by: Will Sanchez & Josh Alb

 Reefer madness has consumed the United States for over a century. It seems like there has been no end to the insanity that has been spread by people whose agendas are nothing more to manipulate and control the public. Essentially the reason is simply for profit. Cannabis has been given the derogatory and discriminative term “marijuana” simply to confuse, scare, and influence the public into making it an illegal substance. Through this process governments have now forced populations to go from a holistic approach to treating various ailments, to a western medicine pill-driven way that puts the population on a hook sharper than heroin. Misinformation has spread far and wide like the cannabis plant itself, and has plagued the minds of people for too long. As a people, as a society, as humans it is time to acknowledge the foul play that has been handed to us by our leaders and enough is enough. We must ask ourselves, what is Cannabis?

What is Cannabis?

A misunderstood Wonder

Cannabis, also known as Cannabis Sativa, Marijuana, Hemp, Ganja, Sticky Icky, and a plethora of other monikers is a unique plant that is cultivated for a myriad of purposes. The resinous flowers the plant produces are used as medicine, part of religious ceremonies, and as a recreational substance.  The fibrous stalks are used to manufacture textiles, concrete, and for fuels. Cannabis is infamous throughout the world for producing unique molecules called cannabinoids. These cannabinoids have been shown to have a collection of effects unique and produces more than 113 cannabinoids and well over 100 terpenoids, the major ones being Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or Cannabidiol (CBD). These cannabinoids interact with our very intricate endocannabinoid system, thus providing a multitude of therapeutic effects. Terpenes are also found in Cannabis resin glands, however, terpenes are not exclusive to Cannabis and are found in other plants and herbs as well as fruits. Commonly known as Hemp, Cannabis sativa linnaeus fibers can provide cloth, paper, and rope. Cannabis seeds are rich in oil and protein and are used as a food and animal feed, as well as a source of oil for fuel and skin care products. This is a misunderstood plant and even though there is much information and research proving the benefits of Cannabis, the uses are restricted by draconian laws. This misunderstanding can be cleared up through the freedom of information and education. Not all Cannabis species generate a psychoactive effect, only a few do

How many “types” of Cannabis exist?

Well, there is only one cannabis Genus that contains many species

The scientific classification of Cannabis is as follows

• Kingdom: Plantae

• Division: Magnoliophyta

• Class: Magnoliopsida

• Order: Rosales

• Family: Cannabaceae

• Genus: Cannabis

Upon reaching the species a dispute begins. The majority of Cannabis research refers to it as a single species – Cannabis sativa linnaeus named after Carl Linnaeus who first named the species. Many botanists studying Cannabis, such as Nikolai Vavilov and Dr. Richard E. Schultes claim that there are three species. They are Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. This model is what is being taught to the general population. Universities and educators profess that this model is the correct model and that information is passed on as truth. This in turn trickles down through industry to medical and recreational dispensaries all over the United States. The retailers of legal Cannabis businesses then communicate this old model to patients and recreational consumers alike. This creates a ripple effect that generates an incorrect conversation in what Cannabis is and where it comes from. Due to new technological advancements and discoveries there is strong evidence supporting that the three species of Cannabis deviates strongly from previous knowledge.

The new model comes primarily from Karl Hillig due to his study A chemotaxonomic analysis of cannabinoid variation in Cannabis (Cannabaceae). More recent work comes from Robert Clarke and Merk Merlin in their joint publication expanding on Hillig’s work. The compilation of their work can be observed in the chart below which describes at length the variety of Cannabis species, their genetic origin, and uses.

Why Does the Species of Cannabis Matter?

A number of reasons, mainly if you can legally cultivate it or not

The determination of the proper species, determines what kind of purpose can be generated from cultivation and if it has been deemed legal to cultivate or not. These new scientific developments helped discover how hemp varieties are genetically distinct from other species of their drug-like cousins. This is why on December 14, 2018, the United States Congress approved the cultivation and usage of hemp products nation wide through the 2018 Farm Bill. This now allows the legal cultivation of Cannabis sativa l. due to the fact that it does not produce any of the psychoactive compounds unlike other species.. This genetic distinction has now allowed the federal passage of hemp businesses and is a huge step forward in the on going battle to legalize Cannabis as a whole.

For consumers, the species determination helps understand what plant contains which molecules and how those molecules affect them. The “Indica vs Sativa” myth has led most people to believe Vavilov and Schultes work, thinking that an “Indica” make you relaxed and a “Sativa” make you energized. This has been shown to be entirely false. The truth is that these affects are nothing more than placebo effects generated by several different factors. The strongest factor being word of mouth, because of this trickle-down affect of information consumers and industry people alike believe the prehistoric ideology of Cannabis species. In a recent interview with cannabis doctor and scientist Dr. Ethan Russo, he goes on to state how this current thinking of different effects come from different plants is complete nonsense. All “Indica” or “Sativa” tells people, is how the plant grows, nothing more.

So if Indica and Sativa Are False Narratives, Why Should Providers Still Provide That Information?

Consumers have a right to choose, and they should have all the information about what they put in their bodies

Even though the debate and myth has been debunked, consumers should still know. People must be aware of what strain it is, what the cannabinoid and terpenoid profile is, and how the plant was grown. Terpenes in conjunction with cannabinoids have shown to help enhance the effects of the specific molecules. These terpenes also have been shown to deliver profound effects in aroma therapy and can generate specific alteration of psyche which then cannabinoids will enhance. This is why people report different effects due to different strains, not because one is an “Indica” and the other is a “Sativa”. The ratio of cannabinoids being ingested is also important and can play into the effect of wether a plant is THC dominant, CBD dominant, or contains an equal quantity of the two. Other cannabinoid levels are often too low to have a serious effect, but if manufactured of extracted, can provide other effects.