GB 02 23

AMSTERDAM WANTS TO TAKE PART IN NATIONAL CANNABIS CULTIVATION EXPERIMENT

Amsterdam city council is hoping to take part in the regulated marihuana cultivation and sales experiment which the Dutch government plans to launch in 2024.

Amsterdam wants to participate in the national experiment to regulate the cannabis supply chain for coffeeshops, or to test to determine whether it is possible to make cannabis cultivation legal. The Dutch government project has faced numerous delays over the years, after first garnering majority support in Parliament in 2016. The municipality is investigating which city district should take part, Mayor Femke Halsema told the national Cabinet. The municipality aims to designate a district in May. The mayor, the local police chief, and the head of the local office of the Public Prosecution Service agreed to participate in the experiment. Amsterdam has previously expressed interest in participating in the trial, but this "turned out to be impossible due to the large number (166) of coffee shops in the city," according to the municipality. The city decided not to take part in the regulated marihuana experiment when the plans were first introduced several years ago, because every coffee shop in the city would have to comply.

Ten municipalities were selected to participate in the trial with the legal cultivation, purchase, and sale of cannabis. The Cabinet is now preparing to expand the experiment with an eleventh municipality. An amendment to the Closed Coffee Shop Chain Act will make this possible. The municipality said that the scale and population of the city districts make them "suitable" for participation in the experiment. Amsterdam

will soon enter into discussions with the city districts and coffeeshop owners about possible participation. Talks are currently being held with the Ministry of Justice and Security and the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport to work out more details, the city said. The aim of the experiment is to assess how cannabis cafes ("coffee shops") can operate legally and buy the product from official growers. Coffee shops are currently licenced by their local authority, but buy marihuana on the illegal market.

The changes currently being discussed in Parliament may mean that the city could take part with a limited number of coffee shops, a spokesman for the mayor told the press. Nevertheless, he said, there is still a long way to go and as yet it is unclear if the city would be able to participate. In addition, coffee shop owners would also have to agree. Health minister Ernst Kuipers commented on Amsterdam’s wish to take part in the program, that it is ‘good news for the weed experiment’. The Dutch government’s plans to experiment with regulated marijuana production and sales have been

beset by numerous problems since they were launched six years ago. The aim of the project is to remove the grey area between licenced cannabis cafes / coffee shops and the illegal growing scene, and to reduce the role of organised crime. The experiment has encountered many difficulties, like the refusal of the big five cities to take part in the trial under the current rules. Amsterdam is the only city in the Netherlands where anyone over the age of 18 can buy marihuana products in a coffee shop. Elsewhere, only local residents can buy marihuana. Mayor Halsema has wanted to change the laws in Amsterdam so that the locals-only rule would apply, but city councillors voted against the plan last year. They were not convinced of the need to close the city’s cannabis cafes to tourists and feared an increase in street dealing.

The starting date of the cannabis experiment has already been pushed back several times. Legal cannabis will probably not be sold in the 11 municipalities until 2024.

Sources: NL Times, Dutch News

SEEDSTOCKERS SUPERIOR

SWEET SEEDS® PRESENTS THE BEST CANNABIS SEEDS FOR 2023

MISDIAGNOSED GARDEN PROBLEMS PART TWO WITH JORGE CERVANTES

By Rich Hamilton

GERMAN CDU/CSU PARTY WANTS BETTER ACCESS TO MEDICAL CANNABIS

The centre-right CDU/CSU party, known as the 'union' faction, has asked for more appropriate care for medicinal cannabis patients.

The call surprised many considering the party's resistance to Germany's objectives of launching an adult-use cannabis market. The application reads as follows.

"Due to the reservations that still exist in connection with a lack of specialist knowledge about the mode of action of cannabis as a medicine, cannabis medicinal products are not even considered as a therapeutic approach even when directly requested by patients."

It details additional problems, including the increased administrative burdens experienced in the approval procedure for health insurance, resulting in more

Going a step further, the party have proposed the invention of a 'nationwide unified framework and handling of medical cannabis products', helping further cannabis research and facilitating the path for healthcare professionals to prescribe and for insurance companies to be able to authorise prescriptions.

MALTA SET TO REDUCE FEES FOR CANNABIS ASSOCIATIONS

the ARUC, Malta's Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC), plans to reduce financially prohibitive licence fees for cannabis associations significantly.

In February, the ARUC declared the conditions that Cannabis Harm Reduction Associations (CHRAs) (the only avenue to purchase cannabis for personal use

head of ARUC, Leonid McKay, reassured the industry stakeholders that these concerns had been taken on board and changes were being made.

"The authority understood that non-profit organisations (NPOs) would have initial cash flow problems, lack prior knowledge of their members' consumption patterns, and have issues of longstanding financial commitments while the vetting process is ongoing"- Head of ARUC Leonid McKay.

NPOs are already facing financial issues and need help, especially the small ones, in the first two years. In response, it has been agreed that the licence fee will drop from €8,000 to a minimum €1,000 for the next two years.

In a further move to reduce any potential financial burden on CHRAs, it has been proposed that licence fees can be payable in arrears rather than in advance, whilst plans are expected to reduce the €1,000 registration fee for small associations to just €500.

the local council on February 9th. The aim is to tackle the 'harsh atmosphere' of De Wallen, or as it is better known by many, the city's 'Red Light District'.

The new regulations include preventing cannabis from being smoked alfresco 'from mid-May', potentially expanding this to include 'terraces at coffee shops' if the 'nuisance does not decrease enough' via the first round of actions.

Residents in Amsterdam's De Wallen, or 'Red Light' district, have been driving these measures, depicting the neighbourhood as 'unsafe and unlivable'.

These most recent measures follow several endeavours presented last year, including introducing hosts and hostesses, a one-way traffic system during busy spells and banning drinking alcohol on the streets. The steps are believed to have the backing of most of the city's council.

extended waiting periods for chronically ill patients.

The application has pleaded with the government to "take appropriate measures to ensure the supply of patients with highly pure medical cannabis products' if adult legalisation occurs and to introduce a 'suitable system for the certification and classification of medical cannabis".

legally) must meet to be licenced. The pioneering policies are a step in the right direction for Malta. A country that recently passed landmark legislation in 2021 allowing adults to hold up to 7gs of cannabis for personal use. Concerns existed.

However, that licence fees may drive consumers back to the illegal market. However, in a recent interview, the

AMSTERDAM TO BAN CANNABIS CONSUMPTION IN PUBLIC ON THE STREETS.

Amsterdam's drive to crack down on what has been described as 'nuisance tourism' has taken a significant move forward as the city's leaders announced strategies to ban cannabis use on the streets.

Several new measures have been proposed in a statement publicised by

These moves come as the Netherlands' legal adult-use cannabis experiment, designed to assist in reducing the 'back door' essence of the existing coffee shop framework and move earnings away from the black market, continues to experience delays.

In November 2022, it was reported that the growers selected for the experiment suggested to the government that the proposed timeline is unfeasible due to the lack of secure banking facilities, high energy and raw materials costs, and problems with the suggested track and trace system.

AWARD WINNING PRODUCTS

THE ‘BLING BLING’ FOR YOUR PLANTS!

High quality cocktails especially designed for the root system and ripening phase

Highly concentrated products

Ensures an explosive growth of roots, fruits and flowers

Bloombastic, Rootbastic, Bi-Bloombastic, Rokzbastic

Suitable for growing on hydro, coco and soil

By Stoney Tark

8 TOP TIPS ON GROWING THE TASTIEST CANNABIS BUDS

One of the main reasons many growers take months at a time to grow the perfect crop, is to end up with buds and extracts full of flavor and taste. A well grown flower will be a smooth, terpene rich experience that coats the mouth, sending your taste buds into overdrive! In this article, we cover our 8 top tips, to help you become a better grower and produce cup winning quality.

Top Tip #4 - Bat Guano

Bat guano is collected from caves and treated, so it can be used for farming, and has been adapted to Cannabis also. Many growers love using bat guano during the flowering period and will testify that the flavor produced when used as a top dress in power form, or as a liquid compost tea or extract, is much more enhanced than without.

Our top tip is to experiment with bat guano and find out which ones work best, and be careful not to over do it when using. Adding a light top dressing to your pots each week is a great way to maintain a balance.

Top Tip #5 - Worm Hummus

Basically the excrement of worms after they have eaten organic matter. The worm castings produced are rich in beneficial bacteria once passed through the worm’s stomach. Worm hummus is an excellent way to slowly release nutrients to the plants, whilst keeping the beneficial microorganisms and fungi thriving as well.

Our tip tip is to use worm hummus as a top dressing and to add it every week or two, as this will help maintain the healthy vibrancy and lush green of the foliage.

Top Tip #1 - Customized Organic Medium

Working with an organic growing medium is always the best way to achieve tasty and smooth burning buds, especially if you are a first time or beginner grower. Ready to buy complete soils from the local garden center will be of decent quality, but our top tip here is to customize the mix and add other substrates inside such as coco, compost, worm hummus, perlite and wood chips. This super mix will keep the minerals and nutrients of the plants always available and ready to be used.

Top Tip #2 - Enzymes

Enzymes are very important when it comes to breaking down an organic substrate. In the same way that enzymes are needed in our stomachs to break down the food we consume, adding enzymes to your nutrient

solution or plain water when feeding, will accelerate the process which determines how fast the nutrients are available.

Our top tip here is to use them during the entire feeding regime and especially during the flushing period.

Top Tip #3 - Plain Water Only

Once you have a customized complete soil that ticks all the boxes in terms of nutrients, aeration and drainage, then you can achieve excellent results as a first time grower using only water. Not only does using water save on liquid nutrients, it is also the most basic way and best learning curve for anyone brand new to indoor or outdoor growing.

Our top tip here is to make sure the temperature of the water being used is not too hot or cold, and should be around 15-18 degrees Celsius.

Top Tip #6 - 14 Days of Flushing

The reason why it is important to flush the growing medium with only plain water for the final 14 days, is to allow any built up salts from liquid nutrients to be dissolved and washed away. The other reason is to encourage the plants to use up their final internal reserves, and make one final push.

This results in the colors of the leaves becoming a mixture of yellow, green, purple, pink, magenta and red. Our top tip is to never skip the flushing period, as this will only result in the quality of the flower when burning and how smooth the smoking experience will be.

Top Tip #7 - Avoid Over Feeding

Over feeding can be easily done, especially if you are a new grower. Oftentimes an inexperienced grower may be under the

impression that the more nutrients they feed until the last day then the bigger the buds will be.

As a result, the final yield will be much greater, however there are many downsides to hammering the plants with a large amount of liquid nutrients. Our top tip is to follow a feeding chart if using an organic or chemical based line from a nutrient brand, and if you are new to hydroponics, then invest in an electric conductivity pen (E.C) and pH pen, as these will provide a digital reading when mixing your nutrients.

Top Tip #8 - Harvesting!

The part that we are all waiting for and the time when the plants will express their terpene profiles, resin production and plant essences. Knowing when to harvest will play a huge role in the outcome of the taste, aroma and appearance. Our top tip is to check the development and maturity of the terpenes under a microscope, and to also allow the calyx to become as swollen as possessive before chopping your plants.

Harvesting too early when the terpenes are not fully developed will have a negative effect on the final result. The yield can also be reduced when picked too early also, so it is best to be patient and do daily checks around the final week of harvest to make sure you are in the ideal harvest window.

These buds have been grown organically and smell incredible.

time is essential for the best taste.

By Rich Hamilton

CAN AI PREDICT HOW CANNABIS IMPACTS MENTAL HEALTH?

Cannabis is increasingly being conveyed as a valuable way to reduce signs of anxiety, insomnia, and depression. However, as everyone reacts to products differently, whether they help ease someone's symptoms or exacerbate them remains a guessing game.

In a current study, investigators examined whether machine learning methods, like artificial intelligence (AI), could foretell symptom change in mental health patients following cannabis use.

The study utilised data from over 1,300 patients between 18 and 71 years old. All of which was compiled through the "Strainprint" app. Strainprint permits people to follow their experience and symptom shifts with cannabis. The most typical symptoms documented were anxiety, insomnia, and depression. However, other emotions such as irritability, stress, PTSD, PMS, and intrusive thoughts were also listed.

The app lets clients rate their symptom severity before and following cannabis treatment. In addition, they input the strength and form of the product they are using and the method of ingestion. i.e., smoke or vape, hash or flower.

After the data was compiled, the machine learning software XGBoost was used to generate a predictive measure of mental health symptom change with cannabis use.

The conclusions revealed that the harshness of symptoms prior to cannabis use was the 'strongest predictor' of symptom modification, followed by age, gender, and CBD/THC ratio. It was found that both males and female test subjects had contrasting trends in symptom improvement that appeared to be conditional on their baseline symptom severity.

While the study examined self-reported gender rather than sex, researchers think that the differences could be attributed to the various effects of cannabis on the male and female hormones and the preponderance of anxiety, depression, and insomnia in women during the reproductive phase of life. Researchers also noted that while some improvement was reported across all symptoms, the effects were

mixed. For example, participants declaring fewer extreme symptoms of depression before cannabis use were forecasted to report symptom improvement afterwards, while those who registered higher depression reported 'worsening symptoms' following their cannabis treatment.

With insomnia, those noting milder symptoms pre-cannabis were predicted to declare 'very little to no improvement' following cannabis use. In contrast, those suffering from more severe symptoms were expected to benefit more.

"This study provides additional rationale for future studies investigating specific symptom profiles within diagnosed mental health

disorders. In addition, findings from this study provide valuable insight into current cannabis use patterns." - Study Authors.

Of course, the research team agree that the results of such a study should be interpreted cautiously due to the study's limits.

The symptoms, after all, were self-reported, and data collected via the app was limited. This is of particular importance when it comes to the types of products that were being used and their true strength and dosage. Supplementary elements such as lifestyle, comorbidities, medications, therapies, and frequency of use may also have impacted any reported symptom change but were not documented. The self-

perceived effectiveness of cannabis alone cannot preclude the arguments that exist against more widespread use. Whilst the study is indeed very promising in demonstrating some possible therapeutic benefits of cannabis use for mental health control, it is still clouded as to how extended or routine cannabis use may influence symptomatology in the long term. The study is also valuable for identifying how people are using cannabis as well as recognising some areas deserving of further investigation. This also emphasises the role that technological advances could play in producing the foundation of evidence for cannabis use in treating mental health disorders.

Further research is required to probe the long-term consequences of cannabis use on mental health and address the conclusions in more significant detail. However, notwithstanding its limits, this study is the foundation for supplying vital information on how different cannabis userelated aspects may contribute to perceived symptom transformation in individuals managing mental health challenges in everyday life.

"The current study highlights a need for additional research in this area, with findings revealing a central role for user profiles and baseline severity of perceived symptoms on outcomes of acute cannabis use for various mental health concerns."

Words & Pics: Green Born Identity –

Blue Sunset Sherbert

Exquisite Cali crème de la crème

Rapid germination and uniform growth

As customary, The Doc sowed two feminised beans and they came bursting out of the blocks a little after just two days. The two Blue Sunset Sherbert seedlings picked up speed very soon and exhibited a uniform bushy shrub structure after the one month veg stage had been completed, having grown to 34 and 37 cm tall. With their lateral branches pointing decidedly upwards, their shape was a bit more slender than usual.

Forceful flowering with an early trichome shimmer

In the first three weeks of blooming, the plants’ leaves still were entirely green, but then The Doc noticed that they had opened the colour box and started to paint their leaves in vivid variegated col-

ours - only gently in the beginning, but with dramatically increasing intensity during the second half of flowering. Flower formation was forceful right from the start, as early as 3.5 weeks into blooming, there was a silvery sheen to the young buds which were already quite chubby, adumbrating they were planning on something big…

Trichome-flooded fat flower heads, wicked colours and a fascinating scent …A plan they were absolutely determined to put into action – the young buds grew into big voluminous flower heads so massively drenched in resin glands in the end that The Doc commented “it looks like a sea of trichomes almost spilling over!”

That red-purple-blue play of colours reached a spectacular climax in the last ten days, as predicted by Barney’s, The Doc got provided with a bewitching attraction of immense trichome incrusta-

The Doc envisaged another potential Cali strain highlight when a bag of Blue Sunset Sherbert from Barney’s Farm arrived at his test station. A 65/35 hybrid with a lean to the indica side the genetic constellation of which has afficionados click their tongues - Sherbert (Girl Scout Cookies x Pink Panties) meets Purple Punch (Larry OG x Granddaddy Purple) in the blender for an exciting amalgamation.

In an optimum grow environment, these compact plants deliver a high-level performance across all departments: Their steep bar on the THC count scale can bounce up to 28%, and within fairly fast 59-63 days of flowering, they’re capable of generating opulent yield rewards of 650700g/m2.

A good deal of extravagance is lend to this strain in its final stage by a dazzling kaleidoscope of purple to violet and blueish leaf colours, shaping a gaudy canopy against which tons of shimmering trichomes are beautifully contrasting to the

max. The strain’s terpene profile is especially high in limonene, humulene and terpinolene which results in an aromatic presentation with strong notes of berries and citrus, but also full of sweetness so that the palatable taste experience it provides users with is reminiscent of a sweet fruit drop.

Almost needless to say Blue Sunset Sherbert’s powerful effect is first-class through and through, combining typical elements from both the world of sativa and indica with one another: an instantly uplifting mirthful sativa rush gives way on the downswing to a pleasantly calming and relaxing indica stone.

What rounds this variety’s superb profile perfectly off is the fact it’s a good outdoor candidate as well because under natural light it completes maturation in the first to second week of October already. Given a proper cultivation scenario, growers may look forward to ample yields of up to one kilo per plant.

tions insanely heavily contrasting against a flamboyant canopy. Much as bewitching was the odour exuded by the buds: “Their flowery scent is fully in line with Barney’s description – as if someone had poured a splendid shot of sugar syrup and a dash of lemon juice into one of those frozen multi-berry mixes.

Can’t wait to also taste this stupendous aroma!”, The Doc raved. When after 62 days the buds of both plants in their entirety presented themselves as wellcooked, i.e. super-ripe, they were rocksolid not only in the upper and middle zone of the plants, but also at the very bottom. Moreover, their head and side buds and displayed maximum density and bulky sizes ¬– “this is as great as it gets!”, cheered a rapturous Dockie.

Drying the flowers: Into the blue!

The look of the dried end product gave The Doc a surprise – the motto was “into the blue”!

His Blue Sunset Sherbert buds suddenly were almost entirely blue as for their leaf share. Commented The Doc, “aside from their incredible resin coating, this blue tinge bestows that certain something on them, and it’s a very pleasing achievement that they’ve eventually fully lived up to their strain name.

Smell-wise, these buds are likewise extraordinary – their bouquet has basically remained the same after drying, but due to chlorophyll being absent now more or less, that fruit drop character has become even more mellifluous and been harmonised to perfection.” The combined yield of both plants was 192 grams, both had come very close to the 100g mark.

The vaporizer test: Like vaped „nimm2“ drops, light illuminates the dark hall

After his first vaporizer test with half a gram of Blue Sunset Sherbert inside his Might+, The Doc reported with relish, “when you’re vaping these prime fruit flowers, it brings you memories of those nimm2 drops… an initial fruity sweet and sour taste sensation is followed by a kind of creamy aroma core the lingering sweetness of which dominates the aftertaste – with this variety, cannabis fruit flavour has arrived at a peak of perfection!”

The two-phase effect of Blue Sunset Sherbert proved to be in no way inferior to this aromatic gloriousness then: The Doc’s fairly gloomy state of mind was brightened up as abruptly “as if in a dark hall someone had switched the light on”, as he put it, “it was sativa vitalization and euphoria of the highest order.” Which lasted about an hour, before The Doc drifted into the realm of indica, experiencing a pleasant body melt that didn’t send him into couch-lock territory, but infused him with warm relaxing coziness.

The Doc‘s verdict: A seamless continuation of Barney’s triumphant streak

„Barney’s Farm‘s triumphant streak through my grow room has seamlessly continued with Blue Sunset Sherbert. This variety fully deserves the advance praise it had received and has proven to be a ravishing beauty with highest marks in all departments – definitely some sort of blue-blooded Cali crème de la crème!”

Green Born Identity – G.B.I.

Cultivation data:

Genetics Blue Sunset Sherbert (Sunset Sherbert x Purple Punch)

Vegetative stage four weeks (after germination)

Flowering stage 62 days / 59-63 days in general

Medium Bionova Bio Soilmix, 11 litre pots

pH 6.2-6.6

EC 1.2–1.8 mS

Light up to 7 x SANlight Q6W = 1505 watts

Temperature 19-28°C

Air humidity 40-60%

Watering manually

Fertilisation Bionova Soil Supermix, plus PK 13-14 in the flowering stage

Additives/stimulants Bionova Silution, The Missing Link, Vitasol and X-cel

Tools CleanLight Pro for mould prevention

Height 76 and 82,5 cm

Yield together, 192 g

By Stoney Tark

THE BONSAI TECHNIQUE EXPLAINED

GROWING IN SMALL SPACES

Bonsai style small sized Cannabis plants may not sound like much to commercial scale growers, however when working with small grow spaces or having to be extremely discreet, choosing to grow plants that reach a final height of around 30-45 cm is often the best solution. In this article we explain about the bonsai technique, which strains to use, when to flower and the different training techniques required to achieve the final goal.

branches. By topping and pinching out the main crown shoot of a plant, the growth hormone named auxin responsible for vertical growth is disrupted. As a result, the auxiliary shoots left behind will become the main crown shoots, allowing the plants to focus their energy on the side branches and producing a bushy structure and appearance.

Pruning - One of the most pleasing things to see about a bonsai is the clean and smooth branches that lead to the top part. Pruning refers to the removal of the leaves and growth shoots that sit underneath the top canopy. Normally, these parts are the lowest yielding and least desirable buds that end up being thrown into the trim bin for making hash and extracts. You should only apply pruning once, and that is done a few days prior to switching the timers to 12/12.

What Is Bonsai Style?

Oftentimes, growing monster plants that have been extensively trained over months is not an option for most home growers. For those who have to keep a low profile, and are limited to height, will find the bonsai style of growing to be the best solution to maximizing their indoor or outdoor space, whilst achieving the largest yields possible in that time frame. The final height of the plants once ready to harvest will be around 30-60 cm tall, and have a canopy width of around 60 cm. Underneath the canopy will be a sight of clear and hard wood branches which take on the shape of an upside-down umbrella with all branches growing out and upwards.

As far as pot size, you can use a 10-15 liter pot, and the more time the plants are allowed to grow out and establish their roots, will also have an impact on the final size and structure of the plants being trained. Working with small sized pots may be more practical for some limited to grow space, and different strains will perform better than others.

Which Strains Work Best for Bonsai Style?

When it comes to growing a short and stocky plant, the main reason will be due to restricted growing space, or to keep plants discreet and well-hidden when grown outside in the privacy of your own back garden, or sunny roof terrace. The best candidates in that scenario will be indica and indica dominant hybrids. Indica Cannabis plants will have a tendency to stay short, squat and produce a bushy profile. Once flowered, they will not stretch much and oftentimes double in height at the most.

What Height Should I Flower?

You will want to train the plants, so they are a height of 25-40 cm tall, with the intention of harvesting your plants when they stretch and finish close to 50-60 cm tall. On the basis that the relevant plant training was applied during the right time, you are working with short and stocky indica strains, and correctly pruned then you should have the ultimate bonsai Cannabis plant.

When To Start Bonsai Training

The goal is to produce a miniature sized tree with a uniform set of side branches that have all been well pruned and tied

down in a symmetrical format. The right time to start training is when the plants are mature enough, meaning once they have passed the seedling stage, they will be much better adapted to training and will recover much better.

The most important thing to remember is to flower the plants when they are low, so allowing the plants to grow in a vegetative state for 6–8 weeks will be the ideal training window. Training techniques such as topping, fimming, tying down, super cropping and pruning all need to be combined to allow the plants to become tough and sturdy.

Tying down - This is the most important part of the bonsai style training, and will allow you to reduce the height of the plants before flowering, and make sure that the canopy is completely even and symmetrical in design. You will want to tie down all the side branches around the pots and provide enough space for each, whilst checking there is enough leverage in the branch to tie down without an unintentional break happening.

Topping - Cannabis plants are apical dominant, which means that they grow with a main crown shoot and lower side

Super Cropping - A technique that has been practiced by growers for decades and a way of making your plants as tough and durable as possible. Super cropping or stem snapping is classed as a high stress technique and involves applying pressure to a certain branch and purposely breaking the inner cell wall. Oftentimes you will hear a clear audio snap, and feel a popping sensation, meaning that you have successfully performed the technique, and now must leave the plants to grow back with a hard, wooden knuckle where the break occurred.

a fat main stem when trained correctly

Plants will produce

This grower has a tent full of 45 cm tall bonsai style plants.

By Rich Hamilton

JACK HERER

Rich Hamilton shares an extract from his "bud diaries" in every issue with us. This month we are taking time out from the newest trends in cannabis genetics and paying some respect to a legendary strain, Jack Herer.

STRAIN

Named after the late, legendary cannabis activist and author of the 1985 book "The Emperor Wears No Clothes,". This is a book that remains an influential resource for those fighting for cannabis decriminalization and legalization to this current day.

Jack Herer has achieved an elevated, heavily proliferated position among modern cannabis strains. Created by the Dutch seed bank, Sensi Seeds won 9 firstplace High Times Cannabis Cup awards and is a frequently used parent strain for many recent hybrids. Lab Analysis confirms Jack Herer as possessing between 15% and 24% THC on average.

GENETICS

A sativa-dominant hybrid developed by Sensi Seeds in Holland in the 90s, it is a tasty, influential, and infamous strain. Jack Herer has passed its genetics on to crossbred strains, including Jack the Ripper, Jack's Cleaner, and Jack Skellington. Although the exact genetic formula has not been made public, Jack Herer is believed to be the genius love child of sativa staple 'Haze', 'Shiva Skunk' and a cross of 'Northern Lights #5.'

GROW INFO

Jack is a very easy-going cultivar that will permit even rookie growers to cultivate good weed without too much hard work. In addition, the strain's genetic

lineage allows for fast production. This, correlated with Jack Herer's legendary force, makes it a popular choice for both personal and commercial growers.

When grown properly, indoor plants can reach up to six feet tall, flowering over 8-10 weeks. However, the strain comes into its own when grown outdoors in soil, with the luxury of space and a few more weeks for the roots to develop fully.

A mature Jack Herer plant cultivated outside is a monster that can grow eight feet tall and produce whopping yields.

FLOWER

Jack Herer grows to show its light to medium green leaves, that bunch in densely packed buds that are longer and daintier in shape than round. With a high trichome count, this sticky plant with fantastic resin production amazes even the most experienced growers. At their peak, the buds look like they have been

glazed. The crystal coating spreads to the

ODOUR

Jack's sticky buds have an attractive orange-lemon scent and taste, featuring just a glimmer of dank pine. When cured correctly, the flowers produce a vibrant floral bouquet with hints of zesty citrus. Break open the dense buds for an even more citrus scent and a peppery bang. When burnt, the bud releases a gleamingly clean, herbal incense, like sage. Although not dominantly spicy, Jack Herer leaves you with a lingering spicy-floral odour.

CONSUMED

I was gifted a bunch of this bud from White Jesus Genetics and consumed it over an evening of watching great films with great people and eating great pizza cooked and prepared by Soft Secrets

very own Betty Green. The weed was smoked in various forms with a pure Jack Herer glass tipped blunt being my personal favourite. Betty Greens delicious THC infused pizza was the perfect accompaniment, taking this session to a new all-time new high.

TASTE

Like its aroma, Jack Herer has a citrus-dominant flavour profile with heavy predictable notes of Lemon and Orange that are accompanied by a pinch of skunk; thanks to its Shiva Skunk parent and a frosty tropical taste, has almost a cooling effect on your throat. On the exhale, you are treated to a woody hint of pine that is quite distinctive to this strain.

STONE

The high provides an excellent balance between cerebral and physical effects, leaving users profoundly relaxed but still vigilant and chatty. Jack Herer's attractive flavour and well-rounded impact have made it popular with medical and recreational cannabis users.

This world-renowned sativa-dominant hybrid strain is known primarily for its capacity to produce a clear-headed buzz coupled with an injection of focused energy, making it a perfect daytime strain. Jack Herer has long been one of my go-to strains that brings a smile to my face and a wave of calm to my mind.

By Stoney Tark

AN INTERVIEW WITH DUTCH PASSION

SS: Hi Mahmoud, can you tell us about your experience of Spannabis this year? It was great! After two years of absence, it was finally again like Covid never happened. Busier than ever, happy people everywhere! The organization even had to pause sales and keep people from entering the venue on Saturday as it was getting too crowded. Was great to be back in Barcelona.

Spannabis 2023 this year was a tremendous success and truly represented the thriving Cannabis scene. Over that weekend, Dutch Passion became cup winners, from the autoflower cup to the Spannabis Champions Cup for the highest CBD ratio amongst all entries. SSUK's Stoney Tark then sat down with Mahmoud Hanachi who is head of genetics and new territories at Dutch Passion, to find out more about their wins, as well as his top tips on growing autos.

tastiest and most well-known CBD varieties of the market and has won quite some prizes already. To win the Champions Cup is like the icing on the cake.

Can you explain to the readers what CBD is and the effects associated? CBD stands for cannabidiol and the (positive) effects can be numerous. Way too many to describe here. We would need a dedicated interview just for that, but to name a few, it can help with reuma, arthritis, Crohn’s disease, insomnia etc. It has anti-inflammatory properties and can help against anxiety. Also, it can take the ‘rough edges’ off of the effect of THC.

What is the Autoflower Cup and what strain did you enter that won 1st place? The Autoflower Cup is a cup dedicated to autoflowers (automatically blooming cultivars) and we won two prizes this year; 1st Prize in CBD category with CBD Auto Blackberry Kush and 2nd Prize for Best Indica with Auto Kerosene Krash.

I saw you spent some time in Thailand recently. How is the scene developing there? Thailand has been crazy since legalization. There are over 4000 dispensaries and the scene is still expanding. But also new legislation is coming up. So, we keep a close eye on the legal developments. We are also in the process of setting up a Dutch Passion dispensary in Bangkok, so that’s quite exciting!

Do you think Thailand may end up becoming a big player in the Cannabis industry? Thailand will have a thriving local cannabis scene. Which is awesome. Not sure if they will play a big role internationally. But Thailand is known for its tourism so they have a lot of people in the country at any moment. Thailand is the first Asian country where cannabis is legal, so I expect a lot of Asian tourists coming to Thailand to consume cannabis in peace. That way Thailand will have a big role in Asia.

How was it when you discovered you won 1st place in the CBD category of Spannabis? It was a very nice gesture of appreciation! The Spannabis Cup is a well-respected one and to have the highest CBD cultivar amongst all of the professional entries is of course a super outcome!

Which was the CBD strain you entered, and what ratio did it test? We entered with a sample of CBD Charlotte’s Angel with a CBD percentage of 18%. CBD Charlotte’s Angel is one of the

Which pot size do you recommend for growing autos? I always have had a preference for 15-liter pots, for both autoflower as photoperiod. We did notice that autoflowers do not like to be repotted too often. So keep it to just one transfer. Due to their limited life span, they have less time to recuperate from the stress that repotting gives.

What nutrients do you think are best for growing autos and any advice for anyone growing autos indoors? Yes, I always grow with organic nutrients, so I would recommend this also for autoflowers. A brand like BioTabs for example have great organic products. Make sure you water your plants, invest in a quality (LED) light and burn it for 18/20 hours per day to ensure the best results.

What are your top tips for anyone growing autos outdoors this year in Europe? As they grow to maturity in only 10-12 weeks, make sure you time your grow so that you can make use of the best months in your country with the best climate and longest days.

Finally, Mahmoud will Dutch Passion be at other expos this year, and where can our readers find out more? Dutch Passion will be present at expo’s in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Thailand, Czech Republic and a few other countries. People can subscribe to our newsletter or keep an eye on our social media channels, as we always announce which expo’s we will attend.

By Stoney Tark

7 TOP TIPS ON HIGH STRESS TRAINING CANNABIS PLANTS

You may have heard of low stress training before (LST), did you know about high stress training (HST) and the benefits associated? Producing giant bonsai style plants is a skill that takes practice and plenty of recovery time, and requires a combination of various training methods carefully timed together. In this article, we provide 7 top tips on HST and what to consider before growing some monster plants worthy of months of training time.

be very stressful. Our top tip here is to only apply one technique every 5–7 days, so for example, every 5 days you can top, tie down, snap stems and prune, allowing 3 weeks for the plants to bounce back and respond by growing stronger, bushier and with more size and stature.

Top Tip #3 - Only During 18/6

All the heavy hands-on training should be performed when the plants are in the vegetative stage. It is best to wait until week 3 of 18/6 once the seedlings have matured, before planning a small or long-winded training program. Once the plants receive 12 hours or more of darkness, they will begin flowering and produce hormones in preparation, causing the plants to stretch until week 3-4 of 12/12. Our top tip here is to avoid any type of training once the timers have been changed to flowering, and to allow the plants to grow without any more trauma or stress inflicted.

Top Tip #4 - Screen of Green Method

when twisting and snapping stems (super cropping), ensure your hands are clean. Any nets, bamboo canes, string or wire should also be clean.

Top Tip #6 - Heavy Pruning

Pruning away the lower parts of the foliage has many benefits, and can also be the time when first time growers learning about pruning freak out. By pruning away and cleanly removing all the growth shoots and leaves below a designated point in the canopy with a scalpel or scissors, the plants will focus all of their energy on protruding top-heavy and large sized buds. Our top tip here is to become comfortable stripping away all the healthy foliage, and be prepared to strip away until the top 2 nodes before flowering.

Top Tip #7 - Be Patient!

Top Tip #1 - Leverage and Flexibility

One of the most important things to remember when heavily training your Cannabis plants, is to make sure that there is plenty of leverage and flexibility when working. This simply means that the plants being tied down are bendy and can be moved around without too much pressure causing an unintended break or snap, and making sure the wire or string used is not too tight. Our top tip here is to always provide plenty of slack when

applying any type of bondage training, as an unintentional stem snap can be traumatic.

Top Tip #2 - Recovery Time

How much time the plants are given to recover between the various training techniques such as topping, pruning, tying down and breaking stems is essential. Applying certain techniques at the wrong time on an immature plant, or not allowing enough recovery time before performing another training method, can

SCROG is a method of growing Cannabis that uses a screen net and to systematically train the plants through, over a 6–9-week period. The benefits of growing using a screen is that plants have the ability to become huge, and a grower can produce large sized yields from a plant count of as little as 1–4 plants. Our top tip here is to have a play with SCROG as it allows you to incorporate all the other training methods, and take advantage of working with small plant counts or adapting to a certain growing space.

Top Tip #5 - Use Clean Tools

No matter if you are doing a simple bit of pruning or an advanced high stress training over a long-time frame, then it is very important that you always work with clean tools and equipment. Our top tip here is when topping plants, it is best to use a clean pair of sharp scissors or a brand-new scalpel, and when being hands-on and applying pressure for

This top tip goes together with recovery time, and being patient can be difficult sometimes. Training your plants without giving them enough recovery time, or demanding too much from an immature plant, can end up causing large amounts of stress and oftentimes causing the plants to slowly recover and even stunting their growth in extreme cases. Our top tip is to just wait until the plants are past seedling stage and show signs of flexibility and resilience.

Conclusion

Training Cannabis plants can be as simple as topping once or twice and flowering, or spending 60–70 days manipulating the size and shape of the final canopy. High stress training will allow plants to become tough, resistant and produce the biggest yields possible.

It is a good idea to also plan in advance which training techniques to apply, and this can be a reflection of the growing space you are limited to. Good luck learning about high stress training and which combinations work best for which strains and situations!

This grower uses hydroponics and HST for the ultimate yields.

SEEDSTOCKERS SUPERIOR

We are proud to present Seedstockers’ Superior cannabis seed category. This is a carefully chosen selection of genetics, derived from pedigree parents, that have undergone extensive breeding processes.

When we decided to create our own seed bank back in 2017, we were very clear that our goal was to make a selection of highquality strains available to the general public at the best price.

Therefore, every time we launch a new variety, we make sure that it meets our strict parameters: we don’t recommend anything that we haven’t already fallen in love with.

Having said that, our catalogue also features a series of cannabis gems whose legendary lineage and outstanding properties make them truly special.

And, for this reason, we decided to create a category where we can group together all of these cannabis seeds that play in the Champions League.

We hope that you enjoy these cannabis jewels as much as our team of breeders did when they created them.

We are convinced that each and every one of them will steal the heart of any grower who decides to include them in their grow.

Here we present our particular ‘Walk of Fame’ and explain why these genetics have earned a star on it.

WHAT TYPE OF MARIJUANA SEEDS CAN YOU FIND IN SEEDSTOCKERS SUPERIOR?

There are several reasons for a strain to be granted access to the cannabis Olympus.

Since the hybrid market began to take shape in California in the late 1970s (before then moving to the Netherlands

in the 80s), there’s been an evolution not only in the features that breeders pursue, but also in the level of demand from both growers and users.

Through decades of careful breeding and selection, the quality standards of cannabis hybrids have been successfully raised.

However, among the strains derived from the cross of powerful genetics, there are some that stand out above the rest, having achieved international fame and taken the dispensaries by storm.

SEEDSTOCKERS SUPERIOR: THE RESULT OF AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH

Any cannabis lover will know that those connoisseurs with demanding palates who enjoy complex flavours are always on the lookout for the next new thing.

Therefore, our technical team is always ‘on the hunt’ for new phenotypes to be able to surprise those growers who believe they’ve already seen it all.

Besides working on the development of new versions of classic strains like Amnesia Fem or BCN Critical XXL Fast Fem, the Seedstockers team has also focused on trying new varieties.

Most of the candidates come from the quintessential international cannabis mecca of California.

But our breeders have also acquired elite clones from other parts of the world through collaborations with other renowned breeders, thereby enriching the Seedstockers genetic library with truly special strains.

In our search for shiny new treasures, we realised that some of them had exceptional qualities when they were grown from cuttings.

However, a breeding and selection process was required to fix those traits in a stable way on their offspring, in the form of seeds. We knew that only then would we be able to offer these exceptional varieties at an affordable price.

This has been the greatest challenge faced by our technical team, and we are truly proud to say that they have far exceeded our expectations.

The seeds included in Seedstockers Superior are the result of the cross of those highly-acclaimed varieties to create stable genetics with remarkable

characteristics in seed format. A premium selection that has been designed to make the best quality affordable by offering it at the best price.

WHAT SEED FORMAT CAN YOU FIND IN SEEDSTOCKERS SUPERIOR?

When the first autoflowering hybrids were launched, they didn’t compare to the feminised seeds in terms of quality.

Nowadays, though, this is no longer true, and the format of the cannabis seeds is no longer synonymous with a different level of quality.

Thanks to the arduous genetic improvement work carried out by the different seed banks, choosing one type or another is now just a matter of preference.

Each format meets different needs. Some users prefer automatic strains, some opt for the Fast flowering varieties, whilst others enjoy creating their garden of Eden with photo-dependent feminised cannabis seeds.

The truth is they all meet high levels of quality and performance, so you’ll find different versions in our Seedstockers Superior seed catalogue that will certainly suit your needs.

BUY SEEDSTOCKERS’ SUPERIOR CANNABIS SEEDS

Buying seeds from this category guarantees that you’re purchasing cannabis genetics of superior quality at the best price. World-renowned strains that stand out above the rest and ensure stable, potent, and high-yielding crops.

This is a seed collection that every cannabis lover should try at least once in their lifetime. Now you have at your disposal the best varieties from the USA and other parts of the world without leaving your home.

You can purchase Seedstockers’ Superior seeds online and try different amounts, as we offer from 1- to 25-seed packs. This lets you experiment with a specific strain by buying a smaller amount whilst you also expand your favourite seeds’ order,

and always at the best price.

Seedstockers Superior opens the door to all growers so they can enter the world of internationally-acclaimed genetics at a reasonable price.

SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Sweet Seeds® presents the best cannabis seeds for 2023

FINALLY, AFTER OVERCOMING THE DIFFICULTIES OF PREVIOUS YEARS AND NOW BACK TO NORMAL, SWEET SEEDS® IS READY TO SHOW ITS BEST CANNABIS STRAINS FOR THIS YEAR THAT IS JUST BEGINNING. IF YOU WANT TO BE UP TO DATE ON THE BEST SEEDS FOR YOUR PRIVATE COLLECTION WITH EXCELLENT GENETICS FEATURING THE BEST AND MOST RESINOUS PURPLE BUDS, KEEP READING.

for everyday use. Closely following is a beautiful cannabis plant with red and purple buds: Red Mimosa XL Auto® (SWS104). A safe bet that will be among the best red cannabis plants for 2023 for its ease of growing and exquisite orange flavor, with hints of nuts and spices. A beauty within reach, in XL size and with maximum production.

The new Mimosa Bruce Banner XL Auto® (SWS101) is another wonderful tallstemmed 8th Generation autoflowering

strain, a sativa in character which usually displays purple buds with fruity aromas of tangerine and strawberry, reminiscent of mature cheese. This highly productive cannabis plant aims to be the favorite of the most demanding collectors, with energetic and long-lasting effects. Quickness and potency, wrapped in sugar glass trichomes. And enjoy!

To round off our list of the best autoflowering strains for 2023, we've saved our favorite for last. This is a strain

6 New Strains like 6 suns

There is nothing shinier than the resinous buds of the new Orange Apricot Glue XL Auto® (SWS103), a 7th Generation autoflowering strain which is the result of the cross between Orange Apricot x MAC and our Gorilla Girl XL

Auto® (SWS82). You can already imagine its potency and large size, while keeping in mind its sweet and fruity taste, loaded with citrus aroma. The resin production is abundant, covering leaves and stems with high-quality long trichomes. Large, high-yielding autoflowering cannabis with a well-balanced effect that is perfect

that we're confident will take home many cannabis awards and the name says it all: Sweet Mandarine Zkittlez XL Auto® (SWS102). Imagine something reminiscent of Sour Diesel with a citrus twist, hints of mango, and a light aroma of freshly cut grass. That's what you'll get with this strain. It's one of the most productive and resinous autoflowering strains in our catalog, and a top-notch genetic from Sweet Seeds®

Next, we focused on photoperioddependent strains and sought to synthesize the best of American cannabis strains with the unique character of Sweet Seeds® strains. Our first sensory gift comes from Strawberry Cola Sherbet F1 Fast Version® (SWS106), a fast-flowering indica strain with buds as red as the setting sun. It's a cannabis

Adonis, with hard, trichome-packed buds of excellent quality after a simple grow cycle of just 7 weeks. The plants themselves are extremely beautiful, with a complex, fruity flavor profile of red fruits and cola aged on woods and humus. Yum!

Finally, we present what is for us one of the most sought-after flavors in the global cannabis scene: a Sour Dieselinspired, citrusy and fruity taste.

The best representative of this flavor can be found in the genes of Sweet Mandarine Zkittlez F1 Fast Version® (SWS105), a cross between a citrusy Zkittlez elite clone with a diesel twist and our Sweet Mimosa XL Auto® (SWS94) which features hints of orange and mandarin. This strain produces highly

productive plants in less than 50 days of flowering, with a large central cola that often takes on a reddish hue at the end of the grow cycle, and a fresh, sweet, and fruity aroma. The effect is energetic and highly creative, making it ideal for socializing or artistic pursuits. We also believe this is the perfect plant for its adaptability, especially for outdoor grows, particularly in humid and cold climates where an early arrival of autumn can ruin your buds with fungal attacks.

So, what do you think? Have we made your choice easier? Or are you one of those who wants them all for your

collection? Thanks for being a part of our daily life and happy growing in 2023!

By Olivier F

ERIK M, CANNABIS PHOTOGRAPHER AND FILMMAKER

Close-up photos and videos of trichomes are quite popular among cannabis enthusiasts. On Video Macro's website and Instagram page, you can check out some great macro videos shot with a professional camera. We interviewed Eric M from Los Angeles, ‘cannatographer’ and founder of Video Macro.

SS: Could you introduce yourself to our readers?

Erik M: I am Erik M, founder of Video Macro. I studied experimental psychology at Oxford University and currently live in my city of birth, Los Angeles.

When did you start filming or photographing cannabis plants?

I've been taking macro photographs all my life but my earlier photosets were not professional. I posted some pictures of flowers I bought at a dispensary and they were republished by their grower.

After that, I started to be approached by other growers who wanted to have their flowers photographed.

Are you a cannabis user?

I am a medicinal cannabis user. I suffer from epilepsy and I am better able to manage my seizures and stay functional with cannabis than with other medicines.

Who are Video Macro's customers?

We started in California and are expanding to Oklahoma and New York. We are still a small team with a few robots but we are growing fast. We take pride in working with some of the biggest brands in the industry as well as local home growers who cultivate the best cannabis. Our customers include Jungle Boys, Cookies, DNA Genetics, Dr. Greenthumbs, Boveda, Canopy Growth and we have new brands coming up every day.

What material do you use for your videos?

Our videos are created by taking thousands of photos with a digital camera and editing them on a computer. The camera is held by a robotic arm that moves in microscopic increments between photos to create a sequence of images with increased focus.

What is the optimal stage in the development of the plant to shoot it in macro?

There is aesthetic appeal at all stages of development, even when the flowers are dried. It is best to show the trichomes just before harvest, but the colours and structure change at each stage.

Do you prefer to shoot transparent, milky or amber trichomes?

I prefer to shoot milky trichomes. Transparent trichomes can present challenges for image composition algorithms and amber trichomes can darken the colour of the plant.

What are the best strains to shoot? Do you prefer to shoot indicas or sativas?

Sativas often have a more open structure that is a little easier to light. Indicas are just as pretty but a little more difficult to shoot.

What is the most beautiful plant you ever filmed or photographed?

I recently shot a Trop Cherry (Tropicanna x Cherry Cookies) grown by Jungle Boys which was a beautiful combination of soft pink and silver tones. I don't think most people are aware of the wide range of colours that cannabis can have.

Do you prefer green or purple plants?

I prefer green plants as they are easier to shoot. Anthocyanin-rich strains are a difficult shade of purple to capture. Some are so dark that they are almost black!

Have you ever shot dried cannabis flowers, hash or extracts?

I often shoot dried cannabis flowers but they have to be carefully handled and trimmed to ensure that the trichomes remain intact to look good. I haven't been able to capture extracts so far, but I have developed the necessary techniques due to customer requests.

What equipment and techniques do you recommend for someone who wants to make trichome videos with little budget?

It starts with a solid background in macro photography. For skill building, the most important technique to be acquired is called "focus stacking", which is the process of increasing the depth of field by taking pictures in a linear sequence along the Z axis of the subject and combining them. A low budget mirrorless DSLR camera and a 1:1 macro lens with a manual linear guide would be enough to start learning.

Are there many photographers or filmmakers who specialise in cannabis?

More and more professionals report a growing demand for cannabis-related media, but it is a difficult area to specialise in due to legal requirements and it is technically difficult to work. But there are a growing number of passionate cannatographers who are coming forward to help brands showcase their products. Instagram : @video.macro

GROWING CANNABIS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Cannabis for medicinal purposes has been legalized in the Czech Republic already in April 2013. A lot of us were curious to see if medical cannabis proves itself among doctors and patients and how large the medical market with this medicinal plant would actually get. However, instead of a fast take-off of the new industry, dark times followed. It was not until 2018 that Czech medicinal cannabis first appeared in pharmacies. Moreover, only one producer was licensed to grow medical cannabis and supply it to pharmacies.

Finally, on the 1st of January 2022, a new change in the law came into effect that allowed virtually anyone who met the stringent legal criteria to apply for a licence to grow, process, sell to pharmacies as well as export abroad. Does it mean that the Czech cannabis sector has finally managed to take off?

BUMPY START

The first licence authorising one company to cultivate, process and sell medical cannabis was granted in 2013 and many believed that this company basically won the lottery and struck gold. But the reality turned out to be quite different. The reluctance of doctors to prescribe medical cannabis and the small number of pharmacists willing to work with it (i.e. give it to patients) inhibit medical cannabis consumption. On top of that there were discussions about whether or not the cannabis was of the required quality, and sometimes it had to be repackaged or even destroyed after the expiration date. And in terms of the only domestic grower, there was also the problem of an export ban, which did not allow the domestic producer to expand production and enter foreign markets.

In 2017, four years after medical cannabis was legalised, Czech pharmacies dispensed 1,227 grams of dried herb. You could easily produce such amount on one square metre during 12 months, and you don't even need to have much experience in growing. It got much better in 2021, when the amount of prescribed cannabis was 109 kilograms and in 2022 it was 157 kilograms. That is certainly a more interesting volume and it was solely thanks to the newly introduced (in January 2020) 90 % coverage of 30 grams per month from public health insurance. Still, 150 kilograms per year is a very minute amount for large producers who have to ensure that their growing and processing facilities meet all the

regulations, which costs a lot of money. As we said, since January 2022 there could be unlimited number of domestic growers of medical cannabis, but they need to scale for far greater production than the current Czech consumption in order to make economic sense.

In any case, the Czech Republic has definitely missed out on a promising start some nine years ago, when local growers could have gained an advantage over others from Canada, etc. Instead of seizing this chance and supporting the industry, a dysfunctional structure has developed where, perhaps fear of misuse of licences or simply an unwillingness to change mindsets, has prevented the emergence of a normal competitive market environment. Instead of local companies saturating the Czech market and conquering neighbouring markets, the opposite has happened: Canadian producers dominated the Czech medical cannabis market for years, and today's Czech growers have to reckon with a lot of foreign competition even at home.

MAKE UP THE LOSSES WITH CBD

The last two to three years have been marked by an increase in the number of growers of CBD rich strains indoor. The plan was clear. Optimize the production

process and wait for the authorities to start issuing medical cannabis growing licenses. In the meantime, producers hoped to fund operations from the sale of CBD flowers and products. But there appeared more bumps along the road. The first was a significant drop in the price of CBD flowers due to a total market saturation, and the second was a significant increase in energy prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In terms of indoor CBD growers, perhaps the only positive news in recent years has been the rise in popularity of HHC. It is possible to produce CBD rich cannabis and then spray it and sell it as legal cannabis – although it has intoxicating effects. It's probably not every grower's dream, but when you receive a staggering bill for electricity every month, you have to turn a blind eye or shut down your business. But according to my sources, the era of HHC without any regulation in Czechia will soon be over.

THE FIRST LICENSES ISSUED AND MORE PENDING

I've already mentioned that, from January 2022, getting a licence to grow medical cannabis is subject to a number of conditions. Among others, you need to hold a Good Agricultural Practice Protocol (GAPC) for cultivation; Good Manufacturing

Practice (GMP) for processing and production, and also Good Distribution Practice (GDP). According to one of the first licensees under the new rules, obtaining a license is a demanding process. First, it took about six months before the ministerial decree was published, providing a necessary framework for the law to work in practice. Second, officials managing the whole process for the first time often were pretty uninformed and inexperienced when it comes to cannabis cultivation. It therefore took very long –eight months to be precise – for the first licence to be issued. And we are talking about one licence for one company. Others are still waiting for theirs, and, in the meantime, they have to subsidise their operations or make some profit by selling cannabis with the lawful THC limit, which is since January 2022 set at 1% in the Czech Republic.

To build a cultivation facility with the ambition of obtaining a medical cannabis production licence requires a significant financial investment, but above all a massive dose of patience, courage and faith in better future. None of the Czech producers I have had the opportunity to talk to rely solely on the domestic market. They all pin their hopes on our huge and rich neighbour – Germany – where 9.000 kilograms of medical cannabis

and products from it were dispensed by pharmacies in 2021, which is a significant difference to Czechia’s 100–150 kilograms per year. It means that German consumption of medicinal cannabis per capita is ten times higher than in the Czech Republic. Still, the amount sold by German pharmacies is not large enough to support all producers currently operating in Europe and especially North America.

It means that, in principle, Czech licensed growers are left with few options. They can try to compete with imported medical cannabis in Czech pharmacies or penetrate the medical cannabis markets in neighbouring countries and, last but not least, hope for an early start of the regulated recreational cannabis market. Be it in the Czech Republic or, of course, in Germany and perhaps in other countries. I was not able to find out from public sources how many companies are currently applying for medical cannabis cultivation licences in the Czech Republic. Personally, my estimate is that it may be around ten companies, but I could be wrong. What is certain is that none of them will have an easy time on the market, as has already been proven in the USA and Canada.

GERMAN RECREATIONAL MARKET: WOULD IT BE LARGE ENOUGH?

First of all, we could ask ourselves the

rhetorical question of whether a legal recreational market would ever emerge in Germany and whether it would be able to compete with the black market in terms of price and variability. I believe that the German government will succeed

in bringing about a change in laws. In the Czech environment, I am not so sure, but I hope that the promising process will also be somehow completed. The change in attitude towards cannabis, which is demonstrably less addictive and less dangerous to society than legal drugs such as alcohol and tobacco, is becoming real all over the world and cannot be ignored.

At the moment, Czech producers of medicinal (and potentially recreational) cannabis have two competitive advantages in particular. Construction and operating costs are still less financially demanding than in Germany, and we have a shared border. Moreover, if German users prefer high quality, Czech producers (of course not all of them) could be successful there.

When it comes to the size of German recreational cannabis market, estimates vary between 400 and 600 tonnes of dried flower per year. This is certainly a huge amount and, at first glance, there definitely should be some room for Czech producers. However, it will depend significantly on what conditions the German government sets and whether and to what extent imports will be allowed. Germany may be a populous country, but we cannot forget that the supply of cannabis on the legal markets in North America far exceeds the real demand. It is no secret that some of the surplus is already flowing through various channels into the European market. And large amounts are even being destroyed, as you may have already read in Soft Secrets.

PRICELESS LEGAL REFORM

At the time of writing, there are discussions about what a regulated adult-use cannabis market in the Czech Republic might look like. Allowing home

growing, cannabis social clubs and, of course, sales in licensed shops – these are three potential pillars. The goal is to have the draft bill in place by the end of March so that the legislative process consisting of parliamentary discussions, amending the draft and finding enough support can begin. And it is by no means certain that the bill will pass and becomes a law. The current government is made up of five parties in a coalition. It has a relatively comfortable majority in both chambers of Czech Parliament, but it is not certain that all the parties in the coalition are in favour of recreational cannabis.

The biggest cloud of doubt hangs over the opinion of the Christian Democrats. Because of them, the bill's sponsors may well have to look for support from opposition MPs. And that may not be easy, especially after the tense presidential elections, which have deepened the divisions between the ruling coalition and the opposition. Also, the current opposition is essentially made up of two populist parties. It is hard to imagine at this point that anyone from the opposition would go along with the five-party coalition plan to regulate cannabis.

Despite the fact that the majority of Czechs is in favour of cannabis regulation, the issue is still a very sensitive for some political figures, and one that is a clear no-go for many voters of populist parties. In 2024, there will be Senate and regional council elections in the Czech Republic.

This year is therefore the ideal and perhaps the only chance to pass the reform before the ruthless pre-election campaigns begin. I sincerely wish to all Czech cannabis producers that the legalization bill is approved and b ecomes a law.

GROW WITH JORGE CERVANTES

Jorge Cervantes jorge@marijuanagrowing.com

MISDIAGNOSED GARDEN PROBLEMS, PART TWO

AIR

Air ventilation and circulation are essential indoors and in greenhouses as well as outdoors. Air much change in the entire growing area every few minutes to supply enough carbon dioxide for rapid growth. Air circulation within the growing area including in between plants ensures CO2 availability to foliage. Humidity and temperature when too high or too low cause problems with nutrient uptake, water usage, and a host of others.

Lack of ventilation: Leaves are stifled and unable to function properly, causing slow growth and poor consumption of water and nutrients. Other problems associated with lack of

ventilation include over-watering and diseases and pest attacks.

Not enough air circulation is a common problem in many grow rooms and greenhouses. See “Air Circulation” in

chapiter 15, Air for more information. Outdoors, air circulation inside of plants is often inadequate. The quick solution is to prune out weak and spindly growth. This will increase air circulation immediately. Long-term

solutions include planting further apart and using a trellis to open up plant interiors.

Too much air circulation is seldom a problem. I cannot remember when an indoor grow room or greenhouse had too much air circulation. However, do not let high volumes of air blow directly on foliage. It will dry quickly.

Low humidity can become a problem in desert regions and in grow rooms that get too hot. Low humidity is easy to remedy, just set out open sources of water. Low humidity causes cannabis to suffer stress and use more water and less nutrients. Nutrient and pH become unbalanced quickly.

High humidity is a common concern among indoor and greenhouse growers. High humidity causes the plants to use less water and more nutrients. Growth is slow because stomata are not able to open.

Inconsistent humidity is a common problem in greenhouses that get full sun during hot days. And in greenhouses in cold climates where the temperature dips down at night. Condensation of the moisture in the

air also causes problems when it accumulates forming water droplets on walls, ceilings, and other surfaces.

Low temperatures slow plant processes both underground and aboveground. Cannabis grows best with in a temperature range of 13-27 degrees C.

Irrigation systems can be employed to lower daily workload and provide a consistent soil environment for plants. Make sure the irrigation system is working properly and delivering adequate water to plants where they need it.

Avoid problems outdoors caused by excessive heat by running sprinklers for an hour during the heat of the day. Cool 10-degrees C water cools foliage, ground air and the soil surface quickly. Plants hydrate quickly as foliage absorbs water. The evaporative cooling effect lasts for several hours after the

High temperatures cause cannabis to use more water to cool foliage. When plants use more water, they use the same amount of fertilizer. Containerized plants grow in less soil and react to nutrient imbalances quickly. You must dilute the nutrient solution applied to containers so that the extra water used by plants still delivers the same amount of nutrients every day. Lower soil temperatures and evaporation by covering outdoor soil with a layer of mulch. Outdoor plants in organic soil are able to increase water usage without altering fertilizer regimen.

Not enough ventilation is a relatively common problem indoors and in greenhouses. Enclosed environments must be properly ventilated. See “Air Ventilation” in chapiter 15, Air for more information.

Too much ventilation is seldom a problem unless indoor and greenhouse fans blow directly on plants and cause extra maintenance. Or outdoors in windy conditions. Set up permable shade cloth outdoors as a wind block. Grow shorter plants that can withstand wind.

sprinkler is turned off. You may need to shake the water off plants so that it does not sit in flowers. Hot windy weather dries moisture clinging to foliage quickly.

Inconsistent temperatures, both low and high, slow cannabis growth. Large fluctuations in temperature–more than 8-10 degrees C–causes slow growth. Inconsistent temperatures are a constant concern among greenhouse growers and outdoor growers too.

The temperature drops at night in greenhouses to reflect the outdoor temperature. Crops in unheated greenhouses are protected from wind chill and harsh weather. But, when temperatures dip below 4.5 degrees C, growth stops.

Add CO2 to a grow room or greenhouse to increase cannabis growth.

All systems – Light, Air, Water, Nutrients, Soil/substrate (LAWNS) –must be functioning at 100 percent for optimum growth.

WATER

acidity or alkalinity. A pH of 5.0 is ten times more acidic than a pH of 6.0. And a pH of 7.0 is 100 times (10 x 10) more acidic than a pH of 5.0. Moving the pH up or down more than a full point is expensive and causes substrate imbalances and plant stress. Raw water with more than 50 ppm sodium or a combined reading of more than 300 ppm will cause nutrient mixes to become imbalanced. Starting with “clean” water is essential to avoid problems.

THE OPTIMUM PH RANGE FOR CONTAINERIZED

CANNABIS GROWTH IS 5.8-6.2. BUT CANNABIS PLANTS WILL GROW WITHIN A PH RANGE OF 5.5-6.5. SOIL-GROWN OUTDOOR CANNABIS CROPS PERFORM BEST NEAR THE TOP OF THIS RANGE.

Over-watering is often a problem in container gardens. A dip in temperatures or increase in humidity cause plants to use less water. Poor drainage also promotes over-watering and root rot. Under-watering is less of a problem, however dry pockets of soil can develop within an “irrigated” container.

Cannabis uses much water and energy to regulate foliage temperatures and chemistry in hot and windy weather. As the temperature climbs, cannabis is forced to use and evaporate more water. About 70 percent of the plant's energy is used in this process and little energy remains for growth.

It is easy to apply the same dose of fertilizer as plants use more water to stay cool, but the nutrients become more concentrated in the soil which causes overfertilization.

Underwatering: Dry soil causes nutrient transport to slow becoming more severe as it progresses. Lack of water causes nutrient deficiencies in cannabis and dehydrates foliage. Large plants in small containers are easy to underwater. Outdoor gardens in windy locations are prone to underwatering. The soil also dries quickly causing more moisture migration from the top layer into the air. Wilting is a sign of severe underwatering.

Irrigation systems can be employed to lower daily workload and provide a consistent soil environment for plants. Make sure the irrigation system is working properly and delivering adequate water to plants where they need it.

Water quality is at the base of many cannabis cultivation problems. Water pH and dissolved salts in raw water are often the cause of nutrient deficiencies and excesses A full point movement in pH represents an increase of ten times in either

Poor drainage can be a problem in container gardens and in heavy clayey soil outdoors. Soggy wet soil deprives oxygen from the roots anchored in soil, which retards the nutrient intake. Growth slows, leaves curl downward. The plant's defenses weaken. Roots rot when the condition is severe.

Timers and controllers automate irrigation systems. You can choose from a large selection of timers and controllers.

This article was excerpted from the update of – Marijuana Horticulture “Bible” (6th Edition) by Jorge Cervantes. The new digital edition will be available as late, 2023. Jorge is very excited about the new digital edition that will help hundreds of thousands of growers grow more and better cannabis! © 2020, © 2021, © 2022. Download your FREE copy of the new FREE 100-page digital book, We Grow Cannabi! at www.Jorge-Cervantes.com. Sign up for our mailing list at www.marijuanagrowing.com for updates on the new digital 6th Edition.

Award-Winning cannabis cultivation author Jorge Cervantes teams up with Seedsman for a FREE, comprehensive digital book on home growing.

100-page digital book

270+ color images

Interactive – Searchable

Comprehensive guide to cannabis cultivation

Beginner and advanced growers

Easy-to-follow cultivation examples

8 chapters of cultivation wisdom

Dedicated to increasing cannabis yields

Discover the magic of cannabis!

www.marijuanagrowing.com/grow-cannabis-book

Co-Authors

Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Gary Yates

Stefan Meyer

Table of Contents

• Cannabis Botany

• Life Cycle of Cannabis

• Cannabis Seeds & Seedlings

• Plan Your Garden

• Grow Room Setup

• Twelve-week Garden

• Harvest, Manicuring, Drying, Curing & Storage

• Diseases, Pests & Problems

JORGE CERVANTES

Author Marijuana Horticulture.

Legendary Jorge Cervantes, published in eight languages sold over a million copies worldwide.

HIGH CUISINE WITH BETTY GREEN

By Betty Green

BETTY'S PERFECT PIZZA

You should see each dough ball pretty much double in size.

Step 6

Now is the time to freeze the dough balls you are not using. Your dough can be frozen for up to three months. Then, defrost in the fridge overnight before use, and you are ready to go.

Step 7

Some would say that it is perfect as it is. So why make a weed-infused pizza? When you can just get high and get someone else to do all the work and bring it to you?

Some people prefer edibles because they don't like smoking or can't for health reasons. Some people don't want the house to stink of smoke, or they want to enjoy a cannabis-infused dish with the company. One of the biggest reasons, however, is that edibles feel different. With edibles, you can expect a fully immersive body-heavy high that lasts a long time. However, Edibles can also be the perfect high for a special occasion, inducing a fun and memorable change of pace to the evening.

One of the critical steps to making edibles is infusing fat — usually oil or butter — with cannabis ahead of time. This is because cannabinoids such as THC are fat-soluble and must be consumed with a lubricant to be best metabolized by the body. Olive oil and coconut oil are two of the best oils to use for cannabis infusions.

Once you have made your infused oil, you are always ready to make incredible edibles. Check out previous editions of Soft Secrets online for a guide on making your butter or oil infusions.

To make your weed-infused pizza from scratch, we will use cannabis cooking oil to make the pizza dough. It sounds complex, but it's not. All you must do is replace the olive oil in a standard dough recipe with cannabis-infused oil.

The recipe below will make you enough dough for four 10-inch pizzas. Just use what you need and put the rest in the freezer for next time.

INGREDIENTS:

For Dough

2 tsp active dry yeast

540g all-purpose flour (plus extra for dusting)

2 tsp of salt

2 tbsp of infused canna olive or coconut oil

230ml of lukewarm water

For Pizza:

small tub of tomato sauce (pizza sauce)

150g of grated cheese. Cheddar and mozzarella are great pizza cheeses. Toppings of your choice, i.e., pepperoni, mushrooms, ham, pineapple

METHOD:

Step 1

Place the lukewarm water in a mixing

bowl and sprinkle the yeast over the top. Allow the yeast to dissolve for about two minutes.

Step 2

Add the flour, salt, and infused oil. Mix for about five minutes until a dough has formed.

Step 3

Dust your worktop with some flour and place the dough on it. Lightly knead the dough for 3-4 minutes until smooth and cut it into four equal pieces.

Step 4

Wrap the dough pieces in plastic bags and leave them in the fridge for several hours or, if possible, overnight.

Step 5

Now form your dough balls on a flourdusted or lined baking sheet. Cover with cling film and a kitchen towel and let 'rise' in a warm spot for about 30 minutes.

Back to the pizza of the moment. Roll your dough ball out till it is roughly 10 inches in diameter and ½ inch thick. Try and achieve this quickly, as you do not want to overwork the dough and end up with a hard pizza base.

Step 8

Add your sauce, cheese, and toppings. Pizzas are very personal; one person's dream pizza is another's nightmare. So, you do you and add as much or little of whatever toppings float your boat.

Step 9

Preheat the oven and tray to 245°C and bake your pizza for 10-15 minutes or until cooked as required.

No time for dough?

Just order your favourite pizza and drizzle some cannabis oil on top or if you have gone down the store-bought route, sprinkle some oil across your pizza before you put it in the oven. You can also add infused oil to a regular pizza sauce or make your own infused tomato sauce that can be used in lots of recipes such as casseroles, stews, and pasta dishes as well as pizza. For my recipe for a THC-tasty tomato sauce, check out previous Betty Green articles at Soft Secrets online. Combining bread, cheese and tomato sauce might be seen as relatively simple. However, the outcome is far from it. As a species, we are innately drawn to fatty, sweet, rich, fatty, and complex foods. Pizza ticks all these boxes. However, you are ticking an extra box with an infused pizza, making the experience even better.

Pizza is perfect for when you are having a chilled one. It requires no cutlery; it can be easily carried around in one hand; it's salty, versatile, cheesy, comforting and still good when cold the next day.

By Rich Hamilton

SILENT BOB QUITS WEED

47-year-old comedian, actor, filmmaker and stoner hero Kevin Smith has recently stopped smoking weed despite his legendary stoner status.

Smith, famous for his cult classic films Clerks, Mallrats and Chasing Amy, has supported cannabis for many years. His films are full of weed references, and his legendary characters, Jay and Silent Bob, played by Smith and longtime friend Jason Mewes, are known to be avid stoners. Recently, however, Smith decided to give up weed whilst continuing to recover from a severe health scare.

On Feb. 25, 2018, Smith was filming for the Jay and Silent Bob Reboot when he was rushed to the hospital after experiencing extreme chest pain. Doctors found that he had suffered a massive heart attack. The actor was astounded to be told he had a 100 per cent blockage of his left anterior descending artery. A blockage that is otherwise known as the 'widow maker' due to how fatal it can be.

Since that day, Smith has embarked on a health overhaul, losing over 100 pounds and adopting a vegan lifestyle. Five years since that day, Smith has also quit smoking pot.

The Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back director posted the following on his Instagram on Feb. 28 2023

Today marks my 5th week without weed. I feel less numb and more present than I have in 10 years. No judgment on my green friends, but this is how I want to live from now on. If you're green, you're growing. If you're ripe, you're rotting. And I'm done being rotten. Every day is a school day. And I'm willing to learn.

Smith came to weed late, and it was fellow stoner celeb Seth Rogen who turned him into a middle-aged toker. Working with him on the film "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" in 2008, Smith noticed how Seth was one of the

most stoned individuals he had ever encountered. Smith elaborates that Rogen was consistently productive, and even though he smoked weed, he didn't fit the classic "stoner stereotype." Instead, Seth introduced Smith to the idea of "the productive stoner."

"There are a bunch of us in Hollywood that smoke weed and get shit done. Seth shattered the stereotype, so I decided to move forward with it. I slowly became a stoner, which is weird because I made all the Jay and Silent Bob movies with so much weed. It wasn't until I became a stoner and watched all my movies again that I understood why stoners like them so much". -

Kevin Smith

Smith and Jason Mewes (Jay) have had their own line of cannabis products associated with "Caviar Gold" since 2019, including Snoochie Boochie prerolls, Lunar Modules, and various CBD products.

Smith has been previously quoted as

saying that their products are not for those with a low tolerance. "The brands I make with Caviar Gold are packed full of distillate, so periodically, I'll give somebody a joint. Then, they'll be like, did you fucking drug me? Like, oh, I should've warned you they're pretty high in THC".

Smith, a long-time advocate of marijuana, was initially hesitant to quit smoking since he had enjoyed the drug for many years. However, he was convinced by a doctor who told him that giving up would be beneficial for his recovery.

Smith also revealed that he had smoked high-potency THC products before his heart attack and worried about how these products may affect his mind. Since quitting, Smith said he feels much better and has exercised regularly.

On the most recent episode of his podcast "Fatman Beyond," Smith said that this was the first episode he had

recorded, not stoned. He said that whilst he plans to continue selling his Caviar Gold, branded cannabis line, he would not be smoking weed himself for the foreseeable future. As well as his health concerns, Smith commented that he felt as though he wasn't "present" enough in his day-to-day life following 15 years under the effect.

"I did it for 15 years, and now I just want to be present. When I started smoking weed, I had a huge wound in my heart weed was a nice bandage that I put on top of it, and the wound kept getting bigger. And then I put on more bandages until one day, I realized I was as bandaged up as a mummy. I couldn't see; I couldn't hear clearly, and I wasn't present anymore." -

Kevin Smith.

Smith's decision to quit weed is a testament to his commitment to his health and a reminder that we should all take our health seriously and listen to our bodies because sometimes we might need a break.

Kevin Smith as Silent Bob (at left).

By Rich Hamilton

SOFT SECRETS MEDIA

HERE IS SOFT SECRETS RUN DOWN OF WHAT TO WATCH, CREATE AND READ THIS MONTH.

WATCHPRO CANNABIS MEDIA (PCM)- STREAMINGC

Now live streaming 24-7 news, talk, information, and educational content on ROKU, Apple TV, Android, and various social media platforms. Pro Cannabis Media was hailed as the "fastest growing media company in the USA" by Global Health Pharma Magazine in 2021 and has also been called the "CNBC of Weed".

Comprising seven contributing independent producers and 11 contributing correspondents from around the world, Pro Cannabis Media's 24-hour live stream is dedicated to telling the true stories of the emerging cannabis economy and culture through the authentic voices of those leading the change.

Founded by an award-winning producer, veteran sports journalist, and canna medical cardholder. Jimmy Young, Pro Cannabis Media (PCM) produces and distributes cannabis podcasts, live streams, and branded content from talented journalists. The channel is anchored by its industry news and trend reporting. Popular regular shows include In The Weeds with Jimmy Young, Weed Talk News, and The Green Rush Live.

As a go-to source for all things cannabis, including Media, News, podcasts, Wellness & Health, and Education, why

not give it a go rather than binging that Netflix box set? For more information on when and how to watch, go to the website www.procannabismedia.com

READWEED MOM- AMAZON

Full name "Weed Mom- The CannaCurious Woman's Guide to Healthier Relaxation, Happier Parenting, and Chilling TF Out". There is still a massive stigma attached to women, especially moms who choose to relax or unwind with a joint. Whilst it seems socially acceptable for moms to drink a bottle of wine a night and talk about it openly on social media, the thought of a stressed-out mother puffing on a joint after the kids have gone to bed is still seen as a crime punishable by having your children removed!

This book has never been needed more to show stressed-out mums..and dads how they can navigate cannabis and parenting with this indispensable guide for those interested in learning more about THC, CBD, micro-dosing, edibles, and more, along with how to integrate it into family life.

With cannabis liberalisation sweeping the globe, more and more mothers (and fathers) are looking for information about how to use cannabis safely and responsibly."Weed moms," as they are sometimes called, are trying to dismantle

the social stigma surrounding cannabis and parenting and create a culture all of their own. Weed Mom is the only book that examines how weed can be a noncontroversial and therapeutic way to chill, destress, and improve social lives and relationships. Crammed with knowledge for both seasoned and first-time users, this text offers friendly, valuable advice.

Learn about the basics of THC and CBD, tips for varied intake methods, microdosing, cannabis-friendly topics for family and friends, how cannabis can improve your romantic relationships and much more!

LISTEN"WAKE AND BAKE WITH JEFFTHE420CHEF"MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS

It may be a "niche" area of cannabis and podcasts, for that matter. Still, suppose you have any interest in infused foods. In that case, this is the podcast for you, as there is arguably no better source of authority on the subject than this guy. You can only come away from it with an elevated edibles game.

On Wake and Bake, you will learn what you need to know to use cannabis,

edibles, the legal side, and how to use cannabis to live a better life every day!

Host "JeffThe420Chef" is the respected author of the best-selling cookbook "The 420 Gourmet: The Art of Elevated Cannabis Cuisine". He is the only cannabis chef in the world specialising in cooking and baking with specially crafted, strainspecific "Light Tasting" and "Tasteless" cannabutter and canna oils created to achieve the health and wellness goals of medicinal users. As a result, he became one of the world's top cannabis chefs, using molecular gastronomy and culinary deconstruction to reinvent the cannabis consumption experience.

Jeff is the Executive Chef of the cannabis edibles consumption lounge Monica's House in West Hollywood. He is revolutionising the cannabis consumption experience through his creations.

Referred to as "The Julia Child of Weed", Jeff works with cannabis like no other. Redefining the whole experience with his "tasteless" butter and oil infusions.

In 2014, Jeff became famous for inventing the process which cleans cannabis and neutralises the herbaceous taste of the plant while simultaneously pioneering "layered micro-dosing", the practice of serving a combination of precisely lowdose edibles throughout a meal.

Jeff aims to make cooking with cannabis accessible for everyone and bring the experience into the mainstream.

COLOFON

Soft Secrets is published by Discover Publisher BV Galvaniweg 11, 5482 TN Schijndel, Netherlands

Telephone: +31-(0)73-5498112

E-mail: info@softsecrets.nl Web: www.softsecrets.com

Editor: Cliff Cremer

Contributors: Jorge Cervantes, Stoney Tark, Rich Hamilton, Mr. José, Green Born Identity (G.B.I.), Betty Green, TricomaTeam, Tommy L. Gomez, Fabrizio Dentini, Boisterix and others.

Photography: iStock

Editorial adress: readers@softsecrets.nl

Advertisements:

E-mail: 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 legalised cannabis as a way of separating soft and hard drugs, as it has proven to

INDEX OF ADS

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 process 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 himself 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 without prior permission from the publisher and other copyright holders. The publisher 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: