You may already know that when you buy light marijuana you buy legal Cannabis Sativa, but you have probably heard that there are two basic hemp strains: Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indica (also accompanied by the rarer Cannabis ruderalis).
Experts agree that cannabis comes from Central Asia, and there is no question about the differences in appearance and effects produced between sativa and indica strains. Today we’re going to look at the specifics that help us distinguish between sativa and indica strains.
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What is Cannabis Sativa?
Cannabis sativa was classified in 1753 by the biologist Carl Linnaeus as an annual plant of the Cannabaceae family.
This plant has been heavily cultivated throughout our history as a source of food, fiber and as a medicine, as each part of this wonderful plant is harvested and processed differently depending on its use.
Unlike Cannabis indica, sativa strains typically produce high levels of Cannabidiol (CBD) rather than the intoxicating, psychoactive Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
The effects of CBD on our body are truly far-reaching; for example the following properties are noteworthy:
- sedative,
- anxiolytic,
- antipsychotics,
- anti-inflammatory,
- painkillers,
- antiemetics (anti-nausea),
- anticonvulsants
And many others.
CBD-rich sativa strains are non-psychoactive; It is no coincidence that it is advisable to choose a sativa strain rich in cannabidiol if you want to avoid the anxiety of indica varieties with a prevalence of THC.
Differences between Cannabis Sativa and Indica
Almost all Cannabis sativa plants can reach, if grown outdoors, one meter in height (and sometimes even exceed it); they also tend to prefer warm and tropical climates with a humid atmosphere.
These are tall, slender plants that tend to take almost double the ripening time of indica strains.
The leaves and flowers also differ in appearance, as sativa strains have long, thin foliage and often long, cylindrical buds, while indica varieties have stubby leaves and generally larger buds.
However, each strain affects each consumer differently, and due to extensive breeding practices, the levels of THC and CBD in each plant differ not only by variety but also by grower.
Not only is the appearance of Cannabis Sativa and Indica distinctly different, but the effects also differ greatly between the two strains.
Effects of Cannabis Sativa VS Cannabis indica
Classic, underempowered cannabis sativa is known for its stimulating and energizing effect that can help reduce anxiety or stress and increase creativity and focus.
On the other hand, when you take indica you can see an increase in calm, deep relaxation and a reduction in insomnia.
But in reality, depending on the variety of marijuana under consideration, these effects can change. In fact, individual plants produce different effects, even between the same type of cannabis. It all depends on the chemical composition of the plant and the cultivation technique used.
For example, light marijuana , which includes strains of weakened sativa hemp, has strong relaxing, pain-relieving, anxiolytic effects and many others. It could therefore be very useful in case of insomnia, stress, anxiety, depression, chronic pain and so on and so forth: the benefits of cannabidiol are in fact many.
These symptoms could be typical of Cannabis indica but in reality they derive from the strong presence of CBD (which in some cases even exceeds 25%) and from the almost total absence of THC, which legally cannot exceed 0.2%.
In the non-weakened species it is Cannabis indica that has higher quantities of CBD, and it is precisely for this reason that some effects are similar (bearing in mind, however, that the light weed has no psychotropic effects while the classic indicates yes).
In conclusion
Cannabis sativa, being a plant rich in THC (the psychotropic cannabinoid) can have the following main short-term effects on our body:
- euphoria
- stimulation of creativity
- higher concentration
- sudden attacks of hunger (the so-called munchies)
- any hallucinations
- possible paranoia
- possible state of anxiety
The weakened variety, therefore low in THC but rich in CBD, the non-psychotropic cannabinoid, can instead have the following effects (precisely because of the high percentages of cannabidiol):
- anxiolytics
- antidepressants
- anticonvulsants
- antispasmodics
- antiemetics
- antioxidants
- anti-inflammatory
- relaxing
These effects, as you can see, are highly beneficial, so much so that CBD is an active ingredient currently the subject of numerous scientific studies. In fact, it could be really useful in the treatment of many problems such as chronic pain, side effects of drug therapies and more.