Most cannabis consumers are familiar with the terms sativa and indica, as they’re often used as a way of explaining the effects of different cannabis cultivars: sativas are uplifting and indicas are sedating. And even though many of us know that the terms are more about marketing than they are about actual genetics or effects, some edibles producers use the words sativa, indica, or even hybrid on their packaging and in their marketing.

This approach leaves budtenders and consumers wondering: Are edibles indica or sativa? And if so, what does that mean for the consumer?

What could create these effects in edibles?

Different cannabis edibles can provide different kinds of effects to the consumer.  Some edibles can feel uplifting, and other edibles can feel more sedating. What is creating these effects?  Is it the Indica/Sativa profile of the cannabis input?  Or is it something more?

Cannabis is a multi-dimensional plant, and there are a number of things to consider when thinking about whether or not edibles could create specific uplifting or relaxing effects in humans. 

Factor #1: Cannabinoid ratio

THC is the most intoxicating cannabinoid, but other cannabinoids found in the plant also have effects, often helping balance out the powerful experience of being altered by THC.  An edible that contains a balanced blend of THC and CBD will usually feel less intoxicating to the consumer than an edible that contains THC only. As well, the amount of THC in the edible can make a difference. Low THC products generally have a more uplifting, energetic effect, while high THC has a more sedating, relaxing effect.

Factor #2: Terpene profile

Another issue to consider is terpene retention, since terpenes significantly contribute to the effects of the product, no matter if those effects are uplifting or relaxing. Terpenes contribute significantly to the uplifting or sedating effects of cannabis, probably more than cannabinoids do. Retaining the native terpene profile to the original cultivar ensures that the consumer gets the full effects of the plant’s scent molecules.

One way to think of it is to think of the interplay between terpenes and cannabinoids is to think of the cannabinoids as the lead singer in a band, and the terpenes as the rest of the instruments and backup singers.  The lead singer may remain the same from song to song, but changing the musicians around them leads to a very different type of music.

Despite their importance to the overall effects of the cannabis, retaining terpenes from the plant can be difficult with some extraction processes because terpenes begin to evaporate around 21°C, and completely dissipate at temperatures as low as 130°C. Some extraction processes keep temperatures low while removing the trichome heads from the plant.

Cannabis distillates (and isolates) are made using processes that reach temps up to 343°C, though the typical temperature range is between 130°C and 180°C. Given the high temperatures required to create distillate, most of the terpenes native to the plant are completely boiled off during the extraction process, leaving only cannabinoids behind.

Factor #3: Consumer’s mindset

The human brain is incredibly powerful. So powerful, in fact, that its ability to create physical states of being must be accounted for in every medical treatment study that is conducted with something known as the placebo Effect. . Our bodies experience what our brains create as our reality.

If you, or any consumer, believe you are going to achieve sativa-like effects with that gummy, then you’re more likely to do so.  Similarly, if you believe the indica/sativa label is bullshit, then you’re less likely to experience a variable outcome. Our expectations go a long way towards the kinds of experiences we have, something that is true in our daily lives and not just when it comes to eating edibles.

Factor #4: Consumption setting

Are you having a gummy at 9 in the morning before a busy day? Are you sharing a pack of mints with friends at a gathering? Are you eating a piece of chocolate 30 minutes before bed to help you fall asleep? Consuming cannabis in different settings can lead to very different outcomes, and it’s important for consumers to be aware of this when they’re purchasing edibles.

Are indica and sativa labels on edibles accurate?

Taken together, these 4 components—cannabinoid ratio, terpene profile, mindset, and consumption setting—can create different kinds of effects in edibles.  However, most edibles producers in Canada who are labelling their edibles as sativa or indica don’t seem to be considering each of these elements in their marketing decisions.

First, most regulated THC edibles in Canada today are made with Supercritical CO2 distillate. This extract is generally made from trim that has been collected from many different plants, each with their own unique genetics.  Some have indica genetics, some have sativa genetics, and most have hybrid genetics. 

After the trim is collected, it is run through a number of processes to first infuse it into oil, and then refine that oil using high heat. These high temperatures cause most of the plant’s native terpenes to evaporate during the process.  And not only are the native terpenes lost, but most cannabinoids other than THC are removed during the distillation, leaving a highly concentrated form of THC.

So IS it possible to make an indica or sativa edible?

It’s definitely possible. If the cannabis input used in the edible is made from only a single cultivar and was made using an extraction process that retained the original cannabinoid array and terpene profile of the plant, then the full-spectrum nature of the input is retained and will lead to more full-body effects.

However, if a producer uses inputs such as CO2 distillate or isolates, which are not full-spectrum oils, it wouldn’t be accurate to expect full-spectrum effects, not market them with the terms “indica” or “sativa”.  The only argument that makes sense for applying these terms is that the producer is inducing these effects in the consumer via the placebo effect, an approach that may or may not be problematic, depending on one’s perspective of giving the consumer accurate information about what they’re buying.