This study compares the genetics of various types of cannabis,covering hemp,"marijuana", high CBDs wild cannabis, and our government's NIDA cannabis that is used in most American cannabis studies. But before I get to the study, I want to talk a bit about that NIDA marijuana. Did you know that our government grows and distributes free "medical marijuana"? (The program is closed to new applicants. Sorry!) Every single month since the mid-1970s, our government has mailed out metal tins stuffed with 300 “marijuana cigarettes” to be used for medical purposes by certain US citizens. And all the while, our government claims cannabis has NO medical uses! And the government grows really crappy weed! “A close inspection of the contents of NIDA-supplied cannabis cigarettes reveals them to be a crude mixture of leaf with abundant stem and seed components (Figures 5-6). The odor is green and herbal in character. The resultant smoke is thick, acrid, and pervasive.” From “Chronic Cannabis Use in the Compassionate Investigational New Drug Program” https://www.cannabis-med.org/jcant/russo_chronic_use.pdf . (Worth reading!) OK, back on track. Seems what the NIDA is producing for MMJ and cannabis research has little to do with what we are smoking! Dr. El Sohly (the government's top cannabis researcher and cannabis producer) claims anything above 8% THC gums up the government rolling machines! (So how do commercial cannabis companies manage it?) Also, whether indica, sativa or hybrid, our "marijuana" is pretty much the same genetically. Link leads to the full study. Comparative Genetic Structure of Cannabis sativa Including Federally Produced, Wild Collected, and Cultivated Samples Comparative Genetic Structure of Cannabis sativa Including Federally Produced, Wild Collected, and Cultivated Samples Currently in the United States, the sole licensed facility to cultivate Cannabis sativa L. for research purposes is the University of Mississippi, which is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Studies researching Cannabis flower consumption rely on NIDA-supplied “research grade marijuana.” Previous research found that cannabinoid levels of NIDA-supplied Cannabis do not align with commercially available Cannabis. We sought to investigate the genetic identity of Cannabis supplied by NIDA relative to common categories within the species. This is the first genetic study to include “research grade marijuana” from NIDA. Samples (49) were assigned as Wild Hemp (feral; 6) and Cultivated Hemp (3), NIDA (2), CBD drug type (3), and high THC drug type subdivided into Sativa (11), Hybrid (14), and Indica (10). Ten microsatellites targeting neutral non-coding regions were used. Clustering and genetic distance analyses support a division between hemp and drug-type Cannabis. All hemp samples clustered genetically, but no clear distinction of Sativa, Hybrid, and Indica subcategories within retail marijuana samples was found. Interestingly, the two analyzed “research grade marijuana” samples obtained from NIDA were genetically distinct from most drug-type Cannabis available from retail dispensaries. Although the sample size was small, “research grade marijuana” provided for research is genetically distinct from most retail drug-type Cannabis that patients and patrons are consuming. Granny
“A close inspection of the contents of NIDA-supplied cannabis cigarettes reveals them to be a crude mixture of leaf with abundant stem and seed components Wait a minute... You’re telling me that the government isn’t offering pure bud cannabis cigarettes and instead is packing them full of leaves, stems , and seeds? Oh, I see. The 8% thc makes it too dank to roll properly and gums up the machine. Big Gov is the gum in the machine! Lol