With the increasing use of marijuana for both medical and recreational use, there’s an emerging interest in the various effects that the different types of marijuana can produce. Put briefly, there is genuine interest in the distinction between Indica and Sativa.
That said, here’s what you should know about the difference between the two strains of cannabis.
Physical Differences
Some strains are identifiable by the way they appear. In simpler terms, botanists identify strains in cannabis by simply looking at their physical differences. These differences range from height, branching patterns, and shape of the leaves.
For example, the indica strain is generally shorter than the Sativa plant. What’s more, they have a woody stalk and are considered to grow quicker than Sativa.
Cannabinoids
Cannabis contains many chemical compounds known as cannabinoids. Despite this, only two compounds known as cannabinoids are identifiable – Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
THC and CBD produce different effects on the human body. On the one hand, THC has psychoactive properties which make it potentially useful for people with pain, difficulty sleeping, or depression.
On the other hand, CBD doesn’t create a high. Essentially, it helps in addressing anxiety and psychosis.
That said, the presence of CBD and THC isn’t a key distinguishing character between Indica and Sativa. However, for context, there is a general perception that Indica has a higher CBD content than THC. In contrast, Sativa contains more THC than CBD. As such, the usefulness of both strains is based on the content of cannabinoids they have and the effect they produce.
Indica-Dominant Effects
The presence of a high CBD content in indica makes it famous for producing a level of sedation known as “couch lock.” As such, its dominant effect is in relieving physical aches and pain and also in promoting sleep.
Sativa- Dominant Effect
The dominant effect of Sativa is based on the presence of high content of THC. As such, it is associated with a high effect, thus becoming useful for possibly reducing anxiety and depression.
What should you look for when choosing a product?
It’s often difficult to choose the right marijuana based on your needs. However, to achieve this, the following are some of the considerations you should take into account:
- Understand what you are trying to achieve: The type of condition you are trying to support or the feeling you intend to achieve will help you understand what you want. A dispensary selling marijuana can help you understand the right product for you based on your goals for cannabis.
- Consider your Medical History: Your medical history is often vital. This is because cannabis may cause intense effects on your body if not taken properly. As such, it is imperative to consult your doctor and understand some of the possible consequences that may arise out of the interaction between your current or previous medical condition and cannabis. What’smore, this helps identify any possible risks that may arise.
- Understand your tolerance: Oftentimes, choosing the right type of product boils down to your ability to tolerate certain products. Put briefly, some strains of marijuana with low levels of cannabinoids are considered entry-level. As such, they are mild and tolerable for users. However, strains with higher levels of cannabinoids shouldn’t be ingested without prior knowledge of the effects.
- Your desired consumption method: different products are consumed differently. As such, the method of consumption may have varying effects in terms of benefits and drawbacks. For this reason, if you choose to smoke or vape cannabis, you need to ensure that the technique doesn’t harm you. Instead, you should choose a technique that benefits you and is in line with your needs.
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