What does hybrid mean in strains?

Hybrid cannabis strains are plants that have the combined characteristics of Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica plants, depending on their genetic lineage. In fact, most current cannabis is a type of hybrid marked as indica or sativa dominant, rather than pure indica or sativa. Hybrid varieties are varieties that contain similar levels of Indica and Sativa. These “best of both worlds” strains offer a balance between the benefits of both types.

In the weed world, a hybrid is a cannabis plant with both indica and sativa characteristics. Because cannabis has been cultivated for centuries, most modern strains are hybrid strains. Native varieties are traditional cultivars native to the region where they grow and are generally thought to be pure, not hybrid. But even modern local varieties have been relocated and domesticated.

Pure Sativas and Pure Indicas are quite rare, so most of the cannabis you'll find today is hybrid weed.

Hybrid cannabis

leverages the characteristics of two or more cultivars to create a supercharged strain. Learn how hybrids are created, why they matter, and some of the crucial traits growers select when looking to produce exciting new hybrid varieties. Hybrid cannabis strains are created by crossing a Sativa and an Indica.

Sometimes hybrids form from three or more different strains. The names Sativa and Indica are also used when referring to hybrids. Hybrids are strains that have been obtained from sativas and indicas. If you prefer sativas, for example, you might like the effects of sativa-dominant hybrid strains better.

If you're wondering what hybrid weed feels like, the effects of a hybrid strain depend entirely on the two plants it's based on. Finding the perfect hybrid strain with the right combination of characteristics is part of the fun of growing, if not trying, a wide variety of cannabis cultivars.