INT2602

DUTCH CUSTOMS SEIZED 60,000 KILOS OF CANNABIS IN 2025

Dutch customs seized 60,000 kilos of cannabis in 2025. That's more than four times as much as in 2024, when 14,500 kilos were seized. Not surprisingly, most of the cannabis comes from the United States, Canada, and Thailand.

That a record was on the horizon wasn't all that surprising to regular coffeeshop visitors. After all, the supply of imported cannabis is extensive. It's funny, though, that customs, in their press release, finds it "striking" that "the countries of origin are usually the same: the US, Canada, and Thailand."

This isn't surprising, of course, because cannabis is legal in those countries (Canada, Thailand) or only partially legal (the US). The majority of the smuggled cannabis was found in the port of Rotterdam: approximately 52,000 kilos. In the port of Vlissingen, 1,000 kilos were found in four seizures. At Schiphol Airport, nearly 6,000 kilos of cannabis were found in air freight, and almost 1,500 kilos were intercepted during passenger checks. Customs also noted a huge increase in Belgium, Germany, and Spain.

Earlier this year, customs reported several seizures. Even in a jar of peanut butter (18 grams!). Customs reports: "Where cannabis used to be hidden in things like sofas, criminals are now often sneaking it in huge quantities, undisguised, into one or more pallets or containers."

Customs officer Pascal gives an example. He and his colleagues recently found over 600 kilos of cannabis in a warehouse at Schiphol Airport. "We were doing a regular check and stumbled upon a few large boxes. As soon as we opened them, we found the packages of

cannabis. Previously, it was well-hidden, for example, in steel benches. But now they don't even bother to hide it anymore."

"Cannabis smuggling

is consuming a lot of resources"

Nanette van Schelven, Director General of Dutch Customs, says that cannabis smuggling is consuming a lot of resources: "Not just ours, but also our investigative partners'. After all, a customs officer can only be deployed once. The time a customs officer spends intercepting cannabis cannot be used for other tasks. We need to explore, together with investigative partners, how we can handle this major development."

Customs officer Pascal agrees: "The seizures are getting bigger and bigger, and we're practically running out of eyes to properly inspect everything. And it's now arriving from all over the world. For example, we used to know that South America was a risk area, and we could check more closely. But recently, for example, we had a shipment from the US that arrived at Schiphol via Germany, containing hidden cannabis. I've never seen anything like this before. We're all keeping a close eye on it, but

it's simply getting out of hand!"

Collaboration with Canada and the US

Dutch risk analysts are now in regular contact with their colleagues in Canada. Erin O'Gorman, president of the CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency): "Canadian customs is working closely with Dutch customs and intercepted approximately 14,000 kilograms of cannabis intended for smuggling from Canada to the Netherlands in the first nine months of 2025." An agreement was also reached with US customs last year. A customs attaché will be stationed in Washington, D.C., in February 2026. Van Schelven: "We also want to strengthen cooperation with European customs services. We participate in coordinated actions within the EU to combat cannabis smuggling. Because we have the free movement of goods within the EU, a collective approach is necessary."

The best collective approach we recommend? Full legalization of cannabis in the EU and the rest of the world. Then customs can focus on more important matters! (HL)

Photo credit: Dutch Customs (Douane)

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Page 7

Landraces

Cannabis varieties of the earth: Preservation or evolution

Page 12

The Origin of Seeds Where is the Seed Market Headed? Page 24

Page 19 PGPF Trichoderma

Selection of varieties for their resistance to pests and diseases Page 26

Q-Farms Collaborates with European legacy growers

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

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Co-Authors

Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Gary Yates

Stefan Meyer

Table of Contents

• Cannabis Botany

• Life Cycle of Cannabis

• Cannabis Seeds & Seedlings

• Plan Your Garden

• Grow Room Setup

• Twelve-week Garden

• Harvest, Manicuring, Drying, Curing & Storage

• Diseases, Pests & Problems

JORGE CERVANTES

Author Marijuana Horticulture.

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

Cannabis culture

By Dryas – dryas.420@gmail.com

LANDRACES CANNABIS VARIETIES OF THE EARTH:

PRESERVATION OR EVOLUTION

Native or traditional varieties of cultivated plants are of vital importance to plant breeders, as they represent one of the main sources of genetic resources.

These Cannabis populations have unique characteristics due primarily to the plant's adaptation and evolution to its environment, but also to the cultural practices of the communities that cultivate them.

We often imagine landraces as isolated populations or subpopulations in a remote, mountainous valley, almost unknown to humans and even more so to science. In reality, this is not a landrace, since traditional varieties are the result of the plant's interaction with the environment, but always modulated by local agricultural practices and uses.

The valley example mentioned earlier could more accurately be described as a native or naturalized wild population. The differences between these concepts and that of a landrace, along with the characteristics of each, will be discussed below.

Native populations

These are plants native to a place, whose origin and evolution are a result of the area's characteristic ecosystem, without human intervention. This is a very easy case to distinguish for all those plants that, despite being well known to humans, have not been cultivated or used, and therefore humans have not intervened in their spread or evolution. Some examples of this are Gorse (Ulex europaeus) or Mediterranean buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus), to mention plant species with a wider distribution than the endemic species of is-

lands and mountain ranges, classic examples of native wild populations.

In the case of marijuana, as with many other cultivated plant species, it is difficult to establish that there are populations that, despite being wild, have not undergone crossbreeding, in the present or past, with cultivated varieties. In any case, it is fairly accepted in the scientific community that Cannabis originated in Central Asia, western China (the Tibetan Plateau), and the foothills of the Himalayas, so barring a major surprise, we cannot expect to find native marijuana populations outside of these areas.

The study of the ancestors of the world's major crops—the populations of wild and native plants that gave rise to fruit trees, vegetables, and cereals—led Nikolai Vavilov in the 20th century to propose the theory of centers of origin for cultivated plants (Vavilov, 1926). This Soviet biologist identified a series of centers of origin for numerous cultivated species in the same locations where many of their wild relatives are found. The same is true for cannabis; its closest wild relatives (family Cannabaceae) are found in the aforementioned areas of Central Asia.

These original populations are of vital importance to plant breeders, as well as to the

species itself, since they represent an immense reservoir of genes that can be of interest for improving resistance to diseases, pests, and environmental stress, in addition to both beneficial and detrimental mutations that can be the subject of research. The best way to maintain this genetic diversity is by respecting the extent and integrity of their habitats.

Naturalized Wild Populations

These are plants introduced or cultivated by humans, but which grow wild and persist without any human management. In many cases, it is difficult to distinguish them from native plants without a thorough knowledge of the local flora and botanical history. Correct identification of the species is also usual -

ly necessary, as not all naturalized plants are as distinctive as pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) or ice plant (Carpobrotus edulis), classic examples of invasive plants introduced as ornamentals in the Iberian Peninsula. In any case, not all naturalized plants behave as invasive species.

In the case of cannabis, this phenomenon can be observed in European regions where hemp has been cultivated for fiber or where varieties of cannabis are used for medicinal purposes and where it now grows wild. Despite being far from its place of origin, this plant has demonstrated great adaptability, thriving without human intervention in continental climates (with cold winters, similar to its native region) such as Siberia or Romania. It also thrives in

Mediterranean or subtropical climates, as is the case in India and northern Vietnam.

In the Iberian Peninsula, a recent study points to three introduction events of Cannabis: Paleolithic, Neolithic, and Medieval, with the latter two almost certainly being introduced by humans (Rull et al., 2023). This aligns with the accepted theory that the Cannabis found in Europe corresponds to cultivated varieties or naturalized hemp populations.

Naturalized plant populations are not usually of great interest for plant breeding or conservation, since much of the genetic diversity of the original population is filtered out and discarded during the selection process for cultivation and subsequent improvement. Furthermore, when a variety or certain individuals become naturalized, they lose, through successive generations, those improved characteristics (fruit size, flavor, earliness, etc.), reverting to properties that allow them to survive in the wild (toxicity, defenses such as thorns, etc.).

Landraces or Native Varieties

Native varieties of cultivated plants might now seem almost exotic, the result of the efforts of some peoples and regions to have their own varieties of plants and animals. The reality is a bit more sober, since the main goal of many communities that developed varieties has simply been survival. It's important to remember that not so long ago there were no greenhouses, mechanization, irrigation, or the countless inputs that today allow us to greatly expand the range of cultivation for many plants.

In the past, the plant species that adapted well to produce in a given territory were few, and having a better-adapted, more valued, or uniquely characteristic variety of plant or animal meant survival and even prosperity for an area. This is still very noticeable in high-value crops, such as wine grape varieties, particularly prized

fruits, vegetables like asparagus and artichokes, saffron, hops, and many more.

Marijuana has numerous native varieties due to the large number of places and cultures that have worked with it; sometimes several varieties have even been developed in the same area, depending on the different uses such as fiber, food (seeds and fodder) and medicinal, something uncommon in other plants.

Examples of Landraces

Some examples of landraces and landrace

varieties of cannabis, based on their use, include European seed varieties, African varieties used for ritual and medicinal purposes where the entire flower is used (often fermented), Southeast Asian varieties for textile fiber and animal feed, and, of course, the Indian "Kush" varieties for dry resin extraction. There are countless examples of these, but it's important to remember that, of all the areas mentioned, only the last one could be directly derived from original natural populations, since in the other cases cannabis was introduced by humans, almost certainly from a landrace previously cultivated by other peoples.

In the case of America there is greater controversy about the introduction of marijuana to the continent, from the first humans who crossed the Bering Strait, to the different cultures that set foot on American lands in pre-Columbian times (Holmes, 1896).

Genetic Value of Traditional Varieties or Landraces

The main value of these varieties lies in the fact that they represent a very interesting genetic reserve for plant breeders. In plants like cannabis, where numerous traditional varieties exist, the breadth of the genetic library resulting from combining all the landraces can be far greater than the gene pool of wild populations.

Furthermore, due to the very process by which traditional varieties are selected and cultivated (mass selection methods where numerous individuals are typically crossed), they tend to exhibit significant variability. Breeders of these varieties exert relatively mild selective pressure on a few characteristics (such as color and ripening), while other characteristics receive little to no selection. Consequently, the next generation includes individuals of varying sizes, levels of resistance and productivity, and so on. This does not occur in modern cultivars, where the greatest possible uniformity is sought in all aspects, with the aim of standardizing processes in the industry, but at the expense of crop adaptability.

Cultural Value of Traditional Varieties

Even without considering the genetic value of these varieties, there is a value that goes beyond the tangible, since in the process of modifying wild plants, humankind has adapted itself to meet the needs of each organism it works with. The history of a people and many families cannot be understood without the crops to which they are linked; festivities, customs, and even the landscape

Use of Cannabis as fiber in Southeast Asia.

Traditional cultivation in northern Vietnam.

and land itself constantly remind us why we are in that territory.

Landraces: Preservation or Evolution?

Many cannabis growers have surely had the opportunity to plant seeds of a traditional variety. Before making any recommendations on how to work with these types of varieties, let's clarify that experimenting and playing around with crossbreeding varieties cannot be considered inherently wrong, as long as it's done with sound judgment and honesty.

For example, if you decide to shorten the flowering time of a tropical sativa landrace by crossing it with an earlier-flowering variety, the merit lies in making a difficult-to-grow variety more accessible to the average grower. It's neither necessary nor advisable to hide the fact that the landrace has been slightly modified or adapted, as this complicates the work of subse-

quent breeders. Many traditional varieties suffer from a certain degree of hermaphroditism, and some seed banks specializing in traditional varieties only allow this type of selection, as it is a very difficult problem for the vast majority of growers to overcome.

If the aim is to preserve the traditional variety as faithfully as possible, the breeder (whose role in this case is limited to preservation) must cultivate the largest possible number of plants in each batch, no fewer than 100 individuals, and allow free crossbreeding among them without exerting any selection pressure. If, in addition, a similar number of individuals can be collected from the actual population to cross with our sample, we will incorporate genes that may have been missed in the initial sample. In this way, the seed bank maintains a portion that is as faithful as possible to the reality of a population, or group of individuals, which, it should never be forgotten, constitutes a living and constantly evolving entity.

Cannabis Seeds On Sale in German Supermarket

Since April 1, 2024, adults in Germany have been allowed to grow up to three cannabis plants at home. This decision came about despite the ongoing prohibition of nationwide recreational cannabis sales by the European Union, and while Germany's pilot programs for adult-use sales are not yet in operation. For many consumers, the ability to cultivate cannabis at home is an essential option.

Recently, cannabis seeds from Gutmut Saatgut became available for purchase at 255 Netto discount supermarket locations across Berlin and northeastern Germany. This marks a significant development for Germany's growing cannabis industry, and the German Cannabis Business Association (BvCW) celebrated this milestone. They responded positively to this news, particularly in light of recent criticism directed at the Federal Government’s Drug Commissioner, Prof. Dr Hendrik Streeck.

Why is The Sale of Cannabis Seeds in Retail Outlets Important?

Dirk Heitepriem, president of the BvCW, emphasised that the sale of these seeds represents

a major step towards consumer safety and a means to combat the unregulated black market. He pointed out that home cultivation can protect consumers from harmful additives and contribute to overall health and safety.

Heitepriem stated, “We need to shift from fear-driven policies to those focused on controlled quality.” The availability of seeds in Netto supermarkets is viewed as a progressive step toward normalising cannabis use, reducing stigma, and ensuring product quality. Instead of imposing restrictions on private households, he advocates for regulations based on evidence and calls for more research on regulated cannabis distribution.

The BvCW also highlighted that access to quality seeds in stores is crucial for promoting safe home cultivation and addressing illegal markets. They expressed hope for regulated sales linked to scientific research initiatives.

However, they acknowledged that achieving this goal faces challenges, as there currently isn’t a political majority within the ruling coalition government to support such changes. (Liz

Modern varieties would not be possible without the prior existence of traditional varieties.

Management of a Vietnamese variety for fiber production.

Comparison of a commercial sativa versus a Cambodian landrace.

Filmer)

Home Cultivation

Underground success: the foundation for explosive yields

The roots of a plant may well be the most important foundation for growth and flowering, yet they often receive less attention simply because they remain hidden beneath the substrate. Many growers see roots mainly as an anchor and a system for absorbing water and nutrients. In reality, roots do far more. They act as the plant’s control centre, continuously responding to everything happening in their environment. To a large extent, they determine how healthy and vigorous a plant will become.

If you want your plant to perform at its full potential, everything starts with the roots. By understanding how they function and what they require, you can fully unlock their power and improve the health of the entire plant.

Different root types and their roles

The root system of a cannabis plant is more complex than it may appear. It consists of several components, each with a specific function:

The taproot

The first root that emerges from the seed is known as the taproot. It provides stability and forms the foundation from which all other roots develop. In cannabis, the

taproot is most prominent during the early growth stage.

Lateral roots

Extending from the taproot, lateral roots increase both plant stability and the surface area available for water and nutrient uptake.

Root hairs

These fine structures develop at the tips of roots and are responsible for the majority of water and nutrient absorption. They form the core of an efficient root system.

Adventitious roots

When a plant is damaged or propagated through cuttings, adventitious roots can form. Hormones such as auxins stimulate cells to develop into new roots, allowing the plant to recover or reproduce. This is particularly common in herbaceous plants.

Storage roots

Some plant species store energy and nutrients in specialised roots. Cannabis, however, does not typically develop storage roots. Its root system is fully focused on absorption and transport rather than storage.

Aerial roots

In some cases, roots may develop above the growing medium and interact with the air. While uncommon in cannabis, they can appear in breathable grow bags or in water-based systems where roots seek additional oxygen. Their role is primarily related to oxygen and moisture uptake rather than structural support.

Life around the root

Surrounding every root is a small ecosystem known as the root zone. This area hosts bacteria, fungi, and other micro-organisms that interact closely with the plant. Through its roots, the plant releases sugars that feed these micro-organisms. In return, they help make nutrients available that would otherwise be difficult for the plant to absorb.

The better this relationship functions, the more efficiently the plant grows. This process is known as rhizosphere symbiosis.

In inert substrates such as rockwool, where natural microbial life is limited, this symbiosis is less developed. As a grower, you need to actively build and support it. This can be done using root stimulators such as CANNA Rhizotonic. The name itself refers to the rhizosphere and highlights its role in promoting a healthy root environment. Other products on the market follow similar principles.

Roots as the engine of the plant

Roots do not only absorb water and nutrients. They also produce growth hormones that regulate plant development, leaf formation, and flowering. The condition and activity of the root system therefore directly influence the plant’s overall balance.

In addition, roots function as sensors. They continuously detect changes in moisture, nutrient availability, temperature, and oxygen levels, and adjust above-ground growth accordingly. Slow growth, drooping leaves, discolouration, or burnt tips are often signals that the roots are underperforming and require attention.

Cannabis is known for its rapid and vigorous root development. It quickly colonises available space within the substrate, making it highly responsive to factors such as oxygen availability, substrate structure, and microbial life. Even small changes can have a noticeable impact on growth and plant health, making a stable root environment essential.

What determines root development?

Root development during cultivation is influenced by multiple factors. Physical, chemical, and biological conditions all play a crucial role.

Physical conditions

The environment surrounding the roots determines how stable and comfortable they can develop, regardless of whether you grow in soil, coco, rockwool, clay pebbles, or another medium.

An airy substrate is essential. If the medium remains too wet and compact, roots receive insufficient oxygen and growth slows down. By maintaining proper air content, roots can branch and expand more effectively. Water according to the needs of your system and ensure proper drainage. Overwatering is one of the most common mistakes and quickly leads to oxygen deficiency in the root zone.

Temperature is equally important. Keep the root zone stable between 18 and 24 °C. Within

this range, roots function optimally. Higher temperatures reduce oxygen availability and increase the risk of pathogens.

Chemical conditions

The composition of your nutrient solution plays a major role in root health. A balanced nutrient profile and correct pH determine how effectively roots can absorb nutrients.

Match nutrient strength to the plant’s growth stage and avoid overfeeding, as excess nutrients often cause more stress than benefit. pH directly influences nutrient availability, so regular monitoring is essential.

Micronutrients such as iron, manganese, zinc, boron, and copper are vital for strong root development. Also pay attention to the balance between water and salts. Salt accumulation can restrict uptake and often appears as a white residue on pots or substrate. Occasional flushing and EC monitoring help maintain optimal conditions.

Biological conditions

A living root environment contributes to resilience and efficiency. Micro-organisms work alongside roots to support natural processes within the substrate.

Mycorrhizal fungi, for example, extend the effective root surface area, improving water and nutrient uptake. Beneficial bacteria convert nutrients into plant-available forms and help maintain a healthy soil ecosystem.

Organic matter is gradually broken down by these organisms, releasing additional nutrients over time. Enzyme products can accelerate this process by converting dead root material and organic residues into usable nutrients.

Together, these biological factors create stronger, more efficient roots that are better equipped to handle stress — benefiting both plant and grower.

Assessing root health as a grower

Since roots are hidden below the surface, assessing their condition can be challenging. However, there are clear indicators.

You can monitor drainage water, measure substrate temperature, and inspect roots during transplanting. Smell the substrate and observe plant growth and leaf colour. You don’t always need to see the roots directly to evaluate their health.

Recognising healthy and unhealthy roots

Healthy roots are bright white to light cream in colour, evenly distributed throughout the substrate, and form an airy network with many branches and fine root hairs. They also have a fresh, neutral smell.

Unhealthy roots often appear brown, may feel slimy, and show signs of decay. Thick roots with little branching reduce efficiency. A musty or rotten smell may indicate oxygen deficiency, root rot, or an imbalanced microbial environment. Damaged root tips limit uptake, which directly affects aboveground growth.

By regularly observing colour, structure, and smell, you can quickly determine whether intervention is needed.

Stress and root problems

Even strong root systems experience stress during cultivation. Repotting or minor damage is usually not an issue if conditions remain

stable. With a proper balance of air and moisture, roots recover quickly.

Water management is critical. Excess water displaces oxygen, reduces root activity, and increases the risk of disease. Too little water damages fine root hairs, limiting uptake and slowing growth.

Nutrient balance is equally important. High concentrations can hinder water uptake, while deficiencies restrict root development.

The same applies to additives and biostimulants. They can support roots and microbial life when used correctly, but overuse or combining too many products can disrupt the balance. Research shows that microbial diversity is key. A diverse root environment leads to greater stability and resilience.

Less intervention, better results Building a strong root system is not about adding more products, but about creating a balanced and stable environment.

Root stimulators, silicon, trace elements, and organic additives can support development — but only when used with precision and moderation. Understanding your system and monitoring your substrate is essential.

Ultimately, everything comes down to stability. What happens below ground determines how a plant performs above it. A well-balanced root environment leads to consistent growth, greater resilience, and reliable yields.

A strong foundation will always outperform excessive input. Those who keep things simple and controlled will find that this is where real success begins.

Outdoor

By Bosterix

The Origin of Seeds

Where is the Seed Market Headed?

For most home cannabis growers, cultivation begins with choosing the right seed. This is a crucial choice, as, if all goes well, you'll be enjoying the harvest in several months. In this article, you'll discover the current state of the psychoactive and medicinal cannabis seed market.

The seed is considered by biologists to be the ultimate adaptation to the terrestrial environment that has occurred in the plant kingdom. It contains the embryo of a seedling, along with its nutrients and a protective layer, which allows it to develop under suitable conditions.

Seed production is a fundamental agricultural process that has enabled the domestication of plants, adapting them to environmental conditions and the needs of the grower.

The legal sale of cannabis seeds, which began in the 1980s in the Netherlands, is currently experiencing it's golden age. In addition to the availability of high-quality seeds, new varieties and new seed banks are emerging every day.

First days

What are seed banks?

Before the advent of seed banks, growers could only obtain seeds by traveling to countries where traditional varieties were cultivated, through someone who had traveled there, or, more commonly, by recovering seeds found in commercial marijuana.

Currently, producers of marijuana seeds for commercial sale are called seed banks. Within the bank, breeders are responsible for selecting the best strains—that is, those that produce the highest quality marijuana—and crossing them to obtain varieties that meet the needs of growers.

Obviously, growers' tastes and needs vary, from preferences regarding different effects, flavors, aromas, and appearance, to the need for plants for indoor or outdoor cultivation, short flowering periods, etc., which has led to the development of a large number of varieties.

Where to buy seeds?

Seeds can be purchased directly from the seed

bank or at a grow shop. Regarding quality, in the last 20 years, shops have made significant progress in seed preservation, so there is no difference between buying them at a shop or directly from the bank.

As for price, since seed banks also sell their seeds to distributors and shops, they have more limited ability to offer discounts. On the other hand, shops, since they sell directly to the end consumer, can lower prices and offer discounts as a marketing strategy, so they usually have better deals.

How are commercial cannabis seeds produced?

Seed banks produce their seeds in chambers to prevent cross-pollination that can occur in outdoor cultivation. There are different ways to create a commercial cannabis strain. The classic method starts with a stable male and female plant, meaning they possess characteristics that are maintained from generation to generation. Once the highest-quality male and female plants are selected, they are crossed, selected, and stabilized through several generations in

indoor grows. When homogeneous plants are obtained, they are ready for sale. This process is time-consuming; keep in mind that each generation needs several months to develop, in addition to the testing and selection time. However, the advancements that led to the development of feminized seeds, as we will see below, also changed the way seeds are produced.

Types of Cannabis Seeds

The rise of home cultivation over the last three decades has given a strong boost to the breeding of high-quality cannabis varieties created for commercial purposes. Currently, we can also find feminized, autoflowering, and seed varieties rich in cannabinoids other than THC. These different characteristics are combined in such a way that it is possible, for example, to find feminized autoflowering seeds rich in CBD.

Feminized Seeds

Feminized seeds only produce female plants, which are the psychoactive and therapeutic specimens. The advantages of feminized seeds are clear: you save space, which is very important in urban or indoor cultivation. You save money on soil and fertilizers that you previously used to grow male plants that are later discarded. Above all, you gain in security, since interventions in crops are generally based on the number of plants cultivated.

There are two ways to obtain feminized seeds: rodelization and sex reversal of the plant using chemical inducers.

Rodelization involves growing the female plant for a couple of weeks longer after it matures. This stresses the plant, causing it to produce male flowers in order to reproduce. This is a natural way to obtain feminized seeds that is accessible to everyone. Some growers harvest only the top, larger buds, leaving the lower buds for a few more weeks to obtain feminized seeds. However, this method can sometimes produce hermaphrodite plants.

Sex reversal is achieved by applying chemicals such as gibberellic acid, silver nitrate, and silver thiosulfate. The latter, the most effective, is obtained by combining silver nitrate with sodium thiosulfate. The plant is sprayed with this liquid, and the photoperiod is changed to flowering. In a few weeks, male flowers appear. These male

flowers have female genetics, so when combined with a female plant, they only produce female offspring. Reversal is the most effective and widely used method for obtaining seeds today.

Autoflowering Seeds

Autoflowering varieties have the unique characteristic of beginning to flower when they reach maturity, regardless of the amount of sunlight (photoperiod). This is due to the Ruderalis genetics they contain. Ruderalis strains were discovered by Russian botanists Dimitri Erastovich Yanishevski and Nikolai Vavilov while researching species diversity in the USSR. In the 1970s, they arrived in the USA and Canada, and later in the Netherlands. Because Ruderalis strains have a very low concentration of cannabinoids and are low-yielding, breeders crossed them with potent commercial varieties to obtain plants that are ready to harvest between 60 and 90 days from germination. Since they have a short vegetative period, they are not large plants, which can be compensated for by growing a few more plants. While it is only necessary to keep in mind that during the growing period the temperatures do not drop below 10 degrees to avoid stress that can stop growth, resulting in very small plants, the best season for growing these varieties is from May to August.

CBD-Rich Cannabinoid Seeds and New Cannabinoids

The emergence of seed banks led to the development of commercial cannabis varieties. In the early years, the focus was on creating increasingly flavorful and potent strains suitable for both indoor and outdoor cultivation. The discovery of CBD's therapeutic effects provided further impetus, resulting in the development of strains with low CBD to THC ratios, balanced CBD content, and higher CBD content to meet the needs of medical cannabis users. In recent years, the identification of other natural cannabinoids and their beneficial properties has spurred the development of new commercial varieties.

Seeds for Indoor and Outdoor Growing

There are three factors that determine whether a seed is better suited for outdoor or indoor cultivation:

Flowering time (weeks) depending on the climate of the growing region.

A pure sativa with large internodal spacing can be unmanageable indoors or result in a small harvest. A plant with very dense buds can easily fall prey to fungal attacks outdoors, where it is impossible to control excess humidity, rain, dew, etc.

Keep in mind that a variety ready for harvest in mid-October may be described as an indoor variety in a seed bank catalog from the Netherlands and be suitable for both indoor and outdoor growing in southern Spain.

Different Types of Seed Banks

We can identify at least three distinct strategies among seed banks:

Creating original varieties

Marketing well-known varieties at competitive prices

Reproducing the best clones through sex reversal.

Each seed bank adapts to the different needs of growers. From indoor growers who select a mother plant from several seeds of the same variety, to growers with just a few plants outdoors, and considering different budgets and growing skills, etc. At this level, it's impossible to say that one seed bank is better than another, since they have different strategies that aren't equally suitable for every grower.

Landraces: An Unresolved Issue

Traditional native plant varieties, also known as landraces, constitute a genetic reserve of immense value for breeders.

Some of these varieties, accessible to growers willing to travel until decades ago, are now endangered. Competition from faster, more productive, and more potent varieties, coupled with political and military conflicts, prohibition, and other factors, are the main problems they face. The average home grower can do little, as these varieties, due to their characteristics, are generally unappealing to them. Nor can we demand that local growers in countries with native varieties cultivate only their ancestral varieties; it is the states themselves that should preserve these varieties as a cultural asset linked to their traditions.

Is a seed bank a genetic reserve?

Although in practice seed banks act as a genetic reserve, at least for as long as they keep your favorite strain in their catalog, that isn't necessarily their function. A seed bank is a business, and as such, it can choose to maintain its genetics, modify its catalogs according to sales, release limited-edition strains, or even work exclusively with limited editions. This might be inconvenient for some outdoor growers who would prefer seed banks to act as a permanent genetic reserve to turn to each season, but it's the reality because the market is driven by the majority of customers: indoor growers who select a mother plant and keep it. One option for these growers would be to take the plunge and keep mother plants for outdoor cultivation. A small grow tent with low-energy lights could be the solution.

Where is the market headed?

We talk about the market, not where seed banks are headed, because we understand that seed banks aren't free to produce any seed varieties they want, but rather those they can sell. The purpose of seed banks, and what keeps them going, is commerce. A seed bank that dedicates its catalog to very long flowering varieties, or those with low cannabinoid concentrations, doesn't have the same chance of survival as one with potent, commercially available feminized varieties. Seed banks adapt to the needs of growers or create new needs that surpass previous ones. For example, the emergence of feminized seeds has eliminated the non-feminized versions of many varieties.

The rise of commercial indoor cultivation to supply clubs, dispensaries, and coffeeshops, coupled with the eagerness of home growers to plant the varieties they test in these establishments, is accelerating seed production from selected clones, thus reducing the time needed to obtain a commercial variety. From a strictly economic standpoint, seed banks are here to stay. Market research and consulting firms like Allied Market Research forecast a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.4% for the sector, meaning the market, currently valued at $1.3 billion, would reach $6.5 billion by 2031. Global Cannabis Seeds Market projects growth to $1.21213 billion over the same period, with a CAGR of 14.7%. Undoubtedly, the outlook is promising for seed producers.

Feminized outdoors

Autoflowering plant ready in just over 60 days

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ROYAL GORILLA

What Makes This Strain a Grower Favorite

Royal Gorilla, a cannabis strain from Royal Queen Seeds, has been recognized in the 2026 GrowDiaries Awards for its standout cultivation traits. From seed to harvest, it delivers impressive growth, heavy resin, and consistent potency, with a distinctive aroma that has made it a favorite among growers of all experience levels.

Royal Gorilla has taken home Best Strain 2026 at the GrowDiaries Awards, an accolade shaped by one of the world’s most active cultivation communities. Based on real grow diaries, photos, and shared results, the GrowDiaries Awards highlight strains that deliver in real grow environments, not just under ideal conditions. This overview of the Royal Gorilla strain looks at what growers consistently report in terms of genetics, cultivation, terpene profile, and potency.

Genetics and Background of Royal Gorilla

Royal Gorilla comes from the well-known Gorilla lineage in the United States, created by combining Sour Dubb, Chem Sis, and Chocolate Diesel. According to cannabis lore, breeders Joesy Whales and Lone Watie came across the standout plant by chance and kept it after noticing its unusually high resin production and potency.

This three-way cross helps explain the strain’s reputation for heavy trichome coverage, laye-

red aromas, and strong effects. After gaining attention in the US, Royal Gorilla gradually found its way into grow rooms around the world, where it built a solid reputation among experienced growers.

Cultivation Performance: A Grower’s Perspective

In the grow room, Royal Gorilla shows steady, vigorous development typical of a balanced hybrid. Plants establish quickly and develop strong lateral branching, which makes them well-suited to topping and other training techniques.

Internodal spacing tends to be moderate, allowing for decent airflow while still supporting compact bud formation. During flowering, the plant stretches moderately before focusing on flower production.

Buds form in dense clusters and become increasingly resinous as flowering progresses. By the later stages, trichome coverage is clearly visible across the buds and surrounding

more on stable weather conditions. Yields are usually moderate, but growers tend to prioritise quality over quantity with this strain.

Terpenes, Aroma, and Potency

Royal Gorilla is known for a terpene profile that combines earthy and pine notes with a noticeable diesel character and a light underlying sweetness. These aromas carry through to the flavour, which often shifts between woody, fuel-like, and slightly chocolatey tones

Potency remains one of its most talked-about traits. Royal Gorilla's THC level typically sits around 25–27%, with some phenotypes reaching higher. The effects are generally described as deeply relaxing on the body, with a mild uplifting element that keeps the experience balanced for more experienced users.

Why Growers Value Royal Gorilla

Royal Gorilla continues to stand out because of its consistent performance and resin production. Growers often highlight its suitability for extracts, as well as the reliability of its genetics across multiple runs. For anyone planning a cultivation project, the official Royal Gorilla strain page offers a useful point of reference. It remains a popular choice for those focused on potency and resin-rich harvests.

leaves. Indoor growers often report predictable behaviour, while outdoor results depend

STRAIN SPECIAL 2026

Frosty’s Auto Freak

GENETICS:

Guavalato Auto x Frosty’s Purple Freak (Auto)

HARVEST MONTH:

Autoflowering

TOTAL LIFE CYCLE IN WEEKS:

11 weeks from seed to harvest

PLANT SIZE:

60 to 90 centimeters

YIELD INDOOR:

30 to 60 g/plant. Extremely frosty.

YIELD OUTDOOR:

30 to 60 g/plant

TASTE/AROMA:

A complex bouquet blending sweet forest berries with a distinctive fermented ‘rotten-meat’ savory funk, layered over deep cedarwood. An unusually rare terpene spectrum rich in cedrene, guaiol, phytol, and farnesene.

EFFECT:

Bright, uplifting cerebral rush that enhances mood, then gradually settles into potent, long-lasting physical relaxation that becomes deeply calming toward the finish while remaining smooth and balanced.

www.khalifagenetics.com

Fruit Bomb Punch®

GENETICS: Erdbeer IBL x (Tangie x Cherry Pie) BX1 x Sugar Bomb Punch

FLOWERING TIME: 9 weeks

HARVEST MONTH: Mid/late October

PLANT SIZE: Sativa dominant, 1m+

YIELD INDOOR: 550-600+ grams per m²

YIELD OUTDOOR: 750-1000 grams

TASTE/AROMA:

An avalanche of ripe, sweet fruit. Depending on the phenotype, you’ll discover subtle notes of cream, candy or even some chemical/diesel accents in the background.

EFFECT:

A happy, sociable high that also suits the more experienced smokers due to the heavy-weight potency. The impact of the high is strong and long-lasting. The effect is predominantly cerebral, happy, uplifting and very social - great for friendly gatherings. It’s the perfect strain for parties, creative pursuits or daytime enjoyment.

www.dutch-passion.com

Frittella

GENETICS: Fruit Joy x Crêpes

FLOWERING TIME: 8/9 weeks

HARVEST MONTH: Late September - early October outdoors

PLANT SIZE: 80/120 cm

YIELD INDOOR: 350/450 m²

YIELD OUTDOOR: 450/550 m²

TASTE/AROMA:

Sweet and creamy aroma with bursts of mango, ripe peach, and sweet dough.

EFFECT:

Initial light euphoria followed by soft and enveloping relaxation.

www.seedfinder.eu/en/ database/breeder/old-j-seeds

Mimosa Zkittlez Auto

GENETICS:

Zkittlez x Mimosa XL Auto

TOTAL LIFE CYCLE IN WEEKS: 9-11 weeks

PLANT SIZE:

55-135 cm

YIELD INDOOR:

450-650 g/m²

YIELD OUTDOOR:

50-200 g per plant

TASTE/AROMA:

Intense, citrus-fruity aroma with a hint of diesel.

EFFECT:

Strong, stimulating, creativity-boosting and happiness-enhancing.

The clash

GENETICS: (Apple Fritter x Jealousy) x (KM x Tropicana)

TOTAL LIFE CYCLE IN WEEKS: 9

HARVEST MONTH: October

YIELD INDOOR: 400-450 g/m²

YIELD OUTDOOR: 800

TASTE/AROMA: A mixture of sweetness with hints of gasoline.

EFFECT: It offers high potency with a cheerful, cerebral high, perfect for social or creative moments, always accompanied by the strong body relaxation characteristic of its Indica base.

Spritzer x Rainbow Sherbert

GENETICS:

40% indica / 60% sativa

FLOWERING TIME: 60 to 65 days

HARVEST MONTH: Between late September and early October

TOTAL LIFE CYCLE IN WEEKS: 9 weeks

PLANT SIZE: 90 cm indoors / 2 m outdoors

YIELD INDOOR: 500/600 grams per square metre

YIELD OUTDOOR: 600/700 grams per plant

TASTE/AROMA:

Notable for its smooth, sugary flavour when exhaling, with sweet and fruity hints and notes of mint, reminiscent of a fruit sorbet.

EFFECT:

Its effects are usually euphoric with a rapid cerebral high, ideal for creativity, concentration and a positive mood, and it can offer slight physical relaxation without causing sedation.

Tutankhamon x Cookies USA

GENETICS: Cookies USA X Tutankhamon

FLOWERING TIME: 8 to 9 weeks

HARVEST MONTH: Mid-September

TOTAL LIFE CYCLE IN WEEKS: 6 to 7 months

YIELD INDOOR: 730 W LED lamp, up to 1 kg from 20 plants

YIELD OUTDOOR: 500 g to 1.5 kg

TASTE/AROMA:

Intense, creamy sweetness, with notes reminiscent of freshly baked biscuits, inherited from Cookies USA.

EFFECT:

An energetic and euphoric start, typical of Tutankhamon, followed by a gradual and pleasant relaxation thanks to the Cookies USA genetics. Perfect for balancing mental stimulation and physical rest.

History of cannabis

By Olivier F.

Roger Adams(1889-1971)

Roger Adams was an American organic chemist who worked extensively on cannabis. He identified and synthesised cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN) and isolated CBD in the 1940s. He was also the first to synthesise hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) in 1947.

Roger Adams was born on 2 January 1889 in Boston, Massachusetts. His parents worked on the railways. He is a descendant of John Adams, the second President of the United States, who served from 1797 to 1801 after having been the first Vice President under George Washington.

He studied at Boston Latin School and Cambridge Latin High School. In 1905, he entered the Harvard University, where he was awarded an honorary scholarship. During his final year at Harvard, he began his research into organic chemistry.

In 1912 he received a traveling scholarship, which he used to travel to Germany, one of the most advanced countries for chemistry, to work in the laboratory of Emil Fischer and Otto Diels in Berlin and that of Richard Willstätter in Dahlem.

In 1913, on his return from Germany, Roger Adams went back to Harvard, where he worked as a research assistant for Charles L. Jackson for 800 dollars a year. He then set up the first elementary organic chemistry laboratory at Harvard and began his own research programme. For the next three years, he taught organic chemistry at both Harvard and Radcliffe.

In 1916, he became assistant professor to William A. Noyes, head of the chemistry department of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), where he worked for 56 years. In 1926 he succeeded William A. Noyes as head of the Department of Chemistry and remained in that position until 1954.

During this period, Roger Adams and his students developed the so-called Adams’ catalyst, a highly efficient hydrogenation catalyst. It can be prepared by fusing chloroplatinic acid or ammonium chloroplatinate with sodium nitrate.

Aside from cannabis-related studies, Roger Adams and his students made a number of additional discoveries, i.e.:

- Determination of the structures of leprosy drugs, chaulmoogric acid and hydnocarpic acid, and the synthesis of their dihydro derivatives.

- Synthesis of chloralkyl esters by combining aldehydes and acyl chlorides.

- Determination of the structure of disalicylaldehyde and dehydroacetic acid.

- Determination of the structure of gossypol for the cottonseed industry.

- Studies of Senecio and Crotalaria alkaloids, which opened two fields of study, i.e., pyrrolizidine and large-ring diester chemistry.

His most important scientific research, of course, concerned cannabis. Roger Adams started his research on the plant in 1939, two years after it had been banned in the United States. Despite the ban and despite his political commitments, he obtained authorisation from the Treasury Department to work with cannabis oil in his laboratory at the University of Illinois and presented a paper entitled "The Chemistry of Marihuana", to the National Academy of Science.

In the early 1940s, he identified and synthesised cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN).

In 1942, he obtained a patent for his CBD isolation technique. He was the first researcher to identify tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

In the 1940s, he also synthesised hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), a secondary cannabinoid that is naturally contained in cannabis seeds and pollen and is now legally marketed in many countries, including France.

Roger Adams never isolated THC directly from the plant. He synthesised it in his laboratory by modifying the molecular structure of other cannabinoids such as CBD.

He also created the Adams scale to measure the potency of cannabinoids, a system still used by researchers today.

Dr Roger Adams published more than 27 studies on cannabis in the American Journal of Chemistry.

Only in 1964 was THC directly isolated by the famous Israeli researcher Rapahel Mechoulam. The instrument used by Mechoulam for the isolation process, i.e. a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, was obviously not available in the 1940s. However, Adams knew of the existence of this psychoactive cannabinoid and 20 years earlier had produced THC analogues in his laboratory.

Roger Adams was inducted as a Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois and awarded the Order of Lincoln (the State's highest honour) by the Governor of Illinois in 1967 in the area of Science

Given his reputation as a prominent researcher in the field of organic chemistry, the ACS (American Chemical Society) created the Roger Adams Award, which is every other year during the National Organic Chemistry Symposium organised by the ACS Division of Organic Chemistry.

PGPF TRICHODERMA

Plant growth-promoting fungi are a heterogeneous group of nonpathogenic fungi found in the soil, specifically in the rhizosphere, on the root surface, and within the roots of plants. PGPF fungi establish mutualistic relationships with their host plants, providing them with a wide range of benefits. They improve nutrient uptake, stimulate root development, increase plant vigor, and protect them from pathogenic microorganisms. Among the PGPF fungi used for marijuana cultivation, the Trichoderma genus is the most common.

WHAT IS IT?

Trichoderma is a genus of filamentous fungi belonging to the Hypocreaceae family. It is a cosmopolitan fungus, present in all soil types around the globe. It was first described by mycologist Christian Hendrik Persoon in 1794. Since then, 88 different species of the Trichoderma genus have been identified. This type of fungi is able to rapidly colonize diverse substrates in a variety of environmental conditions. Many Trichoderma species are avirulent and opportu-

ma's effectiveness against parasitic fungi involves a series of mechanisms: mycoparasitism, competition, activation of the RAS, and antibiosis.

Mycoparasitism is a method of direct attack on pathogens through the secretion of hydrolytic enzymes that damage their cell walls and the development of mycelium within their organism, leading to their death. Competition is a defense mechanism characteristic of the rhizosphere, in which fungi of the Trichoderma genus colonize the substrate and extract vital nutrients from

MANY TRICHODERMA SPECIES ARE AVIRULENT AND OPPORTUNISTIC SYMBIOTIC FUNGI.

nistic symbiotic fungi; in other words, they can establish mutualistic relationships with plants without causing them harm. One aspect that makes Trichoderma very interesting is its ability to secrete a wide range of substances, such as hydrolytic enzymes and secondary metabolites, that are beneficial to plants.

BENEFITS OF TRICHODERMA

In agriculture, Trichoderma is primarily used as a biocontrol agent for fungal diseases, including Fusarium, Pythium, and Rhizoctonia. Trichoder-

the pathogen, thus damaging it. Antibiosis is a system through which Trichoderma releases substances that alter the metabolism of parasites and inhibit their development, rendering them harmless to plants. Through the secretion of secondary metabolites, Trichoderma is also able to activate the plant's SAR system, acronym for Systemic Acquired Resistance, an endogenous defense system that involves the entire plant against the attack of pathogens.

Trichoderma has a tremendous ability to positively influence root architecture. It's not yet clear

how it exerts this influence, but it's well known that Trichoderma colonizes plant roots and stimulates their development. The root system grows strong and vigorous, its surface area dramatically increasing along with the number and thickness of root hairs, consequently increasing the plant's ability to absorb water and nutrients from the soil.

One of the most interesting benefits of Trichoderma is its ability to make a wide range of nutrients available through various biological processes such as chelation, mineralization, and solubilization. In the first case, Trichoderma produces siderophores, low molecular weight substances capable of binding with iron, converting it into a form that plants can absorb. Mineralization is a process by which nutrients are released from the organic matrix, transforming them into simple inorganic compounds that are readily available to plants. Phosphorus solubilization is a very important biological process because plants require large amounts of this element throughout their life cycle. Soil is rich in phosphorus, but its availability is limited due to its fixation in the form of insoluble compounds. Trichoderma is able to release enzymes and organic acids that convert phosphorus into soluble forms, making it available to plants.

The benefits of Trichoderma aren't limited to the rhizosphere; when applied to the above-ground parts of the plant—i.e., branches and leaves—it can increase photosynthesis. Be careful when applying foliar sprays; some

studies have shown that these microorganisms remain residual in the inflorescences even after they dry, potentially posing a health risk.

HOW TO USE

Trichoderma can be applied at any stage of marijuana cultivation, although it is most effective when used from the beginning. Trichoderma fungi are primarily sold in solid form, more specifically in powder form, mixed with inert material. Inoculation is the most common method; during transplanting, the powder is distributed at the bottom of the hole where the plant will be planted, in contact with the roots. Another method involves mixing the Trichoderma with the entire substrate during its preparation. It can also be applied by irrigation, mixing it with the nutrient solution. Foliar applications are another method of use. The most effective way to use Trichoderma is to sprinkle it directly on the seeds before germination. The application doses of Trichoderma vary depending on the manufacturer.

The most commonly used Trichoderma strain for marijuana cultivation is Trichoderma harzianum.

ECOLOGY

The use of PGPF in high-yield medicinal plant cultivation has great potential, as it can completely replace synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and with zero environmental impact, it makes marijuana cultivation more sustainable.

Trichoderma-colonized bark, photo by Thomas Laxton, via Wikimedia Commons

Grow with Jorge Cervantes

By Jorge Cervantes in collaboration with Innexo BV

The End of the Vegetative Phase A Revolution in Cannabis Cultivation

I have spent the better part of fifty years walking through cannabis gardens — from the guerrilla patches of the Emerald Triangle to high-tech indoor facilities in the Netherlands. In all that time, one Golden Rule has been followed with religious devotion by every grower I’ve ever met: you must veg your plants

We’ve all been taught that the vegetative phase is the foundation of yield. You take your seedlings or clones, put them under 18 or 24 hours of light, and spend weeks building roots, thick stems, and a lush canopy. You top them, train them, weave them through scrog nets — and you wait. Two weeks, four weeks, sometimes six, paying for electricity, nutrients, and labour while the plant produces not a single gram of flower.

But what if everything we thought we knew about the vegetative phase was wrong?

What Is “No-Veg”?

I recently reviewed groundbreaking data from the Netherlands — the spiritual home of indoor horticulture. A consortium including Innexo, Fluence, and Grodan has been running controlled trials that challenge the very foundations of how we grow. They call it the “No-Veg” technique

The idea is radical in its simplicity: take a rooted clone or a germinated seed and place it immediately — Day One — under a 12/12 flowering light cycle. No days of 18/6. No vegetative transition at all. The flowering cycle itself builds the structure: roots, stems, and canopy all develop under 12/12 as you steer the crop with irrigation, nutrition, and climate instead of veg time.

The Numbers That Changed My Mind

On a single run, classic veg still looks good on paper: the trials showed a two-week veg crop

producing around 712 g/m² per harvest versus about 622 g/m² for No-Veg — roughly 13% less per cycle. Many growers stop reading there.

But stretch the view to a full year and the numbers reverse. A typical veg programme fits about four harvests; No-Veg pushes six shorter cycles in the same footprint. Annual yield jumps from roughly 4,111 g/m²/year to about 4,621 g/m²/year — around 12% more flower per square metre per year. Light energy drops roughly 30%, and labour falls about 37%. You harvest more saleable flower for less electricity and fewer crew hours.

As Innexo CEO Dominique van Gruisen told me: “Keeping plants vegetative to produce foliage that is later removed is counterproductive. The veg phase uses roughly 50% more light hours than flowering, and that hits a grower’s energy costs hard.”

Turning the Quality Pyramid Upside Down

Big, long-veg plants build a quality pyramid: a thin top of Grade A flower, a middle band of B, and a wide base of loose, airy larf that nobody wants to trim. Dense canopies shade themselves; only the top layer gets prime light.

No-Veg flips that pyramid. Instead of sprawling bushes, you grow tall, slender columns with open canopies that let light reach every bud site. In the trials, Grade A flower jumped from 20% to 35%, while Grade C larf dropped from 25% to just 5%. The harvest index — flower weight as a share of total plant biomass — lands in the 60–80% range. You trim less waste and cure more top-shelf bud.

Riding the Stretch Instead of Fighting It

So how does a plant that skips veg grow big enough to produce? The answer is the stretch — that explosive burst of vertical growth every cannabis plant goes through when it transitions to flowering. In traditional rooms we fight it; with No-Veg we embrace it

Right to left, Dominique van Gruisen of Innexo BV shows Jorge Cervantes and Xavier Gaya (Avitas) details of his No-Veg research at Acceleration Days, Southern Netherlands.

Half way through the No-Veg technique at Innexo’s research facility.

The No-Veg technique uses the natural stretch of flowering cannabis to increase flower growth while reducing leaf mass.

Because plants never developed a complex bush of side branches, energy flows into the main stem and a few primary colas, building a tall, clean column. Light penetrates deeper from day one, and the plant naturally balances leaves and flowers with minimal grooming. Nature does the pruning for you.

From seed: plant directly into a large final container — ideally 11–12 litres. The taproot dives deep, senses all that space, and sends an “abundance” signal to the rest of the plant. Even though 12/12 lighting says “winter is coming,” the root signal overrides the stress and drives vigorous growth.

Perfect Roots or Nothing

If there is one lesson from the trials it is this: your roots must be flawless. Grodan’s Frank Janssen put it bluntly: “There is zero margin for error in the first couple of weeks. Any issues that occur then will lead to problems for the rest of the cycle.”

Researchers use a root scoring system (0–5) for clones in rockwool plugs. The sweet spot is at 2 or 3: roots have colonized the plug with 10–30 bright white tips bursting outward, but

not yet circling or dying off. Too few roots and the plant will not survive; too many means the roots are already stressed.

Jorge’s Tip: Always start 20-30% more clones than you need and ruthlessly cull anything that is not perfect. Uniformity below ground means uniformity above ground.

Your Week-by-Week No-Veg Roadmap No-Veg is not a shortcut for lazy growers; it demands precise steering of water, nutrients, and climate. In inert substrates like rockwool, what you pour in is what the roots see — so you control the plant with surgical precision. Early on you keep things easy for the roots (lower nutrient strength, plenty of moisture) to push growth. Then you gradually dial up the stress (stronger feed, drier overnight periods) to steer the plant hard into flower production. Here is how a typical cycle unfolds:

Week 1 — Do or Die: Moderate light on 12/12, high humidity, warm (25–26°C). Do not water for the first few days — let the roots hunt for moisture. If a plant looks weak on Day 3, pull it. It will not recover.

Week 2 — Ignition: Increase light intensity. Begin frequent, small waterings. The plant should be visibly growing every day.

Week 3 — Full Stretch: Lights at full power. By the end of this week, raise nutrient strength to tell the plant to stop stretching and start hardening. Let the growing medium dry back more overnight.

Week 4 — The Stack: Plants reach final height (70–120 cm) with white pistils forming at every node. Don’t strip the leaves — these smaller, perfectly positioned fan leaves are the sugar factories feeding your buds.

Weeks 5–7 — Bulking: Bigger but less frequent waterings. Push overnight dry-backs. Lower temperatures to preserve terpenes and drop humidity to prevent mould.

Weeks 8–9 — Ripening: Ease off nutrients to let the plant use its reserves. Watch the trichomes — milky with a hint of amber means chop time.

Is No-Veg For You?

Let me be direct: this technique is not for everyone. There is zero recovery time — a mistake in Week 1 is baked into your final yield. And No-Veg leans on higher plant density (8–10 per square metre), so if your local law caps you at a handful of plants, you are better off growing big trees with a long veg.

Where it fits, the benefits are hard to ignore.

Six harvests a year mean cash flow every eight weeks and faster rotation of genetics. Smaller plants are easier to manage, power and labour bills shrink, and the shorter cycles give pests and diseases less time to take hold. Dominique van Gruisen expects this approach to become the industry standard within five years for all growers not limited by plant count: “Around 2,000 industry professionals have visited our demo centre, and everyone who has seen this approach in action leaves convinced that this is the way forward.”

The Future Is Efficiency

The cannabis industry is growing up — moving from the basement to the boardroom, from art to science. The No-Veg technique asks you to be a better grower: to master your roots, your climate, and your irrigation. It is not a free pass. But if you can execute it, the rewards are undeniable: more harvests, better quality, lower costs.

The future of cultivation is efficiency. The question is — are you ready to let go of the sacred veg?

Grow smart. Grow efficiently. And as always, grow big (yields)!

- Jorge Cervantes

Source data: Innexo, Fluence & Grodan controlled trials. For more information: innexo.nl | jorge-cervantes.com

A seven-week progression with the No-Veg technique at the Innexo research facility.

Can you tell this crop is growing with the No-Veg technique?

Right to left, Dominique van Gruisen, Jorge Cervantes, and enjoying the No-Veg heavy harvest!

Grow with Mr. José

Mr. José - info@pestovat.cz

Do Plants Use Green Light for Photosynthesis?

Growing under artificial lighting has undergone a massive transformation over the past decade. This is likely one of the reasons why so many myths about horticultural lighting still persist. One of the most enduring claims is that plants do not use green light for photosynthesis. But is that really true? That is exactly what this article explores.

The idea that plants “do not see” green light has a seemingly logical basis — we perceive plants as green, which makes it easy to assume that they reflect green light and therefore do not use it for photosynthesis. However, plant physiology is far more complex. Modern research clearly shows that the green portion of the light spectrum is not useless; rather, it functions differently in plants compared to blue and red light.

Green Light and PAR

Plants absorb light with the help of three main types of pigments. Each type is more sensitive to different wavelengths. The best-known pigments are chlorophylls, which have absorption peaks in the blue

Plants do use green light — just differently than red and blue.

(~430–470 nm) and red (~640–680 nm) regions of the light spectrum. This means that light at these wavelengths has the strongest influence on photosynthesis. However, we

know that other parts of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), defined as 400–700 nm, also contribute to photosynthesis.

The green region of the spectrum (approximately 500–570 nm) has lower absorption compared to blue and red light, but it is still a full component of PAR, as established in the 1972 work of Keith J. McCree. Despite this, for a long time it was widely believed that green light had little to no significant effect on photosynthesis in cannabis.

Growing under artificial lighting is energy-intensive, which explains why manufacturers of horticultural lighting — whether high-intensity discharge lamps or LED systems — have aimed to produce fixtures that maximize photosynthetic efficiency. This led to the development of the typical “blurple” LED panels, recognizable by their purple glow, created by combining blue and red wavelengths corresponding to chlorophyll absorption peaks. The

claim that green light is unnecessary because plants do not use it was long treated as an established fact. However, it turns out that this is not entirely true.

Don’t Ignore the Green Light

In 2017, David S. Smith and colleagues published a review paper in the Journal of Experimental Botany titled “Don’t Ignore the Green Light,” which significantly contributed to the reassessment of the role of green light in photosynthesis. In this paper, the authors summarize experimental data from leaf physiology, optical measurements, and canopy studies, demonstrating that green light is not photosynthetically insignificant, as had often been inferred from chlorophyll absorption spectra alone.

The authors present evidence showing that although green light is absorbed less strongly by chlorophyll at the leaf surface, a substantial portion of green photons penetrates deeper into the mesophyll and can effectively drive photosynthesis in the lower layers of the leaf and in the lower parts of the canopy. The study emphasizes the difference between the absorption spectrum of chlorophyll and the actual photosynthetic efficiency within real leaf tissue and plant canopies. It argues that green light contributes more to total carbon assimilation than previously assumed based on simplified laboratory measurements. The paper thus helped shift the perspective from chlorophyll absorption curves toward a more realistic understanding of light distribution within

Blurple LED lighting focuses on the parts of the light spectrum where chlorophyll absorption is highest.

leaves and dense plant canopies.

These findings help explain why plants reflect part of the green light while still being able to use it for photosynthesis. While blue and red photons are strongly absorbed in the upper layers of the mesophyll, green light is absorbed less intensively and a greater proportion penetrates deeper into the leaf tissue, where significantly less blue and red light reaches. Thanks to this deeper penetration, green light can activate chloroplasts in the lower layers of the leaf. At the same time, part of the green light is reflected and part is transmitted through the leaf, which together is why we perceive leaves as green. A leaf typically absorbs ap -

certain conditions, green light can improve photosynthetic efficiency, influence plant morphology, and enhance water-use efficiency. This clearly does not support the claim that plants fail to utilize green light.

Should We Start Growing Under Green Light?

Based on the information presented so far, one might conclude that we could simply start growing plants under exclusively green light. However, that is far from the truth. Green light has a lower quantum efficiency than red light. If it were the dominant component of the spectrum, overall photosynthetic efficiency would be significantly reduced. Nevertheless, the role and effectiveness of the

Green light may be less efficient per photon, but it helps power photosynthesis where red and blue cannot reach.

proximately 70–85% of green light, with the remainder being reflected or transmitted through the leaf.

Green Light in a Dense Canopy

When growing under artificial lighting, we often work with dense plant canopies. In such conditions, the upper leaves strongly absorb mainly blue and red light. As a result, the lower layers receive more diffuse radiation, a relatively higher proportion of green-wavelength photons, and an increased share of far-red light. While green light contributes to photosynthesis due to its better penetration through the leaf, far-red acts as a strong signaling factor through the phytochrome system, influencing plant morphology and development under shaded conditions.

More recent studies show that at high light intensities (high PPFD), the photosynthetic efficiency of green light can be surprisingly close to that of red light, precisely because of its more even distribution of energy within leaf tissues. A 2024 meta-analysis published in the Journal of Experimental Botany further indicates that under

green spectrum reinforce the idea that the current trend toward full-spectrum lighting is a correct and meaningful step forward.

It would be a mistake to ignore the green component, because its influence on plants is not negligible. Unlike far-red light, which clearly signals to a plant that it is shaded and should elongate upward, green light acts much more subtly. It is not a strong growth signal, but rather a fine adjustment of how the plant responds to other parts of the spectrum. Research suggests that green light can partially counteract the effect of blue light, which otherwise promotes compact growth. The result may be a more natural plant shape and more balanced leaf development. Green light also penetrates deeper into leaves and into the lower parts of the canopy, helping to engage portions of the plant that would otherwise receive less energy.

The natural light source for plants is, of course, the Sun. Plants have adapted to its light spectrum for at least hundreds of millions of years. And the spectral distribution of sunlight is undeniably full-spectrum.

Logically, the goal of artificial grow lighting should be to replicate sunlight as closely as possible. However, energy consumption must also be considered. If we want to expand the spectrum to include additional wavelengths while maintaining the intensity of already covered bands, we must increase the total light output, which typically leads to a higher energy input.

The task of researchers and lighting manufacturers in further improving lighting

efficiency with respect to photosynthesis and plant morphology undoubtedly involves continued investigation of less-explored wavelengths and a deeper understanding of how plants process and respond to them. With the rapid advancement of LED technology, scientists now have a powerful tool to uncover new insights in this field. One thing, however, is already clear today: the green component of light undeniably plays a role in photosynthesis as well as in other processes occurring within the leaf.

Full-spectrum lighting allows for reliable visual assessment of the crop.

Sunlight provides a full spectrum of light. It suits both plants and the human eye.

Cultivation 2026

Selection of varieties for their resistance to pests and diseases

The interactions of parasitic organisms with their host, the plant, are complex, much more so than they appear at first glance, resulting in an evolutionary race between the parasitic organism and the plant's defenses.

Plants have developed a wide variety of strategies to defend themselves against herbivores, primarily insects and other small arthropods that frequently feed on the same species. However, the populations of these organisms, which generally reproduce in enormous numbers, always generate individuals with new characteristics capable of overcoming the plant's defenses. In nature, this translates into

a balance with moderate fluctuations, both in the plant population and its pests. But in crops, this balance is completely disrupted. This is not only because groups of plants of the same species are more susceptible to pest attacks, but also because many current varieties have not been selected primarily for resistance, but rather for other agronomic traits such as vigor, yield, or earliness.

This is why more attention is currently being paid to collections of traditional varieties and also to the wild relatives of cultivated plants, since they are reservoirs of genes for resistance to many of these arthropods and diseases.

Pests: An Agronomic vs. Ecological Perspective

The broadest definition of a pest in agronomy is any living organism that reduces production, quality, or otherwise damages

herbivorous predators consume many individuals of a species throughout their lives. This is the main difference with parasites, which typically feed on a single host, keeping it alive. Although the aforementioned cases are included within the agronomic definition of a pest, since they all cause damage, their modes of action require different approaches. For example, the effect of competition with weeds is studied in weed science.

This article focuses on the genetic basis of the interaction between plant defenses and the most common arthropod pests and diseases that parasitize them, since these organisms are the most frequent cause of damage and plant species have developed a series of genetically based defenses against them.

Plant Resistance

Many of the strategies plants have developed to defend themselves are generic across a wide range of pests and diseases. However, when the coevolution of the parasitic organism with the plant species has been long-standing, much more specific responses emerge. Although variability is high, all these defenses can be grouped into three main categories.

Physical Barriers

This type of defense is more general, hindering the pest's ability to complete its life cycle, whether by preventing feeding, egg-laying, or movement across the plant surface.

Some common examples include the presence of hairs, both glandular (like trichomes) and non-glandular, which impede movement and feeding. Thick or waxy cuticles prevent piercing-sucking arthro -

“When the coevolution of the parasitic organism with the plant species has been long-standing, much more specific responses emerge.”

a crop. However, from an ecological perspective, pests are usually associated with parasitic relationships, as this is the most frequent case. It is important to remember, though, that the agronomic definition of a pest encompasses other ecological relationships besides parasitism.

Weeds, for example, cause a decrease in production through competition, while

pods such as thrips and mites from easily accessing the plant's sap. Meanwhile, an increased cellulose and lignin content makes plant tissue harder and more difficult for biting insects like caterpillars to digest.

In the case of Cannabis, virtually all the variability mentioned in this section can be observed, as all of the above is present in the species, with varying degrees

The absence of pests is essential for the proper development of the flower.

intensity, depending on the variety and the individual plant.

Defense by Chemical Compounds

This type of defense is usually more specific than physical barriers, although there are also molecules with a broad-spectrum insecticidal effect, such as pyrethrins.

Examples of defense by chemical compounds include the production of alkaloids, which are toxic to insects; phenolic

previous groups can appear in plants without the need for any pest or disease attack, especially physical ones, but they are also modulated by the presence and attack of phytophagous organisms. This genetic response system is based on R proteins, which detect molecular patterns associated with pathogens (PAMPs) or microorganisms (MAMPs), and then trigger a series of specific responses.

When one of these specific sequences is recognized by the R protein, a signaling cascade is triggered, mediated by hormones related to the response to biotic stress, such as salicylic acid. Finally, the plant produces or increases the production of one or more of the aforementioned chemical compounds, along with other compounds closely related to stress processes, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS).

acquired in a similar way. For example, in the case of protease inhibitors, it is enough for the pest population to contain individuals with different proteases that

compounds with fungicidal and bactericidal effects, such as tannins and phytoalexins; and the well-known terpenes. The latter, being a very diverse group, have different properties depending on the specific type of terpene, plant, and pest they act upon. The effects can be toxic, repellent, and even attract predatory insects of the pest attacking the plant (Boncan et al., 2020).

In this biological control, plants can even prevent insects from properly digesting their food by using molecules that inhibit the action of digestive enzymes such as proteases. They also produce a number of very interesting compounds from the terpene family, known as phytoecdysones

Like animals with their immune systems, this plant defense system exhibits significant genetic variation among varieties and individuals of the same species. Identifying the genes that code for these R proteins is of particular interest today for genetic improvement, since, as has been mentioned, plants have traditionally been selected against some of these defensive characteristics (Chen et al., 2015).

How do pathogens overcome plant defenses?

The mechanisms pathogenic organisms use to evade plant defenses are numerous and can be quite complex, but they often stem from a very simple basis: the large number of offspring they generate, constantly creating new individuals with slightly different behaviors and feeding habits.

Two of the most common pests, and arguably the most important in cannabis, are mites and thrips, which exemplify this. Anyone who has closely observed their behavior on the plant will notice that,

(ecdysteroids); these substances mimic the molting hormones of insects, causing early or defective molting.

Genetic Responses to Pest Attacks

The strategies encompassed by the two

are unaffected by the inhibitors for the resistant genotype of the insect to thrive and rapidly increase in number. This is the case of a species (Helicoverpa zea), closely related to a cannabis pest, the budworm, which has developed protease variants resistant to the inhibitors present in potatoes (Bayés et al., 2005).

Selection of Resistance to Pathogens

Once the different modes of action of resistance are known, a breeding program can be designed to identify a resistance

When resistant individuals have been identified, the genetic origin of the resistance must be determined, as this will dictate the next steps in the breeding program. If the insect has difficulty feeding due to a physical barrier, it is likely a polygenic trait, since structures such as hairs or trichomes are encoded by several genes. When a repellent or toxicity relationship is observed, with very few individuals colonizing or thriving on the plant, it could be due to the increased production of a chemical compound, most likely encoded by one or a few genes.

In breeding practice, this means that for a trait encoded by one or a few genes, methods such as backcrossing, which involve a low number of generations and individuals, can be used. This would be the case for the PM1 gene, recently identified as responsible for downy mildew resistance in cannabis (Mihalyov & Garfinkel, 2021). For polygenic traits, the greater the number of genes involved, the more advantageous it becomes to use programs with a larger number of individuals and generations (Ordás López & Malvar Pintos, 2012).

Concept of Horizontal and Vertical Resistance

Horizontal resistance refers to a generic resistance to several similar types of pathogens, resulting in a quantitative (polygenic) trait, as there is a wide range of resistance levels. This type of resistance is not total, but it is more difficult for pests to overcome (Burbano-Figueroa, 2020).

Vertical resistance is conferred by one or a few genes, generally associated with the recognition of the pathogen by the aforementioned R proteins. These genes confer more specific, qualitative resistances, since, being encoded by few genes,

although most individuals are found on fully formed leaves, some feed on the cells of the petiole, stem, or even the base of the roots—areas where the plant's physical barriers are not as uniform.

Resistance to chemical compounds is

mechanism and introduce or stabilize it in a variety. The starting point is to find resistant individuals, ideally within the same variety to be improved, although it is often necessary to use closely related varieties or wild relatives.

the variation in the population is limited to resistant and susceptible plants. This resistance is easier to introduce and also more effective in the short term, but it can be easily overcome by successive generations of pathogens.

Adult thrips under a microscope, showing the characteristic fringed wings.

Stresses can favor the production of certain aromatic compounds of interest, but these must be generated abiotically, not by pests.

Damage caused by thrips larvae.

Thrips larva in detail.

Text & photography: Derrick Bergman

Q-FARMS

Collaborates with European legacy growers

Q-Farms, one of ten licensed cannabis producers in the Dutch cannabis experiment, is collaborating with legacy growers and hash makers from France, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.

The northern Dutch province of Groningen is richly endowed with cannabis trial growers: Holigram in Nieuw Beerta, Q-Farms in Veendam, and soon a second facility from Leli Holland/Village Farms. Thanks to hemp pioneers Hempflax and DunAgro, Groningen was already the hemp province of the Netherlands, but it is also increasingly becoming the regulated cannabis province. Groningen offers ample space and land is relatively cheap.

A striking feature of a visit to Q-Farms is the enormous logo on the facility, facing the highway. This in-your-face approach is typical of CEO and co-founder Claas van Os. He's a lateral entrant into the cannabis world, having previously worked in horticulture. He's a man who doesn't shy away from confrontation, passionate, and deeply committed. "My financial director won't let me talk to the NVWA anymore," says Van Os. "She's doing that now. I went a bit too hard.' The NVWA, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, checks whether the cannabis trial growers comply with all the very detailed rules.

Regulations are just one of the challenges Q-Farms faces. The biggest one is funding, says Van Os. But the company has also struggled with the infamous Hop latent viroid, which is extremely harmful to cannabis. Since then, the hygiene protocol has become even stricter; before I'm allowed into the grow room, I have to strip down to my underwear and socks. I'm given clean white clothing, and over that, the usual disposable overalls, shoe covers, a hairnet, and rubber gloves. Just before we enter a room with young plants, I have to change that second layer.

The Q-Farms facility is completely custombuilt. The building has two floors and a total floor space of 11,000 m², of which 5,000 m² is net grow space. Of the 28 grow rooms, three are used for cuttings (in four layers), two for mother plants, two for the vegetative phase, and 21 for the flowering phase. Each chamber has its own power supply, so it can be tailored to the species or species within it.

In April 2025, Q-Farms began supplying the coffeeshops in the experiment. The first harvest was used entirely to produce hash: dry sift, iceolator, and rosin. This choice had a lot to do with Q-Farms' extraction team, originally from the Italian cannabis social club La Kalada in Barcelona.

Each joint is hand-packed and sealed, and there's no shake in it—pretty much the standard in coffeeshops—just popcorn buds. The quality of all the facilities is high, from the changing rooms to the restrooms and the commissioned cannabis artwork by Peter Klashorst. The cleanliness of the grow room is also striking; hardly a leaf on the floor. Remarkably, the extractor fan is located under the plants, not above them as usual.

Claas van Os believes that by the end of the experiment, half of what Q-Farms sells will be smokeless: edibles, vapes, and soon another smokeless product. Currently, the company makes four types of cookies, with gummies and typical Dutch "pepernoten," tiny round cookies, on the way. Don't let the NVWA (Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority) get wind of it...

Sunsetz from La Chanvrière; Each box contains a mini-flyer with information about the strain.

Wet cutting department.

Fresh Iceolator is dried in a freeze-drying facility.

The cutting team takes cuttings.

Dry cutting department.

Packing department with weed scales.

Q-Farms Facts and Figures

Location: Veendam

Number of employees: 115

Net cultivation space: 5,000 m²

Number of cannabis strains: 16

(28 strains in the library)

Number of plants: approx. 35,000

Substrate: Rockwool blocks (Grodan)

Known strains: Zkittlez, Sunsetz, Kensington Kush, Super Orange Glue, Diezel,

Grape Frost by La Chanvrière.

ZoZ, Runtzbert

A large pile of rosin.

Three containers of Lemon Papaya rosin.

Collecting rosin in the hash lab.

Bottom ventilation.

Preroll Mike at the Work; all pre-made joints filled and rolled by hand.

Weighing and filling containers with Dry Sift hash.

Mood Master Rens Hoppebrouwers with a barrel of Q-Farms marijuana.

Cannabis hangs to dry in the drying room.

Grow room with Sunsetz by La Chanvrière.

By Charles Stone

MIDDLE OF THE NIGHTRiley Sager

Ethan Marsh has been plagued by childhood trauma all his life. At the age of ten, he went to sleep with his best friend Billy in a tent in his parents' garden. The next morning he woke up and Billy had disappeared without a trace. When he returns to his parents' house after all this time, strange things happen. It seems like there were ghosts around. Is it Billy? With a number of other childhood friends, who have each processed the traumatic experience in their own way, Ethan goes on an investigation. A mysterious estate in a nearby forest seems to play a key role in Billy's disappearance. Because what happened there in the past. Sager knows how to build the tension well and comes up with a surprising plot.

BOOKS MOVIES

MUSIC

TRAIN DREAMS – Clint Bentley

With: Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, Kerry Condon

Movie fans of lots of action and excitement can safely skip Train Dreams. If you like beautiful images in a historical and understated drama, then this work by director Bentley is more for you. Joel Edgerton is Robert Grainier, an American logger who helps build the railroads in the unexplored wild west. His life goes on without any fuss until he meets the woman of his dreams and starts a family. But life sometimes offers tragedy, as Grainier and an unrecognizable William H. Macy as his colleague Arn Peeples note. If he wonders more and more what the meaning of life is, according to me there is only one answer: love.

ASSASSINS ANONYMOUS –Rob Hart

Mark is one of the best, if not the world's most dangerous assassin. But all work takes its toll and if he makes a fatal mistake he wants to stop. But it's not that easy, because the adrenaline rush is addictive. Fortunately, in the dingy basement of a church, he finds some comrades who have gathered under the name Assassins Anonymous. Mark takes the usual steps that belong to such a self-help group, but his past catches up with him. Forced to do so, he again takes action against his enemies, but he now has a major handicap. He never wants to kill again. And that is not easy if your opponents do not have these rules of the game. Amusing and well developed.

28 YEARS LATER – Danny Boyle

With: Alfie Williams, Aaron TaylorJohnson, Jodie Comer

After 28 Days Later (2002) and 28 Weeks Later (2007), it is now 28 Years Later, made by the duo Alex Garland and Danny Boyle, also responsible for the successful film from 2002. After the devastating epidemic from the previous editions, we now follow a group of survivors on a Scottish island. The continent has been placed under quarantine by Europe, where the virus has been overcome. Father Jamie takes his son Spike hunting on the dangerous mainland for the first time, and that immediately produces adrenalineraising scenes when the infected show up. Isla's mother is ill and Spike seeks a solution from a doctor who, according to most of the islanders, is crazy. Boyle makes a thrilling film out of it, in which a number of classics are winked at. The sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple seems to be even better.

Sex sells and it still does at Peaches. She may have grown a bit older and traveled deeper and deeper into the underground, her hard and rough electropunk and explicit eroticism still splashes from the record and the screen, and pours over it abundantly. Sex against advancing fascism, with orgasm as an antidote - and there can't be enough of that. Through her music and lyrics, she wants to show that people always have a voice, and that it doesn't matter who they are or what the world says about them. And for the time being, she still has a lot to do with it.

SOR - Insomnia (Noah's Ark)

Not such a bad idea to make an album about insomnia, when you know that one third of the Dutch have sleep problems. Composer, producer and performer Sor does it, with the 19-track album Insomnia. Sor is musically known for his mix of classical, hip-hop and electronica, and you can hear that more or less here (little classical). He invited various other artists who are often awake, such as Adje, Ray Fuego and Ronnie Flex. The great, non-drowsy hip-hop album is nicely introduced by actor Frank Lammers: "The more there is wrong in the world, the more punk is born".

PEACHES - No Lube So Rude (Kill Rock Stars)

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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.

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