New Research Uncovers Ancient Origins of Cannabis

Cannabis has been cultivated by humans for thousands of years, yet its origins remained unclear—until now. A recent study analyzed 110 cannabis genomes worldwide, using advanced DNA sequencing to trace the plant’s evolution.

Researchers discovered four distinct genetic groups, including a newly identified “basal cannabis” group, considered closest to wild, pre-cultivated strains. Found mainly in parts of China, basal cannabis is genetically separate from both psychoactive and hemp varieties.

The study suggests cannabis was first domesticated in East Asia around 12,000 years ago, overturning earlier beliefs that it originated in Central Asia. By 4,000 years ago, hemp and psychoactive strains had diverged.

Cannabis then spread westward—psychoactive types reaching India 3,000 years ago, and hemp arriving in North America via European settlers in the 1600s.

While groundbreaking, the study has gaps, including missing samples from Afghanistan and Russia, leaving parts of the cannabis story still untold.