Pain relief is one of the common reasons many people turn to marijuana. It could be in edibles, topical applications, or simply smokable buds.
Cannabis is thought to alleviate pain by interacting with the body's endocannabinoid system to block pain signals.
When you’re looking for the best weed strain for pain relief, you have to consider its cannabinoid ratio, genetics, and even terpene profile.
To make the search easier, we’ve ranked five of the best marijuana that are known for easing pain and providing relief.
Our list begins with the Indica-dominant hybrid Ice Cream Cake, followed by four other equally potent options for pain alleviation.
As you continue reading, you will learn about these strains' genetics, potency, flavor, aroma, and growing requirements. .
There has been evidence that shows how consuming certain types of marijuana can ease different body pains.
However, before you pick just any cannabis for this purpose, pay attention to some key factors like the level of THC and CBD content and terpenes profile
THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) is the active compound in cannabis that causes the psychoactive high. But it also works by bliding directly to CB1 receptors in the brain, reducing pain perception.
This is why weed strains that are known to alleviate chronic pain and muscle spasms are usually high in THC levels.
Meanwhile, CBD (Cannabidiol) compound in cannabis doesn’t necessarily cause a high, but when consumed, this compound modulates the body’s ECS receptors indirectly, reducing inflammation and altering pain perception.
Terpenes are the natural oils in cannabis that give it its unique smell and flavor. They’re also believed to help improve how well cannabis relieves pain.
Some of the best terpenes for pain relief include Limonene, Beta-Caryophyllene, Myrcene, and Pinene.
In 2021, researchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences found that terpenes might work together with other compounds in cannabis to make it more effective for healing.
This “entourage effect” could enhance the benefits without making you feel more high from THC.
Many pain-relieving cannabis strains are Indica-dominant hybrids. This is because Indica produces a sedative, is body high, and is often preferred for nighttime use to help with muscle relaxation and reduce discomfort.
However, some specific Sativa-dominant strains help alleviate pain while promoting alertness, as you will find in the next section. Sativas generally produce an uplifting and energizing head high.
Hybrids can lean towards indica, sativa, or balance both, depending on the parent strains.
If you're considering growing your own marijuana for pain relief, choosing the right seeds is crucial to ensure you get the desired effects. Cultivating cannabis at home allows you to control every aspect of the plant's growth, from nutrients to light cycles, helping you produce high-quality buds tailored to your needs.
Autoflowering cannabis seeds are easy to cultivate and are great for pain management due to their faster flowering times, making them an excellent choice for anyone needing relief without a long wait.
Alt: Ice Cream Cake Cannabis Plant
When it comes to pain relief and sleep-inducing effects, the Ice Cream Cake strain sharply comes to mind.
The terpene profile of this weed is truly special, as you’ll find out later. But it’s all thanks to its genetics. Ice Cream Cake is a product that crosses the original ice cream cake with the RS11 strain.
Let’s see how this cultivar helps with pain alleviation, starting with its potency.
Potency
The THC level of Ice Cream Cake is between 20 and 28%, which means it’s a strong weed. However, being an Indica-dominant strain, the potency manifests in a deeply relaxing effect, not an energizing high.
Benefits and Effects
Blissful tranquility and a clear mind are the two best expressions to capture the effect of consuming Ice Cream Cake.
It’s the kind of weed you take to unwind. And if you have any body parts giving you pain, this weed will alter your pain receptors such that the discomfort is managed.
The terpene profile of Ice Cream Cake is dominated by bisabolol, humulene, and caryophyllene.
Bisabolol is also heavily present in chamomile, which goes some way to explain the super-relaxing, sleep-inducing high.
Flavor and Aroma
There’s an impressive creamy cotton candy and thick, floral nectar in the Ice Cream Cake.
The flavor is creamy, and the scent is floral.
Flowering Time and Yield
Ice Cream Cake x RS11 plants take about 70 days to mature after flipping to flower, growing into medium-sized plants.
Is this strain ideal for new growers? Absolutely. Still, successful cultivation depends on getting the basics right and avoiding too many mistakes, but this strain is pretty forgiving.
Ice Cream Cake x RS11 weed plant delivers a yield of 18 oz per square meter indoors and 21 oz per plant outdoors.
Alt: Green Crack cannabis plant
Green Crack is closely linked to the famous Skunk #1 strain. However, it has a fruitier, less skunky aroma and gives you a longer-lasting high.
Potency
With a THC level of up to 25%, The Green Crack is a seriously potent weed.
Its rich terpene profile further backs this up, including humulene, alpha-pinene, camphene, limonene, linalool, terpinolene, myrcene, and even beta Farnesene.
Benefits and Effects
Green Crack is energizing at first, then it can leave you feeling drowsy afterward.
Many medical marijuana users with depression say this strain provides a much-needed boost of happiness and positivity. It’s also known to help combat tiredness.
For those dealing with chronic migraines, a few puffs might provide pain relief. Some even describe the feeling as the pain "melting away" as the cannabinoids work their magic.
Flavor and Aroma
Green Crack has a remarkable citrus scent, but its terpene profile is complex. It includes notes of mango, citrus, and pine.
Flowering time and yield
The plant grows tall with long branches, so it needs plenty of space for its big buds to develop properly.
Green Crack flowers in about 8–10 weeks, meaning it’s a fast grower that allows for quick harvests.
Indoors, you can get 21 oz per square meter, while outdoor plants can produce 28 oz per plant.
With the right care, this strain rewards growers with dense, resin-covered buds.
Alt: Northern Lights #10 Cannabis Plant
Northern Lights #10 is an Indica-dominant strain made from cross-breeding
Afghani and Thai weed strains. It delivers an impressive couch-lock body high. This relaxed effect brings about stress-relief benefits.
But it’s not that simple. Let’s break it down by looking closely at the potency and effects.
Potency
When naming marijuana strains with impressive THC levels, the Northern Lights #10 comes top. It has up to 30–35% THC levels which means it’s seriously potent.
So if you’re new to smoking weed, you’d want to start slow with this one.
Benefits and Effects
The indica effect can relieve aches and pains as it relaxes every muscle and joint.
The euphoric burst from smoking this strain will overwhelm your mind in a way that your mood will be elevated. During this process, many users say that their worrisome thoughts melt away.
That calming sensation relieves stress and eases body tension and fatigue.
Flavor and Aroma
Northern Lights #10 has a rich scent of pine and musk. It also contains notes of cedarwood, maple, hash, and sandalwood.
The most exciting part of smoking this strain is the pleasant sweet and sour finish it leaves. It comes with subtle floral notes.
Flowering time and Yield
If you’re growing outdoors, expect to collect 25–28 ounces of buds per plant around the first week of October.
Prepare to harvest 18–21 ounces per meter square of delicious nugs in your indoor garden after 7–8 weeks of flowering. The flowering time is relatively short.
Alt: OG Kush Cannabis Plant
OG Kush is a really popular cannabis strain, mainly because it’s great for easing pain.
Once it kicks in, you’ll feel your body go numb, and the “couch-lock” effect will help relax your tight muscles and aching joints.
This strain comes from mixing Thai Lemon, Old World Paki Kush, and Chemdawg—three muscular strains on their own.
Let’s break down how these parents make OG Kush so potent.
Potency
One of the significant benefits of OG Kush is its potency. It has up to 23% THC which delivers an intense high.
The high starts with energetic euphoria and shifts into deep relaxation. But all these are geared towards relieving pain.
Benefits and Effects
The pain-relieving impact of consuming OG Kush comes from its intense relaxation effect.
As you consume cannabis, it makes you feel relaxed, and the THC cannabinoids interact with the pain receptors in your brain.
The cultivar is also effective in treating attention disorders and migraines. But this particular effect may vary from person to person.
Flavor and Aroma
When growing feminized OG Kush seeds, the buds emit a citrusy, woody scent with hints of spice when smoked.
This lemony aroma is from its lineage — Lemon Thai, alongside Chemdawg, known for its citrus fragrance.
Flowering time and Yield
The flowering time for the OG Kush is between 8 and 10 weeks.
The plants grow typically to a height of 35–63 inches. The Indica-dominant cannabis produces large, thick, neon-green buds with lots of trichomes.
OG Kush may not be the friendliest strain for beginners, but you can achieve a decent harvest with the right growing techniques and practices.
The indoor yield is around 17 ounces per square meter, while outdoor harvests typically start in October, and you can collect close to 16 ounces per plant
Alt: Sour Diesel Cannabis Plant
Sour Diesel is excellent for people with inflammation or body pain but need to move around because it has a calming effect without making you feel stuck on the couch.
The marijuana strain is a product of Chemdawg 91 and Super Skunk. These parent strain has a great influence on its flavor and potency.
Potency
Sour Diesel provides an incredibly potent Sativa high with its 22% THC level. Meanwhile, the strain has around 10% Indica, which gives a balanced effect.
Benefits and Effects
It helps relax your mind, reduces pain, and gives you the energy to push through whatever you're working on.
Consuming sour diesel can induce motivational and energizing bursts throughout the day.
So, if you have a busy day at the office or a jam-packed morning running errands, this marijuana is a great option.
Flavor and Aroma
Sour Diesel gets its name from its pungent, diesel-like smell, similar to pumping gas at the station.
This distinctive scent comes from her critical terpenes, caryophyllene, linalool, and myrcene. It’s a terpene-rich strain that mixes earthy, spicy, and sweet flavors.
Flowering Time and Yield
Sour Diesel flowering time is between 10 and 12 weeks, typical for sativa strains.
If you grow outdoors, you can expect a yield of up to 24 ounces per plant. Indoor yield is around 18 ounces per square meter.
Growing sour diesel outdoors can be pretty easy. These plants can reach up to 7 feet tall, giving your garden a lush, park-like appearance.
The form in which you consume cannabis is as important as the strain for pain relief.
SMOKING
For example, smoking will give you an immediate onset for the high, and it’s easier to control the dosage since you are consuming based on how many sticks you rolled.
However, not everyone likes the smell of smoking buds, especially when the strain doesn’t have a tasty aroma.
In terms of pain relief effects, smoking is associated with instant but short-lived relief.
VAPING
On the other hand, vaping your cannabis will offer you faster absorption. Also, the smell won't be as uncomfortable as smoking.
But this method requires you to have a vaping device. And, there’s the potential for misuse because of its handiness.
Meanwhile, vaping cannabis for faster pain relief effects is less researched.
EDIBLES
Consuming marijuana as edibles makes more sense if you want the intake to last longer and you want to be discreet about it. This is when you infuse weed into gummies, chocolates, cookies, or other goodies.
The onset time will take a while, even if it’s a sativa-dominant strain. It’s also challenging to measure dosage since you’re snacking on goodies.
But for its reaction to pain relief, remember that this method can be impacted by digestion or metabolism.
TOPICALS
Cannabis topicals are cannabinoid-infused oils, creams, and lotions intended for direct application to the skin, hair, or nails.
Making topicals from a DIY approach may be challenging, but it delivers a targeted result for pain relief since you directly apply it to the body part where you feel pain.
However, you won’t feel any psychoactive highs. So we recommend this method for localized pain
Topicals only penetrate the skin deeply, so they are not ideal for deep or systemic pain.
The seeds we have reviewed in this article are available on the best cannabis seed bank to grow effective and potent strains for natural pain relief.
HomeGrown Cannabis — America’s trusted online store for premium cannabis seeds and grow supplies.
Everyone experiences pain differently, and our bodies all react in unique ways.
That’s why it’s essential to start with a small dose and go slow when trying a new strain or THC level.
This gives you time to see how it works with your body.
Many people use medical cannabis to help manage pain, but there’s still not much solid evidence showing that it works for ALL types of acute or chronic pain.
If you are new to consuming cannabis, it’s better to start with a low dose. It depends on the method of consumption too. However, consulting with a healthcare professional to tailor treatment to your particular need is best.
The risk associated with using marijuana for pain comes from abuse or overdose. This can lead to dependency. Also, if you’re already on medication, cannabis can interact with the treatment.
