Research has shown that Humulus lupulus (the plant that makes hops) and Cannabis sativa (also called hemp and marijuana) are closely related, [1] [a] and it may be possible to create novel cultivars of hops that express valuable chemicals similar to commercial hemp. Both hops and cannabis contain terpenes and terpenoids; tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a terpenoid. [3] [4] Hops lack the enzyme that could convert cannabigerolic acid into THC or CBD, [5] but it could be inserted using genetic engineering as was done in 2019 for yeast. [6] [7]
Research has shown that Humulus lupulus (the plant that makes hops) and Cannabis sativa (also called hemp and marijuana) are closely related, [1] [a] and it may be possible to create novel cultivars of hops that express valuable chemicals similar to commercial hemp. Both hops and cannabis contain terpenes and terpenoids; tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a terpenoid. [3] [4] Hops lack the enzyme that could convert cannabigerolic acid into THC or CBD, [5] but it could be inserted using genetic engineering as was done in 2019 for yeast. [6] [7]