These 10 Strains Are The Best For Productivity
You might think of cannabis as the best way to unwind and power down your mind, but the high-energy cannabis strains can be a burst of motivation and focus that keep you going. If you want to start your next brainstorming sesh with a cannabis sesh, one of these 10 daytime strains for productivity should be next on your dispensary shopping list.
The 10 best strains for productivity
While cannabis cannot magically cure procrastination, specific cultivars – more specifically, the phytocannabinoids and terpenes they contain in certain ratios – are known to help improve productivity. The following 10 strains are some of the most commonly used for daytime productivity and focus.
1. Chemdawg
Chemdawg is a balanced hybrid cultivar known for offering a dose of productive energy and creativity. A parent of some massively popular strains like Sour Diesel and OG Kush, Chemdawg offers significant potency, along with hints of diesel and a pinch of spice.
- Lineage: Unknown – thought to stem from Nepalese and Thai Sativas
- Average THC content: 18%
- Average CBD content: 0%
- Terpenes: Caryophyllene, Myrcene, Limonene
2. Jack Herer
Whether you are preparing for a workout or trying to channel your creativity, Jack Herer is an excellent cultivar if you want to be active and alert. Also known as “JH” or “The Jack,” this sativa-dominant cultivar is favored for its piney, floral scent and uplifting effects, which make it perfect for brainstorming or visualizing.
- Lineage: Northern Lights 5 x Haze x Shiva Skunk
- Average THC content: 18%
- Average CBD content: 0%
- Terpenes: Terpinolene, Caryophyllene, Pinene
3. Super Lemon Haze
Two-time cannabis cup winner Super Lemon Haze is a sativa-dominant hybrid. Also referred to as “SLH,” this cultivar is generally known for its multi-colored, trichome-rich appearance and zesty, citrusy smell. Lots of folks celebrate its energy boosting effects that keep them focused and productive – give this cultivar a try, and you may soon be among them.
- Lineage: Super Silver Haze x Lemon Skunk
- Average THC content: 19%
- Average CBD content: 0%
- Terpenes: Terpinolene, Caryophyllene, Myrcene
4. Durban Poison
This sativa landrace strain originates in South Africa; it grows naturally around the port city of Durban. It’s loved for its sweet smell and uplifting, energetic effects. Durban Poison is the perfect strain if you’re an experienced consumer who’s feeling a creative slump, as it offers a clear, focused high that hits straight away.
- Lineage: African origin
- Average THC content: 20%
- Average CBD content: 0%
- Terpenes: Terpinolene, Myrcene, Ocimene
5. Sour Diesel
Cultivated by crossing Chemdawg and SuperSkunk, Sour Diesel is a sativa cultivar that’s been popular since the early 1990s. Known for cerebral and energetic effects, Sour Diesel offers a pungent flavor with an unforgettable diesel smell.
- Lineage: Chemdawg x Superskunk
- Average THC content: 19%
- Average CBD content: 0%
- Terpenes: Caryophyllene, Myrcene, Limonene
6. Green Crack
True to its name, Green Crack is a sativa cultivar that delivers energizing and uplifting mental effects often sought after for the way it influences focus. You can expect Green Crack to be fast-acting and strong enough to keep you going throughout the day. Very few strains out there compare to the tangy mango flavor and feelings of alertness provided by Green Crack.
- Lineage: Skunk #1
- Average THC content: 17%
- Average CBD content: 0%
- Terpenes: Myrcene, Caryophyllene, Pinene
7. Harlequin
Harlequin is a sativa cultivar renowned for its high CBD content and how it can relax your body without tiring your mind. Harlequin generally offers a sweet, mango-like flavor and provides clear-headed effects.
- Lineage: Thai origin
- Average THC content: 5%
- Average CBD content: 9%
- Terpenes: Myrcene, Caryophyllene, Pinene
8. Cinex
Cinex is a slightly sativa-dominant hybrid cultivar known to offer an energetic and euphoric boost. Generally favored by creatives of all kinds, Cinex is an excellent choice if you’re a daytime consumer or if you want to approach specific tasks or assignments in a new way.
- Lineage: Vortex X Cinderella 99
- Average THC content: 17%
- Average CBD content: 0%
- Terpenes: Limonene, Caryophyllene, Pinene
9. Blue Dream
A sativa-dominant hybrid cultivar that offers energetic, uplifting, and creative effects, Blue Dream is the perfect strain if you want to ease stress but stay alert throughout the day. This cultivar is also favored for its sweet berry flavor and smell.
- Lineage: Blueberry x Haze
- Average THC content: 18%
- Average CBD content: 0%
- Terpenes: Myrcene, Pinene, Caryophyllene
10. Silver Haze
Bred as a cross between Northern Lights and Haze, Silver Haze is a highly-potent, fast-acting strain favored by experienced cannabis consumers. Silver Haze generally offers strong, mind-clearing effects that may make it easier to focus or maintain productivity.
- Lineage: Northern Lights x Haze
- Average THC content: 22%
- Average CBD content: 0%
- Terpenes: Myrcene, Caryophyllene, Limonene
How is cannabis good for productivity?
Studies have shown that cannabis, particularly THC, can boost dopamine levels in your brain, which in turn helps enhance attention and stimulates mental focus. Whether you struggle with procrastination or have a condition that makes it hard to focus, cannabis may help you remain productive throughout the day.
A 2008 case report in Cannabinoids studied how cannabis could help improve symptoms of ADHD and found consumption to positively impact the subjects’ performance, behavior, and mental state. Another study in 2012 found that cannabis increased divergent or creative thinking.
In addition to offering mental focus and clarity, cannabis can impact your brain’s perception of pain. Many individuals living with chronic conditions involving the mind or body may find much-needed relief from distracting, painful symptoms after consuming cannabis, which may improve their ability to focus on other tasks. So if chronic pain distracts you, addressing your pain with THC products may help your focus as a side effect.
How to tell if a cultivar is good for productivity
Not all cannabis is the same. Generally, the effects of cannabis depend on the cultivar (or strain) you choose and its unique blend of compounds and terpenes. Some cultivars may be great for productivity, while others may not be.
When selecting a strain specifically for productivity, most cannabis connoisseurs find sativa-dominant cultivars to be the best choice. The terpene and cannabinoid profile of any cannabis cultivar will also help to ensure you get the result you hope for. Importantly, sativa is mostly a marketing term; sativa simply refers to the plant’s genotype, or what it looks like. So a strain labeled as a sativa may not have the same effect. Read the label and any test results carefully to make the right decision!
Generally, it’s important to remember that Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is responsible for cannabis’s intoxicating effects, while CBD, on the other hand, does not produce a high. Cultivars with high levels of THC and little to no CBD are usually optimal for an energy boost, but may cause an overly intense high, especially if you don’t have high tolerance yet. Start with a low amount to see how it affects you before increasing the amount of THC you consume.
Remember: cannabis provides a highly individualized experience. The way a strain or product affects you may not be the case for your friend. Always test a product out to see what unique experience you have when relying on the recommendations of others.
What terpenes are good for productivity?
In addition to cannabinoids, a cultivar’s terpene profile can help you understand what its effects might be. Terpenes are a class of compounds in cannabis that determine its smell and taste, as well as certain effects. Terpenes also interact with cannabinoids as part of a process called the entourage effect to augment how they work. Typically, strains that are high in Myrcene and Pinene are recommended to improve focus. Limonene, an uplifting, stress-fighting terpene, is also a great option for energy and productivity.
A final note on individuality
Cannabis works differently for each and every person. How you might feel may feel different than how your friend feels, even if you’ve consumed the exact same product. So keep that in mind when trying any daytime strain for productivity. What makes you feel like tackling your to-do list may encourage someone else to take a nap. As a result, it’s important to try a few strains and see how you like each one.
Iconic Wellness’s “select your own bud” program makes that easy: You can buy whichever available cultivars you’d like by weight, so you can select a little bit of several daytime strains to take home and try. Just ask to check out the deli style cannabis at any Iconic location in Michigan, and a helpful budtender can show you the options.
Boosting productivity with Iconic Wellness
Whether you’re new to cannabis or have been consuming for years, relying on a licensed, trustworthy dispensary is always the best way to achieve desired results. At Iconic Wellness, our friendly and knowledgeable budtenders are on hand to help guide you toward the products that work best for your needs. If you’re looking for cannabis products to boost your productivity, or for any other reason, be sure to check out one of the Iconic Wellness locations in Michigan to shop for the best products around.
