Cannabis has been increasing in popularity, both as a recreational drug and an alternative medicine. But one challenge that impacts both those who are selling cannabis, and those consuming it, is lack of consistency. Cannabis has countless varieties, each with a different combination of chemical compounds, which can impact cannabis' effects.
Genetics and the environment in which the cannabis is grown can have big impacts on the resulting cannabis. This means that brands have a hard time keeping consistency in their products, and consumers have a hard time consistently finding products that give the effects they are looking for.
But a recent comprehensive scientific review suggests that biotechnological tools, such as genetic engineering, tissue culture and molecular breeding, may help produce cannabis varieties that are more stable and more tailored to specific medicinal needs.
One potential use for this kind of technology would be producing cannabis with specific cannabinoids. Traditional growing methods can be unpredictable when it comes to what cannabinoids will be produced by a plant. While genetics plays some role, it's also true that the environment and style of growing can be a big factor in what cannabinoids are present. And the different cannabinoids each have distinct effects, so not being able to control the cannabinoids that emerge limits the ability to grow cannabis varieties for specific needs.
Read more at forbes.com