Pubdate: Sat, 17 Sep 2005
Source: New Scientist (UK)
Copyright: New Scientist, RBI Limited 2005
Contact:  http://www.newscientist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/294
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

RASTA LENDS ITS NAME TO A THIRD TYPE OF CANNABIS

AS POLICE and dope smokers know, there are two types of cannabis.
Cannabis sativa sativa is mainly used to make hemp, while the indica
subspecies is prized for its tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content, which
produces the "high". But now Australian researchers have discovered a
third type of cannabis, called rasta.

Simon Gilmore of the Canberra Institute of Technology catagorised 196
sample plants according to the DNA in their mitochondria and
chloroplasts. The samples included plants grown for drugs and hemp as
well as wild varieties from Europe, Asia, Africa, Mexico and Jamaica.

The results showed three distinct "races" of cannabis. In central Asia
the THC-rich indica predominated, while in western Europe sativa was
more common. In India, south-east Asia, Africa, Mexico and Jamaica the
rasta variant predominated. It looks similar to the sativa subspecies,
but generally contains higher levels of THC.

Since the study was of DNA rather than a formal taxonomic study,
Cannabis sativa rasta is not yet an official new subspecies: the name
was the result of a competition in Gilmore's lab. Their work is
expected to appear in the journal Forensic Science International later
this year.
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