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Home›Guides›High-CBD strains: CBD-rich cannabis explained
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High-CBD strains: CBD-rich cannabis explained

High-CBD strains are cannabis varieties that test high in CBD (cannabidiol) and often low in THC. In Canada, CBD products are regulated as cannabis under the Cannabis Act, and labels show Total CBD and Total THC so you can read the ratio.

A sunny cannabis farm with a wooden CBD sign and a barn behind the plants

4 min read · Updated November 1, 2026 · WeedDB editors

CBD-rich cannabis has gone from a footnote to its own shelf in Canadian retail. The word "high" in high-CBD refers to the cannabinoid content, not to intoxication. This guide explains what CBD is, how THC to CBD ratios appear on Canadian labels, what the Type I, II and III chemotypes mean, and how the law treats CBD here. It makes no health claims, and nothing on this page is medical advice.

Which strains are highest in CBD?What is CBD, and how is it different from THC?How do THC:CBD ratios work on Canadian labels?What are Type I, Type II and Type III cannabis?Is CBD legal in Canada?What should you check before buying a CBD-rich product?

Which strains are highest in CBD?

The chart below ranks strains in our records by their reported CBD. It is a live, computed ranking that updates as the records do, so we don't type strain names or percentages into this text. Use it as a starting list, then check the label on any product you're considering.

As with THC, reported CBD varies by batch, grower and lab. A strain name describes a lineage, not a guaranteed number, so the Total CBD on the package in front of you is the figure that counts.

Highest reported CBD on WeedDB

  • ACDC12–20%
  • Charlotte's Web12–20%
  • Sour Space Candy15–16%
  • Mystic Magic12–15%
  • Cannatonic9–14%
  • Midnight9–14%
  • Sour Tsunami10–13%
  • Gorilla Mints10–12%
  • Orange Herijuana10–12%
  • Paradise OG10%
  • Hawaiian Dream6–12%
  • Harlequin4–10%
  • Devil Fruit4–6%
Strains with a published CBD range of at least 2% that reaches 4% or more, on a 0 to 25% scale. Batches vary; the label on your product is what counts.
CBD-rich strains on WeedDB
Sour Space Candy strainHybridSour Space CandyTHC 0–1% · MyrceneCharlotte's Web strainHybridCharlotte's WebTHC 0–1% · MyrceneACDC strainHybridACDCTHC 1–5% · MyrceneMystic Magic strainHybridMystic MagicTHC 7–18% · MyrceneSour Tsunami strainHybridSour TsunamiTHC 1–10% · MyrceneGorilla Mints strainHybridGorilla MintsTHC 10–12%Paradise OG strainHybridParadise OGTHC 8–10%Orange Herijuana strainHybridOrange HerijuanaTHC 10–14%Cannatonic strainHybridCannatonicTHC 4–8% · MyrceneMidnight strainHybridMidnightTHC 7–13% · MyrceneHawaiian Dream strainHybridHawaiian DreamTHC 3–12%Harlequin strainHybridHarlequinTHC 5–15% · MyrceneDevil Fruit strainIndicaDevil FruitTHC 2–20%Bombsicle strainHybridBombsicleTHC 35%

What is CBD, and how is it different from THC?

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is one of the many cannabinoids made by the cannabis plant. THC is the cannabinoid best known for causing intoxication. CBD is not considered intoxicating in the same way, though it is still a pharmacologically active compound and it is still cannabis under Canadian law.

Like THC, CBD exists in the raw plant mainly as an acid, CBDA, which converts to CBD when heated. That is why Canadian labels use Total CBD, the CBD present plus what the CBDA can become. Our guide to THCA vs THC explains the same conversion for THC, and the principle is identical.

How do THC:CBD ratios work on Canadian labels?

A ratio compares the two cannabinoids. A 1:1 product has about as much CBD as THC by weight, while a 1:20 product has far more CBD. Canadian labels give you the raw material to work this out: Total THC and Total CBD, shown as a percentage on flower or in milligrams on other formats.

To compare two products, divide one number by the other using the same unit. A flower with 1% Total THC and 18% Total CBD is CBD-dominant. Read the full panel, including ranges and the packaged-on date, as described in reading cannabis labels.

A product with a lot of CBD can still carry meaningful THC, so the ratio matters more than the CBD number alone. Low THC is not zero THC, and the label is the only reliable way to tell.

Ratio (THC:CBD)What it describes
20:1 or higherTHC clearly dominant
1:1Roughly equal amounts of each
1:20 or lowerCBD clearly dominant, very little THC
How a ratio reads. The figures are illustrative, not product data.

What are Type I, Type II and Type III cannabis?

Researchers sort cannabis plants into three chemotypes by which cannabinoid dominates. Type I plants are THC-dominant, which describes most of the drug cannabis on the market. Type II plants carry both THC and CBD. Type III plants are CBD-dominant with little THC, which is where most high-CBD strains sit.

This chemistry-based sorting is more useful than the older indica and sativa labels, which describe plant shape and tradition rather than cannabinoids. If you want the background on why the old labels are shaky, read indica vs sativa. Chemotype tells you the cannabinoid balance, and the batch's lab report tells you the actual numbers.

Type III plants are closely related to hemp, which is cannabis grown for fibre, seed and low THC. Under Canadian law, hemp is defined by a THC limit in the plant and is regulated under its own regulations, separate from the drug cannabis sold in licensed stores.

ChemotypeCannabinoid profile
Type ITHC-dominant, very little CBD
Type IIBoth THC and CBD in meaningful amounts
Type IIICBD-dominant, very little THC
The three chemotypes used to describe a plant's cannabinoid profile.

Is CBD legal in Canada?

Yes, but it is regulated as cannabis. Under the Cannabis Act, CBD derived from cannabis is a controlled substance in the same legal framework as THC. Products must be produced by a licensed producer and sold through a provincially authorized retailer, and they carry the same packaging, labelling and tracking rules as any other cannabis product.

That means a CBD-rich flower, oil or capsule from a legal store is simply a cannabis product with a different cannabinoid profile. Age limits, possession limits and rules on public consumption apply the same way, and they differ by province and territory. Our guide to weed measurements covers the 30 g public possession limit.

CBD products sold outside the licensed system, such as shelf products in non-cannabis shops, are not what the Cannabis Act authorizes. If a product claims to contain CBD, check that it carries the standardized cannabis label and an excise stamp, and buy from a licensed retailer.

What should you check before buying a CBD-rich product?

A short checklist helps you compare products on facts. We don't describe what CBD products do for anyone's body, because Canadian rules restrict health claims on cannabis packaging and because the evidence is a matter for a health professional, not a buyer's guide.

If you have questions about using cannabis alongside other medications or a health condition, talk to a doctor or pharmacist. Health Canada also publishes plain guidance for people using cannabis, including advice on starting with a small amount.

  • Total CBD and Total THC, in the same unit, so you can work out the ratio.
  • The format: flower, oil, capsule and beverage labels show amounts differently.
  • The packaged-on date and the lab range, since cannabinoid content shifts as products age.
  • The standardized cannabis symbol and excise stamp, which show the product came through the licensed system.
  • Per-unit amounts on non-flower products, shown in milligrams of each cannabinoid.
Strains with lower published THC
Charlotte's Web strainHybridCharlotte's WebTHC 0–1% · MyrceneSour Tsunami strainHybridSour TsunamiTHC 1–10% · MyrceneACDC strainHybridACDCTHC 1–5% · MyrceneGorilla Mints strainHybridGorilla MintsTHC 10–12%Purple Star strainIndicaPurple StarTHC 6%Cannatonic strainHybridCannatonicTHC 4–8% · MyrceneParadise OG strainHybridParadise OGTHC 8–10%Sour Blueberry strainHybridSour BlueberryTHC 12–14% · LimoneneBlueberry Afgoo strainHybridBlueberry AfgooTHC 12% · CaryophylleneMidnight strainHybridMidnightTHC 7–13% · MyrceneRoot Beer Kush strainHybridRoot Beer KushTHC 11–12%Orange Herijuana strainHybridOrange HerijuanaTHC 10–14%

Sources: laws-lois.justice.gc.ca, laws-lois.justice.gc.ca, canada.ca, canada.ca

Common questions

What does high-CBD mean?

It describes a strain or product whose lab-tested Total CBD is high relative to its THC. It says nothing on its own about how much THC is present, so check Total THC on the label as well.

Is CBD legal in Canada?

Yes, as a regulated cannabis product. Under the Cannabis Act, CBD from cannabis is sold by licensed producers through authorized provincial retailers, with the same packaging and labelling rules as other cannabis.

What does a 1:1 THC:CBD ratio mean?

It means the product has about equal amounts of THC and CBD by weight. You can work the ratio out from the Total THC and Total CBD figures on the label, using the same unit for both.

What are Type I, II and III cannabis?

They are chemotypes. Type I is THC-dominant, Type II has both THC and CBD in meaningful amounts, and Type III is CBD-dominant with very little THC.

Is CBD the same as hemp?

Not exactly. Hemp is cannabis defined by a low THC limit and regulated under separate hemp rules. CBD is a compound that can come from cannabis or hemp, and CBD from cannabis is regulated under the Cannabis Act.

Can I buy CBD outside a licensed cannabis store?

The Cannabis Act authorizes cannabis products, including CBD products, through the licensed system. Look for the standardized cannabis symbol and an excise stamp, and buy from a provincially authorized retailer.

Keep reading

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Phenotypes, cuts and why one strain name can mean different plants"Pheno" is short for phenotype: the physical and chemical traits a plant actually shows, such as its smell, structure and cannabinoid levels. Two seeds from the same cross can grow into different phenotypes, which is why one strain name can cover several different plants.What does weed smell like? Aromas and terpenesWeed smells earthy, sweet, citrusy or piney, and often a bit skunky. Across 1,756 strain guides on WeedDB, sweet and earthy are the most common aromas, and the lead terpenes are usually caryophyllene, myrcene and limonene.How to decarb weed (and why THCA needs heat)Decarbing (decarboxylation) is gently heating cannabis so the THCA it contains turns into THC. Lab studies show the change starts around 90 °C and speeds up sharply as temperature rises, but too much heat or time then starts to destroy THC, so it's a balance. Raw weed isn't intoxicating because it's mostly THCA.Does weed expire? Shelf life, storage and the packaged dateWeed doesn't spoil on a fixed date, but it does change. Over time THC slowly breaks down into CBN, and flower that's stored damp can grow mould. Canadian dried cannabis labels show a packaged date rather than an expiry date, while edibles may carry a best-before date.How to roll a joint: a step-by-step guideTo roll a joint, grind the flower, make a small filter, lay the filter and the ground cannabis in a rolling paper, shape it into a tube, tuck the paper, lick the gummed edge and seal it. Once you have the motion, it takes under a minute.What is hash? How it's made and how it differs from kief and rosinHash, short for hashish, is a cannabis concentrate made by collecting the resin glands (trichomes) from the plant and pressing or gathering them into a solid. It is made without chemical solvents, and in Canada it is sold as a cannabis extract under the Cannabis Regulations.What is shatter? 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Why it's called kush, and the Kush strainsKush is named after the Hindu Kush, the mountain range along the Afghanistan and Pakistan border where the landrace indica plants behind the name come from. Today the word is also casual slang for good weed in general, and the Kush family covers every strain on WeedDB that carries the name.Runtz strains: origin, lineage, and every Runtz variantRuntz is a candy-sweet hybrid reported to be a cross of Zkittlez and Gelato. It became one of the most copied strain names of the late 2010s, so the Runtz family now includes dozens of crosses and flavour-named variants.Gelato strains: Gelato 33, 41, 45 and the whole familyGelato is a hybrid reported to be a cross of Sunset Sherbet and Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies, bred in the San Francisco Bay Area. 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It usually points to rare, new or very good-looking flower, but in Canada the word has no official definition, so the label, the packaged date and your own eyes and nose tell you more than the word does.Male vs female weed plants: how to tell them apartFemale cannabis plants grow pistils and form the resinous buds people smoke, while males grow small pollen sacs and produce no usable flower. You can tell them apart when the plant shows its pre-flowers, usually a few weeks into growth, and growers remove males to get seedless buds.How to use a weed grinder (and clean it)A grinder breaks dried flower into small, even pieces by twisting two toothed halves against each other. 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CATSA allows cannabis in carry-on and checked bags on flights within Canada, and the 30 g public possession limit still applies. Taking cannabis out of Canada, even to a U.S. state where it is legal, is illegal.Weed seeds in Canada: is it legal to buy them?Yes. Adults can legally buy cannabis seeds in Canada from federally licensed sellers and provincially authorized retailers. Seeds count toward your possession limit: one seed equals 1 g of dried cannabis under Schedule 3 of the Cannabis Act, so 30 seeds is the public maximum.How much is a gram of weed in Canada?There is no single price. Statistics Canada's last published quarterly figures, from 2019, put legal dried cannabis at about $10.65 a gram and illegal at about $5.93. More recent data shows recreational cannabis prices fell 1.1% between March 2024 and March 2025, but no current per-gram average is published.Highest THC strains: what the numbers really meanThe highest THC strains are the ones with the biggest Total THC number on a lab report, but that number is a ceiling that varies by batch, lab and method. This guide explains how THC is measured and labelled in Canada, why very high figures are often inflated, and why a higher number isn't automatically a better choice.What is a dab? Dabbing, rigs and concentrates explainedA dab is a small amount of cannabis concentrate that is heated on a hot surface and inhaled as vapour. Concentrates are far more potent than flower, so the main safety points are burns, heat, and starting with a very small amount.Cookies strains: Girl Scout Cookies and its familyCookies strains are the cannabis family built around Girl Scout Cookies, widely reported as a cross of OG Kush and Durban Poison from the San Francisco Bay Area. Cuts like Thin Mints and Forum Cut, and descendants like Gelato, Sunset Sherbet and Wedding Cake, make up the family.Haze strains: the classic sativa familyHaze strains are a family of cannabis varieties descended from the original Haze, a long-flowering sativa blend reported to come from California in the 1960s and 70s. Super Silver Haze, Amnesia, Lemon Haze and Purple Haze are among the best-known descendants.Diesel strains: Sour Diesel, NYC Diesel and the gas familyDiesel strains are the cannabis family known for a sharp fuel smell, built around Sour Diesel and NYC Diesel. Their roots are reported to lead back to Chemdawg, though the origin of Sour Diesel itself is disputed.Minor cannabinoids: CBG, CBN, CBC, THCV and THCA explainedMinor cannabinoids are the cannabinoids in cannabis other than THC and CBD, called minor because of how little a typical plant makes, not how strong they are. In Canada they all fall under the Cannabis Act, Health Canada names CBN and THCV as intoxicating, and labels only have to show THC and CBD.Cannabis oil, tinctures and RSO: what's the difference?A tincture is a liquid cannabis extract dosed with a dropper, cannabis oil is a loose market term with no legal class in Canada, and RSO is a thick, dark whole-plant extract sold in a syringe. 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