Since time immemorial, humans seeking creative inspiration turn to cannabis to get their brain juices flowing. Be it master painters, modern philosophers, or most cast and crew on Saturday Night Live, today our collective culture can cite copious examples of cannabis stoking creativity. However, due to the complex nature of cannabis plants, not every strain offers equal artistic prowess to those seeking a boost to their creative drive. Instead, consumers often seek out strains rich in certain terpenes, like pinene, which are known to produce desired effects like mood elevation and increased energy.

For some of us, cannabis can also serve to “unlock” our brains by encouraging divergent, non-linear thinking—cannabis causes an increase in cerebral blood flow to the area of our brains which triggers creative thought. While much research remains to be done when it comes to fully unlocking the mysteries of how cannabis and creativity intertwine, we can say with certainty that there are currently a handful of strains that outshine their competition as the best of the best. Let’s meet them!