Indica and Sativa

Appearance

The names Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Sativa are only useful in identifying visual differences between the two common gene pools in Cannabis. Indica plants are short and have broad leaves. Sativa plants are tall and have thin leaves. The names have nothing to do with the biochemical content of the plants themselves.

Naming Origin

‘Cannabis sativa’ and ‘Cannabis indica’ originate from Jean Baptiste Lamarck who, in the late 1700s, described the high from the indica plant as sedating and calming and Sativa was described as having uplifting, mood enhancing effects. 

Marketing Jargon

The terms Indica and Sativa these days are mostly marketing jargon that can, but not always, indicate the ratio of THC to CBD.