By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
Lakeshore Farm Products, a Dunnville-based farm operation run by James Kaspersetz, a former senior environmental specialist for the Ministry of the Environment (MOE), is supplying the University of Guelph with samples of a new strain of cannabis (legally hemp, based on its zero THC content) for use in a series of studies on the strain.
The study intends to investigate the possibility of the strain being used as a replacement for opioids.
The Haldimand Press spoke with Kaspersetz about his operations, and why the new strain is raising so many eyebrows in the medical community.
Kaspersetz, who in addition to his work for the MOE previously ran Lake Erie Hops, a hops business that he says went out of business due to “a lack of demand,” said that he was looking for a reason to build a greenhouse structure and switching gears to cannabis gave him the perfect opportunity.
He spoke about the new, closely guarded strain, labelled CBG (cannabigerol): “This is a Health Canada approved variety with CSGA-certified seed production in Ottawa, Canada. This strain has been in development for several years and is the first ever release of this genetic.”
Typical strains of cannabis contain multiple components, with typical CBG levels of around 1%. According to Kaspersetz, his strain will contain roughly 14% CBG in the field, noting that they have received even higher CBG levels “under perfect conditions,” but that his crop hits that 14% level consistently across a large acreage, while retaining zero percent THC.
“We currently have 25,000 sq. ft. of indoor grow space and approximately 20 acres of outdoor grow space complete with sub-surface drip irrigation and will be expanding our greenhouse by another 50,000 sq. ft. next season and adding another 20 acres, for a combined plant grow of 40,000 plants.”
He touched on the process of harvesting his crop: “Timing is everything with growing cannabis; we only grow one crop per year so come May we have to be ready to germinate in a timely fashion.”
Kaspersetz continued, “Once the plants root, they have to be transplanted in order not to stunt their growth or stress out the plant. This variety is prone to stress and can easily change from a female bud producing plant to a male plant producing only seeds. So, timing is everything along with constant scouting for mites and aphids and other insects.”
“Seeing as the product falls under Health Canada, we can only use non-chemical insecticides and predatory insects like ladybugs. Every three weeks we release over 5,000 ladybugs which do a really great job at eating insects and their eggs. We also use diatomaceous earth, which feels like a fine powder but to insects it is razor sharp and once ingested tears them up internally. So, growing is a challenge and finding the right mix is critical.”
When asked for details about the Guelph study utilizing his strain, Kaspersetz said that it is still “hush hush,” as the strain is still relatively new: “The University of Guelph has been working on analytical methods for potency, pesticides, ash, and the loss of drying and terpenes. They intend on using this strain to be used as a surrogate matrix while developing various analytical methods to test for CBGa.”
As Kaspersetz’s strain contains no THC, it is technically considered hemp under Health Canada’s definition, opening it up to a number of different uses: “The fact that THC is non-existent has raised a lot of interesting alternative uses. Since this cannabinoid is the only strain with zero THC and first ever CBGa, its potential uses are limitless. From our research CBGa is the only strain which can be synthesised into a pure form of THC, which could be used as an opioid replacement.”
According to Health Canada information he provided, CBGa could potentially treat a number of ailments, including anxiety, depression, and other serotonin-related issues, and it can be used to inhibit inflammation, resulting in a “powerful overall anti-inflammatory impact. Compounds with broad anti-inflammatory action are frequently useful for treating inflammation, which may be at the root of a range of chronic health disorders.”
CBDa, another component in cannabis, also reduces inflammation by “blocking pro-inflammatory enzymes (COX-2) and instructing immune cells to reduce inflammation” through certain receptors. Certain inflammation-related illnesses like breast cancer could be affected by “decreasing excessive COX-2 activity.”
He called cannabis growth in Haldimand a “hot button issue,” presenting many challenges, as many residents have complained about issues related to smell, lighting, and noise from cannabis grow-ops in the county.
“Relationship building is key; growing tends to be the easy part,” said Kaspersetz. “I know many producers that still have products in storage and are unable to find key markets. We developed the business end first and then started to grow CBGa. The actual licensing of CBGa is fairly difficult, sometimes more difficult than getting the actual Health Canada licence.”
He continued, “One of the challenges in working with Haldimand County was a lack of understanding of the cannabinoid business, which is covered under the Canada Farm Products Act, which is Federal legislation. That being so, municipalities cannot pass bylaws that circumvent or prohibit farmers from growing this type of cannabis. Once they were aware of these facts, they quickly changed their course.
“At my farm we built the facility using the setbacks required by Health Canada as a precaution and of course to limit the odour from the facility. I am pleased to say that we have yet to have any odour complaints.”
He concluded, “My intent was to be a nice neighbour and respect people’s right to enjoyment while leading the way to a possible opioid replacement. I have been told that this strain of CBGa can be in-lab synthesized into high grade 40% THC, which could one day eliminate many of the harmful drugs we see today on our streets.”
