Indica or Sativa Marijuana—Explained
The names we use for describing marijuana such as “indica” and “sativa” were introduced in the 18th century to describe different species of cannabis: Marijuana sativa and Weed indica.
The term sativa, named by Carl Linneaus, described hemp ferns noticed in Europe and western Eurasia, where it was cultivated for its fiber and seeds. Pot indica, named by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, describes the psychoactive varieties discovered in India, where it was harvested for its seeds, fiber, and hashish production. Here’s how terms have shifted since their earliest botanical definitions:
In recent times, sativa marijauna” refers to tall, narrow-leaf varieties of marijuana, thought to induce energizing effects. But, these narrow-leaf drug (NLD) varieties were originally Weed indica ssp. Indica.
Indica marijuana has come to describe stout, broad-leaf ferns, thought to deliver sedating effects. These broad-leaf drug (BLD) varieties tend to be technically Marijuana indica ssp. Afghanica.
What we call “hemp” refers to the industrial, non-intoxicating varieties harvested primarily for fiber, seeds, and CBD. But, this was originally named Pot sativa.
Confused? We can understand. As you could visualize, with the mass commercialization of pot, the taxonomic distinctions between marijuana species and…
