Every cannabis user will tell you that they have at least one friend or acquaintance who has said, “I can’t smoke weed because the one time I tried it, it made me fall asleep right away.” And there is a reason why that age-old story has happened to numerous people. That’s because they probably chose the wrong strain. Since everyone is different, cannabis side effects are truly dependent on the chemical variety chosen and each user’s body. “Individual plants produce varying effects, even among the same type of cannabis. It all depends on the plant’s chemical composition and the growing technique used.” (Holland, 2021).

I can’t tell you how many times over the years I chose the wrong cannabis strain, and I know I’m not alone. Before the legalization of marijuana, if you wanted to purchase cannabis, more often than not, you got what was being sold to you regardless of strain or quality. Obviously, as we have come to learn through dispensaries is that there are very distinct differences between the varieties. We are now able to choose which one we want or need, (i.e., do you need something to give you some energy and focus, or something to help you relax and sleep?).

Gone are the days of worrying about receiving stems and seeds in your mix. No longer do we have to worry about street weed being replaced with oregano or some other weed-like substance. We’ve been able to truly hone in on which cannabis will be most beneficial. Because the growers are able to replicate the best quality products and label them in a way that consumers will remember (hello Pineapple Express or Kush Mints), cannabis users are able to thoroughly vet how each strain affects their bodies for the maximum efficacy possible.

Which Cannabis To Choose

The reason why cannabis chemical varieties can vary so greatly is because there are ways the growers are able to breed and cultivate different strains throughout the growing process. However, there are two main types of chemical varieties that are the main difference between cannabis plants; sativa and indica.

Those differing chemical varieties are how cannabis users learn which levels of THC, or concentration of the cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol affect them and what dosage will be most effective. “To create a strain, cultivators select a variety of traits to produce the effects they want. This is a similar process to how breeders create particular characteristics in dogs. Experts suggest that there are over 700 strains of cannabis.” (Caporuscio, 2020).

For those who are new to the whole legal cannabis industry, I can tell you with one hundred percent certainty you will want to know which chemical varieties to choose. One of the easiest ways to remember the basics of sativa vs. indica is, “Indica = in da couch”. Or at least that was the advice my budtender step sister told me. Sativa is known to help with giving energy and alertness, while indica has a more relaxing, sleepy effect. Thus the earlier scenario explains why so many first-time cannabis users have said it puts them right to sleep. More than likely they tried an indica.

As cannabis continues to be a studied plant, as far as we know, the properties of THC potency are the real differentiator of how cannabis will affect the user. Generally speaking, higher THC levels equal a stronger effect. As you dive into the exploration of varying cannabis strains, feel free to note which ones you like, don’t like, how they affect you, how much you consumed, etc. This way you won’t run the risk of consuming cannabis and falling asleep when you have responsibilities to tend to. Since each cannabis user is different, we don’t advise you to strictly choose based on the THC levels, but we do encourage you to discuss with your budtender what strains may be best for you. 

Resources:

Caporuscio, Jessica. 2020, June 9. What are the most popular strains of cannabis?. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/marijuana-strains.

Holland, Kimberly. 2021, March 22. Sativa vs. Indica: What to Expect Across Cannabis Types and Strains. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/sativa-vs-indica.