CannMed Coffee Talk

CannMed Coffee Talk


The Need for the Adoption of Plant Tissue Culture by the Cannabis Industry with Shannon Smith, PhD

May 23, 2024

Dr. Shannon Smith received his PhD in molecular biosciences from Middle Tennessee State University. There his research focused on plant biotechnology, with work in Cannabis, Panax, and Vitis tissue culture and manipulation. This led to the development of new and unique technologies for the production of both plants and secondary metabolites. He later founded Greenway Lab, a plant biotech company that collaborates with agricultural partners to implement plant biotech solutions to botanical challenges facing the modern agricultural industry.


During our conversation, we discuss:



  • How recent advances in plant tissue culture can address major problems faced by the Cannabis industry
  • How rapid, reliable propagation of identical daughter plants can be achieved in tissue culture
  • How long-term storage of explant tissues can be used to regenerate whole plants
  • How developments in meristematic tissue culture protocols can eliminate viral contamination of plant tissues
  • And more!

Additional Resources