Cannabis use for depression is a complex subject, as cannabis is known for helping with symptoms of depression but can also sometimes make it worse.
Depression is much more than just feeling sad or empty, it’s a medical condition that often defies treatment. As specialists call for more research, the number of countries that allow depression as a qualifying condition for a medical marijuana card is decreasing. Nonetheless, depression continues to be a primary cause why people turn to cannabis, as, for example, Sativas are known for promoting happiness and euphoria. However, if you’ve been diagnosed with depression, it’s highly recommended that you consult with your doctor before using cannabis. After you’ve consulted with your doctor, make sure to check the list below featuring the best strains for depression.
Best weed strains that may help depression
Best weed strains that may help with depression
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports around 280 million people throughout the world experience depression — meaning if you’re one of them you’re definitely not alone. Depression can manifest in many different forms ranging from a soft persistent sadness and regularly feeling blue, to total lack of motivation, mood swings, fatigue, manic episodes, sleep loss, and more. If you’re down and feeling disconnected from the world around you, cannabis may help ease your unique depressive symptoms.
Countless cannabis consumers claim weed helps with depression — it’s one of the most popular conditions among medical patients and people have praised the feel-good effects of cannabis for centuries. While more research is needed to say for sure, there’s quite a bit of evidence that supports the plant's potential mood-boosting effects. A 2018 study found cannabis “significantly reduced ratings of depression, anxiety, and stress,” with participants saying just two hits of medical marijuana reduced feelings of depression by 50%.
Some strains are said to be better for alleviating depression than others. But just like depression, cannabis affects everyone differently — meaning a cultivar that helps clear one person’s mental fog might not have the same effect on someone else. The good news is that the best strains for depression come in several different varieties. Keep reading to learn all about the best weed strains that may help with depression.
The best strains for depression
Whether you prefer a sunny sativa, relaxing indica, or well-balanced growdiaries.com/strains/category/genes/hybrid%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">hybrid blend, the following strains are all reported to help ease depression in their own distinct way.
growdiaries.com/strains/lamb-s-bread%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">Lamb’s Bread
Lamb’s Bread, also known as Lamb’s Breath, is a bright sativa-dominant hybrid with a gently growdiaries.com/strains/category/positive-effects/uplifted%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">uplifting high perfect for putting a pep back in your step. This mood-boosting strain with an 18% THC average smokes smooth, producing an earthy, woody flavor and aroma blended with strong spicy herbal notes. Lamb’s Bread isn’t easy to find — but if you suffer from depression and happen to come across it, do yourself a favor and give it a try. This beloved strain delivers rejuvenating effects that will bring you back to life, boosting mood and producing a focused, clear-headed high. Created from an unknown Jamaican landrace, Lamb’s Bread is said to have been one of Bob Marley’s favorite strains — making it an ideal option when looking to lively up yourself. Medical cannabis patients love Lamb’s Bread for its ability to ease stress, growdiaries.com/strains/category/medical/anxiety%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">anxiety, and depression.
growdiaries.com/strains/jealous-banana%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">Jealous Banana
Jealous Banana is a powerfully potent indica hybrid with an extraordinary 30% THC average known for delivering a fun, silly high — making this Jealousy and Banana Cream Cake cross one of the best stains for depression for consumers with a high tolerance. Its creamy banana flavor that blends strong diesel and growdiaries.com/strains/category/tastes/honey%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">honey notes with hints of strawberry is amazing, producing an uplifting cerebral euphoria pretty much immediately after exhaling that first mouthwatering hit. You’ll find yourself mentally stimulated and focused before a light-hearted, happy head high takes over, and you’re giggling about everything and nothing while a soothing wave of relaxation moves throughout the body. It’s a great strain to shake off any mental cobwebs at the end of the day, with elevating effects medical cannabis patients report support stress, depression, anxiety disorders, and growdiaries.com/strains/category/medical/muscle-spasms%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">muscle spasms.
growdiaries.com/strains/lemonchello-28%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">Limoncello
Limoncello is a sativa-leaning hybrid with a zesty growdiaries.com/strains/category/tastes/lemon%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">lemon flavor and upbeat sociable high — delivering fabulous effects that earned it back-to-back wins for Best Sativa in the 2008 and 2009 High Times Cannabis Cup. Created by crossing Cherry Pie and The Original Lemonade, this sunny sativa delivers the effects you’d expect from a High Times’ award-winner. It inspires a super social vibe, inspiring a growdiaries.com/strains/category/positive-effects/talkative%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">talkative energy that encourages conversations to flow effortlessly. You’ll find yourself giggly, relaxed, and totally at ease. Its soothing effects that encourage emotional ease make it easy to understand why it’s a popular medical strain for easing depression, stress, and anxiety.
growdiaries.com/strains/khalifa-kush%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">Khalifa Kush
Khalifa Kush, also known as Wiz Khalifa OG, was bred specifically for the famous rapper — meaning this potent indica hybrid is bound to boost your mood and make you shine like a star. Almost instantly after exhaling this sweet and earthy lemony-pine flavored strain, you’ll be met with a rush of cerebral euphoria that’s super stimulating. Known to inspire growdiaries.com/strains/category/positive-effects/creative%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">creativity and an uplifting vibe blended seamlessly with a soothing body high that’s relaxing without being sedating, this OG Kush descendent with 26% THC packs a powerful punch of cerebral stimulation — making it one of the best weed strains for depression appreciated by experienced users and medical patients alike. Khalifa Kush is commonly used medicinally to support growdiaries.com/strains/category/medical/migraines%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">migraines, stress, and depression.
growdiaries.com/strains/white-gold%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">White Gold
Despite its indica dominance, White Gold, aka Oro Blano, delivers an energizing uplifting effect that makes it one of the best weed strains for depression for indica and sativa fans alike. This Himalayan Gold and White Widow cross produces gorgeous lavender-hued buds glistening in crystally trichomes and an earthy fruity flavor with distinct notes of diesel. The effects of this incredibly energizing indica start with a rush of growdiaries.com/strains/category/positive-effects/focused%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">focus and euphoria that will have you motivated in no time no matter how low your mood. Its indica dominance makes itself known as the experience progresses, delivering a relaxed body high that’s not at all sedating — making it a great daytime strain that makes everything feel a bit brighter. Medical patients report White Gold helps alleviate growdiaries.com/strains/category/medical/fatigue%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">fatigue, anxiety, stress, and depression.
growdiaries.com/strains/slapz%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">Slapz
As a rather rare strain, Slapz is a unique option to consider for alleviating depression if you happen to come across it. This Runtz and Grease Monkey cross is a hybrid leaning slightly towards the indica side that delivers a powerful high thanks to its high 25% THC average. The effects of this distinctly diesel, chemical, and growdiaries.com/strains/category/tastes/ammonia%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">ammonia tasting strain with a pungent, skunky fuel-filled aroma are varied, further adding to its elusive allure. Most consumers report it makes them feel relaxed and hungry, with a solid sense of growdiaries.com/strains/category/positive-effects/aroused%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">arousal. While it’s not famous for producing the euphoria like some of the best strains for depression, it is reported to deliver effects medical patients appreciate to help ease stress, depression, and anxiety.
growdiaries.com/strains/goofiez%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">Goofiez
With effects that reflect its name, Goofiez is one of the best strains for depression with a silly, high-vibe high. Packed with 30% THC, this Apples and Bananas and Jokerz cross is for experienced users only — delivering a powerfully potent euphoria that inspires focus and creativity, before becoming a giggly, happy high that puts you in a perfect headspace. This beautiful bright purple bud has a deliciously sweet, fruity flavor that blends growdiaries.com/strains/category/tastes/berry%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">berries with citrus and soft notes of vanilla. Goofiez’ feel-good effects that don’t slow you down make it an ideal strain for medical patients interested in a balanced hybrid reported to alleviate fatigue, growdiaries.com/strains/category/medical/stress%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">stress, and symptoms of depression.
growdiaries.com/strains/trop-cherry%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">Trop Cherry
Trop Cherry is a slightly sativa-dominant hybrid famous for its bright tropical taste and vibrant, uplifting effects. This Tropicana Cookies and Cherry Cookies cross delivers an energizing high with a focused cerebral stimulation said to inspire a positive mindset — making it one of the best strains for depression when you need a motivating boost of energetic mental clarity that helps you get things done. You’ll find yourself growdiaries.com/strains/category/positive-effects/happy%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">happy and the body comfortably relaxed thanks to its well-balanced hybrid high. With an 18% THC average, Trop Cherry is ideal for new and experienced users, delivering an energizing and uplifting high that’s not crazy overwhelming. Medical patients appreciate Trop Cherry for its efficacy in fighting fatigue and alleviating symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression.
growdiaries.com/strains/apes-in-space%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">Apes in Space
Apes in Space is a balanced hybrid with a hard-hitting high that will blast you straight into a cosmic cerebral euphoria. This funky flavored strain that blends a strong skunky taste with distinct growdiaries.com/strains/category/tastes/spicy-herbal%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">spicy herbal, earthy notes delivers an onset of intense euphoria and rush of creativity. As the high progresses, you’ll find the body becoming increasingly relaxed that soon becomes a heavy sedation that leaves you couch-locked and sleepy. This Grease Monkey and Falcon-9 cross is ideal for unwinding at the end of the day, with effects MMJ patients say support growdiaries.com/strains/category/medical/pain%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">pain, stress, depression, and other mood issues.
growdiaries.com/strains/rainbow-chip%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">Rainbow Chip
Rainbow Chip is an even hybrid cherished by medical patients that use cannabis to support PTSD, depression, and ADHD. This Mint Chocolate Chip and Sunset Sherbet cross has a fruity, mint chocolate and refreshing citrus flavor that’s definitely unique. With 21% THC and 2% CBD, it’s one of the best strains for depression that contains a significant concentration of CBD. It delivers an energizing euphoria almost immediately that soon becomes a focused, growdiaries.com/strains/category/positive-effects/talkative%22%3E%3Cspan style="font-weight: 400;">talkative high — making it great to use socially, especially on days that you could use a motivating boost of morale. Its rapid, long-lasting effects make Rainbow Chip a mood-boosting strain highly respected by recreational and medical users alike.