If you’re a novice to the world of cannabis, you may be wondering what the difference is between indica and sativa strains. These two varieties of cannabis plants are the most commonly cultivated and have distinct physical characteristics and effects on the body and mind.
The two major sub-species of cannabis are indica and sativa, both of which have distinctive features and highs. For novices in the marijuana realm, learning exactly how indica vs sativa characteristics contribute to the effects and benefits of different strains can be helpful. Because indica and sativa effects are quite distinct, understanding the difference between them can help cannabis consumers better customize the high they receive when consuming marijuana recreationally or medicinally.
Choosing a Strain Based on Effects
The difference between indica vs sativa effects means that individuals can choose their ideal cannabis strain based on their personal preference and the goals they’d like to achieve by consuming. While an indica would be an excellent choice to help relieve stress and improve sleep quality, a sativa strain would work well for someone who needs an intense amount of focus to get work done or to get creative with artwork or music. It makes sense, then, that sativas are best consumed during the day while indicas are optimal at nighttime.
Indica leans more toward relaxation
Sativa tends to be more uplifting
It follows that choosing a balanced hybrid can give consumers the best of both worlds. Alternately, selecting a strain that has more indica qualities than sativa (or vice versa) can offer a blend that provides the desired benefits.
Compounds in Indica vs Sativa
The difference in a sativa high vs an indica high is due to the varying levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD (cannabidiol), and terpenes in each strain.
THC
THC can cause extreme feelings of relaxation along with a euphoric high. It’s an excellent pain reliever and is also often used to calm nausea and stimulate appetite. In some people, THC can cause agitation and anxiety.
CBD
CBD is not psychoactive like THC, which means that CBD does not cause an intoxicating high. It’s known to relax and even cause drowsiness at higher doses. Like THC, CBD is good for pain relief. It’s also known to increase levels of anandamide – a natural antidepressant.
Terpenes
Terpenes are compounds that impart specific flavors, aromas, and effects to marijuana. Along with cannabinoids, terpenes are thought to be responsible for the difference in indica and sativa effects. For example, linalool is a terpene with anti-anxiety properties, while myrcene is known for its pain-killing effects. Terpenes may explain why a sativa strain that’s high in relaxing CBD can still invigorate and increase someone’s productivity.
Medical Benefits of Sativa vs Indica
While the difference between indica and sativa effects matter to many recreational marijuana consumers, they’re of particular importance to those who need it for medical purposes. Researching the characteristics of each sub-species and understanding the makeup of different marijuana strains can help medical patients tailor their treatment to target specific symptoms and harness the medical benefits of marijuana.
Depression
Sativa cannabis strains are uplifting, energizing, and can often be found with high amounts of CBD – a cannabinoid that’s been proven to be effective against depression. In the choice between sativa and indica, sativa strains are often more ideal for depression because they stimulate the desire to get up, go out, and be productive.
ADHD
Prescription ADHD medications such as Ritalin or Adderall are stimulants that work well to calm and focus the brains of people of people with ADHD. The key difference between an indica vs sativa high is that the latter is stimulating – affecting the brains of ADHD suffers much in the same way as prescription medications for their condition. Using sativa strains of marijuana for ADHD can provide the focus needed to get things accomplished without unwanted pharmaceutical side effects.
Appetite Stimulant
Sativa strains of marijuana are also good for stimulating hunger, which is important for people who are experiencing wasting as a result of cancer treatments or HIV/AIDS. THC is also excellent at calming nausea and vomiting – another reason it’s a popular natural treatment for cancer patients.
Insomnia
Indica-dominant weed strains can be extremely sedating and are often taken as a remedy for insomnia. Usually, this type of strain is consumed by medical patients at night or just before bed.
Muscle Pain/Spasms
When choosing an indica vs sativa for pain, it’s essential to consider the “body” high that results from consuming indica strains. This makes them particularly effective at relaxing muscles and easing body pain.
Headaches
There are a variety of over-the-counter and pharmaceutical medications available for severe headaches such as migraines, but some people either don’t respond to these treatments or can’t withstand the side effects. Marijuana – and particularly indica strains – can be an effective treatment for people who suffer from migraines.
Growing Indica and Sativa
The difference between indica and sativa runs far beyond just their effects; the plants’ similarities begin to diverge from the moment they sprout. When it comes to comparing indica vs sativa, leaves, plants, and even the nugs are different once the material is harvested.
Sativa and Indica Climate
The ideal climate conditions for growing indica versus sativa are not the same. For sativas, warm temperatures are optimal; they thrive in places such as Mexico, Africa, Brazil, or Thailand. Meanwhile, indicas mature better in colder climates such as Turkey or Morocco.
Another aspect to consider when deciding whether to grow indica or sativa is the ability to grow indoor or outdoor. While indica plants are ideal for indoor growing, sativas are best grown outside due to their height.
Of course, as any good grower knows, plant genetics can be modified to create a hybrid of the two types that will do well in the chosen growing environment. For example, a sativa-dominant strain that will grow shorter than a pure sativa would be great for an indoor grower with a low ceiling height.
Sativa vs Indica Appearance
The appearances of sativa vs indica when the plants mature are also quite different. Sativas are usually tall and slim in shape; their height can reach twenty feet or more. Most indicas, on the other hand, are short and bushy; they typically grow only three or four feet high.
The buds also differ; they are usually denser on indica plants than sativas, although sativa buds are typically the stickier of the two. As for the branches of the plants, sativas tend to be longer and more spread out than indica branches.
Regarding the leaves, indicas often have wider and broader leaves than sativas, as well as their leaves being a darker green color than those of sativa plants. As for the leaves of hybrids, which form the majority of plants grown and cultivated, they can have either leaf shape or be a combination of the two.
Indica or Sativa? Choosing the Ideal Strain
The world of indica vs sativa offers an infinite array of choices for cannabis consumers. Hybrid strains are much more common than pure indicas or pure sativas. This means that people can customize their cannabis experience based on whether they’d like to experience an indica high vs sativa high.
Understanding the differences between the two is also essential for growers. Indica and sativa leaves and flowers differ in appearance and intensity of smell. Maturity, harvest times, and ideal growing climate and location also differ. Those who wish to grow indoors in a small apartment, for example, should research indica-dominant strains that will be shorter rather than taller, sativa-dominant strains.
As with everything concerning marijuana, there are exceptions to every rule, and this also applies to the differences that separate sativa vs indica. Plant genetics and harvests, individual body chemistry, and personal preference will all play a part in choosing the best strain to grow or consume.
