Cannatonic

Also known as the CBD Queen, Cannatonic is a hybrid from Spain’s Resin Seeds. Reportedly introduced around 2008, and among the first high-CBD strain, Cannatonic is a cross of Reina Madre and NYC Diesel.

The strain took 3rd Sativa at the 2008 High Times Cannabis Cup and is primarily recommended for medicinal use. The seed bank offers three main phenotypes of the strain — one with a 1:1 THC-to-CBD ratio, one with high CBD and low THC and one with a high THC-to-CBD ratio.

It spawned several notable phenotypes, including Cannatonic #4, Cannatonic X and Cannatonic B, and Highlo, a Cannatonic IBL from House of the Great Gardener. One of the earliest phenotypes to carry its own name, SuperCBDx, was developed by breeder PJ after he contracted a serious illness and focused on high-CBD strains, which are commonly used for medicinal purposes. From there, it was reportedly refined by Spanish seed bank Genofarm, whose version boasts a 26:1 CBD-to-THC ratio.

Cannatonic has also served as the genetic base for several CBD-rich hybrids including Cancer’s Nightmare (Cannatonic and White Nightmare) from Sin City Seeds, CannaBerry (Cannatonic and Blackberry) from Apothecary Genetics, Hawkeye (Cannatonic and Mt. Rainer) from RedEyed Genetics, Hazy Med CBD (Super Silver Haze, Skunk #1 and Cannatonic) from Poppa Pain Strains, and VCDC from Moxie Seeds. Resin Seeds’ own Dieseltonic is a backcrossing of Cannatonic and NYC Diesel, and has the same CBD potential as Cannatonic.

Cherry Wine and The Wife, two hemp strains commonly grown in the USA, are also Cannatonic hybrids. Resin Seeds estimates that 80% or more of all American, Swiss, and Italian grown hemp varieties include Cannatonic in their lineage.

When cultivating Cannatonic, its breeder reports Indica-like growth patterns and a 63-70 day flowering period. There’s minimal genetic variation, according to tests from Phylos Bioscience. Resin Seeds also reports the strain is both pest- and powdery mildew-resistant and recommends indoor growing with a light source set higher than usual over the plants. Resin Seeds also reports that Cannatonic’s aromas range from strawberry, cherry, mandarin peel, and grape to haze and diesel; with myrcene being the strain’s dominant terpene. Cannatonic won 3rd Place in the Sativa category at the 2008 High Times Cannabis Cup.