If you bought marijuana in your earlier years, you probably had no idea (before you smoked it) how it was going to make you feel. It was literally and figuratively “pot luck”. Back in the day, terms like Sativa, Indica and Hybrid were surely not in your vocabulary (or anyone else’s).
These days most dispensaries refer to cannabis strains as three main types: Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid. While this jargon is largely used for marketing, there is ongoing debate within the cannabis industry about the accuracy of the labels.
Here’s an overview of the attributes of each strain::
Indica
- Appearance: Short, bushy plants with broad leaves.
- Origin: Thought to have originated in the colder, mountainous regions of Central Asia.
- Effects: Typically produces a relaxing, full-body high that promotes sedation and sleep.
Sativa
- Appearance: Tall, slender plants with thin leaves.
- Origin: Believed to come from warmer, equatorial regions.
- Effects: Generally provides an uplifting, more cerebral, energy boosting high creativity, and focus.
Hybrid strains
Hybrid strains are bred by combining indica and sativa plants to create a unique salad of effects. Characteristics include:
- You might feel uplifted and mentally stimulated (sativa) while also being relaxed or calm (indica). Some are sativa-dominant (more energetic) or indica-leaning (more relaxing), depending on their genetic makeup.
- Hybrids are often used to target specific symptoms or effects, such as:
- Pain relief + mental clarity
- Anxiety reduction + social energy
- Relaxation without full sedation
Most modern cannabis strains are technically hybrids, even if they lean heavily toward one side.
It’s only through experimentation that you will begin to figure out which types of strains work best for at various times of the day. Then it becomes an exercise in trying specific strains of each variety to find the ones that you enjoy and work best ones for you.