Sativa, Indica, and Hybrid Strains - What You Need to Know

When it comes to using marijuana for the first time, it can be a little bit overwhelming. It seems like there are a million different products and strains available at any given dispensary. How on earth are you going to choose the right one? Well, as the United States’ acceptance of medical marijuana continues to grow, medical patients have better resources in figuring out the difference between marijuana strains and which ones are best for them. 

There is a lot to know about different strains of cannabis, especially now that there are well over 700 strains that have been developed and introduced in the North American market. If you are looking for a little bit of insight into how strains work and some of the things you need to know about them, then you have come to the right place, my friend. 

Today, I wanted to take some time out of my busy schedule to write a beginners guide to sativa, indica, and hybrid strains. If you did not already know, those three categories are basically what every type of marijuana strain will fall into. It is important to know the difference between strains and how they can affect and benefit you, whether you are a medical weed user.

So firstly, let’s talk about sativa. Sativa strains are most generally associated with what is called a “head high”. This type of marijuana strain is great for increasing energy levels and focus, which makes them a popular choice for daytime and social use. Say you are going to a concert with some friends and want to light up a joint beforehand - in that case, sativa is the way to go. Sativa users usually experience lighter and happier moods, euphoric highs, and increased levels of creativity and thought. 

However, sativa strains can also cause some unwanted side effects in some patients, specifically things like rapid heart beat, anxiety, and even insomnia. It is best to not take any sativa cannabis before you try to go to bed, since you will likely experience racing thoughts and increased energy levels. 

There are certain medical benefits for sativa strains specifically, especially for people that tend to lose focus or motivation. Sativa strains have been used by patients with ADHD and ADD due to the way it lowers their symptoms and increases focus. When using sativa, make sure that you are careful with how much you smoke and the specific strain that you use. Popular sativa strains include Sour Diesel, Durban Poison, Lemon Haze, Green Crack, and Panama Red.

Indica strains differ from sativa strains in a lot of ways. Primarily, the type of high that one experiences from an indica strain is less of a head high and more of a body high. Indica strains are great for a night at home when you want to relax on the couch or head to bed early. This type of marijuana will leave your body feeling warm and tingly, and it’s almost impossible to find an uncomfortable position on the couch after smoking enough indica. 

Most people use indica strains at night due to how relaxing and calming they are - you will definitely want to fall asleep early. Indica strains also have a lot of great medical benefits, especially when it comes to reducing stress and anxiety. Since indica helps people to relax, many patients use it to reduce their pain levels before going to bed which can help people with insomnia. Popular indica strains include Hindu Kush, Granddaddy Purple, Northern Lights, and White Widow.

When it comes to picking the right strain, I suggest picking a hybrid of the two. Hybrids are great because they combine both sativa and indica, making for a great mix of body and head highs.

Cannabis Decriminalization Vs. Legalization

Both these words are all a big part of the way that cannabis is regarded. If you’re curious about what these mean, and if there are any possible chances of getting charges, you’re not alone.  Some of these are important to understand, and it’s important that in states that do decriminalize the plant, there is a chance that you could get a misdemeanor, especially if you’re not using it medically. Here is the difference, and what it means for the state of marijuana. 

All about Decriminalization 

At this point, 27 states currently have some kind of decriminalized version of cannabis. It’s not legal, but if you consume or have it, you won’t get tired or arrested for this.  It’s not going to be a big crime, or there may be no problem at all. For example, let’s take New York, if you have less than three ounces of some kind of cannabis, you won’t get in trouble. But if you’re possessing up to 8 ounces, it’s considered a misdemeanor. 

New York only partially decriminalized this though. If you’ve got more than 5 ounces, it’s a felony, and you can get arrested and incarcerated.  Some states that do have more lenient ideas on this don't apply it everywhere. There is still the civil penalties and fines that come with this, but if it’s decriminalized, it’s not a felony, and you’re not going to be charged with it.  You may get charged with an infraction or misdemeanor though. Many as well have been able to get the criminal records that they have expunged in states that have made cannabis decriminalized. Prior felonies for marijuana may impact housing, employment, and the like, and this gets erased from the record. 

Some of the time, you can also have a clean state with this, which is great for those who have a history of this, and it also gets rid of the war on drugs. 

Legalization 

On the flip side, it’s basically legal to use it, and it’s not a crime to use this. There are some types of legalization. First, you have it for recreational or medical usage, and some for medical usage only. The first is less common, which means that only a few states have it. But that means any adult over the age of 21 in possession of this is allowed to use it. 

There is a big illegal cannabis market, and if you purchase this on the market even in legal states does lower the quality of the product itself, and it can cause problems with criminal results. Legalizing this lets people get this from dispensaries that are totally legal and kosher. 

What’s More Common Right Now 

Right now, decriminalization is definitely more common, but currently, about 19 states have legalized the use of this. If you do factor in the medical programs and the legality of those however, medical legalization is becoming way more common too.While legalization, especially through the use of marijuana, is becoming a lot more common, recreational usage still is a major hurdle in some cases.

This is because a lot of people think they’re going to be reckless with this, but to this day, if you operate machinery or drive a car while under the influence, you can face the consequences period. 

Some states have voted however to fully decriminalize the use of cannabis, so you won’t even have to worry about jail or getting charges for consuming or possessing even the smallest amounts of weed. But, if you’re constantly repeating, or doing a large amount multiple times, there is still the risk of possibly getting charged and arrested. It’s also important to note that even though the charges for the state may not be levied against the person, there is still the possibility of federal punishment. 

The marijuana movement is definitely growing, and we’ve made some great strides. Hopefully, as time goes on, we can see more and more move not just into decriminalization, but also full legalization of this, in order to help keep those who are innocent out of jail and able to not get arrested for this too.