Cannabis Sativa is a dioecious species with separate male and female plants, both producing flowers. Some monoecious variants are reported. Pollination appears to be accomplished by air currents. Bees are attracted by male flowers but not by female flowers. Sex cannot be established until flowering begins and the structure of the male and female flower is distinct.
Male plants begin shedding leaves shortly after flowering, shied their pollen and die.
Female plants lose their older leaves as the seed matures. After shedding their seed, they die. Male plants mature earlier than the females, shed their pollen and die while the female plant is continuing to mature. The drug content of the plant parts is variable. Practically no cannabinoids are found in the stems, roots and seeds.