Link to the report: Final Report – The use of cannnabis for medical purposes

Although there are still a number of steps to be taken before medicinal cannabis is legal in New South Wales (and the rest of Australia), the report is a breakthrough. The committee makes no secret of the fact that all the parties involved spoken to by the committee are advocating the same point: people suffering from terminal illnesses can benefit from cannabis and must not be criminalized for using it. This is an important conclusion in the report, and a recommendation for the government.

Cannabis for terminal patients only

As it will take a while before medicinal cannabis can be prescribed legally, patients currently remain dependent on the illegal circuit to obtain cannabis. The committee is therefore advising a registration system so that a database of patients can be created who have a doctor’s exemption for the use of cannabis. A patient would then be able to purchase a maximum of 15 grams per time and would not be prosecuted for possessing this amount.

“The challenge now is to the leaders of all political parties to come on board with what now is a humanitarian relief effort,” Greens MP John Kaye said in a response. He continues: “This is not going to feed any recreational use of cannabis. We are talking about people who are mostly about to die.”

And this is indeed the other side of the coin. Not that the legalization of recreation use is left out of the matter, but that the recommendation is only applicable to people with a terminal illness who do not have long left to live. In fact, there are many conditions which cannabis can have a positive effect upon.

Steps forward for medicinal cannabis

Sue Hodges, who suffers from the nerve-damaging illness Multiple Sclerosis (MS), is also featured in the Newcastle Herald article. Although this condition is not positive for life expectancy, following the diagnosis a patient is not usually considered to be in the terminal stages of an illness. Many people who suffer from MS can definitely benefit from the use of cannabis, but are currently disregarded and excluded from the advice presented by the committee. However, the fact remains that a great step forward has been taken in the direction of legal medicinal cannabis in Australia and Sensi Seeds applauds this positive change.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) with head offices in Montreal, Canada has raised the limit for Cannabis. The very was 15 nanogram per millimeter (15ng/ml) so far. With this decision the to date limit for the substance THS was multiplied by ten to now 150ng/ml THC. Outside of competitions cannabis was not forbidden for athletes, however, during contents they were tested for it.

A speaker of the German National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO) comments on the news: “We have received the message from WADA and asked for further information on how to deal with the changes and as of when they would come into effect.”

The consumption of cannabis during Olympic Games is forbidden since 1999. Experts do not act on the assumption that cannabis affects improved performance, though they claim the calming effects of the plant could potentially lead to taking higher risks.

Numerous sport associations have again and again demanded to take cannabis off the list of forbidden substances in the past.

Source: dpa

The Australian newspaper Newcastle Herald wrote an interesting article this week giving several patients and cannabis stakeholders a platform to talk about their desire to legalize medicinal marihuana. Sue Hodges is one of them. She suffers from Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and the only time she is without pain is during her sleep. Sue has tried various medications in an effort to reduce the pain, but all of them have had unpleasant side effects. Because studies have shown that MS patients benefit from cannabis and given that 18 states in America, 14 European countries, Israel, Canada and New Zealand allow medicinal cannabis, Sue hopes that her government will consider legalization.

Fortunately her voice is being heard by her government. A committee of the New South Wales parliament has discussed the issue several times and will soon release a recommendation on the effectiveness of medicinal marihuana. Meanwhile, Sue hopes that the recommendation will lead to the legalization of the cannabis-based drug Sativex. This product is already successfully used in four Australian hospitals, but it is still on the list of toxic substances and that is not a list where cannabis belongs!

THC and CBD

For hundreds of years cannabis has been well known for its medical benefits. Two of the important substances responsible are called Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD). Research has shown that CBD creates a calming sensation in the body, reducing muscle tension and helping patients to relax. Indica varieties are the most effective in the treatment of muscle spasms and tremor resulting from multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. But chronic pain, arthritis, rheumatic stiffness, inflammation, insomnia, anxiety and related disorders are also perfectly treatable with Indica dominant varieties.

Sativa strains have a higher percentage of THC which give a more energetic ‘high’ effect experienced in the body and especially the mind. Research has shown that medicinal cannabis with a higher THC level is effective for the treatment of nausea due to chemotherapy or HIV/AIDS medicines. They stimulate the appetite and also help against migraine, depression, chronic pain and other related symptoms. And since Indica/Sativa hybrids were introduced, the list of healing properties has become progressively longer. Click here for more information about the medicinal cannabis strains of Sensi Seeds, including the one used by Bedrocan; the Dutch company contracted by the government for the cultivation and production of medicinal cannabis.

Associations

Australian interest groups such as Cancer Voices Australia and Pain Australia are already one step ahead in recognizing the medicinal benefits of THC and CBD. They are also trying to convince the government to legalize, not only for MS but also for many other diseases including cancer. In the Newcastle Herald Sally Crossing from Cancer Voices Australia says: ‘‘There is enough evidence, there is enough experience in other countries to say that if we do this in a sensible way, with appropriate safeguards, we can help a lot of people who are suffering, not only at the ends of their lives.”

Help Australia!

It is clear that Sensi Seeds supports everyone fighting for the legalization of medicinal cannabis use around the globe. Contribute to the awareness and share this message with the world! Hopefully it has a positive effect on the decision of the Australian government, and all governments around the world, to make room for those who so desperately need medicinal marihuana.

What is organic cannabis?

BioBizz is a well-known organic nutrient product range

There is much confusion over what constitutes organically-grown cannabis: many still believe that any cannabis grown in soil is organic, but much soil-grown cannabis is grown with chemical fertilisers and pesticides. In order to be truly organic, all nutrients and pesticides used must be natural in origin. In fact, purists would argue that no pesticides or nutrients may be used at all.

In terms of nutrients, ‘natural’ products that will assist in the growth and flowering of cannabis plants include bat and bird guano, worm castings, manure, blood and bone meal, and compost. Natural pesticides include plant products such as pyrethrum, capsaicin, tobacco and neem oil. However, even though these substances are from organic sources, there is still uncertainty about their effect on human health.

As the medical cannabis industry has grown in recent years, the demand for high-quality, safe cannabis has grown with it. As a result, many are now requesting organic cannabis from their suppliers, and are becoming increasingly concerned about the possible presence of dangerous chemicals in ‘regular’, non-organic cannabis.

Maine pesticide controversy

In March this year, Maine’s largest medical cannabis dispensary was found to be selling products that tested positive for nine pesticides, leading the state regulators to demand a promise from the dispensary, Wellness Connection, that the pesticides would be discontinued. The dispensary must also provide weekly status reports with the Division of Licensing and Regulation for two years.

Disconcerted patients spoke out en masse against this alarming disregard for patient health, and many have since sought alternative suppliers in protest at the dispensary’s negligence. Furthermore, patients are increasingly questioning the safety of their medicine and demanding organic cannabis, not just from the Wellness Connection but from other dispensaries too.

In Maine, the state does not allow any pesticide use on cannabis as the effects on patient health are unknown. However, this stringent attention to the well-being of the average medical cannabis patient is not consistent throughout the eighteen states with a medical cannabis program. 

California activist’s death attributed to spider mite pesticide

In California, the October 2005 death of ‘Sister’ Jane Weirick, an activist and buyer for The San Francisco Cannabis Buyers Club, has been partly attributed to prolonged contact with a pesticide, Avid, which was used to control spider mites by several of the growers supplying the club.

Sister Mary Weirick, a cannabis activist whose death has been attributed to the pesticide Avid

The trimming and packing team that Weirick managed came into close contact with cannabis daily for several years, and it is postulated that her rapid and mysterious decline in health was caused by the pesticide penetrating her skin. This prolonged contact ultimately resulted in allergy-like symptoms and headaches, and when Weirick was eventually hospitalised in December 2004, she was unable to walk.

A month into her hospital stay, Weirick’s right side became paralysed, and she was unable to move or engage in speech. She later recovered sufficiently to be discharged from hospital. However,  she remained in severe pain, and the very high doses of morphine used to control it were deemed officially responsible for her death several months later.

Lack of regulation leads to contaminated products

Despite the case of Sister Mary Weirick garnering substantial media attention, to date California has not implemented a set of guidelines for cannabis pesticide regulation. As a result, unscrupulous growers are producing cannabis which can, in some cases, contain levels of mould and pesticides up to sixty times higher than those allowed for edible produce such as spinach.

In 2011, Dan Tomalski of Michigan’s Northern Laboratory Services published test results collected from a range of local samples, both from licensed caregivers and street dealers, which demonstrated that several samples contained potentially-dangerous residual levels of three pyrethrins, permethrin, cypermethrin, and beta-cyfluthrin.

The dangers of pyrethrins

Permethrin, a powerful synthetic pyrethrin pesticide, has been demonstrated to impact negatively on human health

Synthetic pyrethrins, derived from the pyrethrum plant, can alter nerve function and potentially lead to neurotoxicity, can cause severe asthma-like symptoms, and may also be carcinogenic on long-term exposure. Inhalation of pyrethrins is not only dangerous when prolonged, but can also cause immediate irritation. Even more worryingly, pyrethrins can be highly toxic to honeybees, and have been implicated in colony collapse disorder. Despite this, many view pyrethrins as organic pesticides due to being derived from pyrethrum.

In these tests, the samples that exhibited traces of pesticides were all obtained in illegal street deals; many of the samples from licensed caregivers tested 100% free from pesticides. Michigan operates under a caregiver-only system, whereby small-scale, individual growers are responsible for supplying the needs of a maximum of five patients.

Small-scale grows place most emphasis on patient health

Maine, with its large dispensaries serving thousands of patients each, has a far bigger challenge ahead when attempting to keep licensed grow practices within legal limits. Caregivers often retain a strong sense of moral responsibility over the health of their few patients, while large dispensaries are often more impersonal, and may prioritise profits over patient health.

Until safe limits can be established for pesticides in medical cannabis, patients should be vocal in their demands for uncontaminated cannabis, as the long-term effects of pyrethrins and other pesticides have not been fully studied, alone or synergistically with the natural compounds found in the plant itself.

The best pesticide is no pesticide

With the correct degree of care and attention to detail, it should be possible to maintain a grow without resorting to pesticide use at all—keeping plants tidy and well-maintained, keeping the grow room or surrounding environment clean and tidy, and ensuring optimum conditions to promote healthy plants will all go a long way towards keeping an organic garden free from infestations.

However, there are times when even the most fastidious gardener may become overwhelmed by spider mites or whitefly, and in these cases, it is important to have an awareness of the effects and possible consequences of the various pesticides available, so that the most appropriate one can be used.

Environmental Impact Quotients for common pesticides

A look at the Environmental Impact Quotients (EIQs) for some popular insecticides, both organic and synthetic, yields some surprising results. Many of the best-known organic insecticides have high EIQs, as high or even higher than their synthetic counterparts: rotenone is derived from plant sources and has a EIQ of 29.43; sabadilla (derived from the Schoencaulon officinale lily) has an even higher EIQ of 39.41.

To compare, synthetic insecticides such as Carbaryl and Malathion have EIQs of 22.73 and 23.83 respectively. This does not mean that synthetic chemicals are generally less harmful than organics; indeed, some of the most dangerous synthetic organophosphates, such as fipronil and disulfoton, have EIQs of 88.25 and 101.83 respectively.

Some organic pesticides are highly toxic

However, the belief that a pesticide is better purely through virtue of being organic is clearly erroneous, if not dangerous. Many organic insecticides are powerful neurotoxins, causing slow, painful deaths in the species worst affected. Humans are often moderately affected, but populations of birds, fish and beneficial insects such as bees can be wiped out if exposed.

Some infestations are more effectively treated by synthetics: the number of applications required to provide the necessary protection is often fewer with synthetics, and the half-life and resultant by-products are fewer and less contaminating than with certain organic insecticides such as rotenone.

Organic pesticides may contribute to CCD

In fact, rotenone’s severe toxicity to fish, birds and bees has led to it being banned in many countries including the U.S. and Canada. Rotenone, sabadilla and many other organically-derived insecticides such as pyrethrins have been implicated in colony collapse disorder (CCD)—the mass honeybee deaths that have been occurring worldwide over the last few years.

However, although some organic pesticides may be more environmentally harmful than their synthetic counterparts, there are several which rank very low on the EIQ scale, and which have no known ill-effects on humans or beneficial insects.

What are the safest organic pesticides?

Insecticidal soap is an effective pest killer, and is completely non-toxic to non-pest species

Insecticidal soap is one of the safest organic chemicals. Harmless to bees, humans and domestic animals, these potassium-based fatty acids break down the cell membranes of soft-bodied pest insects such as aphids, spider mites and whitefly. While not toxic to humans, these soaps can cause mild irritation and may also cause plants to develop ‘spots’ or burned-looking patches with heavy use.

Neem oil is another relatively safe organic pesticide. The pungent, bitter oil acts mostly as a repellent, but can also break down various species of insect larvae. It is non-toxic to humans and honeybees, but can cause mild toxicity in cats and dogs.

Neem oil is a safe, non-toxic organic oil that will repel insects from a grow room

Finally, Bacillus thuringiensis, also known as BT, is a microbial insecticide—a bacteria that paralyses the digestive system of many undesirable species. BT is potentially the most important tool in the organic gardener’s armoury when it comes to insecticides: there are various strains of the bacteria which can be bio-engineered to only attack certain species, and there are no known long-term effects on the health of any non-targeted species.

Genetically engineered pesticides

Geneticists are already working on incorporating engineered strains of BT into the DNA of valuable crop plants, so that the plant will manufacture its own insecticide as it grows. These modified plants will then seed, and their offspring will also have the introduced bio-defense mechanism in their genetic material.

A simple guide to the process of BT gene insertion into crop plants to provide inherent insecticidal properties

While this could negate the need for pesticides once and for all, there are various questions currently being raised as to whether this could ever be seen to constitute organic farming, as there is a necessary degree of genetic modification at work. However, provided that the modifications can be proven to be safe, there would be few other ethical reasons to dismiss such future-thinking technology.

The goal is to produce healthy, safe and effective cannabis without causing harm to any part of the ecosystem, and the techniques by which to do so are improving with every day. If managing one’s own organic garden, it is highly advisable to stay up-to-date with current research, as our understanding of the processes involved is changing constantly.

Dry-sieve hash is usually light golden-brown in colour, but may be darker if pressed more

Hashish (or hash) is comprised of extracted cannabis trichomes, which contain the active compound THC, as well as over a hundred other cannabinoids such as CBD, CBN and CBG. There are many different ways to make hash, and some of these techniques have been developed over hundreds of years by traditional cannabis-growing communities, such as those found in Morocco’s Rif Valley.

Dry-sieve hashish

Perhaps the most popular method to extract hash is the dry-sieve technique. Here, fully-grown, harvested and dried cannabis plants are shaken or rubbed over a fine-mesh screen to capture the powdery, crystalline resin as it falls from the plant. The size of the mesh dictates the quality of the resulting hash: a fine screen will produce high-quality hash, a screen with wider gaps will produce lower-grade hash with more plant material contained within the mix.

When using the dry-sieve method, the length and intensity of the ‘shake’ will also produce varying results. To produce the highest-quality dry-sieve hashish, such as the varieties known as Double Zero, King Hassan and Ketama Gold, good-quality plants are shaken over a fine screen for just one or two minutes, to capture only the ripest and most developed trichomes. Again, shaking for longer produces lower-grade hash with more plant matter.

Hand-rubbed hashish

After the dry-sieve method, hand-rubbing is the second most popular technique. Widely practised in India, Nepal, Afghanistan and Pakistan (as well as many lesser-known hash-producing countries such as Bhutan and Myanmar), and exported throughout the world, hand-rubbed hash is almost as common in global terms as dry-sieve.

Hand-rubbed hash is usually dark, sticky and very pungent

With this method, the cannabis resin is typically collected from living plants still in the field. Hash-makers will quite literally spread their arms and run through fields of mature cannabis plants, catching the sticky resin on their skin so that it can be rolled into balls and left to “cure”: in the case of charas, this “curing” stage may be several years in duration.

The quality of hand-rubbed hash can be affected by the quality of the plant itself, as well as by the care taken to avoid including plant material. The time taken to properly cure the hashish is also very important, not only for hand-rubbed hash but for that made using any method. However, in the case of hand-rubbed hash, the curing stage is particularly important as the fresh plants contain a vast quantity of moisture that must be removed.

“Pure” cannabis extracts

As modern techniques to extract the resin from cannabis have improved, the resulting products have become exceptional in quality. Now, as the medical cannabis industry becomes fully established in the USA and elsewhere, the medical-grade hash produced by some of the licensed, regulated producers there are arguably among the finest cannabis products found in the world today.

Usually, high-grade extracts are made using a solvent such as alcohol or butane gas, or simply with ice-cold water. The theory is that the crystals must be separated to create hash in any technique, but a dry-sieve or hand-rub method will never achieve the level of purity that can be achieved by using a more precise form of mechanical or chemical separation.

With water or solvent extraction, the crystals are isolated from the remaining plant matter and suspended in solution before being filtered through a fine mesh and dried, and then cured for weeks to ensure that all traces of water or solvent have evaporated.

Water extraction

When using the water extraction method, a series of successively-smaller mesh-screen bags are placed one inside the other and put in a bucket or similar receptacle. Fresh or dried plant material is placed into a separate mesh bag with a larger screen size than any of the other bags (often 220 microns or above).

Then the cannabis-holding bag is put into a bucket or specially-adapted washing machine (Mila’s famous Ice-o-lator or Bubbleator, for example), filled with freezing water. The water is then agitated, freezing and hardening the crystals and allowing them to snap off and be suspended in solution. The mixture is poured into the bag-lined bucket, and as is passes through successively-smaller screen sizes, the larger particles and residual plant material are trapped.

Extracts like this quick-wash isopropyl hash are among the most chemically pure forms of cannabis available

This method produces several different grades of hashish, of which the smallest screen size (25-45 microns) is often the finest quality. The larger screen sizes (90-220 microns) produce hashish of lower quality with more plant material.

Solvent extraction

This technique makes use of alcohol or butane gas to separate the crystals from the remaining plant material. A screen is still necessary, but usually a single screen size is used, producing hash of consistent quality rather than the several grades achieved with water extraction.

As THC and other cannabinoids are soluble in alcohol and other solvents, the resin dissolves in the solvent and can then be separated. With butane, a device such as the HoneyBee is useful for making smaller quantities; for larger quantities, customised equipment is advised.

The HoneyBee consists of a plastic cylinder with a small hole for insertion of a gas can nozzle in one end and a series of small holes in the other. When the pressurised gas is forced into the plastic cylinder, it expands and forces the dissolved resin out through the holes and into a waiting receptacle.

With alcohol, the quick-wash isopropyl method is fast becoming the most popular, and is commonly used by medical producers in the USA. Here, cannabis is mixed with pure isopropyl alcohol for a very short time: a maximum of thirty seconds is advised to ensure the results are of high quality. The mixture is then filtered through a screen, and left to dry.

What is the “best” type of hash?

Solvent hashish is arguably the purest and strongest form available today, and as methods have improved, the early problem of residual solvent traces has largely been eliminated. However, working with volatile, flammable compounds can be dangerous; therefore, making one’s own solvent extracts should only be attempted by those with knowledge and experience of the risks involved.

Making water hash is also a challenging process, but carries practically none of the risks involved with solvent extraction. The results are comparable to solvent extracts at their purest, but lower grades may be disappointing. Many hash enthusiasts prefer water extracts to solvent extracts as they are seen as “cleaner” due to having had no contact with potentially-harmful solvents.

However, for those wishing to achieve flavour over strength, the extracts are often passed over in favour of dry-sieve or hand-rubbed hash. While extracts are pure and strong, they often lack flavour as the terpenes contained within the plant material are washed away. As more plant matter is retained in dry-sieve and hand-rub hash, the flavour of the parent plant is often retained.

Home Secretary orders drug policy review

Last week, UK Home Secretary Theresa May ordered a study into the policies of other countries who have successfully implemented a more relaxed approach to drugs legislation, such as Portugal, who in 2001 famously adopted a tolerant policy towards personal consumption of all drugs, whilst retaining severe penalties for illegal production.

The review will also look into the recent decisions in Colorado and Washington, and other states who are now mounting their own campaigns to legalise personal consumption of cannabis. As well as this, the study will investigate the multitude of designer drugs and ‘legal highs’ that are currently invading the UK market. The reality is beginning to sink in that such substances may be far more harmful to society than well-regulated, legal cannabis and certain other drugs would be.

However, May also rejected a call from the Commons home affairs select committee for a special report on drug policy to be made by 2015, raising questions as to how the government plan to proceed with any reforms, if at all.

medicinal cannabis in the UK

Currently, Sativex (from GW Pharmaceuticals) is the only legally-available cannabis medication in the UK

The medicinal cannabis industry in the UK has hardly progressed since GW Pharmaceuticals/Bayer’s Sativex was approved in 2003, and to date the only license-holder to grow medicinal cannabis in the UK is GW Pharmaceuticals, who maintains a grow operation near Porton Down in Surrey.

However, according to Clear UK, the party for cannabis law reform in the UK, cultivation of cannabis is now effectively decriminalised for medicinal growers. The Coroners and Justice Act (2009) states that proven medicinal use may stand as mitigating circumstances in cases of cannabis possession, due to the clear evidence of cannabis’ efficacy at treating conditions such as multiple sclerosis and some cancers.

While this is hardly a carte blanche for the everyday cannabis user, medicinal patients who are prepared to follow certain steps may find that their case will be viewed more favourably. Patients suffering from a diagnosed medicinal condition must first seek a prescription for Sativex from their GP; such requests are often denied on the basis of cost or suitability.

How mitigating circumstances may help the would-be medicinal grower

The patient must be sure to ask that the GP puts the request for a medicinal cannabis prescription on record, as well as noting that the patient claims to use cannabis safely and effectively, with no ill effects. It is important to request that, if the GP records that the patient is a cannabis user, there are clear annotations made indicating that no abuse of cannabis is occurring.

The indoor grow operation maintained by GW Pharmaceuticals, UK

Secondly, the patient must enquire into the possibility of a private prescription: again, costs are often prohibitively high, and active prescriptions are non-existent. Thirdly, assuming that the preceding steps have failed, the patient must write to the Home Office requesting permission to import medicinal Bedrocan cannabis from the Netherlands. Past requests have all been refused by letter.

Once the patient has demonstrably followed these steps, there is clear evidence of exhaustive attempts made within the legal framework to secure safe access to medicinal cannabis. The patient may then decide to commence the cultivation of a small number of plants for personal use: according to the sentencing guidelines outlined in the Coroners and Justice Act, up to nine plants will result in a penalty ranging from discharge to medium-level community order. For cultivation of 9-28 plants, the guideline indicates penalties ranging from low-level community order to 26 week’s imprisonment.

It is important to state that the information given here is strictly a legal loophole, and that cultivation of cannabis whether for medicinal or other purposes remains illegal throughout the UK. The process is not easy, and without a demonstrable case, anyone hoping to avoid prosecution by following these steps will be liable to the above penalties without mitigating circumstances to reduce the severity of their sentence.

This cave painting, found in Kyushuu, Japan, is an early example of cannabis art

The leaves are the most recognisable and well-known aspect of the cannabis plant, and have featured in our artwork for thousands of years, from regions as disparate as Japan to Egypt. Despite the great degree of variation found naturally in local populations of cannabis, the leaves do not alter greatly in appearance between varieties.

Cannabis leaf phyllotaxy

According to the standard phyllotaxy, cannabis leaves are compound (with multiple leaflets, as opposed to simple, where a single leaf grows from the stem) and decussate-opposite rather than alternate. Opposite leaves emerge in pairs, one each side of the stem, with a clear vertical space between the leaf pairs. Decussate leaves are opposite, but each new leaf pair is at a right-angle to the last pair. Alternate leaves emerge from the stem singly, swapping sides as the vertical height increases.

Cannabis usually exhibits opposite decussate phyllotaxy, but can also exhibit alternate or whorled phyllotaxy

Although cannabis leaves are usually decussate, as the plant prepares to flower the leaves may begin to emerge in an alternate pattern. Interestingly, rejuvenated cannabis plants demonstrate alternate phyllotaxy. Experiments with hemp showed that early-planted specimens, which flowered in low light conditions but did not die, began to put out new alternate leaf growth when hours of sunlight increased. The initial new growth was simple rather than compound, and as new growth continued, the number of leaflets gradually increased.

There is some evidence that this phenomenon leads to vegetative growth of greatly increased vigour, although the genetic processes responsible are not fully understood. It is thought that the evolution of opposite-decussate phyllotaxy occurred comparatively recently, from an alternate-leaved ancestor, and that the genes controlling the decussate phyllotaxy ‘switch off’ around the time of inflorescence.

Leaf differences between the three main subspecies

Putting aside the eccentricities of cannabis leaf growth for a moment, let us take a look at the differences between the three main subspecies of cannabis. C. sativa leaves are long and slender, often with pronounced serrations, giving the leaves a jagged, almost spiky appearance. The coloration of sativa leaves ranges from bright, lime green to blackish-green at the darkest. The largest leaves can often have up to thirteen leaflets.

C. indica leaves are much wider, and the largest leaves usually have fewer leaflets than the largest sativa leaves, at seven to nine leaflets. Indica leaves are commonly deep olive-green; very light green leaves are rare and often a sign of deficiency.

C. ruderalis leaves are generally smaller than the other subspecies’, as the mature plant is much smaller overall, and the largest leaves may contain anything from five to thirteen leaflets. Ruderalis leaves are usually closer to the indica in terms of width, although they can be much narrower than any indica leaf would normally be.

Mutated leaf patterns seen in cannabis

The incredible variation in cannabis morphology throughout the world has led to some very unusual leaf patterns occasionally occurring. Many of these traits are seen as highly desirable due to their visual dissimilarity to “normal” cannabis, as they can serve to disguise a crop from the unwelcome attention of law enforcement in areas where cultivation is illegal.

Webbed leaves

Webbed leaves are a common mutation, and one which various breeders have attempted to stabilise. Such efforts have unfortunately not prevailed to the point where webbed varieties are now commercially available, although in the past it was possible to source webbed varieties such as Ducksfoot in seed form.

Whorled phyllotaxy

Whorled phyllotaxy is another common mutation, although this is less desirable as a concealment trait as the plants still definitely resemble cannabis. However, many growers find the trait desirable for cosmetic purposes, and some believe that such plants yield flowers of higher potency, although this has not been demonstrably proven.

Australian Bastard Cannabis

Australian Bastard Cannabis is perhaps the most striking mutation yet seen in cannabis. It is believed that this mutation was first seen in escaped populations around Sydney, and breeders have attempted to stabilise the trait, although without commercial success. This mutation takes the form of hairless, succulent leaflets, usually with no more than five leaflets to a leaf. The individual leaflets usually do not exceed a few centimetres in length.

Despite the allure of cannabis that does not resemble cannabis, most attempts to breed viable strains using these genetics have ended in failure. Not unsurprisingly, the best results will usually be gained from healthy plants that exhibit normal characteristics. However, the success of breeding ruderalis genetics (which are poor in cannabinoids) with higher-potency varieties indicates that further research may yield improved results.

States that have decriminalization or medical cannabis

2013 promises to be an exciting year for the cannabis legalisation movement. Following the historic ballots in Washington and Colorado, a new sense of purpose has pervaded the campaigns in many countries across the world, as well as several more U.S. states.

Currently in the USA, fifteen states have decriminalised or legalised personal use and possession of cannabis. The total number of states with both decriminalised or legal personal possession and a medical cannabis program is twenty-five. If the states with legal hemp are also counted, thirty-two states have some provision made for decriminalised cannabis in some form.

The Czech Republic legalised medicinal cannabis in February of this year, followed by Italy, while  the city of Copenhagen has announced plans to experiment with full legalisation and regulation, and new dialogue has begun as to the possibility of legalisation in Australia. Worldwide (as of 2011), twenty-six countries have legalised or decriminalised cannabis, or do not have provisions made in the law, such as the case of North Korea.

In fact, North Korea is the only country in the world in which cannabis can be said to be fully legal. Most other countries have decriminalised or legal, recreational or medical cannabis, but there is still much work to be done before true acceptance is achieved in any country.

Arrests of black and Hispanic people far exceed those of whites, not just with cannabis offences.

The story behind the prohibition of cannabis and the racial element to its illegality has been discussed countless times in recent decades, since the legalisation movement gained momentum. However, what is less heavily scrutinised is the fact that this racism persists to this day, and shows no signs of abating.

One notable example of this inequality is the excessive incarceration rate for non-white people compared with that of whites: despite the fact that white people are slightly more likely to use cannabis, non-white people are far more likely to be locked up for the same “crime”. Of the non-white ethnicities, black and Hispanic people (who may technically be of any race, confusing the issue somewhat) are far more likely to be incarcerated than Asians.

California’s declining arrest rate not extended to non-whites

According to figures from the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice (CJCJ), a non-profit organisation whose aim is to reduce society’s reliance on incarceration as a means of punishment, overall arrest rates in California decreased by 40% between 1990 and 2008. Murder and rape cases declined by almost 60%, while in the same period arrests for misdemeanour cannabis possession leapt up by 127% – the only offence to increase over this period.

While California is taking steps to reduce excessive arrests, non-white populations are still suffering unduly.

In 1990, arrests for non-whites equalled those for whites (despite non-whites making up far less than 50% of the population), and 28% of the total figure was arrestees below the age of 20. In 2008, 62% of all arrestees were non-white and 42% below the age of 20.

Cannabis possession offences among non-whites rose from 3,100 in 1990 to 16,300 in 2008, an increase 300% greater than the rate of population growth within that demographic. The figures for black people in particular are even more alarming: African Americans make up less than 7% of California’s population but account for 22% of all cannabis arrests and 33% of felony offences.

The argument that more blacks and Hispanics consume cannabis is false

While this suggests to many that non-white populations, particularly African-American, are more criminally-inclined or use drugs at much higher rates, this has been shown to be incorrect: black people use cannabis at roughly equivalent rates to whites. Furthermore, within the 18-25 age group (that most likely to be subject to arrest), 16.5% of African-Americans to 18.4% of white people consumed cannabis regularly. This strongly suggests that black people are unfairly over-represented in cannabis arrest cases.

In the case of California, since the implementation of Senate Bill 1449 in 2011 cannabis arrests have declined substantially. 2011 saw a 20% drop in all youth arrests, with a 60% drop in cannabis arrests. However, despite this progress, non-white people are still subject to excessive arrest rates compared to whites, and this situation is in no way limited to California.

The situation elsewhere in the USA

In Colorado, recent figures from the Marijuana Arrest Research Project (MARP) tell a similar story. There have been 210,000 arrests for cannabis over the last 25 years; Hispanic people have been subject to an arrest rate 50% higher than that of whites, and African-Americans have experienced arrest rates three times that of whites.

New York’s disproportionate arrest rates have led to widespread criticism.

In Washington, 240,000 arrests were made over the same period, with arrests peaking in 2008 at around 15,000. Since then, figures have declined somewhat but still hovered somewhere above the 12,000-mark in 2010. Police in Washington have arrested Hispanic and Native American people at a rate 1.6 times, and African-Americans at 2.9 times, that of white people. These three racial groups combined make up just 14% of the state population, but account for 25% of cannabis arrests.

In New York, around 46% of African-Americans and 43% of Hispanics aged 18-25 were found to have consumed cannabis in their lifetime, compared with around 56% of whites. However, blacks and Hispanics are arrested for cannabis offences at even higher rates than elsewhere in the U.S., with 26,000 blacks and 16,000 Hispanics arrested compared with just 6,000 whites.

Without societal action, these trends will persist long into the future

Were the authorities to incarcerate white people in such an unjust manner, the backlash would be ferocious. The procedures leading to incarceration would be subject to intense scrutiny, and the racket would be exposed once and for all. Instead, we have a situation where judges are being found to have involvement in rackets sending young black men to prison in order to maintain a steady supply of cheap labour for the prison sector; this is a situation that Middle America is far more prepared to ignore.

For our species to move forward as a collective, we must cease to misrepresent the differences between the various races, and we must certainly cease to treat any race unfairly on the basis of such perceived difference.