CANNABIS 101
Indica
Cannabis indica originated in the Hindu “Kush” region, near Afghanistan. Because it comes from a cold, mountainous climate, it tends to be shorter and has the appearance of a bush. The leaves are darker, fuller, and rounder then the sativa plant. The buds tend to grow in clumps.
Indica produces large amounts of THC and low levels of CBD; therefore, it is considered a strong weed. It tends to be very relaxing or sedating, sometimes making people who consume it want to just hang out on the couch. For this reason, it is commonly used at night before going to bed. It creates more of a “body high” due to its relaxing effects.
Because of its sedative effects, indica is often used by people who experience insomnia. A recent study showed that more people found relief from insomnia and pain when using the indica strain, compared to sativa. This effect may be a result of the higher levels of THC.
Hybrid
Hybrid strains are made by cross-germinating the seeds of the two common strains of Cannabis in an attempt to produce effects of both. Most strains commonly grown today are hybrids rather than pure Indica or Sativa.
The hybrids are usually described based on the dominating effect they have. For example, a Sativa-dominant strain will be more likely to provide energizing effects and a head high.
Sativa
Sativa has lower levels of THC compared to indica, and higher levels of CBD, giving it more equal levels of both chemicals. The sativa strains have energizing effects, and people often consume weed from these strains in the morning or afternoon. Some people claim that the strain allows them to focus more and be more creative. Sativa is also described as giving a cognitive or “head high” versus the body high that is felt with indica.
Due to its mood-lifting and energizing effects, sativa tends to be used by people who have depression or exhaustion. It has also been described to relieve some of the symptoms of ADHD and other mood disorders.
Ruderalis
Cannabis ruderalis is another species that was first discovered in southern Russia. Ruderalis grows shorter than the other two species of weed and has thin, fibrous stems with large leaves. It is also an auto-flowering plant, meaning that it will flower depending on the age of the plant rather than the light conditions.
Ruderalis has very low levels of THC compared to the other weed strains, making it rarely used for recreational purposes. It is more commonly used in medicinal cannabis.
