Hortapharm B.V.

Cannabis plants produce many compounds of possible medical importance. This chapter briefly explains the life cycle, origin, early evolution, and domestication of Cannabis, plus provides a brief history of drug Cannabis breeding and looks into the future of Cannabis as a source of medicines. Cannabis is among the very oldest of economic plants providing humans with fiber for spinning, weaving cloth, and making paper; seed for human foods and animal feeds; and aromatic resin containing compounds of recreational and medicinal value. Human selection for varying uses and natural selection pressures imposed by diverse introduced climates have resulted in a wide variety of growth forms and chemical compositions. Innovative classical breeding techniques have been used to improve recreational drug forms of Cannabis, resulting in many cannabinoid-rich cultivars suitable for medical use. The biosynthesis of cannabinoid compounds is unique to Cannabis, and cultivars with specific chemical profiles are being developed for diverse industrial and pharmaceutical uses.