When it comes to cannabis and it’s products, many people are asked if they want something more like Sativa, or something similar to Indica. But what does that mean? These are the different strains that cannabis is typically split into, though there is some confusion around these different classifications.
History
There is a prominent theory when it comes to cannabis classification. It comes from Jean Baptiste Lamarck, a scientist from the early 1800s. Lamark was originally known for creating his theory on animal evolution, called the Lamarckian Theory of Evolution. This theory stated that evolution would happen within an animal’s lifetime by sheer will power. Take the giraffe for example. It’s long neck helps it eat the leaves of the branches of extremely tall trees. Lamarck theorized that giraffes were born with shorter necks and through their continuous reaching for better food, their necks would extend on their own. Those that didn’t have the will power to reach for those high leaves, well they didn’t evolve and survive. It’s how giraffes have such long necks.
This theory quickly fell out of favor when Charles Darwin published his theory, “Origin of Species”. Darwin’s theory has since been adopted into common understanding and practice. But Lamarck created another theory, one that stayed in common practice until recently. That is his theory of marijuana.
See, Lamarck separated cannabis into two different strains based on their appearance as well as their effects. Cannabis sativa has a thinner leaf with a long stalk and creates uplifting and mood boosting experiences. Cannabis indica, on the other hand, had a fatter, shorter leaf with more sedative effects on consumers. Based on these few facts that Lamarck stated, it just became accepted in the cannabis community. There wasn’t much questioning of this theory. And many products were classified as either C sativa or C indica to help people decide which one they wanted.
Research
Recent research has debunked Lamarck’s marijuana theory, however. In 2015, a study showed the classification between sativa and indica strains aren’t necessarily what scientists have believed for the past few centuries. The origin of each plant was tested. But whether it was considered marijuana or hemp, similarities between the two strains showed connection. Scientists also say the cannabis plant has been around for thousands of years. If there were distinctions between the different strains, there isn’t anymore. Cannabis strains can breed with each other, making almost every plant on the market a hybrid of both strains.
The 2015 study also found a distinction between these two supposed strains of cannabis that actually aline with sativa and indica. The distinction? Marijuana and hemp. On the genetic level, marijuana is related more towards sativa. Compared to hemp, which is more closely related to indica. This can cause confusion when looking at different products and what each one will do. That’s why many companies will still indicate which strain each of their products lean more towards. It’s to help customers better choose their product based on what they want to experience.
Choosing the Best Product
So what does all this mean? In a 2016 interview, Dr. Ethan Russo, MD, board-certified neurologist and psychopharmacology researcher, explained the difference between Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica pretty well. He said:
“There are biochemically distinct strains of Cannabis, but the sativa/indica distinction as commonly applied in the lay literature is total nonsense and an exercise in futility. One cannot in any way currently guess the biochemical content of a given Cannabis plant based on its height, branching, or leaf morphology. The degree of interbreeding/hybridization is such that only a biochemical assay tells a potential consumer or scientist what is really in the plant.”
In 2018, the USDA released the Farm Bill. This was the first time since the 1970s that hemp and marijuana were categorized separately. They had joined together thanks to the Controlled Substances Act. As long as a final product contained less than 0.3 percent of Delta 9, its considered federally legal. Many of the states have also adopted this definition, opening up a whole new market, the hemp industry.
Takeaway
When selecting products, this is the biggest distinction to look for. If the product has more than 0.3 percent Delta 9 within it, then it is considered marijuana. If it is less than 0.3 percent Delta 9 content, then it’s hemp. Another factor to look at is what is in each product beyond THC levels. There are compounds known as terpenes. They create different effects and smells outside of THC levels. For example, if you’re looking for a sedative effect, find products containing high levels of myrcene, which has sedative properties. On the other hand, if you want a mood lift or increased energy levels, products with limonene are better.
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