According to scientists, there is no difference between the effects of indica and sativa marijuana strains. For decades, marijuana growers, sellers and users have classified strains as indica or sativa to explain the type of effect they would have when consumed. The real difference between current Indica and Sativa plants is their observable characteristics during the growing cycle. Indica plants tend to grow short, with thick stems and broad, dark green leaves.
They also have short flowering cycles and grow sufficiently in cold, short-season climates. Sativa plants have longer flowering cycles, do best in warm climates with long seasons, and generally grow taller with narrow light green leaves. In reality, there are only hybrids in the world, and our original understanding of how to easily classify them has dissipated. However, it's still widely used today, it's important to explain why brands continue to use Sativa and Indica on their product labels.
There is something scientific for indicas to make you sleepy and sativas make you feel more awake. Indica generally has a higher content of THC, CBN and myrcene. CBN is the cannabinoid that makes you feel sedated. Myrcene works in conjunction with higher THC levels and creates a feeling of high throughout the body.
Sativa normally has lower THC, which means you can smoke the same amount and not feel as high. It also has a higher level of limonene, which gives it an energizing effect. For a long time, vendors have sold sativa as a stimulatory drug suitable for daytime use. Indica has been considered as a soothing and sedative agent and is therefore sold as a nighttime drug.
However, these differences have been described only in profane literature and botanists disagree with them. There is a lack of scientific evidence to prove the difference between sativa and indica in terms of their effects on the body, as perceived above. Cannabis Sativa and Cannabis indica have different botanical properties. Almost immediately after their creation, the terms indica and sativa were used to identify cannabis plants based on the shape and size of their main leaves and the amount of fiber they produced.
Sativa plants are much more native to warmer climates with longer summers, and take longer to fully bloom than an indica. Indica-dominant strains can make you feel relaxed, while Sativa-dominant strains can be uplifting and invigorating. Sativas are often described as cerebral, intoxicating, uplifting and energizing, while indicas are described as relaxing, sedative, full-bodied and stony. Since the mid-2000s, botanists have deviated from the taxonomy of Small and Cronquist, arguing that the Sativa and Indica subspecies may have predated human intervention.
And as we'll see, the effects of indica and sativa plants in the 18th century probably aligned more with their physical classification than they do today. Many others in Oregon and across the country are doing the same, so look for products that include terpenes and cannabinoids, and don't mention Indica or Sativa to indicate the effects and get more repeatable and consistent experiences. These are generally known as hybrids, but the result is that even many strains that are indica and sativa have a hybrid nature. One of the most influential pioneers in this field, the “father of modern taxonomy” Carl Linnaeus, was the first to document cannabis in 1753, when he named it Cannabis Sativa L; he noted that this plant grew tall and thin, with thin and thin leaves and loose flower buds.
A “Sativa” strain could well put you to sleep and show other common indica effects in you if it has the right combination of THC, CBD, other cannabinoids and the right terpene profile to go with it. In other words, indicas and sativas continue to exist because they still have a purpose for growers, and old habits die hard among retailers. .