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Here you will find a list with explanations of the technical terms and abbreviations related to the topic of medical cannabis. With the help of the mouse-over function, you will get a preview of the meaning of underlined words within the page texts. If you click on these, you will be taken to the glossary.

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Medical
cannabis strains

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Introduction

01

Medical cannabis strains: Distinguishing criteria are the cannabinoids contained and the terpene profile

In most cases, cannabis strains are distinguished by the plant morphology. For example, Cannabis sativa L. has a higher growth form and narrower leaves compared to Cannabis indica – which is merely a subspecies of Cannabis sativa. Under similar growing conditions, sativa-type plants mature more slowly than indica plants.1.2

However, the botanical characteristics of Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica are not a distinguishing criterion for their therapeutic spectrum, although it was previously assumed that Cannabis sativa typically has a higher tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) than cannabidiol (CBD) content, Cannabis indica, on the other hand, has a balanced THC and CBD content.2,3 In recent decades, numerous hybrid plants have been bred, which are better referred to as sativa- and indica-dominant hybrids. Today, there are various cultivated varieties, i.e. breeding forms (cannabis strains) with stable genetics and constant ingredients.2 The individual strains also differ in smell, which is based on the respective terpene profile and thus the content of essential oils.1

Cannabis sativa subsp. sativa

  • narrow pinnate leaves
  • slender, tall habitus
  • elongated flower
  • late maturity

Cannabis sativa subsp. indica

  • wide pinnate leaves
  • compact growth form
  • short, dense flowers
  • early maturity

Comparison of plant morphology of Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica3

Effects of medical cannabis strains

02

Effects of medical cannabis strains: Cannabinoids and terpenes determine the therapeutic spectrum

The effect of Cannabis sativa is often described as stimulating, uplifting and energizing. Thus, Cannabis sativa strains should be more suitable for daytime application and are associated with a mood of well-being and optimism, but also hallucinogenic effects (so-called “head high”). On the other hand, Cannabis indica strains are said to have a more relaxing, soothing and pain-relieving effect and create a feeling of peace and serenity (so-called “body high").1,3

The most important criterion for the therapeutic spectrum of medical cannabis is the individual cannabinoid and terpene profile, because the effects of a particular cannabis strain depend on a whole range of factors: chemical and genetic profile, tolerability, dose and method of application.

Thus, for the therapeutic application, the content of the main active ingredients THC and CBD and the terpene profile are used as the primary distinguishing criterion, as these determine the pharmacological effect of the medical cannabis. The different cannabis strains are classified as “THC- or CBD-rich” and as "THC-CBD-balanced".

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Selection of the medical cannabis strain

03

Selection of the medical cannabis strain: Certificates of analysis serve as an orientation

Medical cannabis flowers are a natural product in which the concentrations of ingredients fluctuate from flower to flower. If the genetics of the mother plant also change, this also has consequences for the occurrence and content of the ingredients.

German law gives importers or manufacturers a fluctuation range for the ingredient contents within narrow limits and it also grants special permits for slightly deviating batches. Thus, different varieties with different genetics and contents of the main active ingredients THC/CBD as well as a different terpene profile can carry the same strain denomination.1

The manufacturer is not obliged to specify the ingredients of his medical cannabis strains and the botanical characteristics of the cannabis plants with their content of cannabinoids and terpenes. For detailed information, one should obtain the certificate of analysis for the respective medical cannabis strain.

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German law requires that the biochemical composition of each medical cannabis strain must be documented in a certificate of analysis. The adopted monograph “Adjusted Cannabis Extract" in the German Pharmacopoeia (DAB) is the basis for many THC and/or CBD-cannabis extracts and allows the use of various carrier oils.4,5

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References

Status: 2021

  1. Grotenhermen F, Timte P. Cannabissorten in Deutschland und ihre Inhaltsstoffe. http://www.cannabis-med.org/nis/data/file/cannabissorten_inhaltsstoffe.pdf (last visited on 17 July 2021).

  2. Chouvy P-A. Cannabis cultivation in the world: heritages, trends and challenges. Echo Géo 2019. https://doi.org/10.4000/echogeo.17591 (last visited on 17 July 2021).

  3. McPartland JM. Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica versus “Sativa” and “Indica”. 101-121. In: Chandra S., Lata H, ElSohly M. (eds) Cannabis sativa L. - Botany and Biotechnology. Springer 2017. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54564-6_4 (last visited on 17 July 2021).

  4. Eingestellter Cannabisextrakt DAB. 2020 https://dacnrf.pharmazeutische-zeitung.de/index.php?id=970 (last visited on 17 July 2021).

  5. Bundesanzeiger. Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte Bekanntmachung zum Deutschen Arzneibuch 2020. https://www.bundesanzeiger.de/pub/de/suchergebnis?4 (last visited on 17 July 2021).