Indica vs Sativa
- Cannabis sativa , is a tall plant, generally between 8 and 12 feet.
The leaves have long thin fingers and are light green. The more equatorial
varieties have more yellow pigments to protect the plant from intense light.
Sativa buds are long and thin and turn red as they mature in a warm
environment. In cooler environments the buds may be slightly purple. Sativa
plants smell sweet and fruity and the smoke is generally quite mild. It is a
source of fiber for rope and other products and it contains THC which gives
smokers the psychic effects they seek. The leaves of this plant are smoked but
the most highly prized part of the plant is the top.
- Cannabis indica, is plentiful in the Mideast, India, and Central
Asia especially Afghanistan, Kashmire, and Pakistan. It is a short plant,
generally between 3 and 6 feet, and its leaves have short broad fingers. The
leaves are generally dark green sometimes tinged with purple. As they near
maturity, the leaves may become significantly more purple. It is a strong
smelling plant with a "stinky" or "skunky" smell. The smoke of indicas is
generally thick and more prone to cause coughing when inhaled. Indicas are the
traditional source of hashish.
- Cannabis ruderalis is a debated third variety of cannabis found in
Russia, Poland, and other eastern Europen countries. Schultes classified
cannabis as having three species: sativa, indica, and ruderalis based on the
formation of the seed pods. There is some debate as to whether there is
justification for this third category. Some features of ruderalis are large
seeds, short weedy plants (4-6 feet tall) and a lower level of thc than
sativas or indicas