'recreational' herbs

[the.fee.fairy]

I know i know the legal implications of this topic.

I want to assure you that i'm not looking to buy, or grow any kind of illagal plant.

However, here's the story:

We have birds - we have 3 budgies and a cockatiel. 2 of the budgies and the cockatiel live in an aviary outside. We feed the parakket mix, which we buy from the local pet shop.

When the birds are fed/cleaned out, the seed usually gets thrown on a patch of garden not far away from the aviary (i like doing this - it created a bit of a wild feel to this particular small corner). I let it grow for a while, especially this summer because i noticed a sunflower coming up, so i've not pulled up the weeds.

Here's the thing though: There is one 'weed' that seems to look a little suspicious. I've counted the leaves, and done all sorts of looking on the net to identify it. I believe i may be accidentally growing some less than legal weeds. Does anyone know how i can identify it for definite (without cooking or smoking it thanks... I have rubbed the leaves and had a bit of a sniff, and yes, it does seem to smell a little suspicious, but i don't know if that's my brain!

And, do birds really eat the seeds? I haven't bought any and planted them...

P.S. Feel free to delete this if you think it in any way compromises the site, i'd rather leave the weeds to grow and see what happens than lose SSH!

[Andy Hamilton]

This can happen it will likely be hemp which you need a licence to grow. Someone accidently grew one from bird seed on an allotment. It was on Gardeners world allotment special a few weeks ago.

[the.fee.fairy]

so...will it get people high?

I have no objections to it staying there...no-one can see the back garden.
I might even have to try to work out which seed it is in the bird food...

[hedgewitch]

Hemp won't get you high as it has a teeny tiny amount of THC ( the chemical that does get you high found in the other Plants from this family ).
The Seeds are small, almost round and brown in colour - about the length of a grain of Rice. It is commonly found in bird Seed.

[Millymollymandy]

No need to worry! I used to have hemp growing all over my old garden when I used to put mixed seeds out for the birds!

[Wombat]

tetrahydrocanabinol = THC

[Camile]

Don't ask me why or how ...

But the only way you'll differentiate it is when the bud starts appearing ..

the indian one (ie. the good one ) .. will have many little cristals on it .. if it does .. I request you have it double-checked by me !

And as far as I know .. Hemp simply won't get the buds ..

Good luck.
Camile

[wulf]

As mentioned, it won't get you high but could arouse people's suspicions; if other people can see the spot where it is growing, it would definitely be worth considering the hassle of a false drugs bust! On the other hand, if it is growing mixed in with a bunch of other bird seed plants and you're letting it go to seed to provide more food for them, you'll probably be okay (I've no idea how large hemp grows!).

BTW, we had some great sunflowers last year from seeds that sprung up underneath my mother-in-law's bird feeder!

Wulf

[Camile]

Do you have any kids ?

if so .. you might ask them what that plant is and see their reaction !

"I didn't put that here" !

[the.fee.fairy]

I'm 24..my mother's really worried about what it might be. I'm not...i'm secretly hoping...

Right, so the plan is to see what happens. I've actually got 9 of the plants growing.

Thanks for the help, and if it should crystallise, then i'm sure that i might need secondary backup for identification purposes... ;)

[genie]

well,

it seems you may have hit the jackPot!

Growing birdseed is a fine art like growing bonsai.

There is much to be learnt along the way, patience, time and TLC (not THC) ! are few of the things you shall need to develop such rewarding potplants!

Hint.. Like everything, If you need to get something done, give it to a woman... remember this as you shall reap the benefits!!

- do your research and it will pay off in the end!!

May the force be with you, young herb wizzard!!



genie x

[quote][/quote]

[Andy Hamilton]

I should have been clearer before you do need a licence to grow hemp in the uk. - it is illegal if you don't and you could be arrested for it. The trouble is hemp will revert back to canabis in three generations and it will have THC in it.

Back in my teenage years I knew someone who was growing a few canabis plants and who also had some harder drugs around the house too. They got busted and the police were not interested in the harder drugs but they were interested in the plants!

I don't wish to be a killjoy here but I felt I had to say something. I personally would love it if everyone could grow hemp as it is such a useful plant. - clothes, oil, rope all sorts of stuff can be made from hemp.

[bazil]

i really dont understand hemp.....if it has seed pods then it must make some thc....unless its cut down before it flowers.......but you can buy hemp seeds.......and trichomes are part of the seed pod....confusion

also the chickpea plant has trichomes which i found produce malic acid and other chemicals which insects dont like....of course insects are benificial in some cases and its all about balance and all this crazy spraying of crops is bad because the good insects are lost with the bad.....but such is the world of factory farming.......uuuum.......decentralise everyone decentralise.....

[the.fee.fairy]

Meh, if i get busted Andy, then i'm an unlucky girly!!

It should be fine. I mean..it's an accidental growing, not like i meant it...

3 generations you say!

Not that i would do anything like break the law...

[digiveg]

We had the same thing a couple of years ago - lots of little hemp plants coming up under the bird feeder. Our dogs went round biting the tops off them! However as they're complete clowns anyway it was impossible to tell if they were getting stoned or not...