Have you ever wondered how much the cannabis plant has changed from its beginnings to the present day? Here we tell you a little bit of its history and how we ended up with the great amount of marijuana strains that there are nowadays.
A bit of cannabis history… When and where did marijuana originate?
A recent study by the University of Laussane, in Switzerland, assures that the relationship of human beings with the cannabis plant began 12,000 years ago. The first contact with the plant began in the eastern region of Asia and its domestication began almost simultaneously with that of wheat. Already from the beginning it was used as medicine, raw material or consumed for pleasure.
In more tropical areas, thanks to a warm climate and human selection in cultivation, cannabis variants developed higher levels of THC and CBD over the years. On the other hand, in harsher and more rustic climates, the marijuana plant became a key component of the cotton or linen-like clothing we know today as "hemp".
But it wasn’t until the 20th century, in the middle of prohibition, that modern cannabis breeding was born. The main reason was to be able to grow the plant in its most psychoactive form in climates where it normally wouldn’t have grown. The introduction of “indica” genetics, with a short flowering time and smaller size than “sativas,” brought with it an exponential increase in the variety of genetics. If you want to know a bit more about how these two types differ, we recommend this article.
This is how this practice ended up in what we know today, with genetics that are better adapted to a specific climate or that are able to grow indoors with artificial light.
Current variety of marijuana
The truth is, we can’t know exactly how many hybrid strains exist today. New genetics are constantly being developed around the world; just stop by our club Barcelona Kush to see a sample of the huge diversity we’ve reached. Among the many thousands of cannabis strains out there, we think a few select families are worth mentioning:
Kush: obviously, we could not fail to mention the family that gives our club its name. These strains come from landrace varieties from Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, and northwestern India. Over time they reached the West, largely thanks to traveling hippie groups, something very common in the '60s. From this family we can mention some hybrid strains that are very famous today, such as “OG Kush” or “Bubble Kush.”
Haze: just mentioning a few strains like “Silver Haze,” “Amnesia,” “1024,” or “Chocolate Haze” shows how popular this family is. With a powerful cerebral and energetic effect, it is highly sought after and easy to find in any social club. Although we do not know exactly where it originated, we know it was the Haze brothers (growers from Santa Cruz, California) who popularized this family through experimentation.
Varieties in BCN Kush
Whether with tobacco or without, indica or sativa, flower or hash, we’re sure you’ll find what you’re looking for at BCN Kush. So if all this talk about genetics has left you a little confused, don’t worry: we’re here waiting, ready to listen and recommend the best option for what you’re after.
You may also be interested in
- Marijuana Strains: Find the Best for You
- Marijuana Terpenes: What Are They?
- Types of cannabis: indica, sativa and hybrids
Want to get to know us? Discover our cannabis association in Barcelona, see how to get to the club and request your invitation. Access for members aged 18 and over only.