Indica and Sativa?

What kind of WEED do you smoke? Indica or Sativa?

Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica are two species of cannabis. This means that they share many similar features but have specific and distinct differences.

Although anecdotal evidence and some marijuana dispensaries claim that indica is more calming and sativa is more energizing, some experts Trusted Source say that such statements are misleading. Many more factors are involved in creating the recreational and medical effects of marijuana than strain alone.

Botanists use physical differences — such as variations in height, branching patterns, and the shape of the leaves — to identify different strains of plants. This is where the names “indica” and “sativa” come from.

Indica plants are shorter than sativa plants, and they have a woody stalk, not a fibrous one. Indica plants also grow more quickly than sativa plants.

There is some disagreement regarding what caused these physical differences between strains. Some researchers Trusted Source say that these differences are due to humans breeding different varieties, while others say that a mixture of evolving adaptations and geographic isolation is responsible.

Cannabinoids

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are two of the most studied and discussed elements, or cannabinoids, present in different strains of marijuana. However, researchers have identified at least 144Trusted Source different cannabinoids so far. THC and CBD have very different effects on the human body. Knowing whether a cannabis plant is from the indica or sativa strain does not always provide much information about the relative amounts of THC or CBD it may contain, as people tend to believe, but it can be helpful.

It is also important to note that THC and CBD are only two of the hundreds of chemicals that create the varying effects of different strains of marijuana. The sections below provide more information on these two chemicals.

THC

Medical experts Trusted Source say that THC has psychoactive properties. In other words, THC is what produces the “high” effect that people tend to associate with using cannabis. Strains of marijuana with a high THC content may be helpful for people with pain, difficulty sleeping, and depression, though they can make some people anxious.

CBD

CBD does not create a “high,” but it can affect mood and be helpful in addressing anxiety and psychoses. However, despite its reputation for inducing calm, CBD can be a stimulant in small and monitored doses.

Sativa

Cannabis sativa comes from warmer parts of the world, such as Southeast Asia and Central and South America.

The general perception is that it provides a more energizing and creative high, though it can prompt anxiety in some people. Sativa can also be helpful for people with depression, headaches, nausea, and appetite loss. Sativa plants tend to contain more THC than CBD.

Again, it is important to note that some scientific research Trusted Source negates these claims. Some sativa plants may be energizing while others may not. The same goes for indica strains.

Hybrids

Both growers and nature have created hybrid forms of both Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica throughout the long history of humans’ use of cannabis.

People bred hybrids, for example, to make plants that grow more quickly, improve yield, and balance out the energizing and calming effects.

Ruderalis

Cannabis ruderalis has its origins in cooler parts of the world, such as Russia and the border between Hungary and Ukraine. It grows wild, and some speculate that it may descend from escaped hemp plants Trusted Source.

It does not have very high levels of THC or CBD, but breeders value it for its ability to flower by itself, without assistance from a cultivator. This is why people frequently use ruderalis to create hybrids with sativa or indica.