Plant biology professors at the University of Minnesota have identified which genes in Cannabis produce the drug part, a key discovery that could lead to legal hemp production in the United States.
Hemp and marijuana are two varieties of Cannabis--marijuana contains a lot of the drug tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) while hemp contains a small amount, but law enforcement has trouble telling them apart so all Cannabis is illegal stateside.
The university's David Marks and George Weiblen might have a solution. "THC is concentrated in these tiny hairs that cover the flowers of the plant," Weiblen says. "We did not know whether the drugs were produced in the hairs or elsewhere in the plant and transported. We now know that the drugs are produced in the hairs." Their discovery was recently published in the Journal of Experimental Botany.
Hemp is more durable than cotton and thrives in the Midwestern climate. Hemp farming flourished there until other fibers gained popularity and strict drug laws were passed. If the scientists can secure funding, the next step is to engineer a hairless hemp variety that law enforcement can quickly identify as drug-free. Or the U.S. could adopt legislation similar to Canada's, where hemp production is legal.
Here's a short video with more details on the research:
Photo: This is where the drugs come from. Credit: David Marks.
Tags: Biotechnology, Green Science, Green Tech
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