Key Takeaways
- CBD-high strains offer fast-acting, long-lasting pain relief without the strong psychoactive effects associated with THC-heavy cannabis.
- Top CBD-rich strains such as ACDC, Lifter, Charlotte’s Web, Remedy, and CBD-dominant phenotypes of classics like Granddaddy Purple and Northern Lights are highly effective for managing chronic and acute pain.
- CBD strains vary widely in cannabinoid profiles, so always check lab results for accurate CBD, THC, and minor cannabinoid content before choosing a flower.
- Organically grown, third-party tested strains provide cleaner, higher-potency effects and help ensure the product is free from pesticides or contamination.
Pain is a leading cause of physical disability worldwide.
Whether acute or chronic, persistent body aches can impact your routine and daytime productivity; without proper treatment, pain will eventually reduce your quality of life (QoL).
Conventional analgesics used to be the primary choice for pain management. But while these medications are somewhat effective, they have a high propensity for inducing unpleasant reactions.
Certain pain relievers may leave you nursing a headache and muscle soreness, defeating the very purpose of administering them.
What if there were a way to deal effectively with pain without experiencing severe adverse effects?
Well, it turns out there is, thanks to the increased availability of fast-acting CBD-high strains. CBD is one of the most potent analgesic cannabinoids. Multiple studies have found the compound to be equally effective against other common ailments, including inflammation and anxiety.
For many cannabis enthusiasts, the biggest challenge is finding high CBD strains. We’ve taken the liberty of rounding up the most potent CBD-based cannabis plants you can try right now.
What Are CBD-High Strains?
Many people regard cannabis as a distinct plant. However, marijuana is a genus of various species. Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica are the most popular cannabis species. There are also lesser-known species, including Cannabis ruderalis.
Every marijuana species spawns numerous strains, also known as cultivars or variants. Most cannabis strains contain indica and sativa genetics, but in varying proportions. Such cultivars are known as hybrids.
Indica-based cultivars are stockier. You’ll recognize them by their woodier stems, shorter statures, and denser foliage. Meanwhile, sativa-dominant species are generally taller and slimmer. They produce less-compacted buds, too.
We also have pure breeds, strains whose genetics comprise 100% indica or 100% sativa. Besides their phenotypic differences, cannabis strains vary in their cannabinoid profiles.
Cannabinoids are natural plant compounds that interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, producing a host of therapeutic effects. The cannabis plant naturally produces at least 100 cannabinoids. However, most studies focus on cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
CBD and THC have overlapping therapeutic applications. You can administer them for various reasons, including pain relief. The primary difference is that tetrahydrocannabinol is psychoactive, whereas cannabidiol is not.
CBD’s non-psychoactive properties explain the rise in CBD-based cannabis flowers. By administering these products, you can manage several ailments while steering clear of THC’s potent mind-altering effects.
What Strains Have High CBD?
1. Granddaddy Purple
Granddaddy Purple (GDP) is a powerful indica-based cannabis hybrid famous for its calming properties. It’s one of the most potent pain-relieving strains you can add to your wellness routine this year.
While originally higher in THC than CBD, the Granddaddy Purple strain can be available in CBD-based phenotypes. GDP produces strikingly deep purple buds. Its buds are large and heavily compacted, providing days of uninterrupted pain relief.
Granddaddy Purple delivers a delightful blend of sweet grape and berry-like flavors, making each dosage an experience to relish forever. The “Granddaddy” moniker is a reference to GDP as one of the original cannabis strains. Try this cultivar today and understand why it remains the preeminent choice for many cannabis users!
2. OG Kush
OG Kush is another legendary indica-leaning hybrid that you can administer for pain management. Developed in the early '90s (by crossing Hindu Kush, Chemdawg, and Lemon Thai), OG Kush quickly gained critical acclaim within the marijuana community for its unmatched efficacy.
The strain initially induces a heady buzz. But as it takes effect, the high transitions into full-body relaxation. OG Kush’s two-stage effects explain its popularity among medical and recreational cannabis users.
Some cannabis users have taken issue with OG Kush’s pungent, skunky aroma. Fortunately, each phenotype has several undertones that water down the strain’s otherwise unsavory taste.
Searching for a strain potent enough to soothe pain and nervousness?
Well, you might want to look in the direction of OG Kush.
3. Purple Trainwreck
Purple Trainwreck is a CBD-high strain whose origin is steeped in mystery.
According to legend, the cultivar emerged in the late 1960s or early 1970s in Humboldt County, Northern California, following a train derailment near a cannabis grow site. The accident led the farmers to harvest their crops early, resulting in a new cultivar that would later be called Purple Trainwreck.
Some accounts also trace the Trainwreck’s ancestry to Thai sativa, Mexican sativa, and Afghani indica landraces. This cross resulted in a powerful CBD flower strain that produces fast-acting effects.
Purple Trainwreck initially delivers a powerful cerebral high. However, the effects gradually transition into physical relaxation.
Note that original Purple Trainwreck varieties are notably high in tetrahydrocannabinol. To maximize the strain’s analgesic effects, seek out CBD-high phenotypes.

4. White Widow
White Widow buds sport a distinct white appearance, making them the highlight of your cannabis farm. But visual appeal isn’t the only exciting thing about this strain.
With 60% sativa and 40% indica genetics, White Widow is the go-to choice if you’re looking for balanced effects. The strain is mildly uplifting and mildly relaxing, making it perfect for day or nighttime usage. It delivers potent effects akin to those of the legendary female spider it’s named after.
Although White Widow is naturally higher in THC than CBD, you can find phenotypes bred to be richer in cannabidiol. You’ll also love the strain for its layered flavor and aroma profile. Many phenotypes have a distinct pungent or earthy flavor, with subtle spicy, peppery, and floral hints.
5. Northern Lights
Craving a trip up north?
If you’ve always been fascinated with the aurora borealis, here’s your chance to experience one of nature’s magnificences right from the comfort of your couch.
The Northern Lights strain is unmistakably named for its brilliant display of colorful patterns. Besides, some reports indicate the cultivar originated in the Northern US before gaining widespread popularity in the Netherlands.
Northern Lights is a potent, indica-leaning hybrid. It induces relaxation deep enough to soothe muscle pain away. Northern Lights is incredibly mellowing, too. The strain can shorten your sleep onset latency when consumed at bedtime, allowing you to drift into restful sleep.
A combination of sweet, piney, and earthy flavors makes every Northern Lights dosage worth looking forward to.
6. ACDC
ACDC may not be as popular as the first five strains on this list. However, its analgesic effects are undeniable.
Created by Californian physician Dr. William Courtney, ACDC flowers contain up to 14% cannabidiol and negligible tetrahydrocannabinol amounts. It’s certainly one of the best CBD strains to try out today.
Thanks to ACDC’s minimal THC levels, you can administer it for pain without experiencing marijuana’s infamous couch-lock effects. The strain derives nearly all its therapeutic properties from cannabidiol.
Besides pain, ACDC may help with stress management. That includes pain-induced anxiety.
ACDC may boost your sleep quality, too. Taking measured doses of this CBD-high cultivar in the late evening can mellow you down, peacefully drifting you off to slumber land.
7. Lifter
Lifter is a relatively new cannabis strain. However, it has earned itself a deserved spot among the most potent CBD-high cultivars.
A cross between Early Resin Berry (ERB) and Suver Haze, Lifter is remarkably uplifting. The strain is notably effective against anxiety, depression, and mood swings.
Lifter flowers provide up to 16% cannabidiol and trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol. The strain’s high CBD content makes it a potential treatment for pain, too.
Note that Lifter may contain other lesser-known cannabinoids, including tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA).
THCA has generated significant interest in the cannabis industry primarily for its association with THC. Therefore, understanding the differences between THCA and THC is critical in selecting the best CBD-rich flowers.
Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid exists as a precursor to THC. Despite the relationship, THCA is non-psychoactive. The inert compound activates to the mind-altering THC upon exposure to heat - a process called decarboxylation.
8. Charlotte’s Web
Charlotte’s Web is a CBD-rich hybrid strain developed by Colorado-based breeder, the Stanley Brothers. Each Charlotte’s Web flower boasts 13% cannabidiol, sufficient to soothe the most numbing pain.
A 1% tetrahydrocannabinol potency makes the strain ideal if you’re averse to THC’s mind-altering effects. Charlotte’s Web was named in tribute to Charlotte Figi, a young girl with Dravet syndrome who administered cannabis to treat seizures and pain.
Figi unfortunately succumbed to her condition in April 2020 at the tender age of 13. However, her short life helped spotlight cannabis’ immense therapeutic properties.
9. Remedy
This cannabis strain is aptly named Remedy for its diverse therapeutic effects. A result of Afghan Skunk and Cannatonic, Remedy is one of the most potent CBD-rich cultivars around.
Fresh buds provide around 14% cannabidiol, with some phenotypes testing up to 20% CBD. Remedy’s high CBD content makes it an excellent choice for pain management. The strain will alleviate body aches without inducing euphoria, enabling you to consciously track your progress.
You’ll also love Remedy for its long-lasting effects. A single dosage can linger in your system for hours, providing long-lasting pain relief. The strain has a mix of lemony and piney taste, with several undertones combining to create a layered flavor profile.
10. Blueberry
A bowl of the good, old blueberries?
A perfect treat for every summer afternoon. But if you’re suffering from pain, you could do yourself one better by consuming the Blueberry cannabis strain.
Blueberries’ unmistakable berry-like taste makes them delightfully tasty. The strain’s pleasant aroma profile compounds its therapeutic effects, making it incredibly effective for pain management.
Original Blueberry strains are significantly higher in tetrahydrocannabinol. However, CBD-based phenotypes now exist. Besides, you can find Blueberry flowers meticulously processed to enhance their CBD content.

How Do CBD-High Strains Work?
CBD-based strains derive their therapeutic properties from their high cannabidiol content. When consumed, cannabidiol enters the bloodstream via the endocannabinoid system (ECS).
The endocannabinoid system is a complex neuromodulatory system in mammalian bodies, responsible for various biological functions. It notably regulates pain signaling, endocrine functions, and the circadian rhythm.
According to research, cannabidiol relieves pain by binding to the TRPV1 receptor. TRPV1 (transient receptor potential vanilloid 1) is a key endocannabinoid receptor involved in pain management.
Cannabidiol acts as a weak TRPV1 agonist.
By desensitizing this receptor, CBD inhibits the transmission of pain signals across the body. This causes the brain to interpret aches as less intense than they actually are, making pain more manageable.
Some findings suggest that high CBD strains may stimulate serotonin signaling, too. While serotonin plays a bigger role in mood regulation, increased signaling of this neurotransmitter may also suppress pain perception.
CBD boosts serotonin signaling by inhibiting serotonin-degrading enzymes, such as the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). To make the most of CBD strains for pain management, insist on high-quality products by reputable brands.
The best cannabis strains are typically those grown organically. Using natural cultivation methods renders high-potency flowers that are free from contaminants, such as pesticide residues.
More importantly, insist on laboratory-tested CBD strains. Check for analytical reports to learn more about a flower’s CBD potency and overall cannabinoid profile.

Wrap Up
Integrating CBD strains into your lifestyle is a bold step towards pain management.
It doesn’t matter whether your condition is due to a devastating accident, rigorous workouts, or a chronic ailment. High CBD strains can soothe body aches, restoring your health and vitality.
CBD-based strains combat pain without inducing severe adverse effects. Besides, the cannabidiol’s non-psychoactive properties mean you can administer the compound without getting high.
However, remember to research a strain carefully before integrating it into your wellness routine.
Pay particular attention to the THC content in each flower. Unless a cannabis strain undergoes subsequent processing to manipulate its cannabinoid profile, it will always contain some THC.
Knowing the actual potency of this psychoactive compound is critical in managing your expectations.
As a parting shot, always administer CBD high strains sparingly. Align every dosage with your cannabis tolerance, metabolic rate, and (most importantly) the severity of the condition you’re trying to treat.
FAQs
1. What do high CBD strains do?
CBD-based strains alleviate pain and other common ailments by impacting the endocannabinoid system.
2. What is the best strain for relaxing?
All the above-listed CBD-high strains are perfect for unwinding, thanks to their calming effects.
3. Can CBD strains get me high?
While most CBD strains are low in THC, they may still induce euphoria. The difference is that these cultivars deliver a gentler cerebral buzz than THC-based ones, making them more desirable for pain management.
4. Where to buy high CBD strains?
Always source your CBD high strains from established cannabis brands that deal in organically grown, laboratory-tested cannabis flowers, such as ShopZaza.
5. Should I expect side effects?
While CBD-high strains are less psychoactive, an overdose may trigger side effects like drowsiness, nausea, and dry mouth.
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