three different colored heads with the words what's your mood?.

What’s Your Mood? Indica vs. Hybrid vs. Sativa

 

Indica sativa hybrid… What’s your go-to?

 

Since April of 2022, we’ve been enjoying all of the latest updates to hyperwolf.com; from the new user interface, to the Wolfpack Rewards Program, and everything in between. While surfing through our menu, you may have noticed a few new icons:

 

Indica Sativa Hybrid

 

Our ‘mood icons’ are meant to help you further narrow down your search and understand exactly what type of strain you’re viewing before you even click on the item and read the description. 

 

If you prefer indica, chances are that you’ll tend to gravitate towards strains with the purple mood icon. If you swear by sativa, you’ll add strains with the orange icon to your cart. For our hybrid lovers, blue will be your new go-to mood. Or if you just don’t know what’s best for you, keep reading for a full breakdown of indica vs. sativa vs. hybrid. 

 

Indica

 

Chances are that you started smoking weed for a reason. Maybe you were looking for a natural alternative to pain management, maybe you needed relief from ongoing anxiety, or maybe your friend’s older brother gave you your first joint and you’ve been hooked ever since. 

 

Whatever the case may be, regular consumers typically have a reason—or a few reasons—for their daily dose of herb. For many, regular marijuana use stems from the desire to beat insomnia and catch some much-needed z’s. If you can relate, then indica strains are the ones for you! 

 

Indica strains are notorious for inducing sleep. They relax your muscles, clear your mind, and tend to feature sedative effects that feel oh-so-good after a long day. But what is it about indica strains that keep you locked to the couch?

 

Terpenes

 

Since terpenes play a massive role in determining your overall smoking experience, it’s important to have a deeper understanding of the different terpenes and how a specific terpene profile can make you feel sleepy or energized. 

 

For example, your favorite indica strains tend to have higher amounts of myrcene, which is a terpene with sedative qualities and effects that are said to treat chronic pain and inflammation — but you already know that after reading our Terpenes 101 blog. 

 

Myrcene also increases the absorption rate of THC, meaning that indica strains with a high percentage of this specific cannabinoid may qualify as heavy hitters.

 

Cannabinoids

 

Another reason indica strains hit harder and produce sleepier effects is due to their relatively higher amount of CBD and CBN, two cannabinoids that keep you relaxed and calm. 

 

You’re probably already familiar with CBD, the non-psychoactive cannabinoid that has absolutely exploded in popularity over recent years. It’s said to provide relief from anxiety, depression, and a whole list of ailments. 

 

On the other hand, CBN is another cannabinoid that is just recently becoming popular among regular consumers who are looking for that extra boost in their nighttime routine. Cannabinol, aka CBN, is a mildly psychoactive cannabinoid that’s derived from THC, and further alleviates the same symptoms that CBD treats. It’s created when THC ages, so keep in mind that fresh dried flower contains a very low percentage of CBN, typically less than 1%, so users tend to reach for edibles to get a more potent CBN experience. CBN is said to not only put you to sleep, but keep you asleep — needless to say, a little goes a long way. 

 

Sativa

 

Contrary to popular belief, the effects from weed don’t always leave you stoned, lazy, and unmotivated. Actually, just the opposite if you reach for a sativa strain.

 

While indica strains produce more of a ‘body high,’ sativa strains are known for their cerebral, ‘head high’ effects. Those who swear by smoking sativa strains during the daytime report feeling more energized, less stressed, euphoric, happy, creative, and motivated — depending on the specific strain, of course. So, if you’re looking for a boost to your daytime routine or just something to get the creative juices flowing, sativa strains may be the ones for you! 

 

But how do sativa strains differ from indica strains — so much so that they actually produce the opposite effect? Well, just like indica strains, the reason behind the effects of sativa boil down to two factors: terpenes and cannabinoid content. 

 

Terpenes

 

As mentioned before, terpenes play [arguably] the most important role in determining your smoking experience. So, which terpene is most responsible for the energized effects that sativa strains are celebrated for? The answer may surprise you…

 

Your favorite sativa strains most likely contain a higher concentration of Limonene, which is a terpene known for its effects that keep your energy high and your anxiety low. That said, it’s best to reach for strains that contain limonene during the daytime, especially when productivity and creativity are necessary. 

 

Cannabinoids

 

While indica strains feature higher levels of CBD and CBN, Sativa strains tend to contain a higher concentration of THC. 

 

Tetrahydrocannabinol, otherwise known as THC, is a well-known psychoactive cannabinoid in the marijuana plant. THC is responsible for producing the ‘high’ that people experience when smoking or consuming cannabis in any way, shape, or form. 

 

Given that sativa strains tend to contain a higher THC percentage, it’s no surprise that the effects lean more towards energizing versus sedating — as found in indica strains with more CBD. 

 

Hybrid

 

And finally, we’ve reached hybrid strains — a beautiful mix between indica, sativa, and all of the incredible cannabinoids that make both types of strains so unique. While some hybrid strains are more balanced between indica and sativa than others, hybrid strains offer the best of both worlds and are the most popular strains on the market. 

 

Hybrid strains can be used in the daytime or nighttime depending on whether the specific strain is indica-dominant, sativa-dominant, or evenly balanced. Due to the growing popularity of crossing strains to create desired effects, flavors, and potencies, hybrid strains dominate the market and are even further crossed to encourage complexity and unique strain profiles. 

 

Whether you’re looking for an indica-dominant hybrid that will relax you while opening your mind to creativity, or a sativa-dominant hybrid to help you tackle the day and ease any anxiety or stress, there’s guaranteed to be a hybrid strain that’s perfect for you. So with that, the question remains — What are our favorite indica, sativa, and hybrid strains?

 

The Best Weed Strains 

 

  • Indica — Granddaddy Purple, Hindu Kush, Northern Lights
  • Sativa — Green Crack, Sour Diesel, Strawberry Cough
  • Hybrid — OG Kush, Runtz, Gelato

 

These are just a few of our favorites in each category, what are yours?

 

What’s Your Mood?

 

Sleepy, energized, or balanced… Whatever your mood may be, allow our new mood icons to help guide you in the right direction while making your next weed delivery order on hyperwolf.com. And if you’re ever stuck deciding between an indica, sativa, or hybrid strain, feel free to reach out to our customer support team!