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Overview
The name may suggest a THC-induced couch lock, but names can be deceiving. This high-CBD, low-THC hybrid has earned a reputation as one of the most reliable and effective medical marijuana strains. The seed’s creators describe it as “the CBD strain that started it all,” and credit it for starting the “CBD movement” in the cannabis industry. That’s up for debate, but one thing’s for certain — those looking for a high CBD strain with a pleasing flavor and aroma, know to keep Cannatonic in their speed dial.
Lineage and general info
They may be biased, but that same year, Cannatonic won third place in the sativa strains category of the 2008 High Times Cannabis Cup. The strain also won two Cannabis Cup awards for CBD strains in 2013, and several others since.
According to Resin Seeds, about half of all Cannatonic plants will produce a 1:1 CBD to THC ratio, a quarter will be high CBD and low THC, and a quarter will be high THC low CBD. Resin Seeds describes its lineage as a hybrid cross of Reina Madre (“Queen Mother” in Spanish, hence why Resin Seeds calls Cannatonic “the CBD Queen”) and the potent and popular NYC Diesel sativa-dominant strain.
Most online seed banks tell a different origin story though, with Cannatonic described as a mix of the strains MK Ultra and G-13, the later being the legendary strain that cannabis folklore holds was crafted in a secret US government laboratory. Most also describe the strain as having an even 50-50 indica vs sativa breakdown, which would make it a classic hybrid.
Resin Seeds doesn’t provide a precise indica vs. sativa breakdown of the chemovar, only stating that it is “a hybrid cross between Reina Madre and NYCD. Grows like an Indica, smells like a Sativa, and renders you… Cannatonic.”
According to Cannabis Pharmacy, in 2013 a sample of Cannatonic was tested at 22% CBD, the highest of any strain that year.
Cannabinoids and terpenes in Cannatonic
Cannabis strain names are a tricky thing — there are no specifications for what cannatonic consists of when it comes to its chemical profile (i.e. levels of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids and terpenes). And though cannabis varieties have been traditionally distinguished by their sativa and indica properties, there is no scientific way to predict how someone will react to a cannabis product from the shape of its leaves or buds.
This is why we looked for laboratory tests of cannabis products named Cannatonic. Out of the hundreds of cannabinoids and terpenes that exist in cannabis in general, these are the ones we commonly identified in the Cannatonic test results.
This data can give you an estimation of what you could expect to find in Cannatonic chemovars, but you should always look for a certificate of analysis before you choose a cannabis product and examine the levels of dominant cannabinoids and terpenes.
How Canantonic affects you
Depending on which Cannatonic you get, and its cannabinoid and terpenoid content, this chemovar could potentially help with a variety of conditions such as addiction, anxiety, arthritis, dementia, depression, epilepsy, IBD (crohn’s and colitis), inflammation, MS, obesity, Parkinson’s disease, and stress.
Note that a lot of the information currently available about these compounds is based on preliminary research, so you’ll need to test it yourself, but if you’re looking for a treatment for any of these conditions Cannatonic is for sure an option you should consider.
Again, depending on the chemical profile of the product you get, Cannatonic can have varying psychotropic effects. That being said it seems to often be very high in myrcene, so you should expect something of a sedative effect.
When it comes to how high you’ll get, if the CBD:THC ratio is close to 2:1, there’s some evidence it can actually potentiate the intoxicating effects of THC, whereas in a 8:1 ratio or higher, CBD actually attenuate some of THC’s side effects. So you should look at the amount of THC vs CBD in your product, but based on the above averages there’s indeed a chance you’ll get a nice buzz out of your Cannatonic.
Cannatonic growing tips
Cannatonic is a moderately easy-to-grow strain that Resin Seeds and several other seed banks state should take around 9-10 weeks from germination to flower. The plant should be grown in temperatures ranging between 71-82 degrees fahrenheit, and humidity should be monitored closely in order to prevent mold.
The plant’s susceptibility to mold means that for novice growers it may not be as easy to grow as other strains. Also, it’s arguably better to grow indoors where the grower can establish more control over the conditions. According to Resin Seeds, the strain does best with the “flooding” technique of watering, carried out every couple of days.
Cannatonic growers have described it as growing as high as 6 feet, with Resin Seeds stating that by 8 weeks it should be only about 27 inches high.
When growing cannabis, the right seeds can make even an amateur feel (and look) like a pro. With the naked eye, you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference between regular seeds and those from a prize-winning strain. This is where buying from a trusted seedhouse comes in.
Related Strains
With its notably high CBD levels, Cannatonic resembles other popular high-CBD, low-THC strains such as Charlotte’s Web, Harlequin, or AC/DC. Like other high-CBD strains, it is often used to treat medical conditions including pain, anxiety, and migraines, without creating a high that makes it hard to function.
The parent strains named by Resin Seeds — Reina Madre and NYC Diesel — are both sativa-dominant strains known for producing a relaxing high with strong cerebral effects. The strain produces frosty and aromatic buds and is closely related to a number of phenotypes that it spawned, including Cannatonic #4, Cannatonic X, and Cannatonic B, and has provided the genetic base for multiple other high CBD hybrids.
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