The majority of people think that sativa cannabis strains are more invigorating than cultivars of indica cannabis. Nevertheless, indicas can sometimes have more uplifting effects. It is always best to consult an MMJ card doctor before starting to use marijuana for any medical purpose. In addition to advising you of your state’s marijuana regulations and safe usage guidelines, the doctor will assess whether marijuana is suitable for your situation.
The two primary components that determine how drowsy a cannabis strain makes you are its terpene content (myrcene) and its cannabinoid content (THC). Subjective experiences frequently categorize Myrcene-dominant Sativa strains as indicas.
Indica-type cannabis strains from the Afghan or Kush mountains contain myrcene, the primary terpene, which has sedative properties. However, not all indicas exhibit this behavior. Many indicas contain moderate to high levels of THC, which has sedative effects. Furthermore, indicas from the Afghan, Hindu Kush, and Tibetan regions trend to have higher levels of cannabidiol (CBD), which can be sedative at high doses, than sativa strains from the Equatorial region.
Other terpenes and cannabinoids, including terpinolene (alpha-terpinene), limonene, linalool, tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabigerol (CBG), also affect the effects of a particular strain of cannabis. Individual differences in the endocannabinoid system (ECS) also affect how an individual reacts to a particular strain (cultivar).
Your Genetics
Everybody has a unique endocannabinoid system. This suggests that a person may experience a different reaction to cannabis even if they use the same strain or product. Individual differences exist in the rate of breakdown of cannabinoids, such as THC. Due to differences in the concentration of cannabinoid receptors in the brain or immune system, different people may absorb THC, CBD, or any other cannabinoid more or less quickly than others.
Cannabinoids
The following are some cannabinoids with stronger sedative effects:
- THC in moderate or high doses.
- High CBD dosages.
- Although this is still debatable, it has been shown that cannabinol (CBN), a byproduct of THC’s aging, has sedative properties.
The effects of the following cannabinoids might be more uplifting:
- Low doses of THC may be stimulating to some people, especially those who are not familiar with cannabis, even though it is considered a sedative.
- At low doses, CBD can enhance THC’s stimulating effects while decreasing its sedative ones.
- It has been reported that many strains high in CBG are energizing rather than sleep-aiding.
- Low doses of THCV have anti-psychoactive effects through 5HT1A receptors in addition to preventing THC from binding to CB1 receptors. Higher dosages of THCV produce psychoactive effects, though not always to the same extent as THC. THCV has been described as having a more “uplifting” effect than THC. Sedative effects may result from high dosages of both THC and THCV.
Terpenes
Like cannabinoids, terpenes can have both sedative and stimulating effects. The dosage and terpene mixture have an impact on the effects of terpenes. In general, if myrcene is the main terpene in a strain, it is more likely to have sedative effects. If terpinolene or limonene is the main terpene and the strain contains little myrcene, it is more likely to have energizing effects.
Terpinolene tends to have sedative effects, especially when used alone. Many users of strains high in this terpene report experiencing a sense of stimulation and elevation. Mice and humans are not always the same! Similar in this regard is pinene, which has been demonstrated to have both calming and stimulating effects based on the terpene combination and concentration.
- The calming terpene blend includes beta-caryophyllene, myrcene, linalool, humulene, and pinene.
- The energizing terpene mix includes beta-caryophyllene, limonene, pinene, terpinolene, and eucalyptol.
- Together, myrcene, limonene, pinene, beta-caryophyllene, and terpinolene exhibit both sedative and stimulating properties (usually sedation comes after stimulation).
Placebo Effect
The placebo effect and the power of suggestion are both real. If you believe a strain will help you unwind, it might. Many things can affect your opinion of a particular strain of cannabis, such as hearing the budtender’s advice, reading internet reviews, and having personal experience with similar strains.
How you react to cannabis can also be influenced by your environment and mood.
Are Any Indica Strains Energizing?
Undoubtedly, an indica cannabis strain may be more energizing, especially if its terpene profile has a lower myrcene content and a higher terpinolene, limonene, and pinene content. It is also important to consider how the plant expresses CBD, CBG, and THCV, especially if the THC content is in the more moderate 10%–18% range and the levels of these compounds are between 1% and 3%.
Additionally, it’s important to remember that many cannabis strains are hybrids, which means that a sativa-dominant phenotype could be present in an indica-dominant strain. Some indica strains that may have more energizing, uplifting effects include the following:
- Myrcene, limonene, and beta-caryophyllene are the primary terpenes in Alien Dawg (Chemdawg x Alien Technology), which is high in THC.
- The Somango (Jack Herer x Super Skunk x Big Skunk Korean) has a mixed terpene profile that includes myrcene, beta-caryophyllene, pinene, and limonene. It has a high THC content but never takes over.
- The primary terpenes in candy cane (AK-47 x mango x White Widow), which has a moderate THC content, are myrcene and beta-caryophyllene.
- The terpenes in Speed Queen, an indica-dominant hybrid with Indian ancestry that is high in THC and possibly contains some CBD, include myrcene, limonene, beta-caryophyllene, and eucalyptol.
- Purple Chemdawg (Chemdawg x Purple Kush) contains a lot of THC and terpenes like limonene, linalool, and beta-caryophyllene.
- The profile of Power Kush (Afghani x Skunk) is dominated by myrcene, with limonene, linalool, and moderate amounts of THC.
Find out what cannabis can do for you by obtaining a medical marijuana card in your state. To start the easy online application process, contact the medical staff at Texas Marijuana Card Online right now.