Indica vs. Sativa vs. Hybrid Cannabis Strains EXPLAINED
Key Takeaways
Intro
Has this ever happened to you?
You walk into a dispensary hoping to walk out with that perfect weed that makes you feel great. Maybe a jar of edibles and a vape? Maybe a little bit of flower to light up?
You give the front desk your ID, and eagerly take your place in line. When you reach the budtender, the first thing they ask you is,
“Do you want an Indica or a Sativa?”
You freeze like a deer in headlights.
“Iiiiiiiii…uhhhh…give me a minute!”
You whip your phone from your pocket and do a quick Google to find out without looking like a fool. You type “Indica vs. Sativa.” But all you get is a mountain of confusing and conflicting information. Also a lot of it just seems to be opinions?
You don’t want this budtender to think you know nothing.
And more importantly, you REALLY don’t want to waste your hard-earned money on Sativa when what you really need is Indica.
This is where I swoop in to help you, wearing my “Weed Nerd” cape, ready to save the day…and your wallet.
Take it from a Certified Cannabis Educator and cannabis consumer of 30 years. I understand your predicament. I am here to give you the absolute BEST information on this topic, so you can buy with confidence.
The Cheat Sheet is enough to get you started. If all you do is grab it and head to the dispo, you’ll be better off than you were without it.
But if you really want to know more, read all the way to the end, my friend!
Cheat Sheet: Indica vs. Sativa vs. Hybrid
The Importance of Understanding the Indica vs. Sativa vs. Hybrid System
Understanding the distinctions between Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid is important because that is how ALL cannabis products are labeled.
It is THE first decision you need to make between products. It is something you need to know.
Whether you’re buying at a dispensary or online, and whether you’re buying edibles, a vape, or flower, it will be labeled as “Indica,” “Sativa,” or “Hybrid.”
Cannabis is not just one thing that makes you feel one way. There is a lot of variety. Choosing the right type for you ensures that you feel the way that you want to.
What is a cannabis “strain”?
So if Sativa, Indica, and Hybrid are ways to classify cannabis strains, we first need to know what a cannabis strain is.
Think of weed strains the same way you think of different types of apples.
All apples grow on apple trees. They all have a thin, colorful skin and a crunchy white flesh.
And yet, there are a lot of differences between varieties of apples. Granny Smith are small, green, and tart. Honeycrisp are bigger, sweeter, and pinkish-red. Then there’s Gala, Braeburn, Cortland, Fuji and more.
Some are better for eating, some are better for making apple pie.
Each strain of cannabis is like a different variety of apple.
All cannabis plants are green, aromatic, and have a distinct leaf pattern.
But the strains Blue Dream (a Hybrid), Jack Herer (a Sativa), and Hindu Kush (an Indica), for example, all have slightly different looks and smells, and will give you different sensations.
Just like Gala isn’t “better” than Fuji, Blue Dream is not “better” than Hindu Kush, and Hybrids are not “better” than Indicas. It’s all about personal preference and intended use.
Why the Indica vs. Sativa vs. Hybrid System works
- Because cannabis growers know what they grow and label accordingly.
If a cannabis cultivator grows a weed strain that makes them feel super energetic and happy, they will label it as a “Sativa.” If they grow a weed strain that makes them feel relaxed with a strong body high, they will label it as an “Indica.” If it makes them feel present and creative, it’s a “Hybrid.”
It doesn’t matter whether from a botanist’s perspective the plant is a “true” Sativa. Because even botanists don’t know what a “true” Sativa is, or ever was, although they have some theories.
- The only thing that matters is how the weed makes you feel. More often than not, the products are labeled based on that.
- It’s the devil we know. This Indica vs. Sativa vs. Hybrid naming system is ingrained in cannabis culture. It’s not great, but it’s the system we have. Maybe someday someone will come up with a fantastic new naming convention that makes everything right. Maybe not.
It’s a lot like knowing that a mile is 5,280 feet and there are 16 tablespoons in a cup, instead of just using the metric system that makes way more sense. It’s the devil we know, even if it’s not perfect.
So we learn it, we live within it, and move on with our day.
Why Indica vs. Sativa vs. Hybrid system doesn’t work
Let’s talk about tequila. In a weed article? Yes, in a weed article.
Now, I don’t drink hard alcohol very often, but when I do, sipping on a fine tequila is my drink of choice.
For LOTS of people, drinking tequila makes them wild and crazy, dancing on tables and having the kind of night you can only piece together the next day.
Not for me. For me, tequila makes me calm and relaxed. Maybe a bit giggly. But not wild and crazy.
So would tequila be a Sativa or an Indica?
You can see from this example that
1) the answer is personal, and
2) it doesn’t actually matter.
The only thing that matters to ME about tequila is how it makes ME feel.
It is the same with the Indica vs. Sativa vs. Hybrid system.
It’s important to know what the terms are supposed to mean, and if you use the Cheat Sheet as a guide, you’ll probably end up with great cannabis products that are close to what you want.
But your body may end up feeling differently than the label predicted, and that’s okay too. Keep a note of how it made you feel, and let your experience guide your buying decisions.
That may be enough information for you, and if you’re done reading, that’s okay!
But there is SO much more to understand about these distinctions.
So my fellow weed nerds, read on if you want to learn more!
What is Indica?
Common Effects and Benefits of Indica Strains
Indica strains provide a relaxing, calming effect.
What are Indica Strains Good For?
What do Indica Strains Look Like?
Indica strains are rounder and denser than Sativa strains. They often have darker colors, including purple.
Best Indica Strains
What is Sativa?
Common Effects and Benefits of Sativa Strains
Sativa strains provide an uplifting, energizing, euphoric effect.
What are Sativa Strains Good For?
What do Sativa Strains Look Like?
Sativa strains are longer and less dense than Indica strains, often with a fluffy appearance. They are typically lighter in color.
Best Sativa Strains
What is Hybrid?
Hybrid strains are a combination of Indica and Sativa strains. They really are the best of both worlds, providing a balanced feeling that makes you feel good without taking you too far in either direction.
Just like mutts make the best dogs, Hybrids often make the best strains.
Common Effects and Benefits of Hybrid strains
Hybrid strains are somewhere in between Sativa and Indica, giving a creative, flow-state effect. Great for crafting, writing, or general feel-good vibes.
What are Hybrid Strains Good For?
What do Hybrid strains look like?
Hybrid strains are somewhere in between Indica and Sativa, slightly dense but slightly long and fluffy. They are typically middle green in color.
Best Hybrid Strains
Sativa-Dominant vs Indica-Dominant Hybrid Strains
Now that you know the key differences between Sativa, Indica, and Hybrid strains, you can start to fine-tune your experience with the different types of Hybrid strains.
As their name implies, Sativa-dominant strains will lean toward the uplifting, energizing effects of a sativa, while still being a balanced Hybrid strain.
Indica-dominant hybrid strains will lean toward the relaxed, chill effects of an indica, while still being a balanced Hybrid strain.
There is room for nuance and subjectivity here, as everyone will react to these strains slightly differently.
Cheat Sheet: How to Remember the Names
My super-handy mnemonic device to remember the difference between these terms:
Sativa vs. Indica vs. Hybrid: Which is Strongest?
THC and CBD are the two main medicinal compounds in cannabis. All cannabis strains have different amounts of THC and CBD.
Both Indica and Sativa cannabis plants can have high or low THC percentages.
We used to think that Sativa strains had a higher THC percentage and a lower CBD percentage, and Indica had higher in CBD and lower in THC.
But in practice, either one can be high in THC, it all depends on how the plant is bred.
When you buy cannabis at a dispensary, strains are typically priced based on their THC percentage, the higher THC percentage being more expensive.
THC percentage is NOT the same as high quality.
They are NOT related.
High quality cannabis is all about how it’s grown: its original genetics, its growing environment, and how it’s dried and cured.
You can ABSOLUTELY have a high THC percentage cannabis that is poorly grown.
You can have a lower THC percentage cannabis that is expertly grown.
If you’re a beginner or casual cannabis user, you probably want a LOWER THC percentage strain, not a higher one.
Too much THC can lead to anxiety and paranoia, and can be very uncomfortable.
So separate these in your mind: Indica, Sativa, THC, CBD, quality.
You can have any combination of those words in a given cannabis strain, they are not linked.
How did We Get Here? The Origins of the Sativa vs. Indica System
You may be asking yourself, where did the terms “Indica” and “Sativa” even come from? Especially if they don’t seem to be tied 100% to how they’ll make you feel?
The origins of the Sativa vs. Indica classification goes waaaaay back to the 1700s, and this is the root of why most Cannabis Educators take issue with the current system.
In the 1700s, two European naturalists found two related-but-different varieties of cannabis plants in India and Europe.
In 1753, biologist Carl Linnaeus found a cannabis plant in Europe that was tall, thin, and wispy. He named it “Cannabis sativa l.”
A few years later, in 1785, biologist and explorer Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck found a cannabis plant in Indica that was short, thick, and bushy, like a hedge. He named it “Cannabis indica.”
Why the Cannabis Industry is Torn Over The Sativa vs. Indica vs. Hybrid System
We DO know that the two names “Cannabis sativa l” and “Cannabis indica” we originally meant to classify two cannabis varieties that LOOKED different.
We DO NOT know whether Linneaus and Lamarck sparked a doob together and took careful notes on how each one made them feel. Although it’s fun to imagine. That means that we DO NOT know whether the original strains (sometimes called “landrace strains”) gave different effects. We assume they do based on our more recent experience.
We DO know that 1785 was a long time ago, and lots of cannabis has been bred since then.
We DO know that during years of breeding of cannabis strains, mostly without great recordkeeping due to prohibition, means that we’re not sure what a “true” Indica or Sativa strain looks, smells, and feels like today.
We DO know that the result of all of that breeding means that today most strains are actually hybrids.
So the cannabis industry is stuck with decision of whether to continue to use the Sativa, Indica, and Hybrid names on their products, which is imperfect at best and inaccurate at worst, or not.
Alternative Naming Systems
A few great cannabis educators have tried to get at this problem with their own classification system. Most notably, Max Montrose, one of the most established cannabis educators in the industry, created a brilliant system of identifying cannabis strains and their effects based on how they look and smell rather than what they’re called.
He teaches that system through his course and textbook called “Interpening: The Art and Science of the Cannabis Sommelier.” I took the course a few years ago, and DEVOURED the textbook, (card-carrying weed nerd, I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again!). I would recommend it to anyone who wants that level of detail on cannabis.
I am proud to say that I passed the course, and am now myself a Cannabis Sommelier.
Max proposed a great system! It makes much more sense than what we have!
So why it hasn’t taken hold?
Probably the same reason the U.S. won’t adopt the metric system. Change is hard, even when it’s to something better.
Like I said up top, it’s easier to stick with the devil you know.
How to Choose the Right Strain for You
So keeping all of this in mind, how do you choose the right strain for YOU?
1. Think About Your Intention
First, think about: What do you want to do after you eat/smoke/vape this cannabis?
Are you going on a hike in nature? Trying to open up socially? Having a night in with your Boo?
2. Think About the Effects
Next, think about: How do you want to feel after you eat/smoke/vape this cannabis? Energized? Focused? Relaxed?
Being clear about how and when you’re going to be using cannabis will guide you to the right strain.
You also can consider different strains as different “tools” in your toolkit.
You have a bright, lively Sativa on hand for your nature walks, an earthy Indica for when you need deep sleep, and a Hybrid for when you need to focus on a project at home.
3. It’s All About You: The Importance of Individual Body Chemistry
Everyone’s body is different, and people react to cannabis differently. Like my tequila example up top.
Have you felt wild on an Indica? Calm on a Sativa? Great, do you. Your experience should guide you.
Remember that cannabis interacts with a natural system that already exists in our bodies, the Endocannabinoid System (“ECS”). Your ECS is designed to maintain balance in your body, but it is incredibly individual.
The combination and amount of cannabinoids are needed to balance MY body is different that the combination and amount of cannabinoids are needed to balance YOUR body.
That means that the way I feel after taking a few beautiful hits of Blue Dream is going to be different than the way you feel.
4. Ask Your Budtender
The staff at dispensaries are called “budtenders,” and for the most part, they are friendly and knowledgeable. They love cannabis and want you to have a good experience.
(if they’re not like that at your local dispensary, try a different store until you find one you’re comfortable in).
Budtenders know what strains their store carries, and they’ve likely tried most of them personally, so they can give you great advice.
Be honest with the budtender about how you want to feel. There is no shame in wanting a more mild experience! They are here to help you, not judge you.
A friend once told her Budtender that she was looking for “the Mike’s Hard Lemonade of weed.” By that, she meant a mellow, low-dose product.
She was embarrassed telling me this, but should not be. That was a perfect description, and helped her budtender understand what she wanted and guide her to the right product.
Leafly is a great resource for finding the most popular strains of Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid, as submitted by their thousands of user scores.
5. Track Your Cannabis Use
Because we know that different strains affect us differently, it is very important to track your cannabis use so you can narrow down what works best for you.
You won’t have to do this forever, but in the beginning, it’s really critical to track. It’s especially important if you’re starting a daily CBD regimen, but it’s also a great way to track your THC use.
Click here to access a dose tracker I made as a Google doc if you want to use that for tracking, or you can use any old notebook you have lying around.
If you want to make it special, you can buy one of these pretty cannabis journals from Goldleaf.
For each dose, take note of:
- The strain name, where you bought it, how it smells
- How much you took
- How you feel before you take it
- How you feel after you take it.
For LOTS of great info on how to actually USE your Sativa, Indica, or Hybrid strain, be sure to read my other articles, 24 Exciting Ways to Use Cannabis in 2024, and All About Cannabis Vapes: How to Choose and Use Your Perfect Vape.
Conclusion
“Indica” describes products giving a sedating, calming, effect. Great for movie watching and solid sleep. You can remember this because “indica” sounds like “in da couch.”
“Sativa” describes products giving an energizing, uplifting effect. Great for exercising and mood boosts.
You can remember as “sativa” sounds like “saturday night.”
“Hybrid” describes products somewhere in between, giving a creative, flow-state effect. Great for crafting, writing, or general feel-good vibes.
These terms are not always precise.
That means you might buy an “indica” strain of cannabis, but you feel like it’s uplifting. Or maybe you take a “hybrid” gummy but feel sleepy.
So what the heck should you do?
Keep a tracking journal of what you took, when, and how it made you feel.
Buy the products that make you feel the way you want to feel, don’t get hung up on these labels. They are guidelines, not absolutes.
