, as well as helping reduce inflammation and associated discomfort.
Interestingly, it’s long been suspected that CBD interacts with THC to affect the subjective experience of the high. The question is: In what way? In years past, studies indicated that CBD reduced the potentially anxiety-inducing effects of having too much THC. But more recent research suggests the opposite is true, and that CBD can actually enhance rather than reduce the high.
Either way, it’s a reminder that having too much weed—regardless of whether it’s an energizing sativa or a relaxing indica—can lead to feelings of discomfort, anxiety, or even paranoia. Especially when you’re trying an unfamiliar strain, it’s best to “start low and go slow.” You can always have more cannabis, but you can’t have less!
What Are the Most Popular Strains Based on Flavor and Aroma?
Now that we’ve discussed some of the issues around weed strain types and potencies, let’s turn to two of the characteristics that make the cannabis plant so captivating in the first place: Flavor and aroma. And the key ingredients behind these essential elements in the enjoyment of cannabis are what are known as terpenes.
We’ve written about terpenes before, the fragrant “essential oils” that give different strains of weed their characteristic scent and flavor profiles. As with the cannabinoids, there are a large variety present in cannabis—at last count, roughly 400!—but only a handful are responsible for the majority of flavors found in weed. These include peppery caryophyllene, skunky myrcene, bright and citrus-ey limonene, and lavender-like linalool. We’ll reference a few of them as we introduce the list you’ve all been waiting for: The most popular strains of weed!
Blue Dream
Without doubt one of the most popular strains ever produced, Blue Dream is renowned for its sativa-dominant, cerebral effects and overall pleasant high. Blue Dream tends to give its users an uplifted yet relaxed feeling, and may induce energizing euphoria. This strain has an earthy, musky nose with notes of blueberry pie. These large, fluffy nugs are dusted with a fine layer of sandy milky white trichomes. Users report this strain to be effective for treating depression, chronic pain, chronic stress and nausea.
Cadillac Rainbow
An indica-dominant hybrid bred by 3rd Coast Genetics, Cadillac Rainbow crosses Pure Michigan and Runtz. This strain boasts beautiful, rainbow-colored dense buds, and is coated in large, healthy trichomes that promote a potent, sedative high. There is a deep purple pigmentation that really accentuates the rainbow coloration. Cadillac Rainbow has a tropical flavor profile comparable to passion fruit, and is complimented by its pungent, fruity nose. Some users may interpret this terpene profile as honey-dipped rose petals. This strain can be good for treating insomnia, pain, and nausea.
Kush Mint
This classic strain has a fabulously sharp minty taste with hints of fresh coffee and earthy cookies to it. The aroma is of earthy sweet woods and rich spicy coffee with a heavy kick of mint. The Kush Mint high isn’t quite as eye-opening as the flavor, with relaxing effects that will have you kicking back and pretty sleepy if you’re not careful. This bud has fluffy oversized pieces of forest-green nugs with rich amber undertones, matching hairs and a coating of sparkling clear crystal trichomes.
Runtz
Runtz is a hybrid cannabis strain created by crossing the popular Gelato and Zkittlez strains. Also hailed as a hybrid strain of the Cookies family, this potent strain is known for its sweet and fruity flavors, which has earned it a lot of popularity among cannabis users. Runtz is a 50-50 Indica and Sativa hybrid strain, which means that it provides users with both mental and physical effects.
TK-43
A highly potent indica-dominant strain, TK-43 was created by crossing White Fire #43 x Triangle Kush BX1. TK-43 is geared towards the seasoned smoker because this highly potent strain could trigger unwanted side effects of THC, such as anxiety or paranoia in novice users. Myrcene is the most prevalent terpene in this strain, which is an analgesic and tends to be highly sedative. This strain can be good for treating depression, insomnia and inducing relaxation.
Weed Strains Roundup: Shop Cannabis Products with Mission
Spanning a wide range of cannabis styles, types, and effects, the strains covered here offer both newcomers and old pros a chance to experience the world of cannabis for themselves. We’d love to give you the opportunity to try them for yourself.
That said, these popular strains of weed are only the tip of the iceberg. At Mission Dispensaries, we’re constantly updating our live menu with new arrivals. From old favorites to new strains you didn’t even know existed, there’s always something exciting to try here!
We invite you to visit our online store for more best sellers and staff picks. Better yet, stop by any of our family of dispensaries and ask your friendly budtender for tips on what’s new, what’s hot, and what’s just too good to pass up. We’d love to hook you up!
