THC and CBD Grown from Yeast: Is This the Future of Cannabinoids?

Boston-based Ginko Bioworks has entered into a deal with Canada-based Cronos Group to produce cannabinoids from yeast. The company says that it can create wide array of purer cannabinoids for cheaper than what’s produced naturally by cannabis.

Ginko says it will modify the DNA of yeast to create THC, CBD and other cannabinoids, according to The Guardian. The process will be completed similarly to how beer is made.

“It’s something we can wrap our heads around pretty readily,” said Jess Leber of Ginko Bioworks.

Ginko will work to invent a new microorganism that will become a cannabinoid that can be mass-produced. Cannabinoids can be valuable to the body and most cannabis strains contain just trace amounts of cannabinoids other than THC and CBD. Ginko’s new approach hopes to make more of the valuable trace cannabinoids available.