AS POLICE and dope smokers know, there are two types of cannabis. Cannabis sativa sativa is mainly used to make hemp, while the indica subspecies is prized for its tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content, which produces the "high". But now Australian researchers have discovered a third type of cannabis, called rasta.

Simon Gilmore of the Canberra Institute of Technology catagorised 196 sample plants according to the DNA in their mitochondria and chloroplasts. The samples included plants grown for drugs and hemp as well as wild varieties from Europe, Asia, Africa, Mexico and Jamaica.

The results showed three distinct "races" of cannabis. In central Asia the THC-rich indica predominated, while in western Europe sativa was more common. In India, south-east Asia, Africa, Mexico and Jamaica the rasta variant predominated. It looks similar to the sativa subspecies, but generally contains higher levels of THC.

Since the study was of DNA rather than a formal taxonomic study, Cannabis sativa rasta is not yet an official new subspecies: the name was the result of a competition in Gilmore's lab. Their work is expected to appear in the journal Forensic Science International later this year.
"Rasta"... I think it's a pretty stupid name for a "new strain" of Marijuana... Oh, wait, the name emerged as "the result of a competition in Gilmore's lab.". . . Now I understand... I wonder how much of those 196 plants they smoked before the dumbest of all interns blurted out: I've got it! Rasta! Like Bob Marley duuuude.... Like, he was like, the like SUPER Rasta... And so like, we're smoking and listening to his music... and it's like... like RASTA dude! It's RASTA!

I beleive, that if anybody should name a new strain/type of MJ, it would be us... the growers. Not these bunch of closet-tokers.

In India, south-east Asia, Africa, Mexico and Jamaica the rasta variant predominated. It looks similar to the sativa subspecies, but generally contains higher levels of THC.
Wow... now THIS is impressive...

They did a study, and get this... they found out chronic! "But generally contains higher levels of THC"... Hmmm... these morons re-discovered Cervante's and Zandor's work.

Those are my 0.015 cents anyways.... I await your replies in order to add my other half-cent.

-turtle420