Université Lavalin Québec has made a significant breakthrough in cannabis research and breeding by identifying 33 genetic markers in marijuana that influence the plant’scannabinoid production. The discovery opens new doors to developing custom cannabis strains for specific medical and recreational purposes.

Published in the peer-reviewed journal The Plant Genome, the study could significantly advance the science of cannabis cultivation by allowing breeders to fine-tune the plant’s chemical profile with greater precision.

The research team studied 174 cannabis samples and used high-density genotyping to analyze over 23,000 molecular markers. From this dataset, they pinpointed 33 specific markers strongly associated with the production of 11 cannabinoids, compounds like THCA, CBDA, andCBN, which are known for their therapeutic and psychoactive properties.

Among the most notable findings was a large cluster of genes on one chromosome region that spans approximately 60 megabases. This region was strongly linked to THC-dominant strains of cannabis, confirming the role of specific DNA segments in driving potency levels.

What does this mean for breeders?

Historically, cannabis breeding has been a time-consuming process that involved growing plants to maturity, harvesting them, and analyzing their chemical content. This method can take months and is prone to variability.

The new genetic markers now provide a reliable way to predict cannabinoid content early in the breeding process. This allows breeders to select plants with the desired genetic traits without waiting for full plant maturity. The process becomes faster, cheaper, and more efficient.

“These markers offer powerful tools for improving cannabis through molecular breeding,” the researchers wrote. “They help overcome barriers that have limited the development of elite strains due to decades of prohibition and lack of genetic infrastructure.”

A boost for medical marijuana

This development is particularly promising for themedical cannabisindustry. It targets genetic traits responsible for producing non-psychoactive cannabinoids like CBD and CBG, breeders can create strains tailored for pain relief, inflammation, anxiety, epilepsy, and other conditions, without inducing a high.

The ability to develop strains with precise chemical balances can also help standardize dosing, which has long been a challenge in medical marijuana use.

Global research momentum

This study adds to a growing wave of scientific interest in cannabis. Recently, researchers in South Korea identified a new cannabinoid compound, cannabielsoxa, which has sparked further investigation into the plant’s unexplored genetic complexity.

As more countries legalize cannabis and invest in research, experts say these kinds of discoveries will become more common and more valuable.

The discovery of these 33 genetic markers marks a significant step toward modernizing cannabis cultivation. As genetic tools become more widely adopted, the industry can expect to see faster development of high-quality, purpose-driven cannabis strains.

Researchers believe that with continued investment in plant genomics, cannabis could soon join other major crops like corn, wheat, and soybeans in benefiting from cutting-edge breeding techniques.