Cannabis Strains for an Uplifting Result

Terpenes are a great guide when searching for the right strain to help improve your mood and make you feel light; plus, they often enhance the psychoactive properties of THC. Some may say the kind of cannabis you smoke is a better determinator. However, with the hybridity of today’s weed strains, it’s much harder to know if a cannabis strain will give you the effects you’re looking for purely by whether it’s a sativa or indica dominant strain.

There’s also personal preference involved with the definition of uplifting strains. While some may say sativa strains offer a better uplifting effect, others will argue that indica strains are better at making you feel light and happy. But you know what isn’t subject to personal preference? Terpenes. 

Studies have shown that the presence of specific terpenes, such as caryophyllene, limonene, myrcene, and terpinolene, contributes to the uplifting effects of cannabis. Limonene is particularly important since studies suggest it has anxiolytic properties, which is a fancy way of saying it helps reduce anxiety. While that may not produce an uplifting effect, it does help put your mind on the right track to feeling more light and cheerful.

Blue Dream stands out as a sativa-dominant strain because it blends the invigorating highs of sativas with the more mellow effects of indica flowers. This leads to a less intense buzz than other cultivars from the same variety. However, it still packs quite the punch, especially considering it has a THC content that swings between 16% and 20%.

Blue Dream gradually improves your mood with its uplifting and energizing effects when smoked. It also promotes creativity. Plus, with heightened focus as another one of its effects, it can help you break through your art or writer's block.

As mentioned before, Blue Dream also has the mellow effects of indicas. This could be because of myrcene, the dominant terpene found in Blue Dream; it’s purported in studies to have a relaxing effect in high amounts. This relaxing effect is mainly due to the terpene's muscle relaxation and pain-relieving properties. If you've been dreaming of enjoying an uplifting strain that can help boost your mood and ease your aches and sores, you can turn that into a reality with Blue Dream or its autoflower variant.

Tropicana Cookies is another popular hybrid strain with sativa dominance that's known for its uplifting effects and delectable flavors. It's the perfect sativa-hybrid for those who need a little extra pep in their step. But Tropicana Cookies won't just lift your spirits; it also charges your battery so you have the energy to tackle the whole day.

It isn't just the effects that made this strain popular among enthusiasts. The delicious taste also makes Tropicana Cookies shine. Its smooth smoke has the sweet yet tart flavors of oranges paired with a floral scent.

The terpene responsible for Tropicana Cookies' orange citrus flavor is limonene, which reduces anxiety and produces an antidepressant-like effect by interacting with the adenosine A(2A) receptor. But on top of that, there's also caryophyllene, the dominant terpene found in the flowers of Tropicana Cookies and is said in studies to also have anxiolytic properties and an antidepressant-like effect(1). So, on top of providing an uplifting and energizing high, Tropicana Cookies may also put you in the right headspace to feel uplifted thanks to the potential therapeutic properties of its terpenes.

Named after the passionate cannabis rights activist, sativa-dominant Jack Herer promises to give you the happy buzz you're looking for. With THC levels ranging from 15% to 19%, this weed strain's mood-boosting and energizing effects are the go-to for many enthusiasts.

Although anecdotal at best, it's said that terpinolene is what enhances the invigorating and uplifting effects of Jack Herer (photoperiod and autoflower alike). Maybe it holds some truth, considering terpinolene is the dominant terpene found in Jack Herer. But let's not discount the others, like caryophyllene, that's said to reduce depressive symptoms and stress which is its own uplifting effect.

For its taste and smell, Jack Herer blends the piney flavors and aromas from terpinolene and pinene with the sharp, spicy notes and dry, woody taste from caryophyllene. If you've ever tried hash before, the experience is similar.

Durban Poison is a sativa with roots that trace back to the warm and vibrant climates of Durban, a city located on the east coast of South Africa. This cannabis sativa was native to the mountain range that surrounded the city. It remained unknown until cannabis grower, author, and American horticulturist Edward "Ed" Rosenthal found it during the 1970s.

What Ed found was a sativa strain that provided an energizing and uplifting high unlike any other at the time. It was often called the espresso of cannabis because of its potent, stimulating effects. And because the high it gives is like a shot of espresso, it keeps your mind clear and focused to do any tasks. Not just that, Durban Poison is even available in an autoflowering variant option.

The flavor of this pure sativa isn't something to scoff at either. It combines strong citrus flavors with pine, but it also has hints of spicy and licorice, which adds this exotic taste. If you're a connoisseur with an adventurous palate who is also searching for one of the most uplifting cannabis strains around, you’ve got Ed to thank.

Mimosa is a sativa-dominant hybrid that delivers an energizing and uplifting high. It's particularly noteworthy for providing consumers with a clear-headed high, which is interesting because it has a high THC concentration that ranges from 20% to 22% and a CBD content of less than 2%. Moreover, the high it gives also heightens focus, allowing consumers to tackle work or creative projects without feeling bogged down or distracted.

On top of its invigorating and euphoric high, Mimosa may also provide other effects from its terpenes. For example, there’s myrcene, which may have pain-relieving effects. There's also caryophyllene, which may produce antidepressant-like effects that can help set the right mood for Mimosa's uplifting high.

For its flavors, this sativa-hybrid tastes like a more juice-heavy mimosa, meaning it has a lot of that fruity and orange citrus taste. It also has a sweetness, but for the most part, it's overpowered by the strong orange flavor. Keep in mind that the Mimosa strain is also available in autoflower variant.

Purple Haze has earned its stripes in the cannabis market as the go-to wake-and-bake strain because of its energizing, uplifting, and euphoric effects. And as a sativa-dominant strain that boasts THC levels of up to 16%, it has the right amount of kick to it that made it a morning favorite among enthusiasts.

When it comes to flavor, Purple Haze also doesn't disappoint. It has hints of berries and spice mixed into its earthy yet sweet-tasting smoke. We have myrcene to thank for the sweetness and earthiness in its smoke and caryophyllene for the spicy notes. Outside of providing flavor to the flowers of Purple Haze, these terpenes may also impart some therapeutic benefits that can improve its euphoric effects. Take its dominant terpene, myrcene, for example. It's said to have analgesic properties, which can soothe pain.

The other terpenes found in the flowers of Purple Haze are caryophyllene and limonene. Caryophyllene is said to have antidepressant-like effects, which can help enhance the euphoric high that Purple Haze offers. Meanwhile, limonene can reduce anxiety and stress on top of having similar antidepressant-like effects.

Strawberry Cough is a standout sativa-hybrid because of its history. The strain was made popular by Kyle Kushman, who was gifted the weed strain when he visited a cannabis-growing friend of a friend. Although that's pretty much it for the story behind Strawberry Cough, it echoes the kind of history that cannabis had. Where growers would gift their plants to one another as though they were a bouquet of roses– or, in this case, a box of strawberries.

As for the lineage of Strawberry Cough, it was made by crossing Haze with Strawberry Fields. We know Haze as one of the big strains that revolutionized cannabis, but what about Strawberry Fields? As the name implies, this indica strain was said to have grown next to strawberry fields to mask its smell. Over time, the indica took on the smell of strawberries.  

Whether that story’s true or not is hard to say, but what is real is that Strawberry Cough tastes and smells like a box of strawberries. It also has a fast-acting and hard-hitting sativa that will leave you feeling uplifted and energized. Yet despite its high THC levels that range from 19% to 23%, Strawberry Cough keeps your mind clear and focused.

Super Lemon Haze is another great wake-and-bake that many enjoy for its mood-boosting effects and strong lemon flavors. As a hybrid strain with sativa dominance and THC levels ranging from 15% to 20%, it delivers a potent head high that leaves you feeling energized and uplifted. It can also promote creativity, putting you in the right headspace for ideas to start flowing.

Taste-wise, Super Lemon Haze has a tart and sweet flavor that resembles Lemonheads. However, when it comes to the aroma, it has the more natural smell of fresh lemon fruits. And we have Super Lemon Haze's dominant terpene, terpinolene, to thank for giving this sativa-hybrid its citrusy notes. But on top of that, terpinolene may have also helped enhance this sativa's energizing and uplifting effects.

And since we're on the topic of terpenes, let's talk about the other ones found in Super Lemon Haze and its autoflower version, like caryophyllene, which provides antidepressant-like effects and may even contribute to Super Lemon Haze's uplifting effects. Lastly, there's myrcene, which is said to provide pain relief. But even if you don't feel some of these effects, you can still enjoy Super Lemon Haze’s energizing and uplifting high.

Tangie is another one of our sativa-dominant strains that stands out among uplifting cannabis strains. The hybrid began as a nod to Tangerine Dream, an iconic sativa-hybrid that took home 1st place at the 2010 High Times Cannabis Cup. Tangie is a fitting tribute, capturing the sour and tangy essence of the award-winning sativa-hybrid and its uplifting and energizing buzz. If you're struggling to find seeds or nugs of Tangerine Dream, you can always enjoy Tangie instead.

That's not to say Tangie is second fiddle, or it’s merely a homage to another cultivar. It’s an award winner as well. Tangie took 1st place in both the 2013 and 2014 High Times Cannabis Cup as the best sativa.

For those curious about the genetics of Tangie, it was made by crossbreeding two old-school strains, California Orange and Skunk #1. We know Skunk #1 as a revolutionary hybrid that was shoulder-to-shoulder (well, leaf-to-leaf) with Haze, much like how the breeders that made them were also close with one another (The Haze Brothers and Sam "The Skunkman"). We also know that Skunk #1 was made by crossing Afghani, Acapulco Gold, And Colombian Gold.

Unlike Skunk #1, though, there's not much around California Orange and how it was made. It was a popular strain in California, with people calling it Cali Orange or Cali-O. What is known about this strain is that it has an uplifting and creativity-boosting high, which Tangie clearly inherited in its effects. Due to all of this, it is also available as one of the more popular autoflower strains on the market.

The origin behind the creation of Amnesia Haze is much like its effects, layered and complex. But if I'm being honest, the high that this sativa-hybrid has is easier to understand than the theories surrounding it. At the very least, all of the stories begin with the creation of Amnesia in the U.S. and end with it being crossed by Haze after it was brought to Holland, hence the name Amnesia Haze.

One theory says that Sam "The Skunkman " made Amnesia in California," crossbreeding Bubblegum with Super Silver Haze. He then brought the strain to Amsterdam, where it was crossed with Haze.

Another story is that Sam "The Skunkman" made Amnesia by crossbreeding Hawaiian, Thai, and Jamaican sativas together. Unfortunately, this strain didn't take off in the U.S., but he still brought it with him when he moved to Holland, where it was crossed with Neville's Haze to create Amnesia Haze.

If you've heard these two stories get intertwined with one another, that's because they often do. There's even a third story that says that Amnesia Haze was made by crossing Neville's Haze with Afghan. Regardless of which story holds true, Amnesia Haze rose to popularity in Holland and became one of the most famous Haze strains in the market, which was in high demand. And how couldn't it be with its energizing and euphoric high that leaves consumers feeling happy and invigorated? Its autoflower variant is one of the most popular autoflower strains, so you can never go wrong growing this strain.

• Hanus, L. & Hod, Y. (2020) Terpenes/Terpenoids in Cannabis: Are They Important? [PubMed Central]⁽¹⁾