One of the most talked about topics in the cannabis industry is whether the terms ‘indica’ and ‘sativa’ have any relevance.
Many argue that, due to the intense hybridisation between the two types, modern-day cannabis varieties cannot and should not be classified by the effects associated with only pure indica or pure sativa cannabis varieties, which are rare.
However, cannabis dispensaries continue to label some cannabis products as either indica- or sativa-dominant based on their subjective effects alone. Research was needed to find out if cannabis users can differentiate indica from sativa and if their subjective effects align with the cannabis label.
A new study from Arizona State University has found that the Leafly.com classification of indica and sativa-type cannabis was associated with subjective effects.1 Regular cannabis users took part in a 2-week long study where they reported their subjective effects (high or low arousal, pain levels, and negative effects) within 30 min smoking cannabis.
Out of 101 participants, 78% had a preference for either indica or sativa and reported reasons for their preferred cannabis type based on the subjective effects which aligned to the industry claims. For example, cultivars classified as ‘indica-dominant’ were significantly associated with sedative effects, often termed indica-like.
In addition, the researchers found that particular terpenes were also significantly associated with subjective effects. Caryophyllene was associated with better pain ratings, while pinene was associated with less negative effects. These are important results given that the major difficulty in recommending indica or sativa type cannabis for consumers is that people react differently to different varieties.
Another roadblock to giving indica- or sativa-based recommendations is that consumers might experience effects based on what they were told by workers in the dispensary because of the power of suggestion. One may feel relaxed because they were told their cannabis was of indica origin, or they may feel energetic because they were informed their cannabis was of sativa background before they inhaled.
Whilst the results of this study indicate that the terms indica and sativa may have some value in describing the subjective effects, a follow-up study in clinical settings is required to substantiate these findings. Until then, cannabis dispensary product labeling will continue to be a hot issue.
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1 Okey SA, Waddell JT, Shah RV, Kennedy GM, Frangos MP, Corbin WR (2023) An Ecological Examination of Indica Versus Sativa and Primary Terpenes on the Subjective Effects of Smoked Cannabis: A Preliminary Investigation. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research