For me, my experience with cannabis is really limited. I smoked a few times before the Marine Corps (back in the 80s) but I didn't even know there different kinds of pot (indica vs sativa) and I didn't know there were different effects. Even now, I only have a couple strains to choose from. I was doing a job in Colorado a few years back and I stopped into a dispensary out there and for shits and giggles picked up an eighth of ChemDawg #4 and and eighth of Lemon Skunk (one sativa dominant and one indica). Me and Ms Stank smoked a couple times on vacation and the stuff was WAY stronger than the mexican dirt weed I smoked as a kid. So I really didn't touch it more than 3 or 4 times over a two year period. Then I did a job in Seattle and I stopped in a dispensary out there and thats where I picked up the ATF and I also grabbed some UW Purple. Again about an eighth of each. I didn't try them until I screwed my back up. So for Sativas I have only tried ATF and Lemon Skunk and then my brother's Cali Trainwreck. For indica's I have only tried Chemdawg #4 and UW Purp. Out of those, the ATF is the best pain killer for my back and I have energy and can get shit done. But I have to be careful because if I take more than 2 hits on the bong, I am too stoned to really be able to function effectively (plus that shit will get a bit racey if you smoke much and are a lightweight like me). The ChemDawg #4 is a good nighttime strain now that its older and lost some potency (that shit was too strong when I first bought it....again I am a lightweight and have a sensative endocannabinoid system). It does pretty well on the pain and I sleep well. So its kind of my 2nd choice. The UW Purple is ok....I have only tried it like 3 times (including last night....but I smoked too much last night and was really high LOL)
So my lack of experience is what leads me to grow multiple strains at once. I am growing Blueberry because its supposedly a great pain killer and its mostly indica so I figured it might be a nice night time smoke before bed. I am trying an nice 50/50 hybrid in the Blue Kush because of the blueberry crossed with the Kush. It might be a good afternoon pain killer (post Physical Therapy). I already know what the ATF can do so I grew 4 of the regular seeds in hopes of getting at least one female. I got two....and one of the males was really strong so I kept him around to do some breeding. Then I chose Durban Poison because its supposed to be decent at pain but a really nice strong pure Sativa. Each grow I do will tend to be similar as I broaden my strain experience, a sativa, an indica, a hybrid and then a 'hey, that sounds cool, I wanna try that" strain. I figure eventually I will find the best stuff for the back pain and some stuff that works well for Ms Stanks occasional migraine.
Now supposedly the indica's tend to do better as a whole for the pain. My issues are they just knock my junk in the dirt and I become a couch zombie (not really my cup of tea). Don't get me wrong, i am ok with that every now and then but thats not an everyday thing I enjoy. I can definitely feel the body buzz on indicas.
