Indicas vs. Sativas

Indica and Sativa are botany terms – they don’t tell you what kind of high you’ll get.

Whether a marijuana plant is classified as an Indica or a Sativa  comes down to the shape of the plant and its region of origin.  In other words, the classification has nothing to do with the biochemistry of the plant, which will ultimately determine the kind of impact it has on you.

When you see those “Sativa” / “Indica” / “Hybrid” labels on cannabis products, they are are marketing terms.  Brands use those labels to set your expectation for what kind of high you’ll experience, but there are no standards – two different products in the same category could give you very different highs, so take the labels with a huge grain of salt:

Sativas are expected to deliver more energizing, “head” highs that boost your thoughts and emotions. Sativa-labeled products are typically recommended for daytime use, intended to help people feel more creative, you might feel more chatty, motivated, confident, etc. (People who say they don’t like sativas complain that they felt nervous, wirey, or that their internal talk track became non-stop.)

Indicas are expected to deliver more calming, “body” highs that affect your physical sensations and largely quiet your internal talk track. They are often recommended for evening & nights, and for people trying to alleviate pain, anxiety, and insomnia. (People who say they don’t like indicas complain that they get too stoned: they space out, eat too much, etc.)

Hybrids are products designed to avoid getting people too stoned or too nervy, but aside from that, no two hybrid products will feel quite the same.

For all intents and purposes, buying cannabis products based on whether they are Indicas, Sativas or Hybrids is about as useful as buying wine based on whether it’s red, white or rose.  It might work as a rule of thumb but you might also be missing out on some great flavors and experiences.