What do craft beer and THC seltzers have in common, other than being popular drinks to consume? This report by Andrea Chaillet digs into the history, science, and legislation in Ohio that could affect the future of cannabis and hops:
The Same Plant Family: Cannabaceae
Their main botanical components come from the same plant family! The Cannabaceae family includes the genera Cannabis and Humulus. Cannabis includes the species Cannabis sativa, which is either hemp or marijuana depending on the Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (also known as THC) content. Humulus contains Humulus lupulus, or hops. Both species have historically been used for medicinal and recreational purposes. Despite having similar genetic and chemical compositions, Cannabis sativa is often vilified compared to its cousin, which is used in the production of beer. I will explain how scientists came to discover the two species’ similar genetic and chemical compositions and discuss how they are, nonetheless, treated completely differently.
History of the Taxonomy of Cannabis
In 1583, botanist and philosopher Andrea Cesalpino was the first to recognize the similarities between Cannabis and Humulus, based on their similar morphology concerning reproduction and nutrition. Previously, botanists had grouped the Cannabis genus with plants that shared a similar leaf shape but not similar genetic material. However, the Cannabaceae family was not established by taxonomists until the 18th century. The classification and origin of Cannabis were often debated due to a lack of fossil records. Currently, there are only three Cannabis print fossils, where the impression of the plant is present, but the plant itself is not fossilized. Pollen data extracted from these fossils suggest that Cannabis originated in the Tibetan Plateau before spreading to Europe. Researchers propose that this genetic drift is what caused the split within Cannabis into Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica.
Determining Relationships Between Cannabis and Hops
Chloroplast DNA suggests that Cannabis and Humulus diverged from a common ancestor 27.8 million years ago. Furthermore, they lost a sibling genus 20 million years ago based on fossil evidence of the extinct Dorofeevia genus. According to Brenner’s Encyclopedia of Genetics, phylogenetics is the study of the evolutionary relationships of a group of species and common ancestors.
Phylogenetics is an integral part of evolutionary biology because it provides the basis for classifying species based on common ancestors. It is also imperative for analyzing and filling in gaps in descendant-ancestor relationships, especially when discussing ancient species.
Essentially, a phylogenetic tree represents evolutionary relationships among species, similar to a family tree (see Figure 1). Not only does phylogeny impact the genetic composition of a species, but it can also impact chemical composition in plants. Researchers have used a variety of methods to assert the relationship between the Cannabis genus and the Humulus genus. This includes analyzing sex chromosomes, genome size, gene conflict, and chemical composition. This research has been essential in closing the gap in phylogenetic connections in the Cannabaceae family.
Figure 1
Phylogenetic Tree of Divergent Rates Including Cannabaceae Family
Note. This phylogenetic tree demonstrates the close relationship between Cannabis sativa and Humulus lupulus. Reprinted from “Cannabis Systematics at the Levels of Family, Genus, and Species” by J.M. McPartland, 2018, Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 3(1), p. 203–212.
Genetic Composition
The majority of methods used to reduce the phylogenetic gap between hops and cannabis involve genetic analysis. Cannabis sativa has the oldest sex chromosome system found in plants. In 2021, it was discovered that cannabis and hops share the same sex chromosome system, which makes this the first instance in Angiosperms of two genera sharing the same sex chromosome system.
While hops and cannabis have this in common, other aspects of their genetics assert their differences due to divergence from a common ancestor. The genome size variations of Cannabis sativa and Humulus lupulus can potentially explain the gene conflict experienced by both species.
Gene conflict occurs when different genetic elements influence the same phenotype. Cannabis sativa has a genome size of 830 Mb, whereas Humulus lupulus has a genome size of over triple that, amounting to 2,570 Mb.
Despite these differences in genome size, both species have similar amounts of repetitive genetic content. The Cannabis sativa genome consists of 64-65% repeats, and the Humulus lupulus genome experiences 60.1% repeats. Gene conflict within a gene tree contributes to phylogeny by producing different results and speciation.
Scientists have used combinability tests, simulations, and empirical demonstrations to determine gene tree relationships among other species. Utilizing similar methods for Cannabaceae could give scientists a better understanding and new perspective on how Cannabis and Humulus genera diverged, as well as why their genomes are different in size but similar in repetitive content.
Chemical Composition
While genetics reveal how closely hops and cannabis are related, chemistry brings another layer to the story: their shared aromas and health benefits. If you enjoy beer or cannabis, you might already know that both hops and cannabis contain terpenes, which are a type of essential oil found in certain plants. Terpenes in hops influence the flavor of a beer. In cannabis, terpenes impact the flavor, smell, and effect that the consumer experiences. Humulus lupulus and Cannabis sativa, depending on the cultivar or strain, can contain the same terpenes.
However, it is currently unknown whether these species acquired terpene synthases via a common ancestor or parallel evolution. In addition to terpenes, Cannabis sativa and Humulus lupulus contain essential nutrients, including fatty acids. Hemp seeds have become increasingly popular due to their health benefits, including high fiber and protein content. In an analysis of fatty acid content of various Cannabaceae fatty acids, researchers found that both Cannabis sativa and Humulus lupulus seeds contain linoleic acid (LA) as their primary fatty acid. While these species diverged from a common ancestor, they evolved into two species that are both used for culinary and therapeutic purposes.
Consumption Rates of Cannabis and Alcohol
As scientific understanding and appreciation of cannabis and hops continue to grow, so too does public interest and consumption, particularly as legal landscapes shift and societal attitudes evolve. In 1996, California paved the way for marijuana legalization by being the first state to legalize medical marijuana. As of 2024, medical cannabis is legal in 40 states, and adult-use cannabis is legal in 24 states.
Alcohol, on the other hand, was made legal in 1933 when the 21st Amendment to the Constitution ended Prohibition. Due to the legalization efforts of cannabis in the United States, there has been an increase in reported marijuana use by respondents to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. While alcohol consumption is still favored by a larger number of people, survey respondents reported using marijuana on more days per month than they do alcohol.
Senate Bill 86
Recognizing cannabis’s relationship to hops is imperative, as CBD and THC beverages are under attack in Ohio. S.B. 86 was introduced in February 2025 to further limit the sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid beverages. Depending on THC content, these beverages would only be able to be sold in licensed marijuana dispensaries or establishments with specific alcohol permits.
This is problematic because it limits access to hemp-derived products that are compliant under the 2018 Farm Bill, which allows for less than 0.3% THC by weight. Consumers would no longer be able to purchase cannabis beverages from retailers such as Ohio CBD Guy and Columbus Botanical Depot. If these beverages are restricted for sale in dispensaries, it would subject hemp-derived products to excise taxes intended for marijuana, despite their legal distinction.
Conclusion
Thanks to evolution, cannabis enthusiasts and beer lovers have a common discussion topic: their substances of choice are cousins. While alcohol consumption is still more popular and socially acceptable, there is a place at the bar for cannabis consumers.
So the next time you sip a THC seltzer, toast it to evolution because your drink of choice shares multiple similarities to your beer-drinking neighbor’s. Understanding these connections isn’t just trivia; it’s a step toward reducing the stigma around cannabis and appreciating the fascinating overlap between nature, evolution, and society.
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