There has been a debate about the different marijuana strains. Do they actually have different characteristics and effects or is it just some information that has no reliable study to back up the claims. If you consult Oklahoma Medical Marijuana doctors they would tell you which strain out of indica and sativa would work best for your condition, but does it actually make any difference?
The short and crisp answer to the question, that is raised by the majority population that is new to medical marijuana or has witnessed confusing effects of both the strains, would be Yes.
There is a significant difference between both effects as well as characteristics of different marijuana strains which creates a magnificent difference when consumed to treat a certain condition. However, it goes without any doubt that the introduction of hybrid strains have blurred the lines of differentiation.
Indica and Sativa Strains
Marijuana strains are broadly classified into indica and sativa strains which further have numerous strains that fall in the said category because of their similar characteristics and effects on the body. Indica strains are known to provide relaxing, sleep inducing effects. Whereas, sativa strains are known to enhance focus, concentration, and creativity.
Now, it will be wrong to say that all indicas and all sativas have exact effects as claimed and they will work similarly as their cousin strains. It is not just about exceptions, but there are several other factors that have a very important role to play. From concentration of THC, CBD and other cannabinoids present in the plant to environmental factors that affect the plant growth and even terpenes, every component can influence and alter the original effects of the strains.
Hybrid Strains
Not to forget, there is a whole category that is invented by mankind by combining the goodness of both sativa and indica strains. Now these strains will obviously exhibit characteristics and effects of both sativa as well as indica in different percentages. This suggests that there can be strains that have equal sativa and indica qualities, strains that are more inclined towards sativa and another group of strains that are more inclined towards indica. Introduction of these strains for more efficient effects and properties eventually made the identification of the differences in different strains extremely difficult.
While it could have been easy to differentiate between two strains by just looking at the height of the plant, shape and color of the leaves, hybrid strains made the process a little challenging but certainly made medical marijuana treatment more effective and efficient.
How to Differentiate Between Different Strains?
Since it has become sort of difficult to judge the plant solely on the basis of its physical characteristics, the quantity and ratio of cannabinoids present in a strain can help in differentiating the strains. However, this may not work in every case either. As both CBD and THC can have similar effects in some cases, since both the cannabinoids target the same endocannabinoid receptors, have psychoactive effects, and may affect the central nervous system in a similar manner.
Nonetheless, the major characteristics and effects of both the cannabinoids shall remain the same. So, a higher concentration of THC would be intoxicating, sedative, and shall certainly give you a high feeling and a higher concentration of CBD would have non-intoxicating, therapeutic effects and shall help you by clearing your mind, increasing focus, and reducing stress and anxiety.
Final Thoughts
With an introduction of hybrid strains and the ongoing research, growers have been experimenting a lot with different strains, increasingly introducing new and better strains. This has made medical marijuana a more efficient treatment with time. But it won’t be wrong to say that the same has made it challenging to identify different strains as well. However, this suggests that the strains ARE different and have diverse effects and characteristics hence a medical marijuana doctor suggesting you a different strain as a treatment matters. Not just that, the labels suggesting what strain it is and how it shall affect your body matters too. It is NOT some strategy that manufacturers and growers are using, as claimed by several writers and journalists.
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