Best weed strains for creativity

Making time to express your creativity is hard. That’s why it’s important not to waste any precious moments conducting trial-and-error experiments to discover the best weed strains for creativity. Instead, let us save you some time and trouble with our expertly curated list, factoring in everything from user ratings to which strains are currently getting shout-outs on our version of Billboard’s Hot 100.

1. Blue Dream

   Made by crossing Blueberry with Haze, Blue Dream is a sativa-dominant hybrid ideal for infusing some fresh color into your creativity. With a flavor profile reminiscent of fresh berries, Blue Dream today enjoys a well-earned status as a legend of the West Coast strain scene.

2. White Widow

   Strains don’t get much more famous than White Widow. This balanced hybrid hails from the Netherlands, though its reputation is global. So named for the white buds and crystal resin it produces, White Widow has long been considered a signature strain for those eager to turn the dial on their creativity up a few notches.

3. Pineapple Express

   Straight from the silver-screen to a rolling paper near you, it’s Pineapple Express! Yes, this sativa-dominant hybrid did enjoy a viral moment in 2008 thanks to the release of its namesake film. That said, if you’re looking to run the end credits on a creatively blocked brain, try Pineapple Express for an energetic odyssey of citrus and pine that continues to rank as a top Leafly user favorite.

4. Headband

   Headband (or HB) is a hybrid lovechild of cannabis power couple OG Kush and Sour Diesel. From this proud lineage comes a strain cultivated to send stress packing, in turn allowing your creative side to flourish. Accented by flavors of lemon and diesel, Headband is also highly regarded for its pain relief properties and long-lasting effects.

5. Gelato

   Bursting with notes of cream and fruit, Gelato is a well-balanced hybrid made by crossing Sunset Sherbet and Thin Mint. Thanks to its split of indica and sativa, the resulting high is both euphoric and relaxing—just the type of mood for letting your creative juices flow.

Reputed for offering an energetic burst, sativa strains stand in contrast to the more sedative effects commonly associated with indicas. Studies have shown that an increase of dopamine may be related to how sativas provide consumers with renewed energy, focus, and uplift. Ready to see for yourself? Here are five sativas sure to stoke your creative embers.

1. Jack Herer

   Named for cannabis activist and author Jack Herer, this sativa-dominant strain combines a Haze hybrid with Northern Lights #5 and a cross of Shiva Skunk. The resulting strain has become a cherished go-to for creatively stifled cannabis consumers. As a 55% sativa hybrid with a rich genetic background, Jack Herer offers a blissful, clear-headed, and creative high.

2. Acapulco Gold

   No talk of top sativas would be complete without Acapulco Gold! Originating in its namesake region of Mexico, many regard Acapulco Gold as one of the best cannabis strains of all-time, thanks to its reliable source of motivation and energy. That’s almost as rare a combination for a cannabis strain as Acapulco Gold’s status as the rare true sativa still available today.

3. Durban Poison

   Alongside Acapulco Gold, Durban Poison also holds the distinction of being a rare pure sativa. Once more, Durban Poison’s origins can also be traced to a namesake city—in this case, South Africa’s Durban. Reputed for its properties as an uplifting strain capable of helping consumers to stay productive, Durban Poison offers sweet rewards in more ways than one.

4. Super Lemon Haze

   Come for the incredible tangy taste, stay for the uniquely energetic and lively effects. That’s the invitation that awaits you with Super Lemon Haze, a sativa-dominant hybrid made by crossing Lemon Skunk with Super Silver Haze. Packed with citrus, Super Lemon Haze delivers with a zesty taste and subsequent effects geared to bring your creativity to the surface.

5. Tangie

   In a sense, Tangie is a remake. No, we’re not talking about the movies but rather the role of Tangie as a fill-in for the once popular Tangerine Dream. In any case, the bottom line is that his sativa—a cross of California Orange and Skunk 1—boasts a rich aroma of tangerines while gently settling consumers into a euphoric, relaxed mental state.

As noted above, smoking cannabis strains popular for inducing a creative mindset tend to work by increasing dopamine levels in our brains’ creative center while simultaneously reframing our thinking patterns through the presence of THC. Additionally, the soothing aroma of certain terpenes—like the crisp aroma of pine needles produced by pinene—can offer extra benefits as well.

When it comes to cannabis potency, THC is but one part of a bigger formula that also includes factors like tolerance and terpenes. Essentially, each of us has a body chemistry which processes cannabis in its own unique ways, thus making THC a worthy, but incomplete, metric in determining the strongest creative weed strains. With that caveat in mind, here are five impressively potent cannabis strains for experienced consumers to target.

1. Sour Joker

   Sour Joker, aka Joker, is a stimulating sativa that drops the hammer with 28% THC. That means you likely won’t want to dance with this strain unless you’re prepared for a potent experience. But if that sounds like your kind of party, note that consumers report an energetic buzz from this blend of Amelia Haze and East Coast Sour Diesel as well as feelings of motivation and, intriguingly, clear-headedness.

2. Northern Wreck

   When one of your parent strains is described as having a dizzying strength, look out when enjoying Northern Wreck. Combining the strength of the aforementioned Northern Lights with the cerebral sensations of Trainwreck, Northern Wreck, at 28% THC, can feel like a face melt of euphoria, so be sure you’re comfy before choosing to take the ride.

3. Lemonatti

   The sativa-dominant Lemonatti has THC coursing through its veins. A product of crossing Gelonade and Biscotti, there’s a certain dessert-like appeal to Lemonatti, thanks to its sweet flavor profile and delicious effects. Strongly associated with feelings of joy, creativity, and productivity, Lemonatti keeps the potency needle pointing up at 26% THC. In a creative lull? Don’t get sour—get Lemonatti.

4. OG Wreck

   This hybrid cross of OG Kush and Trainwreck is a powerful sativa-dominant strain that will get your mind chugging. Skunky, tangy, and associated with a wide range of therapeutic benefits, OG Wreck does its lineage proud. It also provides a powerful source of stress relief and cerebral stimulation thanks to its 25% THC potency.

5. Jet Fuel Gelato

   Ready to fly high? Take to the figurative skies with Jet Fuel Gelato. This hybrid has Leafly users celebrating its abilities to spar arousal, focus, and uplift. Intended for experienced consumers, Jet Fuel Gelato hails from a genetic cross of High Octane and Jet Fuel. Expect flavors of violet and diesel from this Compound Genetics creation, which also includes a starring terpene role for limonene.