Blog 11, What if?

What if scientists had greater control over the traits plants exhibit(part 3)? As stated in my previous two blog posts, the THC-CBD balance in Marijuana has been upset by street breeders. A group of scientists are investigating this balance to find out how it affects the human mind. This idea brings about some interesting possibilities.
The article made an interesting point about the changes made to the marijuana plant through unnatural selection. If the street breeders were able to amplify a desirable effect in marijuana, then why can’t undesirable traits be bred out of other plants. For example, why can’t a coca farmer breed a coca plant from which less harmful cocaine could be made? Without the harmful effects to the brain, what is there to keep cocaine illegal? Another example, why can’t opium growers breed a less addictive opiate? This could launch a whole new generation of pain meds without the high risk of addiction. It could start a medical revolution. While I don’t ever see cocaine being made legal, this is still an interesting concept. The power of evolution quickened and changed through unnatural selection could dramatically change our drug market in the near future.
I don’t actually know the plausibility of any of the ideas in the above paragraph, and the article only mentioned these as open-ended closing thoughts. I do, however have some knowledge in the field of evolution and natural selection. Maybe someday these ideas will be a reality. Humans have been breeding traits in and out of plants for years. If enough studying is put into these things, who knows what could happen?
In conclusion, carelessness created by illicit activity has likely made marijuana more dangerous. Scientists are trying to confirm that the unbalancing of THC and CBD is truly the culprit. They are also trying to change the plant to make it less dangerous. If the scientists accomplish this, it could likely cause a big movement towards decriminalization. That will surely impact society in a large way.