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Common Cannabis Misconceptions
Is it Sativa or Indica?
Know What You’ re Shopping for or Growing
The two most common questions a dispensary customer asks are:“ What’ s the highest THC percentage you have?” and“ Is it Indica or Sativa?” These are two seemingly very simple questions to answer, and all a budtender needs to do is refer to a THC percentage number and a sticker on the packaging and send you merrily on your way— it’ s that Simple!
Just Face It; It’ s all Hybrid! The cannabis plant that we know and love is Cannabis Sativa, or is it Cannabis Indica?
Our modern Western classification of cannabis starts with Carl Linneaus and his nomenclature cannabis Sativa. Also known as cannabis Sativa L.( The L comes from Carl Linnaeus, 1753.)
When cannabis was found and classified growing in India( Lamarck 1785) of SE Asian and African descendants, differences were noted, and it was then called cannabis Indica( Cannabis Sativa L. botany and biotechnology, pp 101-103, John McPartland).
In different parts of the world, cannabis was grown for many uses, and the many different varieties expressed widely varied characteristics. International boundaries, travel barriers, and strict laws kept the globalization and spread of cannabis varieties to a minimum for many years. Regional differences allowed some of the“ Original” varietals like Hindu Kush, Acapulco Gold, Hawaiian Red Hair, etc, to remain unique and really represent the parts of the world from whence they came. They each had very unique qualities.
Dawn of the Hybrids
by Gerry Donovan, contributing writer
As consumer cannabis use, alternative culture, and international travel became more widely accepted and cost-effective, think of the 60s, 70s, and 80s, we saw the collection and interbreeding of these known and other landrace genetics. Soon thereafter, pioneers like Jack Herer and Jorge Cervantes were integral in developing named and branded Hybrid cannabis varieties like Jack Herer Kush. There then became several meccas for cannabis, including Amsterdam, the Emerald Triangle, and British Columbia. That’ s where a grower went
Trichomes by Gerry Donovan
to get their seeds.( Boy, you guys sure have it easy these days!) With the explosion of the internet and legal barriers coming down, there have become exponentially more growers, breeders, and geneticists all connecting, sharing, and developing the varietals of cannabis that we now smoke.
Autoflower cannabis has become quite popular in the last decade, further proving my Hybrid theory. There is a type of cannabis called cannabis Ruderalis that has different flowering characteristics than the traditional cannabis Sativa plants; they flower based on“ Time- Cycle,” not“ Light-Cycle.” These plants are bred with the known traditional cannabis genetics, resulting in the Autoflower plants. I’ m not technically sure how these varieties would be scientifically classified, considering they are a mix of cannabis Sativa and cannabis Ruderalis.
Furthermore, the idea of Sativa and Indica is very relative to the consumer and is viewed completely differently from the grower’ s perspective. I touched on this idea in my“ Seed Selection” article in the April issue.
Is it Sativa or Indica? Answer’ s not so clear, is it?
Because the terms are so widely used, rather misused, let’ s entertain a couple of scenarios and answer the question: Is it Sativa or Indica?
● If you are a“ lightweight” smoker, any cannabis with very high THC levels is going to get you very“ stoned,” and that will feel like an Indica. Does that mean every type is therefore Indica?
● Let’ s say you and your friend are gathered around the table smoking a joint. Afterward, you mow the yard, clean the garage, and vacuum the house. All while your friend goes to the couch and falls right asleep. Is that joint Indica or Sativa?
● Now what about a plant that grows short, stocky, with broad leaves and short internodal spacing; all“ Indica” growth characteristics, but when you smoke that plant, it is very light and floral tasting and has a very uplifting high; all“ Sativa” smoking experience. Is that plant Indica or Sativa?
22 June 2025