Need a Boost? Here are The 7 Best Daytime Strains for Productivity

Whether you’re a full-time student, working professional, or entrepreneur, there are days when you need an extra energy boost to get things done. For some people, that means drinking lots of coffee; for others, it might mean taking a brisk walk outdoors. But what if we told you there’s another way to give yourself an edge? What if we told you that cannabis could help improve your workflow during the day? In this guide, we’ll explore the best daytime strains for productivity and how they can help you get more done!

Technical Truths Before We Begin

First things first, it’s morning, after all. It’s essential to get the day and this article started right. So, before we do anything else like put our pants on or write something that’s just not true, we must dispense with one very persistent misconception about weed that goes something like this: “Sativa strains are better for the morning because they are uplifting and energizing.”  

Yes, we’ve all heard this a thousand times. Maybe more. However many, it was too many. This is the orthodoxy. And like most orthodoxies, it’s also wrong. Not all wrong or even very wrong, but wrong in ways you need to understand to make the best choices. That’s where Body and Mind come in. Are you ready for the truth? Brace yourself.

Pure Sativa strains don’t exist

There. We said it. There may be some pure Sativa landraces still out there, but the odds that you’ll find one at your dispensary are about the same as one sprouting spontaneously in your backyard. It’s highly unlikely. Why is that? Because of selective breeding for desired traits. It’s kind of like what we did with dogs. Selective breeding created everything from Rottweilers to Pekineese, but the original dog that first rolled up on that hunter-gatherer campfire is long gone.

The same goes for Sativas. Almost every strain on the dispensary shelf today is weed by design — the progeny of selective breeding. Some lean Sativa, some lean Indica, but they’re all Hybrids. To be clear, when we say Hybrid, we don’t mean a 50/50 Sativa/Indica mix. Instead, every strain falls somewhere on a spectrum ranging from 100% Indica to 100% Sativa. And that spectrum is significant because it’s the reason you need to understand what you’re smoking before you light up.

Cannabinoids and Terpenes Make Every Sativa Hybrid Different

Another problem with putting all Sativas together in the “uplifting and energizing strain” box is that no two Sativa Hybrids are the same. There are over 100 different cannabinoids and 400 different terpenes found in cannabis. The unique cannabinoid and terpene profile in a given strain creates its unique odor, aroma, and effects. 

This is why Jack Herer differs from Greencrack, and Green Crack differs from Super Silver Haze. No two Sativa Hybrids share the same cannabinoid and terpene profiles, meaning no two Sativas will produce the same effects.

The Endocannabinoid System Makes Every Person Different

The human endocannabinoid system helps to maintain equilibrium in bodily processes such as sleep, memory, mood, appetite, and pain. Think of it like a signaling network made up of cannabinoid receptors and naturally produced endocannabinoids that bind to those receptors. The reason cannabis works so well in humans is that the cannabinoids in cannabis are so similar to endocannabinoids that they mimic them and trigger feelings such as euphoria, paranoia, pain relief, or creativity. Kind of amazing. Almost like humans were built for weed!

But here’s where it gets even more complex. The human ECS is also like fingerprints. No two are the same. This is why different people respond to the same weed differently. While you might smoke a joint to get a morning lift for a busy day, that same joint could cause a different person so much anxiety that they can’t leave the house.

Kind of tricky, huh? The gears are grinding. Hmmm. So if there’s no such thing as pure strains, every Sativa dominant Hybrid is different, and every person has a different ECS, how can we ever know what the best daytime strains are for productivity? 

Relax. We got this.

How to Pick The Best Right Cannabis Strains

Human beings have been cannabis users for thousands of years. Some call that anecdotal evidence. We call it experience, and there’s nothing better than letting experience be your guide. However, we understand that not everyone has the time (or inclination) to experiment with different cannabis strains to find the right one for their needs.

So, we’ll let you in on how we came to our conclusions. First, we look at each strain’s cannabinoid and terpene profiles to better understand what each one had to offer in terms of effects. Is it a high CBD strain? Is it high in energy-boosting terpenes such as limonene or pinene? Is it low in anxiety-producing THC?

From there, we like to understand how popular a given strain is in the medical cannabis community. After all, if people are using it to manage conditions such as chronic pain, fatigue, or anxiety, chances are it could help you power through your day as well. Finally, we take a look at how available a given strain is. If it’s hard to find, it probably won’t do you much good!

7 Best Daytime Use Cannabis Strains

So without further ado, we’ve put together a list of what we believe to be the best cannabis strains for powering through the day based on our years of experience in the cannabis industry.

1. Green Crack

Like so many weed strains from the prohibition era, no one knows where Green Crack came from. One legend is that it originated with a grower named Cecil C from Athens, Ohio. But here’s what we know:

Origins

Its genetics are a bit of a mystery as well. Some believe it’s a cross of Skunk #1 and an Afghani landrace, while others believe that a third unidentified Indica is part of the lineage. However, a key takeaway here is that it’s likely to be at least part Indica.

Effects

This is an uplifting, positive, and functional high. It’s a top strain to wake and bake and handle your business or get your creative juices flowing.

Cannabinoid Profile

THC Dominant (18% THC – 1% CBG.)

Primary Terpenes

Myrcene, Caryophyllene, and Pinene.

Flavor

Tropical, mango and citrus.

Start your day off with a powerful kick!

2. Jack Herer

Jack Herer is one of the most famous Sativas in history and one of a handful of cultivars enshrined forever in cannabis legend. Known simply as “Jack,” it is almost as legendary as the man they named it after, Jack Herer, renowned cannabis activist and author of The Emperor Wears No Clothes.

Origins

Sensi Seeds created Jack by crossing a Haze Hybrid with a Northern Lights #5 and Shiva Skunk cross. While renowned as a Sativa dominant strain, Jack is a 55% Sativa “leaning” Hybrid. The Northern Light’s #5 brings a heavy Indica influence.

Effects

Jack Herer is a clear-headed high, leaving users feeling creative and blissful. Time to write that great American novel, or maybe just a nice letter to your mom to tell her how rad she is!

Cannabinoid Profile

THC-dominant (18% THC – Trace CBD – 1%CGB).

Primary Terpenes

Terpinolene, Caryophyllene, and Pinene.

Flavor

Spiced herbs with wood and pine.

Grab a cup of coffee, some Jack, and power away!

3. Super Silver Haze

This outstanding cultivar was the first-prize winner at the High Times Cannabis Cup in 1997, 1998, and 1999. Created by the breeders Shantibaba, Mr. Nice, and Neville Schoenmaker, Super Silver Haze (“SSH”) is a Sativa Hybrid.

Origins

Super Silver Haze combines Skunk#1 (25%), Northern Lights #5 (25%), and Haze (50%). So again, we see an Indica parent in the famous Sativa lineage.

Effects

It is described as a long-lasting energetic high and a superb early morning smoke. The long-lasting body high and uplifting effects make you glide through high-stress levels. Are you running hard to meet a deadline? Is there extra stress and pressure at the job because your team’s short-staffed? SSH can help you rise to the challenge!

Cannabinoid Profile

THC-dominant (20% THC – Trace CBD – 1% CBG).

Primary Terpenes

Myrcene and Beta-Caryophyllene.

Flavor

Spicy and herbal with citrus and skunk. 

Whether you need a little physical relaxation or a way to calm your chronic stress and power through the day, SSH will help.

4. Sour Diesel

This cannabis strain brings us yet another murky legend for the days of prohibition. Most credit the creation of Sour D to AJ, an intern at the Wetlands Concert Hall. AJ picked up Chemdog from another grower and started cross-breeding. 

Origins

Sour D is a cross of Chemdog and either Super Skunk or Northern Lights. Only AJ knows for sure.

Effects

Sour Diesel is known to be fast-acting and energizing. So this is a great one for that morning workout!

Cannabinoid Profile

THC-dominant (19% THC – Trace CBD).

Primary Terpenes

Limonene, Beta-Myrcene, Beta-Caryophyllene, and Pinene.

Flavor

Diesel, pungent, and skunky.

A truly popular strain, Sour Diesel is fantastic for when you need to power rise and rally to get the day started.

5. Strawberry Cough

This legend comes to us from the famous cannabis writer and cultivator Kyle Kushman. Many have credited him as Strawberry Cough’s breeder, but Kushman sets the record straight. 

Turns out Kushamn was gifted a clone from a novice grower he helped out. It was tiny, with two little leaves. He barely gave it a thought until he got home, opened the bag, and got hit with an overpowering strawberry scent. That tiny clone was Strawberry Cough.

Origins

It’s a cross of Strawberry Fields and Haze. Strawberry Fields is an Indica from upstate New York.

Effects

An exceptional, soaring clarity. Uplifting. It’s been called ‘ampheta-weed’ because of its highly energizing effects that help increase focus. Anything you want to get done, you’ll get more of it done with this potent strain. 

Cannabinoid Profile

THC-dominant (19% THC – 1%CBD).

Primary Terpenes

Myrcene, Caryophyllene and Pinene.

Flavor

Sweet strawberry!

You aren’t ready to get your to-do list done without a strawberry cough session!

6. Blue Dream

Blue Dream’s history is a complete mystery. Despite its status as one of the most popular Sativa hybrids ever, no one has stepped up to claim her. It has no known breeder and no branding. The strain hit the cannabis scene in 2003, originating from Santa Cruz medical marijuana collectives. 

Origins

Most think Blue Dream is a hybrid cross of Haze with a Blueberry leaning Indica from breeder DJ Short. However, other theories speculate that it may be a cross of Blueberry and Super Silver Haze from Humboldt Seed Organization or a Blueberry and OG Kush cross from Mystic Seeds.

Effects

Cerebral and stimulating, with a relaxing body high. A great strain if you want to sand the rough edges from the day and do your thing stress-free.

Cannabinoid Profile

THC-dominant (18% THC).

Primary Terpenes

Myrcene, caryophyllene and pinene.

Flavor

Blueberry deliciousness!

Looking to relieve anxiety and stress while still being productive? Blue Dream is the perfect strain for you.

7. CHEMDOG

Always save the best for last. Chemdog is our Lucky #7 because she’s so much more than one of the greatest Sativas of all time. Chemdog is also one of the most prolific parent strains ever, with genetics in many of the best Hybrids on the dispensary shelf today (including Sour Diesel, #4 on this list!). 

Back in June of 91, Greg Krzanowski (AKA Chemdog) was roaming the parking lot at a Grateful Dead show, looking to get some herb. He ends up buying a zip from two stoners named P Bud and Wonkanobe. Greg is so blown away by the flower he gets their number so he can get it shipped to his home in Massachusetts. 

Greg eventually gets two ounces shipped, and one ends up having 13 seeds. The identity of the male plant is a mystery, but it’s possible that the plant pollinated itself. Greg sprouted 4 of those seeds, and the Chemdog we know today was born.

Origins

A complete mystery.

Effects

Uplifting, euphoric, and creative. Let’s tackle that Sunday gardening project!

Cannabinoid Profile

THC-dominant (18% THC )

Primary Terpenes

Myrcene, Caryophyllene and Limonene.

Flavor

Pungent diesel fuel.

A truly potent strain and a legendary parent, Chemdog is perfect for when you need to be productive.

Ultimately, the best strain for productivity is the one that works best for you. Everyone’s endocannabinoid system is different, so what works for your friend may not work for you. However, these 7 strains are a great place to start if you’re looking for a cannabis strain to help you get things done. But remember, check out the THC content before you buy – you don’t want to be too high to function!

Keep Your Body and Mind in Balance

At Body and Mind, we understand how important it is to find the best strain for your unique needs. One of the ways we try to help is by freely sharing everything we know about cannabis. Unfortunately, so much flawed information is out there, and seemingly everyone has an opinion. But you can always trust Body and Mind to set the record straight!

The next time you’re looking for a little morning boost, let this guide be your guide to the Body and Mind dispensary. Drop in anytime, or try our excellent delivery service and get that morning off to a blazing start for your body and mind!