Cannabis is widely used for medicinal and recreational purposes, however, there is a lack of understanding about its effects on human physiology, medical outcomes, and concerns about consistency and reproducibility of the derived products. These concerns are driven primarily by the inherent chemical complexity of a biological organism. What makes whole-plant products more challenging is that they are not just chemically complex, but also chemically variable. This variation is due to a combination of the genetic background of the plant, as well as the environment in which it is grown. In order to produce reproducibly consistent products, it is critical that they be derived from genetically stable plants grown under uniform conditions. Then, and only then, will it be possible to conduct pre-clinical and clinical evaluation to fully understand these complex interactions and biological outcomes.

This presentation delves into the pioneering research conducted at Université Laval, home to Canada's first public cannabis breeding program. Focused on overcoming the hurdles posed by genetic and environmental variations, our program leverages cutting-edge genomics, precision genome editing, and high-throughput phenotyping. By integrating these advancements with AI-driven analyses, we are paving the way for the development of profile-specific cannabis cultivars that exhibit both uniformity and genetic stability. Join us as I navigate through our groundbreaking research, illuminating the path toward a future where cannabis cultivation aligns seamlessly with the demands of scientific scrutiny and medicinal precision.