Type 1 2 3 Chemotypes

The Type 1, 2, and 3 chemotype classification system describes cannabis plants primarily by their cannabinoid profile ratios, particularly THC and CBD content. Type 1 plants are THC-dominant (high THC, low CBD), Type 2 plants express both cannabinoids in roughly equal ratios (intermediate THC/CBD), and Type 3 plants are CBD-dominant (low THC, high CBD). This chemotype framework emerged from early cannabis taxonomy work and remains foundational in breeding discussions, though modern testing has revealed significantly more complexity—including minor cannabinoids like CBG, THCV, and CBC that influence overall plant chemistry. Lineage records and seed banks frequently reference these categories when describing genetic potential, though individual plant expression varies with environment and cultivation.

Breeders use chemotype classification as a starting point for selecting parents and predicting offspring cannabinoid ranges, though chemotype inheritance is polygenic and not strictly Mendelian. Understanding a strain family's typical chemotype helps inform breeding goals, from THC/CBD ratios to minor cannabinoid targets.