Semisynthetic Strategies for the Production of Cannabinoids from Cannabis Sativa

Although recreational and medicinal marijuana is legal in Canada regulations limit the content of certain cannabinoids, such as ?9-tetrahydrocannabinol (?9THC) in commercially grown strands. With close collaboration with our industrial partner Plantbiois Ltd., this research project will develop methods to produce ?9THC by synthetic conversion from highly abundant cannabinoids in unregulated, low THC strains. We will use this knowledge to also explore the synthesis of less abundant, but equally valuable cannabinoids, including cannabinol (CBN) and the ?9THC analogue ?8-tetrahydrocannabinol (?8THC). Once our laboratory scale technology is fine-tuned we will work with Plantbiosis Ltd. to develop a large scale protocols for use in an industrial setting.

Faculty Supervisor:

Paul G Hayes

Student:

Dylan Webb

Partner:

Plantbiosis

Discipline:

Biochemistry / Molecular biology

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

University of Lethbridge