The Top 10 Strains in Canada

Canadians love their weed. Two years into our world-renowned recreational cannabis market, we have already spent billions on it. By 2024, some market analysts predict Canadians will spend $4,750 million annually. 

But numbers aside, Canadians have a growing familiarity with all things cannabis, including settling on their favourite strains. Increasingly we all have our preferences about what indicas, sativas, and hybrids we love.

What are the top strains of weed in Canada? Several Canadian sources have tried to determine Canada's go-to varieties over the past few years. Is it Girl Scout Cookies? Is it Nuken? The top 10 strains in this country might surprise you.

The Top 10 Strains in Canada

Purple Kush

Purple Kush is a go-to medicinal strain for many patients in this country. It's a pure indica, created from breeding Purple Afghani with Hindu Kush. 

As the name suggests, its buds are deep purple in appearance, and the aromas are reminiscent of the kush family: earthy, sweet, spicy.

Medicinally patients say it's extremely valuable for the treatment of stress, insomnia, appetite issues, pain, and depression. As a pure indica with sedative properties, this is an excellent strain for nighttime use.

Blue Dream

What do you get when you cross Blueberry and Haze? Blue Dream is the perfect union between sativa and indica, even if it still leans a little more into uplifting sativa vibes. Canadians seem to love it's heady, euphoric high that is mostly felt in the head, instead of the body.

Some growers can reach up to 24 percent THC with this strain, although most report around 20 percent THC. Blue Dream has an intensely fruity and blueberry flavors, which deliver a juicy burst on each inhale.

Sour Diesel

Sour Diesel was one of the first strains whole-heartedly adopted by the hip hop community. This strain has grown in popularity from having its name mentioned in the lyrics of chart-topping hits. It's another older strain, with slightly mysterious roots. Some sources credit this strain to a New York breeder in the 1990s, while others attribute it to Robert Peace, who passed away in 2011.

This strain (unsurprisingly) has a super-sour nose on it. You can expect hits of citrus and diesel when you first lean in for a smell. Although you may assume Canadians love this strain for its potency, Sour Diesel is actually relatively moderate. Usually, Sour Diesel hits between 15 to 20 percent THC.

Nuken

Nuken is an all Canadian strain, bred by a Canadian hero: Cash Crop Ken. Ken combined the best of Shishkaberry and God Bud to create this indica-dominant hybrid. Like many strong indicas, this strain smells intensely skunky, with layers of pungent damp earth. But don't worry, it tastes more like sweet pine.

Nuken is one of the more potent Canadian strains, sometimes hitting up to 25 percent THC. Plus, for an indica, it is remarkably uplifting, euphoric, and giggly. It's likely why so many people in Canada have naturally gravitated towards it. Super-sleepy indica properties combined with the giggles make for a perfect night at home.

White Widow

White Widow is an oldie but a goodie. Its genetics are shrouded in mystery, but a Brazilian and South Asian strain are likely parents. Launched in 1998, Popular Science magazine once called this strain one of the world's most popular cultivars. 

Why do Canadians love it? It's an indica-dominant hybrid, which delivers gentle relaxation and stress relief. It smells sweet, spicy, with woodsy undertones. Flavor-wise you may even pick up notes of vanilla. It contains moderate levels of THC, usually hovering around 16 percent.

Green Crack

Green Crack is a sativa dominant hybrid, with the mighty Skunk #1 in its lineage. Canadians love this strain for the social, happy buzz it creates. It makes for an excellent daytime option, whether you need a recreational experience or a medicinal one.

This strain typically reaches between 15 to 20 percent THC, an excellent moderate strain potency-wise. The buds smell of earth, fruits and mangos —an altogether different aroma than other top contenders on this list.

Skywalker OG

Skywalker OG is a mellow hybrid on this list of top Canadian strains. This strain is an indica dominant cultivar coming from OG Kush and Skywalker genetics. It routinely scores 10/10 for relaxation among Canadians. 

Why did it make the best-of list? It may be because of its medicinal effects. Patients report using this strain for relief from stress, pain, insomnia, and depression. These benefits, in part, stem from upwards of 20 to 30 percent THC.

Cannatonic

Despite the popularity of CBD these days, this is the only CBD-rich strain to have made Canada's Best-of list. Cannatonic stems from a combination of MK Ultra and G13 Haze. Its terpene profile is sour, earthy, and a bit citrusy. 

For those looking to reap the benefits of a well-balanced CBD-forward strain, Cannatonic is the ideal option. Usually, this strain has equal parts THC to CBD, about 15 percent each. This makes it great for treating anxiety, stress, and mood disorders.

Girl Scout Cookies (GSC)

In this day and age, Girl Scout Cookies is one of the most popular strains on the planet. Although it originated in California, this strain has traveled around the world, riding on people's love affair with its flavor and potency. It's a cross between OG Kush and Durban Poison X F1. 

Why do people love GSC? Because of its extreme potency. This strain routinely hits over 25 percent THC. Expect to taste sweet notes of cherry, lemon, and mint. It's useful for treating several chronic conditions, including chronic pain, insomnia, depression, and nausea.

Strawberry Cough

An up and comer in Canada is Strawberry Cough. It's a sativa-dominant that tastes like sweet strawberries— surprise! The bright berry notes also hit a bit earthy on the nose. A typical bud will contain upwards of 26 percent THC, with minimal levels of CBD.

As a strong-sativa, this strain is great for several mental health conditions, which may be why Canadians are making this their go-to. Common conditions treated with Strawberry Cough include ADHD, bipolar disorder, depression, fatigue, migraines, and daily stress.

Canadians Love Variety!

What's your favourite strain? Do you like to stick to all-Canadian varieties, like Nuken, which have been bred to perfection by all-Canadian companies? Do you lean towards bright bursts of fruity flavours like Blue Dream and Strawberry Cough? Or maybe you choose your favourites based on medicinal benefits? 

One of the benefits of being Canadian these days is the choice we have. The top strains in Canada are as diverse as the Canadians that smoke them. 

The following article The Top 10 Strains in Canada was originally seen on: Foggy Forest