LEXINGTON- A new 0.0 percent THC hemp plant has been developed. 

GenCanna announced the creation of the first patentable non-GMO Hemp genetic with 0.0 percent THC, it was developed through research with the University of Kentucky. 

The creation of the plant with no THC opens up opportunities for farmers, processors and other industry partners. 

"0.0 percent THC is the holy grail of hemp," said Steve Bevan, President of GenCanna. "It means that these hemp plants have no regulatory concerns,. It means that regulators, law enforcement will have a much easier time in understanding what's in a farmers field. Farmers can have great confidence in what they are planting in their field. It means that processors can develop multitudes of new products based on 0.0 percent THC."

While it is foreseen the regulations will be different with this product, it's still unknown how exactly it will change. 

"Theoretically if we have a genetic strain that has zero THC, we would not have to test it in the same way that we would our other strains or varieties being grown in Kentucky right now," said Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles. "I can envision a day, many years from now, where a farmer can go buy a bag of industrial hemp seed with a certification that has the confidence that we know exactly what's in that bag--and that's how the corn and soybean industry works right now,that there's a certification attached to that seed. One day, we hope that the genetic material invented right here in Kentucky with our hemp processors and our research collaborators will eventually create a system where we have a certified seed that we know exactly what's in it and not need to have the regulation that we see today." 

This new hemp genetic could have a positive impact on the use of CBD or other products medicinally. 

"We know that CBD oils and CBD extracts have medicinal benefits. We know that because the FDA has seen studies to approve drugs with CBD content in them," Said Sen. Ralph Alvarado, R-Winchester. "I think hemp has a lot of future benefit from just extracting the CBD's purifying it, making it into a pharmaceutical grade product. Letting doctors be able to prescribe that. I think the federal government is now starting to look at regulations around CBD and how we can extract it, purify it, make it into pharmaceutical grade. We have talked about looking at some of those things here in the state but I don't think we want to get ahead of the federal government, we want to be able to let them take the lead and then be able to follow behind that."

GenCanna also announced they will be sponsoring Masters and Ph.D. Fellowships at University of Kentucky.