Marijuana Plant Pictures

Marijuana plant pictures show that this drug comes from two plants that are very closely related, possibly even the same species. The plants are Cannabis sativa (marijuana/hemp), and Cannabis indica which is a bushier variety grown simply for its psychoactive (brain-altering) qualities. Hemp grows easily throughout the tropics, sub-tropics, and temperate regions, varying from a few feet in height up to 15 feet (4.6 m) or more in height as seen in pictures of marijuana. Once established, it reseeds itself and spreads to neighboring areas when birds eat the seeds. The defecated seeds may be scattered over considerable distances and produce new plants.

Marijuana plant pictures are able to depict the two genetic strains of hemp. One produces plants excellent for fiber with very little drug material. The other produces plants with weak fibers but it contains significant drug content (TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL, THC). Marijuana plant pictures depict male and female plants, both of which contain delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. THC is the primary mind-altering chemical in marijuana. Female plants, especially those that are not allowed to pollinate or fertilize other plants, contain the highest concentrations of THC.

Marijuana plant pictures are often unable to illustrate the fact that marijuana smoke contains sixty-one different chemical compounds called CANNABINOIDS that are unique to the plant. Scientists are not sure exactly how these compounds interact with THC to produce the effects associated with a marijuana high. They do know that the most important mind-altering compound in cannabis is THC.

Some marijuana plant pictures are able to show the cannabinoid compounds in marijuana that can be found throughout the plant—in the leaves and stems, for instance. But the strongest concentrations of THC and other cannabinoids are found in the buds and flowering tops of the female plants as shown in pictures of marijuana. The time of harvest determines the amount of THC in the buds. Female plants that are kept away from male plants will not pollinate and produce seeds. Instead they keep producing flowers that contain a powerful resin. This is the plant's signal that it wants to pollinate. These resinous buds are the strongest form of marijuana, called SINSEMILLA (the Spanish term for "without seeds").

Purchased on the street, marijuana and sinsemilla consist of green or brown buds, leaves, or stems as shown in marijuana plant pictures. The leaves and stems do not contain the concentrations of THC found in the buds and flowers, but people still smoke them to get high.

Hashish is another product of the cannabis plant. It consists of the dried resin from the flower buds viewed in pictures of marijuana and is also very high in THC content. The resin is gathered by hand from the cannabis buds and rolled into gummy balls. Once a quantity of the balls has been collected, they are pressed together into larger cakes or sheets that resemble dark-colored dough. A highly powerful product, hash oil, is produced by boiling hashish or marijuana in a liquid that absorbs THC such as alcohol, gasoline, or kerosene. The remaining plant material is filtered out, leaving behind a thick oil. Marijuana plant pictures illustrate how the color varies from clear to black, with yellows and browns in between. Hash oil contains the highest concentrations of THC. Just a drop or two on an ordinary tobacco cigarette will have an effect similar to smoking a whole dose of marijuana.

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