I was recently watching one of the best documentaries on cannabis ever produced – “The Union“ (2007) – and it had made reference to a type of cannabis that I was unfamiliar with – called ‘ruderalis’ – so I wanted to check it out…
Sigh - ruderalis cannabis has nearly 0% THC – it’s wild hemp; if you’ve ever driven across the country along I-40 through the midwest, you probably drove past some along the side of the highway. Roll some up and smoke it… other than a sore throat, don’t expect to get any kind of medicinal buzz. You could smoke 100 of the fattest joints and nothing good would come of it – except that you’d be helping the government eradicate the country’s stash 
At one point in history, Science was unsure of how to classify ruderalis – whether or not it was its own species was a subject of debate. As of 2010, it has been classified as a sub-species of cannabis sativa.
In 2004, two of Indiana University’s resident biologists published an article in which they analyzed varieties of cannabis by chemotaxonomic methods (looking at the biological structures of the plant materials) and pointed towards this conclusion.
Here is a link to the abstract of this ridiculously-scientific study: http://www.amjbot.org/cgi/content/abstract/91/6/966
In terms of the size of the ruderalis plant versus the more well-known sativa/indica plants, it’s like Gary Coleman versus Manute Bol:
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons
Despite the poor healing qualities of pure ruderalis, all hope is not lost. Again, while a 100% ruderalis strain will not help your ailment(s), it is possible to cross a ruderalis strain with a sativa or indica to achieve something that’s smokable and helpful/medicinal. For those amateur growers who live in climates with adverse growing conditions, a ruderalis plant could help you achieve larger, more-desirable yields.
I’ve yet to see any ruderalis/indica crosses here in the States, but it’s often sold as medicine in Holland (IMO, it’s hardly worth making the trip for this experience alone… but as to the Red Light District – that’s a different story altogether).
10 years from now, between both its industrial viability and its medicinal potential, Cannabis ruderalis should be a lot more common than it is now; until then, I’d say to stick to what works.
-Jason
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*** since I first published this blog on March 1st, Gary Coleman has passed away and Manute Bol has fallen deathly ill – both important people from my childhood – kinda eerie… shoulda referenced a cheating ex-girlfriend instead, I guess…. I’m not bitter, though 6/9/2010
