> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.highailabs.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# High Families (formerly High Spectrum)
> Understanding the 6 High Families — a terpene-based classification system that replaces outdated indica/sativa labels with science-backed effect categories.
## Overview
The **High Families** are High IQ's classification system that groups cannabis strains into 6 families based on their terpene profiles and expected effects. It moves beyond the outdated and scientifically questionable "indica vs. sativa" distinction to provide a more meaningful way to predict how a strain will make you feel.
**Legacy name:** This system was previously known as "The High Spectrum." The canonical name is now **High Families**. You may still see "High Spectrum" referenced in some code, URLs, and older content.
The High Families system is grounded in the **2025 German Cannabis Chemovar Study** ([DOI: 10.1089/can.2024.0127](https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2024.0127)), which analyzed terpene profiles across hundreds of cannabis cultivars and identified distinct chemical clusters. High IQ maps these clusters to consumer-friendly categories that help you navigate the thousands of strains in our database.
## Why Not Indica vs. Sativa?
The indica/sativa classification was originally a botanical distinction describing plant morphology (broad leaves vs. narrow leaves), not effects. Modern research has shown:
* **Genetic drift** — Decades of cross-breeding have made most commercially available strains genetic hybrids regardless of how they are labeled
* **No consistent effect correlation** — Studies show no reliable relationship between indica/sativa classification and the actual chemical profile or effects of a strain
* **Terpenes drive effects** — The terpene profile of a strain is a far better predictor of its effects than its indica/sativa label
High IQ still displays indica/sativa/hybrid labels on strain profiles because they are familiar to consumers and used by dispensaries. However, the High Families classification provides a more accurate and useful categorization for predicting effects.
**Name Mapping:** The High Families use consumer-friendly names in the app and on the website. The underlying classification code and the original German chemovar study use different names for the same clusters:
| Consumer Name | Code/Study Name |
| -------------- | ----------------- |
| Relaxing High | Relaxing Body |
| Uplifting High | Uplifting Citrus |
| Energetic High | Rare Energizer |
| Relieving High | Therapeutic Spice |
| Balancing High | Gentle Balance |
| Entourage High | Full Spectrum |
## The 6 High Families
Each High Family is defined by a dominant terpene profile, a set of associated effects, and a character description. Every strain in the High IQ database is assigned to its best-matching family based on its chemical data.
### Uplifting High
**Mood Elevation & Social Energy**
* **Dominant terpene:** Limonene (4.99 mg/g average) with linalool support
* **Based on:** Uplifting Citrus chemovar cluster
* **Associated strain types:** Sativa, Hybrid
* **Key effects:** Happy, uplifted, euphoric, energetic, sociable, talkative
* **Aroma profile:** Citrus, lemon, sweet
* **Best for:** Social situations, mood enhancement, daytime activities
Limonene is the defining terpene of this family. Research associates limonene with elevated mood, stress relief, and anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) properties. Strains in this family tend to produce bright, social, and emotionally uplifting experiences.
***
### Energetic High
**Rare Energizing Focus**
* **Dominant terpenes:** Terpinolene (4.13 mg/g) and ocimene (4.05 mg/g)
* **Based on:** Rare Energizer chemovar cluster
* **Associated strain types:** Sativa
* **Key effects:** Focused, creative, energetic, uplifted, motivated
* **Aroma profile:** Pine, sweet, herbal
* **Best for:** Creative work, physical activity, daytime productivity
This is the rarest family, found in approximately 5% of strains. Terpinolene and ocimene are uncommon dominant terpenes, making strains in this family distinctive. The profile is associated with antioxidant properties and highly stimulating, clear-headed effects.
***
### Relaxing High
**Deep Body Relaxation**
* **Dominant terpene:** Myrcene (5.43 mg/g average) with CBD tendency
* **Based on:** Relaxing Body chemovar cluster
* **Associated strain types:** Indica
* **Key effects:** Relaxed, sleepy, calm, body high, sedative
* **Aroma profile:** Earthy, sweet, herbal
* **Best for:** Evening use, sleep support, physical tension relief
Myrcene is the most common terpene in cannabis and the hallmark of the Relaxing family. At high concentrations, myrcene is associated with sedation, muscle relaxation, and enhanced cannabinoid absorption. Strains in this family often pair well with CBD content.
***
### Balancing High
**Gentle & Beginner-Friendly**
* **Terpene profile:** Low overall terpene content (7.61 mg/g total) with balanced CBD
* **Based on:** Gentle Balance chemovar cluster
* **Associated strain types:** Hybrid
* **Key effects:** Relaxed, calm, happy, uplifted
* **Aroma profile:** Earthy, sweet
* **Best for:** New consumers, low-tolerance users, daytime relaxation without sedation
The Balancing family is characterized not by a single dominant terpene but by a moderate, well-distributed profile. Lower total terpene content combined with balanced CBD makes these strains approachable and forgiving — ideal for those who want mild, predictable effects without intensity.
***
### Relieving High
**Therapeutic Pain Relief**
* **Dominant terpene:** Caryophyllene (3.63 mg/g) with humulene (1.45 mg/g)
* **Based on:** Therapeutic Spice chemovar cluster
* **Associated strain types:** Indica, Hybrid
* **Key effects:** Relaxed, pain relief, body high, calm
* **Aroma profile:** Spicy, earthy, woody
* **Best for:** Pain management, inflammation, therapeutic use
Caryophyllene is unique among terpenes — it is the only one known to directly activate CB2 cannabinoid receptors, producing anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects without psychoactive side effects. Humulene adds complementary appetite-suppressing and anti-inflammatory properties.
***
### Entourage High
**Full Entourage Effect**
* **Terpene profile:** High total terpene content combining myrcene, limonene, and caryophyllene
* **Based on:** Full Spectrum chemovar cluster
* **Associated strain types:** Hybrid
* **Key effects:** Euphoric, relaxed, happy, creative
* **Aroma profile:** Citrus, earthy, sweet, spicy
* **Best for:** Experienced consumers seeking complex, full-bodied experiences
The Entourage family represents strains with the highest total terpene content and the most diverse profiles. Named after the "entourage effect" — the theory that cannabis compounds work synergistically rather than in isolation — these strains deliver potent, multi-dimensional experiences where multiple terpenes and cannabinoids interact to produce effects greater than the sum of their parts.
## How Classification Works
When a strain enters the High IQ database, it is classified using **Euclidean distance** to cluster centroids derived from the German chemovar study:
The strain's terpene concentrations are analyzed and normalized into a terpene ratio profile. The dominant and secondary terpenes are identified along with their relative proportions.
The strain's terpene profile is compared against the **centroid** (average terpene ratios) of each of the 6 High Families using Euclidean distance. Each centroid represents the "center" of a family's terpene cluster.
The Euclidean distance to each family's centroid is calculated. A lower distance means the strain's terpene profile is more similar to that family's characteristic profile.
The strain is assigned to the family whose centroid it is closest to, provided the distance falls below a confidence threshold. Lower distance = higher confidence in the classification. Strains that do not fall within any family's threshold remain unclassified until more data is available.
### Label Scanner Classification
When you scan a dispensary label with the [AI Label Scanner](/guides/platform/ai-features#label-scanner), the extracted terpene data is run through the same classification algorithm in real time. This means you can scan a product at the dispensary and immediately see which High Family it belongs to — even if the strain is not yet in our database.
## Family Distribution
Not all families are equally represented in the cannabis market:
| Family | Approximate Frequency | Why |
| -------------- | --------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| Relaxing High | Most common | Myrcene is the most prevalent terpene in cannabis |
| Uplifting High | Common | Limonene is the second most common terpene |
| Relieving High | Common | Caryophyllene is widely present across strains |
| Entourage High | Moderate | Requires high total terpene content, less common |
| Balancing High | Moderate | Low-terpene strains are common but often under-documented |
| Energetic High | Rare (\~5%) | Terpinolene dominance occurs in very few cultivars |
## Using the High Families
Filter strains by High Family on the discovery page to browse all strains matching a specific effect profile.
When viewing a strain, the "Similar Strains" section prioritizes strains in the same High Family.
Scan any dispensary product to see its High Family classification in real time.
AI-generated notebooks reference High Family patterns in your consumption history.
If you enjoy strains in the Uplifting High family, try exploring the Energetic High family for a similar but more focused experience. Families with overlapping terpenes often share crossover appeal.
## Learn More
* [High Families Guide](/guides/cannabis/high-families) — Deeper dive into the science behind each family
* [Terpene Guide](/guides/cannabis/terpene-guide) — Individual terpene profiles and their effects
* [Strain Scoring](/guides/platform/strain-scoring) — How High Family classification factors into strain rankings