Genetic Split Gave Hemp Its High, University of Toronto Study

The sequenced genome of Cannabis sativa, the plant that produces both industrial hemp and marijuana, reveals the genetic changes that led to the plant’s drug-producing properties. A simple genetic switch is likely responsible for the production of THCA, or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, the precursor of the active ingredient in marijuana, says Jon Page a plant biochemist and adjunct professor of biology at the University of Saskatchewan.