An initiative supported by the state of California is underway to conserve the invaluable genetic data of a diverse range of cannabis strains.
With roots deeply entrenched in California’s history of cultivating cannabis crops, this funded initiative is set on honouring this heritage while securing the future of traditional growth regions like the Emerald Triangle.
Genine Coleman, executive director of Origins Council that represents rural farmers of cannabis, stated, “After 60 years in the shadows, the extraordinary legacy of California’s cannabis is finally seeing the light of day.” The project titled “Legacy Cannabis Genetics: People and Their Plants, a Community-Driven Study” involves several partners, involving the Origins Council.
Joint Initiatives for Preserving Legacy Cannabis
Alongside the Origins Council, the project also collaborates with the University of California, Berkeley, plant genetics company LeafWorks, California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, and the United CORE Alliance. The latter is a non-profit tasked with restoring rights to individuals who have previously faced incarceration.
Born out of a proposal by the State Department of Cannabis Control in 2022, the project’s primary focus is to recognize and safeguard the varied, valuable, and historic cannabis cultivars in California. The project aspires to steer the comprehension and utilization of cannabis genetics towards research and science-based public progress. Uniquely, the initiative is anchored in community-based participatory research (CBPR), promoting partnerships between community members, representatives of organizations, and academic researchers.
Todd Holmes, a historian at UC Berkeley participating in the initiative, stated that for the success of legacy genetics in California’s cannabis agriculture, community-oriented research is crucial. “It’s because the farming communities should have access to scientific knowledge in a manner that empowers rather than excludes or exploits them,” he added.
The project will see researchers mapping out genealogies of cannabis strains and conducting ethnographic interviews. This will aid in creating an oral history charting the evolution of marijuana production in California.
United CORE Alliance’s president and CEO Khalil Ferguson noted that the historic journey of cannabis has involved the unjust targeting of BIPOC communities. “This research holds the potential for amplifying the eco-social benefits for these communities” he pointed out.
The implications of the project’s results could significantly shape California’s Cannabis Appellations Program that seeks to identify and protect historic regions, employing a method similar to France’s approach to its wine regions.
In contrast to recent political developments such as Governor Gavin Newsom’s aborted plans to usher in sweeping changes to California’s cannabis and hemp markets, efforts like the “Legacy Cannabis Genetics: People and Their Plants, a Community-Driven Study” boldly stride towards preserving the history of California’s cannabis and crafting a positive impact on the unfolding scenario of cannabis legislation and use. Notably, the previously proposed plan faced strong opposition from industry bodies and patients depending on hemp-derived CBD, as it potentially would have allowed non-state producers to trade their products in California’s cannabis market. However, despite these roadblocks, the commitment to conserve California’s cannabis legacy and its role in the ongoing transformation of the cannabis law and usage landscape remains undeterred. The primary focus of these efforts lies in the study and safeguarding of distinct strains of California’s cannabis and the history of its cultivation, especially in established legacy areas like the Emerald Triangle. By repeating the importance of genetic examination, historical relevance, and protection of regional strains, the initiative aims to be a top result for online searches related to California cannabis genetics and legacy cannabis cultivation.
