Right, finally got a few friends together for a chat about the potential of an engineered plague that could theoreticaly wipe out most illicit drug producing plants, (and the possibility that it could mutate and affect crop plants as well.) The other participants of the conversation have qualifications and/or first hand experience in the fields of micro-biology, botanical science and chemical & biological warfare. (What can I say, I know some intersting people.)
To say that the results of that conversation scared the shit out of me is an understatement. (Also, I think we freaked out the bar staff...)
Here are some of the conclusions reached regarding the CP2020 Bioplague:
1 - It would almost certainly be a viral agent, (because even though a fungal spore could achieve the desired goal, it would be much harder to delivere effectively and much easier to combat. It would also be easier to spot, possibly preventing the necessary level of cross contamination of the target plants.)
2 - If a virus was cerated that specifically targeted the DNA sequences of specific strains of plants used in the drugs manufactuing industry, it could very easily mutate and begin to affect other plants.
3 - It could also mutate and affect the local fauna, not just flora. It could also affect humans - remember avian-flu? (That part was pretty scary. The idea of dying from a genetic virus, engineered to kill off coca plants and opiate poppies is unpleasent - especially considering the potential effects.)
4 - Radiation would be needed to instigate the mutation. UV light would not only be a perfectly suitable source of this radiation, but it would be plentiful in the appropriate locale.
5 - The stability of the virus would also be a big issue, as it would define the probability of mutation within the virus structure, as well as define it's capacity to react to potential immunities and resistances within the target strains.
6 - If this virus ever did exist and if it ever did mutate so that it could affect grasses such as Wheat, Barley and other cereals, we would all be fucked. It would most likely affect the majority of tree species before then, (as they are much closer genetically to coca than grasses are,) and most other flowering plants, (for similar reasons.) In short, almost all botanical life on the planet would cease to be, meaning we would run out of breatheable air before we could starve to death from the lack of food.
In short, the bio-plague that wiped out crops as well as coca and poppies would fuck us all.
There was another idea however:
- What if a corporation, (one that would stand ready to provide food substitues and alternatives to the cereal plants destroyed by the plague,) used the CIA bioplague as a cover for them releasing their own strain, thus wiping out other plants in an effort to create a demand for their failing products?
1 - This makes much more sense from a scientific point of view, due to the specific nature of the plants that were killed off.
2 - Far less 'collateral damage'.
So, hemp may indeed be around in 2020 and into 2077, but I maintain that synthetics would be much more common, due to the requirement for arable land needed to produce all the other goods, services and materials needed by the 21st century.
To say that the results of that conversation scared the shit out of me is an understatement. (Also, I think we freaked out the bar staff...)
Here are some of the conclusions reached regarding the CP2020 Bioplague:
1 - It would almost certainly be a viral agent, (because even though a fungal spore could achieve the desired goal, it would be much harder to delivere effectively and much easier to combat. It would also be easier to spot, possibly preventing the necessary level of cross contamination of the target plants.)
2 - If a virus was cerated that specifically targeted the DNA sequences of specific strains of plants used in the drugs manufactuing industry, it could very easily mutate and begin to affect other plants.
3 - It could also mutate and affect the local fauna, not just flora. It could also affect humans - remember avian-flu? (That part was pretty scary. The idea of dying from a genetic virus, engineered to kill off coca plants and opiate poppies is unpleasent - especially considering the potential effects.)
4 - Radiation would be needed to instigate the mutation. UV light would not only be a perfectly suitable source of this radiation, but it would be plentiful in the appropriate locale.
5 - The stability of the virus would also be a big issue, as it would define the probability of mutation within the virus structure, as well as define it's capacity to react to potential immunities and resistances within the target strains.
6 - If this virus ever did exist and if it ever did mutate so that it could affect grasses such as Wheat, Barley and other cereals, we would all be fucked. It would most likely affect the majority of tree species before then, (as they are much closer genetically to coca than grasses are,) and most other flowering plants, (for similar reasons.) In short, almost all botanical life on the planet would cease to be, meaning we would run out of breatheable air before we could starve to death from the lack of food.
In short, the bio-plague that wiped out crops as well as coca and poppies would fuck us all.
There was another idea however:
- What if a corporation, (one that would stand ready to provide food substitues and alternatives to the cereal plants destroyed by the plague,) used the CIA bioplague as a cover for them releasing their own strain, thus wiping out other plants in an effort to create a demand for their failing products?
1 - This makes much more sense from a scientific point of view, due to the specific nature of the plants that were killed off.
2 - Far less 'collateral damage'.
So, hemp may indeed be around in 2020 and into 2077, but I maintain that synthetics would be much more common, due to the requirement for arable land needed to produce all the other goods, services and materials needed by the 21st century.
