Genetically manipulated hemp and marijuana strains present a wide range of potential problems, according to the Federation of International Hemp Organizations (FIHO), which has called for a moratorium on outdoor growing of such cultivars.
FIHO said it was prompted to issue a warning after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved the first genetically engineered hemp variety earlier this year.
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced its approval of the new cultivar in October. USDA said the new hemp breed, developed to produce super-low levels of THC, was “unlikely” to pose an increased pest risk compared to other hemp varieties, and that it therefore may be safely multiplied and grown in the United States.
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Global group urges moratorium on growing genetically altered hemp outdoors
