Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is an annual dioecious plant. Today, breeding of monoecious varieties is common due to higher yields and uniform ripening. It is important to know the differences between industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis, which are botanically classified as the same species. Among many active substances that are formed in the glandular trichomes of female inflorescences there are many cannabinoids, including the most known cannabinoids delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). There are more different chemotypes of hemp which differ in the proportion of cannabinoids. Besides variety, growing conditions, age, part of the plant, harvesting time and method of harvesting also influence the cannabinoid content. Cannabinoid content is generally higher in plants under stress conditions. Increased cannabinoid production is due to drought and nutrient content in the soil, especially to nitrogen content. Temperature affects the cannabinoid content indirectly through soil moisture. In case of heavy precipitation, fewer cannabinoids are formed. The flowering time and consequently the formation of cannabinoids are also influenced by time of exposure to the light and by the light spectrum. Researchers believe that in the future we may obtain the results which can help us increase the yield of medicinally important resins which, besides cannabinoids, contain terpenes and a number of phenolic compounds.
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