Medical marijuana has three different strains; indica, sativa, and ruderalis.

Cannabis Indica

Plant Characteristics
Indica medical marijuana strains are short, bushy plants with wide leaves. Indica plants typically grow faster and have a higher yield than the sativa variety. Medicine produced from cannabis indica plants have higher CBD and lower THC counts therefore a pure indica strain will produce a heavier, sleepy type of high. The flowering stage lasts between 6 to 8 weeks.

Plant Origins
Afghanistan, Morocco, and Tibet.

List of known Indica strains

Cannabis Sativa

Plant Characteristics
The sativa strain of marijuana is the complete opposite of the indica strain. Sativa medical marijuana pants are tall, thin plants, with narrow leaves, and generally are a lighter shade of green then their counterpart, the indica strain. Sativa strains take longer to grow, mature, and require more light. Medicine produced from cannabis sativa plants have lower CBD and higher THC counts which produces a more clear headed, energetic type of high. The flowering stage lasts between 10 to 16 weeks.

Plant Origins
Colombia, Mexico, Thailand and Southeast Asia.

List of known Sativa strains

Cannabis Ruderalis

Plant Characteristics
Ruderalis is the lesser known strain of marijuana. Ruderalis is described as a wild or feral sub-species of cannabis. This type of marijuana strain flowers regardless of photogenic periods, but instead flowers based on the age of the plant. Ruderalis strains are typically not known for their medincinal values, but when this strain is interbreed with other strains, the outcome can be a pleasant smoke.

Plant Origins
Russia, Poland, and Czech Republic.

Cannabis Hybrids

Plant Characteristics
Cannabis hydrids are medical marijuana strains that have been cross bred. You can cross an indica and a sativa and get an indica/sativa mix. Breeders try to select the best attributes of each strain and create a new strain that is the best of both worlds.

Plant Origins
Worldwide

List of known Indica / Sativa strains
(strains with more indica characteristics than sativa).

List of known Sativa / Indica strains
(strains with more sativa characteristics than indica).