Geographic isolation coupled with human selection of Cannabis sativa has given rise to the subspecies Cannabis sativa subspecies sativa and Cannabis sativa subspecies Indica. Modern day plant breeders have crosspollinated the two subspecies sativa and indica that are known as Cannabis hybrids. The therapeutic and medical value of these subspecies are distinct in their applications for the medical cannabis user.

The objective of the experiment was to empirically determine which of the subspecies vegetates most efficiently within the tropical regions of the world, in particular Jamaica. The data shows that despite the sativa subspecies having the lowest leaf area index, the photosynthetic capability isachieved with the highest amounts of branches, leaflets compared to the subspecies indica and hybrid cultivars resulting in asignificant difference (p < 0.05) being observed in the vegetative growth rate to biomass ratio.

Therefore, cultivating sativa type cultivars in the Tropics requires less energy input to achieve greater biomass output during the vegetative cycle.

This has given rise to the possibility of achieving greater yields with less inputs for the Tropical Ganja Farmer,depending on the characteristics of the sativa cultivars’ inflorescences