A new group looking at whether to decriminalise cannabis in the UK has been set up by London mayor Sadiq Khan. Former justice secretary Lord Charlie Falconer QC will chair the first London Drugs Commission.
Source: BBC Photo: Stefan Rousseau cannabislookCommissionDrugstoatlegalising six times a year by Discover Publisher BV Netherlands barcelonade
THE CANNABIS NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985 www.softsecrets.com | Issue 4 - 2022 FREE
"The mayor has no powers to legalise drugs. They ruin communities, tear apart families and destroy lives," she said. About 2.6 million people in the UK used cannabis in the year to March 2020 when the pandemic struck, data from the Office for National Statistics shows. As well having been justice secretary, Lord Falconer was a minister at the Department for Transport, and then the Home Office, during the Tony Blair era. He went on to become shadow justice secretary under the acting leadership of Harriet Harman, a role he kept under Jeremy SpeakingCorbyn.about the visit, Steve Rolles, of the Transform Drug Policy Foundation, told BBC Radio London the capital needed to learn from countries like Mexico and Uruguay which have decriminalised cannabis.
18+ For adults only. Soft Secrets is published
Mr Khan described his visit to a cannabis dispensary in the US state of California as "fascinating". But Home Secretary Priti Patel said the mayor of London was wasting his time as he "has no powers to legalise drugs". Labour said in a statement the party did not support changing the law on drugs.
Mr• Khan said: "We need to have an honest, open conversation about the evidence in relation to the history of cannabis and our laws in the UK, and our experience of the health consequences in relation to crime and the community. "The best way to do that will be with the drugs commission we've now set up. "You can hear from the experts, that's one thing, but seeing it for yourself... hearing from those who cultivate and grow this plant, has been fascinating." Once it has completed its work, the commission will make recommendations to City Hall, the government, the police, the criminal justice system and public health services. University College London will provide research and analysis on the impact of any possible policy changes. Reacting to Mr Khan's announcement, Ms Patel tweeted that the mayor's time "would be better spent focusing on knife and drug crime in London".
The main drug offence recorded in England and Wales last year was possession of cannabis, according to a parliamentary report. Cannabis is currently classed as a class B drug in the UK, with a maximum sentence of five years in prison for possession. In 1996, marijuana became medicinally available in California and, more than 25 years later, you can possess, use, grow and gift the narcotic. In 2018, you could buy and sell it recreationally, for the first time.
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4 SHOPREVIEW
FRANCE: THREE CBD TRADE SHOWS
Marseille, Lyon and Paris. Between April and May, three CBDrelated events took place in the main French cities, in the most prestigious locations in France. The Marseille event welcomed around 1000 visitors over 2 days, in Lyon there were around 2500 people and in Paris more than 5000, including end-customers and industry operators. These included more than a hundred exhibitors representing at least 150 brands from all over Europe –which gives an idea of the charm raised in France by this psychoactive cannabinoid without psychotropic effects, a molecule with relaxing, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. It was also a therapeutic opportunity for many curious visitors of all ages and from all over the continent, and an incredible engine for innovation and commercial development for many forward-thinkers who are part of a young industry full of potential.
In France, the CBD market is booming, there are hundreds of companies and start-ups involved in the promotion of this compound: the supply chain includes farmers, resellers of buds, intermediaries, and above all, compa nies that process the buds and make them available for a market segment not directly interested in consumption by combustion. Mainly in our opinion, the CBD market has many qualities, the two main ones being the unprec edented tax income for the stagnating European economies and the return, in terms of positive image, for the hemp plant. Through the democratisation going on in Old World societies, which helps dispel the prohibitionist dogma that relegates cannabis to the margins of society as falsely harmful and unjust ly criminalised, the CBD community are helping us understand how useful a plant can be to society and how impor tant it is to value it in all respects.
The Soft Secrets editors wholeheart edly thank the organisers of these events for the courage they put in help ing the hemp plant reach the stepping stone that, in the years to come, will take it from the underground to where it deserves, i.e., the public at large and mass distribution. Next exhibition is scheduled for 15, 16 and 17 October 2022 at Porte de Versailles Marcwww.lesalonducbd.frAssous,organiser of the CBD, Hemp and Well-Being trade show marc@expodience.com Tel.no.: 00 33 7 67 06 08 34
In the press release issued at the end of the three shows, the organisation declared: “This first edition, particu larly intense for its tour around France starting from Paris, has placed the CBD, Hemp and Wellness Fair at the top of the appointments of CBD enthu siasts in the most prestigious exhibi tion place of France, the Paris-Expo,
Porte de Versailles, where France’s greatest world fairs of the year are held. Some representatives from all over Europe are starting to show up so as to bring this event to their respec tive countries. We would therefore like to thank all the exhibitors who have once again placed their trust in us for this 2022 edition. They have contrib uted enormously to the great success and sustainability of their show.” Marc ASSOUS, General Commissioner of the CBD Show, obviously wishes to thank everyone: “Thank you to our speak ers and association presidents. Our thanks also go to all the visitors who wore out their soles walking along the corridors indefatigably... They are precisely the reason behind our own efforts and our passion, motivation and work. In 2022, the CBD Show will once again take place in the magnifi cent exhibition centre of the Porte de Versailles, in the 15th arrondissement of Paris. Monday 17 October 2022, a professional day has been scheduled for ‘Creativity, excellence and innova tion, a winning recipe’, with the oppor tunity of a free entry on presentation of a business card!”
Grow lights are always a big topic of conversation amongst indoor growers. Light is fundamental to the proper growth and development of all plants, including cannabis. What lights do you use? What is the PAR? PPFD? When do you change the light cycle? Etc. But imagine if all of that became obsolete. itself to include the acetate, the best of all the crops. The researchers also observed where the acetate travelled once inside the plant. In some plants, acetate was found in the plant's amino acids. In others, it was discovered in the sugars used as energy for growth. Tracing the acetate route proved that alter native digestive pathways in plants could be unlocked, allowing them to survive purely on acetate if necessary. "Our approach sought to identify a new way of producing food that could break through the limits normally imposed by biological photosynthesis." – Dr Robert Jinkerson, UC SomeRiverside.people may say that you should not mess with nature, and would agree with them to a large degree. However, we cannot deny the damage we are doing and have already done to our planet and how we have depleted it of resources. Using an approach such as artificial photosynthesis to produce food could be a paradigm shift for how we feed people, something we need as the global population grows. Farming land and methods are struggling to make enough food and meet demand. If we can increase the efficiency of food production, less land is required, lessening agriculture's impact on the environment. This kind of technology always has a "trickle-down" effect. It's not beyond the realms of possibility to imagine that somewhere in the future, we could be growing top-quality weed without the need for light. Imagine That!
EXPOGROW 2022 SEPTEMBER 9-10th 2022 is marked in green on the calendar of professionals, cannabis industry experts, worldwide companies and those visitors eager to know the new advances of the sector that will be exhibited at EXPOGROW. A unique trade show that never stops growing and innovat ing since its first edition in 2012. The 9th edition will take place once again at the fairgrounds of Ficoba, in the frontier town of Irún. With its 5000 m2 divided in 4 pavilions and 7000 m2 outdoors, Expogrow is the largest cannabis fair in Europe. Regarding the exhibition brands, in Expogrow you will find the most relevant seeds banks, growshops, distributors, growing products, accessories, lighting, fertilizers, etc… as well as new products made out of CBD, vaporizers or the novelties in machinery and technology.
Top Tip #5 – Flushing your plants during the final 14 days of the flowering period should be done for two reasons. The first is to cut off any nutrients, so plants can push to use their final internal reserves, and the other is to break down any undis solved salts that may have accumulated over time. Our top tip here is to give the plants a good flush until you begin to see the green leaves fading to yellow, then maroons, purples, reds, oranges, and all the other colors associated with fading. Organic growers will normally have lush green plants once the harvest window comes around, but if possible, push your plants to the point of a complete multicolor fade. Top Tip #6 – The harvest window basically refers to the point when the trichomes of the plants are most mature. Inside the trichome head are the essential oils, which Most times when you come across a well grown flower that is frosted with resin, and hard to squeeze, the final flavor will often not match the aes thetics. Growing lip licking Cannabis buds that send your taste buds into overdrive should be the end goal, for any grower. Whilst yield can always be worked on, getting the best tasting buds is key, so in this article we explain 6 top tips to get cup winning flavors.
Growing plants in the dark!
PRODUCTSCI-TECH
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Reinforced by the successful EXPOGROW BUSINESS BARCELONA in 2018 and the past B2B sessions held in Irún, this year we will have an entire day (Thursday 8th) dedicated to the B2B relationships (Business to Business), exclusively for exhibitors and professionals of the cannabis industry. www.expogrow.net
Imagine if you didn't even need lights to grow your plants anymore? Although it may sound ridiculous, this idea is becoming a real possibility. Scientists may have discovered a way of raising crops in utter darkness via artificial photosynthesis.
The science behind this kind of research focuses on the fact that if humankind is to one day find a way to sustain life on other planets, the ability to grow food on them is vital. New research published in the journal Nature Food describes how researchers at the University of California, Riverside and the University of Delaware have used a twostep chemical electrolyser system to convert carbon dioxide, electricity, and water into acetate. Acetate is a common household ingredient found in items such as cosmetics, hair care products and vinegar. However, in this case, it was used to grow yeast, mushroom-producing fungus, and photosynthetic green algae in complete darkness, without the need for photosyn thesis. This is a significant advancement that could assist in developing new methods to grow food on Earth and other planets such as Mars. Unlike soil on Earth, Martian soil, or "regolith" as it is known, is unsuitable for crops as it is bereft of any substantial quan tity of organic matter. Mars also gets far less sunlight than Earth, so scientists need to find new techniques for improving growth rates if producing food on the Red Planet is ever to come to fruition. "If we get rid of the need for sunlight, then we can grow multiple layers of crops at once, similar to the way mushrooms are grown and create a sort of food factory." - Study co-author Feng Jiao from the University of TheDelaware.natural process of photosynthesis has evolved throughout millions of years as plants searched for an efficient way to turn water, carbon dioxide and the energy from sunlight into food photosynthesis is not as efficient as you first suspect because rough ly only about 1 per cent of the energy found in sunlight ends up in the plant. On the other hand, the chemical electro lyser system may not be natural. Still, it did manage to efficiently convert 57% of the car bon molecules found in carbon dioxide to acetate. The acetate could then be absorbed by the plant and used as food. It was also found that this new technology was more efficient at turning solar energy into food than that regular photosynthesis. The study could help realise the possibility of growing crops on Mars and change how we produce food crops and other plants in controlled environments such as com mercial greenhouses and, eventually, home grow rooms! Researchers studied nine crop plants, including lettuce, green pea, tomato, canola, pepper, tobacco and rice. Overall, the results showed that all the tested plants could take in acetate and were reasonably accommodating in digesting and using the carbon molecules. Lettuce showed
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Top Tip #2 – A personal favorite of mine is to make cold water extracts or aerated teas. Depending on the vegetative or flowering stage will determine which tea I feed. When it comes to flowering, I enjoy combining powdered bat guano, pow dered palm tree ash, worm castings and endo-mycorrhizae and Trichoderma with probiotic bacteria. Our top tip here is to make your own com post aerated tea, and to feed regularly, as the short and long-term benefits are great. Each time you make a tea, the bac teria, and fungi present will multiply and inoculate the growing medium. As a result, the rate of composting is much greater, meaning more available nutrients and enhanced nutrient uptake.
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Top Tip #3 – Top dressing is a wonderful way to feed small amounts frequently to your plants, in the form of hard food. Unlike a liquid nutrient solution, top dress ing will slowly leach nutrients back to the growing medium, ensuring that primary nutrients and trace elements remained Ourwell-balanced.toptiphere is to make a mix of bat guano and worm hummus and to apply a very light top dressing at the end of each week of the flowering period (12/12). Do this until the final two weeks, when you will only feed plain water. This method will ensure the plants have a slow release of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. Top Tip #4 – Enzymes are an excellent way to keep the root zone clean and also break down any remaining nutrients. In the same way that an industrial dishwasher uses enzymes, applying to your existing nutrient solution is a good idea, and will allow the plants to absorb and utilize the available nutrients much quicker. What is great about working with liquid bottled enzymes is that they can be mixed with other enzymes to enhance the number being given to the plants. Our top tip here is to use enzymes from start to finish, and you will notice your Cannabis plants will be much more vigor ous and glow with a healthy and vibrant shine. Enzymes are also one of the best ways to clean your substrate, so it can be used again if needs be. This can often be the case with growers who choose to work with coco.
Top Tip #1 – Using organic nutrients and substrates to grow can be one of the easi est ways to produce a clean and smooth, tasty smoke. Typically, the entry-level style of growing that is best for those new to growing and are comfortable with a water only feeding regime. Our top tip here, if you choose to go down the organic route, is to make sure you have plenty of different organic elements. Worm humus, bat guano, compost, wood chips, coco, and peat are all great forms of hard food and will keep the soil food web happy at the same time. The flowers grown using this method will produce deli cious buds.
The more resin present means the more terpenes and cannabinoids. TOP TIPS ON THE BEST CANNABISTASTINGBUDS
FLASH contain the cannabinoids and terpenes. The difference between flowers picked early, late or at the perfect moment is like the difference between bronze and gold. Our top tip here is to use a microscope that allows you to see the trichomes up close. From there you will see that the coloration of the resin glands are either clear, milky or amber colored. Many will debate the best time to harvest based on ripe terpenes is when the trichomes are mainly silver colored. Of course everyone has their pref erence, however avoid picking too early as this will only result in undeveloped terpe nes and lack of potency. Conclusion Sometimes trying to get the biggest buds possible can end up causing the flowers to look great but disappoint when smoking. Finding the balance of how much nutrients your plants need, what to give them at what stages, and what mistakes to avoid is all part and parcel of learning how to grow Cannabis plants! methods and pruning style they prefer for the best results possible. This plant is 3 weeks from harvest and will be flushed in one week.
By Stoney Tark By Rich Hamilton GROW WITH STONEY TARK
8 BARNEY’S FARM STRAIN STORY Words & Pics: Green Born Identity – G.B.I. 9
Flowering stage 58 + 60 days / 56-63 in general
King Kong loves candy! If ‘King Kong’ GG4 chews on a Zkittlez candy, spectacular things are going to happen! The breeders of Barney’s Farm brought two of the best and most sought-after genetics of recent years together for an exciting showdown. The new Gorilla Zkittlez strain, GG4, the 100lb Gorilla amongst cannabis varieties, was on the prowl, swallowing up ‘super candy’ Zkittlez proved to be a highly effective breeding partner, ensuring that this all-Californian breeding constellation quickly bore Namely,fruit. a mega hybrid with a slight indica dominance (60%) and a very high THC count of 24% which guarantees both strong psychoactivity and medicinal effects – total relaxation is the word here. Gorilla Zkittlez possesses the same insane resin coat as GG4, a true ocean of trichomes spills over the plants. But they leave a lasting impression on growers thanks to their above-average yields, too: boat-loads! Up to 500-700g / m2 make them potential heavyweights. And all this within a mere 8-9 weeks of flowering – now that’s sporty! The outdoor specifications of this strain sound similarly sensational, with a height of only 1.7 metres, outdoor Gorilla Zkittlez plants are expected to be able to yield up to 2.5 kilos. This kind of yield, of course, is only possible in a perfect outdoor scenario with lots of sun and warmth. The resulting monster buds are armed with good mould resistance, on a scale from 1 to 5, Barney’s rates it at 4. Under natural light, maturity sets in between the first and second week of October. Grow room premiere: The Doc puts Barney’s Farm genetics to the test for the first time Within just 72 hours, the two feminised seeds sown pushed their heads through the surface.
When he broke open a bud for his first vaporizer test session, a sophisticated two-phase-fragrance wafted into his nostrils: First he smelled an exotic fruity sweetness reminiscent of mango that after a second gave way to a lingering heavy hash scent.
Cultivation data: Genetics Gorilla Zkittlez (GG4 x Zkittlez)
Medium Plagron Grow Mix soil, 11 litre pots pH 6.2-6.6 EC 1.2–1.8 mS
Resin fountains started to fizzle super early After they had entered the flowering stage, the two plants revealed a strong stretching instinct, the sativa genes of Gorilla Zkittlez obviously got to work. Newly formed leaves became thinner, still having all that oily gloss.
The Doc shouted with joy, when after three weeks he put his Gorilla Zkittlez buds - as hard as a gorilla’s chest, with a stupendously rich trichome covering on the scales. The yield of both plants together amounted to phenomenal 225 grams – “truly gigantic King Kong-esque dimensions, and more so if one takes the fairly small size of these plants into account. They’ve almost yielded twice as many grams as they’ve measured in centimetres, that’s actually unbelievable”, said a flabbergasted Doc.
Vaporising Gorilla Zkittlez: “As if King Kong had tenderized my head and body“
Gorilla Zkittlez
Vegetative stage three weeks (after germination)
Light up to 12 x SANlight S4W = 1680 watts Temperature 19-28°C Air humidity 40-60%
Four weeks into flowering, stem and branch elongation hat come to an end, leaving the two plants with heights of about 60 cm. Gigantic King Kong yield dimensions Bud structure was distinctly indicadominant, forming thick bulbous chunks that in the end, after 58 and 60 days of flowering (absolutely on schedule), were swollen hard and densely covered in opulent resin layers, with even the most upper shade leaves being encased with crystals throughout. The Doc enthused, “they’ve become as super-sugary-gooey as had expected, Gorilla Zkittlez is really drenched in vast amounts of sweetish monkey sweat, it’s one glorious resin festival!” Also praiseworthy is the great uniformity of these two specimens. Their intense odour was an unusual mélange of sweet tropical fruit notes and hints of spicy black hashish, plus a dash of musk, fittingly. At the end of their life cycle, the two plants had a round-bodied, handy shape with heights of 60 and 67 cm. “Blow me down!”
The Doc took three deep hits before he waited for the effect to fully set in. After the second one, he sensed a slight pressure around the eyes and temples and serious stonedness arising deep within, and after the third, it felt as if King Kong loomed through the vapour and tightly grabbed him.
“The gorilla is flexing his THC muscles, starting to tenderize my head and Thatbody!”deeply relaxed effect continued for more than two hours and made him kind of dreamy, but not sleepy – chilling at its very best. The Doc concluded: “this mega hybrid has kept all its promises, proven to be a veritable yield and resin production hit with an amazing potency and aroma, plus a moderate flowering time and handy indoor size - everything’s just perfect with this strain. A champion of US West Coast genetics!”
Green Born Identity – G.B.I.
Watering by hand Fertilisation Organic Bloom Liquid from Green Buzz Liquids
Additives/stimulants Living Organics, More Roots, Humin Säure Plus, Big Fruits, Fast Buds and Clean Fruits from Green Buzz Liquids Tools CleanLight Pro for mould prevention Height 60 + 67 cm Yield together 226 grams
Vaporising the bud in his “Mighty” vaporizer, this unusual effect occurred – when the vapour passed through his mouth, it tasted fruity and sweet, but the lasting impression then was spicyhashy again.
Lush bushy growth set in soon, with unusually shiny, oily looking dark green shade leaves. The two plants spent three weeks in the vegging stage before The Doc triggered them into flowering by switching to 12/12. They exhibited a growth pattern that reminded more of a classic indica than he had expected in view of a mere 60% share of this species: very dense and stout, short internodal spaces, 25 and 27 cm tall.
10 By Stoney Tark GROW WITH STONEY TARK
Unless you are purposely growing in small pots with a short vegetative time, then it is a good idea to plant your Cannabis seedlings or clones directly into large pots. The size of the pots should be around 20 liters, and this means your plants once harvesting will be around 125-150 cm in height depending on the cultivar. Top Tip: Instead of using plastic pots, why not try working with felt fabric pots, these are created so the roots can become pruned, and will certainly increase yields. You can also make your own at home and choose which size to make them.
Big yielding genetics will always give you an advantage. Sugar leaf can be used to make water hash or dry sift with. will open one hour after the lights have turned on. So only turn your co2 tanks on after the first hour to avoid wasting co2.
6. Hydroponics
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8. Nutrients and Boosters Hand feeding only water to an organic growing medium will produce excellent results, however using nutrients and boosters, yields will increase. There are many brands that all offer their line and range of nutrients, often designed to be used with their custom soil. Top Tip: Do not go overboard with nutrients and boosters, and always use the company feeding chart as a set guideline. Avoid adding too many boosters at once, as this will only cause the buds to taste harsh and burn with a black ash.
4. Large Yielding Genetics
After years of hand watering, getting a bad back and being rewarded with low yielding plants, then perhaps it is worth thinking about hydroponics. Once you get the hydro bug, you will never turn back, as the yields are significantly greater than indoor organic grown Cannabis plants. There is a wide range of systems ranging from drip sys tems, bottom feeding, flood and drain, deep water culture and aquaponics. Top Tip: As a beginner, try starting with a basic dripper system and work your way up to more challenging systems such as aero ponics and D.W.C.
2. Sea of Green Method (SOG)
3. Screen of Green (SCROG) Meaning Screen of Green, and a plant training technique that involves feeding the plants through a screen, and overtime manipulating the canopy growth structure. The end goal with SCROG is to flower one large-sized plant that consumes the entire screen with buds. You will need to grow for much longer under 18/6 and pruning is also essential before flowering. Top Tip: Some genetics are better suited for SCROG grows than others. Make sure you read about the strain before buying to make sure it is practical for the SCROG project.
Using large yielding genetics is one way to get an advantage in the grow room. These strains will have been bred for yield value and can life much easier. Starting with low producing plants only requires more grow ing time and training. Top Tip: You should also want to consider the flavor, aroma, and effect before banking everything on a large yielding strain. Many breeders now offer large producers that tick the boxes in all the other areas.
This method of growing involves using small pots such as 10 liters and only allowing your seedlings or clones 7-10 days vegetative time. The idea is that you are growing a high volume of plants compared to largesized plants. A good example is to imagine you have 9 small-sized plants in a 1-meter square tent, instead of 2-4 large-sized plants. Top Tip: If you are growing a fast-flowering strain, then you can rotate your crop every 9-10 weeks indoors. A good technique for commercial growers to use and keeps elec tricity used to a minimum.
HOW TO GET THE BIGGEST YIELDS INDOORS
7. Carbon Dioxide Outdoors the level of carbon dioxide is currently around 400ppm, however Cannabis plants have proven to take much higher levels, ranging as high as 1600ppm. Supplementing your indoor grow room with co2 will certainly boost yields, but it is worth bearing in mind that the temperature and humidity levels will need to be increased. Cannabis plants absorb much higher levels of co2 when the temperature is above 30 degrees Celsius. Top Tip: The stomata of a Cannabis plant No one likes to get small yields, and after 10-12 weeks of hard work, your curing jars are not even full, and the fear of running out soon is upon you. Consistently producing large yields is an extremely rewarding feeling as a grower, that is down to multiple variables. In this article, we explain 8 different ways to increase yields, and top tips for how to keep those jars full to the brim for months on end.
1. Large-Sized Pots
5. Intense Lighting If you cannot provide proper intense light ing for your Cannabis plants indoors, then you will always be limited to what yield you can produce. Some lights can produce up to 1 gram per watt, and others far exceed that. How intense the lighting is, will cor respond with how efficiently the plants can photosynthesize, use nutrients and carbon dioxide. Top Tip: If you are using HPS then 1000w bulbs and ballast are your best choice for big yields, as 400w-600w will only get you so far. CFL and low powered lighting will not do anything in terms of yields.
GENETICS As parents go, you can't get a much higher profile than GSC and Chemdawg. One hit of GSC, the indica dominant hybrid, will leave you feeling happy, hungry, and stress-free. This strain features a robust THC level of 19%-23% and is best reserved for experienced cannabis consumers. This strain has won numerous awards, reaching legendary status in the cannabis community. Likewise, Chemdawg has also made a name for itself over the past few years. A mysterious origin, and ambiguous genetics, have not stopped it from producing a plethora of successful crosses. Chemdawg is infamous for its distinctive, diesel-like aroma. It is intense, sharp, and potent, and you can smell it from a mile away.
GROW INFO Garlic Cookies produce medium-sized plants with solid, dense branches in line with their strongly indica heritage. This robust cultivar withstands most environmental difficulties and pests, making it excellent for any first-time and amateur growers. It flowers roughly ten weeks indoors and by mid-October outdoors. In ideal conditions, Garlic Cookies produce average-sized yields of around 14 to 18 ounces per square Garlicmetre.Cookies perform well whether grown indoors or outdoors, but if you are lucky enough to raise her outdoors, you are in for a treat, as this is where she thrives the most. Garlic Cookies has also done well for itself on the award scene. Placing as 2nd Place Best Hybrid Concentrate at the Southern California High Times Cannabis Cup 2017. In the same year, it also won the Michigan High Times Cannabis Cup FLOWER This bud has furry oval green-yellow popcorn nugs frosted in amber crystal trichomes. The flowers may even appear white due to the depth of trichomes covering them. Expect also to see vivid orange curly pistils. The bright palette of colours matches the vivid taste. Garlic Cookies not only look the part, but they also deliver.
12 13 PromotesHigher Yields Promotes NPK Availability Optimizes THC &CBD Levels Prevents Root Burn Promotes Mycorrhizae Growth RemovesBiofilmBuildups UnclogsDripLines&Emitters WorkswithInjectorSystems andGravityFeedSystems (Autopot) UseThroughouttheEntire GrowingSeason www.unleashorganics.com CLEARS IRRIGATION LINE AND EMITTER CLOGS BOOSTS BUD DENSITY& THC/CBD LEVELS By Rich Hamilton THE BUD DIARIES GARLICCOOKIES
TASTE Contrary to the scent, this cannabis strain has a sweet taste with Garlic exhale. A spicy aftertaste follows the unmistakable flavour of Garlic on the exhale. Some smokers have also reported a floral flavour palette. It's an unusual mix of spices, stone fruit, and coffee that does not sound very appetising but trust me, it somehow works. STONE Garlic Cookies impart a rhapsodic high complete with a mental uplift. Go easy if you are new to this strain, as it may leave you stuck on your couch if you go too hard too Strainsoon.fans say Garlic Cookies facilitate a fantastic body high that will fully relax you and magic away any pain issues. The beaming high of Garlic Cookies starts a mental lift. A severe case of the munchies follows this up.
Due to its strong Indica effect, this strain is recommended for night-time chills or lazy days when you have nothing to do and nowhere to go.
Rich Hamilton shares an extract from his "bud diaries" in every issue with us. This month we have a strain that doesn't sound all that appetising but believe that once you have given it a go, you will be a convert.
ODOUR The garlic Cookies strain is famous for its distinctive scent of Garlic and coffee. The top reported aromas of Garlic Cookies are plums, coffee, and fuel. It has a pungent, chemical, peppery odour. It is said to taste spices, stone fruit, and coffee. Expect a diesel aroma and a garlic-forward taste that lingers on your tastebuds. Garlic Cookies cannabis' dominant terpene is caryophyllene, which brings spicy and herbal flavour and antiinflammatory effects. Limonene terpene makes Garlic Cookies the strain smell of citrus and helps consumers get rid of anxiety and stress. Myrcene adds to the GMO strain's calming effects and herbal aroma. CONSUMED smoked this strain in various ways (spliffs, bongs, pipes) one evening with some mates. We spent the evening watching Kung-fu movies that were so bad they were awesome. The munchies soon kicked in, so we ordered pretty much everything they were on the menu from the pizza place. It was the perfect night, smoking weed, eating junk and laughing more than think have ever laughed.
STRAIN Garlic Cookies, also known as "GMO Garlic Cookies" and "GMO Cookies," this strain is heavily Indica-dominated (90%/10%). It was created by crossing Girl Scout Cookies with Chemdawg, giving you a delirious high with mentally uplifting results. As a direct evolution of Girl Scout Cookies, you can anticipate a rich and unusual palette of flavours from Garlic Cookies with a diesel-like aroma and a garlic taste that lingers. Garlic Cookies promote a fantastic body high that leaves you relaxed and free from pain. In large doses, this strain may induce "couch-lock" and make you feel sedated.
You can then look forward to feeling uplifted and chilled to the bone, sometimes sleepy. These effects make Garlic Cookies one of the best strains for medicinal users looking to treat symptoms of insomnia, appetite loss, depression, anxiety, and muscle pain.
According to their environment, Cannabis plants will take water from the growing medium surrounding their roots, and tran spire vapor through leaf tissue. Basically, in the same way that we sweat when our body temperature gets too warm, plants do the same. Knowing how much water is being transpired through the leaves, with nutrient uptake, will give you a serious advantage in the garden. When Is the Best Time to Water During Summer? If you are growing indoors or outdoors, you will have to endure the outside temperature, which may be well over 25 degrees Celsius in Northern Europe and exceed 35 degrees in hotter climates such as South Spain. Plants will react to the temperature and humidity levels, which affects how much carbon dioxide they can use whilst photosynthesizing, as well as how wet or dry they become.
3. Automated irrigation systems that are available in most garden centers, can be attached to an outdoor tap, and programmed to operate on a set cycle. This means that you do not need to be around and can rely on the system to do all the work for you. This is basically the same as outdoor irrigation using drip lines and stakes, but uses batteries instead of electricity, unlike a pump.
1. These are slow wick systems that have become popular recently and can be found in most garden centers. They work by slowly wicking water from a water tank via stone drippers sat in the plant pot. Thanks to capillary action, the soil becomes saturated, and the process is repeated daily. These do not require bat teries or electricity and can be left alone once the reservoir is filled with water.
WATERING CANNABIS PLANTS SUMMERDURING
Just because it may be uncomfortably hot outside during Summer, watering the plants with cold water may seem like a good idea, however will only shock them and cause stress. Using warmer water is much better and allows the nutrients to also be absorbed easier than cold water. Avoid spraying your plants with cold water when they are exposed to the sun, as this will also shock them and cause the leaf tis sue to burn.
This dripper system has become very useful for holidays.
On the basis you are using only water and an organic base such as soil, drip lines are fantastic for when you go on holiday for short or long periods of time. They ensure the plants are consistently fed the same amounts at the same time. Signs of Bad Quality Water
• Algae is growing on the inside of the water deposit.
• The clarity of the water is off and resembles a cloudy appearance.
If you have taken on a large sized outdoor garden and are finding keeping up with watering hard work overwhelming, then maybe consider using a pump and drip lines. This does not mean you are now forced to work with chemical based hydro ponic nutrients; however, it uses plain water and will serve the same purpose as hand watering. What is brilliant about drip lines and a pump, is that commercial farms growing vegetables find them extremely cost-effec tive with saving time, labor, and water use. By connecting the pump to a timer, you can also set the drip lines to turn on for 15-30 minutes in the morning and evening times.
What About Watering Plants Whilst Away on Holiday?
CONSIDER How Do Cannabis Plants Use Water?
Watering Cannabis plants can be a straightforward task; however, there are many things that can go wrong. We have all overwatered our plants at one point, or neglected them to the point of near death. In this article, we explain what to consider when watering your Cannabis plants during Summer, 3 options for going on holiday and the signs of bad water quality. By Stoney Tark GROW WITH STONEY TARK
• The pH of the water tests acidic and below 5.5. Dead insects are floating on the surface.
2. Using a timer and pump is one easy way to provide the plants with 15 min utes of water each day. You may be away for 5-10 days, and as long as your reservoir where the pump sits is filled up, then there is no need to worry whilst you are chilling on a beach on the other side of the world. The only downside is you need an electric source, to connect the pump and timer to.
Watering during the hottest parts of the day, especially outdoors, will only put more stress on the plants, so we strongly recommend feeding in the early morning and early evening. The reason being so the plants can uptake the nutrients and not need to worry about transpiring excessively hard when the sun is at its brightest. This will also allow the plants to remain much cooler in the morning and evening times, and will help soldier them through the hottest 4-5 hours of each day. Should I Use Cold Water?
WHAT TO
• The water has a funny odor and is starting to smell like rotten eggs.
Most indoor growers have not been on holiday since the day they bought their indoor set up. The thought of leaving your garden unat tended and breaking your hand watering ritual you have done for years, can be a big problem for many. There are ways to overcome this concern, and below are 3 possible solutions that do not involve any one else.
14
What About a Large-Sized Garden?
• One watering with water; • One watering with Sensizym and water;
We recommend using Iguana Grow in the weeks of the stretching stages so as to continue providing the plant with the nitrogen it needs to grow. You can also use an early flowering stimulator such as Bud Ignitor. Bud Ignitor reduces the stretching phase by half, so the plants start producing flowers earlier. Keep in mind that it is a biomineral product, unlike all the other products we are recommending here, which are all of 100% natural origin. S, if you are looking for a totally organic crop, you should not use biomineral fertilisers. Nowadays, all stimulators for flowering start are of biomineral origin. In a long-term crop, where the growing space is not as important as indoors, it is advisable to put an extra pot to compensate for less production, and grow 100% organically, while retaining all the original aromas and flavours of the strain. After the stretching phase, start fertilising with: Iguana Juice Bloom, which should be used as base fertiliser as it contains the main mineral elements needed by the plant i.e., nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (NPK 4-3-6) of 100% organic and natural origin. It is an organic bloom fertilizer with the highest organic mass, developed from fresh North Pacific fish, kelp meal, krill extract, yeast extract, alfalfa, yucca, hormones, enzymes, amino acids, carbohydrates and at this stretching process, after which we will also describe the various stages of the flowering cycle. During the stretching stage, the plant goes from producing growth hormones to developing flowering hormones. It is not an automatic process, it develops over a period of weeks, in part of July and August, depending on the strain. At this time, the plant will still need nitrogen to develop properly although it will stop producing growth hormones and start producing flowering hormones, so it is a good time to use flowering Thisstimulators.stretching phase is not the same for all strains; indeed, it is longer for pure sativas than for hybrids and indicas. Nor is it the same indoors as outdoors. While indoors the change from 18 to 12 hours is abrupt, outdoors days shorten gently and stretching takes a little longer. During this stage, clusters of ‘hairs’ (pistils) of the first flowers can be Theobserved.flowering cycle consists of several stages. Remember that initial growth will always be slow. It is only later that the buds will be seen getting bigger. The indication that everything is going well is the slow but steady growth of the buds. The buds shown in the pictures of seed bank catalogues will only be seen as flowering progresses. Do not despair or feed plants with stimulators that will ultimately burn them. Give them a few weeks for the early forming buds to start fattening. Once stretching is over, the proper flowering cycle begins. The exact moment to switch to a flowering fertiliser will therefore be when the plant stops stretching and its pistils start appearing clustered along the branch. The second part of the flowering cycle is when actual flowering begins. Clusters of flowers are already visible along the branches. The plant is fully engaged in the production of flowering hormones, which causes its nutritional needs to change. In this phase, it will need more phosphorus, so it is time to switch to a flowering fertiliser. The third part of the flowering cycle is the ‘fattening’ stage. Buds grow until they reach their final size; although they still lack the solidity and weight that they will have at the end of the harvest; otherwise said, they are getting closer to the plant you have been dreaming of. Make no mistake! For buds to look like catalogue pictures, you will have to wait for the next stage of the flowering cycle, which will be covered in the next issue. As far as nutrition is concerned, it will clearly be visible, at this stage, if the plant has been fed with the required levels of calcium and magnesium, and above all potassium, which is of the utmost importance in this and the following stage. FERTILISERS DESCRIBED
Youproportionately.canalsofertilise at each watering, but you will need to spread the fertiliser does proportionately so as to avoid over-fertilising. Enzymes should be applied separately from the fertiliser and followed by a single watering with water only. Always check the pH at each watering. Things to be considered for plants’ care during these stages: during these stages of the flowering cycle, the main enemies of our plants on the balcony are heat, insects and stress. Heat Heat in the roots is usually the biggest problem during these weeks. Try to insulate the pots from the heat of the floor.
Flowering begins
vitamins. During flowering, do not forget using Sensizym enzymes constantly; after several months of growing, dead roots, excess heat and salt accumulation can be an explosive cocktail. More substrate is added to the plant during transplanting, but there is also some substrate that has been there since the beginning of the crop. Keeping the substrate in top condition is essential. Sensizym converts the dead material into sugars and nutrients, and prevents the appearance of moulds and pathogens in the substrate. These enzymes should be supplied on a weekly Anotherbasis. essential product to be constantly fed is Ancient Earth, which acts as a buffer and therefore keeps an ideal level of acidity in the substrate, which in turn allows the easy assimilation of macro and micro nutrients in marihuana plants. The aim is to achieve continuous flowering without stress, so that the plant devotes all its potential to the production of flowers, and also cannabinoids and terpenes in the following stages of the flowering cycle. Bud Candy provides extra carbohydrates during the flowering of cannabis plants and gives them energy for more abundant flowering. Carbohydrates stimulate the microbial life of the substrate, which improves fertility and the availability of macro and micro nutrients. The plant stores the energy it will need later. Bud Candy also helps increase the weight of buds and enhances the original flavours of our plants. Mother Earth Tea Bloom is compost tea, a complete organic fertiliser (NPK 3-2-5) to be used as a complement to Iguana Juice Bloom in order to restore the micro flora of the substrate. In further detail, Mother Earth Tea Bloom is a liquid extract of highquality compost, with a high content of beneficial microorganisms and nutrients giving the plant vigour to face stress and insect attacks. In the third stage of the flowering cycle, Big Bud Organic will give the buds impulse to grow. It is an organic bloom stimulator (phosphorus at 1% and potassium at 3%) and provides the extra phosphorus and potassium quantities that the plants will need in this phase, as well as more than 20 amino acids for buds to develop. It increases the production of cannabinoids and terpenes, which results in a higher quality end product.
RECOMMENDED
The amino acids contained in Big Bud promote the development of chlorophyll, which makes it possible for the plant to synthesise a greater amount of carbohydrates (provided via Bud Candy, see above), resulting in an increase in the number and density of buds and in the amount of trichomes, cannabinoids and Duringterpenes.thestretching stage you should continue fertilising as you have been doing during growth. For example, if you water four times a week, first use Iguana Juice Grow 30 ml per 10 litres of water along with 20 ml of Ancient Earth Organic; for the next watering, only use pH-corrected water; next time, use Sensizym 20 ml per 10 litres of water; then, again, water with pH-corrected water; after which, start the cycle all over again. In the second stage of the flowering cycle, start using fertilisers with higher phosphorous and potassium content and lower nitrogen content. Still assuming 4 waterings per week, do as follows: • One watering with fertilizer using 10 litres of water, to which you will add Iguana Juice Bloom 30-40 ml, Mother Earth Tea Bloom 20ml, Ancient Earth Organic 20 ml and Bud Candy 20 ml, check pH, EC should be between 1.3 and 1.6, depending on the strain;
• Another watering with water only and restart the cycle. In the third stage of the flowering cycle, incorporate Big Bud in the first watering with fertilizer, in a proportion of 20 ml per 10 litres of water. The other fertilisers will be kept in the same proportion as during the previous stage. This will again be followed by watering with water only, then Sensizym and then again water only, after which, the cycle will have to be started all over again. As said, the above procedure is intended for four waterings per week. However, if your pots are smaller or the roots have filled the whole substrate and you have to water more often, the doses of fertiliser will have to be reduced to avoid excess quantities. For example, if you are going to water seven times a week instead of four, cut the doses of fertiliser
In this article, we will analyse the first weeks of flowering until the ‘fattening’ stage of our marijuana plants. Then, the next issue will cover the final flowering weeks and the care plants require during this time. This is just the beginning of the final part of our outdoor marijuana cultivation. At this point, plants should be: • healthy; that is, free of pests and stress; • well fed, with no visible deficiencies and vigorous; • with enough space in the substrate for the roots to continue expanding –which is why the decision was previously made to transplant them a few weeks in advance and choose a large pot. It is very important to reach this stage in these conditions, in order to face the flowering cycle in the best possible way. From the summer solstice onwards, days are shorter, i.e., the hours of daylight decrease day after day. During growth, some pre-flowers are visible, which is indispensable for sexing the plants. But in many cannabis plants, especially indicas and indica/sativa hybrids, the actual flowering cycle starts in August. Pure sativa strains can delay flowering a few weeks longer. A trick to know when flowering starts for each strain is to subtract the weeks of flowering estimated for indoor growing from the date of the outdoor harvest advised by the seed bank, which will return the approximate date of flowering Theonset.start of flowering is not very easy to determine, since normally there is also a stretching stage between growth and proper flowering. Let's take a quick look
Small pots = small yield.
STAGES
'ADVANCED' BALCONY GROWING: FLOWERING (PART 1)
Plants stop stretching and start flowering. The third flowering stage begins. Waiting for buds to fatten. The second flowering stage begins. Getting close to the final stages.
16 17OUTDOOR GROWING Bosterix
Insects During these flowering stages, the most common insects are spider mites. Check the plants daily and at the first attack, act before it is too late. Stress Stress at this level of flowering development is counterproductive,totallyas it directly affects the size of the buds that are just forming and will only increase their weight and content of cannabinoids and terpenes in the next stage. So do not stress the plants and let those buds grow in peace. Do not remain idle during summer, devote yourself to your plants in these early stages of flowering so that their end up with the flavours and effects typical of their genetics.
FOR THE
New Sweet Seeds ® Strains for 2022
• Very high production of flowers and resin. And what better recognition than more than 150 awards distributed among our strains and 3 awards as best seed bank. To all this, we would like to add that at Sweet Seeds® we were the first cannabis seed bank to launch to the market (in 2013) a range of fastflowering photoperiod-dependent genetics, the well-known and famous F1 Fast Version® So, let's get to it: the best feminized and American new strains for 2022 Our involvement with American genetics goes back a long way. In 2007, we released our first strain from USA genetics, Ice Cool® (SWS06), developed from a line of NYC Diesel. This strain was a great success since its appearance, with 7 awards to prove it. As a good American seed, its potency, production and exotic and intense aromas stands out. For this year 2022, we bring you a selection of USA genetics, with the goal of bringing you a little closer to full knowledge of the most successful crosses of the American cannabis Withoutscene. further delay, we present you our 7 new American strains of intense aromas, great potency and exceptional resin production. Sweet Mimosa XL Auto® (SWS94) It's time to discover our most stimulating, cheerful and energetic cocktail. The cross between one of the most valued genetics of the USA, the Mimosa, and our Cream Mandarine Auto® (SWS29). Its exquisite aroma and citrus flavor of orange and tangerine with earthy touches from the original Mimosa, contribute for a fragrance that is reminiscent of a good cocktail of freshly squeezed juice. Tropicanna Poison XL Auto® (SWS95) Tropicanna Poison XL Auto® is our XL autoflowering in every sense: yield, taste, effect and aroma. It comes from the cross between an elite clone of Tropicanna Cookies, "Super Strong" genetics of the famous USA Cookies family, from a purple-flowered phenotype, and our famous purpleflowered autoflowering Red Poison Auto® (SWS39). It is a high yielder with resin soaked buds that can reach THC levels of up to 24%, without forgetting the high levels of terpenes it generates. Undoubtedly, this strain is loaded with aroma and flavor. Very sweet, intense and dense, with tones of mango and a soft Skunk background. Purple Punch OG XL Auto® (SWS96) Here we bring you an XL sized plant perfect for extractions. This 5th Generation autoflowering strain is the result of the cross between Purple Punch OG® (SWS93) and Killer Kush Auto® (SWS56). It is a beast in terms of terpene production, with special mention to its sweet and fruity aroma and flavor, with extra spicy OG Kush tones. In some individuals Purple Punch OG XL Auto® can develop beautiful purple or reddish flowers and leaves.
Gorilla Sherbet F1 Fast Version® (SWS98) This new strain results from the cross between our autoflowering Gorilla Girl XL Auto® (SWS82) and one of the biggest representatives of the Cookies family in the United States, the Sunset Sherbet. Strawberry Banana Gelato XL Auto (SWS99)
We are very excited to unveil our new lineup of cannabis seeds. Another year in which we have the honor to continue offering seeds of the highest quality to the cannabis world. At Sweet Seeds® we keep working and researching with the goal of creating new genetics that can adapt to any type of growing stile while standing out for their originality and quality. Do you want to know our New Strains for 2022? - Keep reading! Why should you choose our strains? Our commitment is very clear with our customers. We aim to achieve excellence in the creation of genetics with: • Maximum quality. • Delicious and intense tastes and aromas. • A 99.9% femininity rate. • Germination percentage higher than 95%.
Skywalker OG Runtz XL Auto® (SWS97) We continue with the extra-large American autoflowering strains. Skywalker OG Runtz XL Auto® is a mainly indica strain, with high yields, perhaps from another galaxy, with Tropicanna Poison XL Auto (SWS95) Skywalker OG Runtz XL Auto (SWS97) Sweet Mimosa XL Auto (SWS94) Purple Punch OG XL Auto (SWS96)
Gorilla Sherbet F1 Fast Version (SWS98) Sweet Zenzation XL Auto (SWS100) imperial aromas and tastes. Sweet and fruity, earthy and spicy tones stand out in this strain, mixed with aromas of the Diesel and OG Kush families. This fabulous autoflowering comes from the cross between a special indica, very on the west coast of the USA, the Skywalker OG (OG Kush x Skywalker) and our Runtz XL Auto® (SWS88).
18 19SEED BANKS
This strain joins our range of ultrafast flowering photoperiod-dependent strains, the "F1 Fast Version®" concept, and allows you to reach up to 23% of THC in record time. Gorilla Sherbet F1 Fast Version® is a choice of very powerful aromas and flavors, sweet and fruity, with citrus and woody tones. Strawberry Banana Gelato XL Auto® (SWS99) If you are looking for an Extra Large candy, very resinous and powerful, Strawberry Banana Gelato XL Auto® is already featured in our catalog. This 6th Generation autoflowering strain is the result from the cross between an elite clone of Strawberry Banana and our Sweet Gelato Auto® (SWS76). It stands out for its powerful aroma and sweet and fruity flavor, along with aromas of OG Kush, so irresistible among cannabis lovers. A very fast autoflowering strain that develops huge amounts of resin in its dense buds, with high levels of THC (1822%), in only 8 weeks after germination. A marvellous plant: XL size, fruity, fast and powerful... What else can we ask for? Sweet Zenzation XL Auto® (SWS100) We all know that in America almost everything is bigger and our Sweet Zenzation XL Auto® is now also bigger. This 7th Generation autoflowering strain, mostly indica, can reach up to 120 cm in height. In only 8 weeks the plants produce incredible amounts of terpenes, with a very intense sweet and fruity Amazingaroma.production of tight and dense buds covered in an irresistible resin with high levels of THC: it can reach You24%!can expect happy, calm and relaxing effects from this strain. In short, it is an American Zkittlez strain! XL size, high THC and dense buds. As you can see, it’s more than certain that you will find the ideal seed for your collection. We hope that our new cannabis seeds for the 2022 season get you a little closer to the power, aromas and typical American flavors. But above all, we expect you to enjoy your seed collections as much as we enjoyed creating our genetics. Which of our new strains will you choose? Thanks for being here. We wish you The Sweetest Experience.
By Stoney Tark GROW WITH STONEY TARK A BEGINNERS’ GUIDE TO GENETICS
An example of a hybrid that takes 9.5 weeks to flower.
• Perfect for growers who have limited height indoors or outdoors. Indicas are typically fast flowering varieties that take between 7-8 weeks.
Sativa Cannabis Plants You could say that sativa Cannabis plants represent the other end of the genetic spectrum. Unlike indica Cannabis plants, sativas will grow with a very different structure and appearance, leaf shape and pattern. Internodal spacing will be much larger and once flowering is triggered, sativa plants may stretch up to 3 times in Thesize.flowering time will usually be between 12-14 weeks with a full-blooded land race sativa, meaning they require much more maintenance and patience. The effects associated with sativa plants are uplifting, energetic, focused and euphoric. Some examples of sativas are Hawaii Maui Waui and Neville’s Haze. The Pros • Sativa plants are huge yielders and will produce long, elongated buds.
The Pros • Hybrids represent the best of both parental traits.
Indica Cannabis Plants
• They are easier to grow than sativas and a good choice for beginners.
20 Untitled-3 1 06/07/2022 09:40:43
• Flowering time can vary between 8-10 weeks with some hybrids. Plant Training Tips Hybrid Cannabis plants will typically be large yielding strains. With topping, L.S.T and pruning they can become large sized during the vegetative period. Once flowering, some plants may require support due to the weighted buds late into flower. Are Seeds or Clones Best? As a beginner grower, it is always a good idea to start with Cannabis seeds. As the plant grows, and you learn more about its life cycle and requirements, then you can venture into working with clones. Seedlings are the very best starting point as far as learning is concerned. Clones are practical, but everything starts with a seed!
Indica Cannabis plants represent one side of the genetic spectrum. They will grow with a small and bushy structure, with short internodal spacing, and once flowered do not stretch much in height. They will produce stocky and fat fan leaves that may end up blocking out light from the inner parts of the canopy. The effect associated with indica Cannabis plants is a heavy, couch lock and physical body high. Some examples of full-blooded indicas are Afghani genetics that can flower within 50-60 days. The Pros • An effortless to grow plant that does not require much maintenance once Indicasflowering.are great candidates for Sea of Green set-ups, as they are short.
• The stretch can be difficult to control to the inexperienced grower.
• It can take multiple generations of breeding to stabilize a hybrid.
• Long flower times means more electricity, nutrients, and space indoors.
• Yields may be smaller than when growing hybrid or sativa cultivars.
Sativa cannabis plants can grow very fast during the vegetative stage, so plant training such as tying down, topping and super cropping are well advised. When performed at the right times, the final plant height will be reduced and yields increased. Hybrid Cannabis Plants Hybrids are a mix of indica and sativa, and represent the most desirable traits from the parental lines. When two plants are crossed together, a hybrid should represent an enhanced version with the best of both worlds. Hybrids can come as 25/75, 50/50 or 75/25 ratio of indica to sativa, and will vary in flowering time from 8-9.5 weeks. The yields from a hybrid can often be much better than the parental lines, and the effects associated can range from potent and heavy, well-balanced, or upbeat and focused. Some good examples of hybrids are Skunk and Kush cultivars.
race to choose from.
• The taste and aroma of indica plants may be quite limited. Plant Training Tips
21
• They offer a wider spectrum in terms of effect, aroma, and flavor. The Cons
• Phenotypes may significantly differ when growing a large volume.
• The stretch will cause plants to double in height at the most.
It is a good idea to remove any large fan leaves that block light, whilst the plants are in the vegetative stage. It is also a good idea to prune away and lollipop the plants a week before flowering to allow better air flow around the plants.
• With plant training, they can become extremely rewarding. Sativa plants will thrive in hot climates with long seasons. There is a wide variety of sativa land WHICH CANNABIS STRAIN IS BEST FOR ME?
• Sativas do not perform well outdoors in colder climates.
• The flowering time can be too long for many indoor growers.
• There is a huge amount of hybrid cultivars available.
• Tough and resilient plants that perform well in colder climates. The Cons • Some fan leaves can block light and will need pruning during 18/6.
The Cons • Plants may grow as tall as 15 feet outdoors, and you will need a ladder.
• Great for using with a SCROG net.
Plant Training Tips
• Some hybrids may not show hybrid vigor and have enhanced.
The grower has a mixture of indica and hybrid Cannabis plants.
There has never been a better time to be a grower, with such a wide variety of genetics and breeders out there. If it is your first time growing indoors or outdoors, having the best suited strain for your environment and skill level is crucial. In this article we break down indica, sativa and hybrid genetics, providing the pros and cons of each as well as plant training tips.
HPS lamps are still great choice for cannabis growers.
23 1 free seed OrderNow!PA R A D I S E S E E D S C O M with every 3, 5 & 10 pack purchase (of any Validseeds)from1-7-2022until31-8-2022 22 GROW WITH MR. JOSE Mr. José / info@mrjose.eu
Artificial lighting is considered to be the most dynamically developing area in indoor growing. Until a decade ago, metal halide and sodium lamps ruled the market. At that time, LED modules were new to the market and the vast majority of growers had doubts whether they could be suitable for cultivating plants. Nowadays, we can choose from a wide range that includes both technologies. In this new article, you are about to find out which technology would suit you best and how to make the right choice.
WHY DOES CANNABIS NEED SPECIAL LIGHTS? There are basically two reasons. Cannabis requires high intensity lighting (we will get to that in greater detail later) and also differently tuned lights than the ones people normally use because human eye perceives light quite dif ferently than plants. What is especially important is the need for specific com position of the light spectrum when we want to induce powerful flowering. What does the word light actually mean? Light is a part of electromagnetic radiation that has different wavelengths. Waves of electromagnetic radiation are like waves on the sea, and the distance between each wave is what we call a wavelength. Radiation with the shortest wavelengths includes gamma rays or X-rays, while the longest wavelengths are radio waves. Somewhere between these two extremes is radiation with wavelengths of roughly 400 to 750 nanometres, which is called “visible” light. Plants sense and actively respond to elec tromagnetic radiation in the range of around 300 to 800 nm, but common knowledge states that plants make use of radiation in the range of 400 to 700 nm for photosynthesis. The range 300–800 nm is sometimes referred to as photo-biologically active radiation (PBAR). Some sources suggest that the PBAR starts at 280 nm. Despite the fact there appears to be sig nificant overlap between visible light and photosynthetically active radiation, the main difference is that plants are more sensitive to other parts of this range than the human eye. This can be easily demonstrated, for example, in the col our green. In this particular area, plants are sensitive only a little (they reflect most of the green colour), whereas we, humans, can see it very well. On the other hand, we are less sensitive to, e.g., long-wave red radiation. In practical terms, we can say that when we put our plants under normal household lights, they will grow, but they will end up weak and the eventual harvest will be negli Nowadays,gible.
THECHOOSINGPROPER LIGHT FOR INDOOR GROWING
manufacturers of lights for cannabis growing have varying attitudes. Someone is focusing on full spectrum in order to mimic sunlight as closely as possible. Others are focusing or Red/ Blue spectrum – that is an area of the light spectrum to which plants are most responsive in terms of photosynthesis. In both cases, manufacturers attempt to extend the radiation into the UV-B area, which helps increase resin produc tion, and/or into the long-wave Far-Red, which has an effect on, for example, the rate of flowering onset or the elongation of shaded parts of the plant.
HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE LAMPS (HID) Even today, this type of lighting is the preferred choice of indoor growers around the world. This group includes high pressure sodium lamps, metal hal ide lamps, ceramic metal halide lamps and plasma lamps. Their huge advan tage is high power, light intensity and, in my opinion, their wide price range. The cheapest reflector and sodium lamp kit (600 W) with accessories can be bought for around €120. The best 600W models with electronic ballast and power control cost around 500 to 600 €. Plasma lamps are slightly more expensive, but they can emit a higher proportion of UV-A and UV-B radiation, which stimulates the plants to produce more resin and also protects them against a number of fungal diseases. Plasma lamps are convenient as supplementary lighting to other types of HID lamps and also to LED modules. Fans of HID lamps often highlight the fact that they emit radiant heat in addition to light, meaning they perfectly mimic the sun's radiation. They are right because other light sourc es do not produce radiant heat. In addi tion, HID lamps are available in many variants with different light spectrum curves. With other technologies, it is not easy to mimic the sun, a natural source of heat and photosynthetically active Butradiation.every story has two sides, and the emission of heat is actually “the” reason for a significant number of growers to move away from HID lamps. Why? The efficiency of converting elec tricity into light is much lower than in the case of the second most common technology of these days – LED lighting systems. In fact, there is often more heat emitted than needed with HID lamps, especially in fully indoor opera tions without access to sunlight. This means that not only is some of the energy consumed by lights automati cally used to produce unwanted heat radiation, but additional energy must be applied to cool the growing area (which heats up more than necessary because of HID lamps). Who, on the other hand, can still ben efit from using HID? Anyone who can use them and at the same time does not have adjust the desired climate, i.e. relative humidity and warmth, in the growing area. In regions with long sum mer and temperatures often above 25 °C, cooling a fully indoor grow room equipped with HID lamps will always be more expensive than using LED technol ogy. Under such conditions, LEDs are clearly a preferable option in terms of overall efficiency. On the other hand, in places with short summer and lower temperatures, cool ing a grow room could be easier and the lower price of HID lamps can make more economic sense. Still, we are talking only short term, since the lifetime of good quality LED modules is much longer than that of HID lamps. In explicitly cold environment, HIDs can always be an excellent solution. The reason is that if other lightning technologies were to be used, the grow room would need to be heated externally. LED MODULES When the first LED modules for growing plants began emerging on the market around 2010, people had either great doubts, or unrealistic expectations about what they can do. A long time has passed since then, and believe today that LED lights are suitable for almost everyone. This technology is on track to eventually become the dominant system in the growing sector, just as it has become in conventional lighting.
One of HID bulbs which become popular during last decade – CMH.
There is no doubt than LED technology is a good solution for cannabis growing.
LED technology provides a highly vari able light spectrum that can be changed during cultivation. To put it simply: once the lighting system is set up with LEDs of different colours, it is possible to change the light spectrum during cultivation, for example to add more red during the flowering phase or, conversely, more blue during the growth stage. There are many variations available. There are a huge number of LED mod ules on the market and their prices vary enormously. One rule states: quality LEDs are not cheap. When LED manufac turers want to save money they have a number of options. The chip manufac turers, whether it is OSRAM, Samsung, Cree or Seoul produce higher quality and lower quality chips with lower light output. Semiconductor manufactur ing is simply not 100% controllable, so, naturally, there are quality differences in production. Different quality levels are offered for each type of diodes from every manufacturer. You can pay three times as much for high-quality diodes than for the lowest grade. You can also choose higher voltages and get more light with fewer diodes. In such case, however, the lifetime drops significantly and can be even shorter than with HID lamps. And there can be many more dif ferences. A more detailed analysis of the LED market situation deserves a special article and you can look forward to it in the next issue of Soft Secrets.
LEDs have two enormous advantages: they save about 30% energy compared to HID lamps, and they have an incom parably longer lifetime. While HID lamps work properly between 10 to 20,000 hours, LED modules are said to have a lifetime of 50,000 hours, even up to 90,000 hours with secondary optics. In a typical indoor grow room, the lights are on for about 5,000 hours per year. What is more, LED lights emit significant ly lower amounts of heat and are much more affordable than in the past, when replacing HID lighting required a tenfold investment. There is still some heat produced in the grow room because even semiconducting diodes heat up during operation, although they would go a long way to be as hot as HID lamps. Also, the LED temperature should be kept as low as possible for it to operate properly and efficiently.
CAN I GROW WITH LOW INTENSITY LIGHTS? Yes, you surely can, but you cannot expect strong yields and good quality, since cannabis plants need high light intensity to satisfy you with serious yields and compact flowers. On the other hand, for instance, a PPFD (photo synthetic photon flux density) of about 400–600 µmol/m2s is good enough for growing tomatoes during flowering and ripening. Yet, for a good quality cannabis crop you need 700–1100 µmol/m2s –almost twice as much. However, there are many growers, pre dominantly home growers, who grow under low intensity lights. The reasons can vary: they have either very little space to grow in, or they are not able to cool the area effectively, or they want spend as little money as possible. For this purpose, low-pressure mercurybased fluorescent lamps, known as CFLs, or the least powerful LED modules are best suited. CFL lights can be purchased for as little as €40. Personally, however, I'm not very fond of this way of grow ing, in my opinion it is a just emergency solution for enthusiasts, because it is not cost-effective.
The warmer it is, the more water the air is able to hold. For example, a garden room or greenhouse that can hold 190 cl of water at 32 degrees C with 50 percent relative humidity, will hold the same 190 cl at 21 degrees C, but the humidity climbs to 75 percent!
Irrigationwater.water penetrates soil evenly with this drip emitter system. Jim Sadeji from https://www.oblintl.com/team, set down a thick layer of straw mulch to help disperse the water more evenly so that it penetrates soil uniformly. The mulch also holds in moisture and helps build healthy soil. Hand water outdoor plants around the base wetting all the way to the drip line, the edge of the foliage. Give plants a good soaking so that there is enough water to penetrate the soil deeply. The excess water will continue to sink in the soil and roots will follow the water downward. Handwatering is a great way to apply a lot of water to a small area of soil.Water every few days or weekly. Less frequent watering will ensure roots grow deeper and help protect plants against drought conditions. Watering a little every day will encourage a shallow root system that provides a short-term supply of water. If you miss a few days, plants suffer water stress. A water wand with a shower head attached to the hose will save time and make watering easier. A water wand will extend your reach and help avoid broken branches while leaning over to water in tight quarters. Buy a water wand at the nursery or construct one from plastic PVC pipe. I have been using Dramm water wands for years.
This article was excerpted from the new digital Edition unpublished 6th Edition of Marijuana Horticulture (AKA the Bible) by Jorge Cervantes. The new digital edition will be available as this summer, 2022. Jorge is very excited about the new digital edition because you will be able to contribute to the digital book. © 2020, © 2021, © 2022. Hit, www.marijuanagrowing.com for updates on the new 6th Edition.
GROW A
Water wands have a nozzle/breaker head that disperses the water into a series of small streams. This simple action aerates water just before entering the soil and it breaks it up into soft streams that penetrate soil quickly and evenly. A heavy stream of water from a single nozzle or hose partially capped with a finger disrupts soil surface and penetrates soil inconsistently.
ability to germinate and establish in stressed conditions, as well as increase its water and fertilizer uptake. Irrigate earth-grown cannabis when the soil is dry 2-3 cm below soil surface. Recently transplanted cannabis will need watering more often the first few weeks, especially during warm to hot Whenweather.planted in cool weather, roots get a chance to grow downward and outward before hot weather hits. These transplants grow much better and require less frequent irrigation than if planted after the weather Seedlingswarms. started in soil indoors and moved outdoors early are able to develop a long taproot. The taproot grows deeply into the soil. Seedlings planted early in the year tend to be more drought-resistant than clones that are planted later that develop shallower root system. Reduce temperature stress and lower water consumption by applying mulch and growing under shade cloth. Apply mulch to protect soil from rain and the blazing sun. Mulch also attracts and holds moisture in the soil. Conserve as much as 80 percent of irrigation water by applying a thick layer of my favorite mulch, straw. Install a semi-permeable shade cloth to decrease wind and lower water consumption. Shade cloth makes a great easy-to-construct wind block. Wind sucks moisture from cannabis plants quickly, depleting energy and increasing water needs and plant Putstress.shade cloth above outdoor gardens to keep them degrees cooler which in turn lowers water requirements and plant stress. Plants exposed to wind dry out much faster. Outdoor, terrace and patio plants will use up to four times or more water on a warm windy day. Keeping up with the watering is difficult for gardeners who travel and it is timeAnconsuming.automated irrigation system that uses a timer will help keep the irrigation schedule consistent. A thick layer of mulch will keep water from disturbing the top layer of soil where the bulk of feeder roots are located. Watering soil covered with mulch allows the water to soak into the soil evenly and avoid dry pockets.
above 29 degrees C and relative humidity above 85 percent cause stomata to open in the 70-80 percent range to cool foliage. High temperatures and low humidity signal stomata to close to reduce transpiration to conserve water and this tends to dehydrate cannabis. Avoid causing cannabis plants to suffer heat and humidity stress so that stomata function at peak capacity. Grow room nighttime temperature can drop 2-5 degrees C with little noticeable effect on growth rate. Keep nighttime temperatures above 5 degrees C and do not let them freeze. If the temperature dips below 0 degrees C, the freeze will rupture plant cells and foliage will die back or, at best, grow slowly. Growth slows when the temperature dips below 10 degrees C. Stressing plants with cold weather conditions is not recommended; it may yield a proportionately higher THC content but will reduce plants’ overall productivity. Temperatures above 29 degrees C are not recommended even when using CO2 enrichment. Under the proper conditions which are very demanding to maintain, higher temperatures speed growth.
Stress causes cannabis to develop more slowly. The end result is a sub-standard harvest. You can help your cannabis plants avoid stress caused by high and low temperatures, humidity and irrigation water. Stress also opens the door to disease and pest attacks, sex reversal, creating intersex (hermaphrodite) qualities. Here are a few simple techniques you can use to avoid stressing you and your garden and harvest heavy. Temperature fluctuations cause stress, and also affect relative humidity, often causing more side effects. Addressing temperature stress without discussing how it affects humidity would give an incomplete picture. Temperature affects cannabis growth and when extreme, can lead to stress. Both the temperature of the atmosphere and the soil affect plant growth. Measuring and controlling temperature is essential to growing a healthy crop of cannabis. The temperature also affects the humidity in an enclosed room and greenhouse. Outdoors you have less control of humidity. In fact, the most control you have is to plant in a breezeway or location where air moves. The stomata open and close according to plant needs in relation to their environment. Stomata open and close partially or completely under a variety of stressful conditions including high and low temperatures and Temperatureshumidity.
Moisture meters take the guesswork out of watering. The probe is inserted into the soil that measures moisture content at the tip. A readout is displayed on an analog wet-to-dry scale at the top of the device. I´m always surprised how unevenly some soils and soilless mixes hold water. Dry soil pockets surrounded by wet substrate impairs moisture and nutrient uptake. Roots suffer stress and grow more slowly. use an inexpensive (€20) meter. More expensive meters are available that send collected information to your digital device where it is compiled, analyzed and presented in a numeric or graphic format.
24 25GROW WITH JORGE CERVANTES Jorge Cervantes jorge@marijuanagrowing.com
CANNABISSTRESS-FREEGARDEN
Other complications and problems result from excess humidity and moisture condensation when the temperature drops at night. Stems stretch in reaction to a sudden burst of hot weather. Seedlings and clones will also stretch if grown in 27 degrees C temperatures. Outdoor gardens tend to withstand heat pretty well up until prolonged temperatures above 32 degrees C set in. More than a few growers have lost their crops to excessive heat during summer vacations. Some indoor gardeners forget to maintain good ventilation in the grow room while on vacation. Temperatures can easily climb to 38 degrees C or more in grow rooms that are poorly insulated and vented. The hotter it is, the more ventilation and water that are necessary. Cold winter weather can cause widespread electrical outages. If accompanied by super-cold weather, water pipes freeze, and heating systems fail. In extreme cases electricity is restored days later. Gardens freeze and plants turn mushy and limp. Indoor and greenhouses must have a backup heating and light system if garden temperatures drop to freezing or below.
Big strong plants have suffered little stress. When allowed to grow stress-free, cannabis develops to its fullest genetic potential. This translates into a heavy harvest. Wind sucks the moisture out of plants quickly. Water use can easily increase 3-5 fold when plants are under hot sunlight all day and suffer from prolonged wind consume much more
Mulch reduces water use by up to 80 percent by slowing evaporation in the blazing sun. Water plants in containers until water comes out the drainage holes in the bottom. The drainage water carries out any unwanted nutrients that have built up in the soil.
Do not withhold water to stress cannabis at any stage of growth. Cannabis requires a lot of water. Withholding water causes stress and stunts all stages of growth. Rationing water during flowering causes smaller flowers to grow that produce less. Plants suffering water stress are much more prone to a menagerie of problems. Wetting agents: Commercial grower, Steve Rogers, UsespreaderadverseThissolubleSaponinsconcentratedThermdrenchesHewetting(www.arbico-organics.com/)com/singingpig/)(https://www.facebook.appliesThermX-70,anaturalagentderivedfromyucca.usesitasaspreaderstickerandthesoilwhenhefoliarfeeds.X-70contains100percentyuccaextract,20percentand80percentotherwater-substancesfromYucca.extracthelpsplantsovercomewaterconditionsandisagreatandstickerforothersprays.ThermX-70toincreaseyourcrop's
• The juice of half a lime Two tablespoons crème fraiche
• One chopped red pepper or green pepper • 250g refried beans/kidney beans
• Two ripe tomatoes
INGREDIENTS-MAKES
• Two ripe avocados
• Sour Cream
GUACAMOLE
HIGH CUISINE WITH BETTY GREEN
• One teaspoon of chilli powd
26 27
• ½ medium white onion finely chopped • Two cloves of garlic minced • One teaspoon of ground cumin
• One teaspoon salt • 200g of grated cheddar cheese (substitute for other varieties if you wish) 12 soft taco tortilla boats
Foods that are oil and fat-heavy like cheesy dips, mashed potatoes, cauliflower cheese and mac and cheese are only made more delicious by adding cannabis, and so are tacos. The mix of herbs, the intense flavours of onions, sour cream, and salsa and course, the spice and heat play their part! Like all my recipes, these tacos are not only tasty and easy to make, but they are also suitable for vegetarians or those with a plant-based diet. I love the soft tortilla boats for making tacos, as you can get so much more in them, and they are not as messy to eat as the hard corn shells. am making chicken, but you can use beef, tofu, veg etc. If you are vegan, you can substitute the cheese and sour cream with plant-based alternatives and use infused coconut oil instead of infused butter. 6 TACOS
Everyone loves tacos. Initially inspired by Mexican cuisine, tacos have taken on a life of their own mainly because they are so versatile. There is a taco for everyone, chicken, beef, pork, fish, tofu, and even dessert tacos! If you can think of it, then you can make it.
• 200g of grated cheddar cheese (or alternative)
• Three sprigs of fresh coriander
• One spring onion
• Three skinless, boneless chicken breasts • 20g of cannabutter • Two teaspoons of vegetable oil
SALSA GREEN TACOS
• 3-4 finely chopped spring onions
• hot sauce/chilli sauce of your choice
TOPPINGS IDEAS (OPTIONAL) -to be served in bowls with serving spoons
Ingredients
BETTY
• half a shredded iceberg lettuce INSTRUCTIONS First, prep your chosen toppings and cover them until serving. They can be from the list above or your ideas. Preparing them now will save you time later. Prepare your soft tortillas. I find the best way to infuse these tacos is the simplest. Just spread the cannabutter directly onto the inside of the soft tortilla. This method ensures that each taco contains precisely the same amount of cannabutter. Soften the butter gently and divide it into equal portions, in this case, 5g per serving. However, depending on your tolerance and your butter's strength, you may want to amend this. Put the tortillas on baking trays. Spread the softened butter evenly so that it covers the whole tortilla. Chop up your chicken and pan-fry it on low/ medium heat. This should take between 10-15 minutes. Cut through a chunky piece to check it's cooked before serving. Pre-heat your oven to around 140C to warm your tortillas when instructed. Make your salsa by roughly chopping the tomatoes, trimming and finely slicing the spring onion and roughly chopping the coriander leaves. Mix with the lime juice and season with salt to taste. Make your guacamole by halving and destoning the avocados. Mash the flesh with a fork, add the lime juice and the crème fraîche, season, and mix it all up. Cover and put in the fridge till serving In a pan, on medium heat, add your oil and sauté the onion until it's soft and translucent (3 minutes). Add your garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Add cumin, chilli powder, and salt—Cook for one more minute. Add roughly 125g of your salsa. Add a splash of water if it looks too thick. Saute for 1 min. Add the chicken when cooked and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Whilst the chicken is simmering, add some grated cheese to each tortilla and place them in the middle of the oven for 2-3 Removeminutes.from the oven. Spoon your chicken mixture evenly into each tortilla and top with lettuce, more cheese, your guacamole, the remaining salsa, hot sauce and any other toppings you have picked. Serve immediately whilst everything is warm and melty! Tacos are great as anything goes, so get as weird as you like with whatever you use. My only warning would be, don't enjoy them so much that you forget that your tacos are infused; otherwise, you may find yourself in Likewise,trouble. always ensure ispreciselyfoodyouranybodythateatinginfusedknowswhatinit.
• 3-4 Fresh chopped chillies
By Betty Green Tacos are also a great food that can be "dressed up or down". At a festival and want some quick filling street food? Have a taco. Going out for a tasty filling meal? Have a taco. Tacos are a delicious meal appreciated worldwide, so much so that they even have their designated day of the week. Tuesdays! My Mexican-inspired delights satisfy those carb cravings and are great for those who like a bit of spice. When it comes to infused food, taco's hit the mark. Regarding flavour profile, tacos work well with weed, complementing that tell-tale taste.
• The juice of half a lime
• One teaspoon of dried oregano
LISTEN PSYCHADELIC- PSOUL WITH JESSIE DELGADO AVAILABLE WHEREVER YOU GET PODCASTS.YOUR Want something different to listen to whilst you are having a smoke session? This podcast takes you on a journey through the podcast psychedelic music of the 1960s. The music ranges from familiar hits to album cuts and rare recordings. New episodes are uploaded weekly and are generally about an hour long. For example, each episode's format follows a different band or theme. There is an episode dedicated to legendary rock band Pink Floyd's early years. It documents Syd Barrett, the principal songwriter for the band who helped transition it into the bewitching Day-Glo Psychedelic treat for the ears that we are all familiar with. The show features music from the Pink Floyds' first tracks from "Piper at The Gates Of Dawn", their sole complete album with Syd, and some of his solo work. Another hour is devoted to The Beach Boys and their "Pet Sounds" era, which was always viewed as somewhat of a departure from his usual song writing style for Brian Wilson. Other notable artists featured on dedicated episodes include Bob Dylan, ELO, and The Grateful Dead. Kick back, listen to some psychedelic tunes in the sun, and simultaneously learn a bit of music history. By Rich Hamilton
WOODY
SOFT SECRETSMEDIA
28 MEDIA HERE IS SOFT SECRETS RUN DOWN OF WHAT TO WATCH LISTEN AND READ THIS MONTH.
OPENS HOLLYWOODDISPENSARYBOUTIQUEINWEST
In this distinctive combination of science, history, science, memoir, and reportage, Pollan rejuvenates a topic that is often treated in an oversimplified way. By doing this, he demonstrates that there is much more to say than merely debating regulation. When we allow these plants to change our minds, we engage with nature in one of the most profound ways possible. This one-of-a-kind book reflects our basic human needs and desires, the working of our minds and our connection with the natural world.
WATCHGRASS IS GREENERNETFLIX
29CANNABIS
Over the years, Harrelson has been a very vocal supporter and user of cannabis. In 1996, he was arrested in Kentucky when he symbolically planted four hemp seeds to challenge a state law that did not distinguish between industrial hemp and marijuana. Over 25 years later, the actor never thought he would see the day when cannabis would be a legal, viable commodity. "I did not think it would ever be allowed. Of course, the government still gets their cut and maybe actually they get more than they ever did now. It's mindblowing because, to be honest, I never thought that it would get to this stage. "I never thought you'd even have it to where it was legal, much less than you could get it from a store. So, it's pretty exciting." By Rich Hamilton HARRELSON
Directed and hosted by hip hop legend Fab 5 Freddy, "Grass is Greener" is a documentary that takes an in-depth look at cannabis, its history, and the story of U.S prohibition predominantly via the lens of music and race. The film looks at the jazz age's music (and weed) icons, including Louis Armstrong and Count Basie, and how this coincided with the government's move to ban marijuana by using the "Reefer Madness" propaganda and racism. Fab 5 Freddy discusses the role cannabis has played in black music in America. He leads us through history into the current era of legalization and looks at how the same minority groups who have endured the brunt of the War on Drugs are left out of the legal weed boom. He speaks with some prominent black music icons and cannabis advocates, including Snoop Dogg, Chuck D, B Real and Damian Marley.
Actor and cannabis advocate Woody Harrelson recently opened a legal cannabis dispensary in West Hollywood, complete with a consumption lounge in its back Harrelson'sgarden.new business venture, "The Woods", opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, May 13th, attended by, amongst others, the mayor of West Hollywood and the head of the city's Chamber of Commerce. "Hopefully, we've added beauty and good times here and we can make the West Hollywood Citizens a little bit higher," stated Harrelson to the crowd gathered outside on opening day. "It's the greatest day I've had in a long time." There are expected 16 cannabis consumption lounges licensed in the affluent West Hollywood area. Including The Woods. Harrelson founded "The Woods WeHo" with ERBA Dispensary co-founders Devon Wheeler and Jay Handal, political commentator Bill Maher, interior designer Thomas Schools, and Design Chief Executive Michael Berman. The city with a population of 35,000 is becoming a haven for weed businesses and consumption lounges. West Hollywood was recently rebranded as a tourist destination called Emerald Village. Located on Santa Monica Blvd, The Woods is situated between highend restaurants and shopping malls in an 8,000-square-foot space. It covers all your weed needs, from smoking apparatuses to flowers and edibles, all housed in a high-end boutique "Forenvironment.alongtime, used to think about, 'Wouldn't it be cool to have your own dispensary? But I never liked the idea that you couldn't consume on-site, as you can in Amsterdam." However, Harrelson praised the city of West Hollywood for its forward-thinking and acceptance of the idea of dispensaries having their own on-site consumption Thelounges.Woods will be carrying various cannabis brands. Still, in keeping with Harrelson's tastes, they will focus on organic, Californian sun-grown strains. "I believe in sun-grown; the war on drugs pushed growers indoors. I call it chem weed; it spawned the use of a lot of fertilisers and artificial lights, and so Weforth.don't need that anymore. We won the war on drugs in California. Let's bring it outdoors where it belongs. It wants to be outside or in a greenhouse; let it get real sun. The quality is so much better." On the subject of what he calls chem weed and the production of strains that keep pushing those THC levels higher and higher, he has this to say "that just blows the top of your heads off. Why do I need that? Just one hit is all get? " Harrelson is far from the only Hollywood A-lister to enter the legal cannabis space in the USA. If reports are accurate, two other consumption lounges are planned for the West Hollywood neighbourhood. Jay-Z is rumoured to be behind one, and actress Patricia Arquette is said to be an investor in the other. With many celebs, including Snoop, Jay Z, Wiz Khalifa and Seth Rogen, already invested in their cannabis brands, Harrelson has similar plans and would also like to start a brand in the future. "I have a particular kind of approach. want to do everything can to encourage sun-grown herb."
In another achievement this year, Harrelson also recently received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, Recognising him for his longtime cannabis activism, as part of the 18th annual Emerald Cup Awards. The Emerald Cup is a world-famous cannabis event that honours the best-in-class of all thing’s cannabis and its cultivation. From pre-rolls, flowers, edibles, dispensary, and design.
Grass is greener highlights how even as cannabis is becoming legal, the stigma surrounding its use is still being used to dirty the reputations of black American citizens such as Michael Brown, Philando Castille, and Botham Jean after the police have killed them. The story of cannabis in America has long been tied to the history of music in America. The Grass is greener forces us to see how deeply race has been intertwined in the history of weed and how much work there still is to do to correct things.
READTHIS IS YOUR MIND ON PLANTS, PUBLISHEDBYCAFFEINE-MESCALINEOPIUM-MICHAELPOLLANBYPENGUIN Humans rely on plants for many things. Arguably the most interesting is our use of them to change our state of consciousness, whether to stimulate, calm and quiet or alter the qualities of our mental experiences. In this book, Michael Pollan investigates three drugs - opium, caffeine, and mescaline- making us look at them completely new. By exploring and partaking in the cultures that have grown up around these drugs while consuming or, in the case of caffeine, trying to avoid them, Pollan attempts to unravel the powerful human interest in psychoactive plants and the equally powerful taboos that they bring with them.
Editor: Cliff Contributors:CremerJorge Cervantes, Stoney Tark, Rich Hamilton, Mr. José, Green Born Identity (G.B.I.), Betty Green, TricomaTeam, Tommy L. Gomez, Fabrizio Dentini, Boisterix and others. Comics: Jim EditorialPhotography:StewartiStockadress: readers@softsecrets.nl
E-mail:Advertisements:info@softsecrets.nl A word from the publisher: Soft Secrets is a bi-monthly free magazine which is published in The Netherlands (called Highlife), Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, Poland, Czech Republic and Chile. World wide there is a process going on of relative liberalisation towards the use of cannabis, be it for medicinal or recreational purposes. Several countries COLOFON legalised cannabis as a way of separating soft and hard drugs, as it has proven to do in Holland. Other countries legalised the use of medicinal cannabis, including the right to grow cannabis plants for one’s own use. The publisher wants to highlight the pro cess of normalisation of cannabis use. This assumes that the publisher does not necessarily agree with everything that appears in articles and advertisements. The publisher therefore distances him self explicitly from published statements or images that might give the impression that an endorsement is being made for the use and/or production of cannabis. Nothing from this publication may be copied or reproduced in any format with out prior permission from the publisher and other copyright holders. The pub lisher is not responsible for the content and/or point of view of advertisements. The editor takes no responsibility for unsollicited submissions. The publisher has endeavored to reach all copyright holders of photos and/or images. Those who still believe they are entitled to these rights may contact the publisher. Next issue out: October 28 2022 visit the new Soft Secrets website! our new website it is even easier to find articles you like. So sit back, relax and find all you want to know about the world of cannabis on the new softsecrets.com. for mobile phones!
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