[shmalphy]

What is the reason that a sativa gives you an uplifting high and an indica gives you couchlock?

I have heard it was because of the THC/CBD ratio, but I have also heard that western bred cannabis contains very little CBD. I also know that both indicas and sativas can be high in THC, and still give a different effect. I assume it's the entourage effect of the cannabinoids and terpenes, but I was wondering if I could get more info on the compounds responsible for the different effects. This will help quantify test results to help produce a "more sativa- sativa" and the same with indicas.

[mad librettist]

don't forget set and setting, which play a huge role

[shmalphy]

I like that, but I don't get it. ^

[Hydro-Soil]

There are over 400 identified, 'active' cannabinoid and turpene compounds in cannabis.

I'll go out on a limb here and say that it's differing mixes of all those that create such profoundly different effects.

[KiefSweat]

The latest studies show that "indica's" have the gene for THC-V.

i think a lot of sativas are more pure in terms of single cannabinoids then a mix.

[shmalphy]

https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/i-see-what-you-did-there
“I see what you did there” is a common phrase used in spoken English, text, and Image Macros, generally to convey a condescending or patronizing tone as a reponse to a banal joke. However, the phrase is sometimes also used to convey a genuine admiration for another person’s wit, or even as a threatening message akin to “I know what you did.”


Thanks Kief, I didn't know that. Other than that it seems that there is not much definitive info on the subject, which is strange because it is one of the best known effects of cannabis is the sativa "high" and it seems that no one can pinpoint the chemical responsible...

[softyellowlight]

It may be less that it's due to Sativa genes adding something than it is due to the Sativa genes not loading it with beta-myrcene, the narcotic terpenoid.

[shmalphy]

Interesting. I have a theory that the heavy beta myrcene content in hoppy beers is what leads to a stronger narcotic effect when mixed with cannabis. I have recently done a lot of reading on terpenes, and I suspected it was the limonene that is common to sativas, especially hazes that causes an uplifting effect..

I was afraid this might be a dumb question, but it seems that there are no definitive answers yet, only theories...

[Cannabologist]

Originally Posted by shmalphy

What is the reason that a sativa gives you an uplifting high and an indica gives you couchlock?

- It doesn't. This is a common misconception in cannabis, brought about by lack of knowledge regarding the phytochemical nature of the plant and varying populations of it, ecotypes and selection over time, etc.

I have heard it was because of the THC/CBD ratio, but I have also heard that western bred cannabis contains very little CBD. I also know that both indicas and sativas can be high in THC, and still give a different effect. I assume it's the entourage effect of the cannabinoids and terpenes, but I was wondering if I could get more info on the compounds responsible for the different effects. This will help quantify test results to help produce a "more sativa- sativa" and the same with indicas.

- Cannabis is Cannabis sativa. Proposed species beyond sativa have been rejected for many various reasons.

- Sativas don't make you "up", and "indicas" don't make you "down/couchlocked", it's all about the phytochemical makeup of the individual plant and plant population that individual came from as a whole that you are imbibing, and somewhat your personal state of being at the time, that matters.

- If "sativas" just made you "up", and "indicas" "down", there wouldn't be all this hoopla about other phytochemicals within cannabis beyond a few cannabinoids. It isn't as simple as "up" and "down", "sativa/indica" as the editors of high times want to make it to be, and has nothing to do really with the THC/CBD ratio, a very misunderstood topic.

- Terpenoids have various physiological mechanisms via which they can modulate the effects of THC and other cannabinoids.

- Cannabis bred for fiber content can be high in THC (and can possess broad leaves). The general goal of hemp breeders is to select out plants containing THC and select plants for fiber.

- A "sativa sativa"... "Sativa indica"... "Indica indica"... Most people can't even comprehend how silly and ridiculous that actually sounds, about as bad as seed sellers/coffeeshops/dispensaries telling customers plants are 30%indica/70%sativa hybrids, 50%/50% sativa-indica hybrids, or 100%indica/100%sativa, and other pseudoscience regarding genetics