Maximum Yield Cannabis | USA Edition | Vol. 02 Issue 04 2019

THE EFFECTS OF LESSER-KNOWN CANNABINOIDS

CULTIVATING A HE ALTH Y LIFE FOR YOU AND YOUR PL ANTS

Veganic Marijuana:

SUPERIOR METHOD

SUPERIOR

WEED What’s Up with Weed and

WORKING OUT? Recycling Heat in Your

BLOOM ROOM

SUPERCHARGE

YOUR CUTTINGS! The Benefits of Light Movers on

PPFD AND PHOTO

20 MORE THAN

STRAINS

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Features

30

Veganic Weed: Superior Method, Superior Product?

by Jennifer Martin

Veganic weed is considered by some to be higher quality than its counterparts, but for growers it’s more about the method than the results.

34

The Lesser Known Cannabinoids and their Effects

by Chris Bond

While most people are familiar with THC and CBD, there might be as many as 120 different cannabinoids in the cannabis plant.

Chris Bond looks at some of the lesser known cannabinoids and what known properties they have.

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Maximum Yield

®

TM

FERTILIZERS

Contents

First Feed

Grow Cycle

12 From the Editor

42 The Effects of Light Movers on Grow Light PPFD and Photo Efficiency

14 Bare Roots 16 Branching Out 22 Canna Facts 24 Good to Grow 60 Canna Buzz 70 Stash Box

Chronicals 18 Ask a Grower 38 Cooking With Cannabis 40 Cut and Dried 52 Ask a Nurse 80 Baking a Fool of Myself

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50 10 Steps to Supercharged Cannabis Cuttings 54 Working Out with Weed: Five Ideal Strains for Exercise 58 The Right Strain for Back Pain 62 Recycling Heat in Your Bloom Room 66 Treating Alzheimer’s with High-THC Strains 72 Sweet Sleep: How Cannabis Can Get You There 76 Cyco Nutrients

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The healing attributes of cannabis are also expanding, and the plant is a positive substitute to traditional medicine such as opioids.”

from the EDITOR TG Toby Gorman

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W

ith cannabis quickly emerging as the world’s most lucrative cash crop, an interesting question has developed: Should cannabis be grown on land reserved to grow food?

In Saanich, British Columbia, the argument has come to a point after a plot of Agricultural Land Reserve was approved

by Health Canada to house 21 greenhouses designed to grow marijuana. Naturally, petitioners arrived with placards in hand arguing farmland is to grow food, not weed.

Opponents state that growing weed on prime farmland threatens food security, fearing farmers who grow lower-value crops may switch to cannabis or hemp.

They also point out that growing cannabis on prime farmland in environmentcontrolled greenhouses require concrete pads, effectively destroying the farmland for future generations.

Proponents for cannabis say marijuana is a plant, and therefore agricultural land is the perfect place to grow it.

They also argue farmland is commonly used for non-food crops such as hops and barley for beer, grapes for wine, tobacco, Halloween pumpkins, and flowers. Farmers also grow tomatoes and cucumbers in greenhouses with concrete pads. Should those be banned from designated farmland?

Here is something else to consider: A recent study states that one in five deaths around the globe in 2017 was attributed to poor nutrition, specifically a lack of whole grains and fruits and vegetables. In the US and Canada, food deserts are expanding — more than 750,000 people in New York City alone don’t have access to fresh food.

The healing attributes of cannabis are also expanding, and the plant is a positive substitute to traditional medicine such as opioids. However, if governments are serious about fulfilling their mandates of encouraging health through nutrition, then food should remain a priority when it comes to the utilization of prime farmland.

LOOKING ?

RIGHT WAY

AT YOUR PLANTS THE

ARE YOU

It’s important to know what’s happening below the surface.

RESULTS ABOVE START BELOW.

ACCELERATE YOUR ROOT ZONE

HYGROZYME.COM |

Toll-free: 1.800.565.3070

bare ROOTS Featured Contributors

JM Jennifer Martin is an indoor

cultivation consultant who specializes in custom nutrients, propagation, and vertical LED facility design. She is the winner of the 1998 Bay Area Cannabis Cup and currently advises and educates cultivators on the West Coast and in Hawaii. She can be reached at marijuanapropagation.com

CB Chris Bond’s research interests are

with sustainable agriculture, biological pest control, and alternative growing methods. He is a certified permaculture designer and certified nursery technician in Ohio and a certified nursery professional in New York, where he got his start in growing.

VOLUME 2 NUMBER 4 July/August 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

Contributors Sebastian Carosi Isaac Cedillo Lindsay Engle Karen Lloyd Nancy Hamilton Rich Hamilton Lee G. Lyzit Alan Ray Andrew Taylor Eloise Theisen Watermelon

VEGANICS

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

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: MJBizCon NEXT June 12-14, New Orleans, LA

Rhubarb Kush photos courtesy of

Broken Coast Cannabis brokencoast.ca

Photo by Gary Lund

Veganics is a growing method that uses zero animal-based by-products. As legalcannabis jurisdictions continue to expand, veganic growing methods are gaining traction with growers interested in a more potent product and more sustainable growing methods. Evidence suggests that veganic growing results in an enhanced flavor profile, largely due to higher terpene development levels.

Veganic nutrition can provide a more bio-availabile nutrient profile. The resulting higher plant growth-rate is the result of less energy spent on the metabolization of nutrients; more energy can be spent on the development of terpenes.

For veganic growing, the soil and fertilizer/nutrients used are generally plant- and rock-based, and the materials to be used are either OMRI Listed or OMRI listable.

For growers, the superiority of the finished cannabis product and its flavor profile are often secondary (a nice bonus!) to the ease and sustanability of the growing method.

Check out “Veganic Weed: Superior Method, Superior Product?”

by Jennifer Martin on page 30 for more information.

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iranian autoflower “I was amazed at the yield and potency.

Friends couldn’t believe it was an auto.”

“I harvested 30 pounds July 4th weekend and another 40 pounds in August. Average yield about 6 ounces each. Potency is right up there with my OG Kush.”

“Iranian Autoflower made the other autos I “used” to grow, look like toy plants.”

“A revolutionary plant for outdoor growers” “Our weather in Ireland is God Awful.

This is the first strain I was able to grow that didn’t get ruined by mold. All the other autos I tried were a failure.” “when they say plant ‘em and forget ‘em that’s what they mean. 100% females that finished on time and the potency is off the wall.”

RWJ GENTECH INC.

box 37085, Ottawa, Ontario, K1V 0W9 Canada Phone: 1 (613) 330-2404

www.drgreenthumb.com

branching OUT

Article Archives

@chef_sebastian_carosi I can’t thank everyone @maximumyield enough for the opportunity to help educate people about clean cannabis consumption through food... thank you so much for the love and support... every single person @maximumyield is a true pleasure to work with.

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.

@valaregb Love how cannabis has such history and pedigree, even as most of the world has had it assigned to the shadows.

@

Mike I. My first grow. Give it away for vets and cancer patients. I don’t smoke, just trying to help people.

Ganjasana We are honored to see cannabis highlighted as a conscious expanding plant in the recent Maximum Yield publication. As the ganja plant continues to become liberated, we must respect and honor her lineage.

@sandiegohydro Congrats to our San Diego store manager, Scott, for landing the lead article ”Everything You Need to Know About Growing High Quality Flower” in the new @maximumyield mag.

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Maximum Yield

Do you want to be featured?

Connect with us at:

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

by Chris Bond

Q

I’d like to know what the benefits of using humic and fulvic acid are when growing cannabis in soil indoors. Also, how and when to use them for the best benefits. Thank you.

— Mike. H.

a

Hi Mike, Humic and fulvic acids can help your cannabis plants reach their full potential. These amendments are known to help the plant’s natural processes along, but most folks are inclined to use them because of their ability to increase yields. When your cannabis plant is but a mere seed, it has within it the genetic information to be a full, healthy, productive plant if it is given everything it needs to do so. Humic and fulvic acids help your cannabis plants fulfill their botanical destinies. Think of them not as an engine, but as a fuel additive for a high-performance vehicle. Your cannabis can benefit from a dose of either or both at any stage in its development, but you will probably see a bigger impact if you apply it when the plant is still young and again at the onset of the flowering stage.

These helpers will assist other nutrients and minerals move through your cannabis plant’s cell membranes.

They also help to increase the O2 uptake of your plant by increasing the chlorophyll content of the leaves.

They aid in the overall metabolism of your cannabis, too, helping the plant to more efficiently use the nutrients found in your soil.

A little will go a long way, though, and too much is not better than too little. For soil-grown cannabis you will only need about 0.02 ounces per gallon of water. Too much humic or fulvic acids can actually slow down some of the plant’s development.

Best of luck!

Chris Bond

CB Chris Bond is a certified permaculture designer and certified nursery technician in Ohio and a certified nursery

professional in New York, where he got his start in growing. His research interests are with sustainable agriculture, biological pest control, and alternative growing methods.

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Maximum Yield

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canna FACTS Weed Was First Ever Online Purchase

According to historian John Markoff, the world’s first e-commerce transaction was the purchase of a bag of weed. In 1971, students at Stanford used Arpanet accounts to engage in the world’s first e-commerce transaction. In Markoff‘s 2005 book What the Dormouse Said: How the Sixties Counterculture Shaped the Personal Computer Industry, he reveals how the digital drug deal went down. Apparently, Stanford students using Arpanet accounts at Stanford University’s Artificial Intelligence Laboratory engaged in a commercial transaction with their counterparts at Massachussetts Institute of Technology. Before Amazon and before eBay, the seminal act of e-commerce was a drug deal. The students used the network to quietly arrange the sale of an undetermined amount of marijuana. Today, the number of new drugs available online is accelerating at such a rate that police and toxicologists can’t even identify what they are, because they have no reference samples available to compare them with. And all across the net, there are millions of drug deals taking place.

— theguardian.com

Axis: Bold as Love Rates as Top Stoner Album

According to Rolling Stone Magazine, Jimi Hendrix’s sophomore album, Axis: Bold as Love, is the best stoner album of all time.

Released way back in 1967, the album is sixties rock’s finest psychedelic odyssey, a bowl-sparking masterpiece with 13 songs boasting a virtual banquet of stoner delights including the trippy sound collage from a fake radio station that opens the album, woozy studio tomfoolery, epic dragonfly flights like “Spanish Castle Magic” and “If 6 Was 9,” freak-power Google Newsalerts (“white collar conservative flashing down the street pointing their plastic finger at me”) and, of course, guitar playing that pretty much perfected the idea of rock and roll as interstellar escape pod. Axis: Bold as Love beat out some stoner heavyweights including Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon (ranked third), Beck’s Mellow Gold (ranked tenth), and Radiohead’s Kid A (ranked sixth).

— rollingstone.com

Great Gig: $50 to Smoke and Rate Marijuana

For some it’s a dream job: get paid $50 an hour to smoke cannabis and rate it.

That’s just what Toronto’s Kyle Merkley does. He’s one of eight people on the “cannabis curation committee” at Ahlot, which sells “curated collections” containing different kinds of weed. Naturally, the job posting attracted lots of attention. In fact, more than 25,000 people applied for the job last fall, which Merkley compares to reviewing different wines.

It’s a part-time job and he still has a day job in music production, but he’s not complaining. “It’s quite fun,” says Merkley. “This is something I’ve already been doing.” Merkley said his personal ranking system includes the look, smell, taste, effect, and x-factor of a given strain. The x-factor is a rare quality that makes it stand out. “Helping people discover what’s out there is kind of a personal mission of mine,” he says.

— ctvnews.ca

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Maximum Yield

Cannabis and Sex After Age 50

For men suffering from sexual dysfunction and post-menopausal women, cannabis might be the way to a healthier, more charged love life. Turns out cannabis can be a useful tool to heighten sexual experience. While men and women have different reproductive systems, the endocannabinoid system provides common ground.

It plays a pivotal role in the regulation and maintenance of sexual functioning in both men and women, but cannabis can go beyond physical components of intimacy. It has been reported that the use of cannabis can increase tactile sensation and sexual satisfaction while slowing our perception of time. The combination of these factors can help couples relax and revive intimate awareness. These effects were shown to be dose-dependent, meaning that the amount of cannabis increased libido, tactile sensation, or sexual satisfaction was directly correlated with how much cannabis was consumed. Small doses of cannabis allowed for heightened sexual experiences, while larger doses decreased this effect.

— leafly.com

What Are the Top Producing Weed Countries?

Legal or not, citizens of some countries just love growing weed.

According to the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, its latest report (2017) might be a surprise to many when it comes to which countries grow the most weed. The World Drug Report states that Morocco is the perennial leader by a mile, cultivating roughly 47,000 hectares of cannabis. Second place Mexico grows an estimated 15,000 hectares, followed by Nigeria, Lebanon, and Paraguay. Overall, cannabis is grown in 135 countries. The report draws on data collected from 2010-2015 and the estimates are based on “direct indicators (cultivation or eradication of cannabis plants) or indirect indicators (seizures of cannabis plants, domestic cannabis production being indicated as the source of seizures, etc.). With rapid legalization of cannabis in many countries and US states, these rankings are bound to change in the future, but it will be a long time before any country unseeds Morocco as the top cannabis cultivator.

— civilized.life.com

THC Levels in Cannabis Keep Rising

The potency of cannabis just keeps getting stronger.

In 2016, researchers measured the levels of THC in more than 38,600 samples of street marijuana seized by the Drug Enforcement Agency over 20 years. They found THC levels rose from an average of about four per cent in 1995 to about 12 per cent in 2014. And the potency keeps rising. “Potency in the 1960s and 1970s tended to be in the seven to 10 per cent THC range. Today we see potency values over 30 per cent (THC), so you could say it is three to four times stronger,” says Josh Crossney, founder and CEO of the Cannabis Science Conference. “The advent of the use of hydroponics in the 1980s gave rise to noticeably higher potency.” The reason weed is so much stronger today is because of new strains and more knowledge when it comes to maximizing cannabis production.

— maximumyieldstaff

Maximum Yield

23

good TO GROW 1

2

3

4

1 | Extendo Grow

2 | HydroLogic

3 | Hydrofarm — Anden

4 | Geoflora VEG

Whether you’re starting seedlings, rooting cuttings, blooming flowers, or drying, humidity control is critical. Anden helps create an environment that drives transpiration at an optimal rate while helping prevent disease outbreaks. These powerful dehumidifiers feature on-board and remote monitoring, sensing, and diagnostics, making them among the most intelligent dehumidifiers in their class. Anden Dehumidifiers are also the fastest commercial dehumidifiers to reach peak power, removing up to three liters of water per kilowatt hour (varies by model) while maintaining maximum energy efficiency.

Expando V2

Following Extendo Grow’s success with their pioneering product, the Expando, the company has now teamed up with Black Orchid to bring out the Expando V2. The Expando V2 took lessons learned from the original to create a more solid, durable grow-tent space booster.

V2 has stronger aluminium poles and a new securing mechanism, ensuring it will not move once attached.

It’s able to handle high levels of negative pressure, helping growers get more space from their existing grow tents.

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Maximum Yield

Hydroid Water Filter

HydroLogic’s Hydroid water filter is rated at more than 5,000 gallons per day (blended) of pure water output capacity (pure reverse osmosis capacity is 3,200 GPD). It’s a plug-nplay compact commercial filter that’s still portable and powerful. It boasts a two-parts product-toone-part waste water ratio, which is among the best in the industry. The Hydroid has onboard prefiltration (100,000-gallon capacity) and runs off standard 110V electricity. It uses reverse osmosis and is best suited for light commercial applications.

Dehumidifiers

and BLOOM

Geoflora VEG and BLOOM is a fully organic, two-part dry nutrient. Geoflora VEG and BLOOM is dustless, ensuring all 20 of the highest quality organic inputs are delivered evenly and without creating harmful, irritating dust.

VEG’s (5-3-4) formula is designed for transplant, while also creating an established, well-supported microbial environment.

BLOOM (3-5-5) has reduced nitrogen levels to help flowers and fruits achieve their maximum potential.

Unique, organic phosphate and potassium sources kickstart flowering, leading to rich, developed floral structures.

5 | Hydrofarm —

iHort Q Plugs

iHort Q plugs are a lightweight, porous growing medium designed to germinate seedlings and rooting cuttings in a closely populated tray system. They are made with a proprietary bonded soil and engineered to be transplanted as plants grow. Q plugs, with their stabilized growing media, allow you to inspect, move, and even automate handling of delicate seedlings without disturbing roots or damaging your plants.

Inside the Q plug, its open, porous structure helps maintain an ideal air-to-water balance with superior drainage.

6 | ClearWater Tech

C1 Mobile Disinfection System

ClearWater Tech’s C1 mobile disinfection cart provides ozoneenriched water for surface disinfection of cannabis production facilities. Wash down floors, walls, and equipment, or rinse barrels and tanks with the push of a button and be assured you receive the ozone you need to get the job done.

Easy to maneuver, the cart replaces traditional hot water and chemicals with safe disinfection on contact. The C1 cart is best when ozone disinfection is needed in multiple locations within a facility, different buildings, larger facilities, or when you simply want the convenience of mobility.

5

6

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25

good TO GROW

7

8

10 9

7 | Essential Earth

Products Tough Love

Tough Love is a natural and impressive broad-spectrum insecticide composed of premium, minimum-risk botanical oils derived from specific strains of herbs that meet the highest values of biochemical content specific to their purpose.

The proprietary formulation of Tough Love yields a solution that is emulsified at a nanoparticle level and is highly effective at eliminating soft-bodied garden pests and their eggs, allowing the restoration of beneficial insect balance within agricultural and home garden systems.

26

Maximum Yield

8 | Canarm Scentinel-

IDB Odor Control Blower Kit

Canarm’s Scentinel-IDB odor control kit helps fight unwanted indoor odors by recirculating, redistributing, or exhausting air. It’s made of durable galvanized steel construction and these quiet, forwardcurved blowers, partnered with a carbon infused filter media kit, will neutralize odors. Additionally, the Scentinel will not surge, hunt, or stall, while boasting an optional variable pitch motor pulley which allows for field adjustment (typically +/-15 per cent) to match air delivery needs.

9 | Left Coast

10 | Reiziger

Wholesale — Tribus

Tribus is a microbial additive designed for growers looking to maximize yields.

Developed alongside Colorado State University faculty and tested on largescale growing operations in the hemp and agricultural spheres, Tribus helps improve yields and promote healthier plants using plant growthpromoting rhizobacteria that help mobilize macro and micronutrients while improving enzymatic activity in the rhizosphere to break down complex fats and carbohydrates. Adding Tribus into your fertilizer regimen (conventional or organic) will result in 14 per cent improved yields and 16 per cent improvement to stem width.

Root Booster

Norwegian sea kelp contains many rootsustaining properties and is a proven organic booster to maximize root function and generate maximum yields.

Reiziger Root Booster has been a staple of many professional gardeners and growers for more than 20 years to activate, revive, and stimulate indoor hydroponic plants, outdoor plants, seedlings, trees, flowers, bulbs, natives, and more. This nutrient-rich, organic root stimulator has the power to save, revive, or help newly-potted plants and transplants grow early white healthy roots, give more uniformity, and improve survivability.

Top Photos Lettuce by verdegreens Bottom Photos Microgreens by High Hill Hydro

. . wwwwsocascadeecom

Veganic Weed:

SUPERIOR METHOD,

SUPERIOR

PRODUCT?

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Maximum Yield

B Veganic weed is considered by some to be higher quality than its counterparts, but for growers it’s more about the method than the results.

by Jennifer Martin feature photo

by Gary Lund

Rhubarb Kush, courtesy of Broken Coast Cannabis

y now, most growers have heard the term “veganic cannabis” circulating throughout the cultivation and consumption communities. The commonly accepted meaning of the term refers to cannabis that does not contain any animal-based soil or nutrient ingredients. To define the term from another angle, the soil and fertilizer used are generally plant- and rock-based, and the materials to be used are either OMRI Listed or OMRI listable.

Calling a product organic carries legal accountability for the methods used while calling it veganic can be done without any consequences if used inaccurately. This is something to keep in mind as you become more conscious of the growing veganic trend.

Growers can debate the question of whether veganic weed is truly superior to its organic equivalent, but to a commercial grower, the attraction to veganic growing has more to do with its superiority as an organic indoor method than it does about any parallel or superior virtues.

Let me explain.

Cultivation experts tend to fall into two groups — the organic group (mostly greenhouse and outdoor) whose followers love living soil, worms, compost, microbes, and even adding insects to the garden to manage other insects. Then there’s the conventional group (mostly indoor) whose adherents aim for the cleanest possible cultivation conditions at all times. The conventional group strives toward organic quality and methodology, but managing pests and microbial problems is, and must be, the higher priority if we hope to survive more than a year or two in a single location.

Cleanliness is Godliness

Cleanliness is the biggest key to indoor mold and pest control, but many organic amendments and additives are anything but clean.

They are literally intended to encourage the kind of microbial activity and decay that indoor growers strive to control or eliminate.

But does this mean indoor growers can’t succeed at organic cultivation? Not at all, but the cleaner the better, which lands us on veganic methods.

Of course, veganic growing is still messy in comparison to stonewool watered with sterile mineral salts, but it’s much cleaner than traditional organic growing because dirtier substances such as bone meal, blood meal, guano, fish emulsion, feather meal, compost, and worm castings aren’t in the picture. You are more likely to see ingredients in a vegan recipe such as rock dust mixed with various grain or seed meals, augmented

by OMRI Listed mineral salts like magnesium sulfate.

You still need, as with organic methods, microbes in the soil to break down insoluble substances, but the overall reduction in use of easy-to-rot ingredients is substantial, without any associated downside.

The best veganic methods I’ve seen involve amending some of the slower reacting food sources into coco fiber before planting, then supplementing with faster acting liquid minerals as the crop is irrigated throughout its life. In concert with leaf tissue testing, adjustments can be made to keep the plants perfectly healthy throughout their lives and ensure they reach their genetic potential.

Maximum Yield

31

Take note that several mineral salt nutrients are OMRI Listed, including almost all of the sulfates: potassium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, iron sulfate, copper sulfate, zinc sulfate, etc. I don’t shy away from using any of these just because they are soluble salts. The fact is they are organic and vegan, and, if used properly alongside vegan soil amendments, produce top-shelf herb. Yes, soil amendments alone do supply some amount of each of the essential minerals, but there will be times when you need to add more, and using an organic soluble salt is a very effective way to do it.

Recipe for Success

“You are more likely to see ingredients in a vegan recipe such as rock dust mixed with various grain or seed meals, augmented by OMRI Listed mineral salts like magnesium sulfate.”

To pin down the ideal recipe and addition rates, you can either hire an expert to help with a custom recipe, or learn through trial and error, but most veganic recipes produce really frosty and tasty cannabis flowers if the soil isn’t too compact or overwatered, and if the pH of the root zone is kept tightly between 6.4-6.8 throughout the growth cycle (dropping it much lower will usually cause manganese toxicity which stunts flower formation). Start with coco fiber that naturally has the right pH. Many brands are either too acidic or too alkaline right out of the gate.

Since all soil, organic or veganic, gets more acidic over time, some kind of liming material will be applied when the pH of the runoff drops below 6.4. For this, I usually use calcium carbonate granules, top dressed on the soil surface at a rate of about a half-cup per gallon of media. One application will last three to four weeks before pH starts dropping again. Calcium is one of the few minerals that cannabis can handle in larger quantities, and the carbonate is the component that has the alkalizing effect you’ll need.

This is especially critical if you are using reverse osmosis water, which contains no natural pH buffers.

As for soil porosity, you don’t want the water to pool up on the surface of the soil at all. If it’s pooling up at normal pouring rates, add rice hulls or perlite until it drains well. Media will always get more compact over time, so err on the side of too much porosity if you aren’t sure how much is the perfect amount. I use about 25 per cent rice hulls if I’m mixing with typical coco fiber, which usually comes in a powdery fine texture. High porosity serves the purpose of both increasing the oxygen available to the roots and reducing the risk of overwatering, which is a very common newbie error.

Once you have the right pH and porosity for the starter media, you’ll want to either add a veganic pre-mix or take it upon yourself to mix in some rock phosphate (supplies calcium and phosphorus), neem or soybean meal (supplies some slow-release nitrogen), greensand (supplies iron and other micros), and maybe some other bells and whistles like seaweed (supplies growth hormones).

The supplemental liquid nutrients that must get added with each watering, on top of the amended soil as the plants grow, include fast-release organic nitrogen (usually amino acidbased from grain sources), potassium and magnesium sulfate, and sometimes extra micronutrients.

The critical additional step is to always use leaf tissue tests to monitor the status of the plant’s internal workings. A good lab will return results within a week, which allows growers to adjust the liquid feed in real-time so a crop won’t be damaged by deficiencies or toxicities. Take note that plants can look perfectly healthy but have an internal build-up occurring of any one of the essential minerals — a toxicity that is about to damage the crop, but just hasn’t quite hit the threshold. You’ll notice, for example, that getting plants about halfway into the flowering cycle in great condition is pretty easy but finishing them in perfect health is difficult. With the use of leaf tissue tests, you can avert problems before they manifest visually or cause any yield reductions.

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Maximum Yield

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LESSER KNOWN

cannabinoids and their effects

While most people are familiar with THC and CBD, there might be as many as 120 different cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. Chris Bond looks at some of the lesser known cannabinoids and what known properties they have. | by Chris Bond

W

hile the buzz about tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) get most of the media coverage, their cannabinoid siblings are working hard behind the scenes and under the radar. More than 100 distinct cannabinoids (some journals report as many as 120) have been identified and isolated from cannabis strains and are already being shown to have positive effects in the treatment of life-threatening cancers, protracted ailments like glaucoma and epilepsy, and quality of life afflictions like inflammation and nausea.

Cannabinoids are a collective term for the distinct classes of compounds found naturally in the body and in the cannabis family of plants. The cannabinoids found in the human body are endocannabinoids and the ones found in plants are phytocannabinoids.

The “magic” occurs when plantbased cannabinoids are introduced into the body and latched onto by the endocannabinoid system. While humans have known for many millennia 34

Maximum Yield

of the medicinal properties found by consuming cannabis, we are still only just at the beginning of identifying how this plant and human interaction really takes place and what its potential for healing and curing diseases really is.

CANNABINOIDS AND THE ENTOURAGE EFFECT The sum total of the many combinations of cannabinoids found in any species of cannabis and their respective effects, medicinal or otherwise, are part of the complexity known as the entourage effect. This effect is merely the term assigned to describe the synergy among all aspects of the cannabis plant, including all the cannabinoids. As we learn more about the numerous cannabinoids and their roles, we will be able to further decode just what happens during the entourage effect, but until then, we know that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, though we don’t know exactly why.

EFFECTS OF LESSER KNOWN CANNABINOIDS Highlights of the more commonly (besides THC and CBD) identified and studied cannabinoids and their observed effects (if known):

Cannabidivarin (CBDV) — CBDV is used

as a central nervous system depressant and has been found to show anticonvulsant activity and anti-epileptic properties with fewer side effects than other currently approved anti-epileptic drugs.

It is being tested for its ability to mitigate other afflictions, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and Rett Syndrome, a disease affecting development and motor functions in children.

Cannabigerol (CBG) — Found most often

in strains with low THC, CBG has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. It has also been shown to be effective as relief for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s Disease, and glaucoma.

Cannabigerovarin (CBGV) — CBGV

may have potential to be useful in the treatment of dry-skin syndrome.

Interestingly, it was trialed as an anti-acne treatment, but was found to actually increase the synthesis of basal

sebaceous lipids, resulting in more acne, not less. Like its close relative CBG, CBGV is also thought to be beneficial to relieve some gastrointestinal discomfort and inflammation.

Cannabicyclol (CBL) — Confusingly, CBL is sometimes referred to as cannabipinol (CBP) and is a cannabinoid that is typically found in old, long-ago harvested, or otherwise degraded cannabis, specifically derived from the cannabinoid CBC (see below). It has not yet been extensively studied. Some trials thus far have found no appreciable effect and others allude to its potential as an anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor treatment.

“Since 2006, CBC has been tested in conjunction with other cannabinoids as an anti-cancer and anti-tumor treatment.”

Cannabinol (CBN) — CBN has been shown to have potential immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties. In lab trials, it has been shown to increase appetite. This means that it could be a non-psychotropic alternative to prescribing THC to increase appetite in patients.

Cannabichromene (CBC) — CBC has been clini-

cally shown to reduce pain and inflammation in sufferers of arthritis. It has also been proven to selectively reduce inflammation-induced gastrointestinal pain. Since 2006, CBC has been tested in conjunction with other cannabinoids as an anti-cancer and anti-tumor treatment.

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Cannabicitran (CBT) — Thus far, CBT has been shown to relieve intraocular pressure in lab animals, meaning it could prove to be an effective tool in the fight against glaucoma. Like most other cannabinoids, this one still requires more investigation.

Cannabichromevarin (CBCV) — Much like CBGM is thought

to assume some of the same properties as CBG, CBCV is thought to have many of the same properties as CBC. It is another cannabinoid that has been known and isolated for many decades, and not much is known about it, but it is suspected to also possess anti-inflammatory properties.

Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) — CBDA has been shown to possess an anti-proliferative effect on cancer cells and cancer-cell migration, and has been specifically shown to be effective in the fight against aggressive breast cancers.

“As more states and countries legalize cannabis for medicinal purposes, the flood gates should open wide for research on cannabinoids and their therapeutic benefits.”

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Cannabivarin, also known as Cannabivarol (CBV) — While one of the more commonly found cannabinoids in sativa, its function is still largely unknown. It was first discovered in hashish.

Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) — THCA is the most commonly found cannabinoid in cannabis and potentially has the widest range of benefits. It has been well documented and often used to treat inflammation for arthritic and joint pain. It is prescribed for sufferers of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and multiple sclerosis. It stimulates appetite and is prescribed for anorexia. It is also being carefully researched for its potential as an anti-cancer treatment.

Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) — Like THCA, a number of beneficial and therapeutic properties have been found or ascribed to THCV. It is an anti-convulsant and is sometimes used as an appetite suppressant along with being prescribed as an anti-anxiety medication. It may also help with diseases that affect motor control such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Some preliminary research suggests THCV may help with osteoporosis and diabetes, but more research is needed.

Cannabielsoin (CBE) — One of the several cannabinoids

whose role is still not entirely understood, CBE is synthesized internally after CBD metabolizes. Its potential remains to be discovered.

Cannabigerol Monomethyl Ether (CBGM) — Though discov-

ered more than 50 years ago in Japan, there is still much not known about the effects of CBGM. It is thought to have many of the same properties as CBG and has been shown to have anti-bacterial properties.

This is by no means meant to be an exhaustive list.

Researchers will undoubtedly identify other cannabinoids over time and will also surely discover other uses for the ones that have thus far been identified. There is still far more to learn about the medicinal and therapeutic properties of cannabinoids than what is already known. As more states and countries legalize cannabis for medicinal purposes, the flood gates should open wide for research on cannabinoids and their therapeutic benefits. The US’s own National Institute of Health (NIH) is supporting research into the possibility of cannabinoids as potential treatments for diseases of the immune system like HIV/AIDS, substance abuse disorders such as opioids, and for the treatment of numerous mental health disorders. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has additionally posted on their website promising research supporting cannabinoids as potential treatments for many types of addiction and other (non-drug related) diseases and afflictions such as obesity, wasting disease, and autoimmune disorders. Modern science and research continue to confirm what our ancestors learned thousands of years ago: cannabinoids are one of nature’s most potent and useful medicines.

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A

t the end of every growing season, be it vegetable or cannabis, certain things make themselves very clear: garden chores are finished for the season, there is an abundance of crops, and it’s damn near another growing season already so we had better find ways to use up those garden-grown veggies. For me as an heirloom vegetable farmer, a kale grower (yeah, that’s a thing... right), and professional farm-to-fork chef, the combination of a soup and a stew — a stoup — is incredibly warming for the body and nourishing for the mind, body, and soul.

It’s almost custom-made, tailored for that quintessential lazy autumn day indoors or the hot summer day outside after garden chores with the family — basically any time kale is ready to harvest. Caldo verde, a centuriesold potato, kale, and Portuguese sausage soup, feels both decadent and extremely healthy. The rustic, bold flavors and chunky texture go well with a crusty loaf of artisan bread, and the fresh cannabis leaves add a slight peppery bite to the overall combination of earthy gardengrown flavors used in this one pot meal. The satisfying feelings we all get from eating foods that comfort us, as well as taking the time to make and share these foods, are traditions that should not be lost (see mom, I told you a kale grower was a real thing).

SC Chef Sebastian Carosi trained at Portland’s Western

Culinary Institute, apprenticed with renowned chefs in Italy, and went on to lead the Farm 2 Fork movement in New England and the mid-Atlantic states. Find him on Instagram at @chef_sebastian_carosi.

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EQUIPMENT NEEDED • Cutting board • Chef’s knife • Hand-held immersion blender • Medium stack pot

INGREDIENTS • 4 tbsp. neutral-flavored vegetable oil • 1½ sweet onions (medium-sized, peeled, diced) • 10 cloves garlic (crushed + rough chopped) • 6-8 medium white potatoes (medium-sized, diced) • 2 quarts organic blonde chicken stock • 2 quarts water • 1 gram water soluble CBD isolate powder (1,000 mg per gram) • 2 lbs. linguisa sausage (cut into ½-inch rounds) • 4 tbsp. sea salt flakes • 1 tbsp. fresh cracked black pepper • ½ tsp. red chili pepper flakes • 2 lbs. organic kale (rinsed + rough chopped) • ½ quart fresh cannabis fan leaves (rinsed + rough chopped) • 1 bottle THC tincture (indica or sativa, 1 dropper per soup = 10 mg THC)

CANNABIS CALDO VERDE Caught somewhere between a soup and a stew — a stoup — is cannabis caldo verde.

PREP TIME: 15-20 minutes COOK TIME: 1 hour SERVINGS: 6-8 TOTAL THC/CBD: 165mg CBD and 10mg THC per bowl of stew (Increase the dosage by adding more tincture)

INSTRUCTIONS 1. In saucepan, sweat onion and garlic in oil (approximately 4 minutes). Add potatoes.

Cook 4-6 minutes, stirring constantly.

2. Add water, stock, salt and pepper, and chili flakes. Bring to a boil.

Simmer 30-40 minutes.

3. Add a big handful of kale. Pureé lightly with handheld immersion blender until Kale is chopped. (Do not pureé too much!)

4. In a separate pan, cook sausage until it has released some of its fat (approximately 8 minutes), drain and set aside.

5. Add sausage to soup and simmer an additional 15 minutes.

6. Just before serving, stir remaining kale and cannabis leaves into the soup.

Simmer 5-8 minutes until greens are tender.

7. Add the CBD isolate, stir well.

8. Season to taste. Serve warm in a bowl with a soup spoon.

9. Drizzle with THC tincture.

Serve with a crusty chunk of bread.

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39

Pink Kush is an excellent strain for both insomniacs as well as individuals who deal with chronic stress.”

cut and DRIED

by Karen Lloyd

Use whatever analogy you like to describe Pink Kush — it will land you in a place where you can accomplish whatever you set out to do and feel great doing it.

I

f Pink Kush were music, it would fall somewhere between glam-rock and trip-hop. Think soothing Brian Ferry meets vibrant Lee Scratch Perry. It’s uplifting, yet seductive and mellow.

On the mellow end, this dynamic indica-dominant cannabis strain is known to rain euphoria in small doses and can effectively wash away any feelings of anxiety or upsetting thoughts. Pink Kush is an excellent strain for both insomniacs as well as individuals who deal with chronic stress. No money for rent? No problem. Good night!

On the uplifting side, Pink Kush will at first have you feeling invigorated and inspired. A few tokes will turn you into a machine. Before the big-time munchies kick in, followed by an uncontrollable desire to curl up and watch Netflix, Pink Kush will give you a huge boost of energy, or maybe it’s confidence.

Either way, you’ll find yourself with enough strength and stamina to accomplish anything you set your mind to.

With subtle sweet vanilla and luscious berry flavors, Pink Kush is arguably as much a pastry as it is a plant. If only. If Pink Kush were a dessert, it might be a bowl of strawberry ice cream. A little goes a long way to boost your mood and bring

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on the giggles. You suddenly see the world through Pink Kush-colored glasses. It’s sparkling and sublime.

Easy to grow (either indoors or out), Pink Kush is an ideal choice for novice growers. If you’re patient enough to wait up to 11 weeks until she flowers, this coveted OG Kush relative will reward you with bountiful yields of bright green buds boasting glorious pink hairs, shimmering trichomes, and a high level of THC (21 per cent). Both exhilarating and exquisite, if Pink Kush were a stairway, it would most certainly lead to heaven.

KL

Karen Lloyd is a website designer, writer, and SEO specialist in Toronto. Since 2011, Karen has helped numerous small businesses feature their products and services online. She’s excited to put her pen to paper for Maximum Yield and profile North America’s top dispensaries and strains as a path to wellness.

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THE EFFECTS OF

LIGHT MOVERS ON GROW LIGHT PPFD AND PHOTO EFFICIENCY

by Nancy Hamilton For hydroponic growers to get the most yield as well as energy efficiency from a crop, Nancy Hamilton recommends getting a grow light with excellent PPFD and photon efficiency and use it with a light mover for better canopy coverage.

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G

row light numbers, including lumens, LUX, watts, photosynthetic active radiation (PAR), photosynthetic photon flux (PPF), photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), and photon efficiency, are all useful terms for lighting, but they are not equally weighted when it comes to their importance to growers and their grow lights.

Photosynthetic photon flux density is the grow light term that gives us the most information and the PPFD chart tells the story of how these numbers are significantly affected by distance to the canopy, and by movement. With the PPFD chart, look at the readouts (both for the stationary grow light and the light mover grow light), and that’s at 15 inches (38 cm) and at 20 inches (50 cm). This was charted for a double-ended 1,000W grow light. The PPFD chart demonstrates that when a grow light moves along the canopy and on a light mover, an even and predictable PPFD output can be realized. And the grow lights can be positioned closer to the canopy for more maximized grow light interaction. Grow lights can be placed even closer still, so as the canopy gets taller, there is no stress or burn because those grow lights are moving. Conversely, stationary grow lights are limited and there is no sweet spot.

To understand this on another level, stationary grow lights are always at a reduced strength because of the limitations of stationary grow light rules. It’s a paradox of having a beautifully strong, quality grow light that is forced to be positioned up high so that it is safely diluted, so as not to cause harm. Then, as a strategy to get some degree of grow light strength back, a grower is forced to place their grow lights in a tighter formation, resulting in more grow lights in use. Beyond the logical conclusion that this is wrong for cost and for practicality, it is also wrong for efficiency of electrical usage. With light movers, the grow lights can be positioned much closer and they can cover about 30 per cent more area — and that’s per grow light.

That’s with each light mover consuming only about five to nine watts. In a time when electrical savings and energy efficiency are as important as yield numbers, moving grow lights is a way to have both variables significantly improved.

The PPFD chart tells the story of an even canopy, along with faster growth and yield increases due to the moving grow light.

A side story is the effect of the optimized moving grow light that moves off-side slightly and then back intensely overhead, again and again. This ongoing action reduces shadow patterns and is how more of the leaves interact with the grow light. It mimics how plants have evolved over millions of years to best receive light. Plant receptors will open more when the light is intense but intermittent. So, the light mover’s effect on PPFD readouts is perhaps the most important grow light variable to know. It’s a story of better coverage and the effect goes even beyond the chart numbers.

But, grow lights have their own input and there are many grow light numbers beyond PPFD to decipher.

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43

Breaking Down Grow Light Numbers

Lumens and LUX

The following breaks down some of the most common grow light numbers used, along with the ones to pay particular attention to.

60”

height

15”

720

878

858

878

720

20”

460

616

614

616

460

25”

228

447

484

447

338

30”

263

334

370

334

263

PPFD readings for a moving grow light.

Watts

60”

height

15”

90

590

2815

590

90

20”

122

602

1472

602

122

25”

148

512

942

512

148

30”

166

419

638

419

166

35”

170

339

456

339

170

40”

163

280

353

280

163

45”

151

230

275

239

151

PPFD readings for a stationary grow light.

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Maximum Yield

Lumens are actually an eye measurement, so these are numbers strictly from a human perspective. It revolves around a photopic bell curve where humans are sensitive more in the middle for green light and less sensitive on the ends for blue and red light. LUX is simply a measurement of lumens in feet as lumens/ft squared. Because lumens and LUX deal in human terms for light, they are somewhat weak in the far ends of the spectrum. Humans don’t need the far end colors to see well but plants absolutely use the reds/blues as the fuel for photosynthesis.

Because of this, we need those far spectrum numbers represented. Lumens and LUX don’t give us grow light numbers at the plant’s perspective and because of this, they are not really useful terms for grow light output.

Watts is a term used for an overview only and is not used for accuracy. In other words, our general acquired knowledge might be to know which wattage is ideal for what we grow and at what stage.

PAR, PPF, PPFD PAR is the wavelength of light in the range of 400-700 nanometers and this is the range for photosynthesis. For the acronym components, it is photosynthetic active radiation which is important in a conceptual way, but it is without true measurement because it lacks time and space. We can, however, dilute it with distance from the light source, or we can concentrate it by positioning the light source closer.

“With light movers, the grow lights can be positioned much closer and they can cover about 30 per cent more area — and that’s per grow light.”

That’s an example of Inverse Square Law which is also highlighted in the PPFD chart, with the PPFD numbers hugely diminished, and that’s geometrically diminished, with distance. Photosynthetic photon flux gives one more piece of information for PAR, which is time. We can see photon output per second. A quality grow light emits a continuous strong output, and PPF tells that story. The measurement is micromoles per second (μmol/s). The best grow light number to know, however, is PPFD because it incorporates space and time into the calculation. Basically, it is PPF plus micromoles per meter. It is the measurement of PPFD. Photosynthetic photon flux density readings must be done properly and include distance to grow light, horizontal coverage, and the number of readings taken over a period of time.

For the PPFD chart, the distance and the horizontal coverage are listed. For other needed information, the meter took a reading every 30 seconds, so 120 readings per hour and every 30 minutes, calculated for the average, and that was per area.

Light movement ensures more of the leaf surface interacts with the grow light.

This mimics how plants naturally receive light (Above). This reduces shadow patterns and hot spots associated with stationary lights (Right).

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Photon Efficiency: This is all about how efficient a grow light is in converting electricity into PAR. It’s important to know because we are not just thinking of electrical input but are now having the added information of realized output. For the math and knowing PPF (µmol/s) plus knowing wattage (Joules or J/s), the formula is µmol/J because the “s” for seconds cancels out on both sides of the equation. The higher this number, the more energy efficient a grow light is at converting electricity, which is input, into photons of PAR, which is output.

The two most important grow light numbers to know are PPFD and photon efficiency. A quality grow light will be outstanding for PPFD and should be noticeably better than most for photon efficiency. Then, placing that grow light on a light mover and getting it closer than would be recommended in a stationary setting is ideal for optimized results. This is how to best maximize PPFD with stronger/better coverage while creating better efficiency than with a stationary grow light. And, that’s by covering 30 per cent more area as a moving grow light.

“A quality grow light will be outstanding for PPFD and should be noticeably better than most for photon efficiency.”

Grow lights can be powerfully effective while being energy efficient, and light movers are the single best way to maximize this.

So, know a grow light’s PPFD, know the photon efficiency and, just as importantly, know the possibility of those grow light numbers when maximized on light movers.

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G R O W L I T E

L A M P

R E C Y C L I N G

P R O G R A M

Growlite by Barron Lighting Group understands the needs of your grow site as well as the need to keep harmful substances like mercury, phosphors and rare earth elements from contaminating the country’s landfills and waterways. With those needs in mind, we are pleased to introduce the Growlite Recycling Program.

The Growlite Recycling Program solves the challenge of lamp disposal in just four (4) easy steps.

1. Order new lamps from Growlite under our Growlite Recycling Program by contacting recycling@growlite.com and referencing part number GLL-RECYCLE. 2. Once the new lamps are received and installed, re-use the same packaging to re-pack the old lamps.

3. The new lamps will include a return shipping label; use this label to return the old lamps to Growlite.

4. After the old lamps are received at Growlite headquarters, a Recycle Certificate will be issued that can be displayed in your facility as well as presented to municipal inspectors as proof that your facility is properly disposing of spent lamps.

For more information on how Growlite can assist in your recycling efforts, call 800.533.3948 or email us at recycling@growlite.com.

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10 STEPS TO

Supercharged CANNABIS CUTTINGS

by Andrew Taylor Reproducing plants from cuttings provides control over the supply and quality of seedlings. It also enables growers to replicate their favorite strain.

Andrew Taylor takes us through his step-by-step process to create supercharged cannabis cuttings.

How to Produce Cuttings 1 Start with sterile water. This helps prevent diseases.

The water should be around 68°F (20°C).

2 Choose a professional two-part nutrient. Add part A and stir, then part B and stir.

3 Stimulate root production. Add a root accelerant to the nutrient solution then stir again. This encourages strong and vigorous roots.

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4 Check pH to ensure optimal nutrient availability. Use a calibrated digital pH meter to verify that the nutrient solution’s pH is between 5.5 and 7.0. If the pH is above 7.0, add diluted (not straight out of the bottle) pH Down, little by little until the pH falls within the correct range.

5 Prep pots then moisten. Line two- or three-inch net pots with net pot liners and fill with premium quality, pith-rich coco coir and place in a propagator tray (Fig 5.5). Alternatively, use large cell trays, coco propagation blocks, or stonewool cubes. Gently tap the pot or tray a few times to get rid of any large air gaps. Thoroughly moisten (flush) the propagation media with the nutrient solution. Discard any run-off.

Pro tip: To prevent diseases, ensure all hardware has been thoroughly pre-sterilized with bleach.

6 Take small cuttings. Select a healthy mother plant that is not flowering and has no visible diseases or pest infestations: Step 1: Select “lead” growth tips wherever possible. Ideal length is three to five inches with one leaf set (two leaves) at the base that can be removed later on (Fig. a1). When these lower leaves are removed, this region offers greater rooting potential when placed into soil.

a1

a3

a2

“TO PREVENT DISEASES, ensure all hardware has been thoroughly pre-sterilized with bleach.”

a4

1”

¼”

Fig. a: Selecting and trimming a cutting.

Step 2: Work quickly with a sterile, sharp blade (razor blades are good but be careful). Remove lower set of leaves flush with stem, but without cutting into it. Then cut through the stem on a 45-degree angle about a quarter-inch (6 mm) below this (Fig. a2). Do not tear or crush the stem.

Step 3: Insert one inch of base of cutting (Fig. a3) into a clone gel. Finally, insert stem about one inch deep into a pre-made hole (slightly undersized) in the center of the pot or block (Fig. a4). It should fit snugly. Be careful not to bruise or damage the stem.

Note: Steps 1 to 3 should be done quickly to minimize stresses on the cutting such as dehydration and air ingress.

Light Vent

Vent

Vent

Heat Mat

Fig. b: Seal moisture into a propagator with closed vents.

eturning cannabis health care to healthcare professionals.

7 Seal in moisture. Place propagator lid on tray and generally close any vents (Fig. b). Relative humidity should be maintained about 90 per cent (open vents slightly if required). To combat any persistent wilting, spray two to three times per day with water or a clone spray.

Avoid pools of liquid at the bottom of the propagator — propagation media should never be allowed to sit in water.

8 Place under low-intensity fluorescent light. Use 6,500K lamps and leave on for 24 hours a day. Monitor temperature inside the propagator using a thermometer with a remote probe. Aim for 75-80°F (24-27°C). Use a thermostatically controlled heat mat if temperatures are too cold (unlikely).

Raise lights if too hot (more likely).

9 Check cuttings regularly. Once roots form (typically after five to 10 days), the propagation media can become dry very quickly, often catching growers out. Remoisten using the same solution. In some cases, top-watering fails to water the entire propagation block. Full immersion of the block itself may be required.

10 Be patient and clean. Wait until roots have fully explored the propagation media before transplanting — keeping the cuttings moist (but not drenched) with regular top-ups of mild nutrient solution. Vents can be gradually opened once roots have formed. This will help prevent diseases.

Also, maintain hygiene by keeping hard surfaces wiped clean, and remove any dead plant matter as this is an ideal host for fungi.

Andrew Taylor is an analytical chemist with additional qualifications in plant function and nutrition. He has more than 25 years’ experience in agricultural product design, research and development, and commercial manufacturing. Mr. Taylor is the head of manufacturing and research and development for FloraMax, an Australian manufacturer of hydroponic nutrients.

We help patients use cannabis to treat chronic illness, and we teach healthcare professionals about using cannabis as a treatment modality.

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info@radiclehealthcare.com | 925.357.8316 Ste.119 – 2815 Mitchell Dr., Walnut Creek CA 94598

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Determining whether CBD product information is accurate can be challenging and healthcare consumers must be well educated to make informed decisions.”

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

ask a NURSE

by Eloise Theisen, AGPCNP-BC

Q

CBD seems to be everywhere now. Given the hype and popularity, are these products safe?

a C

annabidiol (CBD) does appear to be everywhere and is poised to become mainstream. Recently, large-box pharmacies in the United States like CVS and Walgreens announced they will carry CBD topicals in their stores. According to Google’s 2018 year-end trend report, CBD gummies were the third most popular foodrelated Google search of the year. CBD products are prevalent on the internet (for example, you can order CBD products from Amazon) and are readily available in tincture, topical, capsule, and inhalation form.

However, determining whether CBD product information is accurate can be challenging and healthcare consumers must be well educated to make informed decisions. A recent study determined that, among the top 10 cannabis websites, 90 per cent of the information was based on low-quality studies and only one of these websites had used a medical professional to write the articles making cannabis health claims.

Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug and despite the passing of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (which descheduled hemp), CBD remains in that same schedule. Of course, many of the CBD products readily available online are produced from the hemp plant. Hemp was effectively removed from the Controlled Substance Act (CSA) in December 2018. Currently, hemp-derived products in the US are regulated as dietary supplements and, therefore, can be purchased in health food stores, pet stores, gas stations, and online. In the US, dietary supplements are not required to be reviewed for product safety or efficacy. Consequently, hemp-based products that are now available are not subject to strict regulatory oversight.

In 2017, the Journal of American Medical Association released a study that demonstrated 70 per cent of CBD products were mislabeled. The study analyzed

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various CBD products, including vaporizer cartridges and tinctures. Of the 70 per cent of mislabeled CBD concentrations in these products, 42 per cent contained more CBD than advertised and 26 per cent contained less CBD than advertised.

Additionally, hemp is a bioaccumulator, meaning that it absorbs contaminants and pollutants from the soil and from the surrounding environment. These pollutants can include heavy metals, pesticides, and other toxins that are absorbed from the soil. When hemp oil is extracted or concentrated, these toxins can be found in the final product. Because the hemp industry is not subject to regulatory oversight, healthcare consumers should consider only those products that include a certificate of analysis (COA) from a third-party testing facility.

To ensure that a CBD product is safe, the COA must include testing for potency, pesticides, molds, residual solvents, heavy metals, and mycotoxins. Additionally, healthcare consumers must be sure that all vape cartridge products are free of additives and flavoring agents that contain substances such as propylene glycol, which have not been studied for inhalation safety.

CBD products can be helpful when treating a variety of conditions and disease. Healthcare consumers who are informed about safety considerations can be better equipped when deciding among the multitude of product options.

ET Eloise Theisen, AGPCNP-BC, is a dedicated and

patient-focused nurse. For more than 17 years, she has specialized in aging, cancer, chronic pain, dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia, and various autoimmune and neurological diseases.

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WORKING OUT

5 IDEAL STRAINS FOR EXERCISE

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by I sa

ac Ce di

llo

I

know the best cannabis strains for working out sounds like an oxymoron with couch-lock stereotypes still prevalent, but hear me out. The World Anti-Doping Association (WADA), whose code is used by the International Olympic Committee, recently removed cannabidiol (CBD) from its list of banned substances.

This means WADA believes CBD can provide value to world class athletes. This follows WADA’s 2013 decision that raised the threshold of THC allowed in an athlete’s body from 15 nanograms (ng) to 150 ng. A simple Google search will yield dozens of results of athletes at the top of their game swearing by their cannabis-infused routines. If it’s good enough for them, surely it’s good enough for your next 10k, right? Now that you’re thoroughly convinced, let’s get into the best strains for exercising.

Before you start your search for that perfect workout strain, it’s important to note cannabis must be worked into your fitness routine and not the other way around. Like any other supplement, research, planning, and experimentation are key. Other important factors are gender, dose, tolerance level, and mode of administration. Get to know each strain and how it will affect your mind and body in a controlled environment. That Kush strain might have been great for movie night but may induce paranoia in a crowded gym. Test runs are highly recommended — combine short workout sessions and microdosing until you work up to your normal routine. With that said, below are five strains that are proven to fend off fatigue and push you to the next level of fitness and focus.

ACDC

Coming in with one of the highest CBD to THC ratios (20:1) on the market is ACDC. This sativa-dominant strain is perfect for those seeking energy and pain management without the intoxicating effects of THC. Its fragrant, earthy aroma is a pleasure to take in, complementing its backend piney flavor profile. CBD-rich strains such as ACDC are an excellent choice for beginners and contain many of the cannabinoids that can aid in muscle recovery and post-workout fatigue. Whether used before or after workouts, ACDC will leave users feeling level-headed, revitalized, and motivated to go that extra mile.

XJ13

This strain is a personal favorite of mine. XJ13 will have you humming with energy while providing the concentrating effects that can make time travel a reality. Intense workouts become enjoyable as feelings of euphoria slowly creep in from head to toe.

Although sativa dominant, XJ13 provides an equal head/body high and is great for new users as its THC levels rarely top 18 per cent. You can thank its parent, Jack Herer, for XJ13’s sweet, limeade aroma and flavor. A great all-around strain, XJ13 will make you forget the pre-workout supplements and have you opting for a toke instead.

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Durban Poison

“Do what works for your mind and body.”

In a sea of cannabis hybrids, finding a pure sativa strain in today’s market is harder than it seems.

But look no further than the famous landrace strain Durban Poison.

This pure sativa is all gas and no brakes. Its invigorating high is one that few can match and can take some working up to. Often described as the espresso of cannabis, it is the perfect wake ‘n’ bake strain.

Notes of anise, spice, and vanilla are a pleasure to take in and can be just as satisfying as a cup of joe. Durban Poison will have your body buzzing with life, providing the laser focus necessary to push through that last rep.

WiFi OG

Also known as White Fire OG, this classic strain has gained many fans over the years due to its potency and high resin content, which many (including myself) say can resemble the snowcapped mountains of Mt. Everest. A hybrid that leans toward indica, WiFi OG is one of those strains that can adapt to your activity. Training for that 10k? Sore muscles keeping you up?

WiFi OG has you covered. In addition to its versatility, WiFi OG’s aroma is one that will have passerby’s looking around to make a new friend. If having a functional buzz is important to you, then WiFi OG should be in your daily arsenal.

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Sour Bubble

“Cannabis must be worked into your fitness routine and not the other way around.”

The last strain on this list is the strongest of the bunch, and oftentimes the strongest at your local dispensary. A truly medicinal strain, Sour Bubble is my top choice for relaxing after a strenuous workout.

Heralded for its pain management, Sour Bubble is a great choice to combat aches, spasms, stress, and insomnia.

TCH levels regularly exceed 25 per cent, which make it a strain for the experienced connoisseur. But those with lesser tolerances can microdose. Sweet, creamy, fruity notes will stimulate your taste buds and provide a high that will have you crawling to bed. So, relax, decompress, and exhale with some Sour Bubble.

There you have it, five strains that can help aid in your fitness goals. But don’t limit yourself to just this list. Truth be told, there is no perfect strain, and that’s what makes this new green landscape exciting. New strains are developed all the time, and old ones are improved upon daily. More than likely you’ll find several strains that work for you and opt to keep these in your rotation. Do what works for your mind and body. Whatever strain you choose, remember to inhale and keep the good vibes rolling.

OMRI listed

MAXIMUM YIELD FOR HYDROPONICS A biostimulant that maximizes growth rates and yield Compatible with both soil and soil less growing media Use with any fertilizer or nutrient system

Frank Iafrate • 610-656-7651 liventia.net/en/agriculture Distributed by www.Hydrofarm.com

Manufactured by Micro-TES, Inc

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THE RIGHT

STRAIN FOR BACK

PAIN

by Rich Hamilton

Back pain can be one of the most debilitating kinds of discomfort. It can wear you down and reduce your quality of life. More and more, people with back issues are looking away from opioids towards cannabis to manage their pain.

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B

ack pain is the leading cause of disability and work absence, and roughly one in four people experience at least one day of back pain in a three-month period.

The spine and surrounding muscles and tissue are an intricate, essential, and fundamental part of our physiological structure, bearing a person’s body weight and its everyday tasks, day after day. There is a large and varied array of reasons and causes that lead to back pain such as muscle spasms, disk problems, sciatica, arthritis, pregnancy, and trauma to name just a few.

Chronic back pain (pain that is ongoing and lasts more than three months) conditions are often the most debilitating and can really affect quality of life while requiring ongoing pain management. People can spend years trying to find the right mix of treatment in both the medical and holistic spheres. Medical pain relief can involve ingesting some very strong substances that can cause unwanted side effects or dependency.

Prescription painkillers are notoriously addictive, with opioids such as codeine, morphine, and oxycodone being the most powerful and most widely used. They are usually prescribed for people suffering with longterm pain because they block the nerve signals that transmit feelings of pain to your brain, bringing feelings of pleasure, which is why they are so addictive. Over time, your tolerance to these drugs can increase, requiring more of the painkiller to achieve the same effect.

Common side effects of opioids include nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, itching, sweating, depression, and a weakened immune system. It is no surprise, then, that many people are reluctant to take such medication long-term and instead look for alternative pain relief.

One of these alternatives is cannabis.

Cannabis helps to alleviate back pain through its cannabinoids. Cannabinoids have analgesic (pain-relieving) and anti-inflammatory properties and work by suppressing pain signals that are sent to the brain while also reducing inflammation. The effects cannabis has on pain are rather complicated but to put it simply, science believes cannabis acts on specific pain pathways in the body.

There is a wealth of evidence available on the use of cannabis as a solution for chronic pain conditions such as back pain, arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, and cancer. One example is a 2017 survey carried out in the US that found when used as a substitute for other pain relief medication, 97 per cent of those surveyed managed to reduce their use of opioids. Furthermore, 81 per cent of the participants agreed strongly that cannabis alone was more effective at treating their condition than their regular medication. Chronic pain accounts for most prescriptions of medical marijuana. So, let’s have a look at the best ways to use cannabis for pain relief.

Cannabis and Pain Relief

In terms of effective pain relief there are two options: inhaling or edibles. Topicals such as oils, lotions, and even transdermal patches don’t penetrate the skin into the bloodstream and have been found to be largely ineffective for intense pain like back pain.

Edibles will give you pain relief but take a long time to kick in as the cannabis has to be broken down and passed into the bloodstream via digestion, so they are not ideal for sudden intense attacks of pain. Once they have onset, however, edibles do have a longer lasting effect than inhalation and so can be used at regular time intervals like medicinal pain relief to provide a steady constant base of pain management for chronic unrelenting pain conditions.

Inhaling is the preferred choice of many and for good reason. Inhaling allows cannabis to be absorbed directly into the bloodstream giving quick relief, ideal for chronic pain that manifests suddenly. Smoking or vaping allows you to feel the benefits of pain relief when you need it and then wears off relatively quickly, allowing you to continue with your day/work/everyday tasks unaffected.

If the episodes of pain fluctuate in strength, then inhaling is also ideal as you can alter the amount of cannabis smoked accordingly. Smoking or vaping throughout the day is a convenient way to keep a baseline of pain management while giving you the motivation to keep positive and get things done as constant back pain can cause depression, fatigue, and a lack of motivation and enjoyment of life.

Find the Right Strain

So, what cannabis strains are best for treating and managing the symptoms of back pain? It really depends on what kind of pain you have. Is it constant and dull? Acute and unpredictable? Do you have any further side effects from the pain such as depression or insomnia? Here are a few of the most popular and widely available strains that are considered effective at managing back pain to give you an idea.

OG Kush — An indica-dominant psychoactive strain

with high levels of THC (23 per cent) and low levels of CBD (one per cent). It gives a euphoric high, relieving pain and muscle spasms.

Gorilla Glue — A well-balanced hybrid strain with high

levels of THC (25 per cent). It is a strong strain that will leave you couch-locked for a few hours and is a good choice for serious back injuries that produce a chronic pain condition.

It is also a good choice for those suffering with associated insomnia as its strength induces a deep peaceful sleep.

ACDC — A sativa-dominant hybrid that is high in CBD (16-24 per cent) and low in THC (0.4-1.2 per cent). The high CBD means it has hardly any psychoactive side effects but it is a brilliant pain killer for chronic pain conditions.

Any budtender worth their salt in your local dispensary will be able to guide you to a perfect strain, perhaps with a little trial and error. That really is the beauty of cannabis — it can be personalized if you are prepared to do your research and sample a selection of strains in order to find the perfect fit for you and hopefully the perfect solution to your pain predicaments.

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canna BUZZ Cannabis Black Market Still Strong in Canada

Data from the Canadian government shows the black market for cannabis remained strong in the fourth quarter of 2018, accounting for $878.7 million in sales, compared with $307 million in legal sales. The black-market purchases were eight per cent lower than in the third quarter, the first to follow full legalization of cannabis for adult recreational use on Oct. 17, 2018.

On a percentage basis, illegal sales accounted for 79 per cent of the overall market, down from 90 per cent in the third quarter, the data showed. The development of the legal market was hampered by shortages of product after many provinces underestimated demand. The legal products’ market share is even lower when calculated by product volume — that is, when considering the fraction of cannabis that was legal rather than the percentage of dollars spent on legal cannabis. That’s because illegal pot’s $6.51 per gram average price was $3.19 less than legal weed.

Canopy Growth Joins with Martha Stewart for CBD Products

Domestic diva Martha Stewart has signed on for a joint partnership with Canadian cannabis company Canopy Growth where she will help develop a line of CBD products. Canopy plans the launch to focus on improving people’s lives, as well as animals, and clinical trials are already underway. “I am delighted to establish this partnership with Canopy Growth and share with them the knowledge I have gained after years of experience in the subject of living,” Stewart says in a statement. “I’m especially looking forward to our first collaboration together, which will offer sensible products for people’s beloved pets.” Stewart, who was convicted in 2004 on charges of conspiracy, obstruction of an agency proceeding, and making false statements to federal investigators in relation to an insider trading case, baked brownies with weed aficionado Snoop Dogg in 2015 and co-hosted with the rapper on VH1’s Martha and Snoop Potluck Dinner Party.

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Study Links Smoking Potent Cannabis with Psychosis

The largest-ever study of pot’s impact on psychotic disorders shows smoking high-potency weed every day could increase the chances of developing psychosis by nearly five times. The research, published online by the journal Lancet, adds to previous studies that have found links between marijuana and mental health problems, but still does not definitively pinpoint marijuana as the cause. Psychotic disorders — in which people lose touch with reality — are typically triggered by factors including genetics and the environment.

“If you decide to use high-potency marijuana, you should bear in mind: psychosis is a potential risk,” says Dr. Marta Di Forti of King’s College London and the study’s lead author. She says it was unknown how frequently people could smoke lower-potency marijuana without raising their likelihood of psychosis, but that less-than-weekly use appeared to pose no risk. Di Forti estimates that in Amsterdam, about half of new psychosis cases were associated with smoking high-potency pot.

Florida Allows Smokable Medical Marijuana

Pointing to the “will of the voters,” Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed into law a measure repealing Florida’s ban on smokable medical marijuana. After taking over as governor in January, DeSantis gave the Legislature until March 15 to do away with the smoking ban. If they didn’t act, DeSantis threatened to drop the state’s appeal of a court decision that found the smoking prohibition violated a constitutional amendment broadly legalizing medical marijuana in Florida. Lawmakers met the deadline, with final House approval in March. The Republicancontrolled Legislature included the prohibition against smoking medical marijuana in a 2017 law aimed at carrying out the constitutional amendment. House Republican leaders and some conservative senators had balked at reversing the smoking ban, arguing they had concerns about negative health effects of smoking on sick patients. Florida legalized MMJ in 2016 after citizens voted 71.3 per cent for versus 28.7 per cent against.

Survey Shows 61 per cent of Americans Favor Cannabis Legalization

A new survey shows Americans support federal cannabis legalization with even stronger numbers than in previous polls. The General Social Survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago found 61 per cent of those surveyed support legalization of marijuana, up from 57 per cent in 2016 and way up from 31 per cent back in 2000. Those numbers are in line with a Gallup survey from last October that showed 66 per cent of Americans want legal weed. Wider support for federal legalization has been spurred by acceptance of medicinal cannabis as a treatment for many maladies. Smoke Wallin, president of L.A.-based Vertical Companies, says he expects the ban on cannabis to be dropped in the near term, and likely before the next presidential election in 2020. “It might be the only issue that we can all get behind,” he told MarketWatch in a recent interview.

Aurora Cannabis Seeks Canada’s Best Budmaster

With the recent passing of Canada’s first legal 4/20 day, Aurora Cannabis launched a nationwide search for the country’s top budmaster.

The competition seeks exceptional individuals who have assisted customers with recreational marijuana and it’s open to any budtender currently employed by a legal, licensed retailer in Canada. Potential applicants have until June 1 to register.

The competition will wrap up in October to coincide with the first anniversary of recreational legalization. Budtenders will be tested on cultivation skill and knowledge, customer service commitments, and contributions to the overall cannabis industry. “We wouldn’t be where we are today as an industry without the cannabis advocates who fought to break boundaries and challenge perceptions,” says Aurora CEO Terry Booth. The budmaster competition is the latest in a series of moves by media outlets and major licensed producers towards acknowledging people who advocated for recreational users and patients prior to legalization.

THE BUDMASTERS

US Workers Failing Drug Tests at Alarming Rate

With the increased legalization of marijuana in America, many businesses and politicians are reconsidering workplace drug testing.

Though drug testing likely won’t disappear forever, experts predict the scope of testing will decrease — and they say the type of testing should change. In April, a report by clinical laboratory Quest Diagnostics found the number of US workers and job applicants testing positive for drugs hit a 14-year high, with marijuana positivity leading the way. Around the same time, New York City approved a bill that would prohibit forcing job candidates to take marijuana screening tests, and Citigroup has publicly stated it may re-evaluate its policy to screen applicants for marijuana. Experts agree urine drug testing does little to prove intoxication at the workplace, and the link between pre-employment drug testing and better employee performance is weak. New York state is considering becoming the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana.

Acreage Holdings Agrees to Future Buyout from Canopy Growth

Canadian LP Canopy Growth recently signed an agreement to buy American company Acreage Holdings in a deal worth $3.4 billion if cannabis becomes federally legal. Bruce Linton, Canopy’s co-chief executive, says the deal secures the company’s entrance strategy into the US as soon as a federally-permissible pathway exists. The companies said they will also execute a licensing agreement granting Acreage access to Canopy Growth’s brands including Tweed and Tokyo Smoke, along with other intellectual property. Interestingly, in January Acreage president George Allen said: “I respect what my peers in Canada have built in terms of footprint and scale, but in terms of its relevance to the US market, especially once we’re federally legalized, they might as well be growing tomatoes.” Once federal legislation comes in, Acreage will become a Canadian company that doesn’t grow tomatoes. Acreage owns licenses to operate and management services agreements with license holders in 20 states.

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recycling heat in 62

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I With the high utility costs associated with growing cannabis indoors, it’s a good idea to look at ways to save cash while helping your buds bloom at the same time. Lee G. Lyzit explains how recycling heat can have a positive impact on a grower’s bottom line.

by Lee G. Lyzit

n just about every indoor cannabis garden there is an excessive amount of heat. The artificial lighting systems used for indoor horticulture are notorious for emitting plenty of heat. Depending on a grower’s location, he or she may have to use a mechanical device, such as an air conditioner and/or fan, to keep the temperature and humidity within the desired ranges. Even horticultural lighting systems that have a low heat signature and are more efficient at converting electricity to usable light emit enough heat to warrant the use of an air conditioner and/or fan. For some growers, depending on their geographical locations, a break from this excess heat is during the winter months. Due to the cold temperatures experienced during winter months, many indoor horticulturists can combat the heat within their indoor gardens more efficiently and effectively. Gardeners who live in areas where a cold winter may feel like they are chasing their own tails as they exhaust the heat from the garden when the lights are on, while paying to heat the garden when the lights are off. Even though heat is generally thought of as waste by indoor horticulturists, there are times when that heat could be recycled and utilized to maximize the overall efficiency of the garden.

Winter Flowering Room Dilemma

An indoor cannabis garden can create a heating and cooling dilemma for growers in cold-winter areas. There can be a large variance in temperatures from the lights-on period (where excess heat is created by the artificial light source) and the lights-off period (when cold outdoor temperatures drop the inside temperature of the garden space). Many growers prefer to draw fresh air from outdoors to cool their lights and/or atmosphere within the growing space. However, during the winter months, this can cause the garden’s temperature to get too cold, especially during the lights-off period. Most sophisticated cannabis growing facilities are equipped with automated heating and cooling systems. During the winter months, these systems can alternate back and forth from air conditioning to heating. Although growers in colder regions get a respite from excess heat during winter months, they end up paying just as much to heat the growing space during the lights-off period as they would to cool it during the other seasons of the year. To increase the overall return on investment, there are some savvy cannabis growers who are recycling the excess heat from their grow lights during the winter months. The most efficient way to recycle heat is to do so between two adjacent blooming rooms that operate on opposite 12-hour cycles. The heat created by the artificial lights from the room during the lights-on period can be redirected to heat the other bloom room during its lights-off period.

Heat Recycling Compatibility

Some indoor cannabis gardens are more suitable for heat recycling than others. The best type of garden for heat recycling is an indoor garden with a closed air-cooled reflector ventilation system. A closed air-cooled system takes fresh (cool) air from outside the garden space and draws it through the lighting fixture(s), which, in turn, cools the fixture and the ambient temperature of the room. The air passing through the reflectors becomes heated by the lamps.

Normally this heated air is then exhausted outside. Since the heated air from a closed air-cooled reflector ventilation system never contacts the ambient air of the growing space, it is free of excess humidity (sometimes created by plants), any pesticide or fertilizer odors, or airborne pathogens that could be found within the indoor garden. In fact, this heated air can not only be used to heat another indoor garden but also a home. After all, heating a living space can be expensive and using heat that would otherwise go to waste is a great way to reduce costs.

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Length of Ducting

One important consideration when setting up a heat recycling ventilation system is the overall length of the exhaust ducting. The longer a duct run, the more resistance, and, therefore, the more a fan’s power is reduced. This is why the most efficient and effective way to recycle heat from one grow space to another is to have the two grow spaces adjacent to each other. If a longer duct run is required, it may be necessary to increase the size of the fan so it has enough power to adequately move the heated air. In most cases, a larger fan may be the only piece of mechanical equipment required to convert a garden’s existing exhaust system into a heat recycling ventilation system.

Recycling Heat Between Two Flowering Rooms

Cannabis growers who live in colder climates can rely on heat recycling to make their indoor gardens as efficient as possible.

As previously mentioned, this idea involves two indoor cannabis blooming rooms operating on opposite 12-hour light cycles.

To ensure the heat transfer is in time with the light cycle, the exhaust fan should be programmed to correspond with the lighting system. When the lights are on in room No. 1, the heat that is being created by the lighting equipment is ventilated into room No. 2, where the lights are off. When the light cycle switches, the ventilation system switches as well so that the room in its lights-on cycle is always heating the room in its lights-off cycle. Otherwise, during the winter months, an indoor horticulturist living in a colder region would have to rely on a heating device to maintain an ideal temperature within the blooming room during its lights-off cycle. However, when using the heat recycling method, a heating device would only be used as a backup system, if necessary.

“The most efficient and effective way to recycle heat from one grow space to another is to have the two grow spaces adjacent to each other.”

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As mentioned previously, the most suitable setup for heat recycling is two adjacent blooming rooms equipped with closed air-cooled reflector ventilation systems. Each closed ventilation system will need its own fan that is ducted directly to the adjoining flowering room. A major consideration for heat recycling between flowering rooms is light leaks. A cannabis blooming room’s dark cycle should always be kept as dark as possible and never interrupted with light. To avoid light leaks in a heat recycling system, a black interior ducting should be used and the ducting should be bent into a U-shape to eliminate any light reflection within the ducting.

Additional Considerations

In the rare instance too much heat is exhausted into the lights-off garden space and the temperature exceeds the desired range, another cooling device, such as an air conditioner or additional exhaust fan, can be used as a fail-safe. Another valuable tool for any gardener looking to recycle heat from one indoor garden to another is a flip-box lighting controller box.

A flip-box lighting controller allows two lamps to be powered by a single ballast (on opposite 12-hour photoperiods, not simultaneously). The ballast connected to a flip-box light controller operates continuously. A 12-hour cycle timer triggers the relay within the flip-box and the ballast’s power is switched from one lamp to the other. Put another way, every 12 hours, the flip-box lighting controller’s relay switch engages and the light cycles of the two blooming rooms alternate. Aside from recycling heat from one grow room to another, flip-box light controllers allow a cannabis grower to have half as many ballasts as lamps. Essentially, these devices allow two light bulbs, on opposite 12-hour light cycles, to be operated by one ballast.

For example, a grower with a 10-light flip-box light

controller could operate a maximum of 20 lamps from 10 Cannabis growers are always looking for methods to ballasts. Another great thing about flip-box light controllers save money through heightened efficiency. For many is they are integrated with, or directly connected to, a timer growers, a dual flowering room complete with heat which ensures the two flowering rooms’ photoperiods will recycling and a flip-box lighting controller is the most never overlap and will remain on perfect 12-hour lights-on effective and efficient method for indoor cannabis and 12-hour lights-off cycles. cultivation during the winter months.

A cannabis grower living in a climate where it is necessary to heat the lights-off period in his or her bloom room stands to gain the most benefits from a heat recycling setup. Instead of alternating from cooling to heating equipment in one bloom room, a cannabis grower with two adjacent flowering rooms can divert the excess heat from bloom room No. 1 to maintain optimal temperatures in bloom room No. 2. Over the course of the growing season, a dual bloom room setup with heat recycling can reduce View of Every garden needs to be prepared the cost of heating and/or cooling internal rib equipment and, in turn, increase the for the unexpected infestation. grower’s overall return on investment. Growrooms equipped with an air-cooled reflector ventilation system The Mite Buster Pro are the most suitable for heat recyis a patented vacuum cling. Not only is it relatively easy to attachment, specifically modify this type of ventilation system designed to cover the entire into a heat recycling system, but a flower while completely closed air-cooled reflector system also vacuuming up the mite reduces the likelihood of cross-coninfestation including the webbing and eggs. tamination between the two flowerAVAILABLE AT ing rooms. Specialized equipment for dual blooming rooms, such as flip-box ALL NATURAL PLANT PEST REMOVAL TOOL lighting controllers, further increases mitebusterpro.com the efficiency of heat recycling dual blooming room setups.

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Treating

Alzheimer’s with High-THC Strains

by Lindsay Engle

For millions of people suffering with Alzheimer’s disease, daily life can be a struggle. But, as Lindsay Engle explains, cannabis with high THC levels can alleviate some of problems associated with the disease.

C

annabis has been helping many people with different health issues for centuries. Recently, prescriptions including cannabidiol (CBD) have been approved by the FDA that help epilepsy patients. There are many different strains of cannabis; some may benefit you and others may be counterproductive for what you're trying to achieve with your health. But, can marijuana help treat ailments from Alzheimer’s disease?

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that causes issues with memory, thinking, and behavior. The symptoms develop slowly and get more intense over time, eventually becoming severe enough to make daily tasks difficult.

This disease is currently an irreversible brain disorder that destroys brain cells and the neurons connecting brain cells to one another. It takes its time destroying memory and thinking, making simple tasks more difficult than ever before.

Typically, CBD is known for treating epilepsy and other neurological disorders, and Alzheimer’s is a neurological disorder.

But Alzheimer’s disease is the exception to the rule as the best treatment cannabis strains are high in THC and lower in CBD.

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Alzheimer’s Symptoms

One of the biggest signs of Alzheimer’s or dementia is memory loss that disrupts daily life. There are other warning signs and symptoms you can look for. Talk to your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following: • Memory loss impacting your daily life.

• Difficulties planning or solving problems.

• Familiar tasks become challenging to complete.

• Time and place confusion.

• Difficulty understanding visual images and spatial relationships.

• Misplacing things and being unable to retrace your steps.

• Difficulties with words, speaking, or writing.

• Loss of interest in work or social activities.

• Poor judgment.

• Mood or personality changes.

“Alzheimer’s disease is the exception to the rule as the best treatment cannabis strains are high in THC and lower in CBD.”

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“Treating symptoms is the key for dementia patients having an improved quality of life.”

Alzheimer’s Treatment

When you or a loved one has Alzheimer’s or dementia, the best treatment focuses on creating a better quality of life. Doctors will address the symptoms of Alzheimer’s that can be managed in order to help improve a patient’s quality of life, either with traditional or alternative treatments.

If you have an interest in alternative treatments, talking to your doctor is important. Alternative treatments for the disease are not widely supported in the medical community. For some patients, alternative treatments have been beneficial and other treatments have been debunked by further studies.

Some alternative treatments include: • Coenzyme Q10 • Omega-3 fatty acids • Coconut oil • Aromatherapy (Including rosemary, lavender, orange and lemon) • Acupuncture • Bright light therapy • Herbal medicine

Cannabis and Alzheimer’s

Cannabis is known to help manage some behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer’s, such as depression, aggression, and irritability. Like many other alternative remedies, more research is still needed. Treating symptoms is the key for dementia patients having an improved quality of life. If you are depressed, irritable, aggressive, or lethargic, then using cannabis could help you live the life you imagined you would.

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The following cannabis strains can offer some help:

Godfather OG

Possibly the highest THC content of any cannabis strain, Godfather OG is an indica-dominant hybrid with more than 34 per cent THC. In 2013, Godfather OG won first place for best indica at the High Times Cannabis Cup in Los Angeles.

This strain has been called “The Don of All OG’s” and is recommended for insomnia and, since it has sedative indica properties, this makes sense. For those with dementia, falling asleep can be challenging — with the Godfather you can expect a great sleep. When you experience agitation and irritability at night, controlling the symptoms can be possible with a strong THC strain like this one. If you’re a lightweight, use this strain with caution. One reviewer noted, “be warned, it kicks like a mule and I love it.”

Blissful Wizard

This strain is a 50/50 hybrid that looks like it was rolled in sugar and bred for potency. Blissful Wizard won first place at the SoCal Cannabis Cup in the Non-Solvent Hash category in 2015. The flavor is described as a smooth lemon-lime ice cream and THC levels reaching an astounding 34 per cent. With such a strong THC content, you can almost guarantee a high that will obliterate depression or lethargy. The THC content even reduces stress and inflammation, but it may be too strong for new cannabis patients. However, there is potential to slow down Alzheimer’s progression.

Strawberry Lemonade

While in Las Vegas, I stumbled upon the sativa-dominant hybrid called Strawberry Lemonade. The taste is sweet and lemony — perfect for a wake and bake. For those suffering with dementia, this strain could help you combat depression, stress, and the loss of interest in your life passions. The high is energizing and euphoric; it will relax your body and uplift your spirit.

Strawberry Lemonade even has a beautifully sweet citrus aroma, which could be great for a morning aromatherapy session. The THC was about 22 per cent. Strawberry Lemonade is a popular choice on the west coast.

“Many studies detail the medical benefits of cannabis protecting the brain.”

Treating Dementia or Alzheimer’s with Cannabis

An excellent natural supplement for a dementia sufferer is cannabis. Many studies detail the medical benefits of cannabis protecting the brain. Early warning signs depend on the person; some people will suffer from memory problems and others from a decline in vision or vocabulary.

Studies done on depression prove the potential of medical cannabis. Then there are compounds like THC and CBD that latch themselves to the endocannabinoid system. The receptors CB1 and CB2 are in the endocannabinoid system and they can be found in your gastrointestinal tract all the way to your nervous system.

Alzheimer’s disease is possibly the result of a beta-amyloid buildup in your brain and some studies conducted on THC show that it can slow down the production of amyloid.

Further studies are needed in the use of medical cannabis treating dementia, however, we should all be optimistic since it has the potential to slow down the growth rate of beta-amyloid plaques.

Alzheimer’s is a deadly disease. If you have a family member or loved one suffering, please don’t pity them or get frustrated with them. They need attention and they need understanding.

Talk with a doctor about symptoms as soon as possible and if cannabis seems like a good fit, consider the strain they recommend for treatment.

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stash BOX

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4 3

1 | Aromask Odor

Control Products

Aromask has been refreshing the environment since 1985. Initially, the product formulation was designed for indoor gardening and the hydroponic industry as effective solutions to eliminate unwanted odors.

Over the years, Aromask expanded into other market sectors including; automotive, waste management, and general household use. Recently, due to the changes in cannabis laws, Aromask has developed unique retail packs which are readily available in cannabis dispensaries throughout Canada.

Aromask is very effective in eliminating cannabis odors from clothing and your smoking space.

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2 | Lagunitas Hi-fi Hops

This IPA-inspired sparkling beverage is made using everything Lagunitas knows about hops — but with zero alcohol, zero calories, and no carbs.

Lagunitas Hi-Fi Hops is infused with THC from the finest, sun-grown cannabis at AbsoluteXtracts. It comes in two varieties: one is a CBD/THC blend (5 mg each per 12 ounces), while the other is all THC at 10 mg per 12 ounces.

The drink has been described as bubbly, aromatic, bitter, fruity, and herbaceous with no gluten.

3 | Hydrofarm —

Private Reserve Airtight Strongbox

Private Reserve’s Airtight Strongboxes were designed to keep your plant-based products sealed and safe. Airtight, watertight, lightproof, and uncrushable, these Strongboxes are made of food-safe stainless steel to protect the shape and structure of delicate dried plants, with food-safe silicone seals to prevent leaks and contain odors.

All-metal latches on all sides keep your product secure and allow you to remove the entire lid for easy and thorough cleaning, inside and out.

All sizes have a top handle for easier carrying.

4 | HighOnLove

Stimulating O Gel

Incredibly smooth and luxurious, HighOnLove O Gel is a fusion of allnatural ingredients with premium-grade hemp seed oil made to give a new meaning to love.

This harmonious and water-based blend will exhilarate each gliding movement making it more pleasurable by the touch and ultimately giving you that climactic experience you’ve been waiting for.

It’s 100 per cent natural and made in small batches to guarantee the highest quality.

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Sweet leep: S How Cannabis Can Get You There

For an increasing amount of people, sleep is difficult to come by in the modern era.

Technology, busy schedules, lack of exercise, too much caffeine, and anxiety can all lead to a racing mind and fidgety body that robs you of your rest. Thankfully, there are some cannabis strains that send you straight to dreamland without having to count sheep.

by Alan Ray

W

hichever way you say it — crashing, dozing off, grabbing some shut-eye, hitting the sack, or catching 40 winks, you’re talking sleep.

Edgar Allen Poe had his own definition: “Sleep, those little slices of death — how I loathe them.” These days, many people would kill for a good night’s sleep.

According to statistics, roughly 60 million Americans are affected by some form of sleep disorder. Another study revealed around 40 per cent of Canadians have some difficulty falling asleep each night. And while some lucky sleepers can conk out within mere minutes of their head hitting the pillow, many insomniacs couldn’t pick the Sandman out of a lineup.

It’s not like they don’t want to fall asleep, they just can’t. And for them, a sleep aid of some type is often the only option.

The Downside of Staying Up

A continuous lack of sleep can become a very serious matter leading to a surfeit of unhealthy conditions that include the physical as well as mental. There is a reason sleep deprivation is often used in interrogative operations.

The following is a short list of issues that can arise when you don’t get enough shut-eye for an extended period.

Insufficient amounts of sleep can bring about: • Depression • Anxiety • Disease and other maladies • Confusion • Weakness • Poor balance and sluggish reaction times There are many more unwanted residuals associated with not getting enough sleep, some with consequences that can be even more serious.

The US Department of Transportation estimates at least 100,000 traffic accidents and more than 1,500 deaths occur each year in the US from drowsy drivers falling asleep at the wheel.

The list of benefits of a good night’s rest rivals its flipside.

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“Many insomniacs are discovering smoking a little indica an hour before bedtime to be an excellent alternative to pharmaceuticals.”

A sound sleep promotes better health by: • Boosting the immune system • Improving mood and attitude • Reducing stress levels • Helping quell anxiety while lessening depression • Improving memory and recall • Sharpens reaction times and our ability to think clearly It’s clear that a good night’s sleep is important for good health.

Marijuana and Natural Sleep

In an effort to avoid over-the-counter and prescription pharmaceuticals, sleepy souls are seeking a more natural solution. Products such as herbal teas and bath salts are good, but sometimes it takes a little more firepower to put you down for the night.

Enter marijuana.

Containing more than 400 compounds, including more than 120 cannabinoids, Cannabis sativa is proving to contain a reservoir of medical benefits with potentially many more yet to be discovered. Two cannabinoids in particular have garnered the most attention from the medical world for study: Delta-9-tetrahydrocannibinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

The exact reasons cannabis helps us to fall asleep aren’t clearly known and much of what we do know is anecdotal.

More study needs to be undertaken, but some research suggests it may be the THC and terpenes working in concert that help us to relax. Terpenes are aromatic compounds that give marijuana its fragrance and taste. We know the terpenes in chamomile and lavender are sleep-inducing and they may play the same role in marijuana.

Many insomniacs are discovering smoking a little indica an hour before bedtime to be an excellent alternative to pharmaceuticals. It may take a bit of experimenting before you hit on the one that provides you the good night’s sleep you seek.

With so many strains on the market, where does one start in choosing the best sleep-promoting smoke? You can begin by knowing the difference between the two major types of cannabis: sativa and indica.

Sativa vs Indica

As a general rule, sativas are a good daytime smoke. They produce a more cerebral experience that tends to be uplifting and energetic, often creating a feeling of pleasure and well-being. Sativas allow the user to enjoy some euphoria while blissfully going about their daily routine and tasks.

Therefore, a sativa probably shouldn’t be your first choice when seeking a botanical sleep aid. Some sativa strains are very potent and may help with relaxation before bed but, overall, are not really recommended. The very opposite effect you’re looking for may occur, bringing you back to square one.

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“What you’re looking for is Goldilocks Ganja.

Something not too heavy, not too light, but just right.”

An indica strain, on the other hand, is more a child of the night. Indicas are much more sedative and best enjoyed when the day is winding down. Indicas generate a higher high along with a deeper stone, often referred to as a bodystone. The self-descriptive couch-lock is another term used to describe an indica high when indulged in too deeply.

For a better night’s sleep, experts recommend a smoke containing less than 20 per cent THC. A higher percentage, they state, could lead to a sluggish morning-after hangover.

Experiment. And remember, all things in moderation. For best results, try smoking a little bit an hour before bedtime.

You can always take another pull if needed.

The Sleepy Six

What you’re looking for is Goldilocks Ganja. Something not too heavy, not too light, but just right. If you have access to a dispensary, this list will give you a good starting point.

Admittedly, some of these brands are common names within the cannabis culture, but not everyone knows them and they do have a track record of sedating their host.

• NORTHERN LIGHTS — Winner of the coveted

Cannabis Cup and other prestigious awards, this indica-dominant hybrid has been closing people’s eyes since it took the cannabis world by storm in the 1980s. A legendary smoke with a relaxing and persuasive stone.

• SUPER SKUNK — An indica-dominant plant with an average THC content hovering just below 20 per cent that delivers a knock-out stone. Consumers report this superior indica has also shown to be efficacious at reducing pain and anxiety.

• HASH PLANT — This heavy hitting indica makes

the perfect nightcap. A strong sedative smoke with an earthy taste reminiscent of Nepalese Temple hash.

Containing an ideal THC content peaking at 13 per cent, this powerhouse will have you checking your eyelids for holes in very short order.

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• AFGHAN KUSH — Offers the

user a host of sleep enhancing and relaxing properties with the ability to calm a busy mind and provide a head-nodding high. This powerful strain contains all the elements necessary to facilitate a good night’s sleep.

• AURORA INDICA — This 90 per cent indica-governing

night stalker is just what the doctor ordered when it comes to relieving tension and laying you back. A superior smoke that will get you stoned to the bone while bringing about a euphoric state of the highest quality.

• GRANDDADDY PURPLE — Resistance is futile with

this west coast classic. One of the most popular and potent of all the purple strains and the love child of Big Bud and Purple Urkle, GDP is an indica-dominant beauty possessing all the gifts of a superstar. Fascinating fragrance, remarkable taste, physical beauty, and a stunning stone.

Fluff your pillow before getting too involved with this girl.

Again, all things in moderation. There’s no need to smoke yourself into a coma at bedtime. There is a difference between falling asleep and passing out or waking up versus coming to. For newbies, smoking etiquette dictates you hit it lightly and be patient in awaiting the effect (10 to 15 minutes) before taking another draw if needed. Ultimately, the goal is to find a strain that gives you the euphoria you enjoy while helping you get the sleep you need. Sweet dreams.

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CREATING

THE SCIENCE to mimic mother nature

7 O’Çonnor Ct., Gepps Cross, South Australia 5094 +011-61-1-8359-8732 • 10 years in business

Cyco manufactures and distributes the Cyco Platinum Series brand — a cuttingedge range of hydroponic plant nutrients, additives, and mediums. The company utilises the latest technologies and sources only the best ingredients for its pharmaceutical-grade plant products, which are available in 40 countries. Cyco owner and director Shaun Jones answers our questions.

WHAT DID YOU AND YOUR PARTNERS DO BEFORE STARTING CYCO PLATINUM?

Prior to starting Cyco, I owned and operated a chain of hydroponic stores in Australia. At the time they were industry leading stores; it was in these stores that I saw an opening for an analytical, pharmaceutical-grade, and food grade product in the market.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO THIS INDUSTRY?

I recall it vividly. I was 21 years old and freshly married, driving to my day job, and when I put gas in, I noticed I had $7 in my bank account. That day I drove past the local hydroponic store and saw people gathering to get in (back in the 1990s, Australia had huge growth with hydroponic stores and demand). I drove straight to the bank and borrowed $20,000 with which I opened my first hydroponic store. It was a huge success for me — 18-hour days, seven days a week for 10 years and we had a thriving hydroponic chain.

WHEN AND WHERE DID CYCO BEGIN? Cyco Nutrients started in 2008.

WHAT WERE THE START-UP YEARS LIKE?

They were very difficult times. Being based in Australia, it meant wherever in the world I travelled promoting Cyco, I knew it was going to be a long, time consuming, and expensive journey. For a young man with an equally young family, I was often away from home for weeks and months at a time living out of hotel rooms and suitcases. The travel sounds glamorous at first but after hundreds of flights you really do get very tired of it all, but it is something you have to do. I still fly out to quite a few expo/trade shows per year and don’t look forward to the long flights, but its great reconnecting with friends I have met along the journey.

HOW DOES YOUR COMPANY PHILOSOPHY TRANSLATE TO OPPORTUNITIES?

• Connection with our customers: We will truly understand their needs better than any other company as we are all industry descending and have experienced retail, wholesale, and cultivation first hand.

• Focus on the job at hand: In order to do a good job and fulfil our clients’ needs we must eliminate all of the unimportant situations that arise in day-to-day business and focus on our job at hand in the current moment — which is to provide the best product and service possible.

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@cyco_nutrients

MrCycoflower

• Represent: I have learned in business that people do judge a book by its cover. We may have the best product possible, the highest-quality product possible, etc., but if we present them in a careless manner, they will be perceived as slapdash products. If we present them in a creative, professional manner, our clients will see and understand the quality, effort, and passion we apply to our business.

WHAT DID CYCO FIRST PRODUCE?

We first produced the core range of Cyco products for the Australian market and, as the line expanded into global markets, more products were developed to suit each country and the different growing methods they utilise.

WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR STRUGGLES AS YOU STARTED THE BUSINESS? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THEM?

Cyco Nutrients started as a small family business and as it grew, there was a magnitude of struggles; entering international trade and being recognised by international distribution was the hard part. Registering products in each country and each state, then having to explore those markets to see if it was possible to grow sales in each country and what marketing and support would be needed to do so. I feel we have succeeded in brand building and recognition, and now it’s a steady climb consisting of great business manners, relationships and loyalty amongst our distribution channels, retailers, and end users.

HOW DID CYCO GAIN MARKET SHARE AND RECOGNITION?

Cyco Nutrients has always been at the forefront of the tradeshows, online marketing platforms, and magazines to our own forum and help centre. In 2018, we participated in 20 trade shows and a magnitude of customer appreciation days. All aiding in the product support and in return helping our retailers, which relayed onto our end users.

HAS CYCO MOVED OR EXPANDED SINCE THE BEGINNING?

Cyco Nutrients has been moved four times in its growth cycle, as we grow out of each facility within a few years. I simply did not think we would ever become the size we are; in saying that I am hoping the last move is hopefully our last. The latest facility we purchased has ample room for expansion as we built an extra facility next to the current one to allow for extra international growth, as I learned my lesson with the first few times. We brought the current facility in 2013 and revamped it for the purpose of fertiliser manufacturing. The facility has the capacity to produce 30,000 bottles a day of all sizes and hold 3,000 pallets of back-up stock, giving our clients minimal wait times for their orders to sail.

CYCO NUTRIENTS STARTED AS A SMALL FAMILY BUSINESS AND AS IT GREW, THERE WAS A MAGNITUDE OF STRUGGLES; entering international trade and being recognised by international distribution was the hard part.”

WHAT IS CYCO’S CURRENT PRODUCT LINE?

We have the original “Cyco Platinum Series” line of liquid products that has served our end users well over the years and I’m sure will remain our go-to product for most hydroponic growers. In 2018 we launched the “Outback Series” of dry fertilisers aimed at the outdoor/greenhouse growers, and our latest product is the “Commercial Series” — a one-part powder solution which we developed with larger commercial grows in mind… look out for that one in the first quarter of 2019.

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From Left: Morgan Sumner, Luke Gillan, Nathan Hunter, Holly Mail, Sasha Jones & Rachael Maur

WHERE DO YOU DISTRIBUTE?

We distribute through leading distributors in each country; some of these distributors distribute into several countries which lightens our load and makes handling such a large market easier for us at head office. In Australia, we self-distribute and have Accent Hydroponics aid us in national distribution. In the United States we have the Hawthorne Gardening Co., and in Canada we have Hydrotek. In Spain we have Hortitec, and in England we have Eden Horticulture, and the list goes on. From our distribution channels, the Cyco products are then shipped to leading hydroponic stores in approximately 40 countries.

We found having strong relationships with our distributors works the best for our company and brand. I have never wanted to self-distribute as I was a store owner and understand the politics of manufacturers selling direct. We pride ourselves on working closely with our distributors and the trust we show each other as they know we will not sell direct to their hydroponic store clients, nor to the end users keeping our hydroponic retailers safe and making money — which I think is crucial to maintain a solid long-term product reputation and, for me, trust and relationships is everything for gaining growth and good business.

HOW MANY PEOPLE NOW WORK FOR CYCO?

30 in Australia and another 11 offshore giving us a total of 41.

WHAT ARE YOUR COMPANY’S STRENGTHS?

The quality of our product being the first and most important.

The Cyco products are manufactured with the highest-grade inputs, our products are manufactured with analytical/pharmaceutical inputs which is perfect in a medical/recreational market resulting in its growing popularity in the medical recreation markets not to mention the numerous awards and growers cups it has won for its purity. Our second-most important strength is we manufacture all our own products in house — liquid nutrients, dry fertilisers, and rooting hormones, giving us full control of our own quality control and ensuring we deliver the best possible product to market and of the highest grade possible, time after time. The third-most important is the staff we have and the representative team. I hand-picked all our representatives after years of studying the market.

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Each staff member has their own unique skills and strengths to help service our customers, so our clients can be assured our reps are all from this industry and know all aspects of retail and growing.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR PROUDEST MOMENTS?

My proudest moments are most definitely the three beautiful children I share with my wife, Sasha, but as far as my proudest industry moments go, that is hard as there have been many! I think the one moment that really stands out was when my product, Cyco Platinum Series — the same product I had travelled all over the world promoting with many sleepless nights, ridiculously long plane rides, and many lonely nights away from my beautiful family — finally started becoming recognised as a top-shelf, high-quality product that I knew it to be. This led to Cyco being picked up by my first major distributor in the USA, an extremely proud moment for me after so many people had turned me away during the journey. This one event alone made it all worthwhile and I knew right there and then that Cyco as a business would never be the same again…

We were playing with the big boys now. To further that proud feeling, in 2017 we secured our Canadian distributor, Hydrotek. Hydrotek has been a true pleasure to work with and has continually grown our Cyco customer base. It has been an absolute pleasure working with these guys on a day-to-day basis.

In July 2018 we were picked up for distribution in the United States by Hawthorne Gardening Co. (formerly Sunlight Supply). This made me extremely proud as in my eyes they are the mecca of US distribution and after working with them I truly understand why; their everyday professionalism, customer service and staff’s commitment is refreshing. A true joy to work with and we look forward to a strong healthy relationship in the years to come.

Watching the line grow with our distributors makes me extremely proud as the hard work we have all poured into the line for many years is now supported by the biggest distributors on the planet and what I call our working family.

Our company is only as good as the people selling our products and I am very proud of the distribution channels and retailers we have aligned ourselves with. As a result, the Cyco brand is a global leader, with full service across the US,

Canada, Australia and Europe. The list of proud moments is endless, and the journey of good business and growth are continuing for Cyco and we thank our global distributors in each country for making this a reality.

WHAT SIGNIFICANT THINGS HAVE YOU LEARNED SO FAR ABOUT THE INDUSTRY?

I have been in this industry for over 20 years and, in that time, I have seen the industry cycle multiple times. All the markets are as they have always been with exception of the United States.

As the US industry corporatists, it becomes susceptible to commercialisation. This saturates the margins on the finished product, creating a need for stores to become market savvy and the idea of more online and commercial will become a reality, enabled by new product technology and often at a lower cost.

Think portable calculators versus computers, Amazon versus bookstores, Netflix versus Blockbuster, or digital cameras versus film — Cyco versus the rest.

From left: Warren Hefferan, Shaun Jones, Angela Sabordo, Ben Trigg & Barry Martin

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT STARTING AND GROWING A COMPANY?

Where do I start with this one… I have learned that nothing good in life comes easy or everyone would have the same outcome. No success comes without a magnitude of work hours and a positive mind; coming to work each day for me is a lifestyle not a job, which I believe is the difference, giving me the stamina and mental strength to propel the company forward. To start a new company needs strengths in all aspects of the director’s life’s, and part of my success is due to the team I have around me and the family which allows me to work as many hours as I need, and still receive the hugs of my loving family. I have always said if my products are better, my service is better, my trading hours longer, then how can I fail?

Clockwise from above: Chris Keck, Brandon Conner, Velvet Loving, John Higby & Jake Armstrong

WHAT MAKES YOUR TEAM SO AWESOME? HOW DOES YOUR TEAM BOND?

The team at Cyco are located all over the globe. The main headquarters where all research, development, manufacturing, and shipping of the product to the rest of the world takes place is Australian-based. Our Australian retailers are serviced by Ben T., our operations and sales manager, along with Barry, our national sales representative — two great guys. Accounts is taken care of by Angela, and we have our own in-house genius media guy, Warren. Our manufacturing starts with Danny in the mixing tanks with a team of gents. Ben B. and Morgan run the bottling line with the line team. The bottling area is managed by Nathan, and international picking and loading is managed by Sasha (my wife), Rachael, and Holly (my lovely sisters-in-law) as they take care of final packing and shipping. It really is a family business, even my princess Olivia, my beautiful daughter, helps out during her time off schooling. Our US staff includes Chris (vice-president of sales and marketing), Brandon (national sales manager), as well as John, Velvet, and Jake, our US sales representatives. Gilles is our French-Canadian sales rep taking care of things in Canada (he is also a pretty good artist from what we hear), and Hugo is our man on the ground in Spain. In the UK and Ireland, we have Diarmuid (Dermott) — he takes care of everyone in the United Kingdom and Ireland… and the list goes on. All these people make Cyco what it is today, and they are in fact… awesome.

WHAT WORDS OF WISDOM CAN YOU SHARE ABOUT THE BUSINESS, THE INDUSTRY, OR THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY? It’s been said many times before and it’s become a bit of a mantra of mine that I impart to anyone willing to listen: “you can’t sell a secret.” You have to get out there and take

ALL THESE PEOPLE MAKE CYCO WHAT IT IS TODAY, and they are in fact… awesome.”

your product, service, and sometimes even yourself to the people that need to see it. Also, be a hard worker and put in those long hours. There will be times when you think it is never going to happen and you feel like giving in, but you have to keep going. It’s those qualities that lead to success — that “never give up attitude” will take you a long way in this world. A goal is just a dream with a plan. If you can dream it then you can achieve it.

CUSTOMER THANK YOU!

I would like to thank our global distribution partners, retailers, and end users for the loyalty and support they show us day in day out. Our company and products are only as good as the people promoting them, so I am grateful for the very best brand ambassadors that support the Cyco line. I am extremely proud of what we have achieved all together!

Thanks for giving us the opportunity to grow with you, from my family to yours.

Respectfully, Shaun Jones at Cyco Nutrients.

Director / owner Maximum Yield

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If you play your edibles right, you could be the happiest person on that plane!”

Check Out Watermelon's recipe for Whiskey Bliss Balls on Page 82.

baking a fool OF MYSELF

by Watermelon

Let’s face it, modern air travel can be uncomfortable at the best of times.

Why not enjoy flying through the clouds as the happiest person on the plane with some homemade edibles? Of course, be sure to make wise choices to avoid prosecution.

“W

anna upgrade to first class for $5?” I joke to a longtime customer who is flying east in the morning.

I’m holding up a perfectly wrapped gingersnap cookie and waving it around with a smile.

If you haven’t used edibles to ease your jet lag maybe you should consider it. Imagine paying for first class and sleeping through all the free champagne? You might soon find it’s a wasted expensive ticket if you can sleep just as comfortably in coach. Look out business class, edibles have come to town.

I think I fly more than the average person. I take at least four to eight flights a year. Whenever I embark upon an arduously long journey (groaning sounds from our ancestors) I like to pack along edibles for the flight there and back. Often, I can fall asleep shortly after takeoff for three or four hours and wake up feeling ready to watch two or three movies before landing. Jet lag be gone!

If you play your edibles right, you could be the happiest person on that plane! So, I have assembled a modest guide to help you make the right choices for your flight.

Dosing can be tricky. Everyone is different. Personally, I consume around 50 mg per four hours of flight time, but what is the right dose for you?

There are two ways you could approach this: 1) Test sample your edibles a few nights before take-off.

2) Make small edibles with 10 mg doses each and work your way up.

You might consider waiting until your flight is safely at cruising altitude to eat your edible. I once got stuck on the tarmac for an extra two hours allowing my mind to run-amuck over potential disasters while speculating what could possibly be wrong with the plane. Once the flight is at cruising altitude, all that worry is behind you and you are free to get busy relaxing.

Choose traveling edibles wisely. Pick recipes that perfectly mask the smell and/or color of our dear herb. Something with spices and darker tones to it.

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For me its either gingersnap cookies due to their heavy spice content or “bliss balls,” which are a combination of nuts and dried fruits rolled into balls. You can add almost anything… cocoa, coconut, cinnamon, chia, dates, dried apricots, almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts, etc. They are a “highly” nutritious snack full of good fats and proteins, perfect for a long journey and perfect for masking cannabis smells and colors.

Stoner alert… your passport expires before it expires. One time I got up to the counter and presented my passport only to be informed that my passport would be denied entry. To enter Europe your passport needs to have more than three months of validity to it. Mine had 2.9. The airline employee assured me this was normal and some countries require a full year. So, know your passport expires before it expires.

Spoiler alert… Last time I went to Europe and back they served frozen ice cream sandwiches mid-flight by using dry ice. I was happily blissed out, but I woke up for ice cream sandwiches. What a nice way to liven up your mouth and put a smile on your face.

Serious alert… I should state the obvious, that smuggling cannabis is a criminal offence and in some countries it’s punishable by death. Please make wise choices. Eating your edibles before landing in other countries seems fair and not entirely unlawful. Worry less if you are traveling within your own country. Be wise, stay calm, and be polite.

P.S. Edibles work great in cars, trains, and buses too, assuming you aren’t the driver.

P.P.S. Welcome to Canada!

WM Watermelon is a Vancouver-based entrepreneur who

loves to tango, tell jokes, bake, get baked. You can find her Baking a Fool of Myself videos on YouTube and her backstory at maximumyield.com.

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baking a fool OF MYSELF

by Watermelon

EQUIPMENT NEEDED • Mixing Bowl • Food Processor • Baking Sheet • Parchment • Storage Container

INGREDIENTS • 1 cup pitted dates or dried apricots • 1½ cups of soaked macadamia or cashew nuts • ½ cup chia

1/3 cup cocoa •½

1/3 cup coconut •½

• 2 ounces of whiskey • 5 grams of dry cooked cannabis shake flour (sifted) • ½ tsp rock salt • 1 tsp cinnamon if desired

CANNABIS PREPARATION • Pre-heat your oven to 220°F. • Toast dried cannabis leaves on cookie sheet with parchment in oven for around 20-30 minutes. Don't burn.

• Grinding toasted leaves into a fine flour and sift.

(For stronger effect and flavor, try putting your lightly toasted cannabis into the whiskey and let it marinate for five to six days. Strain off before use.)

INSTRUCTIONS

WHISKEY BLISS BALLS

This is a no-bake recipe, so dry-cook the cannabis leaves in the oven to convert them before grinding it into a fine flour and sifting. I also like to add the whiskey (rum would be yum too) to this recipe to help mask the smell and taste but also to help extract the THC and CBDs over time.

PREP TIME: 10-15 minutes SOAKING TIME: 1 hour SERVINGS: Approximately 24 Balls

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1. Put all ingredients into a food processor and pulse until smooth.

2. Let stand for one hour. This allows things to absorb and fuse together.

3. I rolled my balls in toasted cocoa nibs and coffee I ground up, as well as shredded coconut. Get creative. You can even use ground nuts if you have some left over.

4. Make these up a few days before your flight.

Time makes them taste better. Plus, you can test them out for your journey.

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