INT2505

Small joints have become big business in California, USA. The state’s biggest pot brands have followed suit, recognizing the reality that many customers don’t actually want that much weed in one session. Micro joints “have exploded” in popularity in the last few years according to Eli Melrod, the CEO and co-founder of the dispensary chain Solful. He said his company is now working on releasing its own version of the bite-sized blunts under the house brand.

Micro joint fans say their benefits are plentiful. The smaller portion allows them to easily be finished in one sitting, as opposed to a larger joint that might require you to put it out and carry around a smelly half-smoked joint in your pocket. Modern pot is extremely potent, so many cannabis users simply don’t want to smoke a full gram joint.

Chad Heschong, the founder of Selfies, an Oakland brand that exclusively sells tiny joints, compared his smaller portions to an evening drink.

“It’s for someone who just wants to take the edge off after a long day of work,” Heschong said. “It’s like having a glass of wine versus drinking a full handle.”

Heschong created his brand in 2017 with his wife Kristen, who noticed that he kept leaving half-smoked joints around the house.

“We were smoking joints and we’d leave them on the coffee table and she hated [them],” Heschong said. “She went, ‘Why don’t you just start rolling smaller joints?’”

Heschong said the only small joint he had previously seen was a half gram, but he took the concept even further by releasing a joint that’s just 0.25 gram. Selfies sells the joints in two-packs, 12-packs and even 28-packs, which he said have become very popular for weddings and other parties where people want to share cannabis with a big group.

Marty Higgins, the CEO of the dispensary chain Urbana, said a brand called Dogwalkers

TINY JOINTS HAVE 'EXPLODED' IN POPULARITY IN CALIFORNIA

originally pioneered the mini joint around the idea of something you could smoke on a short walk with your dog. He said smaller joints were rare at first, but now they’ve become their own subcategory of products. He said mini joint customers “lean towards a more mature audience who are looking for a little less” cannabis consumption.

The growth of tiny joints also points to a subtle way commercialization of pot has shifted cannabis culture. During the scarce days of marijuana prohibition, passing a communal joint around a group of friends was a cherished ritual for smokers. But legalization has made pot accessible and affordable — Selfies’ two-pack sells for $13 with tax — and the idea of putting your lips on the same joint that someone else smoked is becoming as socially acceptable as four friends collectively splitting a pint of beer.

Heschong said he saw an increase in interest in mini joints during the Covid-19 pandemic, especially because multiple people can still smoke them together and have a communal experience without sharing germs.

“Joints were created to share, so we wanted to create something that you could share the experience without sharing the actual joint,” Heschong said.

Heschong, who produces his joints at a manufacturing facility in Oakland, said his brand now produces over 325,000 mini joints a month, or nearly 4 million tiny joints a year.

Kristen Heschong, who worked in marketing before transitioning to cannabis, designed the loud and proud prismatic packaging for the brand. She said the tiny joints are not only for convenience, but also for appealing to a different type of stoner.

“I saw a need in the market to have a product that spoke to people like me that weren’t heavy, heavy smokers,” Kristen said.

Source: sfgate.com

Page 10

Cheese

Potent oldskool strain

Page 12

A New Mindset OldSkool & NewSkool in the modern cannabis market

Page 16

Guanokalong, the N-P-K formula

Interview with the 'Batman' Guano Hunter

Page 20

Why Cannabis Education Needs a Protected Digital Sanctuary Page 26

Ben Dronkers

The Man behind Sensi Seeds

ATAMI SUBSTRATES A fundamental basis

JACK HERER BRANDS

for every grower!

High-quality substrate mixes that provide the perfect basis for any type of cultivation in soil, coconut fibre or hydroponics. They are desi gned to promote root development, water storage capacity, drainage, aeration and nutrient availability, ensuring that your plants receive what they need for strong and balanced growth. Most substrates are RHP certified.

For more information, visit the website: www.atami.com

Jack Herer Brands honor Jack’s legacy by infusing every strain with the same commitment to quality, integrity, and innovation that he embodied in his life’s work. In collaboration with FreeWorld Genetics in Colorado, this lineup reflects years of se lection in one of the world’s most demanding cannabis markets.

Bred to shine – on a sunny balcony, in a basement tent, or a top-tier facility – Jack Herer Brands cultivars were chosen for vigor, yield, bombastic terpen e profiles, and unmistakable effects. Rooted in classic, award-winning strains yet pushing th e cutting edge, Jack Herer Brands honor Jack’s vision while expanding what cannabis can be.

www.jackherer.com

ATAMI SUBSTRATE

High-quality substrate mixes that provide an excellent base for any growing method in soil, coco or hydroponics.

Cultivation

Gerard D.

PERMANENT MARKER by Advanced Seeds

If you're a fan of genetics with extreme THC levels, Permanent Marker is designed for you. This strain offers THC levels ranging from 30% to 34% and is 70% Indica-dominant. It features a compact, resilient, and highly branched structure, with short internodal spacing that favors the production of dense, trichome-laden flowers.

Each bud this strain offers is a resin-filled gem, with a spectacular terpene profile that combines sweet, vanilla notes with subtle citrus and tropical touches. Behind this explosion of aromas and flavor lies the true power of this strain, combining high levels of THC and CBD, capable of delivering an intense, long-lasting, and deeply pleasurable cerebral and physical effect. Grown indoors, it's ready to harvest in just 60-67 days; outdoors, between september and october depending on where you live.

Permanent Marker is especially designed for growers with some experience, as this strain has the ability to catalyze high levels of nutrients, especially during the flowering stage. However, this voracity is also a disadvantage, as overfertilizing this plant will be almost impossible, which will allow it to fully exploit its productive potential.

Its range of nuances includes chemical, creamy, lemony, and forest fruit nuances. The flowers it offers are fairly compact, medium-sized, and packed with light-colored, medium-sized trichomes, ideal for mechanical or ice extractions.

The high it offers is fast, deep, and enveloping, with a marked Indica influence that ensures a potent and satisfying experience, both cerebral and physical.

Germination

Permanent Marker seeds are very similar in appearance and rather dark in color. As always, we germinate three seeds to save some specimens in case of need or to have another opportunity to grow this strain. Germination is done in a Petri dish, as usual, to protect it from pathogens. Twenty-four hours after germination, the three seeds we germinated can be seen

hatching. After 72 hours of life, the plants show a marked vitality, pushing their way through the substrate. As usual, we use a mixture of organic compounds based on guano, epsomite, phosphorite, bokashi, and ash, mixed with a little organic substrate to promote good growth and the desired texture for our marijuana plants.

Growth

To begin this phase, we water with an organic root stimulant, diluted in water, applying approximately 250 ml per 7-liter pot. After the first week of life, the cotyledons reach about 4 centimeters and produce new leaves. As is typical with this genetic, their vigor and good health are evident from the start.

In the second week of life, we decided to replace the rooting solution with water and organic fertilizer (1 ml of fertilizer for every 2 liters of water), thus obtaining an easily assimilated mixture rich in nutrients, acids, and enzymes essential for its development. This is key, as the root system is still developing.

Once the roots have better colonized the substrate, the next step is to increase the dose to 350 ml per plant and move the LED light closer to about 50 cm to stimulate vigorous and continuous growth. With this, only the last few weeks of growth remain, which marks the time to change the photoperiod from 18 hours to 12 hours of light, beginning the flowering phase.

Flowering

In the following weeks, the plants enter the 12-hour light cycle, accompanied by a readjustment of the LED spacing. This marks the beginning of pre-flowering, visible in the appearance of the first clear signs, such as the initial formation of the pre-flower and the massive proliferation of pistils. At this point, subtle nuances begin to be perceived in the flowers that anticipate the final aroma of this strain. Another notable detail, although still at an early stage, is the abundant production of trichomes: fine, very clear, and with a sticky texture.

As the plant progresses, the growing parameters evolve alongside it. The phosphorus and potassium doses are increased by 10% compared to the initial dose, with the aim of promoting optimal flowering and increasing bud density. This adjustment responds to the first signs—albeit very subtle—of deficiencies in certain elements. The result is flowers that, without reaching extreme sizes, develop a solid and compact consistency.

Over the last two weeks, we performed an intensive root flush, a fundamental process to eliminate excess salts, fertilizers, and accumulated compounds in the substrate. This practice helps the plant reach its full potential in the final stages of growth. During this phase, we observe the progressive oxidation of the pistils, which acquire an ochre hue, as well as a complete change in the aromatic nuances, now dominated by intense hints of chemicals like solvent and a strong citrus aroma like lemon. Finally, the firmness and brilliance of the flowers are noteworthy: medium-sized buds, but with exceptional density and very few nooks and crannies, reflecting the quality and genetics of this plant.

Harvesting

As expected, this strain met our expectations, guaranteeing full flowering in approximately 65 days, producing very dense, sticky, and trichome-packed flowers.

Harvesting this strain was very easy due to the compact structure of the plants and their flowers, yielding an average of approximately 23 g of dry yield per plant. During drying, we used a plastic net to place our flowers vertically for the first phase of drying. After two weeks hanging on the net, slight discoloration and reduction in size can be seen due to water evaporation. Finally, once the flowers have reached their optimal drying point, we place them in airtight jars so that the nuances in the flowers can fully develop and all their organoleptic properties can be developed.

Branches Second week of flowering

Week 3 of flowering

Strain Report

Stoney Tark

Amaretto Tarmac Auto Grow Report

Seed bank: Seed Stockers

Strain: Amaretto Tarmac Auto

Genetics: Amaretto Tarmac x Apollo

Black Cherry Auto

Pot size: 30 litre Fabric Pot

Growing Medium: Atami Coco, Atami Worm Delight and Compost

Nutrients: Atami NRG + Bi-Bloombastic

(0-8-12)

Grow Time: 13 Weeks

Height: 98 cm tall

Environment: Outdoors in Spain

The feminised seed was germinated into tissue paper,, and after 36 hours, a long and fuzzy tail emerged from the seed. As I grow outdoors in Spain, I will use a small plastic cup to protect the seedling from insects and the wind. The seed was germinated in a 30-litre fabric pot filled with Atami worm Delight, Atami coco, and compost from the garden centre.

The seedling was growing with a healthy green appearance and a strong stem. I removed the cup to allow the plant to receive as much sunlight as possible. The plants are fed 3ml per litre of the NRG Growth-C, Alga-C and 2ml per litre of ATAzyme.

By day 21, the Amaretto Tarmac was looking much stronger,, and the stem was tough, with the first few sets of leaves feeling thick to the touch. I sprayed the seedlings twice a day to maintain high humidity levels and prevent them from drying out due to the hot winds.

After 28 days of growth, the nutrients have been increased to 5 mL/L of NRG Growth-C and Algae-C. The seedling is growing r,apidly, and its leaves exhibit a sativa-dominant shape and structure. I take this opportunity to tie the plant down and LST.

Day 35, and the Amaretto Tarmac Auto has filled out the 30-litre pot and is producing a very thick stem. I continue to feed her 5ml per litre, and foliar spray twice a day. I can already see the first set of pre-flowers growing, so I

will now give the plant 3ml per litre of NRG Flower-C and Bloom-C.

Now, the Amaretto Tarmac has been growing for six weeks and has become bushy, with each side branch having four internodes of growth. The structure and appearance are chunky, with a uniform and symmetrical shape after applying the LST technique.

Day 49 of growth, and an incredible amount of white hairs and small buds have started to form all over the plant. The internodal spacing is short and compact, measuring 73 cm in height from the top of the pot. I feed 3ml per litre of Flower-C and Bloom-C and begin to add 2ml per litre of Bi-Bloombastic. It did not take long for the pistils to grow long and pointy, covering the plant from top to bottom.

There is a tremendous amount of resin forming on the smaller-sized leaves, and all of the pistils are starting to produce tear-shaped buds. The Amaretto Tarmac is now 87 cm tall and has big side branches that are becoming thick like a baseball bat. So far, the yield is very impressive.

On day 63, I stop using the other nutrients and will only feed Bi-Bloombastic at a ratio of 5ml per litre. The buds are becoming hard to squeeze and are approximately 2.5 inches in diameter. Every bud site is becoming dense and producing more resin each week. The buds, viewed up close, have a light green appearance, and the bract and calyx are starting to form every day.

The aroma on day 70 can be described as fruity, floral, with an earthy overtone. When touching the buds, my fingers become sticky due to the large amount of resin they produce. I will continue to feed only Bi-Bloombastic for another two weeks before using only plain water to flush the pot, to produce the best-tasting buds, and allow the Amaretto Tarmac to make one final push and use up any internal nutrients it may be holding onto.

After 11 weeks, the plant looks superb, and every side branch is full of what appears to be giant spear-like buds. Even though the

weather is 35 degrees Celsius most days with high humidity levels, the buds do not show signs of heat stress or mould.

The Amaretto Tarmac is flushed using only plain water for the final 14 days. During this time, the bracts and calyx have become as stacked and swollen as possible. The final height of the plant is 94 cm. She will be harvested after 13 weeks of growth and wet trimmed indoors for 14 days.

My Conclusion on Growing Amaretto Tarmac Auto

The yield is incredible, and every side branch is full to the brim with frosty buds, featuring a fruity, spicy, and cherry aroma. I recommend this strain if you are looking for a low-maintenance auto that doesn't smell too strong and yields a substantial crop.

The Amaretto Tarmac one week before harvesting.

The colas are huge and spear shaped on every side branch.

Trip Report

Trip Report: A Journey with CANNA, from Laboratory to Canal Cruise

During Spannabis 2025 in Barcelona, CANNA offered visitors at the booth the chance to win a unique trip to the Netherlands. The grand prize? A three-day visit offering an inside look at CANNA’s research and production facilities, rounded off with a relaxing stay in Amsterdam.

Two lucky winners flew from Spain to the Netherlands for this special experience. Over the course of three days, they not only discovered how CANNA works daily on The Solution for Growth and Bloom, but also got to know the culture, history, and creative spirit that are so characteristic of the Netherlands.

This is the trip report of their three-day journey into The World of CANNA.

DAY 1 – ARRIVAL IN THE NETHERLANDS

The first day of the trip was all about arriving and getting settled. After a short flight from Spain, the winners landed at Schiphol Airport and took the train to Breda. There, they were welcomed, escorted to the hotel, and checked into a comfortable room.

In the evening, they had dinner at a colourful and lively spot in the heart of Breda, known for its mix of international flavours. It was a relaxed and tasty way to kick off their time in the Netherlands.

After a first taste of the city and a satisfying meal, the day ended with a good night’s sleep in Breda.

DAY 2 – LAB COATS AND PRODUCTION LINES

After a solid breakfast, the second day started with an exclusive visit to the CANNA Research & Development Center. There was an up-close

look at the world of plant science, innovation and growing trials. In the laboratory and grow rooms, CANNA specialists demonstrated how nutrients, additives and substrates are carefully developed and tested.

After that, a visit was made to the production and distribution facility, where it became clear how knowledge, technology, and efficiency come together in a smooth and well-organized process.

Later that day, the journey continued to Amsterdam, where a comfortable hotel in the city center offered a place to relax. The evening provided time to explore the city, enjoy

a meal and unwind after an inspiring day.

DAY 3 – AMSTERDAM AT ITS BEST

The third day was all about relaxing and soaking up some Amsterdam culture. In the morning, the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum was visited. An iconic place where history, culture and awareness come together. From hemp rope to cannabis activism, the exhibition showed just how versatile the plant is and how significant its impact is on our society.

In the afternoon, a special experience was planned: a canal cruise through Amsterdam’s iconic canals. It was the perfect way to see the city from a different angle. The sun was shining, the weather was perfect and everyone enjoyed some typical Amsterdam treats - exactly what you'd hope for on a Dutch-style boat trip. ��

After that, there was time to enjoy everything Amsterdam has to offer in the evening.

DAY 4 – LOOKING BACK WITH A SMILE, HEADING HOME

The final day was all about taking it easy. In the afternoon, the winners took the train to Schiphol Airport and flew back to Spain, tired but satisfied.

It was a special trip, full of memories and unique CANNA moments.

At CANNA, we believe real connection comes from openness and experience. That’s why we invite people into our world. To show who we are and what we stand for. The best way to get to know a brand is up close. So every now and then, we give fans a peek behind the scenes. Who knows… maybe you’ll be next?

Cannabis Strains

AMG (Amnesia Mac Ganja)

The true story behind the one and only AMG®

In 2009, Dutch breeder Ganja Man crossed his indica Amnesia with the sativa Mac Ganja. The result was a mostly sativa strain named Amnesia Mac Ganja, or AMG. In the years that followed, AMGs submitted by coffeeshop Kosbor in Maastricht consistently scored very well in cannabis cups like the famous HighLife Cup. AMG even achieved near-mythical status within the cannabis world.

AMG is a mostly sativa strain that takes 74 days to flower and boasts a truly uplifting sativa high, with the sweet citrus flavor and aroma of Amnesia. The plant was originally intended for Ganja Man's personal medicinal use, but the weed was widely appreciated. Ganja Man never shared the genetics; the mother plant always remained in his care. AMG's fame gave it a life of its own. Growers and dealers increasingly used the name AMG to refer to a top-quality Amnesia, resulting in many coffeeshops offering a copycat AMG. However, these were rarely the one and only award-winning

Ganja Man AMG, as it was never cultivated on a large scale. The AMG myth is so widespread that it's now even used by regulated growers, even though they don't have access to the genetics of Ganja Man's original AMG. The AMG brand name was registered in 2013, but Ganja Man never took action against its improper use. Because the AMG name was used by growers and sellers for over ten years without any action, the AMG brand name has been diluted. It is no longer possible to take action against the use of the name by anyone other than the rights holders.

Kosbor and Holigram

Ganja Man transferred his rights to AMG at the end of 2024 to coffeeshop Kosbor in Maastricht, which had sold the one and only AMG for years and won numerous awards for it. To ensure Kosbor could continue selling genuine AMG, Kosbor partnered with legal grower Holigram, who now markets the one and only trademark AMG. For Ganja Man, this means his AMG is now legally available, and consumers can enjoy a legal creation from this grandmaster. For Holigram, this means they are the only legal grower who can

produce trademark AMG. It's the AMG®, with a ®. Other legal growers using the AMG name certainly aren't using Ganja Man's genetics and aren't allowed to use the ®. They probably make pretty good Amnesia, but it's simply not a true AMG. About Ganja Man: he's been a remarkable breeder for 40 years, ran a grow shop for a long time, and offered cultivation advice as a Bush Doctor at HighLife magazine. So you could say Ganja Man has left his mark on the Dutch cannabis landscape. Coffeeshop Kosbor has shared not only the AMG but also its own bred and selected HighLife Cup winner, Neville, with Holigram. This will be available in experimental coffeeshops starting in November 2025.

The sale of cannabis in Dutch coffeeshops is tolerated, not legal. In shops that fall under the experimental model, the weed and hash sold is legal. In an illegal setting, anyone can name the weed they sell whatever they like. After all, there's no control over this, and it's an illegal

AMG IS A MOSTLY SATIVA STRAIN THAT TAKES 74 DAYS TO FLOWER AND BOASTS A TRULY UPLIFTING SATIVA HIGH

(tolerated) product. In a legal (experimental) setting, things are different. The one and only AMG is a creation by Ganja Man, which is now being produced at Holigram through Kosbor. And everyone involved is quite proud of it!

The award-winning Ganja Man AMG (Amnesia Mac Ganja) from coffee shop Kosbor is now available at Holigram, a legal Dutch grower.

Michiel Panhuysen

Barney’s Farm strain story

Words & Pics: Green Born Identity – G.B.I.

CHEESE POTENT „HARZER“ FROM THE GOURMET DEPARTMENT

Always offering the latest trend genetics, Barney’s Farm not only have their fingers on the pulse of time, but also a heart for outstanding classics among cannabis varieties. As for instance the legendary evergreen Cheese, a special selection of the pioneering Skunk #1 strain. Cheese has a history stemming back to the late 1980s: In the years of 1988/89, a grower from Southeast England selected a very special genotype from a bag of Skunk #1 seeds that had apparently underwent a spontaneous mutation. This unique plant produced buds of impressive size and had a pronounced sweet cheesy aroma. In addition, it was easy to clone. So that grower preserved it in the form of a female clone and called it “Cheese”. In 1995, the Exodus group, a circle of English home growers, got their hands on such a Cheese clone and made it spread over the whole island like wildfire, soon being traded under the name Exodus Cheese aka Original UK Cheese. But it wasn’t before the noughties that Cheese set out to triumphantly conquer

the whole world, cherished by both small-scale and commercial growers for its enormous productivity combined with excellent quality in terms of aroma and potency. It established itself as a standard that made it onto almost every Dutch Coffeeshop menu card.

The Barney’s Farm Cheese version reliably brings these characteristics to your grow space – ample yields of 600 grams per sqm. are easily achievable with optimal cultivation management, with the richly branched plans often turning ripe as early as after eight weeks of flowering, at most one week later. The thick heavy flowers are coated with goodly trichome layers, exuding that typical sweetish piquant and slightly fruity Cheese scent, the deliciously aromatic qualities of which manifest themselves in the taste, too. Barney’s Farm fittingly compares that flavour to the popular English Cheddar cheese.

With 50% each, Indica and Sativa are genetically balancing each other in the Cheese strain. Which leads to medium height growth, inside plants often reach 100-120, outside 150-200 cm tall. Under natural light, Cheese become mature in the first to second week of October which makes the strain an excellent candidate for the balcony, garden or greenhouse as well. Experienced outdoor growers may accomplish fabulous yields of way more than one kilo dry per plant. The potent Cheese buzz provides a most pleasant mix of relaxation and mood elevation. Depending on dosage, this may result in a creativity boost, enhanced sociability or hanging out in a chilled dreamy state.

The Doc‘s plants exhibit strong lateral growth

Who else but good ol‘ grow veteran The Doc would instantly have exclaimed “yaaa!” when he was asked by a friend whether he wanted to get two surplus BF Cheese seeds from him? It

wasn’t The Doc’s first Cheese strain of course, but being the huge Barney’s fan that he is, he was very curious to find out how good the version of this seed bank is. Bada bing, two feminised Cheese found themselves in the ground and germinated expectedly well, early after three days, the two seedlings, standing upright, started their grow lives. The Doc scheduled the usual three weeks veg stage for them, during this period the two Cheese specimens emerged as bushy compact plants with medium wide dark green leaves. Their habit of growth was fairly flat and very expanding, exhibiting strong lateral growth. At heights of 22 and 24 cm, The Doc triggered them into flowering.

Chubby trichome-rich buds exuding a delish savoury fragrance

This growth pattern was continued in the flowering stage. The two Cheeses of course also stretched upwards then, but kept on expanding to width, becoming enormously “bellied” plants with very long robust lateral branches. Which just like the main shoot were soon lined with plenty of bulbous flower clusters that aroused a happy anticipation of large-sized buds of premium Cheese quality. Which was definitely expected to involve quite some resin richness as early on, The Doc saw a beautiful silvery sheen gleam on the calyxes and sugar leaves. Also in the period following, everything was going according to plan, with the buds voluminously pumping themselves up while the sugary resin carpet covering them was getting denser and denser. As flowering proceeded, a steadily intensifying typical Cheese fragrance was arising from the two plants, very familiar to The Doc: “Yes there it is, the both old familiar and beloved scent of this variety – savoury spicy sweet, traditional Skunk all the way, making older guys like me a bit sentimental…”

At the end of cultivation, the buds had become as chubby, dense and frosty as The Doc had

room, the two Cheese plants had entered into a three-digit yield range. The final result lived up to the strain name as after drying that cheesy character had come to the fore very distinctly: “With its sweetish spiciness and slightly sourly fruity undertone, this smell is somewhat reminiscent of Cheddar cheese, indeed – Barney’s Farm has successfully managed to encapsulate the traditional Cheese smell!”

Oh-so savoury and warm melting like a cheese fondue

„Okay, let’s get this resinous sort of cheese vaporised”, said The Doc when he stuffed half a gram of Cheese into his Venty vaporizer to sample this classic Barney’s strain for the first time. The first big vapour cloud billowing from the Venty into his mouth coated it with an intense sweetish aroma of pronounced spiciness lingering long on the palate. “Oh-so savoury and markedly full-bodied, that’s what I call a truly yummy oldschool taste!” – The Doc enjoyed the Barney’s Cheese flavour to the fullest. The effect came on quickly and

sparked a highly pleasant warm head and body melt, “after a few minutes I started to feel kind of soft and creamy all over, as cozy and blissful as in a winterly Swiss alpine hut, enjoying a cheese fondue near to a warming fireplace, and this feeling persisted for way more than two hours”, a highly delighted Dockie described his sensation after the consumption of Cheese.”

A oldschool masterpiece of breeding art

„Say Cheese! Barney’s Farm delivers what you expect from a superb Cheese strain - a potent silvery green ‘Harzer’ from the gourmet department. And you get it there in large amounts after a fairly short waiting time. ‘Harzer’ is a famous German type of cheese, and “Harz” means resin in English, so it’s an apt match I think… Yet again it has been proven that Barney’s Farm not only masters the art of breeding West Coast strains of the highest order, but also sublime oldschool varieties!”

Green Born Identity – G.B.I.

Genetics Cheese (Colombian x Mexican x Afghani)

Vegetative stage 21 days (after germination)

Flowering stage 58 + 60 days / 56-63 days in general

Medium Bionova Bio Soilmix, 11 litre pots

pH 6.3-6.7

EC 1.2–1.6 mS

Light up to 4 x SANlight EVO 5-100, switched to level 2 out of 3

Temperature 19-27°C

Cannabis Culture

Text Michiel Panhuysen | Photography: Dizzy Duck ,The Hague

A NEW MINDSET

OldSkool & NewSkool in the modern cannabis market

A new generation of European growers and hash makers is emerging. Lakalada (hash from Barcelona), and growers and breeders' collectives like the Belgian Flying Genetics, along with Money Trees Bank, are producing new-style weed like Tropi Lemon Z (Sour Lemon Z x Tropicana Grapecake) or Fuego Loco from legal Dutch grower Aardachtig. Many more new strains are juicy and refreshing. With these new styles, flavors, and ideas, a young, wild, and fast generation is forcing it's way into the market alongside the old and the familiar.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Dutch coffeeshops sold almost exclusively just hash, and the cannabis was outdoor weed from countries like Nigeria, Thailand, or Colombia. Initially, the imported hash came from Lebanon, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and later Morocco. This changed in the early 1990s. In 1992, Dutch cannabis entrepreneur Arjan Roskam opened a small coffeeshop in Amsterdam called Arjan's Green House. There, he was the first to only sell weed. At first, things didn't go as well as he'd hoped, but after Arjan made a huge impression with his weed at the High Times Cannabis Cup in 1993, sales skyrocketed. A novelty at the time! Other coffeeshops started selling more weed too and a few years later, almost all coffeeshops did. Now, more than thirty years later, coffeeshops in the Netherlands sell primarily weed (an estimated 75%) and much less hash (25%). Roughly speaking, you could say that the average coffeeshop visitor now prefers to smoke strong weed, and there's an older group of smokers who stick to old-school (mostly Moroccan) hash.

What's new?

Dutch consumers are generally not very adventurous: Skunk, White Widow, Amnesia

Haze and Moroccan hash easily cover most of what was sold in the coffeeshops. But in recent years, a new underground movement has been gaining momentum: let's call it the young, wild, and fast generation.

Some shops offer a relatively rapidly changing selection of new strains of weed and hash you've never heard of. A specific group of young smokers, especially, is constantly discovering new flavors, experiencing new terpenes, and buying beautifully designed packages of hash and weed grown in small batches by collectives of growers who often actively collaborate with breeders. This development coincides with renewed attention to modern hash varieties. The latter now goes far beyond what was initially called Nederhash (Dutch-made hash). This new generation of coffeeshops now also stocks experimental, avant-garde hash varieties from Morocco, Italy, Spain, and France.

Relatively new production methods are used to make these hash varieties. In recent years, a new smoking scene has emerged around these new varieties with close ties to the producers. With these new flavors and experiences comes

a new mindset too. Part of that mindset, for example, is that you don't smoke the whole thing in one go, even if it's a tasty, unique, and strong joint. Often, a few puffs are enough. Save the rest for later.

Dollar bill

Here's an example. The packaging of the weed

from famous coffeeshop Dizzy Duck in The Hague (who won a shitload of HighLife Cups in the past 20 years) is remarkable, to say the least. Inside the zip-lock bag featuring a morphed US dollar bill print is Tropi Lemon Z (Sour Lemon Z x Tropicana Grape Cake) from the Belgian breeders/growers collective Flying Genetics in collaboration with Money Tree Bank. This

Tropi Lemon Z exclusive organic batch from Flying Genetics

Garlic Mintz Static sift

Untouched (verse) Fruit Joy rosin

influence the market!

type of packaging is becoming increasingly common. Collaborative groups of growers and breeders are paying attention to their look and feel. These collectives are less focused on further breeding, but rather on rapidly developing new varieties.

Making a widespread breakthrough with a further bred variety seems less important. The collectives that not only grow but also cross new varieties are brimming with enthusiasm and new ideas. Something similar is happening in the hash sector. The search is on for new varieties suitable for making hash with interesting new flavors. This involves smaller quantities of hash, it remains a relatively small-scale, artisanal process. Through social media, meetings at trade fairs, and by word of mouth, the growers and producers often stay in touch with their followers. Terpenes and flavor are receiving much more attention than before, and trendy hash is often much stronger and has a different effect than traditional hash

(this is due to the purity of the product).

Packaging has also outgrown the transparent zip-lock bag: each collective has its own original design. Kees Schelfhout, hash maker at Aardachtig, has high praise for this packaging development.

Kees: "I think beautiful packaging is a really cool development, because you get a sense of the feeling or style the maker has or wants to express. This earns your brand recognition and stimulates creativity. As a consumer, it allows you to better choose or feel whether or not you want to support such a person."

There is a growing group of younger cannabis users who smoke one strain for a while and then switch to something new. The flavor is stimulating, new strains are usually quite exclusive. An important caveat: Whether this new trend will ever reach the masses remains to be seen. But it seems plausible that it will

Candy Terp Movement

"Through the intensive breeding of new strains, certain flavor profiles and terpenes are much more pronounced in the plant," says Kees. Terpenes are the organic compounds in a plant that determine its flavor and effects. "There's a big candy/fruity terp movement right now." Sweet and fruity flavors in food and drinks are popular, especially among young people, and that also applies to weed and hash. "Think of flavors and aromas resembling papaya, melon, pineapple, and Red Bull Diet, combined with floral cannabis scents." So, in addition to papaya-flavored ice tea, melon-flavored hash is also hot.

WPFF

The focus on flavors and terpenes is also changing the hash production process. Kees: "A large portion of these terpenes are so-called 'volatile terps,' which evaporate quickly.

Sometimes they evaporate even during the drying or curing process. To capture these terpenes, hash makers make things like WPFF (Whole Plant Fresh Frozen) hash. In this process, the entire plant is frozen immediately after harvest to prevent the terpenes from evaporating. That's why newskool hash usually smells so good."

Traditionally, hash is made from plants grown outdoors and then dried and cured. This hash is often cured for a year before being sold. Legal cannabis producers in the Netherlands make hash now from plants grown indoors, often using the WPFF technique, which allows for a completely new spectrum of terpenes to be experienced. Legal growers who make hash are now pushing the boundaries of what's possible beyond simply drying outdoor plants and processing them into hash.

"Our plants are grown in greenhouses or cells. That already makes a difference,”says Kees,

Mela Verde + Z Punch rosin

Organic GMO 90/90 Micron Drysift from The Hidden Farm

Fresh hash fom Forbidden Calippo

Fruit Joy 90u Ice-o-lator

Preparing a traditional Chillum hit Tropicana Cookies Static

Plasma Static from Yellow Melon

“We also process some of the dried plants into hash and some into WPFF. This allows us to make hash from a single plant variety with different terpene profiles. That's super cool for us! It's just a shame the government is now concerned about potency. I think that's completely unnecessary. Whiskey isn't any more

dangerous than pilsner, and you smoke much less of that new-school hash.

New mindset

Old things fall away and are replaced by new things. The cannabis world is no exception to this and is constantly evolving. This applies to

coffeeshops, social clubs, growers, breeders and hash makers in Europe. And it also applies to consumers of course. To survive, you have to be flexible. Instead of a joint with tobacco, it's good to see if you can smoke, vape or eat it too in a different way. It's also good to try new weed or hash varieties.

Kees: "Appreciate the development; don't stick to the old, because nothing stays the same. I'm always trying to change everything. Improving myself motivates me to do things. Through change and curiosity for innovation, I continuously improve myself. Sometimes it's daunting, but it's certainly never boring.”

Fully cured Plasma Static Yellow Melon Terpenes released from Plasma Static while curing.

Static sift from Morocco; Modified Grape Gas

sudestfam@protonmail.com

Fresh Frozen Water Hash (FFWH)

Initial Preparations

In recent years, marijuana extracts like Fresh Frozen Water Hash have been dominating the cannabis scene. More and more growers and hashmakers are dedicating themselves to creating this type of extraction, and market demand is constantly growing.

Fresh Frozen Water Hash is a marijuana concentrate obtained by separating the resin of the cannabis plant from its plant parts. The resin is extracted in cold water, and by agitating the plant material, the glandular trichomes are

WPFF

Acronym for Whole Plant Fresh Frozen, it is the practice of freezing resin-covered marijuana buds immediately after cutting and harvesting the plant. This method preserves the charac-

FREEZING FRESHLY HARVESTED BUDS REQUIRES MUCH LESS SPACE THAN DRYING WHOLE PLANTS.

separated and collected in special bags with a sieve at the bottom. Fresh Frozen Water Hash is extracted from fresh and frozen marijuana buds. This method is a significant evolution of traditional water hash, generally made with dried flower trim or completely dried plants.

teristic terpenes of living plants and keeps the glandular trichomes intact.

BENEFITS OF WPFF

Making WPFF marijuana extractions is highly convenient for several reasons. First, freezing

freshly harvested buds requires much less space than drying whole plants. Second, it eliminates the need to trim marijuana flowers, along with the associated odor and cost issues. Furthermore, it is a highly sought-after type of extract.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE STRAIN

Not all marijuana strains are suitable for making Fresh Frozen Water Hash; some strains have very low yields and poor quality crystals. For this reason, before freezing any plant, it's important to carefully examine it; a microscope allows you to more easily analyze the structure of the glandular trichomes and their ripeness. Plants with glandular trichomes with large heads and thin, almost invisible stems are best for making FFWH.

Another method of evaluation is to observe the resin after rubbing a flower with your fingertips; the most suitable marijuana strains leave a grainy, sticky residue.

PREPARING

FOR HARVEST

To obtain the highest-quality extracts, it is crucial that the plants used for extraction are of excellent quality. Stop using fertilizer at least 20 days before harvesting and freeze the buds; it will ensure a cleaner product with superior organoleptic qualities.

A week before harvesting, reduce the lighting and lower the temperature to around 21°C. This helps to protect the resin from degradation caused by light and heat. It is very important to be prepared before starting to cut and freeze the plants; make sure the freezer is working properly and turn it on at full power at least 24 hours before harvesting.

To harvest, you will need the following tools:

Trimming scissors

Latex gloves

Plastic trays

Baking paper

Plastic zip-lock bags

Scale

WHEN TO HARVEST

The best time to harvest depends on the plant's resin maturity. Some hashmakers harvest their plants several days early to obtain extracts with a lighter, whiter color, thus saving time and allowing them to complete an additional growing cycle during the year. Other extractors prefer to let the resin mature to obtain extracts with a more complex terpene and cannabinoid profile.

HOW TO PROCEED

The first step involves pruning the plants, removing all large leaves and trimming the tips of the smaller, resin-covered leaves. It's very important not to leave any leaves completely intact and devoid of resin, as this could compromise the quality of the extraction. This

operation must be performed delicately to preserve the resin as much as possible.

During harvest, it's recommended to cut one plant at a time so that the buds don't deteriorate while waiting to be frozen. Wear gloves to avoid contaminating the harvest and begin cutting the flowers individually, taking care to remove any branches and small stems.

The cut flowers should be placed in plastic trays with the bottoms lined with parchment paper.

The marijuana harvested in the trays should be placed in plastic bags within a few minutes to avoid compromising the work. The bags should not be overfilled to avoid damaging the flowers inside; leaving them swollen with air when sealed creates a protective cushion. Weigh the bags filled with marijuana and note the strain and weight on each bag before placing it in the freezer. The bags should be stored flat, flat inside the freezer to prevent the buds from being crushed.

POST-HARVEST

In the days following harvest, check that your freezer is doing its job. Sealing the door with tape can prevent accidental opening. Fresh frozen marijuana will keep in excellent condition for several months, but it's recommended to extract it as soon as possible to prevent the ice that forms during freezing from degrading the resin.

Chest freezers with No-Frost technology are the best option for hashmakers!

Tally Men S1 Trichome-rich strain

Individually trimmed bud

Cannabis Entrepeneurs

H. Madera

Guanokalong, the N-P-K formula

Interview with the 'Batman'and

Guano Hunter

Soft Secrets interviews Dutchman Egbert van Meggelen, owner and managing director of Guanokalong, a company specializing in bat guano fertilizers. Egbert oversees the production and distribution of all Guanokalong and GK-Organics products, focusing on 100% organic fertilizers sourced from regions like Java and Madagascar. He sat down with Soft Secrets to talk about his fascinating business.

SS: Egbert, what are the main advantages of using bat guano when growing cannabis?

Egbert: Bat guano is truly unique; there is no other organic fertilizer like it. It naturally provides the "holy trinity" of nutrients that plants need: N-P-K (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium). Nitrogen boosts leaf growth, Phosphorus promotes root development and Potassium keeps the plant healthy overall.

Our product, Guanokalong® powder, also acts

BAT GUANO NATURALLY PROVIDES THE HOLY TRINITY OF NUTRIENTS THAT PLANTS NEED: N-P-K (NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUM).

as a soil regulator. With just 1% guano in your growing medium (1 kg per 100 liters), you can reuse the same soil multiple times—a very sustainable option. Many growers also use Guanokalong® products to create their own "living soil" systems. These ecosystems grow without chemicals, and our products are key to that more organic approach. The rule is simple: 1% Guanokalong® in all growing medium mixes.

There are also guanos that don't come from bats. What are the differences?

Yes, there are several types. Seabird guano is the most common alternative. It's rich in nitrogen and is collected in places with many birds, such as cliffs or islands. There's also phosphate guano, found on coral islands. It has a lot of phosphorus but little nitrogen. It was widely used in industry to make superphosphates. And there are rare types, like seal guano. What makes bat guano special is its variety—it depends on the bats' diet and habitat. Over time, it mineralizes inside the caves, and that enriches it even more. This natural transformation is what makes it a superior fertilizer.

Although bat guano is excellent, accidents can happen. And these are usually people who collect their own guano. Is it safe to do it yourself?

In one word: no. Collecting guano on your own has serious risks, especially from a fungus called Histoplasma, which lives in bat droppings. If you inhale the spores, you can contract histoplasmosis, a dangerous respiratory disease. Dried guano can release these spores when it moves. Therefore, only trained personnel with the proper equipment should collect or clean guano. If you find guano in your home, attic, or shed, it's best to call wildlife or pest control experts. It's not worth the risk.

Few people know that only guano from Madagascar and Cuba is considered safe.

That's true. Guano from those two countries meets the health and safety requirements of the European Union. Other countries may have quality guano, but if it's not EU-certified, it can't be legally imported. I was fortunate enough to be able to import from Madagascar. At times, suppliers from other regions not approved by the EU were unable to enter markets like the United States or Japan. The standards are strict, but necessary to ensure quality, safety, and environmental responsibility.

How do you choose your suppliers?

We only work with EU-approved suppliers, which already narrows down the options considerably. It's not just about quality, but also about safety, traceability, and a longterm relationship.

'Batman' Egbert van Meggelen

They have to meet very strict standards: from how they collect and process the guano to how they store it. There are no shortcuts in this. It's a business where trust is everything.

In what formats is Guanokalong® available?

Guanokalong® powder comes in various sizes: 500 grams; 1 kg; 3 kg; 5 kg; 25 kg; even large bags of up to 1,000 kg. We try to offer options for both amateur and professional growers.

There are younger guanos and more mature ones. Do you extract them separately for different products?

inside, we toured several chambers, some filled to the ceiling with guano accumulated over generations. It was surreal. And then we started back.

What did you see inside the extraction caves?

We were able to enter several chambers, all covered in guano, from very old mineralized layers to more recent deposits. It wasn't a long time, but it left a deep impression. It was a sacred and very moving experience.

Did you come up with any new ideas after that visit?

Yes. One very clear idea: we have to keep doing this no matter what. This work is worth it.

In addition to guano, you've developed other products. Which are the most sought-after?

Guanokalong® powder remains our flagship product. The extract is also in high demand. And then there's our first product: GK pellets. I thought about discontinuing them at some point, but the market didn't allow it. Plants and growers love them! Other products that work very well are: Kalong Grow & Bloom, Veg Pearls, and Palm Ash. All of these combine perfectly with the powder, especially if you're creating "living organic" ecosystems, something that's already a lifestyle for many people. And then there's our Guanokalong® Complete

Mix Soil. It's not just soil with a little guano, it's a well-balanced blend of white and black peat, worm castings, and our signature 1% guano. It's real soil, for real results.

Do you have anything you'd like to say to Soft Secrets readers?

Yes, thank you to all readers. After all these years, it's been a great journey. I hope we continue sharing stories and growing together for many more years to come.

WHERE CANNAFEST STEPS, THERE WEED IS THE BEST!

All guano imported into the EU must be decomposed. Fresh guano—which has a strong ammonia odor and can have up to 10% nitrogen—is not permitted. As guano ages, it mineralizes—the organic material decomposes and releases nutrients. In the caves, layers rich in phosphates, sulfates, and other minerals form. This aging process is key: it makes nutrients more available to plants. Essentially, it turns organic waste into a powerful source of plant nutrition.

How did the idea of visiting your supplier in Madagascar come about?

I'd been wanting to go for years. But first there was a plague, then I got sick, then came the Covid-19 pandemic. Finally, last year, everything fell into place. After Covid, our previous supplier went bankrupt, and I helped the new team rebuild the operation. It was very important for me to be present, not only as a buyer, but as a partner.

Tell us a little about the stages of the trip.

It was an intense but unforgettable trip. We arrived in Antananarivo on Independence Day; the streets were full of life. We visited Maki Park, and then traveled 1,000 km along National Route 7 to reach Tulear. It was tough in some sections, but the scenery was incredible: mountains, rivers, and natural parks. Then we had to walk 7 km over difficult terrain to the cave. The last part was a steep climb between rocks and cliffs. Before entering, we participated in a tribal religious ritual with tobacco and rum, dedicated to the spirit of the cave. Once

SPONSORS: GeneraL SPONSORS:

Egbert on a field trip somewhere in Madagascar, with his personal security detail.

Egbert inspects some layers of mineralized guano deep inside a cave

The rising potential of CBG and CBG-A

The Mother of

all Cannabinoids Cannabis

As cannabis research continues to progress, increasing attention is being given to two promising compounds, cannabigerol (CBG) and its precursor, cannabigerolic acid (CBG-A). Often overshadowed by the more widely recognised cannabinoids THC and CBD, these non-psychoactive compounds are now being explored for their therapeutic potential. Broughton, a leading UK-based contract research organisation, explores early research on the potential of these cannabinoids and offers expert guidance on bringing them to market.

The origin of all

cannabinoids

CBG-A serves as the foundational compound in cannabis, earning CBG the nickname "Mother of all Cannabinoids". Within the plant, CBG-A acts as the crucial starting point from which other major cannabinoids develop. As cannabis matures, enzymes convert CBG-A into various cannabinoid acids that later become THC, CBD and other compounds through decarboxylation (exposure to heat or light).

Most cannabis strains contain only about 1% CBG, as it rapidly transforms into other canna-

binoids during plant growth. However, selective breeding has recently produced CBG-rich varieties, increasing availability for research and commercial applications.

Emerging health benefits

Research into these compounds is still ongoing, but early findings are encouraging. A landmark 2024 human clinical trial, published in Scientific Reports, found that a 20mg dose of hemp-derived CBG significantly reduced anxiety and stress levels compared to a placebo, without inducing intoxication.

Beyond its potential for anxiety relief, studies suggest that CBG may offer a range of therapeutic benefits. Research indicates it has anti-inflammatory properties that could aid conditions such as arthritis, as well as neuroprotective effects that may be beneficial in neurodegenerative disorders.

CBG-A, though less extensively studied for direct therapeutic applications, has shown significant potential. Early research suggests it may be even more effective than CBG in reducing oxidative stress and could support cardiovascular health by potentially lowering

blood pressure and slowing the progression of atherosclerosis in animal models1. There are also preliminary indications that it may possess anti-cancer properties4.

Distinctive mechanisms

CBG distinguishes itself through its unique interactions with various receptors, setting it apart from other cannabinoids. While many cannabinoids primarily engage with cannabinoid receptors, CBG exhibits a broader pharmacological profile. Research suggests that it not only interacts with these receptors but also has a notable affinity for α2-adrenergic receptors and serotonin 5-HT1A receptors.

This diverse mechanism of action may account for its potential anxiolytic and neuroprotective properties. By influencing these additional receptor systems, CBG could modulate neurotransmitter release, regulate stress responses and contribute to neuroprotection in ways that extend beyond the endocannabinoid system.

These interactions provide valuable insights into its therapeutic potential and reinforce growing scientific interest in its role within pharmacology and medicine.

Looking forward

As of early 2025, most research on CBG and CBG-A remains in the preclinical stage, primarily conducted through laboratory and animal studies. Further human clinical trials are crucial to establish comprehensive safety profiles and confirm therapeutic efficacy.

These compounds may prove to be valuable additions to the therapeutic cannabinoid family, offering unique benefits without the intoxicating effects associated with THC. For those tracking developments in cannabis medicine, these compounds certainly merit attention.

While the evolving legal landscape surrounding cannabis has facilitated increased research opportunities, regulatory challenges continue to pose significant barriers. Companies seeking to bring innovative cannabinoid products to market should partner with Broughton to ensure safety, compliance and product quality.

Website: www.broughton-group.com

Grow with Stoney Tark

Stoney Tark

A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO CANNABIS GROW TENTS

If you are new to growing cannabis indoors, then one of the easiest and practical ways to get started is to use a grow tent. Made from reflective mylar with a black exterior, grow tents can be set up quickly and are available in various shapes and sizes.

In this article, I will explain everything you need to know about grow tents, including the equipment that should be placed inside, the number of plants you can use and the optimal environmental factors.

The Advantages of Using a Grow Tent Indoors

When weighing your options for an indoor grow space, you typically have the opportunity to convert a spare bedroom, cellar, or attic space, use a clothes cupboard, or purchase a grow tent.

Converting rooms can be expensive, time-consuming, and, if you do not own the house or apartment, it can be risky, potentially causing damage to the walls and ceilings. Below is a list of all the advantages associated with using a grow tent.

• Grow tents can be set up or taken down within 20 minutes.

• They provide a light-proof interior, enhancing light intensity.

• Fitting extractor fans and carbon filters is a simple process.

• They have a black exterior, providing discretion.

Grow tents are available in various sizes.

• You can easily control the growing environment using tents.

• Tents are ideal for seedlings, clones or drying cannabis buds.

• You can easily have tents delivered to your home.

• Save converting a room and drilling holes in walls and ceilings.

• They can be placed inside a bedroom and stay well hidden.

What Equipment Goes Inside a Grow Tent?

Once you have set up the grow tent, you will notice that there are openings at the top and bottom designed for your equipment. All of the equipment you will need to get started as a grower is covered below.

Extractor Exhaust Fan

The extractor is the fan that sucks air out of the grow tent and out of the top. It will be connected to the carbon filter using aluminium ducting, and is designed to be hung from the top of the tent.

Carbon Filter

The carbon filter cleans the air inside the tent and, when blown out via the exhaust fan, scrubs the air, making it carbon clean and removing any unwanted aromas.

Aluminium Ducting

Ducting is what you will use to create an air-tight fit between your equipment. Ducting comes in different sizes depending on the size of the extractor fan, carbon filter and inline fan.

Grow Light

Your grow light will typically be an LED, HPS, or MH, and should be hung in the centre of the grow tent, ideally 60 cm above the top of the plants. The grow light should be securely attached to the top of the tent using metal chains and hooks.

Chains and Hooks

A strong, secure, reliable solution for safely hanging your grow equipment. Grow lights can be adjusted in height using metal chains and hooks.

Oscillating Fans

Oscillating fans are the best way to produce a fresh current of air and can be placed at the bottom of the tent or attached to the tent poles using a clip-on attachment.

Hygrometer

A digital device that needs to be placed inside the grow tent, so you can see the temperature and humidity levels present.

How Many Plants Will Fit Inside a Grow Tent?

The number of plants you can fit inside your grow tent will depend on the size of the tent. Below is a guide to show you the optimal plant count.

The Correct Temperature and Humidity Levels

Cannabis plants require different temperatures and humidity levels at various stages of growth. Below is the correct environmental setting to follow.

24 degrees Celsius and 70% relative humidity during the seedling stage (18/6)

• 24 degrees Celsius and 70% relative humidity during the vegetation stage (18/6)

• 22-24 degrees Celsius and 50% relative humidity during the flowering stage (12/12)

22 degrees Celsius and 40-50% relative humidity during late flowering (12/12)

My Final Thoughts

Grow tents are the easiest way to get started as indoor growers. They are discreet, easy to set up, easy to clean and provide an air-tight and light-proof growing environment. They save the need to convert a bedroom, attic or cellar and can be easily taken down in an emergency.

Ensure that you securely hang all your equipment and prevent external light sources from entering the tent once the lights are off. Keep your grow tent tidy and always wash it thoroughly using bleach after each harvest.

Wentylatory oscylacyjne mają kluczowe znaczenie dla zapewnienia odpowiedniej ilości świeżego powietrza w środku

Grow with Jorge Cervantes

Jorge Cervantes jorge@marijuanagrowing.com

Why Cannabis Education Needs a Protected Digital Sanctuary

After four decades of fighting censorship and persecution, it's time to build the safe haven our community desperately needs.

In 1983 I was 30 years old, I faced a harsh reality: no publisher would touch my indoor cannabis cultivation book. Armed with nothing but a Kaypro computer with two 64K floppy disks, I hand-typeset my book at a local Portland service provider called the Nickel Ads. Working dizzying hours with my wife, we collated pages around a wooden table, walking countless circles to assemble what would become known as "the Bible" of cannabis cultivation.

Forty-two years later, at 72, I face a chillingly similar challenge. The forces of censorship threaten cannabis education again—but this time, the enemy isn't just government prohibition. It's algorithmic suppression, platform policies written in Silicon Valley boardrooms, and tech moguls who delete decades of scientific work with a click.

This is why I'm launching something unprecedented: a private, science-focused cannabis community designed as a fortress against digital persecution. To mark this pivotal moment, I'm releasing a free ebook on my 72nd birthday—October 10th—that frames cannabis cultivation not just as a skill, but as a fundamental human right.

The New Digital Prohibition Era

The parallels between 1983 and 2025 are striking, but today's challenges run deeper. During the "War on Drugs," I knew my enemies: DEA agents, RICO statutes, governments banning books at borders. Operation Green Merchant in 1989 sent more than half of my friends to prison, forcing me underground for over two decades. I wore disguises, used pseudonyms, lived in constant fear—but at least the rules were clear.

Today's digital landscape is more insidious. Meta platforms shadow-ban cannabis content without explanation. Researchers wake to find accounts suspended, followers vanished, years of educational content erased. YouTube suppresses cannabis education while promoting pharmaceutical ads. LinkedIn censors cannabis professionals while allowing tobacco and alcohol marketing.

We're facing a new prohibition. In 1983, I could fight government censorship through courts. But how do you fight an algorithm? How do you appeal to an AI bot that can't distinguish between drug dealing and plant science?

The AI Compliance Nightmare

Artificial intelligence created an unprecedented threat to cannabis education. AI moderation systems, trained on decades of anti-cannabis sentiment, flag legitimate scientific content

as "drug-related violations." These bots can't distinguish between terpene discussions and street drug sales, between cultivation tutorials and criminal conspiracy.

The same tech companies developing suppression algorithms simultaneously train AI models on decades of cannabis knowledge—including my copyrighted works—without permission or compensation. It's digital colonialism: Silicon Valley extracting value from cannabis pioneers while censoring them.

I've watched my life's work get scraped by AI companies who then restrict my ability to share new knowledge. They build billion-dollar language models on our research, then use 'compliance' to silence us. It's the ultimate irony of the digital age.

The Troll Army Challenge Internet trolls organize mass reporting campaigns against educational content. They flood comment sections with misinformation,

weaponize platform policies against legitimate scientists. My YouTube channel, with millions of views over the years, regularly faces coordinated attacks.

These aren't random users expressing disagreement—they're organized efforts to silence scientific education. They understand that knowledge is power, and they want to control both.

Many cannabis researchers have retreated from public platforms entirely, creating information vacuums filled with myths, pseudoscience, and dangerous misinformation. The community that once thrived on open knowledge sharing has been forced underground again.

Cannabis as a Human Right

My upcoming free ebook presents a revolutionary thesis: the right to cultivate cannabis is an inalienable human right, as fundamental as the right to grow food or practice me -

dicine. This isn't philosophical—it's a legal framework that could reshape how we think about plant prohibition.

For millennia, humans cultivated cannabis for medicine, nutrition, materials, and spiritual practices. Prohibition is the historical aberration, not cultivation. We have a natural right to work with plants that co-evolved with humanity for thousands of years.

The ebook traces scientific, historical, and legal foundations of this human right framework. Cannabis prohibition violates basic principles of bodily autonomy, religious freedom, and agricultural sovereignty. More importantly, it provides a roadmap for asserting these rights in our complex legal era.

This isn't about getting high or making money—it's about fundamental human freedom. The right to medicine, sustenance, spiritual practice, scientific inquiry. Cannabis prohibition attacks all of these simultaneously.

Jorge hid behind a disguise for 20 years.

The Safe Haven Vision

Our private cannabis community represents a radical solution to digital prohibition. Unlike public platforms subject to tech moguls and government pressure, this community will operate as a protected scientific sanctuary where researchers, cultivators, and patients exchange information freely.

We need our own space—where AI bots can't suppress content, trolls can't organize harassment campaigns, where Zuckerberg can't delete accounts because algorithms got confused. A place where science flourishes without interference.

The community operates under strict scientific principles, with peer review for research claims and expert moderation preventing misinformation. Within these boundaries, members discuss cultivation techniques, share research findings, and explore the plant's potential without fear.

This isn't an echo chamber—it's a laboratory. Scientists need controlled environments for their work. Our community provides that controlled environment for cannabis research and education.

Connecting the Dots

Cannabis science is incredibly interdisciplinary—cultivation intersects with botany, chemistry, medicine, psychology, nutrition, and dozens of other fields. When we're scattered across hostile platforms, we can't make these connections or see the bigger picture.

The community enables researchers to collaborate across disciplines, building comprehensive understanding of cannabis potential. Cultivators share breeding techniques with medical researchers. Chemists collaborate with traditional healers. Patients contribute observations sparking scientific breakthroughs.

Some of the most important cannabis discoveries came from connecting seemingly unrelated observations. But you need a safe space to make those connections—trust, continuity, and freedom from interference.

History Repeating with Higher Stakes

The parallels between my 1983 publishing struggle and today's digital censorship reveal how little has changed—and how much stakes

to build our own protected space. But that window won't stay open forever. If we don't act now, we may find ourselves permanently locked out of the digital landscape.

This extends beyond cannabis education. Our community model could provide a template for other marginalized scientific communities facing platform censorship—psychedelic researchers, traditional medicine practitioners, controversial health researchers all face similar challenges.

This is about whether scientific communities can maintain independence from corporate tech platforms. Whether researchers can pursue knowledge without Silicon Valley's permission. Whether human curiosity can survive algorithmic control.

Building Digital Sovereignty

Our protected cannabis community represents more than solving current problems—it's a blueprint for digital sovereignty. By controlling our own platform, cannabis educators ensure knowledge survives platform policy changes, corporate mergers, and government pressure.

Digital sovereignty is the civil rights issue of our time. Communities that don't control their own information infrastructure remain at the mercy of whoever does. We've learned that lesson the hard way.

have risen. In 1983, I could still reach audiences through headshops, garden stores, word-ofmouth distribution. Today's censorship is more comprehensive and harder to circumvent.

In 1983, if a government banned my book, I could smuggle copies across borders. Cannabis growers in Canada photocopied my entire book, sharing it friend by friend because official distribution was impossible. In Australia, we smuggled my books in as “Bibles”. There was still a path to reach people needing information.

Today's digital gatekeepers control access to global audiences in ways 1980s governments never could. When Meta bans a cannabis educator, they lose access to billions instantly. When YouTube suppresses tutorials, knowledge gaps can't be filled by photocopies and underground distribution.

Tech monopolies have more power over information flow than any government in history. They've created prohibition more effective than anything the DEA ever managed.

The Urgency of Action

As AI systems become sophisticated and tech platforms consolidate power, the window for creating independent educational spaces may close rapidly. Future regulations could make such communities impossible to establish or maintain.

Right now, we have the technical knowledge, legal framework, and community connections

The community operates on principles of transparency, scientific integrity, and member ownership. Unlike corporate platforms extracting value from user-generated content, this community belongs to its members, ensuring knowledge and connections remain protected regardless of external pressures.

Forty-two years ago, I fought for the right to publish cannabis knowledge. Today, we fight for the right to share it. The enemy has changed, but the mission remains: ensuring knowledge about this remarkable plant reaches people who need it most.

Building a digital sanctuary represents both vindication and validation—proof that knowledge, like the plant itself, will always find a way to grow.

My free ebook on cannabis as a human right launches October 10th, 2025—my 72nd birthday. The protected cannabis community is currently in development, with launch details to be announced soon at www.marijuanagrowing.com and www.jorge-cervantes.com

Worldwide we have a right to grow cannabis!

New devices scientifically measure cannabis potency and terpene content in minutes.

Growing Mr. José, info@pestovat.cz

Optimal Water Regime –The Key to Success

The water regime is the way plants manage water – essentially the balance between uptake and loss. When this balance is right, plants receive enough nutrients, photosynthesis runs smoothly, and yields improve. Let’s take a closer look at how to monitor and optimize the water regime.

Every grower knows that water is essential for plant growth and development. Experienced growers also know that it’s not enough to simply check whether the plants have enough water. To achieve the best possible harvest in terms of both quantity and quality, it pays to monitor the water regime much more carefully. This way you gain valuable insights that would otherwise be difficult to obtain.

Functions of Water in the Plant

A healthy cannabis plant consists of approximately 80–90% water, which serves many vital functions throughout its life. First, water ensures turgor, allowing the plant to maintain firmness and an upright shape. Once the plant loses turgor, it quickly becomes visible through wilting leaves. Water also helps regulate temperature and acts as a medium for transporting nutrients from the growing medium to all parts of the plant. Finally, water is an essential component of the photosynthesis process.

Most growers water their plants once it becomes clear that the available water has been used up. This provides the plants with acceptable conditions and reduces the risk of overwatering. However, it does not guarantee maximum nutrient uptake or optimal photosynthetic activity. On the other hand, watering too frequently or too heavily, without ensuring enough oxygen in the root zone, is much worse and ranks among the most common mistakes. Considering the crucial role that water plays in the life of a plant, its consumption should be monitored very carefully.

Water Regime and Photosynthesis

Water consumption is directly linked to the rate of photosynthesis. Since measuring photosynthetic rate itself is quite complex and requires advanced equipment to track CO2 uptake, monitoring water consumption is an excellent way to determine whether photosynthesis is proceeding as expected.

Water enters the plant through the roots, travels through the vascular system, and reaches all tissues. Along with water, dissolved nutrients are transported to every part of the plant. For new water and nutrients to enter, previously absorbed water must leave the plant. This happens through transpiration –the process by which water is released via the stomata, small openings located mainly on the underside of leaves. In this way, water exits the plant as vapor and increases humidity in the surrounding environment. At the same time, the stomata enable gas exchange, allowing

carbon dioxide to enter and oxygen produced by photosynthesis to be released.

The movement of water from the roots to the stomata is called the transpiration stream. Its speed can be regulated by the plant through the opening and closing of stomata. A major advantage is that water uptake requires virtually no energy. Once the stomata open, evaporating water from the leaves creates a negative pressure in the vascular tissue, which draws in an equivalent amount of water from the root zone—provided enough is available.

From this, it is clear that the speed of the transpiration stream strongly influences nutrient uptake, as it is the flow of water that transports them from the root zone to the aboveground parts of the plant. At the same time, stomatal openness determines how much carbon dioxide can enter the leaves. If the stomata are closed, both CO2 uptake and transpiration are greatly reduced, which slows photosynthesis. The rate of the transpiration stream therefore determines not only water consumption but also indirectly the efficiency of photosynthesis and the overall growth of the plant.

Optimal Water Consumption

Now that we know water consumption can indicate whether photosynthesis is functioning properly, it’s useful to have a benchmark for the optimal amount of water consumed per square meter in 24 hours. Naturally, consumption varies depending on the growth stage, but for mature plants under intense lighting and optimal conditions, the optimal range is considered to be 8–12 liters/m²/day. In the vegetative stage, water consumption is usually lower, typically 3–6 L/m²/day.

These values should be seen mainly as guidelines. Even with lower or higher consumption, it’s still possible to create favorable conditions for the plants. Personally, I’ve found these benchmarks very helpful for optimizing cultivation practices and for planning ventilation capacity when designing smaller grow spaces.

By now you already know how plants can regulate the speed of the transpiration stream— and thus their water consumption—on their own. But what should you do if you notice your plants are using far too little water, or on the contrary, consuming more than expected?

Take the Wheel of the Transpiration Stream

Although photosynthesis is an extremely complex process, there is one “control point” that acts as both brake and accelerator – the stomata. Once you understand how they work, you hold a large part of plant growth in your hands. Stomata primarily open to allow the intake of carbon dioxide, but transpiration at the same time helps plants maintain an optimal temperature. To keep the transpiration stream

In hydroponic systems, water consumption is usually higher than when growing in soil.

flowing, you need to ensure the right air and leaf temperature.

Modern LED fixtures lack the infrared portion of the spectrum that used to warm the leaf surface under HPS, metal halide, or plasma lamps. While those older light sources radiated a large share of heat directly toward the plants,

Recommended VPD (Vapor Pressure Deficit) charts can serve as a useful guide, since they combine humidity and temperature into a single value. Keep in mind, however, that the temperature of the crop itself matters just as much as air temperature. In practice, monitoring water consumption is often a more reliable indicator, as measuring leaf tempe-

WATER CONSUMPTION IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE RATE OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS.

LEDs accumulate heat mainly above them. This makes proper air circulation essential – it helps warm the leaves to the ideal temperature, open the stomata, and allow both water flow and CO2 uptake.

Another key factor is relative humidity. If it’s too high, transpiration slows down because water vapor is released more slowly into humid air. In general, the transpiration stream is faster in a warm, drier environment than in a cool, humid one. So, if transpiration seems sluggish at daytime air temperatures of 24–28 °C, try lowering relative humidity – and increase it if needed under drier conditions.

rature is not always easy or precise. When adjusting humidity, make changes gradually – for example, lower it by 5 percentage points – and observe the difference in water use over the next 24–48 hours.

Finally, don’t forget that light energy and carbon dioxide are also fundamental drivers of photosynthesis. Even if you manage to optimize transpiration and nutrient uptake through temperature, humidity, and irrigation, it won’t be effective without sufficient light and CO2 Mature flowering plants should receive 30–40 DLI (which, under a 12-hour photoperiod, corresponds to roughly 700–1000 µmol/m²/s

PPFD), and CO2 concentration should not fall below 700 ppm. Ideally, CO2 levels should scale with light intensity. If these values don’t ring a bell, we recommend checking out some of our earlier articles for more details.

When Transpiration Is Slow

Self-sufficient growers don’t necessarily focus on maximum efficiency and yield. They are

other possible causes such as pests, diseases, or an unsuitable root zone environment (incorrect pH, lack of oxygen, or overfertilization).

When the transpiration stream slows down, fewer nutrients naturally reach the plant. The solution is to increase the concentration of nutrients in the growing medium or irrigation water. It’s simple: plants receive nutrients dis-

IN GENERAL, THE TRANSPIRATION

STREAM

IS FASTER IN A WARM, DRIER ENVIRONMENT THAN IN A COOL, HUMID ONE.

usually more interested in achieving the highest possible quality with minimal investment in equipment and running costs. It’s therefore natural that under conditions with lower light intensity or lower air temperatures, water consumption is far below the values mentioned earlier in this article.

In such cases, however, plants may not receive enough nutrients and start to show corresponding symptoms. Leaves may change color (yellowing, interveinal chlorosis, or general paling), growth and flowering may slow down, and the plants as a whole lose vitality. The first step is to correctly identify the problem and rule out

solved in water. If they consume less water, they also absorb fewer nutrients. To deliver the same amount of nutrients in a smaller volume of water, you need to increase their concentration.

Keep in mind, however, that plants are very sensitive to nutrition, and overfertilization can sometimes have worse consequences than underfertilization. Increase concentrations gradually—say, by about 20%—and carefully observe how the plants respond. Also make sure that plants are actually consuming the nutrients available to them. A simple way to check this is by regularly measuring the EC of the runoff from your growing medium.

Nutrient problems usually appear first on the leaves.

Transpiration starts with healthy roots. Provide them with enough oxygen.

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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.

Grow with Stoney Tark

Stoney Tark

My Experience Using Atami’s

New Veganic Nutrient Line

When it comes to growing organic nutrients, many brands offer products, and over the years, I have tried them all. However, recently Atami have been working on developing a 100% veganic product designed to be used with soil.

I have had the pleasure of running this nutrient line on both indoor and outdoor crops, and they have really hit the nail on the head when it comes to delivering an incredible product.

What is the VGN line made from?

The ingredients consist of amino acids, sugars, and organic compounds, which are everything that beneficial microorganisms require to thrive. The VGN line is a 4-part product that provides your plants with all the essential primary and secondary nutrients, as well as trace elements.

The

Importance of the Soil Food Web

When growing cannabis using soil, as long as you feed the microbes, fungi, and beneficial microorganisms, they will essentially do all the work for the plant, providing nutrients, fighting off diseases and pathogens, and accelerating the composting process.

Aerobic bacteria and beneficial microorganisms form a symbiotic relationship

with the roots of a cannabis plant, resulting in an enhanced root mass and the ability to source and convert nutrients as the plant requires them.

• Microbes and fungi bind and hold soil particles together.

• Improve water retention and drainage in a soil culture.

• Increases water absorption and retains more moisture.

• Probiotic bacteria break down organic matter.

• Allows soil to hold onto more carbon.

• Fewer requirements to enrich the soil with organic inputs

• Improves the taste and overall quality of crops.

The Role of Beneficial Bacteria When Growing Organic Cannabis

Aerobic bacteria thrive in environments with high oxygen levels and are classified as beneficial microorganisms. There are many benefits to a soil culture teeming with billions of microorganisms and bacteria, which are covered below.

• They will improve nutrient uptake and availability.

• Speed up the decomposition process.

• Regulate plant hormones.

• Fighting harmful bacteria and pathogens in the soil.

• Significantly increases the root mass.

• Recycles organic matter and converts it to food.

• Improves soil structure and water retention.

• Reduce stress levels and resistance to drought conditions.

The VGN Nutrient Line

VGN 5-2-2: A product that is rich in Nitrogen and contains chelated trace elements, designed to be used during the vegetation stage (18/6). Using this product will ensure green, healthy and strong plants.

VGN 2-2-4: A product rich in Potassium, which increases plant resilience, and high in organic matter.

VGN 1-4-4:  A product high in Phosphorus and Potassium. Designed for the flowering stage to promote an abundance of pre-flowers and promote thick and frosty buds during 12/12.

VGN CALMAG: A product that provides the plants with Calcium and Magnesium, which are known as secondary nutrients after Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. Cal Mag promotes strong side branches, stems and enhances chlorophyll production.

My 3 Top Tips for Using VGN

Below are my top three tips for using the Atami VGN line, whether indoors or outdoors.

Tip #1 - Combine with Soil

To achieve the optimal results and foster a thriving soil food web, use the VGN line in combination with a mixture of soil, compost, and worm castings. I found that this

Tip #3 - Check pH Levels

As the VGN nutrients are rich in amino acids, ensure that you check the pH level of your nutrient solution before watering your plants. To ensure optimal nutrient uptake, aim for a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0.

My Thoughts on the Atami VGN Line

I noticed that the soil seemed to be supercharged, resulting in a prolific root mass that has a bright white and fuzzy structure.  During the vegetation stage, all of my plants were healthy and vibrant, with a green hue from top to bottom, and they seemed to have a much more aromatic smell.

WHEN HARVESTING THE PLANTS, THE AROMA IN THE TENT WAS SUPERB.

mix worked incredibly well and produced some of the best and smoothest-tasting cannabis I've ever grown..

Tip #2 - Recycle Your Soil

A great way to reduce costs and continue working with the established beneficial microorganisms and bacteria is to recycle your soil. So there is no need to take a trip back to the grow store and carry bags of soil back and forth between the grow room!

Once the plants started flowering, the resin production was incredible, which is always a great sign. I had fan leaves that were curling with trichomes and resin, and when I opened up the tent, the aroma was off the charts.

When harvesting the plants, the aroma in the tent was superb. Every single leaf, including the fan leaves, was able to be saved for making some excellent hash, and the trimming scissors were full of sticky scissor hash. The buds were all dense, sticky and contained green, purple and pink hues.

This Ice Cream Cake plant was dripping with resin and smelled exceptional.

An outdoor crop experiencing 35C. in Spain is thriving with optimal health.

Cannabis History

Text and photography: Derrick Bergman

26

BEN DRONKERS

The Man behind Sensi Seeds

Few people enjoy as much respect in the cannabis world as Dutchman Ben Dronkers (75). Dronkers played a key role in the Dutch cannabis revolution of the 1980s and in the renaissance of industrial hemp in Europe. With Sensi Seeds, he created one of the most influential and well-known seed banks in the world. His cannabis collection, the highlights of which are housed in his museums in Amsterdam and Barcelona, is unparalleled. Soft Secrets paints a portrait of a visionary entrepreneur with the soul of an activist.

Ben Dronkers comes from the port city of Rotterdam, the second-largest city in the Netherlands. He grew up in a large family. At age sixteen, he smoked his first hash joint. Dronkers doesn't feel much impressed, but the second joint hits home and Ben is hooked for life.

Like his brothers, Ben went to sea after finishing high school. He had to clean crew's cabins. It was hard work, he worked long hours, and was beaten and kicked regularly by the crew, but he still looks back fondly on his first job: "It opened my eyes to the world." Back on shore, Dronkers became a waiter at Extase nightclub in Rotterdam. He sold weed there illegally, mainly in matchboxes. He bought his merchandise himself in Katendrecht, Rotterdam's Red Light District.

The famous Dutch 'Gedoogbeleid' (policy of tolerance -ed.) didn't exist yet; everything Dronkers did was illegal. He was regularly arrested by police, but never spent a long time behind bars. At the end of 1972, Dronkers embarked on a new adventure:

the fabrics from Turkey, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Naturally, when he was there he also searched for hash.

Dronkers: "I asked the farmers about their cannabis history, and they smiled rather

DRONKERS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST EUROPEANS TO CROSS SEEDS FROM DIFFERENT VARIETIES, DEVELOPING ENTIRELY NEW HYBRIDS.

Ben's Fashion, a trendy clothing boutique, which he designed himself. He sourced

mysteriously. One of them gave me a handful of cannabis seeds and told me they were very

important. That prompted me to save them, learn more about the properties of seeds from different regions, and collect even more cannabis seeds."

Tipi

Smuggling hashish proves risky, but buying seeds and bringing them back to the Netherlands is no problem at all. Dronkers reads grow articles by Ed Rosenthal in the American magazine High Times and then decides to try growing weed himself in a friend's attic. Dronkers: "We made a tipi tent, with a fluorescent light and one plant. It worked, although the weed was terrible." They then switch to a greenhouse, which does much better.

One day, while studying Dutch drug laws, Dronkers makes a discovery. The cannabis plant is illegal, but the seeds are not. He hires a lawyer specializing in plants. "I had to pay that man six thousand guilders (around €2800 today -ed.), which was a lot of money in those days. But he confirmed my idea that if cannabis seeds are legal, you can also legally produce them." With characteristic bravado, Dronkers rents a large greenhouse and tells local police he's going to grow hemp seeds there.

Largest

cannabis collection in the world

Dronkers was one of the first Europeans to cross seeds from different varieties, developing entirely new hybrids. On his travels, he not only bought fabrics and seeds, but also hash pipes and water pipes. He sold most of them in his clothing store, but kept the nicest ones for himself. This is how he built a collection that would grow into the largest cannabis collection in the world, with over 9,000 items.

In the early 1980s, Ben's Fashion was transformed into Rotterdam's first coffeeshop: Sensi Smile. When Bruce Springsteen performed at the city's football stadium in June 1985, Ben rented a small plane to circle the stadium with the sign "Get High? Sensi Smile." That same year, he opened a shop in Amsterdam's Red Light District, the Sensi Seed Club. There, he sold his own seeds and those from the Seed Bank, founded by the legendary Nevil Schoenmakers. The Sensi Seed Club was the first shop in Europe where you could buy cannabis seeds and books about growing them. The Dutch weed revolution had started.

Cannabis Museum

Dronkers became good friends with Ed Rosenthal and the late Jack Herer, "the

Ben Dronkers in 2017

Emperor of Hemp." Rosenthal opened the world's first cannabis museum in Amsterdam in 1985, in the building next to the Sensi Seed Club. It was closed after one day by order of the Amsterdam city municipality. Dronkers went to see a lawyer. In late 1986, the Hash Info Museum reopened. Again authorities tried to shut it down, but Dronkers prevailed in court. The case generated a great deal of free publicity for Dronkers too.

After Nevil Schoenmakers was arrested in 1990 while visiting family in Australia, he sold his genetics to Dronkers. This led to the founding of the Sensi Seeds company in 1991. The seed catalog back then was filled with strains that are today considered old skool classics: Skunk #1, Northern Lights, Silver Haze, Northern Lights #5 x Haze, Big Bud, and Jack Herer. The nineties were a golden age for Dronkers: Sensi Seeds varieties dominated

the High Times Cup, Sensi coffeeshops opened in Rotterdam, Groningen, and Amsterdam, and the museum was booming. Money was pouring in like water.

Hempflax

Wherever he can, Dronkers promotes hemp as a sustainable raw material, suitable for thousands of products. Sometimes he gets reactions like: if what you say is true, why don't you grow hemp yourself? That question led to the founding of Hempflax in 1993. "I came from poverty," he explains later. "And then suddenly you have a lot of money in the bank. I don't like money. At least, I like money as a means to an end, to use it. With Hempflax, I put my money where my mouth was."

Hempflax is growing hemp for fiber in the north of the Netherlands. It's pioneering work: knowledge of hemp has vanished, and the machines to harvest and process the plants no longer exist. For decades, the company has been operating at a loss. But Dronkers doesn't give up: "It's about vision. You believe in something,

2014), Dronkers honors people who have championed the legalization and normalization of cannabis. Some of the winners include super-smuggler Howard "Mr. Nice" Marks, top entrepreneur Richard Branson, Harvard professor Lester Grinspoon, former Dutch Prime Minister Dries van Agt, Bulldog founder Henk de Vries, and, of course, Ed Rosenthal and Jack Herer.

Barcelona

After a nine-year renovation, the Hash, Marijuana & Hemp Museum opened in 2012, housed in a historic city palace in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter. It was the crowning achievement of Dronkers' work as a cannabis collector and advocate. A year later, he was inducted into the Counter Culture Hall of Fame during the High Times Cup in Amsterdam.

Today, in 2025, Dronkers' children run their father's business empire, while Dronkers himself had been living in Borneo for about fifteen years. Dronkers is now retired, but remains majority shareholder.

you go for it, and you just do it." And his perseverance pays off. Thanks to the rise of CBD and hemp in the construction industry, Hempflax has been doing well in recent years. The company is expanding in Germany and Romania, adding cultivation and processing plants.

But Dronkers doesn't just invest in hemp. Through Sensi Seeds, he sponsors countless events, demonstrations, and trade fairs. This is good for his brand, but he does it primarily out of conviction and passion for the plant. For a quarter of a century, he funded the Cannabis College (1998-2023), a free information center on the same canal as the museum in Amsterdam. Cannabis plants grow in the basement, filmed by hundreds of camera crews. The College is a knowledge hub and a living room for activists.

With the Cannabis Culture Awards (2004-

In March, he sold his last Sensi coffeeshop, the one on Henegouwerlaan in Rotterdam, where it all began. His focus is now on Hempflax, Sensi Seeds, and the museums. Earlier this year, Dronkers told Dutch broadcaster Rijnmond: "I'm 75 years old now, I've given fifty years of my life to this, and I was one hundred percent right. They said I was crazy, but I wasn't that crazy. There are legal coffeeshops now, and legal weed. I got arrested with a piece of hash and was thrown in jail for three days. Can you imagine that happening today?”

*: Ben's quotes are from High Tea Potcast 77 on: https://highteapotcast.nl/77-with-ben-dronkers/ (in English)

Ben Dronkers and Ed Rosenthal, somewhere in the 1980's

Ben Dronkers at the High Times Cup 2013, in Amsterdam

A Hempflax field full of industrial hemp (photo courtesy of Agro Chemistry)

Hempflax is a leader in it's field

The Cannabis College in Amsterdam (now closed).

By Derrick Bergman

SOFT SECRETS SELECTION

BOX BROWN’S CARTOONS OFFER UNIQUE INSIGHT INTO CANNABIS IN THE USA

A graphic novel about the life of wrestler André the Giant put American cartoonist Brian “Box” Brown on the map in 2014. Since 2022 he’s been producing the brilliant weekly comic strip Legalization Nation. The first 156 episodes are collected in a hard-cover book.

"This subject is personal to me”, Brown told HighLife magazine earlier this year. “I was waiting for legalization on the East Coast and noticed that no one was really talking about it. When major media outlets report on cannabis, it's only about famous people or which state is making the most money from legal cannabis. And cannabis media usually aren't very critical because they depend on sponsors and advertisers."

There clearly was a need for an independent, critical voice. That independence shines through in every episode of Legalization Nation. Brown spares no one. He manages to fit a complete journalistic story in just seven or eight panels, often including interviews with activists, entrepreneurs, and consumers. His drawings are clear, colourful, and inventive. Former High Times editor Danny Danko has written that Legalization Nation serves "as the conscience of the real cannabis culture."

Legalization Nation, published by Rosie the Elephant, 2024, ISBN 978-1942801627 www.boxbrown.com, Instagram & Twitter: @boxbrown

BOXED SET CELEBRATES NICK DRAKE’S CLASSIC ALBUM ‘FIVE LEAVES LEFT’

The story of Nick Drake is a tragic one. After producing three albums that failed to sell, the British singer-songwriter took his own life in 1974, just 26 years old. His first album is celebrated in a new 4 LP/CD box set called The Making of Five Leaves Left’.

Almost all of the first three discs contain never-before-released recordings that show how the Five Leaves Left album developed. In the first sessions Drake is just 19 years old. The

lavish arrangements of the final album, released in 1969 by Island Records, are still far away. Drake loved cannabis; he started smoking it in 1967 when he spent six months at a university in southern France. Later, at Cambridge University on a scholarship, he would rather get high, practice guitar and listen to music than study. The title of his debut album refers to the printed note in Rizla rolling papers.

His music is gentle, laid back, full of melancholy, infused with jazz and classical elements. Drake has been compared to the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh. During his life, no more than 5,000 copies of his three albums were sold, but he became a cult hero after his death. This set and the large format 60-page book bring you extremely close to his beautiful songs and the process of crafting them.

Nick Drake: The Making of Five Leaves Left, Island Records, 2025

CALI GROWER BRETT MCFARLAND SCORES

COUNTRY

HIT:

‘I GREW WEED’

Even if you don’t like country music, you should check out the song ‘I Grew Weed’ by Brett McFarland. Released last year, the hilarious video has almost a million views on YouTube. In 2014, the Humboldt County resident was sentenced to five years in prison for, you guessed it, growing weed. When he got out of jail, cannabis was legal.

The song and the video are funny, but the message is dead serious. After the song ends, a warning comes on screen: ‘The next scene may cause some viewers to become extremely pissed off. If you get too bummed out, you can always restart the video…’ Sitting on a horse, McFarland, calls for the immediate release of all marijuana prisoners, the federal de-scheduling of cannabis and a full pardon for all marijuana convicts. McFarland: ‘Because no one should be in prison for weed. And no one should be held back in life because of a criminal record for a plant.’

http://brettmcfarlandmusic.com

Colofon

Soft Secrets is published by Discover Publisher BV

Bruistensingel 400, 5232 AG ‘s Hertogenbosch

Netherlands

Telephone: +31(0)6 13 00 65 33

E-mail: info@softsecrets.nl

Web: www.softsecrets.com

Editor: Cliff Cremer

Contributors: Stoney Tark Jorge Cervantes, Mr. José, Green Born Identity (G.B.I.), TricomaTeam, Tommy L. Gomez, Fabrizio Dentini, Olivier F., Hortizan, Derrick Bergman, Sudestfam and others.

Photography: iStock, Unsplash

Editorial adress:

E-Mail: info@softsecrets.nl

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E-Mail: info@softsecrets.nl

Distributed throughout Denmark, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, The Netherlands, Malta, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom (England and Ireland).

A word from the publisher: 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.

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