REPORT BY

Gordon Scheifele, Northwestern Ontario Research Coordinator

Kemptville College/University of Guelph

Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.

Funding by

CanAdapt

Thunder Bay Hemp Growers’ Association

Red Sky Metis Independent Nations, Thunder Bay

In-Kind by

Kemptville College/University of Guelph

Thunder Bay Hemp Growers’ Association

The author acknowledges the significant efforts of all the research technical staff at the respective research stations for successfully conducting the industrial hemp trials for grain and fibre.  The assistance of Karen Davies, Thunder Bay is recognized for her dedication in summarizing the data and doing the statistical analysis.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The 1999 THC levels for the varieties Fedora 19, Fasamo, Ferimon, Fin 314, Felina 34, Fedrina 74, Zolotonosha 11, Zolotonosha 13, Unico B and Kompolti evaluated over 5 northern Ontario agricultural research stations north of the 46^th latitude were 0.065, 0.05, 0.075, 0.05, 0.068, 0.07, 0.05, 0.05, 0.093 and 0.077%.  The 1999 average for Fedora 19, Felina 34, Fedrina 74, Unico B and Kompolti for northern Ontario was 0.0746% compared to 0.0966% for 1998 (23% lower in 1999).  The southern Ontario mean for Fedora 19 and Unico B in 1998 and 1999 was 0.15% and 0.21% respectively (29% higher in 1999).  The 1999 THC levels were lower for northern Ontario in 1999 than in 1998 and higher in southern Ontario in 1999 than in 1998.

Fedora 19, Fin 314 and Unico B THC levels were 63% higher in southern Ontario (42^nd  to 43^rd latitude) compared to northern Ontario (north of the 46^th latitude) in 1999.  These same 3 varieties were 25% higher for percent THC in northwestern Quebec than northern Ontario.

Ethrel treated Fedora 19 did not produce significantly higher THC levels compared to untreated plots.

THC levels in low THC industrial hemp varieties is significantly effected by environmental conditions such as year to year and region to region effects.  The higher THC levels in varieties occur in regions of lower latitude.  The year effect for southern Ontario was reversed from that of northern Ontario.  The author again strongly suggests that breeding materials be initially screened for THC levels in regions of lower latitudes where resultant percent THC will be at its potential maximum genetic levels.

Grain harvested from fields testing low for THC at 50% pollen shedding will not necessarily have low THC levels.  THC contamination at harvest time can still result in higher than desired levels in the grain.

INTRODUCTION

The tight Canadian regulations and political concerns relating to the hemp-risks and safety concerns surrounding THC and other Cannabinoids produced by Cannabis sativa directly effect the future of industrial hemp as a crop and industry in Canada.  The continued successful management of THC levels in the cultivated crop (<0.3%) as well as in the harvested grain processed food products (<10 ppm) is essential for the development of a successful industrial hemp industry in Canada and insuring the future of markets outside the Canadian boarders.

A main requirement, as part of the license agreement with Health Canada, for commercial and research industrial hemp growers in Canada, is to have the inflorescence of each variety and licensed field sampled by a Health Canada approved person at the time of 50% pollen shedding and have such samples analyzed by a Health Canada accredited laboratory.  The costs associated with sampling and laboratory analysis are part of the production costs for the licensed producer.

Application was made to Health Canada, Bureau of Drug Surveillance, Ottawa for 1999 industrial hemp research licenses for Thunder Bay, Emo, New Liskeard, Verner and Kapuskasing Agricultural Research Stations (TBARS, EARS, NLARS, VARS and KARS) in early March.  The following research licenses were received May 24^th: 99-S0001-R-01, 99-S0001-R-02, 99-S0001-R-03, 99-S0001-R-04 and 99-S0001-R-05 for NLARS, VARS, TBARS, EARS and KARS respectively.  Commercial licenses were applied for by Arnold Breukelman, Thunder Bay for the Thunder Bay Hemp Growers’ Association (TBHGA) and Peter Brunner, Dinorwic, Ontario, and received last week of May and mid May respectively.

The 1999 environmental latitude effect on THC levels of industrial hemp varieties grown at different latitudes in Ontario has already been discussed by Scheifele and Dragla (see reference).  All the 1999 agricultural research sites in northern Ontario were north of the 46^th latitude.  The 1998 Ontario THC analysis results are discussed by Scheifele, Hinz et. al. (see reference).  Scheifele (see reference below) discussed the 1999 THC grain contamination effect on THC levels of extracted oil from northern Ontario sites testing low for THC levels in tissue samples (sampled at 50% pollen shedding).  Scheifele concluded that low THC levels in the Inflorescence at time of 50% pollen shedding does not insure low THC levels of grain contamination at harvest time.

The author is reporting the 1999 summarized results of THC analysis for harvested tissue samples at 50% pollen shedding for northern Ontario and northwestern Quebec.

METHODS

Tissue samples for THC analysis were sampled by each research station at the appropriate times based on the maturity of varieties (50% pollen shedding).  The samples were dried and processed for shipment to Meatherall Consulting, Winnipeg, Manitoba for analysis.

RESULTS

TABLE 1

THC ANALYSIS SUMMARY FOR NORTHERN ONTARIO RESEARCH STATION SITES

SITE	FAS	FE19	FE34	ZO13	ZO11	F314	FE74	FER	UN B	KOM	AVE
NLARS	0.05			0.05	0.05	0.05					0.05
VARS	0.05	0.10	0.12	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.10	0.07			0.074
KARS	0.05	0.06	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.09	0.09	0.05	0.059
EARS	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.08	0.07	0.10	0.10	0.065
TBARS	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.07	0.09	0.08	0.059
AVE	0.05	0.065	0.068	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.07	0.075	0.093	0.077	0.061

Fas. = Fasamo; Fed19 = Fedora 19; Fe34 = Felina 34; Zo13 = Zolotonosha 13; Zo11 = Zolotonosha 11; F314 = Fin 314; Fe74 = Fedrina 74; Fer. = Ferimon; Un B = Unico B; Kom = Kompolti.

The THC levels summarized in TABLE 1 were consistently very low with none exceeding 0.12% levels for all varieties tested across the 5 agricultural research station sites in northern Ontario.  The author concludes that the mean site differences were insignificant.  The dioecious Hungarian variety, Unico B was consistently slightly higher, but never exceeded 0.10% level.

TABLE 2

THC ANALYSIS SUMMARY FOR NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION SITES

SITE	FASAMO	FEDORA 19	FELINA 34	FIN 314	AVERAGE
TBHGA	<0.05	<0.05		<0.05	<0.05
BRUNNER	<0.05	0.10	<0.05		0.065
AVERAGE	<0.05	0.075	<0.05	<0.05	0.0575

TBHGA = Thunder Bay Hemp Growers’ Association (Arnold Breukelman site).  Brunner site was located at Dinorwic, Ontario.

The THC analysis results from the northwestern Ontario commercial fields summarized in TABLE 2 were also consistently very low with only one sample (Fedora 19) testing as high as 0.10%.

TABLE 3

THC ANALYSIS SUMMARY FOR ETHREL TEATED FEDORA 19 AT TBARS

TREATMENT	1ST INTERNODE	2ND INTERNODE	3RD INTERNODE	4TH INTERNODE	AVE
TREATED	<0.05	0.05	<0.05	0.06	0.0525
CONTROL	0.07	<0.05	<0.05	<0.05	0.0550
AVERAGE	0.06	0.05	0.05	0.055	0.0537

It was suspected that the treatment of industrial hemp with the growth hormone, Ethrel, might potentially raise THC levels in the plants.  The results summarized in TABLE 3 fail to show any significant trends.  

TABLE 4

THC ANALYSIS SUMMARY FOR NORTHWESTERN QUEBEC SITES

SITE	FEDORA 19	FIN 314	UNICO B	AVERAGE
FRR*	0.09	0.08	0.20	0.123
FASENC*	0.09	0.17	0.08	0.113
FA*	0.05	0.05	0.08	0.060
PC-L*	0.09	0.05	0.07	0.070
PC-L(NO FERT)	0.14		0.09	0.077
AVERAGE (*SITE AVE)	0.08	0.0875	0.1075	0.0915

FRR = Ferme Routhnier-Roullard; FASENC = Ferme Amour S. E. N. C.; FA = Ferme Allopierre; PC L = Project Channore-Leverlochere.

The THC levels (TABLE 4) from northwestern Quebec sites were all relatively low with only one sample as high as 0.20%.  However, it must be noted that the THC levels were consistently higher by 25% than those from northern Ontario.  Unico B was again demonstrating slightly higher THC levels than the other varieties.  The Fedora 19 and Unico B THC levels at the PC-L site with no fertilizer treatment did demonstrate higher THC levels than the fertilized plots.

DISCUSSION

The 1999 mean THC values for NLARS, VARS, KARS, EARS and TBARS were 0.05, 0.074, 0.059, 0.065 and 0.059% respectively compared to 0.15, 0.07, 0.07, 0.17 and 0.14% respectively for 1998.  Fedora 19, Felina 34, Fedrina 74, Unico B and Kompolti averaged 0.065, 0.068, 0.07, 0.093 and 0.077% respectively in 1999 over the 5 agricultural research stations compared to 0.112, 0.076, 0.09, 0.115 and 0.09% respectively for 1998.  The 1999 mean for these 5 varieties over the 5 research sites was 0.0746% compared to 0.0966% in 1998 (23% lower in 1999).  The southern Ontario mean for Fedora 19 and Unico B in 1998 and 1999 was 0.15% and 0.21% respectively (29% higher in 1999).  The 1999 THC levels were lower for northern Ontario in 1999 than in 1998 and higher in southern Ontario in 1999 than in 1998.

The 1999 THC levels of Fedora 19, Fin 314 and Unico B were 63% higher in southern Ontario (42^nd to 43^rd latitude) than in northern Ontario (north of 46^th latitude).

The 1999 THC levels for Fedora 19, Fin314 and Unico B were consistently higher (25%) in northwestern Quebec than in northern Ontario.

The treatment of Fedora 19 with Ethrel did not significantly alter THC levels. 

Low THC levels from inflorescence sampled at 50% pollen shedding will not necessarily produce harvested grain with low THC levels.  Grain harvested from commercial sites summarized in TABLE 2 had THC levels of 4.2 to19.1 ppm (Scheifele 1999).

THC levels in low THC industrial hemp varieties is significantly effected by environmental conditions such as year to year and region to region effects.  The higher THC levels in varieties occur in regions of lower latitude. The year effect for southern Ontario was reversed from that of northern Ontario.  The author again strongly suggests that breeding materials be initially screened for THC levels in regions of lower latitudes where resultant percent THC will be at potential maximum genetic levels.

REFERENCES

Scheifele, G.L.  1999.  Delta 9 THC Levels in Hemp Grain and Oil from Northwestern Ontario in 1999.  Kemptville College/University of Guelph. Thunder Bay.  January, 2000.  www.gov.on.ca/omafra  (Search “Hemp”).

Scheifele, G.L., Dragla, P.  1999.  1999 Report on Environment and Latitude Effect on THC Levels of Industrial Hemp Varieties grown in Ontario.  Kemptville College/University of Guelph. Thunder Bay.  January, 2000.  www.gov.on.ca/omafra  (Search “Hemp”).

Scheifele, G.L., Herb Hinz and et. al.  1998.  1998 Ontario Studies in Determining the Genetic Stability, Environment and Latitude Effect on the Levels of delta-9 THC for Industrial Hemp Varieties.  Kemptville College/University of Guelph. Thunder Bay.  February 1999.  www.gov.on.ca/omafra  (Search “Hemp”).

Scheifele, G.L.  1998.  Determining the Feasibility and Potential of Field Production of Low THC Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa) for Fibre and Seed Grain in Northern Ontario.  Kemptville College/University of Guelph. Thunder Bay.  February, 1999.   www.gov.on.ca/omafra  (Search “Hemp””).