Bees play a significant role in the ecosystem, as bee populations continue to fall, concern grows about what implications the loss of pollinators will have om our ecosystem.

Have you seen the recent videos or read the latest articles about honeybees and cannabis? The first question that comes to mind do bees pollinate cannabis? There is very little research available about how honeybees interact with the cannabis plant that contains THC levels sufficiently potent to be deemed medical or recreational use quality. Only one known scholarly article exists so far (Dalio, J.S., 2012). The study, which took place in India, point that bees see cannabis plants as a source of protein but usually only visit the male plants during a pollen shortage. You can spot the bees visiting the plant but the scent that the plant emanates the bees don’t seem to enjoy, nor the plant has bright coloring that bees are attracted too. Cannabis is mostly pollinated by the wind, and so it has not needed to develop colors and scents to attract pollinators like the honeybee. Sometimes a male cannabis plant will produce some pollen, which the bee may take home to the hive, but the bee is mainly seeking plants with nectar.

On the other hand, the flowering plant, hemp bees are attractive to it. Industrial hemp could be the solution to help the bee population.

A recent study, at Colorado State University suggests industrial hemp could be a saving grace for sustaining the bee population. Because bees pollinate hemp, researchers are hopeful bee populations will begin to increase with hemp production. Hemp does not produce nectar, but hemp’s impact on bees is valuable because the crop produces a large amount of pollen. When other crops are not available, bees can pollinate hemp. Ultimately, pollination is the process that makes food production possible.

So, if you’re looking for ways to help the bees, you can start by learning about your state’s personal cultivation laws and read several gardening tip blogs on how to attract bees to your yard. 

Bee house DIY gardening

Gardening with Bees