What is a high amount of CBD for cannabis?

CBD-rich cannabis has never been as popular as it is today. Although CBD is non-psychoactive and doesn't get you high, many believe that CBD is one of the most important ‘wellness’ cannabinoids. Growers can choose low-THC/high-CBD cannabis seeds which will give you ultra low levels of THC (0.2% and below). Or growers can choose cannabis seeds which produce buds with both THC and CBD.

What is considered a high level of CBD in weed?

Historically any cannabis strain that produces 4% CBD, or more, in the dry buds is classified as CBD rich. Often these cannabis genetics are specially selected and bred to produce elevated CBD levels. Most traditional strains of high-THC ‘street weed’ tend to contain around 0.3% or below.

For some cannabis growers such low CBD levels are regarded as too low. As a result many professional cannabis seed banks are seeing a large increase in orders for CBD cannabis seeds, from both home growers as well as legal licensed growers.

Dutch Passion have invested a great deal of their recent R&D resources on creating an entire family of CBD-rich cannabis seeds (and strains rich in other cannabinoids too). These allow you to grow cannabis strains with your preferred levels of CBD and the right THC:CBD ratio.

The higher the THC content the more psychoactive the effects will feel. Which specific strain best suits you is something that only you can determine! One of the privileges of the modern home grower is the chance to grow/assess an array of cannabis seed types and make side-by-side comparisons.

This is a great way to fine-tune your cannabis growing to ensure that you only grow those strains which deliver maximum enjoyment/effects for your own personal preference.

What are the strongest CBD cannabis strains to date?

Strains such as CBD Charlotte’s Angel and Auto CBD Charlotte’s Angel can produce CDB levels up to 20% in the dry buds, sometimes with really low THC levels around 0.2% and below. Realistically, in most situations and with most phenotypes, the CBD level will average around 10-15% and the THC level somewhere between 0.5-1%.

You can’t get high from these strains and they are popular with medical users that enjoy the wellness benefits of CBD without wanting to get high. One other interesting use of such ultra-low THC strains with high CBD levels is that many people use them to rapidly remove the craving for a joint or a cigarette.

Plenty of other CBD strains are available with CBD levels ranging from 6-8% and upwards with varying THC levels. CBD rich cannabis strains are available in autoflower seeds as well as photoperiod feminised cannabis seeds.

CBD-rich cannabis strains grow in the same way, with the same nutrients and growth profiles as traditional cannabis strains. You can grow them with all the usual training/grow methods and harvest them in the normal way. Many of those that grow CBD-rich cannabis seeds find that the cannabis concentrates and extracts made from them are particularly effective.

CBD-rich weed vs CBD oil potency and effects

CBD-rich weed looks and smells similar to traditional cannabis strains. If you use an ultra low-THC strain (THC levels below 0.2%, maximum of 1%) then you can't get high from them. This is great for those wanting to work or function normally after using such strains.

Because the CBD-rich buds have low levels of THC, the cannabis concentrates (and CBD cannabis oil) made from them are also non-psychoactive. Many medical users of CBD rich cannabis strains find the concentrated effects of CBD-rich cannabis oil are particularly beneficial. Although the user won't get high from CBD oil it will contain high CBD levels (often 50% or more in pure, undiluted CBD oil), allowing the user a concentrated CBD boost.

The benefits and effects of CBD vary from person to person. Some CBD evangelists refuse to grow cannabis strains unless they are CBD-rich, feeling that the benefits are profound. Whereas plenty of other people, including many recreational cannabis growers, prefer the traditional effects of THC-rich cannabis strains. It’s important to add that many medical growers also prefer to grow THC-rich cannabis strains (with low CBD levels) as well as CBD-rich cannabis.

What are cannabis seeds with 1:1 THC:CBD ratio?

Cannabis seeds with a 1:1 THC:CBD ratio produce plants with buds that contain roughly equal levels of THC and CBD. This is often 6-8% THC and similar (or even higher) CBD levels. These strains, dependent on the specific THC level in the buds, will give a moderate THC high.

Such cannabis strains are popular with both medical cannabis growers as well as recreational growers. For many medical growers, the presence of THC in their CBD buds is necessary for the desired effects. For many recreational growers, the presence of elevated CBD levels produces what is often said to be a deeper, richer and more satisfying effect.

However, it should be said that a cannabis strain with around 6-8% THC won't feel as intensely powerful as a 20% THC cannabis strain. However, for some people, medium THC levels actually produce a far more enjoyable and manageable high - especially when the medium THC levels are complemented by high CBD levels.

Evidence of the preference that many have for CBD-rich cannabis strains is in the huge rise in sales of CBD-rich cannabis seeds which are currently at an all-time high. Further evidence of mainstream CBD popularity can be found by the widespread availability of CBD products (CBD oil, CBD buds, CBD edibles etc) that are available online or on the high street in many countries.

How to test CBD levels at home

Without professional lab testing it’s difficult for the average home grower to assess the CBD levels (and THC levels) in their home grown cannabis. The experienced grower will be able to ‘sense’ the level of THC psycho-activity but won't be able to define the precise cannabinoid levels.

That’s why it’s important for growers to buy their CBD rich cannabis seeds from a reliable source with a professional track record for solid customer service and predictable genetic performance.

Many so-called CBD seeds from less scrupulous cannabis seed banks have been shown to contain low CBD levels, or even none at all. Often these cannabis seeds are bought and sold on the wholesale market with little knowledge or thought about subsequent performance.

How to increase CBD levels in cannabis plants

Much depends on the initial quality/stability of the CBD cannabis genetics as well as the way they are grown. Even a pro-grower won't be able to harvest CBD-rich buds if their cannabis seeds contained no CBD genetics.

For those that start with reliable and professionally bred cannabis seeds, the main focus is on the grow room environment (and fine-tuning it) to maximise plant health and subsequent cannabinoid levels.

LED grow lights to improve CBD levels in cannabis plants

In this respect one of the most important recommendations for growers is to switch from HPS to a quality LED grow light. Numerous side-by-side studies have shown that, despite the high initial purchase price, LED light allows plants to reach new levels of cannabinoid/terpene content.

Dutch Passion work has shown that clones that produce 17% THC under HPS light will produce 22-23% THC under LED light. CBD levels (and other cannabinoids) also increase when grown under LED thanks to the superior spectrum and significant reduction in the inherent levels of heat-stress produced by HPS. This also helps terpene and cannabinoid levels reach new heights.

UVA/UVB supplemental lights to increase CBD levels in cannabis plants

Use of UVA/UVB supplemental lights is another way to increase terpenes/cannabinoids. These UVA/UVB supplemental lights were traditionally most cost effective when bought as fluorescent tube fixtures. But UVA/UVB LEDs are starting to become available, though they are not yet as cost effective as fluorescent tube options.

Avoiding over/under feeding & over/under watering

Avoiding yo-yo effects between over-feeding and under-feeding your plants is another significant stress reducer which allows your plants to grow optimally in the nutrient sweet-spot.

Use of slow-release organic nutrients, e.g. BioTabs, are an excellent way to avoid the difficulties that many (especially less experienced cannabis growers) see when trying to correctly dose bottled nutrients/minerals.

Over/under watering has similar effects, soaking the cannabis root system in an oxygen-poor environment where optimal growth is subsequently compromised. Use of hygrometers, which measure water content in your soil/grow medium, are a good way to avoid over watering. It is worth adding that over-watering and over-feeding are the two most common errors seen by home growers, especially by rookie growers. If you can avoid these errors it maximises plant health and subsequent bud quality.