When you visit a medical marijuana dispensary the budtender will typically ask if you prefer an indica, sativa, or hybrid. This question is referring to the different species of marijuana. Beyond the species are different strains of marijuana which you can find more information on a large variety of marijuana strains by visiting our "Meds" page.
An indica species is often associated with the terms "couch lock", and "buzzed", and considered a medication felt more on the body. Meaning it puts the patient into a very relaxed, sedated state, and will often aid with sleep. Many patients prefer indica strains at the end of the day, as indica often results in an increased appetite, and the ability to relax and unwind, and to also aid with anxiety, and sleep. An indica strain of marijuana is considered to be more felt on the overall body. Everyone is different however, and of course it depends on the specific indica strain as to the amount of THC and CBD in the strain. There are patients who prefer indica strains throughout the day to aid them with high levels of anxiety, and can function normally. There are other patients who only prefer indica at the end of the day.
A sativa species is often described as a "giggly heady" medication that is considered more of a "heady" medication. Meaning it tends to uplift your mood and send your mind into a thought provoking mode, and also sometimes increasing the level of communication. Sativa is often preferred by patients who are looking for an uplifting thought provoking medication. Some patients claim sativa strains give them energy and help them focus. Artists and musicians have often claimed that marijuana enhanced their creative energy, and the species that would likely aid in this circumstance would be the sativa strain. Many patients prefer sativa during the day.
As with many medications there are patients who claim the opposite affects. For instance that on a sativa tend they to become very relaxed and experience the "couch lock" description that is often associated with indica, and that they tend to be focused and energetic on an indica strain. Just like with other medications, the affect depends on the person. Some drugs such as Benadryl will knock some people out, and yet make other people hyper.
Today, most marijuana is a combination of a sativa and indica species and is referred to as a "hybrid". You can always visit our "meds" page to find out more information on hybrids and the percentage of indica and sativa.
There is another specifies of marijuana that is not readily available called the "ruderalis" species. Ruderalis is not typically found in the medical marijuana industry as the THC level is found to be lower. Ruderalis has been crossed with sativa and indica however will result in lower THC.
Below is more information on each species of marijuana.
Cannabis Sativa: Cannabis Sativa is a
marijuana variety that likely originated in the Himalayan lowlands. The
Sativa species is the tallest of the three cannabis species with outdoor
plants reaching a height of 20 to 25 feet in height. Sativa is also
less bushy than indica and can be grown closer together. Due to the
height of this species, sativa has been utilized for its longer fibers
since man began to cultivate it. Sativa is now cultivated all around the
world.
THC from the sativa plant is generally lower
when compared to the indica species while CBD is higher. This results in
a sativa that produces a heady or more energetic high. The yield of the
sativa plant is less than that of the indica plant. This is mostly due
to the tall and spindly nature of the Cannabis Sativa species. Sativa
also takes more time to mature and is best suited for growing outdoors.
Many strains of sativa have been developed for indoor
growing as well as having been combined with indica strains in order to
create new strains with more desired characteristics such as a greater
yield and bushier plants.
Cannabis Indica: Cannabis Indica is a
marijuana variety that likely originated in the Himalayan highlands.
Indica is the bushiest of the three marijuana species and is in the
middle of the three cannabis species when it comes to height. Plants
grown outdoors will rarely exceed ten feet in height.
The increased THC and decreased CBD in the indica species
results in a much heavier stone that has more of a body high when
compared to sativa. The yield of indica is greater than the sativa
plant and it takes less time reach maturity.
Cannabis Ruderalis: First discovered in
Eastern Europe (central Russia) by Russian botanist D.E. Janichevsky,
this very short cannabis variety is known for its ability to grow in
colder, harsher climates and its ability to switch from vegetative
growth to flowering once it has grown 5 to 7 sets of leaves. What this
means is that this plant can flower regardless of a change in light due
to a shorter day.
This plant grows only 24 inches tall at most. Certain
breeders have created new cannabis varieties crossing ruderalis with
indica and sativa in order to create a heavy budding plant that will
grow in harsher conditions. Cannabis varieties crossed with ruderalis
result in a lower THC count, however, the plants are shorter and mature
quicker.
