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Don't Smoke Pot... Get Your THC From Yeast

posted by cmn32480 on Thursday September 17 2015, @01:09PM   Printer-friendly
from the get-the-twinkies dept.

CoolHand writes:

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?

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  • (Score: 1) by malloc_free on Thursday September 17 2015, @05:22PM

    by malloc_free (3034) on Thursday September 17 2015, @05:22PM (#237572) Journal
    We all have the power to make certain choices in our lives. We can choose to eat foods that are high in saturated fat and refined carbohydrates, and become overweight. We can smoke tobacco and drink alcohol, and increase the likely hood of getting lung cancer and cirrhosis. So why can we not also make the choice to get stoned? Not sure if any of the other things actually lead to a better life or not. What about gambling, that is of no real particular use for anyone except those who make money from it. What I do in my spare time is my choice, and if I am not impinging on anyone else's human rights (directly or otherwise), who has the right to say what I can and cannot do? And lets face it - prohibition is not working - economically or socially. Taxation and regulation will work out far better IMHO. However this would appear to be rational, sensible thinking, and I don't think that the generations of people that were brought up with the idea that drugs are somehow immoral (I mean, really?) will ever get over that. Too much indoctrination. Also, the crime surrounding drugs would practically disappear overnight if prohibition was lifted (admittedly I am just applying some common sense here, can freely admit I may be wrong). Plus regulation would mean that what drugs were being consumed would be of a certain standard and quality, and there would be no mystery to what a pill would contain. Then again I have a bias. My birthday 4/20. :-D