What are the Best Sativa Strains of 2024?

• Durban Poison: Originating from the city of Durban in South Africa, Durban Poison is a pure Sativa known for its sweet, earthy aroma. It’s said to have energetic and uplifting effects that offer a clear-headed high so it can be used during the daytime.
• Thai: Thai ( or Thai Stick), is a classic pure Sativa strain that hails from Thailand. It’s valued for its cerebral effects and is said to induce euphoria and promote creativity. Thai typically has a spicy, citrusy flavor profile and is often best grown in tropical climates. It may be grown in greenhouses to reach full potency.
• Malawi Gold: Native to Malawi in Southeast Africa, this strain is prized for its potency and long-lasting effects. It is known for its sweet and fruity flavor with hints of citrus and providing uplifting feelings of euphoria.
• Colombian Gold: Also known as Santa Marta Colombian Gold for the Santa Marta mountains. This legendary pure Sativa strain is celebrated for its energetic and uplifting effects, as well as its earthy, woody aroma with hints of citrus and pine.
• Acapulco Gold: This pure Sativa strain is named for being indigenous to the area around the Mexican city of Acapulco. It’s highly popular and becoming increasingly rare. It’s named for orange hairs that give it a distinctive golden appearance and has a sweet, fruity aroma, and is known for being energizing.

These are a few “pure” sativa strains. This post will cover various strains on the Sativa spectrum. Let’s press on with some purple strains that are also sativas.

Purple Sativa Strains

Part of the rampant interbreeding of cannabis strains is seeking out higher THC or other novelties like purple buds. Yep, there are cannabis strains that can take on colors like yellow or purple. Novelties like this can often help sell cannabis flower so cultivators may try to breed certain characteristics into their strains to get more attention in a saturated market.

Many purple strains are often considered strong indicas. If you want to try out purple cannabis but specifically want sativa strains, here are a few to consider:

Tropicana Cookies

Also called Tropicali, MTN Drop, or Tropicanna this strain is a cross between the notable sativa strain Tangie and the popular indica-dominant hybrid Girl Scout Cookies. It can make you energized and focused while offering a flavor with distinct citrus notes.

Purple Haze

You may know this strain from the popular Jimi Hendrix song but it’s not only a real strain of cannabis it’s also actually purple. This strain offers a sense of euphoria, high energy, and creativity plus a throwback to the 60s.

Purple Skunk

Purple skunk is a high-THC sativa-dominant strain. It’s similar to the Skunk strain but was crossbred to feature purple flowers. It’s not as common to find but was one of the early hybrids in the space.

There are new strains every day, feel free to ask at your local dispensary if you’re on the lookout for specific purple strains. Speaking of high-THC strains.

High THC Sativa Strains

Sativas tend to be naturally higher in THC than indicas. Here are a few THC-heavy strains that not only have the uplifting effects of sativa strains, but their high THC content means a higher high. However, it’s important to know that higher THC levels can cause paranoia or anxiety in some patients.

1. Ghost Train Haze: Ghost Train Haze is a Sativa-dominant hybrid known for its exceptionally high THC levels, often reaching a 20% or higher percentage of THC. It’s prized for its intense cerebral effects, which can induce euphoria, creativity, and a strong sense of energy.
2. Bruce Banner: Being named for the secret identity of The Incredible Hulk just might be a sign this strain is an intense rush of green. This potent Sativa-dominant hybrid can have THC levels that can exceed 25%. It’s known for its uplifting and euphoric effects, often described as a surge of creative energy and focus.
3. Green Crack: Green Crack is a Sativa strain that typically boasts high THC levels, often ranging from 17% to 24% or more. Its energizing effects make it a possible choice for daytime use when a boost in your mood, creativity or productivity.
4. Sour Diesel: Sour Diesel is a Sativa-dominant strain known for its pungent aroma and potent effects. With THC levels averaging around 20%, Sour Diesel offers a powerful cerebral high that can promote creativity, focus, and uplifted mood.
5. Amnesia Haze: Amnesia Haze is a classic Sativa strain with THC levels that can reach up to 25%. It’s cherished for its potent psychoactive effects, which include euphoria, increased creativity, and a sense of mental clarity.
6. Super Lemon Haze: Super Lemon Haze is a Sativa-dominant hybrid known for its high THC content, often exceeding 20%. It’s prized for its uplifting and energizing effects and boasts a zesty lemon aroma and flavor.

Low THC Sativa Strains

Many new patients may not be ready for a ton of THC. Regular cannabis users may seek higher THC levels for higher or more prolonged highs. However, many patients new to cannabis may want to focus on the health benefits while avoiding strong highs, or potential anxiety.

High levels of THC can cause anxiety, especially in the unprepared. The following strains either contain lower levels of THC or higher levels of CBD. As we mentioned, the entourage effect is the sum of various compounds in cannabis. CBD and terpenes like pinene can temper some of the intensity of THC which is good to keep in mind when selecting strains as a beginner.

Here are some low-THC starter strains:

• Harlequin: Harlequin is a Sativa-dominant hybrid known for its balanced ratio of CBD to THC. While it still contains THC, typically ranging from 5% to 15%, its CBD content can be equal to or even higher than its THC content. This means a more relaxed high and less intoxication. This makes Harlequin a great strain for therapeutic benefits, including pain relief and anxiety reduction.
• Cannatonic: Cannatonic is another Sativa-dominant hybrid that’s renowned for its high CBD content and relatively low THC levels, usually around 5% to 15%. This makes it great for alleviating pain, inflammation, and anxiety, while still providing a gentle cerebral uplift vs. an intense high.
• ACDC: ACDC is a Sativa-dominant strain with exceptionally low THC levels and a distant relative to Cannatonic. Its THC levels often fall below 1%, and its high CBD content, sometimes exceeding 20%, makes it great for physical therapy. It’s valued for its calming and relaxing effects, making it suitable for managing stress, anxiety, and pain.
• Sour Tsunami: Sour Tsunami is a Sativa-dominant hybrid specifically bred for high CBD and low THC levels. It can range from 1% to 10% THC and 10% to 20% CBD. It’s known for its potential therapeutic benefits, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anxiolytic properties.
• Ringo’s Gift: Ringo’s Gift is a Sativa-dominant hybrid named after cannabis activist Lawrence Ringo. It has low THC levels often below 1% and can have variable levels of CBD content. It promises full-body relaxation without the problem of “couch lock.”

These are just a few strains that favor CBD rather than THC. This can be ideal for people trying out sativas for the first time. However, maybe you’re still curious about the high.

Good Sativa Strains For Beginners

Not all beginners want to skip out on THC. While it can be intoxicating or psychoactive, some patients or casual smokers find that the THC high can help with creativity, amplifying their mood or even giving them a burst of energy.

Here are two of the best introductory sativas for beginners.

Blue Dream

Blue Dream is one of the textbook sativas. It’s a great starter strain to experience the many benefits of sativa strains. It can help shift your mood as it provides euphoria, there’s a generally gentle high and the high levels of CBD can help with pain relief and body relaxation. It’s also been known to help with creative pursuits and a general sense of light euphoria.

Sour Diesel

Sour Diesel is also a great intro strain to the world of sativas. It’s invigorating and can lift your mood. It has a 1:1 ratio of THC to CBD which can provide a well-rounded experience. It can help boost energy, focus, and creativity. Speaking of creativity…

Best Sativa Strains For Creativity

One of the benefits of sativa strains is that they can be mentally energizing which can help you with creative pursuits. You can have an energizing high while also having more focus or bursts of creative energy. Cannabis can also help relax anxiety which can help when pursuing creative pursuits you may have a certain amount of resistance or anxiety about completing.

Here are a few strains that are great for creativity.

Some strains we’ve already mentioned that are great for creativity include:

• Thai
• Purple Haze
• Ghost Train Haze
• Green Crack
• Sour Diesel
• Amnesia Haze
• Blue Dream
• Durban Poison

Again it’s important to note that cannabis can affect us all differently. Some other sativa strains known for their ability to boost your creativity include:

• Jack Herer: This strain was named after cannabis activist Jack Herer. It’s a Sativa-dominant hybrid known for its uplifting and energizing effects. It’s often praised for promoting creativity, focus, and mental clarity, which makes it a popular choice among artists and writers.
• Super Silver Haze: Super Silver Haze is a Sativa-dominant hybrid known for its potency and longer-lasting effects. It generates a cerebral high, which can help enhance creativity, focus, and sociability while providing a sense of euphoria and well-being.
• Tangie: Tangie is a Sativa-dominant strain with a distinct citrus aroma and flavor. It’s prized for its uplifting and mood-enhancing effects, which can stimulate creativity, boost energy, and promote a positive outlook.

Again, each strain will vary in how it affects you but it’s valuable to know which strains can help when you’re facing writer’s block or resistance to making art. Sometimes, when you’re struggling for ideas or motivation cannabis can provide a fun energizing push.

Best Sativa Strains For Socializing

Like with making art, we can struggle with anxiety about socializing. If you’re the type who suffers from social anxiety or just general jitters in large groups sometimes cannabis can help. Here are a few strains that are great for socializing.

Some strains we’ve mentioned that can help with socializing include:

Super Lemon Haze

This citrusy strain boasts an energetic and upbeat high. It’s said to create a subtle cerebral buzz which can make you more chatty and add a boost to social gatherings. It’s beginner-friendly as it offers a fairly smooth smoking experience which can help with people new to cannabis.

Durban Poison

This famous landrace strain offers a boost of inspiration and energy that can be really helpful for people needing a boost for socializing or during daytime gatherings. It has a distinctly sweet flavor and its elevating properties do still allow you to maintain some focus which can help with making conversation or engaging in group activities.

Amnesia Haze

While the name might be misleading, there’s no amnesia and actually less haze. It features a citrusy flavor and euphoric high. This sativa-dominant cross-breed features a high THC level reaching up to 25%. It can help with elevating your mood which can make it easier to engage socially.

Blue Dream

This classic sativa strain has all the benefits of sativas: a mood boost, a surge of creativity, and more energy. Combined these can all help with engaging socially. However, overindulgence may lead to a blissful lack of awareness that may not help you with remembering names or participating in activities.

Jack Herer

Again, some of the strains best suited for creativity can also help with being “on” socially. This strain boosts a clear-headed energizing high that can help you enjoy whatever activity you’re engaging in. It has a piney flavor profile and a clear-headed energizing high that can help you handle attending social events.

Sour Diesel

Sour Diesel like Blue Dream is one of the go-to sativas. It features invigorating cerebral effects that boost creativity, mood, and can help with socializing. Not only does it feature a unique fruity flavor profile it also helps uplift your mood. It’s not only great for the mind it can help with the body. That’s right, there are some strains that can help you with working out.

Let’s look at a few sativas that are great for getting you to the gym.

Best Sativa Strains For Working Out

Scientifically, cannabis turns up and down various body functions. Given that sativas boost your energy, mood, and offer euphoric feelings it can help you not only with workouts but with the motivation to hit the gym.

Sativas tend to be more stimulating which can help. It’s also important to remember that in the same way that THC can give you the munchies it can speed up your glucose metabolism, which can be dehydrating. Proper hydration is important.

In addition to providing energy for cardio. Sativas can help you push yourself with muscle training. Triggering muscle hypertrophy is an important part of weight training and not only will sativas provide you with energy they can also help with motivation.

Sour Diesel

Sour Diesel is a great strain that has various benefits including boosting creativity and focus. Sour Diesel’s terpene profile includes pinene, limonene, beta-caryophyllene, and myrcene and can help give you the energy and grit to push through your workouts.

Great White Shark

Great White Shark contains little CBD and approximately 20% THC. High THC levels could be why some claim this strain helps loosen stiff muscles/ It boasts rich concentrations of myrcene, pinene, and terpinolene and the added benefit of CBD can help with muscle fatigue or soreness.

Additional strains that we’ve discussed that can also be used for working out include:

• Greek Crack
• Durban Poison
• Super Silver Haze
• Tangie
• Amnesia Haze

Again some of the benefits of sativas are they provide you with focus, an uplifted mood, and a boost of energy which can help you give that edge when working out. Speaking of energy, what are some strains that help boost your energy levels?

Best Sativa Strains For Energy

Sativas are inherently stimulants. While some may have a boost of energy like a triple espresso some may have the energy level of a single cup of coffee. Part of the benefits of sativas generally vary from activities that require energy, euphoria, and focus. Indicas tend to favor relaxation, pain relief, inflammation, and sleep.

Here are some sativas that can help boost your energy.

Maui Wowie

This strain hailing from Hawaii is celebrated for its tropical flavor and energizing effects. It’s generally uplifting and euphoric and can promote creativity, productivity, and a sense of well-being.

Sour Diesel

As one of the more popular Sativas, Sour Diesel can do a lot. Its higher THC levels can help not only boost energy levels but can also help people with depression.

Additional strains that we’ve featured that can also specifically boost energy include:

• Durban Poison
• Purple Haze
• Bruce Banner
• Ghost Train Haze
• Green Crack

Besides energy for the body, sativas can provide a brain boost that can help with focus and when studying or doing work.

Sativa Strains For Studying

Sativas not only boost energy but they can provide a surge in focus and some of the euphoric and mentally stimulating effects can help you engage more while studying or performing mentally challenging work. Here are some strains to consider when studying.

Electric Lemon G

Electric Lemon G is a sativa-dominant hybrid with a light, lemon smell and flavor. It is known for a positive and high-energy high that can help you battle brain fog while providing an uplifting experience. It is not only great for studying, it’s also great for getting tasks off your to-do list by cutting through monotony with positivity and focus.

Cinderella 99

This classic hybrid offers a two-step high. There’s an initial wave of relaxation followed by a burst of energy and motivation. This makes it a great addition to your study tools as it can help you stave off anxiety while also boosting your ability to focus.

Additional strains that we’ve profiled that can help with studying include:

• Super Lemon Haze: The “Haze” family sativas tend to be excellent for focus. The light citrus flavor – powered by the Limonene terpene – naturally helps to wake up your mind while this strain provides consistent energy while you work.
• Jack Herer can be great for creative and routine work and can help improve memory when studying by increasing how interesting everything seems to be.
• Durban Poison has a nice balance of THC and THCV that is quite energizing. THCV acts as an appetite suppressant which can help keep you from overindulging in study snacks which can impact your energy levels. .
• Sour Diesel: Score one more for Sour Diesel. While known for energy and creativity rather than focus, this strain can help with creative projects and all-night study sessions.
• ACDC is a high CBD hybrid that’s ideal for students in need of muscle and pain relief in addition to studying focus. The ACDC strain has often been praised for its focus-enhancing abilities while also pairing with CBD’s ability to remove the background stress that can slow you down while you work. The high CBD content also makes it less intoxicating so you can get your focus on it.
• Harlequin is another high-CBD strain option that adds relaxation and reduced intoxication. Harlequin is great for a long quiet study session where you want to maintain your cool rather than charging through a stack of assignments or rapid-firing flashcards.

One of the benefits of these sativa strains is that in addition to helping with focus, they can help decrease your anxiety. So what are some sativa strains that can help when you’re fretting up a storm?

Best Sativa Strain For Anxiety

Indica strains tend to be more popular with anxiety as they provide more intense physical relaxation. That being said, there are still sativas that can help you avoid a state of panic. The mood-boosting and euphoric effects of some strains can help when dealing with intense anxiety.

It’s also important to keep an eye on THC because high THC strains can help or potentially exacerbate anxiety. Here is the best strain for anxiety and a few honorable mentions.

Jack Herer

Jack Herer is ideal for stress relief with its spicy and pine flavor profile. Users value its ability to provide mental clarity and motivation, making it a popular daytime choice. It also generally provides a mood boost that can help when dealing with the symptoms of anxiety.

Additional Strains for anxiety include:

• Blue Dream is one of the definitive sativas for a reason. The boost of euphoria and creativity can help when dealing with anxiety.

• Harlequin: The high CBD/low THC of this strain makes it great for those battling anxiety while it also provides a surge of energy combined with stress relief.
• Cannatonic: Again, the CBD does help and this strain can help boost your mood while also providing relaxation that doesn’t drain your energy.

Sativa Strains For Depression

Anxiety isn’t the only issue you may use cannabis to help treat. If you’re struggling with depression, some of the mood-boosting and euphoria-inducing sativa strains can help inspire happiness. They can also give you a burst of creative energy to change your mindset or encourage you to engage in activity despite depression which can overall help shift your mood or mindset.

Pineapple Express

You may know this strain from the popular 2008 Seth Rogen film of the same name. However, this sativa-dominant hybrid is known for encouraging your energy and mood. It boasts a high THC level of about 20%. It’s recommended to treat depression in medical marijuana patients. It also boasts high levels of terpenes: caryophyllene limonene and Ocimene.

Chocolope

Boasting the coffee flavor that gives it its name, this sativa has a fairly high THC level of 22%. It’s known to offer a dreamy cerebral high that can shift your mood to euphoria which can be so valuable to those dealing with depression.

Strawberry Cough

This strain is named for its unique smell and flavor of fresh strawberries. It offers a cerebral high and euphoric mood boost that can help inspire happiness in those battling depression. It also is great at providing stress relief.

Blue Dream

Besides creativity, Blue Dream can offer users a sense of happiness and calm and even a case of the giggles. Its boost of energy can help motivate people suffering from depression to complete tasks and leave the house. Its uplifting qualities can help you find a new headspace and move while you do the work to cognitively reframe negative or draining thoughts.

Additional strains we’ve profiled that also help with depression include:

• Sour Diesel: What can Sour Diesel not do? The mood and energy-boosting qualities can help those battling depression stay active and improve their mood.
• Jack Herer: Many users of this strain have noted it helped them with their depression.
• Green Crack: Similar to Jack Herer, many patient reviews have said this strain has helped with their depression symptoms while also providing a mood and energy boost.

Sativa Strains For ADHD

Anxiety and depression are not the only issues that can benefit from a medical marijuana prescription. As mentioned, there are strains that specifically help with focus on

Harle-Tsu

Related to Harlequin, this is another high CBD strain. It has almost no THC. In addition to the same concentration-boosting qualities of Harlequin, it can also help with pain and inflammation.

Lucid Blue

This cross between Blue Dream and Grateful Breath is highly recommended when it comes to focus and concentration. It may be somewhat hard to find as many strains on the market are unique, and sometimes proprietary crossbreeds. This strain boasts a THC level of 16-28% THC and up to 4% CBD.

Sour Breath

This strain is known for its strong, pungent odor and concentration-boosting properties. Its THC content is about 15 to 17 %

Red Congolese

This high-THC sativa is growing in popularity due to a distinct flavor described as both cheesy and fruity. It tends to produce clear-headed focus with a bit of physical relaxation and boasts a THC level of 18-23% THC.

In addition to these strains, the study-friendly strains we profiled above can also be tried to see how their concentration-boosting effects help mitigate your ADHD symptoms.

• Super Lemon Haze
• Jack Herer
• Durban Poison
• Sour Diesel.
• ACDC
• Harlequin
• Electric Lemon G
• Cinderella 99

Sativa Strains For Pain

It’s important to note in the debate between sativas vs. indicas, indicas tend to be more likely to reduce pain, inflammation, and help with pain management. Additionally, any strain that’s high in CBD can also help.

Sativas are more known for their cerebral and mood boosting effects rather than physical changes. They’re also more likely to have higher THC levels.

That being said, from this list of strains we’ve covered the best sativa choices that can help with pain while still retaining those sativa strain signatures including our Low THC strains and higher CBD strains including:

• Harlequin
• Cannatonic
• ACDC
• Sour Tsunami
• Blue Dream

Now that we’ve covered the various benefits of sativa strains, what are the 10 best strains to try?

Top 10 Sativa Strains

Now that you’ve seen what various strains can do let’s cover the absolute best sativa strains.

1. Sour Diesel

What can this strain not do? It boasts high THC, mood-boosting benefits, and it can help you with anything from studying to working out. This is one of the more popular sativas and it can help you get a full spectrum view of the benefits of sativa strains.

1. Blue Dream

This is also a diverse strain that is a great introduction to the world of sativas. Whether you need help with creativity or your mood, this mellow introduction into the world of sativa strains is a must-have for your stash at home. It’s also a great starter strain for patients new to cannabis.

1. Jack Herer

This strain boasts a high resin formation which lends to its increased potency. It’s able to provide you with a sustained cerebral high that can help you whether you need to socialize, focus, or work on a great piece of art. Ideal for artists who need to battle block.

1. Pineapple Express

While being the title of a popular comedy might give it name recognition this sativa boasts an intense supercharge or energy. That sustained energy and the high THC level can provide you with a sustained daytime-friendly high.

1. Tangie

Named for its tangerine notes, this sweet-smelling and tasting sativa can provide the much needed euphoria you expect from sativas with a mellow relaxed high. It helps with socialization and can thrive outside if you decide you want to grow it in your garden.

1. Durban Poison

If you’re looking for a greener alternative to espresso this strain will give you a similar energy boost. It has a spicy herbal flavor and is great for beginners trying cannabis for the first time. Another added benefit is that it’s less likely to give you the munchies.

1. Amnesia Haze

This strain has won the coveted High Times Cannabis Cup twice! In 2012 and 2004, this strain took home the cannabis equivalent of a Michelin star. It boasts a high THC content that can exceed 25% and a lemon/lime flavor. It also can help boost your laughter and mood.

1. Lemon Haze

Named for its zesty lemon flavor this strain provides a smooth smoking experience. It’s less likely to cause sedation and has a great therapeutic blend of terpenes. It hails from Amsterdam so if you were always curious to try some of their indigenous cannabis now is your chance. It also is a two-time Cannabis Cup holder in 2008 and 2009.

1. Maui Wowie

Maui Wowie is named for its Hawaiian roots and boasts a tropical flavor of ripe pineapple and tropical fruits. Its THC content can typically range from 20-28%. The Maui Wowie high is uplifting, energizing, and a mood enhancer. It’s fairly easy to grow and its energy-boosting effects can encourage you to be more active.

1. Chocolope

This strain has a complex flavor profile that includes chocolate, cocoa, coffee, and cantaloupe. It manages to uplift not just the mind but the body. It can help boost energy, creativity, and motivation.

Final Thoughts

Sativas are not just a classification for cannabis products, it’s an entire world of options with many benefits to your mood, body, and lifestyle. While sativas tend to be more active and mentally stimulating and indicas are more relaxing, there are sativas for all occasions.

Over time, as you familiarize yourself with cannabis and start to find what terpenes and THC levels that favor your body, treatment, and goals you will find the strain that’s right for you. Hopefully, this compendium of cannabis categories has given you some insight into which sativas can work for you.

If you’d like to get your medical marijuana card, let Green Health Docs help you streamline the process so you can focus more on your healing and finding the right strain for you. The best way to find what cannabis strains work for you is to take advantage of your legal right to use medical cannabis.

This article has been reviewed by Dr. Anand Dugar, an anesthesiologist, pain medicine physician and the founder of Green Health Docs. Graduating from medical school in 2004 and residency in 2008, Dr. Dugar has been a licensed physician for almost 20 years and has been leading the push for medical cannabis nationwide.