High-THC strains are in high demand across Canada as cannabis buyers seek out the most potent products on the market.

Often equated with offering “more bang for your buck,” high-THC cannabis can, for some, provide the most intoxicating effects, while for others, a high dose is simply a recipe to fall asleep.

Below, we summarize details from dried flower listings available from legal Canadian cannabis retailers’ websites. Find High THC Strains in Canada Search for Cannabis Near You SIGN UP For this summary, we first sorted dried flower listings by average cannabinoid content, then took a deeper look at products with the highest average THC content.

Since we only looked at publicly-available data from legal retailers’ websites—and since retailers don’t necessarily list all their available products online—this list is not exhaustive. You might find other high-THC products in Canada, but this is a great place to start. According to our research, the average for high-THC dried flower in Canada is 17.8% THC.

In the Canadian market, five producers currently offer Cold Creek Kush, a cross of THSeeds’ MK Ultra and a specialized cut of Chemdawg. A runner-up in the 2010 High Times Cannabis Cup, Cold Creek Kush is an indica-dominant hybrid, high in pinene, nerolidol, and beta-caryophyllene. Of the five producers that offer it, two post average cannabinoid contents above 20%: Redecan and Blissco. Blissco offers the highest THC of the two; in Alberta, some lots of their Cold Creek Kush contain THC ranges of 22% to 29%.

Some lots of Whistler’s organic Bubba Kush, the beloved OG Kush/West Coast Dawg cross, push to upwards of 26% THC. Dominant terpenes for Whistler’s offering are beta-caryophyllene and nerolidol. Whistler Cannabis Co. is the only producer to offer Bubba Kush under its traditional name. Initially Whistler’s products were only available for medical patients in Yukon, but they began listing in Ontario at the end of June 2019.

Tsunami by HEXO

With a maximum 28% THC, and an average of 24% THC, HEXO’s Tsunami ranks as the highest THC offering at the SQDC in Quebec. A phenotype of Northern Lights, Tsunami is named for the cultivar’s supposedly massive morphology and is dominant in myrcene, caryophyllene, nerolidol, limonene, and linalool. Previously, Tsunami (like all HEXO dried flower products) was not available in recreational markets outside of Quebec, but listings are now appearing in stores in Alberta.

Kade’s Kush by High Tide

In Alberta, Maricann has Kade’s Kush available under their High Tide brand. On Alberta Cannabis, this high-THC offering boasts an average of 25% THC, with the maximum end of the range increasing to a possible 30%. Said to be an OG Kush/Chem Dawg cross, Kade’s Kush is high in nerolidol, caryophyllene and pinene. This high-THC offering can be found at other legal Alberta cannabis retailers, too.

Aravalli by TerrAscend

Until late 2018, TerrAscend stocked an offering called Aravelli in the BC Cannabis online store. It boasted an average 23.5% THC, with a maximum range of 24.5%. High in limonene and described as having fruity aromas, the listing is not longer available. However, in TerrAscend’s medical store, Aravelli is sold under the name Wappa, which is noted as myrcene-dominant. Best to approach this producer with an open mind; they often list different cultivars under the same house name.

With a THC maximum of 26%, 7ACRES’ Sensi Star has respectable THC content across multiple stores, averaging from 22% to 25%, plus some CBD included. High in caryophyllene, limonene, and myrcene, this offering is described as having lemon, pepper, and fuel tastes. Bred by Paradise Seeds, Sensi Star is a star in the narrative of cannabis genetics. Many Canadian producers grow this cultivar, but 7ACRES’ version is particularly renowned.

DelaHaze by MedReleaf

Last on the list, another legendary cannabis cultivar bred by Paradise Seeds, and produced by MedReleaf, DelaHaze offers a flavour profile that leans towards active tastes. The particular listing we discuss today is from an Alberta store and is high in terpinoline, myrcene, and alpha/beta pinene; the vendor describes it as sweet and citrusy. Average cannabinoid content ranks in at a respectable 23%, with the maximum end touching 25.77% THC.

Note: Terpenes Not Included

In addition to cannabinoids, terpene content represents an active influence on the cannabis experience. In Canada, vendors provide terpene content as a relative measurement, meaning terpene content isn’t quantified by percent of mass, like cannabinoid content is.

Terpene amounts are shown relative to the other terpenes present. From a performance perspective, it’s better to quantify terpene content the same way we do cannabinoid content, but since terpene content is often a tenth of the total cannabinoid content, the relative measures are a better demonstration of the cultivar’s flavour profile. That being said, the ability to navigate cannabis listings based on actual terpene content would offer consumers another valuable perspective on cannabis.

Brad Martin Cannabis enthusiast and market researcher, Brad Martin writes the pancakenap.com cannabis review site, as well as cannstandard.ca, a competitive analysis website for the Canadian cannabis market. Both a designated and personal grower, Brad’s interests lie in new cannabis genetics, and how they impact trends in the traditional cannabis market. View Brad Martin's articles