UK 04 23

UKRAINE’S PRESIDENT ZELENSKY:

WE SHOULD FINALLY LEGALISE MEDICAL CANNABIS

In an address to the Ukrainian Parliament, on the occasion of Constitution Day on June 28, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that “all the world’s best practices, all the most effective policies, all the solutions, no matter how difficult or unusual they may seem to us, must be applied in Ukraine so that Ukrainians, all our citizens, do not have to endure the pain, stress and trauma of war.”

Zelensky stressed the need to approve the long-awaited medical cannabis bill. “In particular, we must finally fairly legalize cannabis-based medicines for all those who need them, with appropriate scientific research and controlled Ukrainian production,” Zelensky said, as Ukrainska Pravda reported. Zelensky emphasized that providing access to medical cannabis could provide a therapeutic option for citizens who have endured more than a year of intensive conflict after Russia first invaded the country in February 2022.

The head of state said Ukraine should create the strongest mental and physical rehabilitation sector in Europe, and this will involve both building rehabilitation centres and training the relevant personnel.

Last year, the Ukrainian government announced its support for the decriminalization of medical marijuana. “The cabinet support the bill ‘on regulation of circulation of cannabis genus

plants for medical, industrial purposes and scientific purposes and creation of conditions for the expansion of patients’ access to necessary treatment of oncologic conditions and combat-induced post-traumatic stress disorder,”

Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Lyashko wrote in a Facebook post.

“We understand the negative consequences of war on the state of mental health. We understand the number of people who will need medical treatment as a result of this impact. And we understand that there is no time to wait.”

As United Press International noted, President Zelensky’s support for medical cannabis legalization remains consistent as evidenced in 2019, during his presidential campaign, when he said it would be “normal” to allow people to access cannabis “droplets.” Zelensky’s Cabinet has taken steps to legalize medical cannabis, approving draft reform legislation last year that must still be passed by the Parliament.

The first version of the bill aimed to enhance the quality of palliative medical service, promote cannabis-related medical research, as well as broaden patient access to treatment for over 50 conditions, including cancer, PTSD, neurological diseases, and chronic neuropathic pain.

The new bill separates the production and distribution of medical cannabis from industrial

hemp, increasing the THC potency limit from 0.08% to 0.3% in dry weight. Medical cannabis must be grown exclusively from certified seeds under state supervision. Furthermore, to protect local producers, the proposed measure suggests a prohibition on importing medical marihuana, except for horticultural or scientific purposes and cannabis-based medicinal products, until at least 2028, according to Deutsche Welle.

As reported by Euronews, more than 60% of its soldiers are suffering from PTSD, and about half of the population needs psychological help to cope with the war. (SD)

The president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky is calling for the legalization of medical marijuana to help Ukrainians cope with trauma amid the ongoing war with Russia.

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Runtz Muffin …true happiness!

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Clonal degeneration a threat to our mother plants

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Ukraine: Cannabis to the Rescue? Hemp For Victory 2.0

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Strawberry Cola Sherbert F1 FV®

Interview with Jorge Cervantes the mentor of Cannabis growers!

Euro News Round-Up

Rich Hamilton

UK- The Only British Hemp Farm closes in a row with the UK government

Jersey Hemp has released a statement saying that it was disappointed “with the Home Office’s position declaring their products illegal and clarified that they had worked with the UK Food Standards Agency to ensure that they were compliant with the relevant laws.

The Home Office believes an import licence was needed before controlled drugs could be brought into the UK. The company’s owners confirmed it had laid off over half its staff and stopped its sales and growing operations.

Jersey Hemp says that the UK government have restricted the export of its products to the UK after discovering low amounts of THC in its products. This move has been claimed to have received “subsequent support of the Jersey authorities”. The company is now considering taking both governments to court. Under UK law, THC is a controlled drug which cannot be imported.

To export cannabis outside of Jersey, the island’s government said the company required licenses under the Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978. These licenses are reported to be issued on a “shipment-by-shipment” basis.

The Home Office confirmed that an import licence would also be needed “before controlled drugs are imported into the UK” and that “CBD in its pure form is not a controlled drug, but if a CBD product contains THC or other controlled cannabinoids, then it is likely that the product would be controlled.”

Jersey Hemp said it had worked to ensure it met UK compliance standards for three years. Mr Ryan said: “We’ve got to take a step back and

consider the position we find ourselves in. “It’s very frustrating, pretty sad; the impact on us has been devastating.” Meanwhile, the government claims it is “actively committed to supporting the cannabis cultivation industry”. “We are aware that Jersey Hemp is in contact with HM Government concerning exports to the UK - as a separate jurisdiction, we cannot comment on those talks and would also not speculate on their outcome. All businesses licenced to cultivate cannabis in Jersey are responsible for complying with the relevant legislation in the jurisdiction into which they export products.”

France-Macron Vows to Get Tough on Cannabis Fines. French weed smokers will face fines of up to £2,100. This will be in response to the growing issue of drug-related gang violence. Police are given 5,000 portable card machines to force people possessing the drug who do not have the cash to instantly pay a penalty, starting at £130 for a first-time offence.

The move came as President Emmanuel Macron outlined his plans to clamp down on fine dodgers, stating that it was ‘unacceptable’ that a huge 65% of the 350,000 fines for cannabis possession that have been handed out since September 2020 were still unpaid. In an interview with a newspaper published in the crime hot spot city of Marseille, where 23 people have been killed in relation to drug gang violence this year, the president reiterated his belief that decriminalisation was not the answer.

‘People who have the means to consume drugs because for them it’s recreational must understand that they’re sustaining criminal networks.

They are effectively complicit.’ President Emmanuel Macron.

Despite their stringent regulations, France remains one of the top countries in Europe in terms of cannabis users. There are an estimated five million annual users, 900,000 of whom are considered daily smokers. Like many Western countries, the majority of the population in France supports decriminalisation or legalisation of cannabis to some degree, as do some political parties such as the Green Party. Unthwarted, however, Mr Macron confirmed that he has ‘asked the interior minister to prepare a decree by the end of the summer to ensure that fines are paid immediately, by bank card or in cash.’ The move is unpopular with more than just the general public,

however. Police union spokesman Rudy Manna said the plan would be unlikely to work. He told The Times: ‘Suppose you’re a police officer and take hundreds of euros in cash for a fine, but then you intervene in an armed robbery or assault, and the money is lost in the struggle? Then what happens?’

Police are being given 5,000 portable card machines to force people possessing the drug who do not have the cash to instantly pay a penalty, starting at £130 for a first-time offence.

Mr Macron has made similar promises to improve public services and clamp down on crime whether this one will come through remains to be seen.

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H. Madera

“No question about it! A crop can always be improved.”

INTERVIEW WITH JORGE CERVANTES, THE MENTOR OF CANNABIS GROWERS

After training many generations of Cannabis growers, Soft Secrets editor and writer Jorge Cervantes is fitter than ever and full of new projects. Dozens of interviews with him can be found on the web where he talks about growing. This time, however, other aspects were covered, such as the search for quality information at the present time or what can be learned learn from growing and applied to life.

Soft Secrets: Supposing you put your past life on a timeline, what do you think were its key points?

Jorge Cervantes: A key point was when, in 1983, I published the first edition of Indoor Marijuana Horticulture. Indoor crops had already started in Seattle and then in Portland, but there was a lack of quality information. People did not know about gardening. They put lights on the ceiling more than one and a half metre (five feet) away from the plants. They used vertical hanging lights and no reflector and, when there was a reflector, it was like a cone. I asked questions about why things were done like that and the answers did not convince me. There were some books, but they addressed things in general and lacked essential information. Nobody wanted to publish my book, I had to design, print and distribute it myself. I had to look for headshops and a bookshop prepared to risk releasing something new.

The second important moment was when the operation ‘Green Merchant’ took place in October 1989. It was a DEA raid on 43 grow shops in almost every state. They arrested about 120 people, 80 of whom I knew. Those who were growing cannabis got up to 8 years in jail, others had their accounts frozen, others were intimidated and had their shops closed.

They took away their homes and, in some cases, even custody of their children. This stopped our activity for a few years and it was very scary. Luckily, I was spared, but I was close to a lot of people in detention and I was in hiding for three years. When the Soviet Union fell, the United States had no enemies. Since they always need enemies, the new enemies were the cannabis growers. It was only after the attack on the Twin Towers that the new enemy

became terrorism and they left us alone. The third key moment was my relocation to other countries as a result of this prosecution: Canada in 1995, Amsterdam in 1997 and Barcelona in 1998. I started in Canada because there was a strong cannabis movement there.

They were growing a lot of weed, which was then shipped to the United States. So, I moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, where I met a lot of growers and could have more access to everything, take more photos, and write better articles. Later, I realised that more changes were happening in Amsterdam and went to live there, where I spent more than a year. Although I did not like the weather, I enjoyed being in coffeeshops as there were a lot of foreigners and Americans.

Those years the Cannabis Cup was taking place and all the Spaniards started to arrive. They told me that a strong movement had started. This encouraged me to change again. Nonetheless, the scene was still dominated by hashish and there were no clubs. A meeting point for everyone passing through Barcelona was the Makoki bookshop, where the ARSEC headquarters were also located. From there, I travelled a lot. Barcelona is unquestionably an international city and I realised that it was going to become the European cannabis capital. I was lucky enough to see it all develop.

The fourth key moment was in 2006, when I published the new edition of Marijuana Horticulture, first in English and then in other languages.

At last, I was able to release a full-colour, high quality edited book translated into Spanish, Russian, German, Italian, French, French, Dutch and even Japanese. At the same time, the cannabis movement was booming all over the world, especially in the United States.

The high-quality coco fibers are sustainably ripened, washed and buffered, ensuring an optimal growth medium. The cocos contains sufficient nutrition for the first week of the growth cycle. Afterwards water with liquid fertilizers and stimutors can be added for optimal results. Cocos has a perfect structure that retains nutritious water easily and is therefore quickly absorbed by the roots of the plant.

@atami.uk

When I studied journalism, they talked about the fact that, for good information, you need the right signal/noise ratio. When I read the guerrilla cultivation manual (it was the first good thing I read), there was little information. Now the problem is that there is too much and it generates noise.

The internet has greatly increased the speed at which information circulates. Speed has pros and cons, like everything else. Now everyone can be an ‘expert’. By having a mobile phone with a camera and little money you can make a website, open a Facebook or Instagram profile, alter images with Photoshop and make ‘professional’ videos. By using search engine optimisation (SEO) tricks, any ‘expert’ can be listed the top of the search results. I never believed the term ‘fake news’ until the internet made it real.

There is also a lot of information that mixes what apparently seems science with the intention to sell products. It is difficult to find high quality reports that are not selling you something. So, there is an impressive amount of information out there, but at the same time it is almost impossible to find quality information. That is why I think there is still a place for my work.

How can the general public tell good information from bad in this morass?

It is very difficult for the general public to separate the advertorial part from what a product or device actually does. In many cases, those who master SEO win. Soon the big companies will enter this market. In some product categories, like fertilisers or lights, they are already here. There will be a big war for market shares and, normally, truth is the first casualty in all wars. In the end, the only thing growers can do is continue planting using products that work. Reading is all very well, but practice is the most important part of a grower’s knowledge.

You like to cite scientific articles. How do you choose them?

Scientific articles are necessary, but they are often too difficult to understand for people without a background in science. There are many top scientists in biology and other branches of science who are doing studies with cannabis. I have translated these articles into normal language. I try to get to know these scientists and make sure I understand everything so I can convey their information to readers, but when it comes to high-level genetics or advanced chemistry, it is hard to understand and explain these concepts in a simple way.

Social networks seem to inform but sometimes misinform

A lot of information on social networks is unreliable; in many cases it is all about selling, and what they show is a bit false. The larger ones stand out more because they have more money to pay for SEO and also for the staff required. Normally, they just show you the sunny side, not the problems. Newsflashes giving cannabis a weird look prevail.

I think what people need is a source of information that is always valid. Simple informati-

on, with all the facts, aspects and details that a grower needs to know. There are information bases that do not change or change very little. Of course, there are advances such as new LED lights or new genetics, but above all it is

useful for life can be learned from growing plants?

To survive, a plant needs to be very strong and adapt to many climates. Life gives you blows,

journeys over the past 40 years, I saw people change, but cannabis has remained the same. People’s opinions about cannabis have changed. Not long ago it was just a bad drug, now it is medicine. In those days, I already knew that cannabis had beneficial effects. I was called a criminal for saying so! I learned to stay away from these changing opinions and stick to what I believe in.

the market that changes. I have had a motto for a long time: tell the truth, as it is easier and you do not have to make things complex.

What characteristics that are also

but you have to resist them and go on. You also learn that, in order to get good results, you need good food and good information. But the most important thing is what I was saying about surviving and resisting. In all my

An important theme I have heard you talk about, which is useful in cultivation, but also in all aspects of life, from health to work, is to look for the weakest link in the process, otherwise said, the point where you fail the most, and improve it. A crop can always be improved. Yesterday cannabis was legalised in Thailand. I spoke to the breeder of Canna-

I HAVE HAD A MOTTO FOR A LONG TIME: TELL THE TRUTH, AS IT IS EASIER AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO MAKE THINGS COMPLEX

tonic, Jaime Carrión, who is the director of cultivation of the Golden Triangle Group, and he told me ‘“I am never satisfied, I can always do better’“.

The first thing is to concentrate on these five aspects: light, air, water, fertilisers and substrates; each of them also includes smaller aspects that are also worth considering. The plant is a living system, where each aspect influences the others. That is why you have to look at the system as a whole and then at the individual parts. The crop will be influenced by the weakest among these five aspects. The way to improve a crop is to see which of them is worse and improve it, concentrate on it and optimise it as much as possible. Other important factors are temperature, humidity, moulds or pests.

I like to grow outdoors and in greenhouses because of the reduced footprint. It is essential to define a calendar, so you know when it is appropriate to do something, write down what you are doing and take into account the effects of the weather. In addition, a garden can be better tended by a single person instead of a team, because each person has their own way of doing things.

What are your next projects?

We are converting everything to digital for people to access my new books with a single tap on their smartphones. It is a big step but a basic one to survive in today’s cannabis world. I have two young partners who manage, advertise and organise all the digital part and they are brilliant!

At the moment, I am finishing a book to be distributed free of charge. It has 100 pages and over 160 colour images. It is simple and includes four chapters (cannabis botany, cannabis lifecycle, cannabis seeds and seedlings, and growing cannabis indoors). It does not have

a title yet but, for the time being, we will call it the ‘Free Book’. It will be available in English first and then Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, etc.

The Sixth Edition of Marijuana Horticulture will be released a few months later in digital format. The new book has about 800 pages and about 1,000 colour pictures. It includes all the new technologies and also the basic information to grow our favourite plant. To consult this work and the free book or to join my mailing list, I invite readers to visit www. marijuanagrowing.com.

My new website, www.jorge-cervantes.com, includes a blog, a mailing list, videos and my 40-year history in the cannabis industry. I have written more than 50 books, including all the updates and editions in other languages, and I also have released four works in DVD format.

I am currently making more videos for my YouTube channel, https://www.youtube. com/c/jorgecervantesmj. For example, yesterday we uploaded some videos on the legalisation of cannabis in Thailand. One video is an interview with my friend, Ryan Doran, who lives there and helped change the law.

Another is an interview with Jaime Carrion on his indoor crop. Jaime works as director of cultivation at the Golden Triangle Group in Thailand. He is Spanish and is also the breeder of the famous high CBD strain ‘Cannatonic’, I recommend you watch these videos! We are also uploading unique new content every day on my Facebook page, https://www.facebook. com/JoCerv.

Now I go to more trade fairs than ever before. I recently went to Cannatrade in Switzerland and Greentech in Holland. I will also return to the US this year to follow the harvest season, visit more gardens and make videos. I have

half a dozen super interesting projects that are pending, but I would rather not talk about them at the moment.

After so many years, what have you learned in life?

You have to believe in yourself, listen to everyone and look for reports, and then make your own decisions. I try to live every minute of every day, and at the same time live my dreams. The good thing is to live your dreams and not just think about them. But when you do, real life is very different from what you thought dreams would be.

Many of my dreams failed in real life. The good thing is that I already know what the real situation is, I have no regrets thinking about what could have happened. The important thing for me is to have a reason to live, a goal. I was going to retire, but I did not like this prospect at all. I found it boring and went back to

grow, captures CO2 and has many beneficial properties and applications. It can be used as insulation in buildings, to make fabrics or as a substitute for soya. Soya is a crop where you have to use a lot of chemicals and it leaves a big environmental footprint. Cannabis, instead, can be a great help in the environmental movement. We must save the earth or we will destroy ourselves.

We are now changing the world of cannabis. We should continue changing it for the better. More and more states, provinces, districts and countries are legalising cannabis. The tsunami of legalisation has just begun. All we need to do is keep on legalising, planting and studying it and also find applications for our favourite plant.

I sincerely thank all growers who have planted more cannabis than I could have imagined!

work with the same goal of teaching the world how to grow cannabis. I like it, and that is enough to have a reason to continue doing so.

How would you like to be remembered?

As the one who inspired a lot of people to grow cannabis! Also, as a good person, a good husband, a good brother, a good friend and a good guy. That is all. We are just here to spend some time.

What do you want to say in conclusion of this interview?

There is worldwide capacity to grow a lot of cannabis, but not much market. So far, we have seen only two markets, as a drug and as a medicine, but there are many more. Cannabis adapts to almost all climates, is easy to

A strain from Barney’s Farm

Green Born Identity – G.B.I.

RUNTZ MUFFIN …TRUE HAPPINESS

Fancy a new treat from Barney’s Farm? With its Californian ‘dessert’ strains first introduced two years ago, this Dutch seedbank now looks like a real candy shop.

One of Barney’s most recent additions to this product family is Runtz Muffin. To create it, its breeders upgraded the popular Runtz genetics (Zkittlez x Gelato) by crossing it with Barney’s Orange Punch. The result is something very special that tends towards the indica side (70%). In addition to a surprisingly high yield (550-600 g/m2), it also boosts a high potency (up to 29% THC). Both flowers and leaves can take on purple hues during ripening, and become majestically coated in an exorbitant layer of white trichomes. This plant is a feast for the eyes and finishes flowering in 56 to 63 days.

As a true ‘dessert’ strain, Runtz Muffin also offers a taste of the highest level. Its buds are overwhelming with terpenes. As Barney’s Farm puts it, at the end of flowering the plant releases an “orange marzipan” aroma, along with a plethora of aromatic notes that can be perceived both in the live plant and in the dried flowers: orange, clementine, lemon, pineapple, strawberry and lavender, making it a real fruity bomb. The result is a superb blissful effect with the potential to clear any clouds of sadness from your head, filling it with sunny positivity, calm and peace of mind, without nailing you to the sofa.

The two plants selected germinated fast

For the first grow tests with Barney’s Farm strains, Mr Knolle chose Runtz Muffin as one of the three most promising candidates for his experience. He used two feminised seeds which germinated immediately, sprouting from the surface of the substrate after only three days and continuing to grow at great speed. By the time Mr. Knolle set them to flower, three and a half weeks after germination, they were already 33 and 35 centimetres tall, showing a good branch structure with medium-wide green leaves.

Brilliant

violet buds - due to and

abundant, crystalline resin coating – and an enticing aroma

The two Runtz Muffin plants reacted to the change of the 12/12 photoperiod with a classic stretch (a height multiplication factor of 2-2.5), as well as with violet hues that appeared on the leaves. Mr Knolle noted: “As if they had been given an order, both during sprouting and during the vegetative phase the leaves turned dark violet. Throughout the

flowering phase, some of the smaller leaves also showed a mixture of green and violet. I loved it!”. Trichome production started immediately during flowering and soon went into high gear. Gorgeously thick indica-style buds developed with rich layers of frosty-looking resin. “Underneath I could see the dark violet colour of the calyxes and small leaves, which formed a super-attractive contrast.

There was also an unusual and beautiful leathery sheen on the large leaves,” said Mr Knolle. At the end, two thick main colas stood

out clearly in the centre of a ring of side buds. The smell of flowers was more intense and incredibly sweet: “There’s something about that orange marzipan aroma that Barney’s talks about,” Mr Knolle confirmed. The plants crossed the finish line at 60 and 62 days of flowering, with heights of 75 and 81 centimetres.

After drying, it was like a bowl of fruit salad Fortunately, once dried, the Runtz Muffin buds were still violet in colour, offering a delicious, lively and colourful sight: “an eye-catching candy”, was Mr. Knolle’s excited

comment. this candy was also amazing to the nose. Through drying and curing, the initial fruity fragrance had developed into that of a fruit salad bowl with pineapple as main ingredient and citrus fruit notes such as orange, clementine mandarin and lemon. The dry yield of both plants combined was 158 grams.

Tasting Runtz Muffin was a two-hour luxury wellness treatment

Mr Knolle put just over half a gram and the same amount of tobacco in the test joint. The dry-aroma test (inhaling through an unlit joint) already disclosed a wonderfully fruity and intense taste, which he had already imagined from the smell.

When he lit his Runtz Muffin joint, the aroma of the smoke carried the full load of fruit to the palate, which he described as follows: “It is really amazing how the fruity nature of Runtz Muffin translates into taste; indeed, it is a long-lasting sweet taste with a slight hint of citrus acidity”. A highly qualitative level was also found in the effect.

After a few puffs, Mr Knolle was conquered by a warm wave of euphoria that made him smile with happiness and filled his soul with joy. All the stress off a long working day disappeared. But it was not a mental journey of escape into a “La La Land” world.

Mr Knolle maintained a clear mind along with a bright mood and totally positive energy. He was soothed by zen-like tranquillity and inner peace. After a while, this feeling was accompanied by deep physical relaxation. “It was two hours of luxurious wellness treatment,” he explained enthusiastically afterwards.

Mr Knolle’s summary

“I’ve become convinced that there is fame surrounding Runtz for a reason (or, rather, many). This deluxe cross that Barney’s Farm has done with Orange Punch is a very successful variation on the original genetics, which gave me nothing but joy from start to finish – Runtz Muffin is true happiness for cannabis aficionados!” Green Born Identity - G.B.I.

Growing Data:

Genetics: Runtz Muffin ([Zkittlez x Gelato #33] x Orange Punch)

Vegetative phase 3,5 weeks (after germination)

Flowering phase 60 + 62 days/generally 56-63 days

Substrate Bionova Bio Soilmix, 11 litre pots

pH 6.4-6.7

EC 1.2–1.8 mS

Lighting system SANlight lamps - 3 Q1s and 1 Q3

Temperature 21-27°C

Air humidity 40-60%

Irrigation Hand watering

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

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

Special devices CleanLight Pro lamp for mould prevention

Height 75 + 81 cm

Yield 158 g

History of genetics

CLONAL DEGENERATION, A THREAT TO OUR MOTHER PLANTS

Clonal degeneration is a phenomenon that has long been of concern to our community. It involves the decline in productivity and performance of cloned plants over successive replications. This phenomenon is often attributed to genetic changes that occur during replication. However, recent research reveals that genetic mutations are not the primary cause of clone degeneration.

In fact, external factors such as nutritional imbalance, pathogenic infections and environmental stress may play a more important role. It is therefore essential to explore the evidence against the traditional view of clonal degeneration, in order to consider different techniques to save our plants. Processes such as revitalisation of mother plants or cell tissue culture could be an effective way to preserve the quality of hard-won phenotypes.

Clonal degeneration is probably not due to genetic changes

It is widely accepted that clonal deterioration is related to clonal degeneration. The cause of this deterioration is assumed to be gene mutations that accumulate over the propagation cycles. However, several elements call this theory into question. Let us clarify things first and foremost.

Obviously, cloned plants do not reproduce sexually, so they do not undergo meiosis (the cell division that occurs during pollination), and cannot end up with new chromosomes as in sexual reproduction. Quite the reverse: cloning consists in asexual reproduction, by vegetative propagation, which means that the genetic material remains unchanged over time.

Some mutations can indeed occur as a result of environmental factors, including exposure to radiation, for example, but the frequency of such mutations is extremely rare.

If the mutation is not responsible for the degradation of mother plants, then other reasons should

be addressed, and these factors could be many.

First of all, nutrient deficiency or excess should be considered, as they can have a significant impact. Undoubtedly, such imbalances may cause physiological problems and potentially affect plant growth and productivity. This is because many nutrients are used by plants in their defence against pests, diseases and viruses. Such im-

balance may weaken their immune system and reduce their ability to resist pathogenic infections.

Finally, environmental stressors, such as extreme temperatures, drought or exposure to pollutants affecting a mother plant can also impact on the health of future clones. Some recent studies have tried to find out if factors such as age or genetic stability (in the case of polyploid individuals) have

an influence on clonal degeneration. However, these factors, which seem to be important for sexual reproduction, are less important for clonal reproduction, and are thought of as having very little effect on future clones (Do clones degenerate over time? Explaining the genetic variability of asexuals through population genetic models. Janko, Drozd, Eisner, 2011).

In large fields, however, external factors impacting on mother plants can significantly influence the health of future crops. This is a problem to which French vineyards are potentially exposed, as the vast majority of French vines are now grafted. Fortunately, some breeders are concerned about the diversity of gene expressions of the various vine species. Thus, when they notice a significant variability within a grape variety (Pinot noir, Chardonnay, etc,), they can choose to reflect this diversity by producing a number of clones matching the genetic diversity of plants. This diversity allows to better respect the character of each variety, and limit the risks of diseases or losses due to exceptional conditions.

It is obvious that cloned populations, which are all similar, have less genetic diversity than naturally growing seedlings, and are potentially more susceptible to new exceptional climatic conditions and exotic pests. However, using a range of different clones may help limit this effect. It is therefore essential to understand the full spectrum of risks and mechanisms involved in clonal degeneration in order to develop more effective strategies to maintain the health and productivity of such genetically different plants.

Some methods can be used to save strains affected by years of successive cloning

First method: revitalisation. This barely known method, also named ‘mother plant regeneration’, was recently presented by Shantibaba and consists in regenerating a mother plant by moving it outdoors for it to shift from its homogeneous conditions to variable conditions. By exposing it to natural light and allowing it to produce new branches, the grower can take cuttings from them for future propagation. Plants growing exclusively indoors and under artificial light, in the absence of natural light and temperature fluctuations, may suffer from a long-term alteration of their physical form.

By exposing the selected plant to natural light conditions, it may be possible to resynchronise its biorhythm with the seasonal changes that occur in the plant’s natural habitat. This change in en-

This Tropicana cookies F2 clone, aka ‘Black Tangie’, is a 3rd generation mother plant from the initial seed. However, it shows no variation from the original mother plant - cultivation and photography by Hortizan.

vironment is supposed to help it restore its health and vigour. Once the selected plant has produced new branches, these can be used to create new clones with the same genetic makeup as the original plant. This approach can be an effective way to maintain a particular phenotype, while reducing the effects of clonal degeneration over the long term. Mother plant revitalisation is not a new technique; it has been used for many years by growers and breeders to maintain the health and productivity of their mother plant collections. Although its effectiveness may vary depending on the species and growing conditions, it is generally considered a valuable preservation tool.

In order to preserve the quality of a crop, it is generally not recommended to take cuttings from, e.g., a fruit tree that is older or shows signs of disease given the related risks of reducing plant vigour, or introducing viruses and several diseases in the future plantations. However, it is important to note that when a tree is growing rapidly, the disease has not necessarily affected the newly grown part of the plant. This is due to plant cell totipotency, a unique faculty that nature has, and which is of great use to plant tissue culture laboratories. In short, plant cell totipotency is the ability of plant cells to return to an undifferentiated state, meaning a state where they have not yet developed specialised functions (by becoming a future leaf, branch or root).

We call this still undifferentiated cell a meristem. These cells then have the same qualities as embryonic cells, and are therefore free of any disease or virus. They can thus regenerate under the right conditions, and become a new plant, identical in every way to the original mother plant.

The discovery of meristem culture (also called in-vitro culture) dates back to 1939, when Professor R. Gautheret realised the possibility of taking and cultivating indefinitely carrot tuber tissues (Gautheret, R.J., 1939). Ten years later, in 1949, to two INRA researchers P. Limasset and P. Cornuet made the same discovery on virus-infected tobacco plants. In 1952, their colleagues G. Morel and C. Martin used plant tissue culture to successfully save a variety of dahlia named ‘the Dream’, which

had been infected by 3 viruses. In the same way, in 1954, they succeeded in saving a potato variety named ‘Belle de Fontenay’. These techniques were later taken up by a large number of researchers in order to preserve multiple varieties, such as the cherry tree Prunus avium L. (Deogratias, Lutz, Dosba, 1986). Nowadays, tissue culture has found an important place in banana, manioc and sugarcane crops, due to the high susceptibility of these plants to diseases.

Although strict hygienic conditions are required, the principle behind in-vitro culture is relatively easy to put into practice, i.e., a small piece of plant tissue containing the meristem to be cloned is removed and disinfected to keep the culture medium perfectly healthy.

It is then placed on a sterile substrate (a gelling agent, such as agar-agar, which gives the culture medium a firm texture). In order to stimulate cell growth and plant regeneration, this medium needs to have the necessary nutrients for plant cell growth such as sugar, vitamins, but also plant hormones (cytokinin and auxin). The plant cells in the meristem will multiply and differentiate until they form new plants. Finally, the new clones obtained, which are genetically identical to the mother plant, but free of any disease or virus, require an additional step to acclimatise before transplanting.

Clonal degeneration is therefore a complex phenomenon that is still partly misunderstood and can be influenced by a wide variety of factors. Although it does not amount to genetic modification, it can lead to reduced productivity and vigour, and provide access to various diseases. Fortunately, there are many techniques that growers and breeders can approach to maintain the health and genetic diversity of their valuable libraries.

It is therefore essential to preserve some of these phenotypes through these conservation techniques, but also to continue the progeny of these individuals in order to create new plants that will be able to adapt to tomorrow’s changing conditions.

A successful plant tissue culture of Paulownia - photograph by C. Quinn.

BLUE CHEESE BSB

In each issue, we dive into the pages of Soft Secrets writer Rich Hamilton’s Personal Bud Diary. In this entry, we see Rich closely looking at Blue Cheese from BSB seeds grown by White Jesus.

GENETICS

This Indica-dominant hybrid comes in indica at 80% Indica and 20% Sativa. Blue Cheese is a cross of Cheese and Blueberry strains with THC levels of around 16-20%. This is easy to grow, highly resinous, large yielding, and pungent smelling in flower. Flowering time of approximately 8-9.

GROW INFO

This was grown in Spain in doors in ALL-MIX using the Dio-Tech 830w Primary LED Grow light with the add-on Control LED Dio-Tech 100W Far Red and UV-A infill bars. And it was fed with the Full Demon Nutrients range, including Aptus regulator and Plant Detonator.

FLOWER

Blue Cheese‘s buds are big, very green and have a very distinct smell. Covered in sticky, savoury, sweet trichomes covering every part. A medium amount of amber pistols puddle together evenly over the flower pieces. White

EXTRACTS FROM THE BUD DIARIES

Jesus hasn‘t just done well growing this to such a high standard; the dry and curing was also simply perfect. It‘s bud like this that‘s cared for to the end that makes the difference in quality.

ODOUR

A strong smeller, the main terpene profile of blue Cheese, is first an earthy myrcene smell before you get the citrus of the limonene, followed by a kick of caryophyllene pepper. When ground the Smell of Blue Cheese erupts as it is broken down into smoke, the body naturally starts to get excited. The Smell of the Cheese strain is so well known and liked it is hard for any weed lover not to get excited by what a beautiful hybrid of a hybrid this is.

CONSUMED

This was Smoked in a club in BCN with a good friend over a great conversation. It was smoked pure, with no tobacco, in a mixture on King sizes of papers and hand-rolled roaches. Lit with a standard lighter. Ground up in stainless steel grinders to a medium blend.

TASTE

The Mix of the savoury nature of the Cheese parentage and the Sweet fruitiness of the Blueberry work in perfect harmony together. The taste is intense while having a beautiful depth of delicacy. This is the type of cannabis that has such a unique terpene profile; it will have you thinking about it for weeks after. A great taste with a warm pull and thick exhale.

STONE

Blue Cheese is an excellent strain for people that suffer from depression and anxiety, as well as ADHD, stress and bipolar. Many people find it can be couch locky (locky - heavy body high) while creative and calming. I found it to be almost a ride or a journey of a mix of all the above, but it also made me focus and be very social and comfortable in the club where it was smoked. The first hit is an intense head high followed by zooming in on the things around you while you relax. I believe the Blue Cheese we had was in the THC range of 19/20%, so in the upper end of what it can produce, but I think it‘s perfect. Yes, there are stronger things

out there, the stronger beers of the modern world if you will, but it‘s nice to still be back and drink something mellower, to enjoy and have a good safe time, and this Blue Cheese from BSB is perfect for that.

Rich Hamilton

ALL ABOUT HASH MAKING - AN INTERVIEW WITH KEES SCHELFHOUT

WHO IS EX-TRACTOR AND WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU SPECIALIZE IN?

We started in 2018 and are a small team of hardcore passionate flower growers and hash makers, 2 dudes who are the hash makers and one lady who helps with daily problem fixing. The team is very close and we make many hours together. We are specialists in ice water hash separation (bubble hash/ isolator) and pressing rosin.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT HASH IS AND THE DIFFERENT TYPES THERE ARE?

Hash is a separation of the trichomes (heads preferred) from the plant material (weed). The 3 most popular and known ones are dry sift hash, ice water hash and solvent hash (BHO).

HOW IS DRY SIFT HASH DIFFERENT FROM WATER HASH?

Dry sift is the most ancient way of making hash and also the simplest (to start with). To master, it is an art as well that we still need to figure out better. Dry sift the names says it already the trichomes will get separated from the plant material by rubbing, falling or getting beaten through the screens.

IS IT BETTER TO USE FRESH OR DRY PLANT MATERIAL FOR THE BEST HASH?

Well, both styles have something to say for them. Dry material, you get higher returns for sure in the later washes. The material tends to be more amber, but that depends on the strain. Terpene wise, dry material can have more of a hash kind of smell and tend to hit harder and longer, spread out high.

HOW IMPORTANT IS ICE WHEN MAKING BUBBLE HASH IN YOUR OPINION?

In the beginning, I thought the ice was needed for the friction helping to separate the heads from the plant material. Now we have learned that if you can wash below 0 without ice, there is a higher chance of not creating contaminants, due to the crushing of the ice and the plant material.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HEAT PRESSING HASH?

You mean if we like making Rosin!? Bro, that’s our jam! It is indeed quite new for us, but we have embraced this innovation in the solventless scene. We have been making rosin now for 4.5 years, and we still learn every press.

WHAT TEMPERATURES DO YOU USE WHEN MAKING ROSIN?

For hash rosin, we play at 70/80 degrees Celsius. Check the structure of the hash coming out, if it is a butter consistency increase the temp if you want it to be more liquid. The second press 100/110 degrees Celsius and If you feel a lot is still coming out, increase the temp for your next first press or expose the puck to pressure longer. Flower rosin we feel is a waste, a proper flower you should smoke or wash. Try 120 degrees Celsius if you really can’t help yourself.

WHICH SIZE BAGS DO YOU PREFER TO PRESS WITH ROSIN PRODUCTION?

#25 or #37 micron maximum is the screens we love to use, for those cup quality presses we

sometimes use the #15, depends on the strain and quality. Always double bag to prevent blowouts and cleaner clearer presses.

IS THERE AN EASY WAY TO SEE IF THE HASH IS OF TOP QUALITY ONCE MADE?

Yes, Smoke it! Or do the burn test, keep a lighter close to a piece of hash and check how fast the mass will bubble or how fast the hash combusts and how fast or black this residue becomes, the higher the quality, the more oil is present, you should see like a greasy oozing mass of joy that needs to be smoke after the test is done

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP TIPS FOR MAKING BUBBLE HASH?

Wash clean and gentle, try washing inside washing bag #220 saves you cleaning your machine, and you can easily wash various strains in one day. Try double screening your #220 or have a #220 screen as a sort of sock around your wash machine hose. Dry well and cure even better. Hash in the bags, rinse them properly, give some attention to this moment if you want the top!

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP TIPS FOR MAKING DRY SIFT?

Use a tower of various screens, check out

the static sift tech, and make sure you only collect heads. Check with a small micro scope after collecting the number of contaminants. We have done some dry sifting inside a top opening freezer and had the feeling the cold helped.

Also, finished dry sift hash, likes to be exposed to different environments for different end products, so play with cold curing, room curing, vac sealed curing goes crazy!

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP TIPS FOR MAKING ROSIN?

Always double bag, a good pre-press is in your advantage. The paper fold/ flow tech is certainly something to look into. Try to have the rosin as short as possible in contact with the press and exposed to heat. Fresh pressed rosin can taste harsh or look not like you want too, but give it some time, rosin likes to be cured and whipped!

FINALLY, KEES WHERE CAN OUR READERS FIND OUT MORE ABOUT EX-TRACTOR?

I am quite active on Instagram @Ex.tractor or for unique high quality stoner products, @Ex.tractors we try to post our funny hash travels, bike stunts and jumps, quality dabs, smokes and food!

Thanks, Soft Secrets and peace!

A close up of full melt hash pressed into rosin.

Stoney Tark

Kees checking the top quality of this rosin press.

Grow

With Stoney Tark

HOW TO REDUCE HEAT STRESS OUTDOORS IN SOUTHERN EUROPE

The potential risks of heat stress

Heat stress is a term given to when a Cannabis plant will show signs of stress from excessive high temperatures. How much pressure plants are put under to transpire water and perform photosynthesis can play a huge role in the final outcome of the crop. There are risks associated with heat stress and below each are covered.

1. High humidity levels

It is hard enough trying to sleep at night in places like Spain, Greece and Italy when the daytime temperatures exceed 35 degrees and nighttime lowers down to 26-28 degrees Celsius. Cannabis plants that are growing outside will often have to battle high humidity levels, which is not necessarily a problem during the vegetative and pre-flower stage, however can be a devastating problem during flower production, causing mold.

2. Under watering / overwatering

Many beginner growers are often under the impression that the best time to give your large sized outdoor plants a heavy feeding, is during the hottest part of the day. This is actually the worst thing you can do and, over time, will become very inefficient as far as water usage is concerned. The best time to water your plants is in the morning and evening time.

3. Dry leaves and foliage

This will be the first thing you notice and can be the start of a never ending ripple effect if not

sorted in time. You may notice the edges of the fan leaves and smaller leaves are folding upwards slightly. Another sign may be the leaves have become brittle and when touching fall off the plant with little force. How healthy, waxy and green the leaves are will determine how much light the plants absorb, sugar is produced and the rate of growth.

4. Hot pots and roots

You may not notice how hot the tiled terraces can become, but in some cases too hot to even walk on. It won’t take long for any type of plant sitting on a hot terrace floor to become uncomfortable with the roots and soil heating up. One sign of heat stress plants is a dry, thin and brittle root zone with no signs of the bright, white and fluffy nature we are usually used to. You can be sure that the good bacteria and fungi in the pot are struggling to survive and are close to fighting with bad bacteria who thrive in a low oxygen environment.

5. Stunted growth

It can be difficult sometimes to notice if a Cannabis plant has become stunted for whatever reason, and is usually noticeable after 5–7 days when there is minimal change. Cold temperatures are one of the main culprits for stunted plants and low yields, and heat stress can be another. Cannabis plants, which are not as heat-resistant or resilient as others, will often suffer the most and be the first to show signs of stunted growth.

6. Tall and lanky plants

On the other hand, one of the downsides of exposing outdoor Cannabis plants to such high daytime temperatures can be tall plants. Hot weather can often cause internodal spacing to expand to a large distance and once plants start flowering, to become tall, lanky and difficult to maintain. Some cultivars will be more prone than others to stretch and become much taller than when grown indoors.

So how do I combat heat stress?

There are efforts that can be made, even when fighting record-breaking heat waves, that can make a big difference to the quality and quantity of your harvest.

Below are some easy and cheap solutions to help you be more in control over July and August.

As we approach August, growers who live in Southern Europe will have experienced intense heat, and will continue to do so until late September onwards. Summer can be brutal and extremely challenging when growing Cannabis outdoors, so in this article we explain how to keep your plants safe from the sweltering heat, when the best time to water is, signs of heat stress as well other factors to consider allowing you to produce a stress-free outdoor crop this year.

Shading nets - A very easy and cheap way to provide shading for your outdoor plants, allowing you to reduce light intensity by up to 50%. Shading nets should only be used during the hottest parts of the day to keep the air around the plants much cooler.

Poly tunnels - Another solution to protecting your outdoor crop from the intense U.V levels that countryside growers living in a mountainous area can experience. Poly tunnels can be made with polystyrene plastic sheet, plastic 2–3-inch hoses and some wooden stakes for the support.

Sprinkler systems - This simply means connecting a hose pipe to a sprinkler head outlet,

which can water the ground before sunrise or at sunset. Sprinkler systems can provide the ideal amount of water and take the work out of hand watering.

Conclusion

Sometimes there is nothing we can do to stop Mother Nature from doing what she does best. Our advice would be to always plant more than you think, due to loss of plants from heat stress. Shading nets, poly tunnels and watering when the plants are in the shade will pay off massively during the hot summer season. Good luck keeping your outdoor crop well protected and full of terpenes!

A small greenhouse / polytunnel makes an excellent grow space.

An example of a stunted auto flowering plant that was exposed to heat stress.

Support Freedom Fighters

Sebastian Daniel

UKRAINE: CANNABIS TO THE RESCUE? HEMP FOR VICTORY 2.0

Ukraine has made another step in its long-term relationship with cannabis. The government wants to legalize medical marihuana, largely due to the trauma wrought by Russian invaders.

contrary, the Health Ministry notes, cannabis can prevent suffering and improve treatment of more than 50 conditions, including PTSD, neurological diseases and sleep disorders.

President Zelensky and his war cabinet must have been advised on this matter by some true experts, like our Soft Secrets editor Cliff Cremer - author, cannabis enthusiast and ex-military who had pretty much the same intuition as to how to help Ukrainian people after the war started. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, he emailed me to ask if I knew of any Ukrainians suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) who could benefit from CBD oil.

My answer was yes. I live in Poland, the neighboring country where many Ukrainian refugees immediately came to seek asylum. So unfortunately, I knew of quite many people suffering in my area. Some of my friends were inviting whole Ukrainian families into their homes during those first weeks of war. Pretty soon we’d be distributing among them free bottles and caps of CBD oil, which Cliff had delivered from a couple of friendly Amsterdam shops.

War trauma is no joke: some people, especially children, pee or soil themselves each time they hear a siren in the street or a plane in the sky, reminding them of fearful bombings and explosions. Most people had never heard of CBD before, but everybody knew what hemp is, so there were no trust issues.

Minister of Healthcare Viktor Liashko wrote on Facebook last year that Ukraine’s cabinet had approved a bill “on regulating the circulation of cannabis plants for medical, industrial purposes, scientific and scientific-technical activities to create the conditions for expanding the access of patients to the necessary treatment of cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from war.” “We understand the negative consequences of war on the state of mental health,” he wrote.

Most of the reactions I was able to collect a couple of days and weeks later were very positive. Many people reported great improvement in sleep quality, which is crucial for healing. Before CBD, some people “were not able to sleep at all” or had very fitful nights. The only people who saw very little change in their mental wellness were heavy THC users, but generally they were better off, anyway. And much more mentally healthy than those users self-medicating with alcohol. Abusers, in

HOW COME “CONTROVERSIAL” HEMP GETS MENTIONED IN MAINSTREAM MEDIA AND POLITICS MOSTLY IN TIMES OF WAR, FAMINE, OR OTHER DISASTERS?

The bill will ensure a “full cycle of cannabis-based drug production in Ukraine”: the country will develop its own industry rather than relying on imports. Liashko stressed that cannabis drugs are not “competitors” to narcotics, and that completely different measures are taken to regulate their circulation. On the

fact - because you can’t control your drinking when you have PTSD like that. So CBD oil helped a lot.

If you work in CBD or the medical marihuana industry, you might want to consider donating some of your products to war refugees, or to other traumatized and poor people. Especially

if you have too many goods and have to utilize them once they reach their date of expiry. Wouldn’t it be better to freely dispense it to the needy (eg. cancer patients), while the product’s still officially ‘fresh’? After legalization, Canada is now destroying hundreds of tons of legal marihuana products every year because they didn’t sell!

From a moral perspective, wasting precious medical supplies like CBD or weed is even more ugly than the wasting of food by supermarkets, a practice already banned by some countries. Canada, wake up! Nowadays, even the poppies in Afghanistan are finding their way into the global medical market as morphine. Regulating weed in Canada can’t be any harder.

The New Cannabis Era, or Make Hemp Great Again

How come “controversial” hemp gets mentioned in mainstream media and politics mostly

in times of war, famine, or other disasters? Take the famous “Hemp for Victory” (1942) propaganda movie during WW2 – whose very existence the U.S. government would later deny. After the war, copies of the film and the mere fact of its existence were hidden and the plant was further removed from American soil under the disguise of fighting marijuana. Hemp, a world-famous plant that played a part in the American victory, was again prohibited after the war.

Before the Internet, officials even wanted to force librarians to censor any mention of cannabis in books, in order to completely erase the plant from history! The lovers of free speech and truth refused and ridiculed the impossible task.

Cannabis activists Jack Herer, Mia Farrow and Carl Packard had tracked down a copy of the “Hemp For Victory” movie after an extensive search in the film archives and proved that the government had been lying about it to the public. Two copies on VHS were donated

Poster for wartime propaganda movie “Hemp For Victory” (1942). Source: Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum.

Image by Creative_hat on Freepik.

in 1989 to the Library of Congress. The movie didn’t vanish and now anybody can watch it on YouTube.

After 77 years of marihuana/hemp prohibition in the U.S. (1937), all of a sudden in 2014 Bloomberg reported that the U.S. was looking into acquiring Ukrainian hemp seed to help Ukraine’s ailing economy, which has been hurt by a Russian invasion into its Crimea region. As if it were perfectly legal – and almost a century of hemp prohibition had never happened! “We are now involved in trying to figure out ways in which we might be able to use the industrial hemp seeds that are created in the Ukraine in the U.S.” Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack told Bloomberg.

Ukraine is the world’s fourth largest provider of hemp seed. Hemp activists have welcomed the news, as this action would kill two birds with one stone: help Ukraine by exporting its hemp seeds, while boosting the U.S. economy by giving farmers and industry a new crop and resource.

Former CIA Director Jim Woolsey, who served under both Presidents Clinton and Bush, later made a seemingly odd career move and served on the board of the North American Industrial Hemp Council. Woolsey points out that hemp could become a low-water-consuming, easy-to-grow source of biofuels.

There was a time when cannabis produced vast quantities of food, oil and clothing in Ukraine, but real large-scale contemporary use of this plant will mean involving the energy biofuels markets. Both Ukraine and Putin’s Russia have looked in that direction.

The year 2018 became an important date in the history of global agriculture and industry. In the United States, the cradle of today’s international prohibition of cannabis, the role of hemp in agriculture is being rediscovered. After almost 100 years, the world’s unique –and frankly idiotic – ban on the cultivation of all varieties of cannabis, even so-called “industrial” hemp, completely devoid of psychoactive properties, was finally being loosened. The Farm Bill, which incorporated the Hemp Farming Act, removed hemp as a Schedule I drug and instead made it an agricultural commodity. This was great news, but could it

mean that the world is starting to prepare for the coming hard times?

Hemp in Ukraine

Indian hemp was brought to Eastern Europe by Scythian tribes from Siberia, circa 2,500 years ago. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus wrote about the popularity of hemp smoke rituals among the Scythians.

Ukraine has a long history with cannabis, having cultivated it for centuries. Hemp has always been important for Ukrainian culture,

and was especially so between the 15th and mid-20th centuries. In the 15th century, the local people of today’s Moldova and Ukraine were able to pay their taxes in cannabis.

After World War II, Ukraine became a major food supplier of the Soviet Union. It is believed that with its rich fields, the country is able to feed the whole of Europe.

The Soviet Union was the world’s largest producer of hemp. Rumor has it that the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev was no stranger to hashish smoking and dreamed of transforming the Crimean Odessa, known as

the Pearl of the Black Sea, into a world center of the hemp-hashish industry and of legalizing marijuana throughout the entire USSR. Unfortunately, he was ousted from power by hardcore fans of vodka drinking.

In current times, when fuel resources are becoming depleted, the hemp industry can bring great relief to the world system, if not a complete solution to many problems.

With the help of hemp, two of the most destructive industries on the planet can be cured: deforestation and the fossil fuel industries. Growing hemp would reduce the toxic pollution of water and soil, and would stop the desertification of many areas.

Importantly, growing hemp can restore land contaminated as a result of man-made disasters, because hemp can “suck” from the ground almost all harmful substances in just a couple of years. “After the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe in 1986, the government funded experiments with soil decontamination using cannabis in the exclusion zone.

When the Fukushima tragedy happened, the Japanese came to Ukraine within two weeks to get these technologies to clean up the contaminated area”, says Aleksander Ignatuk, president of the Ukrainian Industrial Hemp Association.

The marihuana/hemp leaf, like the white dove, is a widely known symbol of peace, but the plant has also often been a hawk of war in our history, and even a cause of conflict. This versatile and useful plant becomes essential and of strategic value in times of war.

Throughout the history of mankind, prohibitions and orders to plant hemp have alternated, even under penalty of death. Sometimes rulers punished a farmer for growing, and sometimes for refusing to grow hemp.

There is about it something of fundamental importance... The readers of our magazine are well aware of this, the world’s best kept secret.

Harvesting hemp in the USSR, 1956. Source: Wikipedia.

Hemp for victory! Hemp for peace!

Strawberry Cola Sherbert F1 FV® Sweet Seeds® caresses for your palate

This tight budded beauty is the result of crossing a selected photodependent elite clone of the famous Californian Sunset Sherbet strain with a selected autoflowering strain of Strawberry Cola Auto. It is not just any strain as it is part of the Fast Version® family, which, as you know, are strains in which this bank was a pioneer, and stand out for their extreme speed, significantly cutting flowering times, with harvest time brought forward by 1 or 2 weeks compared to original strains. These strains are also very well accepted in crops where it is important to get ahead of the first rains of autumn, in places where the arrival of low temperatures and high humidity often causes crop losses due to mould attacks, or thieves appear when the crop is almost ready. They are also appreciated in perpetual indoor crops as they allow more harvests per year, obtaining flowers of enormous quality in record time. I recommend that you take a look at the Sweet Seeds® website – where you will find more information and a host of strains of this type.

MY FAVOURITE PLANTS

When you start growing a new strain, the typical doubts always arise: will it turn out like the one shown in the picture, will it be difficult to grow, how long will it last during flowering, will it be sensitive to fertilisers, will it smell too much? …and so on. We, good and careful growers, need to ask ourselves these questions because we have great respect for our beloved plants. Above all, we want them to be beautiful and healthy, because not only will we feel their effects better or enjoy their flavours more, but, when we are growing them, we will be enchanted by their beauty and cuddle them as much as possible, obtaining an enormous reward for our bodies and souls. I always say, growing cannabis is healing per se.

Strawberry Cola Sherbert F1 FV ® grows well in all types of substrates, being excellent in hydroponic systems such as RDWC. I grew it in coco and was amazed by its fat buds and how easy it was to get a good harvest from 6 plants. Not to mention the beautiful reddish coloured flowers that I got from 4 out of 6 plants, extremely resinous and colourful. I

After an intense day, I am preparing to write this report, while I am enjoying a good, medicinal vape session with the latest photodependent strain released by the high-quality seed bank Sweet Seeds® for 2023. We are talking about the majestic Strawberry Cola Sherbert F1 FV® (SWS106).

used 15-litre pots, under two 220W LED strips of the COB type. I took great care that the grow tent always had optimum temperature and humidity, and checked the readings eve-

ry day with a thermo-hygrometer and timers in order to adjust air extraction/introduction. At the same time, I used a heater that kept the room above 18º C with the lights off, and 22º

C with the lights on. As the crop was grown in autumn, the temperature was easier to maintain within these parameters, so my real concern was to make sure that there was no excess humidity during flowering. To do this, the best thing to do is extract air from the grow tent, without introducing air from the street on the most humid days, increase the power of the fans and let the heater warm the air a few more degrees for it to get dry. If you have a dehumidifier, this is the right time to use it. Other than that, this strain does

wonderfully with full fertilisation, being able to withstand high ECs in growth and flowering. One specimen had to be fed a little more calcium and magnesium, because it started to show a little deficiency at the beginning of flowering. In any case, these are no delicate plants. However, it should be kept in mind that they have a very short flowering period, not even 8 weeks, and fertilisers should be used sparingly once they are past their 5th week, otherwise you will have no time to wash their roots properly and the plants will end up too green. Normally, when I do not know how a strain behaves, I start reducing the fertiliser dose as soon as I see the first pistils oxidating. From then on, I cut all nitrogen supply and only water them a couple of times with a specific fertiliser at the end of flowering. From then until harvest, I water them with enzymes on a weekly basis.

A WONDERFUL HARVEST

It is a great pleasure to get to the end and see that your plants are bursting with health. For that, the most important thing to do is to always grow quality seeds, such as those from Sweet Seeds®. You can be sure that all the selection and breeding work carried out by the breeders of this bank results in plants of great vigour and great homogeneity, with top-level results, thus meeting the needs of both beginners and more demanding growers. Strawberry Cola Sherbert F1 FV ® is indica dominant (80%) and has a moderate size, which is ideal for crops where it is important to keep the height under control. It also surprises by the large size of its calyxes, the enormous production of trichomes and the contrast that these crystals produce with the intense red colour of its flowers. You will be left mesmerised as you observe its beauty not to talk about its excellent smell.... What a mix of terpenes!

Tones of red berries stand out in its aroma. It also looks like a refreshing cola drink with an acid point, plus a very moist background, something earthy and woody. When steamed, it is exquisite, with a very long and intense aftertaste. On the palate, you will notice prevailing fruity notes of fresh acidic strawberries against a background of wood full of moss. It is a trip to the undergrowth in every sense of the word. The effects are captivating and invite you to relax, enjoy introspection and feel in harmony with the world around you. I have a quiz. Someone once said: “With a coordinated and profound joy, I felt connected with the shade of a tree, the flight of a bird, and the boulders of mountains.

” Who said that? * Sweet harvests!

*The answer is J. del Valle Inclán ;)

THESE STRAINS ARE ALSO VERY WELL ACCEPTED IN CROPS WHERE IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET AHEAD OF THE FIRST RAINS OF AUTUMN

Medical Marihuana

Sebastian Daniel

LET’S GET MEDICATED

Cannabis has been considered a medicinal plant in every region of the world where it can be found.

The evidence for its use in ancient medicine is extensive: literary, folkloric, historical, and archaeological.

Dr Raphael Mechoulam (1930-2023), discoverer of THC and a Prof. of Medicinal Chemistry at Hebrew University stated that cannabis, the most widely used illicit drug in the world, had been used for thousands of years: every piece of evidence about drugs in any language mentions it.

The earliest reference to the therapeutic value of cannabis can be found in a Chinese treatise on pharmacology attributed to the legendary emperor Shen Nung (2737 BC). He named hemp in his pharmacopoeia “liberator of sin” and taught its cultivation.

At that time, soldiers’ battle wounds were bandaged with hemp leaves. Later Chinese surgeons would boil hemp in wine to produce an anesthetic. Cannabis is one of the fundamental herbs in traditional Chinese medicine and is prescribed to treat diverse conditions.

Cannabis was known as a medicine in ancient India, Egypt, and Greece. Historian Diodorus Siculus reported that the women of ancient Egypt used cannabis as a medicine to relieve sorrow and bad moods. The Ayurvedic medical system of India has long used cannabis to treat dozens of diseases and medical problems. The Indian scripture of the Atharva Veda considers cannabis use to “preserve one from disease . . . and prolong the years we have to live.” Arab doctors also considered it to be a powerful medicine.

Throughout history wounds, skin diseases, or rheumatism were treated (and in many places still are) with cannabis extracts, leaves, or flowers placed on the skin or joints.

In European folk medicine, hemp was still used to treat alcoholics in the 1930s. Considering the fact that local hemp lacked then (and still lacks) strong psychoactive and medicinal properties of today’s marijuana, such treatment holds great promise for the future.

Nature’s Elixir for Good Health

“There’s a tendency to discount claims when something appears to be good for everything, but there’s a reason this is the case.

The endogenous cannabinoid system acts as a modulator in fine-tuning a lot of these systems, and if something is deranged biochemically in a person’s body, it may well be that a cannabinoid system can bring things back into balance”, explains Dr. Ethan Russo, a Senior Medical Advisor at the Cannabinoid Research Institute and GW Pharmaceuticals, a British drug company behind a marijuana mouth spray known as Sativex. We have endogenous cannabinoids in our bodies that turn out to be very effective at regulating many functions, from nerve to bone.

Shen Nung, often called the “Father of Chinese Medicine” wrote of cannabis: “Ta Ma is one of the super elixirs for health”. Cannabis has been used to treat a wide variety of ailments throughout recorded history. It is esteemed as a safe, effective and non-addictive medicine. Our ancestors knew the effects of cannabis from birth (pain-killer during child birth) till death (incense burnt close to a bed of a seriously ill person or oils applied to the skin). The greatest physicians of their day recommended its use.

Until it was declared illegal in 1937, the drug had been successfully used by generations of doctors, as well in Europe and America, for relief of cough, rheumatism, asthma, migraine, chronic alcoholism, depression, epilepsy, menstrual discomfort, and many more conditions.

In fact, cannabis was listed by the United States Pharmacopeia (the organization which sets quality standards for approved drugs in the United States) until the 1940s.

Medical marijuana advocate Claudia Jensen, M.D. says that about a large majority of the painkillers found in drugstores could be easily replaced by cannabis. It does not damage the liver or kidneys, nor does it cause ulcers and other harmful side effects like many over-thecounter drugs do.

Over 200 medical conditions respond favorably to cannabis. No other substance on the market today can provide as many medical benefits.

Many scientists are deeply concerned why this major resource remains unutilized. They are worried that they cannot explore the vast potential of the new powerful strains of this ancient multi-purpose medicinal plant.

Dr Raphael Mechoulam, known as “the father of cannabis research”, passed away on 9th March 2023, aged 92. We remain forever grateful. Rest in peace.

OVER 200 MEDICAL CONDITIONS RESPOND FAVORABLY TO CANNABIS. NO OTHER SUBSTANCE ON THE MARKET TODAY CAN PROVIDE AS MANY MEDICAL BENEFITS

Grow

With Stoney Tark

8 TOP TIPS ON FLOWERING OUTDOOR PLANTS IN 2023

It is not far off now before the number of hours of darkness increases, and triggers your outdoor plants to start flowering. It may feel like a long time ago when you ordered a pack of seeds online, bought some pots, soil, nutrients and found a prime location in your back garden. Over the next 2–3 months is when all the hard work pays off and your future head stash will be growing before your very eyes. In this article, we explain 8 top tips to make sure you harvest the perfect crop in 2023.

Top Tip #1 - Protect from the rain

This tip applies more to growers who live in Northern Europe and experience short seasons with rainfall, heavy wind and cold nighttime temperatures. Dealing with heavy wind and cold temperatures is easy, but making sure your plants are well covered and protected from the top and sides from unexpected showers can be the difference between losing a large amount of the crop due to mold. Our top tip here is to either build an area the plants can be put inside in an emergency downpour, or use a poly tunnel or greenhouse.

Top Tip #2 - Check daily for mold and insects

Once your plants start to produce buds, there is a risk that pathogens in the air can attack your buds and cause them to become soft and pull apart like cotton candy. The worst cases of mold

are when the cola rots from the inside outwards, as the grower only discovers this tragic loss when trimming. Our top tip here is to be vigilant and check the plants from top to bottom daily, looking for insects such as caterpillars, spider mites or early signs of mold or powdery mildew.

Top Tip #3 - Add support now

Depending on where you live and the strain being grown, you may find your plants that have become huge over summer, are now ready to take things to the next level and stretch for the sky. Once they produce buds, the main cola and side branches will begin to droop due to excessive weight.

Our top tip is to add support such as bamboo canes and ties early on to prevent a broken side branch or main cola to toppling over and becoming infected with mold.

Top Tip #4 - Prune the lower canopy

Pruning Cannabis plants is an excellent way to reduce unwanted lower buds forming, and for all the plant’s energy to be used for the remaining top canopy. Pruning is also a great way to source healthy clones and also dramatically improve air flow around the middle and lower parts of the plants. Our top tip here is to prune the canopy and remove any lower foliage that you think may not be productive. Pruning involves taking a sharp and sterile pair of scissors, or scalpel, and simply removing any leaves or shoots beneath a certain point.

Top Tip #5 - Shading nets

Only necessary for growers who have the luxury of a Mediterranean climate that ensure long seasons and hot weather. Shading nets can significantly reduce the amount of intense light and U.V levels, allowing plants to grow without too much pressure or stress. Our top tip here is build an area with shading nets above the plants, and experiment with different layers of fine netting to find the perfect ratio during the hottest days of the year.

Top Tip #6 - Greenhouse heaters

The UK is well known for cold nights once summer ends, and many growers are well-prepared with their greenhouse heaters. There are many ways to heat your greenhouse up at nighttime, ranging from paraffin heaters or electrical solutions. There will usually be a period during

the final 4 weeks of flower production when a heater is a lifesaver, keeping the nighttime temperature around 18-20 degrees Celsius. Our top tip is to invest in a heater early on before it gets too cold and takes its toll on the plants.

Top Tip #7 - Flush for 14 days

If you want the ultimate flavours and smoothest tasting flower possible, then you must flush your plants for the final 14 days from the given harvest date. There are two main reasons for flushing, the first is to allow any undissolved salts to wash away from around the roots, and the other is to let the plants use up any final internal reserves they may be holding onto. Our top tip here is flush until the leaves turn multi-coloured, displaying yellow, reds, pinks, purples and mixture of head turning colours.

Top Tip #8 - Inspect the trichomes before harvesting

One of the most important things to do in order to achieve the pinnacle of terpene production, flavour and overall plant essence, is to check the trichomes using a microscope. You will see that the glass looking trichome will be either clear, milky silver or amber. Our top tip here is to wait until the trichomes have become milky silver, with some turning golden and red, in order to experience the best effect, flavour and smoking experience. The more amber the trichomes become, the most physically potent the effects will feel.

A large sized outdoor plant thriving during flower production.

A micro shot of bud trichomes a few days before harvesting.

Unveil modern production of cannabis clones in Flowery Field

Why grow cannabis clones instead of seeds? Cloning allows the grower to obtain balanced crop, harvest all plants at the same time and produce a constant content and ratio of main cannabinoids and terpenes. Crop consistency is the main goal of not only commercial producers but also many home growers. What’s more, the techniques of cannabis cloning have advanced significantly in recent years. Let’s find out more.

Biologically speaking, cloning is asexual reproduction of plants, thanks to which growers can obtain a large number of seedlings with same genes. Plants grown from clones should help you easily achieve balanced height, yield, ripening time and cannabinoid and terpene content. In addition, when you grow the same variety from the same mother plants, there is a good chance that each subsequent growing cycle will have the same parameters as the previous one.

And these are exactly the features that commercial cannabis producers as well as most home small growers wish for.

Traditional cloning process involves selecting appropriate plants with desired parameters and letting them become you mother plants. Once they are large enough, you can start making cuttings to produce seedlings. The cuttings are immediately placed into any suitable growing medium to take root, usually rockwool or soil substrates designed for seeds and seedlings.

GROWING IN VITRO

There is also one method that is much less space demanding and has several other advantages as you will see. The selection process remains the same, but the cutting process is quite dissimilar. A small piece of dividing tissue, the so-called meristem, is separated from the mother plant. The meristem contains the stem cells of the plant and therefore has all

that is necessary to create any plant organ –roots, stem, leaves, blood vessels, and more. The meristem is then placed in a tube with a special growing medium enriched with vitamins and plant hormones. The whole process of tissue culture is quite demanding and must take place under strict sterile conditions.

What’s more, different strains have specific needs in terms of the composition of the culture medium. This means it is necessary to find the most suitable formulation for every given strain in order to maximise the rooting success. There are not many facilities

that produce clones this way. I would say that there are many more places that are still trying to implement tissue culture than those that have already mastered this type of clone production. However, when it comes to other plant species, this process is a very common method of propagation.

Since you just need a small piece of tissue for propagation, the risk of transferring any pathogens to the new plant is greatly reduced.

With the right procedure, for example, the transmission of a virus from the mother plant

to its baby clone can be prevented. And viral diseases can even be cured in the test tube. This is unthinkable when you are cutting the clones the original way.

Another advantage is the shape of the root ball. While plants from conventional clones lack a main root, clones cultivated from tissue form a main root in the same way as plants grown from seeds. This has a positive effect on yield, meaning tissue culture clones may provide you with a higher yield than clones from the same mother plant cut in the traditional way.

Planting plant tissue in agar medium.

The same a few days later.

CLONE PRODUCTION IN FLOWERY FIELD

I first encountered commercial in vitro production of cannabis clones in Austria’s Flowery Field in 2018. Four years later, I decide to visit Brunn am Gebirge near Vienna again to check out the latest developments in this area. I have been always curious about new technologies and I was also keen on finding out where the whole clone business was heading. I was lucky to spend a whole morning with Alex, the owner of Flowery Field, discussing the growing of clones and production issues. It was obvious from the beginning that the original clone production has been largely replaced with tissue culture. We toured the entire growing area (including labs) and, at the end, we managed to conduct an interview. Here are the most interesting parts of our talk made available exclusively for you, readers of Soft Secrets.

WHY HAVE YOU DECIDED TO SWITCH FROM CONVENTIONAL CLONING TO TISSUE CULTURE?

Alex: The original production is complicated. You need to look after the mother plants for a long time, which is time consuming. You also have to deal with irrigation, which is also quite complicated, especially because of our extensive use. On the other hand, plants in tubes don’t need to be irrigated, which means our water consumption is much lower. With the amount of clones we produce, it is much easier to work tissue culture. We cut one million clones every year. When you have 50-70,000 plants in one grow room, you have to have the irrigation perfectly fine-tuned. Any mistake in watering will have negative impact on plants’ development.

WHEN DID YOU START WITH TISSUE CULTURE?

Alex: We got the lab running already in 2015, but it took some time to master the process. You need to create a strictly sterile

environment. If you don’t, you’re going to have huge problems with contamination. The environment in the test tube and the growing medium provide ideal conditions not only for the plants, but also for fungi, for example. So you definitely need to prevent spores from entering the tissue culture area. Propagation is done with very small parts of plants. This is extremely demanding for the actual workers. In terms of Flowery Field as a company, the advantages far outreach any downsides.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN BENEFITS OF TISSUE CULTURE FOR THE GROWERS?

Alex: No viruses are passed from the mother plant to the cutting. And even if they do, we can treat them in the test tube. Because the root structure is the same as in plants from seed, higher yields can be achieved. But you should take into account that there’s a difference between producing clones from meristems and just cloning them in a test tube. The latter won’t get rid of any viruses. There are many companies on the market selling tissue culture clones, but they are enriching themselves under false flag because they actually skip the meristem propagation stage when all potential diseases are eliminated.

TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, HOW MUCH SPACE CAN YOU SAVE BY GROWING MOTHER PLANTS IN A TEST TUBE, COMPARED TO THE CONVENTIONAL METHOD – GROWING LARGE PLANTS IN POTS?

Alex: When you grow mother plants in a test tube, you can’t make fifty or a hundred clones from one mother. If it has three nodes, you can make three clones from one individual. However, on 20 square meters we are able to grow 100–200,000 mother plants. That’s absolutely unimaginable when growing in pots.

DO YOU STILL PRODUCE ANY CLONES USING CONVENTIONAL METHODS?

Alex: At the turn of 2021 and 2022 our

production was equally divided, however, throughout this year we aim to stop conventional production completely. Tissue culture helps us reduce costs, save energy and space, and, above all, produce healthy plants.

HOW MANY VARIETIES DO YOU CURRENTLY GROW AT FLOWERY FIELD?

Alex: About 70 varieties with high content of THC, then some with THCV, CBG, and about ten CBD varieties.

WHAT GROWING MEDIUM DO YOU WORK WITH ONCE THE CLONES ARE READY TO BE TRANSPLANTED FROM THE TUBE?

Alex: We use rockwool, but we also use peat jiffs because they are smaller in diameter and some customers prefer them. But we are just in the middle of negotiations with one rockwool producers to supply us exclusively with smaller diameter cubes. And a lot of customers want sterile plants for growing medical cannabis, which is not possible with jiffs. That’s why our number one choice for clones is rockwool. Jiffs are definitely not sterile.

HOW MANY CUSTOMERS ARE HOME GROWERS AND HOW MANY ARE WHOLESALE GROWERS?

HOW LONG DO YOU ROOT YOUR PLANTS WHEN CLONING AND WHEN GROWING FROM A MERISTEM?

Alex: In case of cloning, it depends on the strain. Usually, it’s between five and twelve days. Meristem propagation is a completely different story. When you ask bioengineers, it depends on how large the meristem is, how much you have to cut off. The smaller the meristem, the fewer plants will survive, but the smaller the meristem, the less risk that the virus will survive. Then you have to acclimatise the plants in the lab for one month, you have to test which medium is suitable for the strain, which is another two months. Only after that you can start growing more plants to start clone production. In the end it takes six months to get some production and sales going when you work with meristem.

HOW DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF SMALL AND LARGE GROWERS? ARE THE SMALL HOME GROWERS GOING TO DISAPPEAR BECAUSE THE LARGE PRODUCERS WILL OVERWHELM THEM WITH EFFICIENCY PLUS MORE PEOPLE WILL HAVE ACCESS TO LEGALLY SOLD CANNABIS?

Alex: I believe home grower is here to stay, it’s a question of money. You can see it in the US. As long as it’s expensive to grow cannabis legally, people will keep growing their own. When you

Alex: The majority of our customers are home growers. Large customers are usually medical cannabis growers.

DO THE HOME GROWERS ALSO WANT PLANTS FROM A TUBE?

Alex:They want first and foremost healthy plants.

DO YOU HAVE SPECIAL PRICES FOR SOME CUSTOMERS?

Alex: No.

have to pay more than 10 Euro for one gram in a legal shop, there will always be a substantial amount of people who will prefer to grow their own weed. Sure, if one gram costs 1 Euro, only real connoisseurs would keep growing it. But as long as governments want to fix broken state budgets with taxes from cannabis sales, there will always be plenty of room for home growers. And I guess this is a good end note for this article. I personally also believe that home growers will not simply disappear. But back to the subject: if you grow clones and have the opportunity, try tissue culture sometime. If you have any specific questions, feel free to ambush me with via email. Enjoy the season and till next time on pages of Soft Secrets!

Even clones from tissue culture are eventually planted in rockwool or jiff.

Grow

With Jorge Cervantes jorge@marijuanagrowing.com

SUMMER CANNABIS GARDEN TASKS

MAINTENANCE

Cannabis gardeners who planned and executed their plans beforehand have less garden maintenance.– Unprepared gardeners who did not plan, will spend much time solving problems that could have avoided. Funny thing, it takes about the same amount of time to grow a substandard garden as it does to cultivate an outstanding cannabis garden.

Put the garden on a regular maintenance plan and watch each plant carefully to see how every action you take effects plant growth and health. Make a log to record daily weather temperature, humidity and daylength. Record irrigation times and volume of water.

Record every time you fertilize. Keep your records for the following year and add to them. You will be surprised how much this information will help you anticiapte problems and grow biigger and better plants.

Apply mulch when soil temperatures rise above 70 degrees F (21 degrees C) in the spring. Once soil temperatures increase, roots suffer. A layer of mulch will cool the soil and protect young tender surfase roots. Mulch also conserves moisture.

Irrigate daily in hot weather if necessary.

Plants use much more water during hot weather, especially if they receive full sun all day long. Containereized plants also use more water during hot weather.

Use a moisture meter to check substrates to make sure plants are properly irrigated. Automattic watering systems supply water regularly so plants do not dry out.

A leaf blower work wonders to knock off big drops of rainwater. Shake flowers that take on a lot of water to disperse. Always start at the top of the plant and expect to get wet. This is a good method if knocking off rainwater from a few plants. A leaf blower is a simiple solution for many plants.

Wind is rarely a problem when plants are trellised properly. I prefer to start with a horizontal net trellis. This type of trellis sup-

ports branches and gives them the freedom to move and grow too. Unstaked plants will suffer the wrath of the wind. If flowers are wet and heavy, wind can break branches.

MULCH

Mulch is a layer of straw, grass clippings, paper, rocks, etc. placed around the base of plants. Mulch protects the soil surface, attracts and retains soil moisture and smothers weeds. Straw is my favorite much for my outdoor cannabis garden. I buy a bale or two of straw in the spring to mulch my garden and it lasts all year. Once the surface of the soil has warmed to about 80 degrees F (27 degrees C) I apply mulch. During the summer, I add my second favorite mulch, grass clippings, as they become available.

Pile mulch higher and deeper, I call it the PHD method. But you don´t need be Ph D for it to work wonders. Pile straw mulch up to 12 inches (15-30 cm) high. It cooks down over time transforming into rich compost. Alfalfa hay mulch adds nitrogen and other nutrients. Alfalfa hay costs more than straw and cooks down faster.

Cover garden beds with a heavy layer of mulch to overwinter. A 12-inch-plus (30 cm+) layer of mulch will keep soil elements intact and attract moisture. Bare soil loses many of the beneficial organisms and the valuable topsoil fertility to erosion during winter months. After mulching, cover the garden with a heavy tarp or landscape fabric to keep it weed free until you are ready to transplant.

Rocks and rock dust make excellent mulch. Use rock mulches where they are readily available. Even on sunny days in blistering hot weather when rock mulches are hot to touch, they still shade soil and protect it from evaporative moisture loss. Dark rocks can moderate temperature in a very small area by soaking up the heat of the day then releasing it slowly as the evening temperature cools. Rocks must get plenty of sunlight to warm up. Newspaper makes a good mulch. Wet paper once in place and cover with organic mulch

Inspect plants for diseases, pests, cultural problems. Pest and disease attacks typically start durring vegatative growth. Keep a vigilent eye out for any deviations in growth, spots on leaves or little dots under leaves.

Mulch cools the soil and protects the surface from pounding rain and intense sunlight that heats and dries soil. A surface layer teaming with life will grow just below the mulch. Wait until soil has warmed to apply mulch.

When the soil has warmed apply a layer of mulch. I like to use a laser thermometer to measure the surface of the soil. When the temperature hovers around 80-90 degrees F (26-32 degrees C) I apply a thick layer of straw mulch. The mulch attracts moisture, keeps the soil cool and prevents evaporation. A rich layer of soil life will develop in the top layer of the soil under the mulch too.

Black plastic mulch is popular among CBD-rich farmers. They cover garden beds with black plastic and cut holes it to plant seedlings and clones. A soaker hose can be laid underneath the plastic to irrigate. Holes must be big enough so that plant stems do not touch the plastic. Black plastic gets very hot during the day but actually warms the soil very little. Cut the planting holes big enough so tender plant stems do not touch it. The hot black plastic will literally cook the stem at the soil line. A darkcolored plastic mulch shades weeds, prevents moisture loss and raise the temperature of the soil surface on a sunny day.

to form an extra layer of protection. Virtually free and readily available, newspaper layers should be at least six pages thick, preferably a dozen or more, before adding a soil or mulch covering to anchor it in place.

FERTILIZER

Organic soil is packed with available nutrients. Build living organic soil to feed your cannabis plants naturally.

LIQUID FERTILIZER

If fertilizing with every watering, you may need to dilute the food to half-strength or less until you figure out the proper dosage. Fertilize with a mild, soluble flowering solution for germination and seedling growth. Change to a high-nitrogen formula during the vegetative stage and back to a “super-bloom” when the long nights induce flowering.

FERTILIZER RECOMMENDATIONS

Plants can be fertilized enough to make them respond and grow well within a temperature range of 60-90 degrees F (15-32 degrees C),

Granular fertilizer, including slow release

Use granular concentrated fertilizers or organic fertilizers that are lightweight and not bulky to transport and store.

reasonable humidity, adequate sunshine and moderate wind.

Be sparing with fertilizer the first month after transplanting. Depending upon the fertilizer, application could be as often as every watering or as seldom as every week or two.

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 Cannabis! and ¡Cultivamos Cannabis! (Spanish) at www.Jorge-Cervantes.com. And access the Cannabis Encyclopedia FREE in English and Spanish and sign up for our mailing list at www.marijuanagrowing.com for updates on the new digital 6th Edition.

Woven weed barriers let water drain but will not let the weeds grow through. Cover these barriers with rock or bark chips. Avoid using strips of scrap carpet because weeds will grow through them and make removal difficult.

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

Betty’s Bacon Burger and Super Slaw

Burgers are a big deal at the moment, and artisan burger joints are ten a penny in most big cities with all kinds of extravagant combos emerging.

While you are almost guaranteed a tasty burger, the price is not always desirable. So why go all out and come back full but broke when you can make your own at home with the addition of some THC magic?

When it comes to the “canna” part of the meal, there are two components you can choose to infuse All you need is your pre-made cannabutter or canna cooking oil.

SUPER SLAW

You can make this before your burger and use it as a burger accompaniment on sandwiches, salads and barbecues.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 small shredded cabbage

3 spring onions, sliced

• 1 handful of chopped coriander

Asian Slaw Dressing:

• 3 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil (substitute desired amount with canna cooking oil)

1/4 cup ricewinevinegar

• 3 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon soy sauce

• 1 garlic clove, finely minced

1 tablespoon ginger, finely chopped

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes or chilli paste (optional)

Optional toppings:

• Toasted sesameseeds roasted, crushed peanuts or cashews

Method

1. Mix slaw ingredients together in a bowl. Add coriander and spring onions.

2. Whisk the Asian Slaw Dressing ingredients together in a small bowl.

3. Pour dressing into slaw and toss well.

4. Garnish with sesameseeds and/ or nuts.

BETTY’S BACON BURGER

These burgers are delicious. They are cooked in the fat from the bacon and dressed with a special sauce. If that is not enough they are smothered with onions, fried in bacon fat, and topped with crispy rashers, cheese, pickles and a little bit of TLC and THC.

INGREDIENTS- SERVES 4

• 12 slices thick-cut, bacon

• 6 tablespoons mayonnaise

• 1 tablespoon ketchup

1 tablespoon spicy brown or Dijon mustard

• 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish

Freshly ground black pepper

• 24 ounces (1 1/2 pounds) newly ground beef mince

• salt

• 4 buns

• 4 slices American or cheddar cheese

• 1 medium onion, finely sliced

• 12 dill pickle chips

• Canna cooking oil

Directions - preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).

- line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminium foil. Place 12 slices of bacon on a baking sheet. Place in oven and cook until bacon is crisp about 25 minutes.

- While the bacon cooks, combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, relish, and 1 teaspoon of black pepper in a bowl and Stir to combine.

- Form ground beef into 4 patties. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

- When bacon is cooked, remove the baking sheet from over. Pour off excess bacon fat into a small bowl and set aside.

- Pour 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat into the mayonnaise and stir to combine. Add in canna oil if desired, dosage to suit.

- Brush your buns on inside surfaces with bacon fat and place them on a baking sheet brushed-side up. Put your grill on medium to pre-heat.

- Put a frying pan on medium-high heat and add the remaining bacon fat. Add your burger patties and turn occasionally until cooked through and well-crusted. Top with cheese and continue cooking until cheese is melted, then transfer to a large plate.

- Add onions to your pan and cook, stirring frequently, until softened and lightly browned, about 5 minutes.

- Season to taste with salt and pepper and transfer to a bowl.

- Place burger buns under a hot grill until golden brown and toasted for about 2 minutes.

- Spread the mayonnaise on both sides of the burger buns. Place 3 pickles on each bottom bun, then top with a burger patty, a pile of onions, and some bacon.

- Tight buns and serve with your Super Slaw and some classic or seasoned fries.

burger sauce and the slaw sauce as I personally find it easier to dose and prefer the taste. However, If you so wish, you can put weed directly into the burger. If you do choose to do this, then try and select fairly fatty meat, as cannabinoids bind well to fats.

You will need dried decarboxylated bud; about half a gram is usually sufficient for a couple of burgers. Just grate it very finely and add it to your meat when forming your patties, and voila! You have Space burgers!!

Rich Hamilton

Remembering Bob Marley

Bob Marley was born in Nine Miles, St. Ann, Jamaica, on February 6, 1945. He died May 11, 1981, in Miami, Florida, U.S. The Jamaican singer-songwriter saw his thoughtful ongoing distillation of early ska, rock steady, and reggae blossom in the 1970s, evolving into an electrifying rock-influenced hybrid that secured him as an international superstar and musical idol up until this day.

Aside from reggae music, Bob Marley is, of course, best known for his use of “ganja”. Marley converted from Catholicism in 1966 and became a Rastafarian.

While in some ways a conservative sect with Rastafarians following a strict vegetarian diet, the religion has very liberal views on using cannabis as a religious sacrament. Following his conversion to Rastafarianism until his death, It is thought that Marley used cannabis pretty much daily.

“All the wickedness you do, the herb reveals itself to yourself, your conscience, show up yourself clear because herb makes you meditate. It is only a natural thing, and it grows like a tree.” Bob

Marley

Now one of its most well-known advocates has opened a store in his name in Jamaica, selling medicinal products derived from what the star often referred to as ‘the herb’.THC products sold

at the store include a full range of ingestible, including flowers, pre-roll edibles and smoking accessories. CBD products, including beverages, edibles and topicals, are also sold.

The Marley Natural Dispensary, a cannabis retailer owned by The Bob Marley Group of Companies, run by the Marley family, has just launched at The Bob Marley Museum in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica. The site of the dispensary and museum is also the stars’ former home and recording studio.

“My father would be pleased to see this herb house opening at the museum. When I think of how far the world has progressed surrounding attitudes toward cannabis and finally recognize its many positive qualities—this is exactly what my father and the Rastafarian community have been saying for over 40 years. It’s right that we do this for him and his legacy.” -Stephen Marley.

The look and atmosphere of the Marley Natural Dispensary are a physical manifestation of Marley’s love of nature that surrounded his former home at 56 Hope Road.

Filled with luxuriant green planters and ‘living walls’ and a selection of locally sourced natural woods and finishes, the vibe is modern and laidback. It is aligned with Marley’s lifestyle, despite the urban backdrop of Jamaica’s capital city. However, this isn’t the only big release

on the horizon for the Marley legacy, with the long-awaited biopic about the reggae legend’s life due to land in theatres on January 12, 2024.

The first theatrical trailer for “One Love” has recently been released, causing a big buzz. The movie stars Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob and is directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green.

“You’ve heard the music, and you think you know the man, but do you understand what he went through and what moments shaped him into the person he became?

This film will bring you to witness for the first time what it was like to be around the legend, to see his pain, sorrows, joys and redemption.” Ziggy Marley, son of Bob Marley and film producer.

Filmed in Jamaica and England, the movie strives to be authentic. Filmed at locations where Bob visited, performed and played football, including Trench Town and Bull Bay in Kingston, the family produced the movie alongside Paramount Studio to represent the continuation of Bob’s message and growth.

The release of this movie will hopefully not only continue to inspire long time fans but also the younger generation. “One Love” will open the door to Bob’s life, music and message, expanding his message of unification, justice and peace.

Rich Hamilton

SOFT SECRETS SELECTION

READTHIS IS HOW WE ROLL, THE ART AND CULTURE OF JOINTS, BLUNTS, AND SPLIFFS. PUBLISHED BY CHRONICLE BOOKS

This book will teach readers the basic principles of grinding up weed and rolling it into different types of blunts of various levels of complexity.

WATCHGROWING BELUSHI, DISCOVERY CHANNEL

Jim Belushi has many talents – actor, singer, dancer, and now… legal cannabis farmer. In 1978, he followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Blues Brother and SNL star John Belushi. Jim has been a working actor since joining Chicago’s legendary Second City theatre company. He is best known for his role as Jim on the sitcom” According to Jim”. His other television roles include appearances on the US television institution Saturday Night Live and Twin Peaks.

Since its 2020 debut on the Discovery Channel, Growing Belushi, a light-hearted reality TV show starring Jim Belushi and following the day-to-day running of his cannabis farm in Southern Oregon, has become a popular mainstay.

Since beginning to grow cannabis in 2015, Belushi has expanded his property on the Rogue River to 93 acres. There he has produced a variety of cannabis strains, including “The Blues Brothers”, “Captain Jack’s Gulzar Afghanica”, and “Chasing Magic”.

The show is currently in its third season and features a cast of regulars, including Belushi’s cousin Chris Karakosta. A former restaurant chain entrepreneur and now general manager at Belushi’s farm, Karakosta fell into this career change after visiting his famous relative’s farm. There he quickly became obsessed with the healing power of cannabis and the industry’s considerable opportunities. If you’re looking for some good, fun reality tv about weed, watch Growing Belushi.

Demonstrated using accessories for assistan ce, this book will teach you the rolling skills you need to impress people at parties.

From rolling techniques, astrology, do’s and don’ts, quizzes and charts, this illustrated com panion to all things weed is enjoyable.

Featuring classic joint designs such as The Scorpion, The Holy Cross, The Braid and more, How We Roll conveys the best and most effective rolling methods.

Examining the numerous unique approaches to rolling through thoughtful illustrations and precise instructions, How We Roll is an invaluable guide to the art of smoking.

Aside from its rolling tips, the book includes interviews with notable cannabis legends, including Wiz Khalifa and Tommy Chong. With explorations of rolling culture from around the globe and tips and tricks for rolling up the ultimate J, how We Roll is the perfect book for any weed connoisseur.

PLAYSUPERLIMINAL-STEAM

There is an undeniable connection between weed and gaming. There is a game for every kind of stoner, and with so many options available, it is impossible not to find at least one that you will enjoy when stoned.

Superliminal is a first-person puzzle game based on optical illusions and forced perspectives. This game’s puzzles will give you a sense of the unexpected. Players must change their mindset and think outside the box to wake up from the dream.

This puzzle game takes perspective to another level. Released in 2019 by Pillow Castle Games, Superliminal shows us the story of a patient at a sleep institute—a routine visit for routine treatment results in error. The game uses optical illusions and perspective to create its mind-boggling levels. The player must stand at certain angles to continue through the map in these levels.

If you plan to play this game whilst having a sesh, be ready for hours of confusion. This game is the perfect match for a trippy strain. The kind of strain that will have you questioning the meaning of life while you simultaneously try to figure out how to play the game. It exists on the thin line between entertainment and frustration, but it is worth a go.

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, Sebastian Daniel, Hortizan and others.

Photography: iStock

Editorial adress:

E-Mail: readers@softsecrets.nl

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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 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.