Grant: Engage Grants Program

InPlanta Biotechnology is a breeding company that focuses upon the generation of new hemp cultivars. Specifically, there is an aim to develop varieties that possess medicinal properties. Cannabis sativa flowers contain high levels of various cannabinoids, particularly tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), concentrations of which can be as high as 30% of the total weight of dry flowers. Current regulations for growing hemp in Canada require plants to have concentration of THC lower than 0.3% of the total dry weight. Along these lines, approved cultivars in Canada have very low concentration of CBD, often lower than 1%. InPlanta is working toward registration of a new generation of hemp cultivars that have a high level of CBD. With the change in regulations, hemp growers will be allowed to harvest flowers and leaves of cultivated hemp. Extraction from high CBD cultivars will make it possible to obtain large quantities of CBD relatively inexpensively. In contrast, THC is much more difficult to produce in large quantities, since high THC varieties can only be grown by Licensed Producers in specialized indoor facilities. InPlanta is interested in developing technology for extracting high amounts of THC. *Upon browsing old scientific literature, InPlanta has identified potential techniques for converting CBD to THC. InPlanta would like to engage Prof. Paul Hayes to develop such techniques. InPlanta and Dr. Hayes have met and discussed the details of this engagement. This grant application is thus to establish collaboration with Dr. Hayes to establish methodologies for transforming certain cannabinoids to other cannabinoids, starting with the conversion of CBD to THC. Having the capacity to generate THC from CBD would put InPlanta in position to further explore this process as a business opportunity. This would be highly beneficial for Canadians and the Canadian economy.