As marijuana legalization spreads across the Canada and the United States, pot users now have the advantage of selecting from a wide range of 420 weed products. If you want to enjoy your bud to its full potential, you need to choose the right cannabis strain at the right time. Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid Marijuana Strains each create a different effect that can be used to optimize almost any situation.
From a beginner's perspective, making the right choice can seem a bit overwhelming. However, once you understand the differences between the strains and the highs they deliver, then things get easier to comprehend. Here's what you need to know.
Unless you're brand new to the marijuana world, you've probably heard the terms Indica and Sativa. These two primary types of cannabis plants look very different and are each known to create a very different vibe. Understanding the basic differences between these strains is crucial to increasing your understanding of hybrid marijuana and will serve as the foundation for choosing your ideal type of cannabis strain.
Indica is a short, bushy cannabis plant with small, wide leaves. The buds themselves tend to create a relaxing, body-wide high. Indica is excellent for inducing sleep, reducing anxiety and stress, relieving nausea, and improving your appetite. Common Indica strains include Purple Kush, Northern Lights, and Shishkaberry.
Sativa plants grow tall and lanky and have long, narrow leaves. Consuming Sativa tends to create a cerebral high, increasing creativity, alertness, focus, and energy. It's often used to treat depression but can also increase feelings of paranoia. Some of the most popular Sativa strains include Green Crack, Purple Haze, and Sour Diesel.
The above descriptions apply to 100% Indica or Sativa cannabis strains. However, most of the cannabis available today is actually a hybrid mix of different types of weed strains.
Plants bred with a combination of genetics from each of the two strains allows for the best of both worlds. Hybrid marijuana may lean primarily towards one extreme or the other (ie indica-dominant or sativa-dominant), or it may fall right in between (ie balanced, 50/50).
While the differences between Indica and Sativa are fairly simple, when it comes to hybrid strains your options are almost endless. This is due to the presence of over 80 different cannabinoids which create different effects on your body and mind. As various strains are bred to contain different concentrations, they can each create a unique effect for the user.
Which is the best hybrid marijuana strain? Well, the answer depends on your needs, wants, and goals. Daytime adventures or a night out on the town will require a completely different buzz than an evening of rest and relaxation. Are you using it for fun or medicinal purposes? If it’s for medical use (ie pain and/or anxiety relief), you'll want to seek out strains that offer medicinal benefits and don’t necessarily get you high.
Sativa-dominant strains tend to have higher levels of THC, which is the primary psychoactive component of cannabis. The high energy level it creates makes Sativa-heavy hybrid marijuana popular for parties and social gatherings. Unfortunately, if the concentration is too high (typically above 18%) it can create feelings of paranoia and anxiety.
Indica-heavy strains tend to create a sleepy sensation and promote relaxation. Its high concentration of cannabinol (CBN) is effective for treating sleep apnea and insomnia. CBN is also a by-product of cannabis degeneration, so letting your favourite Ganja strain dry out in the sun can increase its rest-inducing properties.
While THC has some powerful pain-relieving properties, many people are opting for strains that are high in the cannabinoid CBD and low in THC. This creates excellent pain relief without the "high" feeling that comes from consuming products containing THC. The most effective treatment for pain is usually a hybrid with the proper combination of THC and CBD. There is much excitement in the medical and health communities about medical marijuana and especially, the benefits CBDs may provide in the treatment of many types of medical conditions and diseases.
Low-dose THC decreases anxiety by interacting with the CB1 receptors, stimulating natural production of endocannabinoid production. It also supplements the body with plant-based phytocannabinoids. When concentrations of THC are too high, however, it can have the opposite effect. CBD, on the other hand, reduces anxiety while also counteracting the effects of THC. Hybrid strains with high concentrations of CBD and low amounts of THC can be the most effective choice for anxiety issues.
The best hybrids are expertly bred to create marijuana super-strains. Here are a few examples of some of the most popular hybrid weed options:
Because there are so many types of marijuana strains available, it’s best to try a couple of different strains of Indica, Sativa, and Hybrids to find the ones that are best suited to meeting your needs and wants... good dabbin mates:-)