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

Types of weed:

There are three main types of cannabis — Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica and the lesser-known Cannabis ruderalis — and they differ mainly in their genetics and chemical makeup. Sativa and indica are the two big ones, and each comes with its own look, growth pattern and effects.

1. Cannabis sativa: This variety tends to be taller and slimmer in appearance, with long, narrow leaves. Sativa plants usually grow higher and take longer to flower than indicas. Sativa effects tend to be stimulating and energizing, often sparking a more euphoric, creative mood. Some sativa strains are known for their ability to boost creativity and focus.
2. Cannabis indica: Indica, on the other hand, tends to be shorter and stockier, with broader leaves. Indica plants usually grow faster and flower in a shorter window than sativas. Indica effects lean more relaxing and sedative, bringing on a sense of calm and ease. Many people reach for indica strains to relieve stress, anxiety and insomnia.

Beyond the sativa and indica varieties, there's a third category known as Cannabis ruderalis. This variety is less common and stands out for its short stature and low concentration of psychoactive cannabinoids.

Worth noting: within each type of cannabis there are countless strains with different cannabinoid and terpene profiles, which translates into a huge range of effects and flavors. 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 stocky, bush-like plants with thick, dark green leaves that help them soak up light. On top of that:

• They flower faster and produce more buds, which tend to be dense and 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.
• Because they come from regions with harsh climates, they're resilient to temperature swings. Ideal to grow when you're short on time, since their flower production is high.
• Indicas are known as faster-flowering varieties: 45 to 60 days.
• Once flowering starts, these types of weed gain height very quickly, but they shouldn't grow out of control.
• You can expect their vegetative height to increase by a factor of 50-100% during the flowering period.

Sativa:

A sativa plant usually stretches tall, and since its leaves are thin and light green, it produces less chlorophyll and needs plenty of light. Sativas are also known for the following:

• Their buds are airy rather than dense, and usually bigger than indica buds, since they spread along the branches instead of clustering around the nodes. These buds weigh less than indica buds once dried, because they're less dense. This type of weed also has buds with a milder smell, both while the plant is growing and after it has dried.
• It originally comes from hot regions. The difference between sativa and indica is that sativas have a longer flowering process and need warm, humid conditions to grow to their full potential.
• They need less time in vegetative growth before the flowering phase, so the total time sativas need is almost the same as indicas.
• They can shoot up in height very quickly once flowering kicks in and keep stretching throughout the entire flowering phase.
• Most commonly, sativas increase their vegetative height by 200-300% (or more) during flowering.

Where indica and sativa cannabis come from

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

Cannabis indica, on the other hand, is native to the Hindu Kush region, a massive mountain range stretching over 800 kilometers (about 500 miles) across Afghanistan, Pakistan, northern India and into China, where the climate is fairly cold.

How do sativa and indica hit you?

Indica and sativa hit differently. That can be a tough thing to grasp, especially for people who've never used psychoactive substances. Still, here's what these types of weed actually feel like.

What does sativa feel like?

Sativa flowers produce an uplifting "head high" — a more energetic, euphoric, creative effect that has you laughing at everything, even when it isn't actually funny. Sativa is perfect for any social gathering, with the guarantee that it won't send everyone to bed.

And since the different types of sativa have the power to leave you helpless with laughter, they can also spark an energetic urge to do something — anything. Some people lean athletic and feel like going for a run or working out. Artists will start creating, musicians will play music, gardeners will garden, and so on. The inspiration that sativa strains unlock will pour into whatever's closest at hand.

What does indica feel like?

The big difference between indica and sativa is that indica flowers contain more CBD and less THC than sativas, producing what many call a "body high" or stoned feeling. They're ideal for sinking into the couch with a PlayStation controller or binge-watching a series (preferably one that doesn't demand too much focus).

The indica plant brings deep relaxation and heightens the senses — especially touch, hearing and taste. In high doses, it's downright sleep-inducing. That's why it's one of the ideal types of cannabis for a night with no plans, staying home in a spot you know you won't be moving from.

Every consumer has different expectations when it comes to growing and consuming. To make sure the results match what you're after, we recommend reading up thoroughly on different strains and the best way to grow each one all the way to flower.