New Gene Technology Can Increase & Decrease THC Content In Cannabis

It may sound like a far-off dream, but one biotechnology company in Indiana is making it a reality. That said, many growers in the United States don’t want to risk run-ins with the law when growing high THC weed, so how can they benefit?

Well, Growthing Together Research Inc. (GTR) also developed a way to silence THC in cannabis and hemp plants, allowing businesses to stay within the federally legal limit of 0.3% THC.

GTR partnered with Texas A&M Agrilife Research back in 2020. It wasn’t until early 2022 that the partnership announced it had developed a technique to transform THC content in THC-free hemp cultivars.

The struggle for hemp cultivators to stay within the legal limit of THC is challenging. More often than not, growers will have to burn their plants that contain more than 0.3% THC or face legal repercussions.

Similarly, GTR is partnering with academic and commercial entities in Canada to help them increase levels of THC. This kind of process is what’s known as stable gene editing and does not involve any additional chemicals or additives.

This means you’re not smoking synthetic or fake weed; all that’s happening is a simple gene change. CEO of GTR, Samuel E. Proctor, spoke with Forbes about how his company is not creating some sort of “Franken-organism.”