ACDC strain

The ACDC strain is one of the best-known high-CBD cannabis cultivars, prized for producing little to no intoxication. Leafly describes it as a CBD-dominant phenotype of Cannatonic, and Resin Seeds, the Spanish breeder behind Cannatonic, names ACDC among the cuts that showed THC could be almost bred out of a drug-type cannabis plant. Is ACDC indica or sativa? It is a hybrid; AllBud lists it at 70% sativa, but for a CBD strain the cannabinoid ratio matters far more than the label.

That ratio is the headline. Leafly's lab-data medians are about 13% CBD and 1% THC, AllBud lists 12% CBD, and CannaConnection says CBD can exceed 20% while THC stays very low. In practice that means most consumers notice relaxation and clarity rather than a "high". The aroma is quiet and dry: Leafly reviewers describe woody, earthy and pine notes with sage and herbs, and AllBud mentions a peppery, piney flavor with a hint of fruit. Leafly's lab data shows myrcene as the leading terpene, followed by pinene and beta-caryophyllene, which fits that green, woody profile.

ACDC effects in Leafly's user data are led by relaxed and focused, with uplifted and happy far behind and almost no euphoria. The uses consumers mention most are physical: soreness, muscle tension, aches and cramps. Side-effect reports are unusually low across the board in Leafly's data; headaches and anxiety are mentioned occasionally but score well below average. Because THC is so low, ACDC is often chosen by people who want to avoid intoxication entirely, though product labels should still be checked, since flower sold under the name can vary.

Compared with its Cannatonic parent, ACDC is the more reliable choice for a very high CBD-to-THC ratio, because Cannatonic seeds split into several chemotypes. Compared with Harlequin, it carries much less THC; compared with Charlotte's Web, it comes from drug-type cannabis rather than a hemp cross. Growers treat it as a moderate plant that needs nine to ten weeks, and testing is the only way to confirm a harvest's ratio.

ACDC traces back to Cannatonic, which Resin Seeds released after tests around Spannabis 2008 revealed unusually high CBD in its new plants. Cannatonic seed produces several chemotypes, and Resin Seeds says some of them, including the famed ACDC cut, showed that THC could be nearly eliminated from medicinal cannabis. Leafly describes ACDC as a CBD-dominant phenotype of Cannatonic. Who first selected and named the cut is not documented.