Relaxation can be a tricky thing.
You know it’s important to relax at the end of long days and during the weekends, but turning off your mind and allowing yourself to truly unwind is easier said than done.
Thankfully, you’re in the right place. One of the biggest reasons people reach for cannabis is for help letting go and winding down. If you’re seeking cannabis for relaxation, here’s what you need to know.
Understanding How Cannabis Promotes Relaxation
Cannabis lovers have said for decades that the plant helps them unwind and relax. Today, science is finally beginning to catch up and explain exactly how that works.
However, it’s not as straightforward as taking an edible or a toke and letting the stress melt away. It’s a personalized formula that involves the kind of cannabis you’re consuming, the potency, the cannabinoids, and the setting you’re in.
When consumed properly, cannabis can help ease a troubled mind, allow a stressed body to relax, and help you find a new mindset toward whatever is going on.
How Cannabis Affects The Body and Mind: The Science Behind Relaxation
Cannabinoids like THC have the effects they do because of your body’s Endocannabinoid System, the ECS for short. This master regulatory system is not well-understood in modern science, but researchers have identified that this system plays a major role in every single one of your biological functions — and stress and anxiety are biological functions. Recent research suggests there are “therapeutic implications” of stimulating the endocannabinoid system to deal with stress.
Cannabinoids, particularly THC and CBD, stimulate your ECS to help you relieve stress, improve your mood, calm an overactive mind, and even sleep better, all of which contribute to feeling less stressed and anxious.
Finding The Right Balance: THC vs CBD for Relaxation
The tricky part about stimulating your ECS is that everyone’s endocannabinoid system is as unique as a fingerprint. What works well for your friend or cousin may not work well for you.
It may take some trial and error to find the right balance of cannabinoids that relieve your stress, so consider these factors:
- THC has biphasic effects. That’s a scientific way of saying the effects at low doses are the opposite of the effects at high doses. Low doses of THC may help reduce anxiety, but high doses and potent products can worsen them.
- THC can make you feel high. Some people enjoy this feeling, while others do not.
- CBD will not get you high. How CBD works in your ECS is not as well understood as THC, but it is thought to encourage serotonin (the happy chemical) and anandamide (the joy molecule) signaling in your brain.
Many people find that products with a balance of CBD and THC, or even CBD dominance, are best for dealing with stress and anxiety. A small amount of THC can help boost your mood and reframe your mindset, while CBD counters the intoxicating effects.
It can be challenging to find cannabis products with high levels of CBD, so consider getting a CBD tincture or edibles to have on hand.
Choosing the Best Cannabis Strains for Relaxation
Finding the best strains for relaxation is, again, a personal quest. What works for your budtender may have the opposite effect on you. However, some effects are more common with certain cannabinoids, terpenes, and cultivars.
- Look for a product with lower THC levels. The biphasic effects of THC mean that potent products and strong doses can bring on anxiety rather than relieve it. Looking for lower THC levels helps reduce the chances of negative side effects. (However, this may not be true for long-time consumers with a high tolerance.)
- Seek out CBD products. Some cannabis products have naturally high levels of CBD while others have CBD added to create balance. This non-intoxicating cannabinoid shares many of the benefits of THC while also providing balance to your high experience.
- Consider the terpenes. Cannabis contains terpenes which affect your high experience. Some terpenes like myrcene are highly sedating while others, like limonene and pinene, can have anti-anxiety effects. However, some people may find limonene too stimulating while trying to relax.
- Read reviews. Platforms like Leafly, Weedmaps, and I Love Jane have hundreds of reviews on certain strains and products that you can use to get a feel for the most common effects. You can also find strain deep dives on Reddit and YouTube, where people are more than happy to share their good and bad experiences. We love to share our favorite strains and product reviews at Blue Oak, too!
- Track your experiences. The best way to identify the best cannabis strains for relaxation for you is to track your experiences. Record the potency, the cannabinoid content, and the dominant terpenes, all of which you can find on your product test results (called COAs). Include how you were feeling before consuming and how you feel after. Over time, you’ll see patterns emerge — what potency levels work for you, which cannabinoid ratios feel best, and which terpenes you like.
Indica vs Sativa for Relaxation
Is indica or sativa better for relaxation? The distinction may not matter as much as you think.
Indica and sativa are plant morphology terms that differentiate between two varietals in the same species. It’s the same way you would differentiate between Red Delicious and Honeycrisp apples.
Decades ago, indica and sativa plants had more chemical differences than they do now. Generations of intentional cultivation mean that today’s indicas and sativas are more hybrid than anything else.
Some strains may have more of a traditional in-da-couch experience versus an uplifting experience, but hybrids can have surprising effects. Don’t worry as much about whether it’s an “indica” or “sativa” product – focus on the potency, cannabinoid ratio, and terpene profile.
Top Flower Strain Recommendations for Relaxation
Critical Hog
A child of Critical Mass, Critical Hog is an Indica-leaning hybrid that has strong sedating and relaxing effects. This strain is best enjoyed in small quantities for new consumers: expect a gentle sensation that turns stronger as the experience progresses. This strain is high in beta-caryophyllene and myrcene, two sedating terpenes.
J1
When you need help adjusting your mood, J1 brings the shift. This strain is a cross between the beloved Jack Herer and Skunk #1 that has a euphoric, uplifting effect that helps you relax without sinking into the couch, making J1 perfect for when you need a mindset shift without ending your day.
Buy the J1 strain at Blue Oak.
Garlicane
Garlicane is a highly potent strain that is beloved for delivering an incredibly relaxing experience. Consumers report an intense feeling of relaxation, so small amounts are best for this strain. Take a single toke of a bowl or use a one-hitter for relaxation without overpowering sedation with Garlicane.
Wedding Cake
When you need to simply wash your mind of the day, you need a slice of Wedding Cake. This strain is beloved by cannabis consumers for wiping away even the worst days and delivering a state of blissful calm. Wedding Cake is highly potent and best enjoyed in small quantities.
Edibles to Help You Unwind
Grön Tangelo Pearls 2:1:1 THC:CBC:CBG
A balance of cannabinoids brings a balanced experience with these Grön pearls. Each pearl has 10 20 mg of THC and 510 mg of CBD and CBG, minor cannabinoids that can help you calm your mind without getting too sedated or anxious. If 1020 mg is too much at once, try cutting the edible in half or in quarters for a smaller dose. Buy Grön at Blue Oak.
Wana Classic Blood Orange 20:1 CBD: THC
With 20 mg of CBD and just 1 mg of THC in every gummy, these blood orange chews are the perfect product to try for relaxation if you don’t have a high tolerance. The microdose of THC provides an uplifting boost to your mind while the CBD helps you stay tethered and functional after a long day. Buy Wana at Blue Oak.
1906 Chill Tablets
Expertly crafted for relaxation, these tablets from Chill make it simple to find cannabis-powered peace. These drops combine 5 mg THC and 25 mg CBD with magnolia and L-Theanine to help you reduce stress, unclench your jaw, and let the stress of the day go, without losing focus or hitting the hay too early. Buy 1906 at Blue Oak.
Camino Sparkling Pear 2:6 THC: CBD
If you love the refreshing and fruity flavor of a crisp pear along with the laid-back vibe of a CBD-dominant gummy, Sparkling Pear Gummies by Camino could be for you. This 20-pack provides delectable gummies with 2 mg THC and 6 mg CBD per piece and are packed with feel-good, chilled-out terpenes like limonene, caryophyllene, and linalool. Buy Camino at Blue Oak.
Topicals for Relaxation
If soreness, tight muscles, or pain is what’s causing you stress, reach for a THC topical for fast relief without getting high.
Escape Artists Cedar & Black Pepper 1:1 CBD: THC Relief Cream
This 1:1 cream brings a balance of THC and CBD paired with anti-inflammatory black pepper for rapid-acting muscle relief. Buy Escape Artists at Blue Oak.
Avexia Pain Relief Lotion 1:1 CBD: THC
This slow-absorbing balm comes in an easy-to-use dispensing stick so you can apply as needed directly to areas of pain, as often as you need it. Buy Avexia at Blue Oak
Tinctures for Relaxation
Avexia Strawberry Orange Cream 1:1 CBD: THC Tincture
This 1:1 tincture delivers a perfect balance of THC and CBD to create a gently uplifting experience to help you feel your best, without getting too high. Buy Avexia tincture at Blue Oak.
Tips for Enhancing Your Relaxation Experience
Did you know that your cannabis experience can be influenced by your set and setting?
Set and setting are terms that cannabis has borrowed from psychedelics. Set refers to your mindset and setting refers to your surroundings.
While cannabis is a powerful tool for relaxation, it doesn’t work in a silo. Your mindset, your physical setting, and your social setting can all influence your experience.
To enhance a relaxing cannabis experience, you want to be in a calm, supportive environment with a proper dose. This means different things for different people: you may want to be home alone when you smoke a joint to enjoy the silence and stillness or you may want to be with a few trusted loved ones to make you laugh. You may want a stronger THC product on a Friday night than a Tuesday morning. You may prefer a CBD tincture for the daytime and an edible before bed.
Cannabis works best with intention. It is not a magic pill, but a tool to help you shift your mindset and find relaxation.
Plant-Powered Relaxation
If you find yourself with clenched teeth and hunched shoulders at the end of the day, you know how important it is to relax. Cannabis is a powerful stress-relieving remedy that just may be what you need to reframe your mindset, let the little things go, and be present with what really matters: here and now. Need help finding the best cannabis products for relaxation? Just ask – the budtenders at Blue Oak are happy to help.
