Cannabist Q&A: Pollen worries, shopping advice, warning labels
By Susan Squibb, The Cannabist Staff
Welcome to our Ask The Cannabist column. Clearly you have questions about marijuana, be it a legal concern, a health curiosity, a Colorado-centric inquiry or something more far-reaching. Check out our expansive, 64-question Colorado marijuana FAQ first, and if youre still curious, email your question to Ask The Cannabist at
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Hey, Cannabist!
If I was a grower, I would be very upset about anyone growing hemp on large fields, because of pollen drifting onto my sensimilla plants and ruining my seedless strain. Is there any concern out there? Gary Ganja Grower
Hey, Gary!
Yes, hemp is now a licensed agriculture crop in Colorado and marijuana growers have a real concern with pollen from industrial hemp plants cross-pollinating marijuana. Marijuana flowers, as you know, are unpollinated female plants, and cross pollination will essentially ruin the marijuana by making seeds.
I asked Canada-based international hemp agriculture consultant Anndrea Hermann for more information. According to pedigree hemp production regulation in Canada, a range up to 5,000 meters (3 miles) are required for isolation between different pedigree and different cultivars, Hermann said.
Hemp is pollinated primarily by wind. Hermann said most pollen travels about 100 yards. But depending on the weight and size of pollen and other natural conditions, wind-borne pollen can travel for miles, up to 2,000 miles away from the source. Hermann states, if the wind blow towards the marijuana plants, the hemp pollen will find the plants because the male pollen wants to pollinate the females. This is Cannabis Sex 101.
Bees can also pollinate hemp. Bees travel up to 3 miles from the hive.
Another factor is the hemp plants growing season. Hermann says hemp has an indeterminate growth, some plants will be in full seed set while others are just flowering. Other nearby crops maybe finished pollinating and the hemp crop still had pollen. If bees are hungry they will find both cannabis plants.
What is the solution to what Hermann calls a natural cannabis cultural clash? Basically, grow marijuana 10 miles or more away from hemp. Hermann clarifies, indoor grows with air filters and environmental controls can be effective, and pretty high tech to protect from pollination. Ultimately there remains a risk, this is cannabis plant sex were talking about! XO
http://www.thecannabist.co/2014/05/...n-seeds-pain-management-warning-labels/10289/