With the rise of the opioid crisis, many Americans are realizing that maybe prescription drugs are not the best way to deal with many of their ailments. While this looks to mainly affect chronic pain sufferers, those who struggle with depression and anxiety are also looking for more natural ways to treat their ailments that don’t come with addictive properties. That has lead many of them to cannabis specifically CBD for anxiety.

This all-natural substance has undergone many studies which indicate that it could be valuable in treating a variety of common medical issues without the addictive nature or side effects which many prescription drugs bring with them. So, in this article, we’ll be talking about cannabis strains which can be particularly effective in dealing with anxiety. We’ll talk about how cannabis can help you with your anxiety and we’ll pinpoint exactly which strains are the best to help with this issue.

First though, let’s talk about CBD and how it actually impacts people who frequently have issues with anxiety, as many people don’t quite understand how it works.

How does CBD help anxiety sufferers?

While many people are aware that CBD can supposedly help them with their anxiety, they might not know exactly how it helps. Numerous studies have been done to prove that CBD can help to relieve anxiety symptoms, but how does it work?

Commercial antidepressant and anxiety medications are often created around the idea of manipulating serotonin in the brain. Researchers have actually found that CBD not only has an impact on the brain in much the same way, but it may even work faster than traditional prescription medications.

These drugs work by targeting a serotonin receptor called 5-HT1A and increase the availability of serotonin in the brain. This boosts your mood and helps to control your anxiety.

Other research groups have performed studies where they have put people in situations where their anxiety would be high, such as during public speaking engagements. They then monitored their heart rate and blood pressure to see if there was a decrease in anxiety and found that those given CBD fared much better than the placebo group.

While there’s still a lot of work to be done in cannabis research, it’s pretty clear that the results have thus far been overwhelmingly positive, with fewer side effects when compared to traditional drugs.

There are also numerous ways to consume CBD now, and you are not limited to smoking. For those who are opposed to smoking, there are also CBD oils, edibles and vaporizers as an option now.

In short, if you’ve tried other anxiety medications and the side effects were too much for you, then CBD could be a lifesaver. So, let’s take a moment to talk about different strains, particularly those which will be most beneficial to anxiety sufferers.

What are the best high CBD strains for anxiety?

If you’d like to try using cannabis to treat your anxiety, then you should know that there are a nearly endless number of strains and varieties. So, how do you choose the best strain for yourself?

While some people claim that cannabis instantly relieves them of stress and worry, others experience paranoia and their anxiety can sometimes even get worse! However, this is not so much the fault of cannabis as it is the fault of its make up.

Cannabis contains both THC and CBD. THC is what provides the typical high effect of marijuana, and it also tends to make people paranoid and increase their anxiety. However, there are also strains that are more heavily weighted towards CBD; this is the compound in cannabis which is helpful for anxiety and depression.

Top 10 CBD Strains For Anxiety

That’s why in this section we’ll be recommending some strains that are very mild in THC but very high in CBD. These will give you the biggest bang for your buck for anxiety relief.

ACDC

This strain is one of the highest CBD to THC ratios you’ll find. It’s a 50/50 hybrid strain, meaning that it is half Indica and half Sativa, and it offers varying ratios of CBD to THC depending on where you get it. That means you might need to be careful when making a purchase.

While it can contain up to 20% CBD, it can also have higher than average concentrations of THC, as much as 6% or as little as 0.42% in some cases.

Your best bet here is to find a local dispensary and have a talk with them; they can likely help you decide whether their ACDC strains will be good for you. However, you can also try it out for yourself and always switch to something else if the THC is too high for your taste.

In some cases though, dispensaries may even label this as a “THC free” strain because of just how little is in here. It’s garnered a positive reputation in the medical marijuana community for allowing people to treat their ailments without becoming too impaired to go about their daily routines.

This strain can help you with anxiety, inflammation, migraines, nausea, arthritis, or bipolar disorder, and it’s also popular with people who experience chronic pain or those who are going through chemotherapy.

Cannatonic

If you’re worried about how the THC will affect you, or if you already know that your anxiety is amplified by THC, then Cannatonic might be a better choice. This high CBD choice offers a very mellow high that gives you all of the benefits of the CBD without impairing you too much.

Patients who are sensitive to THC favor this strain, and its 1:1 THC and CBD ratio helps to take the edge off your anxiety. However, it’s also high in the terpene myrcene which gives it a pleasant aroma and helps to promote relaxation. Many find that it has a mild, sweet and citrusy flavor to it.

The MK Ultra and G13 Haze plants are used to produce this crossbreed strain, and it’s very popular for treating pain, migraines, muscle spasms, anxiety, and many other psychological ailments.

You can expect a CBD content of 6-17% for this strain and a THC content which is rarely above 6%. Talk to your local dispensary to find out more about their specific products to help you make your decision. People who use this strain often say they feel relaxed, happy, uplifted and focused.

Charlotte’s Web

If you’d prefer a CBD which has no high at all, then this is likely your best bet. This strain famously helped Charlotte Figi to treat her chronic seizures, and it had a big part in helping CBD to be recognized as a real treatment for sufferers of ailments like Charlotte’s. That’s because Dravet’s syndrome is resistant to traditional seizure drugs and for these children, this strain was their only relief.

This strain has low enough THC content that it can be legally sold as a food supplement, and it has a CBD content as high as 20%. It’s normally consumed via oil rather than smoked, and you won’t get any of the spacey feelings associated with other strains, but if you’d like treatment for anxiety, pain, seizures or other ailments without being impaired then this is it.

Thanks to its low THC content, this Indica dominant strain has been used to treat pediatric seizure disorders like Dravet’s syndrome, migraines, fibromyalgia, and arthritis. You likely won’t even notice you’ve taken anything when using this strain to treat your medical issues.

CBD Shark

For those who’d like a bit of the THC effect without going overboard, there is CBD Shark. This strain is 80/20 Indica dominant, and it offers an equal ratio of THC and CBD. This is a well-balanced strain, and it’s a good choice if you’re seeking a solution to calm anxiety that may be keeping you from sleeping.

This strain has just enough THC to help take the edge off of your pain and to produce sleep-inducing effects without making you too clouded. Most people report a clear feeling and a happy state of mind when using this particular strain.

This is a hybrid strain derived from the Shark Shock Indica, but its other parent seems to be unknown in origin. It has a sweet fruity scent that many people find pleasing as well.

Ringo’s Gift

This interesting strain offers a CBD to THC ratio that is as high as 20:1. That makes this an excellent choice for the anxiety sufferer because it provides a mild and pleasant buzz without being too overwhelming.

It’s a Sativa dominant hybrid, made from crossing the ACDC strain we talked about earlier with the Harle-Tsu; both of which are known for their high levels of CBD.

This strain has an earthy hash type of taste and a pleasing mix of cerebral activity and total body relaxation. You’ll be relaxed but still alert and sociable, ready to take on the day, making it a great choice as a daytime strain.

Users of this strain use it to deal with chronic pain, PTSD, stress, anxiety, arthritis and more ailments. It’s a great choice for those looking to get a light buzz while remaining alert enough to focus on their daily tasks.

Harlequin

This strain is extremely reliable, and it almost always gives a 5:2 ratio of CBD to THC. Harlequin is thus particularly useful for those with multiple ailments, and it’s useful in treating not just anxiety but also pain, without the risk of any paranoia like side effects.

Harlequin has a wide range of flavors and scents, from earthy and musky to sweet mango, but it’s a great strain for those looking to relax and ease their woes without intoxication.

This strain is a 75/25 Sativa that is descended from Colombian Gold, Nepali Indica, and Thai and Swiss Landrace strains. It’s a favorite of many people, and it should be widely available at most dispensaries.

First developed in the 70s, this strain features 4-7% THC content and 8-16% CBD. While you will likely experience some psychoactive effects, they will be much milder than what you would experience with other more potent strains. This one will allow you to relax without getting drowsy and negatively impacting your productivity for the day.

Primo’s Advice

Anxiety is widely known as the most common mental illness, with around 40 million adults suffering from Anxiety in the U.S alone. On the bright side of things, anxiety although stressful is treatable. We find that CBD is one of the safest and most effective treatments for anxiety.

With many prescription pills causing not only addiction but creating dependencies and sedating its user’s personality, CBD can relieve your anxiety without creating those adverse side effects. The misconception that causes many anxiety sufferers to avoid CBD is because they simply don’t understand it. Many people avoid cannabinoids because they think it will get them high. This is not the case there are no psychoactive properties in CBD. Meaning CBD will not get you high, but CBD will help you with your anxiety.