Best Cannabis Strain to Choose in 2024

As 2024 continues, cannabis cultivation continues to bloom with a very impressive array of new strains and genetics that promise to elevate the overall cannabis experience! Innovations in breeding and cultivation techniques have given rise to exciting lineups of cannabis strains, each boasting incredible unique flavors, aromas, effects, and patterns of growth.

This year, we see the return of reengineered retro-classics enhanced for potency and resilience, as well as cutting-edge hybrids that have been bred to target specific therapeutic needs. These cannabis offerings are setting a new benchmark in both recreational and medicinal markets.

Let's take a deeper look into some standout, and best cannabis strains in 2024 that are sure to shape the preferences of the cannabis culture.

Our Criteria for the Best Cannabis Strains

Selecting the best cannabis strains requires careful consideration of several factors. Here's how we identified the top 10 strains after extensive research and testing:

1. Personal Needs

Choose a strain that meets your specific needs. Sativas work well for appetite stimulation, productivity and focus. If you need the best cannabis strains for anxiety, pain, or sleep, Indica strains are more suitable!

If you're using cannabis for recreational purposes, you will want to factor in the desired effects and flavor profile. Sativas provide a much more cerebral effect (felt more in the head than the body), with a lot brighter aromas and flavors. Indicas offer a heavier, more sedative effect (felt more in the body than the head), with more musky, earthy scents and flavors. Hybrid strains often bring a balanced effect (felt both in the head and body) and offer all different types of flavors and aromas. Hybrids will typically lean one way, either indica or sativa, and have more of the effects of the more dominant parent.

2. Growing Difficulty

If you are a beginner grower, Indica strains are recommended as they tend to grow shorter, wider, and are typically easier to manage! Pure Indicas are simpler to cultivate compared to crossbred strains, which may have some environmental and nutritional preferences. If growing difficulty isn't a concern, choose the strain that fits your desired flavor, and potency needs!

3. Potency

Potency is probably the most common consideration when growers choose the best weed strains! Most breeders will provide a potency percentage of said strain when purchasing your seeds or clone. However, this is a general statement, and achieving the strain’s potential depends on proper cultivation.

4. Genetics and Breeder

Consider the breeder and parent genetics when selecting the best cannabis strains. Purchase seeds or clones from a well-known and vetted breeder and vendor. Lesser-known breeders may not have thoroughly tested their strains, and it may lead to less than desirable results. If you are considering a hybrid cannabis strain, look into the parental genetics of the cross-bred strain. Make sure they align with the strains flavor, growing, and potency profile!

Top 10 Cannabis Strains in 2024

Here is a selection of 10 strains that will work well in your compact cannabis growing system. These strains will tend to stay compact - most are beginner friendly with great yields.

#10 Sour Diesel

Sour Diesel strain, also known as "Sour D", is known for its fast acting, cerebral and energizing effects. It boasts pungent flavors and aromas that are said to resemble diesel or petrol, with a skunky finish.

• Genetics: Sativa Dominant Hybrid
• Best for: stress relief, uplifting, relief of depression, anxiety relief
• Potency: ~20% THC, ~1% CBD
• Lineage: Chemdawg x Super Skunk
• Growing Info: Sour diesel is a moderately easy to grow weed strain that typically grows tall, with a medium yield and flowering time of 10-11 weeks. This strain prefers warmer, drier conditions.

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#9 GSC (Girl Scout Cookies)

Girl Scout Cookies strain, also known as "GSC," "Cookies," or "Cooks," is a widely recognized strain popularized by pop culture. It's known for its beautiful appearance, strong effect, and delightful flavor profiles, featuring sweet cherry, mint, and lemon notes.

• Genetics: Hybrid
• Best for: relaxation, sleep, stress relief, appetite stimulation
• Potency: ~25% THC, ~1% CBD
• Lineage: OG Kush x F1 Durban Poison
• Growing Info: Girl Scout Cookies is a moderate to diffcult strain to grow, best suited for intermediate growers. GSC strain typically grows short and is receptive to training techniques. It prefers moderate fertilizer levels and is somewhat of a low yielding strain. Its flowering time ranges from 7 to 9 weeks.

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#8 Mimosa

Mimosa is one of the best hybrid cannabis strains, known for leaving users happy, clear-headed, and motivated. Mimosa strain is known for its bright orange hairs, and thick coating of trichomes that glitter and contrast against its deep hues of purple. It brings forward a citrus punch, followed by sweet notes of fruit and berries.

• Genetics: Sativa Dominant Hybrid
• Best for: creativity, productivity, depression relief, socailizing
• Potency: ~23% THC, ~1% CBG
• Lineage: Clementine x Purple Punch
• Growing Info: Mimosa is a relatively easy to grow strain, requiring minimal finesse. It has a flowering length of 9 weeks, grows relatively short in height, and can produce large yields when grown properly! It prefers strong, even lighting and strong nutrient inputs!

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#7 King Louis XIII OG

King Louis OG is an ideal strain for seasoned cannabis consumers, offering incredibly strong and sedative effects. This weed strain offers some unique flavors reminiscent of garlic, skunk, pine, and petrol.

• Genetics: Indica dominant hybrid
• Best for: sleep, depression relief, pain relief
• Potency: ~26% THC, ~1% CBD
• Lineage: Unknown
• Growing Info: Not much is known about the growth characteristics of King Louis OG. However, some claim that it is a challenging strain to grow. It tends to remain relatively short and performs better in a highly controlled environment with moderate lighting.

#6 Mint Chocolate Chip

Popularized by growers in northern CA, Mint Chocolate Chip strain is a very well balanced strain known for its unique blend of minty, sweet-chocolate, and earthy flavors. MCC is one of the best strains for productivity, but continuous consumption may lead to distracting and sedative effects.

• Genetics: Hybrid
• Best for: depression, productivity, uplifting
• Potency: ~18% THC, ~1% CBG
• Lineage: Sinmint Cookies x Green Ribbon
• Growing Info: Mint Chocolate Chip is a moderately easy to grow strain, that typically grows medium in height, and is receptive to training techniques. Mint Chocolate Chip strain prefers moderate fertilizer levels, and is somewhat of a low yielding strain. It has a flowering time of around 9 weeks.

#5 Sunset Sherbet

Also known as "Sherb" or "Sherbet", expresses powerful full body effects that are sharpened by a jolt of cerebral energy and a carefree state of mind. Sherbert exhibits a candy-like flavor profile resembling that of sweet candy, berries, and citrus.

• Strain Type: Indica Dominant Hybrid
• Best Used for: stress, depression, anxiety relief
• Potency: ~18% THC, ~1% CBG
• Lineage: GSC x Pink Panties = Sunset Sherbert
• Growing Info: Sunset Sherbert is a moderately easy-to-grow strain, best suited for intermediate growers. It has an average height and yield. Sherbert usually has a flowering time of 7-9 weeks

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#4 Cereal Milk

Made famous by the ever popular "Cookies" brand owned by Rap-Mogul Berner, Cereal Milk is a sativa-leaning hybrid that packs loads of trichomes on densely packed buds! Cereal milk strain produces an incredibly strong punch, accompanied by the flavor of sweet milk, vanilla, and ice cream!

• Genetics: Sativa Dominant Hybrid
• Best for: creativity, relaxation, appetite stimulation, relief of depression
• Potency: ~23% THC, ~1% CBG
• Lineage: Possibly GSC x Cherry Pie
• Growing Info: Cereal Milk presents a moderately difficult challenge for growers. It has a 9-week flowering period, grows relatively tall, and offers a medium yield, yet responds well to training methods. This strain prefers an indoor, controlled environment (like a grow cabinet) with low humidity and benefits from robust nutrient inputs.

#3 Runtz

Runtz, an indica-leaning hybrid strain, lives up to its namesake with flavors that delight the senses. This strain is loved for its sweet, tart, fruity flavor that closely resembles the candy beloved by many. Runtz won strain of the year in 2020 and is still one of the most popular strains nationwide.

• Genetics: Hybrid
• Best for: relaxation, socializing, anxiety relief
• Potency: ~21% THC, ~0% CBD
• Lineage: Gelato x Original Z
• Growing Info: Runtz has an intermediate growth difficulty. It does well both indoors and outdoors, preferring strong lighting and nutritional input. The weed strain has a flowering time of approximately 9 weeks, and produces smaller-than-average yields.

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#2 PERManent Marker

PERManent Marker is a newer strain that has won multiple awards across multiple competitions. This very potent cannabis strain brings out creativity for daytime relaxation, followed by an increased appetite. PERManent Marker strain has pungent odors of floral, soapy, candy, and gassy funk that directly translates into its flavor.

• Genetics: Hybrid
• Best for: creativity, relaxation, appetite stimulation, relief of depression & anxiety
• Potency: ~20% THC, ~1% CBD
• Lineage: Jealousy x Biscotti
• Growing Info: Permanent Marker is a relatively harder strain to grow. It prefers an indoor, controlled environment with low humidity and strong lighting. This strain can be a picky eater, so it is best to provide moderate nutrient inputs.

#1 Gelato

Gelato is one of the most popular cultivars available. Made extremely popular by the hip-hop culture. There are many different types and crosses of gleato, which all express different flavor profiles, but grow somewhat similarly. There are 4 very popular gelato strains: Gelato#33, Gelato#41, Gelato#25, and Gelato#3. Most gelato strains are known for their frosty coating, bright orange hairs, and dark-purple hue. Gelatos will usually express creamy, vanilla, mint, and sweet citrus flavors.

• Genetics: Indica Dominant Hybrid
• Best for: anxiety, depression, stress, sleep
• Potency: ~20% THC, ~1% CBD
• Lineage: Most gelatos are the back-cross bread of Sherbert (Sherbert x Sherbert)
• Growing Info: Gelato strains are a more difficult set of strains to grow. These varieties typically have a medium-short height, offer a moderate yield, and they respond exceptionally well to various training techniques.

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