9 Best Daytime Cannabis Strains

Whatever your reasons for consuming cannabis during the day, it’s important to know it will affect you. You want to avoid becoming couch-locked when you should be working on something! Unless you’re enjoying a relaxing day off, you likely need to get things done throughout the day — so your cannabis should assist, not prevent, progress.

A big aspect of cannabis that can make or break your daytime use is the strain you choose. The wrong strain will have you asleep on the couch before you check anything off your to-do list, so to avoid that, we’ve put together a list of the best strains for daytime use. Try one of these, and you’ll be breezing through your daily activities with ease!

How to Pick a Cannabis Strain for Daytime Productivity

When consumed correctly, cannabis can inspire creativity, motivation, production, and focus. This means that the consumer needs to find a balance between the right strain, consumption method, and quantity consumed. 

Unfortunately, the terms “Sativa” and “Indica” are no longer as relevant to understanding expected effects from a strain, since many strains available are hybrids with either dominant Sativa or Indica traits. Therefore, consumers who are looking for the perfect daytime cannabis strain will need to look a little closer at the strain profile in order to pick a strain with daytime-complimentary effects, such as creativity and productivity boosts.

One important strategy for choosing an optimal daytime strain is to research the strain’s terpene profile. It turns out that the terpene content of cannabis products acts as a consistent variable that suggests what type of effects the different strains can have on the body as well as the strains’ flavor profiles. The best daytime strains are energetic, help promote inspiration and creativity, encourage tunnel vision, and provide you with medical benefits such as reduced anxiety, stress, and pain.

Limonene is the leading terpene that promotes overall mood improvement, while terpenes such as myrcene, linalool, and caryophyllene promote a calm composure with lowered anxiety and stress. Pinene can help boost your memory, which may be beneficial during daytime consumption.

When selecting a good daytime cannabis strain, you’ll want to look for strains that contain a cannabinoid called THCV. Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) is a psychoactive cannabinoid (such as THC) that has been found to produce more motivated, alert, energizing, and euphoric feelings. THCV also has many medical benefits, such as taking on a neuroprotective role and alleviating conditions such as multiple sclerosis.

Additionally, while CBD is a more relaxing cannabinoid than THC, some users might benefit from CBD during the day due to its anxiety-reducing properties. If anxiety impacts your daily life, some strains that would be beneficial during the day include Mango Kush, Sour Tangie, Maui Strawberry, Harlequin — a high-CBD strain — and Hercules.

9 Best Cannabis Strains for Daytime Use

We compiled a list of nine excellent daytime strains that have energizing effects and are perfect for a long day on the go. Although there are plenty of other strains that are undoubtedly excellent for daytime as well, these stood out as the best. Below, check out the following strains (listed in no particular order), their terpene profiles, and what they’re best used for.

Blue Dream

Blue Dream is a hybrid strain that has 18% THC content and low CBD content. Users often sing Blue Dream’s praises for its energetic and uplifting effects, as well as its extraordinary ability to bolster creativity in consumers. The dominant terpene in Blue Dream is myrcene, which has a sweet and spicy aroma. The relaxing qualities of the dominant terpene in this flower helps to temper any negative qualities of THC, such as paranoia, despite its low CBD content.

Skunk #1

Skunk #1 is another hybrid strain that is high in myrcene. It gets its name from its skunky scent and has a THC content of 17% as well as a cannabigerol (CBG) content of 1%. Recent research suggests that CBG may help support focus and produce anti-depressive or anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects. Skunk #1 is reported to produce energetic effects while enhancing creativity. This strain will also give you a mean case of the munchies, so it could be helpful for people struggling with appetite loss as well.

Green Crack

Next up is a Sativa-dominant strain, Green Crack. Although the name can be off-putting for some, this strain is a fan favorite for its focus-enhancing and energizing effects. This strain is also high in the terpene myrcene and, like Skunk #1, has a THC content of 17% and a CBG content of 1%.

Maui Wowie

Maui Wowie is another classic Sativa-dominant strain with a THC level of 19%. It’s a great strain for any kind of creative activity, such as writing, designing, or drawing, due to its energizing and uplifting effects. Its fruity, earthy taste is attributed to its high myrcene content, and it’s suitable for just about any time of day.

Super Silver Haze

This Sativa-leaning strain contains 20% THC and a CBG content of 1%. It’s well known for producing a long-lasting body high and energizing effects. Consumers of Super Silver Haze also report that the strain possesses uplifting qualities and promotes creativity. It has a citrusy aroma due to its terpene profile, which includes myrcene, limonene, and caryophyllene.

Durban Poison

Durban Poison is an African landrace strain known for its energetic and euphoric effects. It has THC and CBG percentages of 19% and 1% respectively. This strain’s dominant terpene is terpinolene, which gives Durban Poison its fresh, earthy scent and helps counter any negative impacts of the high-THC content, such as anxiety or paranoia. It can also help amplify focus, which makes it a great strain for daytime activities.

Lemon Haze

Lemon Haze is a Sativa-dominant strain that has a strong citrusy scent with a THC content of 19% and a CBG content of 1%. Although the dominant terpene is myrcene, it also contains limonene, which gives it a citrusy flavor and mood-boosting properties. It produces energizing effects and can be great for socializing, as it makes the consumer talkative and prone to laughter.

Jack Herer

Jack Herer is another great daytime strain that contains terpinolene as its dominant terpene. It tastes earthy and citrusy and produces a blissful high that intensifies creativity. It’s also well-known for helping to relieve stress. This strain has a THC percentage of 18% and a CBG percentage of 1%.

Sour Diesel

Finally, Sour Diesel is a popular strain that is excellent for daytime use. Along with a roughly 19% THC content, this Sativa-dominant strain is dominant in caryophyllene, known for producing relaxation and calming nervous behavior. This otherwise energizing strain also helps with creativity and makes the user talkative.

Final Takeaway

For many people, consuming cannabis during the day can act as a method of reducing stress, providing focus, and lifting the mood for a productive and pleasant day. Remember to experiment with different strains, methods of consumption, and quantities to find your optimal consumption conditions. If you’re seeking a good daytime strain to treat a medical condition, talk to a licensed MMJ doctor to create a wellness plan that suits your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Indica good for daytime? 

Indica strains are typically used for their sedating, relaxing effects, which can promote pain relief or recovery from insomnia. If you are looking for a daytime strain, you might instead want something that promotes alertness or productivity, such as a Sativa or hybrid strain.

Is Sativa or Indica best for daytime use?

Since Indica cannabis strains generally produce more relaxing, soporific effects, these strains are not recommended for daytime activity (unless you want to have a very chill afternoon). Sativa strains, on the other hand, are typically reported as producing more activating effects that are ideal for creative projects, socializing, and exercising.

What is the best strain to start your day?

Looking to wake and bake? While it is generally good to turn to sativa strains for daytime cannabis consumption, what particular strain is the best one to start your day will depend on individual factors, such as personal sensitivity to the effects of cannabis. So, you may need to do some experimenting. Perhaps give some of the strains listed above you find most appealing a try to start your day, and see which ones generate the results you are looking for. With some trials, you can find which strain is best to start the day most effectively for you. 

This blog post was originally written by Chane Leigh and published on 6/18/20. It was last updated in December 2024.