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Topping and Low-Stress Training:
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COOKING WITH CANNABIS
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Even the FDA is taking notice of the benefits of cannabis and cannabisrelated drugs as it recently approved the first cannabis-derived drug that works to control seizures.”
Features
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Growing High-Quality Flower by Scott Tucker Wakeham
Growing great cannabis doesn’t just happen. It takes experience, knowledge, and discipline. Scott Wakeham shares his years of cultivation success so you, too, can grow the cannabis you’ve always wanted.
CBD Oil Benefits by Shannon McKee
As CBD oil undergoes ongoing clinical testing, anecdotal evidence of its benefits is increasingly backed by science. Shannon McKee explores health conditions known to be improved by CBD and why it’s becoming an alternative to opioids.
®
TM
FERTILIZERS
Contents
First Feed
Grow Cycle
12 From the Editor
38 Topping and Low-Stress training
14 Bare Roots 16 Branching Out 20 Canna Facts 22 Good to Grow 50 Canna Buzz 60 Stash Box
Chronicals 18 Ask a Grower 34 Cooking With Cannabis 36 Cut and Dried 42 Ask a Nurse
72 Baking a Fool of Myself 10
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44 A Step-By-Step Guide to Setting Up a Cannabis Grow Tent 54 Cloning Cannabis 58 How to Avoid and Survive Greenout 62 The Powerful Role CBD Plays in Relieving Multiple Chemotherapy-Induced Symptoms 68 HighOnLove
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As the demand for creative ways to consume edibles increases — a lot of our readers are foodies as well — more and more people are using cannabis in the kitchen.”
from the EDITOR TG Toby Gorman
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S
ix issues (one year) into Maximum Yield Cannabis and we can’t say thank you enough to our readers, advertisers, partners, and friends who have joined us along the way. Your positive feedback, encouragement, and support have helped this magazine bloom well beyond what we envisioned in countless rebranding and strategy sessions all those months ago. We are working as hard as ever to evolve the publication. Along with our regular columnists such as Watermelon (Baking a Fool of Myself), Eloise Theisen (Ask a Nurse), and Karen Lloyd (Cut and Dried strain review), on page 34 you’ll find a new addition to our contributor family, Chef Sebastian Carosi and his Cooking with Cannabis segment. As the demand for creative ways to consume edibles increases — a lot of our readers are foodies as well — more and more people are using cannabis in the kitchen. Sebastian is originally from Providence, Rhode Island, and now resides in Seattle with his wife Hannah and daughter Gianni. He trained at Portland’s Western Culinary
Institute, apprenticed with renowned chefs in Italy, and went on to lead the Farm 2 Fork movement in New England and the mid-Atlantic states. He brings a passion for cannabis and culinary treats — bacon fat and browned butter caramelized pears, anyone? — and will be giving cooking demonstrations at Seattle Hempfest August 16-18. For the next several issues, he will be providing our readers with some of his favorite recipes, and we can’t wait to try them out ourselves. Of course, we know you’ve also got an appetite to grow some great cannabis as well. To do that, we’ve provided some great insight by long time grow professional Scott Wakeham on how to grow great cannabis (page 24), a piece by veteran contributor Rich Hamilton on how to set up a grow tent (a must read) on page 42, Andrew Taylor’s tips on how to manage your marijuana canopy (page 38), and Grubbycup’s best practices for cloning your favorite plants (page 54). As the late, great Gord Downie once said, “We made this for you. We hope you enjoy it.”
bare ROOTS Featured Contributors
SW Scott Tucker Wakeham is a store
manager and commercial account manager for San Diego Hydroponics & Organics with 10 years experience in the retail industry. He has been a cultivator and student of cannabis and other plants for 20 years. His current passion is Integrated Pest Management education, training, and certifications.
SM Shannon McKee lives in Ohio and has been a freelance writer for several years now, including on her blog, whyiwah.blogspot.com. Referred to as a garden hoarder by loved ones over the past few years, she grows a wide variety of plants in her urban garden.
Contributors
+
Sebastian Carosi August Dunning Grubbycup Rich Hamilton Karen Lloyd Monica Mansfield Nicole Skrobin Andrew Taylor Eloise Theisen Watermelon
PROPAGATION
VOLUME 2 NUMBER 3 May/June 2019 Maximum Yield Cannabis is published monthly by Maximum Yield Inc. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission from the publisher. If undeliverable please return to the address below. The views expressed by columnists are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of Maximum Yield or the editor.
Publication Agreement Number 40739092 Printed in Canada
2339 A Delinea Place, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5L9 Phone: 250.729.2677; Fax 250.729.2687
Maximum Yield Cannabis is now available on magazine stands across the USA!
Maximum Yield Cannabis is distributed direct to retailers, medical clinics, and dispensaries with distribution support from our partners: Great Lakes Garden Wholesale greatlakesgardenwholesale.com Grow Green Michigan growgreenmi.com
Maximum Yield Cannabis will be at:
Cannabis Conference 2019
Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino April 1-3, Las Vegas, NV
Propagation is horticultural terminology for reproduction. Both a science and an art, propagation is the delicate and, quite arguably, magical process of plant reproduction. The two types of propagation are sexual propagation and asexual propagation. Sexual propagation is nature’s way of reproducing a plant. It occurs when the pollen of a male plant lands on the flower of a female plant, fertilizing its ovaries and producing seeds. The seed contains the genetic characteristics of both parent plants. When the seed is planted, or sown, it develops into a new plant, or strain, that displays traits from both plants from which it was produced. Asexual propagation techniques include: cloning, grafting, layering, and tissue culture. Taking clones (or cuttings) from a mother plant has established itself as the most reputable form of asexual propagation amongst growers in the hydroponic industry. This allows for ideal characteristics to be reproduced repeatedly. Each method offers strengths and weaknesses. Plants grown from seed offer increased vigor and pathogen resistance, while cloning can offer speed of growth by bypassing the juvenile stage as well as reliability of resulting characteristics.
Check out “Cloning Cannabis” by Grubbycup on page 54 for more information.
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branching OUT
Article Archives
Can’t recall that great gardening recommendation from a few months ago? Look it up online. We have hundreds of indoor gardening articles available at maximumyield.com.
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Ask a Grower
Stumped by something strange happening in your garden? Fill out our Ask a Grower form and we will find you answers.
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Sign up for our free digital subscription and you will receive Maximum Yield Cannabis to your inbox every other month. You will also receive a monthly digital newsletter so you can be the first to know what’s happening in the industry. Prefer the print version of the magazine? Use your digital subscriptions as notifications for when a new issue is available at your local grow shop. Sign up online at maximumyield.com/subscribe.
@gonzoponics I’ve been reading this magazine for 20 years and this copy is hot off the press. Make sure to grab this new March/April edition from your local grow shop!
@PolyScienceLab We are proud to be featured in @Max_Yield and recognized for our #technology, commitment to the #environment #technology in our efforts to help the #cannabis industry continue to #grow.
@kaseynoelcraig It’s official, I have my writings in print! Thank you @maximumyield Does this mean I’m a published author? Is my career really this amazing? Am I dreaming? Am I high right now? I love writing and I’m lucky to have discovered my passion. Getting paid for it, that’s just the bonus! Mike V. I love these magazines I bring them everywhere to read.
Do you want to be featured? Send your email or post to:
editor@maximumyield.com @maximumyield @max_yield @maximumyield @maximumyield maximumyield
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CUSTOM SOLUTIONS FOR INDOOR GROWERS Lighting | Controls | Sensing | Monitoring | Analytics
Available at GrowGeneration stores nationwide
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR A GROWER? Email editor@maximumyield.com to get an answer.
ask a GROWER
by Dr. Strangebud
Q
Hello! I have been searching for a feeding regiment for my new autoflowering white widow seeds. I contacted the seed company and was told not to apply any nutrients. But from my 20 years of experience, I don’t see how they don’t need nutrients? I eagerly await your advice. Thank you!
a T
he short answer is that seeds don’t need any nutrients to germinate. They’ve got all they need to turn into a plant packed inside. Once they become little seedlings however... they will need proper nutrition just like any other plant. Autoflowering cannabis is the third type of cannabis (Ruderalis genetics) that evolved originally in short summer locations. Autoflowering cannabis doesn’t have a photoperiod sensitivity so it will flower about 15-22 days after germination and, depending on the variety, harvest is between 50-100 days. Because it has this significantly different life cycle, fertilization is different as well. So, you must load inputs to get top performance and yield. Micronutrient minerals are essential for rapid root expansion, so the following growth has the means of absorbing nutrients. Minerals are necessary to balance the N-P-K inputs, so having them in the growing medium is essential for maximum growth stimulation. You can also add beneficial microbes. The microbes make the micronutrient minerals more available for absorption and together cause massive root branching and strong top growth. And it’s probably a good idea to use a B-vitamin like Organic B or B-52 all along the cycle to keep stress and fertilizer shock to a minimum since you are pushing the plants for maximum yield. Growth: First off, don’t transplant them, there’s no time to waste on transplant shock so just germinate them in
the medium they will be harvested in. A good container is the 420 one-gallon grow bag on Amazon for great oxygen delivery to the roots for a huge root ball to pump nutrients into buds that works with the short grow cycle. Keep the light soft at the beginning with T-5 high-output fluorescent and switch to LED or HID in a week after the first leaves come out and raise them as the plants grow. And don’t have the light too close to the plant tops. If the leaves curl, it’s too close. They need at least 18 hours of strong light with a full spectrum in veg and bloom, so choose illumination based on day-spectrum charts. A combination of metal halide and high pressure sodium is an easy fix to this requirement. Autoflowering cannabis only gets to about 48 inches tall, so LEDs provide great light as well from start to finish. Back off the red-light frequencies in sodium for the last 48 hours before you harvest to max out THC and terpene production. Fertilization: Nutrient application is started slowly in the first week (like half strength). At two weeks start using potassium silicate for structure growth that will support large calyx growth. Thereafter ramp up the feeding during the first two to three weeks using a pH-balancing formula. At the first sign of flowers do a small flush with reverse osmosis or distilled water, then switch to a high-yield simulator. Add a bloom booster to max out your calyx formation.
AD Augustus Dunning (a.ka. Dr. Strangebud) is the CEO for Eco Organics and is a physicist, chemist, and an inventor. He is
the former systems ops designer for the International Space Station and a former regional manager of liquid, solid, and electric propulsion systems for Pratt and Whitney space propulsion, Edwards AFB, NAWC, and JPL. Currently he is working on medical cannabis genetic development for cloning operations.
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canna FACTS Why Time Slows Down Under Influence of Cannabis
The feeling of time slowing down for consumers after using cannabis has interested researchers for years, but there are no clear-cut answers as to why this happens. Studies have shown that a brain network called the thalamo-cortico-striatal circuit is key to how we perceive time. This collection of brain areas also contains many cannabinoid receptors. So, when THC from cannabis floods the brain, it could disrupt the normal functioning of these receptors, resulting in distorted time perception. Research done by Deepak D’Souza, a professor of psychiatry at Yale, showed that these time-distorting effects were particularly strong amongst those who rarely consumed, with medium and high doses leading to temporal overestimation and all doses resulting in temporal underproduction. Meanwhile, frequent tokers (two to three times a week or more) experienced no significant repercussions on their time perception regardless of the amount of THC in their systems. — leafly.com
White Widow: Arguably the Best-selling Cannabis Strain
While it’s hard to empirically nail down the best selling or most popular cannabis strain, White Widow comes out at the top of many lists. It’s a worldwide top seller that’s known for its potency. The mostly indicadominant (60 per cent indica/40 per cent sativa) hybrid first produced by Dutch veterans Green House Seeds and made public in 1994 is a cross between Brazilian sativa and South Indian indica landraces. It usually boasts THC levels in the 20-26 per cent range and is a former winner of the prestigious Cannabis Cup. Another reason for White Widow’s global popularity is how resin-rich it is and rightly so, as it was bred to be a resin producer. White Widow’s genetics have been used to influence many other popular strains including White Rhino, White Russian, and Blue Widow. It’s easy to spot with its frosty white, bright trichomes. — marijuanabreak.com
The Bard Enjoyed Smoking Weed
William Shakespeare was a toker, according to a study from a South African university. The University of the Witwatersrand was loaned 24 tobacco pipe fragments from Shakespeare’s Stratfordupon-Avon property by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Testing using gas chromatography mass spectrometry was used on the fragments and eight tested positive for cannabis and two had remnants of Peruvian cocaine. The research team concluded the Bard hit the bong during his illustrious writing career. Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 76” may contain some references to drug use. Throughout its lines, Shakespeare refers to keeping invention in a “noted weed” and to “new-found methods and compounds strange.” The study notes the cocaine was likely brought to England by Sir Francis Drake, who visited Peru in 157778. Shakespeare, if he did use the drug, was likely using a product grown very far from home, one that required a tremendous amount of travel and resources to make its way into his hands. — usatoday.com
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Is it Hemp or Marijuana?
What’s the difference between hemp and pot? A single genetic switch. In 2011, researchers from the University of Saskatchewan announced that they’d discovered the genetic alteration that allows psychoactive cannabis plants (Cannabis sativa) to give users a high (as compared to industrial hemp plants, which are no fun for smoking). Industrial hemp plants are the same species as marijuana plants, but they don’t produce a substance called tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA). This is the precursor to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in pot. Hemp plants fail to produce this substance because they lack a gene that makes an enzyme to produce THCA, according to the U of S research team. In contrast, marijuana plants do produce THCA but don’t create much of a substance called cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), which occurs in abundance in hemp but competes with THCA for raw materials. Thus, hemp is rich in nonpsychoactive CBDA, while marijuana is chock full of mind-bending THC. — livescience.com
Godfather OG: The Don of THC Potency
While THC content isn’t the be-all, end-all for cannabis consumers, some strains are going through the roof in terms of their potency. Among those potent strains, Godfather OG just might be the strongest on Earth. The indica-dominant hybrid reportedly has a THC content in excess of 34 per cent. Godfather OG is grown by California Herbal Remedies and is thought to be a cross between OG Kush, Granddaddy Purps, and Cherry Pie. Interestingly, a strain called Future #1 (grown by Portland’s 7 Points Oregon), measured in at 37.28 per cent THC after testing conducted by MRX Labs (which is accredited). In fact, the lab tested Future #1 four times to make sure the super-high number was correct. Despite the quadruple testing, many are skeptical about a strain coming in with such a high TCH content. — Maximum Yield staff
Following the Hippy Trail to the Modern Kush Strains
Today’s cannabis smokers can thank the Hippy Trail for bringing the famous Kush indica strain to the US during the late 1950s to early 1970s. The trail had Western members of the hippy subculture traveling from major cities like London, Berlin, Amsterdam, and the US (via Luxembourg) through Istanbul, then to Tehran, Kabul, and Delhi. Naturally, these tourists smoked Hindu Kush, which grew in the Hindu Kush mountains of Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan. The travelers brought Kush seeds back to the US and started growing the potent landrace strain. From there, Kush was mixed with other strains giving smokers now-famous plants including Bubba Kush, OG Kush, and Purple Kush. Interestingly, the Hippy Trail fell victim to politics as a new Afghan government banned hash and cannabis in 1973. Then the Soviets invaded in 1979, creating turmoil in the region ever since. — Maximum Yield staff
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good TO GROW
2
1
3 4
1 | Fritsch
Pulverisette 19
Optimized for cannabis production, the Pulverisette 19 boasts a high throughput of up 60 pounds per hour. With a variable speed motor, it can work at a range of 300-3,000 RPM, quickly cutting through cannabis. It’s efficiently designed so material is automatically moved and cut into increasingly fine samples by the shearing forces between the knives. The negative pressure in the cyclone ensures continuous flow through the cutting rotor. The Pulverisette 19 is designed with minimal dead space, and exchangeable sieve cassettes make for easy operation and cleaning.
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2 | Active Aqua Chillers
A line of great products for taking control of your reservoir temperature, Active Aqua chillers have a microprocessor control system along with a user-friendly control panel to enable a stable temperature in your reservoir. Active Aqua’s updated chillers now feature a boost function which accelerates the chilling process for quick establishment of initial nutrient temperature. Other features include an extremely efficient and reliable high-quality compressor, surge protection, and a digital temperature memory system that remembers your settings in case of a power interruption.
3 | CO2Meter RAD-0501-W Wi-Fi Monitor & Controller
CO2Meter’s new Wi-Fi day/night CO2 monitor and controller (RAD0501-W) is newly designed with real-time sensor monitoring giving you the ability to track all areas of your growroom wirelessly. Simply mount the unit, plug it into a standard wall jack, and it is ready to maximize your plant growing yields. The RAD-0501-W can be used in greenhouses, growrooms, mushroom houses, hydroponics rooms, and other places where CO2 levels are used to maximize plant growth.
4 | Reiziger Grow Food A&B
Reiziger’s Grow Food A&B is a full-spectrum nutrient designed without compromise to enhance the cultivation of all crop specific strains. Grow Food A&B is free of contaminants and derived from pure nutritive ingredients. It helps stabilizes pH, guarding your crops against fluctuation stress and nutrient deficiencies. The balanced formula provides macro, secondary, and fully chelated micronutrients plus innovative and revolutionary patented phosphorus facilitates better absorption by the roots. Reiziger Grow Food A&B nutrients are designed for use in all hydroponic growing media, both recirculating and nonrecirculation systems.
5
6
7
8
5 | Veg + Bloom
6 | South Cascade
At just one gram per gallon, Stackswell plant growth powder is a super-concentrated formula that can be used in reservoirs or mixed into a concentrate for dosers and fertigation systems. Delivering your plants with more than calcium and magnesium, Stackswell is also a cation exchange enhancer and root and shoot growth stimulator. Additionally, this product contains plant-derived surfactants and free amino acids. It comes in four different sized packages ranging from one to 25 pounds.
SLF-100 is a 100 per cent organic OMRI-Listed and Clean Green-certified enzymatic formula designed with system health in mind. The goal with SLF-100 was not to produce an enzymatic product that would target one specific material but to provide a wellrounded plant product that would tackle many different obstacles. Some enzyme products can damage microbial populations, however, SLF-100 will not and the shelf life of this product is unlimited. It will keep your hydroponic system running smoothly and free of toxic buildup.
Stackswell Growth Powder
Organics SLF-100
7 | Geoflora VEG and BLOOM
Geoflora VEG and BLOOM is a fully organic, two-part dry nutrient. Geoflora VEG and BLOOM is dustless, ensuring all 20 of the highest quality organic inputs are delivered evenly and without creating harmful, irritating dust. VEG’s (5-3-4) formula is designed for transplant, while also creating an established, well-supported microbial environment. BLOOM (3-5-5) has reduced nitrogen levels to help flowers and fruits achieve their maximum potential. Unique, organic phosphate and potassium sources kickstart flowering, leading to rich, developed floral structures.
8 | MEDXtractor CO2 Cannabis Oil Extractors
MEDXtractor’s small-scale CO2 -based cannabis oil extractors are ideal for craft marijuana growers. These wellpriced products allow craft growers to produce high-value, residualfree cannabis extracts from trim, flower, and rosin chips without breaking the bank. Using patent-pending technology, MEDXtractor oil extractors are well built and feature stainless steel construction with no mechanical pumps and don’t leave any hydrocarbon residue. MEDXtractor can ship their extractors anywhere around the world.
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Everything You Need to Know About
Growing High-Quality Flower
by Scott Tucker Wakeham
Growing great cannabis doesn’t just happen. It takes experience, knowledge, and discipline. Scott Wakeham shares his years of success so you, too, can grow the cannabis you’ve always wanted.
O
ver the years, through many seasons of trials and tribulations, a seasoned cannabis gardener learns that while the quality of your crop is determined by many factors, some attributes of your cultivation practices matter more than others. Before we break down the most important variables of high-quality cannabis cultivation, what are the defining parameters of high-quality cannabis itself? Modern testing laboratories allow us to check for the potency of the various cannabinoids including THC and CBD, and for contaminants such as bacteria, yeast, fungal diseases, pesticide residue, and heavy metal toxicity. Besides the cleanliness and potency of cannabis, the other very important factor for most cannabis enthusiasts is flavor and aroma, which are both determined by the levels of various terpenes present in the harvested product.
Great Genetics, Great Cannabis
Anyone with extensive experience will tell you that what matters the most to increase your chances of consistently growing high-quality cannabis is genetics. Even a beginner cannabis cultivator can grow top-shelf product given the best genetics to start with. By contrast, unstable and low-quality genetics grown by the best cultivator around cannot reach the potential of high-quality strains and genetic vigor. Whether you start from seeds or purchase clones, knowing where your cannabis genetics come from and getting them from someone who has good breeding practices and knows how to keep cannabis plants healthy and free of pests and disease will consistently pay off in the long term. Taking clones of your acquired genetics, while still in the vegetative phase of growth and preserving them in a clean and separate growing area, is also a very important step. This ensures that when you do find that special cultivar you can rely on yourself to keep it stocked, healthy, and available for propagation.
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Control the Environment
“Knowing where your cannabis genetics come from and getting them from someone who has good breeding practices and knows how to keep cannabis plants healthy and free of pests and disease will consistently pay off in the long term.”
Second in importance when it comes to growing quality cannabis is the environment it is grown in. Outdoor variables can make one outdoor growing season drastically different from another and can lead to bumper crops one season and light or damaged crops during another. High winds, extreme temperatures, soot from wildfires, pollen drift, and unwanted pests and diseases can all wreak havoc on your crop. Indoor gardens and some greenhouses have the huge advantage of practicing a method known as controlled environment agriculture (CEA) to create the ideal set of conditions for cannabis. Using appliances such as horticultural lighting, heaters, air conditioners, inline fans, dehumidifiers, humidifiers, and carbon dioxide (CO2) systems, CEA allows the cultivator to consistently control the variables that produce the best cannabis crops. Taking notes and records of the various environmental conditions found in your garden can be the key to re-creating the success of a previous crop. For this reason, written or digital records of all your environmental conditions is highly recommended to increase your consistency. Indoor gardeners who can control their environment and also supplement CO2 levels would be very wise to seek out information about vapor pressure deficit (VPD). Vapor pressure deficit is the complicated relationship between air temperature, leaf temperature, light levels, and humidity levels that determine what percentage of stomata are open on a leaf’s surface, which ultimately determines the upper limits of how much CO2 a plant can absorb through photosynthesis. Therefore, VPD is what determines a plant’s rate of metabolism and indoor gardeners that master VPD are certain to maximize their harvests.
Red Light, Blue Light
Another very important factor for indoor gardening relating to the environment of your cultivation space is the lighting technology and fixtures used to simulate the full spectrum of sunlight. Older bulb technology was only able to make one dominant color of the light spectrum at a time and required indoor gardeners to switch their bulbs mid-growth cycle from a predominantly blue spectrum bulb to a red/orange spectrum bulb. Thankfully, recent advances in lighting technology such as LEDs and full-spectrum bulbs allow you to customize the spectrum ranges being delivered to your plants and better replicate what light colors plants actually need. One of the first things cultivators noticed when first using full-spectrum light indoors was that individual phenotypes expressed themselves more, and their plants showed a wider range of pigments and colors in their flowers. But perhaps the most significant discovery related to new lighting technology is that cannabis exposed to extra amounts of ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) light directly increases the plants’ production of the cannabinoid THC. Many growers now supplement extra UVA and UVB lights to take advantage of this theory.
Nutritional Necessities
The third category of variables that still plays an important role in determining the quality of your cannabis crop are the nutrients you feed the plants. Whether it’s mineral-based fertilizer, organic liquid nutrients, or dry soil amendments, the quality and details of your feeding regimen factor into the results at the end of your cultivation. Avoid fertilizers intended for ornamental horticulture made with low-grade ingredients such as urea and ammonia or contaminants like heavy metals. When in doubt, seek out the heavy metal report listed on the label of the bottle such as the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials (aapfco.org) or your local regulatory agency to see the tested parts per million of all the chemical elements in your fertilizer. 26
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NEW LOGO, SAME FORMULA!
COMING IN 2019
YOUR TRUSTED ENZYME FORMULA
Observe, Measure, Experiment
“For a plant to decide to spend its energy and available nutrients building secondary metabolites, it must come close to having all of its nutritional requirements met and all of its work done creating primary metabolites in order to switch gears to terpene production.�
The fourth and final factor for a successful cultivation is you. Your skills, common sense, and critical thinking skills all play a role in maximizing the quality of your production. Using empirical skills such as the scientific method to observe, measure, experiment, and create hypotheses goes a long way to ensuring success. One of the most common mistakes, however, is making too many changes to your gardening practices all at once. Such a gardener will never learn which changes created what desirable outcome, or worse, won’t know which changes caused a catastrophe. Make changes slowly and practice the scientific method to dial in your garden. Common sense also goes along way with cultivation; the best cultivators know you need to pick a single strategy and stick to it by making a string of consistent decisions.
Cannabis Connoisseurs
For some connoisseurs, the most desirable characteristic of cannabis is its wide spectrum of available fragrances and flavor profiles available across a myriad of modern cultivars. The aromas of cannabis are caused by the presence of terpenes, which are the main ingredient of essential oils. More specifically, they are volatile organic compounds similar to alcohol. Cannabis has a diverse list of more than 200 known terpenes that can be present in many different combinations from as few as one per sample to 10 or more in a single sample. One of the discoveries of modern cannabis science is that strains have specific terpene profiles and ratios that are like a genetic fingerprint. Modern terpene testing can even be used as evidence of genetic heritage and to associate the lineage of one strain with another because of similar terpene ratios. There are many factors to understand in order to increase terpene production. First, the compounds that plants create are called metabolites and they are made from the nutrients we feed the plants and the carbon they transpire from CO2 in the air to make these carbon-based compounds. These metabolites are broken down into two categories: primary and secondary. Primary metabolites are the compounds the plant must have to survive, such as proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. The secondary metabolites are compounds like terpenoids, phenolics, and alkaloids. Although they may help the plant, secondary metabolites are not required to be synthesized in order for the plant to survive. For a plant to decide to spend its energy and available nutrients building secondary metabolites, it must come close to having all of its nutritional requirements met and all of its work done creating primary metabolites in order to switch gears to terpene production. How you can apply this knowledge to cannabis cultivation to increase the presence of terpenes is fairly straightforward. Avoid most environmental conditions that cause plant stress, especially high heat and low humidity, because they may shut down the production of secondary compounds altogether. Another commonly practiced theory is to lower temperatures for the last one to two weeks of your flowering cycle which helps lower the evaporation rate of the volatile monoterpenes which are produced and dissipated out the tip of the trichomes on a daily basis by living cannabis plants. Likewise, curing rooms and drying areas need to have their humidity levels and temperature controlled to preserve as many of the volatile terpenes as possible during curing.
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TRADITIONAL
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CBD oil
As CBD oil undergoes ongoing clinical testing, anecdotal evidence of its benefits is increasingly backed by science. Shannon McKee explores health conditions known to be improved by CBD and why it’s becoming an alternative to opioids.
T
hype or helpful? by Shannon McKee
he way that people view narcotics for pain and marijuana is changing. Every day, we’re learning that many of the people addicted to heroin and other illegal drugs started on the path of addiction through a prescription from their doctor. It usually starts with getting hurt and coming home with a powerful pain reliever and ends up turning into a sad story. This epidemic has created an opening for exploring other avenues for pain relief. Medical marijuana is starting to become a more popular option with researchers, but it’s not available in all areas. However, CBD oil is, and it’s rapidly starting to get attention — and for a good reason. Some believe there’s a lot of hype surrounding this oil, but it offers many helpful benefits for a wide range of conditions.
Pain Relief
Chronic pain is a real issue. People with conditions such as fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis suffer through debilitating pain on a daily basis. The pain can be so bad it affects their quality of life. The pain relief offered by CBD is beneficial and, unlike traditional narcotics, issues with tolerance or dependence don’t come up with this treatment option. Canada has approved the use of CBD oil in cases of cancer pain and multiple sclerosis.
Ease Inflammation
Inflammation is a larger issue than many people realize. Inflammation is more than just what happens to your body when you twist your ankle. Many diseases, such as cancer, autoimmune disease, Alzheimer’s, and heart disease all have chronic inflammation as a contributing factor. While your diet and lifestyle can play a large role in whether or not inflammation is an issue, even those that are doing all the right things may suffer from inflammation. Researchers have found that CBD oil can have a positive influence on inflammation and help reduce it.
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Both depression and anxiety can be treated with CBD oil according to the most recent research. It has been shown to help people who have obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and social anxiety disorder. CBD oil can help reduce the amount of anxiety and stress a person feels. Even those that are not formally diagnosed with one of these conditions can find benefits as it’s been shown to reduce the feelings of being ill at ease with public speaking. There are few mental health issues with as much stigma as schizophrenia. The traditional treatment methodology for this condition is therapy and prescriptions that often have serious side effects. Researchers are just starting to explore how CBD oil can be useful treating schizophrenia and other serious mental conditions. A recent review of research found that it’s an effective, safe, and easily tolerated treatment, but more research is necessary for wide acceptance. It’s been found that THC may increase the potential for psychosis in some. As CBD oil has little to no THC, it’s a better alternative than medical marijuana.
Antioxidant
CBD oil is an antioxidant. There’s been a lot of buzz about battling oxidative stress with antioxidants. Oxidative stress is caused by free radicals which are unstable molecules. This instability can damage your body at the cellular level. Antioxidants are molecules that help by providing electrons to the unstable molecules and neutralizing them. Antioxidants are good for your heart, help to reduce the potential for infections, and some research shows it can work to lower your risk against some cancers. It’s a powerful benefit.
Childhood Epilepsy Hope
CBD oil has been offering a great deal of hope to families with epileptic children. There are instances where children are unable to gain help through traditional pharmaceutical medications for epilepsy. These drug-resistant cases can often be treated successfully using CBD oil. In fact, one published study found that the frequency of seizures in patients studied went down by 23 per cent compared to patients using a placebo. This research can be huge for families struggling with epilepsy. Even the FDA is taking notice of the benefits of cannabis and cannabis-related drugs as it recently approved the first cannabis-derived drug that works to control seizures. Researchers are just starting to catch up with the popularity of CBD oil and medical marijuana. As this becomes more prevalent in society, more research is being completed to learn as much as possible about the benefits. What may seem like hype over the latest health fad is fast becoming seen as something that is clinically helpful. As more research is conducted into CBD oil, it will be interesting to see the additional benefits discovered and ways that this treatment can be applied.
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cooking with CANNABIS
by Chef Sebastian Carosi
W
ith abundant crops of heirloom and antique pears all over the Pacific Northwest, they naturally become a major part of your seasonal culinary repertoire for a young chef like myself who resides in the area (and picks a lot of pears). Sweet and savory, juicy and tender, breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert, it's not odd to find a specific variety of pear on your plate shortly after the middle of September. Arriving in the Pacific Northwest with the pioneers, the first pear trees found their way to the region by way of The Lewis and Clark Trail. Having a firm, dense flesh and the ability to retain their shape and texture during cooking, the Kaiser Alexander (a.k.a. Bosc pear) is my pick for cooking. It’s crisp, woodsy with a wildflower honey-like sweetness, and a somewhat buttery texture. Usually in season from September to late November, they are easily found in any produce market in the region. Adding to the overall aromatic aspects of the recipe, shared terpenes present in cannabis, pear, rosemary, and cracked black pepper all add their own complementary terpene characteristics. Wonderful aromas and health benefits are added bonuses, and this recipe should be enjoyed when the Bosc pear is at its peak of ripeness.
SC Chef Sebastian Carosi trained at Portland’s Western Culinary Institute, apprenticed with renowned chefs in Italy, and went on to lead the Farm 2 Fork movement in New England and the mid-Atlantic states. Find him on Instagram at @chef_sebastian_carosi.
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EQUIPMENT NEEDED • Chef’s knife • Cutting board • Large sauté pan or cast-iron skillet • Lined baking sheet • Tongs • Serving platter
INGREDIENTS • 4 tbsp. creamery butter • 6 organic Bosc pears (peeled, cored, cut into 8 wedges) • 1 tsp. sea salt flakes • 1 tsp. cracked black pepper • 1 tbsp. bacon fat (aka: liquid gold) • 3 sprigs organic fresh rosemary • 1 bottle cannabis CBD tincture (100mg cbd) • 1 tsp. fresh organic rosemary leaves (coarsely chopped) • 1 tbsp. fresh organic apple cider • 8-10 grams of cannabis-infused sugar (20mg cbd/20mg thc)
INSTRUCTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 425°F. 2. Place pear wedges on a buttered and lined baking sheet. 3. Season pears with salt and pepper.
BACON FAT+ BROWNED BUTTER CARAMELIZED PEARS PREP TIME: 15-20 minutes COOK TIME: 1 hour SERVINGS: 6-8 TOTAL THC/CBD: 120mg CBD/40mg THC
4. Sprinkle pears with the coarsely-chopped rosemary leaves. 5. Bake until just tender (approximately 10 minutes). 6. Let cool. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. 7. In a pre-heated sauté pan or cast-iron skillet, add 2 tablespoons of butter and the bacon fat. Add pears in batches and caramelize both sides to your liking until all pears are golden. 8. Remove pears from pan and spread on a serving platter. 9. In the same pan you caramelized the pears in, add the remaining butter, the rosemary sprigs, the apple cider, the CBD tincture, and the cannabis-infused sugar. Stir together ingredients over medium-high heat. 10. Pour hot liquid mixture over the pears on the platter. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 11. Enjoy hot, warm, or at room temperature as an accompaniment to a pork crown roast, roast turkey, roast lamb, or on a salad with crumbled blue cheese. Maximum Yield
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Like a cozy wool blanket on a cool day, it has the power to instantly lift your mood, induce relaxation, and… make you slightly absent minded.”
cut and DRIED
by Karen Lloyd
With its high-end potency, Kandy Kush OG is a strain that will leave you absent minded, super relaxed, and perhaps even couch-locked.
F
or one thing, I swear I started writing this review somewhere, on my phone or on paper, weeks ago, but the notes are nowhere to be found or perhaps never even existed in the first place. That says a lot about Kandy Kush OG. A tall, thin plant with a pungent bite and distinct citrus aroma, Kandy Kush OG is the perfect combo of indica (60 per cent OG Kush) and sativa (40 per cent Trainwreck). With large sticky buds, proffering 24 per cent THC, you don’t need much to feel the euphoric (almost tranquilizing) effects of this plant. Your thoughts will wander along merrily, probably making big plans for a bright future while your fingers press your iPhone passcode into the microwave timer, and your body becomes heavier by the minute. Like a cozy wool blanket on a cool day, it has the power to instantly lift your mood, induce relaxation, and… make you slightly absent minded. Often prescribed for insomnia, Kandy Kush makes for a good bedtime snack but since it’s also known to treat chronic pain, you can comfortably sit at a desk all day and work for hours. Just make sure you have everything you need at your fingertips — phone, food, fake cigarette — because once Kandy Kush OG melts into your system, you will likely be couch-locked and won’t want to travel far.
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Kandy Kush flowers from nine to 10 weeks and can be grown indoors and out with reported yields of up to 3.6 ounces per square foot. However, it does grow better indoors and is moderately difficult for cultivators but the high yield certainly rewards all the hard work. Overall, this award-winning strain offers the perfect rainyday buzz for reading a book (yes, you can read on this stuff), or chillaxing in the bathtub for hours. If you plan on writing important notes to yourself, just make sure you really did write them and try to remember where.
KL
Karen Lloyd is a website designer, writer, and SEO specialist in Toronto. Since 2011, Karen has helped numerous small businesses feature their products and services online. She’s excited to put her pen to paper for Maximum Yield and profile North America’s top dispensaries and strains as a path to wellness.
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Topping
and Low-Stress Training
Sometimes your cannabis plants require some minor manipulation to make them perform their best. Andrew Taylor draws on years of experience to offer some tips on topping and low-stress training so your plants produce maximum yields. by Andrew Taylor
Sweet Zone
T
o obtain higher yields, the most productive indoor growers manipulate their plants into a low, wide, and flat canopy with multiple flowering sites at the ‘same’ vertical height. This allows a larger proportion of your plant to bask in the sweet zone, enjoying optimum light levels within a temperature range that is ideal for photosynthesis (Fig. 1). This form can be achieved through a combination of topping followed by low-stress training (LST). Topping is effectively used to obtain multiple, even-sized floral sites, while LST is then used to bring these floral sites to the same height to maximize grow lamp efficiency.
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Low LightIntensity Region
Fig. 1a
Inefficient “Christmas tree” shape results in fewer flowering sites in the “sweet zone.”
Fig. 1b
Topping and low-stress training are used to position more flowering sites in the “sweet zone.”
Topping: When and How
Topping is best done when a cannabis plant is very young (less than two to three weeks old) and has only two to five nodes in total. Topping is the removal of the plants’ top growth just above a node (Fig. 2). Once topped, the two axillary buds immediately below the cut will then grow out into two new branches. Once these new branches grow out to one or two leaf sets (or nodes), they can be topped again (Fig. 3a). This second round of topping will grow out to form four evenly sized branches (Fig. 3b).
Important points for topping include: • Topping can be done more than twice, however, doing so will increase time in vegetative phase. Test to see what is most productive. Some experienced growers will top up to five times (or more) to obtain 32 branches and can be well rewarded for their efforts. • Healthy cannabis plants usually take two to three days to recover from topping. After topping, do not remove the leaves from that node as these are needed to power growth of the branches from that node. Never top during flowering as it causes too much stress, which slows growth and inhibits yield. Do not top unhealthy plants. Also, avoid topping older, thicker growth as this takes longer to heal.
Fig. 2b
The two auxiliary buds highlighted will grow into two new branches.
Fig. 2a
Topping above the second node.
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Fig. 3a
A second round of topping at the new second node.
Fig. 3b
Four resulting branches ready for low-stress training.
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Low-Stress Training (LST)
After topping, there are four quality branches (or bud sites) growing vertically from what was originally the top node. LST involves pulling these branches downwards (to horizontal) and outwards (i.e. a “star” configuration) so that all four branches are spread apart from one another, horizontal, and at the same height (Fig. 4). The lower branches from the nodes ‘below’ where topping occurred are now also closer and more exposed to the light. As these grow up, they can be topped and manipulated using LST.
Top View
Important points to remember for LST include: • LST should be started as soon as possible during the vegetative phase. Flowering phase can commence once all major branches are horizontal and level with each other. Budding can be triggered by switching lights to 12-on/12-off. LST should continue during early flowering as vegetative growth continues. Maintain a flat, level branch structure. Vegetative growth will eventually stop when the plant is putting most of its energy into flowering. Minimal adjustment is required after this point — apart from keeping shade away from key areas. It can be beneficial to remove small, lower growth as this helps improve ventilation through the canopy and prevents infestations or infections due to foliage being in contact with soil.
“
a method that is strong enough to support the plant during flowering and allows access to manage the growing plants, conduct cleaning, and other maintenance.”
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eturning cannabis health care to healthcare professionals.
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Fig. 4
Low-stress training applied to the resulting four major branches.
• Young growth is easier to bend than older growth. Also, some cannabis strains are easier than others. Do not rush to get branches horizontal; do this in stages. When a branch is first bent, growth will be slowed. Foliage will re-orientate toward the light, then eventually start to grow. LST again once it grows another three inches or so.
How to Secure Branches for LST
Adopt a method that is strong enough to support the plant during flowering and allows access to manage the growing plants, conduct cleaning, and other maintenance. Some prefer gardening wire or landscape stakes. This method is effective during the early growth stages soon after topping. Branches can be held in place with wire that is anchored to screws in the pot, or some other structure. As the plant grows the wires need to be tightened, however, ensure the main stem remains vertical. Others prefer screen or netting. A square or rectangular frame needs to be securely erected with either netting stretched over it or create a grid pattern using string woven through eyelets that are screwed into the frame.
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“
and LST disrupts a plant’s hormones (auxins) which triggers the plant to prioritize growth more evenly to all nodes.”
TOPPING Fig. 5
A screen or netting can be used to low-stress train branches outwards as they develop.
The holes in the grid or netting need to be at least 2×2 inches. Depending upon the species, the screen is normally mounted low enough (approximately one to one-and-a-half feet) from the plant’s base so all the lower branches can grow up to the screen and gain access to direct light (Fig. 5). As the plant grows, the growing tips need to be lowered back under the netting and directed into the next empty space in the screen. In most species, the terminal bud or branch dominates growth to form a Christmas tree-shaped plant. The growth of lateral stems and their floral sites is a lot slower than the terminal bud. Topping and LST disrupts a plant’s hormones (auxins) which triggers the plant to prioritize growth more evenly to all nodes. Consequently, lower branches will catch up to those higher on the plant and yield more bud sites and more evenly sized fruits. The plant also tends to grow bushier and shorter which is more suitable for indoor lighting.
AT
Andrew Taylor is an analytical chemist with additional qualifications in plant function and nutrition. He has more than 25 years experience in agricultural product design, research and development, and commercial manufacturing. Taylor is the head of manufacturing and research and development for FloraMax, an Australian manufacturer of hydroponic nutrients.
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Accumulating evidence indicates that cannabinoids have potent anti-tumor characteristics and might be used successfully in the treatment of GBM.”
ask a NURSE
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR A NURSE? Email editor@maximumyield.com to get an answer.
by Eloise Theisen, AGPCNP-BC
Q
Can medical marijuana help in treating glioma? Thank you, Janice
a T
here has been an increase of glioma patients who are considering cannabis as a treatment modality. Finding — and trusting — information about using cannabis to treat glioma can be challenging, especially for a condition as unsettling as a brain tumor. Glioma is a category of brain and spinal cord tumors that occur in glial cells (glial cells are brain cells that support nerve cells). Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive and fast-growing brain tumor. These tumors tend to appear in older adults and can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, and seizures. GBM is very difficult to treat and most GBM patients have a poor prognosis — fewer than five per cent of GBM patients survive five years past initial diagnosis. Novel treatments are urgently needed to improve quality of life and survival rates of the patients suffering from GBM. Accumulating evidence indicates that cannabinoids have potent anti-tumor characteristics and might be used successfully in the treatment of GBM. For example, a study completed in Spain in 2006 with nine terminally ill glioma patients suggested that THC reduced tumor cell proliferation and was well tolerated. Research in animal models suggest that cannabinoids produce anti-tumor effects in GBM by reducing blood vessel formations in tumors and by reducing the spread of and the replication of cancerous cells. New research suggests that treatment efficacy might be enhanced by combining cannabinoids with traditional chemotherapeutic agents.
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In fact, the outcome of preclinical models prompted GW Pharmaceuticals to study combinations of Sativex with TMZ (TMZ is an oral chemotherapy drug) in a placebo-controlled clinical trial in 21 GBM patients (Sativex is an oromucosal spray with a 1:1 THC:CBD mixture). The group that was treated with Sativex and TMZ had an 83 per cent one-year survival rate. The control group received TMZ only and had a 53 per cent one-year survival rate. Of course, you should always get your medical advice from a healthcare professional (HCP), especially if you have a condition as serious as a glioma. A competent HCP will provide a comprehensive intake meeting to review your condition and assess your prescription medications to identify potential contraindications with cannabis. HCPs can help you learn to properly administer medicines, use new devices, and can discuss the benefits and side effects of any products. And, ensure that you work with a HCP that provides ongoing support to help you navigate the complexities of cannabis treatment, local laws, and access issues.
ET Eloise Theisen, AGPCNP-BC, is a dedicated and
patient-focused nurse. For more than 17 years, she has specialized in aging, cancer, chronic pain, dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia, and various autoimmune and neurological diseases.
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A STEP-BY-STEP
GUIDE TO SETTING UP A
CANNABIS GROW TENT by Rich Hamilton
Those wanting to start growing their own cannabis but aren’t sure where to begin can use Rich Hamilton’s informative guide to setting up a grow tent from scratch, which covers everything from lighting to ventilation to the type of pots to use.
S
o, you want to grow your own cannabis plants, but where do you start? With such a vast selection of products available, it can be overwhelming for a beginner. This article will show you how to set up a basic grow. I will be discussing what I call a “single set up.” This consists of four plants getting hand-fed with coco under a 600W light in a 4x4x6.5-foot grow tent. We will look at everything you need, why you need it, and how it works.
Grow Tents
Grow tents come in all shapes and sizes. A 4x4x6.5-foot tent will hold four plants comfortably. Tents have either a white or silver lining inside, designed to reflect light back onto the plants. When zipped up they are completely self-contained environments that will not let any exterior light, odor, or potential threats in. Likewise, they will let nothing out other than through your extraction equipment. A quality tent will last you a long time. Look for a thick material, strong poles, and good quality zippers. 44
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Bulbs
When your plants go into your tent for the vegetative (growth) stage, they will need a specific light cycle of 18 hours with the lights on and six hours with lights off to mimic the plants’ natural environment. The bulb you want to get is a 600W dual spectrum bulb. It is ‘dual’ in the sense that it emits two spectrums of light — one for the vegetative (blue) stage and one for when plants are flowering (orange and red), making it excellent value for the money.
Ventilation Kit — Fan, Filter, Ducting, and Clamps A good air exchange is essential as it brings fresh, cool air into your environment and removes warm air and odor via the carbon filter and ducting. Full ventilation kits can be purchased depending on how much air you want to scrub (clean). In the case of the tent we are using a six-inch L1 RVK fan with a six-inch filter. The filter pulls air through the carbon bed contained within it, removing bacteria along with any smells. To connect the filter and fan and to take the warm air out of the tent, you will need ducting. Acoustic ducting is best. It is a dual layer of standard ducting with fiberglass sandwiched in the middle. It really does a great job and keeps noise to a minimum. Clamps are used to hold the ducting, fan, and filter together. When fitting them make sure you fit them as tightly as possible so they work efficiently.
“A good air exchange is essential
as it brings fresh, cool air into your environment and removes warm air and odor via the carbon filter and ducting.”
Shades
Shades come in a wide array of designs, however, for a beginner, the Dutch Barn Hammertone shade is one of the most reliable and economical out there. The shade directs light downward where you want it, onto your plants.
Digital Ballast
A ballast works by choking the correct amount of electricity to the bulb at the desired wattage. Without a ballast, the bulb would just keep drawing electricity until it overloaded itself and blew a fuse. I always use a 600W ballast because the higher the wattage of the ballast, the higher the amount of lumen and par the plant receives, and in turn the faster the plant grows, resulting in bigger yields. Maximum Yield
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It is important that your bulb and ballast wattage always match. So, a 600W bulb should only be used with a 600W ballast, and vice versa. Digital ballasts are the best option. They give you full control, run at the true wattages stated, use less electricity, have a small start-up volt drain, run cool, and have a great dimming feature which is fantastic if conditions get a little too warm in your tent.
“A quality tent will last you a long time. Look for a thick material, strong poles, and good quality zippers.” Contactor and Timer
Contactors spread the electrical discharge, reducing the chances of the main fuse blowing when the initial strike up of the lamp/ballast occurs. A good quality contactor will have a built-in timer you can set to turn your lights on and off, which is convenient and maintains accuracy.
Clip-on Oscillating fan
These have several jobs including moving warm air produced by the bulbs around the tent and keeping temperatures even. To move gas released from the plants’ leaves away from the plant and CO2 and oxygen towards the plant to facilitate photosynthesis. Lastly, the fan gently shudders the plants, increasing the strength in the stems and overall structure.
Ratchet Hangers
An essential simple bit of kit to hold up everything that needs suspending in your grow tent — most important being your lights. Ratchet hangers allow you to adjust the distance between your plants and the lights, which is crucial to ensure the plants get the maximum amount of lumen and par available from the bulb. The ideal distance between the plant and light is one foot but you can move it nearer or further away, if necessary, to achieve the perfect temperature. Just make sure you reposition your oscillating fan as well to keep the air moving.
Temperature Gauge and Hygrometer
A temperature gauge and hygrometer are needed to ensure you can monitor humidity and temperature levels throughout your tent. A digital “all in one” is perfect for accurate results.
Pots and Trays
Going into the vegetative phase, you want four-gallon square to round pots — square at the top and round at the bottom. They are commonly used in indoor growing because they make the most of the available light when placed together. You will also need some large, flat catchment trays to contain any spills, leaks, or mess.
Putting it all Together • First, put up your tent, which is a piece of cake; instructions will be included. • Now, set up your grow light. Screw the bulb into the shade firmly using a cloth or glove. 46
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“There is a lot to learn, but try not to put
too much pressure on yourself as you can only truly learn by facing obstacles and finding solutions to overcome them.”
• Attach the ratchet hangers to the shade and then to the poles across the roof of the tent. Make sure you know how to adjust the hangers to raise or lower the light when needed. • Plug the shade into the ballast. • Plug the ballast into the contactor. Remember that the contactor and ballast should be outside the tent, so anything inside that’s plugged into it should have the power cables running through a port in the upper part of the tent and out to the contactor. Keep the contactor and ballast somewhere safe, dry, and free of obstruction; ideally hanging on a wall. • Set the timer on the contactor to your lights “on and off” times.
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Learn more at roomtogrowav.com
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• Plug the oscillating fan into the contactor and clip it to one of the vertical tent poles at the back of the tent, adjust the height once the plants are in the tent so that it’s at the height of the canopy and remember to adjust it as the plants grow. • Plug the contactor into the main power supply.
What about Ventilation?
Ventilation should be positioned at the top of the tent, suspended from the horizontal top bars toward the back wall of the tent but not touching it. If you are standing inside the tent, the order from left to right should go: filter>clamp>fan>clamp>ducting. The ducting is then passed through a portal at the top back of the tent. Make sure the clamp connecting the filter to the fan is tight as possible, as this will allow the filter to maximize how much air it can scrub. When you turn on the ventilation and the tent is zipped up, you should be able to see the sides of the tent being sucked in slightly. This is known as negative pressure and is a sign everything is working as it should be and that all the air leaving the tent is passing through the filter. You can open and adjust the ports on the sides of your tent to help achieve this. And that’s it. Your tent is set up and ready for your plants to go in. All that remains is to take a baseline reading of the temperature and humidity inside the tent to give you an idea of what you are working toward to achieve the perfect environment for your plants to thrive in, which is between 72-82°F with a relative humidity between 40-70 per cent. Now comes the hard work as you monitor, nurture, maintain, and adjust your plants and their environment for the next 12 weeks. There is a lot to learn, but try not to put too much pressure on yourself as you can only truly learn by facing obstacles and finding solutions to overcome them.
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Your first few grows should be seen as the foundations you will build upon to become a competent and successful cannabis grower.
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Growlite by Barron Lighting Group understands the needs of your grow site as well as the need to keep harmful substances like mercury, phosphors and rare earth elements from contaminating the country’s landfills and waterways. With those needs in mind, we are pleased to introduce the Growlite Recycling Program. The Growlite Recycling Program is easy, and convenient in just four (4) easy steps. 1. Include the part number GLL-RECYCLE as a line item on your return order. 2. When you re-lamp your fixtures with the new Growlite lamps, use that existing packaging for the old, spent lamps. Please keep the lamps intact and unbroken, it makes the shipping and return much safer! 3. Attach the included return shipping label and the fluorescent green recycle sticker to the packaging that contains the old lamps that are being sent back for recycling. 4. Return the old lamps to Growlite, by either scheduling a pickup or taking the package to a nearby shipping location. DONE! It’s that easy. Once the old lamps are received at Growlite and quantities are verified, a certificate of recycling will be issued and sent to the end user. This certificate can be presented to municipal inspectors as proof that your facility is properly disposing of spent lamps. For more information on how Growlite can assist in your recycling efforts, call 800.533.3948 or email us at recycling@growlite.com.
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Canna BUZZ Canada’s “Minister of Pot” Says National Supply is Good
Bill Blair, the man in charge of Canada’s cannabis legalization and policies, recently tweeted that marijuana supply is enough to meet the country’s demands. “Building on our considerable experience with medical cannabis, and with 147 Health Canada licensed producers, the data is clear: there remains sufficient supply to meet and exceed existing demand,” Blair says. This comes despite continuing outcry from retailers across the country that have frequently spoken out on the ongoing supply issues that have led some stores to cut back on hours, staff, and even close their doors for good. According to Health Canada, in December licensed producers had stockpiled 42,075 pounds of inventory ready for sales plus 240,824 pounds of cannabis that is not ready for sale. Cannabis store sales totalled $54 million in November, the first full month of legal recreational pot sales, according to Statistics Canada.
MMJ the Focus at Capitol Hill Hearing on Opioid Crisis
Doctors testifying on Capitol Hill about the opioid epidemic made it clear that medical marijuana has potential as an alternative pain treatment option. They also testified that federal prohibition is inhibiting cannabis research. The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a hearing to discuss how to manage America’s opioid crisis, and medical marijuana was a point of interest raised by several lawmakers. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), who chaired the panel, asked Dr. Andrew Coop of the Maryland School of Pharmacy what he considered “the most promising, non-addictive painkiller treatments or medicines that are coming down the road.” Coop responded by saying “The drugs that are coming — I mentioned cannabinoids. I know that’s a controversial topic.” Coop was referring to medical marijuana. He went on to testify more MMJ research is needed. “We need good, consistent, well-designed clinical studies with good, consistent material so that we can fully assess the impact, and don’t get me wrong, also the potential drawbacks,” Coop says.
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Baltimore Stops Prosecuting Cannabis Possession Cases
The state’s attorney in Baltimore announced she will no longer prosecute marijuana possession, regardless of the quantity or a person’s prior criminal record. Recreational cannabis is still illegal in Maryland. Marilyn Mosby, Baltimore’s top prosecutor, says cannabis possession cases have no public safety value, erode public trust in law enforcement, and heat up existing racial disparities in the criminal justice system as arrests disproportionately take place in communities of color. “No one who is serious about public safety can honestly say that spending resources to jail people for marijuana use is a smart way to use our limited time and money,” Mosby says, adding her office will still go after dealer and traffickers by prosecuting cannabis distribution charges. She’s at odds with Baltimore police as acting police commissioner Gary Tuggle noted officers “will continue to make arrests for illegal marijuana possession unless and until the state legislature changes the law regarding marijuana possession.”
Green Relief: World’s Only Licensed Cannabis Aquaponics Company
Green Relief is paving the way for marijuana growers who want to produce the plant on a sustainable level. The Canadian company is the world’s only licensed producer growing cannabis via a closedloop aquaponics system. The operation raises 6,000 tilapia and 4,500 plants at any given time. “This is the agriculture of the future,” said Warren Bravo, a former concrete contractor who co-founded the company with friend Steve LeBlanc in 2013. “If you’re not latching on to sustainable agriculture technologies now, you’re going to be a dinosaur.” Green relief also operates with a social conscience and, every five weeks, donates some 300 market-sized tilapia to a food charity. A $60 million expansion is underway at the company’s base outside Hamilton, Ont., which will add 33,000-44,000 pounds to annual output. Green Relief plans to go public on the Canadian Securities Exchange and maybe the Nasdaq.
Canna BUZZ Vancouver Company Wins POT Lottery
Looks like Weekend Unlimited has gone to POT. The Vancouver cannabis company won the highly coveted POT stock symbol recently, being drawn from a pool of 40 interested firms who wanted the ticker moniker. “I’ve never won the lottery, so this is a first… This is our lucky day,” says Weekend Unlimited CEO Paul Chu. His company, which had previously traded on the Canadian Securities Exchange as YOLO, has a suite of cannabis-focused brands and operations in Canada and in legal US states. POT became available after Potash Corp. merged with Agrium Inc. in early 2018 to become Nutrien Ltd. Several pot industry companies hold memorable stock symbols. Canopy changed its symbol from CGC to WEED on the TSX in 2017. Newstrike Brands Limited, a cannabis producer partly owned by rock band The Tragically Hip, trades as HIP on the TSX Venture Exchange.
World Health Organization Wants to Change Cannabis Classification
The World Health Organization (WHO) is considering rescheduling the classification of marijuana. Currently cannabis is listed as a Schedule IV drug (the most restrictive) on the WHO’s drug list. It’s been that way since 1961. The WHO now believes marijuana’s current scheduling goes against science, but the organization is making it clear they are not recommending it for legalization. Additionally, the WHO wants to clearly state that CBD preparations with a THC content of lower than 0.2 per cent will be considered as “not under international control” in any way. They also suggest that cannabis extracts, tinctures, and pharmaceutical THC compounds be taken from Schedule I down to Schedule III. This information comes from an unreleased document from WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. For cannabis to get rescheduled under the WHO guidelines, the group would have to vote on it and get a majority of votes to make the change.
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Oregon Senator Submits Federal Cannabis Bill for Legalization
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden (D) has introduced a bill, aptly titled S.420, that, if passed, would deschedule marijuana by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act, establish a federal excise tax on legal cannabis sales, and create a system of permits for businesses to engage in cannabis commerce. Currently (and somewhat befuddling) in the US, marijuana is classified as a Schedule 1 drug, along with heroin, LSD, and magic mushrooms, while Schedule 2 drugs include cocaine and methamphetamines. The new senate bill was filed in February and has a long way to go before it becomes law. Wyden’s bill is not the first to have 420 attached to the name. In January, another federal lawmaker from Oregon, Representative Earl Blumenauer (D), filed a congressional bill to regulate marijuana like alcohol, numbered H.R. 420. Also in January, Minnesota state lawmakers introduced a cannabis legalization bill designated as HF 420.
Aphria Board Rejects Hostile Takeover Bid
Canadian cannabis producer Aphria’s board of directors has recommended rejecting a hostile takeover bid from fledgling American firm Green Growth Brands. Aphria announced the Green Growth bid “significantly undervalues Aphria relative to its current and future worth,” and would result in Aphria shareholders effectively giving Green Growth Brands shareholders a 36 per cent interest in Aphria in exchange for shares in a company with limited operations or other experience in the cannabis industry. Green Growth offered Aphria shareholders 1.5714 shares of Green Growth for each Aphria share. “Regardless of their brazen attempts to suggest otherwise, GGB is asking Aphria shareholders to accept a substantial discount on their shares, as well as delisting from both the TSX and NYSE, resulting in a vast dilution of their ownership in Aphria,” says Irwin Simon, Aphria’s chairman of the board. “By virtue of our strong platform and competitive advantages, Aphria has multiple near-term opportunities to profitably grow.”
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05/2019
CLONING CLONING CLONING CANNABIS
by Grubbycup
Some cannabis plants are so much better than others that you wish they’d just live and produce forever. While you can’t create an everlasting plant, cloning is a common way to make copies of those plants with desirable attributes.
he term “cloning” is simply another, easier way to say vegetative propagation. Using this process, each cutting is a genetic copy of the donating plant. The small branch continues to grow even after it is separated from the original plant, effectively allowing the same plant to be grown in separate containers. This allows the plant to have an extended lifetime, even beyond the demise of the original. The selection of a superior mother plant is an important step as its traits are perpetuated by its clones. So, make sure that it is desirous to make many copies of that same plant. Generally, the most desirable attribute in a cannabis plant is being of the female gender. Cannabis plants grown from normal (not feminized) seeds tend to be about evenly split between the sexes. This means a grower needs to start at least twice as many seeds to achieve the desired number of female plants since losses to male plants will be about half (depending on sample size and luck). Cuttings taken from a known female plant, however, produce only female plants, meaning the culling of males is not required. A single known female can be the mother plant to tens, hundreds, or in extreme cases, even thousands of genetic copies of itself. It is possible to root cuttings because of meristem cells. No matter where they are in the plant, all meristem cells are the same basic building-block cells. These cells are undifferentiated and have the potential to mature into a wide variety of different cells, such as leaf, root, flower, etc. In cloning, the stem of the cutting is kept moist, oxygenated, and alive until the meristem cells near the surface decide to develop into root cells instead of the branch cells they otherwise would have become.
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Cannabis cuttings root easily and well, which is fortunate for gardeners and growers. Before taking the cuttings, a space for the clones should be prepared. The space should be tolerant of spills (which can easily happen) and have moderate lighting as the cuttings will be tender until they are established. Common options include T5s and LEDs, and some growers place the clones along the edge of an HID garden space. Comfortable to warm room temperatures are also desired, although a specialized heating mat can be used to raise temperatures if needed. If a heating mat is used, one with a thermostat is recommended to prevent overheating. As with any electrical equipment with cords in the garden, make sure there is a “drip loop” in the cord so any condensation drips off the cord instead of running into an electrical socket. Once the space for the clones is prepared and a mother plant chosen, the cuttings can be taken. Cutting should generally be taken from plants still in growth. While taking cuttings in flower is possible, they take much longer to root. Cuttings should include at least both a shoot apical meristem (growth tip) and a section of stem. In situations where the cuttings will be crowded together, it is common to trim large leaves to ensure one plant doesn’t shade another. Since the cuttings have been separated from the root system of the mother plant, they must have access to moisture until they develop their own roots. Fresh cuttings are particularly sensitive to drying out, leading to terminal wilt, so they need a lot of moisture to survive. However, they must not be kept too wet as fungal problems such as damping off, molds, and root rot can kill clones as assuredly as dehydration can.
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“ TO KEEP the ends of the stems
wet, there are two basic methods: either put the stems in something that retains moisture or continuously expose them to a mixture of water and air.”
A common practice is to immediately place the end of each cutting into a container of water. That way it won’t dry out while the remaining cuttings are taken. Once all the cuttings are made, however, they need to be moved to another medium. To keep the ends of the stems wet, there are two basic methods: either put the stems in something that retains moisture or continuously expose them to a mixture of water and air. In the first case, rooting cubes, vegetable pods, or small pots are popular options. Rooting cubes can be made from a variety of materials, and they should be moistened before the stem is driven (gently) into their centers. Vegetable pods have depressions that can be filled with potting mix, and small pots or cups can be used similarly. Standard 10x20-inch 1020 trays are commonly used to hold these clone containers. These are sold in single- or double-thickness options, with the double-thickness trays being noticeably sturdier. There are plastic domes that fit over 1020 trays to help keep humidity higher in dry climates, but they should be used with care and moderation as clones in overly wet conditions are prone to damping off and other pathogenic fungal growth.
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To instead expose the cutting ends to a mixture of air and water without a growth medium, the cuttings are suspended above a chamber containing the water and air mixture until roots develop. Air pumps can be used as the driving force to either run an air stone bubbling in water or an airlift sprayer.
“ TO INSTEAD expose the cutting
ends to a mixture of air and water without a growth medium, the cuttings are suspended above a chamber containing the water and air mixture until roots develop.”
develop so they can be transplanted into a larger container for further growth. A mild nutrient solution may be introduced once roots have appeared, but overfeeding tends to be a more common issue than underfeeding, so mix lightly and save most additives for later. Also, though not required for success, hormone auxins such as idolebutyric acid (IBA) or naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) can be used to encourage the meristem cells to become root cells instead of leaf cells. They are commonly found in rooting powders, liquids, and gels, and are coated on the cut ends of the stems.
In some configurations, a water pump may be substituted for the air pump, but they should be used with caution as they tend to transfer more heat to the water. Regardless of the specifics of the method used, the goal remains to keep the cuttings alive and healthy until roots
Cloning is not a difficult skill to acquire, and it is recommended for any grower that would like to take advantage of the ability to replicate specific cannabis plants. It is a technique than can be used to determine sex of a plant or to create multiples of a known good female plant. A single rooted clone can then be turned into a roomful of copied plants that should grow similar to each other in similar conditions. Even if cloning isn’t an activity that appeals to a grower, it still behooves them to understand the nature of clones and their abilities.
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HOW TO AVOID AND SURVIVE
GREEN OUT by Monica Mansfield
It’s never a good thing when you’ve consumed too much cannabis and begin greening out. It can be downright scary, but there are ways to prevent overindulging and steps that can help you get through it.
I
t could have been that second or third edible. Or maybe it was your first time dabbing. Maybe you tried to impress your friends with a huge bong hit topped with some hash oil after drinking all night. Whatever the cause, now you have the spins and anxiety that’s so intense you feel like you’re dying. You, my friend, are greening out. As more places legalize cannabis for medical and recreational purposes, emergency rooms are seeing more patients for cannabis overconsumption. Dr. Eric Lavonas, an emergency physician and medical toxicologist at Denver Health Medical Center, says they regularly see about three or four cases per week.
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Although no one has ever died from a cannabis overdose, it is possible to get sick from ingesting too much THC. Dr. Freddie Vista, a psychiatrist who works in addiction and rehabilitation, explains that when cannabinoid receptors are over-activated with THC, it can make a person feel ill.
Green Out Symptoms
The most common symptoms of greening out are anxiety and paranoia. It can feel like a severe panic attack, and may also include the following:
• Extreme dry mouth • Chest pain • Confusion • Increased heart rate and blood pressure • Shaking • Sweating • Chills • Disorientation • Severe nausea or vomiting • Burning eyes • Delusions or hallucinations • Shortness of breath • Dizziness The experience can be frightening, but it is important to remember that it isn’t deadly and it will pass. It’s estimated a person would need to ingest 40,000 times a normal dose of cannabis for it to kill them. That would be pretty hard to do. That being said, if you continue to have a racing heartbeat and shortness of breath, it might be a good idea to head to the ER, where they can give you some meds to calm you down.
Causes of Green Out
Improper dosing is the main culprit of green out, whether you are smoking, eating, or dabbing. Modern strains of cannabis are bred for higher THC levels than they used to be. If someone smokes too much, especially if they have a lower body weight, they can potentially feel sick. Your ideal dose will depend on your brain chemistry, your size, your metabolism, and your experience (tolerance) level. Indicas and sativas should be dosed differently. Whereas indica doses can be higher without any negative effects, sativas are better smoked in more frequent, lower doses. High doses of a sativa can cause panic attacks. A strain’s THC and CBD levels matter. High-THC strains are more likely to cause green out, while strains with high CBD levels are less likely to. CBDs actually prevent you from getting too high by blocking THC from fully binding to cannabinoid receptors. Edibles can take one to two hours to kick in, and a common cause of green out is when people get impatient and eat more because they think the edibles aren’t working. If you are brand new to edibles, start with a 5 mg dose and wait two hours to feel the effects. Most people find that their best dose for edibles is 10 mg, however, it can vary from person to person. Someone with a high tolerance, high metabolism, and heavy build can easily consume 20-30 mg without an issue.
EDIBLES CAN TAKE one to two hours to kick in, and a common cause of green out is when people get impatient and eat more because they think the edibles aren’t working.”
Concentrates such as hash, oil, wax, and shatter can have THC levels of up to 90 per cent or more, which makes it easy to overdo them. Start with small doses until you have a good feel for your personal tolerance level. Drinking alcohol before smoking can potentially double the rate of THC absorption and is one of the most common causes of green out. As the saying goes, “Beer before grass, you’re on your ass. Grass before beer, you’re in the clear.”
How to Survive Green Out
If you find yourself feeling green, there are things you can do to help yourself until it passes. First and foremost, relax. This, too, shall pass and stressing will only make your anxiety worse. Lie down and take deep breaths, listen to music, and sleep it off if you can. You’ll feel better in a few hours. You might feel a little hung over for the next day or two, but you’ll bounce back in no time. It’s a good idea to eat and drink something, especially something fruity like a glass of lemonade or a slice of mango. Fruits contain terpenes such as pinene and myrcene which help to ameliorate the effects of THC. Fatty foods will help your body metabolize THC faster. You can also sniff or chew on a peppercorn. This timetested trick should help almost immediately. Pepper contains caryophyllene, a terpene that calms anxiety. CBD oil will help you sober up since CBDs obstruct THC from binding to cannabinoid receptors. And the good news is hemp CBD oil is legal in all 50 states, so you can find it no matter where you live. Even though you may not feel like it, exercise is a great distraction and will release endorphins to help you clear your head. Follow up your workout with a cold shower and you’ll be feeling like a million bucks in no time. It’s important not to encourage someone greening out to vomit. They are already dehydrated, and vomiting will only dehydrate them further. If you feel that a visit to the ER is necessary, doctors may give you benzodiazepine to ease anxiety, intravenous fluids for hydration, and anti-nausea meds. Although too much THC may give you a bad trip, you can ease your suffering with these tips until you feel better. If you’re trying to help a friend, Dr. Lavonas says to let them “know that they’re in good hands, that time is on their side, and they’ll be OK. And then, if the reassurance alone isn’t getting them where they need to be, then a little bit of medicine to help them relax, something for anxiety, a little bit of fluids and just… time.” And take it easy next time.
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stash BOX 2
1
3
1 | Dablabz Genie
Kit Original
Dablabz’s Dab Genie Original is a pure solution with no additional flavoring so cannabis consumers can enjoy the full flavor of the concentrate of their choice. With Dab Genie, users can easily create their own custom concentrated extract vape cartridges. Dablabz uses only organic ingredients and the company created DabLabz Wizard Solution to eliminate the use of polyethylene glycol (PEG), propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), or artificial terpenes to break down concentrates into a vapable liquid.
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2 | HighOnLove
Dark Chocolate Body Paint
The art of play and making love takes a new meaning with HighOnLove’s Chocolate Body Paint. Designed as an aphrodisiac, this luscious and rich dark chocolate is made with premium-grade hemp seed oil, giving couples a satisfying taste for more. The effects of Chocolate Body Paint take intimacy to a whole other level by releasing euphoric sensations and pure delight. Inspired by the distinguished chocolatiers in Brussels, this product is crafted with 100 per cent natural ingredients.
3 | Erbanna Stash Bags
With well-crafted, smell-proof linings, Erbanna stash bags are stylish, practical, and designed for women on the go. Models like the Mindy and Jenny come in a wide variety of colors and attractive patterns, with plenty of compartments to organize and interior zippers with extra smellproof lining. The Jenny model even has a lock for added protection, so curious children can’t get into it. Erbanna stash bags have room for your stash, credit cards, most phones, and makeup.
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Travel Pack
Puffco’s travel pack is the perfect companion for the dabber on the move. Well-built from 100 per cent silicone, it features a carb cap tether to keep a lid on stuff without the worry of it falling off. It also has a backpack for storing cotton swabs and a dab tool, along with a splash cap that keeps water where it belongs. The atomizer cover brings the whole look together. It’s even dishwasher safe and comes in a variety of eye-catching colors.
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The Powerful Role CBD Plays
In Relieving Multiple ChemotherapyInduced Symptoms by Nicole Skrobin
Many cancer patients struggle with the debilitating after-effects of chemotherapy and traditional cancer treatments. Nicole Skrobin examines how CBD can help those undergoing treatment enjoy a better quality of life.
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very day, most of us try to do better by implementing healthier eating habits, exercising more, and making Echoices that will benefit us over the long term. However,
sometimes, despite how hard we try to take proper care of ourselves, our lives can be unexpectedly turned upside down due to life-altering medical diagnoses, like receiving a cancer diagnosis. Currently, there are more than 100 different types of cancer, and chemotherapy is one of the most common treatment methods. In most cases, chemotherapy delivers adverse side effects including pain, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, depression, and appetite loss. Although different conventional medications are available to help treat these symptoms, several are ineffective and/or make matters worse. However, one natural form of medicine that can help alleviate numerous chemotherapy-induced symptoms is a cannabis cannabinoid known as cannabidiol (CBD). Keep reading to learn more about the role CBD plays in alleviating chemotherapy-induced symptoms and how CBD can positively improve cancer patients’ lives.
“ Controlled trials
demonstrated the effectiveness of medical cannabis for treating neuropathic pain, thus indicating that cannabis could be consumed as a tolerable and safe medicine.”
The Growing Prevalence of Cancer Development Currently, not only do more than 100 different types of cancer exist, the number of people diagnosed with cancer continues to rise worldwide, making this disease one of the leading causes of death. Specifically, in the US, it was estimated that roughly 1.7 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2018, and out of those, about 609,000 people will die. Out of all types of cancer the most common is breast cancer, and it is estimated that 268,670 new cases of breast cancer will occur in America in 2018. After breast cancer, the other two most common types are prostate and lung cancer. However, one significant silver lining is there are millions of cancer survivors annually, giving cancer patients and their loved ones hope during this traumatic time. Two years ago in America, there were about 15.5 million cancer survivors overall. It is estimated that by 2026, the number of survivors will jump to 20.3 million. There are several different reasons why the number of cancer survivors will increase in the coming years including alternative forms of medicine like cannabis and CBD.
Traditional Cancer Treatment Methods, Associated Risks, & Unwanted Side Effects Chemotherapy is one of the most commonly used traditional methods to treat cancer. Specifically, in America, roughly 650,000 cancer patients undergo chemotherapy treatments annually in outpatient oncology clinics. Other traditional forms of cancer treatment include radiation therapy, surgery, hormonal therapy, immune therapy, and targeted therapy. Although these treatment methods are widely used, there are numerous risks that come with them, especially with chemotherapy. Those undergoing chemotherapy are at risk of developing harmful infections, undergoing frequent hospitalizations, or experiencing several adverse symptoms. Death is also a possible outcome. On the plus side, CBD can help lessen the severity of many chemotherapy-induced symptoms while helping improve overall well-being and quality of life of cancer patients. Also, since CBD possesses numerous medicinal, therapeutic, and nutritional benefits, several of these can be delivered post-CBD consumption.
CBD’s Impact in Alleviating Chemotherapy-induced Symptoms: Nausea & Vomiting
Over the years, different studies, clinical trials, and anecdotal evidence has been released regarding CBD’s role in alleviating numerous chemotherapy-induced symptoms. Nowadays, there are various research findings supporting the usage of CBD for lessening symptoms caused by chemotherapy treatments. For starters, although there are several painful symptoms associated with and/or caused by chemotherapy, the two most common are nausea and vomiting. Fortunately, CBD’s anti-nausea and anti-emetic properties have been discovered, which can be especially helpful to cancer patients during chemo treatments.
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CBD RECEPTORS TARGET:
• Motor activity • Thinking • Coordination • Appetite • Short Term Memory • Pain Perception • Immune System • Digestive Tract • Tumours • Kidneys
“CBD is Safe, non-toxic, non-addictive, non-psychoactive,
• Pancreas • Adipose Tissue • Sketeltal Muscle • Bones • Eyes • Reproductive System • Respiratory Tract • Cardivascular System • Skin • Liver
and medically and therapeutically beneficial, which can significantly improve one’s quality of life.”
CBD works to interact with serotonin releasing receptors, and when it’s consumed in small amounts, it can lessen nausea and vomiting. It’s also common for many cancer patients to experience the “nocebo effect,” which means they have negative beliefs about chemo treatments thus resulting in anticipatory nausea. So far, most existing prescription anti-emetics aren’t beneficial nor effective for most cases of anticipatory nausea. However, cannabinoids have exhibited opposite results. In particular, behavioral neuroscientist Linda Parker discovered that THC, CBD, and CBDA (the unheated form of CBD) alleviated anticipatory nausea in conditioned lab animals. Based on various research findings, consuming CBD to help treat chemotherapyinduced nausea and vomiting is accepted by most doctors. One study supporting this found 80 per cent of oncologists have conversed with their cancer patients about the usage of medical cannabis. Then, close to two-thirds of the study’s participating oncologists believe cannabis could be a beneficial adjunct medicine and it could be equally and/or more effective than conventional treatment methods, especially when treating pain, nausea, vomiting, and appetite loss.
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Anxiety and Depression
In general, cancer and chemotherapy treatments can take a substantial toll on one’s quality of life, well-being, and mental health. Although millions of people struggle with anxiety and depression daily, most cancer patients experience these symptoms too. Fortunately, CBD contains anti-anxiety and anti-depressant properties. Thus, via the usage of this cannabinoid, cancer patients’ mental health can positively improve whether they’re undergoing chemo or not.
Pain
It’s no secret cancer and chemotherapy treatments can cause significant pain and discomfort on a physical, mental, and emotional level. Regarding physical pain management, CBD can help due to its natural analgesic (painrelieving) properties. One specific type of chemotherapy-induced pain is neuropathic pain, which can be difficult to treat with conventional medications.
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However, in one study, several randomized controlled trials demonstrated the effectiveness of medical cannabis for treating neuropathic pain, thus indicating that cannabis could be consumed as a tolerable and safe medicine. As support, Dr. Jordan Tishler, a Harvard-trained doctor with a specialty in cannabis, expressed the following about cannabis and neuropathic pain: “…with the right dosing of cannabis, people can enjoy relief from neuropathic pain with a barely perceptible high.”
Appetite Loss
Another common chemotherapy-induced symptom is appetite loss, which can result in significant weight decreases, weakness, and fatigue. Although CBD is medically and therapeutically beneficial, according to several studies, the cannabinoid that can stimulate one’s appetite is THC. To balance out the high that THC causes, it’s suggested to consume cannabis strains that contain both THC and CBD, which results in the entourage effect. The entourage effect occurs when multiple cannabinoids interact with each other thus producing synergistic benefits. Therefore, to reap the most benefits possible while also experiencing an appetite boost, consuming both THC and CBD is recommended.
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Accumulating Benefits of CBD
Overall, CBD is safe, non-toxic, non-addictive, non-psychoactive, and medically and therapeutically beneficial, which can significantly improve one’s quality of life. Despite the pharmaceutical medications that were released over the years to help treat chemotherapy-induced symptoms, many are ineffective and deliver adverse side effects. Whereas CBD delivers little to no side effects and provides much-needed medicinal and therapeutic benefits. As more medical uses of cannabinoids are revealed, this alternative medicine is being consumed at higher rates than in previous years. Although additional clinical trials are needed to confirm cannabinoids’ long-term efficacy for treating chemotherapy-induced symptoms, based on existing findings, consuming CBD can be life-changing for struggling cancer patients. Rather than going the traditional route of consuming pharmaceutical medications that often come with their own slew of side effects, do your mind and body a favor by considering CBD, a natural form of medicine that can help alleviate painful side effects and/or use it as an adjunct medicine to help improve your quality of life.
“ PASSION IS KEY ”
When working for yourself;
Cannabis has the potential to enhance our quality of life in so many ways, including in between the sheets. Produits Amour et Beauté crafts premium sensual products using all-natural, locally sourced ingredients designed to elevate enjoyment of the bedroom experience for women (HighOnLove) and men (Dr Papa). Founder Angela Mustone shares her inspiration for creating Produits Amour et Beauté and her entry into the cannabis space.
What did you do before starting this company?
Over the past 17 years, I’ve created a number of awardwinning, boundary-pushing intimacy products designed to empower women and couples. The products were designed to empower and embrace their sensual side.
How did you get into this industry?
I connected with a few people in the industry early on, and one thing led to another. Now I’m using everything I’ve learned in a career working for top brands to make my own business goals a reality.
When and where did Produits Amour et Beauté begin? In Montreal, Quebec, in 2017.
What did you first produce?
My first product for Produits Beauté et Amour was Dr. Papa, a sensual wellness cosmetics line made using only the highest quality all-natural ingredients.
What were some of your struggles as you started the business? How did you overcome them?
Breaking into the overseas market has been a real challenge. As a brand, it’s important to understand the different cultures you’re selling to — what makes them tick. What works here may not necessarily work somewhere else. There’s also a big difference between the way Asia tests products and the way we do it here in Canada. Not wanting to go in blind, I hired consultants in China to help me navigate the market. It was definitely worth it. 68
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Produits Amour et Beauté 3551 Boul St. Charles, Suite 289 Montreal, PQ 1-514-922-0957 In business since 2017 highonlove.ca, drpapa.com
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How did you gain market share and recognition? I’ve built an excellent professional reputation. People know me, and they know I don’t mess around. I’ve been able to use my reputation within the industry to maneuver an early market share.
Has Produits Amour et Beauté expanded since the beginning?
What started out as just me has expanded to include a fabulous team: a chemist, a network of designers, a copywriter, a regulation specialist, and more. As young as we are, we’ve been growing quickly — perhaps too quickly! My team is always developing. As much as I’d love to be able to do everything myself, it’s just impossible. Instead, I surround myself with dedicated, smart, and passionate people.
What’s your current product line?
I’ve recently launched HighOnLove. It’s a premium sensual cosmetics brand and it’s like nothing the industry has ever seen before. There are two different lines: one infused with pharmaceuticalgrade cannabis and one made with hemp seed oil.
what I’m doing. When launching HighOnLove at Lift in Toronto, I was surrounded by all kinds of companies, from lighting to nutrient businesses, and I had people flocking to my booth to learn about what I had to offer. Being a female in a male dominated industry, it’s been great to see so much support from other women in the industry!
What have you learned about starting and growing a company?
When you’re working for yourself, passion is key. Everything is on your shoulders, and it’ll either make or break you.
Where do you distribute?
For the moment, our products can be found in China, Canada, and the US.
What are your company’s strengths?
We believe in the power of working locally. Everything is done in-house in Montreal, from crafting our unique formulas to our manufacturing and marketing.
What are some of your proudest moments?
I introduced HighOnLove for the first time at the Lift show in Toronto. When you pour your heart and soul into something, it’s really gratifying to get positive feedback from the public. It’s a product I’m especially proud of.
What significant things have you learned so far about the industry?
Although this industry is tough to get into, I’ve found everyone is so accepting and eager to learn about 70
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What words of wisdom can you share about the business, the industry, or future of the industry? The legalization of cannabis in Canada has opened several new doors for the cosmetics industry. My advice is to practice patience. Stay the course. Learn from your mistakes.
How do you lead your team?
The people in my network believe in the brand and in what I’m doing. My passion for what I do is contagious. As a leader, it’s important to remember that we all have good days and bad days. It’s a matter of motivating the team and taking care of them — making sure they have what they need.
Does your company participate in any community service?
We’re currently in the beginning stages of developing a shampoo for dogs. Proceeds will go to animal welfare charities. I think it’s also important to note that all our products are cruelty-free.
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maximumyield.com
He is not rich, that enjoyeth not his own goods.”
— Pythagoras
Check Out Watermelon's recipe for High Tea Budscotti on Page 74
baking a fool OF MYSELF by Watermelon
With an edibles revolution on the horizon, the uses for shake flower in home baking are only limited by imagination. Watermelon serves up some baking inspiration as well as ingredients that go well with marijuana.
I
am certain the future of commercially produced edibles belongs to the world of extracts, tinctures, and isolates due to their easy titration and high-dose, low-volume nature. This will require “the baker” to buy expensive, commercially produced extracts which almost never result in a delicious tasting edible. In my experience, products made this way taste a bit like earth dirt or ginseng. Then there is the time-honored weed butter. It’s a cannabis, butter, and water-stove top cook-off, followed by a cheesecloth strain or a skimming process. Sure, this long-winded undertaking leaves you with ready-to-use butter, but also a lot of recipe trial and error on its potency. Not to mention, your chosen recipe may not even call for butter. Pre-grinding shake flour and weighing it up each time for each recipe is the simplest way to achieve the potency you are striving for (See Baking a Fool of Myself, March/ April Maximum Yield Cannabis, page 74). Pre-ground shake also gives you the opportunity to use different fats, oils, or alcohols in conversion and does not pigeon-hole you into butter only recipes. Plus, you do not have to strain the shake flour out. I like to grind it fine and leave it in. Easy peasy! Focusing my column on the home baker helps to keep costs low and imaginations high. If you can grow a plant or two,
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your expenses will be almost nil after the ingredients. If you can get the hang of my Marijuana Recipes Made Easy technique, there is no end to what you can produce and with such ease. Any recipe containing a fat or alcohol of some kind is good for converting shake flour. Marijuana can be such a great flavor if you have some experience combining it with other ingredients. It has a sweet taste when cooked that you’ll need to complement. So, I compiled a list of a few ingredients I find go great with cannabis in recipes: Warm spices, mint, chocolate, black teas, black sambuca, dark rum, sharp cheeses, fennel seeds, ground lamb, fatty salmon, spicy chilies, dates, nut butters, halva, and mangos. Home Bakers Unite!
WM Watermelon is a Vancouver-based entrepreneur who
loves to tango, tell jokes, bake, and get baked. You can find her Baking a Fool of Myself videos on YouTube and her backstory at maximumyield.com.
baking a fool OF MYSELF
by Watermelon
EQUIPMENT NEEDED • Mixing Bowl • Plastic Wrap • Baking Sheet • Parchment • Sharp Knife
INGREDIENTS • 90 g granulated sugar • 125 g all-purpose flour • 1 g baking powder • 1 g baking soda • 2 g salt • 5 g of shake flour • 4-6 g of Earl Grey tea leaves (approximately 2 tea bags) • 60 g of cold, unsalted butter • 1 egg, whisked
INSTRUCTIONS 1. Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Place rack in middle. 2. Sift all dry ingredients, including loose tea leaves, together in a mixing bowl. 3. Cut the cold butter into small chunks and add to sifted dry ingredients. Rub together until the mixture appears evenly sandy. 4. Form a well in the center of the mix. Pour the slightly whisked egg into the well and gently incoroporate the egg with a fork. 5. Turn out mixture onto counter and press together until it becomes a smooth, consistent dough. 6. Form dough into a flattened log and cover with plastic wrap.
HIGH TEA BUDSCOTTI This is a great edible conversion recipe because it has a longer shelf life due to lack of moisture in the cookie. The Budscotti actually tastes better after a few days, giving the Earl Grey flavor some time to fuse with other ingredients and allowing the butter to mature. PREP TIME: 10-15 minutes COOK TIME: 1.45 hour (including cooling times) SERVINGS: 15 Biscotti
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7. Chill for 30 minutes. 8. Place unwrapped log on a sheet of parchment on a baking sheet. 9. Bake at 350°F until golden brown and/ or an inserted tooth picks comes out clean. Approximately 25 minutes. A firm, rebounding loaf is a sign of doneness (pressing the top gently to see if it rebounds back up is also a good sign its done). 10. Reduce oven temperature to 240°F. 11. Let log cool 10 minutes before cutting into 1-2 cm slices. 12. Lay slices flat on parchment on baking sheet and bake again at 240°F for an hour or until toasted nicely and clearly dry. 13. Cool thoroughly. For best results keep in a cookie jar, mason jar, or bread box.
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