Legacy Genetics Study

Legacy Cannabis Genetics: People and Their Plants is a DCC-funded, community-driven research project—and we’re proud to be doing this work in partnership with and — our lead community-based organizations collaborating with researchers to keep this study rooted in legacy-producing communities across California.

Last month, we opened applications for the project’s Community Advisory Board (CAB), a 13-member group of legacy-producing community members with representation from rural, urban, and BIPOC communities. We received 60+ strong applications from stakeholders across California.

The research team is currently reviewing submissions using the LCG Focus Group guidelines and the project’s established selection process, and we anticipate announcing the final 13 CAB members in the coming weeks.

🌲 We’re honored by the response and looking forward to building this next phase together.

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🔔 Community Advisory Board (CAB): Last Call to Apply!

We are seeking community members to serve on the project’s Community Advisory Board. CAB applications are open through December 31, 2025

CAB members serve as advisors to the project and will receive a minimum annual honorarium of $7,500 for their contributions of time and expertise

🌿Apply to serve on the CAB by December 31, 2025
🌿Links to guidelines & application are in bio

Thank you for being part of this community-driven study and helping carry the work into its final year.

As the LCG Study enters its final year, the focus shifts from wrapping up field studies to conducting analysis and preparing to share our findings with the public.

This project aims to identify, document, and help to preserve California’s legacy genetics to ensure cultivation communities are acknowledged for their breeding work and can leverage these resources for their agricultural futures. The work has been built upon a foundation of community outreach, education, and engagement. With the support of our partnered community-based organizations, we reached legacy communities all across California and formed focus groups to shape the criteria for the project’s Community Advisory Board (CAB).

Now, as we move into this next phase, the CAB’s expertise will help guide the work ahead. The CAB will be essential to supporting the analysis of the project’s research data and ensuring that the diversity of California’s legacy communities is well represented and served by the study’s outputs.

🌿Research outputs will include:

•A special collection of c@nn@b!$ herbaria
•100 hours of oral histories
•Guidance on intellectual property tools for breeders and farmers
•Analysis of the impact of regulation on genetic diversity
•Public policy recommendations
•Analysis of the political geography of California genetics
•A replicable, community-driven research model

We are seeking community members to serve on the project’s Community Advisory Board. CAB applications are open through December 31, 2025.

CAB members serve as advisors to the project and will receive a minimum annual honorarium of $7,500 for their contributions of time and expertise.

Apply to serve on the CAB by December 31, 2025: Links to the application & guidelines are in our bio.

The LCG Study has been built upon a foundation of community outreach, education and engagement.
Through the support of our partnered community-based organizations we reached legacy communities all across California and formed focus groups to shape criteria the project’s CAB.

As the study enters its final year, the CAB will be critical to informing research analysis and findings, ensuring the diversity of California’s legacy communities are well represented and served by the outputs of the study.

🌲CAB APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN THROUGH DEC 31, 2025. Find more information & applicable through our bio.

🌲Minimum $7500 honorarium per CAB member

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LCG is a multidisciplinary, community-based participatory research (CBPR) study that will identify, document, and help to preserve the history, value, and diversity of California’s genetics — and the communities that steward them.

CBPR is a partnership approach to research that equitably involves community members, organizational representatives, and academic researchers in all aspects of the research process. This isn’t research about community — it’s research with community.

That’s why the Community Advisory Board (CAB) is critical to the LCG research model. CAB members will collaborate with the research team to help inform the CBPR model, advise on community outreach and research participant recruitment, review and provide input on project materials, and support research analysis and the development of findings and policy recommendations. The CAB will also help shape programming and promotion for the public dissemination event

Applications are open through December 2025. Apply via the link in bio.

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📣 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 (𝗖𝗔𝗕) 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻!

𖠰 The 13 members of the CAB will collaborate with the LCG research team over the next 12 months in this final year of project activities:

• Help shape the research model
• Advise on community outreach and engagement
• Help us interpret data and develop our research findings
• Inform research publications & policy recommendations
• Help us plan and present our findings at our final public dissemination event

💫 Huge thanks to the folks who participated in our LCG Focus Groups this year! We appreciate you all sharing your knowledge and recommendations for the criteria, application, and selection process for establishing the CAB.

👉 Read the CAB Guidelines established by the LCG Focus Group via the link in our bio

𖠰 What does serving on the CAB involve?

• Serve on the CAB from January to December 2026
• Participate in 90-minute Zoom meetings 2 x month
• CAB members will travel to Sacramento for our final public dissemination event
• Receive a minimum $7500 annual stipend for serving on the CAB
• Option to take on extra work advising researchers and receive an additional stipend

You do not need a research background to apply! We’re looking for community members with lived experience and cannabis expertise who want to collaborate with the LCG research team on this next phase of the project.

🔗 Applications are open through December 2025.

👉 Tap the link in our bio to submit your application.

Know someone who would be a great fit? Please share this post!

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WEEKEND EVENTS—

Over the next four days, the Legacy Genetics: People and Their Plants project will host two of its final three community meetings — in Nevada City and Sacramento. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this historic statewide archive.

🌿We invite community members, cultivators, breeders, business owners, advocates, and cultural stewards to help shape this historic archive.

These free public events will offer a hands-on introduction to a first-of-its-kind statewide study funded by the California Department of C@nn@b*$ Control. The project aims to document and protect the genetic and cultural heritage of California C@nn@b*$ through community-based participatory research.

These gatherings are free and open to all.
RSVPs encouraged, walk-ins welcome.

The Legacy Genetics: People and Their Plants tour is coming to a close 🌿 Our final community meeting will take place in Los Angeles!

📍 Catalyst Dispensary, Hawthorne
📅 October 4 & 5 | 1–5 PM
🎟 Free & open to adults 21+

Over the past year, this project has traveled across California—listening, learning, and documenting the stories and genetics that define our state’s c@nn@b*s heritage. We are honored to travel to Los Angeles to explore and celebrate the contributions this diverse community has made to the legacy of California c@nn@b*s.

Join us for:
✨ Presentations from the research team
✨ Educational info on botanical naming documentation & IP protections
✨ Q&A, breakout discussions & networking

RSVPs are encouraged (link in bio), but walk-ins are always welcome—drop in anytime, stay as long as you’d like, and add your voice to the story of California c@nn@b*s.

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Special thanks to .cares & for supporting our community engagement in LA!

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The Legacy Cannabis Genetics: People and Their Plants project is continuing its statewide tour with back-to-back gatherings in Mendocino and Sonoma Counties THIS WEEKEND!!

These meetings are designed to bring together cultivators, breeders, researchers, and community members to shape how California’s cannabis heritage is documented and protected.

Mendocino County – Willits
📍 Little Lake Grange | Willits
🗓️ Thursday & Friday, September 19 & 20
🕐 1:00 – 5:00 PM

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Sonoma County – Santa Rosa
📍 Barrel Proof Comedy Lounge | Santa Rosa
🗓️ Sunday & Monday, September 21 & 22
🕐 1:00 – 5:00 PM

Please note: this venue is 21+ only.

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These community meetings are free and open to all. RSVPs are encouraged to help us prepare, but walk-ins are always welcome. Each day follows the same flexible format—drop in whenever you can, stay as long as you’d like, and add your voice to this community-driven research effort.

Links in bio!

We’ve been gathering with communities across California — and the next stop is Sacramento.

These meetings provide an opportunity for cultivators, breeders, and community members to connect directly with the researchers behind the Legacy Cannabis Genetics: People and Their Plants study. If you’ve spent years growing cannabis, innovating genetics, preserving lineages, or bearing witness to regional shifts, your knowledge and voice are critical to this work.

Join us at Queen Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant on Sunday, September 28, and Monday, September 29, from 1:00 to 5:00 PM to:

✺ Share your on-the-ground knowledge — from genetic stewardship to patient access and market insights
✺ Guide the research process — ensuring community experience shapes how legacy genetics are documented and protected
✺ Connect directly with the research team and project advisors
✺ Explore practical protections — how this study can support communities in documenting, leveraging, and safeguarding cannabis genetics

These gatherings are free and open to all. RSVPs are encouraged, but walk-ins are always welcome. Each day follows the same flexible format—drop in whenever you can, stay as long as you’d like, and add your voice to this community-driven research effort.

👉 Register through the link in bio.

The Legacy Genetics: People and Their Plants project is coming to Nevada County— and we’re inviting community members, cultivators, breeders, business owners, advocates, and cultural stewards to help advance this research.

We’ll be meeting at Bodhi Hive in Nevada City on September 26 & 27 from 1-5 PM. The research team will share updates on the project’s research tracks, including: oral history, botanical sciences, political geography, intellectual property, and public policy. Participate in community discussions, hear project updates , and find out how you can get involved in this first-of-its-kind statewide study.

These community meetings are free and open to all. RSVPs are encouraged to help us prepare, but walk-ins are always welcome. Each day follows the same flexible format—drop in whenever you can, stay as long as you’d like, and add your voice to this community-driven research effort.

👉 Register through the link in bio

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