Recently published research out of California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly) Humboldt suggests that modern cannabis is in the midst of a genetic bottleneck. That bottleneck is due to the demands of the legal market. While it is not life threatening, the problem has significant ramifications for both medical and recreational cannabis.
It’s All About Genetics
Genetic bottlenecking occurs when variations are reduced as a result of selective breeding. It’s actually not a phenomenon that’s limited exclusively to cannabis. But the previously mentioned research says its significance in the cannabis space lies in the virtual extinction of wild cannabis.
Thanks to a combination of commercialization and wind pollination, cannabis growing in the wild is all but extinct, according to the research. Breeders now account for nearly all of the cannabis consumed by Americans. But there is more.
Breeders have also set aside the old practice of breeding different varieties for different purposes in favor of cannabis strains capable of meeting mass market demands. They are now interested in flower volume and THC content more than anything else. Increasing both boosts profits irrespective of any other characteristics.
Why It Matters to Medical Cannabis
Genetic bottlenecking impacts both medical and recreational cannabis. Starting with the medical side of things, it must be understood that THC is not the only cannabis compound with medicinal benefits. Your typical marijuana plant contains more than a hundred cannabinoids and terpenes.
Combining different cannabinoids and terpenes in distinct profiles could have an impact on how a medical cannabis product is utilized. Some profiles seem to work better for pain while others are more effective for treating nausea. Unfortunately, genetic bottlenecking is taking terpenes out of the equation.
Since producers are focusing so heavily on maximizing THC content, they might be simultaneously robbing cannabis plants of other compounds that could prove useful to patients. Completely eliminating terpenes from the discussion would certainly change the medical cannabis landscape, at least according to the operators of Salt Lake City’s Beehive Farmacy.
Beehive Pharmacy, which operates a second medical cannabis pharmacy in Brigham City, says that the majority of their patients use medical cannabis to treat pain. Plants with a high THC volume benefit those patients who enjoy maximum relief from THC alone. But for other patients that need a combination of THC, CBD, and a variety of terpenes, genetic bottlenecking could ultimately be a bad thing.
Why It Matters to the Recreational Market
Moving on to the recreational market, genetic bottlenecking is a concern for two reasons. First and foremost, it promotes the idea of chasing the maximum high. The goal of producing plants with the highest possible THC content leads to ever more potent marijuana. That is a problem. We don’t know how human brains are impacted by higher potency. And the last thing we want to do is find out the hard way that high-potency plants are dangerous.
Second, genetic bottlenecking reduces variety. For the recreational marijuana connoisseur, bottlenecking seems a lot like going to the liquor store and removing all but one or two brands of red wine. Where is the enjoyment if you only have two choices?
An Agricultural Norm
Genetic bottlenecking is normal in agriculture. It’s not such a big deal when breeders are trying to produce better corn, oats, or wheat. It’s also not bad for producing pest resistant crops. It might not even be bad for cannabis. But until we know exactly how it will affect medical and recreational cannabis in the long term, researchers should probably pay attention. We know it is happening now, so now is the time to start looking at the ramifications.
