We already know that marijuana plants have different strains and they are categorized as sativa, indica, ruderalis, and hybrid marijuana strains.
Sativa and Indica strains are the two main types of cannabis, while when mixed together, these two create a hybrid strain. Ruderalis marijuana strains are originally considered as a wild breed of marijuana, but in recent years, this strain has opened new doors by influencing the genetics of different hybrid varieties.
Historical Origins of Marijuana Strains
Honestly, there is no scientific and historical evidence to explain the differences among marijuana strains. However, there are some historical interpretations that explain the origins of the Indica strain, better known as Cannabis Indica.
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, a French biologist, first classified the Indica strain in the late 1700s and classified the plants as intoxicating since it differs from the regular hemp plants grown in Europe during that time. Because of the differences from the European hemp plants, which were then known as Cannabis Sativa, Lamarck named his discovery as Cannabis Indica to set the differences of the newly found strain from European hemp crops.
During the 1800s, the Cannabis Indica strains were then used in Western medicine and a therapeutic remedy for all sorts of ailments.
Indica Marijuana Strains
Indica strains of marijuana don’t grow tall and generally reaches 3.2 to 9.8 feet high. It grows bushy with round and healthy fan leaves which differs from sativa plants. Generally a small plant, indica strains are more preferred for indoor growing and it flowers much faster and easier by manipulating the light cycle.
The buds and flowers of indica strains usually grow close together and stickier to touch than those from sativa plants. It has the perfect amount of resins for making hashish and its stoney effects are more preferred by medical marijuana patients as it acts as a sedative, and puts the body into a pleasant and deep state of calmness and relaxation.
It contains more CBN (Cannabinol), a cannabinoid which is a helpful sleep aid to help those with insomnia and sleeping disorders. Aside from that, this strain has either sweet or sour smell and has therapeutic qualities for:
- Pain
- Insomnia
- Muscle Spasms
- Inducing muscle relaxation
- Anxiety
- A migraine and Headaches
Indica strains are best preferred for night time use.
Sativa Marijuana Strains
Sativa strains of marijuana grow tall and large, reaching a height of up to 20 feet. Its leaves are narrow, long and dainty, and are perfect for outdoor growing considering its height. Most people like smoking sativa strains because of its unique uplifting effects.
Sativa marijuana seeds are soft to touch and have no markings on them. Unlike Indica strains, they do not flower quickly as it needs more time to develop its potency.
Aside from the norm of smoking or vaporizing sativa strains, they can be dried and cooked for users to get high on them. Opposite to the Stoney and relaxing effects of Indica strains, Sativa marijuana offers an energetic, mood elevating and invigorating kind of high.
Some sativa strains can also ignite creativity and focus, depending on its users. Sativa strains are best used if you want to be active and up during daytime since it opens you up to new and fresh ideas while raising your energy and elevating your moods.
Unlike Indica strains, Sativas are higher in the cannabinoid THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Although it is less likely used for medical purposes, sativa strains are good in Ayurvedic medicine. Because of this, they work well to alleviate symptoms of mood disorders, depression, fatigue and behavior disorders.
Hybrid and Ruderalis Strains
Hybrid strains are usually the combination of Indica and Sativa genes. Growers generally seek to mix the two strains to create a unique blend of both marijuana strains that exhibits desirable qualities exclusive for a specific strain.
For example, Blue Dream is considered one of the most popular cannabis hybrids which combine the genetics of a Blueberry Indica and a Haze sativa. Since Blue Dream is a sativa-dominant hybrid, it provides a gentle mental invigoration due to its sativa origins and full body relaxation from its indica lineage.
Blue Dream delivers a quick relief from different symptoms like pain, nausea, and other ailments, without the heavy and sedative effects of an Indica strain.
In another note, Ruderalis strains of cannabis are rarely talked about but play an important role in the development of autoflowering marijuana strains. Ruderalis strains are said to be hybrid marijuana which grows short similar to an indica, and has very thick foliage.
Ruderalis strains have a very short flowering period that’s why most growers use this strain to breed cannabis hybrids to make them resilient in colder climates and if they want to end up with autoflowering strains.