This is a topic that has gained some attention, especially the past several years. This is a very polarizing topic somehow, as are many things in the cannabis space. And to be perfectly honest there are probably very few people that have an opinion on this subject that have merit. The reason I say this is because so many topics in the cannabis industry are dominated by misinformation if not disinformation and you would have to do experiments with real people to really make this determination, which I have.
This false information is perpetuated from one pot head to the next without fact checking. While I believe this type of perpetuation of false information runs rampant everywhere (particularly because of the internet) it is particularly bad in the cannabis space. I think there is something inherent to the culture of the cannabis industry that perpetuates this, a lot of “know-it-alls” in cannabis unfortunately.
So how do we really know if a strain being indica, sativa or hybrid really affects consumer experience? Well there is a science to it. Firstly this has to be a controlled experiment, meaning you have one variable that is constant, like one particular strain consumed by multiple different people. I was a medical cannabis caregiver in Denver for five years and the way different patients received the same strain differently was quite surprising and astounding.
The first thing I would tell patients would be to not do any research on the strain that I was supplying to them beforehand and before consuming it, because confirmation bias and �anchoring� your mental state will have a significant impact on your perception of your experience with the strain. This is largely placebo effect.
There are really two schools on the subject, the first is indica strains are more for relaxing and are associated with a body buzz, and sativa strains are better for production, more energetic tasks and are more associated with a mental high. The second school is that it doesn�t matter because indica and sativa are a classification of the plant�s landrace and ancestors and have no bearing on your mental or physical state.
I actually believe the answer is �none of the above.� At least neither one of the two schools fully illustrates my position on the subject after treating many patients as a caregiver.
So this is my conclusion of the Indica Vs. Sativa debate. It�s first worth mentioning that there are two elements that are more important in how consumers medicate with cannabis than whether or not it�s indica or sativa.
The first is an individual�s personal physiology. We all have unique endocannabinoid systems so we all received cannabis in a unique fashion, what might seem like more of an indica to one person might seem like more of a sativa buzz to another person. It�s like having a unique tongue. Just because you don�t like broccoli doesn�t mean I won�t like broccoli.
The second, and in my opinion the most dominating factor in how you receive a strain is actually your current state of mind. Something I�ve never heard or read about outside of my own personal experience and the experiences of my patients. For instance if I�m really stressed, I don�t want a strain that makes me feel a �sativa� effect; because I know I�m going to drive myself crazy obsessing over whatever it is I�m stressed about. I might smoke a CBD strain I grew that doesn�t have a cerebral effect at all during stressful times.
Lets get back to the plant though. So do I believe it matters whether it�s indica or sativa, sort of. So yes indica or sativa is a designation of taxonomy but that does�t mean it doesn�t effect consumers� experiences. So on average yes an indica is more likely to be a relaxing body buzz, but not because it�s an indica per se, it�s because often times (not always) indica strains contain terpenes and phytocannabinoids that are chemically proven to have a calming effect, like Myrcene, CBD, and CBG. Similarly a lot of sativa strains come from equatorial regions that contain large amounts of Alph-Pinene and Alpha-Limonene and higher levels of THC, thus often times causing a more upbeat and mental high.
So in conclusion it�s not an exact science and often times an indica does contain chemical compounds that are more often associated with sativa and vice versa. And then obviously there are the other two factors I discussed, personal physiology and current state of mind. And again this current state of mind can be dictated by preconceived notions about whether a person �likes� indica or sativa strains.
So how do you know what strains are right for you? Well it�s simple, try different strains with an open mind and stick with the ones you like. Often times if you like the smell of a strain there is a good chance you will like the high as well, this directly pertains to personal physiology in the olfactory system.
Chemical alteration of plants like GMOs PGRs and toxic pesticides can also have a significant impact on how consumers receive a strain. You may have smoked what would have been your favorite strain of all time, but due to the plant being grown at a dirty facility that employed toxic practices you may not have had a great experience with the strain, which is why everyone should grow their own.
