pro grower INSIGHTS
Blurring The Lines Between
INDICA AN
Are ‘ Indica ’ and ‘ Sativa ’ Labels Still Relevant ?
by Cory Hughes
There may have been a time when indica and sativa strains were distinct , but with cross-breeding and concentrates that era is long gone . Cory Hughes shares his experience in setting aside labels to find the right strain .
Before I began my career in cannabis cultivation , I was a consumer much like you . The draw of a newly burgeoning industry in the Rocky Mountain state drew me all the way from the east coast way back in 2014 . Upon arrival , a trip to the dispensary to sample the country ’ s first legal recreational cannabis products became an educational experience , one that , to this very day , I am grateful for . The first question posed to me upon entry was , “ Are you looking for an indica or a sativa ?” My response was nothing more than a dead stare . This is a common experience among cannabis buyers , particularly with those newer to the purchasing process . As it was explained to me then , sativa and indica are two distinctly different categories of strains with different properties and effects unique to each . Over the years , due to the cross-breeding and hybridization of cannabis between strains , the line separating the two has become blurred . The question is , do the terms indica and sativa still apply to what we are seeing in the recreational and medicinal cannabis markets today ?
Genotype characteristics developed due to climate .
Climates and Cannabis
As cannabis evolved over millennia , different climates resulted in varying genetic makeups between the strains . This resulted in different outward appearances and different chemical compositions . The result over time was a classification system that clearly defined what comprised an indica and what comprised a sativa . While many believe these terms refer to the effects the plant produces , the reality is they are simply terms for describing the genetic variation between the two . Northern Africa and Central Asia are where it is believed the first strains of cannabis evolved . Due to the climate in these areas , the cannabis that the
region produced could be classified by today ’ s standards as sativas . The plants were taller , thicker , and had wide , pronounced leaves . When it comes to indicas , they are believed to have evolved mostly in the Middle East , Afghanistan in particular , although the earliest indicas could be found stretching from the dry deserts of Kabul all the way to central India in southern Asia . Indicas are shorter , skinnier plants than sativas with narrow , jagged leaves .
18 Maximum Yield