Will a sativa cannabis strain give you energy? Or will it put you to sleep? Our Seattle budtenders hear questions like these all the time, as many people understand that sativas and indicas have differing effects on a person’s energy level. We’d like to put these common questions to rest once and for all.
Will a Sativa Make You Hyper?
As a general rule, sativas tend to be the more energizing cultivar. These cannabis strains—like perennial favorites Jack Herer, Sour Diesel, and Durban Poison—are often recommended for daytime use, as they’re known for promoting alertness, euphoria, motivation, focus, and energy.
Indicas, by contrast, are regarded as the sleepy cultivar on account of their natural body high. Indicas bear the nickname “in-da-couch” because popular indica strains tend to inspire intense couchlock. That’s why they should be avoided during the day if you hope to be productive.
Sativa and indica cannabis plants have different effects in large part because of their differing cannabinoid concentrations. The cannabinoids are the active compounds in the cannabis plant, each of which behaves in a distinct way. Sativa’s more energizing properties might be due in part to the high concentration of THC and low concentration of CBD.
Can a Sativa Make You Sleepy?
Although indicas are generally regarded as the more restful strain, there are situations when a sativa can put you to sleep. Most notably, a sativa might knock you out if you consume too much or take on a higher THC concentration than you’re used to.
Cannabis is known for eliciting biphasic responses. In simple terms, weed can have one effect at low doses and the opposite effect at high doses. So if low doses help ease your stress, high doses can make stress worse. If low doses give you the munchies, high doses might kill your appetite. The same effect has been observed with energy levels.
So if you consume 20mg of Ghost Train Haze (a mostly pure sativa), you might feel energetic and motivated. But if you consume 100mg of Ghost Train Haze (and you don’t have the tolerance for the intense psychoactive effects), you might find yourself crashing on the couch pretty hard. So make sure to strive for measured doses if you’re looking to maintain energy.
Be Careful With Sativa Edibles
While we’re on the subject of dosage, you also have to be careful with cannabis edibles. A lot of people—especially newbies—tend to go overboard with edibles, not realizing how much of a punch they can pack.
Unlike other ingestible forms of cannabis, edibles have to be partially digested. The cannabinoids are metabolized by the liver, and the THC is converted into its metabolite forms. One of the main THC metabolites is 11‐hydroxy‐THC, which is up to four times more potent than regular THC.
So even if your brownie is made with a sativa-based canna-butter, you’re not guaranteed an energizing experience if you eat the entire thing (or even half, for that matter). Keep edible doses low until you know your tolerance. You won’t have an energized, productive day if you’re busy holding on to the floor for dear life.
What Are the Best Sativa Strains for Energy?
If you want to find the best sativa strain for energy, stick with pure sativas—as opposed to just sativa-dominant strains. Most strains will have at least a hint of cannabis indica genetics, but you want to avoid the 60/40 and 70/30 cannabis hybrids. The more of an indica presence you have, the less energizing the strain is likely to be. That’s why you want to opt for the strongest sativa strains.
The following are some of the most recommended energy strains from the sativa lineage:
Durban Poison (~19% THC)
Super Lemon Haze (~19% THC)
Tropicana Cookies (~16% THC)
Sour Diesel (~19% THC)
Island Sweet Skunk (~18% THC)
Green Crack (~17% THC)
Super Silver Haze (~17% THC)
There are a few hybrid strains that are noted for their energizing properties (XJ-13 and Gelonade are two examples), but when in doubt, you should always stick with the pure sativa plants.
You can find many of these popular strains—along with a wide range of other common sativa strains—in our Bellevue and Kirkland dispensaries. You can explore energizing Seattle pre-rolls, flower, cannabis concentrates, and more, all from top Washington state growers.
Explore the Many Benefits of Cannabis Sativa
Sativas aren’t just energizing. They can also serve as excellent mood elevators, appetite regulators, and creativity boosters. Of course, common indica strains have their own benefits, particularly when you’re ready to relax and soothe your aching muscles.
It’s best to keep a good supply of both indicas and sativas on hand. When you’re looking for a body high, go for the indica. And when you need a burst of energy, light up your favorite sativa. Just remember not to overdo it.
