Both sativa and indica strains of marijuana have been used for thousands of years. Some people swear by one strain or another. Given how markedly different they are when pure (not hybrids), it’s understandably easy to play favorites.
Indica
The history of indica strains start in the regions now known as Turkey, Morocco, India, and Afghanistan. It was a desert and mountain cultivar suited to extreme conditions. This is why indica can grow happily in temperate climates.
Recent studies have shown indica to be the parent plant from which all cannabis strains came from, originating in the mountains of Central Asia.
Sativa
Sativa strains come from areas near the equator, like Mexico, Colombia, and South East Asia. It enjoys warmer growing conditions than indica. An extremely versatile plant, sativa has been used to make cloth, paper, oil, and the hemp seeds you find in health food stores, providing a big hit of protein.
Which strain to choose.. Indica or Sativa?
For people buying and using weed recreationally, a preference for indica or sativa comes down to the type of high they’re looking for.
The Spot 420 Colorado dispensaries stock indicas, sativas, and hybrids, so you can choose your favorite or grab something for every type of mood or situation.
The difference between indica and sativa also comes into play when buying cannabis seeds at Colorado weed shop. Growers know that each strain has different qualities, ideal for various growth conditions and desired outcomes.
Indica and Sativa Appearance Differences
Like a stout, shaggy Christmas tree, indica rocks the indoor grow culture with its short stance and fast growing period. The five-foot tall shrubs have big, fat leaves, and flower sooner, producing buds earlier. Indica makes buds that have earthy characteristics, with pine and grass aromas.
In contrast, sativa is tall, lean and elegant, the babe of the bud world. Sativa has slender, thin leaves. It is a late budder, known for its fruity, sweet smells.
Because of their sizes and heights, indica plants are better for indoor growing and sativa plants are better for outdoor cultivation. Most people don’t have room for a 25-foot plant inside!
Hybrids, of course, share all of these qualities, depending on what percentage of indicas and what percentage of sativas are in each seed. Many growers choose hybrids to get the best of both worlds, to cultivate plants that work well in Colorado’s climate and growing season.
The Effects of Indica vs. Sativa
One easy way to remember the different effects of these two strains is to take a simplified look at how each one will impact you — sativa works on the mind, and indica works on the body.
Indica will melt you into the couch. A pure indica strain typically decreases insomnia, pain, and anxiety, while relaxing your mind and muscles – a “body buzz” as some people call it. Indica usually has naturally higher levels of CBD, the cannabinoid compound responsible for relieving pain. Indicas are very effective for overall pain relief and is often used to treat insomnia for many people. Indica buds are most commonly smoked by our medical marijuana patients in the late evening or even right before bed due to how sleepy and tired you become when high from an indica strain of marijuana, like Kush.
OG Kush – Indica Strain
Known benefits of Indica:
- Relieves body pain and nausea
- Relaxes muscles
- Relieves spasms, reduces seizures
- Relieves headaches and migraines
- Relieves anxiety or stress
- Sleep Aid
- Higher CBD levels
Sativa typically contains more THC, which generally gives a person those stereotypical euphoric high feelings. This is an “up” high, which is why this strain can be used to combat depression, fatigue, and mood disorders. Sativa dominant marijuana strains tend to have a more grassy type odor to the buds providing an uplifting, energetic and “cerebral” high that is best suited for daytime smoking. A sativa high is one filled with creativity and energy as being high on sativa can spark new ideas and creations. Many artists take advantage of the creative powers of cannabis sativa (marijuana) to create paintings.
Ghost Train Haze – Sativa Strain
Known benefits of Sativa
- Feelings of well-being and at-ease
- Up-lifting and cerebral thoughts
- Stimulates and energizes
- Increases focus and creativity
- Fights depression
- Stimulates Appetite
- Higher THC levels
When you walk into a recreational Colorado dispensary today, hybrids are incredibly varied. You can find indicas with a high ratio of THC and sativas full of CBD. The combining of the two strains has launched an amazing array of effects, chosen by hand to suit everyone’s ideal experience. A well-trained dispensary bud tender can point you in the right direction.
Choosing Your Strains
Most people will end up selecting a cannabis strain based on what type of effects they are looking for. Hybrid strains are also very popular for recreational use. Given that we are no longer restricted to purebred sativa or purebred indica, high-quality hybrids represent a big leap in what is available on the market, much to the delight of weed lovers.
From 50-50 splits to strains that are heavier on creativity-sparking sativa, or sleepy indica, The Spot 420 Colorado pot dispensaries stock a huge variety of strains since all of our customers have different needs and desired effects.
Generally speaking, if you’re looking for a strain that will help you relax at night, take away some bodily pain, or send you off to sleepytime, aim for something higher in indica.
For a fun, energetic, focused situation you are better off with something heavier on the side of sativa.
The best part of choosing your own strain is that you get to experiment! Pot dispensaries in Colorado can legally sell up to one ounce to customers and you can buy as many different strains as you want within that limit. Make the most of it, by picking and choosing a variety of indicas, sativas, and hybrids, trying each one until you find the perfect match for your personality, your physiology, and your surroundings.
It’s important to learn what type of marijuana is best for you, including whether an indica or sativa strain might make you feel better overall. Marijuana is much more than just walking in, buying some weed, rolling a joint and lighting up nowadays. The bud tenders at The Spot 420 Pueblo Dispensary and Trinidad Dispensary can show you just how far marijuana has come by ensuring you’re walking out with the right indica, sativa or hybrid buds for you.
