If you’ve ever used aromatherapy to relax or invigorate your mind and body, you understand the basics of terpenes, the aromatic compounds commonly produced by plants and fruit. CBD (cannabidiol) is a non-intoxicating compound known to alleviate anxiety, pain, inflammation, and many other medical ailments.THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the compound that most think of when talking about weed-it’s what makes you feel high, and relieves symptoms like pain and nausea.THC and CBD are the two most common cannabinoids and are the main drivers of cannabis’ therapeutic and recreational effects. The cannabis plant is composed of hundreds of chemical compounds that create unique effects, and the primary ones are cannabinoids. These compounds combine to create the entourage effect, leading to the feeling of being high. The better way to pinpoint effects of different weed strains is to talk about their mix of cannabinoids and terpenes, or the chemical compounds in it. So if indica and sativa aren’t the best predictors of effects, what are? Hybrid strains offer a mix of indica- and sativa-like effects.īroadly speaking, you’ll see a lot of consistency to the idea that indicas are relaxing and sativas are energetic in Leafly’s own Top 100 cannabis strains: Most of the strains in the “sleepy” and “relaxed” categories are indicas, while most of the “energetic” strains are sativas.Įasy, right? Now let’s dial in that process.They’re great for physical activity, going for a hike, completing a task, cleaning, and anything that requires focus. Sativas are energetic and will make you productive.Indicas are calm and relaxing, great for chilling out at the end of the night, watching a movie or listening to music, taking a nap, or just staring at the wall.Had a long day and want to chill out? Need to do some spring cleaning or get a project done? Talking to your local budtender, they will tell you: How to use the indica, sativa, hybrid method This method is a little more complex, but don’t let data scare you-once you find a strain you like, you can dial in your cannabis experience and find a strain that’s best for you. Leafly’s own strain database uses the cannabinoid and terpene model, compiling the chemical profiles of thousands of strains using data from cannabis testing labs all over the country. “Sativa” comes from the Latin “sativum,” meaning “cultivated.”įrench biologist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck updated the naming in 1785 with two distinct species: “ Cannabis sativa,” a taller, lankier, and more fibrous plant, and “ Cannabis indica,” a shorter, stouter, and more psychoactive plant, its name meaning “from India,” where it was thought to originate. In 1753, Carl Linnaeus published Species Plantarum, classifying all cannabis plants under one group, “ Cannabis sativa L.,” with “Cannabis” as the genus, “sativa” as the species, and “L.” indicating Linnaeus’ system. If you’ve ever been to a dispensary, you’ve likely heard a budtender begin a strain recommendation by asking which of those three types you prefer, but the science doesn’t support that. However, even today, the belief that indicas, sativas, and hybrids deliver distinct effects is still deeply rooted in mainstream cannabis culture. On top of that, every person has a different body chemistry, so a strain can affect each person differently. The origins of the two terms are actually rooted in botany, not effects, and describe the physical structure of a plant. Once comfortable with cannabis, you may want to dig into the nuances of weed a bit more, and learn about chemical profiles, cannabinoids, and terpenes-our preferred method.īut indica doesn’t always mean “in da couch” and sativas don’t necessarily energize all consumers. For an easier, more general way to pick a weed strain and its effects, the indica/sativa/hybrid model may work for you. Like it or not, the indica, sativa, hybrid classification system is still entrenched in the world.īoth models have value, and consumers of all levels can use both. Give a consumer three options-up, down, or in-between-and you can easily explain how a certain strain will make them feel and sell a product. However, most of the cannabis industry, including shops where you buy weed, is still stuck in classifying strains as either indicas, sativas, or hybrids for one main reason: It’s easy. There’s a big push in the cannabis industry to disavow the indica/sativa/hybrid classification system because it is not based in data and science-the terms are botanical names that refer to a plant’s structure, not the effects it produces. So why do smokers and budtenders alike still use indica, sativa, and hybrid instead of the cannabinoid and terpene model? Science is pointing to a better way of determining the effects a cannabis strain will have on you: cannabinoids and terpenes, the compounds that make up a particular strain’s chemical profile.
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