It’s time for the weed report!

Whether you’re new to cannabis or looking to deepen your understanding, this foundational guide explores the plant’s anatomy, growth cycle, and the different ways it’s cultivated. We’ll also dive into what makes each cannabis variety unique — from genetics to chemical composition.

What Kind of Plant Is Cannabis?

Cannabis is an annual, dioecious, angiosperm — meaning it completes its life cycle in a year, has distinct male and female plants, and produces flowers and seeds. It’s also anemophilous, relying on the wind for pollination, and deciduous, shedding its leaves seasonally.

Structurally, the cannabis plant has:

  • Roots
  • Stems
  • Branches
  • Leaves
  • Flowers (a.k.a. buds — the most sought-after part)

At the top of the plant sits the cola, the large flowering head that resembles a star on a Christmas tree.

Inside the Inflorescence (Cola)

The inflorescence includes all parts of the flower cluster: stalks, bracts, leaves, and buds. Within it, we find two types of leaves:

  • Sugar Leaves: Small, trichome-covered leaves found close to the buds. These are often trimmed off and used in extracts or pre-rolls.
  • Fan Leaves: Large, lower leaves with little to no resin. These are best used in teas, oils, and edibles.

But the real magic happens in the trichomes — microscopic, crystal-like structures coating the buds. Trichomes produce the plant’s resin, which is rich in cannabinoids and terpenes, the key medicinal compounds in cannabis.

Sinsemilla refers to resin-rich, seedless female cannabis plants, which are preferred for medicinal flower. If pollinated, the plant shifts energy toward seed production, reducing its therapeutic resin content.

Parts of the Flower

  • Bracts: Small buds that surround and protect the seed. Trichome-rich.
  • Stigma: Hair-like structures that catch pollen.
  • Ovary: Where seeds develop after fertilization.
  • Pistil: Includes the ovary, bract, style, and stigma.
  • Trichomes: Glandular outgrowths that produce resin, cannabinoids, and terpenes.

Cannabis Family & Subspecies

Cannabis belongs to the Cannabaceae family (which also includes hops) and is divided into three primary subspecies:

  • Cannabis sativa: Tall, airy plants with uplifting terpene profiles. Native to equatorial regions.
  • Cannabis indica: Shorter, bushier plants from mountainous regions like the Hindu Kush. Known for relaxing, sedative effects.
  • Cannabis ruderalis: A hardy, auto-flowering variety from Siberia. Short stature and rapid life cycle, typically under 100 days.

Most cannabis on the market today is a hybrid — a cross of sativa and indica genetics, sometimes with ruderalis traits for autoflowering.

Cultivar: A cultivated variety (aka strain) created through selective breeding to highlight specific characteristics, like flavor, aroma, or medicinal effect (e.g., Blue Dream, Jack Herer).

Life Cycle of the Cannabis Plant

Cannabis follows a two-phase photoperiod life cycle (excluding autoflowers):

  1. Vegetative Stage
    • 18 hrs light / 6 hrs dark
    • Focused on root, stem, and leaf development
  2. Flowering Stage
    • Triggered by 12 hrs of darkness
    • Buds develop and trichome production ramps up

Growing Cannabis: Methods & Mediums

Cannabis is a remarkably adaptable plant that can thrive in various grow setups:

  • Soil
  • Hydroponics: Roots in water with nutrients
  • Aeroponics: Roots suspended in air and misted
  • Inert mediums: Like Rockwool or coco coir

Growing Environments

  • Outdoor (Sun-Grown): Harnesses natural sunlight. Produces robust terpene profiles and high yields but is limited by climate.
  • Greenhouse: Uses sunlight and supplemental lighting. Offers year-round cultivation and environmental control.
  • Indoor: Full control over temperature, humidity, CO₂, and light. High energy usage, originally adopted to avoid law enforcement during prohibition.

Types of Grows

  • Commercial: Large-scale, machine-trimmed, often mono cropped, and chemically managed.
  • Craft: Smaller-scale, hand-tended grows with more attention to detail. May still use some synthetic inputs.
  • Regenerative: Focused on sustainability. Uses living soil, companion planting, and no pesticides — producing some of the cleanest, most medicinal cannabis available.

Understanding Cannabis Cultivars: Genotype, Phenotype & Chemotype

With over 800 cultivars on the market, navigating cannabis requires understanding these three core concepts:

  • Genotype: The plant’s genetic blueprint.
  • Phenotype: The observable expression of those genes, shaped by environmental factors (e.g., plant color, aroma, size).
  • Chemotype: The chemical makeup — cannabinoid and terpene profile — determined through lab testing.

Because of terroir (environmental influence), even genetically identical plants can express differently depending on how and where they’re grown.

Why Chemotype Matters

The chemotype is the most accurate way to predict a cannabis cultivar’s effects and medicinal value. To identify a product’s chemotype, check its Certificate of Analysis (COA) — a lab report that shows:

  • Cannabinoid and terpene content
  • Microbial and fungal contaminants
  • Pesticides, heavy metals, and more

COAs ensure both safety and potency, helping patients and consumers make informed decisions.

Final Nug

Cannabis isn’t just a plant — it’s a complex, powerful botanical with immense medicinal potential. Whether you’re growing, consuming, or just curious, understanding its anatomy, life cycle, and chemical profile helps demystify this ancient medicine and guide you toward the most beneficial experiences.