The Germinator
Well-Known Member
Since the 1970s, cannabis has been divided into three sub-species (often confused as different species),-C. indica,-C. sativa,-C. ruderalis, with ruderalis largely being considered 'wild cannabis,' not fit for medicinal or recreational uses. A common-lay-persons distinction is between marijuana, which is bred for high cannabinoid content, and hemp, which is bred for industrial uses like fiber.
Any of the three subspecies can be bred as a hemp or marijuana plant. John McPartland, a researcher-affiliated with-GW Pharmaceuticals,-presented a study at the-2014 meeting of the International Cannabis Research Society, -proposing a new nomenclature for cannabis. The-original report-on O'Shaughnessy's-contains more information than I can reproduce here, and has a wonderful chart; it is definitely worth your time to read.
It seems-Richard Evans Schultes, the man who created the original taxonomy for cannabis in the 1970s, misidentified a-C. afghanica-plant as a-C. indica-plant.-That one mistake began 40 years of confusion which has-only been dispelled by McPartland's research this year.
McPartland was the first researcher to look at the genetic markers on the three-subspecies of cannabis-using-the plant's genome to conclusively identify where it originated. He also proved conclusively that they are all the same species, just different subspecies. As it turns out,-C. sativa-should have been identified as-C. indica, because it originated in India (hence-indica).-C. indica-should have been identified as-C. afghanica, because it actually originated in Afghanistan. Finally, it seems that-C. ruderalis-is actually what people mean when they refer to-C. sativa.
If that-sounds confusing, refer to this handy table, or the-original chart.
Cannabis Indica (Formerly Sativa)
Origin:-India
Morphology:-Taller (>1.5m)-than their short and stocky Afghanica cousins, with sparser branches and less dense buds/flowers.
Physiology:-Longer flowering time, between nine and fourteen weeks. Minimal frost tolerance with a moderate production of resin.
Chemistry:-Much greater-THC-than-CBD-and other cannabinoids, this leads to the "head high" many users report.
Psychoactivity:-Stimulating.
Cannabis Afghanica (Formerly Indica)
Origin:-Central Asia (Afghanistan, Turkestan, Pakistan)
Morphology:-Shorter (
Any of the three subspecies can be bred as a hemp or marijuana plant. John McPartland, a researcher-affiliated with-GW Pharmaceuticals,-presented a study at the-2014 meeting of the International Cannabis Research Society, -proposing a new nomenclature for cannabis. The-original report-on O'Shaughnessy's-contains more information than I can reproduce here, and has a wonderful chart; it is definitely worth your time to read.
It seems-Richard Evans Schultes, the man who created the original taxonomy for cannabis in the 1970s, misidentified a-C. afghanica-plant as a-C. indica-plant.-That one mistake began 40 years of confusion which has-only been dispelled by McPartland's research this year.
McPartland was the first researcher to look at the genetic markers on the three-subspecies of cannabis-using-the plant's genome to conclusively identify where it originated. He also proved conclusively that they are all the same species, just different subspecies. As it turns out,-C. sativa-should have been identified as-C. indica, because it originated in India (hence-indica).-C. indica-should have been identified as-C. afghanica, because it actually originated in Afghanistan. Finally, it seems that-C. ruderalis-is actually what people mean when they refer to-C. sativa.
If that-sounds confusing, refer to this handy table, or the-original chart.
Cannabis Indica (Formerly Sativa)
Origin:-India
Morphology:-Taller (>1.5m)-than their short and stocky Afghanica cousins, with sparser branches and less dense buds/flowers.
Physiology:-Longer flowering time, between nine and fourteen weeks. Minimal frost tolerance with a moderate production of resin.
Chemistry:-Much greater-THC-than-CBD-and other cannabinoids, this leads to the "head high" many users report.
Psychoactivity:-Stimulating.
Cannabis Afghanica (Formerly Indica)
Origin:-Central Asia (Afghanistan, Turkestan, Pakistan)
Morphology:-Shorter (
