Why is marijuana different colors?

As soon as you start getting into marijuana, you start to learn that there is much more to the plant than just smoking it and getting high. Seasoned users know what they like and how to get different results with the plant, depending on various factors such as the strain chosen, the terpenes and knowledge of what works with their body.

While marijuana is primarily green, it comes in many different shades, ranging from lime colored buds to bright purple buds. Where do these come from and why is there so much variability? Plants have thousands of compounds that affect their shape and color. Temperature, harvest time, and other factors have a major impact on plant color.

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Photo by Esteban Lopez via Unsplash

Most plants are green due to chlorophyll, the main compound responsible for absorbing sunlight and completing the photosynthetic process. The cannabis plant falls within this spectrum. Varieties with dark hues like purple, red, blue, and pink generally contain high levels of anthocyanins, a compound that appears after the plant has matured. These types of plants tend to have a stronger smell and are also very noticeable, which is why they are so popular, especially the purple ones.

Colors like orange and yellow are created by carotenoids found in vegetables like pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins. These chemicals are typically found in plants grown in alkaline soils.

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While the colors in marijuana make plants more attractive on a visual level and may affect their smell or feel, the drug’s effects are generally not altered.

When consumed, these different colors can give your body some of the benefits (like vitamins) these chemicals are known for and possibly even increase the entourage effect of cannabis.