Family trees can be fun and challenging, so guess who is cannabis’s cousin?
Families can be complicated. While the imagine of joyful family gatherings, holidays together and family fun time abound, there is a darker side of competition, upstaging and flat our drama. Considering the news, can you guess who is cannabis’s cousin? It is beer, who is providing a California sober alternative to the old stand by beer. Beer, which is the 3rd most popular drink behind water and tea, is family with the green plant.
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Cannabis and beer are closely related through their shared botanical lineage, particularly their connection to hops. Both cannabis (Cannabis sativa) and hops (Humulus lupulus) belong to the Cannabaceae family, a small group of flowering plants that includes just a handful of genera. Despite their different uses—one for psychoactive and medicinal effects, the other for brewing and flavoring beer—these two plants have significant genetic and chemical similarities that have earned them the title of “botanical cousins.”
The most obvious connection between cannabis and hops lies in their production of terpenes, the aromatic compounds responsible for the distinctive scents and flavors of both plants. Terpenes like myrcene, humulene, and caryophyllene are found in high concentrations in both cannabis and hops, contributing to the pungent, skunky, piney, or citrusy aromas familiar to beer enthusiasts and cannabis users alike. These terpenes also have biological effects, including anti-inflammatory and calming properties, which are being studied for therapeutic applications.
From a genetic standpoint, cannabis and hops share significant portions of their DNA. A 2019 study that sequenced the hop genome found substantial overlap with cannabis genes, particularly in the pathways that produce terpenes and other secondary metabolites. This shared biochemical machinery explains why certain craft beers, especially those in the India Pale Ale (IPA) category, can have aromas that strongly resemble cannabis—even without any cannabis-derived ingredients.
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Historically, the cultivation of both plants has followed parallel paths. Each has been selectively bred for specific traits: hops for bitterness and aroma in brewing, cannabis for cannabinoid content like THC and CBD. Breeders in both industries have capitalized on terpene profiles to cater to evolving consumer tastes, whether in the form of a hazy, tropical IPA or a fruity, high-terpene cannabis strain.
In recent years, the cultural and commercial overlap between cannabis and craft beer has grown. Some breweries experiment with cannabis terpenes or even non-psychoactive hemp to create hybrid beverages that blend the worlds of beer and weed. While THC-infused beers remain regulated and mostly unavailable in many markets, the scientific and sensory connections between hops and cannabis continue to inspire innovation and collaboration.
Ultimately, the kinship between cannabis and hops is more than skin deep. It’s rooted in biology, expressed in aroma and flavor, and increasingly shaping the future of both industries through genetics, craft, and culture.
