The 4 types of marijuana: cannabis and its characteristics

Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in the world, being its most known and popular form marijuana. Used for millennia as a medicinal element, today it is mainly used as a recreational drug or as an auxiliary method in the fight against the effects of certain ailments.

But we have to bear in mind that there is not just one type of marijuana, if not that both nature and human action have led to the existence of hundreds of varieties. In this article we are going to learn about some of the types of marijuana that exist, as well as their basic characteristics.

Cannabis as a psychoactive substance

Cannabis is a substance with psychoactive properties. Along with its derivatives, among which is marijuana, it is part of the group of psycho-dysleptics. It is a type of substance that produces alterations in psychic activity and perception.

Cannabis use tends to produce increased arousal and a feeling of euphoria at first for a then leave a relaxing effect on the consumer (being used by many users in order to reduce sensations of 

anxiety Y stress). It also causes the sensation of hunger and has antiemetic and anticonvulsant effects and even reduces the sensation of pain having analgesic effects. Disorientation and altered consciousness may appear, and in some cases hallucinations may even appear.

Marijuana

Cannabinoids are extracted from the cannabis plant, which has different varieties. In practice, the derivatives of this plant receive a different name depending on what part of the vegetable they come from, or in what way the consumed product is obtained.

We speak of marijuana when the element consumed is the leaves and stem of the plant, being as a general rule consumed in a smoked (although sometimes it is also ingested orally, as with those known as "maria cakes" or in the form of infusion).

Main types of marijuana

As we said, There are a large number of marijuana variants, depending on the plant from which the leaves and stem are obtained. Regardless of its origin, there are other factors that can alter existing types of marijuana, such as the amount of light required by the plant, the type of flowering it has (it can be a regular, feminized or autoflowering plant) or the time of year when it is obtained. An example is the time it is harvested or the amount that each variety requires. For example, purple marijuana is produced due to the accumulation of certain substances during sudden changes in temperature.

Then we indicate the three main types that can be found naturally, from which the hundreds of varieties that exist today have been hybridized and elaborated by artificial selection.

1. Cannabis sativa

Native to countries with a tropical climate, cannabis sativa is one of the best-known cannabis plant varieties. In fact, the typical leaf that people usually imagine when talking about marijuana is usually of this variety. We are facing one of the most consumed types of marijuana, generally from South America or Asia. They are usually tall plants, being the most frequent to see in outdoor plantations.

The psychoactive effects of marijuana extracted from this variety tend to be activating and psychoactive due to its high amount of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. Stimulates appetite and physical and social activity, causing feelings of euphoria. In many cases, its use is also associated with the presence of hallucinations, which may increase the possibility of triggering psychotic episodes and even contribute to the manifestation of disorders such as schizophrenia.

2. Indica Cannabis

Of Asian origin, it is one of the types of marijuana that can be found naturally, especially in countries such as India or Pakistan. This variety has an intermediate size, also having much wider leaves than other varieties.

Regarding the type of effects, the indica variety tends to have a slightly narcotic effect more linked to physical relaxation and analgesia, having a high content of cannabidiol or CBD and low in THC. This variety is the one that is usually indicated medically, its use being frequent in the Pain treatment caused by different diseases, as well as by its anticonvulsant and relaxing effects.

3. Cannabis ruderalis

In countries like Russia or Siberia, a third natural variety can be found, cannabis ruderalis. This plant, although sometimes considered a variety of cannabis sativa, has the peculiarity that it has great resistance and the ability to flower regardless of the level of light. It is usually used in hybridization to create other varieties because of it.

Small in size, it is low in THC and high in CBD, so its effects are more relaxing than activating and is sometimes used medicinally.

4. Hybrids

The three above varieties of cannabis and marijuana can be found naturally. However, Based on them, the human being has been creating different varieties in order to obtain different effects or increase resistance or proliferation., through artificial selection in nurseries and plantations.

The type of effect that is obtained in each case depends on the type of hybrid that has been created and its origin. That is why this category is much more heterogeneous than the previous ones, since the combinations and the crossing of genes make the variety of products obtained very wide.

Uses and risks of marijuana

As mentioned above, marijuana use has very different uses. Its effects, together with the social perception that it does not cause as many adverse effects as other drugs, causes that despite being an illegal drug it is consumed with great frequency by much of the population.

Recreational use of different types of marijuana can be harmful, especially when consumption is high and frequent. It is usually used as an element that helps to relax or to obtain a feeling of well-being. Although dependence on this substance is not common, requiring almost daily consumption, and there have been no generally described withdrawal syndromes, it is not uncommon for intoxication situations and abuse.

Delusions and hallucinations (especially in the case of the sativa variety), disorientation, flashbacks or even reactions opposite to those that should be produced by the substance (depression and inhibition in the case of sativa and agitation and anxiety in indica) are phenomena that can occur after prolonged consumption and / or high amount. The so-called amotivational syndrome has also been described, in which extreme passivity, decreased judgment, apathy and lack of motivation appear.

However, if this substance is used medically it is also a relief for many people who suffer from different disorders. Since it stimulates the appetite they have sometimes been used to fight anorexia and weight loss secondary to other diseases (such as AIDS), as well as alleviating problems such as fibromyalgia or pain caused by cancer or the discomfort associated with some of its treatments. Its anticonvulsant effects are also interesting, and can be used to regulate different types of seizures. You can even visualize some cases of individuals with Parkinson's whose tremors have been reduced and even temporarily eliminated during the action of the drug.

Bibliographic references:

• Moore, T.H.M.; Zammit, S.; Lingford-Hughes, A.; Barnes, T.R.E.; Jones, P.B.; Burke, M. & Lewis, G. (2007). Cannabis use and risk of psychotic or affective mental health outcomes: a systematic review. The Lancet. volume 370, 9584; p.319-328.

• Santos, J.L.; García, L.I.; Calderón, M.A.; Sanz, L.J.; de los Ríos, P.; Izquierdo, S.; Roman, P.; Hernangómez, L.; Navas, E.; Ladrón, A and Álvarez-Cienfuegos, L. (2012). Clinical psychology. CEDE PIR Preparation Manual, 02. CEDE. Madrid.