Hey folks! It’s time again to take a deep dive into cannabis knowledge with Cobourg’s favourite cannabis retailer, Circa 1818. We talk a lot on here about different types of cannabis: what their properties are and whether they’re stimulating strains, sedative strains or something in between. We often respectively refer to these differences using the terminology sativa, indica or hybrid, with most stores using this classification to organize flower for your shopping convenience. However, for those who are new to engaging with cannabis those terms are going to be gibberish.
That’s why this week we’re going to be taking a look at the differences between the three plant types and (more importantly) if those differences mean as much as people think.
The Age of Hybrids
Ok, so right away let’s clear up some terminology. When we talk about indica vs sativa, what we’re discussing is the difference in how and where these plants grow and what characteristics they take on during their growth. Indica-type cannabis plants tend to propagate in colder, mountainous climates, are shorter with broader leaves and more densely branched. Meanwhile sativa-type cannabis plants tend to be taller with thinner branching patterns and are found in warmer climates.
We also use the terms indica and sativa to describe the plant effect, which in the old days was a reliable way to foretell what the electric lettuce was going to do to you. Indica plants traditionally bring more sedative effects to the table, being the preferred strain type for couch bound stoners and those seeking relief from aches and pains. Meanwhile, sativa plants occupy the opposite end of the spectrum; giving the user more upbeat, creatively exhilarating effects. Hybrids tend to run the line between the two types, allowing the user to imbibe without leaning too dramatically into the sedative indica or the uplifting sativa.
Which brings me to an interesting and important point in this blog post: there are almost no pure indica strains or pure sativa strains in today’s cannabis market. The occasional landrace strains that evolved in nature without human interference (such as the classic indica Hindu Kush) and which represent the purest forms of the indica/sativa extremes still exist but by and large most cannabis these days falls into the hybrid category. This is because growers have experimented with breeding traits from other plant types into their flower in order to boost THC yields, improve grow cycles, make the plant hardier and more. Which is nothing new for us, humanity has been breeding and altering plant characteristics ever since we started this agriculture game. Seriously, go look up what a banana used to look like before we genetically toyed with that potassium laden yellow boomerang.
When most growers or retailers categorize their flower as being indica or sativa what they’re usually saying is that the flower leans into either territory a little harder than the other. For example, Pink Kush is widely regarded as a pure indica but is actually has sativa-like traits, meaning it’s more like an indica dominant hybrid with a ratio of 90% indica traits to 10% sativa traits.
So... How Should I be Picking Flower?
The best advice we can give if you’re trying to pick a flower for a specific effect is to do a little bit of pre-purchase research. Finding out what the indica/sativa ratio that your prospective flower has is a great starting point. Next up would be taking a good look at whatever terpene information is provided. Most flower these days have terpene information provided by the grower and this can go a long way to helping you get the most out of your ganja.
When in doubt, ask your budtender who will be more than happy to gab about terpene properties so that you can learn what you need to know to get what you need out of your weed. Till next time folks!
Now that we’ve cleared that up, why not take a look at our menu and put your newfound knowledge to the test!