There are many differences between individual types of cannabis

Few people know that cannabidiol (CBD) was the first cannabinoid isolated from hemp. It was already isolated by Roger Adams in 1940, but he did not describe its chemical structure. Thus, the year 1964 is considered the official discovery, when dr. Raphael Mechoulam isolated, chemically characterized and researched the two main cannabinoids in hemp – THC and CBD. It didn’t take him long to realize that the effects of the two cannabinoids were different. With this discovery, interest in the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes increased markedly and reached its peak in the mid-70s of the last century. Then there was a decline, and renewed interest in cannabis intensified in the early 1990s with the discovery of specific receptors for cannabinoids in our nervous system and the consequent discovery of the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide.
Until the discovery and definition of the active substances in cannabis in 1964, its effects were researched within the framework of the whole plant or its extracts, and therefore in historical descriptions the effects of cannabis can only be seen in their entirety, and with the definition of THC and CBD, research into the effects of individual cannabinoids could begin. For many years, THC held the primacy as the main active ingredient in cannabis, although the first serious research was carried out already in 1980, which showed the positive effects of CBD in the treatment of epilepsy.

Sativa, Indica, Ruderalis

We know the types of cannabis: sativa, indica and ruderalis, which differ in morphological characteristics (some argue that these are separate species, but let’s leave that to the botanists…), but they are not defined by the content of individual cannabinoids or their effects. Depending on the purpose of use, the terms “industrial” hemp and “medical hemp” have somehow been artificially created, but they differ mainly in terms of THC content (below or above the legal limit, which in Slovenia is 0.2% THC). CBD drops/resin are obtained from so called “industrial hemp”, which contains less than 0.2% THC and thus does not cause psychoactive effects.

Industrial hemp has no psychoactive effects – not “set”, contains CBD and less than 0.2% THC, CBD drops and resin are obtained from it

In addition to CBD, medical also contains larger amounts of THC (in different proportions), usually “given” and used for medical purposes

In addition to CBD, recreational marijuana also contains higher amounts of THC (in different proportions), usually “set” and used for pleasure (recreational use).

Cannabis (Cannabis sativa)

Hemp (Cannabis sativa) is a plant that belongs to the Cannabis family (Cannabaceae), which includes e.g. also hops. It is a 0.5 to 6 meter tall dioecious plant, meaning one plant is male and one is female. Hemp grows quickly, is a strong, resistant plant that does not need special climatic conditions. Cannabis includes 3 subspecies:

Cannabis sativa ssp. sativa,
Cannabis sativa ssp. indica and
Cannabis sativa ssp. ruderalis

Indica vs. sativa
Indica is smaller, has wider leaves, a shorter flowering cycle and is therefore suitable for cooler climates; sativa is a larger plant, has a longer flowering season and is better suited to climates with a long growing season; ruderalis is the less widespread subspecies, native to Siberia and the northern Himalayas, and is the smallest of the three. Unlike the other two types, flowering does not depend on the light cycle, but on the maturity of the plant. It contains less THC than sativa and indica, so in the past it was not interesting to grow for recreational use; but because it has very small stems (it grows up to a maximum of 60 cm), it was also not interesting for cultivation for industrial purposes. It is low in THC and high in CBD and grows as a wild plant in Europe in Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, Latvia and Estonia.
The distinction between indica and sativa is established as:

indica – hypnotic
sativa – invigorating, creative
However, the range of effects depends on many factors:

  • from the ratio of the content of individual cannabinoids, terpenes and other substances,
  • from our body biochemistry,
  • tolerance,
  • doses and
  • way of consumption.

The hypnotic or invigorating effect of an individual type of cannabis is said not to depend on the type and amount of cannabinoids, but rather the terpene myrcene is responsible for the hypnotic effect of indica, while the high content of limonene is responsible for the invigorating effect of sativa. Terpene, which is also found to a certain extent in rosemary, oregano, pepper, greens, nutmeg,… or in lemon, fennel, cumin, mint, sage, basil… Recently, it is practically meaningless to talk about indica or sativa, because crossbreeds (hybrids) dominate, namely indica dominants or sativa dominants. Which is not even that important, since it would be more correct to distinguish individual plants according to their biochemical composition (qualitative and quantitative content of cannabinoids, terpenes and other substances).

Industrial vs. medical cannabis vs. cannabis for recreational use

The terms industrial hemp and medical hemp are somehow artificially created to make it easier to distinguish the intended use, but do not reflect different types or varieties of hemp. It’s like dividing the citrus family into sweet citrus and sour citrus. To be used for therapeutic purposes, both “industrial” and “medical” must be grown and processed under controlled conditions to ensure safety for users.

The term industrial hemp (eng. hemp) in general texts refers to a plant that contains a lower amount of THC than the legally permitted (0.2% dry weight in Slovenia) and thus has NO psychoactive effects and can be legally grown under certain circumstances (necessary special permit, certain varieties, minimum area 0.3 ha). In the past, “industrial” hemp was grown primarily, as the name suggests, for use in industrial purposes – for the production of rope, cloth, paper, food, as a building material,… since hemp fibers are one of the strongest natural fibers in the world, if not quite the strongest. In recent years, CBD drops and resin have been produced from “industrial” hemp.

Together with medical cannabis (medical cannabis or medical marijuana) has become established only recently and refers to a plant that is grown for the purpose of processing and use, as the name itself suggests, for medical purposes. It covers a huge number of varieties with differently defined contents and ratios, especially of the two main cannabinoids CBD and THC. In many countries (including 17 countries in Europe), but not (yet) in Slovenia, the cultivation, processing and use of cannabis for medical purposes is legal. For example in the Netherlands, the Medical Cannabis Office, which operates under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, grows 5 varieties with different precisely defined THC content or CBD (Bedrocan: Sativa, THC 22%, CBD <1%, Bedrobinol: Sativa, THC 13.5%, CBD <1%, Bediol: Sativa THC 6.3%, CBD 8%, Bedica: Indica THC 14%, CBD < 1% and Bedrolite THC <1%, CBD 9%).

The term recreational marijuana or also grass, ganja,… mainly refers to cannabis with a higher content of psychoactive THC (the average is increasing, in recent years in Slovenia around 16%, sometimes between 5 and 8%, in artificial growing conditions they can reach up to 30 % THC ), grown for the purpose of recreational use or “getting high”.