10.000 BCE: Chinese farmers grow ancient cannabis

10.000 BCE: Chinese farmers grow ancient cannabis alongside early food crops

Scientists have discovered that all modern cannabis can be traced back to a type called “basal cannabis,” first cultivated in ancient China over 12,000 years ago.

This significant finding, published in Scientific Advances, reveals that early Chinese farmers grew this ancient type of cannabis alongside their first food crops.

Researchers analyzed the genetic data of 110 plants, categorizing them into four types: basal cannabis, hemp-type, drug-type, and feral drug-type. The drug-type plants contain enough THC to produce psychoactive effects.

>Seeds and leaves for the study were sourced from stores, agronomic companies, and the Vavilov Institute of Plant Genetic Resources. Feral samples were collected from fields in Switzerland, China, India, Pakistan, and Peru.

According to Luca Fumagalli, study co-author and professor at the University of Lausanne, basal cannabis likely served multiple purposes, including fiber, food, insecticide, and medicine. This plant was less specialized for high fiber or cannabinoid production compared to today’s cultivars.

This discovery that 10.000 BCE Chinese farmers grow ancient cannabis alongside early food crops, provides valuable insights into early agriculture and plant domestication.