India relies on cannabis genetics to structure a future medical market

For the first time in more than 50 years, the Indian government has provided public funding for a research project on the Cannabis.

The grant was awarded to Delta Botanicals & Research, a cannabis and hemp research company based in Bhubaneswar, through the Indian Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, we learn Business of Cannabis. This funding will support a multi-year program focused on one of the most fundamental—and often overlooked—barriers to increasing cannabis production in India: genetics.

Over the coming months, Delta will work to develop stable seed varieties intended for both industrial hemp cultivation and the production of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis, with the aim of meeting regulatory requirements while enabling consistent extraction and clinical research.

Vikramm Mitra, co-founder and CEO of Delta, described this project as a turning point for the industry. «If we can solve the genetic problem, it will change everything,» he said. «Without stable genetics, it’s impossible to standardize extracts, and without standardization, it’s impossible to build a pharmaceutical market… This isn’t just a research project; it’s about laying the foundation for the entire cannabis industry in India.»

A significant milestone since India's 1985 Narcotics Act

This decision marks the first known instance of public funding for research on cannabis seed selection being granted to a private company since India’s adoption of the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Act in 1985.

If India is historically associated with cannabis, its commercial development has remained fragmented. For advocates of a regulated market, this grant is seen as a symbolic turning point: a sign that the government may be willing to invest in the upstream scientific infrastructure needed to develop credible cannabis-based medicines.

The grant is awarded as part of the program National Agricultural Development Scheme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under the National Farmers Development Scheme, with the support of the agri-food business incubator at the’Indira Gandhi University of Agriculture.

Beyond its agricultural implications, this program could also be of strategic importance to India’s pharmaceutical ambitions. Often described as the «pharmacy of the world,» India produces approximately 20% of the global supply of generic drugs, and cannabis-based pharmaceuticals could represent a future extension of this dominance.

Why is the stability of cannabis seeds important?

Delta's work will focus on the phenotyping and genotyping of local cannabis strains from regions such as the’Himalayas and the’Odisha, combined with controlled indoor and outdoor cultivation trials.

The goal is to develop seed varieties that can reliably meet the THC thresholds required by regulations on hemp, while providing the consistent cannabinoid profiles required for pharmaceutical standardization.

Mitra argues that the lack of stable genetics is a critical weakness throughout the supply chain. «One of the main bottlenecks in India’s cannabis ecosystem is rarely discussed: seeds,» he said, warning that the inconsistency of plant material complicates everything downstream, from cultivation to clinical trials.

For industrial hemp growers, unstable genetics can result in crops that exceed legal THC limits, potentially turning an entire harvest into a non-compliance risk. For the development of medical cannabis, inconsistent chemical profiles make it difficult to produce standardized extracts or generate reproducible clinical data—both of which are essential for obtaining regulatory approval.

«The pharmaceutical journey doesn’t begin in the laboratory,» Mitra said. «It begins with the plant.»

Between Ayurveda and the pharmaceutical industry

This grant comes at a time when the India's legal cannabis sector continues to grow, largely driven by the framework Ayurveda in the country. In this system, cannabis—known as «Vijaya» in Sanskrit—is generally used in multi-herbal formulations rather than in the form of isolated cannabinoids such as THC or CBD.

This model has fueled the rapid growth of products such as oils, capsules, and edibles marketed to relieve pain, anxiety, or sleep disorders. But it has also raised regulatory concerns, as many Ayurvedic cannabis-based products do not specify exact cannabinoid levels and often lack standardized dosages.

At the same time, companies are increasingly turning to modern consumer formats such as gummy candies and beverages. Some of these products are said to have been approved according to Ayurvedic principles, although they are more akin to wellness products.

However, regulatory authorities appear to be stepping up their oversight. Approval of new cannabis-based Ayurvedic formulations has shifted from regional authorities to central agencies, with stricter requirements regarding safety and toxicity data.

According to Mitra, policymakers are increasingly demanding local data. «What regulators are asking for is very clear data—not just international data, but data generated on Indian populations and from plants grown under Indian conditions.»

Delta’s genetic program could thus provide the scientific foundation needed for India to transition from loosely regulated herbal products to a cannabis pharmaceutical industry more standardized.