Sign up now to get exclusive offers
When someone passes you a bowl, do you ever stop to ask what they’re handing you? Perhaps you had a bad experience that one time after Dave pulled some shake out of his couch, and ever since you have avoided cannabis consumption.
What if we told you there was a way to continue consuming cannabis without having to worry about another negative episode?
If you want to have more control over your cannabis consumption and reduce the chance of a bad experience, it starts by understanding the different types/strains, their purposes, and their desired effects. Let’s take a look!
Indica
The indica subspecies comes from India’s Hindu Kush mountains and is typically viewed as having calming properties. Too much of a calming effect, however, isn’t necessarily a good thing; after all, you don’t want to be that person passed out on someone else’s couch napping beneath a blanket of potato chip crumbs.
Indica is a great type of cannabis for inducing sleep and relaxation or easing pain and nausea. Since indica commonly mellows out the consumer, it’s best to take it in the evening or at night — whenever you’re ready to settle in and wind down.
When consuming indica, you may experience a tingling sensation in your face or a physical heaviness. This is also the type that is better known to increase one’s appetite (AKA the munchies).
Some of the more popular indica strains include Bubba Kush, which is a strong strain that works much like a sedative; Blueberry, which is flavorful and great for relaxation; and Northern Lights, which is an excellent product for easing pain, depression, and addressing sleep troubles.
Sativa
Sativa plants are grown in hot and dry conditions such as those found in Central America, Africa, and certain parts of Asia. These products are more often associated with an energizing effect.
This is the type of cannabis you will want to take to stimulate your mind. Sativa can light up (no pun intended) your imagination while helping you stay focused and on-task.
Even though sativa can cause the consumer to feel upbeat and experience sensations of euphoria, too much can lead to paranoia, dizziness, anxiety, and other effects associated with a bad experience. Like indica, some strains of this subspecies can lead to the munchies.
Due to its stimulating nature, sativa should be consumed during the day to allow you to perform at your most prolific while maintaining maximum productivity. This subspecies can also be useful in social situations when consumed in moderation.
If sativa sounds like your kinda bag, you might want to consider strains such as Sour Diesel, which is ideal for pain/stress relief while providing a surge of energy; Strawberry Cough, which offers a rush of positive emotions; and Super Silver Haze, which can address nausea, pain, and offer mental clarity.
Hybrid
The best of both worlds. Hybrids offer consumers a more balanced synthesis of indica and sativa to bring you a product designed for specific needs.
Because hybrids are crossbred from sativa and indica, the spectrum of effects is much broader. Depending on the strain you buy, you may see anything from enhanced mood to greater focus, or better sleep. You can even use it in conjunction with radiation therapy. Whether you should take a hybrid product during the day or at night will largely depend on what kind of strain you’re consuming.
These days, most products on the market come from hybrid plants. Popular hybrid strains include Pineapple Express (oh, you’ve heard of that one?), which has relaxing and uplifting qualities while also providing an energy boost; White Widow, which has similar effects as Pineapple Express and also targets physical pain; and Blue Dream, which can put you at ease and calm physical ailments such as cramps and inflammation.
While the terms “indica” and “sativa” may be useful for basic categorization, research is beginning to find that these two subspecies are not as distinct from each other as we once thought. What is growing more evident is that the unique blend of cannabinoids and terpenes tells us a lot more about the kind of effects you will see from a particular strain.
In the end, finding the right balance is key for getting exactly what you want from your cannabis product.
For more information, visit JG.
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/sativa-vs-indica?c=1065631074589#overview
https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/sativa-indica-and-hybrid-differences-between-cannabis-types
https://hellodiem.com/education/12-different-strains-of-weed-and-their-effects/#
https://www.leafly.com/strains/northern-lights
https://wayofleaf.com/cannabis/101/sativa-side-effects
https://www.leafly.com/strains/strawberry-cough
https://medium.com/@mjarsenal420/why-does-cannabis-give-you-the-munchies-953c5733bbac
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/marijuana-strains?c=937649964638#sativa-vs-indica
