Cannabis is a genus in the family Cannabaceae, like hops. Cannabis is an annual plant and usually dioecious, which means it has separate pistillate (female) and stamenate (male) plants. A shorter photoperiod (day length) towards the end of the growing season is generally required to induce the reproductive (sometimes called flowering or budding) phase of growth, however some cultivars of Cannabis are auto-flowering, which means that they will flower regardless of the photoperiod.
The leaves are palmately compound, with serrate leaflets. During vegetative phase of growth, there is one leaflet on the first true leaf, three leaflets on the second, five on the third, and so on, up to about seven for C. sativa subsp. indica, and eleven for C. sativa subsp. sativa. The phyllotaxy reverses during reproductive phase, with bud leaves initially containing seven to eleven leaflets, and progressing down to one leaflet, and ultimately none at the terminal bud. Leaf arrangement is opposite during vegetative phase, and alternate during reproductive phase.
Cannabis plants are known for their production of oils, fibers, and compounds known as
cannabinoids, including psychoactive
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and non-psychoactive
cannabidiol (CBD). Cannabis plants can be categorized on the basis of drug potential by the overall amount of
cannabinoids produced, as well as by the relative ratio of
THC to
CBD. Overall cannabinoid production is influenced by environmental factors, but
THC/CBD ratios are genetically determined and remain fixed throughout the life of the plant. This system of categorization recognizes three distinct categories. Non-drug (or low-intoxicant) types produce low levels of
THC and
CBD in both male and female plants. Drug types produce high amounts of
THC but relatively low levels of
CBD in both male and female plants. Intermediate types produce moderate amounts of
THC, and produce
CBD in comparable amounts; male plants of this intermediate type do not produce sufficient amounts of
THC to be useful for drug purposes, while female plants may produce enough
THC to be useful for drug production.
The genus Cannabis comprises a single species: Cannabis sativa. Two subspecies are recognized: C. sativa subsp. sativa and C. sativa subsp. indica (but this classification is not universally accepted). Wild or escaped Cannabis was previously classified as a distinct species Cannabis ruderalis, but is now regarded as a variety, C. sativa subsp. sativa var. spontanea.
Generally only non-drug cultivars of C. sativa subsp. sativa are grown for industrial/agricultural purposes. For recreational or medicinal purposes, high-cannabinoid cultivars of both C. sativa subsp. sativa and C. sativa subsp. indica are grown, as well as hybrids of the two subspecies, and even a few hybrids that allegedly contain some C. sativa subsp. sativa var spontanea genetics.
Cultivation of the plant typically focuses on production of one of its above-noted ingredients. It is possible to grow the plants in a very close matrix, whereupon the resultant plants will have very fine fibers, which can be used to make fine cloth resembling silk. Alternatively, plants with select genetics, which are grown under close nutrient supervision and adequate lighting will produce higher quantities of
THC.
While it is possible to grow cannabis simply for the purpose of a houseplant or as a hobby, the practice is quite challenging due to the need to keep the annual plant in a near perpetual vegetative state, which requires root pruning and artificial lighting for the winter months.
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