Giving The Green Light To The Future Of Cannabis Genetics

Many medical cannabis patients are faced with a library of new terms and phrases that help categorize the cannabis they are ingesting. Your lab tested purple haze indica-dominant dried herb is a headache to even pronounce, how do patients make sense of this?

Cannabis genetics is a complicated topic for patients and industry professionals alike. The genes of a particular strain along with the plant’s environment determine its therapeutic effects, as well its appearance, aroma and strength. These characteristics are best explained with phrases like cannabinoid and terpenoid profiles, which offer deep insight into what effects a strain produces.

The forces of evolution have heavily mutated cannabis, and those who have cultivated the plant over many centuries have steered it in directions they have seen fit, crossing plants and hybridizing cannabis into endless variations. The history of cannabis that was once rooted in sub-species based on geographic location is now overrun with strain names that are confusing, and often not reflective of the effects the plant produces.

This causes many problems for the medical cannabis industry; patients require consistency to know exactly what they are consuming, which can make or break their cannabis journey.

Beyond Indica, Sativa And Hybrid

“Consistency is something we take for granted with traditional medicines,” says Liam McGreevy, Director of Ethnopharm, a UK-based cannabis services company specializing in genetics and distribution.

“Cultivation of a consistent flower-based medicine is not easy to achieve, and given the active ingredients are largely genetics driven, the stability of the strain through breeding is crucial.

Currently, the industry is familiar with terms like Indica, Sativa and Hybrid, categorizing the genetics of cannabis along a spectrum from heavy sedation, to uplifting and energetic effects. These terms offer a surface understanding of what each strain will offer, however medical patients require more accuracy on what exactly they are consuming.

“The product being sold under a strain name could be slightly different with each new seed or mother plant, and these small changes can add up over time,” adds McGreevy. “But it’s not something the market is completely aware of, or that the current regulations protect patients and consumers against.’

The Common Scents Of Terpenes And Cannabinoids

For medical cannabis patients, a strain’s cannabinoid and terpenoid profile are integral to finding a product that addresses their condition.

Cannabinoids are the active compounds found within cannabis. The THCs and CBDs of the cannabis world produce many of the effects tied to cannabis, where ratios of these cannabinoids offer patients different therapeutic properties.

Terpenes are the aromatic compounds that exist in each strain. They are present in many plants and insects to ward off potential predators, or even attract insects for the purpose of pollination. Terpenes found in cannabis are determined by the plant’s genetics, offering its own set of therapeutic effects. When a patient takes a long whiff of a dried herb, they are experiencing a strain’s terpenoid profile. These terpenes are the equivalent of the energy boost that a patient might feel during a hike through a forest and can also be found in many citrus fruits.

‘The value of terpenes is growing in recognition, which isn’t surprising,” says McGreevy. “They are the main reason two different strains with identical cannabinoid profiles produce completely different reactions in the same person.”

“Moving forward understanding their physiological interactions will be key to maximizing the effects of cannabis medicines.”

The Ultimate Need For Consistent Cannabis Products

Patients often grow comfortable with a particular strain, but over time these familiar strains can mutate or be subject to changing growing conditions, effectively altering the final product.

The result is a complex web of cannabis varieties.

“There will be value in genetics and the ability to consistently produce higher levels of the valuable active pharmaceutical ingredients, as well as strains that produce higher levels of lesser-known cannabinoids and terpenes,” says McGreevy.

“The source of genetics within the industry could become a factor, with regulators in certain markets looking to ensure traceability to credible, federally legal sources, with proven parentage and stability.’

As genetics evolve, it’s likely that cannabis as a medicine will be more personalized and include strains that are cultivated for specific medical conditions.

The guessing game that comes with medical cannabis will need to change for patients to fully utilize cannabis, and for doctors to prescribe it with confidence. As the demand for specialty medical products grows, cultivators will face new challenges in finding consistency and therapeutic value. For patients, healthcare practitioners and the industry as a whole, the medical cannabis journey has just begun.

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