Indica, Sativa, & Hybrid, oh my!

Let's create a scene. So you get your first cannabis card, and find a store. Walking into the lobby you are greeted by a friendly face, they set you up as a new patient, and verify your card. All clear. You walk through a door into the shop, and all that's left is to make your choice. Except, there are 20+ jars full of the same looking, little greenish nuggets before you. Pick one.

There are a lot of strains of cannabis out there, and the list keeps growing. Also, names like "Northern Lights" or "Jack Herer" don't exactly tell you any useful information about them. And as I've stated in previous posts, their effects cover a wide range. Now that the overwhelming part is out of the way, allow me simplify it all. Conveniently, the standards for budtenders are rising, so whomever is helping you with your purchase should be able guide you in the right direction as well. But it would be nice to know what to ask for, so let's dive in.

Cannabis strains break into three main categories; indica, sativa, and hybrid. In short, indicas are for the body effects, like physical pain relief or sleep. The sativas mainly create the mental effects, good for treating conditions ranging from depression to ADHD. Hybrids are the strains that are cross bred between the other 2.

CANNABIS INDICA is the type most users are looking for. Acting as more of a sedative, it is often referred to as the "nighttime weed." Think indica; in-da-couch. These strains are great for managing pain, and relaxing the body. One of the most common uses for cannabis is to turn off after a long and stressful day, and eventually for getting to sleep. If this is you, ask for indicas. Some are stronger than others, and some are more likely to induce sleep. Using too much of one of these strains can create a loss of control similar to muscle relaxants, and heavy sleepiness. If you feel this way, taking CBD can reduce this intensity.

CANNABIS SATIVA plays on the opposite side of the field. Sunny sativas are considered the "daytime weed." This is due to many of these strains boosting mental activity. You may have simply heard of the "head high," which is attributed to sativas. Artists, writers, and other creative types like to use these. Many of the strains in this category are also helpful for uplifting someone's mood, becoming a motivator for those who struggle with depressive conditions. Focus is another useful impact from many of these strains; but I would recommend already being actively on the task when using cannabis in this manner. Using too much of a sativa can result in a rush of anxiety, and even hallucinations. Again, taking CBD can reduce this intensity, as it limits the body's ability to absorb THC and other cannabinoids.

Lastly, hybrid strains involve some combination of sativa and indica. Cross breeding is in fact the reason why there are so many strains these days. The hybrid classification definitely covers a wider range of possibilities, they also aren't as extreme in their effects. In general, I suggest hybrids for many social/recreational users, as well as for those using cannabis to treat anxiety. Still, CBD helps if you ever feel these effects are too strong.

As a final piece of advice; if you find any strain that seems to be perfect for you, write down its name! This may sound obvious, but many of my patients do not do this, and just try to ask for "what they got last time." Since this is a crop, seasons and available strains change with time, and news ones spring up regularly. If you are able to mention a strain you prefer to your budtender, they should be able to suggest another that is comparable.