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Research Article

Vol. 43 No. 2 (2026): Revista de Ciencias Agrícolas - May - August 2026

Climatic conditions on cannabidiol concentration in Cannabis sativa L. flowers

DOI
https://doi.org/10.22267/rcia.2026432.306
Submitted
March 20, 2025
Published
2026-08-20

Abstract

Information on how climatic conditions affect cannabidiol (CBD) biosynthesis in Cannabis sativa is limited, restricting the development of the cannabis industry in Colombia. This study evaluated the CBD content in flowers cultivated in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and compared the results with records from producers Colombian Caribbean under different temperature, relative humidity, and altitude conditions. Flowers from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (1,800 m; 18–24 °C; 70–80% HR) were compared with records from Cannavida, Pharmacielo, and coastal producers (26–30 °C; 65–85% HR). Cannabinoids were quantified by HPLC-PDA and differences were evaluated using analysis of variance and Tukey’s post hoc test. In the results, Flowers from the Sierra Nevada presented the lowest CBD concentration (1.25 ± 0.08% p/p), which was significantly lower than the values reported for Cannavida (2.0–4.0% p/p) and Pharmacielo (3.8% p/p). Higher temperatures and lower relative humidity in crops at sea level were associated with higher CBD concentrations, suggesting that heat and stress may promote cannabinoid accumulation. However, the observed variation may reflect differences in genotype and cultivation practices. These findings indicate that temperature, relative humidity, and altitude should be considered when selecting cultivation areas and designing management strategies. This study provides a basis for optimizing agronomic practices and breeding programs aimed at increasing CBD yield and the phytochemical quality of cannabis produced in Colombia.

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