Before shopping at the dispensary, I wanted to be informed.
I was reluctant to browse without knowing what I wanted or make a purchase without understanding the potential results. Fortunately, there is a lot of information online. With a google search and some reading, I was able to educate myself. I was surprised that cannabis has been used as a medicine and for recreational purposes since ancient times. It can be traced back to both ancient China and ancient Egypt. The terms indica and sativa actually refer to the origins and characteristics of the plant rather than the effects. However, most dispensaries tend to categorize products as indicas, sativas or hybrids. The hybrids are the result of crossbreeding indicas and sativas to achieve THC higher potency or specific effects. Indicas are typically associated with relaxing, calming and sedative effects that are more of a full-body high. They tend to offer higher CBD percentages but can also include plenty of THC. Indicas are recommended for nighttime use. I’ve found that they are great for mellowing out on the weekend or helping me sleep at night. Sativas are associated with a cerebral high and offer energizing, creative and inspiring effects. They are suggested more for daytime use. For me, sativas are great for increasing productivity or motivation on a run or a hike. There are plenty of hybrid strains that are wonderful for focusing on effects such as pain-relief, stress-relief and better mood. Once I had a better understanding of the categories, I started getting more familiar with THC and CBD. They are two of the many cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. THC is responsible for the high sensation. Each one offers medicinal benefits and when combined they are especially beneficial.