Maximum Yield Cannabis | USA Edition | Vol. 02 Issue 01 2019

KEEP DESTRUCTIVE BUGS OFF YOUR PRECIOUS NUGS!

CULTIVATING A HEALTHY LIFE FOR YOU AND YOUR PLANTS

Expert Advice for a

BETTER HARVEST Smoking, Vaping and

YOUR HEALTH

LED Efficiency vs.

PERFORMANCE Understanding Different

TYPES OF CBD Smoking or

INGESTING?

5

January/February 2019

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This is an indictment of prohibition. The reason that people don’t know about the dangers of pesticides is because we don’t have a legal and regulatory market for this product.

Cannabis needs to be available, but it also needs to be safe.”

Features

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Expert Advice for a Better Harvest

by Lee G. Lyzit

You have some great-looking plants ready for harvest. Don’t blow it now.

Take a deep breath and make sure you get the best quality possible from the plants you worked so hard on with these four tips to make the most out of your harvest.

Smoking, Vaping, and Your Health

by Jessica Zimmer

There is little peer-reviewed science available on how smoking and vaping cannabis grown with pesticides affects human health. However, most experts agree that inhaling anything burned is not recommended, and pesticides can exacerbate health risks.

Contents

First Feed

Grow Cycle

10 From the Editor

32 Keep Bugs Off Your Nugs

12 Bare Roots 14 Branching Out 16 Ask a Grower 18 Good to Grow 54 Stash Box

Chronicals 30 Cut and Dried 44 Ask a Nurse 73 Baking a Fool of Myself

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38 Red Light, Blue Light 46 How to Winterize Your Growroom 50 Smoking versus Ingesting 56 Benefits of Cannabis Juicing 62 Six Types of CBD 66 GreenBroz

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Prior to legalization, much of the debate centered around the history of racist drug laws and political views on the plant. It should have focused on the science of marijuana, particularly its effects on the adolescent brain.”

from the EDITOR TG Toby Gorman

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S

ince our last issue of Maximum Yield Cannabis, marijuana became legalized federally in Canada, the second country on the planet behind Uruguay to do so. Other countries, including Mexico and a number of South American countries, are on the brink of legalizing it.

The Canadian government, under the rule of the Liberal party, legalized cannabis to fulfill its campaign promise in 2015 prior to the federal election. Its reasons to end prohibition were many: keep profits out of the hands of criminals, reduce backlog on the criminal justice system, and keep pot out of the hands of young people.

That latter reason is, by far, the most important. Prior to legalization, much of the debate centered around the history of racist drug laws and political views on the plant. It should have focused on the science of marijuana, particularly its effects on the adolescent brain. We are still gathering baseline information on how cannabis affects various ailments, but we know for certain its mind-altering chemical delta-9

THC has a negative impact on the neurowiring of young minds (cannabidiol, for its part, is relatively safe).

What do we know? We know that teens who used marijuana heavily from puberty to their mid-20s are less likely to graduate from high school, have a higher likelihood for addiction to alcohol or harder drugs, and suffer more from depression. The potency of delta-9 THC in modern strains can only exacerbate these statistics if not controlled properly.

We won’t go into the neuroscience here — the information is widely available online — but the discussion now needs to be, and should have been all along, how legalizing marijuana will affect our youth and, ultimately, their future and the future of our communities.

The Canadian government has said one of the key objectives of legalizing marijuana was to keep it out of the hands of youth.

Time will tell if it’s successful, and it will only be successful if laws are based on good science and enforced. Needless to say, the world will be watching.

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12/2018

bare ROOTS Featured Contributors

LL

Lee G. Lyzit has been involved

in the medical cannabis industry for nearly 15 years. His passion for natural healing drives him to learn as much as he can about the miraculous cannabis plant. Lee breeds his own strains of cannabis to create concentrated glycerine and coconut oil extracts. Aside from cannabis education and consumption, Lee enjoys playing music, gardening, hiking, and cross-country skiing.

JZ Jessica Zimmer is a California, Florida, and New York-licensed attorney and reporter based in Sonoma County, California. She has a background in cannabis defense. One of her primary interests regarding cannabis is understanding its medical uses.

VOLUME 2 NUMBER 1 January/February 2019 Maximum Yield Cannabis is published monthly by Maximum Yield Inc. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission from the publisher. If undeliverable please return to the address below. The views expressed by columnists are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of Maximum Yield or the editor.

Publication Agreement Number 40739092 Printed in Canada

2339 A Delinea Place, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5L9 Phone: 250.729.2677; Fax 250.729.2687

Maximum Yield is now available on magazine stands across the USA! Contributors

+

Ian Ashdown Luis Cordova Lindsay Engle Gibson Lannister Karen Lloyd Alan Ray Eloise Theisen Treefrog Rami Vardi Watermelon

Maximum Yield Cannabis is distributed direct to retailers, medical clinics, and dispensaries with distribution support from our partners: Great Lakes Garden Wholesale greatlakesgardenwholesale.com Grow Green Michigan growgreenmi.com

Maximum Yield Cannabis will be at: Emerald Cup December 15-16, Santa Rosa, CA Indo Expo January 26-27, Denver, CO

METAL HALIDE

Metal Halide (MH) lights produce a high-intensity discharge (HID). MH bulbs utilize an electric arc encased within a small discharge tube. Mercury vapor within the bulb creates an exceptionally bright light. Halide salts add a bit of necessary color spectrum to the light. MH lights are beneficial during the vegetative growth stage of the cannabis plant because they produce a soft blue light that the plants adore. They can be used throughout the plant’s lifespan, all the way to harvest time and are generally considered a better option for cannabis plant growth than fluorescent tubes.

Check out Rami Vardi’s article on page 38 for more information.

Cover and feature photos courtesy of

Broken Coast Cannabis brokencoast.ca

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branching OUT

Article Archives

@kristensaldrich This is one of the best ads I have seen in a long time.

Can’t recall that great gardening recommendation from a few months ago? Look it up online. We have hundreds of indoor gardening articles available at maximumyield.com.

Ask a Grower

Stumped by something strange happening in your garden? Fill out our Ask a Grower form and we will find you answers.

Free Digital Subscriptions

Sign up for our free digital subscription and you will receive Maximum Yield Cannabis to your inbox every other month. You will also receive a monthly digital newsletter so you can be the first to know what’s happening in the industry. Prefer the print version of the magazine? Use your digital subscriptions as notifications for when a new issue is available at your local grow shop. Sign up online at maximumyield.com/subscribe.

Matt S. From personal experience, its so much more satisfying to see that little sprout from the seed and watch it grow. Its a must for first-timers.

@GreenBoxGrown Always stoked to be apart of the @Max_Yield community! Thank you for sharing and as always… happy growing!

@cannhempexpo The @Max_Yield team will be at our #Winnipeg expo this weekend. For over 20 years, they have been the go-to source of info for controlledenvironment cultivation for growers worldwide. Be sure to go to them for all your growing questions!

Do you want to be featured?

Send your email or post to:

@puffsalotdr I have seen with my own eyes the power of Rick’s oil.

There is no substitute for the real thing.

editor@maximumyield.com @maximumyield @max_yield @maximumyield @maximumyield maximumyield

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DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR A GROWER? Email editor@maximumyield.com to get an answer.

ask a GROWER Q

I just put in a 10K bulb (finisher bulb) as it adds lots of UV. What’s your opinion on using the 10K bulb during veg?

Steve

a

This is short question with a long answer. It may be true that a 10K finisher lamp adds “lots of UV,” but it is important to ask what this means. Several academic studies have shown exposure to UV-B radiation promotes the production of THC in Cannabis sativa. A 1987 study reported the THC content of floral tissue increased by 30 per cent when the daily UV-B dose over 70 days was increased by 13 times. More recently, an unpublished study by Seoul Semiconductor demonstrated that five hours of exposure to UV-B in the final three weeks prior to harvest increased THC content by nine per cent (interestingly, total terpene content was increased by 48 per cent). This, however, is for UV-B radiation, which ranges in wavelength from 280 nm to 315 nm. There do not appear to be any academic studies regarding the effects of UV-A radiation, with wavelengths of 315 nm to 400 nm, on cannabis. This is unfortunate, as most of the commercially-available finisher lamps produce plenty of UV-A radiation but basically no UV-B radiation.

IA

16

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence available on the internet claiming finisher lamps are effective in increasing THC content. However, “lots of UV” comes with considerable risks. Exposure to UV-A can enhance photosynthesis, but excess UV-A can inhibit it.

Depending on the species, UV-A exposure may enhance or inhibit the production of terpenoids — it depends on the species. For cannabis, we simply do not know.

Perhaps more important is the risk of eye damage from both UV-B and UV-A radiation exposure — you can literally sunburn your retinae, a painful condition called photokeratitis that is not noticed until several hours after exposure. UV-blocking sunglasses are available and should be worn when working with finisher lamps. As for the question of whether finisher lamps are useful during veg … well, the jury is still out.

Thanks, Ian Ashdown

Ian Ashdown is a horticultural lighting research engineer who is developing lighting design software for greenhouses and plant factories. He has forty years of experience as an architectural lighting research engineer, and holds more than 140 patents and patent applications in LED-based lighting and for predictive daylight controllers.

Maximum Yield

good TO GROW

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1 | Anden AV-Series

Dehumidifiers

Anden AV-Series dehumidifiers range from 210-300 pints per day of moisture removal.

Components utilize materials designed for the most extreme conditions and demanding enterprises, while sensors and controls can be custom-configured for each facility. Anden AV-Series units are recommended for large, high-volume industrial facilities. Anden dehumidifiers are designed to prevent humidity spikes when lights are turned off and temperature drops by utilizing a TXV valve to achieve full capacity quickly and hold capacity until lights are turned on.

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2 | New Book:

Design and Build a Room to Grow

This never-done-before book titled Design and Build a Room to Grow, by Bill Faulconer, provides step-by-step instructions for designing, building, and effectively operating a growroom. Beginner growers can save thousands of dollars in costly mistakes and experienced growers can save even more with the innovative operating techniques detailed within. Whether you are considering growing in a closet, tent, bedroom, garage, warehouse, shipping container, or greenhouse, this book provides project photographs, cost summaries, worksheets, diagrams, and narratives to ensure that nothing is overlooked.

3 | Cutting Edge Solutions pH Up & pH Down

The new CES pH Up and CES pH Down from Cutting Edge Solutions are more concentrated, and don’t contain those unwanted dyes. The pH Down is an acidic buffer that lowers water and nutrient solution pH. It contains both phosphoric acid and citric acid. The pH Up product is an alkaline buffer for raising nutrient solution pH. Both are highly concentrated, yet can be shipped without HazMat fees. These products are potent, so add to nutrient solutions carefully.

4 | Xtrasun LT1 Lighting Controller

The Xtrasun LT1 provides dual-zone lighting control for use with Xtrasun double-ended fixtures.

Xtrasun DE systems offer reliable technology at a reasonable price, and the LT1 can control up to 160 of these fixtures (80 per zone).

It is specifically designed to be used with the Xtrasun XTDEKT1 and XTDEOKT1 fixtures, which use 0-10V dimming and have proper RJ14 ports for compatibility.

The LT1 controller offers temperature-based dimming, auto shutdown for extreme temperature situations, sunrise/sunset simulation, and connections for external equipment such as dehumidifiers and A/C systems.

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5 | Reiziger

Bloom Minerals

Reiziger Bloom Minerals boast a formulation tailored to give blooms the energy they need to thrive. To achieve a plentiful harvest, this formulation is made for high-metabolism, flowering annual plants in hydroponic systems. The fast-acting formula feeds through roots and leaves to promote aggressive and quick-flowering bud set and formation. It has a fully balanced blend of rapidly absorbable, proprietary phosphorus and potassium. Bloom Minerals contains no nitrogen, making it an ideal source of minerals for late applications to fruiting plants when nitrogen applications need to be controlled.

6 | Age Old Nutrients

Hydrofarm now offers Age Old Nutrients brand products. Age Old Nutrients strike the beautiful balance between the natural and synthetic worlds — embracing the “Age-Old” ways of growing, while weaving in specific technologies that enhance the growth of plants in a sustainable way. With a profound respect and appreciation for the old ways, along with a culture that thrives on research and innovation, Age Old continues testing and developing plant nutritional products that bring solutions for growers.

7 | MEDXtractor CO2 Cannabis Oil Extractors

MedXtractor’s small-scale CO2 -based cannabis oil extractors are ideal for craft marijuana growers. These wellpriced products allow craft growers to produce high-value, residual-free cannabis extracts from trim, flower, and rosin chips without breaking the bank. Using patentpending technology, MedXtractor oil extractors feature stainless steel construction with no mechanical pumps and don’t leave any hydrocarbon residue.

MedXtractor can ship their extractors anywhere around the world.

8 | Ushio America NaOClean Electrolyzed Water System

Ushio America introduces the NaOClean electrolyzed water system for commercial, on-site, and indoor use to enhance plant growth and potentially suppress certain diseases and plant microbes, including powdery mold and mildew. The NaOClean technology utilizes electrolysis and a unique mixing process of pure salt and tap water to create a safe and effective pHneutral electrolyzed water solution of hypochlorous acid, which is effective in controlling plant diseases while not harmful to crops or workers. The system generates 300 gallons per hour of electrolyzed water.

Maximum Yield

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Expert Advice for a

BETTER HARVEST

by Lee G. Lyzit

photos courtesy of Broken Coast Cannabis

You’ve done everything right and have some great-looking plants ready for harvest.

Don’t blow it now. Take a deep breath with Lee G. Lyzit and make sure you get the best quality possible from the plants you worked so hard on.

H

photo by Gary Lund

arvest time is an especially exciting time for a novice cannabis grower. After all, being able to experience the fruits of one’s labor is what makes growing your own cannabis so rewarding. Up to this point, first-time cannabis growers have been focusing their efforts primarily on the actual growing process. Dialing in the atmospheric conditions of a growroom, in addition to providing the plants with adequate lighting and nutrition, is usually more difficult than most rookie growers expect. However, once the garden is up and running, the bright light at the end of the tunnel is harvest time.

Harvesting cannabis plants is a relatively straightforward process. Still, there are certain tricks of the trade that can make all the difference in the quality, flavor, and aroma of the finished product. Cannabis enthusiasts who educate themselves on proper harvest techniques can avoid the common (and costly) mistakes made by many new growers.

It is not just the quality of the flowers that needs to be kept in mind during the harvest process. Inefficient methods can lead to increased labor costs and the loss of valuable byproducts that could be used to increase a grower’s overall return on investment. Essentially, each step of harvesting should be studied individually to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the overall harvesting process.

Maximum Yield

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photo by Gary Lund

“THERE ARE CERTAIN TRICKS OF THE TRADE THAT CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE QUALITY, FLAVOR, AND AROMA OF THE FINISHED PRODUCT.” BE PATIENT The number one mistake made by first-time cannabis growers is harvesting too early. I must admit, I was just as guilty of this offense as anyone. As Tom Petty noted, “the waiting is the hardest part.” This couldn’t be truer for first-time cannabis growers, but believe me, it’s worth the wait. In fact, most of a cannabis plant’s essential oil and terpene production happens in the final weeks of flowering. It is also during the later stages of flowering that cannabis plants pack on flower density. In other words, harvesting early not only severely impacts the quality, odors, and flavors of the flowers, it can also drastically reduce the crop’s overall yield. The ideal time to harvest cannabis plants depends on the strain. The average flowering time for a cannabis plant is eight weeks.

However, to decide on the best time to harvest, a grower should pay close attention to the trichome development on their flowers. With a jeweler’s loupe or pocket microscope, a grower can closely examine the trichomes on their cannabis flowers. As the flowers ripen, the trichomes turn from clear to milky to amber in color. For maximum THC potency, the optimal time to harvest is when the majority of the trichomes are milky. At this point, most of the pistils (little hairs) will have turned from white to brown or orange. Growers who wait until their plants (more specifically, the trichomes) are rewarded with the most potent buds. fully ripe are rewarded

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TRIMMING

There are many different approaches to trimming cannabis flowers, including wet trimming methods, dry trimming methods, and automated trimming methods. There are multiple acceptable ways to trim and high-quality buds can be obtained with all types of trimming. That said, another common mistake made by first-time growers is inefficient trimming methods. If the cannabis flowers are handled more than they need to be, it can cause a reduction in quality and an increase in labor costs. When trimming, a good rule of thumb is to not disturb anything until necessary. Every time the flowers are recut, transported, shifted, or jostled, a grower runs the risk of losing some potency. Although there are different ways to approach trimming, the best methods seem to take a systematic approach. For example, first remove the large fan leaves while minimizing any contact with the flowers. Next, carefully remove the leaf material close to the flowers, touching and bumping the flowers as little as possible. There is no reason to get too crazy with this. Growers shouldn’t be afraid to touch the flowers; it is just a good idea to get into the habit of handling the flowers as gently as possible during the harvest process. Flowers handled gently will retain the highest amounts of terpenes and essential oils.

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“CURING OFTEN TAKES ANYWHERE BETWEEN TWO TO EIGHT WEEKS, AND SOME CANNABIS VARIETIES SHOW THEIR FULL POTENTIAL ONLY AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF CURING.” will retain the highest amounts of terpenes and essential oils.

LEFTOVER TRIM MATERIAL Don’t throw away all that trim material! Another mistake commonly made by some growers is deciding which trim materials should be kept and which should be trashed.

Generally, the large fan leaves are not worth the effort.

However, the leaf material that was trimmed away from near the flowers will contain a good amount of essential oils. In fact, many of these leaves will have trichomes visible on them at harvest time. So, any of this leaf material that is not brown or dead and that has visible trichomes should be saved for making extracts or edibles.

DRYING, CURING, AND STORAGE Second to harvesting too early, the biggest harvest mistake made by beginner cannabis growers is in the drying and curing process. More specifically, many first-time growers dry their marijuana flowers too quickly. The two biggest culprits of undesirable drying are air movement that is too vigorous or dehumidification that is too aggressive. It is very important to dry cannabis slowly. Cannabis flowers should be dried for seven to 14 days in a room kept at a temperature of 65-75°F and a humidity range of 45-55 per cent. This humidity level ensures the flowers dry at the proper rate. The drying room should also be kept in total darkness. Ultraviolet light from the sun or artificial light sources will degrade the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other components in the essential oils. Once the plants have dried to the point where the stems snap instead of bend, the flowers are ready to be removed from the stems and placed in containers for curing. The curing process allows the remaining moisture in the cannabis flowers to dry over an extended period of time. Once the dry flowers are placed in the airtight containers, they should be “burped” every few days during the first week or two to bring fresh oxygen into the containers to allow the flowers to breathe. Curing often takes anywhere between two to eight weeks, and some cannabis varieties show their full potential only after a few months of curing. A proper cure also extends the shelf life of the cannabis flowers. Properly cured cannabis flowers can be stored for a year or more without losing quality or potency.

FINAL THOUGHTS After waiting eight (or more) long weeks for a cannabis plant to mature, it is extremely difficult to extend one’s patience through the harvest process. However, growers who wait until the trichomes on their plants have fully developed automatically set themselves up for a larger yield and a more potent product. To retain the powerful flavors and odors of the plants, a horticulturist must dry and cure the flowers slowly yet effectively. Trying to take shortcuts during the harvest process is a great way to turn flowers that smell like fruity, skunky goodness into ammonia, hay-smelling nastiness. But don’t be deterred if that happens, though. As with most things in life, growing quality cannabis takes practice. There is no reason to get discouraged during the first few attempts. As they say, experience is the best teacher. A cannabis grower gets better and better each and every time a crop is harvested.

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After Extraction,

How Do You Achieve Greatest Purity, Yield, Clarity & Profit?

“Pope” it!

Extraction can only go so far in purifying cannabinoids such as THC and CBD. No matter which extraction method is used [ethanol, hydrocarbon, SCFE, etc.] and whether or not extract has been winterized and/or decarboxylated, Pope stills will finish the process with the greatest possible results.

Pope stills are scalable from small lab duty up through industrial production sizes as large as you need. Shown are Glass 2” (left) and Turnkey Multistage Automated System (right).

Since 1963 Pope Scientific has manufactured thousands of distillation systems used throughout the world in many different industries and labs. Always at the forefront of distillation technology, Pope’s scientists and engineers back our equipment with the highest levels of chemical processing knowledge and experience. And our excellent customer service team backs up our clients.

We offer an all-encompassing range of distillation equipment sizes. Our multistage,stainless steel, fully turnkey skid-mounted systems serve major cannabis production installations requiring capacities anywhere from 10 kg/hour up to 100 kg/hr. Our classic 2” Wiped-Film Stills [WFE] continue to be the favorite choice of startup cannabinoid processing companies, while our larger 4” and 6” glass models are utilized for greater throughput of 5 to 10 liters/day.

Pope stills deliver the highest possible quality, yield and ultimate product value— all at surprisingly reasonable pricing. And our standard glass systems are available in weeks, not months, with spare parts and accessories shipped overnight.

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SMOKING,

VAPING and Your Health

by Jessica Zimmer There is little peer-reviewed science available on how smoking and vaping cannabis grown with pesticides affects human health.

However, most experts agree that inhaling anything burned is not recommended, and pesticides can exacerbate health risks.

T

here is little data about how smoking and vaping cannabis containing pesticides affects respiratory and overall health, yet available information about pesticides and cultivation practices has led cannabis testing labs and medical professionals to agree about what is healthier for patients.

“Most people who use cannabis for medical purposes have chronic conditions with ongoing symptoms. They don’t need to develop additional concerns,” says Dr. Ethan Russo, a boardcertified neurologist and director of research and development at the International Cannabis and Cannabinoids Institute in Prague.

“Up to 70 per cent of pesticides on cannabis will be transferred in the smoke to the lungs and into the bloodstream. They will not get burned up. There’s a great potential for (developing) cancer as well as a chronic cough, too much phlegm, and bronchial problems.”

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Pills, sublingual applications, tinctures, and transdermal patches containing organic cannabis are likely to prove more beneficial for patients than smoking or vaping cannabis grown with or contaminated by pesticides.

Russo adds many patients use cannabis smoke or vape because these methods offer quick, almost instant relief. Instead, he says, patients should maintain therapeutic blood levels of cannabinoids by taking a pill or tincture three times a day.

Josh Wurzer, president and co-founder of SC Laboratories, a cannabis testing lab in Santa Cruz, CA, says there is no way to determine how pesticides will affect a patient once inhaled.

“There’s just no data on the respiratory dangers of these pesticides. There are no studies on what happens when a pesticide combusts, either. So few crops (other than cannabis) are smoked. In addition, no two pesticides are exactly alike,” says Wurzer.

He added there is also little information about how the chemicals in one pesticide and in multiple pesticides interact with one another when ingested, and that chemicals may interact differently when burned together.

Outdoor growers should beware of the risk of contamination of pesticides from nearby pesticide sprays on close-by commercial crops or other applications.

Robert Martin, Jr., co-founder and chief executive officer of CW Analytical Laboratories, a cannabis testing lab in Oakland, says very few barriers fully protect outdoor-grown cannabis plants.

“All it takes is for the wind to drift over from the wine (or other) fields,” he says.

Home growers should also grow with clean soil, according to Mary Lynn Mathre, an RN and president and co-founder of Patients Out of Time, a non-profit organization that educates health care professionals and the public about the therapeutic uses of cannabis.

“The cannabis roots pick up everything from the soil, including heavy metals,” she says.

Mathre advises that plants be organically grown without the use of toxic pesticides. Growers should also take care in the curing and storage process to prevent mold. But burning cannabis to ingest it introduces another level of risk according to Jeff Raber, CEO of The Werc Shop, a cannabis consulting firm based in Los Angeles.

“Hot air can be a superirritant to the airways.

For some patients, just inhaling cannabis smoke that contains pesticides could exacerbate their medical issues,” says Raber.

“Many patients

use cannabis smoke or vape because these methods offer quick, almost instant relief.”

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“A patient should document in a

journal what (strain) they take in, how much, how they take it, and what their doctor said about their use.”

Raber and Russo agree long-term exposure to pesticides on cannabis through repeated smoking or vaping is likely to lead to a slow build-up of harmful chemicals.

“It will help if patients determine their minimum effective dose,” says Raber. “Patients should start low and work their way up to more. It’s also good practice for a patient to keep track of how they are using cannabis. (Over time), a patient should document in a journal what (strain) they take in, how much, how they take it, and what their doctor said about their use.”

Uncleaned smoking devices and some rolling papers containing toxic chemicals may pose additional problems. Mathre advises that when smoking cannabis, a patient shouldn’t hold the smoke in their lungs.

“The therapeutic properties in cannabis are readily absorbed, but the longer one holds their breath, the greater the risk of absorbing toxic chemicals in the smoke,” she says, adding vaping a clean cannabis product can possibly mitigate potential problems incurred in smoking.

Fortunately, the ability to detect pesticides in plants is improving, according to Martin.

“Now we’re using NASA-grade machines, which has opened up a whole new way of looking at cannabis,” he says. “We are able to identify really low levels of pesticides in mature plants.”

Testing, however, remains complicated because different parts of a cannabis plant may have different amounts of pesticides. In addition, cannabis plants grown in the same bed may have different amounts of a pesticide. This is because some cannabis plants may be closer to the source of the contamination.

What’s more, patients using cannabis concentrates such as hashish or oil should be extra careful because it is likely pesticides in them will be concentrated as well.

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Russo said awareness of the dangers of pesticides is growing, but patients need to learn more. He advised patients who grow and obtain safe medicine educate themselves and others about the risks posed by pesticides.

“This is an indictment of prohibition. The reason that people don’t know about the dangers of pesticides is because we don’t have a legal and regulatory market for this product. Cannabis needs to be available, but it also needs to be safe,” says Russo.

cut and DRIED

by Gibson Lannister

SOURIS SKIES “CIG has perfectly cured their Souris Skies and it breaks up so easily.”

S

ouris Skies is a wonderful, indica-dominant strain from Canada’s Island Garden (CIG).

It is part of their Craftgrow Collection and is grown on Canada’s east coast in small batches.

This boutique bud has THC levels ranging from 10-14 per cent and CBD levels measuring less than one per cent. Souris Skies is rich in a variety of terpenes such as myrcene, pinene, caryophyllene, and lemonene.

The buds may be small, however, Souris Skies is a very eye-catching strain. The compact buds have a thick coating of orange hairs and shimmer with crystals like frost on a windshield.

The scent profile is mostly earthy with notes of pine and leather. CIG has perfectly cured their Souris Skies and it breaks up so easily.

My preferred method of cannabis consumption is vaporization. Souris Skies vaporizes as smooth as butter. I had a terrible cough and sore throat while writing this review and this was the only strain that didn’t hurt or irritate my throat to vaporize. It even helped with my congestion. Souris Skies is extremely calming, with a light body buzz, and mild dry mouth.

The effects last about two hours with a clean come down. I would recommend it for evening and nighttime use, although it is mild enough to use during the day.

Souris Skies is best suited for treating insomnia and sleep deprivation, stress, anxiety, depression, and can improve one’s appetite.

Overall, I enjoy Souris Skies a lot. It really hits the spot when you are looking for something effective but not too strong.

Souris Skies is a great strain to cultivate for beginner and advanced cannabis gardeners alike.

It has the classic shape of an indica: short, squat, and under 30 inches in height, making Souris Skies an ideal candidate for indoor gardens. Flowering lasts between seven and nine weeks after which you will reap a high yield for such small plants.

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all photos provided by dewey mister with permission

. . wwwwsocascadeecom

Growing your marijuana plants indoors definitely has advantages. But once a pest insect population takes hold, Mother Nature won’t be able to help. Follow Alan Ray’s tips for inspection and eradication, and your plants will live happy and productive lives.

KEEPS BUG

A

h, the advantages of growing your strain of choice inside. The upside seems so obvious: access to the garden 24/7, protection against the forces of Mother Nature, and practically no chance some fur-bearing creature will break in and destroy your garden. Sounds like the ideal growing situation, so what could possibly go wrong? In truth, lots. Indoors doesn’t mean invincible.

OFF NUGS

by Alan Ray

YOUR

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While growing inside gives you control and protection from the elements, Newton’s Third Law can dull that edge with an equal and opposite reaction. These same indoor perquisites can also prove problematic. Without rainfall and wind there is nothing to help wash away the little parasites that make their way into your growroom. Beneficial insects like ladybugs and parasitoid wasps also won’t be around to help.

What’s more, in an enclosed environment like a house or greenhouse, many pest insects can build up an immunity to pesticides very quickly. The best way to keep your plants free of unwanted pest colonies is to be vigilant and practice good clean habits in your grow space.

Essentially, there are five pest insects appearing on the marijuana marquis of undesirable garden guests.

Those names include thrips, fungus gnats, aphids, and whiteflies, with the headliner being spider mites.

These seemingly ubiquitous little sap suckers are the bane of an indoor grower’s existence and need to be dealt with immediately upon detection. Let’s begin with the dreaded spider mite.

“ HAVING

a control strategy that incorporates good cultural practices like regular inspections and effective pruning to remove injured areas of the plant can forestall or even derail an invasion.”

SPIDER MITES The twospotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch), which seems to be the most prevalent of spider mites, infests some 200 species of garden plants both indoors and out. Be it greenhouse, warehouse, or basement, they will find your Eden. Their specialized sharp mouths penetrate the skin of the leaf and suck the sap from it, leaving a skeleton in its stead and photosynthesis impossible in severe infestations.

At 1/50 of an inch long, these tiny terrors can be hard to spot with the naked eye, so a good magnifying glass is needed. Small as they are, they still leave telltale signs of their presence if you know what to look for.

Early indicators are the appearance of stippling (small dots) on the underside of the leaves. They also weave a gossamer thin webbing on the plant, hence the name. These cobwebs become the highway on which they travel from leaf to leaf and plant to plant. If left unchecked, your plant can become mummified in a short period of time. This is why you should check your plants early and often, before an infestation takes hold.

To scan for unseen mites, take a piece of white paper and place it below your plant. Now give the plant a little shake. Look for moving mites, their eggs, or larvae that have fallen onto the paper. Specks of black frass (fecal matter) may appear as well. If you detect spider mites, you need to take action.

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ERADICATING SPIDER MITES Always isolate any infected plant from the others.

Insecticidal soap or horticultural oils can be applied to the leaves to kill the mites. To make your own soap, simply combine two teaspoons of mild dish soap with a gallon of warm water. Stir it up and use a small brush or atomizer to apply to both sides of the leaves.

Mites prefer warm, dry climates. As a preventive measure, mist your plants (leaf undersides too) to create a higher degree of humidity that will help thwart their advance. A moist grow medium will also help. Rinsing your plants afterward with cool water will help dislodge the mites. Do this outside if feasible to avoid them running to another plant once rinsed off. Treatment once a week is recommended.

THRIPS Thrips are slender, winged pests that dine on your plants in much the same way as mites. They pierce the leaf and suck out its essential sap. Treating thrips can be tricky, however.

Having a control strategy that incorporates good cultural practices like regular inspections and effective pruning to remove injured areas of the plant can forestall or even derail an invasion.

“ WITHOUT

rainfall and wind there is nothing to help wash away the little parasites that make their way into your growroom.”

ERADICATING THRIPS Clean up the infected debris and promptly remove it from your grow areas. Applying neem oil and/or insecticidal soap are quite efficacious in controlling thrips. Neem oil is a vegetable oil extracted by pressing the seeds and fruits of the neem tree of India. Dish soap works well, but only if there are all-natural products available.

In their defense, there are some good thrips that prey on plant-eating bugs. If you have the time and patience to differentiate them, you can apply the live-and-let-live approach.

Most growers don’t.

WHITEFLIES Whiteflies bring with them the same devastation as the others mentioned here and in the same way. White and winged, they are yet another of the sap-sucking plant predators that love their greens. Aside from seeing the insects themselves, evidence of whiteflies on your plants can be the sticky film they leave behind on the leaf. Other indicators may be shriveled or yellowing leaves.

The real damage, however, is done by the nymphs — their immature offspring. They are wingless, legless, and, for the most part, motionless. They are content to munch away at your plant while awaiting their full development. In a perfect world, ridding your plants of whiteflies would be done by predatory insects like green lacewings, ladybugs, big-eyed bugs, and others.

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ERADICATION OF WHITEFLIES If you don’t have a stash of those beneficial bugs handy you’ll have to take action yourself. This can be done by pruning yellowed or damaged leaves, picking the flies off manually, and by wiping the leaves with a mild soap and water solution. Of course, there is always the old standby, neem oil.

APHIDS

“ IN

a perfect world, ridding your plants of whiteflies would be done by predatory insects like green lacewings, ladybugs, big-eyed bugs, and others.”

Aphids are nasty little creatures that, like their brethren, drain the life-giving fluid from a plant’s leaves. All these little buggers do primarily the same thing. They damage, or, if unchecked, kill your plants. Aphids graze in groups which increases their devastation. Aside from the actual damage caused by their feeding, they also leave behind a sticky exudate called honeydew that can encourage a soot-colored mold fungus to form on the residue.

Aphids also carry viruses with them that can be transferred from plant to plant. Some aphid species inject a toxin into the plant causing the leaves to yellow and distort in shape.

ERADICATION OF APHIDS Aphids are quite easy to spot and controlling them can be as simple as brushing them off by hand or rinsing them off with a stream of water. Careful with the pressure though. You don’t want to damage your plant in an effort to help it. Applying a one to two percentage of neem or canola oil to water works best. This method smothers them.

As always, be sure to target the underside of the leaves. This application will need to be repeated daily until the aphids are gone.

FUNGUS GNATS Fungus gnats are tiny, winged insects that love moist, organically-rich soil like compost or potting soil and decaying vegetable matter. These gnats are probably the least damaging of the five pests listed here but still can be devastating to a plant. They don’t really bite or eat the leaves, but the larvae are born in the soil, and, being underground, go undetected.

These little devils dine on the roots of the plant, so in large numbers they can be a serious problem causing root damage and stunted growth, especially in younger plants.

ERADICATING FUNGUS GNATS Purchase and use only potting mix or soil that has been pasteurized. Since they thrive in moisture-rich conditions, keep your grow area dry. Clean up water spills and let the top of the soil dry out before watering. Improve the drainage of your pots by decreasing the amount of perlite or by adding sand to more clayey soil.

Use sticky traps. Yellow sticky traps are great against flying insects like fungus gnats and whiteflies. Tip: the traps can be cut into smaller pieces and put on sticks, so you can place them into separate pots.

By following these simple steps of prevention and taking proactive measures, you’ll help ensure this traveling troupe of trouble won’t be attacking your cannabis plants any time soon.

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RED LIGHTBLUE LIGHT

BALANCING LED EFFICIENCY WITH ability of LED technology to manipulate PERFORMANCEThe the lighting spectrum should be used

sparingly and as a means of mimicking natural diurnal and seasonal changes to benefit plants, not marketing, says Rami Vardi.

by Rami Vardi

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L

ight-emitting diode (LED) technology offers revolutionary improvements to indoor horticulturalists. However, as with other emerging technologies, the higher initial investment is a hurdle that slows adoption despite a lower total cost of ownership.

Yet as the medical marijuana industry has evolved, growers’ pockets have deepened such that an initial cash outlay doesn’t preclude any equipment purchase. Cultivators and investors now take the long view on profitability, and they’ve moved toward more efficient, multi-million-dollar facilities. From this broader perspective, it’s clear LEDs offer a financial benefit. LEDs dramatically increase efficiency, create minimal heat production, offer 50,000-hour service life, and require low maintenance, making them an obvious choice over traditional high intensity discharge (HID) technologies.

MANY LIGHT DESIGNERS “ WERE ONCE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF BLUE/RED LEDS TOO,

but philosophies have evolved with experimentation. Based on real-world experience, many now champion fullspectrum white lights.” quality yielded by traditional HID lighting. Lackluster performance and a handful of bad anecdotes from firstgeneration LED products perpetuate these beliefs. The reason for these problems was designers’ deviation from what worked (e.g. high pressure sodium (HPS) and metal halide (MH) spectrums) in favor of a supposedly ideal blue/red combination. This new spectrum was intended to give plants precisely the light they needed and nothing more. Omitting “unused” wavebands of light was thought to save energy. For reasons we’ll discuss later, the existing system of light measurement didn’t favor the new spectral profile championed by this design philosophy. These manufacturers imposed a change in the units of light measurement, and product comparisons became complicated.

So why hasn’t LED technology been widely adopted by growers and greenhouses? The answer lies in how the designers of the new grow lights manipulated the light spectrum — and how photometric unit conventions changed to favor these new products.

Within the grow community, LEDs have a dubious track record and questionable reputation. Given the design of many products on the market, that reputation is largely deserved. Cannabis industry groupthink holds that LED-produced light can’t match the all-important product

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THE BLUE/RED SPECTRUM RATIONALE

The new blue/red designs were well-intentioned and not without logic. Two loosely-defined spectra of light — blue and red — drive much of the action of photosynthesis. This much is true. Dr. Keith J. McCree, a pioneering researcher and founder of the McCree Curve, described these two spectra as peaking around 440 nm and 620 nm — blue and red, respectively. A wide body of research has confirmed this data, though subsequent research has found the absorbance maxima to be slightly different. The action of so-called “chlorophyll A” demonstrates a peak at 430 nm and 662 nm, while “chlorophyll B” is driven by 453 nm and 642 nm light.

The first generation of LED designers went wrong by forcefully reducing the plant growth spectrum to just these two segments of the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Many light designers were once enthusiastic about the potential of blue/red LEDs too, but philosophies have evolved with experimentation. Based on real-world experience, many now champion fullspectrum white lights.

Light-emitting diodes are often more electrically efficient at red and blue wavelengths, so it logically followed to reduce the output of horticultural lights to these two colors if plants preferred them as well. By doing so, no resources were expended on “wasted” portions of the PAR spectrum. After eons of sunlight, light designers thought they had discovered just what plants needed after all: pinkish-purple light. By excluding the inefficient and electrically wasteful greens, yellows, and oranges, spectrum engineers thought they could grow better plants and do so more efficiently.

Much of this thinking stemmed from the McCree Curve, the camel-backed spectral profile that shows plant metabolic response peaking at blue and red. McCree established this illustrative tool in his 1970 study of dozens of plant species at Texas A&M University. His work has served as the central tenet of spectrum science and the foundation for other research building upon his key observations.

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“ CANNABIS INDUSTRY

GROUPTHINK HOLDS THAT LEDPRODUCED LIGHT

can’t match the allimportant product quality yielded by traditional HID lighting.”

THESE “ MANUFACTURERS IMPOSED A CHANGE IN THE UNITS OF LIGHT MEASUREMENT, and product comparisons became complicated.”

Figure 2

But the McCree Curve is not a recommendation for an ideal horticultural lighting spectrum and, by McCree’s description, was orchestrated to provide a basis for the discussion of the definition of PAR — not the optimization of a growth spectrum.

It explored if plants responded to the various colors of light and what was — and was not — part of the PAR spectrum. Accordingly, the experiment took a reductionist angle. McCree’s team tested plant response to one wavelength of light at a time, isolated in 25 nm intervals between 400 nm and 700 nm. A single cut leaf was placed in an isolation chamber and exposed to colored light while the carbon dioxide and oxygen levels were measured to deduce the metabolic response.

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So, the exalted McCree Curve, while useful, isn’t a depiction of an ideal growth spectrum or a recommendation for light design. It’s simply a set of isolated data points stitched together into a smooth line. It isn’t holistic. When considered as a unified spectrum, it’s foreign to plants that are hardwired for sunlight.

A PARADIGM SHIFT: LUMENS VS. MICROMOLES PER SECOND

Before the introduction of LEDs, horticulturalists measured light output in lumens and lux, with lumens representing the rate at which a bulb produces light and lux referring to the rate at which light falls on a particular area. In this era of light measurement, product comparisons were straightforward.

Growers understood the brightness of their lighting and fewer lighting spectrums were in use.

But the new technology of LEDs didn’t align with the prevailing frame of measurement, so the units were stated differently. Micromoles per second (μmols/sec) became the standard for Figure 3 assessing the quantity of light, and the change in units created lots of confusion. The reason for the change centered on the luminosity function built into the lumens/lux measurement scale. Lumens take into account the sensitivity of the human eye to particular wavelengths of light — namely those centered around 550 nm (green light). A micromole, by contrast, is a quantity of photons. The lumen system’s weighting of the spectrum allows us to assess the brightness of a light as we experience it rather than as a PAR meter would experience it. A PAR meter registers photons (measured in μmols/sec) within the PAR range of 400-700 nm. In many ways, this flattened approach to the lighting spectrum makes sense, and for blue/red grow light manufacturers, it’s essential for marketing their products.

Because of the absence of green light in their designs, the new products didn’t fare well when measured in traditional lumens. The increased blue and red light looked good when expressed in μmols/second of PAR, but not so good when compared to the system of measurement used by the proven technology of HID lamps.

Many believe technology should accommodate plants, not the other way around.

This means designing products by assessing what works and has worked traditionally — rather than what should work in theory. Proponents of full-spectrum LEDs sometimes battle against those that dismisses the technology as a whole. Fullspectrum light and lumens-based measurement was (and is) producing great results, so it makes sense to use what works.

Implementing LEDs creates significant efficiency improvements regardless of wavelength. But by skewing the PAR measurements with excesses of certain colors of light, some designs demonstrate efficiencies that don’t carry over into benefits for plants.

Note the following example: The two boards pictured look similar, but the first board — let’s call it Board A — incorporates six 660 nm LEDs, while Board B employs 24 of the 660 nm diodes. Because the physical characteristics and silicon doping of a 660 nm LED naturally create a more efficient chip at the red wavelength, Board B tests as significantly more efficient. Within the PAR range of 400-700nm, Board A achieves 1.64 μmol/watt. Board B, however, emits 2.15 μmol/watt because it takes advantage of the efficiency of red diodes. Yet this 31 per cent increase in efficiency isn’t all that meaningful because it goes beyond nature and creates an overdose of red light. Plants don’t benefit as much from this light as much as that final efficiency number does when the results come back from the testing lab. While this red-heavy spectrum creates an impressive efficiency number, the results per watt will be disappointing upon harvest.

WHILE THIS “RED-HEAVY

SPECTRUM CREATES AN IMPRESSIVE EFFICIENCY NUMBER,

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the results per watt will be disappointing upon harvest.”

“

BY SKEWING THE PAR MEASUREMENTS WITH EXCESSES OF CERTAIN COLORS OF LIGHT,

Furthermore, an absence of green light in Board B may cause imbalances. Conventional thinking wrongly asserts that plants don’t use green light. Based on the green appearance of many plants, some people assume plants aren’t using green, yellow, and orange wavebands of sunlight. A broad consensus of research shows otherwise, however, and McCree himself noted plants do indeed use green light — and they do so with efficiencies nearing that of blue wavebands. Blue/red theorists insist plants don’t use green light, but their insistence neglects the rationale by which the lumens/lux measurement was discarded: if humans perceive green light more readily, objects (like plants) are more likely to appear green.

Though modern botany has benefited horticulture tremendously, we can’t assume to have mastered the metabolic complexities of plants, and we can’t succeed at gaming the light spectrum. The spectral needs of plants are complex, interwoven, and dictated by millions of years of full-spectrum sunlight; we shouldn’t presume to discard half of the natural spectrum in expectation of better results. The ability of LED technology to manipulate the lighting spectrum should be used sparingly and in service of mimicking natural diurnal and seasonal changes. These versatile new LED products offer tremendous improvements in efficiency — even without packing a board full of red diodes. To limit their application to a less effective spectrum does the entire technology a disservice.

some designs demonstrate efficiencies that don’t carry over into benefits for plants.”

When replacing 1,000W HPS lights with LEDs, look for an output exceeding 60,000 lumens and a proven light spectrum. Building on the previous successes of horticultural lighting design makes more sense than imposing radical changes on our plants, especially when those changes go against millions of years of evolution.

There’s a reason why growers continue using HPS lights despite higher lifetime costs: quality is priceless, and it’s best achieved with full-spectrum light.

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DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR A NURSE? Email editor@maximumyield.com to get an answer.

ask a NURSE Q

Can medical marijuana relieve the pain associated with shingles?

I’d rather not take a prescription for the pain.

Angie F.

a I

n most cases, the symptoms associated with shingles last about one month and resolve on their own. In these instances, cannabis (via inhalation or ingestion) can be an effective analgesic and can also help take your mind off your pain.

Some shingles patients, however, suffer from ongoing pain called post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). PHN affects nerve fibers and the skin, and can lead to chronic peripheral neuropathy, which is chronic pain in the body leading up to the spinal cord and brain.

Peripheral neuropathy can be caused by: • Microbial infections, such as the varicella-zoster virus (which causes chicken pox and shingles).

• An underlying disease or condition, such as diabetes, shingles, or HIV/AIDs. • Nutritional deficiency such as lack of vitamin B12.

• Chronic degenerative conditions that include autoimmune diseases, vasculitis, and cancer.

• Adverse effects of numerous pharmaceutical drugs.

Studies demonstrate that cannabis can effectively treat neuropathic pain. For example, researchers at UC Davis Medical Center performed a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to study the effects of low and medium-dose vaporized cannabis for the treatment of neuropathy (the low dose contained 1.3 per cent THC and the medium dose contained 3.5 per cent THC).

Patients reported that vaporized cannabis, even at the lowest doses, provided relief for those with treatment-resistant neuropathic pains.

A review of 15 double-blind, placebo-controlled trials conducted on more 1,600 patients with chronic neuropathy found that cannabinoids worked significantly better compared to the placebo in reducing neuropathy. Ten of the studies used a plant-derived, 1:1 oromucosal spray, three studies were with nabilone and dronabinol, and two studies used cannabis flower.

The delivery method you use to consume cannabis will influence the benefits that you derive from cannabis medicines, and understanding the delivery methods and corresponding absorption sites can help you identify which products are best suited to treat neuropathy. For example, a topical can provide local relief with few (if any) side effects, while a cannabis edible can provide longer, systemic relief and, over time, can reduce inflammation. Inhaling cannabis can relieve pain quickly and can give you the most control over your dose.

Finally, when treating shingles, it’s important to get enough sleep and avoid stress, and small doses of cannabis can help alleviate stress, help facilitate sleep onset, and extend sleep duration.

ET Eloise Theisen, AGPCNP-BC, has been a dedicated and patient-focused nurse practitioner

specializing in aging, cancer, chronic pain, dementia, Alzheimers, Parkinsons, anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia, and various auto-immune and neurological diseases for more than 17 years. The founder of Radicle Health, she started her career at John Muir Medical Center caring for patients suffering from cancer, terminal illnesses, respiratory failure/complaints, drug overdoses, acute alcohol ingestion, gastrointestinal bleeds, traumatic brain injury, and multiple traumas and from there worked her way up to management. Following that, her work with Aunt Zelda’s and the American Cannabis Nurses Association gained her an extensive knowledge of the Endocannabinoid system and how cannabis and cannabinoids can be used successfully to treat patients.

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WINTER YOUR GROWROOM HOW TO

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C

hanges in the weather can be challenging for indoor growers who want their plants to experience the same “season” year-round in their rooms. To keep a handle on environmental stresses and to remain efficient, even the most sophisticated growrooms will need to be reconfigured a little between seasons. With a well thought out room design, configuration changes to the growroom can be kept to a minimum by choosing equipment that allows for the desired temperature and humidity, regardless of what’s happening with the outside elements. However, if your room’s budget doesn’t allow for all the bells and whistles, consider using can-style inline fans and changing the direction of airflow to blow hot air outside or keep hot air inside, depending on the season.

GREENHOUSES

Nowadays, with innovations in greenhouse technology, cultivators are using the sun to grow quality indoor cannabis all year.

They have to deal with the same issues as indoor growers as they prepare and winterize for the cold months.

WINTER INDOOR GARDENING TRICKS (HOW TO HELP WITH HEATING COSTS)

With some planning, indoor growers can utilize the heat created from their cannabis garden to heat other areas of the building. The grow lights are hundreds or thousands of watts and thus, create an equal amount of heat. Think of a 1,000watt light as a 1,000-watt heater. Energy in equals heat going out and most of that heat will end up leaving the growroom.

Why not capture it and utilize it since that energy is a fixed cost? Just put the heat in other areas of the house or building. Use inline can-style fans and flexible ducting equipment to move the air where it is needed. This can be in the crawl space, between floors, or from one room to another. In the summer veteran growers might have been putting the heat out of the window, but in the winter that warmth can easily be used to increase the overall efficiency of the building’s heating system by redirecting it inside.

RIZE

by Treefrog

by Treefrog

With proper preparation and knowledge, winter doesn’t have to be a cold and dark season inside your growroom. There are many tools and tricks to keep your indoor garden warm on those long, cold winter days and nights, and your plants will be all the happier for your hard work, effort, and planning.

CHANGING ROOM CONFIGURATIONS BETWEEN SUMMER AND WINTER

If using a non-sealed room, growers will need to preheat cold air coming in from outside. This might have worked in the summer or cooler months, but when it is extremely cold outside the extreme temperature can really damage cannabis and most other types of plants. Consider bringing the air through a window into a spare room, such as a closet or laundry room, before entering the growroom. In the summertime it might be better to bring the cool air from the house in through the growroom and out through a window instead of the other way around. It just depends on the garden’s access to windows and cool air. In sealed rooms, air conditioning is used year-round.

WINTER AIR IS DRIER

Seasoned gardeners keep in mind that winter air is drier than summer air. This will cause gardens to fluctuate in humidity from season to season. Although they can withstand larger fluctuations, cannabis plants mostly enjoy a humidity range between 40 and 50 per cent, so adjustments may need to take place to regulate humidity between seasons. Although winter air is drier, often the decreased need for ventilation of heat during winter will help increase humidity. It is best to be aware of humidity levels across all seasons and invest in the proper equipment to control it. A hygrometer will measure the garden’s humidity and trigger fans on and off to increase airflow and thus lower humidity. Consider a room controller to handle all aspects of the growroom environment.

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HOW COLD IS TOO COLD IN A GROWROOM?

In a growroom, if it’s too cold for human comfort, then it’s too cold for cannabis plants. That is the best rule of thumb, as most plants thrive close to room temperature. For example, humans tend to become quite uncomfortable below 60°F or above 85°F and so do most plants. For us to really sit in comfort, air needs to be somewhere between 67-74°F and cannabis plants thrive in the same settings.

TEMPERATURE PREFERENCES OF CANNABIS VARIETIES

Different cannabis strains react in different ways to environmental stresses. Most marijuana varieties have been crossed and hybridized to enjoy high THC levels, similar flowering periods, and a general indoor environment, however, before human intervention this wasn’t the case.

Tracing cannabis genetics back to land-race strains shows that indicas typically evolved in colder, mountainous areas with shorter grow seasons. The flower times are shorter due to later frosts in the spring and earlier frosts in the fall, compared to sativas that evolved in warmer areas near the equator with longer grow seasons, such as Hawaii. So, another way to help protect your growroom against the cold is to select indicas or indica-dominant hybrids.

FOR WHEN IT’S EXTREMELY COLD

If it is extremely cold outside, it may be necessary to completely close the air flow off from the outer areas until temperatures come up above freezing. When it is not possible to buffer the air coming in, it is best to close off external air completely. If a cold spell is prolonged, consider supplementing extra CO2. Consider the use of space heaters only if other options have failed and be sure to keep them well clear of any obstructions or flammables. Turn them on a low setting to prevent excessive amperage draws that may trip circuits or increase fire hazards. Check your local grow store for controls, accessories, and other environmental equipment.

LOSS OF POWER

When power is disrupted, it is incredibly destructive to the garden. Anything from pumps, fans, air conditioning, dehumidification, lights, or any other major players in your garden can be completely wiped out until the power outage is corrected. Depending on how it is configured, total crop loss can occur from power outages. There are ways to protect against this type of loss such as providing backup power, watering by hand, or using dimmer, battery-powered lighting to minimally control the photoperiod and at least wake up plants that should be awake when there are temporarily no lights. The main goals should be to prevent crop stress and to restore power or create alternate power as soon as possible using a generator, extension cords, etc. Remember to account for wind, snow, and ice storms by planning for the storm and the days following the storm.

LITTLE THINGS THAT MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

Sealing gaps and cracks with spray foam, caulk, or other sealant will prevent cold air drafts that can quickly chill your room below comfortable temperatures. Use weather stripping under and around doors to prevent overlooked air leaks.

Basically, anywhere there may have been light leaks needs to be insulated. Also insulate walls that connect to outside walls to further protect your growroom from the outer elements.

Although you may have stopped using exhaust fans during extremely cold periods, remember to continue to run oscillating fans to prevent stagnant air and still benefit from the heat of the grow lights.

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Remember the literal power, as stored heat energy, of thermal masses. Use concrete in floors and walls, water in reservoirs, and even some grow systems as thermal masses to store heat during daylight hours and slowly radiate it into the growroom throughout the colder dark periods.

If you are having trouble heating your entire space, consider making your growing area smaller by separating it from other areas such as workspace or storage.

WHEN WEATHER GETS WARM AGAIN (BACK AND FORTH FROM COOL TO WARM)

Be ready toward the end of winter to begin to cool your room again as warmer spring temperatures come around. This can be extremely challenging if you aren’t ready for the back and forth temperature swings that occur before springtime. Depending on your geographic location, you may want to pay attention to the weather forecast and invest in the proper equipment to handle larger hot/cold swings that can occur between seasons. Don’t forget to plan for the first frost in autumn and the last frost in spring.

Every season brings about its own set of unique circumstances with problems to solve. The cold of winter can be seemingly daunting at first, however, with the proper planning and tools, you can achieve the same success, or greater, as other times of the year. Winter-grown cannabis often yields higher quality than summer grown cannabis because cold is generally less harsh to cannabis plants than heat. By utilizing the tools at your disposal, you will be able to customize to fill your needs and achieve the success you desire. Don’t let the changes in weather cause changes inside. Pick and choose the tips and tricks discussed here and you’ll be on your way to wintertime success.

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SMO KING

INGE STING VS.

by Luis Cordova

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How you choose to consume your cannabis will have vastly different effects on how your body absorbs it. Read on to learn about the differences in the effects between consuming edibles or smoking cannabis.

Is It Best to Eat or Smoke My Cannabis?

Cannabis is such a diverse plant that it can be smoked or eaten, and each consumption method can have vastly different effects on the body and mind.

Smoking cannabis is often predictable in its effects, which happen quickly, and for this reason is easier to control.

However, smoking cannabis will negatively affect a user’s health.

When eating cannabis, the high is often intense and longer lasting, but takes a while to occur and is therefore less predictable in its effect. This occurs mainly due to how cannabis is absorbed, its potency, and dosage amount.

Absorption of Cannabis

When smoking cannabis, Delta9tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is rapidly transferred directly from the lungs into the blood stream. The blood then carries THC throughout the body and ultimately effects sensations of the central nervous system.

Due to the rapid transfer of THC, the effect is felt quickly (minutes). However, smoking cannabis is relatively inefficient in delivering the full range and amount of cannabinoids unless you take into account vaporization. Vaporizing cannabis allows users to receive a larger amount and range of cannabinoids.

A smoker can also set a vaporizing temperature range to capture specific types of cannabinoids that can positively affect the cannabis experience.

When cannabis is consumed in edible form, the absorption rate is vastly different when compared to inhalation because edibles must settle in the stomach where they are slowly broken down. The cannabinoids in the edible are then transferred to the liver where they are converted into 11-hydroxy Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-THC).

11-OH-THC is the main metabolite of THC and results in a maximum amount of THC in the body.

“Cannabis is such a diverse plant that it can be smoked or eaten, and each consumption method can have vastly different effects on the body and mind.”

Due to the metabolic process, effects are often experienced within one to two hours after ingestion.

After ingestion, THC is absorbed into every part of the body but is decreased in the plasma of the blood. The tissue distribution is followed by a slower redistribution of THC into the blood by means of deep fat tissue. Redistribution of THC can occur for many hours in a cyclic fashion, increasing the duration of the effects.

Duration and Potency

As mentioned before when cannabis is smoked or vaporized, the effects are felt almost immediately.

Depending on the strain of cannabis, the amount smoked, and the type of cannabis inhaled (flowers or concentrates) the effects range from relaxing to energetic. However, when cannabis is smoked, approximately 23-27 per cent of the THC is absorbed by heavy users and 10-14 per cent by occasional users. This assumes 30 per cent of the THC is lost in burning the cannabis. The remaining 43-56 per cent is thought to be lost to high temperatures of burning and be unavailable in the body as it was not converted to usable THC. After smoking cannabis, the effects are immediate but then peak after approximately 15 minutes. Cannabis rapidly decreases in the body after three to four hours. After the effects have worn off, 90 per cent of the remaining THC is circulated in the blood stream, taking between two to seven days to be eliminated from the plasma. This can decrease the potency of THC when cannabis is smoked again as a tolerance is built.

Ingesting cannabis is different from smoking cannabis in many ways. Due to how the body breaks down edible cannabis, the effects can take between 30 minutes to two hours. This is mainly due to the absorption of THC and its transfer into the plasma of the blood. The effects on the body are similar to smoking in terms of having an energetic or relaxing effect. However, the availability of THC is thought to be approximately four to 12 per cent available for absorption. In some people the peak plasma concentration can occur more than once, making a user feel higher for a longer period of time. The longer duration is mainly due to THC and other cannabinoids being stored in deep fatty tissues. The fatty tissue then repetitively releases the cannabinoids, making the user feel the effects longer. It has been observed that higher concentrations of 11-OH THC occur after ingestion due to its storage in the body when compared to smoking.

Therefore, the potency and duration felt by a user is often stronger as well as longer.

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Dosing

Smoking cannabis is much easier to dose as a user can inhale small amounts in one sitting, then smoke more if needed. It is important to know what type of cannabis you are buying and the THC concentration it boasts. Knowing the concentration will ensure you don’t smoke all your product without feeling any effect.

Dosing edibles is much more difficult for homemade products but easier to understand for commercial products. Commercially, most edibles are tested in a laboratory and labeled with their THC concentration. Knowing the concentration allows a user to know the correct dose they will need or are buying. The most common commercially available concentration is 10 milligrams of THC per serving. While some products may be sold as a 100-milligram bar, they are often divided into 10 milligram pieces. However, commercial cannabis products may not be the correct dosage for every user. This is a result of factors such as body weight, tolerance, and food consumption prior to use. These factors influence the strength at which the edible will affect the user. While, dosing information is useful for all products, it is not a guarantee the concentration is exact for every batch of edibles. This is mainly due to how lab testing is done. Small amounts should be taken initially, then more can be taken later, if need be.

Which is Better… Smoking or Eating Cannabis?

The answer to this question is complex as it comes down to user preference.

For people who have lung infections or other conditions, smoking cannabis may not be the best option and eating cannabis is a better alternative. For users who can’t wait for edible cannabis effects to kick in, smoking cannabis may be their best option.

With the large amount of commercially available cannabis products, edibles are longer lasting, stronger, can be taken in small amounts, and are healthier.

For these reasons, edibles are the most economical choice.

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1 | Axton CBD Gummies

Axton CBD Gummies are 100 per cent natural and delicious. Pharmacistformulated with 10 mg of high-quality CBD per candy, Axton CBD Gummies can make any situation more relaxing. They are a perfect and delicious way to help treat anxiety, pain, stress, and sleep-related issues.

CBD is a non-psychoactive component of cannabis to support a wide range of therapeutic benefits.

Axton’s CBD Gummies are Made in the USA and contain a total of 600 mg of CBD per bottle.

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2 | SkyBlue Vapor

3 | Arizer ArGo

4 | Hempindica Organic

Deluxe Pen Kit

SkyBlue Vapor products are designed to be ultra portable, discreet, and high-functioning.

Virtually smell-proof and backed by a lifetime warranty, this vape pen can be taken everywhere.

SkyBlue Vapor offers a variety of atomizers to vape wax, bud, hash, kief, and cartridges. Every atomizer is crafted with medical-grade titanium, ceramics, and pure SiO2 quartz that operate at a low temperature to preserve terpenes, medicinal compounds, and your cannabis itself.

Vaporizer

The versatile ArGo consistently produces thick and tasty vapor.

This latest release from Industry Pioneers, Arizer is a powerful and discreet portable vaporizer made for everyday use at home and on the go. A rechargeable, interchangeable, highcapacity battery plus USB charging and Use While Charging features provide non-stop enjoyment. Custom Session Settings (only from Arizer) put all the features you need at your fingertips and the included accessories offer the ultimate portable experience.

Wheatgrass Powder

Hempindica’s organic wheatgrass powder is a great way to get CBD dosage as it boasts 42 mg of CBD per wheatgrass shot. Wheatgrass is an excellent source of nutrition that includes vitamins and minerals.

Hempindica’s wheatgrass powder is 30 times stronger than tray-grown wheatgrass shots. It supports overall health and wellness and boosts the immune system while detoxifying the body of chemicals. Using Hempindica wheatgrass powder can help you reach your recommended daily serving dose of fruits and vegetables.

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Benefits of

cannabis juicing You don’t have to smoke or eat cannabis to enjoy its wideranging benefits. Making a cannabis smoothie will provide all kinds of healthy nutrients and CBDs in liquid form.

T

here are plenty of health benefits from juicing any fruit or vegetable and the market for juicing is growing in popularity around the world. It’s no surprise that medical cannabis patients and healthcare professionals are looking into the health benefits of juicing the misunderstood plant.

Vegetables usually consist of roots, leaves, stems, and flowers of a plant. Technically speaking, cannabis is a vegetable with similar nutrients found in other leafy greens (fiber, calcium, and iron). Cannabinoids are unique to the cannabis plant; they can improve cell function and reduce damage caused by free radicals.

When cannabis is juiced, it is a nutritionally dense, medicinal compound without the psychoactive components that are normally activated when the plant goes through decarboxylation. Decarboxylation is basically the heating of the cannabis plant; it is a chemical reaction that removes a carboxyl group and releases carbon dioxide.

There is a high concentration of raw cannabinoid acids and the perfect amount of fatty acids in juiced cannabis. This can reduce inflammation and improve two-way communication with nerve cells.

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How to Juice Raw Cannabis

Carrots and Cannabis: A Juicing Match

Really, you can’t just get dried flower, throw it into a juicer, and expect magic healing potion. When juicing you want raw, freshly-picked, and properly grown cannabis. It is important to avoid any plant material that may have been exposed to pesticides or other microbiological contaminants.

Like most vegetables, when it comes to juicing fresher is better. Do not juice cannabis that has been dried and prepared for smoking, it is not suitable for juicing. Since most local dispensaries do not have a supply of raw cannabis, many patients and caregivers grow their own medicine to ensure quality material for juicing.

When juicing, it is recommended that people juice 15 large fan leaves, 30-40 sugar leaves, and two large (2-4 inches long) raw buds per day. Raw buds are flowers that are harvested while the trichomes are clear rather than amber.

Mixing another vegetable juice to cut down on the bitterness of raw cannabis is highly recommended. A popular choice is carrots — a ratio of one-part cannabis juice to 10 parts carrot juice is a good rule of thumb. When you have your juice, split it into three parts and drink with each meal or store it for up to three days refrigerated in a sealed container or in the freezer for several months.

Carrots and carrot juice in ancient practice were used as therapeutic agents. Carrots are rich in biotin, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, organic sodium, and more. Most of a carrot’s nutrients are concentrated just beneath the skin, so it’s important you try not to peel the skin off. You can simply brush the carrot’s skin with water until the dirt is cleaned off.

The cannabis leaves and buds contain much needed cannabinoid acids: tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THC-A) and cannabidiolic acid (CBD-A). These acids found in cannabis have been shown to reduce or eliminate epileptic seizures, and assist in the management of many other health issues. Cannabis is a complete protein and natural source of healthy omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids.

When carrots and cannabis are juiced they have a great deal of fiber. This fiber can create a foam at the top of your drink and most people consider this too thick to drink with ease. If you can get past the unpleasant texture, you will be doing your body a favor.

Juice derived from carrots contains more vitamin A than nearly any other juice. Vitamin A assists the liver in flushing toxins out of the body, making this a great recipe for detoxing.

“ There is a high concentration

of raw cannabinoid acids and the perfect amount of fatty acids in juiced cannabis.”

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Health Benefits of Juicing Raw Cannabis The cannabis plant is more than a psychoactive drug.

In raw form cannabis leaves and buds are loaded with non-psychoactive, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer nutrient compounds known as cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is proving to be a “superfood” capable of preventing and reversing a host of chronic illnesses.

The human body has a built-in endogenous cannabinoid system, complete with cannabinoid receptors. Using CBD from cannabis can help normalize the body’s functional systems, including cell communication and proper immune function.

CBDs bridge the gap of neurotransmission in the central nervous system, including the brain, by providing a two-way system of communication that completes a positive feedback loop. The unique two-way transmission system engaged by cannabis CBDs mimics the body’s own natural two-way communication system.

Individuals with autoimmune disorders, cellular dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and various other illnesses can derive a wide range of health-promoting benefits simply by consuming CBDs.

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“ One of the best ways to acquire CBDs is to juice raw cannabis leaves and buds.”

Juicing Provides Ample CBDs One of the best ways to acquire CBDs is to juice raw cannabis leaves and buds, according to Dr. William Courtney, who runs a clinic in Luxembourg that provides raw cannabis medicinal services to patients in need.

“CBD works on receptors, and as it turns out, we have cannabinoids in our bodies — endogenous cannabinoids — that turn out to be very effective at regulating immune functions, nerve functions, bone functions,” says Dr. Ethan Russo, a Washington area physician who is also a senior advisor to GW Pharmaceuticals, a British drug company that is utilizing CBDs healing powers in a new epilepsy drug called Epidiolex.

More Variety, More Nutrients Fiber is a very important part of our diet because it contains nutrients that help with digestion but when we juice, more nutrient absorption happens because the gut doesn’t need to digest all that fiber.

Juicing makes getting the recommended vegetable serving possible and introduces nutrients directly to the bloodstream.

Minimize high fructose fruits like apples and strawberries.

Our bodies only need 15-25 grams of sugar daily. A good ratio to follow would be 80 per cent vegetables and 20 per cent fruit.

Of all the apple varieties, green apple has the lowest sugar content. As you become accustomed to the taste of green juice, lessen the fruit to the bare minimum.

People new to juicing can find it tough because drinking vegetable juice isn’t palatable. If you mix lemon to the strong flavor of dark greens the taste is less bitter, and lemon has low fructose content.

Juicing will have you consuming vegetables you didn’t think you would eat, cook, or enjoy. When you juice before every meal you can use four or five different vegetables per day that may include dark leafy greens or different cannabis varieties.

More variety means more nutrients.

You have lots of options in terms of recipes and your only limitation will be your garden or your grocery store availability.

Juicing can inspire us to choose new vegetables and create a new juice each time.

Carrot&Cannabis Juice Recipe This takes about 5 minutes or less depending on your juicer. The recipe makes 2-3 servings, is vegan and gluten free. Using a masticating juicer when juicing cannabis is best, they operate at lower temperatures and retain the most nutritional benefits of the plant.

WHAT YOU NEED: • 7-10 raw cannabis leaves, freshly picked (within 2-3 days) • 6 swiss chard leaves • 2 cups chopped organic carrots • 1-in. fresh ginger root • ½ green apple • 1 slice of lemon

DIRECTIONS 1. Soak the cannabis leave in cold water for a few minutes and then drain 2. Start by slicing the carrots until you have about 2 cups 3. Cut one slice of lemon and remove any seeds 4. Remove the skin from the ginger root and add it to the juicer 5. Add the ingredients and be sure to mix in spurts so the cannabis inside the juicer does not overheat 6. Pour over ice and enjoy

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Six Types of CBD:

t h g i R e Find th u o Y r o f Form

by Karen Lloyd

When it comes to CBD products, there are several different products available, each boasting low THC levels. Karen Lloyd explains the top six various CBD products, how they’re consumed, and how they work.

C

annabidiol (CBD) from hemp is all the rage these days and with more demand for this increasingly popular drug comes a plethora of ways to get your daily dose.

Less intense and lower in mind-altering TCH, CBD products are ideal for patients who want to control pain, inflammation, anxiety, epilepsy, and an ever-expanding list of other chronic conditions without getting high. Instead, CBD offers consumers feeling of pleasure, well-being, and happiness.

“I get mine online in flower usually but vape is very popular,” says Oregonian Cate Pricer. “If you don’t smoke, there are edibles, tinctures, capsules, and creams.”

Because of its success in treating many conditions, this natural medicine has become a multi-million dollar industry and, for many patients, an alternative to pharmaceutical painkillers or other medications that are not only addictive but come packed with harmful and nasty side effects.

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Last year, a preliminary report from the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that no public health problems have been associated with the use of pure CBD, nor has it shown potential for dependence or abuse.

Patients considering using CBD to treat medical conditions should consider trying a variety of different products to see what they like, do as much research as possible, and treat their bud tenders like knowledgeable pharmacists rather than drug dealers. At the end of the day, it’s just a matter of lifestyle and preference.

“I use it before and after yard work or housework because I have psoriatic arthritis,” says Pricer, who claims CBD helps to take the tension out of her shoulders and prevents stress headaches. Her mother vapes CBD oil for fast relief from sciatica pain.

“After about 20 minutes of vaping, she was reaching down to adjust the cuffs of her pants without any pain and then, without noticing, about five to 10 minutes later she was walking across the room without her cane,” Pricer says, recalling the first time her mom tried CBD.

“CBD products are ideal for patients who want to control pain, inflammation, anxiety, epilepsy, and an everexpanding list of other chronic conditions without getting high.”

With that in mind, here are the top six CBD products:

Tinctures: Tinctures are a potent liquid solution with

typically 100-1,000 mg of CBD per 15 ml bottle making only a few drops necessary. CBD tinctures are made by dissolving cannabidiol extracted from hemp into a carrier oil like MTC. Some brands even add flavors like cinnamon or bubblegum to their tinctures making them easier to swallow. In addition to dissolving drops under your tongue, they can also be added to food and drinks.

Concentrates: In it’s purest and most potent form, CBD concentrates tend to boast the strongest dosage of CBD compared to other products and can range in consistency from thick sticky oils to resinous bits. Concentrated cannabis oil extracts can be heated and inhaled with a vape pen for immediate treatment of acute symptoms or consumed orally via gummies, cookies, and fudge brownies for a slower onset but longer lasting effects.

Capsules: Since each capsule offers a set amount of CBD, usually 15-35 mg, patients have a far better chance of monitoring and maintaining their daily dose than with any other method.

Capsules are easy to swallow, just like vitamins, and flavorless so they can easily be added to any health regime.

Topicals: CBD topicals like lotions, salves, and lip balms come in a variety of pleasing fragrances and are clinically proven to

be beneficial for inflammation, anti-aging, and a wide range of other common conditions. Topicals are appealing since they can be applied directly to affected areas and readily absorbed through the skin for fast relief.

Sprays: With approximately 1-3 mg of CBD per spritz, sprays are typically the weakest in concentration among the different types of CBD products. However, since they’re easy to carry around, simple to use, and come in a variety of flavors, CBD sprays are ideal for individuals who are new to medical marijuana.

Flower: CBD flowers containing three per cent THC or less may cause feelings of euphoria but they won’t get you high. Smoking CBD is ideal for pain management and blood sugar stability, among many other conditions, and can be purchased at most medical marijuana dispensaries or online along with papers and other smoking accessories.

Anecdotally, these products have helped reduce pain and other ailments, but it will take science years if not decades to provide accurate baselines when it comes to using cannabis as a treatment. Keeping detailed notes on how these products affect you each time they are used will help you create your own personal baseline.

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3639 Midway Drive, San Diego, CA 92110 844.DRY.TRIM • 6 years in business greenbroz.com

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SOME REVOLUTIONS ARE BORN. OURS WAS ENGINEERED. GreenBroz Inc. was, is, and always will be all about their customers, says Cullen Raichart, founder and CEO. They manufacture machines that allow clients to process their harvest more efficiently and consistently while saving them time, money, and labor costs — all without sacrificing the artisanal quality their brand is known for. GreenBroz’s approach to design puts ‘gentle’ above all other considerations. After all, we’re talking about a medicine that people depend on to treat their ailments. MY Cannabis sat down with Raichart to learn more about GreenBroz’s unique and successful approach to business.

What did you do before starting GreenBroz?

Before starting GreenBroz, I served in the United States Navy where I learned countless skills, including engineering, that would prepare me for the business world and this specific endeavor. Once I got out of the Navy, I grew my engineering experience working with Hewlett-Packard. While the corporate life gave me a great look into a Fortune 500 company, I always had the entrepreneurial itch and eventually that itch inspired me to create GreenBroz.

How did you get into this industry?

Like many entrepreneurs in the space today, my path to the industry was not a straight line. I knew I wanted to run my own company, but not necessarily in which industry. I was familiar with the evolving cannabis space and began to look at the industry and what the bottlenecks were that existed inside of it. After visiting a handful of cultivation facilities, I realized that, while the industry was evolving faster and faster, the process of harvesting cannabis seemed stuck in the stone age. I looked at the trimming machines on the market at the time, and other harvesting tools, and I knew I could do better.

So, I went to the drawing board and designed my first machine, which is now called the Alchemist 420 Trichome Extractor. By now, I had multiple connections to cultivation facilities that were either friends or company representatives interested in these tools I said I could create. I packed up the prototype of my first machine and off I went. The funny thing was, while the machine worked fine and the cultivators were impressed, I saw a trimming machine at their location that was absolutely butchering their product. That’s when it clicked. I looked them in the eye and told them I would be back in a couple of weeks with a machine that would blow this one out of the water. That’s when I created the first version of the GreenBroz Dry Trimmer.

The minute I got back to the facility and we began to trim their flower in our dry trimmer they were so amazed at the results they wouldn’t let me take the machine out of their facility. It was that moment when I knew that GreenBroz had a chance to really make an impact in helping people achieve their version of the American Dream. We hit the ground running after that and never looked back.

When and where did GreenBroz Inc. begin?

GreenBroz Inc. was founded in 2012, in San Diego, California. San Diego is a big military town, with Marine, Coast Guard, and Navy stationed all over. As a veteran of the US Armed Forces, it was important to me to root the company somewhere I could create jobs, hire veterans whenever possible, and play our part in boosting the local economy. I don’t know if this company will always be located in San Diego, but wherever we are located you can be sure our machines will continue to be made in America and we will remain committed to hiring Veterans of our great nation’s armed forces.

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What were the start-up years like?

Lean. GreenBroz being my first start-up, I made sure to operate as lean as possible during the first few years and, while we are six years in and a multimillion dollar per year company, we still operate with a lean mentality. One thing we are very proud of is that we are constantly providing our staff with a chance to move up in the company. Because of that, in addition to bringing in outside hires as we expand, we are able to absorb growth internally with different staff members taking more responsibility and stepping into roles they might not have been originally hired for, but were either trained, educated, or simply trusted to do. This approach has created a very tight team atmosphere that fosters the most humbling family work environment I’ve ever been a part of.

How does GreenBroz’s philosophy translate to opportunities?

When our customers succeed, we succeed. It’s an internal motto that always reminds us of why we do what we do. By constantly striving to improve the entire harvesting process, we are creating an avenue for cultivators to streamline their operation, compete in an ever more competitive market, and achieve their version of the American Dream.

Additionally, this motto means that we are always listening to our clients’ feedback and paying attention to the next bottleneck that we identify in the process, often times working hand-in-hand with our clients to determine which bottleneck is most critical. For instance, we are currently designing custom end-to-end processing systems for some of our larger clients. When in place, these systems will allow our clients to process and pack thousands of pounds per day. Projects like this would not be possible without the flexibility, support, and enthusiasm for solutions displayed by our clientele.

What did you first produce?

The first machine I invented was the Alchemist Trichome Extractor. However, shortly after that I created the Dry Trimmer, and since there was nothing like it on the market, it took off and became our flagship product that has really propelled GreenBroz to the notoriety it has today.

What were some of your struggles as you started the business and how did you overcome them?

Ultimately, our largest hurdle mirrored that of the entire industry: changing perception. Just like the industry was and is trying to change the perception of cannabis from the ‘marijuana mania’ propaganda of decades past, we were dealing with cultivators who tried, saw, or heard about first generation trimming machines and refused to try another one.

Before we entered the harvest space, trim machines were mainly built around speed, often at a substantial loss of quality.

Our approach was completely different as we wondered how we could build a machine that could mimic the process of hand-trimming, but on a larger scale. That’s how we came up with our patented blade design, which acts like hundreds of little scissors gently removing the leaves from the flower.

Now we had to get these cultivators, many of whom had had poor experience with trimming machines in the past, to let us demo our machine in front of them. We found that, once we did a demo for a potential client, they would buy our machine on the spot because of how impressed they were. This evolution led us to create a team of sales managers across the country who give demonstrations and show clients first hand why our machine is so special.

How did you gain market share and recognition?

Hard work. Plain and simple. We built a machine that we knew was superior to other options on the market, and those we did a demo for agreed. We put our nose to the grindstone. We cold-called whoever we could, attended trade shows whenever possible, and constantly took steps that we knew would propel us to be the company we knew we could be. We can say we knew now in hindsight, but at the time it was a leap of faith.

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We also worked hard to educate our clients, current and prospective, on the dry-trimming process. There are many physiological benefits to the plant when you dry-harvest, so as we designed more machines around this idea word got out that we knew what we were doing. Word of mouth became one of our best friends and to this day many of our clients come from other cultivations who have recommended our machines, which is incredibly humbling because their promotion of our products holds much more weight than our own promotion.

Has GreenBroz moved or expanded since the beginning?

Like some of the best companies around, GreenBroz started in a garage, my garage. From there we moved into an 800-square foot warehouse in National City, California. However, we quickly grew out of that and got into a 7,000-square foot facility in El Cajon, California. Soon enough, the walls were closing in on us and we needed to expand yet again, so we grabbed another 7,000-square foot warehouse in the same complex, giving us 14,000 square feet currently, which seems like a lot, but we’re currently looking for an even larger facility as we continue to expand.

What is your current product line?

• 215 Cannagin Destemmer — Destem four to six pounds per hour • 215 Sorter — Adjustable size sorter that can do six size variations at a time. Ten to 15 pounds sorted per 10-minute run • 215 Dry Trimmer — Small- to medium-sized grows/two to four pounds per hour • 420 Dry Trimmer — Medium commercial-sized grows/ eight to 12 pounds per hour • 215 Alchemist Trichome Extractor — Dry-sift, solvent-free trichome extraction for small- to mid-sized grows • 420 Alchemist Trichome Extractor — Dry-sift, solvent-free trichome extraction for mid-commercial sized grows • Precision Batcher (Powered by Green Vault Systems) — Precisely weigh and batch up to 20 bags per minute

Where do you distribute?

We are proud to say that, thanks to the hard work of countless people in our company, we have international distribution in addition to the United States and Canada. We have retail partners in six European countries, 17 retail partners in Canada, more than 200 retails partners in the US, and one in South Africa. We also have nine full-time sales managers throughout the US and two in Canada. Simply put, anywhere there is a harvest, we can get our people and equipment there.

How many people now work for the company?

Forty-eight.

“WE DON’T JUST SELL YOU A MACHINE AND THEN SEND YOU OFF TO FIGURE IT OUT. We work hard to provide information and problem solve, and we offer customer service that far surpasses your average company-customer relationship.”

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“While the industry was evolving faster and faster,

THE PROCESS OF HARVESTING CANNABIS SEEMED STUCK IN THE STONE AGE.” What significant things have you learned so far about the industry?

Wow, what a question. Where to begin. One of the most significant things about this industry is the people are very hard working and many have had to endure a lot of hardships to get where they are today.

Because of that, you have to shoot straight with people. They can see through the bull and, because our machines speak for themselves, we’ve had a lot of success in earning the trust of our clients. That’s what good relationships are all about in this industry and I guess that’s one of the most valuable things this industry has taught our company.

It’s not about selling products, it’s about forming relationships with your clients and truly helping them in any way you can. This idea has turned our jobs into our passion and it gives us great satisfaction when we’re able to help our clients become successful.

What have you learned about starting and growing a company?

It’s about passion. When you’re working long hours without the guarantee of a paycheck, if you don’t have passion then you don’t have a business. That’s probably one of the more common answers you see when asking this sort of question. Getting a little more specific, it’s about the people you surround yourself with at your company. Resumes and job history are one thing, but finding people who fit in your company culture and who buy in 100 per cent to your vision is a completely different beast.

It’s like trying to use the stars to navigate a ship at sea. You know which star you want to follow to get where you want to go, but if everyone is looking at a different star and a different direction you’ll never get to your destination. That’s one thing I’m very happy about in terms of the evolution of this company, that our staff buys in to what we are doing, and they trust our leadership to navigate these tough waters.

Share your favorite story from a day on the job.

Wow, tough to pick just one. Recently we hired a new engineer named Hussain, who came to America around five years ago as a political refugee from Iraq. As a United States Military Veteran, the idea of the American Dream is important to me and in many ways GreenBroz is my version of the American Dream. But the idea of the American Dream isn’t something exclusive to only born and raised Americans. To be able to provide a stable, well-paying job to someone like Hussain, who is looking to live his own version of the American Dream, is something that isn’t lost on me and it holds a special place in my heart. Not to mention he is an awesome engineer and a great personality to have in the office, but hiring him was a special moment. Anytime I get to hire someone and provide a job and a means of living it just motivates me to keep working hard.

Feel free to include anything further you’d like to share.

I think we covered just about everything in this article. Great questions.

The only other thing I would like to mention is that we’re just honored and humbled to be part of the evolution of this new industry. Throughout the last six years, we’ve met some amazing people, listened to countless stories that have wowed us, and formed relationships we know will last a long time. Because of that, no matter what we do or where we go with GreenBroz, we know it will have been a success that we can be proud of.

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baking a

FOOL OF MYSELF

by Watermelon

CLARIFIED BUDDER & LOBSTER serves 4

INGREDIENTS • 1 gram dried, ground and sifted cannabis (shake flour) • 2/3 cup of butter in pieces

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Melt butter and shake in sauce pan on super low heat.

DO NOT STIR. 2. Wait for white milky foam to form on top.

• Chopped green onion

3. Pour through a fine sieve once or twice, removing the milky foam.

• Lobster for 4

4. You will be left with beautiful green clarified budder.

5. Garnish with fresh chopped green onion.

6. Dip with lobster (or crab if you can get it!)

Maximum Yield

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home cooking with

Cannabis

baking a

FOOL OF MYSELF

Home cooking with cannabis can be tricky...

by Watermelon

LON’S

GUIDE

ME WATER

KING & TO MA EDIBLES EATING 2.5 - 15MG

EWS

- JULIE ANDR

RL 15-25 MG CA

SAGAN

ATERMELON

25-50MG W

HONG

HEECH & C

50-75 MG C

75-125 MG CE

UR YOUR SO 1. KNOW E A SCAL 2. USE RE MO IS 3. LESS ES VARIABL 4. FOOD TIENT 5. BE PA

W

Dosing, the type of food you are preparing, and even your metabolism rate will all determine how long and intense your high is. To avoid an unwanted experience, follow Watermelon’s own “Guide to Making and Eating Edibles.”

ith the flood gates open on consumption, now more then ever folks need to know what a proper dose to ingest is and how to attain that in their home cooking.

When baking with marijuana, consistency is the number one problem, assuming you’ve acquired a clean, sustainable supply.

THC content is typically measured in milligrams (mg).

The higher the stated milligrams, the higher you’ll get.

Most people are not prepared for high doses when they first begin ingesting cannabis. Over time tolerance will increase, but it’s best to start with lower doses to avoid unwanted effects like anxiety or even nausea.

RULE 1: KNOW YOUR SOURCE.

BEGIN WITH 15 MG OR LESS

There’s fine grind and there’s finer. Don’t eyeball your way into a sleepover. Scale up a perfectly good time and make it an enjoyable experience; one you’ll want to have over and over.

Y BOB MARLE

UNIT. D PER MG YOU WILL NEE = 0.4 GRAM D CANNABIS *50 MG UNT OF DRIE IMATE AMO *25 MG = 0.2 GRAM *THE APPROX GRAM 1 GRAM = 0.12 MG = *125 *15 MG 0.6 GRAM *75 MG =

An estimation of how much 15 mg of dried cannabis is offered in my guide, “Watermelon’s Guide to Making & Eating Cannabis.”

In my observations, the average person plateaus somewhere around 50 mg. If ingesting consistently, that tolerance can double. After taking three or four days away from edibles, your tolerance level usually drops back down to 50 mg.

The burgeoning cannabis market has a lot of proprietary products with more coming each day. Every product is going to have a different effect on different people, so I can’t comment on marketed products.

My rules are for home bakers and cooks.

Adding pre-made marijuana extract to a brownie mixture does not make you a marijuana chef.

Converting fresh or dried cannabis into recipes at home does.

Here, I’ve set out time-honoured truths I’ve observed along the way about serving size and how to achieve that goal within a small delta every time.

When cooking with cannabis, here are a few tips to keep in mind: • Know your source • Less is more • Use a scale • Food variables • Be patient

See pg. 73 for Watermelon’s Budder & Lobster recipe.

I prefer clean, dried, outdoor cannabis sativa. It’s grown drenched in sunlight and refreshed in rain water, much like most of the farm fresh vegetables we eat. Nothing beats clean dirt and sunshine.

RULE 2: LESS IS MORE. Always err on the side of caution. The other side of caution, with edibles, can scare people off for life with a bad experience. I am focusing entirely on the average person. There can be quite a delta even within this category. Don’t be a hero, be a subtle genius.

RULE 3: USE A SCALE.

RULE 4: FOOD VARIABLES. Simple sugars process faster through the liver than complex carbohydrates. As a result, simple sugars have faster onset but shorter lasting effects. Put cannabis on a ribeye steak and you could be high for a day or two as it slowly makes its way through your system. Proper planning is essential.

RULE 5: BE PATIENT. Achieving the full effects of cannabis by ingestion takes more than an hour with many contributing factors along the way. Did you have dinner before you ingested cannabis, or dinner after? Do you have a fast or slow metabolism? Please wait. Then wait a little longer to be sure.

For whatever reason you have decided to cook with cannabis, it’s important to understand all the variables that will determine its effect on you.

It will be much better in the long run to start at Julie Andrews and slowly work your way up to a comfortable level, whatever that may be for you.

Take notes and pay attention to what works and what doesn’t. Over time, you’ll know exactly what you need to get you to that sweet spot.

WM Watermelon is a Vancouver-based entrepreneur who loves to tango, tell jokes, bake, get baked, suntan nude, and host dinner parties. She has graced the cover of most leading marijuana magazines including Maximum Yield. You can find her Baking a Fool of Myself videos on YouTube and her backstory at maximumyield.com.

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Maximum Yield