Different Kinds of Marijuana: Indica vs Sativa vs Hybrid

Did you know that people have been using cannabis for more than 5,000 years? Back then, marijuana was often used in folk medicine. Today, medical marijuana is more popular than ever, and it is becoming more and more accessible across the country.

While you might already know that using cannabis can be quite beneficial for your health, you might not know the difference between indica vs sativa vs hybrid strains. Many people make the mistake of believing that all cannabis is the same, but this is not true. Depending on what kind of strain you get, you will experience a wide range of effects.

Keep reading and learn more about the different strains of marijuana and which might be best for you.

What You Need to Know About Indica Strains

Sativa and indica are the two main types of cannabis. They are very similar, but they come from different genera of cannabis plants. You can spot the differences between them just by looking at the physical differences between the plants.

You can also feel the difference when you consume sativa or indica strains. The differences in the high are the result of the delicate balance between two cannabinoids: THC and CBD. All cannabis plants have some ratio of these two cannabinoids.

THC is a cannabinoid that produces a psychoactive high when consumed. It does this by traveling through the bloodstream and into the brain. In the brain, it interacts with the endocannabinoid system.

Normally, without the effects of cannabis, the endocannabinoid system is responsible for all sorts of bodily functions such as mood, hunger, pain, inflammation, and more. When you introduce cannabinoids into this system, the cannabinoid will alter the system in some way.

For example, some people feel hungry or “get the munchies” when they consume cannabis. This is due to how cannabinoids affect the endocannabinoid system’s ability to regulate hunger. Indica strains are unique because they have very high CBD levels in comparison to THC.

The Power of CBD

CBD does not produce a psychoactive high, but it can still contribute to a feeling of relaxation and calmness. When you consume indica, you will find that the high is very intense and will relax you almost immediately. Many people like to use indica to help them go to sleep or stay asleep.

Many also use this strain of cannabis to help them relax after a long day or to reduce symptoms of anxiety. You might think that a strain with high THC levels would produce such relaxing effects, but this is not the case. As it turns out, the more CBD a strain has, the more relaxing and powerful the high is.

Because the high from indica strains is so powerful, it is not recommended that you consume indica during the day. You should especially not try to drive or do anything else that requires a lot of attention when you consume indica. Instead, to best enjoy this strain, it is best to set aside some time at home where you can relax without worrying about any other duties to attend to.

Understanding Sativa Strains

Since indica strains are so relaxing and calming, you might be wondering if sativa strains are at all similar. As it turns out, sativa cannabis is actually very different and produces a very different kind of high. This cannabis plant comes from the dry regions of Africa and some parts of Asia.

The plant tends to be much taller and thinner compared to indica plants. The main difference in composition between sativa and indica plants is that sativa strains have far more THC compared to CBD. Again, since THC is the cannabinoid that produces a psychoactive high, you might expect such a high amount of THC to produce a very intense and relaxing high.

On the contrary, sativa cannabis strains instead, produce what is known as a “mind high” in contrast to a “body high,” which indica strains tend to produce. A mind high is a type of high that does not affect your body very much but instead reinvigorates your mind. Sativa strains are very good at reducing symptoms of anxiety or nervousness and exacting a sense of calm.

At the same time, many people find that sativa strains also give them an extra energy boost. Some people even find that sativa strains make them feel more creative and outgoing than usual. You will not feel the same intense body high that you would feel with indica that would leave you feeling tired and lethargic.

For that reason, it is best that you don’t use sativa when trying to go to bed. Instead, sativa strains are perfect for use during the day. Many people like to use sativa strains before going out for a hike or starting a creative project such as a painting.

What You Need to Know

Of course, if you have never used sativa before, you should always try it at home first, so you know how it affects you. If you find that it makes you feel good and energetic, then you shouldn’t have any trouble going out and enjoying the day with it. Keep in mind that there are several different sativa strains to choose from.

While they all produce energizing and anxiety-reducing effects, some strains may produce slightly different highs than others. The cannabis buds may also have different physical appearances as well as different aromas and flavors. Because there is so much variation, many people become, in a sense, connoisseurs of different cannabis strains.

After trying a few strains, you will have a much better understanding of sativa (or indica), and you’ll know exactly what strains you like the best. Some of the most popular sativa strains include Acapulco Gold and Panama Red. There are also plenty of more niche strains grown by local cannabis producers.

But how do sativa and indica strains compare with hybrid cannabis strains?

All About Hybrid Cannabis Strains

The first thing you should know about hybrid strains is that they are not natural. Instead, they are completely fabricated by mankind. However, don’t make the mistake of thinking that this makes them any less high-quality compared to sativa or indica strains.

In nature, two main cannabis plants exist: the Cannabis sativa plant and the Cannabis indica plant. These, of course, produce the two main strains of sativa and indica, both of which have very different and unique highs. The goal of hybrid strains is to mix together the effects of both sativa and indica strains to produce a balanced result.

For this to be possible, cannabis farmers need to specifically grow certain strains of sativa and indica and then interbreed them to produce a unique hybrid strain. This hybrid strain will have the characteristics of both the sativa and indica strains involved. Because there are so many strains of sativa and indica, there are nearly endless possibilities when it comes to interbreeding these two plants.

As a result, there are nearly endless possibilities for hybrid strains as well. Many cannabis farmers like to interbreed very specific varieties of sativa and indica strains to produce very specific hybrid strains. For example, suppose that a cannabis farmer wants to create a hybrid strain that will produce a very energetic effect on the mind while still producing a calm feeling in the body.

The farmer would need to carefully choose the right strains of sativa and indica and interbreed them to get this result. Farmers can also breed cannabis plants to change the aroma, texture, flavor, and other characteristics of the plant. For that reason, there is no sure way to define what a hybrid strain is.

The Differences in Hybrid Strains

Some may be intensely calming and put you to sleep in no time. On the other hand, some may give you a huge boost of energy and might even keep you up through the night. The effects of the hybrid strain all depend on what strains produced the hybrid strain in the first place.

For that reason, it is important to do some research on different hybrid strains before you try any. That way, you’ll know what kind of high you’re in for. You can also infer what the high might be like according to the ratio between CBD and THC.

Remember that if the strain has higher CBD in contrast to THC, the strain will likely produce very calming and lethargic effects. In contrast, if there is more THC involved, the strain will instead be more invigorating. Some strains are specifically designed to help with certain symptoms.

For example, some are very good at reducing anxiety symptoms, while others are very good at making a person hungry. When looking for hybrid strains, you will most likely find strains such as Pineapple Express and Blue Dream. These are some of the most popular hybrid strains currently on the market, although there are many others that you might enjoy as well.

How to Use Cannabis Strains

Now that you know all about hybrid, indica, and sativa strains, you might be wondering how you should use them. Fortunately, consuming cannabis is very easy, and there are many ways to do it. The most straightforward and traditional way is to smoke it.

Cannabis buds, also known as flower, are meant to be smoked. They are dried and cured in a way that makes them burn very easily. You can smoke cannabis flower in several ways, but the most common way is to roll it into a joint.

You can do this by grinding up the buds with a grinder, lining them along a piece of smoking paper, and then rolling it all up into a joint. There are also pre-rolls that you can buy from most dispensaries if you don’t like the idea of rolling your own. You can also experiment with smoking from a pipe.

Again, you will need to grind the cannabis and then pack it into the pipe. Many people prefer smoking cannabis in comparison to other consumption methods because the effects are instant. As soon as you inhale the smoke, the cannabinoids will travel into your bloodstream from your lungs and then reach your brain, where they will enact their effects.

However, the high will not last very long when you smoke cannabis. Usually, it will last around 20 minutes. For that reason, you’ll need to keep smoking if you want the high to last longer. Another popular method is to use edibles.

Edibles

There are many cannabis edibles such as gummy candy, chocolate bars, cookies, and so on. When taking edibles, it is very important to take the recommended dosage for your body weight. If you take too much, the high may be too intense for you, and you may experience some unpleasant side effects such as dizziness or nausea.

When you take the right amount, you will find that the high from edibles can be quite intense and long-lasting. However, it will take some time for the effects to kick in. For some, it might take as long as an hour, so have patience when trying edibles for the first time.

Indica vs Sativa vs Hybrid Strains

When it comes to indica vs sativa vs hybrid strains, there are many differences to consider. Indica is famous for being very relaxing and producing a lethargic effect. Sativa, on the other hand, produces a far more energetic high, and many people even feel a surge of creativity when they consume it.

Hybrid strains are all very different from each other, and some may be calming while others are more energetic. To learn more about cannabis, click here.