For the last century, cannabis has been stigmatized. Yet, this plant, part of the Order Rosales, belongs to a family famous for producing ornamental flowers and edible fruits like apples and cherries. Interestingly, hops—the key ingredient in beer—shares the same family tree: Cannabaceae.
If you enjoy roses, it seems only natural to embrace cannabis, another member of the family. Yet, many happily sip their beer while shunning cannabis. The irony lies in the fact that hops and cannabis not only share genetic ties but also boast similar medicinal compounds with potential healing properties.
Humulus lupulus, the scientific name for hops, mirrors cannabis in many ways. Like cannabis, it’s the female hops plant that holds the most value. Both plants contain terpenes and other compounds studied for their ability to fight cancer. Research on hops has shown promising results in blocking leukemia cells from attaching to bone tissue and even killing cancer cells.
Next time you raise a glass, remember to toast your drink’s extended family—cannabis. But here’s a sobering thought: while cannabis users may drive safer according to recent studies, combining cannabis with alcohol can double the risk of fatal accidents. It’s crucial to keep these potent cousins separate if driving is involved.
Cannabaceae offers more than just hops and hemp—two plants that hold promise for future medical breakthroughs. Who would have thought that the humble cannabis plant, often demonized, had anything in common with beer? It turns out, the U.S. government has known this connection for nearly a century, with the U.S.D.A. being the primary source of research into this plant family.
