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| Cannabis sativa L. subsp. sativa (hemp) |
Hemp (
Cannabis sativa L. subsp.
sativa) has been cultivated for thousands of years. Its stalks yield high quality fibers which are used in ropes, clothing, paper, and sails. The word "canvas" is derived from the Latin name
cannabis. Of course many of us are more familiar with hemp's very close cousin,
Cannabis sativa L. subsp.
indica, better known as marijuana. Hemp and marijuana are essentially the same plant, with the former having been bred for strong fibers, while the latter was bred for high THC content. Marijuana yields low quality fibers, while you'd have to smoke kilograms of hemp to get a high.
