Sativa and Indica are species of cannabis, and for the longest time have been used to categorize the effects of certain strains. Sativa is generally known for being more stimulating and uplifting, while Indica is known for its couch-locking relaxation properties. There is also a hybrid strain with both, which is said to cause a mixture of effects.
But, new research has now suggested that these names should only be used to refer to properties of each plant, such as its height and leaf structure. It turns out that it’s rather the chemical compounds that determine the effects of a certain strain, not just the Indica or Sativa content.
The good news is that there’s no need to feel confused or overwhelmed by such differing information, as we’re going to break down everything you need to know.
This idea that these three varieties – Indica, Sativa and hybrid – will establish the kind of effect you’ll feel is strongly embedded within mainstream marijuana culture. Basically, it’s a way to easily categorize each product to help you determine whether you want effects that are more on the relaxing side, or more energetic.
Let’s take a deep dive into the benefits and drawbacks of each one, so you can fully understand what you’re buying and its effects.
Benefits
There are countless benefits to both Indica and Sativa marijuana strains. Each one will give you a different effect and can be seen as beneficial depending on the effect you’re looking for. And again, it all comes down to the chemical make-up of each strain, not necessarily the levels of Indica or Sativa.
The following factors will determine the type of effect you’ll get from anyone strain:
Cannabinoids
THC and CBD are the two most popular cannabinoids and are the main determining factor behind marijuana’s recreational and medicinal effects. THC is what gives you that couch-locking high in large amounts, while CBD does not give you a high and rather helps with relieving pain, anxiety, depression and other conditions over time.
Terpenes
These are naturally occurring compounds within the cannabis plant, and they are said to affect cannabis strains depending on how much is incorporated. (This is yet to be confirmed, though, and research is still being conducted.)
Yourself
One of the main factors that affect how you’ll react to marijuana is yourself! Is it your first time? How much experience do you have with different strains and levels of THC? Do you suffer from anxiety? All of these will affect how you react to your bud.
Now that you’ve got more of a background on how Indica and Sativa interact with other factors to give you certain effects, let’s take a look at some real-life experiences.
Check out Ice Cream Cake from leafly.ca. It’s a high dose of THC with a sweet vanilla aroma and sleepy top effect. It also helps with anxiety, stress, and feelings associated with depression.
With more than 800 reviews over 4.5 stars and almost 15,000 likes, there’s no doubting the popularity of this sticky sweet delight. Users can’t help but boast of its pain-relieving, sedating effects.
If you’re liking the look of Ice Cream Cake, don’t miss our Genetic Ice Cream Cake Zaza. It’s all yours for anywhere from 1 gram at $10 to 28 grams for $210.
Other Much-Loved Indica Strains
- Rockstar Kush
- Three Queens
- Mike Tyson
- Trap Gas OG
- Pumpkin Kush
- Organic Rockstar
- Black Gas
- Sherbet Dawg
- Cookie
- Death Bubba
Sour Diesel is on the other end of the spectrum as a pungent diesel-flavoured Sativa-dominant strain. It’s highly energizing with happy and uplifting effects, helping with stress, depression and anxiety symptoms.
Something interesting to note here is its level of THC – it’s not that much less than Indica-dominant Ice Cream Cake. This is the perfect example of how it all depends on other chemical components, not just the amount of Indica or Sativa.
This one has a whopping 134,000 likes, with an impressive 4.3 star rating with over 8,000 reviews on leafly.ca. Users point out that it’s a great choice for medicinal purposes, soothing your body and mind without any couch-locking effects.
Check out our Sour Diesel Strain for fast-acting, energizing effects when you need it. Prices range from $10 to $150.
Other Much-Loved Sativa Strains
- Jungle Cake
- Juicy Fruit
- Grapefruit
- Citrus Haze
- Tangerine Dream
- Chocolope
- Texada Timewarp
- Russian Cream
Drawbacks
Like anything in life, there are cons that with the pros. Both Sativa and Indica can cause dry mouth and dry eyes, with some people reporting a little dizziness.
For Indica, some users find they need a few more hits than usual to get the desired effect. At the end of the day, it all depends on your metabolism and tolerance, as everyone reacts differently.
Get Your Energy On
Not all strains of Sativa will give an uplifting effect, but the large majority of users do notice that it gives a stimulating head high. This also helps with boosting creativity, helping a lot of consumers to focus on certain tasks and get stuff done when they need it most.
Sweet Dreams!
On the other hand, not all Indica strains will have a couch-locking effect, but still, most users report heavy full-body highs, helping to put you to sleep. You’ll also feel a sense of euphoric happiness, with a bit of the giggle too.
Popular Strains Comparisons
| Strain | Price | ||
| Rockstar Kush | $10.00 – $1,400.00 | ||
| Three Queens | $13.00 – $1,950.00 | ||
| Mike Tyson | $13.00 – $1,950.00 | ||
| Trap Gas OG | $10.00 – $1,400.00 | ||
| Pumpkin Kush | $10.00 – $120.00 | ||
| Organic Rockstar | $9.00 – $180.00 | ||
| Black Gas | $10.00 – $220.00 | ||
| Sherbet Dawg | $10.00 – $200.00 | ||
| Cookie | $10.00 – $1,000.00 | ||
| Death Bubba | $8.00 – $170.00 | ||
| Jungle Cake | $10.00 – $1,000.00 | ||
| Juicy Fruit | $10.00 – $1,400.00 | ||
| Grapefruit | $10.00 – $1,400.00 | ||
| Citrus Haze | $10.00 – $1,400.00 | ||
| Tangerine Dream | $10.00 – $1,300.00 | ||
| Chocolope | $10.00 – $165.00 | ||
| Texada Timewarp | $10.00 – $120.00 | ||
| Russian Cream | $12.00 – $1,400.00 |
Final Thoughts
Classifying different strains by their Sativa and Indica content is more of a convenience than anything else. When all is said and done, you shouldn’t stress too much over picking the perfect one. We suggest the best thing you can do is to try different products in small amounts at first. This way, you can see how your body reacts, which will help you discover the ones you aren’t so keen on, and the ones that will become life-long favourites.
