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Pathogen from Santa Barbara County infects 90% of pot grows

May 26, 2023

By KAREN VELIE

An infectious pathogen expected to cause billions of dollars in damage to California’s cannabis industry was initially found to have infected plants at a Santa Barbara County pot farm. [SFGATE]

Currently, scientists believe the pathogen is present in more than 90% of the state’s pot farms. Hop-latent viroid, or HLVd, grows unnoticed until shortly before the harvest.

Infected plants then shrivel losing as much as 30% of plant weight. In addition, the pathogen also reduces the level of THC, the intoxicant in pot, greatly reducing the value of the crop.

In 2018, scientists sampled plants at a farm in Santa Barbara County and found that both symptomatic and non-symptomatic plants tested positive for the pathogen. HLVd is now spreading globally.

Early testing can help growers remove infected plants from their farms.


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Quick! Separate all MJ plants 6 feet apart and get em masked up before this deadly pathogen spreads!!

Ohhhh the humanity……


6

This stuff is totally different from the weed of the 80s and 90s. The levels of THC are so high that there are definite links to paranoia and schizophrenia. But there’s a lot of money to be made, so it all goes down the memory hole.


17

Same as ANY medication/alcohol… If it’s there in the first place they bring it out. Not a CAUSE of said conditions.


1

High levels of THC mean that you don’t have to smoke much at all to get the desired effect. For some people, that makes high THC cannabis the healthier choice.

Also, I would not say today’s cannabis is “totally different” from what you could find in the 1980s and 90s. there was plenty of high thc weed back in the 1980s and 90s.


0

Oh no.


9

Another reason California should make all pot illegal in California. Just love it.


10

I think you’re in the wrong state… The exact opposite has occurred over the last decade. Also, wishing ill health on others with different values or opinions is pretty telling to your own :/


-5

How is it spread? Via pruning? If so, prune away! MJ is junk for your body and mind. Need to relax? Red wine in moderation is better.


-20

What an antiquated opinion that is totally false lol


-2

Actually not antiquated, check out Mayo Clinic and resveratrol in red wine.

Pot, in high potency, is sh$t. Want to ruin your life and burden those you love? Overindulge ingesting or smoking pot OR drinking. Let a substance control you. Rationalize that it is somehow healthy. F$ck the one life that you have been given on this trash.


3

I’m glad to hear that the media and government officials are taking this problem seriously and that serious efforts are being made to eradicate the scourge. Officials can take a lead from the viticulture industry. (and let’s hope that the problem affecting commercial cannabis in California is not a matter of industrial sabotage.)


-4