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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: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday September 17 2015, @06:28PM
I was thinking something more akin to a breathalyzer but something akin to a blood sugar tester would be fine as well. Just so long as it can be done on the spot and doesn't require the driver be arrested on suspicion and get tested back at the station.
Really not talking about it making law enforcement harder. I prefer it be exceedingly difficult in most cases. Creating imminent danger to the lives of others is another story though. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness should be pretty sacrosanct in their protections so long as you're not interfering with the same of anyone else.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by Anal Pumpernickel on Thursday September 17 2015, @06:46PM
Creating imminent danger to the lives of others is another story though.
But you don't appear to be suggesting that we just ban doing this; you appear to be suggesting that we keep marijuana banned because it would be hard to catch people who drive while under its influence.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday September 17 2015, @07:31PM
I'm more suggesting that we get the coppers hooked up with quick n easy finger stick tests as a precursor to legalizing it.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by sjames on Friday September 18 2015, @02:17AM
That presumes that driving under the influence of pot is actually hazardous. There have been studies suggesting otherwise.
But to get at the crux of the issue, if a stick test (or any test) was provably impossible, would you say legalize or don't?
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday September 18 2015, @11:05AM
If a stick test were impossibly, I'd say legalize but criminalize driving while any THC was in your system.
Now, I'm not saying this just to be a conservative asshat. I'm saying this because I smoked a lot of pot back when I was a kid and it absolutely made me a worse driver. Worse balance, worse reflexes, narrower available focus of attention, worse give-a-shit that something bad could happen; none of these are good to have while operating a ton or two of rolling potential death.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by sjames on Friday September 18 2015, @02:01PM
There have been studies that suggest that the imparments are very real but the stoned driver (unlike the drunk driver) is aware of the limitations and tends to drive more cautiously as a result.
That doesn't necessarily convince me that it's fine to drive stoned but it suggests that standards similar to alcohol will be more than sufficient.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Saturday September 19 2015, @02:54AM
Could always put the Mythbusters on it and find out like they did for booze vs cellphones.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by sjames on Saturday September 19 2015, @10:32PM
If nothing else, that would certainly be amusing to watch.