Guardians of Heritage
by Jude Croyle, CG
The concept of a “landrace” holds deep significance, both in the world of plants and within Indigenous cultures. In botany, a landrace refers to a traditional local variety of a species, adapted over generations through both natural conditions and careful human stewardship. For many Indigenous peoples, this mirrors the essence of culture itself, an enduring place-based identity formed by ancestral wisdom and the unique characteristics of the land.
As an Inupiaq person living in Minnesota, far from my ancestral homeland in the Bering Strait, I recognize a profound parallel between the stories of landrace cannabis and the experience of my own people. Both are rooted in place, resilient through generations, and increasingly threatened by the forces of globalization and homogenization. The loss of traditional cannabis varieties represents more than a biodiversity issue; it is a cultural loss that echoes the challenges faced by Indigenous communities striving to maintain their heritage.
What is Landrace Cannabis?
Landrace cannabis comprises the original, regionally adapted strains of the cannabis plant. These varieties have been cultivated for centuries in specific environments, such as the Hindu Kush mountains and the valleys of Colombia, Morocco, and Thailand, shaped by the people who tended them and the climates in which they evolved (Clarke & Merlin, 2016).
These foundational strains are reservoirs of genetic diversity. They have developed unique resistances to local pests and diseases, adaptability to environmental stresses, and distinct cannabinoid and terpene profiles that are often absent from modern commercial hybrids (Hillig, 2005; Small, 2015).
The Threat of Hybridization and Commercialization
The rapid expansion of the global cannabis industry has placed these landrace cultivars at risk. Modern hybrid strains, bred primarily for high THC content and commercial appeal, are supplanting traditional varieties. As hybrids spread, they cross-pollinate with landraces, leading to the dilution and even disappearance of unique genetic lineages (McPartland & Small, 2020).
This process closely parallels the challenges facing Indigenous cultures. When dominant global influences overshadow local languages, practices, and knowledge, the distinct identity of a community can be eroded. Just as my community’s language and traditions must contend with external pressures, so too do landrace cannabis varieties struggle to survive amidst the rise of commercial monocultures.
Cultural and Medicinal Importance
Landrace cannabis is more than a plant; it is a living reflection of local history and knowledge. In regions such as Afghanistan, Morocco, and Jamaica, these traditional cultivars are intertwined with ritual, medicine, and daily life (Clarke & Merlin, 2016). The cultivation and use of these plants represent a form of cultural continuity and resilience.
For Indigenous peoples, the health of the land and its native plants is foundational to community well-being. The loss of landrace cannabis is thus doubly significant, impacting both ecological diversity and cultural heritage. It severs connections to place, erases histories of adaptation, and undermines knowledge systems that have supported communities for generations (Kuhnlein et al., 2009).
Why Preservation Matters
Preserving landrace genetics is not solely about the conservation of seeds; it is about honoring the communities and environments that shaped them. Just as the protection of endangered languages and cultural practices is essential for human diversity, so too is the safeguarding of original cannabis cultivars for future medicine, agriculture, and cultural continuity.
Lndrace cannabis holds the potential for future breeding efforts, offering resilience to climate change, resistance to disease, and novel medicinal properties (Small, 2015). The loss of these genetic resources could limit options for community health, nutrition, and well-being, especially in an era of rapid environmental change.
Pathways Forward
Efforts are underway globally to document, protect, and revitalize both Indigenous cultures and landrace cannabis. Organizations such as the International Landrace Preservation Initiative (ILPI) are engaged in the conservation of genetic diversity through seed banks, scientific research, and collaboration with local growers (ILPI, 2022).
Indigenous communities continue to advocate for cultural and ecological sovereignty. Supporting local cultivators, protecting traditional knowledge, and preventing the exploitation of landrace genetics are critical steps toward sustaining both biodiversity and cultural heritage (Posey & Dutfield, 1996).
As an Inupiaq person living in Minnesota, I see the fates of my culture and landrace cannabis intertwined. Both require respect, protection, and a celebration of diversity, whether genetic, linguistic, or cultural. The health and resilience of our communities depend on the preservation of our unique heritage
Preserving landrace cannabis is, in effect, keeping the wisdom, resilience, and spirit of the people and places that have nurtured these plants for generations. It is a call to honor our past, safeguard our present, and ensure a living legacy for future generations.
References
Clarke, R. C., & Merlin, M. D. (2016). Cannabis: Evolution and Ethnobotany. University of California Press.
Hillig, K. W. (2005). Genetic evidence for speciation in Cannabis (Cannabaceae). Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 52(2), 161-180.
Kuhnlein, H. V., Erasmus, B., & Spigelski, D. (Eds.). (2009). Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems: The Many Dimensions of Culture, Diversity and Environment for Nutrition and Health. FAO.
McPartland, J. M., & Small, E. (2020). A classification of endangered high-THC Cannabis (Cannabis sativa subsp. indica) domesticated in Asia. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 67, 247-265.
Posey, D. A., & Dutfield, G. (1996). Beyond Intellectual Property: Toward Traditional Resource Rights for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. IDRC.
Small, E. (2015). Evolution and Classification of Cannabis sativa (Marijuana, Hemp) in Relation to Human Utilization. The Botanical Review, 81(3), 189-294.
International Landrace Preservation Initiative (ILPI). (2022).