Discover weed strains
Featured strains
Featured strains
All strains
Finding the right weed strain for you
What are weed strains?
Weed strains are varieties of cannabis plants. Each strain brings its own mix of flavors, aromas, and effects. Like wine varieties, strains have their own combination of compounds (like THC and CBD) and aromatic elements called terpenes. The makeup of each plant determines how the weed strain is classified — indica, sativa, or hybrid. Skilled breeders and growers craft these cannabis plants to have a specific taste, smell, look, and effect — from mood-lifting motivation to couch-lock relaxation.
The three types of cannabis strains
Indica strains
Indica strains (cannabis indica) typically have calming or sedating effects. Indica strain users report more of a body high, making indica strains best for winding down after a long day or nighttime use.
Sativa strains
Sativa strains (cannabis sativa) are known for their energizing, euphoric, and uplifting effects. Sativa strain users report a boost of motivation and sociability, making them best for daytime use or in a social setting.
Hybrid strains
Can’t decide? Hybrid strains are created by crossing indica and sativa strains and can be indica dominant, sativa dominant, or balanced. Depending on their genetic makeup, they are known for having a mix of uplifting and calming effects or hitting right in the middle.
How to pick a strain
When finding the best weed strain for you, it helps to know what you’re looking for first.
Know your goal: Whether you want to chill, create, or ease some aches, start with what you want to achieve
Do your homework: Talk to friends and budtenders, read reviews, and check out our detailed strain profiles
Start low and slow: Take it easy and see how a new strain makes you feel
Mix it up: Different products (flower, edibles, vapes) can hit differently — exploration is part of your cannabis journey
Once you’ve determined your goals, there are several ways to determine which weed strain to pick. Simple trial and error is always an option, but doing your research and getting recommendations from a cannabis industry professional, dispensary staff, or medical marijuana doctor can help you narrow down your search and understand the effects and possible side effects of each weed variety.
From there, you can experiment with different marijuana strains, dosages, cannabis products, and consumption methods.
With thousands of strains and products to browse and shop, Weedmaps makes it easy to find the right weed strain for you.
New to ordering? Check out our beginner-friendly guide on how to order weed on Weedmaps.
The information contained in this site is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical or legal advice. Weedmaps makes no representation that the content contained here is current, accurate, or without errors. This page was last updated on June 13, 2025.
Frequently asked questions
The best type of weed strain is subjective and will depend on your desired effects. If you’re looking for a more energetic high, sativa strains might be the best. If you’re looking for a relaxing high, indica strains would likely be the best. If you want balanced effects, hybrid strains might be a good option.
This depends on the strain’s THC content — the higher the THC content, the “stronger” the weed. Sativa strains typically have a high THC content, a stronger head high, and more powerful psychoactive effects.
Hybrid strains are the most common type of weed strain, but are often either indica-dominant or sativa-dominant.
This depends on the strain’s dominant terpene. If it’s limonene, you can expect more citrus fruit notes like lemons and oranges. If the dominant terpene is myrcene, you’ll pick up stronger, earthier notes, and if it’s pinene, the strain will have more herbal notes, like rosemary and mint.
If you're looking to wind down after a long day, indica may be a good choice. If you need something to help you wake up or a midday boost of energy, sativa might be better.
Sativa strains tend to have more energizing effects, while indica strains are typically more relaxing. Hybrid strains usually offer a balance of indica effects and sativa effects.
