Towards dsRNA-integrated protection of medical Cannabis crops: Considering human safety, recent- and developing RNAi methods, and research inroads

Due to the expanding industry of medical Cannabis, we discuss recent milestones in RNA interference (RNAi)-based crop protection research and development that are transferable to medical Cannabis cultivation. Recent and prospective increases in pest pressure in both indoor and outdoor Cannabis production systems, and the need for effective non-chemical pest control technologies (particularly crucial in the context of cultivating plants for medical purposes), are discussed. We support the idea that developing RNAi tactics towards protection of medical Cannabis could play a major role in maximizing success in this continuously-expanding industry. However, there remain critical knowledge gaps, especially with regard to RNA pesticide biosafety from a human toxicological viewpoint, due to the medical context of Cannabis product use. Furthermore, efforts are needed to optimize transformation and micropropagation of Cannabis plants, examine cutting edge RNAi techniques for various Cannabis-pest scenarios, and investigate the combined application of RNAi- and biological control tactics in medical Cannabis cultivation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.