As plants, the two strains look different. Indica is a shorter plant with broader leaves and a woody stalk. Sativa is tall with thin leaves, and they grow more quickly. There are also many types of hybrid plants with properties of both strains.
Sativa and indica are closely related, but they have differences. Each has a different ratio of CBD to THC, and that can change how they affect your body. But plant strain is only one of the things that impact this. Certain terpenes (compounds behind how some plants taste and smell) can affect mood, energy, and come in different quantities in different strains.
Even though the strains are different physically and chemically, experts say you can’t look at a cannabis plant and predict how it will affect your body. These plants have been bred and hybridized for so long that some researchers now say there isn’t a clear distinction between the two.
Some cannabis terpenes are:
- Linalool
- Myrcene
- Limonene
- Alpha-pinene
Because cannabis hybrid strains – mixed breeds of both sativa and indica – are so prominent, often weed types are called “indica-dominant” or “sativa-dominant.” With that in mind, here are some facts about the original, pure versions of these weed strains.
What Is Indica?
The cannabis indica strain originally comes from dry climates in India, South Africa, and Asia. It generally has a higher CBD content than cannabis sativa, but the CBD-to-THC ratio is very close to 1:1. People often describe its smell as “skunky.” Indica is also known as hemp.