Here in the Empire State, cannabis cultivation is growing like a weed! (Pun intended) Nestled here in the Hudson Valley, Kingston, NY and the surrounding towns are ideal for enjoyable weed consumption – breathtaking hikes along waterfalls shimmering in the sunlight on a late July afternoon or quietly laying comfortably on flannel and quilt under early September’s sparkling stars; the New York recreational dispensary weed market has a strain for you.
This is the first installment of a three where we at Lucky Green Ladies’ Kingston Cannabis Dispensary & Weed Delivery will be covering the basics of the plant we all love so much. Indica vs Sativa and whatever a Hybrid weed strain is. Deeper than that, what makes cannabis flower an Indica or a sativa, what “Indica” even means, and why any of it is important to you
Indica vs Sativa
Indica, or scientifically, Cannabis Indica, I’m guessing is the word that pops into your head when you think about using weed for sleep. Even earning itself a catchphrase in that same vein “In-Da-Couch Indica” because of its relaxing and sedative tendencies in the recreational market, but also possible neurological pain and anxiety disorder treatments in the medical world as well.
But what actually makes Indica Cannabis different from Sativa Cannabis? To fully answer that question, let’s take it back to the sticky-icky herbs humble beginnings: on the side of Hindu-Kush mountains of Southern-Asia. This mountain range bleeds into multiple countries, such as India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nepal.
It’s because of this drier, harsher climate that Indica weed plants tend to be shorter – sometimes shorter by up to 4 feet – than its Sativa cannabis sibling. In addition to being shorter, Indica Cannabis is also stockier having a thicker plant stem, and thicker shorter leaves more suitable for nature’s harshness.
This being said, legalization has presented a challenge for many cannabis users. The effects on cultivation and frequent crossbreeding for a more desirable high, the lines between Indica Cannabis and Sativa Cannabis have become very blurred. Even leading some aficionados from the scene to claim that there is no “true Indica” or “true Sativa” anymore, only a lot of Hybrids. Personally, I believe it’s the ebb and flow of the changing times, but alas.
Why Does Indica Feel Like That?
Well, to properly answer that question, I have to get boring with the answer: Cannabis Terpenes.
Terpenes, or weed Terps outside of the scientific world, are directly responsible for how each different weed strain feels, and how a Platinum Lemon Cherry Gelato strain can be wildly different from a Lemon Cherry Gelato strain.
Found in practically everything in the natural world, weed terpenes also are directly responsible for the flavor of fruits, the scent of perfumes, and even how effective a product like Icy Hot is.
In weed though, terpenes are at fault for that scent of gasoline accompanying a well grown Sour Diesel, as well as the heavy euphoria achieved shortly after toking on some Northern Lights. The conversation widens immensely when the topic of medical marijuana is brought into the equation, but for the sake of time, that will have to be explored at a later date.
Even if you don’t subscribe to the medical benefits of Cannabis Indica despite having a preference for Indica weed strains, knowing what terps you positively react to will still prove to be of value to you. It should be noted that as of writing this piece, there is an unbelievable amount of strains under the Cannabis Indica umbrella, and the top weed terps found within said innumerable amount of strains will vary, but the three I am about to highlight (as well as the strains that we carry here at Lucky Green Ladies Weed Dispensary and Cannabis Delivery) are some of the most common terpenes found in Indica cannabis.
Myrcene
Myrcene, the leading stress relief weed terpene, is also commonly found in the natural world in hops, cardamom, guava, as well as mango. Myrcene is responsible for the earthy, muskier scents found in cannabis as well as perfumes, and even cleaning supplies.
As said, Myrcene is one of the most common weed terps responsible for assisting consumers with the most common anxiety disorders, and even those pesky, more complex anxiety disorders such as PTSD. It is also an appetite stimulant, and research shows it may have anti-inflammatory properties in the right settings.
Indica strains we carry here in our Kingston, New York weed dispensary & delivery that’re high in Myrcene are:
Though, it should be noted that because of Myrcene’s prevalence, it can be found in many strains, likely leading to weed having a relaxing aura to many enjoyers.
Beta-Caryophyllene
Beta-Caryophyllene, the unique weed terpene, is also found in spices such as black pepper, basil, and oregano. As one can infer from the ingredients this weed terp can be found all around the natural world, marijuana strains high in Beta-Caryophyllene have a strong spice profile to the flavor and scent, coupled with a bit of funk that’ll make the nose tingle.
Caryophyllene, unlike literally every other of its terpene siblings, interacts with our endocannabinoid system like a cannabinoid (think CBD, CBN, or CBC) rather than just a weed terp. Meaning, when enjoying a meal heavy in black pepper and oregano, or toking on some Skywalker OG, that resulting creature comfort that washes over us and settles at the bottom of the brainstem, is that Beta-Caryophyllene binding with our endocannabinoids, and working its magic!
Given Caryophyllene’s ability to bind with our CB2 receptor, and its already well documented history in the medical cannabis world, Indica or Sativa weed strains heavy in the unique terp are particularly interesting to the budding world of medical marijuana and cannabis science.
Indica weed strains we carry here in our Kingston, New York cannabis dispensary & weed delivery high in Beta-Caryophyllene are:
Though, it should be noted that because of Caryophyllene’s prevalence in the wonderful world of weed, there are many many more strains than the three I already highlighted high in the terp. Check out our full menu to see more, you’re even able to sort our menu by your favorite weed terp.
Pinene
Pinene, the therapeutic weed terpene, is much like the two terps that preceded it by being found frequently in the natural world. As the name would suggest, Indica weed strains high in Pinene have a pine tree, earthy, forest taste and scent to them.
Similar to Caryophyllene, but more so in the case of Pinene, is the most medically researched, and used, therapeutic terpene. (While being the same terpene, the research isn’t derived from the cannabis plant, as Pinene is widely found in nature. The following statements relate to scientific research outside the world of weed.) Being able to claim over twenty different cases of medical use, with everything from nerve pain and stomach disorders, all the way to regulating blood pressure. As another note, Pinene is also one of the top terps in multiple key medical cannabis strains.
While this is a blog-post centered around Indica weed strains, Alpha-Pinene is found more commonly in Sativa weed strains, whereas Beta-Pinene is found, and responsible for, those heavily relaxing Indica dominant strains.
Cannabis Indica strains we carry here in our Kingston, New York cannabis dispensary & weed delivery that’re high in Pinene are:
Aside from the obvious place one could find this terp in the natural world, pine tree needles, it can also be found in large doses of Rosemary. I personally recommend a cup of mint & rosemary tea with honey accompanied by a fattie of Northern Lights on a cool autumn evening to heal the soul; but that’s neither here nor there, now is it?
Wrapping and Rolling it up
In this segment of Lucky Green Ladies Cannabis Dispensary & weed delivery exploring weed strains, we covered the origins, uses, and science side of the Cannabis Indica variant of the sticky-icky weed plant. I, an actual human working at the Kingston, NY location of Lucky Green Ladies Weed Dispensary and Free Cannabis Delivery hope you found this to be not only informative, but also a fun read!
If you’re local, hell yeah! Feel free to come by the store and chat with any of our knowledgeable and caring budtenders about any of the information you (hopefully) soaked in today.
As for what comes next, the next installment of our blogs, following this post will be Sativa vs Indica, where we explore Sativa’s origins and benefits, top terps, and top weed strains. Then following the Sativa version will be Hybrid vs The World, where, you guessed it, we take on the task of educating ourselves about Hybrid’s interesting origins, as well as questioning and bringing the future of cannabis cultivation under the spotlight – as Hybrid strains have much to do with the recreational market.
Thank You Very Very Much For Your Time!!
Lucky Green Ladies Recretaional Cannabis Dispensary Delivery serves communities around Kingston, NY (where we operate a physical dispensary), and most of Massachusetts’ Bristol County and parts of Plymouth and Norfolk County. 
