Welcome to The Straight Dope, our new weekly series that explores the best cannabis products in Michigan.
Cannabis doesn’t have to knock you out or launch you into the stratosphere.
While many people associate weed with dazed stares or couch lock, certain strains have the opposite effect. They can energize, uplift, and keep you clear-headed enough to clean the house, get work done, or crush a few games of pickleball, as I do most days of the week.
Michigan’s legal market is teeming with thousands of strains grown by more than 1,100 cultivators. Gone are the days of settling for whatever strain your drug dealer happened to have.
Still, with so many choices, it’s not easy finding the right strain. It helps to understand what really makes a strain energizing. So before we get into my go-to strains, it’s important to clear up a common misconception about what gives cannabis its effects.
Most people assume that energizing highs come from sativa strains. But that’s an outdated idea. Today’s strains are almost all hybrids, and the distinction between sativa and indica has more to do with the plant’s physical appearance than how it makes you feel. What really determines the experience are the plant’s chemical compounds, especially cannabinoids and terpenes.
THC is just part of the equation. Some strains also contain smaller amounts of other cannabinoids like THCV or CBG, which can create a more energizing or mentally stimulating effect.
Just as important are terpenes, the aromatic oils in cannabis that give it flavor and influence the high. Take limonene, which is found in citrus fruits. It’s associated with elevated mood and mental clarity. Then there’s pinene, found in pine, that is believed to improve alertness and memory. And terpinolene, a rarer terpene, often shows up in strains that feel light, buzzy, and creative.
All of this is why one strain can make you feel like you’re flying through a to-do list while others glue you to the coach, even if they both have the same THC content or are marked as hybrids.
But one of the notorious problems with energizing strains is that they can be too anxiety-inducing. That’s because the wrong mix of compounds can lead to a racing heart and spiraling thoughts.
I took a break from cannabis in 2020 because it started making me anxious. Later, I realized the problem wasn’t cannabis. It was the strain. I had been relying on a caregiver who only grew one cultivar, and that particular strain spun me out.
What I’ve learned is that activating weed doesn’t have to be jittery. The key is finding strains that give you a smooth, functional high without the chaos.
As someone who plays pickleball most nights, I rely on strains that help me stay energized, motivated, and present. While some people are drawn to energy drinks, I reach for cannabis strains that keep my body moving and my mind locked in.
Of the more than 200 strains I’ve tried since starting this column in November, these are 12 strains that never leave me sluggish, scattered, or anxious.
