Many plants have leaves with five leaflets. The buckeye tree is one of them. "The leaves are palmately compound with five (rarely seven) leaflets, 8–16 cm (3-6 in.) long and broad" (Wikipedia 2011).
Also, it is a symbol of pride for many Buckeyes. I happen to have a tattoo of a buckeye leaf behind my ear. It was made to resemble the sticker that is placed on The Ohio University's football players' helmets.
Typically when drawing pakalolo, artists give the plant anywhere from seven to nine leaflets. Also, the leaflets are much narrower and longer than other plants' leaves (eg. the buckeye leaf).
This IS a marijuana leaf.
So the next time you see a young person walking down the street with a bright green leaf on their shirt (or a small tattoo behind her ear), count the leaves before passing judgment.
Remember one thing:
IS NOT
Now that you are aware of a few differences. Please. PLEASE. Leave me the fuck alone. Thanks.