hemp

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• grass
• hemp
• marijuana
• maryjane
• pot
• Hashish
• devil's lettuce
• kush
• reefer

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cannabis kafiristanica
• Cannabis sativa var. ruderalis
• Cannabis sativa f. vulgaris
• Cannabis sativa subvar. indica
• Cannabis sativa var. afghanica
• Cannabis indica var. afghanica
• Cannabis americana
• Cannabis indica f. afghanica
• Polygonum viridiflorum
• Cannabis chinensis
• Cannabis erratica
• Cannabis generalis
• Cannabis gigantea
• Cannabis indica
• Cannabis indica var. kafiristanica
• Cannabis intersita
• Cannabis lupulus
• Cannabis macrosperma
• Cannabis ruderalis
• Cannabis sativa f. afghanica
• Cannabis sativa var. chinensis
• Cannabis sativa var. gigantea
• Cannabis sativa var. indica
• Cannabis sativa subsp. indica
• Cannabis sativa subsp. intersita
• Cannabis sativa var. kafiristanica
• Cannabis sativa var. kif
• Cannabis sativa var. macrosperma
• Cannabis sativa var. monoica
• Cannabis sativa var. pedemontana
• Cannabis sativa var. praecox
• Cannabis sativa var. ruderalis
• Cannabis sativa var. spontanea
• Cannabis sativa var. vulgaris
• Cannabis sativa subsp. culta

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is positioned in the order Rosales and the family Cannabaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Cannabis, specifically the species Cannabis sativa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific presence across several regions within Northern Europe. In the southern reaches of this territory, it can be found growing in Denmark. Moving further north, the species is also distributed throughout Finland. The plant extends its range to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland as well. Finally, its geographical footprint includes the northernmost stretches of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cannabis sativa is characterized by its adaptability to diverse environments, spanning a significant vertical gradient from an elevation of 10 m AMSL to a maximum of 3000 m AMSL. This species typically thrives in open landscapes such as steppe environments and is frequently cultivated within crop fields, where it can exploit managed soil conditions. Regarding its symbiotic relationships with soil fungi, the plant does not exhibit mycorrhizal associations, meaning it functions without the presence of mycorrhiza.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

10 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields, steppe

Mycorrhiza :

no

Genetics

The genetics of Cannabis sativa are characterized by significant chromosomal variation and complex polyploidy patterns. The species exhibits diverse chromosome numbers, typically recorded as 20, 40, or 80, which reflects the evolutionary complexity and varying levels of genomic doubling within different cultivars. Despite this variability, the fundamental ploidy level for many standard specimens is 2, indicating a diploid state that serves as the basis for its genetic inheritance. This genomic structure facilitates the high degree of phenotypic diversity observed in the species, particularly concerning the regulation of secondary metabolites and morphological characteristics.

Chromosome number :

20, 40, 80

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Cannabis sativa is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire biological development—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. As a therophyte, the plant functions by completing its life cycle rapidly and surviving unfavorable environmental conditions in the form of dormant seeds. This life form strategy allows it to exploit seasonal resources effectively, utilizing its rapid growth phase to establish a robust structure before senescence. Throughout its developmental stages, it maintains this therophytic habit, relying on the ephemeral availability of moisture and light to fuel its progression from seedling to a mature, reproductive adult.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Cannabis sativa is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. This plant is a self-supporting species, meaning it does not function as a climber (such as a vine or liana) nor does it exhibit epiphytic behavior, as it is strictly terrestrial in its habitat. As an independent organism, it does not act as a parasite on other plants. In terms of physical stature, the plant exhibits significant variability in height, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 5 m, maintaining a mean plant height of approximately 1.925 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

1.925 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cannabis sativa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies on traditional nutrient uptake from the soil rather than capturing prey, and it does not function as a nitrogen fixer. The leaf morphology exhibits significant variability, with a mean leaf length of 11 cm (ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 15 cm) and a mean leaf width of 1.25 cm (ranging from 0.3 cm to 2 cm), resulting in a mean leaf size of approximately 48.65875 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 286 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and its structural adaptations for light interception and gas exchange.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length mean:

11 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf size mean:

48.65875 cm²

Leaf width max:

2 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.25 cm

Leaf width min:

0.3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

286 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cannabis sativa is primarily sexual, characterized by a dioecious mating system where self-fertilization is absent. The flowering period typically begins in July and concludes in August, utilizing both biotic and abiotic pollination syndromes, specifically involving both insect and wind-mediated processes. The plant produces small fruits classified as achenes, which reach a maximum length of 0.5 cm and a minimum length of 0.4 cm. These fruits are indehiscent, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release seeds. The resulting seeds are uniform in dimension, with a mean length and width of 3 mm (ranging from a minimum of 3 mm to a maximum of 3 mm). These seeds possess a mean mass of 0.01029 g, with individual seed masses varying between a minimum of 0.00622 g and a maximum of 0.019 g. For dispersal, the species employs an anemochorous syndrome, relying on wind to transport its offspring. Asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

0.5 cm

Fruit length min:

0.4 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

dioecious

Seed length mean:

3 mm

Seed mass max:

0.019 g

Seed mass mean:

0.01029 g

Seed mass min:

0.00622 g

Seed width mean:

3 mm

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cannabis sativa has 6 reported plant parts identified across 45 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower, seed, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Bioorganic chemistry
2. Data in brief
3. Natural product research
4. Cannabis and cannabinoid research
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flower

1. Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
2. Drug testing and analysis
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. Journal of experimental botany

Seed

1. Open life sciences
2. Frontiers in plant science
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. International journal of molecular sciences

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Scientific reports
3. Planta medica
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Journal of extracellular vesicles

Stem

1. International journal of nanomedicine
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Phytochemistry
4. International review of neurobiology

Fruit

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Chemicals

Cannabis sativa has 330 reported phytochemicals identified across 45 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include cannabidiol, Cannabinoids, CBD, THC, TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL.

cannabidiol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. International journal of molecular sciences
4. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
5. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Cannabinoids

1. Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.)
2. Biochemical genetics
3. Planta medica
4. Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde
5. ACS omega

CBD

1. Biochemical genetics
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of cannabis research
4. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
5. Planta medica

THC

1. Biochemical genetics
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
4. Planta medica
5. Human reproduction (Oxford, England)

TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Chemosphere
5. Journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics

Terpenes

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Chemosphere
3. Neuroscience letters
4. Frontiers in pharmacology
5. International journal of nanomedicine

delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Behavioural brain research
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Journal of applied microbiology
5. Perspectives in clinical research

Flavonoids

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. Scientific reports
4. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cannabigerol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemosphere
3. Journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics
4. Medical cannabis and cannabinoids
5. Scientific reports

cannabinol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemosphere
3. Journal of pain research
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Pharmaceutics

Activities

Cannabis sativa has 378 reported activities identified across 45 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Psychoactive, Antibacterial, Analgesic, Neuroprotective.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Chemistry & biodiversity

Psychoactive

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Cannabis and cannabinoid research
4. Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia
3. International journal of nanomedicine
4. Bioorganic chemistry
5. The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current treatment options in oncology
3. Chemistry & biodiversity
4. Journal of cellular biochemistry
5. International journal of molecular sciences

Neuroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Fitoterapia
5. Scientific reports

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia
3. International journal of molecular sciences
4. International journal of nanomedicine
5. Journal of applied microbiology

Anticonvulsant

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics
3. Frontiers in pharmacology
4. Journal of dietary supplements
5. CNS & neurological disorders drug targets

Antifungal

1. Fitoterapia
2. International journal of nanomedicine
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Future medicinal chemistry
5. Journal of natural products

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of applied microbiology
2. Biotech (Basel (Switzerland))
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. International journal of molecular sciences
5. Pharmaceutics

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia
3. Journal of applied microbiology
4. International journal of molecular sciences
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Cannabis sativa has 273 reported investigations on conditions identified across 45 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include pain, cancer, chronic pain, anxiety, inflammation.

Pain

1. Current treatment options in oncology
2. The New Zealand medical journal
3. Journal of cannabis research
4. Life sciences
5. Revista medica del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social

Cancer

1. Pharmacological research
2. Chemosphere
3. Bioorganic chemistry
4. Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
5. Journal of cannabis research

Chronic pain

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2. European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology
3. Journal of pain and symptom management
4. Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety
5. Drugs in R&D

Anxiety

1. Current treatment options in oncology
2. Chemosphere
3. The Israel Medical Association journal : IMAJ
4. Journal of paediatrics and child health
5. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Inflammation

1. Current pharmaceutical design
2. Clinical and experimental dental research
3. Journal of cellular biochemistry
4. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
5. Life sciences

Multiple sclerosis

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde
3. Revista medica del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social
4. Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety
5. Drugs in R&D

Nausea

1. Current treatment options in oncology
2. Journal of cannabis research
3. Current developments in nutrition
4. Cureus
5. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Epilepsy

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Chemosphere
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
4. Journal of cannabis research
5. Drugs in R&D

Depression

1. Chemosphere
2. Maturitas
3. Pharmaceutics
4. Journal of geriatric psychiatry and neurology
5. PloS one

Parkinson's disease

1. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
2. Chemosphere
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
5. Life sciences

Preparations

Cannabis sativa has 76 reported preparations identified across 45 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include cannabis extracts, Extracts, extract, extracts, flower.

Cannabis extracts

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Advances in biological regulation

Extracts

1. Biotech (Basel (Switzerland))
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Extract

1. Nutrients
2. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Extracts

1. Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.)
2. PloS one

Flower

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. ACS chemical neuroscience

Leaves

1. Natural product research
2. ACS chemical neuroscience

Marijuana

1. Revista medica del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social
2. Journal of natural products

Oil

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia

Seeds

1. International review of neurobiology
2. ACS chemical neuroscience

Cbd extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)