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There is so much science around medical cannabis and how it works. Some of its 500+ chemical compounds show signs of being antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and even anti-cancer agents. As you can imagine, it can get very confusing. In this article we’re focusing on cannabis strains and their key differences.
If you want to discover how to choose a cannabis strain for anxiety, depression, chronic pain, or something else the first step is understanding the benefits of different cannabis strains and what they are.
Types of Cannabis Strains: Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid
The three sub-species of the cannabis plant are indica, sativa and ruderalis.
Before the modern era of cross-breeding (we’ll touch on this more later), sativa strains were known for being high in THC which is the main psychoactive element in cannabis. Indica was known to be higherin CBD which is cannabis’ largest non-intoxicating compound. Ruderalis wasn’t something you would typically see in medical or recreational markets, as it doesn’t boast much THC or CBD.
Hybrid strains are cross-bred varieties that mix traits of indica, sativa and ruderalis. And their increasing popularity means growers can help medical cannabis patients treat their conditions with greater efficiency.
Popular Cannabis Strains
A few cannabis strains have become pretty ‘famous’ in popular culture, a lot of the time due to how they taste. We’ll explore some of the top ones that you may have heard of below:
Blueberry
This indica strain is made by crossing Purple Thai with Thai. Named after its sweet berry smell and taste, this strain has been popular since the late 1970s when it was first bred.
Gelato
This evenly balanced hybrid strain is made by crossing Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies with Sunset Sherbet. The creamy result has been praised by many consumers and subsequently crossed with many other strains.
Super Silver Haze
This sativa strain is made by crossing Skunk, Haze and Northern Lights, three already well-known and loved strains. Super Silver Haze is one of the most famous ‘Haze’ strains.
Girl Scout Cookies
Many people have heard of this one, or another kind of variety of ‘cookies’ strain. This strain is an indica-dominant hybrid strain and is often positively reviewed in both medical and recreational markets.
Zkittles or The Original Z
This strain is a more recent, popular addition to our list. Loved for its sweet, berry taste and smell, this strain is an indica hybrid.
Blue Dream
This well known sativa dominant hybrid is made by crossing Blueberry with Haze. Blue Dream, like some other popular strains, originated in California.
OG Kush
This strain was first cultivated in Florida during the early 1990s. The ‘Kush’ in the name is a reference to the Hindu Kush mountain range (and similarly named strain) which is known for producing a variety of indica dominant cannabis strains.
Key Differences Between Sativa, Indica, and Hybrid Strains
Cannabis sativa
Sativa plants have long, thin leaves, grow up to two metres tall, and take longer to mature than other types of cannabis. They thrive in warm, tropical, and subtropical regions, which is why they have an elongated structure. They’re adapting to their environment and competing for sunlight among other vegetation.
In their native setting, sativa strains were higher in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and lower in cannabidiol (CBD).
Landrace strains are naturally occurring varieties, indigenous to certain locations. In other words, they’re ‘pure’ strains. But, after decades of cannabis cross-breeding, they don’t really exist any more. So, while ‘pure’ sativa strains may create an energising effect in users, it’s more likely cannabinoids, along with terpenes, which are the part of any plant you can smell, and hundreds of other chemicals within cannabis that actually affect our bodies, and not the subspecies.
Cannabis indica
Cannabis indica plants adapted to cooler, mountainous regions, so are short and bushy with broad leaves, typically growing up to two metres. Historically, they were known for their high CBD, low THC content, compared to sativa.
When looking at the difference between indica and sativa plants, in theory, higher levels of CBD would provide a ‘body high’ effect, easing pain, promoting sleep and lowering inflammation. However, not all indica strains are high in CBD, and likewise sativa strains don’t have low CBD content by default.
Hybrid strains are cross-bred varieties of the cannabis plant, combining sativa and indica traits. And it’s thanks to these that medical cannabis patients can get prescriptions tailored to their specific health needs. This results in more reliable, long term effects, and moves us away from the outdated idea of “sativa by day, indica by night”, and “THC for mind, CBD for body.”
Cannabis ruderalis
This is probably the most resilient cannabis sub-species, but, for a long time, was the least important from a medical point of view. It goes from seed to harvest in 30 days and is able to grow in extreme climates. But due to small amounts of THC, and not enough CBD to have much of an impact, ruderalis can sometimes be forgotten about.
But thanks to its swift flowering speed and ability to withstand extreme weather, we’ve seen ruderalis used more and more for hybrid strains since the rise of cross-breeding.
How to Choose the Right Cannabis Strain for You
Cannabis interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is a network of receptors and chemicals in the body that helps regulate key functions like mood, sleep, pain, hunger, inflammation and much more. It’s essentially like a ‘biological control centre’. Because cannabis can influence the ECS in multiple ways, it can be effective for a range of conditions. For example, it might help manage pain by affecting pain receptors, improve sleep by influencing sleep patterns, or reduce inflammation by modifying immune responses.
But, deciding between sativa, indica, and hybrid strains to find what is most effective for treating a specific condition isn’t straightforward. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach due to individual differences in biology and needs. The effects of strains can vary widely from person to person, regardless of their cannabinoid or terpene composition.
This is why it’s crucial to feedback to your doctor about what is and isn’t working for you. They can use this information to tailor future prescriptions to better suit your unique needs.
Summary
The three main sub-species of cannabis are sativa, indica, and ruderalis. While each offers a unique set of benefits in pure form, we are seeing a rise in hybrid strains, which, together, are more effective and can help target specific health issues.
Although it’s important to understand the key differences between each strain, working with your pharmacist or specialist doctor is the best way to find what works for you. Clinics like Alternaleaf will put your needs first, and will continue to work with you until you’ve found a solution.