fresh buds | indica, sativa?? a basic guide to strains

This is both a blessing and a curse, particularly to a new toker. On the plus side, it is refreshing to have this level of control over your medication, and to be able to determine at will if a product isn't best for you and make a change without all the red tape. It also allows you the excitement of trying all the different products. 

On the other hand, it can make a first dispensary trip incredibly frustrating and confusing. Vegas dispensaries can range in size from a half dozen strains offered to nearly 30 (and for the record, we are JUST talking about flower here!) Each flower is labeled with its type, its THC levels, sometimes its lineage...this can be incredibly overwhelming!

Though budtenders are generally pretty good at helping match a patient to a product, it is still nice to have a basic idea of what a certain flower will do and what you can expect from your sesh, so today we're going to discuss the differences between indica, sativa and hybrid strains.

Indica

Indicas have always gained a reputation as a nighttime strain, because of their body high and sedative effects. Indica plants are traditionally grown indoors and have short, fat leaves. They're great for those with anxiety, insomnia or any kind of pain. Indica strains you might see in Vegas include 9 Lb Hammer, Vanilla Kush and Diablo OG (check out my review here.)

Sativa

Just as indicas are generally considered an evening strain, sativas are considered a daytime strain due to their heady high and the lack of "couch lock" (getting so stoned you're locked on the couch.) Sativa flowers are usually slimmer and taller than indica strains and are best grown outdoors. Since they can make you energized and alert, they're not great for nighttime and not always great for anxiety, but can help with depression, focus and fatigue. Popular sativas in the area are Strawberry Cough, Sour Diesel and MTF (Matanuska Thunder Fuck--stay tuned for my review of this strain this week!)

Hybrid

As the name states, a hybrid strain is one that has both indica and sativa lineage and is a cross between two strains. Most of the weed at Vegas dispensaries is a hybrid of some kind. There are 3 categories of hybrids:

• sativa-dominant (Hs), indicating that this is a hybrid with predominantly sativa lineage 

• indica-dominant (Hi), indicating that this is a hybrid with predominantly indica lineage 

• hybrid - this is a true down the line hybrid. It is a fairly even mix of sativa and indica effects. 

Hybrids are especially great for patients who may want to receive the benefits of a particular kind of strain but may not want the full effects of a sativa or an indica. The hybrid blend kind of helps balance you out so you can enjoy the high without feeling extremely one way or another. 

It would be exhaustive to create a list of hybrids available in Vegas but most of my faves, to include Pineapple Express, Agent Orange and Super Blue Dream, are hybrids of some kind. It's fairly easy to find hybrid strains, just make sure you're reading up on its lineage to ensure you're getting the right effect. 

{ we'll talk concentrates another day but know that the strain designations are the exact same for concentrated products! }

What should I get?

If you're new to smoking and dispensaries, use your resources! Budtenders are hired and trained to know their products inside and out--never feel weird asking them a question, no matter how basic it is. We are all learning in this industry and we can do it together!

If you cannot ask a budtender for a rec, check an app like Leafly. They have strain profiles for most of the weed in Vegas and can give you an idea of whether a strain will help or hurt your condition. 

If you ABSOLUTELY cannot figure it out...you'll never go wrong with a nice hybrid. Pick something middle of the line with a mid-level THC range (15-10%) and test it out. The cool part about weed is you're not gonna overdose and die, so feel free to grab a few grams and try it out. And above all else, remember, smile and have fun! No matter how many strains you go through before you find what works for you, always remember that you're improving your whole body's health just by consuming cannabis, no matter what strain you pick. You're a rockstar! 

Join me next week as we get into our discussion about CBD and cannabanoids, here on Fresh Buds. Stay high!