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As much as we’d like to ignore it, the colder weather of fall & winter are just around the corner. What does this mean? Hawaiian shirts and flip-flops are exchanged for jackets and boots, margaritas are replaced by hot apple ciders and those sweet, summery cannabis strains are stored for next year as we break out the wholesome cannabis strains for colder colder climates.
For some consistent cannabis users, there is no such thing as “seasonal strains”. If you’re lucky enough to have found a strain or two that hits you just the right way every time then you might not seek out other kinds of cannabis as often. Most of us have our favorite weed strains that we always fall back on, but there is an alarmingly high number of stoners who stick to 5-10 strains for the majority of their high lifetimes.
We’re here to change that. As the seasons shift from hot & sunny to cold & comfy so should the buds in our bongs evolve to suit the changes in our environments. What makes weed a good outdoor fall/winter strain? What are the best outdoors strains in the northeast? Are these different from the best outdoor strains in the northwest? What strains are good for a cold? Let’s harvest some stoner know-how as we review the most popular cannabis strains for colder climates.
OUTDOOR & WINTER STRAINS
What makes for a good outdoor winter strain or fall cultivar? That will depend on the kind of high you’re after. Many of the strains we’ll list off later in this article have complimentary effects, feelings or experiences during colder months like in fall and winter. Whether you feel more anxious during winter months or you’d appreciate some buds that warm your body then certain cannabis strains are for colder climates.
Generally speaking, a good outdoor winter strain can achieve the following:
Energize your tired/foggy brain due to less absorption of vitamin D from the sun
Relax seasonal/holiday anxiety & bad moods
Ease aches & pains associated with colder climates
Reduce pain & inflammation from fall & winter activities (hockey, skiing, sledding, ice fishing, etc)
Soothe gastrointestinal discomfort brought on by increased intake of wholesome foods & holiday desserts
Support better rest and consistent sleep during the colder months
Warm your body with euphoric feelings and ‘taking the edge off’ of the bitter winter season
These are just a handful of the reasons why some people turn to outdoor & winter strains during the later part of the year. Your reasons can be your own, but if we had to put our fingers on what strains are good for a cold time of the year we think it’s all about comfort. Comfort can be very personal and variable from group to group, culture to culture. Even though we all find comfort in different things, places, people or experiences, one thing we can all agree on is that a comfy settings combined with comfort foods with people we’re comfortable with is the ultimate way to hibernate through the colder seasons.
And what is more comfort-inducing than a potent doob smoked with a bunch of friends or family in the warmth of the indoors? We’re all for outdoor winter weed, but nothing is more familiar or calming than the puff of a decent bowl of buds with the people you care about most.
Now that we’ve established comfort, warmth, good times and chill vibes as the baselines for what makes a good outdoor winter strain, we should talk about the differences between the cannabis habits on each coastline. Have you ever considered what are the best outdoor strains for northeastern and northwestern folks? Let’s find out what strains are good in the cold across the divides of Canada and the U.S.
BEST OUTDOOR STRAINS FOR NORTHEAST & NORTHWEST
NORTHERN LIGHTS
Let’s start off with an obvious one that has it all in the name: Northern Lights. This classic indica is crossed between Afghani and Thai – but don’t let the imagery of their namesakes fool you, this strain is cool, chill and suited to the Northern skies. It is rumored to have originally grown out of the Pacific northwest near Washington State and British Columbia, so it definitely is a hearty cultivar that can withstand more frigid climates.
As one of the best outdoor winter strains, Northern Lights offers euphoria, relaxation and soothing effects on the body & brain. Just like gazing into the crisp night skies full of stars in the great white North, Northern Lights will ease any troubled mind and balance their mood.
CRITICAL MASS
Mix together Afghani and Skunk and what do you get? Another strong genetic hybrid of cannabis strains meant for colder climates. Critical is known for its highly dense buds and potent yields that override the stalks as they almost break under the weight of the flowers. Critical Mass usually has higher THC numbers but it has been known to yield a decent profile of CBD and other cannabinoids. It’s very earthy smells and tastes can seem a bit spicy at times but it finishes with skunky-herbal notes that will have you feeling blissful.
Despite the potency of its terpenes and cannabinoids, Critical usually lulls stoners into hazy, relaxed and sleepy states. Another reason this strain is great for colder climates and seasons like fall/winter is that Critical Mass has strong munchies effects – so bring out the Turkey dinner smorgasbord!
BLUE CHEESE
Dispense your thoughts of the disgusting moldy cheese blocks some heathens eat with buffalo wings, because this strain is a fruity, creamy, tangy hybrid between Blueberry and UK Cheese. Blue Cheese has strong roots and has been grown all over the place, especially in more northerly regions like Canada, the United States and Europe. Blue Cheese might not be the highest yielding strain you’ve ever grown but it is very consistent in its delivery of cannabinoids, terpenes and associated effects.
Speaking of effects, every dose of Blue Cheese brings on calm, centered relaxation and relief from nagging soreness or muscle spasms. It’s great for loosening up those muscles & joints and even tickles your funny bone as you reminisce about funny concepts or hilarious memories.
GREEN CRACK
One of many favorites in the sativa family, Green Crack is as consistent to grow even in frigid climates as it is famously potent. Green Crush, as it is sometimes called, will certainly crush your expectation for quality yields, beautiful colorations, diverse terpenes and cannabinoids. Its progenitor strains aren’t exactly defined but what we do know is that this hybrid blends the best qualities of sativas and indicas that makes for a very robust plant.
Green Crack is undeniably energizing and sharpens your focus. Tasting of mangoes, tangy citrus and a slight buzz of fuel, this strain is as flavorful as it is mind-awakening. A lot of stoners rely on Green Crush to help them focus, quell their mental fog and combat the effects of fatigue. Green Crack is also known to make you feel very chatty and thoughtful, so it can be great to share around a campfire with friends & family.
MATANUSKA TUNDRA
If Jon Snow or any of the other Northern characters of Game of Thrones smoked weed, they’d probably go for something like Matanuska Tundra. Matanuska just screams “winter is coming” with its Alaskan origins and penchant for relaxing, nostalgic highs that will have you singing tales of “the North remembers”. A gorgeous product of the equally beautiful Matanuska Valley in the northernmost State, Matanuska Tundra is mostly sativa.
Matanuska Tundra is such an apt name because like the tundra itself this weed tastes and smells earthy, piney, cedary and musky. Overwhelmingly uplifting and high-spirited effects will follow your first tokes of Tundra, and you’ll start to appreciate the natural world around you as euphoria hits at your core. This is the ultimate cannabis strain made for colder climates, and as the best strain of the northwest we can’t recommend it enough to both growers & smokers alike.
WHAT STRAINS ARE GOOD FOR A COLD?
No cannabis is exactly alike, and neither does one cold affect someone exactly the same as another. For these reasons, it’s tough to prescribe what strains are good for a cold because some people might need pain relief more while others just want to zonk out and sleep it off. Cannabis isn’t traditionally known to be a cold and flu type medicine, nevertheless it does have its benefits for anyone struggling through a sickness.
CBD-high strains can really help to take the edge off during the day through pain relief, anti-anxiety effects or bringing down symptoms of nausea. THC-high weed can do all the same things, albeit also making you feel high and losing track of the day/night (for many people fighting colds, this isn’t a problem as much as it is a solution).
There are definitely cannabis products that can help you to reduce those nagging symptoms of colds and flus. Cannabis oil makes for great lip balm, cannabis edibles can help you to nap and sleep deep to rest & fight the virus, and topicals like CBD bath bombs or pain-rubs can ease those sick-season aches & pains.
Smoking cannabis might not be the best idea when you’re already stifling coughs every minute, but it’s ultimately up to you. Next time you’re hit with the chills from winter months or you catch that annoying cold, look to the stellar inventory of cannabis products at Haute Health to get some relief from the cold season.
