I actually think it is the case that indicas are sedating and sativas stimulating .
But what I find laughable are the tags that growers and retailers use to describe the ostensible effects of a particular strain. It’s absolute bullshit. So, one strain is described as causing you to feel “creative”, “energetic”, “focused”, “happy”, and “inspired” and another as causing you to feel “calm”, “energetic”, “happy”, and “relaxed”. Really? Can you see any problems with these labels and tags? How many you can come up with?
I used to not like sativas because the “energy” made me paranoid, but now that it is legal I prefer it more because I can enjoy the buzz and actually do things.
Due to endless crossbreeding and hybridization the indica/sativa classification is nearly meaningless. Unless you’re smoking one of those rescued landrace strains it’s basically impossible to apply an accurate label to it. It’s just a question of body chemistry and although all humans share certain broad characteristics our brain chemistry is unique. Smoke what you like and don’t sweat it.
I got some tinctures for under the tongue. One is called “Doze” for help with sleep and one is called “Restore” to relax me during the day. I’m still not sure that I can tell the difference.
I have a third one that has a “High THC” sticker. Much of that and I have difficulties with balance. I would describe the buzz from it as harsh, if that makes sense.
I would love to raise a few landrace plants just to see how things have changed since back in the day. Might just go ahead and get some seeds and see what comes up. Landrace strain is the only critter I’d raise from seed, because even getting some males could be interesting, harvest pollen and do a little experimenting, see what happens when you breed back a hybrid to some of the foundation strains.
davidm
I was pretty much a 24/7/365 user from about 16 to about 60ish. Im 67 now.
For me I always preferred sativas, for energy and motivation. Indica is good for sleep, pain, and appetitie stimulation. I also found that tolerance would develop with indica quite rapidly. (to the point where friends would trade me higher value indica for my low strength sativa because they had developed tolerance too!)
I still microdose, and have found the gummies to be a nice alternative, to smoking, if you have the time for them. I need my wits about me at work so I only imbibe after work.
Totally agree with Smart Aleq about seeds etc.
Im at a coastal area of santa barbara where growing seeds makes more sense than buds, heavy fogs often all summer. Then dew at harvest time. Anyways, this summer I grew a baggy full of a mixed hybrid, just to test my long dormant skills. Still had my share of troubles, snails, rats, evil worms.
A bit off topic but there is a fair bit of discussion on rescuing the landraces…people taking both sides quite seriously. The new strains, IMHO are very human dependant to raise, the buds are so dense that mold issues or bug problems require major intervention. A plant which matures in 60 days under intense artificial lights, 25% THC etc…Its become a money race to the bottom.
.Anyways, the landrace folks believe that the DNA of say a Durban Poison, being as Kayaker described, lanky and low weight buds, or ultra long grow time, also carries the ability to with stand molds and radical weather changes. Also may carry medical benefits which became lost when higher THC was selected for.
Many of the older strains were abandoned so farmers could make more money with a compact dense plant.
Anyways,davidm heres hoping it works out for you.
Jupe
I don’t think I can legally grow it in PA, plus I don’t want to smoke or vape, and making tinctures sounds like a pain in the ass.
The gummies suggestion is a no go as they’re not legal in PA dispensaries. They look too much like candy and are considered a danger to children. The same goes for edibles. (They have bottles of capsules that they call edibles, but it’s not the same.)
I prefer the tinctures since it’s easy to control the dose.
I’m strictly a vape and buds guy, but if I were going to try RSO (Rick Simpson Oil) I’d ask for a recommendation from the dispensary or over on Reddit r/PaMedicalMarijuana.
I’d stay away from growers with a bad reputation (Ilera for example).
Don’t worry about asking for help at the dispensary. If yours is anything like mine, they love it when customers have questions.
ETA: by the way, your link requires that your zip code be entered to proceed
It’s all about the strains, and while every strain has a reputation for producing various effects in most folks, it’s also a truism that every individual’s experience is just that: individual. Talk to the folks at the dispensary, because that’s their job and most of them love helping customers find what’s right for them. But at the end of the day, although you and your dispensary staff can probably come up with a few likely suspects for your optimal strain(s)/brands, the only true test will be trial-and- … well, not “error,” exactly, more like trial-and-comparison. And then some more of that too, most likely.
I don’t know what condition(s) you’re treating (and I don’t want to know and I’m not asking), but for one example, for someone suffering from anxiety and/or insomnia and/or PTSD, then an indica or indica-predominant hybrid would probably be a really good place to start. Other strains are good for chronic pain, others for depression/fatigue, still others yet for inflammation, or chemo-induced nausea, or … anything else cannabis is prescribed for. But your dispensary/pharmacist can certainly help you a lot more specifically than the SDMB hive mind can.
In my own experience, it took me about four tries to find “my” strain*, and it’s not always in stock so I have some 2nd-choices noted and I’m always open to trying promising new strains, looking for something better. Keep us in the loop about your experience!
*A certain super-spunky super-skunky 26% THC sativa bomb, with a scoop of a certain hybrid strain’s bubble hash on top. Fun fact: My dispensary is owned and run by General George S. Patton’s direct descendants; they do great work supporting/treating the veteran community.
Aye, it does look like that. Possibly-unnecessary point of clarification: That’s “my” dispensary only in that it’s my favorite one, the one I choose to frequent; no ownership implied. So perhaps it’s better to note that they’re only in Massachusetts?
I shared the link just as a cite for my fun fact re: dispensary ownership being Gen. Patton’s descendants, not as an advertisement/recommendation. Perhaps I could have, and perhaps I should have, phrased that more clearly. Perhaps I was high back then. Perhaps I am now.
For anyone shopping at a Pennsylvania dispensary, two Cresco strains are really amazing. Keystone Banana (a cross using gelato and skittles) is a favorite now. Also Hazen Haze (Hazen is a tiny town in PA known for its flea market. Cresco is located in nearby Brookville).