What Is Cannabis? Role Of Enzymes In Cannabis

Broadly speaking, Cannabis, otherwise known as Marijuana or simply as weed, is a tall flowering plant with psychoactive properties and its consumption is commonly referred to as either getting an experience of being stoned or paying homage to its spiritual significance in many cultures throughout the world, nonetheless, the plant has more to offer.

Also known by other names through time like “麻 [Má];”, which is Chinese for hemp, used since as early as 2700 [BCE], the oldest reference to medicinal-cannabis use, predating history of any known written texts and inscriptions along with other references of Indian origin like Bhaṅgā [Sanskrit for Bhang/hemp] and many others, as the plant is indigenous to these two regions on the largest landmass in the north-eastern hemisphere i.e.Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent and is presently looked upon as the plant that can restore balance by various medical science and BioTech verticals. It may sound hysterical with puns related to keywords like marijuana, restoration, balance and world peace which is also plausible, however, that is not what medicinal-facts and biosynthesis were talking.  

The plant is known to be rich in cannabidiol, which is considered as an alternative to opium-based painkillers and drugs widely and legally used to help people undergoing chemo treatment for cancer; Hemp;[which is a reference to cannabis cultivated for non-drug use,] has proven to be a go-to option for fibre extractors and textile producer looking to adopt an alternative to flax/linen as their finished product is almost identical, unless observed under a compound microscope, however, hemp fibre is relatively longer, stronger, much more sustainable and needless to say, biodegradable. Furthermore, hemp-related innovations like hemp-plastic, also degradable and food-grade safe, is another alternative that has got the world’s attention amidst the ongoing, ocean-plastic pollution crisis that has threatened our ecological balance to the point of another mass extinction. 

Plus, having said plant: the oxygen is always free without any hidden conditions requiring investments in expensive fertilisers and toxic pesticides, making it easier for farmers and cultivators to produce. 

So, yes! The hemp plant can truly help in restoring balance.

What Do Enzymes Have To Do With Cannabis?

Enzymes are nothing other than a naturally secreted fluid that has catalytic properties for breaking down or degenerating complex molecules into simple compounds, present in every living organism in its varying forms. For example; one of the enzymes present in the human body is our saliva, which most of us know is where digestion begins, as our saliva begins to breakdown complex carbohydrates into simple glucose compounds and speeds up the absorption of nutrients in the body. Similarly, plants too require enzymes for breaking down complex nutrients into simple bio-nutrient compounds that are easily absorbed by the plants. However, unlike the human digestion process which begins with ingesting food from the mouth, cannabis, like most plants absorb nutrients from the soil through its roots.

It is essential that the soil for cultivation must be rich in microbes, as microorganisms secrete enzymes that processes nutrients like nitrogen, sulphur, carbon, etc into a much more bioavailable compound that are easily absorbable. Therefore, more microorganisms mean higher enzymatic activity which is a booming condition for cannabis or any plant/crop to grow. Thus, cultivation outdoors procures higher yields as the soil is wild and exposed to a great deal of compost which is why enzymatic activity can be overlooked in this condition, however, soil that has been used over time for indoor cultivation may end up losing its microbial content. This is why enzymes are physically introduced into the soil or the soil is treated with protein compost for exhibiting decomposition which is highest in microbial activity and microbial activity means enzyme secretion.