Hydrolife Magazine | April May 2017

grow. heal. live. enjoy.

Mary Jean Dunsdon

APR/MAY 2017 // USA

WATERMELON Baking a fool of herself since 1993

inside

12 our crew / 14 from the publisher / 16 own it / 18 ask kyle / 46 ask a nurse / 94 consultant's corner / 98 the chill list

grow.

20

8

The Basics of Light Deprivation Cultivation

heal.

48

River City Phoenix

52

Cut and Dried

56

Can Cannabis Treat Epilepsy?

26

Why Humans Use Lumens and Plants Use PAR

32

Good Stress, Bad Stress

60

Training with Cannabis

40

Testing for Pesticides

62

Medicating with Cannabis in the Golden Years

grow. heal. live. enjoy.

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live.

enjoy.

72

Jeff Sessions: Should the Cannabis Industry be Worried?

90

Five Effective Methods for Stashing Your Stash

78

Pepper and Less Than Jake

96

80

A History of Cannabis Part II

Baking a Fool of Myself: Cover Girl Aspirations

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our crew

Billy Bishop Chris Bond Isaac Cedillo Jessica Ferneyhough Josh Gerovac Kent Gruetzmacher Cory Hughes Kyle Kushman Gibson Lannister Sharon Letts Lee G. Lyzit Mary Otte Monica Mansfield Lacey Macri Jodi McDonald Alan Ray Watermelon

Published by

April/May 2017

volume 6 - number 5

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Hydrolife Magazine 3773 Howard Hughes Parkway South Tower, Suite 500 Las Vegas, Nevada 89169

Inquiries to

editor@myhydrolife.com

No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission from the publisher. The views expressed by columnists are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of Hydrolife or the editor.

Printed in Canada Distribution P.A.I.N. Distribution | 310.488.1911 magazinedistribution.org

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from the publisher

To know where you’re going, you have to know where you’ve been.

T

he same adage rings true for the modern cannabis industry, which is why this issue of Hydrolife takes a look back at the roots of marijuana and how the plant has travelled through history (“History of Cannabis Part II”, page 80), as well as how the industry may be affected by recent political appointments (“Should the Cannabis Industry be Worried?”, page 72).

A century ago, marijuana was widely accepted because of its ability to ease or cure a variety of ailments. After being unjustly tied to immigration and health woes in the US for decades, the plant became vilified in society. It is only now, with the help of modern science, emerging as a potential game changer in the health world due to its medicinal benefits.

Of course, old habits die hard. Just as it appeared the air was clearing over the acceptance of cannabis, newly appointed Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made it clear cannabis will not be tolerated by the Trump administration—Obama considered marijuana enforcement a low priority— and that it is still illegal under federal law. Unless congress changes its position, says Sessions, it is his responsibility to uphold the law.

It’s not just the Trump administration. A United Nations panel responsible for enforcing anti-drug treaties just gave Canada and the US a strong warning on legalizing marijuana. Under conventions signed in 1961, 1971, and 1988, countries are prohibited from legalizing cannabis. The UN’s International Narcotics Control Board is working hard to prevent cannabis legalization in all countries.

For the marijuana industry to not only survive, but thrive, in the future, it will need to have a virtually perfect record moving forward. Every dispensary, festival, licensed producer, and individual user that does not follow regulations to a T will only give anti-marijuana campaigners a reason to tighten the noose. If medicinal marijuana wants to be a first line option, it is going to have to earn it.

Marijuana’s past has been a rocky one to be sure.

We should expect no less for its future.

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ROW. HEAL. LIVE. ENJOY

own it

2 4

1 3

own it 1. With QBracelet, combine

fashion with innovative technology and look good doing it. With QBracelet, charging your iPhone has never been easier; simply pull the bracelet open at the clasp and plug the lightning connector into the device.

It will update you when the device is charged to 25, 50, 75, and 100 per cent.

Weighing just 80 grams, the QBracelet is made of ultra-thin 316 stainless steel and is compatible with models beginning at iPhone5 and later.

—qdesigns.co

2. Remember trading baseball cards as a kid? Now that you’re a grown-up, you and your friends can carry on the fun with Canna Cards’

Collectible Trading Cards. Each pack includes

seven cards which showcase vivid descriptions and full color photos of your favorite cannabis strains from Bubba Kush to SinMint Cookies.

Also includes up-to-date information on the strain’s associated products, history, processes, farming and growing techniques, flowering times, definitions, phenotypes, aromas, flavors, and potential medical uses.

—canna-cards.com

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3. ClubM’s MBox has

4. Drift Sublingual is a fast-

—joinclubm.com

—mirthprovisions.com

changed the game with an exclusive channel that allows consumers to try out the ever-changing variety of the very best cannabisinfused products in the privacy of their own homes.

This online membership program provides cannabis and related products in a way that is safe, secure, and confidential. Customers can get a monthly shipment of curated premium cannabis concentrates, vapes, edibles, and flowers delivered to their door via this premiere service.

acting sublingual spray that provides the ease of a vape pen without the smoke. Spray it under your tongue, hold it there for 30 seconds, and shortly after, enjoy a smooth, subtle body high. Every spray contains exactly 1.6 milligrams of THC, and each bottle contains 100 mg of THC from the best sourced cannabis, infused into an organic, cold-extracted peppermint oil. Using a proprietary delivery system called Gravitine, the full range of cannabinoids is delivered directly into the bloodstream.

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5. True Dope of Canada was

started with one purpose: to legitimize marijuana use and end social stigmas surrounding it by providing the nation with highquality and stylish cannabis accessories. The Truedope Leaf T-Shirt, with its floral design discreetly intertwined with cannabis leaves, allows even the most sophisticated smokers to show their own support while remaining fashion-forward. The 100 per cent cotton shirt is designed in Canada, but comes in European sizes (in other words, it runs small).

6. Resin-coated water pipes not

only look gross, they also underperform. To keep your pieces sparkling and your experience clean, try using RezBlock by 420 Science.

Just a few drops added with each water change will help prevent resin from building up. (Of course, the more frequently you use it, the better it works.) Made of fruit extracts, vegetable glycerin, purified water, and citric acid, RezBlock won’t affect taste.

—420science.com

6

8

7. Named for its clever design

and sophistication, the IQ vaporizer from DaVinci is both unique and portable.

Its sleek exterior comes in four colors and features a ceramic air path, Smart Path technology and bluetooth app integration. The DaVinci IQ is made for a range of users from vaping newbies to on-the-go users and connoisseurs. Includes a USB charging cable, alcohol wipes, chimney brush, keychain tool, 10 mm adapter, and a carry can.

—davincivaporizer.com

8. Now is your chance to cast

off the synthetics and go fully natural for your next camping experience. The Yukon

Hemp Sleeping Bag

from Rawganique is made from 100 per cent organic hemp canvas on the exterior and a sweater-weight hemp knit blanket on the inside.

Both parts are grown, woven, knitted and sewn in-house at the Rawganique Atelier in Europe—a process the company proudly describes as environmentally sustainable and “sweatshop-free”.

—rawganique.co

—truedope.com

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ask kyle

Q

a

Hi Kyle,

I’ve been growing for a couple of years, and I’m disappointed with the potency of my plants’ essential oils. I use marijuana for pain relief and would really like to boost my buds' cannabinoid levels. Any advice you could provide on improving my plants?

Thanks, Carole

Well, Carole, isn’t this the crux of the whole shebang? More sugar!

The basis of my whole career is trying to help the personal grower make the most of their efforts. Stronger flowers and higher yields make your cannabis more valuable. If it’s more potent, you can smoke less to achieve the desired effect. If you grow more, then you can smoke more.

There are many angles of attack; I could write a book of yield enhancement techniques! For now, though, I’ll suggest a few that can be easily applied while having substantial effects.

First off, plants need to be healthy to achieve their genetic potential.

Keeping plants healthy and photosynthesizing through the entire production phase of flowering is the only way to maximize potency.

Remember, you are what you eat and so are your plants. So, be patient when learning how much to water and feed.

Next, stress training is a technique like that used by bonsai masters.

Manipulating branches, whether by carefully bending, twisting, and snapping the inner hurd (core) of branches, is a technique known as supercropping. You can also use garden tape or twine to tie down branches and expose lower, inner nodes to more light.

Also, use a bloom booster during peak flowering, which usually occurs in weeks four to six (possibly week seven for sativas).

This can be achieved by elevating levels of phosphorous and potassium by 10-15 per cent.

You can also preserve your root mass by not under- or overwatering.

Roots are sensitive; too dry and they die, too wet and they suffocate.

Learn to effectively cycle your plants through complete wet to dry cycles during the veg stage. As the plants get larger, they need more water present to hold up its vegetation and keep a larger root system moist.

Kyle Kushman is an internationally renowned marijuana cultivator whose collaborations have earned 13 Medical Cannabis Cup awards, including three US Cannabis Cups for Best Flowers. As the creator of Vegamatrix, the only line of vegan and organic nutrients designed for growing cannabis, Kyle continues to make advances for people who want to cultivate the purest, cleanest medicine possible.

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Also, keeping the lights close to the plants is a great way to increase photosynthesis, growth rates, and minimize internodal spacing. However, having the ability to back off the lights while the buds are ripening is essential. This can be done either by raising lights to double the distance during production, lowering the wattage, or both.

Finally, mimic the natural world by using halide for vegging and sodium for flowering. Plants that wake up from their first full dark cycle to the intense light spectrum change will experience a pronounced difference in time until bud set. Less time stretching means a shorter intermodal spacing, which directly relates to larger colas.

Good luck!

Kyle

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR KYLE?

Email editor@myhydrolife.com to get an answer. myhydrolife.com

grow

BACK BLACK: IN

The Basics of Light Deprivation Cultivation

by Kent Gruetzmacher Tricking your herbs, vegetables, or flowers into thinking harvest time is approaching through light deprivation can result in more frequent highquality yields. While becoming popular, light deprivation greenhouses take some dialing in. Kent Gruetzmacher sheds some light on the basics of blackout gardening.

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T

he popularity of light deprivation cultivation has been on the rise over the past few years. There are several reasons why, but key factors include higher-quality yields and off-season harvest times, allowing growers who utilize this method to supply the market with a particular product when others can’t. In light deprivation growing, horticulturalists use sunlight to fuel their gardens while simultaneously employing environmental controls not seen in traditional outdoor grow scenarios.

This blend of cultivation styles allows light deprivation gardeners to combine their knowledge of indoor and outdoor growing to produce exceptional crops.

Furthermore, light deprivation requires less electricity and allows for harvests during better weather.

create wood frames by placing heavy wooden posts in cement at the ends of the garden. These wooden posts have heavy cables that support the tarp and allow for it to easily slide over the canopy of the garden. Secondly, PVC hoophouses can be constructed by pounding two-foot pieces of rebar into the ground at opposite ends of the garden and simply bending the PVC over the canopy and onto the rebar, forming a “hoop.”

Finally, greenhouse kits and frames make excellent support over which to pull blackout tarps. Greenhouses provide growers with the ability to utilize more environmental controls than with wood frames and hoop-houses, and greenhouses have opaque walls as well as door systems, making them more attractive for privacy and security.

Plant Photoperiods

Tarp Systems

The most definitive characteristic of light-deprivation cultivation is the artificial simulation of equal 12-hour light/ dark photoperiods. Using light deprivation, cultivators seek to mimic the photoperiods of the late summer and early fall, which trigger plants to produce flowers. This idea of artificially induced flower periods represents a merging of outdoor and indoor growing methods.

While indoor growers have timers that simulate night and day in a growroom, light deprivation growers must devise other means to black out the sunlight during the 12-hour dark period. It should be noted, however, that artificial light deprivation methods are only necessary in evening and morning in most areas.

Exposing your plants to sunsets, moon rises, and the fresh air of summer nights will generally improve their quality.

With that said, light deprivation enthusiasts must devise blackout systems that cover the entire canopy and exterior of their gardens to block all sunlight in the simulation of nighttime conditions.

The sort of tarp-pulling system one chooses for a light deprivation operation will prove to be important for the duration of a flowering cycle. This is because the tarp has to be pulled over the entire canopy of the garden twice a day for an entire 55- to 70-day flower cycle. Therefore, light deprivation cultivators have to be present twice a day, for two months solid, to ensure this task is complete. In the novice operation, as seen with wooden frames and hoophouses, it’s often possible to simply pull the tarp over the frame by hand or with the help of ropes. To aid in this process, growers also devise pulley systems mounted on trees and wooden poles to help with getting a tarp over a large or tall frame system.

Finally, greenhouse companies have designed a number of automated, less labor-intensive systems that black out daylight. These automated systems include motorized tarp pulley systems as well as large blinds that fold over on one another to create a completely dark environment.

Frames, Hoop-houses, and Greenhouses

“

THERE ARE THREE ROUTES ONE CAN TAKE IN THE CREATION OF A FRAMEWORK: WOOD FRAMES, HOOP-HOUSES, AND GREENHOUSES.”

Airflow During the ‘Night’ Period Regardless of the scope of a light deprivation operation, all cultivators need to consider airflow in their gardens when the tarp is pulled over the canopy during nighttime simulation. This is because the tarp hinders all airflow from outside the canopy, presenting challenges with humidity and subsequent issues with mold and mildew. To remedy these concerns, growers must employ intake and outtake fans similar to those found in indoor

No matter how sophisticated or simple cultivators wish to make their operations, all light deprivation crops require an exterior frame which supports a blackout system. There are three routes one can take in the creation of a framework: wood frames, hoophouses, and greenhouses. Gardeners can

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grow

“

GROWERS MUST EMPLOY INTAKE AND OUTTAKE FANS SIMILAR TO THOSE FOUND IN INDOOR GROWROOMS TO ENSURE A STEADY EXCHANGE OF AIR WHEN THE COVERINGS ARE DRAWN.“ growrooms to ensure a steady exchange of air when the coverings are drawn. When choosing the size of inline fans for intakes and outtakes, gardeners should use similar considerations as seen with indoor growing.

Exhaust fans should completely exchange the air in a light deprivation garden in five minutes or less.

Depending on the size and the structure of a garden, intakes and outtakes can be mounted on the framing system or simply placed on the ground. However, for air to move efficiently, it’s essential that the ducting connected to these fans is long enough so that the ends are not covered by the tarp when it is pulled over the frame.

Light deprivation greenhouses essentially signal plants that seasons are changing earlier than they actually are, so growers can manipulate their crops to produce more robust and frequent crops. Keep in mind that some plants react better to light deprivation methods than others, and that

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issues such as excessive heat or humidity, lack of oxygen to the roots, and pest infestations can be prohibitive.

Once dialed in, however, light deprivation technology can be used to harvest early and often, particularly in late summer and early fall.

Kent Gruetzmacher is a California-based writer and the west coast director of business development at Mac & Fulton Executive Search and Consulting, an employment recruiting firm. He is interested in utilizing his Master of Arts in humanities to explore the cultural and business facets of this emerging industry by way of his entrepreneurial projects.

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grow

BY JOSH GEROVAC

WHY HUMANS USE

LUMENS AND PLANTS USE

PAR

Humans need light to perceive color and brightness while plants need light to support photosynthesis. Using the correct metrics and instruments to calculate PAR is essential to avoid adverse lighting effects on your crop.

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grow grow

W

hether you are using horticulture lighting systems to provide supplemental lighting in a greenhouse or solesource lighting indoors, it is important that you know the quality and quantity of light that your fixtures are providing to your plants. There are numerous metrics used to measure light; however, certain ones were developed for applications related to human vision, while others were developed specifically for measuring light that influences plant growth and development.

HUMANS USE LUMENS

It goes without saying that plants perceive light very differently than humans. Where plants use light to drive photosynthesis and other lightmediated physiological responses, humans and many other animals use something called photopic vision in well-lit conditions to perceive color and brightness of light. Lumen is a unit of measurement based on a model of human eye sensitivity in well-lit conditions, which is why the model is called the photopic response curve (Figure 1). As it shows, the photopic response curve is bell-shaped and shows how humans are much more sensitive to green light than blue or red light.

LUX and foot candle meters measure the intensity of light (using lumens) for commercial and residential lighting applications, with the only difference between the two being the unit of area they measure (LUX uses lumen per square meter and foot candle uses lumen per square foot).

The fundamental problem with using LUX or foot candle meters when measuring the light intensity of horticulture lighting systems is the underrepresentation of blue (400-500 nanometers) and red (600-700 nm) light in the measurement. Humans may not be efficient at perceiving light in these regions, but plants are highly efficient at using blue and red light to drive photosynthesis.

PLANTS USE PAR

Plants primarily use wavelengths of light between 400-700 nm to drive photosynthesis (Figure 1), which is why this range is called photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). PAR is a much-used (and often misused) term related to horticulture lighting. PAR is not a measurement or metric like feet, inches, or kilos. Rather, it defines the type of light needed to support photosynthesis. The amount and spectral light quality of PAR are the important metrics to focus on. Quantum sensors are the

“HUMANS MAY NOT be efficient at perceiving light in these regions, but plants are highly efficient at using blue and red light to drive photosynthesis.�

Relative Photosynthetic Efficiency (%)

PAR 100 80 60 40 Lumens

20 0 300

400

500

600

700

800

Wavelength (nm ) Figure 1 Graph depicting the average photosynthetic efficiency of plants and the spectral range that photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and lumens are measured.

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grow primary instrument used to quantify the light intensity of horticulture lighting systems. A quantum sensor measures the total amount of PAR landing on a specific location of your plant canopy and is measured in micromoles per square meter per second (Âľmol/m2/s).

These sensors work by using an optical filter to create a uniform sensitivity to PAR light, and can be used in combination with a light meter to measure instantaneous light intensity or a data logger to measure cumulative light intensity (Figure 2).

If you used a LUX or foot candle meter to measure the intensity of a horticulture lighting system, you would end up receiving different values depending on the spectrum of the fixture, even if the fixtures were providing the same PAR intensity to your crop. For example, if you took a measurement using a LUX or foot candle meter under a fixture using broad spectrum (i.e. white) light emitting diodes (LEDs), you would receive a much higher value than if you took the same measurement under a fixture with red and blue LEDs, even if both fixtures were providing the same amount of PAR. This will cause growers to miscalculate the actual amount of PAR they are delivering to their crop, which can lead

to unfavorable growth and development.

This is why lumens, LUX, and foot candles should not be used as metrics for horticulture lighting.

When you are looking to optimize growing conditions by measuring and fine-tuning light intensity in a controlled environment, it is extremely important to use the correct metrics and instruments.

The amount of PAR delivered to a crop has a direct correlation to the amount of water, CO2, and nutrients a plant requires, in addition to other environmental factors (e.g. temperature and humidity) that need to be adjusted based on light intensity. Measuring lumens instead of PAR is just one example of using incorrect metrics for horticulture lighting that can have an adverse effect on your crop.

Josh Gerovac is a horticulture scientist at Fluence Bioengineering. He has spent the last decade working in controlled environment agriculture, ranging from growth chambers to commercial greenhouses. His research and practice is focused on the influence of light intensity and spectral light quality from sole-source LEDs on growth, morphology, and nutrient content of edible, ornamental, and medicinal crop production. He has a BSc in horticulture production and marketing, and a MSc in horticulture, both from Purdue University.

Figure 2 Using a quantum meter to measure light intensity.

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, B s s a e d r t Str S d e o s o

by Stephe

n Keen

s

G

grow

HOW YOUR PLANTS WILL RESPOND

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The phrase “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” can also apply to your plants. By providing good stress to your crop, you can ensure it will be more robust and productive.

Just don’t overdo it. Stephen Keen from Surna tells us how.

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I

n cannabis cultivation, as in life, there are two types of stress—good and bad.

Good stress causes the cannabis plant to work harder to achieve a desirable goal (larger buds, anyone?); bad stress is counterproductive to growth and could ultimately kill the plant. When growing cannabis, it is important to maximize the use of good stress and minimize the introduction of bad stress.

Bad Stress

Some plant stressors are counterproductive to growth as they inhibit the plants’ ability to absorb light for photosynthesis, constrain appropriate amounts of leaf transpiration, increase susceptibility to pest/disease attack, and potentially cause the plants to develop genetic abnormalities (hermaphroditism); all of which could devastate an entire flower crop.

Light

Temperature

When flowering, cannabis plants are very susceptible to stress from interruptions in the light cycle. Even a red indicator light on a camera can cause plants to become hermaphroditic.

As such, it is crucial to maintain complete darkness during the entire lights off cycle. Because commercial operations require cameras in every room of the grow, look for cameras and other emergency lights that have green indicator lights instead of red and then securely cover the light with a piece of electrical tape. The photoperiod of cannabis plants is largely unaffected by low intensity green light, making it the better choice of light source for dark cycle work lights and indicators. Now, don’t mistake the previous statement as “Cannabis plants don’t use green light for photosynthesis.” They very much do.

However, there are different chemical processes within the plant that are at play when it comes to photoperiodism.

If work must be completed during the lights off cycle, only use a low power green LED for a light source. When no work is being completed in the flower room, the space should be completely dark and tested regularly to verify that no new light leaks have developed.

Within the conventional indoor grow environment, heat is typically much more of a negative stressor to cannabis plants than cold. Cannabis plants grown indoors aren’t usually exposed to temperatures below 50°F, so seeing stresses caused by plants getting too cold is an uncommon event. However, when ambient conditions rise above 85°F, the plants start to alter their growth patterns to accommodate a higher rate of transpiration to keep the plant cool. This altered growth puts extra energy into growing more plant stem, ultimately resulting in a lanky plant without the desired flower mass yield and essential oil production. At extremely high temperatures, photosynthesis can cease entirely and maturation of the crop will certainly be delayed. Keeping the temperature and humidity of the room at an appropriate level throughout the day is crucial to maintaining an efficient grow.

Good Stress

There are a variety of good types of stress that can be introduced throughout the growing cycle. Exposing cannabis plants to good stress will result in robust plants that are more likely to produce more resin and larger buds. The best plants are the ones that not only survive doses of good stress, but actually thrive on it. To ensure you are growing the best plants, it is important to cull plants at each stage of growth.

Air Circulation Using air circulation is the most common way of stressing plants that most people already incorporate in their room for other reasons. By using an oscillating fan to keep young plants moving with forced air, you are, in effect, constantly providing small stresses to the stem of the plant which help the stem become thick and robust more quickly than if forced air is not used.

“

KEEPING THE TEMPERATURE & HUMIDITY OF THE ROOM AT AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL THROUGHOUT THE DAY IS CRUCIAL TO MAINTAINING AN EFFICIENT GROW.”

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grow Plant Training Plant training is the process of managing plant growth using various levels of applied stresses to manipulate the plant shape and size. These stressors alter growth by changing the plants’ nutrient distribution pathways, modulating metabolic rates, and by physically spreading the plant out laterally, making it easier to maintain an even canopy.

There are several ways of achieving this end. Some may seem extreme, but they’re worth experimenting with if you haven’t already.

Low-Stress Training (LST): Low-stress training is the practice of using small amounts of constant force to encourage plant branch growth in the growers’ chosen direction while opening up lower nodes to higher light intensity. Applying this stress throughout the vegetative growth phase will provide thick stem growth, which will produce additional nutrient and water delivery capabilities during flowering. This technique is very good for increasing yield per plant while keeping the overall plant height to a minimum. Screen of Green (ScrOG) trellising, tomato cages, and using bamboo stakes (sticking and spreading) are all great methods of applying this type of gentle stress.

Super-cropping: Break your plants!

While this may sound extreme, it will increase your yield if done correctly.

Super-cropping is the method of taking growth that is too tall for the grower’s liking and bending it in the desired direction of growth until the stem’s inside structure breaks. The intent is to break the inside while leaving the outer structure free from damage. After a few days, you’ll notice a knuckle forming at the bend; this is a good thing. This stress increases the plant's ability to deliver nutrients to the top nodes on that branch while opening up the lower branches to more light.

Topping: Topping is the most common plant control technique used in cannabis gardening. This process involves clipping off the very top shoot from the topmost plant branch(es). In doing this, the top node splits into two shoots. This can be done multiple times through the vegetative phase to maintain the desired canopy height. For some cannabis strains, this technique will produce

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a nice bushy structure that provides a higher yield potential per plant. Remember, this technique should be used during vegetative growth only and is not appropriate to use during flower growth.

Cold Temperatures

While it may seem like a bad idea to allow cannabis plants to get cold given their ideal growing climate, it can actually be beneficial to allow the room to cool down to between 50 and 60°F at Lollipopping: Lollipopping is another night during the last two weeks of the way of directing plant hormones to the flower cycle. A sequence of warm days branches or nodes of interest through defoliation. In this technique, undergrowth (lights on) and cool nights (lights off) towards the end of growth mimics the is periodically stripped away with the natural growth cycle of cannabis plants. intention of pushing robust new growth In fact, many cannabis genetics naturalto the top of the branches. During ly flower in the colder months. Running vegetative growth, this practice will colder temperatures boosts the plants’ allow the grower to direct growth in the metabolic system, resulting in more direction of their choosing by stretching resin production and a larger range of branches into the desired position on the aesthetically appealing flower colors. canopy. During flowering, this technique Purple pistils are a result of cool nights is used to discourage “popcorn buds”— at the end of a flower cycle combined small underdeveloped flowers that with the plants’ genetic predisposition are typically not marketable for flower for producing purple colors. sales—by directing growth to the top cola on each branch. It’s recommended to take advantage of this technique before placing the plant into a flowering state and between two to three weeks after the 12/12 photoperiod has been applied, depending on the genetics of the plant.

“

BREAK YOUR PLANTS! WHILE THIS MAY SOUND EXTREME, IT WILL INCREASE YOUR YIELD IF DONE CORRECTLY.”

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grow. heal. live. enjoy.

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grow Simulate a Drought Drought stress is another method that is commonly used to encourage accelerated growth rates. If applied correctly, simulating a drought causes plants to react by increasing root growth rates as it prepares for supply shortages.

At the same time, this increases the levels of available oxygen to the root zone. Advanced growers can push their plants’ growth much harder using this method. However, be careful as too much of this stress is definitely a bad thing.

You don’t want to see wilting plants or have the plants develop an embolism while you’re in the middle of a flowering program. Become comfortable with this technique on the small scale prior to attempting to incorporate it into a large cannabis production process.

“

IF APPLIED CORRECTLY, SIMULATING A DROUGHT CAUSES PLANTS TO REACT BY INCREASING ROOT GROWTH RATES.”

Stephen Keen has been an indoor gardening hobbyist for nearly 10 years. The hot summers in Texas led him to start experimenting with different equipment and alternative ways to cool the garden. His personal successes with his garden led him to want to bring new ideas, mainly water-cooling, to the mainstream, which led to the founding of Hydro Innovations. He tries to educate as many growers as possible any way he can about the benefits of new ideas and how to be effective at controlling heat in indoor gardens.

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grow esticides might be something that you are thinking about a lot recently. They have been in the news and Phave played an important role in cannabis product

KEYSTONE LABS:

TESTING FOR

PESTICIDES

cDo

nald

With the cannabis industry still in its infancy when it comes to government standards, allowable pesticides are emerging as a source of concern for human health. Jodi McDonald explains why more scrutiny is needed to protect cannabis users from harmful chemicals.

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di o J y

M

recalls in Canada.

What do we know about pesticides? In general, pesticide use is a calculation to increase yield by reducing loss to pests. Pesticides are approved for use through a rigorous program that considers the health and safety of the consumer and the individual applying the product to a crop, as well as the environmental impact. Many pesticides are considered for use on cannabis crops, however, cannabis is not consumed in the same way that lettuce or tomatoes are. Due to the young age of the legal cannabis industry, we are only beginning to collect meaningful data about the risks and concerns of control products utilized during production.

“

In general, pesticide use is a calculation to increase yield by reducing loss to pests.�

In Canada, Health Canada has published a list of 13 approved pesticide products for cannabis producers as of February 1. A look through this list reveals that there are a very limited number of chemical products that cannabis growers have at their disposal when a pest problem shows up. Most of the approved products are biological controls. Compared to the products that are available for growers in the US, this may seem like Canadian growers are at a great disadvantage.

In Colorado, the Colorado Department of Agriculture has also compiled a list of approved products for pest control as of March 6. Compared to the list available for Canadian use, this list is 27 pages long, offering a wide variety of choices for growers.

Biological pesticides work because the insect or organism in the product is a natural predator or parasite to the pest problem. These products are effective because once they have done their job and rid a crop of the unwanted pests, they die from starvation. Biological pesticides require an awareness of the health of a crop and diligent application of the products; this can mean frequent reapplication to completely eradicate a problem.

Chemical pesticides have benefits as they act quickly and can reduce or completely eliminate an invading pest. Unfortunately for Canadian producers, these are not approved for use in cannabis crops.

Recently, the pesticide myclobutanil has been in the news related to cannabis recalls in Canada.

Myclobutanil is a common chemical used to eliminate powdery mildew on plants. It is interesting to know that this is acceptable for use on edible crops, but it is not approved for use in tobacco in the US and Canada. It is also not approved for use in cannabis in Canada.

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we are only beginning to collect meaningful data about the risks and concerns of control products utilized during production.”

Myclobutanil is a good example of pest control and science not being applied in equal measure. This pesticide works by blocking an enzyme in fungal cells; this impacts the way the fungal cell membrane is built and maintained leading to cell death. It is a systemic pesticide, which means that it enters the plant through the leaves and then spreads internally through the plant to provide protection to the whole plant and not just at the site of application.

Since this pesticide is carried inside the plant, it cannot be washed off. While its levels decrease over time, the frequency that it has been applied to the crop will impact the final amount left in the plant at harvest.

Also concerning is that the pesticide is soluble in common solvents used in production of cannabis oil, which means as the cannabis oil is being concentrated, the pesticide is being concentrated too.

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At temperatures above 205°C, the pesticide breaks down into a number of byproducts, one of which is hydrogen cyanide.

This byproduct is dangerous because it is known to cause problems in most of the major systems in the body—the brain, the lungs, heart, and hormone control center.

Overall, myclobutanil is a terrible choice for pest control in cannabis. While it is effective against powdery mildew, it has a high cost of use for the patients who are exposed to products treated with it. This is one clear example of a common pesticide used in one industry being adopted by a different industry without consideration given to the way the crop is processed or consumed.

In response to the recent product recalls, Health Canada has committed to random testing of products for pesticides to provide a level of assurance to the patients in Canada.

For personal growers, the use of pesticide products is not regulated by the federal government, so the bottom line is to be diligent, know what you are applying to your plants, and know what the potential impact is to you as a grower and you as a patient. You can’t see pesticides or the residues, but a good test lab will have sensitive equipment that will detect the presence of pesticides.

Jodi McDonald is the president and founder of Keystone Labs and is a medical microbiologist, inventor, and super science-geek. She has 20 years’ experience in the quality control, regulatory, and quality assurance environment for the pharmaceutical industry. Jodi believes testing is essential for taking control of your personal health.

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ASK A NURSE: TIPS FOR THE GAME

Q

Dear Nurse Jessica, My boyfriend and I have been dating for about three years. He never used marijuana before he met me, but now he is a regular user and really enjoys it. It’s something we share as a couple (we’re in our late 20s). Problem is, in the last few months, he has been having some erectile difficulties.

He doesn’t want to talk about it. Could this be related to marijuana?

Thank you, Sandy

A

Hello Sandy, Since cannabis has a unique reaction to everyone, it could be the ganja. Some men need it, some men don’t. It could also be his diet, hydration level, busy brain, or a boring sex life (no offense).

Start by booking an appointment with your family doctor and naturopath. It’s never a bad idea to request some blood work and see how everything is going on internally.

Erectile difficulty isn’t easy to deal with as a couple, but this too shall pass. Hang in there, Sandy, this may be a way to elevate your intimacy and discover new pleasures.

Perhaps you two need a 72-hour detox from cannabis. Give yourselves a reset and see what you’re both like without it. Since you use cannabis together, try doing some other things for those three days. Why not do some couples yoga, book massages, take floats in a float pod, get acupuncture done together, or book a cottage for a weekend and spend some time outdoors? Since your boyfriend doesn’t want to talk about it, don’t.

Just provide some tender love and affection with the right dose of newness.

Another possibility would be to go shopping for some sex toys together. Adding another dimension to your intimacy might be just what he needs. Grab a cock ring, a Swedish penis pump, and a few different dildos for yourself. Don’t allow your sexual frustration to make him feel insecure.

Let masturbation lead the way both as individuals and as a couple.

You two have lasted for three years. Now, you face a time where one of your bodies is asking for gentleness and realignment.

Don’t jump ship; step up and tune into your lover’s vibrations. With an open heart, you two may be surprised to see how much there is to still learn of one another.

Please feel free to e-mail me once your detox is over, and we’ll go from there! Have fun.

Nurse Jessica

Jessica Ferneyhough, a registered practical nurse, brings a unique approach to care, empowering patients as a medicinal cannabis nurse and horses for healing advocate.

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ISPENSARY PROFILE

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River City

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PHOENIX

Being a dispensary in Sacramento a few years ago was difficult, but River City Phoenix learned from the challenges and has survived to be one of the city’s top dispensaries. Lacey Macri took a tour and discovered that along with great service and products, the people at RCP care about their community as well.

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ocated in the heart of California’s capital of Sacramento, River City Phoenix (RCP) is one of the biggest and highest-rated dispensaries in the region.

Serving approximately 600 customers per day, RCP takes its business very seriously.

Its core values are rooted in a compassion for helping people live higher-quality lives. RCP’s success did not come easily, however, as there have been many complicated hurdles to clear along the way in order to continue serving patients.

From 2009 to 2012, several of the decisionmakers that currently make up the courteous and knowledgeable staff at RCP were busy running Magnolia Wellness out of Roseville, CA. When the laws suddenly changed and dispensaries were forced to close in Roseville, they quickly shifted gears and joined the team over at RCP. In 2008, RCP itself was raided, which forced the dispensary to be very diplomatic about how it would conduct its business going forward. In 2012, the DEA suited up in front of RCP and raided the neighboring dispensary, which never reopened. The DEA then sent multiple letters to RCP’s landlord, threatening to take the building away from them.

For fear of being sent to jail, being heavily fined, or even losing the building completely, the landlord proposed that, in order to be worth the risk, he was increasing RCP’s rent from $5,000 to $35,000 per month, with only a month-tomonth commitment to lean on.

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Fortunately for RCP, the City of Sacramento maintained very good rapport with the company, as it produced a lot of tax revenue through the business. The City of Sacramento is very compliant with the state’s laws in general, drafting ordinances consistent with that of the state’s. Although California recently legalized recreational marijuana, there is still a lot to be drafted and will most likely not be complete until 2019. RCP intends to remain in compliance with all laws that are thrown its way while continuing to improve and grow it business.

When asked what makes their medicine superior to others, RCP said every strain that comes through the door goes through an extensive testing phase, where its examines the terpene content, potency, and whether or not there are pesticides present. It strictly adheres to a zero-tolerance policy for residual pesticide content on any medicine that is admitted into the dispensary. RCP is also keen on bringing in flowers that have aesthetic beauty and fragrance, as it all contributes to the patient’s overall experience of medicating.

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Mark Pelter, owner of RCP, is very actively involved in the research and testing aspect of cannabis, and he shared some very interesting points with us during our visit. One point that is particularly relevant was a study he’d observed examining the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on cancer cells.

After synthesizing CBD in a lab, researchers gathered rats with brain cancer and injected the synthesized CBD into their tumors. In the control group of rats, the tumors metastasized to other areas of their bodies; however, in the group that received treatment, their tumors died within two months. Pelter describes CBD cannabis as “heaven in a tablet, that feels like a warm, positive glow of well-being.”

He said he firmly believes in not only the relief that CBD provides its patients, but its healing power as well.

When the team members at RCP aren’t busy serving their patients, they participate in several outreach programs to give back to the community. One of the community benefit programs they lead is the Full Belly Backpack program through the Mercy HIV/ AIDS Housing Alliance program.

Full Belly Backpack provides backpacks full of nutritious meals that are delivered to underprivileged and potentially malnourished kids on the weekends when they are away from federally funded school programs. Additionally, they hold after-school and summer school programs at the Hagginwood Community Center, where they provide fun snacks and entertainment to young students in an effort to keep them on the right track by offering healthy, positive outlets to engage in during their spare time. Patients of RCP can also take advantage of some free in-house services including acupuncture and chiropractic services for those suffering from chronic pain and other conditions. The team at RCP reports being very grateful for having opportunities to conduct and participate in programs like this, as it is the most fulfilling part of the job.

Next up for RCP includes registering as cultivators; it originally had cultivation on site, but that was shut down. As operations in California continue to smooth out over the next few years, RCP hopes to expand in the recreational cannabis market into other states including Alaska, Oregon, and Washington.

River City Phoenix can be found at 1508 El Camino Ave. Its friendly and knowledgeable staff is waiting to serve you.

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CUT AND DRIED: A MONTHLY LOOK AT DIFFERENT MMJ STRAINS

BY BILLY BISHOP There has always been something singularly difficult about trying to convey the taste and aroma of a powerful Kush. It’s all about that “Kushiness” or, more specifically, that “Kush smell” that is so difficult to define: Citrus, gasoline, pine needles, chlorophyll. A unique scent and taste that is all of these and yet none.

starkiller Sometimes a Kush leans towards the piney… more often towards the fuelly… and hopefully towards the lemony or citrusy. Some describe it as jet fuel, but I don’t really know what jet fuel smells like. The often-used term ‘diesel’ is quite appropriate for Kush strains but really doesn’t do the aroma justice. No verbal description does.

Origins

This descriptive challenge continues with Starkiller, the latest and greatest 70/30 Indica/Sativa hybrid from Broken Coast Cannabis. This award-winning strain is a cross between Skywalker OG and Rare Dankness #2.

Physical Description

Visually, it is a deep, dark green with delicate, wispy, orange hairs and a predilection for robust, large, solid colas covered in a fine velvet of shimmering, sparkling trichomes. The color and appearance of Starkiller is unusually dark and lush. The trichomes create levels of light that make the colas seem to have a texture and depth like folds of dark velvet.

Taste and aroma

Starkiller offers a rich and heady aroma focused strongly on ambrosial, deepforest chlorophyll notes, mixed with more subtle tones of pine nuts, menthol, and oiled leather. All swirling around

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a strong, lemony center. A very lemony center. When smoked, it produces highly aromatic flavors reminiscent of forest undergrowth and fresh green vegetables, with undertones of caramelized sugar and gasoline fumes at the back of the throat.

Award Winner

Starkiller is already a well-known contender (it was winner of Best Hybrid Flower at the 2016 Colorado Cannabis Cup), but Broken Coast has shown its chops by developing this strain into a seriously top-notch finished product. I know I say this every time, but this is my favorite strain ever.

Topping out the THC at 23.2 per cent, this is also the one of the strongest strains I’ve tested and it shows. This was one of the fastest-hitting and powerful highs I have experienced.

Although highly physically reactive, it provided gentle cerebral stimulation, so it had an easy, even-keeled feel throughout the entire experience.

not only appreciate alleviation from spasmodic episodes but enjoy a mild appetite enhancement and a boost to taste and scent experience. A strong, effective medicine both physically and mentally, Starkiller is also a great choice for managing your anxiety under challenging circumstances. The CBD levels are around one per cent.

A success story

Selected from more than 120 seed options, this phenotype is Broken Coast’s latest attempt to one-up its already impressive stock of quality, high-potency options. As a growing option, Broken Coast tells me that this phenotype produces large, dense buds with high yields for this type of hybrid. Shorter and stockier than her true OG sisters, Starkiller is an ideal size and structure for efficient and successful indoor growing.

I get the feeling that the Broken Coast crew is quite proud of this one. They should be.

Medical Suitability

This is an outstanding option for pain management. It is strong, sedative, and helpful for inducing sleep. The immediately noticeable muscle-relaxant properties will appeal particularly to patients with muscular or joint injuries, sciatica, back and neck pain, and spasmodic digestive tract conditions.

A patient with Crohn’s or colitis will

Billy Bishop is a long time cannabis patient and suffers from extended postconcussion syndrome. This is a complex disorder in which various symptoms including headaches, nausea, dizziness, and depression can last for weeks, months, or years after the initial head injury that caused the concussion.

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Can

Cannabis Treat

Epilepsy?

by Monica Mansfield | More research is needed, but early indications suggest cannabis can help reduce epileptic seizures in people. Monica Mansfield explores some case studies and the potential role cannabis can play in treating epilepsy.

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y now, many people have heard of Charlotte Figi, the little girl from Colorado who used medical cannabis oil to dramatically reduce the number of seizures she suffered. Her story was made famous on CNN, and it popularized a strain of cannabis called Charlotte’s Web. Charlotte’s Web is unique because it is very low in delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and high in cannabidiol (CBD). Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol is the psychoactive compound in cannabis that gives the user the “high” feeling. Cannabidiol is another compound found in cannabis that has gained recognition for its medicinal benefits without the psychoactive effects.

Although Charlotte has spread awareness for the medicinal use of cannabis to treat epilepsy, there are many others with similar stories. Austin Roberts is a 12-year-old boy who was having 200 seizures per month. When he started using cannabis, his seizures decreased dramatically, and his mood, appetite, and energy levels improved.

Tim Shellman is 29 years old and his seizures began when he was 15. He started smoking cannabis shortly after developing the condition and quickly realized that smoking controlled his seizures. At 17, he was seizure-free for eight months while he had consistent access to cannabis. Unfortunately, medical cannabis is not legal in his state and he has difficulty finding someone who can supply his medicine.

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“Shellman has used nine different seizure medications in a variety of combinations, but his body is resistant to them. Cannabis is the only thing that controls or stops his seizures.”

When he is unable to secure a supply, the seizures return. Shellman has used nine different seizure medications in a variety of combinations, but his body is resistant to them. Cannabis is the only thing that controls or stops his seizures.

Until the last few years, studies on cannabis were hard to come by due to federal law. Now that more than half of the United States has legalized medical cannabis, and a handful of states have legalized it recreationally, there have been more studies on the medicinal effects of this powerful herb.

Dr. Orrin Devinsky, who specializes in epilepsy and neurology, is the director of NYU Langone’s Comprehensive Epilepsy Center. The center not only treats patients with the most cutting-edge treatments, but they are also leaders in epilepsy research. Dr. Devinsky sees medical cannabis as a promising treatment for epilepsy. “We don’t today know exactly how CBD exerts its biological

effects, which include, in animal models, very potent anticonvulsant or anti-seizure effects in numerous species and in numerous different models of epilepsy,” he says. “And interestingly, in none of the animal models that have been looked at to date has CBD been actively causing seizures, and in the majority of them, it is quite effective as an anti-seizure agent.

“By contrast, THC…is also an important and potential anti-epileptic drug based on our animal experience because in most animal studies, THC also exerts anti-seizure properties. However, in about 10 per cent of the animal models, THC can actually lead to more seizure activity or more seizure severity. So, it is something to keep in mind that THC and CBD are really quite different, both in how they act in the brain and, potentially, how they affect different types of epilepsies. We still don’t have really good clinical scientific data from humans, but we have quite good data in animals.”

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Many studies point to the benefits of cannabis, and particularly CBD, in treating seizures. In 1978, nine patients were randomized to receive either 200 mg per day of pure CBD or a placebo for three months (Mechoulam and Carlini 1978). Two of the four patients receiving CBD became seizure-free, while there was no change in the five placebo recipients.

In 1981, 15 adult patients were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study to examine the effect of CBD for 18 weeks (Carlini and Cunha 1981). These patients exhibited partial seizures with secondary generalization. Of the eight patients who received CBD, four became seizure-free, one “improved markedly,” one “improved somewhat,” one showed no improvement, and one withdrew from the study.

A retrospective case review of 75 pediatric epilepsy patients was performed by researchers at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Each patient used a form of cannabis extract containing CBD. Researchers found that 57 per cent had some seizure reduction, while 33 per cent had a reduction of 50 per cent or more.

“THC and CBD are really quite different, both in how they act in the brain and, potentially, how they affect different types of epilepsies.”

In March 2017, Mexican researchers used a pure CBD oil to successfully reduce seizures in patients with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy. Of the study’s 38 patients, 86 per cent reported a 50 per cent reduction in motor seizures, 55 per cent had a 75 per cent decrease in overall seizures, and 13 per cent experienced complete seizure remission after four months of treatment. Nobody reported negative side effects.

There are many types of epilepsy and many different strains of cannabis with varying amounts of THC and CBD, so it may take time to find the correct strain and dosage for each individual situation. While most doctors recommend trying pharmaceuticals first, many see cannabis as beneficial to patients who are drug resistant and recommend they find a strain high in CBD and low in THC for best results.

Charlotte’s Web and Haleigh’s Hope are two well-known, high-CBD strains developed in Colorado. A British company, GW Pharmaceuticals, has created Epidiolex, which contains almost pure CBD, and they are expected to file a new drug application with the FDA in the first half of 2017.

CBD is generally taken in the form of tinctures, capsules, oils, and patches. The Mayo Clinic recommends taking 200-300 mg of CBD by mouth daily for up to 18 weeks. Some patients find success with a combination of pharmaceuticals and cannabis.

It is important to work closely with your doctor to create a treatment plan suited specifically to your needs.

After owning an indoor garden store for 5 1/2 years, Monica Mansfield sold the business and started a seven-acre homestead with her husband, Owen. Monica is passionate about gardening, sustainable living, and holistic health. She writes about these topics and her homestead adventures on her blog thenaturelifeproject.com.

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Training Cannabis

by Isaac Cedillo

with

Forget couch-lock. There’s a growing body of evidence that cannabis can be a productive part of an active, even athletic, lifestyle.

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he mind’s connection with the body is strong, and improving one often involves improvement of the other.

So, it’s no surprise that those who seek to improve their body could also benefit from cannabis, an aid that people have long used for mindfulness and overall well-being. In recent years, more and more evidence is challenging the negative “lazy stoner” stereotype by showing that this plant can indeed be used as a tool by those pushing their physical limits.

CANNABIS AND THE RUNNER’S HIGH

We’ve all heard of the runner’s high. It’s a feeling can be described as euphoric, anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), sedative, and analgesic (pain relieving) all at once. It’s also similar to the high one can get from ingesting cannabis.

The runner’s high is only achieved after prolonged physical exertion, and its effects can help an athlete deal with the discomfort one endures when physically pushing themselves. For decades, it was believed the main biomechanism of a runner’s high was the release of endorphins. However, a 2015 study (Fuss et al.) found this to be only half of the phenomenon. The research, which was performed on mice, found that “running increases plasma levels in ß-endorphin (Opiod) and anandamide (endocannabinoid/ eCB) in mice and men.” In other words, it affects the endocannabinoid system.

This group of receptors is found within the central and peripheral nervous system. Described as “the body’s own cannabinoid system,” its main function is to maintain homeostasis within the human body. The results of the study found that the endocannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, which are the system’s main receptors, are crucial for a runner’s high in mice.

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So, with this information brought about from this study, it can be concluded that the feelings of euphoria from a runner’s high can be simulated by ingesting cannabis before physical activity. Cannabis essentially puts your mind and body into this state before your body can produce it naturally. The ability to force the effects of a runner’s high can be a tremendous advantage for those wanting to push themselves in their training regimen.

The use of cannabis as a focusing agent and anxiety reducer can also help athletes better perform under pressure during competition. A 2011 study by Huestis et al. titled “Cannabis in Sport” also shows that cannabis plays a role in the extinction of fear memories, such as traumatic events and injuries athletes may have endured, during training and competition. This reduction in fear can be what an athlete needs to push themselves to the next level.

PERFORMANCE

The question of whether cannabis can be considered a performance enhancer is still up for debate, and it has been widely discussed at every level of sports competition. Still, there’s no doubt that the old belief that cannabis only breeds lazy stoners is slowly being reversed. There’s an increasing number of athletes coming forward with their personal experiences in utilizing cannabis during training.

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If you are considering using edibles during your routine workout, be sure to plan accordingly: drink plenty of water, know your tolerance, and only ingest what youʼre capable of.”

So, how much of an edge in training can cannabis give you? That depends on the user’s perspective and intended goals.

Olympic snowboarding gold medalist Ross Rebagliati and MMA fighter Nick Diaz both claim that cannabis doesn’t make them faster or stronger, but allows them to train harder and for longer periods of time. “The motivation that you need to go and pound out the workout and go and do the 100-km bike ride— cannabis really got me out on a regular basis,” Rebagliati said in an interview with Hydrolife. During a live 2016 postfight press conference where he famously vaped CBD oil, Diaz's brother Nate, also an MMA fighter, said that CBD “helps with healing process and inflammation and stuff like that. So, you wanna get these for before and after the fights, training. It’ll make your life a better place.”

RECOVERY

Intense workouts can take its toll on both the body and mind. Pain, stiffness, and muscle fatigue are all common post-training symptoms, and much research has been done on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).

While these symptoms can decrease motivation and even cause a workout to do more harm than good, the 2015 Sports Medicine study “Cannabis and Exercise Science” by Gillman et al. shows there is a growing body of evidence that cannabis—specifically, CBD-rich strains—can be used to help counter DOMS. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of cannabis can aid in the recovery of intense workouts.

APPLICATION

Many athletes prefer edibles such as brownies, chews, and cannabis-infused energy bars during their workouts.

Edibles are discrete and the delayed

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high they offer will kick in when it’s needed most during intense workouts.

Also, the heavy high provided is great for focused-based activities. If you are considering using edibles during your routine workout, be sure to plan accordingly: drink plenty of water, know your tolerance, and only ingest what you're capable of.

Balms and salves are a great way to aid in muscle soreness and recovery. They can be applied pre- or post-workout.

Massaged thoroughly into the desired location, these topical medicines can effectively reach deep muscle tissue, nerves, and epidermis. THC-rich strains will help with pain and soreness, while CBD-specific strains can help with inflammation and long-term recovery. Also, topical treatments will not reach your bloodstream, which can be a plus for those that do not want the cannabis high.

Whether cannabis can give athletes an edge is up for debate, but there is no denying it has recovery and healing benefits everyone can use.

Sure, cannabis doesn’t make you bigger, faster, or stronger, but its effects are felt indirectly, the same way good nutrition and overall well-being will influence the body. It’s just up to the athletes and weekend warriors to decide for themselves if their training can benefit from cannabis.

Isaac Cedillo works as the marketing manager at Current Culture H2O in Fresno, California. He holds his bachelor’s degree from CSU Fresno and is currently pursuing his MBA in marketing. As an avid photographer, Isaac loves to travel the country chronicling his adventures through his camera.

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Is Grandma Self-medicating Again?

Relax, it’s Just a Plant:

Medicating with Cannabis in the Golden Years.

Story and photos by Sharon Letts

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wenty-one years after California became the first state allowing cannabis as medicine, 27 others have followed suit. Eight states now offer legal recreational weed, with 13 introducing decriminalization legislation. The common belief is seniors from the Boomer Generation, already familiar with using the plant recreationally, are most prominent members of the patient pool. But in the more conservative state of Florida, one senior is proving that theory wrong, and becoming an unlikely victor leading the fight to end prohibition in the process.

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An unlikely sector of the population is playing a larger role than anticipated in the fight to end cannabis prohibition. Sharon Letts tells us how senior citizens have come out of the closet in legal and illegal states to sign up for medical cannabis cards, demand good medicine via cannabis for aches and pains, and more.

Should Grandma Partake in Pot? Robert Platshorn served 30 years in federal prison for selling cannabis via a fleet of tuna fishing boats along Florida’s shores during the 1970s and ’80s. Released back into the general population in 2008 at the age of 64, Platshorn began a campaign to educate the elder population, creating The Silver Tour, a non-profit organization aimed at enlightening and educating the grey-haired sect on good medicine across the country by using the less expensive platforms of social media,

emails, radio, local television spots, and billboards.

One of his most successful campaigns—a video featuring two elderly ladies partaking for the first time—went viral on social media, changing public perceptions and inspiring knock-off clips of other seniors, even retired law enforcement officers, smoking weed for the first time.

During one Silver Tour event, more than 400 senior citizens made their way to the steps of Tallahassee’s city hall in peaceful protest, to share their personal use of cannabis as medicine publicly.

There were no arrests made.

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heal Platshorn knows his demographic; he knows the elderly still read newspapers, watch local TV, and listen to the radio.

During Florida’s first attempt to legalize cannabis as medicine in the state, voters failed to pass legalization by a two per cent margin. After Platshorn’s campaign, by April 2015, the Sun Sentinel reported upwards of 84 per cent of registered voters approving of cannabis as medicine in the Sunshine State. By November 2016, Florida voted to accept the plant, allowing physicians to prescribe, and dispensaries to provide safe access to its seniors and the ailing in the state.

“When we started The Silver Tour five years ago, seniors in Florida would not even discuss the medical use of cannabis,” Platshorn says. “I’m happy to say, things have changed. Seniors are an easy sell, but no one was using the media to inform them. Using TV, radio, live shows, and billboards changed minds quickly.”

Healing in California Since voting in Proposition 215 in 1996, which allowed Californians the right to medicate with cannabis, the Golden State now lists 12.6 per cent of its senior population as card-carrying

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Laguna Woods Cannabis Club meeting

medical cannabis patients, according to Americans for Safe Access, a national organization helping move weed transactions from the alley to legal storefronts.

The US Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports aches and pains a common malady among the aging population,

with 47.5 million or 21.8 per cent of seniors reporting some kind of disability— with arthritis or rheumatism topping the ailment list, and cancer now seen as part of old age.

Laguna Woods Village began as Leisure World, an upscale, gated retirement village in conservative Orange County

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heal but currently he’s helping to change the way seniors think about the plant.

“Our membership is growing,” Painter says of the residents quickly filling up the large hall. “We need to find a bigger meeting room,” he adds with a laugh.

Within the largely conservative populace of Orange County, some residents were reluctant to comment on the record. However, one member in her 80s says that once she started using cannabis, the first pills to go from her medicine cabinet were painkillers and sleeping pills. When asked what else she was learning, she says, “I’m going to try that strong oil. I heard it will put my diabetes into remission.”

Eat Five Leaves and Call Me in the Morning Primrose Engaged Living in Santa Rosa, CA, allows its residents to medicate with cannabis.

just south of Los Angeles. Today, it’s an incorporated city hosting more than 18,000 residents, with more than 500 cannabis patients, comprising The Laguna Woods Medical Cannabis Club.

The group is “a non-profit for the purpose of educating, supporting, and informing Laguna Woods Village residents about the uses and issues for medical cannabis and to provide a forum where new patients, their families, and other interested residents can discuss their illnesses and the benefits of medical cannabis treatment in a safe environment,” says its mission statement.

Members learn about the medicinal benefits of the plant via workshops,

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lectures, and the sharing of what are commonly referred to as “anecdotal stories” via word of mouth.

On the evening of its monthly meeting, more than 150 club members, residents, and newbies fill up one of the larger meeting rooms within the community.

Tables are set up with literature of the medical efficacy of the plant, books to read, and medicating implements donated for the evening raffle.

The meeting is called to order by club executive director and founder, Lonnie Painter, a Laguna Beach transplant, artist, retired carpenter, therapist, and past owner of the popular Café Zoolu in the upscale beach town on the coast.

He’s worn many hats in his lifetime,

Sixty-seven-year-old Susan Williams (name has been changed by her request) is a retired public relations professional from Northern California.

Gardening is her passion, as well as her husband’s, with the couple growing and canning up to 90 per cent of their own food each year.

As with many active seniors, Williams says that after decades of toiling in the garden, she is suffering from the effects of osteoarthritis—mainly in her hands and the back of her hip.

“It was actually a grower friend who suggested I try cannabis. I then checked with my doctor and he said it wouldn’t hurt me,” she says.

Williams chooses to medicate by eating raw leaves, harvesting them herself for optimal effect, namely to treat inflammation that leads to swelling and subsequent pain.

“I was given a Sour Diesel plant and started eating the midsized leaves just off the bush,” Williams explains.

“I would eat up to 10 leaves a day, and felt a noticeable difference in about a week, and continued eating the leaves until it was time to harvest the plant.”

She also made an alcohol-based tincture using the trim—or leaves and small stems—taking three droppers-full at a time, but did not feel it was as effective as consuming the fresh, green leaves.

“I have told many of my friends about ingesting raw cannabis, and recommend that if they want to do this, they should get a California 215 license so they don’t get in trouble,” Williams says.

The stigma of cannabis, she added, is what holds most people back from experiencing the medicinal benefits of the plant. Availability is also an issue, as patients who juice are often networking for leaves from several sources, then freezing overages for later use.

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“DURING ONE

Silver Tour event, more than 400 senior citizens made their way to the steps of Tallahassee’s city hall in peaceful protest, to share their personal use of cannabis as medicine publicly.”

The silver-haired Williams’s hands are slightly crooked and worn from years of work in the garden, but they no longer ache with pain.

“If you asked me a year ago if I would have tried this remedy, I would have laughed at you,” Williams muses. “Now, I’m telling my friends.”

Good Medicine vs. Bad Drug One fact that opens up a big can of weed worms in treating senior

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ailments is that the US government holds a patent on cannabinoids (CBD), one of the medicinal compounds of the plant.

The patent, in effect since 1993, directly contradicts the government’s stance that cannabis is not medicine—along with its refusal to remove the plant from the Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) Schedule 1, where it currently sits alongside heroin.

Within the patent is a list of benefits, stating that cannabinoids have antioxidant properties, useful in the treatment and “prophylaxis of a wide variety of oxidation-associated diseases, such as ischemic, age-related, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases.”

The patent goes on to state the plant’s application as a neuroprotectant, with the ability to limit neurological damage following stroke and trauma, or in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and HIV dementia.

Engaged Living

Primrose Engaged Living is a private nursing home located just north of San Francisco in Santa Rosa, it specializes in dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.

Patients retain their own physicians, and if they and their families are open to cannabis use, it’s allowed.

The home is not unlike a five-star hotel, with gated grounds and gardens allowing its residents freedom to be outside— an option not found in many homes where those with dementia live.

Dan O’Brien, RN, oversees the care of the home’s patients, including a handful of residents whose families and doctors are on board in treating their symptoms via the ingestion of cannabis-infused treats.

Dementia, as defined in the National Library of Medicine’s site, has a varying group of symptoms, whereas Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are diagnosed diseases. None of the maladies are curable; all present with a slow deterioration of motor skills and bodily functions, including language difficulty, agitation, inappropriate behavior, deteriorating spatial skills, poor judgment, and diminished capacity to problem solve, maintain attention, plan, or organize.

“Dementia patients don’t really like to take pills,” O’Brien explains. “It’s easier for them to eat a piece of candy.”

On the evening of my visit, I observed a patient finish up her dinner before being given one square of chocolate dosed with 15 milligrams of THCactivated cannabis.

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“MANY SENIOR

citizen patients returning to cannabis as medicine had used it recreationally years prior, then left it behind in their college days.”

Alzheimer patients comprise two-thirds of the home’s population, but O’Brien added that cannabis is given as a last resort, replacing or given in addition to other mind-altering prescription meds intended to calm agitated patients.

In this particular patient’s case, the cannabis works with great success, and O’Brien reports that the patients dosed with cannabis remain alert, are less agitated, and are able to sleep through the night. Other symptoms reported to be quelled are the tremors associated with Parkinson’s and anxiety disorders.

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The process of getting cannabis to its patients can be challenging, for not only does the family have to be willing to use this treatment, the patient’s doctor needs to be on board. This is something cannabis patients should think about when drawing up a care plan while they are still able to do so.

Stigma vs. Truth Many senior citizen patients returning to cannabis as medicine had used it recreationally years prior, then left it behind in their college days, says registered nurse Lanny Swerdlow.

“Of all the reasons for stopping, not one was for negative reasons against the herb,” Swerdlow says. “All of them stopped due to the stigma that came with it when a job or kids came into play, or they just didn’t think they should use it any longer.”

The American Nurses Association published a statement in 2008, supporting patients’ “safe access to therapeutic marijuana.” At the top of the letter, which originated from the Congress on Nursing Practice and Economics, it states that “‘Marijuana’ (cannabis) has been used medicinally for centuries. It has been shown to

be effective in treating a wide range of symptoms in a variety of conditions.”

Caregiving with cannabis began in the early 1980s with hospice workers helping AIDS patients. Studies on pain management using cannabis were done at that time at the University of California in San Francisco.

Findings included upwards of 80 per cent reduction in pain by merely smoking the flower, in addition to using prescription pain meds. Other anecdotal stories demonstrate that using a stronger oil or tincture does away with the need to supplement with prescription meds altogether.

As legalization allows more access, seniors are the fastest growing demographic utilizing cannabis as medicine in the US today, leading many to reconsider the question, “Should Grandma smoke pot?”

Sharon Letts began her life’s work as a gardener in southern California, and now calls Humboldt County home. She’s a writer and photographer. When she isn’t writing about gardening, she is outside working in her own garden.

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BY

JEFF SESSIONS:

SHOULD THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY BE WORRIED? 72

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COR

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UGH

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Even though President Donald Trump has said he will leave marijuana legalization up to individual states, cannabis industry insiders took note when Jeff Sessions was appointed US Attorney General. Just when it seemed the business of marijuana was poised for growth, new concerns stemming from the Department of Justice have arisen. Cory Hughes takes a look at how the new administration may affect the future of cannabis in the US. myhydrolife.com

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annabis consumers and producers expressed some concern when Jeff Sessions, an anti-cannabis politician, was tapped to be the next United States Attorney General in February. Sessions has made no secret his disdain for marijuana and his perception of those who choose to consume it. With President Donald Trump making statements about ramping up the war on drugs to combat crime, many marijuana users and producers were left wondering if that war would end up on their doorstep. Many marijuana consumers and business owners are uncertain of what is to come, but is their fear warranted?

If you are not familiar with Jeff Sessions, he is a former senator from the conservative state of Alabama who now holds the fate of the American justice system in his hands. Sessions has always been a controversial figure.

He has been in staunch opposition to voting rights, he has voted against the rights of women, has come out against the LGBT movement, and has stated “Good people don’t smoke marijuana.” In an age of progressive ideas, the election of Donald Trump and his appointment of Jeff Sessions to the highest law enforcement position in the land seem to be out of sync with the general direction modern Western society has been heading.

“

IF YOU ARE not familiar with Jeff

Sessions, he is a former senator from the conservative state of Alabama who now holds the fate of the American justice system in his hands.“

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A hint of what can be expected came on Feb. 23 at a White House press briefing when press secretary Sean Spicer said, “I do believe you’ll see greater enforcement of (recreational marijuana). Because, again, there’s a big difference between the medical use, which Congress has, through an appropriations rider in 2014, made very clear what their intent was in terms of how the Department of Justice would handle that issue. That’s very different than the recreational use, which is something that I think the Department of Justice will be further looking into.”

As far as cannabis goes, Sessions has made it clear what he believes. Based upon the statements he had made up until the time he was confirmed as Attorney General, cannabis consumers have every right to be concerned. There has been much speculation and back and forth as to what will actually happen, though Spicer’s Feb. 23 comments now provide some insight as to what can be expected.

Despite this, there are a few things that have happened recently that may give cannabis consumers and business owners a bit of hope that everything will be okay.

For a time, we have looked to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a weather vane to see where the winds of change are blowing with respect to cannabis. The previous administration did little to advocate for cannabis businesses in legal states, nor did it stop its assault on many grows and dispensaries until Congress stepped in and halted federal action against operations that were abiding by state law.

With cannabis, you never really know who your ally is, but the DEA has proven that it is willing to present alternative facts to keep the war on drugs alive.

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live The DEA has been able to exist as long as it has through prohibition and the jailing of criminals involved in the trafficking of prohibited substances. Fundamentally, if it doesn’t bust people for drugs, it doesn’t get paid. The reality is that cannabis has never posed a threat to society—the Shafer Commission from the early 1970s confirmed this— yet the DEA has waged war against cannabis, passing up numerous opportunities to set the record straight and remove it from drug scheduling entirely. Instead, it chose to double down and continue to spread propaganda against cannabis in hopes of keeping its lights on.

Can the DEA continue to go after cannabis companies despite Congress’s intervention and the supportive voice of the people? Absolutely. The biggest thing the cannabis community has to fear is that Sessions will ignore the issue of cannabis to the public while giving the DEA the green light to enforce federal law. During his confirmation hearings, Sessions was directly asked about cannabis, but he deflected the question. He chose instead to say that he would just have to use “good judgment” when it came to marijuana law. His past statements alone were enough to have even the most casual of marijuana consumer concerned. The outlook, however, may not be as bleak as it appears.

“

THERE IS NO denying that legal

cannabis has had a positive impact on the communities that embraced it.“

There have been a few signs that legal—recreational or medicinal— marijuana will not go down as a failed experiment and be shut down by Trump’s administration.

The vast amount of money that has been generated by legal cannabis has gone on to create tens of thousands of jobs, has put school books in the hands of children, and has put roofs over the heads of those less fortunate through state funding. There is no denying that legal cannabis has had a positive impact on the communities that embraced it. Also, the sky hasn’t fallen in legalized communities.

The first possibility that cannabis is safe under Sessions is the creation of a counsel of prosecutors from cannabis legal states to advise the president on marijuana. District Attorneys and other lawyers from places like Oregon, Colorado, and Washington State have been selected to offer their experience and advice to help inform President Trump on the current state of cannabis.

The biggest indicator so far that marijuana may be safe for now comes from various reports in mid-February stating the overwhelming amount of issues the new administration faces, so cannabis may not be too high on the list. The reports come from a meeting between Sessions and Sacramento, California, Sheriff Scott Jones. Jones asked Sessions about what he intended to do with legal cannabis and Sessions’s response didn’t do much to warrant an immediate threat. According to Jones in a press report, “Regarding the prioritization of federal resources to combat marijuana, (Sessions) didn’t see the federal government getting involved in marijuana use or low-level state, what are traditionally state and local crimes, but, I don’t think he ruled out the possibility of the federal government getting involved in larger-scale operations.”

With Spicer’s comments at the Feb. 23 press briefing, however, it appears recreational cannabis and large-scale commercial grow operations may be higher on Session’s to-do list than originally anticipated. With the unpredictable nature of Trump and his administration so far, only time will tell if Sessions will turn out to be the staunch prohibitionist many suspect him to be.

Cory Hughes is a former police officer turned full-time commercial grower in Denver, Colorado.

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by Mary Otte Photos by Kevin Schumacher

MUCH MORE THAN BAKED Cannabis is about more than just cultivation and medication: it has a culture all its own. For this issue of Hydrolife, Mary Otte decided to go backstage with stoner bands Pepper and Less Than Jake to look at how cannabis informs their art.

H

ydrolife sat down with Yesod Williams of Pepper before their show to talk about process; Pepper’s very own custom strain, Hawaiian Pepper; and superbly stoned musical philosophy. “Growing up in Hawaii,” says Williams, “[cannabis] is just part of the culture and part of the whole makeup of the fabric.” It was for this reason that Williams actually ended up living in Hawaii. His parents realized it was a great place to grow weed and with plenty of friends on the mainland to ship it back to, the location made financial sense. The culture of cannabis had a profound affect on Ohana, their latest album, he adds.

“It’s always been a complete, integral part of our band, and for me personally, it’s one of those things where I wake up in the morning and my mind is racing

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a million miles an hour. Once I smoke, it kind of locks everything into place, like, okay, let’s do this now. It’s similar to surfing,” he says with a smile. “In the morning, I surf and go on with my day. It’s just part of who I am. Cannabis influences the record because it influences everything we do. It kind of slows things down so you can better look at it.”

The name Ohana is for the fans, which he describes as their lifeline. A band for nearly 20 years, Williams feels like they’ve now finally come full circle. “I’m saying ‘full circle’ because when we first started Pepper we just jammed and had fun,” says Williams. “We came to the other side and we approached the record [with] an aspect of, let’s get in the studio, with the only end goal of ‘Let’s just play, let’s just go in and jam.’”

No one’s going to say otherwise. For one thing, they’re doing it right, and for another, they’re happy to be their own managers with their own label.

This approach makes them self-labeled “super fans,” as they also have the opportunity to sign their favorite bands.

All of this comes back to cannabis.

“I make amazing friendships through weed,” says Williams, “Being onstage, I’m blessed to be there, in the whole ecosystem. If you have your own world, it’s good. It’s all about who you surround yourself with. You usually become an average of the people you surround yourself with; or a common denominator or whatnot.”

As Pepper took the stage at New York City’s PlayStation Theater in late February 2017, it marked the beginning of a banging good night of dancing and

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singing along with the ultimate trifecta of stoner bands.

All three bands were high-energy, crowd-engaging bundles of energetic sounds, each of their own styling, yet completely in sync.

The Bunny Gang started the night off with hyperbolic trombone player, Keith Larson, tearing up the stage.

Frontman Nathan Maxwell, who also plays bass for Flogging Molly, drew the crowd in with the ease of a veteran performer. Despite somewhat heavy security, the joints were already floating across the crowd during their opening numbers.

Less Than Jake was up next, and by the time they got on stage, there was no more room on the dance floor, which made for fabulously polite mosh pits and safe, supportive crowd surfing.

They even brought a few lucky fans onstage to dance. Balloons were bounced over the crowd’s heads. Less Than Jake had such a connection with their fans that it was clear they like to have fun and have been playing together for a long time. They left the stage in two grand bursts of confetti, before coming back onstage for three more encore songs.

Three piece, high-energy, indie surf rock, ska-pop band Pepper (which transcends all those pigeonholes) closed out the night in style. Their opening song crescendoed in under red lights and a haze of stage fog blended beautifully with clouds of herb.

Halfway through their set, they brought out Less Than Jake for a few songs and it was absolutely symbiotic. These elevated bands were in the groove, as was the super-pumped crowd.

"

I make amazing frendships throuh weed...

It's all about who you surround yourself with."

Want some more marijuana kumbaya?

Pepper has a strain made especially for the band called Hawaiian Pepper.

Created by Jahnetics, it is a pure sativa with hints of pepper and a smooth, fruity finish. Pepper searched a long time with their friends from Weedmaps before finally choosing Jahnetics. You can find out more about the strain at jahnetics.com, the band at pepperlive.com, Less Than Jake at lessthanjake.com, and The Bunny Gang at thebunnygang.com.

Mary Otte has been writing for cannabis publications for 12 years, specializing in celebrity and musician interviews, movie and album reviews, and developing news stories. More recently, she has focused on technical cultivation and lighting articles. She also contributes to the New York Post as a book reviewer.

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A HISTORY OF

by Chris Bond

CANNABIS PART II

In the 20th century in the US, marijuana was unjustly linked to immigration and economic policy, and later vilified by some presidential administrations. In Part II of his brief history of cannabis, Chris Bond provides reasons on why the noose on marijuana may be loosening.

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s we learned in Part 1, under President Richard Nixon in 1970, marijuana was classified as a Schedule 1 drug in the newly passed Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act. It continues with that classification today.

Prior to this, however, a Nixon-appointed presidential commission had recommended marijuana use not be a criminal offense. This recommendation was made by the Shafer Commission, whose members were appointed by Nixon himself and were, for the most part, strongly opposed to marijuana. After launching dozens of reports and polls, and taking thousands of pages of testimony, members of the commission came to a different conclusion than they had set out to find. Instead of condemning marijuana, they hinted that legalization was a more appropriate step, though Shafer himself did not support this. The Shafer Commission’s final report concluded marijuana did not cause crime or aggression or act as what is now called a “gateway drug.” It also recommended the decriminalization of marijuana possession.

Nixon, whose personal views remained strongly anti-marijuana, overruled the commission’s findings and announced “all-out war” on marijuana. While launching dozens of reports President Jimmy Carter took a and polls, and taking thousands of softer stance on pot, the Reagan administration reinforced Nixon’s hard pages of testimony, members of line by ramping up the war on drugs. the commission came to a different Just 20 years later, in 1992, Bill conclusion than they had Clinton became the first American president to admit to having tried set out to find.“ (but not inhaled) marijuana. Then, in 1996, California became the first state in the nation to legalize the use of medicinal marijuana.

”AFTER

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live The march towards the acceptance of cannabis in North America has gone on into the 21st century, but what has fueled this? Why do the majority of citizens support the use of cannabis when only an estimated six per cent of individuals use it? More Americans agree on the legalization, or at least the decriminalization of cannabis, than they do on who should be the American president. Its acceptance crosses party lines and generational ones.

Of course, entire anthologies could be written on dozens of different reasons why cannabis is becoming less stigmatized. It seems to be the confluence of several factors ranging from a changing notion of the role of government, the age of the citizenry, and the financial state we have found ourselves in over the past couple of decades. Whatever the combination is, it seems to have caused a perfect storm of change that continues to sweep through the nation.

Whether or not it is reflected in the outcome of elections or in party membership rolls, North America has taken more of a libertarian approach to the way it does business. As industry and manufacturing left many parts of the United States and Canada at the end of the 20th century, the vacuum left in its wake was financially

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live ”AS industry and manufacturing left

many parts of the United States and Canada at the end of the 20th century, the vacuum left in its wake was financially devastating to the economy.“

devastating to the economy. In an effort to raise revenues, a more “Las Vegas” approach was taken by many regions.

Municipalities and states realized that there was money to be made by allowing people their vices legally (this was usually first led by the acceptance of casino gambling). Hardline moralists in politics could not argue that vice was good for the state’s (or province’s) bottom line. In business, sales absolve all your sins. One could argue that this helped to pave the way towards legalization of cannabis in many states.

The rise of the internet can also be attributed to the acceptance of marijuana use. An untold number of websites sell the gambit of seed, extracts, and all manner of paraphernalia, legal or otherwise. Knowing it would be highly unlikely, or at least cost-prohibitive, to combat the panoply of online vendors, many states decided it would be better to join them if they can’t beat them; in some cases, maybe even beat them by joining them.

An additional, but by no means final, reason that marijuana usage is enjoying new or renewed acceptance is the age of the populace. Many of the hardline, anti-marijuana voters belong to the venerated Greatest Generation. These heroes were raised in a time when we were the “good guys,“ and it stands to reason that they believed their government when it told them that marijuana was as bad as or worse than other narcotics. This generation is dying out. Their children, the Baby Boomers, came of age in an era where it was the norm to at least try marijuana. Boomers comprise a large proportion of our senior citizens. They tend to have a more realistic outlook on marijuana use, and they vote.

This propensity to install less hardline administrations, on average, has led to more research funding for cannabis trials. The outcomes often not only underline the Shafer Commission’s original findings that marijuana results in much less harm than Nixon believed, but that it also has medicinal values that benefit society while increasing revenue for governments.

The Current State of Cannabis Usage in the United States and Canada

All Canadian provinces currently allow for medicinal usage of cannabis, as do 28 US states and the District of Columbia. Each of these states has a range of different medical conditions for which cannabis may be used and differing procedures regarding the manner it is prescribed, where it is legal to dispense, etc. Eight states and the District of Columbia also have laws allowing for recreational cannabis use (see pg. 86). In the next few months, the Canadian government is expected to announce federal legalization of recreational marijuana. The federal government of the United States still classifies cannabis as a controlled substance, but in 2014, Congress passed a law that prohibits federal agents from conducting raids on growers of medicinal marijuana in states where it is legal.

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live States allowing recreational use of cannabis

Thanks to ballot initiatives in the 2016 US federal election, eight states and the District of Columbia now allow for some level of recreational use of cannabis. Many of the restrictions are similar from state to state, but there are a few differences.

In Alaska, it is legal to possess up to one ounce of marijuana and up to six plants. In California, a person may possess up to one ounce of flower, eight grams of concentrates, and up to six plants. The transfer (not sale) of up to one ounce of marijuana is legal in Colorado, along with up to one ounce of usable product; six plants are allowable there, but only three can be mature at any given time. Maine allows for possession of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and up to 12 plants (no more than six can be mature, though). Maine’s pending law also allows for the state to claim a 10 per cent tax on sales of non-medical cannabis. Massachusetts allows for personal possession up to one ounce of flower or five grams of concentrates, and up to 10 ounces of flower in one’s home. It also allows the state to collect a 3.75 per cent tax on non-medicinal cannabis transactions. In Nevada, it is legal to possess up to six plants, one ounce of flower, and 3.5 grams of concentrates. Fifteen per cent is the government’s taxation rate in Nevada. Oregon allows for the possession of up to four plants and possession of up to eight ounces of product. Washington State residents can have up to one ounce of flower, 16 ounces of solid concentrates, and 72 ounces of liquid infused products.

The tide is certainly turning. More states are considering laws to allow for medicinal cannabis and the US federal government has indicated that the enforcement of laws related to marijuana are not the best use of the country’s time and resources. It is inevitable that more states will allow for its use in the years to come.

Chris Bond is the manager of the McKay Farm and Research Station at Unity College in Maine. His research interests are with sustainable agriculture, biological pest control, as well as alternative growing methods. He is a certified permaculture designer and certified nursery technician in Ohio and a certified nursery professional in New York, where he got his start in growing.

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FIVE EFFECTIVE METHODS FOR

Stashing YOUR

Stash

by Alan Ray | With more people subscribing to the use of medical marijuana, keeping it safe and fresh within the home is becoming more important.

Look no further than Alan Ray’s suggestions to stylishly and effectively stash your stuff.

M

edical marijuana can be a powerful tool in the fight against many physical and mental disorders, and, as with any tool, it should be stored in its proper place. With MMJ, the reasons for designating its own safe space are many and obvious. Aside from convenience and ready access, there is the safety factor. Emergency room visits for acute marijuana intoxication in children less than nine years old is on the rise in states that have legalized marijuana, but this can be easily avoided with a little thoughtful effort. Proper storage is paramount to keeping MMJ safely out of the reach of children, pets, and prying eyes.

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enjoy Below is a list of five cool and stealthy ways of keeping your stash safely hidden while significantly reducing or virtually eliminating marijuana’s herbal essence.

Odor-Proof Bags Today’s MMJ carries a far richer bouquet than ever before. It doesn’t take a bloodhound to detect that fragrance.

Also, if odor is leaking out of your bag, then air is also seeping in and accelerating the drying process. You don’t want either one of these issues.

To address them, several companies now manufacture bags designed expressly to control or even eliminate the smell of marijuana much better than traditional baggies ever could.

prevents children, guests, and friends from gaining access to its contents. Moreover, unless a thief flat out steals your minivault, your stash will be safe even if the safe is discovered in a burglary.

Aside from traditional safes that you have to physically hide, there are also diversion safes available to protect your valuables. These are cleverly designed to look like everyday items to fool almost any burglar or person of disreputable character. From working wall clock safes to fake electrical wall outlets that contain a fold-out tray, there are several excellent ways to conceal your favorite goodies.

Today’s MMJ carries a far richer bouquet than ever before. It doesn’t take a bloodhound to detect that fragrance.”

Many bags are made of extra thick polyethylene and offer the customer a variety of options. In addition to containing the fragrance of their contents, they are relatively inexpensive and reusable. Many scent-proof bags come in a range of handy sizes as well. Some thoughtful brands are even available with a double-squeeze childresistant (not childproof) lock.

Name Brand Look-alike Containers These stash holders emulate practically every famous brand, from Coca Cola to STP and a hundred in between. Fake and hollow bottles, cans, and more are an effective way to hide your treasure in a product virtually identical to the real thing. The beauty of these stealthy storage containers is they can be hidden in plain sight with little chance of detection. Many products are even properly weighted for greater realism.

Scores of these deceptive receptacles are available online.

A Small Safe An excellent way to protect your MMJ is to simply keep it locked up in a small safe with either a key or combination known only to you. A locked safe

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A Prescription Bottle with a Combination Cap As with most prescriptions, MMJ can be stored in a prescription bottle—but not your typical drug store version. Those bottles generally come with a childproof cap that practically any child can open with a little time and minimal effort. The effectiveness of those socalled safety caps is minimal at best.

Instead, there are prescription bottles available that offer added protection from busy little (or big) hands. By creating your own four-digit combination to secure the cap, you decrease the likelihood of someone intentionally or inadvertently opening the bottle.

Humidors Effective methods for maintaining moisture content and shelf life are key factors in preserving the potency of your herb. Marijuanadedicated humidors are a popular and efficacious way to keep your MMJ fresh and strong for a long period. A tobacco humidor, while great for keeping pipe and rolling tobacco fresh, is not recommended for marijuana storage. Cigar and tobacco

humidors are generally made of cedar wood and anyone familiar with cedar knows it emanates a woody smell that potentially can transfer to the tobacco.

In addition, where optimum relative humidity levels for tobacco range from 70 to 72 per cent, marijuana stores best in a lower humidity environment of 55 to 72 per cent. There are humidors on the market constructed explicitly to protect and preserve your favorite herb.

And, just because we can, here’s a sixth way to stash your cannabis: If you are in a household where such safety isn’t a concern, airtight glass jars kept in a dark place will suffice very nicely for storage purposes.

Alan Ray has written five books and is a New York Times bestselling author.

Additionally, he is a multi-award winning songwriter with awards from BMI and ASCAP. Alan lives in Tennessee with his wife and two dogs: a South African Boerboel and a Pomeranian/Wolverine mix.

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MAKING IT LEGAL IN

MASSACHUSETTS

Massachusetts’s Question 4 on the November 8, 2016, ballot squeaked by with 56 per cent approval, though it remains one of the most important states in the northeast to allow recreational marijuana.

Medicine Man breaks down what comes next.

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assachusetts became one of the first states on the east coast of the US to legalize, tax, and regulate recreational marijuana for adults. The November 2016 initiative won with just 56 per cent of the vote, and as of December 2016, marijuana is legal in Massachusetts and adults can use, possess, and grow cannabis for recreational use.

Like similar ballot measures, it will take time for infrastructure and policies to be developed before the first legal sales take place. At this point, applying to become a retailer through the state will start in October 2017 and could take up to 90 days to receive a response with existing medical dispensaries given priority. As a result, it is estimated that the first legal recreational marijuana sale will take place no earlier than January 2018. News reports from the east coast indicate that Massachusetts has a tendency to get bogged down in bureaucracy, so it will be interesting to see how things unfold in the coming months.

However, now that recreational marijuana is legal in Massachusetts, it’s time to take a look at what you need to know about the new law.

Who can buy recreational marijuana and what can you have?

Adults who are 21 years of age and older will be able to purchase and possess up to one ounce of marijuana, though not more than five grams in the form of a concentrate. You will be able to buy marijuana to smoke, as well as edibles, oils, and ointment products.

Where can you smoke or use marijuana?

At home or in another private location. It will be illegal to smoke marijuana in public spaces or anywhere tobacco smoking is banned. Language in the law does point to the possibility that cannabis cafés, where on-site use will be legal, may be opened eventually. Employers and landlords will also have the right to ban smoking or use in their buildings.

by Medicine Man Technologies

What about growing recreational cannabis?

Do you need a growroom?

The law allows anyone over the age of 21 to grow up to six marijuana plants. For households with more than one adult, there’s a 12-plant maximum. You will need to use a growroom that is not visible to the public and locked or secured. No outdoor gardens!

Where will you be able to buy recreational marijuana?

Dispensaries will be legal in every city. However, existing medical dispensaries that want to expand will be given the first chance to enter the retail market.

So, you’ll see the majority of dispensaries open in 2018 unless a community holds a referendum to ban them completely or even limit the number of cannabis retailers that are allowed to open.

Retail marijuana businesses will not be allowed within 500 feet of a school, daycare, or other child-related facility.

Individual cities will again be able to impose further restrictions and boundaries.

Is recreational marijuana going to be expensive?

It really depends on the market, with no set prices outlined in the new law. The biggest difference, in comparison to other retail goods, is taxes. You’ll pay an excise tax of 3.75 per cent on top of the state’s 6.25 per cent sales tax. Cities and towns can add up to another two per cent in taxes, for a grand total of 12 per cent in taxes. Medical sales would remain untaxed.

Where will all that recreational marijuana tax money go?

The Yes on Question 4 website states, “Taxing marijuana sales will create $100 million in new tax revenue for vital essential services in our communities. We can use the money to strengthen our schools — smaller classes, more books, and newer technology for our children. We can also spend the money on opiate abuse prevention programs, drug awareness campaigns, or law enforcement.”

Because recreational marijuana is legal in Massachusetts, a Cannabis Control Commission will be put in place and funded by the excise tax, licensing fees, and fines collected for regulation violations. This three-member group will be managed by the treasurer’s office, which currently oversees alcohol for the state. The commission will issue licenses and establish any rules not written into the new law, including guidelines for packaging and advertising.

The election was a big step forward for sensible marijuana legalization nationwide and the entire team at Medicine Man Technologies is excited that marijuana will be legal in Massachusetts.

Looking to enter the marijuana market in Massachusetts? Medicine Man Technologies is here to guide you. Visit medicinemantechnologies.com for more information.

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enjoy

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aterm

elon

A FOOL OF MYSELF A Cannabis Culinary Column Shaken by her arrest—and acquittal—Watermelon left her life on Wreck Beach behind and sought another way to subvert the status quo. Armed with nothing but naivete and persistence, she soon found herself to be the world’s first marijuana pin-up and cover girl, and, later, legit professional. Can politics be far behind?

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“Dripping water hollows out stone, not through force but through persistence.”

—Ovid

When I was a young woman of 20, my big dream was to get on the cover of a cannabis magazine. The one I had my eye on was the No. 1 publication promoting civil disobedience and protesting marijuana prohibition at that time.

While other girls dreamed of a big white wedding, I was dreaming of being a cover girl for the cannabis magazine I felt was doing its best to subvert the status quo.

I spent a short time in Queens, New York, practicing stand-up comedy in my early 20s. One day, I strolled into the magazine’s office in downtown New York and introduced myself. I told them I wanted to be on the cover, bringing with me a naive enthusiasm that was hard to quell.

They were definitively entertained, but in the end I was told they were a “legit weed” magazine, not a “foxy chick” magazine.

Everybody there was pretty jovial about everything, so we went up on the rooftop and smoked a big joint. Then I was given the ubiquitous swag and some friendly handshakes as I was ushered out the door. Going straight home, I wrote them an impassioned letter about my quest in more detail. No response.

Two years later, Vancouver writer Shawn Conner pitched a story to the magazine about my cannabis comedy shows and they bought it. When it came time to discuss the photo, I told Shawn I wanted to shoot for the cover (naive enthusiasm still unscathed).

We got lucky because the photo the magazine was scheduled to publish got pulled at the last minute. Desperate now for a new cover shot, they said if we could get them a great photo by yesterday, “it would be considered.” That was all the encouragement I needed.

I called up my friend Anne, who grew beautiful indoor buds, and we concocted a plan together. I would drive the photographer and writer to a big parking lot in Richmond, BC. It is there she would pick us up in her van and blindfold the crew with old suit ties. We drove them directly into Anne’s garage and closed the automatic door. They were then led down a hall into a welldisguised growroom where we removed the blindfolds.

This was 2000 and a big growroom could still get you quite a few prison years, not to mention the threat of armed robbery.

I walked into the bathroom, put on some makeup, and changed into my Marijuana Monroe costume. This began my long illustrious career as the world’s first pot pin-up model.

Meanwhile, the photographer struggled with lighting. It is notoriously difficult to light a growroom as it is steaming with lights. Too many lights. Too many hot lights.

Twenty minutes later, I walked out of that bathroom…and became the new cover girl for the nation’s biggest marijuana magazine. Hallelujah!

To date, I have done as many characters as I could dream up: Cleopotra, Little Miss Puffet, Jungle Mary Jane, Mary Jane Mansfield, Crops and Robbers, Mae West Coast … you get the idea.

What I learned then, and what I still believe today, is it is important to have unconventional aspirations when you are young and naive because then you dream big and bold, beyond your abilities. As we age, we tend to get more pragmatic with our quests. Such a shame really.

These pin-ups have been published in almost every cannabis magazine around the world. They have been printed in calendars, posters, and bong advertisements.

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Since then I have forged ahead with other seemingly impossible feats. I am about to open my second licorice and hula-hoop business; I’ve learned to be a decent tango dancer; I’m a retired watermelon vendor; I have produced countless cannabis cooking shows; I run a marijuana bakery; became a chocolatier; a writer; and next I want to become the mayor of Vancouver, BC. Not right away though. I have a 10-year campaign set in motion. By then, I will no longer be considered a “druggie.” I will be considered a “forward thinker.” Vote Watermelon for Mayor 2024. That is what it says on the buttons. Collect all 10.

To see Watermelon in action, check her out on YouTube.

Baked: Cooking with Mary Jean is a special show that features one special ingredient: cannabis! Follow Watermelon, a.k.a.

Mary Jean Dunsdon, on Twitter @weeddiva to never miss an episode, or sign up for updates at potent.media.

Gluten Free

Peanut Budder Cookies

1 C peanut butter 1 C brown sugar 1 egg

1 tsp baking soda 15 g shake flour

• Pre-heat oven to 350°F • Place all ingredients in a big bowl and mix thoroughly • Spoon out heaping tablespoon-size balls onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper • Flatten balls slightly with fork • Sprinkle each ball lightly with rock salt (optional) • Bake for 12-15 minutes • Cool on racks and serve with milk • Don’t kiss anybody with a peanut allergy

grow. heal. live. enjoy.

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LADY IN MIND BEGONIA

From Winnipeg, Canada, straight to the depths of your soul, enters Begonia.

Begonia is Alexa Dirks and Lady In Mind is her debut solo album. Her voice is powerful, poignant, dark, beautiful, and intoxicating. If you ever get an opportunity to see this soulful pop beauty live, do not miss it!

by Gibson Lannister

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SUNBELT EMPTINESS POLLEN RX

Gibson Lannister has been a musician for more than 15 years and continues to expand his knowledge of theory and technique.

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Sunbelt Emptiness is the debut album from Pollen Rx. This band is a hard one to nail down…alt rock, post-grunge, noisy surf pop? I just call them good. And the battle between vocalists Maud and Ben adds another layer to the sevenlayer music dip. It’s addictive!

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THE BEST OF OBAMA GOLD WAX CANDYBLASTA

European electronic pop group Candyblasta are as chilled out as it gets. Their latest EP The Best Of Obama Gold Wax does nothing but make me smile. No politics, just music, beautifully rendered, gentle, and pure.

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ART AMBIDEXTROUS PROPAGANDA & ODD THOMAS

LA’s own Propaganda & Odd Thomas have put forth something provocative in Art Ambidextrous. It’s poetic, prophetic, passionate, and humble, with a high level of energy. Propaganda’s lyrics are drenched in truth, a rarity in our increasingly hyperbolic world. Hip hop at its finest.

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HOT OR MOOD OAK HOUSE

Oak House is a band to behold, as sturdy as their name. Their album Hot or Mood is a beautiful blend of samples from the alt rock kingdom. It is progressive rock, with peeks and valleys of hard and soft, fast and slow.

4.5

REMEMBER US TO LIFE REGINA SPEKTOR

Regina Spektor has done it again! Just when you think it can’t get any better, she drops her latest album, Remember Us To Life. She has this inane ability to bring to life characters and narratives, and tell a story that every person can relate to, all while pushing the envelope artistically.

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