Hello,
I have noticed more and more folks capitalizing the word cannabis whenever they write the word. I would ask those folks to stop doing so ...
The only time the word cannabis should be capitalized is when referring to the botanical name of the plant (re taxonomy), i.e., the genus Cannabis spp.
Italics are not used for the shorthand "spp.", "sp.", "var.", etc.; but often that rule is not followed. The shorthand "spp." stands for "more than one species", and "sp." stands for "one species" [1].
So, can well all agree to use lower case 'cannabis' when referring to anything other than the genus (in terms of taxonomy)? And can we all agree to only use capital 'Cannabis' when referring to the genus, species, cultivar or strain, etc.[2]?
Examples:
Thanks
[1] Because there is not sufficient data one way or the other, with respect to the genus Cannabis having a single or multiple species, I prefer to use Cannabis spp., instead of Cannabis sp. Also, for even better short hand, just use this: C. spp.
[2] The term "strain" is so badly misused in the cannabis world it's scary. What cannabis growers call a strain, is really a "cultivar" (unless it's wild, then it's a "variety"). A strain is just a plant from a seed or mother, ex., "NL#5" is the cultivar, and "plant 1" (from seed 1 of NL#5) is the strain.
I have noticed more and more folks capitalizing the word cannabis whenever they write the word. I would ask those folks to stop doing so ...
The only time the word cannabis should be capitalized is when referring to the botanical name of the plant (re taxonomy), i.e., the genus Cannabis spp.
Italics are not used for the shorthand "spp.", "sp.", "var.", etc.; but often that rule is not followed. The shorthand "spp." stands for "more than one species", and "sp." stands for "one species" [1].
So, can well all agree to use lower case 'cannabis' when referring to anything other than the genus (in terms of taxonomy)? And can we all agree to only use capital 'Cannabis' when referring to the genus, species, cultivar or strain, etc.[2]?
Examples:
- "What cultivar of Cannabis spp. are you growing?"
- "I love smoking cannabis!" (as in buds)
Thanks
[1] Because there is not sufficient data one way or the other, with respect to the genus Cannabis having a single or multiple species, I prefer to use Cannabis spp., instead of Cannabis sp. Also, for even better short hand, just use this: C. spp.
[2] The term "strain" is so badly misused in the cannabis world it's scary. What cannabis growers call a strain, is really a "cultivar" (unless it's wild, then it's a "variety"). A strain is just a plant from a seed or mother, ex., "NL#5" is the cultivar, and "plant 1" (from seed 1 of NL#5) is the strain.
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