What are Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Sativa? How to distinguish one from the other variety? Is this distinction just a legend or does it have real basis? In today's article we will address the topic, discovering all the characteristics of the extraordinary Hemp plant and its effects.
The Cannabis Plant and Its Varieties
From a botanical point of view, Cannabis is an angiosperm plant of the Cannabaceae family. Although it exists a single species of Cannabis, this plant has three varieties main ones, with different properties and offering interesting effects.
The Cannabis variety three are recognized:
- Cannabis Indica
- Cannabis Sativa
- Cannabis Ruderalis
These varieties originate from the different climatic conditions to which Cannabis has had to adapt: the hemp plant is in fact native to Siberia but thrives in a variety of climates, also thanks to human intervention since ancient times.
Cannabis Indica, also called “Indian hemp”, originates from the cold and dry areas of Nepal and certain parts of India; Sativa (which originates from the Latin: “useful”) thrives in warm, tropical climates of Asia and certain parts of Africa. Ruderalis (rustic variety and invasive) comes from Russia.
What is Cannabis Ruderalis?
There Cannabis Ruderalis It was named this way by scholars because it is an extremely strong and invasive variety: it grew, in fact, on ruins, like ivy. This variety is little cultivated and is usually used only for hybrids, to generate more resistant plants and suitable for cultivation in non-ideal conditions, or to produce the so-called "autoflowering”.
In this article we will not deal with the characteristics of Ruderalis because it is a little cultivated variety and used in its pure version; over time, producers have only exploited its "agricultural" characteristics for strengthen the two main varieties.
Cannabis Sativa vs Indica: The Botanical Differences
From a botanical point of view, the difference between indica and sativa It is easy to identify because the plants, even if belonging to the same species, present important differences in shape, but also in flowering characteristics.
- There Cannabis Sativa, typical of warm climates, is a thin and slender plant, with equally thin leaves; the flowering of this variety lasts a long time, because it can enjoy a warm or hot climate for long periods of the year.
- There Cannabis Indica It has a lower and bushier shape, with wider leaves to intercept the greatest number of solar rays. The availability of heat in these climates is shorter, so this variety has a limited flowering time.
These are the "classic" differences: it is worth noting that most of the Cannabis plants in circulation today derive from hybridization and that even pure varieties can show variations in shape based on the characteristics of the soil in which they grow.
Cannabis Sativa vs Indica: The Genetic Differences
From a scientific point of view, there is no genetic difference between Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Sativa: Cannabis variety they have only phenotypic differences, that is, differences in image, among themselves.As we saw before, the Indica variety has adapted to the drier and colder climate, while the Sativa has acclimated to tropical areas and has had to modify its characteristics to survive and reproduce.
However, the varieties have an important difference, which is that in the terpene profile: by analyzing the latter it is possible to trace a plant back to one variety or another.
Often the the difference is more apparent than substantial, at least from a botanical point of view: Sativa and Indica are useful labels for understanding and using Hemp in all its potential but they have no correspondence from a genetic point of view.
The differences between Cannabis Sativa and Indica in terms of terpenes
THE terpenes are aromatic compounds abundantly present in Cannabis plants: these are directly responsible not only for the taste of Cannabis, but also of its psychoactive effects. The difference between Cannabis Indica and Sativa is discovered by analyzing the so-called terpene profile.
Some botanists actually think that the “physical” difference between Indica and Sativa varieties comes from the different presence of terpenes in one or the other variety.
The main terpenes are:
- Limonene: lemon-like taste, stress-relieving and euphoric effects; anxiolytic and antidepressant; also found in smaller quantities in peppermint.
- Pinene: pine flavor, euphoric effects and increased creativity; anti-inflammatory; also found in pine, basil and rosemary.
- Myrcene: “mossy” taste and relaxing and sleep-inducing effect; antioxidant; also found in thyme and lemongrass.
- Linaol: sweet taste with floral hints and calming and sedative effect; also found in lavender.
- Carophyllene: woody scent, useful for treating insomnia; also present in pepper.
The terpenes of Cannabis Sativa are:
- In higher concentration: 150-200 different terpenes
- Rich in limonene and pinene
- Rich in beta-carophyllene
The terpenes of Cannabis Indica are:
- Richer in myrcene
Cannabis Indica and Sativa effects
We now come to the part that most directly concerns those who want to take Cannabis for recreational or healing purposeIt is not possible to say in hindsight whether it is better Indica or Sativa because their effects are very different and can be useful in appropriate circumstances or times of day.
Anyone who wants to feel more energy, want to laugh, want to party or wants to stimulate their artistic side would do well to take Cannabis Sativa, the most suitable for recreational purposes for evenings in company. This variety is suitable, from a therapeutic point of view, for those who suffer from depression and want to face their day with greater optimism.
Anyone who wants to relax, calm anxiety and fight insomnia will find a precious ally in Cannabis Indica, with a sedative effect. This variety is also useful for combating chronic pain and diseases such as arthritis.
What do consumers think about the differences? of Indica and Sativa Therapeutic Cannabis?
According to botanical science the difference between Cannabis Indica and Sativa it's more commercial than real.However, as we have been able to see, it really exists a difference in the concentration and quality of terpenes that can actually determine different effects.
It is very difficult to find “pure” Cannabis Indica or Sativa seeds or buds on the market: the norm is to find hybrids or mix with different quantities of one or the other variety. This allows you to enjoy a Complete Marijuana in terms of effects and the wide range of flavors.
According to a survey conducted by the prestigious Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, people who use cannabis for medical purposes are well aware of the differences among the existing varieties and know how to use them to their advantage.
In addition to terpenes contributing to the variety and potency of the Cannabis effects are naturally cannabinoids: today it is possible to find on the market buds rich in THC or on the contrary completely devoid of this component, as in the case of 100% legal weed CBD, with non-psychotropic but still anti-inflammatory and relaxing effects.
Conclusions
According to many scientists, including Dr. Ethan Russo, Director of Research and Development at the International Cannabis and Cannabinoids Institute, the distinction between Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Sativa doesn't make much sense. We have already seen how the science has not found a way to distinguish one variety from the other by looking at the genetic profile; according to Russo this distinction is not even valid from the point of view of the effects. It is therefore only a question of legend, or autosuggestion, if as users we perceive differences between the varieties?
Maybe for reconciling science and “tradition” of the community of Marijuana users, we could say that each plant has its own story and that only by calculating the terpene profile objective differences can be found between one and the other.
Certainly the merit of distinguishing Cannabis Sativa, Indica and Ruderalis has allowed those who study and grow Hemp to improve strength, resistance, flowering quality, taste and breadth of effects of each single seed, allowing a better user experience.
