The potency of cannabis strains is usually posted as a ratio between the key cannabinoids: the content of the psychoactive THC and that of the relaxing medicinal CBD. It appears as a numerical ratio like 2:1. In such a strain, there would be twice as much THC as CBD.

The CBD content is usually quite low. But the standard ratios contain much information to help you shop and use. You can use this chart to benchmark the effects of your choice of CBD strains.

THC: CBD Ratio Expected Effects 0:1 Fully relaxing, antipsychotic, and therapeutic 1:2 Slight euphoria with strong sedation 1:1 Strong therapeutic benefits with mild side-effects 2:1 Euphoric laughing offset by calming thoughts 1:0 Very high psychoactive effects with uplifted emotions, uncontrollable laughing, and risks for new users

CBD Strains: 10 strongest CBD strains

You won’t measure the strength of your high by euphoria. There will be little buzz or “mind trip.” That’s the point of CBD. The stronger the CBD, the more likely you will be to sit and hard and hast to your chair. But here are some of the strains ranking high in CBD content.

1. Harlequin

They’re breeding strains nowadays for higher and higher THC content. But that doesn’t sway Harlequin’s fans who have made it one of the favorites. The sativa dominant hybrid at 75% Sativa and 25% Indica, it typically boasts a CBD:THC ratio of 5:2 with as much as 10% CBD. There’s not enough THC to mess you up, but there’s enough to keep you focused and alert through the day.

You’ll find Harlequin in any Colorado household, a reliable calming strain with touches of mango and musk. It’s not the prettiest plant, but it is loaded with beneficial trichomes. They overwhelm the THC effects to relieve the cramps, inflammation, pain, and spasticity associated with arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraines, PTSD, and stress. And, gentle as the effects are, it is a great start for new smokers.

2. Harle-Tsu

When Harlequin met Sour Tsunami, they produced Harle-Tsu with its astronomical 22% CBD. A 60% Indica/ 40% Sativa hybrid, its THC content may be less than 1%. So, it may start with a good mood and bit of a buzz, but it leaches through the rest of your body for a mighty mellow relaxation.

You’ll be able to work with focus because the CBD will erase pain and tension. While you remember the sweet spicy tastes and aroma, you can feel the anxiety, headaches, migraines, PMS, and PTSD melt away.

3. Ringo’s Gift

Breeders continued the lineage mixing the Harle-Tsu with ACDC for a celestial ratio of 24:1 CBD/THC. It’s 60% Sativa/40% Indica hybrid with sweet mint tastes and earthy aromas.

The minimal THC content still perks things up with a mild but noticeable euphoria that quickly seeps into a full mellow melody of relaxed sensations relieving anxiety, arthritis, chronic pain, nausea, PMS, PTSD, and muscle spasms. The balance keeps you awake and alert, sociable and focused without a full-body lock.

4. CBD Mango Haze

This one has a moderate CBD content compared to those already listed. The CBD: THC of 2:1 is still very popular. A significantly high Sativa-dominant hybrid with 80% Sativa/ 20% Indica, it’s named for the mango-dominant aroma. With THC reaching 8%, it opens with an introspective euphoria—if you are standing up.

Sit down and you’ll stay put. Behind the mango and pineapple flavors, you’ll find relaxing effects pushing away ADD/ADHD, arthritis, chronic pain, depression, inflammation, migraine headaches, MS, and PMS.

5. Charlotte’s Web

By now, everyone has heard of Charlotte’s Web, the medicinal strain that has led the changes in legalization because of its verified relief of epileptic spasms in children. Indica-dominant at 60/40, it boasts 20% CBD.

Considered as compassionate care for children with recalcitrant epilepsy and Davet’s Syndrome, it also soothes spasms and pain associated with other health conditions with little or no intoxication. An earthy taste connects with floral and pine aromas. The relaxation relaxes while a mild euphoria helps you forget the stress of the day.

6. CBD Critical Cure

Critical Kush and cannabis ruderalis were crossed to produce CBD Critical Cure, a hybrid testing at 11% CBD. This balances with a 5% THC for a 2:1 ratio.

It tastes and smells of loamy soil and berry sweetness and induces strong, muscle and body relaxation. It’s soothing, but you may feel a tingle around the eyes and sinuses as it begins to ease pressures everywhere. The rest can be sedating for some, but as you build tolerance, you’ll find it a full anti-depressant letting you focus on the rest of your day free from anxiety, depression, distortion, and pain.

7. ACDC

Some ACDA ranks at 20% CBD. But, if CBD is your target, you have the read the labels. The THC can range from ≥1% to 6%. Otherwise, this is a balanced 50/50 hybrid with a potent euphoric rush making you giggly happy.

That will help you improve your sociability for the day while soothing anxiety, arthritis, bipolar disorder, migraines, neuropathic pain, and more. It’s a good strain for novices to step up to and is favored by chemotherapy patients.

8. Cannatonic

As the name suggests, this 50:50 hybrid has CBD in the neighborhood of 6% to 1%. It’s bred of MK Ultra and G-13 Haze. There’s enough THC at 6% to lift your spirits and leave you happy.

You won’t feel much of a head high, but moods will improve enough to let you attend to work and duties. Earthy and woodsy, it’s an earthy experience with undertones of citrus to calm ADD/ADHD, anxiety, arthritis, bipolar disorder, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and headaches.

9. Sweet & Sour Widow

A very well-balanced hybrid, Sweet & Sour Widow may be a go-to strain for new users. At 70/30 with Indica high, it has a 1:1 THC: CBD content at 6-8% THC: 8% CBD for strong medical benefits behind a pleasant high.

Sweet, sour, herbal, and woody, it promises a nice mellow effect. The high starts slowly, almost unnoticeably towards an expanding cerebral euphoria. That slows to slight sedation to treat depression, fatigue, insomnia, muscle spasms, and pain.

10. Valentine X

With a whopping 25 CBD: 1 THC ratio, Valentine X closes this list. Tasting of apple, honey, and pine under woodsy aromas, it delivers a fast-acting blissful euphoria. You can still excel at creative work as it completely pushes away chronic pain, inflammation, and migraines. Perhaps more important, it has shown strong positive effects in the treatment of epileptic and other seizures.

Earthy and spicy, Valentine X has been bred from ACDC specifically for its CBD promise. The medical benefits should not lure you into heavy use from the begging. You might want to ease yourself in the effects of such high CBD content.

A final tip

This list is not exhaustive. It covers CBD strains from the limited history available. There’s a reason to believe CBD-strong strains go way back because the original values in cannabis were thought to be therapeutic. But we have only recent testing technology to rank strains.

Moreover, while the marketing instinct powers the development of stronger THC strains, the medicinal market is also driving breeding and crossbreeding toward higher CBD content. What’s listed here may be just the start in creating a new pharmacy.