Order Jungermanniales Genus Radula Rank Species | ||
Similar Radula, Flat‑leaved Scalewort, Laurelia novae‑zelandiae, Xanthoparmelia conspersa, Acmella | ||
Radula marginata (Wairuakohu) is a species of plant in genus Radula, a genus of liverworts. It is native to New Zealand and Tasmania. It has been found to contain cannabinoids.
Contents
Cannabinoids
Users smoking the plant have experienced barely-discernible to absent effects. The cannabinoid is not THC, the main psychoactive chemical in cannabis, but it is of similar molecular structure. The liverwort contains perrottetinene and perrottetinenic acid. The quantity of cannabinoid present is much less than in cannabis.
Legal status
The liverwort grows as a common weed. Owning, growing and distributing the liverwort is legal.
Radula marginata has a long history of traditional use as a rongoā (Māori herbal medicine), and is a taonga of the Māori people of New Zealand, so any attempt to prohibit its use would be a breach of the Treaty of Waitangi .
