When you walk into our marijuana dispensary, Greeley Gallery, you’ll notice our flower strains are separated into three groups – Sativa, Indica, and Hybrid. One of the most asked questions by customers new to the world of cannabis is, “what’s the difference?” After all, each sample is green and looks the same.
The short answer is that Indica and Sativa are terms to predict the expected effect, and a hybrid is a mix of the two. While THC and CBD are only two of the hundreds of chemical compounds within cannabis, Indica and Sativa refer to two different variations of the plant itself.
Difference Between Indica and Sativa
It’s difficult to tell the difference between flower from an Indica plant versus a Sativa plant. Both tend to be green buds and look identical when looking at them in our sample containers. But there are distinct differences in how the plants appear, including leaf shape, size, chemical profiles, and experiences.
Indica
An Indica plant has broad leaves and a stout stature, maxing out at around 3 or 4 feet tall. It produces more resin than Sativa plants, which helps protect it against harsh weather in its mountainous native regions like India or central Asia.
When consuming it, Indica is known to produce a potent sedative effect. It’s incredible at relieving aching muscles or spasms, calming anxieties, and is a great sleep aid. Because it’s known for producing a “body-high,” Indica marijuana strains help us relax and tend to be used in the evening.
Our top three favorites include:
Sativa
On the flip side, Sativa plants grow tall and narrow, up to 20 feet tall, and have long, slender leaves. It’s native in areas close to the equator, such as Jamaica, Mexico, and Thailand. Sativa strains tend to offer a more refreshing experience compared to Indicas. The effects feel similar to drinking coffee, and most people tend to use it during the day for this reason.
While Indicas are known to affect our bodies, Sativa offers more of a “mind-high” by spurring creativity. It’s also great for socializing or being physically active. For this reason, Sativa strains are known to help treat mood disorders such as depression or ADD.
Check out the three top Sativa strains at Greeley Gallery:
Hybrids
By now, you can probably guess that Hybrids are a mix of both Indica and Sativa. This doesn’t mean our harvesters combine the flower from each plant. Hybrids are crossbreed plants, with Sativa as one ‘parent plant” and an Indica as the other.
Hybrids were created as soon as cannabis growers realized different varieties of cannabis grow worldwide and decided to mix and match—something that we continue to do today. This way, we’re given more control over which sort of effects the plant produces. We can add Sativa to an Indica strain to boost mental clarity and dampen the sedative effect of the Indica, for example.
Our favorite three hybrid strains are:
Final Thoughts
In the end, what it comes down to in choosing cannabis, is what sort of effect you’re looking for. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and want just to take a break and relax, then an Indica will suit you far better than the stimulating Sativa, but Sativa is perfect when you want to boost your workouts or get creative, whereas an Indica strain might make you wish to never leave your bed.
If you’re still having trouble deciding, please don’t hesitate to ask our friendly staff. We’re happy to answer any questions you might have. Don’t forget, we deliver to the elderly and handicapable communities too! Just head over to “Browse Menu/Place Order” in the top right corner of your screen and check it out!
