Cannabis Strains on Bitcoin’s Blockchain a Relief for Patients, Growers

A molecular information company called Medicinal Genomics (MCG) has partnered with 12 cannabis processors and cultivators to develop genomics-based safety and quality standards, and they are using the bitcoin blockchain to track DNA sequencing cannabis strains. Inconsistent Strains Pose Challenge. The lack of consistent cannabis strains from the same grower can pose medical challenges for patients since even slight changes in a plant’s genetics can impact the strain’s effectiveness. Many patients require a specific cannabis strain for effective treatment. When plant genetics vary, patients....

Medicinal Genomics, which registers marijuana strains on the blockchain, has set off a race among growers to sequence and register their strains, according to Motherboard. Medicinal Genomics’ goal is to standardize strain nomenclature so that customers can know what they’re getting when they buy medical marijuana, while also defending the intellectual property rights of those who breed new cannabis strains. In addition to testing plants to check for microbial contamination and determine cannabinoid content to help cultivators meet state regulations, Medicinal Genomics also provides growers....

The Bitcoin Blockchain is by far the most secure and tested distributed network in the fields of cryptography and digital currencies, mostly due to its prioritization of security over flexibility and functionality. Weed growers have begun to take advantage of Bitcoin’s advanced security measures to create an unalterable repository of cannabis genomes. Over the past few years, the growth of the cannabis industry has rapidly increased as an increasing number of states and countries have begun to legalize the usage of medicinal and recreational marijuana. As such, more cannabis brokers,....

Is it possible to put cannabis on the blockchain? With one company, that’s exactly what’s taking place. Motherboard reports that Medicinal Genomics is creating a registered list of all cannabis genomes to be stored on the bitcoin blockchain. The purpose is to take any confusion out of marijuana purchases; MG wants to make sure every customer receives the strain they’ve set out to purchase, as each type can have varying effects on patients. “The Bitcoin blockchain has been going since 2009, and its security is in its proof of work,” says CSO of MG Kevin McKernan. “If, for any reason, we....

Bitcoinist spoke with CSO and Founder Kevin McKernan, whose company Medicinal Genomics has successfully put cannabis strains on the Bitcoin Blockchain. He explains how strains are actually traced, why his company chose Bitcoin, and why he believes Bitcoin is currently “too slow” if not “useless” for cannabis dispensaries as a currency. Kevin McKernan: ‘Bitcoin is a Battery of Trust’. Bitcoinist: First, how do you actually put “strains on the Bitcoin blockchain”? Kevin McKernan (KM): We take the sequence files (VCF or variant call format) and run SHASUM on the files to generate a SHA-256....