Nature's most fascinating plants

Marijuana is one of the oldest plants cultivated by humans, containing 485 different chemical constituents. At least 85 of them are active cannabinoids. The first thing anyone should know about marijuana as a botanical specimen, is the 3 main strains.

All strains affect us in different ways, the cannabis Sativa strain is considered to give you an active, cerebral, and energizing high. The best time to use a Sativa strain would be in the daytime if you're the person with daytime responsibility as it helps with motivation and performance in various types of work. Sativa is actively used now to treat those with ADHD and depression. It's said to give a "head high" because of the uplifting effects it has on your brain. This plant is tall and slender with elongated leaves and yields buds with sweet and fruity aromas. Indigenous to Eastern Asia but now quite common everywhere due to its widespread cultivation.

Cannabis Indica produces a more calm and serene high, best to be used at night time as a sleep aid. This strain has a much more noticeable effect on the body like dry mouth, red eyes, and physical relaxation. Native to Afghanistan and India but just like Sativa, is very common due to the widespread cultivation. This plant bears wide and short leaves and can grow to a height of usually 2 meters, yielding buds with skunky and earthy aromas.

Finally the most prosaic member of the marijuana family, cannabis Ruderalis. A small and scrawny plant that can only reach a maximum height of 2.5 feet. Ruderalis can grow in conditions that would kill most marijuana plants and many years ago it grew wild, flourishing in land that was disturbed by natural disaster or human activity. Since then, growers have mastered Ruderalis and made excellent use of its high CBD content for medicinal purposes and creating powerful hybrids.

Tetrahydrocannabinol is the main psychoactive compound in marijuana. It operates on cannabinoid receptors in the central nervous system to produce the effects of a marijuana high; euphoria, relaxation, appetite stimulation, and a perceived heightening of the visual, oral and olfactory senses. THC also acts on the dorsal ganglion of the spinal cord to produce analgesic effects like pain relief and is highly effective in fighting off nausea which is why it is frequently used to treat patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy and patients with AIDS.

Cannabidiol has more healing properties, as opposed to psychoactive properties. It acts to protect the nervous system and has been used in the treatment of diseases such as epilepsy and schizophrenia. CBD also acts as an anti-depressant and anxiolytic, working to inhibit anxiety and panic.

Gender is important and only female plants produce buds that give marijuana both it's psychoactive propertie and the majority of it's medicinal properties, which is why people seeking to grow their own must obtain feminized seeds. Female plants that have not been pollinated by male plants produce flowers without seeds.

These days it can be rare to find a pure Sativa or pure Indica strain. Usually, they contain both, and if a strain is labeled "Indica" it's going to be a hybrid that's just Indica dominant. Although growers are still out there becoming more adept at combining strains to get the most desirable quantity of both Sativa and Indica.

"There are some medicines that treat nausea. And there are some medicines that increase appetite. But Cannabis is the only one that does both." - Julie Holland, MD

"My belief is that all pot use is medicinal." - Tommy Chong