By Max Sargent


GMOs are everywhere these days, even if you had no idea. But what does GMO stand for? GMO means genetically modified organism. These are organisms whose genes have been artificially altered to give them certain traits.

But is there genetically modified marijuana out there? Yes, there is.

Genetic modification is a very controversial subject. Little-understood and highly complex, it offers humanity and the environment profound opportunities, but also comes with profound risks. So, is GMO good or bad? And should we be smoking GMO weed?

What Is GMO?

GMOs are organisms produced by inserting genetic material (sometimes from another species) into their own genetic sequences to cause them to exhibit some desirable trait. Whatever your take on it, it’s surely incredible stuff.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines GMOs as follows: “Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are plants, animals or microorganisms in which genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination”.

There are several different ways to genetically modify an organism.

DNA Transference Through Biological Vehicles

We should never underestimate the power of nature. There are various organisms existing in the natural world that have the power to alter the genetic sequences of others. By manipulating these functions, we are able to insert DNA of our choice into living cells.

  • Agrobacterium tumefaciens

This is a type of bacterium that organically mutates the cells of plants, causing them to grow tumours. In the 70s, it was discovered that by deleting the bacterial plasmid that caused this mutation and replacing it with the desired genetic sequence, Agrobacterium could be used to genetically engineer plants. This is one of the oldest and most widely used methods of genetic modification for plants.

  • Genetic Transformation via Virus

This works in a similar way to Agrobacterium. Viruses work by infecting cells with stray genetic sequences and turning them into virus factories. By manipulating the ways in which viruses themselves manipulate cells, we are able to implant DNA sequences of our choosing.

DNA Transference Through Biological Vehicles

Direct Transference

As well as using organisms as intermediaries, we can also directly genetically modify organisms. However, this approach can be a little more scattergun (literally), and tends to be less efficient.

  • Gene Guns

Gene guns, or biolistic particle delivery systems, fire tiny pellets of heavy metal coated in desirable genes at the organism of interest. The ratio of success is fairly low with this method. But if successful, the pellets penetrate the cells and integrate the genetic codes on the pellets with those of the cells. It can be used to change DNA, RNA, and proteins.

  • Microinjection

This is as it sounds. Genetic material is injected directly into the pronucleus of a cell using a micropipette. Though relatively simple (in terms of genetic modification), it is not the most reliable method.

  • Electroporation

This method involves passing a huge electrical current through cells. In doing so, the cell walls become temporarily permeable. They are then susceptible to transfection of foreign DNA into their nuclei. This is a fairly reliable method, more so than chemical exposure, and is often used to affect the plasmids of bacteria and viruses that will then be used to modify other cells.

Genetic Engineering

Though genetically engineered organisms and genetically modified organisms are often grouped together, biologically the process is quite different. Bioengineering is a far more precise and controlled process whereby we are able to implant specific genes straight into organisms with a high degree of accuracy.

  • CRISPR Cas9 and TALENs

These are more modern, and far more profound genetic engineering techniques. CRISPR Cas9 is a protein found in certain bacteria that allow them to defend themselves. Essentially, it is an immunological protein. By harnessing it, we are able to quite literally cut genetic sequences and replace the removed section with any gene of our choice.

  • Chemical Exposure

By exposing cells to particular chemicals or radiation, we are able to modify their genes—or induce mutagenesis.

Genetic Engineering

Genetic Engineering vs Selective Breeding

Some argue that genetic modification is just an accelerated version of selective breeding, and is therefore little different from an organic process. Whichever side of the debate you're on, it’s important to recognise that this is untrue.

Selective breeding can only utilise genes from the same species, or incredibly similar species. Take this example: the highest-yielding cannabis plant from a crop will be the one that subsequent plants are grown from. By inbreeding these plants, the genes responsible for the large crop will, over time, become stabilised. Then, this new strain could be bred with great-tasting ones or super-potent ones, inbred, and stabilised. This is selective breeding.

However, with genetic modification, genes can be taken from another organism—usually similar, but it could be anything—and spliced directly into a plant. This is how they make, for instance, pesticide-resistant crops. There would be no other way to introduce these genes into plants, other than crossing your fingers and hoping that a random mutation causes them to appear.

So, genetic modification is not only a matter of speed, but fundamentally means that any trait can be taken from any organism and spliced into something else. Terrifying? Probably. A bad thing? Maybe not.

Is There a Problem With GMOs?

So, are genetically modified organisms problematic? It is an incredibly controversial debate, with many people totally polarised on the issue. Certainly, genetic modification carries some huge potential risks. But if managed responsibly (admittedly, something humans don’t excel at), then it could change the world and remove a whole host of problems that have plagued us since the birth of life.

Pros of GMOs

Some of the benefits of GMOs are:

Drought-resistant crops

Easier to grow in drier countries, saves water.

Higher-yielding crops

More food for less investment, feeding more people for less money.

Pest-resistant plants

Leads to lower pesticide use and less crop loss.

Immediate introduction of desirable traits

Saves years of research.

Doesn’t appear to inherently cause health problems

Genetically modified foods have been eaten for decades with no clear associated health problems.

Increase photosensitivity levels

Increases yield and decreases the amount of power necessary to provide ample light.

Virus-resistant plants

There are certain infections for which there is no cure, such as TMV or HpLVD, but by genetically modifying plants, they can become resistant to these. This would make supplies much more stable and predictable.

These are just some of the applications of genetic engineering, and no doubt more will appear as the technology becomes more widely used and experimented with.

Cons of GMOs

But it’s not all good, and there are legitimate concerns with GMOs:

Contamination of natural plants

There are pesticide-resistant plants now found across the world.

Reduces gene pools

GMOs often outcompete natural rivals, threatening large-scale extinction of natural varieties of organisms.

Playing God

Some say that we are delving too deep into the nature of things, and that it is not our place to do so.

Fairly unregulated industry

With short testing times.

Monopolisation

Companies that develop and patent GMOs are likely to have an extreme advantage over rivals.

GMO Cannabis: What, and How?

Are there GMO weed strains? In short, yes. It’s not entirely clear when the first ones arrived; it’s a debated topic. However, Trait Biosciences has created one of the first fully transformed plants, and it is patent-pending. In Israel, where GMO technology is cutting-edge, there are some examples of genetic engineering with cannabis. Basically, it’s now happening everywhere it’s legal.

For instance, CanBreed in Jerusalem has bioengineered cannabis plants that are resistant to powdery mildew, a common fungal pest. This is a real-life example of plants that make farming both cheaper and more sustainable. On a large scale, reducing crop loss due to common problems can have a massive impact. In wider agriculture, it greatly increases food security too.

What’s Different About Genetically Modified Weed?

Genetically modified cannabis doesn’t just feature bigger yields and faster growth. In fact, these are some of the hardest traits to realise, as they require many, many genes. At first, you may notice no obvious difference with a genetically modified plant. It is only over time, as a variety of genes accrue, that obvious changes become apparent.

As cannabinoids are only produced in large quantities within the trichomes—resinous glands found mainly on the outside of cannabis flowers—a lot of biomass goes to waste in operations that grow cannabis specifically for the buds. In other words, you wait 2–3 months to harvest a tiny portion of the plant.

So, with genetic engineering, it is hoped that we will be able to grow cannabis plants that produce cannabinoids throughout their structure, in greater numbers. This would be done by modifying the cannabinoids so they become water-soluble, rather than fat-soluble.

This means that, potentially, cannabinoid-rich leaves could be continually harvested by keeping photoperiod plants in the vegetative phase. Alongside being more profitable, this would make the carbon footprint of each plant much smaller. Not only would it make growing a more efficient process, but these developments mean that cannabis will move away from oils and flower, and could easily be made into almost any product—with the cannabinoids of your choice.

But things get weirder. Some people believe that the cannabis plant is just not the best vessel to harvest cannabinoids from. Therefore, scientists are trying to implant bacteria with genes necessary to spew out the desired cannabinoids in high quantities, with little input. This is also how insulin is produced, by modifying yeast to make it produce insulin instead.

Other developments include strains rich in rare cannabinoids. With over 113 cannabinoids—some appearing only in trace quantities—genetic engineering opens the door to discovering currently unknown secrets of the cannabis plant.

Other potential modifications are:

  • Modification of terpene production: Different terpenes don’t just affect the flavour, but may influence the overall[1] effect too. By controlling exactly which terpenes are produced, and in what quantities, we’d have much greater control over the final product.
  • Modification of cannabinoid production: We now know that many of the 113 or so cannabinoids found in cannabis have unique effects, and their combination makes for potentially brilliant entourage effects[2]. By controlling the concentration of cannabinoids, we could breed strains that perfectly fit the bill for any use or any individual.
  • Modification of flavonoid production: By manipulating the production of flavonoids, we could change the colours expressed by certain parts of the plant. Not only this, but flavonoids also have their own effects on the body[3], meaning that by modifying all of these traits in concert, we could produce some very special strains indeed.

Is GMO Cannabis Ethical?

It’s a big question. Anything that is bioengineered raises some eyebrows, and with good reason. This new technology is still in its infancy, and there are many terrible paths it could take. But that’s the same with almost anything. You have to wonder, what choice do we have?

In more general terms, genetically modified organisms do potentially hold the key to solving many environmental issues. By being drought and pest-resistant, not only do they provide more use to us, but their impact on the environment is reduced. But on the other hand, do we want to risk wiping natural varieties of plants out?

Regarding cannabis, though, as well as the possibility of creating strains that use resources more efficiently, have a high resistance to pests and disease, and exhibit high quantities of rare cannabinoids, bioengineering also opens the door to potential medical discoveries that we are not yet aware of.

By isolating certain cannabinoids, who knows what we could discover? Likewise, it is highly likely that the cannabis market will continue to grow for the foreseeable future, so why not use plants that require as few resources as possible? That way, at least we know that our weed isn’t costing the Earth.

External Resources:
  1. Cannabis sativa terpenes are cannabimimetic and selectively enhance cannabinoid activity https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. The "Entourage Effect": Terpenes Coupled with Cannabinoids for the Treatment of Mood Disorders and Anxiety Disorders - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. Flavonoids: an overview - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: