Indicas provide what has been called a “body high”, while sativas provide more of a “mental high”. Unfortunately, Sativa plants need more time to grow and produce less medicine (flowers) than indica varieties. Indica cannabis plants are commonly grown in the arid and dry climates of the Middle East. Physically, the plants are short and bushy with broad, dark green leaves.
The buds themselves tend to be much denser in Indica plants than in Sativa plants. This is because, by nature, ruderalis comes from a completely different region than indica and sativa. When comparing the effects of Indica cannabis seeds with their Sativa counterparts, it can be concluded that it is prudent to look at the composition, or at least the genetics of their ancestors. The reason Indica strains are thought to have these effects is that they have higher levels of CBD than Sativas.
Knowing if a strain is Indica or Sativa is not enough information to tell you how it will make you feel; consider the potency levels of the strain's cannabinoids and terpenes. Because there are many medical marijuana patients who find that a specific strain provides the best relief for their medical symptoms, from anxiety and depression to chronic pain and epilepsy, and because the terms indica and sativa appear on cannabis containers, it is important to understand the differences between types of strains. In addition to the well-known THC and CBD, there are seventy other cannabinoids found in indica and sativa marijuana plants. The most popular myth seems to be that all Indicas produce a heavy body high, while all Sativas produce energetic and uplifting highs.
But again, the effects that these terpenes can provide, while consistent with the assumptions of what an indica or a sativa does, that effect is no guarantee of one or the other. Unlike Indica strains, Sativa was not hidden in the mountains, but has always grown in places with a lot of sun, such as in sunny areas of Europe. Hybrids are the third category and are popular in the cannabis market; hybrids are sourced from sativas and indicas and can have effects associated with either of them. So why do we think that the words indica and sativa make a difference in our choices? To more effectively choose the strains that produce the effects you're looking for, let's go into more detail on the defining characteristics of the strains.
Now that you know the basic differences between indica and sativa dominance, let's take a look at better ways to choose a strain. While Indica's reputation is that of a sedative that produces a body high, Sativa is said to cause more brain effects, perfect for the day. All strains available in a dispensary are truly a hybrid; some are more indica-dominant and others are more sativa-dominant.
