A view of the rugged Blue Mountains of Jamaica at sunset. Scientists are on a Question to Find and Preserve Jamaica's Unique Strains (Photo by Marc Guitard)

A view of the rugged Blue Mountains of Jamaica at sunset. (Photo by Marc Guitard)

culture | 01.01.2022

Scientists are on a Quest to Find and Preserve Jamaica’s Unique Strains

Despite the island’s mythical status in cannabis culture, no one has a thorough understanding of Jamaica’s unique strains.

Despite Jamaica’s symbolic importance to the global cannabis movement, very little is known about the herb that exists on the island. There’s potentially dozens of strains with unique combinations of cannabinoids and terpenes being cultivated by Jamaica’s farmers as well as growing wild there.

That’s why researchers on the island are now conducting a 10-year study to find and preserve Jamaica’s iconic flower, according to Forbes. It’s a timely endeavor as a growing number of international cannabis companies look to bring Jamaica’s unique strains—along with the mysticism that surrounds them—to patients around the globe.

The Jamaican Medical Cannabis Collective (JMCC)—a Jamaican-Canadian cannabis exporter which invested $2 million in the study—was founded to ensure that’s done in a thoughtful way. As the company points out, the island of Jamaica has a decades-long history of both tourists and entrepreneurs exploiting locals and giving back little in return.

The strain preservation study—conducted in collaboration with the National Commission on Science and Technology, a foundation committed to the socio-economic development of Jamaica—aims to help the country patent Jamaica’s unique strains so that it receives a percentage of profits made if they’re developed into global cannabis products.

The JMCC has been working for two years with farmers on the island in the hopes of helping them access the international market. They provide micro-financing and entrepreneurial support services to Jamaican farmers while allowing them to maintain a majority stake in the collective. They anticipate the first round of Jamaican products will be available in Canada, with plans to expand into Germany and beyond.

Scientists are on a Quest to Find and Preserve Jamaicas Unique Strains These Are The Best Cannabis Strains for ADHD/ ADD
Jamaican ganja farmer checks his marijuana plants on January 1, 2014. (Photo by John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images)

For now, it’s unpredictable what the researchers will find as they build out their database of Jamaica’s unique strains. It’s possible that they won’t find any strains exclusive to Jamaica as visitors have been sneaking seeds and cuttings off the island for generations. It’s also possible, however, that many of the seeds and cuttings originally taken from Jamaica no longer represent their parent plants as the black market encourages hybridization to increase THC content.

The hope is that, if unique strains are discovered, they’ll ultimately be developed into topical creams, tinctures, and a variety of other products to maximize their medical potential. Even to use the word “strain” to describe the island’s plants, says the JMCC, is a bit misleading as consumers often associate the word “strain” with herb that’s branded using names like “Bubba Kush” and “Blue Dream.” These names can be misleading as all “Bubba Kushes,” for example, aren’t necessarily the same.

This study, on the other hand, is more aligned with how the research community is beginning to categorize cannabis plants, according to their genetic profiles.

Even still, that’s likely not going to stop tourists from trying to hunt down Bob Marley’s favorite strain, Lamb’s Bread, when they visit Jamaica. Rumor has it, the real deal is significantly stronger than what most people are smoking on the island.

Herb Recommended Products:

Featured Brands:

Herb Recommended Products:

READ MORE

What a $20 Bag of Weed Looks Like in Jamaica
Learn |
21.08.2019
What a $20 Bag of Weed Looks Like in Jamaica
Jamaica Tells Its Citizens to Stop Smoking Potent Marijuana
health |
08.04.2018
Jamaica Tells Its Citizens to Stop Smoking Potent Marijuana
Jamaican Rastas Are Getting A Raw Deal In The Cannabis Revolution
culture |
14.07.2016
Jamaican Rastas Are Getting A Raw Deal In The Cannabis Revolution
Getting Weed In Jamaica Is Now Easy As Renting A Car
culture |
24.06.2016
Getting Weed In Jamaica Is Now Easy As Renting A Car
Study Reveals Jamaican Children Benefit From Drinking Cannabis
health |
20.05.2015
Study Reveals Jamaican Children Benefit From Drinking Cannabis
Is Jamaica Going to Legalize Cannabis & Become A Republic?
legalization |
16.04.2016
Is Jamaica Going to Legalize Cannabis & Become A Republic?
Isiah Thomas’s ‘One World’ Is Replacing The Plastics In Cars With Hemp
Learn |
03.06.2022
Isiah Thomas’s ‘One World’ Is Replacing The Plastics In Cars With Hemp
These Are The 10 Countries That Grow The Best Weed In The World
News |
14.08.2019
These Are The 10 Countries That Grow The Best Weed In The World
This Is What Jamaica Looked Like In The 1980’s (Photos)
culture |
04.11.2017
This Is What Jamaica Looked Like In The 1980’s (Photos)
A Cannabinoid Comparison: Delta 8 vs. Delta 9 Experience
Learn |
31.05.2023
A Cannabinoid Comparison: Delta 8 vs. Delta 9 Experience