Plants That Look Like Marijuana

With changes to recreational and medical cannabis laws in Canada, it’s now easier to grow your own crop of homegrown weed. Unfortunately, there are different rules in different provinces, and even in different towns, so it can be confusing to know where to start. But with the right information and help from experts, you can get started growing weed with ease.

Cannabis prohibition has had a negative impact on public opinion about cannabis. The zero tolerance approach that dominated public consciousness in the 80s and 90s is no longer appropriate. There are still a lot of people who are over-concerned about nosy neighbours, bossy know-it-alls, and uninformed officers. If you are caught growing cannabis on your property, you may be harassed by these people.

Many people mistakenly report suspected cannabis plants to the RCMP, even though these plants may not actually be marijuana. This happens because people don’t understand the new marijuana laws in Canada, and it can be confusing to see a plant that looks like a marijuana plant.

Plants That Resemble Weed

We know that information and education are the best weapons we have against ignorance and misunderstanding, so let’s shine a light on some of the common plants that are often mistaken for cannabis plants by people who don’t know enough about the subject or about taking care of their own beeswax.

You might not be able to grow cannabis at home, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still get high! Many municipalities have added stipulations to the law that make growing personal plants illegal, but there are still some places where it is allowed. Unfortunately, many people who live in apartments or who don’t have a private space can’t grow their own plants. This leaves them out in the cold, and exposes them to potential legal trouble if someone thinks they’re growing marijuana.

Let’s consider a recent online scandal involving Ferrari. The posters for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal featured many Japanese Maple leaves, which some people interpreted as a sly reference to cannabis legalization being close by. Make of that what you will!

Japanese Maple is just one of many common plants that look like marijuana, but have no psychoactive properties of their own. People with less information than they need and more time on their hands than they should have could still try to make an issue of it if they were to encounter one on your property or in your home.

What Does Weed Look Like?

To make sure you’re getting the right type of cannabis, you first need to be able to identify the difference between a weed plant and the real thing. Female plants produce buds, and male plants don’t. Female plants are taller, and the leaves are denser. Male plants have sparser leaves and don’t produce buds.

There’s no way to know for sure which cannabis plant will grow up until after six weeks have passed, during the vegetative stage. But once the plant enters the flowering stage, you’ll be able to see the gender of the plant by looking for small pre-flowers and knowing what kind of pistils it has.

Female cannabis plants produce buds that are more popular than those from male plants, so when you’re buying seeds, you’re more likely to find pre-sexed female seeds than male seeds. However, be careful when selecting seeds or plants to start your own cannabis garden – always make sure to get male and female plants to ensure you get the best results.

Plants That Look Like Cannabis

If you don’t want to worry about accidentally growing a marijuana look-alike, or you just want some plants to camouflage your cannabis plants from nosy neighbors, here are some plants that look like marijuana.

We’ve already mentioned how the leaves of the Japanese Maple tree closely resemble those of cannabis plants, but there are other plants out there that can be mistaken for cannabis. Coral plants, for example, are often mistaken for cannabis because of their similar shape and coloring. But Coral plants are rare to find in gardens here in the United States, because they are found primarily in tropical climates in Mexico and South America.

Okra is becoming more and more popular in kitchens and gardens, but its leaves look a lot like cannabis leaves. Some people might think that the plant is smoking weed, and that could lead to problems. But the flowers on okra plants don’t look anything like marijuana buds, and you can easily tell the difference between them.

Cranberry Hibiscus is an unlikely contender to be mistaken for cannabis, as it is entirely the wrong color and doesn’t flower with buds. However, if I’ve learned anything in life, it is that people will always surprise you with new and fascinating ways to not understand simple things. The shape of the leaf is unmistakably similar to the cannabis leaf, and it is entirely possible it could be mistaken for it in low or dark light.

Cassava is a unique medicinal plant that can be helpful in treating a variety of conditions. Sweetfern is an invasive weed that is similar in appearance to marijuana, but its roots are actually poisonous until they are properly treated. However, Sweetfern is not psychoactive, and its leaves are not as harmful as those of other plants that resemble marijuana.

If you’re looking for a plants that look a little bit like weed, you might want to avoid Cleome, Texas Star Hibiscus and Kenaf. They are three more plants that resemble weed, and if you don’t want any potential complications, you’ll want to avoid them.

Real Canadian Medical Pot

If you’re feeling skeptical about all of this, consider the fact that some people have had police show up at their homes based on reports from neighbors or relatives who suspected that cannabis was being grown illegally on the property.

Since Canada is currently allowing citizens to grow their own cannabis plants on their own property, some restrictions still apply. For example, some provinces or towns place limits on how many plants a citizen can grow, and they’re usually hidden from view.

This new rule means that those who don’t have a private space in their yard that is hidden from the view of their neighbours living in an apartment or shared accommodation or a temporary setting will remain unable to enjoy the freedom that more affluent Canadians are able to. Furthermore, anyone with a cannabis plant or any of these plants displayed in public will risk having someone report them to the RCMP.