Proper classification and standardization has many benefits for the cannabis industry. It allows for easier recognition of intellectual property, protects consumers by ensuring accurate labeling, and promotes scientific understanding of the plant.
There is an ongoing debate in the cannabis industry about the proper classification of different cannabis strains or varieties. As Anthony Domangue points out in a recent LinkedIn discussion, “No assemblage of plants can be regarded as a cultivar ... until it’s category, name and circumscription have been published.” However, there are currently over 100 recognized cultivars of industrial hemp and only a few recognized medicinal cannabis cultivars.
Some in the industry use the terms “strain” and “cultivar” interchangeably, but as Domangue notes, “Article 2.2 of the nomenclatural code for cultivated plants (Brickell et al. 2016) specifically forbids the use of the term ‘strain’ as equivalent to ‘cultivar’ for the purpose of formal recognition.” For a plant to be officially classified as a cultivar, it must meet certain requirements, like being distinct, uniform, and stable.
As the cannabis industry moves towards further legalization and mainstream acceptance, standardization and proper classification becomes increasingly important. As Domangue argues, "The way forward is education and standardization. The less we are organized, the less seriously we will be taken by those who don’t understand cannabis."
Proper classification and standardization has many benefits for the cannabis industry. It allows for easier recognition of intellectual property, protects consumers by ensuring accurate labeling, and promotes scientific understanding of the plant. As Elliot Friedman commented, “For anyone looking for a pdf copy of ISHS International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants, the 9th edition is available through this link.” By following established guidelines for cultivar classification used for other plants, the cannabis industry can gain legitimacy and recognition.
- There is an ongoing debate about proper classification of cannabis strains/varieties: The cannabis industry has not yet established a standard system for classifying different cannabis cultivars. There are differing opinions on whether terms like “strain” and “varietal” can be used interchangeably with “cultivar.” This lack of standardization creates issues with intellectual property protection, consumer labeling, and scientific research.
- Cannabis cultivars must meet certain requirements to be officially recognized, like being distinct, uniform, and stable: According to guidelines for classifying plant cultivars, in order to be recognized as an official cultivar, a plant group must be distinct from other groups, remain uniform in its key characteristics over reproduction, and remain stable in its key characteristics over multiple generations. Most cannabis cultivars today would not meet these requirements.
- Many in the industry use the terms “strain” and “cultivar” interchangeably, but they have specific meanings. “Strain” is not equivalent to “cultivar” according to formal guidelines: The terms “strain” and “cultivar” are often used interchangeably in the cannabis industry, but they have distinct meanings. “Strain” refers to a variation that develops naturally in a population, while “cultivar” refers to a cultivated variety that is uniform, stable, and distinct. According to formal classification rules, “strain” is not an equivalent term to “cultivar.”
- Standardization and proper classification provides many benefits to the cannabis industry including intellectual property protection, accurate labeling, scientific understanding: By establishing a standardized system for classifying cannabis cultivars, the industry can gain several benefits. Cultivators can more easily protect unique cultivars. Consumers will have more accurate product labeling and descriptions. And the scientific community will have an easier time conducting research on the plant.
- Following established guidelines for classifying cultivars can help bring legitimacy to the cannabis industry: By adopting established guidelines for classifying and naming cultivars from organizations like the International Society for Horticultural Science, the cannabis industry can gain mainstream recognition and legitimacy.
- The Cannabis Framework Project aims to bring standardization to the cannabis industry, including for cultivar classification, testing standards, and product labeling: The goal of the Cannabis Framework Project is to establish open-source standards for various aspects of the cannabis industry, including cultivar classification, laboratory testing, and product labeling. By promoting standardization, the project aims to address issues like lack of transparency, limited intellectual property protection, and non-uniform state regulations.
- A standardized classification system can help cultivators properly market their cultivars and help consumers better understand products: With an established cultivar classification system, cannabis cultivators will be able to accurately label, market, and patent their unique cultivars. At the same time, consumers will have access to more transparent and descriptive product information.
- The Cannabis Framework Project promotes transparency, legitimacy, and growth in the legal cannabis industry: By facilitating standardization across areas like cultivar classification, testing, and labeling, the Cannabis Framework Project hopes to bring more transparency and legitimacy to the developing legal cannabis industry. This can help spur further legalization and industry growth.
Cannabis cultivars must meet certain requirements to be officially recognized, like being distinct, uniform, and stable. According to guidelines for classifying plant cultivars, in order to be recognized as an official cultivar, a plant group must be distinct from other groups, remain uniform in its key characteristics over reproduction, and remain stable in its key characteristics over multiple generations. Most cannabis cultivars today would not meet these requirements. Many in the industry use the terms “strain” and “cultivar” interchangeably, but they have specific meanings. “Strain” refers to a variation that develops naturally in a population, while “cultivar” refers to a cultivated variety that is uniform, stable, and distinct.
Standardization and proper classification provides many benefits to the cannabis industry including intellectual property protection, accurate labeling, scientific understanding. By establishing a standardized system for classifying cannabis cultivars, the industry can gain several benefits. Cultivators can more easily protect unique cultivars. Consumers will have more accurate product labeling and descriptions. And the scientific community will have an easier time conducting research on the plant. By adopting established guidelines for classifying and naming cultivars from organizations like the International Society for Horticultural Science, the cannabis industry can gain mainstream recognition and legitimacy.
The Cannabis Framework Project aims to bring standardization to the cannabis industry through a collaborative, open-source framework. By establishing guidelines for cultivar classification, testing standards, and product labeling, the Project hopes to address issues like those brought up in the LinkedIn discussion. With a standardized classification system, cultivators will be able to properly label and market their unique cultivars, while consumers will have a better understanding of the products they purchase. Overall, the Cannabis Framework Project strives to promote transparency, legitimacy, and growth within the emerging legal cannabis industry.
Proposed Classification Systems:
A Struggle to Find Common Ground
While there is general agreement on the need for standardized cannabis cultivar classification, developing and implementing a broadly adopted system has proven challenging. Several organizations have proposed classification frameworks, but none have yet been widely accepted across the industry. Here are a few:
The Emerald Cup classification system focuses primarily on chemical profiles to categorize cultivars. As reported in Cannabis Industry Journal, the Emerald Cup system “classifies cannabis varieties based on their chemical makeup, specifically the terpenes in a given variety.” They use categories like “fuel” and “floral” to describe cultivars. However, a chemical profile alone does not determine if a plant meets the requirements of a cultivar according to formal classification rules.
In contrast, the Cannabis Genomic Research Initiative (CGRI) aims to develop a science-based classification system using genetic typing. As noted on their website, CGRI believes an “accurate genetic-based classification system can help bring standardization to product labeling, assist breeders and cultivators with selectively breeding cultivars ... and aid research on this important crop plant.” While promising, genetic testing is still limited and expensive.
PhytoFacts has proposed a classification system that considers both genetic and chemical characteristics. According to their website, PhytoFacts uses “genetic fingerprinting and phytochemical profiling to accurately and consistently classify cannabis and hemp varieties.” Their system aims to provide “an objective, science-based classification system” that can be applied to both hemp and marijuana. However, genetically and chemically similar cultivars do not always share uniform characteristics required of a cultivar. So it will be interesting to find out how they handle those challenges.
Some classification frameworks focus more on growth characteristics and geographic origin. However, growth traits can be unstable and are often not useful for average consumers. Relying primarily on origin also does not determine if a plant constitutes a unique cultivar.
Developing
a standardized classification system that satisfies diverse
stakeholders across the cannabis industry has proven challenging. While
there are merits to different proposed frameworks, no single system has
yet achieved broad acceptance. Achieving the level of standardization
and transparency needed to legitimize and advance the cannabis industry
may require incorporating elements from multiple proposed frameworks,
along with following established cultivar classification guidelines.
With further legalization, research and collaboration across sectors,
compromise and common ground may yet be achieved.
There is currently
no standard system for classifying cannabis cultivars, leading to
problems with intellectual property protection, consumer labeling, and
scientific research.
- According to guidelines for plant cultivars, to be officially recognized as a cultivar, a plant group must be distinct, uniform, and stable. Most cannabis cultivars do not currently meet these requirements.
- The terms “strain” and “cultivar” are often used interchangeably in the cannabis industry but have different meanings. “Strain” refers to a natural variation, while “cultivar” refers to a cultivated variety that is uniform and stable. “Strain” is not equivalent to “cultivar” according to formal classification rules.
- Several organizations have proposed classification frameworks, including focusing on chemical profiles (Emerald Cup), genetic typing (CGRI), genetic/chemical analysis (PhytoFacts), growth traits, or geographic origin. However, no system has achieved broad acceptance. Achieving an effective classification system may require incorporating elements from multiple proposals and established guidelines.
- Standardizing cannabis cultivar classification can provide benefits like intellectual property protection, accurate product labeling, and enabling scientific research. Following established cultivar guidelines can legitimize the cannabis industry.
- The Cannabis Framework Project aims to establish open-source standards for classifying cannabis cultivars, as well as testing and labeling. This can promote transparency, legitimacy, and growth in the legal cannabis industry.
The cannabis industry lacks a standardized system for classifying cultivars according to established guidelines, presenting issues for various stakeholders. While several classification frameworks have been proposed, none have been broadly adopted. The Cannabis Framework Project aims to develop open-source inspired classification standards, along with testing and labeling standards, to legitimize and advance the cannabis industry from the core of the community itself.
Definitions:
- Cultivar - A cultivated plant variety that has been selected for specific characteristics and is uniform, stable, and distinct. To be recognized as a cultivar, a plant group must meet international guidelines.
- Strain - A natural variation that develops in a plant population. Not equivalent to a cultivar, which is selected and cultivated.
- Classification - The categorization of plants into groups based on shared characteristics. Effective classification requires based on uniform, stable, and distinct traits.
A standardized system would help cultivators properly breed, market, and protect unique cultivars. It would provide consumers with accurate product information. And it would facilitate scientific understanding of cannabis. By promoting standardization and legitimacy, the Project hopes to drive further legalization and industry growth. Achieving compromise through education, research, and policy changes may enable the development of an effective classification system.
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