Smoking Weed

Once upon a time, cannabis consumption was considered a taboo act, and unacceptable in society. These days, the appeal of marijuana is stronger than ever, and the act of smoking marijuana itself is a very common occurrence – even Barack Obama once admitted to trying the ganja saying “I didn’t inhale it, and never tried it again”.

Studies done on cannabis usage in America have shown that 64% of Americans are in support of the legalization of marijuana nationwide. Lucky for us Canadians, the Cannabis culture is widely accepted and even openly celebrated. Our relaxed attitude and values towards weed has embedded cannabis as a norm in Canadian society.

Indica vs Sativa

With thousands of years of history and such a wide abundance of strains available, it is important to know the differences between Indica, Sativa and even hybrid strains to find out what is most suitable for your own personal needs.

Simply put, Indica and Sativa strains differ in their physiological effects and their appearance. Hybrid strains are the result of cross-breeding both an Indica and a Sativa strain together to create a new strain in itself. Because each cannabis strain is so complex and different from one another, it is hard to classify the three phenotypes or variants by their effects alone.

INDICA	SATIVA
SHORTER & BUSHIER BUDS LONGER & THINNER LEAVES	TALLER & SLIMMER BUDS SHORTER & WIDER LEAVES
BODY HIGH RELAXATION APPETITE STIMULATOR SLEEP-AID PAIN RELIEF	HEAD HIGH ALERTNESS UPLIFTING & EUPHORIC CREATIVITY INCREASED ENERGY
BEST FOR NIGHT-TIME USAGE	BEST FOR DAY-TIME USAGE

Indica Strains

Indica strains originated from the mountain ranges of Asia and as a result, developed many features to protect itself from the harsh environments. Indica plants are known for being shorter, and bushier, with thicker layers of resinous THC.

The high of indica strains are defined by the “couch-lock” effect they have on users. Indica strains serve well as relaxation strains, or to aid with pain and sleeping ailments. The calming, sedating effects of indica strains make it excellent for night-time usage or off-work hours.

Hybrid Strains

In such a growing and experimental industry, science has made it possible for the creation of new strains to meet the unique demand of consumers. Hybrid strains are created when geneticists or growers cross-breed pure indica strains, sativa strains or other hybrid strains together to create a new plant, and they can lean towards either being indica dominant, sativa dominant or an equal 50/50 balance of its parentage.

What is different about hybrid plants compared to Indica or Sativa is that the range of effects are endless. Hybrid strains are very complex and can be bred to contain both Sativa and Indica characteristics, making them great for those looking for the best of both worlds, in a sense.

Sativa Strains

Sativa cannabis strains are often described as having a creative, invigorating and euphoric high. Generally called the mind or head high that brings the imagination within the brain. The uplifting, Sativa high is more cerebral than the Indica high, which is felt in the entire body.

It’s a perfect stimulant for “wake and bake” as it provides a very energetic high with more hallucinogenic effects compared to its counterpart (Indica) that induces a very relaxing feeling. Sativas are generally compared to caffeine as it increases alertness and gives a sudden burst of energy making it better suited for daytime use. Sativa weed has a heavy amount of THC compared to Indicas –  generally having a higher CBD content.

These marijuana strains help with focus and have been found to enhance lighting and sounds, making visible surroundings more vibrant. This specific cannabis is apart of the Cannabaceae family. Sativas are recommended for early morning or afternoon consumption.