What does marijuana look like?

The plant form of marijuana has a distinctive look, with its multi-pronged jagged green leaves.

Grown both outdoors or in controlled habitats, the marijuana plant has a main long, thin stem that branches off into smaller foliage. Along the stems, flowers, often times referred to as buds, bloom. Only female marijuana plants will produce flowers. Male marijuana plants do look similar to female plants, but can be distinguished by their thicker stems and the pollen sacs that develop where the stems meet the main plant.

The buds, which are the only part of the plant that is smoked, are also green in colour, and will often have coloured hairs and crystals, or trichomes, on them.

There are 2 main type of cannabis:

Sativa strains

Sativa strains are typically taller, with a loosely branched stalk and narrow leaves. When grown outdoors, they can reach heights of up to 20 feet.

Indica strains

Indica’s tend to take on a more bush-like appearance, with densely packed foliage and girthier leaves.

The growing period, which can last several months, sees the plant cycle through from seed to seedling, then from sprouted plant through the vegetative stage, and finally to the flowering and harvesting stage. The appearance of the marijuana plant changes dramatically through each stage, which can see the plant double in size.

Once the plant has reached maturity and is harvested, the cannabis has to be dried before it can be smoked.

Dried marijuana is typically trimmed to dispose of most of the stems and outer leaves, leaving the buds. These are usually green in colour, and progressively get browner as they dry out and age. The buds are still attached to small stems and you should be able to see small leaves and ideally, brown hairs and crystals on the buds.

If the dried cannabis is older, its colour may be brown and even gray. Instead of buds, it’s possible for dried marijuana to be cut up or crumbled into many smaller pieces, a mixture of dried leaves and stems.

Good quality dried marijuana will be green in colour and be in bud form, with visible trichomes on its surface.