You’ve probably heard that cannabis is divided into two main categories: indica vs sativa strains. But what is the difference between indica and sativa plants? And how can you distinguish between a sativa vs indica high? What is Indica and Sativa?
Both indicas and sativas are psychoactive varieties of the cannabis plant. That is, an indica or sativa will get you high. But weed connoisseurs distinguish between the two because sativa vs indica effects can be extremely different. This largely has to do with their origin stories.
Indica strains originated in colder, mountainous climates (think Afghanistan and northern India) and sativas originated in more sweltering equatorial zones.
However, with the rise of modern cannabis breeding and the discovery that genetics are important to marijuana potency, thousands of hybrid strains have also come onto the scene. These hybrids combine the effects of indicas and sativas. And in the modern world, we now distinguish between indica vs sativa vs hybrid strains. Difference Between Indicas and Sativas?
Indica vs Sativa. Photo by Nico De Pasquale Photography/ via Getty Images‘In Da Couch’Indicas are known for their physically sedating effect. Some stoners use the mnemonic, “in da couch,” referring to the well-known body high of strong indica strains that make a person want to sink into their couch. Indicas are ideal for relaxing with a movie or music in the evening as a way to unwind after a long day’s work or as a relaxing interlude before bed.
Indica plants tend to be short, squat, and bushy. The indica vs sativa leaves are plump and the foliage is dense. These are plants adapted to harsh environments like those found in the Hindu Kush mountain range. Indica vs sativa plants are also excellent producers of hash, and that’s no accident. They were undoubtedly bred that way, as hashish is the preferred method of cannabis consumption in much of the area from which they sprang.
Indica vs sativa plants don’t mess around when flowering; they get it done in six to eight weeks. This is almost certainly due to their mountain-born genetic programming; they want to produce the next generation’s genetics before frost hits. Indoor growers love the speediness with which indica vs sativa flowers bloom and flatten.
Medically speaking, the heavy resin and soporific potency of indica vs sativa flowers makes them prized by people with insomnia, anxiety, nausea and pain.
Common recreational effects of indica vs sativa strains include a happy sleepiness, relaxation, and strong hunger. Pure or nearly pure indica strains include Northern Lights, Hindu Kush, Critical Mass, Purple Kush, L.A. Confidential, and God’s Gift. Sunny Sativas
Sativas, on the other hand, are known for their invigorating mental effects. The uplifting, cerebral effects of the sativa vs indica high make these strains ideal for social gatherings and creative pursuits like music, art and writing.
Sativas tend to be tall and gangly, with skinnier leaves. Originating in the sunny climates of Southeast Asia, Central America, and Mexico, these plants are sun-worshippers. They regularly grow between eight and 12 feet tall, but in optimal conditions outdoors, 18-foot monsters aren’t unheard of.
Indica vs Sativa (Photo by Anton Petrus/ via Getty Images)These equatorial strains take their time when flowering. In contrast to the six-to-eight-week flowering time of indicas, sativa flowering can stretch past 12 weeks, making impatient growers crazy. The difference in lighting cost for indoor growers means that indoor sativas are sometimes more expensive in the shops.
The stimulating effects of sativas make them ideal for a motivational “wake and bake” session, akin to a cup of coffee. Pure or nearly pure sativa strains include Durban Poison, Thai, Ghost Train Haze, Panama Red, Strawberry Cough, Chernobyl, Trinity, and Amnesia Haze. Are Sativas and Indicas Really That Different?
Some stoners are skeptical about whether there really is a big difference between the sativa vs indica high. “It all just gets me stoned, man,” is something you might have heard in response to the indica vs sativa debate. This view has probably arisen because of all the hybrids currently available.
A majority of strains currently on the market are hybrids of various kinds, even if they’re branded according to indica vs sativa categories. Additionally, oftentimes in illegal states people think they’re smoking an indica or sativa when they’re not so they have misconceptions about what works for them. Many people even claim that cannabis doesn’t work for them at all. And while this may be true (cannabis isn’t for everyone), it could also be because they simply have yet to go to a dispensary with a knowledgeable budtender who can direct them towards the right indica vs sativa, or something in-between. And these days, it’s rare to find a pure sativa or pure indica strain, most strains have some of each.
Here’s an indica vs sativa test you can do yourself, if you’re so inclined. Get a few examples of the pure indicas still available. Go for strains like L.A. Confidential, The Hog, and Afghan Kush. Also get a few examples of pure sativas. Strains like Durban Poison, Trainwreck, Jack Herer, and Green Crack should do. Stick to a couple of the indicas for one session. Have a separate, all-sativa session on an entirely different day. Draw your own conclusions about the difference between the indica vs sativa high.
The World of Hybrids
Hybrids can be broken down into three basic groups:
• Sativa-dominant hybrids combine sativa’s cerebral high with indica’s relaxing body effect. Headband, Alien Girl, Juicy Fruit, Sour Diesel, and Purple Trainwreck are a few examples.
• Indica-dominant hybrids provide pain relief with a soothing head high. Afgooey, Girl Scout Cookies, Tahoe OG, Skywalker OG, and Purple Urkle are examples.
• Balanced hybrids combine the best of both worlds into one smoke with 50/50 indica/sativa genetics. Examples include White Widow, Blue Dream, Purple Diesel, and Super Silver Haze. …And Then There’s Ruderalis
A third major type of cannabis, cannabis ruderalis, is a feral form of hemp native to Russia. It is non-psychoactive, as in the THC level is too low to get you high. It’s widely debated whether it’s a sub-species of Cannabis Sativa, but most people accept it as its own species. It’s not often discussed or used for recreational purposes because it’s non-psychoactive, but it has been used historically to treat depression.