Cannabis terminology: a melting pot of Botanical classification and common slang in a pharmaceutical framework
Article Written by Jessica Kindynis BHSc Nat
Read time: 6-7 mins
Comprehending cannabis terminology is a complex and, at times, contentious topic. Complicated by vast differences in common slang and scientific plant classification, known as botanical nomenclature, mixed into a modern pharmaceutical framework.
As is becoming increasingly clear in our hypernovel social and cultural landscape, the language we use surrounding cannabis - both medical and recreational - informs the actions of individuals, clinicians, industry and broader cultural beliefs.
The language explicit in medicinal cannabis prescribing presents a mixed bag of cultural slang, botanical and ag-tech terminology, with an obscure tangent into microbiology. The fun and edgy strain names used to denote different types of cannabis are foundational to the misrepresentation of cannabis classification, which we will explore here.
While the linguistics around cannabis are so embedded that they are unlikely to shift in the near future, it's a worthwhile experiment to explore the confusion surrounding cannabis terms. These patterns might reflect tendencies to oversimplify complex subjects and an ongoing resistance to adopting more precise, scientifically accurate language - particularly in rapidly evolving fields like medical cannabis.
Untangling key cannabis terms: species, strains, chemovar and cultivars
There has long been debate surrounding methods for classifying plants. Different regions utilised different approaches until naming conventions were formalised in the 18th Century. Latin binomials are now standard, denoting a plant's genus and species (eg. Cannabis sativa).
Even since Latin binomials have been in place, many plants have been (and continue to be) reclassified or renamed as botanists gain a deeper understanding of their phytochemical and genetic profile - further fueling confusion.
As the conversation around cannabis medicines and cultivation evolves, the terms chemovar, cultivar, and variety are more accurate forms of classification than ‘strains’. A chemovar refers to cannabis grouped by its chemical profile, primarily referring to major cannabinoids.
Chemotype I: THC dominant
Chemotype II: Balanced THC:CBD
Chemotype III: CBD dominant
A cultivar, short for "cultivated variety," refers to a plant selectively bred for specific traits, such as cannabinoid or terpene profiles, and is genetically distinct from other cultivars. A variety relates to naturally occurring genetic variants within a species.
The story of cannabis strains entwines with that of species, so let’s start there, given species rank higher in taxonomy. In the case of cannabis, even after years of research, the consensus on species within the cannabis genus is still debatable.
Species: Cannabis Sativa?
The currently dominant theory is that all cannabis- both medical cannabis and recreational cannabis - derives from the Cannabis sativa species. This concept that all other species (eg. indica, ruderalis) are subspecies of Cannabis sativa was proposed in 1976 by Earnest Small and Arthur Conquist and is now the generally accepted convention.
Within this, Cannabis sativa is classified as the sole species, with subspecies further divided as follows:
C. sativa subsp. sativa var. sativa (low THC, with domestication traits)
C. sativa subsp. sativa var. spontanea (low THC, wild-type traits)
C. sativa subsp. indica var. indica (high THC, domestication traits)
C. sativa subsp. indica var. kafiristanica (high THC, wild-type traits)
Questions continue to be posed about the cannabis species debate as recent genetic research shows that these distinctions do not adequately capture the genetic diversity within the cannabis genus. Nor does our outdated use of the terms indica and sativa.
Indica vs Sativa
Despite certain areas of the scientific and cannabis cultivation industry moving away from these outdated terms, there are others, such as cannabis botanist Robert Connell Clarke, that still believe the indica/sativa species paradigm to be accurate.
Genetic sequencing of cannabis plants commonly labelled as “sativa” or “indica” has shown they do not always align with their expected genetic traits. For example, indica-type strains may have more genetically in common with what one might expect from a sativa-type plant.
Hybridisation of cannabis over thousands of years, which has rapidly increased in recent decades, has made for so much crossbreeding that maintaining a clear distinction between “sativa” and “indica” has become increasingly moot.
Prominent cannabinoid researcher Ethan Russo believes the common vernacular describing denoting indica/sativa is “total nonsense and an exercise in futility”. For years, he and many others in the medical cannabis scientific community have called for the abandonment of the indica/sativa paradigm for a detailed understanding of chemovars and their phytochemical profiles.
How do you name cannabis strains?
Moving now to strains, there is no scientific convention for naming cannabis strains, nor do “strains” have a taxonomical rank within botanical nomenclature. Without diving too deep into plant taxonomy, what the cannabis culture calls ‘strains’ in botanical or horticultural language could come under the classification cultivars.
For instance, tomatoes come under the binomial Solanum lycopersicum, yet it is the cultivar that give us a range of different tomatoes ie. Roma or Black Russian tomatoes.
So, where did the term cannabis strain come from?
The cannabis industry adopted the term strain from microbiology, where different bacteria, viruses and fungi manifest from the same species or subspecies, yet with slightly different genetic codes, creating ‘strains’.
The continued use of the term strain as a means to delineate cannabis cultivars seems merely a consequence of the human tendency to use familiar concepts for ease of understanding.
The public is cognisant with the terms” sativa”, “indica” and “strains”. Familiarity reduces decision-making fatigue, so by making broad assumptions about the action of a strain, patients and prescribers may find it easier to choose.
Strain names also offer a marketing tool for companies operating in both recreational and medical cannabis markets. Unfortunately, in an already stigmatised industry, pop-culture-inspired strain names do nothing to bolster confidence in the medicinal cannabis aspects of the plant.
Aside from cannabis strain names being redundant in terms of scientific classification, they aren’t reflective of an evidenced-based understanding of cannabis as medicine. While the terms chemovar, cultivar or variety are a more accurate description than ‘strain’, it is still challenging to account for the many variabilities that come with cultivating cannabis, especially regulated medicinal products. Which brings us to genetics...
Genetic Composition: Phenotype, Genotype, and Trait Expression
Whilst cannabis seeds produced from the same mother plant may have a very similar genotype—think fraternal twins, not identical ones—it is the environment (water, light, altitude, etc.) that activates the expression of these genes, giving rise to the phenotype. Thus, cannabis seeds with a similar genotype can exhibit a different phenotype and, therefore, cannabinoid profile to the mother or sibling plants.
The diversity of cannabis plants stems from their genetic composition, which includes both their genotype and phenotype. The genotype refers to the genetic innate in the plant—the blueprint that determines its potential physical and phytochemical traits.
Genotypes are particularly important in cannabis cultivation. The stability of a plant's genotype is essential for producing consistent results in cultivation and product formulation for medicinal use.
The phenotype is the characteristics exhibited by the plant, phenotypic expression is influenced by the genotype and external environmental factors during the growth of the plant. Two plants with the same genetic makeup (genotype) produced from the same mother plant but can exhibit different phenotypic expressions depending on factors like light, temperature, and nutrient availability.
The dynamic interaction between genetics and the environment can make it challenging to achieve consistency across cannabis products, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry where standardisation is key.
What’s really important for medical cannabis patients and physicians
While strain names dominate popular discourse, they oversimplify the cannabis plant’s true complexity. What is more important than the strain is the composition, quality and consistency of medicinal cannabis.
Many doctors who prescribe medical cannabis will typically focus on the specific chemical content that will be best for each patient. ‘Indica does x, and sativa does y’ is a significant oversimplification when in reality, the prescribing doctor’s decision is much more complicated.
By steering away from pop-culture-inspired strain names and focusing on chemovars, cultivars, and their cannabinoids and phytochemical profiles, there is a greater opportunity to effectively treat conditions and foster an evidenced-based discourse in medical cannabis terminology.
Sources
ElSohly, M., Radwan, M., Gul, W., Chandra, S., & Galal, A. (2017). Phytochemistry of Cannabis sativa L. Progress In The Chemistry Of Organic Natural Products, 1-36.
Piomelli, D., & Russo, E. (2016). The Cannabis sativa Versus Cannabis indica Debate: An Interview with Ethan Russo, MD. Cannabis And Cannabinoid Research, 1(1), 44-46.
Pollio, A. (2016). The Name of Cannabis: A Short Guide for Nonbotanists. Cannabis And Cannabinoid Research, 1(1), 234-238.
Reimann-Philipp, U., Speck, M., Orser, C., Johnson, S., Hilyard, A., & Turner, H. et al. (2019). Cannabis Chemovar Nomenclature Misrepresents Chemical and Genetic Diversity; Survey of Variations in Chemical Profiles and Genetic Markers in Nevada Medical Cannabis Samples. Cannabis And Cannabinoid Research.
Small, E., & Cronquist, A. (1976). A practical and natural taxonomy for cannabis. Taxon, 25(4), 405-435.
Zager, J., Lange, I., Srividya, N., Smith, A., & Lange, B. (2019). Gene Networks Underlying Cannabinoid and Terpenoid Accumulation in Cannabis. Plant Physiology, 180(4), 1877-1897.
Jessica is a Clinical Naturopath specialising in gut ecology, metabolic modulation, and nutritional psychiatry. She has contributed to major medical cannabis conferences in Australia, America and Israel, facilitated local educational events, and developed evidence-based resources for medical cannabis clinics and news outlets. Jessica's collaboration with Australian prescribers has involved crafting professional content that aligns with holistic health perspectives. She is committed to empowering practitioners and individuals with sustainable, nuanced knowledge by exploring the unique narratives of physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing.
Disclaimer: This information is shared with a global readership for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or business advice. All patient-related information has been de-identified OR fictional to protect privacy. Nothing in this article is intended to promote the use or supply of medical cannabis to members of the public.