Indica vs Sativa in describing CBD bud and CBD Flower, does it mean anything?

by James Miller February 09, 2025

Ever been browsing online or walked into a UK CBD shop, eyed up a selection of "Sativa" and "Indica" labelled CBD flower/ tea and thought—hang on, does this really mean anything anymore? With modern breeding pushing CBD cannabis strains into ever more hybridised territory, do these classic categories still hold water, or are they just convenient marketing terms?

Let's dig into the blurred lines between CBD strains, and whether your choice of "Sativa for energy" or "Indica for relaxation" actually reflects anything beyond branding.

The Classic Indica vs. Sativa Distinction

For decades, cannabis has been split into two major classifications: Indica and Sativa. Traditionally, the idea went like this:

Indica: Compact, bushy plants with broader leaves, known for relaxing, sedative effects.
Sativa: Tall, slender plants with narrow leaves, associated with uplifting, cerebral effects.

Nice and neat, right? Well, not quite... The modern CBD flower / CBD bud market tells a different story. Thanks to extensive crossbreeding you’d be hard-pressed to find a truely “pure” Indica or Sativa strain anymore. Almost everything is a hybrid, meaning these terms are at best a convenient way to describe a set of effects that may or may not align with a given strain’s actual genetic history.

The Hybridisation of CBD Strains

Breeders have spent years developing high-CBD, low-THC strains to comply with legal restrictions. Selective breeding and improved understanding of cultivation techniques have over the years produced better quality and 'closer to the original' oil and terpene profiles. however the extensive cross-breeding has resulted in a modern gene pool SO mixed, that the old Indica/Sativa divide is often meaningless. If you’re buying CBD bud today, what actually matters isn’t whether it’s labelled Indica or Sativa—it’s the cannabinoid and terpene profile.

Terpenes such as myrcene, known for its calming effects, and limonene, associated with an uplifting sensation, have a far greater influence on a strain’s effects than its traditional Indica or Sativa label. Instead of choosing a strain based on classification, it’s more beneficial to focus on the terpene profile. The way these terpenes develop is influenced by a range of factors, including cultivation techniques, genetics, and the curing or treatment of the flower.

The Convenience of Indica/Sativa Labels

While scientifically shaky, Indica and Sativa labels aren’t going anywhere soon. Why? Because they’ve been around for ages.. and are useful shorthand. Whether accurate or not, consumers generally understand them, and retailers use them as a quick way to guide buyers towards strains that tend to have certain effects.

For example, many people expect an “Indica” CBD strain to be a good option for evening use, while a “Sativa” strain might be marketed as a daytime-friendly pick. That’s not inherently wrong—it’s just not the whole picture. Some Indica-labelled strains have terpene profiles that make them quite stimulating, while some Sativa-labelled strains can be surprisingly calming... and of course it depends upon the person. Consumers would do well to focus on cannabinoid ratios, terpene profiles, and their personal experiences when choosing a CBD flower or CBD bud.

What Should You Look for Instead?

If you really want to understand how a CBD strain will affect you, Indica vs. Sativa is a pretty crude categorisation method, instead we should consider;

Cannabinoid Content: The balance of CBD, CBG, and minor cannabinoids matters more than the strain name. A high-CBG strain, for example, might offer a different experience compared to a pure CBD strain.
Terpene Profile: Terpenes like pinene, caryophyllene, and linalool influence both the flavour and effect of a strain far more than whether it’s labelled Indica or Sativa.
Consumption Method: Vaping, smoking, or using CBD extracts / oral consumption all affect how quickly and strongly you feel the effects.

The Future of CBD Strain Classification in the UK

As the UK’s CBD market matures, we may start to see a shift away from Indica and Sativa labels towards something more scientifically accurate—perhaps classifications based on dominant terpene groups, or effects tailored to user preferences (such as "relaxing," "balancing," or "energising"). You can already see this sort of labelling of precise terpene content/ COA (Certificate of Analysis) in countries with more developed cannabis frameworks (USA).

In the meantime, if you’re shopping at a UK CBD shop, take the Indica/Sativa distinction with a pinch of salt. If a strain works for you, that’s all that really matters—regardless of how it’s labelled.