When recreational cannabis was first legalized in my state, I was eager to shop at the dispensary.
Although I’d smoked a few times before, I knew very little about marijuana.
I was totally unprepared for the amount of options offered by the dispensary. I was not familiar with tinctures, vapes, topicals or any edibles beyond brownies and gummies. Figuring out what to buy was a bit overwhelming. I asked a budtender for assistance and he explained the different categories to me. Most of the products at the dispensary are divided up into three classifications. It’s a helpful way to know what type of effects to expect from a particular strain. Sativas are associated with a cerebral high and invigorating properties. They are recommended for daytime use and ideal for getting inspired, motivated or energized. I might choose a sativa when I’m heading out for a run or planning to get a full day of yard work done. They tend to offer especially high THC percentages with lower CBD content. Indicas are more about a full-body high and relaxation. They are suggested for nighttime use and wonderful for de-stressing, mellowing out and getting a good night’s sleep. I look for indicas when I’m at the end of a long day and striving for a positive mind set. They often provide higher CBD percentages but without necessarily giving up on THC potency. Hybrids are the best of both worlds. The effects and potency depend on the parent plants. There are sativa-dominant and indica-dominant hybrids as well those with an equal balance of cannabinoids. Because of the spreading popularity of cannabis, there is more and more cross-breeding producing a wide array of really exciting hybrids.