Marijuana consists of the dried flowers, leaves, and stems of the cannabis sativa plant which is often referred to as ‘weed’. It is a greenish-grey colored substance that typically has a strong musty odor. The cannabis plant grows naturally in many areas of the world and has been cultivated for thousands of years for its fibers, seeds, oils, and medicinal purposes.
When identifying marijuana visually, it begins with its distinctive fan-shaped leaves. Cannabis sativa plants have long slender stems with large palm-shaped leaves that are attached to the stem at nodes. These fan-like leaves are serrated like a maple leaf on their edges and have darker green hues on the top with lighter colors found underneath which are covered in light hairs on both sides.
Beyond simply examining its leaves, one can identify cannabis by its bud structure when looking at female plants due to its chunky buds that are protected by tiny sugar leaves. With its strong distinctive odor and visual cues when looking closer at the plant itself or dried product, marijuana can be easily identified.
Why Is It Important To Know The Difference Between Plants That Look Like Marijuana And The Actual Plant?
Knowing the difference between plants that look like marijuana and the actual plant is an important skill to have. Growing a marijuana plant without proper permits can land you in legal trouble, so it’s important to be able to distinguish between harmless herbs and illegal cannabis plants.
The cops don’t want innocent gardeners getting caught up in misguided raids, so familiarizing yourself with common lookalikes is one way to stay in their good graces.
This knowledge can come in handy if you want to cultivate an herb garden with cannabis-like aesthetics but don’t necessarily want someone questioning your judgment or raising suspicion about its intended use.
Another benefit of understanding how to identify marijuana from harmless herbs is that it allows you to stay under the radar of nosy neighbors or other members of the community who may object to ‘weed growing’ efforts.
Plants That Look Like Marijuana
Knowing the difference between marijuana and other plants is crucial, especially if you have a green thumb and love to grow plants. To help you identify and distinguish marijuana from other similar-looking plants, here are some descriptions that will give you a better understanding of what to look for.
Not only will this help you spot the difference, but it will also prepare you to explain the contents of your garden to curious neighbors who may ask, “What does weed look like?” Additionally, being able to distinguish between these plants can also be useful in avoiding any legal or personal trouble.
Japanese Maple
The Japanese Maple is an elegant and ornamental tree that is known for its symmetrical foliage that graciously droops in the wind. Often confused with cannabis plants due to their weed leaf-like appearance, especially when the leaves are still bright, vivid green, this tree stands out with its red-colored blades during the summer season.
Its five-edged classic marijuana foliage may bear a striking resemblance to some cannabis plants, but it lacks many of the common attributes associated with weed such as potency and smoking properties.
Texas Star
The Texas Star is the perfect wildflower to have in your garden if you are searching for something that resembles marijuana in leaf shape and appearance. Its thin, pointy leaves hang from an erect stem while dotted amongst its branches are stunning pink flowers that form a star.
The beauty of this plant isn’t just great for aesthetic purposes, but it will also attract wildlife like butterflies and hummingbirds for an added bonus.
But don’t get too excited about growing your own cannabis! Those thin leaves might look like the real deal, but when it blooms the difference between them and the herb itself becomes extremely clear.
Chaste Tree
The Chaste Tree is a unique-looking plant that you wouldn’t instantly mistake for weed. Its distinguishing feature is its pointed but smooth green leaves that form to bunch up in each stem from the sturdy brown trunk.
It also produces soft, purple flowers during late Spring, making it even clearer that this isn’t weed. But looks aren’t the only thing that makes it stand out- this tree brings plenty of health benefits, specifically useful to women.
Commonly known as Vitex agnus-castus, the Chaste Tree has been used to effectively battle female disorders like premenstrual syndrome and postmenopausal symptoms due to its hormone balancing power.
Kenaf
Kenaf is a plant that looks very similar to marijuana, having star-like patterns, rough edge textures, and lines of cannabis leaves. Despite the resemblance, Kenaf leaves have lots in common with hemp and when it blossoms it produces white flowers and crimson flowers which make it impossible to confuse with cannabis. Commonly called Deccan hemp, this plant gives us some of the strongest fibers on the planet.
Cassava
Cassava is an edible root vegetable that many can unknowingly associate with weed due to its similar leaves. Each stem of the plant contains seven yellowish-green leaves, and its slim red branches are what usually make people mistake it for a weed.
However, the large, fleshy roots of the cassava leaves make this confusion easy to avoid if looked at closely. These roots are highly poisonous in their natural state but become edible when cooked appropriately.
Mint
Mint is an herb that people often think of when it comes to freshening up their breath. This is because mint leaves contain essential oils which are strong enough to give a powerful and flavorful smell that can mask bad breath. However, mint is more than just an oral hygiene tool; it’s also a plant rich in flavor that can be used to bring depth to dishes or brighten up the plate with its refreshing properties.
Mint contains many beneficial nutrients including vitamins A and C, iron, magnesium, and calcium as well as phytonutrients like rosmarinus acid and flavonoids, which make it a great source of nutrients.
Oregano
Oregano is an aromatic Italian herb commonly used to add flavor to pizza and other dishes. It has a hue that’s much lighter than weed plants, but its leaves closely resemble the look of a weed. Though it may not be the same colors or textures as marijuana, oregano is distinguished by its slightly serrated edges and bumpy texture that can fool anyone into thinking they’ve discovered something more illicit.
Skunk Cabbage
Skunk Cabbage is an herbaceous plant native to North America and classified under the Araceae family. This plant grows in moist or swampy areas, is easily identifiable by its foul-smelling odor and dusky green leaves. Its scientific name is Symplocarpus foetidus and it is commonly mistaken for weed due to its similar characteristics.
Although Skunk Cabbage looks like marijuana, it does not induce any psychotropic effects after consumption. On the contrary, it has a number of practical uses such as edibility, culinary purposes, medicinal benefits, and even pest deterrent!
Its roots are edible and can be cooked or eaten raw while other parts of the plants can also be consumed safely in moderation without having any side effects on your health.
Okra
There was an incident in Cartersville that is sure to make the people who lived through it never forget. The Governor’s Task Force for Drug Suppression mistakenly thought they had stumbled across a weed plantation and descended upon it, only to realize after closer inspection that it was just a garden of okra.
This mistake can be somewhat understandable; the leafy green vegetable has cannabis buds that can easily be mistaken for the real thing.
Final Thoughts
It is amazing how often plants that look like weeds come up! With marijuana becoming increasingly popular and readily available, it is important to be able to tell the difference between the two. Even though there are plenty of common plants that look like weeds, it still pays off to familiarize yourself with them in case you need to identify plants and keep your door from getting broken down by the police.
Knowing what plants actually look like weeds can help you distinguish between marijuana plants and other harmless herb garden vegetation.