Every article that I've ever read explains that "sativa for energy, indica for sleepy" is a complete myth and misrepresentation of several facts. So why do we, and the MC industry, keep believing it?
Interested to hear other people's perspectives.
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15 comments
Ilona
- 4y
Rep: 3758 Lvl: Gold
💯💯💯
Q1: "Some users describe the psychoactive effects of Cannabis indica and sativa as being distinctive, even opposite. But are they really? Beyond self-reports from users, is there any hard evidence for pharmacologically different species of Cannabis?"
A1: "There are biochemically distinct strains of Cannabis, but the sativa/indica distinction as commonly applied in the lay literature is total nonsense and an exercise in futility."
Q2: "Sativa is often described as being uplifting and energetic, whereas indica as being relaxing and calming. Can you speculate on what could be the basis for these perceived differences?"
A2: "We would all prefer simple nostrums to explain complex systems, but this is futile and even potentially dangerous in the context of a psychoactive drug such as Cannabis. Once again, it is necessary to quantify the biochemical components of a given Cannabis strain and correlate these with the observed effects in real patients. Beyond the increasing number of CBD predominant strains in recent years, almost all Cannabis on the market has been from high-THC strains. The differences in observed effects in Cannabis are then due to their terpenoid content, which is rarely assayed, let alone reported to potential consumers. The sedation of the so-called indica strains is falsely attributed to CBD content when, in fact, CBD is stimulating in low and moderate doses! Rather, sedation in most common Cannabis strains is attributable to their myrcene content, a monoterpene with a strongly sedative couch-lock effect that resembles a narcotic. In contrast, a high limonene content (common to citrus peels) will be uplifting on mood, while the presence of the relatively rare terpene in Cannabis, alpha-pinene, can effectively reduce or eliminate the short-term memory impairment classically induced by THC."
Q3: "How do you think one could address the sativa/indica dichotomy in a scientifically sound manner?"
A3: "I would strongly encourage the scientific community, the press, and the public to abandon the sativa/indica nomenclature and rather insist that accurate biochemical assays on cannabinoid and terpenoid profiles be available for Cannabis in both the medical and recreational markets. Scientific accuracy and the public health demand no less than this."
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5576603/
Also worth checking out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlDLiHKrNyU
TLDR; Every strain is unique composition of cannabinoids and terpenes, that react differently with each persons brain. Using sativa/indica labels is almost meaningless in terms of effects, especially considering nearly all strains are hybrids. You are far more likely to notice energetic/relazing effects from the maturity of the plant, i.e. ratio of clear:milky:amber trichomes than the ratio of sativa:indica.
23
ZebraGurl
- 4y
Rep: 3791 Lvl: Gold
Honestly the sativa / indica argument is more useful when growing. It’s , in my experience, more of a way to describe the plants growth structure/ leaf structure / average height of the plant more so than for effects.
As I say, iv had lots of very stimulating lemon Afghan plants that are stereotypical indica’s with huge fat leaves.
I really think it’s more to describe plant morphology than it is to describe the effects.
Why don’t they assay all of the terpenes within the plants? Probably cost - it’s just more testing to pay for…
Also to confuse it further from a growers perspective - it depends when you harvest as well as this determines the amount of cannabinoid degradation. After too long being alive the thrichomes with go from clear (not ready and developing) to cloudy (perfect time to harvest in my opinion) to amber (this when the THC has started degrading to CBN which is way more sedating)
Some people like the sedating effects of more degraded thc to CBN if you are, for example growing a night time strain.
This is why I hate not having growers rights because you’ve no idea when they harvest and what phenos they are even using. It’s just a huge lack of control I’m used to having…
5
Mupps
- 4y
Rep: 3786 Lvl: Gold
Its really not bullshit / myth - especially when dealing with landrace strains and very specific strain-lines --- ( a lot of medical strains are still hybridised indica's / sativa's , as so much of the seed market is as well)
But a real landrace sativa will give you heart palpitations like you drank 10 espressos...A real landrace indica will give you a narcotic, sedated and more psychedelic relaxing high...and with a good CBD ratio , both styles of cultivar will provide a decent body buzz,but good luck going to sleep after smoking a pure sativa IMO.
Terpenes , as such a minor constituent of the plant-- ( compared to any non-active plant matter and then the psychoactive components)can only play so much of a role in the high / experience.IMO - as aromatic solvents, they help the transfer of chemical constituents and some may be more effective at this dependent on one's personal chemistry and reaction to terpenes.
There's something else to the entourage effect that people are missing IMO : and its the difference between full-spectrum products , or products containing THC, CBD and some terpenes , there's something of value in the non active waxes, flavinoids etc.
3
Lodon
- 4y
Rep: 3538 Lvl: Gold
It’s a good rule of thumb, at least for me, albeit nowhere near set in stoner.
3
Jerrylatty
- 4y
Rep: 4709 Lvl: Gold
Yup. More to do with terpenes in my experience. Iv had some super lemony Afghan kush cultivars that make me energetic and have had thin leafed ‘sativas’ that make me really tired.
It’s just a strain by strain thing for me rather than a sativa / indica thing.
3
Lodon
- 4y
Rep: 3538 Lvl: Gold
It’s not a myth, it’s just a loose guideline for lost people
2
FreshRoll
- 4y
Rep: 4398 Lvl: Gold
In Canada, we use it predominantly as a generalization instead of as a rule of thumb. There is a lot more nuance that goes into making statements like that. Not all sativas are the same and neither are indicas.
2
skyred
- 4y
Rep: 5054 Lvl: Gold
Although your suggestion i fully support re creation of scientific grading system. Moving from opioids to MC one concern is being able to replicate the desired experience each time i dose.
2
Davidt
- 4y
Rep: 4008 Lvl: Gold
I can categorically say that some weed makes me very anxious, self aware and paranoid where others don’t. However at the moment i don’t know which. Will run through test with clinic to see if I’m better with sativa, indica or some Hybrid weighted either way.
2
Killerhazard
- 4y
Rep: 4753 Lvl: Gold
My experience has always been Sativa dominant strains make me feel more energy. Super Silver Haze, one of my all times faves, could clean my house top to bottom on that lol
1
Ilona
- 4y
Rep: 3758 Lvl: Gold
Defo not a myth. I mean if it’s a hybrid but leans to either indica or sativa then yeah but if it’s pure indica or pure sativa the effects are exactly that.
1
GlenBot
- 4y
Rep: 4195 Lvl: Gold
Many variables to take into account: ratio of milky to amber trichomes at harvest, individual biochemistry, diet, mood etc.
Sativa / Indica is still a legitimate variable. Yes there are probably some indicas out that you find stimulating and some sativas that are sedative but they are morphologically and chemically distinctive
It’s useful to always have a few strains in your arsenal and keep a diary regarding your experiences
1
Lodon
- 4y
Rep: 3538 Lvl: Gold
Has anyone seen the Netflix explained doc episode on weed? It goes in about this in length, basically agreeing with some previous commenters in that there is a biological difference between the two and they may well have different effects but the reality is that pretty much every single strain in circulation is a cross breed between a sativa and indica. It's almost just a better way to describe the effects of a particular strain IMO. If its a sleepy sedating one then it's indica-like and if it's quite uplifting and buzzy it's sativa-like
1
Steveo
- 4y
Rep: 3994 Lvl: Gold
I read that indica is better for pain as well, still waiting for approval as I have a complicated medical history so waiting for a letter from my consultant
1
Yvonne
- 4y
Rep: 4602 Lvl: Gold
It's just branding at this point. It's easier to say Indica and Sativa than high CBN, low CBN or couchlock, head high
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