The Pick: High-THC, Low-CBD Flower
No cannabis strain has FDA approval for glaucoma. No clinical trial has compared named strains head to head. The published data points to one cannabinoid profile: THC above 20%, CBD below 1%.
cannabis vs traditional treatment for glaucoma cost
Reason: THC lowers intraocular pressure (IOP). CBD can raise it. A 2006 trial in the Journal of Glaucoma gave sublingual THC and sublingual CBD to patients with glaucoma. THC lowered IOP. CBD raised it. The two compounds move pressure in opposite directions.
A 1971 study reported that smoking a 900 mg cigarette with 2% THC dropped IOP by an average of 25% within 60 to 90 minutes. The effect faded in 3 to 4 hours.
That window is the core problem. Glaucoma needs IOP control 24 hours a day. Prescription drops do that. Smoked cannabis does not.
cannabis vs traditional treatment for glaucoma cost
Strains People Ask About
Every number below comes from cultivator lab reports, not from trials. THC and CBD percentages shift by grower, batch, and lab. Treat the ranges as ranges.
Sour Diesel
THC 20 to 26%. CBD under 0.3%. Terpenes: limonene, myrcene, caryophyllene. Reported onset within minutes when smoked.
OG Kush
THC 20 to 26%. CBD under 0.5%. Myrcene leads the profile. Sedating at higher doses.
Jack Herer
THC 18 to 24%. CBD under 0.2%. Terpinolene leads. Reported as less sedating than OG Kush.
Chemdawg
THC 19 to 25%. CBD under 0.3%. Pungent. Listed as a parent of Sour Diesel.
Northern Lights
THC 16 to 22%. CBD under 0.3%. Lower THC than the others on this list. Reported sedation.
Granddaddy Purple
THC 17 to 23%. CBD under 0.5%. Myrcene and pinene. Reported sedation and appetite increase.
Profiles to Skip
AC/DC, Harlequin, Cannatonic, and Charlotte's Web carry CBD levels from 5% to 15%. Given the CBD finding above, those profiles do not fit the IOP goal. Some budtenders still suggest them for glaucoma. The published data does not support that.
Route Matters More Than Strain
Inhaled THC reaches the blood in under 10 minutes. Edibles take 30 to 120 minutes and last 4 to 8 hours. No trial has measured IOP after an edible. A patient who needs round-the-clock pressure control cannot dose 8 to 12 times per day by any route.
Standard Treatment
Prostaglandin drops such as latanoprost lower IOP for 24 hours with one nightly dose. Laser trabeculoplasty and surgery lower IOP for years. The National Eye Institute and the American Academy of Ophthalmology both state that cannabis does not replace these options.
Side effects of THC include tachycardia, orthostatic hypotension, dizziness, dry mouth, and impaired memory. Tolerance builds. Dependence occurs in a minority of users.
Before You Buy
Talk to your ophthalmologist. Do not stop drops. Ask about interactions. Buy from licensed shops that post lab reports with THC and CBD percentages. Ask for the batch report, not the menu description.