Discover great weed strains perfect for beginners starting their cannabis journey. Click here to read more about strains, safety, and starting.

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California legalized marijuana in 1996. Today, 74% of Americans live in a state where weed is legal for medical or recreational usage. Cannabis users in New York are among this group. 

Of course, being in a state where cannabis use is legal doesn’t mean a person has tried it before. There are many cannabis strains to try, so it makes you wonder, where should you start? 

What great weed strains are best recommended for people who’ve never tried them — and why does the type matter? Read on: This article will teach you about safe weed consumption and popular weed types for beginners. 

Cannabis Strains: What Are They?

Cannabis strains are variations of weed. Many types of weed are selectively bred to encourage certain characteristics. One strain may have a particular smell or appearance.

Some stains have stronger or weaker potency. Different strains will have different effects. For example, you may have heard of Purple Kush.

It’s named because of its partial purple colorization from its parent Purple Afghani strain. It often evokes euphoric relaxation and sleepiness and has an earthy aroma.

Sativa, Indica, and Hybridization

You may have heard the terms “Sativa,” “Indicia,” and “hybrid” regarding weed strains. These terms classify effects in strains. Sativa is more stimulating while Indicia offers relaxing feelings. 

Hybrid strains combine the effects of both. Purple Kush is considered Indicia thanks to the relaxation users feel. However, some industry experts are rethinking these classifications. 

Some think the terms are meaningless due to inconsistencies. It’s not uncommon for a supposedly energizing Sativa to relax you while an Indicia strain makes someone more excitable. 

Cannabis Tips: Choosing Your Strain

There are many terms the uninitiated may be unfamiliar with. We’ve covered a few like Sativa, but what about THC and CBD? THC or tetrahydrocannabinol is what causes weed’s psychoactive effects. 

It’s what creates the “high” people get from marijuana. Some weed types contain more than others. CBD, or cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive element studied for its potential to treat many medical conditions.

You can orally ingest cannabis via edibles, which are food and drinks infused with marijuana. Hash is a specific form of edible. It’s headed and compressed marijuana which is then formed into a resin. 

Prerolls and vaporizers (or vapes) are pre-rolled joints and objects that heat weed to produce vapor. Hash can also be vaporized. 

You can then inhale the vapor. Vaporizers are popular due to the increased risks of smoking marijuana. Dabbing is when people consume marijuana concentrates (via inhalation) with a dab rig device. 

Dabbing has powerful effects and has become increasingly popular. Budder is a marijuana concentrate whipped into a cream-like texture. It’s used for dabbing and can be added to edibles to increase potency. 

Tips for Safe Cannabis Consumption

Buying weed illegally, even where the substance is legal, is still breaking the law. Illegal purchases may be cheaper, but the legal market — while imperfect — protects buyers. 

Legally purchased cannabis is lab-tested for potency and contaminants. Legal weed should not contain metals, fungi, lead, or disallowed pesticides. 

Legal marijuana products have labeling showing what’s inside and their effects. You’ll learn about contaminant recalls if you stick to legal sources and buying legally helps lessen the stigma surrounding usage.

The legal purchase makes communication between patients and medical easier. This is important for people using medical cannabis. 

Understanding Potency

The trickiest part of taking cannabis is misunderstanding its potency. It’s easy to consume too much THC, the main active ingredient.

Like any medicine or drug, it’s best to take the lowest effective dose for the shortest time. Some of the misunderstandings around potency may come from marijuana’s increased modern potency. 

People with outdated information or who haven’t had weed in a while may overconsume. Taking too much or too strong, a strain can trigger anxiety attacks, heart arrhythmia, and syncope (irregular heartbeat and fainting).

Some people develop cannabis hyperemesis syndrome or uncontrolled vomiting. The only way to treat this is to stop usage. 

“Start low and go slow” is good advice to follow for people new to or restarting cannabis. Be cautious when using edibles — no stray finger licks, for example, because you’re consuming cannabis. 

Great Weed Strains to Start Your Journey

Purple Kush is one of the most popular weed types, but it is very potent, so it’s not recommended for beginners. Jack Herer is one of the better cannabis types for beginners.

It is a Sativa-dominant strain loved for its cerebral effects. The blissful feeling it creates makes it a fantastic choice for people to start their marijuana journey. 

Runtz

Runtz is a hybrid strain with many variants — some are Sativa-dominant. Others are Indicia dominant. It’s known for its unique sweet, fruity, and sour flavor profile.

Some Runtz may give too powerful a high. Starting with smaller doses of White Runtz while slowly adjusting the dosage allows users to find their ideal balance while enjoying its effects. 

Hindu Kush

Hindu Kush is an Indicia-dominant hybrid strain and is reported to make users feel euphoric and calm, which may reduce anxiety. Physical relaxation is another common effect. 

This strain tastes earthy and vanilla-like, with some varieties having an extra spicy flavor. Hindu Kush has an earthy and musky scent undercut with sandalwood, citrus, and pine. 

Granddaddy Purple

Granddaddy Purple, or Grand Daddy Purp (GDP), is an Indicia strain with purple flowers. GDP is popular for its grape and berry-flavored aroma and flavor. 

People using this weed strain often feel relaxed, sleepy, and euphoric. Granddaddy Purple may help with anxiety, appetite loss, pain, stress, and nausea. 

Blue Dream

Blue Dream, or Azure Haze, is a Sativa-dominant hybrid strain originally great for anxiety relief. This strain offers a balanced high that starts happy and uplifting, then transitions to a mellow high. 

Finding Cannabis for Beginners

Choosing great weed strains requires a lot of work. Like with any new experience, you’ve got to research different cannabis strains and their effects. 

We’ve listed four popular weed types and provided tips for safe cannabis consumption. This isn’t the only thing we can help with — Sacred Bloom is a CAURD-licensed recreational dispensary. 

We’ve got edibles, topicals, and more at our online and walk-in stores. We even offer educational sessions at our Binghamton Area location. 

Feel free to contact us. We want to hear your questions, comments, and concerns.