Re: Re[2]: MASTER PLAN FOR MYCOHERBICIDES

Bob MacGregor (rdmacgregor@gov.pe.ca)
Thu, 18 Feb 1999 10:59:58 -0400

An accepted principle in biological control is the need for target specificity. In the case of cannabis, the only way I can imagine a specific enough bio-herbicide (or herbivore?) would be if it were somehow linked inextricably to THC. Otherwise, industrial hemp would be out of the picture, too.

If, on the other hand, you are talking about deliberate biological warfare, these sorts of weapons are not very reliable -- especially considering the possibility of them coming back to haunt the user. That doesn't mean nobody would consider developing and/or releasing them, just that it is stupid to do it (but, when we talk about weapons development, my sympathies wane -- an admitted prejudice of mine).

The bottom line is that release of _any_ biological control organism requires very careful and extensive investigation of the potential side-effects. I wish the guidelines were as stingent about the potential side-effects of introducing new crops (that is how nutria, gypsy moths and a whole bunch of weedy plants got to North America -- not to mention skunks to Prince Edward Island [my home]).
BOB

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