FREE 18+ For adults only. Soft Secrets is published six times a year by Discover Publisher BV Netherlands
Issue 4 - 2011
In this issue:
News from around the world
HIGHLIFE CUP 2011
400% MORE WEED IN SPAIN
FLANDERS FOR FIBRE HEMP
According to the most recent figures from the Spanish Guardia Civil, the quantity of cannabis plants seized in the country rose by 425% between 2008 and 2009. The rise continued in 2010 and 2011, but
This year in the Flemish town of Wervik they’re growing legal cannabis. We’re talking about a trial project by the Provincial Research Centre for Agriculture and Horticulture, for which four farmers have between them sown 8.5 hectares with
On Friday, 24th June, the idyllic village of Ruigoord, near Amsterdam, was – for the third time – the ideal setting for the Highlife Cup, where the entire European cannabis family came together for an atmosphere that recalled the Arabian Nights. Everyone worked hard to create a fascinating, yet relaxing and soothing, ambience. Soft Secrets reports. ›› 11
EUROPEAN PRODUCTS AWARDS 2011 Also on Friday 24th June, for the second time ever, the European Products Awards for the cannabis industry in Europe were given out. Companies from ten European countries participated in this exciting competition. The range of products competing for prizes was remarkable: rolling papers, vaporizers, bongs, lamps, resources for cultivation, hemp drinks… a wide range of diverse and high-quality products. ››
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LED TRIAL WITH CRITICAL JACK Light emitting diodes are electroluminescenct, they use small doped semiconductors to emit light. They have two leads, a positive and a negative. When current is applied from positive to negative, they produce light. The individual diodes are usually 1 to 5 watts each, with several wired together to make a single light fixture. For example, a single 30 watt LED light might be manufactured from 30 x 1 watt diodes, or 10 x 3 watt diodes. Want to know more? Then read Grubbycup’s article on LED’s. ››
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as we know, those youth that do not start smoking tobacco also tend not to start smoking weed,” explained a spokesman with the German version of the stepping stone theory.
YOU TOO, OSAMA? the police are lagging behind and do not yet have the precise updated figures. Now 400% may sound rather dramatic, but expressed in weight this comes down to just 1000 kilos a year. At the same time, according to the police cannabis consumption has risen by 30%. By way of explanation they pointed to the economic crisis and the high price of cocaine. The announcement was not accompanied by a call for tougher prosecution, so it’s still a case of Viva Espana.
GERMAN YOUTH SMOKING LESS Cannabis is losing its charm for Germans aged between 12 and 25. The Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung has calculated that only 25% of this age group has ever smoked cannabis; in 2004 that was 31%. A meagre 3% apparently smoke it more than ten times a year. The institute sees a connection with the historically low tobacco consumption among the young population. “Smoking is basically out among youngsters. And
Fortunately there are still journalists who follow their noses, otherwise we would never have known that Al Qaeda leader Bin Laden had spent his last days on earth surrounded by the pregnant aroma of Pakistani Cannabis Indica. Around the house in Abbottabad where Bin Laden had (apparently) been hiding for the last six years, there turned out to be a vegetable garden in which among the cabbages and
potatoes hundreds of marihuana plants grew. Connoisseurs among the journalists determined that it was of high quality, probably Kush genetics. According to neighbours, two young housemates of Bin Laden did the almost daily shopping in the village – large quantities of snacks and countless bottles of cola, hard evidence of unbridled munchies chez Bin Laden. The Daily Mail speculated that the weed was grown for the old warrior to use to ease his kidney complaints.
fibrous hemp. And that does not go unnoticed in Flanders. One of the participating farmers, Dirk Talpe, has already been declared mad by his countrymen and he fears even more serious misunderstandings. “Because the plant very strongly resembles marihuana some people will want to try it out anyway”, worries Talpe. “I only hope that they don’t overdo it and that my field is not empty come harvest time.” Just to be sure, he has placed signs around his fields bearing the text: This is really not for smoking. If the experiment turns out well, there’s a good chance that next year even more hemp plants will be painting the Flemish countryside green.
CHRISTMAS TREE ON STEROIDS With the Australian strain Rainbow Dream the world is one cannabis sensation richer. The down under legendary grower Gary Von Billen is the creator of the variety Continues on page 3