Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
cannabinoids depend on genetic factors,
whereas their concentration is influenced by
ecological factors (Small, 1979).
Genetic factors contribute to a considerable
variation in
depending on the relative proportion of
-9-
THC and CBD, substances that seem to be
related to each other can actually have several
chemical varieties distinguished (these are termed
chemical types or chemotypes) (Fournier, 1981,
2000). These are summarized in Fig. 19.2 and
their characteristics are as follows:
Δ
-9-THC content (1 to 3-fold),
whereas ecological factors exert much less influ-
ence (by a factor of approximately 1 to 2). Thus,
Δ
CH
3
CH
3
9
OH
OH
H
3
C
C
5
H
11
C
5
H
11
O
OH
CH
3
CH
3
CH
2
Δ
-9-THC
CBD
OH
C
5
H
11
OH
CBG
Fig. 19.1.
Chemical structures of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (
Δ
-9-THC), cannabidiol (CBD) and
cannabigerol (CBG).
6
5
Drug
4
Intermediary Drug
3
2
1
Fibre
0
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
CBD (%)
Fig. 19.2.
Main chemical varieties of hemp (
Cannabis sativa
).
