Ribosomal DNA analysis as a tool for the identification of Cannabis sativa L. specimens of forensic interest.

A method is described for the identification of Cannabis sativa L., comparing the sequence of the nuclear ribosomal DNA Internal Transcribed Spacer II (ITS2) of an unknown sample with a known predetermined consensus sequence of Cannabis. Hemp ITS2 varied very little among cultivars, but was consistently different from that of hops (Humulus lupulus L.), which belongs to the only other genus of family Cannabinaceae.