Replies

From the same author and original document:

"Scientists who were the first to study the genus Cannabis clearly discerned different species. The father of plant taxonomy, Linnaeus, officially designated the Cannabis genus in 1753 when he founded the binomial system of botanical nomenclature still used today [4]. Linnaeus added the "sativa" appellation (literally, "sown" or "cultivated," i.e., used in agriculture), indicating the utilitarian nature of the plant. Since his time numerous attempts have been made for a coherent taxonomy of Cannabis. Species designations have come and gone [5]. . . "

" . . . In 1889, botanist and plant explorer George Watt wrote about the distinction between types of Cannabis : "A few plants such as the potato, tomato, poppy and hemp seem to have the power of growing with equal luxuriance under almost any climatic condition, changing or modifying some important function as if to adapt themselves to the altered circumstance. As remarked, hemp is perhaps the most notable example of this; hence, it produces a valuable fibre in Europe, while showing little or no tendency to produce the narcotic principle which in Asia constitutes its chief value."[6] . . ."

" . . . The key Cannabis species problem derives from the fact that there is no convenient species barrier between the varying types that would allow us to draw a clear line between them. In taxonomy, often the delineating line between species is that they cannot cross-breed. But disparate types of Cannabis can indeed produce fertile offspring, not sexually dysfunctional "mules."" . . .

" . . . The prevailing opinion currently recognizes three species: C. sativa, C. indica, and C. ruderalis. [10] "Industrial" types fall exclusively within C. sativa, although all Cannabis plants contain stem fiber and can have multiple uses in primitive societies where they are indigenous." . . .

" . . . Recent analytical advances are leading many scientists to believe that a more accurate and satisfying way to differentiate the different forms of Cannabis would be by their biochemical composition."

" . . . Thus, using the chemotype approach, Cannabis variants can be classified on the basis of their THC-CBD balance. This is accepted by a growing number of scientists. Gabriel Nahas, M.D., Ph.D., writes, "One should still distinguish two principal large groups of varieties of Cannabis sativa , the drug type and the fiber type. In addition to this classical distinction of these two groups, botanists generally accept description consisting of three chemical types: (a) the pure drug type, high THC content (2-6 percent) and lacking CBD[cannabidiol]; (b) the "intermediate type" (predominantly THC); and (c) the fiber type (THC<0.25 percent)." [16]"

Geo. Washington. Founder of his country, Patriot, Statesman, botanist, and biochemist ?

and further in the same document:

" . . . he 1937 Marijuana Tax Act defined marijuana as: "(A)ll parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L., whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any such plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such plant, its seeds, or resin; but shall not include the mature stalks of such plant, fiber produced from such stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of such plant, any other compound, manufacture salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of such plant which is incapable of germination." [18]"

Here the US government makes no distiction on the genus of the plant, only attempting to tax based on which part of the plant was collected (intended use).

The former USSR saw no distinction either, and required hybrids to be developed:

" . . . Under these circumstances, selection was used as a method to solve the problem of creating non-psychoactive varieties. Because of the natural lack of varieties without cannabinoids, as well as a lack of a suitable selection method, we found ourselves in great difficulty. The theoretical premise for selection was a law on hereditary variability formulated by N. I. Vavilov. Successful selection to lower the levels of harmful substances had been successful in lupine, rape, tobacco, hops and other crops. The creation of hemp varieties was preceded by working out a selection method and by additional study of the psychoactive cannabinoids. Three phenolic compounds prevail : cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabinol (CBN), the first two existing predominantly as their carboxylic acid forms. Cannabinoids accumulate in different amounts in all parts of the plant. Glandular hairs as well as cystolithic hairs are found on the upper leaves of the inflorescence. The heads of the glandular hairs serve as reservoir for the resinous fluid. The glandular hairs occur on the external surface of the bracts and up to 90% of their mass is cannabinoids (Clarke 1981, Hammond & Mahlberg 1973, Hammond & Mahlberg 1977)." . . .

" . . .The initial material was obtained mainly by the classical methods of selection and hybridization. The apical part of an inflorescence was taken from each plant to determine cannabinoid content by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). "

If there is a difference between marijuana C. sativa and hemp C. sativa, why would they have to breed out the THC for the hemp ?
(and where did Geo. Washington get his thin-layer chromatograph ?)