
Compared to different cannabis variants, the "fingers" on the leaves of a sativa plant tend to be thinner.Īnd if you've read the 2018 Farm Bill (it's quite the page-turner), you will notice that the definition of hemp is: In its appearance alone, sativa tends to be taller and narrower than other indica or ruderalis. The word "sativa" is Latin for "things that are cultivated." Originating from Eastern Asia, Cannabis sativa was first classified by Carl Linneaus, the "father of modern taxonomy," in 1753. A plant's terpene profile can determine its taste, but there is also speculation that terpenes can act synergistically with cannabinoids.įor example, preliminary research has found that myrcene (also found in hops, lemongrass, and basil) helps cannabinoids cross the blood-brain barrier.īut let's dive a bit more into these main cannabis variants. Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in all sorts of plants, including cannabis. Instead, they found that the labeling had to do more with a variation of terpenes. The truth is that we don't know if they're all different species or just variations of the same one.įor instance, in 2021, several scientists analyzed over 100 cannabis samples and found that they were genetically indistinct on a genome-wide scale. However, there are other differences to note as well.Īnd yes, we used the word "putative," meaning "generally considered to be." Visually, you can tell these "three" species apart based on their seeds, shape, and size. Well, we'll talk about if there are different species of cannabis.Ĭurrently, there are three putative species of cannabis which includes: So without any further hesitation, let's get started! "Species" of Cannabisįirst, we'll talk about the various species of cannabis.

Hybrids can be Sativa or Indica dominant based off their genetic makeup. Most strains that we see today are hybrids due to the repetitive breeding that happens between plants. Hybrid strains occur when breeders select Sativa and Indica strains and crossbreed them. Well known Indica strains include Northern Lights, OG Kush and Afghani Purps. Many people find that consuming Indica strains can help with sleeping. People summarize the typical experience of smoking these strains through the saying, “Indica/ In-da-couch.” These strains are associated with relaxation, sedation and a body high. Indica plants originate from the Hindu Kush range in the Himalayan mountains. Indica plants are typically short, stout and have full-figured, wider leaves. Some well-known Sativa strains are Sour Diesel, Bruce Banner and Jack Herer. Many people use different Sativa strains before creative work, exercise or other activities requiring focus. These strains are known as being cerebral, energizing and uplifting. The easiest, most comprehensible way to illustrate the effects commonly associated with Sativa strains is to describe Sativas as daytime cannabis. For the best results, Sativa plants are best fit to grow in warm, outside environments. Sativa plants usually originate from warmer climates such as Central and Southern America and South East Asia. Sativa plants are tall, typically between 8-18 feet, with thinner leaves. We will start off by discussing the physical characteristics of Sativa cannabis plants. If you are a newbie however, they may sound like complete gibberish.

If you are a veteran of the cannabis game, you are likely well accustomed to these two terms. These two classifications have been used to differentiate cannabis strains since the 18th century.

In the world of cannabis, there are two categories every consumer knows, Sativa and Indica.
