Cannabis indica

Cannabis indica Lam. (sometimes classified Cannabis sativa spp. indica) is a putative species of Cannabis, although not all botanists agree that it should be treated as separate from Cannabis sativa L. Schultes described C. indica as relatively short, conical, and densely branched, whereas C. sativa was described as tall and laxly branched. According to Anderson, C. indica has short, broad leaflets whereas those of C. sativa are relatively long and narrow. Cannabis indica plants conforming to Schultess and Andersons descriptions may have originated from the Hindu-Kush mountain range. Due to the often harsh and variable climate of those parts, C. indica is well-suited for cultivation in temperate climates.

Wide-leafed Cannabis indica plants in Afghanistan and Pakistan are traditionally cultivated for the production of hashish. Pharmacologically, the wide-leafed indica landraces tend to have a higher cannabidiol (CBD) content than sativa drug strains. Although most commercially available indica strains have been selected for low levels of CBD (which is not psychoactive), some users report a less cerebral and more stoning effect from indica than from sativa. Differences in the terpenoid content of the essential oil may account for some of these differences in effect. Common indica strains for recreational use are White Widow and Northern Lights.

A recent genetic analysis included both the narrow-leaflet and wide-leaflet drug biotypes under C. indica, as well as southern and eastern Asian hemp (fiber/seed) landraces and wild Himalayan populations.

















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