Is It Bad to Mix Weed Strains?

If you’ve read Field Trip Flower’s Cannabis Guide, you understand how important it is to store your flower properly. You know you should avoid keeping it in plastic bags or containers. You know that glass or ceramic jars with airtight lids are best.

Hopefully, you took our advice and have stored your favorite weed strains in airtight jars away from heat, the sun, and moisture. 

If you are familiar with cannabis, or have read Field Trip Flower’s Cannabis Guide, you know that sativa strains tend to be  best for day time use since they tend to provide a more cerebral and uplifting effect. You also know that indica strains tend to provide more of a full-bodied relaxation that can put you in-da-couch.

You also know that hybrid strains of cannabis can highlight the favorable effects of certain strains and minimize any unpleasant effects. But have you ever considered creating your own hybrid mix of flower?

Can You Mix Weed Strains?

It can certainly feel counterintuitive to do so considering there is so much information out there suggesting that we store different weed strains separately.

But could there be benefits to mixing different strains of marijuana?

It depends on who you ask. Some might say it is best to enjoy each strain separately so you can enjoy the unique flavor, smell, and effects of each strain of cannabis. And they may have a point.

On the other hand, others say that by mixing strains you can open yourself up to the potential benefits of the Entourage Effect – and they may be right too.

So, instead of taking other people’s word for it, why don’t we look into a few reasons why mixing strains could be beneficial, so you can decide for yourself if it is right for you. 

Why Would You Mix Cannabis Strains?

The answer to this question will depend on who you ask. For instance, if you ask a medical cannabis patient they might tell you they like to mix strains to try to take advantage of added health benefits.

If you ask a recreational user of cannabis the same question, they might tell you that they do so to try to get higher. So, is it possible that by mixing a couple of strains you could gain additional health benefits or achieve a higher high?

Can Mixing Weed Strains Get You Higher?

Some cannabis enthusiasts swear that mixing different strains of cannabis can help you get higher. Mixing could also help medical patients gain access to a wider range of potential benefits.

How is this possible? It may all come down to cannabinoids, terpenes, and something called the entourage effect.

What Is the Entourage Effect? 

Although more research is needed, what we do know is that when you combine the right kinds of cannabinoids and terpenes for your body it can create a synergetic effect known as The Entourage Effect–which can provide a more complete cannabis experience than ingesting individual cannabinoids like THC or CBD.

The reason for this is that we all have our own internal endocannabinoid system (ECS). That’s what the prefix “endo” means, within the body.

Learn more about: How  Your Endocannabinoid System Could be the Key to Unlocking Your Body’s Natural Healing Power

Could Mixing be the Key to Enjoying the Full Spectrum of Potential Benefits?

By mixing two or more strains of cannabis you give your body and endocannabinoid system access to a wider range of cannabinoids and terpenes. By doing so, you may also gain access to the potential health benefits of those extra cannabinoids and terpenes.

The benefits of mixing strains are not just limited to enhancing potential medical benefits. Recreational users can also use the idea of mixing strains to help manage the potency and effects of their cannabis.

For example, if a potent strain gives you undesirable effects when you consume it, mixing it with a strain that’s lower in THC and higher in cannabidiol (CBD) could help reduce some of those negative effects.

This is because CBD reduces THC’s ability to bind to cannabinoid receptors in our ECS. As a result, it can help to lessen any negative effects you might feel from high-THC weed.

This is just one example of  how the way cannabinoids and terpenes interact with our ECS goes a long way in determining the potency and effects of different strains of cannabis.

This is why two people smoking the same strain can experience vastly different effects.

Learn more about: What Gets You High – THC or Terpenes?

Mixing Cannabis Strains – Not Just for Amateurs

Mixing strains of cannabis can also be helpful to professional cannabis cultivators. Before investing time and money into creating a new hybrid strain, a cultivator could try mixing the two existing strains to help determine the potential effects, flavors, and potency of the mix.

How to Mix Strains of Weed – AKA Making a Weed Salad

First, let’s cover the basics of cannabis strains mixing. To mix strains of weed, or create a weed salad, the easiest way is to grind your flower and mix the two strains. From there you have many options. You can smoke, vape, and even make your own cannabutter. 

That’s the easy part. Now the more complicated part. Which is figuring out how to make the best mix for you.

Should you mix an Indica with a Sativa? Can you mix two indicas or two sativas together?
And, if you are mixing sativa and indica, how much of each should you use?

Can you mix old weed with fresh weed? How about high THC cannabis with low-THC cannabis with CBD?

With so many variables, we wanted to share some tips to help you create your own weed salad. Let’s start with talking about the scent of your cannabis flower. 

Tip #1: Mixing Weed with Similar Scents and Flavors

If you’ve read our past blog post about How to Identify Terpenes in Products When No Lab Report Is Provided – you know that terpenes are responsible for the unique scent of each strain of cannabis.

You also know that the scent of cannabis flower can be very helpful in determining if its effects will agree with your body and endocannabinoid system. So, if the scent of a strain doesn’t smell appealing to you, that could be a sign that it may not work well with your system and you may not enjoy the experience.

So our first tip is to mix strains with similar scents that are appealing to you. Or, scents you think may go well together. But, if it smells good, that could be a sign it will go well with your system.

If you are unsure, start by grinding and mixing just a little bit. Then, taste it and decide if you want to mix a bigger batch.

Mix a Fruit Blend

Some strains of cannabis will have a fruity scent. Blueberry and Strawberry cough are a couple of examples of some fruity strains that may work well together. Keep in mind that the right mix will be different for all and will come down to your tastes and preferences. 

Other strains that tend to have fruity scents include Maui Wowie, Runtz, and Sundae Driver, Mango Haze, and Peach Crescendo.

Pair Diesels with Diesels

Certain strains of cannabis will have a gassy, diesel-like scent. Examples include Chemdawg, Sour diesel, and the landrace strain Afghani.

It is safe to say that if you are fond of these types of strains, then you may enjoy a nice blend of sour diesel and Afghani. But, if you find these types of strains don’t really work well for you, then a mix of the two would not make sense. 

Tip #2: Mix Flavors that Complement Each Other

Okay now for tip #2, mixing cannabis strains with flavors that go well together. For example, perhaps you could mix the strain called tea, for its tea-like flavor, and lemon haze. That may give you a nice refreshing session.

Or perhaps you are a fan of cheese strains – perhaps you can mix cheesecake with strawberry cookies OG.

Remember that when it comes to cannabis and the mix that works best, the answer will be different for everyone. That means that a mix that might provide you with an excellent experience, might not be enjoyable for someone else.

So, feel free to get creative and mix strains with flavors that sound good to you. We suggest sampling a small mix to make sure you like it before mixing it all. 

Tip #3: Mix Strains According to Effects

This tip may be the most important. One of the best ways to mix strains of cannabis is to do so according to how each strain makes you feel. 

For example, if you picked up a strain of cannabis that provides you with an energizing and mentally uplifting high, but leaves you feeling a little bit anxious, perhaps you can tone down any unpleasant effects by mixing that strain with a more mellow strain. 

Or perhaps, you picked up a strain that gives you a relaxing full-body effect but puts you on couch lock – perhaps you can mix it with a strain that gives you a gentle uplifting effect to help tone down the couch lock effect.

One good rule of thumb to follow is to avoid mixing strains that are on completely opposite ends of the spectrum. A strain that is extremely energizing and uplifting might not mix well with one that provides strong full-bodied relaxation. 

Don’t Be Afraid to Get Creative

The whole point of mixing cannabis strains is to open your endocannabinoid system up to the potential benefits of the complete rainbow of cannabinoids available in cannabis. And as we mentioned it can also help to provide an enhanced experience through what’s known as the entourage effect. 

The tips described above only scratch the surface of effective ways to enjoy the benefits of mixing different strains of weed. 

A few more examples include:

  • Mixing a strain with a bland flavor with one that has a nice strong flavor like Grape Ape
  • Mixing an older batch of weed that’s a bit dry with a fresh batch 
  • Mixing strains with different benefits – like mixing a strain known to have anti-inflammatory tendencies with a strain like Durban Poison that is believed to be beneficial in suppressing appetite 

Final Thoughts on Creating Your Own Weed Blends

The possibilities are endless when it comes to mixing strains of cannabis. If you have trouble getting creative, you can look at popular hybrid strains to get ideas of different strains of cannabis that might go well together. 

One possible suggestion is to create a cannabis diary, where you can write down different blends you’ve experimented with along with notes about how you felt about each mix. Over time, you’ll be able to identify the exact mix that works best for you and your endocannabinoid system. 

The Best Way to Enjoy Cannabis Will Be Different for All

Let Bloom Help to Figure What’s Best for You

Remember, when it comes to cannabis the right answer will be different for all and will largely depend on the way certain terpenes and cannabinoids interact with your ECS. 

Bloom understands this. That is why we would like to invite our blog readers who live in a state with a Bloom dispensary the opportunity to schedule a complimentary consultation. During this one-on-one consultation we will get to know you so that we can help you identify the strains and methods of consumption that are right for you.

Consultations are available by phone, in-person, or online.