A Small History Lesson on Cannabis Landraces

Originally known as landraces, these are the purest forms of cannabis plants. Landrace varieties vary by region.

True indica landraces occur in Asia, especially in the Hindu Kush region, which includes Afghanistan, Pakistan, northern India, and southern China. Generally, sativa landrace plants are found in Africa, South America, and Central America. In Europe and North America, landraces are typically low-THC hemp.

Exceptions include North Africa (Morocco) and Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia), where the landrace variety is ruderalis.

Authentic landrace plants can still be found in small, isolated rural communities in remote areas. However, they are on the brink of extinction due to government crop replacement programs. Genetically, landraces are dominant in their natural environments, overpowering any intruding landrace varieties. All landrace plants are important and valuable, and we risk losing them forever.

Many landraces have been lost over time because they were never properly isolated and preserved or were mixed with other landraces. However, landraces form the foundation of the cannabis varieties available today.

The Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus was the first to classify and name Cannabis sativa in 1753. This species originally thrived near the equator, benefiting from long sunny days and short nights. Sativa plants are tall and airy, designed to resist mold, with bright-colored flowers and long, lean leaves. Their extended growth period allows for a more flavorful and robust terpene profile, making sativa strains sweet with fruity terpenes like limonene, pinene, and terpinolene. Sativa effects are sought after for daytime use, creating an uplifting, energetic head high with cerebral effects such as focus, creativity, productivity, overall energy, and euphoria.

Indica traces back to Asia, particularly the Hindu Kush region. It was first classified by French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in 1783. Indica plants naturally occur in higher-altitude areas and have adapted to harsh, cold environments. They grow faster, are shorter and stockier, and have thick, leathery leaves that are broad to capture weaker sunlight. Their buds are dense and robust, presenting more gassy, fuel-like aromas. The dominant terpenes in indica strains, such as myrcene and linalool, contribute to their sedative effects. Indica strains are ideal for relaxation and relief from pain, insomnia, anxiety, and stress. They promote a mellow, relaxed, and sleepy state and can also help stimulate appetite.

Hybrids: The Foundation of Modern Cannabis

Most cannabis strains available today are hybrids, the result of decades of crossbreeding old and new genetics.

Skunk is considered the first modern cannabis hybrid, combining sativa and indica genetics from the original sinsemilla varieties. Hybrids can be either indica- or sativa-dominant, meaning they express the characteristics of their dominant parent while retaining some traits of the secondary variety. True hybrids, with a 50:50 balance, combine the effects of both.

The effects of hybrids depend on their lineage, including their parent and grandparent strains. Indica-dominant hybrids typically contain higher THC levels, resulting in a more sedative, full-body effect. Popular hybrids produce fast-acting, soaring highs balanced by an uplifting body buzz.

Cannabis ruderalis: The Auto-Flowering Species

Cannabis ruderalis, a distinct species within the cannabis family, was discovered in Russia by botanist D.E. Janischevsky in the 1920s. It is a low-THC plant that grows to a maximum height of about two feet, developing thin, fibrous stems, few branches, and small flowers. Unlike sativa and indica, which require a specific light cycle to trigger flowering, ruderalis begins to flower automatically around four weeks of age. This trait has been bred into modern cannabis genetics, leading to the development of auto-flowering strains.

Chemovars: Understanding Cannabis Types

With an estimated 5,000 unique cannabis strains—and more being developed—understanding their classification is essential. Studies suggest there are three to five main chemotype groups based on chemical composition:

• Type 1 (Drug Type): High THC, low CBD

• Type 2 (Intermediate Type): 1:1 THC to CBD ratio

• Type 3 (Hemp Type): High CBD, low THC

• Type 4 (CBG-Rich Type): High CBG, low THC

• Type 5 (Cannabinoid Null Type): Trace to no cannabinoids

  
  

Coming Up Next

In our upcoming posts, we'll explore cannabinoids in greater detail—THC, CBD, and the fascinating world of minor cannabinoids like CBG, CBN, CBC, THCV, and Delta-8-THC. Stay tuned for a deep dive into what makes each of them unique.

Let’s preserve the past while cultivating the future. 🌱