What is the Difference Between Indica and Sativa??

Think about the last time you were at a dispensary and how all the flower and concentrates were organized. Now think about how they were categorized. More than likely, they were separated by Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid. Due to this, you probably believe that each strain has its own specific effects. You may have even heard the little phrase, “Indica put you In Da Couch.” In reality, it is just a bunch of bs. Let me explain if there even is an actual difference between Indica and Sativa. 

If you read the last blog, you may recall my points on habits. They are ingrained behaviors and thought processes that are virtually automatic. The Sativa vs Indica dichotomy has been around for decades and, due to our habitual nature, we keep going back to it because of its simplicity, regardless of its basis in reality. An article from Medium.com mentioned a shop in Montreal (Spirtleaf) that ceased to organize their product based upon this ideology and did so quickly due to their customers’ desire to have a simple shopping experience. They are not alone in that and a quick trip over to Leafly confirms this norm. You can see that before getting into any other properties of cannabis, the main categorization of strains comes down to Indica, Sativa, or Hybrid. Or more bluntly, it comes down to Indica vs Sativa vs Hybrid.

This may make for a simple shopping experience, albeit a less helpful one. We as humans tend to want to keep things simple, but cannabis is a complicated beast, and one that we still have a lot of learning to fully understand. All the other options are quite daunting at first glance. 

Now if Strain Type Doesn’t Matter, How do I Know What to Look For? 

The time is now to learn about terpenes and the individual cannabinoids that affect your experience. Leafly provides a great breakdown of the individual compounds typically found in cannabis. Terpenes are what provide your material with its smell and flavor, but also contribute to how it makes you feel in conjunction with other dominant compounds. If you have a favorite strain due to how it affects you, look up the most dominant terpenes and compounds and select a strain with comparable levels for a similar effect. 

Power of Vaporization

If this all seems too complicated, do not be alarmed as this is where vaporization can come into play to greatly improve how you consume your cannabis. With traditional combustion methods, such as joints, pipes, or bongs, you have no control over the extraction - You ignite and off you go. Whereas with vaping, you can have more direct control over the compounds you want to extract via temperature regulation. The various compounds found in cannabis start to vaporize at different temperatures and we can exploit that to get the experience we are looking for. 

If you have watched some of the videos we have done on our YouTube channel, you may have heard me say, “Heat the tip for a tasty rip, heat the base to launch to space.” This is an easy way to remember how temperature can alter the effect of what you are vaping. Lower temperatures can be achieved by heating the tip of the Cap. As terpene boiling points are lower, it means they are getting more successfully vaporized and enjoyed, as opposed to getting flashed off and destroyed. The vapor at this stage will also not be as dense, but very flavorful. Hence, the tasty rip.

Coincidentally, the compounds that result in more of a euphoric feeling are vaporized below 365 degrees Fahrenheit (or when you are heating near the tip of the Cap). This makes for a great daytime sesh that will leave you more clear-headed. Please keep in mind that if you over-consume, you will not be clear-headed and this is why moderation is still important. 

If you heat the base, you will begin to extract the more sedative compounds, such as CBN or the terpene linalool which is found in lavender and known for its sedative properties and can provide deep relaxation and more of a body “high”. Each experience has its purpose depending on your needs but, with careful extraction, you can get more out of your flower simply by better understanding your strains’ individual characteristics. 

In conclusion, Indica or Sativa is not what you should be looking for when it comes to shopping for strains as it is not the best indicator of the experience. It is simply an outdated relic that remains due to old habits and has survived because of our desire to keep things simple. This is why you may have had a sleepy Sativa strain or energetic Indica strain. It is all due to the individual compounds. Lastly, with vaporization, you are able to more carefully select the compounds that are extracted for a considerably more fulfilling experience. 

If you are new to the DynaVap family, I would strongly recommend that you temp-step during your sesh (start at a low temp and work your way up, giving several minutes in between hits) and appreciate what each temperature offers and find what works best for you. 

A great concentrate or dry-herb vaporizer to use when you want to achieve different temperature ranges and flavor experiences is the DynaVap "M". Not only is the M perfect for getting the exact type of effects you want out of your cannabis, but it also features the adjust-a-bowl feature that allows you to reduce the extraction chamber by 50% for easy micro-dosing to quickly achieve those effects with less waste. Additionally, if you’re looking for an easier way to achieve temperature regulation and get an even broader range of flavors, try  pairing your DynaVap vaporizer with a Low Temp Captive Cap.