Marijuana is being legalized at an increasing rate all over the United States for medicinal and recreational use and gaining more and more interest from the public. More interest in marijuana means more research by consumers and scientists, which means more questions and more answers!

You walk into a dispensary, and the first thing the budtender asks you is, “Do you know if you like Indicas, Sativas, or a hybrid of the two?” So you check out an online dispensary’s selection, and you can categorize the hundreds of options by ‘Indica,’ ‘Sativa,’ or ‘Hybrid.’ But what does that mean, you ask?

Some of the first terms a potential cannabis consumer comes across when looking into marijuana are Indica and Sativa. Thus, making one of the most popularly asked questions: What’s the difference between an Indica and a Sativa?

Until recently, sellers and consumers of cannabis have relied on the general labels Sativa, Indica, and/or Hybrid to navigate through all the existing strains and their effects. However, recent studies have clarified a little more what exactly “Indicas” and “Sativas” are and what they are not.

Indicas are traditionally known as the sedative type of cannabis strain that puts you “in da couch,” while Sativas are known as “uppers” and are commonly labeled as energizing. Recent research shows, however, the general claim that all Indicas are relaxing and all Sativas are stimulating may be misleading and has little scientific support.

Experts have found many different growth factors and cannabinoid/terpene combinations involved in making up the effects of each marijuana strain. There are nuances to using these labels.

Cannabis culture holds strong to the terms Indica and Sativa to distinguish the thousands of different marijuana strains and their effects. While not necessarily accurate, in reality, the labels are solely rooted in botany.

Cannabis indica and Cannabis sativa are simply two distinct species of marijuana with specific differences but have a lot of similar characteristics. People may be surprised to know that the only solid, proven differences are their physical traits and not their effects.

Cannabis indica is originally from Middle Eastern countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan and physically are short, bushy plants with broad, dark leaves. Indicas generally have intoxicating properties with higher levels of CBD than Sativas.

Cannabis sativa was first discovered in the warmer climates of Southeast Asia and South America and are tall, slim plants with skinny, light green leaves. Sativas have the perception of being stimulating and tend to have higher levels of THC than Indicas.

Now that scientists are legally allowed to study marijuana more thoroughly, research shows that Indica, Sativa, and hybrid are physically identifying labels. The stereotypical effects that go with those labels do not actually have much scientific support. The levels of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids and terpenes in each strain ultimately determine its effects on its consumer.

Cannabinoids are the chemicals in cannabis that cause a wide variety of effects on its consumer. The two most commonly studied cannabinoids that most people have heard of and are possible factors that should be considered when determining the effects of different strains are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). However, 144 different cannabinoids have been identified thus far. The varying levels of cannabinoids in marijuana make each strain distinct, with its own unique set of effects.

THC is a cannabinoid with psychoactive properties that creates the “high” that many people associate with cannabis consumption. Marijuana strains high in THC tend to help consumers with insomnia, anxiety, depression, and pain. Historically, it was believed that Indicas were the strains with high THC levels, but it’s important to point out again that recent research shows that there is little to support this claim.

The cannabinoid CBD does not create a “high” in its consumers but does affect mood. CBD is traditionally known to have calming effects, helping with anxiety and other psychoses, but can also act as a stimulant in certain doses. Sativas have been thought to be the type of strain with high CBD levels because they help increase focus and boost energy and mood, but it’s been shown that not all Sativas are high in CBD.

Terpenes are aromatic compounds secreted by glands in plants and fruits such as oranges, hops, lavender, and cannabis, as well as in some animals. The scent of a plant is often determined by its terpenes and can give cannabis its varying scents such as pine, berries, citrus, or fuel.

Terpenes from plants are typically isolated and used for common products such as perfumes and lotions. However, when it comes to cannabis terpenes, some of them may affect the endocannabinoid system in the body the way cannabinoids do. The significant difference between terpenes and cannabinoids is the way the body absorbs and uses these compounds.

At this point, the most commonly known terpenes in cannabis are caryophyllene, limonene, myrcene, and terpinolene, but more and more are being discovered every day with loosened regulations on research. One question yet to be answered is how terpenes and their different combinations contribute to the effects of different cannabis strains.

THC and CBD are only two of over a hundred different cannabinoids that affect humans; we can see why only considering these levels or the general species of cannabis (Cannabis Indica/Sativa) insufficiently classifies the effects of each strain.

With so many established strains and new hybrids being created all the time, all with varying levels of hundreds of cannabinoids, trying to find the right product may be a daunting task for consumers. In combination with the long list of ways to consume cannabis, ranging from flower to edibles to oils, long-time users, as well as new consumers, have found themselves swimming in options.

A simple label of Indica, Sativa, or Hybrid does not necessarily tell you the effects of the strain, and more factors should be considered. We hope consumers now and in the future are able to better navigate this new booming market in alternative medicine and recreation.