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Cannabis indica Lam. (sometimes classified Cannabis sativa spp. indica) is a putative species of Cannabis, although not all botanists agree that it should be treated as separate from Cannabis sativa L. Small, E., and A. Cronquist. 1976. A practical and natural taxonomy for Cannabis. Taxon 25: 405–435.Greg Green. 2005. The Cannabis Breeder’s Bible. Green Candy Press 15-17 Schultes described C. indica as relatively short, conical, and densely branched, whereas C. sativa was described as tall and laxly branched Schultes, R. E., et. al. 1974. Cannabis: an example of taxonomic neglect. Harvard University Botanical Museum Leaflets 23: 337–367.. According to Anderson, C. indica has short, broad leaflets whereas those of C. sativa are relatively long and narrow Anderson, L. C. 1980. Leaf variation among Cannabis species from a controlled garden. Harvard University Botanical Museum Leaflets 28: 61–69.. Cannabis indica plants conforming to Schultes's and Anderson's descriptions may have originated from the Hindu-Kush mountain range. Due to the often harsh and variable climate of those parts, C. indica is well-suited for cultivation in temperate climates.
Wide-leafed Cannabis indica plants in Afghanistan and Pakistan are traditionally cultivated for the production of hashish. Pharmacologically, the wide-leafed "indica" landraces tend to have a higher cannabidiol (CBD) content than "sativa" drug strains Hillig, K. W., and P. G. Mahlberg. 2004. A chemotaxonomic analysis of cannabinoid variation in Cannabis (Cannabaceae). American Journal of Botany 91: 966-975.. Most commercially available "indica" strains have been selected for low levels of CBD (which is not psychoactive), with some users reporting more of a "high" and less of a "stoned" effect from "indica" compared to "sativa". Differences in the terpenoid content of the essential oil may account for some of these differences in effectMcPartland J. M., and E. B. Russo. 2001. Cannabis and Cannabis extracts: greater than the sum of their parts? Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics 1(3/4) 103-132. # Hillig, K. W. 2004. A chemotaxonomic analysis of terpenoid variation in Cannabis. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 32: 875-891.. Common "indica" strains for recreational use are 'White Widow' and 'Northern Lights'.
A recent genetic analysis included both the narrow-leaflet and wide-leaflet drug "biotypes" under C. indica, as well as southern and eastern Asian hemp (fiber/seed) landraces and wild Himalayan populations Hillig, K. W. 2005. Genetic evidence for speciation in Cannabis (Cannabaceae). Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 52: 161-180..
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"Cannabis indica"