CBD & Sativa

Cannabis comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Some strains are short and bushy; others are wispy and tall. Some strains smell like citrus; others feature earthy smells like pine! 

To make sense of it all, cannabis has been placed into two distinctive categories: Indica and Sativa. We’ll be looking at Sativa’s here. 

What is Cannabis Sativa?

Cannabis Sativa is the scientific name for the Sativa species of cannabis. Botanically speaking, both hemp and ‘marijuana’ are classified as Cannabis Sativa. That means the terms “full-spectrum cannabis Sativa oil “ and “full spectrum hemp oil” can be used interchangeably. The terms “cannabis Sativa seed oil” and “hemp seed oil” are also interchangeable. 

But real-world application is a different story. Most plants that people call “sativas” are tall, thin, and less resinous than their Indica counterparts. In a highly symbolic twist, Sativas are the ‘uppers’ of the cannabis world. They may lead users towards stimulative thought, increased energy, and a more active lifestyle — which actually could lead to being thinner, just like the plants are themselves. [1] Nature is funny sometimes. 

Where did Cannabis Sativa come from?

Many botanical experts think Cannabis Sativa came out of East Asia thousands of years ago. Sativa-type cannabis cultivars were also common in Ancient Europe. It’s thought that this European cannabis was similar to modern-day hemp: tall, thin, and not especially resinous. 

How much CBD do Sativa’s contain?

There’s no easy answer to this one. Traditionally, Sativa’s were hemp-like, but today the Indica/Sativa designation doesn’t imply much about a plant’s THC or CBD content. Today’s Sativa’s can be either THC or CBD dominant.  THC-dominant Sativa’s may contain less than 1% CBD...CBD dominant ones may contain 10-20%.

Sativa’s don’t contain a predictable amount of terpenes either, though they may be rich in earthy terpenes like pinene and eugenol. Today Sativa’s are classified mainly by their effects; like we said, they’re more stimulatory than other types of cannabis. 

What are Sativa’s like to smoke? 

Here are some common traits: cerebral, thought-provoking, uplifting, euphoric, energizing. Sativa’s go great with athletics, mentally-taxing work, and creative endeavors. They can also be used to brighten more mundane activities like cooking or cleaning. 

These traits may be most easily seen in THC-rich Sativa’s, but even those of the CBD-heavy variety can have surprisingly powerful mental effects. Just keep in mind that individual results may vary and some people actually experience the opposite effect.

Are there other types of cannabis? 

Yes! In addition to Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis can also be classified as Indica. A third variety, Cannabis Ruderalis, also exists, though it’s less common and less well-known.