I found an interesting article in Scientific American, it argues that depending on what levels of certain compounds in cannabis determine how your short term memory is affected. This could be important in the argument that cannabis in general affects short term memory loss. Here is the link http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=marijuana-memory
Here's the important part related to memory: This means that you will get fewer psychological effects, and more medical effect (like pain reduction)from a strain that is high in CBD, low in THC. Of course as any stoner can tell you, THC is what gets you high - euphoric. That's why strains have been bred to maximize THC content, cause that's what people want who aren't using it for medical reasons. Currently there's a huge rush to breed strains with more CBD, now that studies such as this are finding all these medical benefits without the "negatives" associated with THC. But as you can see, it's all about the RATIO of these two cannabinoids that determines the effects you get from any particular strain. So people should choose the strains they consume carefully, according to their needs. One excerpt from that article does bother me however. That sentence makes no sense. You can make hashish out of any kind of sativa or indica. And I'm not sure what the hell they mean by "herbal types" as I've never ever seen cannabis called "herbal type" before. Unless they're talking about fake cannabis. They should've explained this a bit more.
here are actually three distinct and different strains of medical marijuana plants, with a fourth strain, consisting of hybrids, which is also commonly used. Each strain also contains a variety of specific plants, all with the major characteristics of the strain. Marijuana is now grown worldwide, however not all marijuana is suitable for medical uses. ( difficult to argue what a person buys illegally from the streets. This is the black market. There is ongoing study about producing and monitoring the consistency within strains of medical marijuana plants to help physicians and patients best select a strain and plant type most suited to their needs. Cannabis Ruderalis This strain of cannabis plant is perhaps the least common and lesser known of all. It is typically grown in Eastern Europe, most commonly in Russia, Poland and the Czech Republic. It is most often found growing in a wild state and is not generally cultivated as a crop. Unlike other varieties of marijuana, this plant flowers based on the age of the plant not on the number of daylight hours available. As such, it is well suited to colder climates with shorter growing periods. While not used as a strain of medical marijuana on its own, the plants of the Cannabis Ruderalis can be used in cross breeding to produce hybrids that flower more consistently, producing a higher yield crop over the life of the plant. Cannabis Indica This strain of medical marijuana originates in the middle-eastern to eastern areas of Afghanistan, Tibet and Morocco. It has long been used in medicinal treatments in those areas and produces leaves and seeds with high CBD (cannabidiol) count, and a corresponding lower THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) count. CBD is reported to slow down the activity of the limbic system and decrease social anxiety and isolation. It is also used in countries that have legalized marijuana to treat schizophrenic symptoms, multiple sclerosis and to control chronic pain conditions. Research also shows promise for this strain to help with inhibiting cancerous cell growth in specific types of cancer. Plants of the Cannabis Indica strain have thick stalks and their wide leaves are typically a darker green color when in their pure state. They are fast growing and do well in cultivated growing situations. Cannabis Sativa This medical marijuana strain is the opposite of the Cannabis Indica in almost all attributes. It has a low CBD count and a high TCH count and is generally used to treat chronic pain conditions and digestive problems. The TCH stimulates hunger and relaxation, and research is ongoing about its possible use in managing aggression and aggressive tendencies found in specific mental health and brain trauma conditions. The plants of the Cannabis Sativa strain of medical marijuana are more difficult to grow than those of the Indica strain. It is a tall, thin plant with thin, sparser leaves that are lighter green in color. The plant itself is very slow to mature and requires significantly more light than other varieties of cannabis to produce flowers. Cannabis Hybrids Cross breeding the various strains of marijuana provides the opportunity to create various levels of CBD and THC to suit different medical treatment needs. In addition, hybrids often produce more usable leaves and seeds in a much shorter time period, allowing more consistent production as new varieties of medical marijuana are developed. http://www.strainguide.org/marijuana-breeding/4-strains-of-medical-marijuana-plants
Maybe they refer to Hash that way in the story because wasn't Hash historically made from indica's which have lower THC levels and higher CBD levels. Just speculating.