Marijuana Strains: What are the Different Types of Cannabis Strains?

Marijuana strains

When it comes to conversations about marijuana, one of the questions asked most often is: what are the different types of marijuana strains? Most cannabis consumers know the names indica and sativa, but they might not know what the effects of each are, when the best time to consume them is, or what conditions are best treated by individual strains. In addition, most cannabis produced nowadays is rarely a pure sativa or indica strain—they are hybrids.

Did you know that there's an entirely different classification of the marijuana plant called cannabis ruderalis? Don't worry, a lot of marijuana consumers are also unaware of this. Keep reading to find out the differences and similarities of marijuana strains, and how you can get the most out of them, whether you're a medical patient or a recreational user.

Marijuana Strains

What is Indica?

The indica variety of marijuana strains are classified as short plants, with thick, broad leaves. Indica marijuana strains grow faster and produce flowers faster than that of sativa. Because of this, the indica variety is better suited for climates that are cold, in which crops need to be grown and harvested more quickly due to shorter seasons.

The consensus in the cannabis industry is that the effects of indica strains are sedative and can cause drowsiness, thus are recommended for nighttime use. Because of these effects, indica is often recommended for treating conditions such as insomnia, chronic pain, and stimulating appetite in cancer patients going through chemotherapy.

Examples of some of the most popular indica dominant strains are OG Kush, Blueberry, Girl Scout Cookies, and Northern Lights.

What is Sativa?

The sativa variety of marijuana strains are plants that grow long and tall, with narrow leaves. Because sativa-dominant marijuana strains require longer growing cycles than that of indica, sativa-dominant strains grow the best in areas of the world with warmer climates.

Sativa-dominant strains are thought to produce uplifting, energetic effects, which is why consumers like to use them in the morning or afternoon to help boost creativity, be more social at parties, and so on. Medical uses for sativa-dominant marijuana strains include treating depression or anxiety and aiding in the treatment of opioid addiction.

Examples of some of the most popular sativa-dominant strains are Strawberry Kush, AK-47, Maui Wowie, and Thai.

What are Hybrids?

Hybrid marijuana strains combine some amount of indica and sativa. Depending on the breeder, the individual plants' lineage, and where the seeds were obtained, the strength of hybrid strains and the amount of indica or sativa in each crop can vary widely.

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Hybrids are produced using cross breeding. The goal of hybrids is to get the best characteristics out of each individual strain. Sometimes that means getting a desired medicated effect along with the physical characteristics of the plant - such as an uplifting effect from sativa but the shorter plants more associated with indica in order to save grow space.

Some of the most popular hybrid marijuana strains include Chemdawg, Blue Dream, Juicy Fruit, Headband, and Pineapple Express.

What is Ruderalis?

Cannabis ruderalis is a low-THC variety of marijuana. Cannabis ruderalis can be high in CBD when grown right, which is why there has recently been some more interest in it within the cannabis industry. Experts have long disputed whether cannabis ruderalis is a separate species, or a subspecies of the cannabis plant.

There are many different types of ruderal plant species, not just cannabis. Ruderal species begin to colonize once land is disturbed, either naturally from disasters such as wildfires or earthquakes, or by man-made actions such as construction and deforestation.

Cannabis ruderalis varieties begin to flower due to its maturity, not light cycle as is the case with indica and sativa. Because of this, ruderalis strains have been bred to make hybrids that will begin flowering automatically, regardless of how much light the plant takes in, thus the term 'auto-flowering.'

Marijuana strains
Different Types of Marijuana Strains

Conclusion

Many cannabis consumers and industry professionals will make distinct claims about the differences in the effects that indica and sativa have on the user's body. While there is ample anecdotal evidence on the matter, it is important to note that little scientific evidence exists to confirm these sentiments at this time. The only thing we can definitively prove right now about the differences between marijuana strains is that indica looks different than sativa. Hybrids exist to get the most out of the growing properties and cultivation of each individual marijuana stain, but no proof exists that these hybrids combine effects.

There are some proven active ingredients in marijuana strains that are backed by scientific research. Those are terpenes and cannabinoids.

Cannabinoids are what give you the effect or the medical benefits when ingesting cannabis plants. The best-known cannabinoid is THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), which is what makes you feel 'high.' The next widely known cannabinoid is CBD (Cannabidiol), which is responsible for the pain-relieving and other medical benefits of cannabis but does not produce any kind of psychoactive effect when consumed.

There are 113 cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, but THC and CBD have been the most studied of them. As marijuana legalization continues, there could be discoveries made that suggest some of the other cannabinoids have medical benefits or produce recreational effects.

Terpenes are simply the compounds found in cannabis plants that give the consumer a unique smell, taste, and flavor of marijuana strains. Terpenes cause blueberry strains to taste fruity and so on. Terpenes exist in many plants, not just marijuana. Menthol is another example of a terpene that gives a distinct smell and flavor.

Unfortunately, cannabis has been illegal in the US, Canada, and many other countries around the world. Because of this continued illegality, scientific research has been drastically slowed, or in some cases, prevented entirely

As we slowly but surely peel back the layers of marijuana prohibition, we will see more and more much-needed testing being conducted, and these claims of the effects of marijuana strains and applicable treatments of each may very well be proven. In addition, we could also discover another classification outside of indica and sativa that we didn't even know exists yet.

Disclaimer:

This article is for entertainment and discussion purposes only and is not intended to treat, prevent, or cure any condition. This material is not intended for use as medical advice.

Featured Image: Mary Jane's Almanac

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