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Researches have created a strain of yeast with THC, as well as other parts of marijuana.
In August, researchers announced they had genetically engineered yeast to produce the powerful painkiller hydrocodone. Now comes the perhaps inevitable sequel: Scientists have created yeasts that can make important constituents of marijuana, including the main psychoactive compound, tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.
Synthetic versions of THC are available in pill form under brand names like Marinol and Cesamet; they are generally used to treat nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite caused by H.I.V. infection or cancer chemotherapy. Genetically modified yeast could make THC in a cheaper and more streamlined way than traditional chemical synthesis.
Using yeast could also shed light on the clinical usefulness of cannabis-derived compounds. Marijuana is increasingly embraced as medicine, yet there is limited evidence that it is effective against many of the conditions for which it is prescribed. Researchers hoping to separate fact from wishful thinking will need much better access to marijuana's unique constituents. Modified yeast may provide them.
Why can't they just legalize cannabis, and none of this would be necessary?
(Score: 4, Insightful) by TheGratefulNet on Thursday September 17 2015, @03:58PM
the existing BUSINESSES (the prisons, the cops, the dea, all of the feds) make big bucks on the backs of those who engage in activities that are not imoral or risky but currently labeled as 'illegal'.
so, there is a money aspect to it that earns a LOT of people a huge income. threaten a man's income and you are picking a big fight. so that's reason #1.
#2 is about established burned-in (sorry, lol) ideas that would be embarrassing to have to repeal. we, as a country, spent decades telling people that 'Drugs are bad!' and we defined exactly which drugs were Drugs and which ones were ok. no scientific basis in that line between the d and the D, but once drawn, it would require an admission that you were, in the past, WRONG, and that simply is not done in US politics.
#3 is about religious dig-in. some religions seem to be offended when people enjoy themselves in ways that the 'establishment' does not currently engage in or approve of. alcohol? ok! pot? you are a bad person! its very simple and the churches continue to go out of their way to drill this into their people, just like they, to this day, continue to drill into their people that LGBT lifestyle is 'sinful' and not valid.
its not hard to understand all this. what's hard is to change it over time. good news is that we're seeing huge change in this country, in this topic, and I honestly never expected to see this during my lifetime. but lets be honest, the ONLY reason we're seeing change is due to the money aspect of it. locales can get up to 25% of the sale price in taxes and they see dollar signs! that mostly trumps all and its the only way that could have changed hearts and minds. and so, we're getting change for the wrong reasons, but I'll take change that is positive, no matter how it gets here. its about time, anyway!
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