First Marijuana Strain with Zero THC Developed in Colorado
Trilogene Seeds, a company based in Colorado, claims to have developed the first marijuana strain with zero THC content. The new strain, named “Pandora” after the first woman in Greek mythology created by Zeus as a punishment for men, is a breakthrough in cannabis breeding.
Pandora: Cannabis Without THC Precursor
The project took two and a half years to complete. Using RNA interference technology, bioengineers were able to suppress the expression of genes responsible for the biosynthesis of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid—the compound that turns into THC during decarboxylation. According to the experts, “Pandora” is physiologically identical to other cannabis strains, but it cannot produce the THC precursor due to its unique genetics.
Trilogene Seeds plans to patent “Pandora” and sell its seeds in countries where industrial marijuana is legal. The company believes that zero-THC cannabis will be in high demand thanks to its high CBD content, ranging from 17% to 22%. This makes the strain especially attractive to farmers cultivating cannabis for cannabidiol biomass production.
Pandora Makes Life Easier for Hemp Growers
In 2021, the area of industrial cannabis cultivation in the US dropped by 61%, totaling 16,187 hectares. Many farmers stopped planting marijuana due to declining profitability and rising costs.
According to the Indianapolis Star, in 2020, Indiana farmers had to destroy nearly 20% of their industrial cannabis crops because THC levels exceeded legal limits. Research firm New Frontier Data reports that from 2018 to 2020, since the legalization of industrial marijuana in the US, hemp growers disposed of 10.8% of their harvests due to THC content above the 0.3% threshold.
American farmers note that THC concentration can spike due to various stress factors, such as excess fertilizer. As a result, the same cannabis strain grown under different conditions can have significantly different THC levels. “Pandora” could solve this problem and guarantee compliance with regulatory requirements.
Potential for the Russian Market
In Russia, it is legal to grow cannabis strains listed in the “State Register of Breeding Achievements” with THC content not exceeding 0.1%. In practice, legal strains contain no more than 0.06% THC. Theoretically, Trilogene Seeds could apply for permission to sell “Pandora” seeds in Russia by submitting an application to the State Variety Commission. However, the chances of approval for an American cannabis strain are extremely low.