By JOE KLARE
In order to help you choose the right strain for your specific needs, we here at The 420 Times are starting a new feature titled This For That. Each month, we will focus on one or two medical conditions and identify various marijuana strains that might be helpful in managing them. In this issue, we will talk about chronic pain and insomnia.
First up is Purple Erkel, which can be identified by its fruity and aromatic taste. It’s a strong Indica, which means that if you need to stay awake, it’s probably not for you. On the other hand, it will do a good job at helping you fall asleep and, at the same time, will provide a sense of pain relief.
There are a handful of strains that produce effects similar to Purple Erkel’s. Red Devil is a strong Indica useful for dealing with insomnia and pain relief. Grand Daddy Purple has garnered a reputation for being conducive to couch lock, which might be just what you need. Afgoo is a heavy stone but not as much of a couch-locker. Another worthy of mention is the classic Northern Lights — it’s hard to go wrong with a classic, after all.
Being Indica-dominant, most Kush strains work well for getting a good night’s rest. OG Kush is strong, earthy, and spicy; Purple Kush leaves you with a warm and relaxed feeling. In any case, both will put you right to sleep.
If you want pain relief but don’t want to fall asleep, there are a handful of strains we would recommend. Sour Diesel is a hybrid — meaning it’s a mix of Indica and Sativa—that will help relieve symptoms of pain but keep you alert enough so that you can get things done. DJ Short’s Flo is also ideal for pain relief and staying awake. Its high can be described as cerebral, energetic, and positive.
We would be remiss in discussing pain-relief strains if we didn’t mention concentrates: wax, hash oil, and butter are just a few things you can use. You can use them on their own or in conjunction with cannabis. For those who don’t like to smoke, they can be used in a wide array of foods. Most decent dispensaries will have a collection of concentrates and edibles for you to choose from.
If you’re one of the millions of Americans who suffers from either insomnia or some form of chronic pain, try one of the strains I’ve described above. Finding a strain that works for you might take some trial and error, so stay patient and keep on experimenting!
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This For That
This For That
One of the most beautiful things about the cannabis plant is its versatility. Hemp has dozens of uses, from food to fabric. Marijuana has many uses as well, especially when it comes to medicating.