Victorian agricultural scientists are claiming a world first by unlocking the genetic code of medicinal cannabis.

The scientists say their advanced DNA analysis has created the world’s most complete genomic reference.

Not all cannabis varieties are the same.

Victoria is aiming to become Australia’s home of cannabis production with mooted investments in Mildura, Melbourne and Shepparton.

Victoria became the first state to legalise the use of medicinal cannabis back in 2016.

In 2018-19, Agriculture Victoria scientists sequenced 50 trillion bases of DNA.

Advances in technology mean the same amount can today be done in just three weeks, which is equivalent to 60,000 cannabis genomes or 66,000 chickpea genomes.

Most other states and territories are also trying to hitch a ride to the cannabis boom with Western Australia’s Little Green Pharma aboard and a rush to hemp production in the Northern Territory.

Read more at Farm Online.