6 Psychedelic Cannabis Strains & What You Need to Know
Psychedelic weed strains are perfect for people who want to unplug from the real world for a bit and take a ride into the unknown. With a few puffs, your senses become distorted and time seems to slow down or even stop. You might see bright colors and hear, feel, or taste things that aren't really there. Ready for the ride of your life? These trippy psychedelic strains won’t disappoint.
Amnesia Haze
Amnesia Haze from Zamnesia Seeds is where the psychedelic cannabis craze began. Since 1996 when it first came out, this potent sativa has been bred to produce THC levels up to 21% and sometimes more, so novice stoners should start with a small dose.
When you smoke Amnesia Haze, expect a huge rush of euphoria and energy and a feeling that your worldview has been fundamentally altered. You probably won't see a rainbow of colors, but you'll definitely feel your perception change. When you browse the varied selection of Seattle pre-rolls and flower at Higher Leaf, you can usually find Amnesia Haze in stock.
Wedding Cake
Here’s another strain you can commonly find at Higher Leaf. Wedding Cake offers sweet and tangy aromas and mind-altering effects that have made it a favorite in Seattle, WA, and down the West Coast. Hailing from the Girl Scout Cookies family, this strain has THC levels ranging between 25-27%, so new consumers should go slow.
Upon inhaling the fruity aroma with cream on the exhale, expect a near-instant euphoric cerebral high with heightened senses and a rush of creativity. If you're an artist or musician, have your creative tools ready!
Headband
The headband strain is named both after the iconic hippie headband and the strain’s gripping cerebral effects. If you're looking for a psychedelic trip, be sure to check it out. The child of OG Kush and Sour Diesel, Headband is an almost balanced hybrid with THC levels that sit at around 27%.
Headband's high doesn't come on immediately, but it's worth waiting for because the trippy rush of visual distortions keeps going once it starts. If you get impatient and have a second dose, the effects could have you scrambling for ways to sober up from weed. But with just the right amount, you can expect to see changes at the edges of your vision that are interesting without inducing panic or paranoia.
LSD (Cannabis Strain)
LSD is one of the most well-known psychedelic drugs, so it makes sense that one of the most psychedelic cannabis strains would be named after its hallucinogenic counterpart. The LSD cannabis strain—not to be confused with the drug—is the offspring of Skunk #1 and Mazar, an Indica landrace that's well known for its numbing, whole-body high.
When smoking the skunky-earthy-spicy LSD cannabis strain, expect intense and happy mind-altering effects from the strain's high THC levels of 20-24% along with sleepiness on the come-down. Like Wedding Cake, the trippy feelings consumers get from LSD are perfect for pairing with creative pursuits.
Lemon Power Haze
Lemon Power Haze is a treat for cannabis fans in search of a true psychedelic high. As you might expect of a Haze variety, this lemon-flavored delight is highly stimulating in mind-bending ways, with a side dish of euphoria and giggles.
In small amounts, you can get away with smoking this strain on a regular day and enjoying the uplifting mental boost to get you going. However, high doses are almost guaranteed to lift you up, up, and away!
Durban Poison
The final strain on our list of the most psychedelic weed strains is Durban Poison—a strain with origins in South Africa. This pure sativa strain has pretty low THC levels at around 9%, but its flavor profile and psychedelic effects don't disappoint.
After taking puff after puff of Durban Poison’s spicy licorice and cherry flavors, the initial happiness and sense of euphoria give way to a psychedelic trip that goes on and on. The objects in your physical surroundings might start to move and change colors and you could start hearing things that aren't there. Hold on to your hat and enjoy the ride!
Things to Know Before Trying Psychedelic Weed Strains
Before you go ahead and sit down to your own personal Cirque du Soleil, there are a few things that first-time trippers need to know.
Psychedelic strains are potent. With the exception of Durban Poison, the psychedelic strains on our list have high THC concentrations and are not recommended for new or THC-sensitive smokers. While THC percentage doesn’t matter 100% as a predictor of potency, consumers confirm that these strains are extremely strong, so it’s best to start with a low dose and gradually increase until you find the perfect intensity of psychedelic effects.
Your senses will go into overdrive. "Trippy" weed strains achieve their effects by acting on the 5-HT2A serotonin receptors as well as the auditory and visual nerves in the brain. This leads to time distortions, visual distortions, and even auditory hallucinations. To prevent freak-outs and dangerous situations, try these strains in a place where you feel safe, with friends that you know you can trust to look after you.
You might feel creative. Heightened senses and a mental rush can lead many consumers to feel more creative than usual. Prepare some creative tools beforehand such as paints or a musical instrument. You never know—you might create a masterpiece while you're high.
The trip can turn dark. As with the psychedelic trip you might experience with magic mushrooms or LSD, a trippy cannabis experience can turn dark. Fortunately, most psychedelic strains are "happy" strains due to their cannabinoid and terpene profiles, but it's best to start in a happy place and go slow in case the trip is not what you expect.
Your motor skills will slow down. Finally, the nerves in the brain that are affected by psychedelic weed strains (which alter the senses) are closely related to motor skills and coordination. I.e. altered sensory processing affects motor skills. Don't plan on doing anything like driving or even walking outside until you're completely back to your regular self.
Have Fun
If you can calculate the dosage right, the psychedelic effects of trippy weed strains can be fun, exciting, and out-of-this-world (minus the rocket fare). Sharing psychedelic cannabis with friends can be an especially great experience.
To ensure that your trip is positive and doesn't freak you out, go easy on strains you haven't tried before, make sure you're in a safe, happy space when you start, and wait until your cognition and reflexes are back to normal before making decisions or driving. Above all, remember that weed affects everyone differently. It's only by trying out a range of varieties that you'll find the best psychedelic strains for you.