alright, i've tried to peruse the whole thread, but cant read for the next half hour before posting.

as someone who just received his BS in plant biology, minor in genetics, and has been transforming various plants for the past 2 years...I have to speak up.

I've given this a LOT of thought

heres the deal. First you have to figure out which gene or MUCH more likely gene FAMILY is responsible for cannabinoid production. this is NOT an easy task...you basically have to create knock-out mutants (plants you've managed to silence one single gene of) and screen them all for one without cannabinoids. if you could do that, you'd know which gene was responsible for/part of the family responsible for cannabinoid production.

at that point, you'd create the DNA, and as a poster stated above you could use agrobacterium to deliver a genetic construct. although, you would definitely need a REGULAR cell WITH a nucleus.

You would create a genetic construct with multiple copies of that specific gene you think is responsible for cannabinoid production, and if you were able to get it stably incorporated into the genome of a single cell, you could manipulate it using hormones to grow into a whole new plant. at that point you've got transformed plant, hopefully with the gene responsible for cannabinoid production.

you'd have to grow it out to at LEAST three generations to see if the gene was stably transformed. not to mention the litany of DNA/RNA/protein tests you'd need to do to check for translation and transcription of the genetic products.

basically...its not as easy as everyone thinks, and the limiting factor would definitely be money. this endeavor would cost a LOT, given all the growing, genetic screening, secrecy, personnel, etc etc etc.

TRUST ME...I work at this stuff all day, and dream about the day i'll be able to set up my own shop and FINALLY create the perfect marijuana strain.

It'll happen...i'll find that rich pothead who wants to put a few million in venture capital towards this idea (and dont kid yourself...a few million would probably just cover the first five years, lab equipment/space is expensive) and be patient...because this could EASILY take a decade or more to do.