Best Cannabis Strains for Creativity
Written by Chris Weatherall on Oct 12, 2022
Not every strain works as well as others to boost your creativity, and some may even have you happily moving away from active thought patterns. Strains also affect individuals differently, so while one person may have a go-to creative cannabis strain, that same strain may not inspire your own creative notions.
There are several physical and mental impacts of cannabis use that enhance the drive to create, and learning about them can help you determine whether cannabis can help you on your way to creativity. Whether you’re writing, creating, composing, or something else, it can be helpful to find the best strains for creativity. If you’re interested in getting the gears turning on your next project, it’s well worth discovering which cannabis strains inspire your creative flow.
What Cannabis Does for Creativity
Though it is commonly accepted that cannabis enhances creativity and the process of creating, how does this enhancement factor actually work? There are a few changes that are brought about by cannabis that affect how components of the brain operate. These may potentially boost the creative process.
Frontal Lobe Enhancement
The frontal lobe is important for several reasons, one of those being its use in the creative process. Research has revealed that creative individuals often have more activity in this area of the brain, whereas those with damage to their frontal lobe experience less creative thinking. So, how does cannabis factor into this? Cannabis use appears to enhance the blood flow to many areas of the brain, most critically, the frontal lobe. With more blood flow to this area of the brain, this could allow increased potential for creative thinking.
Research also shows that cannabis enhances divergent thinking, making more creative thoughts available to the individual. When you utilize divergent thinking, you’re branching out in a non-linear thinking path, allowing a variety of ideas to come to you from a seemingly small starting point. Cannabis allows that thinking to broaden and assist the creative process.
Dopamine Increases
Another effect cannabis has on the brain is on dopamine levels, which increase directly after cannabis consumption. Other, well-known emotional impacts of cannabis, such as relaxation and reduction of anxiety, can prompt a better flow of ideas. All these emotional changes together can allow for a less critical eye on your own thoughts and ideas, while allowing freer creation of new or interesting ideas. In this way, the ability of cannabis to drive down anxiety while also boosting divergent thinking and positive emotions may lead to the creation of ideas, art, music, and writing.
Affinity For Creativity
Not all research points to brain changes as the primary reasons for cannabis spurring creative thinking, however. Other studies suggest that the personality type most likely to use cannabis is one that is open to new experiences, and will therefore be open to the creative process. If you’re using cannabis, you may already be looking for something to open up your creative process. Being open to that experience means you’re open to the ideas that come with using cannabis.
What Terpene Makes You Creative?
Terpenes are organic chemical compounds produced by cannabis and other plants that control a variety of characteristics, including taste, smell, and even the effects of the cannabis strain. Since terpenes have such a profound effect on each strain, it’s no surprise that different terpenes can affect different levels of creative thinking.
- Pinene is well-known to be a primary terpene affecting innovation and inspiration, as it helps with access to long-term memory and increases attention span.
- Limonene is best for increasing mood through serotonin and dopamine, and this peace can help with the creative process.
- Caryophyllene, or beta-caryophyllene, helps with stress relief and is very fast-acting
Finding the right terpenes for your creative process can help you enhance your creative inspiration. It’s also helpful to understand more about how different cannabis strains are grown and created, to help you select a variety with sufficient levels of the above terpenes.
Is Indica or Sativa Better For Art?
Today’s cannabis strains are nearly always a blend of indica and sativa strains, but choosing a strain that heavily features one of these two general strains can help you access the benefits they’re best known for. Most consider sativa-dominant strains best for creativity. If you’re trying to make art, you don’t want to feel tired and sedated, and these are the general effects of more indica-dominant strains. Sativa, on the other hand, is often more energizing and uplifting. It’s among strains that boost productivity.
However, this general assumption is not the end-all-be-all of your cannabis strain selection. Even within the two categories, there are strains that can have the opposite effect than one would expect from an indica-dominant or sativa-dominant strain. While those broad understandings are important to begin with, what really counts is the inclusion of the terpenes we’ve discussed, as well as the strain’s THC to CBD ratio. When looking for more creative strains, it’s important to find one with plenty of THC and relatively low doses of CBD.
What Strain is Best For Creativity?
By understanding these differences, you can begin your search for a strain that works for your creative process. Keep in mind that while strains don’t affect everyone in the same manner, there are some tried and true strains among creatives that are bound to help you find that creative spirit. Here are the top ten creative picks we have on hand.
1. Blue Dream
A well-known standard for bringing about intense creativity, Blue Dream creates an energetic and euphoric feeling. A cross between Blueberry and Haze strains, Blue Dream (or Azure Dream) is a sativa-dominant strain that tastes like berries and gives a balanced high. You’ll experience slight body relaxation coupled with cerebral inspiration and happy effects. Though it varies, this strain generally has around 20% THC, 1% CBD, and a 60:40 sativa to indica ratio.
2. Snoop’s Dream
As a result of crossing Blue Dream and Master Kush, this indica-dominant strain is named Snoop’s Dream because of speculation that those two strains were favorites of legendary rapper Snoop Dogg. Snoop’s Dream typically has a 22% THC level, and almost no CBD. Its effects inspire a refreshing and creative high.
3. Super Silver Haze
Created from Skunk #1, Haze, and Northern Lights #5, Super Silver Haze can have an intense flavor but creates mental calm with spurts of euphoria and energy. This strain produces a great daytime high, and can be used to boost creative productivity if the user can deal with the burst of energy. Super Silver Haze is also well-known for reducing stress and increasing contemplation. This is an 80% sativa-dominant strain with around 20% THC and very small amounts of CBD.
4. Jack Herer
Named after a lifelong activist for cannabis, Jack Here is a 55% sativa-dominant strain, made from Northern Lights and Haze. The high created by this strain is bright without any additional mental confusion, creating energetic, alert, and clear-minded ideation. Jack Herer has a THC content of around 21%, and CBD of less than 1%. As such, it is known for its focusing effect.
5. Cinderella 99
This 70% sativa hybrid strain can be traced back to Jack Herer and provides a head rush of energy and stimulation that becomes a body high. The addition of euphoric effects also makes Cinderella 99 a strong contender for boosting creative thought processes and mental stimulation for focus. Its THC levels are around 20% and its CBD levels are less than 1%.
6. Chemdawg
An indica-dominant hybrid strain, Chemdawg boasts a harsh flavor like Super Silver Haze. The two strains also share what many call a cerebral and dizzying high. With strong euphoric effects, this strain can help promote both imagination and creativity. Chemdawg carries around 19% THC and less than 1% CBD, and is a fairly intense choice for creative types.
7. Purple Haze
This is a 60% sativa strain, named after a Jimi Hendrix song. The effects of Purple Haze include a psychedelic effect on the user’s senses, bringing energy, stimulation, and euphoria to the brain. Artists claim Purple Haze can make colors appear brighter and with more saturation. Purple Haze is created from Purple Thai and Haze, and has around 17% THC. There are almost no sedative effects from this strain, making creative production very likely.
8. Stardawg
Stardawg is a 60% sativa-dominant strain, and like others on this list, can be a potent creativity-inducer. Created from Chemdawg 4 and Tres Dawg, this strain boasts 19% THC, with euphoric and uplifting effects. In addition to the initial head high, the strong potency creates lasting relaxation in the body.
9. Island Sweet Skunk
This sativa-dominant strain is a descendant of Skunk #1 and has an 80:20 sativa to indica ratio. It gives a creative, mood-boosting high, with smooth euphoria owing to its 17% THC and 1% CBD content. Island Sweet Skunk is purported to help with focus and creativity.
10. Kali Mist
A 90% sativa strain, Kali Mist gives a bright high, uplifting your mood and stimulating your natural energy production. With 13% THC and less than 1% CBD, the high also allows for a clear mind. Users report feeling focused, motivated, and inspired to create.
Find the Right Strain for Your Creative Process
Whether you need to relax or stimulate your mind, cannabis can give you the push you need to start a project, finish one, and anything in between. The more you learn about the differences between strains, and the effect they have on you personally, the more you can explore your own creative process.
