Correct. CBD is what takes the edge off. It's relaxing and will help you sleep somewhat. But here's the thing. CBD alone is bullshit. It reacts with thc. Without thc, it's not going to do much. This is why IMO strains like harlequin are total bullshit.
I'd much rather have a strain that is 18% thc 2.5% cbd, then a strain that is 8% thc 12% cbd. Seems like the people making these strains are not paying attention to the actual effects the buds have, and are just going to produce the highest possible cbd test result.
Here's some harlequin test results. Like most gen 1 high cbd strains, it's weak as fuck in terms of thc, focusing only on getting the highest cbd content possible.
http://www.sclabs.com/index.php?samplename=harlequin&sampleid=&client=&Cannabinoid=Select&sampletype=Select&filter_order=a.DateTested&filter_order_Dir=DESC&task=public&Itemid=352&limit=10&limitstart=0&option=com_scl_tested&task=public
I have much respect for the CBD project up in Mendo/Humboldt. It's a fantastic idea and they've made some real innovations. But those actual original strains kind of suck ass. I'd much rather just have a hard hitting indica.
Now check this out. This is the 1-1 (thc/cbd ratio) pheno of Cannatonic. This is the real deal. It's truly elite top shelf bud with it's 23.5 total cannabinoid content and the most unique profile ever created. IMO it's the best possible strain for insomnia/pain ever created.
http://www.sclabs.com/sample-details.html?task=sample&sample=120127Q011
Here's what it looks like when you blast it with tane.
http://www.sclabs.com/sample-details.html?task=sample&sample=120504N007
Super legit. This will knock your ass out.
But it's also important to remember that not all cannatonic cuttings are capable of producing this same profile. There are several different cannatonic phenos out there and unfortunately, the 1-1 pheno is the most rare. I'm working on getting my hands on it right now, basically having to offer ALL my genetics and then some to get it, but the guy is still thinking about it.
This pheno is the future of high CBD strains. There is nothing else that profiles anywhere close to this as far as I know. If this strain gets released to the general public, high CBD strains will take off in popularity. Not only is it the best pain relief/insomnia strain in existence, but it actually gets you high too.
Now, for extra credit...
CBD isn't the only cannabinoid that is helpful to insomnia. It is commonly mistaken that CBD is what gives you the "couchlock" effect. But it's not. CBN is actually responsible for that. CBN is a true sleep aid. The difference between your average nice bud, and bud that will put your ass on the couch is often only a 0.2% elevated CBN level.
Now there are a couple ways to give you bud a slight increase in CBN. Harvest late, cure long. Older bud often converts other canabinoids into cbn. This can bring your CBN levels up from the ~0.1% range to ~0.4%. This will provide a very significant benefit to insomnia.
But I've recently discovered that there is another way to massively boost CBN content. Use seeded bud to make concentrates.
This is the result of a hydro crop turned into buddah. It was awesome bud but it hermied and the grower didn't notice it until too late. It had fatty seeds everywhere. Completely unsmokeable, but fantastic for making extracts.
http://www.sclabs.com/sample-details.html?task=sample&sample=120602J001
You're average bud or concentrate has between 0.1%-0.5% cbn. This as you can see has 6.6% cbn. The difference? Seeds.
Now if you were to take the 1-1 pheno of cannatonic, stick a male plant in your crop so it all had seeds, and then an extract out of all of it, you'd have the best possible cannabis sleep aid on the face of the earth. You'd get an extract that I estimate would profile ~ 40% thc, 20% cbd, 8% cbn. That IMO would be one of the best insomnia cures on planet earch.
Unfortunately, this isn't really worth making IMO unless you've got that 1-1 cannatonic pheno. As soon as I get a hold of it I plan on doing exactly that, then turning the extracts into tinctures and edibles.
