Question: Is Marijuana a Vegetable or a Fruit?
As a child, distinguishing between fruits and vegetables seemed extremely simple. The distinction was focusing on sweetness: fruits were sweet while vegetables were savoury. Nevertheless, as you grow, things start getting complicated, as you may find it difficult to comprehend that a tomato is a fruit. Thus, the entire perception of edible plants complicates the entire aspect.
Studies reveal that the line that distinguishes vegetables and fruits is blurry. The concept is controversial, as the different plants that the process classifies as fruits can’t fit in your dessert diet plan or routine. Generally, the primary difference between a vegetable and a fruit will depend on the individuals you’re talking to. These individuals may include a chef or gardener.
While concentrating on the controversies surrounding the classification status of fruits or vegetables, marijuana is one of the plants many individuals haven’t considered their status. Nevertheless, this plant is becoming popular in the mainstream. It’s not long before you start seeing the plant poop in a variety of beverages and foods. So does marijuana fall under fruit or vegetable? Read through the post to find out the right classification of marijuana.
What is the Primary Difference Between a Fruit and a Vegetable?
Generally, a fruit refers to the part of a plant containing seeds. Thus, experts classified tomatoes as fruits as they contain plant seeds. Furthermore, experts classify squashes, zucchini, eggplant, and pepper under fruits due to the presence of seeds.
In contrast, vegetables refer to the plant's part containing food components. The roots, flowers, stems, and even the leaves can form the vegetables. Scientists classify this component into leafy and root vegetables. For instance, spinach and lettuce are popular leafy vegetables, while sweet potatoes and carrots are the common root vegetables.
Besides the roots and leafy vegetables, you can also find unusual stem vegetables, which include asparagus. Flower vegetables are also rare or lesser-used vegetables. However, do you know that a broccoli head contains various unopened flower buds? Thus, broccoli is one of the common flower vegetables.
Adding berries, such as gooseberries and blackcurrants, makes the issue more perplexing. However, the list only includes vegetables, except for blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries. Bananas also form part of the fruit vegetable list despite expertise referring to them as herbs or fruits. Lastly, we’ve got corn, a special grain or fruit vegetable.
The above details on the difference between a fruit and a vegetable are usually confusing. Due to the wide nature of this topic, you’ll require more interpretation and clarification to differentiate between a vegetable and a fruit.
So, is cannabis a fruit or a fruit? Many individuals may classify marijuana as a fruit as it contains fruits.
Despite the confusion and discussion on the classification of marijuana, the plant doesn’t fall in the fruit category.
Let’s look at the comprehensive anatomy of the marijuana plant to understand why you can’t classify this plant as a fruit.
Anatomy of the Marijuana Plant
Understanding the anatomy and phytotomy of this plant is vital to helping you understand whether to classify it as a fruit or vegetable.
The marijuana plant contains four primary structures. These structures include the leaves, all-important flowers, roots, and stems. These structures play vital roles in enhancing the growth and productivity of the plant in different functions.
Roots are vital to plant parts that enhance the uptake of water and minerals from the soil. Furthermore, the roots help provide the plants with physical anchorage. The physical anchor prevents the wind from blowing the plant or water from washing this plant away.
Stem plays an essential role in supporting the different parts of the plants. Besides supporting the plants, stems are vital in transporting nutrients and water the roots absorb from the soil. The stems help to transport these components to the different parts of the plant.
Leaves contain the plant's chlorophyll, the green coloring or pigment of the plants. Chlorophyll is vital in producing or converting sunlight rays into energy through photosynthesis. In addition, the leaves enhance respiration in plants, as they contain small openings referred to as stomata to allow the exchange of gases.
Lastly, flowers are the primary reproductive part or organs of any plant. For instance, the female marijuana plants produce various clusters of flowers called colas, while the male plants have small sacs they use to store pollen. Studies show that coals in male marijuana plants consist of tightly packed sugar leaves and buds. Furthermore, white and shiny trichomes cover these buds. Remember, the packages of covered buds provide the best and most appropriate stuff for your needs. The packages contain the popular cannabinoids (CBD & THC) and terpenes.
Furthermore, marijuana buds contain pistils, which are dotted structures with tiny hair-like structures. These structures usually present a translucent white color, which turns orange or red as the crop grows and matures. In the female plants, these pistils are vital in receiving pollen grains that the male plants produce. After receiving the pollen, fertilization occurs and forms seeds.
However, fertilization and the formation of seeds isn't important process. Once the plants fertilize and form the seeds, they become less potent, making it hard to provide appropriate effects or benefits. Thus, experts advise that you weed out all the male plants from the garden immediately after you spot them. Getting rid of these plants will be essential to prevent fertilizing the female plants to produce seeds.
Nevertheless, generally, the basic function of the flowers on the marijuana plant is for the process of fertilization and creation of seeds. The creation of seeds is an important process that allows the plant to reproduce and continue the genetic line. So, why can't experts classify marijuana as a fruit?
Many marijuana enthusiasts have revealed the tricky or challenging ordeal that comes with finding a seed in their stash. These seeds usually sit in your stash and nestled snugly in the bud without any flashy or thick covering. The lack of fleshy and thickness on the seeds doesn’t forewarn you of their presence. The lack of forewarning becomes problematic and results in an unpleasant experience.
Despite many individuals concluding that cannabis seeds represent this plant's fruit, these seeds are slightly different. The seeds do resemble fruits or nature, like peaches or apples. This fact has created more confusion when classifying these plants as fruits or vegetables.
So, if cannabis doesn’t fall under the fruit category, is it a vegetable?
Read through the proceeding section to discover if marijuana is a vegetable.
Does Marijuana Fall Under Vegetables?
Unlike fruits, a vegetable is an essential part of any plant. Studies show that these are the edible parts of the plant. Thus, theoretically, cannabis may fall under the vegetable category, as it’s the plant part you consume. However, to consume the plant as a vegetable, you’ll have to chop or cut the leaves and branches before turning them into a salad and incorporating them into your meals. Evidently, it’ll be one of the worst ways of consuming marijuana, which you wouldn't wish to have.
Marijuana has a pleasant and pretty distinctive taste that makes most individuals enjoy them. However, the taste and aroma may not suit every user or weed enthusiast. However, various studies reveal the reasons for considering or using marijuana as a vegetable might be the best idea. Let’s look at the different reasons for consuming marijuana as a vegetable is the best idea.
Marijuana plants come with leaves rich in fiber, essential to enhance a healthy digestive system. Furthermore, the fibers in marijuana leaves provide vital minerals and amino acids. Magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium are essential and healthy minerals in marijuana leaves.
Thus, taking marijuana leaves allows you to enjoy the different properties, and health benefits these minerals and amino acids offer. Despite the flowers providing most marijuana terpenes and cannabinoids, you can also find some concentration in the leaves. These compounds are vital as they offer various beneficial properties, such as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, etc., to improve your quality of life.
Does Eating Raw Marijuana Get You High?
Studies show that eating raw marijuana plants doesn’t result in any form of ‘highness.’ THC is the cannabinoid in weed responsible for ‘highness’ after consuming marijuana. Therefore, you need to heat your marijuana or weeds through decarboxylation to result in the effect. Decarboxylation is an essential process that activates THC to stimulate the different effects. Despite raw marijuana leaves containing some cannabinoids, like CBDA, it’ll be safe to include some cannabis leaves in your breakfast smoothie. You’ll enjoy your marijuana-infused smoothie without worrying about feeling ‘high’ early in the day.
Many individuals avoiding getting high will consider eating raw marijuana leaves to enjoy the products. Nevertheless, over the past years, marijuana users have reported increased cases of allergies. Marijuana allergies may range from mild to severe. For instance, susceptible individuals may suffer from moderate nasal irritation, while some may have severe cases that lead to fatal anaphylactic shocks. Therefore, it'll be wise to be cautious when eating raw cannabis leaves to prevent adverse side effects.
Some individuals confusingly refer to fatal anaphylactic shocks as the ‘cannabis-fruit-vegetable syndrome.’ Despite the confusion, it’s a fatal condition, making it vital to be cautious when consuming marijuana as a vegetable. It’ll be vital to understand your body and check how allergies affect your systems and the proper control before considering it as a vegetable.
Is Marijuana a Herb or Vegetable?
Despite many individuals using or considering it as a vegetable, studies show that it’s more accurate to refer to it as a herb. Experts refer to a herb as the way you use the plant. For instance, you can use the plant as food, for ritual purposes, for flavoring food, etc. It generally revolves around the plant or plants' purposes.
While marijuana can’t fit in the herb category appropriately as oregano or basil, the plant has some common similarities with culinary herbs. Remember, most herbs have high terpenes concentration that enhances their strong flavors. Like the other herbs and plants, marijuana plants contain these aromatic oils (terpenes). For example, Linalool, a special terpene in rosemary and lavender, is also prevalent in specific marijuana strains.
Besides containing Linalool, cannabis also fulfills other requirements or things that make experts classify it as a herb. For many years, individuals have been using marijuana as medicine to alleviate various symptoms or conditions. Experts track early uses of marijuana to alleviate diseases in ancient China before spreading to other parts of the world. Despite the medication falling out of favor in the early 20th century, many individuals consider cannabis the best alternative to alleviate their conditions. Thus, the switch has resulted in numerous studies and research to check the benefits of this medical alternative.
Besides medical uses, some individuals have been using marijuana for religious rituals. Religious or ritual uses of marijuana were prevalent in ancient societies like the Scythians, and the drug also played a key role in the modern Rastafarian culture.
Furthermore, it sounds more accurate to call marijuana a herb than a vegetable because most users prefer to smoke it than eat it. It may take long before your marijuana leaves and stems from consumption. You can compare the frequency at which you can eat marijuana to the other vegetables.
Final verdict: Is Marijuana a Fruit or a Vegetable?
Classifying marijuana as a fruit, a vegetable, or both will depend on the context and the individual you’re asking. You can view it as a fruit due to its seeds, but not based on the traditional sense or meaning of the word. Alternatively, you can use its leaves as vegetables. However, its pungent taste makes it more useful and effective as a garnish than the main meal.
Therefore, it'll be more accurate to refer to this plant as a herb. Marijuana has a rich history of individuals using it for rituals and medical benefits throughout history. Despite the controversies, it’s not essential to understand whether the plant is a vegetable or fruit. It’ll be important to research and develop a proper understanding of this versatile plant and how to use it appropriately to alleviate your conditions and improve your quality of life.
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