Cannabis strain types, explained.
Indica, sativa, hybrid, terpenes, THC percentages. Here is what those words on the label actually mean — and what they cannot tell you.
This page is educational. Cannabis affects people differently depending on the individual, the dose, the product form and the specific batch. Nothing here is medical advice or a prediction of how a product will affect you.
Reading The Label
A lineage label, not a promise
"Indica" describes plant lineage and growth habit. It is widely used as shorthand for relaxing effects, but modern cultivars are heavily crossed and the label is only a rough starting point for conversation.
Usually the shorthand for stimulating
"Sativa" is commonly used as shorthand for a more stimulating experience. Some people find stimulating cultivars uncomfortable, so it is a preference to discuss rather than a recommendation.
Most of the modern market
Nearly everything on a modern menu is a hybrid of some kind. "Indica-hybrid" or "sativa-hybrid" tells you which side the lineage leans, not how a batch will feel.
What you actually smell
Terpenes are the aromatic compounds that give cannabis its smell. Research into how they interact with cannabinoids is ongoing and not settled; treat terpene talk as a way to describe aroma and personal preference rather than a predictor of effects.
Measured per batch, printed on the package
THC and CBD content is measured by the producer's lab for each batch and printed on the package. It is not fixed for a cultivar, so we do not publish potency ranges for any strain name.
The biggest variable of all
The same cultivar in flower, a vape and an edible behaves very differently — especially in onset time. Edibles can take up to two hours. Treat an unfamiliar form as new even if the strain name is familiar.
Want to see what is listed right now? Search our live menu.
Cultivar Spotlights
Background on some well-known cultivars: lineage, aroma and how people commonly describe them. These are not availability listings — check the live menu for what is on the shelf.
Want the longer version? Read our Denver strain & terpene guide.
Strain FAQ
What is the difference between indica, sativa and hybrid?
They are lineage labels. Indica and sativa describe plant origin and growth habit, and hybrids are crosses of the two. The labels are useful shorthand at the counter, but they do not reliably predict how a specific batch or product will feel.
How do I know how strong a product is?
Every package sold in Colorado carries lab-tested cannabinoid content for that batch. Read the package, or ask a budtender to read it with you. We do not publish potency figures for strain names because they change with every batch.
Do terpenes tell me how a strain will feel?
Not reliably. Terpenes explain aroma and flavour well. The idea that a given terpene produces a given effect is a popular simplification rather than established science, and individual responses vary substantially.
How do I find out what is available at Herbs 4 You today?
Search our live menu on this site, which reads the store's current listings, or call 303-830-9999 during store hours (daily 9:00 AM to 8:45 PM).
I have never tried cannabis. Where should I start?
Start with the smallest amount available, wait to see how you respond before taking more, and tell the budtender it is your first time so they can walk you through the label. Effects vary by person, dose, product and batch, and no product is risk-free.