Originally Posted by dontexist21

My main point is genetic engineering as a whole is something that is barely understood. We do not understand how DNA functions, even when dealing with lower level organism such as plants. How can we modify the DNA when we don't understand it. There is no responsible way of using genetic engineering in its current form. A few decades when we have done much more work on it I would like to see it being used on a wider scale, but not now, not when it would do more harm then good. Even when people with the best intentions cannot use it responsibly in its current state. I also do not think that we need to. There is a reason plants produce harmful chemicals, it helps them survive, you might be doing more harm then good. And THC and many of the other helpful compounds can always be extracted using simple procedures. Hell if you gave me a few simple widely used solvents, a few pieces of lab equipment, I could give you some of the purest extract that you have ever had. Using barely any heat, so no lost of THC and no chance of solvents being left in the final product. And with time the separate compounds can be separated if I used some other methods, this would mean you would only get the specific pain relief that the patient needs. And no need to be using untested genetic engineering.