The STONED age! Cannabis was domesticated in China around 12,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world, study reveals

• University of Lausanne-led experts analysed the 100 whole cannabis genomes
• They found that cannabis today can be genetically divided up into four groups
• These are basal cannabis, drug-type, drug-type feral and hemp-type accessors
• The drug and hemp types diverged from basal cannabis in the Neolithic period

Cannabis is among one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world, having been domesticated in China some 12,000 years ago, a study has concluded. 

Researchers led from the University of Lausanne analysed the whole genome sequences of 110 Cannabis sativa to discover where the plants have their roots.

Their investigation revealed that cannabis — as we would be familiar with it — emerged in China by the Neolithic period. 

Despite having long been an important source of fibre as well as both medicinal and recreational drugs, much has been unknown about Cannabis' domestication history.

This is because legal restrictions around the plant make collecting samples for analysis difficult, the team explained. 

Cannabis is among one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world, having been domesticated in China some 12,000 years ago, a study has concluded. Pictured: Cannabis landraces seen growing in Qinghai province, central China