10 Best Weed Strains: Top Strains for Smoking and Growing in 2022

Marijuana has become increasingly popular in recent years, and growers are capitalizing on its newfound popularity. If you are an avid marijuana user or want to make money growing weed, now’s the time to get started since many states are beginning to legalize cannabis. Lots of states already allow the medicinal and recreational use of cannabis.

With thousands of strains to choose from, you have a lot of options when it comes to what you should grow. Here’s our list of the best weed strains in 2022, followed by an in-depth buyers guide of what to look for when purchasing weed strains.

1. Chemdawg

Chemdawg is known for many things, among them its soothing properties. The strain is an excellent option for experienced growers since it contains THC levels up to 25%. It can be challenging to grow, which is why we recommend novice growers to stray away from this strain.

Moreover, since the plant flowers quickly, it has a potent aroma that many people enjoy. It has a flowering time of only seven weeks, and you can derive up to 35 ounces of usable marijuana from each plant.

Features

• 80% Indica and 20% Sativa hybrid
• THC levels up to 25%
• Feminized seeds
• Contains a trace amount of CBD

Pros

• Potent world-class strain high in THC
• Short flowering time (7 to 9 weeks)
• Soothing for the mind
• Many options in terms of variations

Cons

• Difficult to grow
• Not resistant to pests or mold

Verdict

Chemdawg, also known as Chemdog, is a classic strain that was the predecessor to many of the most popular strains on the market today. Because of its difficulty to grow, it is better for experienced growers.

2. OG Kush

OG Kush is likely a descendant of the Chemdawg strain. It is a favorite on the west coast, and it undoubtedly deserves a spot on the list of best weed strains. This strain grows best in hot, tropical climates and flowers in as little as eight weeks.

With OG Kush, you can get about 17 ounces of useable weed per square meter. It is a 75% Indica and 25% Sativa hybrid strain that has one of the highest THC contents out there. In terms of aroma, it has an earthy scent with citrus notes.

Features

• 75% indica and 25% Sativa hybrid
• Feminized seeds
• 19% THC
• <1% CBD
• Grows best in sunny climates or indoors

Pros

• High yields if you grow indoors
• Flowers in only 8 weeks
• Great for medicinal used (ADHD or migraines)

Cons

• Can develop a powdery mildew

Verdict

This strain gives users a full-body relaxation high. Because of its short flowering time and high yields, it’s a premium option for growers.

3. Grand Daddy Purple Strain

This 100% Indica strain is suitable for novice growers. If you’re looking for an ultra-relaxing high, Grand Daddy Purple is the strain for you. It’s a classic west coast Indica that is popular among marijuana lovers globally.

Because of its compact growth, it’s the perfect strain to grow indoors. Ideally, you should cultivate this strain outside at around 50% humidity. It takes about ten weeks to flower and can have yields of up to 17 ounces per plant.

Features

• 100% Indica
• Up to 23% THC
• <1% CBD
• Best grown indoors

Pros

• Resistant to disease
• Pleasant flavor with fruity notes
• Calms anxiety because of high THC levels

Cons

• Not high in CBD

Verdict

Grand Daddy Purple delivers feelings of deep relaxation. If you’re an outdoor grower or a beginner, this is an excellent strain for you.

4. Gorilla Glue

Gorilla Glue is the love child of the strains Chocolate Diesel, Sour Dubb, and Chem Sis. It is one of the most potent marijuana strains. It also grows effortlessly and produces a lot of buds. In the right climate, you can grow it outdoors. To grow it inside, you’d need to be able to manipulate the light cycle.

Another one of Gorilla Glue’s benefits is its disease resistance. It flowers in 8-9 weeks and produces a yield of 18 ounces of bud per 3×3 feet. If you grow it outside and allow it to flower for a little bit longer, you can yield an extra 2 ounces per plant. The aroma is pine, black coffee, and moss.

Features

• 50% indica and 50% Sativa hybrid
• THC levels up to 26%
• <1% CBD
• A sunny climate and indoors
• 8-week flowering time

Pros

• 26% of THC
• Helps users sleep and reduces anxiety
• Easy to grow

Cons

• Not ideal for daytime use

Verdict

Gorilla Glue is a robust strain that promotes feelings of relaxation and stimulates appetites. It gives users the munchies, making it ideal for nighttime use since it helps them sleep and ease feelings of anxiety. It’s quite easy to grow, and it produces a high yield when grown outside.

5. Girl Scout Cookies

The Girl Scout Cookies strain is a hybrid that grows best when it has lots of space. If handled correctly, it can grow up to 6 inches tall. The strain gives users a full-body high that makes for optimal relaxation. Many people smoke it as a social strain. It has an aroma of mint and chocolate. This strain reduces feelings of anxiety, and it is easy to grow.

Features

• 80% indica and 20% Sativa hybrid
• THC levels up to 21%
• <1% CBD
• Sunny climate and indoors
• 10-week flowering time

Pros

• Full-body, relaxing high
• Can be bred into other strains like Extreme or Thin Mint
• Suitable for medicinal purposes like nausea or chronic pain

Cons

• May be too large for some growing spaces.

Verdict

If you want a no-fuss strain that is easy-to-grow, Girl Scout Cookies is perfect for you. Just make sure that you have enough space to grow it.

6. Blue Dream Strain

Blue Dream is a 20% Indica/80% Sativa hybrid that produces a manageable high. For that reason, the strain is perfect for everyday use.

For people who enjoy a daytime high, Blue Dream works wonders. It ranks as one of the most popular marijuana strains in the United States. Like other Sativa-dominant strains, Blue Dream promotes feelings of euphoria. As for the aroma, it has a berry scent.

This strain is useful for pain relief, depression, and nausea. To have the best possible yield, grow this strain indoors. In Blue Dream, you’ll find a small amount of CBD. When you smoke it, you may experience enhanced feelings of creativity and motivation.

Features

• 20% indica/80% Sativa
• <1% CBD
• Moderate difficulty
• Sunny climate and indoors
• 9-week flowering time

Pros

• High THC levels of up to 21%
• A pleasant scent of berries
• High yield

Cons

• Needs 10 weeks to flower

Verdict

While the flowering time is a bit high, Blue Dream is still a great strain to grow because of its popularity. The strain produces a pleasant and manageable high that is ideal for daytime use.

7. AK 47 Strain

AK-47 is a popular weed strain among social smokers that produces a relaxing high. AK-47 is known to promote feelings of happiness and mental clarity. Users say that the high from this strain lasts a long time. The scent is earthy with sour notes. The strain works great for managing pain and lack of appetite. It has average CBD levels and THC levels of 20%.

Features

• 35% indica/65% Sativa
• THC levels of up to 20%
• <1% CBD
• A cool climate and indoors
• 8-week flowering time

Pros

• Uplifting and stimulating high
• High yield
• Short flowering time
• Helps with back pain and lack of appetite

Cons

• Smaller plants than average

Verdict

AK-47 is an easy-to-grow strain that gives promotes feelings of mental clarity. Smoking AK-47 makes you feel at ease. Plus, the strain is incredibly easy to grow and is also high-yielding.

8. White Widow

Mystery surrounds the White Widow strain. Most experts believe it is a cross between South American Sativa and South Indian Inca, but some people argue that it came from Bralziation Sativa landrace. It used to be popular in Dutch coffee shops, but now it is popular among Americans too. White Widow is one of the best strains for indoor growers because the plant only reaches four feet in height.

Growers get high-quality buds and large yields from White Widow. It’s best to grow this strain indoors, but it can be grown outdoors in low temperatures. If you do choose to grow it outdoors, you’ll want to protect it against pests. In terms of the high it produces, users report a steady high and a heavy creative flow. White Widow is another strain that is perfect for daytime use.

Features

• 60% indica/40% Sativa
• THC levels of up to 19%
• <1% CBD
• A cool or sunny climate and indoors
• 9-week flowering time

Pros

• 18 oz yields per 3×3 feet
• A sweet and earthy aroma
• Easy to grow

Cons

• Must be protected from pests if grown outdoors

Verdict

White Widow is a balanced strain that gives users a steady high. Not only is it easy to grow, but its yields are incredibly high. While outdoor growers can grow this strain, White Widow is best for indoor growers.

9. Jack Herer Strain

Created initially as a medical marijuana strain, Jack Herer is a miraculous strain. Its medicinal properties make it ideal for treating a host of mental and physical illnesses. This pine-scented strain is a combination of Northern Lights #5 Indica, Haze Sativa, and Shiva Skunk Indica.

Jack Herer produces tall plants with low CBD levels and high THC levels (up to 20%). Because the plants are disease-resistant, this strain can be grown outdoors and indoors.

Features

• 40% indica/60% Sativa
• THC levels of up to 20%
• <1% CBD
• Sunny climate and indoors
• 9-week flowering time

Pros

• Resistant to disease
• Easy to grow
• Makes users feel energetic

Cons

• Possible dizziness

Verdict

This disease-resistant plant is a good option for both outdoor and indoor growers. Its medicinal properties, not to mention its short 9-week flowering time, make it a highly sought-after strain.

10. Sour Diesel Strain

Sour Diesel is known to be a strain with one of the highest yields of any cannabis plants. It’s also one of the best strains to smoke if you are looking for something that relieves anxiety. Sour Diesel is another strain that has an unknown origin story. People think it came out of California during the 90s as a product of Super Skunk and Chemdawg 91.

This strain is best grown in warm areas with lots of sun. You can achieve yields of up to 16oz per 3×3 foot area. This strain produces an intense cerebral high and elevates your mood. The effects can last for as long as five hours after use. Unlike other Sativas, this one won’t induce anxiety.

Features

• 40% indica/60% Sativa
• THC levels of up to 20%
• <1% CBD
• Hard difficulty
• Sunny climate and indoors
• 10-week flowering time

Pros

• Produces high yields
• Helps with feelings of anxiety
• Intense, energetic high

Cons

• Not disease-resistant

Verdict

Sour Diesel is an excellent option for growers because of the high yields it produces. Give it a go if you live in a sunny area and are an experienced grower.

Finding the Best Weed Strains for 2022 – Buyer’s Guide

If you’ve decided to take the plunge and begin growing marijuana, you’ll need to decide which strains you want to grow. Choosing your strains is one of the fun parts about growing weed, but you need to select strains that are best suited to your environment.

Here are some things to keep in mind while you get started as a grower:

Experience

It’s relatively easy to get started growing marijuana because it doesn’t require a lot of experience. As long as you’re adequately prepared and conduct research beforehand, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to start growing some great weed.

However, not all strains of marijuana are alike. Some strains require a lot of attention, whereas other strains don’t take much effort at all. If you are a beginner, you’ll want to research which strains are best for people with little experience.

This information isn’t difficult to find. Many distributors and breeders will happily give you this information. Again, make sure you collect this information before making any final decisions. Strains of marijuana that are difficult to cultivate require more attention to factors like nutrients, light, and temperature.

That said, if you have a strain that you’re eager to grow, but it’s rated as challenging, don’t let that stop you. As long as you’re aware of the setbacks you could potentially face, you should be able to grow that strain successfully.

Availability

Depending on where you are growing your marijuana, you may or may not have access to some types of strains. Marijuana markets vary between regions.

Another factor that affects availability is the legal standing of marijuana usage in your area. You may be required to purchase seeds produced in your state because it is generally unlawful to transport seeds between states.

While we note that a majority of the variations you’ll find of the strains in this post will contain little to no CBD, it’s worth noting that the specific genetic profile of the plant will determine the actual cannabinoid concentrations. IHF CBD weed strains include a Chemdawg variant with CBD levels of 17.3% – a far cry from the typical high-THC Chemdawg plants cited in the post above.

These stains that are bred for high THC aren’t available for purchase online (unless it’s delivery from a local dispensary and you have proper ID), but high CBD low THC variations are available for purchase online.

Planning

Sometimes, you only need a small space to be a successful grower. Other times, you may find yourself needing more space than you have. Before you select your strains and start buying seeds, plan your garden, so you are ready for your yields.

For example, indicas are short and bushy, whereas other strains, like OG Kush, require more nutrients. Make sure you know the needs of all the strains you plan on growing.

To make things easier for yourself, create a schedule that outlines the watering and nutrient needs of all the strains you are going to grow. Make sure you note their flowering times as well.

Also, get equipped with all of the proper tools needed for marijuana growing, like soil and LED lights.

Environment

Each strain has an ideal environment for optimal yield. If you are limited in terms of space, this may restrict the number of strains from which you can choose. If you live in an area with a cold climate, you may not be able to grow outside.

It’s crucial to know the difference between Sativa and Indica strains. Sativa plants tend to grow taller than indica plants, which means they do better in hot and humid climates. Indica strains do better in cold climates, and they don’t require as much space.

If you have limited space, opt for dwarf or auto-flowering strains. The flowers they produce are bushier and shorter.

Preference

You may have restrictions due to the size of your space and the climate of the area in which you live, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore your personal preferences. Only choose a strain that you know you’ll enjoy and one that you’re sure to sell.

If you want a strain with a strong flavor, choose a strain with a good terpene profile. If you want a strain that produces an intense high, choose a strain with a high concentration of THC. If symptom relief is what you’re after, go for a strain with high CBD levels.

Growing Tips

Growing Lights

There are many types of grow lights for cannabis. HID (high-intensity discharge) lights are the industry standard because of their value, efficiency, and output. They are more expensive than fluorescent and incandescent lights, but they produce more light than those types.

HID lamps come in two varieties:

• Metal halide: blue/white light used for vegetative growth
• High-pressure sodium: red/orange light used during the flowering phase

Fluorescent grow lights are popular among hobby growers because they are cheaper and don’t require a cooling system. However, they are less efficient than other types of lights.

LED grow lights are ultra-efficient lights for indoor growing. The primary drawback of LED lights is their price. However, LED lights last much longer and use less electricity than other types.

Induction grow lamps are a more efficient version of fluorescent lights. They also last a bit longer than fluorescent lights. However, they aren’t as readily available as other types.

Proper Air Flow

Just like any other plant, cannabis plants need carbon dioxide to thrive. To achieve this, make sure you have a steady airflow circulating through your grow room at all times. You can install an exhaust fan at the top of the room and a filtered air inlet on the opposite site near your door.

Growing Medium

You can grow cannabis in a few different mediums. Soil is the most traditional option, which makes it ideal for new growers. You can choose any high-quality potting soil so long as it doesn’t have any artificial extended-release fertilizer.

If you’re a beginner, you could also opt for pre-fertilized soil because it contains all the nutrients that cannabis plants need.

Another way to grow cannabis is by using hydroponics. To do this method, you’ll have to feed concentrated solutions of mineral salt nutrients to the roots. This process uses osmosis and leads to higher yields.

Feed the Plants Nutrients

Marijuana plants need more nutrients than other crops. Your plants require these nutrients:

• Phosphorus
• Nitrogen
• Potassium

Aside from these nutrients, your plans will also need certain micronutrients. However, your plants only need these micronutrients in small quantities:

• Calcium
• Copper
• Iron
• Magnesium

Final Thoughts

Growing weed is a great way to ensure that you are only using marijuana that was safely developed. It’s also a great way to make some extra money if recreational use is legal in your area. Growing your own marijuana is fun and rewarding, and all of these strains are great options with high yields.

Take a look at some of our other guides to learn more about growing marijuana. If you’d like to purchase any of the products mentioned in this guide, click here.