Types of Weed: How Many Are There and How Do You Tell Them Apart?

There are three main types of cannabis: sativa, indica and ruderalis, each with its own genetics and effects. Sativa grows taller, flowers longer and gives an energizing high, while indica stays shorter, flowers faster and has relaxing effects.

Types of Weed:

There are several types of cannabis, and what mainly sets them apart is their genetics and chemical makeup. The two main types are Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica, each with its own traits and effects.

1. Cannabis sativa: This type tends to look taller and slimmer, with long, narrow leaves. Sativa plants usually grow taller and take longer to flower than indicas. Sativa effects are usually stimulating and energizing, which can lead to a more euphoric, creative mood. Some sativa strains are known for boosting creativity and focus.
2. Cannabis indica: Indica, on the other hand, tends to be shorter and stockier, with broader leaves. Indica plants tend to grow faster and flower in a shorter time than sativas. Indica effects are usually more relaxing and sedating, bringing on a sense of calm. Lots of people use indica strains to ease stress, anxiety and insomnia.

Besides sativa and indica, there's a third category known as Cannabis ruderalis. It's less common and stands out for its short stature and low levels of psychoactive cannabinoids.

It's worth mentioning that within each type of cannabis there are countless strains with different cannabinoid and terpene profiles, which can make for a wide range of effects and flavors. Some popular strains include names like "Blue Dream," "OG Kush," "White Widow" and "Purple Haze," among others.

Sativa vs. Indica: What's the Difference?

Indica:

Indicas are pretty bulky, bushy plants with thick, dark green leaves that help soak up light. On top of that:

• They flower faster and produce more buds, which are usually dense and tend to grow together in tight clusters around the nodes of the stem and branches, with relatively short gaps (known as internodal spacing, or internodes) between each cluster.
• Since they come from places with harsh climates, they handle temperature swings well. They're ideal if you don't have much time to grow, since they put out a lot of flower.
• Indicas are known as faster-flowering strains: 45 to 60 days.
• When flowering kicks off, these strains shoot up fast, but they shouldn't get out of control.
• You can expect them to add 50-100% to their vegetative height during flowering.

Sativa:

A sativa plant usually grows tall, and because its leaves are thin and light green, it produces less chlorophyll, so it needs a lot of light. It also has these traits:

• Its buds are airy rather than dense and are often bigger than indica buds, since they spread out along the branches instead of bunching around the nodes. Once dried, these buds weigh less than indica buds because they're less dense. This type of cannabis also has buds with a milder smell, both while the plant is growing and once it's dried.
• It originally comes from hot regions. The difference between sativa and indica is that these plants take longer to flower and need hot, humid conditions to grow to their full potential.
• They need less time in vegetative growth before flowering, so the total time sativas need ends up being almost the same as indicas.
• They can shoot up very quickly once flowering starts and keep getting taller throughout the whole flowering phase.
• It's typical for sativas to add 200-300% (or more) to their vegetative height during flowering.

Where Indica and Sativa Come From

Both subspecies are adaptations to different climates: Cannabis sativa comes from the equatorial jungles of countries like Thailand, Cambodia, Jamaica, Colombia and Mexico, among others, where plants get many more hours of sun and the light barely changes all year round.

Cannabis indica, on the other hand, is native to the Hindu Kush, a huge mountain range over 800 kilometers (500 miles) long that stretches across Afghanistan, Pakistan, northern India and even China, where the climate is pretty cold.

How Do Sativa and Indica Hit You?

Indica and sativa feel different. That can be hard to grasp, especially if you've never tried psychoactive substances. Still, here's what each type does.

What Effects Does Sativa Have?

Sativa flowers give you a "head high" with a more energetic, euphoric and creative feel, the kind that has you laughing at everything, even when nothing's funny. Sativa is ideal for any social gathering, and you can count on it not sending everyone off to bed.

So, just as different sativas can leave you helpless with laughter, they can also hit you with an urge to do something, anything. Some people lean athletic and might suddenly feel like going for a run or working out. Artists will start creating, musicians might pick up an instrument, gardeners might go garden, and so on. Whatever inspiration sativa sparks will come out in whatever's closest at hand.

What Effects Does Indica Have?

The big difference between indica and sativa is that indica flowers contain more CBD and less THC than sativas, and they produce what a lot of people call a "body high" or being "stoned." They're perfect for crashing on the couch with the PlayStation or binge-watching a show (ideally one that doesn't need much focus).

Indica relaxes you and alters your senses, especially touch, hearing and taste. In high doses, it puts you to sleep. That's why it's one of the best types of cannabis for a night with no plans, staying home somewhere you know you're not going anywhere.

Every user expects something different when it comes to growing and consuming. To make sure you get the results you're after, we recommend reading up on different strains and how each one should be grown and brought to flower.