If you’re new to cannabis, it can be hard to know how to choose the right strain for you. It’s common to think that indicas are sedating and perfect for sitting back on the couch with a movie, while sativas are energizing and can help you get your day started. However, those ideas are not necessarily accurate. In fact, the terms “Indica and Sativa Strains” don’t describe the effects of a strain at all, but instead, they refer to specific physical attributes of a plant.

Why Online Cannabis Stores Are Changing the Way Canadians Shop for Weed

Botanists use these traits to differentiate between different plants. For example, indica plants have shorter stalks than sativas and they grow with wider leaves. Sativas are also known for producing limonene, which is found in citrus fruits and gives sativa strains their fruity aromas. These characteristics can be helpful when deciding on a strain for you, but it’s important to remember that many modern strains are hybrids.

Hybrid strains have both indica and sativa genetics and offer consumers a combination of relaxing and uplifting effects. Many budtenders will be able to recommend you a balanced hybrid that has a mix of indica and sativa properties, like Pineapple Express or OG Kush. However, it’s also important to note that a person’s experience with a particular strain is based on their unique body chemistry and the concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes in their endocannabinoid system. For this reason, the sativa and indica classification is sometimes criticized as an oversimplified way to categorize cannabis.