Sativa, Indica, and Everything In Between: What Does It Mean?

Sativa, indica, and hybrid; a lot of us use these terms when discussing hemp and cannabis, but what do these terms really mean? As recently as a decade ago, the difference was much more pronounced. Sativa known for energizing cerebral effects and indica infamous for its heavy, sedative effects that weigh on the body. More often than not, the distinction was easy to make, but things have changed.

As legislation eases its grip on cannabis, many growers have experimented with crossbreeding strains to create completely new ones. The race to create the best strains has flooded the scene with all kinds of strains that hold both sativa and indica characteristics, usually known as hybrids. Seemingly everyday, there is a new strain arriving on the scene with an increasingly complex family tree, and now there's no shortage of relaxing sativa strains and uplifting indica. So that leads us to the question, what do these terms mean today; and what will they mean in the future?

The Truth

Most experts would tell you: sativa, indica, and hybrid are terms that don't carry very much weight. Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica are often used as to describe variations of the Cannabis plant species. Historically, Cannabis sativa has been described as taller with longer and slimmer leaves. Cannabis indica is often said to be shorter with broader leaves. However, research has shown that the chemical makeup of the plant, which is most responsible for the effects and benefits it offers, cannot be determined by appearance alone.

Cannabis has always been a potent source of THC, but due to the continued rise of selective breeding and gene pairing, most plants that are grown today put all their energy into maximizing its cannabinoid and terpenoid content instead of producing seeds. Currently, many experts agree that there are biochemically distinct variations of the Cannabis plant, but the "sativa/indica" dichotomy may be closer to slang descriptors than scientifically applicable. Flower from a Cannabis "sativa" plant could have all the hallmarks that many associate to an "indica" strain. So how can we know what to expect when trying a new strain?

It's What's Inside That Counts

It turns out the real factor that dictates the experience of a strain is the terpene and cannabinoid profile that it carries. The reality is that each plant will have a considerable amount of variance in its terpenoid and cannabinoid content, even plants from the same farm or batch. As legislation continues to evolve with our understanding of the Cannabis plant and how it interacts with the brain and body, the importance of thorough and accurate lab reports will become crucial to understanding what each strain has to offer.

Understanding terpenes and the effects of other cannabinoids is the most accurate way to decipher the effects of a strain. For years, many had thought that the sedative effects of indica strains came from them having a higher CBD content. While in some cases, that may be true, it has been discovered that the primary source of the sedating couch-lock effects that we associate with indica come from the presence of myrcene, a terpene that carries strong sedation and relaxation effects. In contrast, the citrusy terpene limonene tends to be responsible for many of the uplifting and mood improving effects that are associated with many sativa.

Terpenes aren't as popular when discussing Cannabis and its effects, but as more research is done, we learn that they play a major role in how a strain can make a user feel. Due to terpenes being present in a wide range of organic material, it may be possible to even capitalize on some of their effects from other sources. For example, lavender plants tend to be high in linalool, a terpene with anti-inflammatory and anxiety reducing benefits.

In conclusion, the sativa and indica label seems to be outdated. Moving forward, it may save users a lot of confusion to steer away from the labels as they will continue to mean less and less. The evolution of lab reports to be more inclusive of the various cannabinoids and terpenes will be a big step in truly understanding the power held in each strain.

Want to learn more about the many terpenes, their effects, and where they can be found? Find our blog on terpenes here.