Even if you’re brand new to the world of cannabis and hemp, you have likely at least heard the three terms sativa, indica, and hybrid.
The cannabis and hemp plants come in many forms, ultimately resulting in a wide array of potential effects. Alongside myriad reform measures creating more acceptance and accessibility of cannabis and hemp in recent years, this broad range of potential benefits is partially why so many have gravitated toward the plant and the products derived from it.
Those looking for specific effects and benefits can rest assured that there is likely a strain that fits their needs, and the sativa, indica, and hybrid categories act as a great jumping off point.
But what exactly does it mean for a strain to be indica, sativa, or hybrid? And how much weight do these labels truly carry? Keep on reading to find out!
Key Takeaways
● Indica, sativa, and hybrid strains all carry distinct physical characteristics and are associated with unique effects and potential benefits. Indica strains tend to offer more mellowing effects, sativas are often more uplifting, and hybrids include a mix of effects depending on the strain and its crosses.
● While the indica, sativa, and hybrid classification still acts as the main way for the industry to classify strains, research and experts argue that consumers should look broader when determining what effects and benefits specific strains may offer.
● In addition to strain classification, consumers should also take account of terpene and cannabinoid content of strains while considering how these compounds all interact synergistically with one another to encourage specific effects.
Before We Dive In…
We’ll speak more on this a bit later, but keep in mind that we will talk about indica, sativa, and hybrids in general terms. Every person is different and may experience unique effects when using specific strains. Some consumers find that they generally vibe better with an indica or sativa strain, no matter the time of day, and some of the more stereotypical effects of these strains may be more or less pronounced in specific users or specific strains.
And while these categories act as our main system to classify cannabis and hemp strains, they are not all encompassing or perfect. We’ll also take a closer look at some other important factors to consider.
What is Indica?
Cannabis indica is native to Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and Turkey, often with a short and stocky structure and wide leaves. Indica plants tend to produce higher levels of CBD than their sativa counterparts, though there isn’t necessarily less THC.
Some consumers may use a mnemonic device like “indica, in-da-couch” to remember the effects, as indica strains tend to be more sedating and body-focused. Even within a specific category there is variance, and not all indica strains will immediately leave you couch-locked or ready for bed. Though in general, indicas tend to be much more focused in the body and usher in a sense of calm and relaxation versus sativas and many hybrids.
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Indica Potential Benefits and Effects
Indica strains are often associated with helping to ease nausea-related symptoms and may be more effective at increasing appetite. Due to their more mellowing qualities, indica strains are often used for to ease pain, increase relaxation, and offer better sleep.
One survey found a statistically significant relationship between the use of indica strains and pain relief, sedation, and sleep, while noting non-migraine headache relief, assistance with glaucoma, neuropathy, spasticity, seizures, insomnia, and joint pain as “reaching statistical significance.”
What is Sativa?
Cannabis sativa is native to hot, dry climates like Africa, Central America, Southeast Asia, and parts of Western Asia. Contrary to indica plants, sativas tend to be tall and thin with similarly long and narrow leaves. As another indica parallel, sativa strains are often lower in CBD and higher in THC.
And this opposition also comes into play in reference to the effects many sativa strains offer. If indica means “in-da-couch,” one might latch onto the phrase “sativa, sunshine,” in that it provides more uplifting effects consumers often take advantage of during the daylight hours. With this in mind, sativa strains are most often associated with cognitive and energizing effects based largely inside the mind.
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Sativa Potential Benefits and Effects
Many sativa users find that these strains can help to boost energy and elevate the mood, which may in turn aid in curbing symptoms of depression or anxiety. Due to the specific effects that sativa strains have on cognitive processing, many have also found that they can encourage different ways of thinking and boost creativity, focus, and productivity.
Consumers may also find that sativa strains still aid in relief of specific symptoms more commonly associated with indica strains, but the efficacy may be more heavily dependent on the composition of a given strain or its specific compounds.
What is Hybrid?
You can likely narrow down what a hybrid strain is following the descriptions of sativa and indica. These are crosses from combinations of parent strains that fall somewhere in between sativa and indica. These strains generally produce unique combinations of effects associated with sativa and indica strains.
In addition, hybrid strains may be categorized as indica-dominant or sativa-dominant, generally meaning that they have more attributes of one over the other while not fully fitting into either category. Some “true” hybrids are more 50/50 and offer an equally balanced mix of effects.
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Hybrid Potential Benefits and Effects
The specific benefits and effects of hybrids generally depend on the strain, as the term “hybrid” covers a wide swath of strains and tends to be a bit more diverse than the sativa or indica labels.
However, many consumers find that hybrids offer the best of both worlds, so to speak, ushering in some of those more mellowing and pain-relieving qualities of indicas while still offering the active and uplifting cerebral benefits of sativas. Due to the immense variety of hybrid offerings, consumers can also pinpoint some of the specific effects they are after without going all the way to one extreme or the other.
How Much Does Indica, Sativa, or Hybrid Classification Impact Effects?
We’ve discussed some of the differences between sativa, indica, and hybrid strains, but it’s also important to note the current discussions around this dichotomy.
It’s true that this system is still in place for a reason and does act as a solid guide for many consumers surrounding what effects they can expect from specific strains. However, mounting evidence finds that there is much more to cannabis and hemp strains than a sativa, indica, or hybrid classification.
It’s a complex topic, and some experts have argued that this classification largely denotes physical differences and doesn’t necessarily dictate specific effects by itself.
One recent study examining nearly 90,000 samples across six states suggested that the “prevailing labeling system is not an effective or safe way to provide information about these products,” as many commercial labels did not “consistently align with the observed chemical diversity” in products.
This effect is likely compounded due to the rapid growth of the legal cannabis and hemp industries, as producers and marketers are essentially able to label products however they choose. This is also a testament to the importance of purchasing reputable brands and products.
Though, the study also references that we may need to simply think bigger picture and consider other factors when it comes to cannabis and hemp effects.
Other Influences on Strain Effects
Cannabis and hemp are complicated plants with plentiful compounds, so it makes sense to take the full picture into account when exploring potential benefits and effects. That’s not to say that indica, sativa, and hybrid classifications are not important, but we should also consider some of these additional factors when looking at the effects of specific strains.
Cannabinoid Content
Arguably another crucial consumer question in regard to cannabis and hemp focuses on cannabinoid content. Cannabinoids include compounds like THC and CBD, along with other minor cannabinoids emerging on the market like CBN, CBG, and more. Each of these compounds come with specific effects, so this is another key area to examine.
THC is the most common cannabinoid in cannabis and offers psychoactive effects, or the feeling of being “high.” CBD is non-psychoactive but still offers many of the same benefits as THC. And these effects can be further impacted by the specific blend of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids in a strain.
Take anxiety treatment, for example. Research has found that CBD-dominant cannabis use was most prominently associated with reductions in anxiety over other ratios, including high THC blends and an equal balance of both. Similarly, some studies have shown that higher doses of THC could actually increase anxiety. This could be one reason why indica strains are commonly associated with anti-stress properties, as they tend to be higher in CBD.
This is one example to show the importance of accounting for cannabinoids in strains. Simply put, a strain that tests high in THC and low in CBD will have distinct effects compared to a high-CBD strain or a strain with equal parts THC and CBD — on top of or possibly somewhat independent of its sativa, indica, or hybrid classification.
Terpenes
Terpenes are the aromatic compounds in cannabis, hemp, and other botanicals that give plants their odor and flavor. There are more than 200 terpenes in cannabis and hemp plants, so we have a lot more knowledge to uncover, but preliminary research suggests that many are linked to specific effects — both on their own and in relation to other cannabis compounds.
Growers, scientists, and enthusiasts have long recognized the potential impact of terpenes, with some even suggesting an alternative categorization system based primarily on terpenes and specific effects. You may even find more products and dispensaries more heavily leaning on terpene content (like live resin gummies) to explain potential strain effects to consumers.
A study examining the impact of cannabis terpenes concluded that the healing power of the plant “most likely resides in terpenes/terpenoids and phytocannabinoids” and other elements, carrying on to reference that the particular compounds, quantity, and ratio also plays an important role — more on that next.
The Entourage Effect
It may be most helpful to see all of these pieces as part of a larger puzzle that can ultimately guide consumers toward strains that suit their needs. Specifically, mounting evidence is pointing to the entourage effect as a crucial indicator of cannabis and hemp effects.
This theory states that it is the combination of all cannabis and hemp compounds, including cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and more that influence a strain or product’s effects. The entourage effect deems that these compounds work with one another synergistically, suggesting that we must think big picture rather than focusing on one specific attribute of the plant in regard to specific effects.
A scientific literature review explored the “collaborative interactions” of various chemical compounds in cannabis, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, suggesting that it is in fact the combined effect of these compounds that ultimately influences that way a user will feel.
The topic is gradually gaining traction in the broader realm of cannabis research, with another recent study showing that cannabis containing a diverse mix of natural components produces a more powerful experience and offers more profound therapeutic benefits than products with high THC alone.
Final Thoughts
It’s important to note that sativa, indica, and hybrid classifications are still important. These categories would not have such a prevailing legacy if they were meaningless, and they still act as the main way for dispensaries, companies, and growers to distinguish strains from one another.
Consumers plentifully find that narrowing down strains based on their category in relation to their specific needs can lead to their desired benefits.
That said, cannabis and hemp are complicated plants, and it’s plainly far too simple to place the entirety of a strain’s effect on one of three potential categories. We’re still collectively catching up on research following the decades-long War on Drugs and ongoing criminalization of cannabis, so consumer education on the plant is crucial to hone in on what specific strains may best suit individuals.
Overall, having a solid understanding of sativa, indica, and hybrid strains — alongside the many other potential influences surrounding a strain and its effects — is the best way to ensure you are getting the experience you’re after!
References
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Sharpe, L., Sinclair, J., Kramer, A., de Manincor, M., & Sarris, J. (2020). Cannabis, a cause for anxiety? A critical appraisal of the anxiogenic and anxiolytic properties. Journal of Translational Medicine, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-020-02518-2
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