Jump to content

Cannabis strain

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Part of a series on
Cannabis
Cannabis
Chemistry
  • Semi-synthetic cannabinoids
Pharmacology
Consumption
Economics
Effects
Forms
Law
Variants
  • Genus
  • Species
Related

Cannabis strains is a popular name to refer to plant varieties of the monospecific genus Cannabis sativa L.. They are either pure or hybrid varieties of the plant, which encompasses various sub-species C. sativa, C. indica, and C. ruderalis.[1]

Varieties are developed to intensify specific characteristics of the plant, or to differentiate the strain for the purposes of marketing or to make it more effective as a drug. Variety names are typically chosen by their growers, and often reflect properties of the plant such as taste, color, smell, or the origin of the variety.[2] The Cannabis strains referred to in this article are primarily those varieties with recreational and medicinal use. These varieties have been cultivated to contain a high percentage of cannabinoids. Several varieties of cannabis, known as hemp, have a very low cannabinoid content, and are instead grown for their fiber and seed. Due to the legal status of the plant in many jurisdictions, Cannabis plant varieties are at high risk of biopiracy.[3][4]

Major variety types

[edit]

Taxonomic paradigm

[edit]

The two species of the Cannabis genus that are most commonly grown are Cannabis indica and Cannabis sativa.[5] A third species, Cannabis ruderalis, is very short and produces only trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and thus is not commonly grown for industrial, recreational or medicinal use. However, because Cannabis ruderalis flowers independently of the photoperiod and according to age, it has been used to breed autoflowering strains.[6]

Pure sativas are relatively tall (reaching as high as 4.5 meters), with long internodes and branches, and large, narrow-bladed leaves. Pure indica varieties are shorter and bushier, with wider leaflets. They are often favored by indoor growers for their size. Sativas bloom later than indicas, often taking a month or two longer to mature. The subjective effects of sativas and indicas are said to differ, but the ratio of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to cannabidiol (CBD) in most named drug varieties of both types is similar (averaging about 200:1). Unlike most commercially developed strains, indica landraces exhibit plants with varying THC/CBD ratios.[7] Avidekel, a medical marijuana strain developed in Israel, has a very low content of THC but a high content of CBD, limiting its psychoactive potential while exploring the beneficial medical effects of the latter.[8]

The informal designation sativa and indica may have various, controversial meanings. Morphologically, the name sativa designates tall plants with narrow leaves, while indica refers to short plants with wide leaves. Among the marijuana community however, sativa rather refers to equatorial varieties producing stimulating psychoactive effects, whereas indica-type plants from Central Asia are used for relaxing and sedative drugs (THC:CBD > 1).[9]

Alternative classifications

[edit]

There is an increasing discussion about whether the differences between species adequately represents the variability found within the genus Cannabis.[10][11][12][13]

There are five chemotaxonomic types of cannabis: one with high levels of THC, one which is more fibrous and has higher levels of CBD, one that is an intermediate between the two, another one with high levels of cannabigerol (CBG), and the last one almost without cannabinoids.[14]

There has also been a recent movement[15] to characterize strains based on their reported subjective effects. For example, WoahStork has used machine learning algorithms to classify strains into six Distinct Activity groups.[16]

Legality

[edit]

Plant breeding is subject to a different set of rules and regulations, at times contradictory. The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV Convention) grants limited proprietary rights to breeders over their seeds, under certain conditions. In parallel, and often in a conflicting way, a series of dispositions aiming to fight against biopiracy require breeders to prove that the free, prior and informed consent was obtained from the communities (often Indigenous peoples or peasant communities) from where the seeds used to breed the new variety originates.[3] This is the case in particular of the Nagoya Protocol, a treaty complementing the Convention on Biological Diversity, in force since 2014 (2017 in the European Union).[17]

In 2024, the GRATK Treaty was adopted,[18] preventing national patent offices from granting patents based on biopiracy.[19] Patent applicants relying on Cannabis strains will have to disclose the origin of the variety, which often entails compliance under the Nagoya protocol or other similar mechanisms of Access and Benefit Sharing Agreement.[20]

Breeding

[edit]
White Widow

In addition to pure indica, sativa, and ruderalis varieties, hybrid varieties with varying ratios of these three types are common, such as the White Widow hybrid which has about 60% indica and 40% sativa ancestry. These hybrid varieties exhibit traits from both parental types. There are also commercial crossbred hybrids which contain a mix of both ruderalis, indica or sativa genes, and are usually autoflowering varieties. These varieties are bred mostly for the medicinal cannabis market, since they are not very appreciated by recreational cannabis users because ruderalis varieties are lower in THC and impart a slightly unpleasant taste. "Lowryder" was an early auto-flowering hybrid that retained the flowering behavior of ruderalis plants, while also producing appreciable amounts of THC and CBD. Autoflowering cannabis varieties have the advantage of being discreet due to their small stature. They also require shorter growing periods, as well as having the additional advantage that they do not rely on a change in the photoperiod to determine when to flower.

Breeding requires pollinating a female cannabis plant with male pollen. Although this occurs spontaneously and ubiquitously in nature, the intentional creation of new varieties typically involves selective breeding in a controlled environment.

A flowering cannabis plant

When cannabis is cultivated for its psychoactive or medicinal properties, male plants will often be separated from females. This prevents fertilization of the female plants, either to facilitate sin semilla flowering or to provide more control over which male is chosen. Pollen produced by the male is caught and stored until it is needed.

When a male plant of one strain pollinates a female of another strain, the seeds will be F1 hybrids of the male and female. These offspring will not be identical to their parents. Instead, they will have characteristics of both parents. Repeated breeding results in certain characteristics appearing with greater regularity.

It is impossible for a hermaphrodite to create any male-only seeds. A hermaphrodite may create female only seeds and hermaphrodite seeds. Also the female-only seeds may carry the hermaphrodite trait.[21]

Hybridization is the process of plants and animals breeding. Natural wind currents help speed up this hybridization process and promotes a positive growth. Some plants produce many seeds while some produce little to none depending on how it is bred. If seeds are produced traits from both the original parents will be expressed.

Techniques such as mutation breeding are used to develop new strains using irradiation or chemical mutagens such as colchicine.[22] Various companies have been experimenting with creating new strains using genetic engineering techniques.[23][24][25]

THC vis-à-vis CBD

[edit]

During the selective breeding process for medical marijuana, THC:CBD ratios are accounted for and accommodated to the needs of the client's preference/illness. Due to the large genetic diversity and different geographical climates and environments, a wide range of strains and properties exist.

THC is associated with the psychoactive high, while CBD is not psychoactive and is purported to have medicinal properties.[26][27][28] However, conversion of CBD to THC can occur when CBD is heated to temperatures between 250–300 °C, potentially leading to its partial transformation into THC.[29]

There is little evidence about the safety or efficacy of cannabinoids in the treatment of epilepsy.[30][31]

Genetic stability

[edit]

In order for there to be genetic stability within a marijuana strain the breeder has to go through selection and breeding, pinpointing the dominant and recessive genes within the two strains being crossed. After analyzing offspring with the preferred traits a breeder is looking for, the breeder will select the preferred traits and continue to breed those offspring to create the desired final product. Selection is a crucial process for a breeder to create a strain, especially if a client is looking for something with specific plant traits the breeder has to ensure that the hybrid's genetic traits have been closed in enough so unwanted traits aren't expressed in future harvests.

Varieties

[edit]
See also: List of names for cannabis § Names for cannabis strains
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

In a retail market that is decriminalized such as in The Netherlands, where wholesale production is illegal but prosecutions are not always enforced because of the contradiction of the law that is recognised by the courts,[32] competition puts pressure on breeders to create increasingly attractive varieties to maintain market share. Breeders give their strains distinct and memorable names in order to help differentiate them from their competitors' strains, although they may in fact be very similar.

Acapulco Gold

[edit]

Acapulco Gold is a golden-leafed Cannabis sativa strain originally from the Acapulco area of southwest Mexico.[33][34][35]

Bedrocan

[edit]

Bedrocan is a medicinal cannabis variety cultivated from a Dutch medical marijuana Cannabis sativa L. strain, having a standardized content of THC (22%) and CBD (1%). It is currently cultivated by Bedrocan Nederland, Bedrocan Canada and Bedrocan Česká Republika. It was introduced in 2003 and is dispensed through pharmacies after prescription from a physician.[36]

Blue Dream

[edit]
Blue Dream

Blue Dream is a hybrid cannabis strain widely used for both medical and recreational purposes, developed in 2003.[37]

Charlotte's Web

[edit]

Charlotte's Web is a high-cannabidiol (CBD), low-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cannabis variety and extract marketed as a dietary supplement under federal law of the United States.[38][39][40] It is produced by the Stanley brothers in Colorado. It does not induce the psychoactive "high" typically associated with recreational marijuana strains that are high in THC.[41] In September 2014, the Stanleys announced that they would ensure that the product consistently contained less than 0.3% THC.[42] Charlotte's Web gained national attention when it was used to treat Charlotte Figi's epileptic seizures.[43][44] Her story has led to her being described as "the girl who is changing medical marijuana laws across America,"[45] as well as the "most famous example of medicinal hemp use".[46]

Skunk

[edit]

Skunk refers to cannabis strains that are strong-smelling and have been likened to the smell of the spray from a skunk. These strains of cannabis are believed to have originated during the early 1990s in the United States prior to larger-scale development and popularization by Dutch growers.[47] Just as with other strains of cannabis, skunk is commonly grown in controlled indoor environments under specialized grow lights, or in a greenhouse when full outdoor conditions are not suitable; skunk strains are hybrids of Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica.[47]

Sour Diesel

[edit]
Sour Diesel

Sour Diesel is a hybrid strain of Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica.

See also

[edit]

[[File:Všetko o genetike Skunk v Slovenskom jazyku|thumb]]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ McPartland, JM (2018). "Cannabis Systematics at the Levels of Family, Genus, and Species". Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. 3 (1): 203–212. doi:10.1089/can.2018.0039. PMC 6225593. PMID 30426073.
  2. ^ Schwabe, Anna L.; McGlaughlin, Mitchell E. (2019-06-07). "Genetic tools weed out misconceptions of strain reliability in Cannabis sativa: implications for a budding industry". Journal of Cannabis Research. 1 (1): 3. doi:10.1186/s42238-019-0001-1. ISSN 2522-5782. PMC 7815053. PMID 33526091.
  3. ^ a b Duvall, Chris S. (2016-01-02). "Drug laws, bioprospecting and the agricultural heritage of Cannabis in Africa". Space and Polity. 20 (1): 10–25. doi:10.1080/13562576.2016.1138674. ISSN 1356-2576.
  4. ^ Cannabis Embassy — Legatio Cannabis — 大麻大使馆 — سفارة القنب) (2024-03-24). "Side-event: Cannabis & Biopiracy – 67th UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, March 2024". Cannabis Embassy. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  5. ^ Small, E.; Cronquist, A. (1976). "A practical and natural taxonomy for Cannabis". Taxon. 25 (4): 405–435. doi:10.2307/1220524. JSTOR 1220524.
  6. ^ Greg Green (2001). The Cannabis Grow Bible (4th ed.). p. 47.
  7. ^ Hillig, Karl W.; Mahlberg, Paul G. (2004). "A chemotaxonomic analysis of cannabinoid variation in Cannabis (Cannabaceae)". American Journal of Botany. 91 (6): 966–975. doi:10.3732/ajb.91.6.966. PMID 21653452.
  8. ^ Halverson, Nic (July 6, 2012). "Marijuana That Doesn't Get You Stoned". Discovery Channel. Discovery Communications, LLC. Archived from the original on January 5, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  9. ^ Dufresnes, Christophe; Jan, Catherine; Bienert, Friederike; Goudet, Jérôme; Fumagalli, Luca (20 January 2017). "Broad-Scale Genetic Diversity of Cannabis for Forensic Applications". PLOS ONE. 12 (1): e0170522. Bibcode:2017PLoSO..1270522D. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0170522. PMC 5249207. PMID 28107530.
  10. ^ Piomelli, Daniele; Russo, Ethan B. (2016-01-14). "The Cannabis sativa Versus Cannabis indica Debate: An Interview with Ethan Russo, MD". Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. 1 (1): 44–46. doi:10.1089/can.2015.29003.ebr. PMC 5576603. PMID 28861479.
  11. ^ Aizpurua-ppOlaizola, Oier; Omar, Jone; Navarro, Patricia; Olivares, Maitane; Etxebarria, Nestor; Usobiaga, Aresatz (2014-10-23). "Identification and quantification of cannabinoids in Cannabis sativa L. plants by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry". Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. 406 (29): 7549–7560. doi:10.1007/s00216-014-8177-x. ISSN 1618-2642. PMID 25338935. S2CID 206916401. Archived from the original on 2023-03-06. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  12. ^ Hazekamp, A.; Fischedick, J. T. (2012-07-01). "Cannabis - from cultivar to chemovar". Drug Testing and Analysis. 4 (7–8): 660–667. doi:10.1002/dta.407. ISSN 1942-7611. PMID 22362625. S2CID 4939961.
  13. ^ Stockton, Nick (2015-08-27). "Sorry, But the Names for Weed Strains Are Kinda Meaningless". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Archived from the original on 2020-01-12. Retrieved 2020-01-12.
  14. ^ Mandolino, Giuseppe; Bagatta, Manuela; Carboni, Andrea; Ranalli, Paolo; Meijer, Etienne de (2003-03-01). "Qualitative and Quantitative Aspects of the Inheritance of Chemical Phenotype in Cannabis". Journal of Industrial Hemp. 8 (2): 51–72. doi:10.1300/J237v08n02_04. ISSN 1537-7881. S2CID 84817948.
  15. ^ Renolds, Robert (June 15, 2014). "Therapeutic Satisfaction and Subjective Effects of Different Strains of Pharmaceutical-Grade Cannabis". Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 34 (3). Wolters Kluwer - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins: 344–349. doi:10.1097/JCP.0000000000000129. PMID 24747979. S2CID 7435673.
  16. ^ https://straingenie.com/wp-content/uploads/Strain_Genie_v2_Sample_Report-2.pdf Archived 2022-02-07 at the Wayback Machine [bare URL PDF]
  17. ^ Wyse, Joseph; Luria, Gilad (2021-01-06). "Trends in intellectual property rights protection for medical cannabis and related products". Journal of Cannabis Research. 3 (1): 1. doi:10.1186/s42238-020-00057-7. ISSN 2522-5782. PMC 7819315. PMID 33526141.
  18. ^ "Nations agree landmark treaty on traditional knowledge, protecting Indigenous Peoples' rights | UN News". news.un.org. 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  19. ^ Cannabis Embassy (Legatio Cannabis — 大麻大使馆 — سفارة القنب) (2024-05-26). "Written Contribution to the Proceedings of the WIPO Diplomatic Conference on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources, and Associated Traditional Knowledge; Circulated to Member States and the Secretariat for inclusion in the Proceedings, according to the Rules of Procedures of the Diplomatic Conference". Cannabis Embassy. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  20. ^ Cannabis Embassy, Commission on Biopiracy (2024). "WIPO's Diplomatic Conference & New Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge (GRATK): A new Treaty against Biopiracy". cannabisembassy.org. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  21. ^ "Selfing - Cannabis Grow Bible". Kindgreenbuds.com. Archived from the original on 2017-02-19. Retrieved 2017-01-08.
  22. ^ J, Sirius (20 August 2015). "Is Mutant Weed on the Horizon?". High Times. Archived from the original on 2020-10-20. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  23. ^ Lewis, Amanda Chicago (23 August 2017). "The Great Pot Monopoly Mystery". GQ. Archived from the original on 2021-04-18. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  24. ^ "What's Wrong With Genetically Modified Marijuana—And Are You Smoking Some Right Now?". Observer. 2019-09-06. Archived from the original on 2021-04-18. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  25. ^ "Monsanto Creates First Genetically Modified Strain of Marijuana". 2015-04-09. Archived from the original on 2021-04-18. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  26. ^ Dufresnes, C; Jan, C; Bienert, F; Goudet, J; Fumagalli, L (2011). "The draft genome and transcriptome of Cannabis sativa". PLOS ONE. 12 (1): e0170522. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0170522. PMC 5249207. PMID 28107530.
  27. ^ Dufresnes, Christophe; Jan, Catherine; Bienert, Friederike; Goudet, Jérôme; Fumagalli, Luca (2017). "Broad-Scale Genetic Diversity of Cannabis for Forensic Application". PLOS ONE. 12 (1): e0170522. Bibcode:2017PLoSO..1270522D. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0170522. PMC 5249207. PMID 28107530.
  28. ^ "CBD vs. THC: What's The Difference?". CBD International. 2017. Archived from the original on 2020-09-20. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
  29. ^ Czégény Z, Nagy G, Babinszki B, Bajtel Á, Sebestyén Z, Kiss T, Csupor-Löffler B, Tóth B, Csupor D (April 2021). "CBD, a precursor of THC in e-cigarettes". Scientific Reports. 11 (1): 8951. Bibcode:2021NatSR..11.8951C. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-88389-z. PMC 8076212. PMID 33903673.
  30. ^ Melville, Nancy A. (August 14, 2013), "Seizure Disorders Enter Medical Marijuana Debate", Medscape, Medscape Medical News, archived from the original on June 11, 2019, retrieved January 14, 2014
  31. ^ Tedesco, Laura (December 8, 2014), Why Parents of Children with Epilepsy Are Increasingly Turning to Marijuana, yahoo.com, archived from the original on January 28, 2016, retrieved February 9, 2016, 'Charlotte's Web is high in CBD and low in THC,' ... To many in the medical community, these parents are relying, at best, on shaky science. A 2013 Cochrane review of studies examining CBD as a treatment for epilepsy concluded that, due to the dearth of large, high-quality studies, 'the safety of long-term cannabidiol treatment cannot be reliably assessed.'
  32. ^ "Dutch court refuses to punish illegal cannabis growers". Phys.org. 2014-10-20. Archived from the original on 2016-12-30. Retrieved 2017-01-08.
  33. ^ Partridge, Eric (2006). The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English: A-I. Taylor & Francis. p. 4. ISBN 978-0-415-25937-8.
  34. ^ Central Intelligence Agency (13 December 2013). The CIA World Factbook 2012. Skyhorse Publishing Company, Incorporated. p. 44. ISBN 978-1-62873-181-1.
  35. ^ Green, Jonathon (2 October 2013). Dictionary of Jargon. Routledge. p. 4. ISBN 978-1-317-90818-0. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  36. ^ Frederike K. Engels; Floris A. de Jong; Ron H.J. Mathijssen; Joëlle A. Erkens; Ron M. Herings; Jaap Verweij (2007), "Medicinal cannabis in oncology", European Journal of Cancer, 43 (18): 2638–2644, doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2007.09.010, PMID 17976975
  37. ^ Backes, Michael (September 9, 2014). Cannabis Pharmacy: The Practical Guide to Medical Marijuana. Black Dog & Leventhal. pp. 124–125. ISBN 9781579129514. Archived from the original on 2023-04-20. Retrieved 2017-03-12.
  38. ^ Realm of Caring Foundation (2014), Realm of Caring: About Us, archived from the original on May 4, 2014, retrieved May 31, 2014
  39. ^ Martinez, Tracy (March 7, 2014), Touring the marijuana facility growing plants to save children's lives, Al Jazeera America, archived from the original on March 8, 2014, retrieved March 7, 2014
  40. ^ Cordell, Kasey (May 1, 2014), Tangled Web, 5280 [The Denver Magazine], archived from the original on April 6, 2015, retrieved April 19, 2015
  41. ^ Allen, Greg (January 16, 2014), Florida Bill Would Allow Marijuana Extract For Child Seizures, National Public Radio, archived from the original on January 16, 2014, retrieved January 16, 2014
  42. ^ Waltz, Vanessa (September 18, 2014), Realm of Caring Announces Charlotte's Web to be Shipped to All 50 US States, Ladybud Magazine, archived from the original on October 20, 2014, retrieved September 19, 2014
  43. ^ Weed: Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports (full transcript), CNN, August 11, 2013, archived from the original on January 2, 2014, retrieved January 1, 2014
    See full CNN video Archived 2016-05-02 at the Wayback Machine.
  44. ^ Weed 2: Cannabis Madness, Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports (full transcript), CNN, March 11, 2014, archived from the original on March 15, 2014, retrieved March 15, 2014
    CNN's main page. Archived 2021-05-17 at the Wayback Machine See full CNN video Archived 2017-12-04 at the Wayback Machine.
  45. ^ Osborne, Hannah (June 20, 2014), "Charlotte Figi: The Girl Who is Changing Medical Marijuana Laws Across America", International Business Times, archived from the original on June 23, 2014, retrieved June 22, 2014
  46. ^ Schaaf, Melissa (September 25, 2014), Hemp Industry Overview, Boulder Weekly, archived from the original on December 6, 2014, retrieved September 26, 2014
  47. ^ a b "Skunk". Archived from the original on 2016-03-06.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cannabis_strain&oldid=1254640730"