Sativa vs Indica Edibles: Choosing the Best Option for You

Sativa and Indica are two subspecies of cannabis used for a variety of recreational and medicinal purposes. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of sativa and indica strains and how to choose the best one for you.

As cannabis-infused edibles become more widely recognized, many people are wondering about the difference between these two strains of the plant. In this article, we will explore the distinctions between them and what users need to know about consuming indica vs. sativa edibles.

Sativa vs. Indica: What’s the Difference?

The two main subspecies of the cannabis plant are Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica. They are commonly differentiated by their appearance, and each specific strain is known to have distinct effects.

Sativa vs. Indica Appearance

Cannabis growers have no problem distinguishing sativa plants versus indica plants; the two subspecies look quite different from one another.

Cannabis Sativa Appearance

Cannabis sativa grows tall and slender with long, narrow leaves. The plant can reach a height of 20 feet and has widely spaced branches. The flowers are small and grow at the ends of the branches, where they form long clusters of buds.

Cannabis sativa leaves are typically light green in color with narrow, serrated edges. In addition, the leaves are taller and narrower than those of the Cannabis indica plant. Also, the distance between the nodes, where the leaves and branches come together, is often greater in Cannabis sativa plants than in Cannabis indica plants.

Cannabis sativa plants grow slower than Cannabis indica plants and can take up to six months to mature. Cannabis sativa plants are often cultivated outdoors due to their height and shape, and they require a lot of space and sunlight to develop.

Cannabis Indica Appearance

Cannabis indica is a shorter and bushier plant than Cannabis sativa, with wider, more rounded leaves. Cannabis indica leaves are typically dark green in color and have a wider serrated edge than Cannabis sativa leaves.

The Cannabis indica plant can reach a height of 3 to 6 feet and has dense, densely packed buds that grow in clusters around the plant's nodes. An indica plant's nodes are often closer together than those of a sativa plant.

Cannabis indica grows faster than Cannabis sativa and can be harvested in as little as 2 to 4 months. Because it grows quickly, indica is a good choice for indoor gardeners who don't have much space or who want to get a lot of harvests in one year.

Cannabis indica is easier to grow indoors than sativa due to its small size and quick growth cycle. Yet, its high-quality buds still require precise environmental conditions.

Sativa vs. Indica Effects

Indicas and sativas are believed to have distinct effects on the body. Whether you’re looking for the best strains for anxiety and focus or are microdosing edibles for pain, different cannabis strains could give you different outcomes.

Cannabis Sativa Effects

Sativa is known for its uplifting effects and is stimulating for daytime use. Sativas are thought to influence the body in the following ways:

• Increasing focus
• Reducing symptoms of depression
• Lowering stress

Sativas tend to have higher levels of THC content and are generally used as an energy booster. Sativa strains like Durban Poison, Sour Diesel, and Strawberry Cough are very popular for users who want an invigorating kick. The effects of sativa strains are similar to those of our Delta 9 gummies, with small amounts of Delta 9 THC and CBD to bring energy and balance.

Cannabis Indica Effects

Indica strains are known for making people feel calm and sleepy, which makes them great for nighttime use. Indicas are thought to have the following influences on the body:

• Reducing anxiety
• Relieving chronic pain
• Stimulating appetite
• Treat insomnia

Indicas tend to have a higher CBD concentration and are generally used to ease the mind and body. Indica strains like Grandaddy Purple, Grape Ape, and Hindu Cush are popular for unwinding. These effects are similar to that of our Relax Plus Gummies with low doses of Delta 8 THC and CBD that offer enhanced relaxation with a light buzz.

What is a Cannabis Hybrid?

Hybrid cannabis strains are crossbreeds of sativa and indica strains. They offer flexibility and a best-of-both-worlds approach to those who consume cannabis. Growers create hybrid cannabis blends to optimize the effects of each subspecies.

The effects of a hybrid strain will vary depending on whether it’s a sativa or indica-dominant plant. Gorilla Glue, Skywalker, and OG Kush are all popular hybrid strains that offer different benefits.

At nama, we choose hybrid strains for our customers so they can experience the benefits of both indica and sativa gummies. Our hybrid Euphoria gummies a measured microdose of Delta 9 THC and CBD derived from terpene-rich hybrid hemp for an uplifting effect.

What is Cannabis Rudelaris?

Cannabis rudelaris is another subspecies of the cannabis plant. It’s a durable, fast-flowering strain that is able to withstand harsh environments. Rudelaris is much smaller than sativa and indica plants, only growing to be about 1 to 2 feet tall.

It is considered to be a wild cannabis subspecies, growing on uncultivated or dormant land. However, there is still some debate about whether rudelaris originated from the indica plant or if it is possibly a subspecies of its own.

What are Sativa and Indica Edibles?

Edibles are any food items that have extracts from the cannabis plant added to them. This could include baked goods, hard candies, cooking, and more. The most popular cannabis edibles are gummies. They’re easy to dose because suppliers will list the ratio content on the label for recommended use.

You can buy sativa and indica edibles, but we prefer our hybrid edibles. We offer vegan CBD gummies with a plant-based fiber called pectin. It is known to have a better flavor profile, keep its form longer, and be healthier for consumption.

Many of our competitors will use gelatin to cut costs and save time on production, but the animal-derived product is known to cause unwanted side effects. All of our products, even our Delta 9 edibles, are vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free, and third-party lab-tested for clean ingredients. Shop our full collection here.

How Do Cannabis Edibles Affect the Body?

When trying to understand how indica and sativa edibles affect the body, it’s important to realize that each strain has its own specific profile of cannabinoids, flavonoids, terpenes, and other bioactive compounds.

Cannabis contains over 100 chemical compounds that may have potential health benefits. Most known of those are the cannabinoids CBD and THC (for more, read our guide to the differences between THC and CBD). Cannabis' bioactive compounds interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) to influence bodily processes such as mood, immune response, and pain signaling.

What is the Endocannabinoid System?

The endocannabinoid system is a signaling system responsible for regulating homeostasis. The body produces neurotransmitters known as endocannabinoids. These endocannabinoids bind to the CB1 and CB2 receptors, which are the two main ECS receptors, to regulate things like emotional processing, mood, learning, memory, pain management, and general immunity.

What is CBD?

CBD (cannabidiol) is a non-psychoactive compound in the cannabis plant. Most known for its pain-relieving and stress-reduction properties, taking CBD is also known to improve sleep. This cannabinoid influences the endocannabinoid system indirectly, agitating the receptors to take action. Our CBD gummies for sleep contain both CBD and melatonin to help you get a good night’s rest.

What is THC?

THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is a psychoactive compound in the cannabis plant. Though most known for reducing inflammation and subsiding anxiety, the effects of THC also include pain relief, euphoria, and neurogenesis. This cannabinoid binds directly to the endocannabinoid receptors to cause their effects.

Our THC gummies contain low doses of hemp-derived THC that are federally legal and made with high-quality ingredients. It is through the use of products like our full-spectrum CBD gummies that users experience the benefits of the entourage effect.

Some reported benefits of microdosing THC include a reduction of stress, an increase in energy, and overall improvements in mental and physical health.

What is the Entourage Effect? 

The entourage effect refers to a synergy that occurs when cannabinoids are taken together. According to this theory, CBD delivers more pronounced benefits in the presence of microdoses of THC, and vice versa.

While CBD and THC have overlapping health benefits, they interact with the ECS quite differently.

The entourage effect is not something you can feel, but a way to define the benefits of blending cannabinoids for optimal results.

Does Sativa vs. Indica Matter in Edibles?

When purchasing edibles, you will find that most suppliers will not specify between sativa and indica on their labels. Many people think that the names "sativa" and "indica" only describe how the two subspecies look, but that their effects aren't different enough to justify calling them by those names.

The THC to CBD ratio may be more helpful to understanding the effects of cannabis than deciphering what strain it is. Many users will look at the spectrum of the product to know what’s best for them. There are three ways you can break down what type of cannabis edible you’re taking:

• CBD isolate: This is referred to as pure CBD, meaning that it contains no other compounds.
• Broad-spectrum CBD: This type of CBD product contains other compounds from the cannabis plant like flavonoids, terpenes, and other cannabinoids, but there is no THC. Taking broad-spectrum CBD gummies can offer many health benefits without getting you high.
• Full-spectrum CBD: For a product to be full-spectrum, it means that it contains all compounds of the cannabis plant, including THC. However, full-spectrum products must have no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight from the hemp plant for them to be considered federally legal.

Are Sativa vs. Indica Edibles Hemp or Marijuana?

Sativa and indica cannabis can fall under the hemp or marijuana category, depending on THC concentrations. Hemp is legally defined under the 2018 Farm Bill as having no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight. Marijuana remains a controlled substance and is legally defined as cannabis that contains more than 0.3% THC by dry weight. All of nama’s products are 100% hemp-derived with no more than 0.3% THC in accordance with the 2018 Farm Bill.

Are Sativa and Indica Edibles Safe?

Cannabis is a well-tolerated substance by most users and does not pose any major risks for consumption. Dosage is especially important, as taking too many edibles could result in some side effects, especially if there is a high THC content. Check the labels on your products and be sure to start off slow and low, increasing your dosage over time.

Are Sativa and Indica Edibles Legal?

Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp-derived products are considered federally legalized cannabis because hemp contains no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight. However, some states do have their own restrictions on this (see our guide to individual state legality of Delta 9 for more on this). Marijuana is still considered federally illegal, though some states have legalized it. All of our Delta 9 THC gummies and Delta 8 THC gummies are compliant with this law.

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