What Is Indica Cannabis?
A common question many new stoners ask is what is Indica Cannabis? What is a Sativa? It’s a perfectly justifiable question, and for that reason, we have created this article to tell you everything you need to know about Indica Cannabis.
Originally native to Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and the Anatolian peninsula, Indica Cannabis is thought to originate from the Hindu Kush mountain range. One interesting fact is that Indica is the word in Latin for “of India.” Additionally, in the Kush mountains, the plant was cultivated originally for the express purpose of creating hashish.
As for the plant’s history, Indica Marijuana was first classified by Europeans in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus, soon after, he published the Species Plantarum.
Soon after this, French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck updated the naming conventions for Cannabis in 1785. Soon after its discovery, he changed the naming conventions, making him the first to make the distinction between Indica and Sativa.
As a result, Jean-Baptiste distinguished Indica as a short, stout, and more psychoactive plant
Another interesting fact is that a common nickname for Indica strains used to be purple, or grapes. This was done in honour of the plant’s darker colouring.
Due to its climate, Indica Cannabis has adapted to grow in drier and harsher conditions when compared to its Sativa counterpart. Its growing life cycle is also much shorter, meaning it can get harvested before the cold of fall sets in.
This has led the plant, and the bud itself to be relatively short, cone-shaped, and incredibly dense. This has proved to make the flower have denser nuggets most of the time. Additionally, Indica landraces tend to have higher THC contents when compared to Sativas.
To put it plainly, from its original days, Indica Cannabis has been known to be a much more psychoactive plant.
Indica Weed Effects
In terms of effects, Indica offers a much more relaxing and full-body high, at least the majority of the time. With that in mind, the weed has come to be known by the phrase “in da couch”.
The body high given by Indica is truly a calming experience, oftentimes being used for pain relief, stress relief, and anxiety relief. This is in contrast to Sativa’s, which occasionally can spur additional anxiety.
It’s oftentimes suggested that due to the relaxation effects, it’s better consumed at night. Plainly put, Indica is considered to be a downer, even having plentiful CBD in many cases.
Found ranging anywhere from 15- 30% THC and higher, it’s incredibly easy to see the physical and mental health benefits of many Indica strains.
It also doesn’t hurt that Indica strains are known to take effect much quicker, with many strains taking effect in as little as a few minutes
We should say, however, the thought that Indicas are stronger by default is plainly untrue, there are a host of factors that go into a particular strain’s high. When considering Cannabis to purchase, Everything from growing circumstances to terpenes can affect the high.
Common uses include:
- Relaxation.
- Pain Relief.
- Sedation (Couch Locked)
- “Body” High
- Increased Appetite (Munchies).
- Decreased Anxiety.
As an extremely generalized statement, Indicas give a mellowing, relaxed, and tired feeling, especially for those new to cannabis.
Common Indica Terpenes
We heavily recommend everyone reading to look at our terpenes page, it will give an incredibly more in-depth explanation and overview of each and every individual terpene found in cannabis.
That being said, there are some terpenes found commonly in Indica Strains:
- Myrcene (Anti-Inflammatory and Relaxation)
- Linalool (Combats Anxiety and Depression)
- Limonene ( Antioxidant and Increased Libido)
- Beta-Caryophyllene (Pain Relief)
- Humulene (Appetite Suppressant)
- Caryophyllene ( Anti- Inflammatory)
That is not to say that many of these terpenes dont offer several other effects alongside the aforementioned. Limonene is also known to be an anti-microbial for example.
Popular Indica Strains
Both new smokers and stoners alike can vouch that some strains plainly hit differently. All things considered, whether its terpene profile, CBD percentage, or just plain THC percentage, there is without a doubt a lot that goes into a plant.
That is why in this section we will be showcasing some of our top 10 Indica strains.
| Name | Terpene Profile | Percentage |
| Ice Cream Cake | Caryophyllene, Limonene, Linalool | 22% |
| Slurricane | Caryophyllene, Limonene, Myrcene | 21% |
| Cookies Kush | Limonene, Caryophyllene, Myrcene | 19% |
| Romulan | Myrcene, Caryophyllene, Pinene | 19% |
| Hindu Kush | Limonene, Caryophyllene, Pinene | 19% |
| Purple Kush | Myrcene, Pinene, Caryophyllene | 19% |
| Dolato | Caryophyllene, Limonene, Linalool | 20% |
| G13 | Myrcene, Limonene, Caryophyllene | 20% |
| Death Star | Caryophyllene, Myrcene, Limonene | 19% |
| Grape Ape | Myrcene, Pinene, Caryophyllene | 18% |
For those looking to find a more comprehensive list of strains, look at our Strain Review category!
Indica VS Sativa
If you are looking to get started in the world of Cannabis it’s extremely important to understand the main differences between Indica and Sativa marijuana.
Used both for recreational and medical uses for thousands of years, its safe to say, Cannabis is a truly versatile plant.
As we explored above, Indica strains have become known for their relaxing and calming effects. Often used to treat conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain. In addition to its medical uses, The “body high” offered can also help users unwind after a long day.
On the other side of the spectrum, we have Sativa strains, known for their energizing and uplifting effects. With the effects oftentimes are classified as “ cerebral”.
Overall, when comparing the two types of cannabis, there is no true superior. Both Indica and Sativa plants offer some amazing effects and health benefits. When looking for a cannabis strain, it truly comes down to what you are looking for in your high.
For those looking to get some stuff done during the day and feel energized, Sativa is for you. On the other hand, If you want to enjoy a movie or lessen your anxiety after work, Indica will most likely work better for you.
Your weed of choice will truly depend on the situation and the individual. It’s not rare to find experienced stoners that have established preferences, but that doesn’t mean to not go out there and try new strains; you may just find your new favourite.
FAQ
What Are The Effects of Indica?
As we explored in the article above, the effects of Cannabis can vary depending on the strain you choose.
However, we can condense the most common Indica effects, these include relaxation, pain relief, sedation, body high, munchies, and decreased anxiety
How Long Do The Effects of Indica Cannabis Last?
The lengths of a high can vary greatly based upon a number of factors, such as amount consumed, percentage, and strain.
However, we can still give a decent estimate, if you are smoking, expect 2 hours, and If you are consuming it orally, expect anywhere from 4-6 hours.
What is Indica good for?
Above, we looked into what Indica cannabis is, its effects, and what it’s good for; looking at the overall effects of the Indica plant.
To answer the question simply, Indica is good for anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, and appetite, alongside a host of great effects.