CBD-dominant cannabis strains carry more cannabidiol than tetrahydrocannabinol. Most tested samples fall between 5:1 and 20:1 CBD to THC. A few land at 1:1. Strains with delta-9 THC at or below 0.3% on a dry weight basis count as hemp under US law. Anything above that line counts as marijuana.
What the label means
CBD-dominant describes a ratio, not a species. Cannabis sativa L. is one species that makes more than 100 cannabinoids. Breeders select plants for high CBD and low THC. The result is a chemovar: a chemical profile tracked by lab data, not a botanical variety.
Common ratios
- 20:1 to 30:1. THC below 1%. Low intoxication risk. Hemp cultivars sit here.
- 5:1 to 10:1. THC between 1% and 4%.
- 2:1. THC between 4% and 8%.
- 1:1. THC and CBD within a few percentage points of each other.
Strains with published lab data
- Charlotte's Web. CBD about 17%, THC about 0.5%.
- AC/DC. CBD to THC near 20:1.
- Harlequin. Ratio near 5:2, THC between 4% and 7%.
- Cannatonic. Ratio from 1:1 to 2:1.
- Sour Tsunami. Ratio about 1:1.
- Harle-Tsu. Ratio about 20:1.
- Cherry Wine. CBD 15% to 20%, THC below 0.3%.
- Elektra, Lifter, Special Sauce. Hemp cultivars, THC below 0.3%.
Numbers shift by grow, harvest date, and lab method. Treat any single figure as one batch, not a fixed trait.
CBD-Rich Weed Strains: Ratios, Effects, and How to Choose
Hemp versus marijuana
The 2018 Farm Bill sets the federal line at 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight. Labs report delta-9 THC and THCA apart. Total THC equals delta-9 THC plus THCA multiplied by 0.877. A sample can pass on delta-9 THC and fail on total THC. Crops that cross the line get destroyed. Growers call them hot.
Reading a certificate of analysis
A COA comes from a third-party lab. Check four items: cannabinoid potency by HPLC, terpene profile by GC, pesticides, and heavy metals. Microbials and residual solvents matter for extracts and vapes. Check the harvest date. Check the batch number against the package. A COA without a batch number ties to nothing.
Evidence on effects
Clinical evidence for CBD is thin outside epilepsy. The FDA approved Epidiolex for seizures in Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Trials for anxiety, chronic pain, and sleep show mixed results and small sample sizes. THC adds sedation, appetite change, and impairment. Evidence does not show that CBD reverses THC impairment.
Terpenes
Terpene content varies by chemovar. Myrcene, pinene, limonene, linalool, caryophyllene, and humulene appear across strains. Data on the entourage effect comes from animal models and cell work. Human trials are few.
Before you buy
- Ask for the COA for that batch.
- Compare total THC to 0.3% if you want hemp status.
- Match the ratio to the goal. High CBD with low THC for daytime use without impairment.
- Read the label for CBD per serving, not CBD per bottle.
Ratios on a menu card are marketing. Ratios on a COA are measurements. Buy from the measurement.