Evaluation of Cannabis floral trichome developmental state

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The medicinal use of the plant Cannabis sativa has potential therapeutic benefits as an analgesic drug and in the treatment of a variety of diseases. The active ingredients are produced in small glands (trichomes) on the surface of Cannabis floral tissues. Marijuana strains have been bred for high levels of cannabinoid compounds in the trichomes, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD). Tilray is a Licensed Producer of medical marijuana under Health Canada regulations, providing dried cannabis for patients across Canada who have the appropriate medical documentation. Tilray grows the medicinal marijuana strains in growth rooms under carefully controlled conditions, harvests and dries the flowering plants, and tests the cannabinoid content of their product. Currently, Tilray is timing their harvests based on a weekly schedule. The objective of this study is to investigate the trichome ripening of medical marijuana plants grown in the Tilray facility. The goal is to correlate cannabinoid content and visual characteristics of trichomes, including the appearance of the trichomes under a hand-held ultraviolet light. This will permit Tilray to adjust their harvest schedules to optimize the production of active ingredients in their product.