The MM6 cannabis variety: hope for therapeutic CBD in Polynesia?

The Institut Louis Malardé (ILM) in Polynesia is moving ahead with the research on therapeutic CBD, Thanks in particular to his work on the MM6 cannabis variety.

With a THC levels below 0.3 %, the MM6 variety offers a promising avenue for the development of a sustainable CBD industry in the region. After two years of research and indoor cultivation, The ILM is now preparing to test the plant's viability in Polynesia's various outdoor climates.

MM6 culture

At ILM's Paea facility, the MM6 variety, whose seeds were imported from the USA, has so far been carefully grown in climate-controlled containers. These containers enable researchers to fine-tune variables such as temperature, humidity, CO₂ levels and light cycles, to ensure optimal plant growth. According to Sébastien Bardury, pharmacist at ILM, this level of control is crucial to achieving high flower yields while keeping THC levels below the legal threshold of 0.3%.

«I'm going to change the humidity cycles on my control panel because as we move through the flowering cycles, we need to reduce that,» Bardury tells The 1st.

While the MM6 variety has produced promising results indoors, its adaptability to Polynesia's different climates has yet to be tested. Édouard Suhas, Director of ILM, points out that this is a major challenge: «The climate of the Marquesas is not the same as that of the Australs, so we will also have to take into account the climatic effects in relation to our archipelagos».

MM6 is particularly susceptible to parasites and nutritional deficiencies, which could have an impact on its ability to maintain low THC levels when grown outdoors. Nevertheless, ILM plans to launch outdoor trials in five Polynesian archipelagos in early 2025, subject to government approval. Two farmers per archipelago have already been selected to take part in this innovative experiment.

Unlike the high-THC cannabis strains introduced to the region in the 1970s, MM6 aims to meet therapeutic needs while remaining below 0.3% THC.

«What we were asked to do was to look at the therapeutic side of things, through CBD-producing plants,» explains Édouard Suhas.

To achieve this, ILM imported seeds from recognized growers, thus circumventing the region's cannabis heritage rich in THC. As soon as the experimental phase begins, the researchers will analyze the phytocannabinoid profiles of the plants to ensure that they meet their requirements.