The question of whether cannabis plants attract bees is a common one, sparking curiosity about their interaction with pollinators. The relationship between cannabis and bees is not as straightforward as with typical flowering plants that rely on insect pollination. Understanding the specific characteristics of cannabis and bee foraging behaviors helps clarify this interaction.
Understanding Bee Foraging Habits
Bees visit plants primarily to gather two resources: nectar and pollen. Nectar provides carbohydrates, their main energy source, while pollen offers proteins and vital nutrients for development and colony health. Bees possess sensory abilities, using visual cues like color, shape, and scent to locate food sources.
Many flowering plants have evolved to attract bees through vibrant colors, specific flower shapes, and enticing fragrances, often secreting nectar as a reward for pollination. Bees learn to associate these floral signals with the presence of food rewards. This co-evolutionary relationship ensures that bees efficiently collect resources while also facilitating plant reproduction. The primary goal remains collecting nectar and pollen.
Cannabis Plant Characteristics and Bee Interaction
Cannabis plants are primarily wind-pollinated. This means they do not typically produce nectar, the primary attractant for most bees. Unlike insect-pollinated flowers, cannabis flowers lack showy petals, bright colors, or strong fragrances. Male cannabis plants produce pollen, dispersed by wind to fertilize female plants.
Despite not offering nectar, bees are occasionally observed on cannabis plants. When bees do visit, they are usually collecting pollen from male plants, particularly during periods when other floral resources are scarce. Cannabis pollen can serve as a protein source for bees, though it is often considered less nutritious than pollen from many other flowering plants. Bees might also be attracted to cannabis plants for other reasons, such as collecting resin for propolis production or seeking honeydew excreted by sap-sucking insects present on the plants.
Impact on Bee Health and Pollination
Cannabis is not a major producer of nectar or a preferred pollen source, so it does not play a major role in the bee diet or the pollination ecosystem. Bees require diverse pollen sources for their nutritional needs and survival. While cannabis pollen can provide some protein and amino acids, it is not a complete nutritional source on its own.
Research indicates that bees do not possess cannabinoid receptors, so they cannot experience psychoactive effects. Therefore, any observed interaction does not result in bees becoming “high.” While bees may visit cannabis under specific circumstances, the plant is not a primary food source for these pollinators, and its cultivation does not contribute significantly to bee health or pollination services like insect-pollinated crops.