Can you give a brief history of where various strains of cannabis come from and how they have evolved and been bred over time?
One answer “What is the origin of different cannabis strains?”
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Can you give a brief history of where various strains of cannabis come from and how they have evolved and been bred over time?
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Cannabis, also known as marijuana, has a rich history consisting of centuries of growth, cultivation and genetic engineering that have led to the fantastic range of strains we are familiar with today. Cannabis is believed to have originated in Central or South Asia, but it is believed that it reached other corners of the world by human travel.
The use of cannabis for therapeutic and recreational purposes dates back to the 2nd millennium BC in ancient China and India, where a yellow-flowered variety was described in Vedic scriptures. Cannabis then made its way to other parts of the world, including Africa and the Americas.
Historians believe cannabis was first cultivated for its psychoactive effects in India around 500 BC, and during this time, many different varieties of the plant were developed. As trade expanded and cannabis was introduced to other parts of the world, more variants appeared.
For hundreds of years, cannabis was merely grown by local farmers who saw the potential of the plant. They cultivated and bred different strains to enhance the desired traits, such as more potent psychoactive effects, smokable buds, or more robust flowers.
Some experts believe that, around the 18th century, Western cultivation began by bringing seedlings from India and China. These “landrace” seeds would create an array of unique types of cannabis, which then bred further with existing land races. From there, hybridization became more common, which enabled growers to accentuate the plant’s therapeutic and recreational effects.
At the same time, relentless breeding and experimentation by cannabis cultivators led to the development of new hybrids with more prominent effects, taste, and aroma. This experimentation continues today and has led to the wide range of available cannabis strains, from indicas to hybrids and sativas.
Due to their tremendous diversity and highly concentrated cannabinoids, cannabis strains have become incredibly popular in the last few decades. As a result, the cannabis industry has been rapidly growing, and the sheer number of available options can easily be overwhelming.
It is clear that our modern cannabis culture has developed from hundreds of years of growth and experimentation, and has gone through a remarkable evolution and advancement over the years. Given the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of cannabis strains, we can expect to see even more captivating varieties in the years to come.