Does anyone have advice on how to tell indicas from sativas? Thanks :)

[James C]

I've vaped for ~5yrs ranging from daily to once every other week or so, but recently I've started getting awful panic attacks when vaping (I use a volcano, MFLB, or ascent). And they really only occur when I vape sativas (or mostly sativa hybrids).

It's the weirdest effing thing but I hate it and can't figure out how to tell what type of herbs I'm buying (indica vs. sativa vs. hybrid) and my dealers are all clueless as to the difference as well (and there are no dispensaries in MA yet...)

Any advice on how to tell? I need to buy some more, but I'm afraid of getting a sativa and having a panic attack again Ideally I guess I'm looking for 75% indica, 25% sativa since Ive heard its hard to get pure strains. Thanks guys.

 

[SD_haze]

Most everything is some kind of hybrid but there's some LOOSE guidelines for identifying them based on physical characteristics.

(Pulled from another forum)
Sativa's are lighter in color and more fruity in smell, whereas Indica's are darker in color and smell more skunky. Indica's a smaller rounder denser nugs, sativa's are longer thinner fluffier, but can be dense. Sativas can often look like Christmas tree nugs.


Also keep in mind that indica hybrids are the black markets most common product. Why? Indica tends to flower before sativa, so a black market grower can make more money on his indiscriminate market.

Another consideration is try to vape at higher temperatures. Lower is better for your lungs and throat but high temp vapor definitely had less of an anxiety effect from the pure thc.

 

[James C]

Most everything is some kind of hybrid but there's some LOOSE guidelines for identifying them based on physical characteristics.

(Pulled from another forum)
Sativa's are lighter in color and more fruity in smell, whereas Indica's are darker in color and smell more skunky. Indica's a smaller rounder denser nugs, sativa's are longer thinner fluffier, but can be dense. Sativas can often look like Christmas tree nugs.


Also keep in mind that indica hybrids are the black markets most common product. Why? Indica tends to flower before sativa, so a black market grower can make more money on his indiscriminate market.

Another consideration is try to vape at higher temperatures. Lower is better for your lungs and throat but high temp vapor definitely had less of an anxiety effect from the pure thc.

Thank-you so much for the reply! I really appreciate it, hopefully I can find a good indica-hybrid soon.

When you say that higher temps are better, why is that? I thought that pure THC was what caused anxiety and stuff, and that CBD was the calming part. Is this because THC is vaporized at a lower temperature than CBD, so that by doing a higher temperature, you are vaporizing both THC and CBD? I could be completely wrong here tho but just trying to see the logic there.

 

[SD_haze]

Thank-you so much for the reply! I really appreciate it, hopefully I can find a good indica-hybrid soon.

When you say that higher temps are better, why is that? I thought that pure THC was what caused anxiety and stuff, and that CBD was the calming part. Is this because THC is vaporized at a lower temperature than CBD, so that by doing a higher temperature, you are vaporizing both THC and CBD? I could be completely wrong here tho but just trying to see the logic there.

Pretty close guess. They both have some thc and some cbd, but the difference is the *ratio of cannabinoids*

There's over 60 different ones and 100s of alkaloids that all come together to produce the end effect.

Higher temp vapor has a less anxiety-inducing spectrum of effects. However, it still has thc so your mileage may vary, at the end of the day.

 

[James C]

Pretty close guess. They both have some thc and some cbd, but the difference is the *ratio of cannabinoids*

There's over 60 different ones and 100s of alkaloids that all come together to produce the end effect.

Higher temp vapor has a less anxiety-inducing spectrum of effects. However, it still has thc so your mileage may vary, at the end of the day.

I'm definitely going to have to try the higher temps, currently on a break right now due to having lots of work but in a couple of days I will see and hopefully will have good results to bring back

 

[olivianewtonjohn]

@SD_haze my experience is the same more head high (can be anxiety) at the lower temps; music sounds different, visuals start to look different, ect.

To build on SD's suggestion, if you have a buddy vaping then maybe let them vap at lower temps then as you get to higher temps with the same product you start taking tokes.

 

[James C]

@SD_haze my experience is the same more head high (can be anxiety) at the lower temps; music sounds different, visuals start to look different, ect.

To build on SD's suggestion, if you have a buddy vaping then maybe let them vap at lower temps then as you get to higher temps with the same product you start taking tokes.

Awesome idea, everyone wants greens anyways so I'm sure I'll have no problem suggesting that

 

[SoulCaptivesAreFree]

you could always grow your own, select the perfect plant for your needs and then keep her around forever

 

[smokum]

Harvest times play a lot with the effects as well..... most illegal growers grow for profit and harvest early (clear/cloudy trichs), as opposed to a proper finish achieving a min 10% amber trichs. This will create an UP effect and aggravate anxiety 'for me' regardless if a sativa or indica (obviously to the extreme in a sativa or sativa dom strain). Personally, I prefer finishing and harvesting in the 10-30 % amber depending on the strain for all around enjoyment relaxation, and even further (50%) for pain relief and/or sleep only.

Also to consider would be growing methods which use chems that are not flushed properly at the end, nor buds being cured properly or long enough when growers goals a quick flips to market for profit only. There would be no way to know what level of effect is being seen due to trace elements being inhaled by different individual with different personal levels/sensitivities of reaction of them.

Just more food for thought....

 

[James C]

Harvest times play a lot with the effects as well..... most illegal growers grow for profit and harvest early (clear/cloudy trichs), as opposed to a proper finish achieving a min 10% amber trichs. This will create an UP effect and aggravate anxiety 'for me' regardless if a sativa or indica (obviously to the extreme in a sativa or sativa dom strain). Personally, I prefer finishing and harvesting in the 10-30 % amber depending on the strain for all around enjoyment relaxation, and even further (50%) for pain relief and/or sleep only.

Also to consider would be growing methods which use chems that are not flushed properly at the end, nor buds being cured properly or long enough when growers goals a quick flips to market for profit only. There would be no way to know what level of effect is being seen due to trace elements being inhaled by different individual with different personal levels/sensitivities of reaction of them.

Just more food for thought....

Thanks guys! When you are talking about amber trichs, can you visually tell the difference between them? (i.e. will the weed have a lot of actual amber color in the trichomes if it is harvested later?). If so, that'd make a lot of sense as the last batch I picked up had almost no amber color (all green) and was particularly anxiety evoking.

 

[TwoPageAfro]

I found that a cheap handheld microscope was the best way to view trichs but in the article below it mentioned close up shots from a high res camera were sufficient. Anyway, here is their guide.

Taken from Cannabis Culture - Amber Alert

"Use the guidelines spelled out below to help gauge the best harvest window for your plants based on the trichomes.

1. Fully-formed but still clear will provide a cleaner 'up' high with less sedative effect; this is the best window for heavy Indicas.

2. Fully-formed and turning slightly cloudy or milky; this is probably the best time to pick most hybrids available today.

3. Fully formed completely cloudy or milky with at least 30% of the heads turning amber; this is usually best window for the late maturing Sativa’s such as Haze. This is also a good window when using the plant primarily for Hash production."

 

[smokum]

You likely won't be able to see the trich maturity with the naked eye (I know 'I' certainly cant lol)... an inexpensive 10-30x viewing glass or jewelers loupe works great for this http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=jewelers loupe yet I prefer something that is lighted myself http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...elers+loupe&rh=i:aps,k:lighted+jewelers+loupe

Remember, all this is relatively subjective since every person is different as are ones 'own' uptake cannabinoid receptors and how they affect the effect.

 

[Snake Plissken]

Your growers should really be able to tell the difference between a sativa or indica dominant plant. As a general guideline, an indica dominant strain will be ready to harvest in 7-9 weeks whereas a sativa dominant strain will take 10-13 weeks. An indy dom will be somewhat squat while a sativa dom will fill a grow room. Many indoor growers will put a sativa dom strain into flower after only 2-4 weeks of veg as opposed to the typical 8 weeks required for indy doms. The more sativa dom a strain is, the leaves will be longer and more slender. On an indy dom, the leaves will be fatter and shorter. These are obvious generalizations w/ potential for everything in between. Even oldschool trainwreck is usually really only 60%-70% sativa nowadays - as opposed to the 90% sativa it used to be.

Controlling time of harvest according to trichomes will determine the 'high' to a great degree. While many people prefer the couchlock effect of a late harvest, ambering of trichs is degradation of the resin glands. Personally, I'm not looking to be glued to the couch - rather, I want to be motivated and able to perform as necessary. Because of this, I harvest as soon as I see any real ambering. The window of harvest is usually considered to be from the time that the resin stalks are 3x as long as the 'head' is round up to 10% ambering on the far end. This is not to say that some might not prefer a different scenario.

You should ask your grower to run some plants (or a portion of the plant) for longer to create a more sedative effect.

 

[Zookeeper]

You could tell a difference if everyones perception was the same. example: 3 different people are going to describe the same smell in 3 completely different ways.


Sativas are rare in commercial weed, too long too grow, and fanboys want dense 'nugs'. Most are indica dominant genetics, with early harvest (clear trichs) and phenotype variations all over the place. Some growers grow a dozen different strains that seem identical in every way, but have different affects. While others can grow the same 12 strains and they all look different, and smoke the same Its really a crapshoot until youre far enough up the ladder to have honesty,pride and knowledge replace profit, salemenship and greed. (i.e. pay top dollar at a top dispensary, or know a grower)

Your problem really isnt as simple as indica vs sativa. Weed has changed a lot over the decades. According to lots of old timers, imported(smuggled) sativa dominant weed of yesteryear was trippy,social, giggly. The artificially grown super hybrids of today are associated with being spaced out,paranoia, panic attacks, couch lock and body aches.

No one wants to hear that, but everyone knows how each and every part of the plant plays a role, and no one has been keeping track of anything but thc for years (and cbd finally being understood in this millenium). 2 down, 600 to go!

 

[James C]

I found that a cheap handheld microscope was the best way to view trichs but in the article below it mentioned close up shots from a high res camera were sufficient. Anyway, here is their guide.

Taken from Cannabis Culture - Amber Alert

"Use the guidelines spelled out below to help gauge the best harvest window for your plants based on the trichomes.

1. Fully-formed but still clear will provide a cleaner 'up' high with less sedative effect; this is the best window for heavy Indicas.

2. Fully-formed and turning slightly cloudy or milky; this is probably the best time to pick most hybrids available today.

3. Fully formed completely cloudy or milky with at least 30% of the heads turning amber; this is usually best window for the late maturing Sativa’s such as Haze. This is also a good window when using the plant primarily for Hash production."

Thank-you! This is very helpful.

 

[James C]

It's been a very interesting week, since I don't know what I have (I think its an indica-dominant strain judging by the effects) I've been messing with temperatures and it really seems like its vaping just THC off at low temperatures that really causes all anxiety and panic attacks. Something definitely to take into consideration. Higher temperature vaping releasing both CBDs, THC, and other stuff tends to make it much more balanced and I enjoy the high rather than feeling like I'm dying.

Shit....I really enjoy the taste of a low temperature bowl that just lasts forever.

 

[Quetzalcoatl]

It's been a very interesting week, since I don't know what I have (I think its an indica-dominant strain judging by the effects) I've been messing with temperatures and it really seems like its vaping just THC off at low temperatures that really causes all anxiety and panic attacks. Something definitely to take into consideration. Higher temperature vaping releasing both CBDs, THC, and other stuff tends to make it much more balanced and I enjoy the high rather than feeling like I'm dying.

Shit....I really enjoy the taste of a low temperature bowl that just lasts forever.

You're right, THC can cause anxiety and panic attacks and CBD and CBN help mellow it out. I believe it's CBD that "directs" how THC affects your brain. It's interesting because I used to have worse anxiety than I do now and I generally shied away from sativas but there are some that are very sativa and didn't trigger anxiety attacks for me like Lemon Haze, Super Silver Haze, Girl Scout Cookies.

 

[M00NEY]

great read... just wanted to thank the contributors to this thread, as this has been the fastest learning I have had on this subject... Now the door is open for more research.

Thx for this info guys.

 

[lwien]

....there are some that are very sativa and didn't trigger anxiety attacks for me like Lemon Haze, Super Silver Haze, Girl Scout Cookies.

Those three are in my top 5.

 

[DDave]

I believe as a general rule of thumb indica buds were round in shape, sativa bud's shape were more elongated.

 

[lwien]

I believe as a general rule of thumb indica buds were round in shape, sativa bud's shape were more elongated.

And not as dense.

 

[DDave]

And not as dense.

You talking about me or the greens?

 

[lwien]

You talking about me or the greens?

 

[freaktown]

ime you can get anxiety/panic attack from any strain, indica or sativa, i think the most important factor is how much you are taking in at once especially if its the first hit of the day, set and setting factor into the equation as well, so you would start out with a small puff or two and then start building up your intake slowly from there, there's no doubt that you want to avoid some mind racing sativas i.e. sour diesel and green crack. everyone is different in how they are going to react to different cannabis strains there are just too many factors, just start out with small amounts at first and wait to see how you are going to react and then increase your intake a little bit more each time. then stop at 100.

 

[James C]

great read... just wanted to thank the contributors to this thread, as this has been the fastest learning I have had on this subject... Now the door is open for more research.

Thx for this info guys.

Yeah I agree, these posts have helped me out so much, thanks everyone

I found a new strain that's more indica dominant thats been great. Also, I've found that vaping at higher temperatures has been significantly reducing anxiety/panic attacks. While I love low temp bowls and how it conserves weed and how it tastes, the higher temp bowls really reduces panic attacks. I think its probably because of vaping a more even mixture of CBD and THC as compared to mostly THC at lower temperatures.