Hemp and cannabis are actually the same plants.

Scientifically speaking, they hemp and cannabis are the same genus and species of plants.

The difference between hemp and cannabis is a legal one.

Since 2018, hemp has been legal federally while cannabis is still illegal.

How can this be if they are the same plant you ask?

According to federal law, it all comes down to THC content.

THC is the psychoactive compound in cannabis that gets people”high.”

The law says that any cannabis plant with less than 0.3% THC content is hemp and not “cannabis.”

That’s the only difference between legal hemp and federally illegal cannabis.

This new law legalizing hemp is—of course—a great thing.

It means we can enjoy all the other types of beneficial cannabinoids, like CBD, CBN, and CBG.

So, let’s find out about some of the best hemp strains available today.

Some of these CBD strains may help you with anxiety, relaxation, depression.

Others will help with inflammation, recovery, and sleep.

And still, others can alter-moods and uplift you.

The great thing about hemp and CBD is you keep a clear head

CBD allows you to go about your day receiving benefits but without being impaired.

Win, Win.

Access to CBD hemp strains is going to change lives for the better.

I like to call it a “healthy revolution.”

I’m writing this today because I used to suffer from debilitating anxiety but–thanks to homemade CBD rosin–I’ve turned the corner and am out and about in the world for the good.

Welcome to hemp.

Welcome, and enjoy

Chef Nug Ucci

Elektra is going to be your new favorite hemp strain.

It has the perfect feel for an end of a workday relaxer.

Maybe roll up a CBD joint after dinner?

You’ll enjoy its good mellow feel and “piney” scent.

Elektra is a cross between ERB and ACDC.

It was originally created in southern Oregon near Ashton.

The hemp growing region in southwest Oregon is one of the most beautiful areas on the west coast with tons of sun and a mild climate–perfect for growing rich CBD hemp strains.

Elektra is perhaps best enjoyed at the end of the day.

However, if stress or anxiety during your workday is why you’re coming to hemp, then Elektra might be a good option in the late morning for you.

Elektra’s terpene profile shows it to be high in pinene and myrcene.

These two terpenes in particular help with anxiety and inflammation.

Elektra nugs are usually dark green with orange pistols (hairs).

The bud is dense to the touch and should be full in shape.

Charlotte’s web is likely the most famous CBD strain ever created. 

Charlotte’s web first gained notoriety by extinguishing seizures in children. 

It is one of the first strains that broke through to mainstream culture and delivered good health news about CBD and cannabinoids.

Charlotte’s Web hemp strain has wide-ranging benefits well beyond helping children with epilepsy. 

Charlotte’s Web is good for its calming effects, aid in focus and inflammation reduction (specifically in recovery or post work-out). 

This makes Charlotte’s Web a particularly good strain for those who enjoy an active lifestyle.

Consumers of Charlotte’s Web love the strain for its uplifting effect on mood and added feeling of creativity. 

The strain is high in the terpene myrcene and pinene which likely contributes to is calming and focus effects. 

Myrcene also gives the strain a slightly fruity aroma on top of its already piney scent. 

The terpene caryophyllene is also present in relatively high quantities. 

Caryophyllene has some of the most promising terpene health benefits.

Buds should be full and dense with noticeable trichome glands (crystals).

Suver Haze is a Sativa dominant hybrid that makes it uplifting and the perfect hemp strain for those who need to get up and go.

Suver Haze is loved for its pain-relieving and anxiety fighting properties.

It’s a social strain that has really helped me personally with my moderate to severe social anxiety.

Suver Haze is another strain that was developed in the hemp growing regions of southern Oregon.

This Sativa dominant strain was bred by crossing Neville’s Haze with Krishna’s Special Sauce (two CBD favorites) to create Suver Haze which today is one of the most popular strains grown and brought to market.

Suver Haze consistently tests around 17% CBD content and has a terpene profile that contains rich portions of caryophyllene, myrcene, and farnesene.

Farnesene, also found in turmeric, has strong anti-inflammatory properties and anti-spasmatic benefits.

If you suffer from lower back pain or muscle spasms, then you might want to keep an eye out for hemp strains high in the natural terpene farnesene, like Suver Haze.

Suver Haze has a piney and sweet fruit aroma.

Buds should appear light green with deep orange hairs or pistols.

Bud shape should be full with noticeable trichomes on the best Suver Haze nugs.

Ringo’s Gift is a hemp strain named for the famed cannabis activist Ringo Lawrence.

Ringo’s Gift has a soothing full-body relaxation and mood mellowing effect.

It is commonly referred to as a “cerebral” CBD because of its stimulating effects on the mind.

This after work or lunch break strain will keep you clear-headed but relaxed and ready to be productive.

Ringo’s Gift is a cross between Harle-Tsu and ACDC hemp strains.

It is high in CBD (ranging around 14-18% content) with a full terpene profile rich in pinene, myrcene, and caryophyllene.

Ringo’s Gift has become a very popular hemp cultivar in Spain recently and is ever-present in the Barcelona cafe scene.

Ringo’s Gift has a piney aroma with a touch of citrus and spiciness due to its terpene profile.

Nugs should be light green, similar in color to fresh mint, with brown pistils (hairs).

Buds should be full and dense to the touch.

Ringo’s Gift is a great strain to try if you’re NOT into the “couch-lock” effect but still want a heavy relaxing CBD feel.

You can expect a strong “entourage effect” from the myrcene and caryophyllene terpene mixture.

This entourage effect from the terpene mix will intensify the overall relaxing effect without sapping you of your motivation to get things done.

Sweet and Sour Widow is great for pain relief and helps with insomnia.

This hemp strain doesn’t put you to sleep but gets your mind into a relaxed state with a touch of uplift so you can let your worries melt away.

And, it does all this without fogging up your head.

Now that’s what we’re looking for in a CBD hemp strain.

Sweet and Sour Widow is an indica dominant hybrid strain with a 70/30 split between indica and Sativa heritage.

This hybrid strain is a cross between the famed White Widow strain and a Sativa of unknown heritage.

Sweet and Sour Widow has a sweet and fruity scent due to high myrcene content.

CBD content generally ranges above 15%.

Sweet and Sour Widow should be a dark green color with a thick coating of trichomes (crystals), a trait inherited from its White Widow lineage.

Buds should be full and dense to the touch.

Sweet and Sour Widow is one of my favorite CBD strains for sleep.

I have always had a hard time getting to sleep because I just can’t shut down my mind.

Maybe you know the feeling?

Do your thoughts just toss around and around when you should be sleeping.

Then you may want to give this CBD hemp strain a try.

It works to decrease anxiety and help quiet your mind so you can get a good night’s sleep.

Harle-Tsu is a great CBD hemp strain for relieving pain and inflammation.

With almost no psychoactive cannabinoids, the Harle-Tsu strain is a great day time, at work, make-it-happen kinda hemp.

Are you waking up with aches and pains?

This might be the first thing in the morning CBD treatment for you.

I like this Harle-Tsu post-work-out because I go to the gym early and don’t want a foggy head as I start my productive day.

You may feel the same way?

After all, if I wanted to start out the day slow I’d switch to decaf.

Right?

Harle-Tsu is a cross between Harlequin and Sour Tsunami hemp strains.

This hybrid was bred in northern California by the Southern Humboldt Seed Collective.

The heritage is indica heavy with a herbal, fruity and piney scent.

The terpene profile for the Harle-Tsu is heavy on myrcene and humulene which likely gives the hemp its herbal and fruity scent.

If you’re smoking CBD nugs, then I would highly recommend Harle-Tsu for taste.

One of the best tasting CBD strains that I’ve come across.

The taste translates nicely into concentrates including rosins, resins and shatter.

I prefer rosins because their extraction process is chemical-free (solventless) and makes a finished product full of tasty terpenes.

Harle-Tsu has a light green appearance with brown hairs.

Expect to see fewer trichomes on the buds than you would see with a similar strain that has a broader profile of cannabinoids.

Harle-Tsu is a strain that I turn to a couple of times a week to help me be more productive through the busiest time of my day.

As a chef, the day can be fast-paced and hectic.

Harle-Tsu works for me because it keeps my head clear morning tonight.

Do you have a morning or evening CBD regime you’d like to share?

Leave a comment below.

I’d love to hear from you.

Charlotte’s Cherries is quickly becoming a favorite hemp strain of many.

It mixes the well-known health benefits of CBD from Charlotte’s Web hemp with the tasty natural terpenes found in the Colorado Cherries strain.

Charlotte’s Cherries is uplifting and relaxing.

It has good pain relief and stress-reducing benefits topped off by a sweet aroma reminiscent of fresh Bing cherries (the big red ones).

Charlotte’s Cherries is a Sativa dominant hybrid so it is good for day time consumption.

It’s uplifting and energizing effects go well with an active lifestyle or even an out-and-about Saturday night.

Charlotte’s Cherries nug appearance should be bright green with long orange hairs (pistils).

Moderate trichome coverage is indicative of quality hemp buds.  Charlotte’s Cherries nug shape should be full and moderately dense to the squeeze.

Have you tried Charlotte’s Cherries?

I would love to hear your opinion or experience with the strain.

I’m a Chef focusing on CBD rosin blends and I’m always very interested to hear what you have to say about taste, benefits and your experience of Charlotte’s Cherries or your favorite strain of medicinal hemp.

Leave a comment below.

Harlequin is a CBD hemp strain with one of the most exciting heritages.

This strain is 3:1 Sativa dominant.

It was bred by crossing a number of hemp strains including famed Colombian Gold, Nepali Indica as well as Thai and Swiss wild hemp strains.

It has a strong CBD relaxing effect with an upbeat Sativa energizing kick if that makes sense.

This is another great daytime hemp strain if you need to be clear-headed and motivated.

I love it because it helps cut down my anxiety but doesn’t get in the way of a productive day.

The Harlequin strain terpene profile is broad with limonene, pinene, caryophyllene, and myrcene.

Limonene goes great with Sativa dominant strains because the two compounds interact to intensify the uplifting effect of each.

Harlequin has a sweet and piney aroma with floral flavors likely due to the limonene and myrcene content.

Harlequin should be a dense full bud with a light green color, dark orange pistols (hairs) and visible trichomes (crystals).

Harlequin is a great strain for day time consumption and activity-rich days.

This is a strain I turn to frequently before an active Saturday.

It may be a good CBD strain for you to try before a hike or day at the beach.

Since Harlequin is one of the more common hemp strains available, do you have any experience with this CBD hemp strain?

This is one that I usually consume as rosin.

If you’ve tried it before, what do you think of the taste?

Leave a comment below.