Cannabis strain

[1] Varieties are developed to intensify specific characteristics of the plant, or to differentiate the strain for the purposes of marketing or to make it more effective as a drug.

[5] A third species, Cannabis ruderalis, is very short and produces only trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and thus is not commonly grown for industrial, recreational or medicinal use.

[6] Pure sativas are relatively tall (reaching as high as 4.5 meters), with long internodes and branches, and large, narrow-bladed leaves.

The subjective effects of sativas and indicas are said to differ, but the ratio of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to cannabidiol (CBD) in most named drug varieties of both types is similar (averaging about 200:1).

Among the marijuana community however, sativa rather refers to equatorial varieties producing stimulating psychoactive effects, whereas indica-type plants from Central Asia are used for relaxing and sedative drugs (THC:CBD > 1).

The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV Convention) grants limited proprietary rights to breeders over their seeds, under certain conditions.

[3] This is the case in particular of the Nagoya Protocol, a treaty complementing the Convention on Biological Diversity, in force since 2014 (2017 in the European Union).

[17] Patent applicants relying on Cannabis strains will have to disclose the origin of the variety, which often entails compliance under the Nagoya protocol or other similar mechanisms of Access and Benefit Sharing Agreement.

"Lowryder" was an early auto-flowering hybrid that retained the flowering behavior of ruderalis plants, while also producing appreciable amounts of THC and CBD.

Although this occurs spontaneously and ubiquitously in nature, the intentional creation of new varieties typically involves selective breeding in a controlled environment.

This prevents fertilization of the female plants, either to facilitate sin semilla flowering or to provide more control over which male is chosen.

[21][22][23] During the selective breeding process for medical marijuana, THC:CBD ratios are accounted for and accommodated to the needs of the client's preference/illness.

Due to the large genetic diversity and different geographical climates and environments, a wide range of strains and properties exist.

[35] Charlotte's Web is a high-cannabidiol (CBD), low-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cannabis variety and extract marketed as a dietary supplement under federal law of the United States.

These strains of cannabis are believed to have originated during the early 1980s in the United States prior to larger-scale development and popularization by Dutch growers.