🧬 Sativa vs. Indica – The big mistake?
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For a long time, “Sativa” and “Indica” were considered the guide for the trip:
Sativa = active and creative,
Indica = relaxed and sedative.
But is that even true? Spoiler alert: No.
🌿 The origin of the terms
The classification originally comes from botany , not from the effect:
- Cannabis sativa L. – tall, narrow plants with long fingers
- Cannabis indica Lam. – compact growth, broader leaves
- Cannabis ruderalis – low, auto-flowering (rarely used commercially)
This distinction refers to morphology – the appearance of the plant, not the effect when consumed.
🧠Effect ≠Botany
The trip you experience does not depend on whether the plant is botanically classified as Indica or Sativa.
The decisive factors are:
| factor | Influence on effect |
|---|---|
| Terpene profile | e.g. limonene (stimulating), myrcene (sedative) |
| THC/CBD ratio | e.g. B. THC dominant = psychoactive, CBD balancing |
| Minor cannabinoids | CBG, CBN, THCV, etc. are playing an increasingly important role |
| Set & Setting | Your mood, environment, and expectationsTwo plants with identical THC levels can have completely different effects depending on the terpenes, ripeness, and storage . |
🔬 The modern perspective
In science and among breeders today, the distinction is more often made according to chemotypes , rather than “Indica/Sativa”:
- Type I : THC-dominant
- Type II : THC/CBD balanced
- Type III : CBD-dominant
This classification says more about the effect than any label in a coffee shop.
📉 Why does the myth persist?
- Marketing simplification (“you want to chill? Take Indica”)
- Decades of passing on half-knowledge
- Many seed banks and shops still work with the old system
- Consumers want simple orientation
âś… Conclusion
“Sativa or Indica?” is the wrong question.
Better:
"What is the terpene profile? Which cannabinoids are dominant? How was the plant processed?"
Anyone who is seriously involved with cannabis – whether as a consumer, breeder or brand – cannot ignore terpenes and chemotypes.
Next on “Backroom Talk”:
Top 5 terpenes and how they really change the effect of your favorite strains.