As Marijuana becomes more of a mainstream topic with legalization around the world gaining momentum, the new, average and experienced user are constantly looking for information on the various medical and recreational strains that are currently offered.

So, how does one decide which product to try and which product can provide the desired effects?

The two main types of cannabis, sativa and indica, are used for a number of medicinal and recreational purposes.

Sativas are known for more of a head effect - an invigorating, energizing sensation that can help reduce anxiety or stress and increase creativity and focus.

Indicas are typically associated with full-body effects, such as increasing deep relaxation and reducing insomnia.

Let’s take a look at the medicinal side of the plant:

The term Medical Marijuana encompasses using the entire, unprocessed marijuana plant or its unique extracts to treat a variety of symptoms pertaining to illness and other conditions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not recognized or approved the marijuana plant as medicine as of the publishing of this article.

That being said, the scientific study of the chemicals found in marijuana, referred to as Cannabinoids, has led to multiple FDA-approved medications that contain cannabinoid chemicals in pill form. Continued research will undoubtedly lead to more approved medications in the future.

Since the marijuana plant contains properties that may assist in treating a range of illnesses and symptoms, the majority of people now argue that it should be legal for medical purposes. In fact, a growing number of states have legalized marijuana for medical use with momentum moving towards national medical legalization in the United States.

As additional studies progress and become completed, the FDA should have enough data to determine that the marijuana plant can indeed be approved as medicine.

With the above information, doctors and patients in the medically legal states of the U.S., have found a few strains to be both popular and effective, which are:

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Girl Scout Cookies - Quickly becoming a favorite choice of medical patients everywhere. If the symptoms one is looking for relief from are pain, migraine, or just an escape from the daily grind, this strain is the one. GSC is a sativa dominant hybrid, giving it a combination of effects which can be energizing in a calming fashion - unique to even describe it as such. It typically features a THC content of over 20% and is commonly available in dispensaries.

Charlotte’s Web – Very popular in the news for the story of a little girl with Dravet Syndrome being treated unsuccessfully with big pharma drugs. Instead, this high CBD strain was created for her and almost instantaneously reduced her seizures almost completely. CW is a high CBD and low THC strain.

Afghan Kush – One of the strongest Indica strains around. If you need to reduce pain and insomnia, this is your choice. But be warned, this one will knock you out quick so do not use it during the day or during activities.

What about the recreational user?

There are so many lists and recommendations as to what’s the most popular strain currently trending, so here is a list of the strains we found to be popular with today’s experienced marijuana smoker amidst the incredible pace of strain creation and innovation:

Ice Cream Cake – Capitalizing on the recent craze of the Cookies strain and all of its newest versions. It's fragrant and leaves you quite happy and relaxed.

Venom OG – Happy with mildly sleepy effects and also a Cannabis Cup Winner.

Lemonchello – Energetic happiness without the jitters.

Bubble Jack – A combo of Bubble Gum and Jack Herrer, expect a blend of a calming restful feeling with a bit of uplifting euphoria.

Lilac Diesel – Get yourself ready for a short-lived blast of energy followed by intense munchies and laughter.

Scooby Snacks – Another super popular strain that creates an upbeat mood with a sweet and calming effect.

The choices for both medical and recreational users are endless and only growing by the day (pun intended). As legalization becomes more prevalent, so will the amount of trusted sources for education, data and user analysis to help us all make the proper choices.