2010/09/28

Cannabis

First of all, thanks for 100 Followers, you guys rock.
But special thanks goes to all the people regularly reading my posts and commenting, always reminding me why I keep this blog active and informative.
Now many of you have already mentioned that one plant is strangely very relevant to them. Cannabis.
I'm wondering why? This plant is used for many different textile products, nothing special about that.
Oh, yeah, now I remember, there was this other thing, too..anyways, let's start this.
The word cannabis is from Greek κάνναβις (kánnabis), which was originally Scythian or Thracian. It is related to the Persian kanab, the English canvas and possibly even to the English hemp (Old English hænep). In Hebrew, the word is קַנַּבּוֹס [qanːa'boːs]. Old Akkadian qunnabtu, Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian qunnabu were used to refer to the plant meaning "a way to produce smoke."
Cannabis is an annual, dioecious, flowering herb. The leaves are palmately compound or digitate, with serrate leaflets. The first pair of leaves usually have a single leaflet, the number gradually increasing up to a maximum of about thirteen leaflets per leaf (usually seven or nine), depending on variety and growing conditions. At the top of a flowering plant, this number again diminishes to a single leaflet per leaf. The lower leaf pairs usually occur in an opposite leaf arrangement and the upper leaf pairs in an alternate arrangement on the main stem of a mature plant.
Cannabis normally has imperfect flowers, with staminate "male" and pistillate "female" flowers occurring on separate plants. It is not unusual, however, for individual plants to bear both male and female flowers. Although monoecious plants are often referred to as "hermaphrodites," true hermaphrodites (which are less common) bear staminate and pistillate structures on individual flowers, whereas monoecious plants bear male and female flowers at different locations on the same plant. Male flowers are normally borne on loose panicles, and female flowers are borne on racemes.
All known strains of Cannabis are wind-pollinated and produce "seeds" that are technically called achenes. Most strains of Cannabis are short day plants, with the possible exception of C. sativa subsp. sativa var. spontanea (= C. ruderalis), which is commonly described as "auto-flowering" and may be day-neutral.
Cannabis, like many organisms, is diploid, having a chromosome complement of 2n=20, although polyploid individuals have been artificially produced. The plant is believed to have originated in the mountainous regions northwest of the Himalayas. It is also known as hemp, although this term is often used to refer only to varieties of Cannabis cultivated for non-drug use. Cannabis plants produce a group of chemicals called cannabinoids, which produce mental and physical effects when consumed. Cannabinoids, terpenoids, and other compounds are secreted by glandular trichomes that occur most abundantly on the floral calyxes and bracts of female plants. As a drug it usually comes in the form of dried flower buds (marijuana), resin (hashish), or various extracts collectively known as hashish oil. In the early 20th century, it became illegal in most of the world to cultivate or possess Cannabis for drug purposes.

43 comments:

  1. Haha YEAH! you finally did "that" plant!
    Was waiting for it, after the opium plant.
    Really cool information, good to know!

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  2. sure :D that was just a matter of time ^^

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  3. Wow that was very informative! Tell me any possibility of you reviewing Salvia Divinorum?

    Mike,
    Lifehack's guide to forecasting the weather without gadgets out now!

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  4. gratz on the post and thanks for another interesting post

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  5. cannabis is legal here in california as long as you have that medical card :)!

    ps. ive never smoked. straight edge for the win

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  6. Definately, Salvia Divinorum's on my list.

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  7. congats man! we love your blog just like every pothead does! :P

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  8. how can we make paper out of this plant aswell?

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  9. Don't understand most of your post considering I don't know much about Biology, but an interesting read!

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  10. An article on cannabis x) so educational

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  11. As interesting as it is to read about the finer points of cannabis, I think something that's worth mentioning (when discussing the less-legal side to the plant), is the incredibly heightened THC content in hydroponically grown marijuana. Much higher than Cheech and Chong or your parents smoked, and is responsible for a lot of the burnout that heavy smokers will experience...

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  12. More herbs!
    You've got a great blog going!

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  13. Ah Cannabis, knew you'd post it. =p Loving these though! Great post!

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  14. lol after I started visiting your blog I had a feeling cannabis was gonna come up soon =p

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  15. I as well as a few others are awaiting a review on Salvia Divinorum.

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  16. how could anybody insult this nice plant

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  17. pot should def be illegal. i mean look at all the deaths, murders and robberies it causes. oh wait...

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  18. Supportin :D
    Cool post bro!

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  19. this is one of my more favorite blog posts from you :)

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  20. title: "Cannabis" response: "Yum."

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  21. I have a question (I'm lacking knowledge on the subject), hemp is from this very same plant, correct? How is it that they are able to grow and cultivate hemp if the plant is illegal in most places?

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  22. It's a great herb that's been used to make all kinds of different products.

    I wonder why it's so dangerous and illegal...

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  23. also: very informative post. gj keeping i factual and bias free :D

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  24. hehe canabis... proobably my favourite xD make it legal :P

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  25. theres still alot more to cover on this plant.

    medical uses
    canaboid system etc...

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  26. SOOOOO appealing!
    May The FORCE Be With You!

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  27. now cover cannabis sativa and cannabis indica

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