2011 04 UK by SoftSecrets

FREE 18+ For adults only. Soft Secrets is published six times a year by Discover Publisher BV Netherlands

Issue 4 - 2011

In this issue:

News from around the world

HIGHLIFE CUP 2011

400% MORE WEED IN SPAIN

FLANDERS FOR FIBRE HEMP

According to the most recent figures from the Spanish Guardia Civil, the quantity of cannabis plants seized in the country rose by 425% between 2008 and 2009. The rise continued in 2010 and 2011, but

This year in the Flemish town of Wervik they’re growing legal cannabis. We’re talking about a trial project by the Provincial Research Centre for Agriculture and Horticulture, for which four farmers have between them sown 8.5 hectares with

On Friday, 24th June, the idyllic village of Ruigoord, near Amsterdam, was – for the third time – the ideal setting for the Highlife Cup, where the entire European cannabis family came together for an atmosphere that recalled the Arabian Nights. Everyone worked hard to create a fascinating, yet relaxing and soothing, ambience. Soft Secrets reports. ›› 11

EUROPEAN PRODUCTS AWARDS 2011 Also on Friday 24th June, for the second time ever, the European Products Awards for the cannabis industry in Europe were given out. Companies from ten European countries participated in this exciting competition. The range of products competing for prizes was remarkable: rolling papers, vaporizers, bongs, lamps, resources for cultivation, hemp drinks… a wide range of diverse and high-quality products. ››

LED TRIAL WITH CRITICAL JACK Light emitting diodes are electroluminescenct, they use small doped semiconductors to emit light. They have two leads, a positive and a negative. When current is applied from positive to negative, they produce light. The individual diodes are usually 1 to 5 watts each, with several wired together to make a single light fixture. For example, a single 30 watt LED light might be manufactured from 30 x 1 watt diodes, or 10 x 3 watt diodes. Want to know more? Then read Grubbycup’s article on LED’s. ››

as we know, those youth that do not start smoking tobacco also tend not to start smoking weed,” explained a spokesman with the German version of the stepping stone theory.

YOU TOO, OSAMA? the police are lagging behind and do not yet have the precise updated figures. Now 400% may sound rather dramatic, but expressed in weight this comes down to just 1000 kilos a year. At the same time, according to the police cannabis consumption has risen by 30%. By way of explanation they pointed to the economic crisis and the high price of cocaine. The announcement was not accompanied by a call for tougher prosecution, so it’s still a case of Viva Espana.

GERMAN YOUTH SMOKING LESS Cannabis is losing its charm for Germans aged between 12 and 25. The Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung has calculated that only 25% of this age group has ever smoked cannabis; in 2004 that was 31%. A meagre 3% apparently smoke it more than ten times a year. The institute sees a connection with the historically low tobacco consumption among the young population. “Smoking is basically out among youngsters. And

Fortunately there are still journalists who follow their noses, otherwise we would never have known that Al Qaeda leader Bin Laden had spent his last days on earth surrounded by the pregnant aroma of Pakistani Cannabis Indica. Around the house in Abbottabad where Bin Laden had (apparently) been hiding for the last six years, there turned out to be a vegetable garden in which among the cabbages and

potatoes hundreds of marihuana plants grew. Connoisseurs among the journalists determined that it was of high quality, probably Kush genetics. According to neighbours, two young housemates of Bin Laden did the almost daily shopping in the village – large quantities of snacks and countless bottles of cola, hard evidence of unbridled munchies chez Bin Laden. The Daily Mail speculated that the weed was grown for the old warrior to use to ease his kidney complaints.

fibrous hemp. And that does not go unnoticed in Flanders. One of the participating farmers, Dirk Talpe, has already been declared mad by his countrymen and he fears even more serious misunderstandings. “Because the plant very strongly resembles marihuana some people will want to try it out anyway”, worries Talpe. “I only hope that they don’t overdo it and that my field is not empty come harvest time.” Just to be sure, he has placed signs around his fields bearing the text: This is really not for smoking. If the experiment turns out well, there’s a good chance that next year even more hemp plants will be painting the Flemish countryside green.

CHRISTMAS TREE ON STEROIDS With the Australian strain Rainbow Dream the world is one cannabis sensation richer. The down under legendary grower Gary Von Billen is the creator of the variety Continues on page 3

3 Continued from front page which has been raking in the gold medals in Australian cannabis cups since 2003. Now the rest of the world finally has the spectacular haze in its sights. Rainbow Dream is a cross between Sensi Seeds’ Jack Flash and Von Billen’s own Carrot, a sativa strain that he has been working with for

still passionately debating. All the same, with Obama OG you get a marihuana with an ‘outstanding, long-lasting active therapeutic effect’. Warmly recommended by cannabis dispenser Toke of the Town.

WEED GIVES WAY 25 years already. The up to four metre high plant has a huge number of side branches and has been dubbed a ‘Christmas tree on steroids’. “If you don’t manage to get a good three pounds off this plant then you really need to take a critical look at your growing technique,” states Von Billen.

SMOKIN’ UP A FAT OBAMA?

What didn’t work in countries such as Ecuador, has been a success in the Mandi district of the Indian mountains: a drug plant replaced by an equally lucrative alternative crop. This involved clearing 70 hectares previously covered by cannabis and replacing the weed crop with the powerfully anti-diabetes herb Chirayita. As with many initiatives in India, this too was carried out by women, whose first harvest of the in-demand herb tipped the scales at around 3000 kilos.

Looks like naming weed varieties after celebrities has become a new trend. After Charlie Sheen and Chuck Norris, President Obama now has a THC-packed namesake: Obama OG, the youngest descendent of the popular in California OG Kush family. Whether OG stands for Ocean Grown or Original Gangsta is something insiders are

Genetic background: THC level: Taste: Harvest:

Auto-flowering x Indica Medium-high sweet and fruity 60 – 65 days after germination

This variety ends the myth that auto-flowering varieties can’t be tasty. Fruity flavour with hints of fresh ginger and elder. According to several growers, it is pure syrup. It won’t take you long to discover this for yourself, because this Syrup is extremely quick; it will be ready just over two months after germination. It is practically a column, branching at the base. Ideal for indoor SOG (“sea of green”) cultivation, and for outdoor growing (balconies and discreet gardens). Photo: Buddha Seeds

Syrup

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Syrup Cream Caramel Readers Letters Product Highlife Cup 2011 EPA 2011 Hollywood vs Ganja EU politics LED’s Medi weed Laos Rosales, part 2 Jorge Cervantes Hesi Ed Rosenthal Flushing Grow diary The adventures of Spliffer Shop reviews

3 5 6 8 11 15 18 21 25 28 30 35 39 43 45 52 54 57 59

PAGE 3 GIRL POSTER DEAR SOFT SECRETS PRODUCT FLASH CANNABIS CUPS EVENTS BACKGROUND POLITICAL ANALYSIS GROW WITH GRUBBYCUP MEDICAL NEWS TRAVEL REAL-LIFE DRAMA GROW WITH JORGE COMPANY REVIEW ASK ED GROW WITH LITTLE LEBOWSKI INDOOR COMIC REVIEWS

Cream Caramel

Photo: Sweet Seeds, Spain

6 Readers Stuff

Attention Readers! Great White Shark. Grown by ‘The Mon’ using Atami Light Mix, BioBizz Root Stimulator, Atami Terra Leaves, Max, Bloombastic and GHE Ripen. The buds were like baseball bats! ANONYMOUS We hope they didn’t taste like baseball bats.

This was my first grow under 600 HPS, in soil. 4 weeks veg. Grapefruit. ANONYMOUS What a stunning dense cola. Well done!

Fancy a FREE packet of FEMINISED seeds from DINAFEM? Then send us a picture of your grow room or best cannabis plant, including a visible copy of Soft Secrets, and we’ll send you 3 seeds. Should your photo happen to feature your beautiful wife or girlfriend wearing a sexy microbikini or super hot lingerie, you will receive 6 seeds. Photo of the Month will even receive 9 prime quality feminised seeds. With compliments of Soft Secrets and DINAFEM! E-mail your entries to SSUK@softsecrets.nl or send them to our PoBox. NOTE: All entries are handled with the utmost discretion. We don’t publish out of focus pics, and we don’t like photos of plants in veg stage. It’s fat buds & sweet babes we want to see!

PoBox 17250, 1001 JG, Amsterdam, Holland E-mail: SSUK@softsecrets.nl

FROM A READER IN ITALY

FROM A DEAR READER IN FRANCE

PRODUCT FLASH

PLAGRON: NEW PACKAGING, NEW POSSIBILITIES! As your partner for better growth, bloom and yield, Plagron is introducing new packaging. As from December, in growshops around Europe, the old, familiar packaging will change into a new, fresh product line. Of course, in itself new packaging is not appealing to growers, but the story behind this small revolution in packaging design should interest growers nonetheless. Why? Because the reasons for Plagron’s new packaging will give growers more possibilities to improve their yields. The whole operation consisted of over 100 facings in 5 product categories, namely: 100% BIO, 100% TERRA, 100% COCO, 100% HYDRO and Plagrons additives line Universal. In design as well as composition the total assortment will help growers get better results. Because the information and instruction on the packaging is more structured, giving the user a better understanding of all possibilities. By doing this, Plagron wants to be the brand that growers use and consult to get the best possible yields. More information can soon be found on www.plagron.com.

ROOTS™ THE NEW GENERATION BIO-STIMULATOR A great number of extensive research on root development and reinforcement done over a period of several years, show that the use of ROOTS leads to a larger root activity and therefore also a higher yield of all of the tested crops. This stimulator has already been applied with great success for many years in European horticulture and in the world of growing. ROOTS can be applied on the leaf as well as in the medium used for cultivating. ROOTS consists of : 7 % humic-acids (improves the absorption of oxygen, quickens the root and cell development, quickens the transport of ions) 3 % kelp (healing of wounds and of chlorosis, increases the chlorophyll development, more root-hair development) 3 % ascorbin-acid (vitamin C) 0,3 % thiamin (vitamin B1) 0,5 % myo-inositol (for the forming of cell walls) 1 % L-glycine (amino acid, for a better resistance and growth) ROOTS makes for a better and quicker root development, a better food absorption, a higher stress resistance, a more effective use of nutrients, and higher yield in all tested crops. In short: A HIGHER YIELD ROOTS is mixable with all fertilizers and care products. DOSAGE: 100 ml. per 10 liters of water suffices for 70 plants. Apply this product only once, preferably at planting. Do not use a dripping system to apply organic products such as Roots. Roots remains effective for 30 days, exactly the same period in which most of the roots are being formed. In case of acute problems or damage caused by root-eating insects an extra dosage of Roots could have a positive effect (in case of vermin control them by means of other products, Roots is not a pesticide). » www.bionova.nl

From just plain simple to highly sophisticated, all Bio Nova ways are incredibly effective.

You decide which way to grow!

Would you like to grow things, but lack a green thumb? No problem! Use The Basic Way and be overwhelmed by the success of your effortless input! Are you a passionate grower who wants high quality? Use The Dedicated Way of growing, it will blow your mind! Or are you that perfectionist, who knows exactly what he is doing and why? The Professional Way will be your path to ultimate satisfaction!

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Your green companion in every way!

HIGHLIFE CUP 2011

Highlife Cup with an oriental theme On Friday, 24th June, the idyllic village of Ruigoord, near Amsterdam, Auto-flowering biggest surprise was the award was – for the third time – the ideal setting for the Highlife Cup, The given to an auto-flowering seed, given where the entire European cannabis family came together for an to Amaranta Seeds’ Amarant Dwarf, atmosphere that recalled the Arabian Nights. Everyone worked which defeated successful seeds such as Blue Cheese and Chocolope/ hard to create a fascinating, yet relaxing and soothing, ambience. Skunkberry in the Bio category. In the The area surrounding the village church was – almost by magic! – general ranking, the automatic dwarf in second place. In the two Haze transformed into a fairytale encampment that, in happier times, came categories, Amnesia proved itself, would have made Colonel Ghaddafi envious. yet again, to be the queen of Haze, Visitors from all over the world were greeted like sultans, pashas and grand viziers, and accompanied to the shade of tents where they were offered food fit for royalty. A huge tent hosted a small market where guests had the opportunity to become familiar with the innovative products competing for the European Product Awards – or just relax on a Persian rug after a hookah or vaporizer.

ritory prohibited to non-reptiles. Belly dancers shook their goodies irresistibly, with their incredible moves. Two camels remained impassive as they walked through all this bounty. Visitors could ride a camel for a short tour of the “desert ship”. All that was missing was a flying carpet. When dark fell and bonfires were lit, the moment had finally arrived: the awards ceremony itself!

Efficiency While old friends greeted one another and new friendships were made, the temperature at Camp Highlife began to rise. Slender babes in sensual, Arabstyle clothing circled with huge pythons who, slithered around, exploring ter-

Plant of the Year In another Spanish competition, organized by Soft Secrets Spain, a prize for Plant of the Year was also assigned. This prize went to Sweet Seeds with their Cream Caramel.

To keep waiting at a minimum, this year the competition was divided into five categories, which every sector could register for. This meant fewer prizes, but also that prizes were given out much more efficiently. This year, the honour of judging so many champions went to five experts in the field. Hans Plomp, native of Ruigoord, was amongst the lucky ones. According to “El Plompo”, the quality of this edition was absolutely on a par with that of the previous years. “It’s a pity we couldn’t assign quarter points!” jokes the hardcore hedonist, with a La Chouffe beer in one hand and a lit pipe in the other.

representing at least four of the six winners. In the Hydro Haze category, Silver Haze (Amnesia’s long-time rival) snatched the gold medal from Allstar Genetics’s King Kong – what great publicity for the new arrival! Apeldoorn’s ‘t Bunkertje cooffeeshop was crowned winner of the Highlife Cup 2011, after a very close race with the secondplace winner, Amarant Dwarf (only two points separated them). Around the bonfires, conversation went on for hours, in many different languages. Much appreciation went to the organizer, Discover who, as international publisher, had a key role in gathering so many nationalities or, as an Italian visitor commented, in creating the United States of Cannabis lovers. The evening certainly showed how alive and kicking the field is, in the Netherlands but also all over the world!

MAICO OF ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS IS EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE IMPORTANT SECOND-PLACE PRIZE AWARDED TO ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS WITH ITS AMNESIA HAZE

ON THE PODIUM AS USUAL: THE HAGUE’S DIZZY DUCK COFFEESHOP.

The Highlife Cup organizers thank the Mountain High company for their invaluable collaboraton!

Highlife Cup 2011: The Judges As usual, Cliff Cremer, international editor of the eight editions f Soft Secrets, guided the panel of judges. Just as with the past editions, his organization of the event was perfect; the carefully-selected panel of judges gave assessments that were severe but extremely fair – perhaps because this panel was smaller than in the past. Just five smokers, experts in the field, were selected as judges this year. HAPPY PEOPLE EVERYWHERE!

The organizers thank these Highlife Cup 2011 judges for their contribution: Cliff Cremer, Soft Secrets (organizer and president) Wernard Bruining, Highlife/Soft Secrets Hans Plomp and the Ruigoord judges Karel Michiels, Highlife columnist Arthur Vandenberg, Mountain High Cobus Bosscha, radio DJ, expert judge and Highlife presenter Also, a special “thank you” to those “smoking” members of the panel that we forgot!

CLIFF CREMER, PRESIDENT OF THE HIGHLIFE CUP PANEL OF JUDGES, SURROUNDED BY LONG-LEGGED COMPANIONS

12 Highlife Cup 2011 Results:

THE GUNA GUNA COFFEE-

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS FOR THE FOURTH

SHOP FROM UDEN WON

YEAR RUNNING IS A TYPE OF HAZE – THIS

FIRST PRIZE IN THE HASHISH

YEAR, IT IS APELDOORN’S COFFEESHOP ‘T

CATEGORY WITH ITS KASHMIR

BUNKERTJE’S AMNESIA HAZE

A – Bio: 1) Amaranta Seeds: Amarant Dwarf (207 points) 2) Coffeeshop Dizzy Duck (L’Aia): Chocolope /Skunkberry (204,5 points) 3) Coffeeshop Blue Bird (Amsterdam): Blue Cheese (204 points) B – Hydro: 1) Coffeeshop Cremers (L’Aia): Northern Lights (202,5 points) 2) Coffeeshop Best Friends (Amsterdam): Power Plant (199,5 points) 3) Amaranta Seeds: Critical (198,5 points) D – Haze Bio: 1) Coffeeshop ’t Bunkertje (Apeldoorn): Amnesia Haze (209 points) 2) Royal Queen Seed Store (Amsterdam): Amnesia Haze (206 points) 3) Coffeeshop de Pinguin (Arnhem): Haze (205,5 points) E – Haze Hydro: 1) Growshop Amaranta: Silver Haze (201 points) 2) Allstar Genetics: King Kong (200,5 points) 3) Coffeeshop Kosbor (Maastricht): Amnesia Haze (200 points) F – Hashish: 1) Coffeeshop Guna Guna (Uden): Kashmir (200 points) 2) Coffeeshop Far Out (Dedemsvaart): Triple B. (198,5 points) 3) Coffeeshop Jamaica (Nimega): Good-a-Good (197 points)

THE MOROCCAN CATERING WAS INCREDIBLY HAUTE CUISINE. EVERYTHING WAS GONE BY 8:00 PM!

Highlife Cup 2011 Winner: Amnesia Haze - ’t Bunkertje in Apeldoorn (209 points)

THE HIGHLIFE CUP-RUIGOORD COMBINATION PROVED TO BE A

A GREAT SELECTION OF FOREIGN GUESTS HELPED

SUCCESSFUL UNION

CREATE AN INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL EXCHANGE

THE RUIGOORD BARMEN POURED BEER UNTIL THEIR FINGERS WERE BRUISED BLUE, AND SMOKED UNTILE THEIR LUNGS TURNED BLACK

ANYONE WHO WANTED TO COULD SINBAD AND DELILAH ENJOY THE FABULOUS PARTY

BE KISSED BY A REAL SNAKE

www.

.ORG NEW STRAINS 2011

10 €

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26 €

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D I N A F E M

ORIGINAL AMNESIA Super Strong

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D I N A F E M

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D I N A F E M

INDUSTRIAL PLANT Produce more & quicker!

D I N A F E M

HAZE AUTOFLOWERING FRUIT AUTOFLOWERING Big Flowers

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...CLOUD 9, WHITE SIBERIAN, SHARK ATTACK, ROADRUNNER, ROADRUNNER2, AND MORE.

The organisation thanks the following sponsors: (main sponsor)

EVENTS

EUROPEAN PRODUCT AWARDS

Several high-quality offers On 24th June, for the second time ever, the European Products Awards for the cannabis industry in Europe were given out. Companies from ten European countries participated in this exciting competition. The range of products competing for prizes was remarkable: rolling papers, vaporizers, bongs, lamps, resources for cultivation, hemp drinks… a wide range of diverse and highquality products. The readers of Soft Secrets’ various European editions were able to cast their votes through the website (www. softsecrets.nl). A fantastic flat-screen TV was the prize won by a lucky name drawn amongst participants. Visitors at the awards ceremony were also able to express their preferences. In other words, the atmosphere was amazing. Finally, an expert panel of judges examined all the products, considering aspects such as originality, durability and innovation. From 7:00 pm on, the stands saw a large turnout. The organization’s choice of an Arab-style ambience for the event proved highly successful. The delicious Moroccan couscous and elegant tearoom were much appreciated; visitors also appreciated the hookahs provided for their use, strategically placed among comfortable cushions where they could relax and chat, enjoying a joint or a hookah in good company. But the tension kept rinsing… who would win first prize? The award ceremony itself began around 10:00 pm, after a fun belly dance performance. With the all eyes in the crowded room on them, the winners from different countries celebrated on stage as Jeroen Bots, publisher of Soft Secrets, handed out their prizes. A special People’s Choice Award went to Mazar LED Systems with their Spectrabox LED Grow Light. However, the event’s crowning moment was, of course, the announcement of the best European cannabis product. And the main prize of this second European Product Awards went to… Ozotres with Generadores de Ozono. The organizer, Publisher BV Discover, who publishes Highlife and Soft Secrets, was totally satisfied with how this second edition of the European Product Awards turned out. Jeroen Bots: “The cannabis industry is multi-faceted. It’s great to see so many entrepreneurs devoting themselves to innovation and quality. That is why we want to offer them a stage to present their products to the public with a competition. We firmly believe in the European Product Awards and, luckily, are not the only ones. Next year we will definitely have a third edition!”

16 EUROPEAN WINNER: OZOTRES - GENERADORES DE OZONO

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: MAZAR LED SYSTEMS – SPECTRABOX LED GROW LIGHT

ITALY

FRANCE

UNITED KINGDOM

IDROGRO CFL GREENPOWER AGRO

KAYA GROWSHOPS BACTOHEMP

DOWN TO EARTH KENT LTD MINIMAX 150W

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WINNERS FROM EACH COUNTRY: ITALY - BIOMAGNO – PANDORA’S POT FRANCE - GUDOMELEDGROW – LED EVO V3 UNITED KINGDOM - DOWN TO EARTH KENT LTD – MINIMAX 150 W THE NETHERLANDS - TGC TRADING – GREENGO KING SIZE SLIM GERMANY/AUSTRIA/SWITZERLAND HULABALOOZA - HULASOLUTION SPAIN - OZOTRES - GENERADORES DE OZONO CZECH REPUBLIC - MAZAR LED SYSTEMS – SPECTRABOX LED GROW LIGHT

17 THE NETHERLANDS

GERMANY AUSTRIA/SWITZERLAND

SPAIN

CZECH REPUBLIC

DE SJAMAAN WHOLESALE BV EJECT A BOWL

AIR EAU TEC AG LETGROW SPRAYTRAY 5.0 600W

JBQ MACETAS/PLATOS JBQ

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www.letgrow.net

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www.hempkeramika.webzdarma.cz

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CLEANU/ SCREENYWEENY 3.0

OZOTRES GENERADORES DE OZONO

JOSEF KREJCIK JAK PESTOVAT ´INDOOR´

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www.ozotres.com

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ATK KELPEN RFX-1 MIX

HULABALOOZA HULASOLUTION

IDAI NATURE INSECTICIDAS Y FUNGICIDAS

MAZAR LED SYSTEMS SPECTRABOX LED GROW LIGHT

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www.hulasolution.com

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KULU TRADING N02 / VAPORIZER

AEROPONIK SYSTEMS AERO GROW 19/27

PH&EC PRODUCTIONS UCI

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CULTURE

CANNABIS AND

Some time ago, colleagues carried out a very simple research project in order to address a very simple question; they asked a small (200 people) sample of older men and women who had never used cannabis but who claimed to have “good knowledge” of it where their knowledge had come from and what their information sources were. The attitudes of these 200 people to cannabis were almost completely negative: it makes users lazy, it makes users stupid (“that’s why it’s called DOPE, son!”), it makes users commit crime, and (the overwhelming favourite) it leads users, in

The sources for these somewhat old-fashioned, outdated and generally disproven ideas were television, newspapers –tabloid and broadsheet - and of course, the evidence of “their own eyes”. However, the surprising thing was that all of these sources had basically reinforced what they’d “learned” years earlier – and in some cases many years earlier in the darkened confines of the cinema. Clearly, cinema was a very powerful persuader/influence back in the day; this may not be the case for the drug-savvy youth of the 21st century, but the interviewees

EVEN IN THE 21ST CENTURY, THE SAME STEREOTYPES PREVAIL, AND THE FILM MAKERS REALLY SHOULD KNOW BETTER an almost arithmetical progression, onto “harder” drugs, whereupon all of the prior outcomes in the list presumably kick in and the users life disintegrates.

were talking about the 1940’s and 1950’s, a time largely before televisions were commonplace in homes in the UK, and a time when cinema was the populist enter-

tainment form of choice. Cinema, along with newspapers, shaped the worldview of a large part of the population. The films in question that the sample named as their primary educators in the ways of drugs are mainly American as here in the UK the code relating to what one could/couldn’t see made any direct reference to drug use a no-no. And besides this, at that time in the 1940’s and 1950’s, the drug “problem” in the UK was small to the point of being inconsequential. Cannabis use was confined mainly to musicians, artists and similar types in the “Bohemian” milieu (interested parties are pointed in the direction of Marek Kohn’s excellent book ‘Dope Girls’ for a comprehensive examination of this era of UK social history). In America, the picture was very different, and the film makers themselves originally produced the films in response to the draconian (and racist) anti-dope laws of the 1930’s. Basically, the makers saw a window of opportunity in which to put

out a cheaply made film full of titillation, fantasy and lies/misinformation. In doing so they misrepresented and misinterpreted laws that were themselves founded on little more than fantasy and lies/misinformation (I’d point the curious towards Jack Herer’s book ‘The Emperor Wears No Clothes’ for information on this shameful period of American social history). In this article, I’m going to look at a few of the “dope scare” films and consider some of the myths and stereotypes concocted, constructed and then presented as fact. One of the scariest things about these is that they weren’t made as art or anything like it. Their purpose was quite brutally simple: to make as much money as possible. Bear in mind that it’s doubtful that the makers of these films regarded them as in any way important, because as films they certainly aren’t. Where their importance lies is in how the anti-drug propaganda crudely developed here has not only prevailed, but taken on a life of its own and insidiously crept into the realms of “accepted wisdom”, particu-

19 larly as understood by our lawmakers. That nobody involved in the writing or making of these films (the early ones at least) appear to have had any knowledge whatsoever regarding cannabis, how it works, effects or anything else didn’t matter a bit. Never let the facts stand in the way of a rotten film. While there were apparently a few earlier dope-related films (for example, a “marijuana western” dating from 1924 called “High on the Range”) the first proper dope scare film out of the box was “Marijuana: The Weed with Roots in Hell” in 1936, at the same time the anti-cannabis laws were being put into force. Directed by an opportunist called Dwain Esper, this is perhaps the consummate cannabis exploitation film, intended to make as much money as possible within a period he almost certainly thought of as time limited (ie before Joe Public forgot about the new laws or generally got bored of dope as a “newsworthy” subject). Many of the myths and misinformation about cannabis generally accepted by the ignorant as “fact” originate here, and it’s highly likely that “Marijuana” is where the

by another chancer named Louis Gasnier. The closeness of the release dates of the two films make it unclear whether Gasnier’s film evolved as a separate exploitation response to the new dope laws or whether it was a rip-off of Esper’s film. Whatever, the basic elements – smoking dope leads to a life of crime, hard drugs, death, etc – are the same as with “Marijuana”, and with that, the pattern of what happens when one uses cannabis begins to be more-orless set in stone in the consciousness of the cinema going public. That the original elements are based on nothing other than racist nonsense is irrelevant. Frequent enough repetition moves them eventually into the realm of “common knowledge”, and from there it’s a very short step to becoming established fact. And repetition via the most popular social medium of the time allows false ideas and misinformation to spread like a virus. “Assassin of Youth” (1937) is more of the same: good girl becomes involved with a “marijuana ring” and almost immediately goes bad. This one was directed and co-written by yet another hack named Elmer Clifton, of whom there’s not really much to say. As with Dwain

THE 1970’S SUPPOSEDLY SAW A NEW SOCIAL REALISM IN FILM, BUT ONE RATHER DEPRESSING THING IS THAT EVEN PROPONENTS OF CANNABIS USE SUCH AS CHEECH AND CHONG (BLESS ‘EM) WHO REALLY DO KNOW WHAT CANNABIS IS ABOUT, HAVE REALLY DONE NOTHING AT ALL TO DISABUSE NON-USERS AS TO WHAT USERS ARE LIKE template for the stupid, workshy, homicidal, promiscuous, criminal and addicted to heroin a week after their first toke on a joint stereotype originates. As a film it’s an utterly miserable piece of rubbish, and not in the “so bad it’s really quite good” camp. Everything about it is utter shite; however, it made a lot of money, and that (then as now) meant a slew of similar product churned out to cash in on the questionable success of the original. Appearing almost simultaneously with Esper’s film was “Reefer Madness”, directed

Esper and Louis Gasnier, he seems to have been a small time opportunist with an eye for a fast buck. With the outbreak of World War Two, dope pretty much fell off the cinematic radar as there were – understandably – more pressing issues to think about. However, film makers decided to have one more scrape of the bottom of the barrel in 1949 with “Wild Weed”. There’s really not much to be said about this one; it’s really a throwback to the prewar scare films in terms of thematic content. It conforms exactly to the old formula: 1 joint + the “wrong” crowd = promiscuity, madness, suicide. In case anyone had any doubt regarding the content and general timbre of the film, “Wild Weed” used the promotional line “She’s a Good Girl until She Smokes a Reefer!” As an aside, the most notable point regarding “Wild Weed” is that one of the stars was Lila Leeds, who caused a major scandal back in the day when she was busted for possession of cannabis while in the company of the rather better known Robert Mitchum. As is now well documented, Mitchum was (among other things) a stoner par excellence

“LED TRIAL WITH CRITICAL JACK “

“GROWING IN LAOS”

er, stoners are amusing for those “in the know”, for everyone else they’re taken – literally – as an object lesson in everything that’s negative about cannabis. Even in the 21st Century, the same stereotypes prevail, and the film makers really should know better. However, the same set of myths are peddled and we get more of the same “fundamentally good kid falls in with the wrong crowd, starts smoking cannabis and life quickly spirals out of control as they’re inevitably led to hard drugs and crime” stuff (as in something like “The Basketball Diaries”, perhaps, or “Requiem for a Dream”). Alternatively, they are gormless stoner fuckwits who couldn’t find their own arses in a room with the lights out (“Dude, Where’s My Car” springs to the front of my consciousness at this point). and continued to be so throughout his life. In one of those weird Hollywood things, Mitchum did a bit of time for the offence and on his release was more popular than ever; Lila Leeds, on the other hand, did “Wild Weed” followed by one other film and then disappeared, probably spending the rest of her life working in a supermarket. However, the horse hadn’t been quite flogged to death and in the 1950’s the emerging and inseparably linked phenomena of rock and roll and “teenagers” were hybridised with the drug scare movie in an attempt to take more money from the gullible. Throughout the decade, cannabis and cannabis users continued to be portrayed as fundamentally criminal in a number of films such as “The Cool and the Crazy” and “High School Confidential”, aimed squarely at the teen market. At this point I must put my hand up and concede that for all their factual inaccuracies, these two films are rather entertaining (yes, readers, I actually sat through the films named in this article). The same really can’t be said for the preceding titles, so do yourselves a favour and avoid at all costs. By the 1960’s, the filmmakers largely turned their attentions away from cannabis to focus on the subject of a new drug scare: LSD. It should be mentioned that while acid or mescaline or whatever may be the principal driver of the action in many of these films, cannabis is nearly always there in some form: often as the drug of initiation (as in gateway and stepping stone theories so beloved of anti-drug campaigners generally and anti-cannabis campaigners specifically). The 1970’s supposedly saw a new social realism in film, but one rather depressing thing is that even proponents of cannabis use such as Cheech and Chong (bless ‘em) who really do know what cannabis is about, have really done nothing at all to disabuse non-users as to what users are like, how they behave and so forth. Not that I’m suggesting for a minute that this is what Cheech and Chong are or should be about. However, while the stumbling, bumbling, mumbling, munchies-prone,

The new breed of young film guys are supposed to be more drug savvy, but in focussing attention on the same old negative outcomes - even if it is for dramatic or comedic purposes – they do the majority of cannabis users a disservice as in the main how users are portrayed is divorced from the reality. What’s called for is less stereotyping and less “filmic” reality, and more representation of dope and stoners as they really are.

The other evening I watched a film called “Adventureland”; some of which was taken up with the characters getting stoned. It was no big deal and certainly wasn’t the main driver of the story. It was just something some characters did from time to time, and nobody went mad, nobody felt obliged to start using heroin and nobody was killed: in short, the mundane experience of dope that most people have.

The point is this... Anyone who has considered or given any sort of thought to the evolution of the cannabis scene, or patterns of cannabis use over the past thirty or forty years or so will be aware that, while there are indeed cannabis users like those portrayed in the scare-films, they tend to be the exception rather than the rule. Cannabis has been largely assimilated by the mainstream culture to the extent it’s used at all levels of society. There’s no longer any such thing as your “typical” dope smoker, as it’s no longer considered (as sociologists would say) “sub-cultural”, or “deviant”, so let’s stop the outmoded stereotypes and aim for a bit of reality. Please?

“A WINTER IN ROSALES PART 2”

POLITICS IS THE EUROPEAN UNION REALLY GOING TO LEGALISE DRUGS?

Great news! Dr John Dee

Rejoice! The EU has decided to allow member states to legally regulate currently illegal drugs! Right now dumbstruck readers are probably thinking “What? Am I reading this correctly? Is this a joke?” Yes, you are reading it correctly, and it’s absolutely no joke; far from it, in fact. Although, on reflection, perhaps it is: probably best you read this and then make your own mind up. If it is a hoax, it’s a pretty good one, and that might explain why there’s been zero coverage of it in the UK media. Either that or...ah, let’s just get on with it.

in, or whatever, on any member state that decides to take a good, long look at their current policies on drugs and drug prohibition with a view to changing them, and as cannabis has been named specifically, it would appear that this is the one that’s getting the major nod on the part of the bureaucrats. Exciting stuff, no? Well, maybe, but... This rather sudden volte face seems to stem from the publication in 2009 of findings of research commissioned by the EU, “Report on Global Illicit Drug Markets 1998 – 2007”, by Peter Reuter and Franz

does specifically on cannabis, warrants closer scrutiny. What immediately grabs the attention is the use of the term “regulation”. This usually implies an element of legality so there’s an implication here that rather than go for decriminalisation, it may actually be a process of legalisation, which is a whole other ball game. The principal difference between the two is that legalisation would allow the production and cultivation and then the commercial dealing of cannabis to become a recognised and bona fide trade. Cannabis would become a legitimate commodity and so would presumably be subject to “market forces” and all the other economic laws that affect other commodities such as coffee and tea.

as proponents make out? On the subject of smoke, what about the whole issue of the close link between cannabis and tobacco smoking? These are just a few examples of reasons given for not legalising cannabis, and there are many more. What I want to know is “what’s changed”? After all, it’s not as though these reasons for not legalising or even decriminalising cannabis have just disappeared or been “solved”. It’s definitely not as though the drug experts on the prohibitionist side of the fence have had a mass epiphany and collectively declared “You know something? We were wrong about cannabis all the time. The fact is there’s no health risk connected to it at all and it should be legalised”. While I agree 100% that cannabis needs to be legalised, there are a number of question marks over some of its effects and so I’d want legalisation with a number of caveats.

The plot thickens One estimate available maintains that the commercial retail value of the EU illicit cannabis market is in the region of €9.6 billion, and that worldwide, the retail value of the cannabis market is estimated to be worth somewhere in the region of €70 billion (in 2005, the most recent figure I can find), but of course these figures are really little more than working estimates: in actuality the amounts could be substantially higher. In fact, in the EU press release, it’s mentioned that the estimated total amount of revenue generated by “a combination of measures” could be between €35 billion and €60 billion to the EU alone, an amount that’s not small potatoes by anyone’s reckoning; perhaps even enough to make it worth turning a blind eye to the potential health issues. I’m sure it’s quite coincidental, but these moves towards decriminalisation and / or legalisation have been largely driven by activists from Greece, Spain and Portugal: all three of these being countries hit very hard in the recent bout of Capitalist roulette, otherwise known as the worldwide recession.

It’s quite astonishing how really highly newsworthy stories can be buried beneath other material. You know the kind of thing I’m talking about: married footballers playing away from home, piano playing dogs and so forth. This EU drugs story is real news, and it is entirely because I take a personal and professional interest in such things that I know about it. For those who don’t know, here are the basics of the story. At the end of last year (yes, the story is that old) the EU published a statement wherein it was stated that they (the EU): “...will not block any initiative of EU Member States to start the legal regulation of cannabis and other currently illegal drugs” Now, I’m no lawyer, but it seems that this, in essence, translates to the EU won’t impose any sanctions, send the army

Trautmann. Readers will find a link to this report at the foot of this article.

So what’s the problem, exactly?

Secondly, they considered the “financial implications of...the regulation of cannabis for public expenditure”.

I really don’t want to be a Prophet of Doom about this – honestly: please think of me more as the Devil’s Advocate – but my immediate feeling is that what’s being proposed is the right thing, but for the wrong reason. One might, with some justification, say “Well, so what? At least it’s the right thing”, tantamount, it seems to “The end justifies the means”. And that’s all fine and good, but I continue to have serious misgivings about what I see as the fundamental justification for the move, which is to say “Money”.

The first of these, apart from being an utter minefield and full of potential grey areas due to the use of the term “decriminalisation” (see any number of this authors columns in SS passim if you want to know why), is way beyond the remit of Soft Secrets, and is therefore best passed over. However the second of these, focussing as it

For decades now, the whole issue of cannabis legalisation has been (supposedly) highly problematic due to a range of mainly health-related issues. Does cannabis use in pre-teen or early teenage years trigger psychotic illness? Does early cannabis use trigger a desire to move on to “harder” and more problematic drugs? Is cannabis smoke itself actually as harmless

Two proposals or recommendations were considered by the European Commissions Anti-Drugs Unit, at a Public Hearing on Drug Policies. The first of these was the implications of the decriminalisation of drugs per se (or at least, the financial implications).

Actual estimates as to the value of the cannabis market in these three countries have proved to be elusive (and believe me, I’ve looked high and low for figures), however we can say that in the UK – also rather badly affected by the global economic situation, if not quite on the scale of Greece, Spain and Portugal – the estimated value of the cannabis market alone is calculated at between €1.515 billion and €3.152 billion. And of course, because of the current legal status of weed, production is in the hands of those operating outside of the law and this in turn means that none of this amount is subject to tax. This is a situation that applies (as far as I’m aware) to all countries in the EU with the exception of Holland, and I’m none too sure how the system works there exactly (another of the problems with decriminalisation). It may appear somewhat cynical on our part, but we do wonder whether three of the most financially afflicted

22 countries are proposing relaxing or even scrapping the drug laws in order to generate a badly needed source of big money.

ity of decriminalisation and or possibly even legalisation of drugs, purely as a practical means of putting the organised drug cartels out of business and all hell broke loose in Washington.

I mentioned above the right thing for the wrong reason, and while I absolutely concur that legalisation of cannabis on a pan-European level would be the right thing - a radical and welcome move – it needs to be done properly. However, there’s the utterly wrong reason, and that’s the thought of handing the “dealing” or “trading” and production rights wholesale over to Babylon in the form of the highest bidder. Letting the big money private sector corporate and multinational boys get their snouts in this trough would be a grave error of judgement, in my view (look at the utter mess they’ve managed to cause with alcohol). Legalisation of cannabis is just too important to be handed over to private enterprise lock, stock and barrel. These set ups have shareholders and are therefore driven totally by profit, and this would keep prices artificially high and therefore would guarantee we’d still be bedevilled by gangsters selling their shoddy wares.

Perhaps the entire point of the exercise is to test the waters and gauge public opinion (difficult, considering the zero coverage the matter has received in the press in the UK at least). Or perhaps there’s an element of the EU flexing its economic muscle at play (perhaps we are actually big enough to go it alone – economically speaking - without America). But in the end, it’s all conjecture The EU are not, of course, saying that countries should legalise cannabis, just that if they want to consider it for economic reasons then there won’t be any opposition (despite various international treaties and so forth). I think that for this they most definitely need to be applauded, wrong reasons or not, but in the end it really is all conjecture. Here in the UK, we’ve got our noses so far up the Americans that I doubt anything would be done regarding drugs without their okay. Even if it did get the green light from Washington it would still be handed over to multinational conglomerates and/or pharmaceutical companies to kick the arse out of it. State ownership or responsibility for distribution would just not happen, as the attitude towards drugs on the part of the ruling elites in the UK is almost identical to the attitude towards legalising the sex industry, which is to say that the money generated would be somehow tainted, dirty...immoral. Not at all like the arms industry, then.

By natural inclination, I tend towards Anarchism in my political views, but I’m also a realist and a pragmatist, and I find myself looking for the least bad option, if you take my meaning (or put more plainly, the best of a bad bunch). It pains me to say this, but I think that the government needs to intervene, certainly in terms of the distribution of weed via state owned outlets and setting the prices of the various types and strains. This is most definitely an occasion where it shouldn’t be left to “the market to decide”.

And there’s another problem (and this one isn’t rhetorical) Nobody appears to have thought about what the UN may have to say about all this. More specifically, what the United States might have to say. Events over the past decade have demonstrated how our friends over the water have this habit of imposing sanctions and worse on anyone with the temerity to

piss them off, so how do we know it’s not going to happen with this? Let’s be quite frank here: for all the medical marijuana shenanigans going on in the States, these laws are passed, un-passed, amended, altered and generally messed about with on such a regular basis that really, nobody of my acquaintance really has the first idea as to what’s going on.

And then of course, there’s the experience of Mexico, where there have been (according to BBC Online) an estimated 35,000 deaths (actually, “murders” is a more realistic way of putting this) in the past five or six years directly attributable to the Drug War, of which America is the main sponsor. The Mexican government suggested that a possible way forward would be to at least look into the possibil-

Making money from (legal) drugs and sex is all fine and good for Johnny Foreigner, but it’s just not British. It’s an attitude that is perverse in the extreme. Reuter P and Trautmann F (eds); Report on Global Illicit Drug Markets 1998 – 2007, http://ec.europa.eu/justice/doc_centre/drugs/studies/doc/report_ short_10_03_09_en.pdf

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GROW WITH GRUBBYCUP

LED Trial with Critical Jack is wasted. LEDs are made to specific wavelengths, so by using red, blue, and violet lamps, energy is not spent on creating green light. A higher percentage of the energy spent is converted into light that the plants can use. Early LED grow lights disappointed a lot of early adopters. The first units arrived on the scene with a lot of hype, a high price tag, and either didn’t work, or didn’t work well. Today’s units still come with the hype and the price, but I was curious if the advances in technology had advanced to THIS 104 WATT LED UNIT WAS THE ONE USED IN THE TRIAL

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are used to take a plant from seed to bud.

The unit I tested was a commercial 104 watt combination of 1 and 3 watt LEDs from the Netherlands. It seems well built, and being mostly solid state, is more shock resistant than glass lamps. It runs much cooler than HID lighting, and at least in theory, should last longer without needing bulb or part replacements.

Light emitting diodes are electroluminescenct, they use small doped semiconductors to emit light. They have two leads, a positive and a negative. When current is applied from positive to negative, they produce light. The individual diodes are usually 1 to 5 watts each, with several wired together to make a single light fixture. For example, a single 30 watt LED light might be manufactured from 30 x 1 watt diodes, or 10 x 3 watt diodes. LEDs create about the same amount of

light per watt as florescent lighting. An advantage LED lamps have over florescent lamps is the ability to project specific wavelengths (colors) of light. Chlorophyll uses light with wavelengths primarily from the red, blue and violet bands. Green light is reflected back away from the plant, which is why the plant appears green. A florescent lamp will use its power to broadcast light in many colors. This includes spending some energy on producing green light. However, if green light is not used by the plant, then that energy

were used. The plants were grown in perlite with small plastic pots as containers in an indoor vented closet. The testing took more trials than expected, and the learning curve on use was steeper than it appeared. My experience so far with LEDs has shown them to be unforgiving of errors, and as such I would not recommend them as a good choice for novice growers. Trial one ended prematurely due to low temperature issues. The LED unit runs

LEDS CREATE ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF LIGHT PER WATT AS FLORESCENT LIGHTING. AN ADVANTAGE LED LAMPS HAVE OVER FLORESCENT LAMPS IS THE ABILITY TO PROJECT SPECIFIC WAVELENGTHS (COLORS) OF LIGHT the point where they were a viable alternative to HIDs and fluorescents.

TWELVE DAYS FROM SEED

by Grubbycup

much cooler than traditional lighting, and as a result the plants suffered from the cool temperatures in the space. The lower waste heat of the LEDs could be useful in conditions where excess waste heat is a problem.

However, it is not an inexpensive unit to purchase, retail price runs in the same ballpark as a budget HID magnetic coil 1000 watt ballast, bulb and socket. The 1000 watt light would generate a lot more waste heat, would require more electricity to use, and would add the expense of bulb replacement, but may be more appropriate if these factors are not a concern. The self-contained unit is heavy for its size, and was easy to set up in a small space. To ensure that the plants were from quality genetics, Dinafem’s Critical Jack seeds

DAY 28: THE PLANT WAS MOVED INTO NORMAL LIGHTING FOR THIS PHOTO

26 Trial two also ended prematurely, due to a combination of complications from having the light too close to the canopy, and nutrient uptake problems. Plant transpiration under the unit was reduced, and as a result, water moved through the plant at a slower rate than I am used to. Since I used perlite as a growing medium, overwatering wasn’t an issue, but when using LEDs over soil, be careful of overwatering.

Lighting was switched to 12 hours on - 12 hours off at 130 days from seed. The spacing of the branches was still very short, and the plant was very bush, but it was also small for its age. Gender declared itself as normal (being feminized, it declared female), bud development was very tight. Overall, the plant appeared to be a miniaturized version of a much larger plant.

The third trial successfully completed from seed to harvest without incident. Four seeds were put in to sprout on 17 December. They sprouted normally, and early growth was compact and vigorous. Internode length was shorter, and foliage was denser than my experiences with HPS or fluorescent lighting.

During mid flowering, to ensure the plants did not suffer due to crowding, three of the plants were removed.

Start to finish took 185 days, and final harvest was 20 grams for a GPD (grams per day) of .108. Calculating the GPD for each harvest will allow a gardener to compare the success of grows even if the number of days taken for each is different. Compared to the GPDs from other tests the 104 watt LED unit performed better than a 250 watt HID, but not as well as a 400 watt HID.

The plant finished in 55 days (just under 8 weeks). Bud development started very slow, but picked up dramatically in the last couple of weeks.

The Critical Jack has a woody aroma with subtle notes of lemon. The smoke is sweet tasting, smooth with a hint of bite, and has a very pleasant exhale. It

DAY 81: THE LED PLANTS ARE SHORT AND DENSE

DAY 172: BUDS WITH TIGHT FLORAL CLUSTERS

Wet weight was 2.7 ounces (75 grams) which trimmed and dried to .7 ounce (20 grams) of nice smoke.

DAY 185: LEDS CAN FLOWER

delivers a nicely potent hit, and leaves a nice warm afterglow. LEDs have come a long way since they first hit the market. For use in a stealth cabinets or in a location where heat is an issue, they are worth taking a look at if the cost of purchasing the unit doesn’t break the budget. I can confidently say that it is possible to grow good weed under a well-designed LED light, and that watt for watt they perform better than HPS or fluorescent technologies. I have no doubt that a 400 watt LED array could easily outperform a 400 watt HID light. However, at current market prices, 400 watts of LED array is substantially more expensive than 400 watts of HID lighting, so initial cost may be an important consideration.

THE CRITICAL JACK FROSTED NICELY

FRESH CUT WEIGHT WAS 2.7 OUNCES (75 GRAMS)

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Sale prohibited to people under 18 years old. Seed for coleccionist use exclusively. It´s ilegal to make them germinate. They´re not for agriculture purposes. Consult laws about cannabis aplied in your place of residence. Sweet Seeds will not be acountable for ilegal use of this seeds done by third parties.

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Medi Weed UK by lazystrain

Every so often Soft Secrets likes to cover the specific issue of Medi Weed in the UK. By Medi Weed we mean any variety of cannabis that provides the user with medicinal relief. Over the past five years it is amazing how the Medi Weed scene in the UK has progressed. Partly thanks to our Canadian and American cousins overseas the topic of ‘medicinal application via cannabis’ has evolved beyond late night radio talk shows and underground publications like Soft Secrets. Gradually Medi Users in the UK are opening the eyes of Non-Medi cannabis users in the UK towards the issue of ‘Medi Weed’ - who in turn help to educate the general non-using public about the useful chemical compounds that cannabis can offer as a medicinal aid.

for physical pain relief, in fairness, also enjoy the psychological effects of getting high or stoned. The remaining Medi Users (those that only ingest cannabis as food) however do not enjoy the psychological effects of inhaling cannabis as a herb. They do however still experience and appreciate many of the same psychical effects when consuming medicinal cannabis as edibles – often with even more psychically overpowering effects (depending on dosage). Arguably, many recreational cannabis users in fact smoke cannabis to sub-consciously release the psychological pressures associated with daily living within

compounds, evaporate before they ever enter the human body. Several of the heavier cannabinoid compounds such as THC, CBD, CBN, CBG, THCV and some of the terpines (associated with flavour) do however remain intact. These compounds then enter the bloodstream via the inhalation of smoke and produce mind and body effects. Vaporizing cannabis (rather than smoking) helps to reduce the burn-off of many of these more delicate cannabinoid compounds because vaporizers do not require combustion to the production of effect. Many of the more fragile chemicals are however still damaged under even the smallest amounts of heat stress - even when using a vaporizer. For this reason those wishing to administer a fuller and richer medicinal spectrum of cannabinoids as medicine, often consider the various methods of ‘cold

Even sceptical Non-Medi Users will freely admit that many of the most potent Cannabis indica varieties, such as Northern Lights, Mazar, and Sensi Star each produce a sedative almost intoxicating effect. Likewise certain Cannabis sativa varieties including Amnesia, Kali Mist, and Super Silver Haze are known to produce highly psychoactive effects; followed hours later by a sudden impulse to eat everything in the fridge (which is especially useful for Chemo patients and sick people that need to eat more)! Once we remove the psychological aspects of cannabis consumption, in total abstraction to the effects on the brain, then what we are left with are the psychical attributes that cannabis gives. It is this aspect of the cannabis plant that the majority of Medi Users foremost wish to attain. At which point the consumption of cannabis, overrides the contextual notion of placebo, and directly constitutes as a source and direct form of natural medicine for the user. In the majority of cases many of the Medi Users that continue to inhale cannabis

complex societies. Dislike a ‘pick-me-uppill’ or a glass of wine however, the effects of cannabis often hold as much influence on the body as they do the state of mind. Interestingly Non-Medi Users that incorporate cannabis into their daily diet, claim to feel more ‘energized’ than they did when simply consuming cannabis as a smoking ingredient. This is because when cannabis is ingested it releases many complex chemical compounds directly into the bloodstream. When cannabis is smoked in pipes and spliffs, then many of the more delicate ingredients, the flavanoids and volatile

press’ extraction available to the home grower. Methods of ice-water extraction, whilst effective in separating many cannabis compounds from plant matter, wash-away many water-soluble plant oils (which hold therapeutic effects). Infusing or purging cannabis flowers with oils, alcohols or solvents then helps to reduce the loss of these essential oils in such a process. By distilling the majority of cannabinoids down into one homogeneous biomass, Medi Users are then able to add their own erbal extractions to edibles, incense candles, and even muscle relaxing beeswax as a form of medicine.

For the Medi User the importance in securing quality supplies of cannabis over the quantity in supply of cannabis, is often the key to better living. There would for example be little medical relief for Medi Users if, cannabis was decriminalized for personal consumption in the UK, but the availability of cannabis was low-grade. Conversely it probably would not be a good idea to advocate the use of high-grade cannabis for everyone. This is where the issue of Medicinal Cannabis Use and Recreational Cannabis Use needs a logical, open line of discussion (rather than just locking everyone up in prison) consensus debate! At present the UK Government clearly recognises that Cannabis is of medicinal benefit to people; when it prescribes the oral spray Sativex. The prescription medicine Sativex contains several cannabinoid compounds, excluding flavanoids and essential oils, and many of the active compounds including THC and THCV. In the UK pharmaceutical companies are now responsible for the cultivation of cannabis and the production of cannabis oil under a Home Office license. The Sativex spray is then available to a small percentage of Medi Users under two conditions. Firstly that their GP / Doctor is kind enough to prescribe it to them as medicine. Secondly, as long as they can afford the high prescription fee costs in order to attain the medicine. Unfortunately however, in the majority of cases Sativex does not provide the medicinal pain relief required; especially when tested against the more conventional methods of a spliff or a space cake. The remaining 95% of Medi Users in the UK are then still forced to face the daily added psychological pressure of growing illegal plants at home, or buying off dealers, on top of their illness, in order to consume medicine that helps. Today the cultivation of cannabis plants for medicinal use, without a Home Office license, is still illegal in the UK. Piecemeal as the current system is, at least recognition that Cannabis acts as a medical aid, is slowly moving the whole decriminalization debate forward.

TRAVEL I was comfortable, peaceful and a little bit pissed when I made up my mind to spend that entire 30 day visa on these islands… And the longer I stayed the more friendly I got with the locals; and I scored with no trouble at all – all the men on the island were smoking it quite openly. It was after about 10 days that Mr Don, one of the guys who I’d got drunk with on the first day, took me into his confidence and told me about a crop he had growing on one of the other islands. He asked if I’d like to go out on a boat with him to have a look at his crop – bloody right mate! When can we go?

Growing in Laos: Mr Don and the Wild Man Part 1 The first piece of advice I was given by a fellow traveller before I went to Laos is “make sure you leave enough time to go to the south.” From Vientiane northwards is a well-travelled path, and worthy of a visit, but, he assured me, the south is far more beautiful and a lot mellower. Like most travellers though, I had such a good time in the northern half of the country that I short-changed myself and didn’t By the Professor leave enough time to explore the south. Even so, Laos had been my favourite country in South East Asia so when I was back in the region again I got myself with a 30 day visa and made my way into the country via the southern border crossing between Mukdahan and Savannakhet.

When I arrived on my chosen island I was hungry, so I dumped my bags at the first restaurant I saw and ordered some food. There was elephant on the menu, but I avoided that and settled for some good old chicken and rice. I was

NOT WANTING TO SMUGGLE BETWEEN THAILAND AND LAOS, I HADN’T TAKEN ANY WEED WITH ME ON THIS TRIP – LAOS WEED IS KNOWN TO BE THE BEST IN THE REGION AND THERE’S PLENTY OF IT I didn’t stop in Savannakhet though – I got a motorbike taxi to the bus station and caught a truck straight down to the 4000 Islands… The 4000 Islands are in the middle of the Mekong river and right on Laos’ southern border with Cambodia – they’re called the 4000 Islands because there are about that many of them, and in the rainy season the river can be up to 4 kilometres wide. Not wanting to smuggle between Thailand and Laos, I hadn’t taken any weed with me on this trip – Laos weed is known to be the best in the region and there’s plenty of it about so I didn’t expect to have empty pockets for any longer than 24 hours. No worries I thought; the best way to get hold of a bit of smoke is to make friends with a couple of the local guys and it’ll be sure to come out sooner rather than later. I wasn’t wrong.

still waiting for my food when a couple of rough looking, sun-scorched middle aged Laotian guys sat down with me. They were obviously sussing me out, but they had big smiles and an old plastic water bottle full of Lao Lao (a local spirit made from rice). The 3 of us got stuck into the Lao Lao; we all shared one glass and I was given the first shot… “Bloody hell mate, how strong is that?” “Strong?” he laughed… He poured some of it out on to the wooden table and sparked it with his lighter… It caught instantly, he looked at me and we both laughed. I was well on the way to getting drunk before I made my excuses, rented a bicycle and had a little exploratory ride around the island – it was stunning; I was riding along thin dirt tracks, through

people’s yards and took a few detours round some dry paddy fields. There wasn’t an engine to be heard on the island. The few houses dotted around were big and spacious; they were made from blackened wooden planks and

The next day he came and knocked on the back ‘window’ of my bamboo hut, he was grinning a shifty grin, he gave me a nod and I knew we were ready to go. I followed him down to the river bank where we hopped into a small long-boat and motored our way through the maze of islands that filled the river. After about 15 minutes we pulled into the side of one of the islands and he tied the boat up to an old bush. He told me to get off the boat and on to the island through the bush; I climbed through the bush, jumped onto the river bank and found myself face to face with a wild looking, nearly naked, wiry little Laotian man squatting right in front of me - he was grinning from ear to ear, holding a big machete and he

HE POURED SOME OF IT OUT ON TO THE WOODEN TABLE AND SPARKED IT WITH HIS LIGHTER… IT CAUGHT INSTANTLY, HE LOOKED AT ME AND WE BOTH LAUGHED raised up on old wooden stilts. People and animals were all lazing about under the houses, hiding from the heat of the midday sun – that famous domain of mad dogs and Englishmen! There were big, old fruit trees and clumps of 7 or 8 meter high bamboos everywhere. Small bamboo shelters were dotted around the yards and paddy fields and there was no hint of a television or radio anywhere. A few bits of corrugated iron, the odd bicycle and some nearly dead stereos seemed to be the only things separating this island from the days of the agricultural revolution! It was a proper trip out; a real escape from everything, even time.

had a crude picture of a tiger tattooed on his chest – he burst out laughing at the shock that must’ve been plastered all over my face! Mr Don followed me through the bush and we trotted through the jungled island, dodging the nests and highways of giant ants as we made our way into a clearing in the centre, all the while being led by the grinning little machete-wielding wild man... When a clearing opened up in front of us I saw several very healthy looking female plants which, I estimated, were already about a month into their flowering cycle. In the very middle of the crop stood a

spindly looking male whose swollen pollen sacks were on the verge popping – the crop was set out as if they were actually trying to put all the females to seed!

After a few busy days in Bangkok I was on my way back to the islands again with an incredibly heavy rucksack and a fresh 30 day visa.

I asked the wild man for his machete, he looked a bit puzzled but Mr Don

The duration of my next visa was all about chilling out and waiting. I’d got to know

THEY NEVER REALISED THAT PLANTS COULD BE MALE OR FEMALE – IT WAS A TOTALLY NEW CONCEPT TO THEM told him to give it up and I went over and cut the male out of the ground. They looked a bit confused. I spent the next 10 minutes explaining the difference between male and female plants, why the man plants are bad because they make boom-boom with the lady plants and then the lady makes babies – seed is baby and baby no good for smoking! Using a stick, I drew pictures in the dirt to help explain the technicalities of pollination. They never realised that plants could be male or female – it was a totally new concept to them. I told him I thought the plants, being pure sativa’s, should be left for another 6 to 8 weeks at least – this length of time surprised him as well. Mr Don didn’t want to draw attention to the plants by going out to see them very often, especially with a white guy, so we kept it as our little secret. My visa wasn’t going to last as long I’d need to see the flowering through though, so I went back to Thailand after about 3 weeks to eat some decent grub and do a bit of shopping… I bought a few luxuries - tins of baked beans, 3 boxes of king size blue skins, and some pens, pencils, paper and solar powered calculators for the school on the island.

the island quite well and acted as an unofficial guide for a few other travellers that were turning up – most of them arrived planning to stay for a couple of days, but almost everyone ended up staying as long as they could because the place was so chilled out – the only technology around was mobile phones, the car battery generated electricity, the nearly dead stereos, and the engines on the back of the boats… It was an incredibly easy place to let days and weeks drift by whilst chilling out in hammocks and exploring the nooks and crannies of the island on an old bicycle. During this stay Mr Don asked me if I’d go and check on the plants for him, he told me he wanted me to take a couple of other travellers he’d made friends with – with pleasure my friend! The three of us borrowed an old boat and some paddles, we told the others we were just going out for an afternoon on the river. The river had changed in the weeks since I’d been there a few weeks before though – the level had dropped and the vegetation on the islands was browning off in the heat and dryness of the hot season… The changing scenery and my cloudy memory managed to get us hopelessly

lost amongst the maze of islands and we grounded the boat several times. We never found the plants again; the other guys were a bit gutted but we had a good laugh getting ourselves into and out of trouble on the rocks of the river bed. Well, I did anyway! Despite the lack of clocks, time was still ticking and I had to go back to Thailand for one more visa run before the plants were ready – it was a good chance to stock up with some more baked beans, rizzlas and pens, pencils, paper and calculators again… Back amongst old friends in Bangkok, I couldn’t help telling a few of them about what I was getting up to in Laos – we were all likeminded folk and I was hoping a few of them would come out and join me for a week or two, especially seeing as I promised them some of the best smoke

they could dream of! One of my mates told me she was up for it but she had to wait a couple of weeks before she could come out… Back on the island again things were starting to get exciting – the big Cambodian crops were already finding their way across the border and it wasn’t uncommon to bump into little Cambodian men walking about with a sacks slung over their shoulder – their weed was going for US$21 a kilo, it was still damp and seeded, but US$21 a key! We bought a kilo from one of them, separated all the still-wet buds that had been squashed together, dried them in the shade for a few days and then separated all the seeds so we had plenty of good quality puff while we were waiting for our crop to come through… To be continued...

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Cannabis Expatriates An Expatriate (or Ex-Pat) is someone that lives in a country that is different to their own place of birth or upbringing. The term Ex-Pat can be used in many different contexts to describe various people living in and coming from various different places of the world. Besides the usual Bank Robbers, Draft Dodgers, Tax Invaders, and War Criminals, a vast number of Expatriates are in fact escaping criminal drugs charges in their native homeland. The major percentage of which are former Cannabis Growers, Cannabis Dealers, and Cannabis Smugglers; and the focus of this report. Many of these Cannabis Entrepreneurs (for want of a better word) are forced to live an Expatriate lifestyle the moment they skip bail, escape from jail, or simply don’t turn up to an important court appearance. A few phone calls, maybe a boat, plane or train ride,

conflict. In this way many Expatriates are simply free to set up shop wherever the weather is nice and the customs suit them best. Top of the list of destinations for Ex-Pats escaping the UK (and Europe) normally include Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Spain. The most notorious of which is the Costa Del Sol in southern Spain (or the ‘Costa Del Crime’ as it is affectionately known in the UK Underworld). In fact many otherwise baron pieces of dessert have grown filthy rich over the years via the unaccountable tax-free income generated by rich and retired cannabis entrepreneurs (like Las Vegas).

starts to work out ways of smuggling large consignments of cannabis back home to the UK. Invariably (unless hiding-out in North America) then the retail price of cannabis overseas is usually much cheaper and more widely available than it ever will be in the UK. Several Ex-pats lazy’s people know are reporting that Dutch/ Skunk type cannabis is now available in even some of the most remote market towns and taverns on the globe! As more and more Ex-Pats from the UK have converged in the same destinations, then whole Expatriate Communities have

by lazystrain

Cannabis Ex-Pats living overseas (!) By International Cannabis Ex-Pats we mean those people that were born overseas and have since formed their own cannabis communities inside the UK. Many of whom we might mention arrived in the UK originally, with the express intention of cultivating , dealing, or smuggling as much cannabis as possible from A to B. Ironically, many Cannabis Entrepreneurs from overseas have come to the UK specifically because cannabis laws in the UK are more lenient then they are back in their homeland! In Poland for example,

Many perspective Expatriates often leave the UK with a plan of escaping, only to be captured upon arrival at their new destination. This is especially the case when an Ex-Pat has

BESIDES THE USUAL BANK ROBBERS, DRAFT DODGERS, TAX INVADERS, AND WAR CRIMINALS, A VAST NUMBER OF EXPATRIATES ARE IN FACT ESCAPING CRIMINAL DRUGS CHARGES IN THEIR NATIVE HOMELAND and a few hours later the Expatriate arrives in a completely new destination ready to start a new life. Normally equipped with a suit-case full of cash and some contacts in the underworld most Ex-Pats soon settle into their new homes comfortably. Expatriates manage to escape deportation back to their homeland for several reasons. Mainly because their new country of residence has not signed an extradition treaty with their former homeland country. Likewise the Ex-pat’s new country of residence may not acknowledge the laws of their old homeland, or opinion on common laws between either countries may

done a runner with money that does not belong to them and forgets how small the world is. Likewise in highprofile cases it is not uncommon for the Security Services to follow and abduct wanted felons. Other Ex-pats simply miss their family and friends or dislike the taste of foreign food or the overall lifestyle. Sooner or later such people soon return home, tail between legs, passport ready, to hand themselves into the nearest police station. Assuming that an Ex-pat can settle into their new surroundings, then it is habitual that criminal types revert back to type. Whereby the Dope Grower starts growing dope again and the Cannabis Smuggler

grown and gelled together in the same locations. In Spain for example, where we find old Hash Smugglers smoking cigars by the seaside studying yachts, we find new-age Growers cultivating sensimillia organically in the hillsides. Such is the nature of the law surrounding Cannabis in Spain, that many European Cannabis Activists, Cannabis Breeders, and Cannabis Dealers (Smugglers), have simply moved base; so as to live a more cultured lifestyle and make seeds - without fear of harassment from the Police.

Cannabis Expatriates in the UK Conversely, there are now as many International Cannabis Expatriates smoking and growing in the UK, as there is UK

possession of a single joint of cannabis is literally a punishable offence; whereby the Police may beat-up a Smoker in the street, before locking them up in a jail cell. Not to mention the absence of any medical facilities, a solicitor, or the nominal phone call that is permitted to suspects under the same offence in the UK. For this reason, every year hundreds of International Cannabis Expatriates arrive in the UK from departure lounges all over the world. From the ghettos of Eastern Europe to the shanti-towns of Somalia and Vietnam. From the (former) war zones of countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Sri Lanka, and Yugoslavia. Invaded places such as Tibet. Down to the urban war zones of Haiti and the tenement yards of Jamaica. Many Ex-Pats arrive in the UK already equipped with the lifestyle, knowledge, and often contacts in the cannabis industry, because Cannabis Culture is simply nothing new or foreign to them. Finally in the majority, we should mention the thousands of International Expatriates that arrive on UK soil every year without any intention of ever breaking any laws. Probability however predicts, that if they come from Eastern European, then they’ll probably enjoy smoking cannabis on UK soil just as much as any English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, or Cornish smoker does! In fact, chances are they’ll be smoking high-grade home-grown sensimillia, better than yours!

REAL LIFE DRAMA

A Winter in Rosales Jim Brown’s account of his stay in Prison Penitentiary Rosales in Ceuta, the duty free Spanish Enclave that stands opposite the Rock of By Jim Brown Gibraltar on the North coast of Morocco. Harry and I had been in Rosales for some days with no word from outside world. We were wondering if anybody even knew where we were, when we were called out of the yard to the visitors cell. The British Consul had come to see us. He was a tall, smartly dressed Spaniard in a grey suit. He wore thick black glasses and introduced himself as Senor Rodriguez. He handed us a couple of cartons of cigarettes and two books ‘Robinson Crusoe.’ and ‘Kidnapped.’ I wondered about his sense of humour. He explained that strict censorship was in force in Spain. He said he had paid for and erected signs on either side of the border warning of the severe penalties for drug trafficking and lectured us about the gravity of our position. However, there was one thing going for us, he said: ‘Corruption‘, something that most people condemn as a tool of the wealthy. Well here we were wealthy. But we were destined to stay in jail for three years if we could not raise the fine for the contraband. Plus there was the question of bail money for the more serious charge of ‘Offences Against Health and Public Order’ an offence that carried a 15-year sentence. Senor Rodriquez had a plan. The main prosecutor, a man totally opposed to drugs and rebellious youth culture, was preparing to go on an extended Christmas break. His Deputy, a personal friend of Senor Rodriquez, was a younger more understanding man. The consul suggest-

ed that the Deputy, who wanted nothing for himself, would settle for ‘a present for his wife.’ For such a token gesture he was sure the Deputy Prosecutor would drop the charges against one of us, leaving the other free to return home and set about raising the bail money for the other. It was my vehicle. The Consul already had the paperwork prepared. I signed an admission of guilt.

en this delay he advised Harry that on returning to England he should raise the bail money for me, about £2000, and take it directly to the Foreign Office in London. The Foreign Office would then inform him of its arrival and sufficient funds to complete the transaction in Ceuta would be released bypassing the complicated banking process. We agreed, Harry full of hope, me full of uncertainty. Could we trust the Consul to do what he claimed he could do? Could I trust Harry to get home and raise the money to get me out and not to get home and forget about me? A few days later Harry was released.

Cash took a long time to clear the banking system in mainland Spain. To short-

There were 28 of us in the European Brigada, though the clientele changed

almost daily. Trials and transfers to mainland jails shuffled with a waiting population of drifters, travellers and easy to catch smugglers. Our crimes ranged from a few grams of hashish secreted about the person to the use of a vehicle and an attempt at concealment. A couple seemed to have had a plan, but we were mainly amateur league. The Ceutans were the Establishment. They were in for murder, rape, armed robbery - real crimes in their eyes. They looked down on us two-bit smugglers and happily charged for everything. There had been trouble in the Spanish North African territories. The Sahara was under threat from the Moroccan

36 activists. The Spanish Legion was put in to quell any disturbances, and three of them were in Rosales. They had been arrested entering Ceuta with hashish concealed in fake relief paintings. They were super fit rock music fans, tough as bullets. They were awaiting the fearsome justice of a military tribunal. Jose Luis came from Salamanca. He was in his early twenties and spoke pop music English. He wore a green corduroy military style coat and well-

freely around the jail selling the brew in stained plastic thermos cups. Saturday was compulsory television viewing day. We shifted restlessly on hard wooden benches puffing away on marijuana, watching General Franco’s weekly address to the nation followed by a bullfight, a football match or a badly dubbed John Wayne movie. Franco was a dictator who had come to power after the Fascists had tri-

SATURDAY WAS COMPULSORY TELEVISION VIEWING DAY. WE SHIFTED RESTLESSLY ON HARD WOODEN BENCHES PUFFING AWAY ON MARIJUANA, WATCHING GENERAL FRANCO’S WEEKLY ADDRESS TO THE NATION FOLLOWED BY A BULLFIGHT, A FOOTBALL MATCH OR A BADLY DUBBED JOHN WAYNE MOVIE worn Spanish boots. Kiki was from Madrid, the youngest of the three, not yet twenty. He was a troubled youth not long out of a military prison. He wore a long black leather coat and rarely smiled. Wherever he was going after Rosales, he knew it was going to be for a while. Charlie was older than the other Legionnaires and was married with two boys in Barcelona. He had been a conscientious soldier before he discovered hashish. He was very quiet. He read books, played the flute and guitar and seemed gentle, but he wasn’t. In the North Africans yard things were different. The prisoners were made up mainly of Berber tribesmen who spoke, dressed and considered themselves different in every way from the coastal dwelling Moroccans. The villages around the growing areas in the Riff Mountains had an efficient human mule service. The young and not so young men of the villages carrying 20 kilo loads down the mountain using tracks and paths known only to the few. Undercover of night they crossed illegally into Spanish Cueta.

umphed in the Spanish Civil war in 1939. Although in his eighties and limping he was still brutal, executing dissidents and political opponents real or imagined whilst the rest of Europe looked on. He was regularly wheeled out so that all could see that he was still alive and in control of the country. We all speculated about how long the old dictator could survive. Some thought that his demise would bring an amnesty for all. Some were convinced that he was already dead; the weekend apparition a ploy to keep the country under control until the new regime was in place. Spain was planning to go from a Military dictatorship to a Constitutional Monarchy. There was going to be much adjusting for the Spanish people.

that there were well-established routes for the drug traffickers to get their product to market. I had chosen the most dangerous. Moroccan children earned money by sitting at the side of the road taking down foreign vehicle registration numbers and selling them to the police. Dadi accepted that he would be in and out of Rosales, sorting out business on both sides of jail until something better turned up. “You have freedom to travel, opportunity to work and make money. Why do this?” He questioned. “We have nothing, this is our only chance.” The evenings in the Brigada were spent smoking, talking and playing games. We bet on anything, using our wine allocation as stake money. The next day the loser would spit the contents of their mouth into the winner’s aluminium food bowl. One evening the Capo, a prisoner appointed by the inmates to act as a spokesman for the Brigada, came over to speak to me. He was an older man, a Spanish Ceutan, small dark and thumbless. Somebody had cut them off many years ago. When the civil war ended in 1939 he had married a beautiful young girl. An officer of Franco’s army had raped his young bride. He shot the officer dead. The normal sentence for killing an officer was execution by a firing squad but he was shown leniency and given life imprisonment. He had been in Rosales for 30 years and was to be released for Christmas. With his departure we would have to elect another Capo. The old Capo warned me not to become

The men were part of a two-way trade, bringing hashish down the mountains and returning to their villages with cigarettes, alcohol and battery operated radios. In Rosales they sold food and other useful items, which were brought into the jail by their friends and families. For them Rosales was a lucrative place of employment. These were the people to see about extra food or Hashish. The air in the Moroccan yard was sweet with the aroma of soups, stews, lamb kebabs and scented couscous. Cooking was an art form, a restaurant experience unknown to most. The Berbers prepared their meals on stoves made out of tin cans, one tin soldered on top of the other, the bottom tin fired by charcoal. Selling Mint tea was a coveted profession. Whoever had the franchise was allowed to wander

Dadi was my link with the Moroccan yard. He was a morose man who had been in and out of Rosales many times. He had a liking for alcohol, which was frowned upon by his folks back home. After dropping off his shipment he could not resist the temptations of the permissive Western ways, cheap whiskey, wine, cigarettes and fancy women. He kept his eye on me as a customer and sold me hashish and food brought in by his devoted family. He explained

involved in the election process. I had too much to lose. He explained the system. Those that did not want to participate, the abstainers, simply had to remain on their bunks. The election was sometimes democratic, but more usually a show of strength. Carlos, backed by his crazy henchman Casablanca thought himself the natural successor. Casablanca had gained his name and fame and a

possible death sentence by chopping up a couple of Dutch tourists in Casablanca. If you caught his eye he would smile at you till you near pissed yourself with fear. The next evening the warden came up to the Brigada and asked for the Machanalia rota. The old Capo handed over the list, his last official duty. The guard looked around the cellblock aware of the tension. He switched off the lights and left without a word. Carlos stood up and unilaterally declared himself the new Capo. He paraded through the Brigada looking for opposition, Casablanca sneering behind him. I lay on down my bunk. Kiki stood up and pulled on his boots stamping them into shape. Charlie carefully dismantled his flute and stowed it in his army rucksack. Jose Luis walked to the centre of the room, the two others Legionnaires joined him. He stood stock still, staring down Carlos. Then with the swiftness of a striking cobra he head-butted Carlos and at the same time Kiki and Charlie jumped on Casablanca. The attack was swift, efficient and brutal. Carlos squealed for mercy but none was shown. The Moroccans in the adjacent Brigada began chanting and drumming, raw rhythms echoing into the night. Then it was over. Jose Luis looked around the Brigada at the other prisoners and asked if anybody else wanted to be considered for the job. Nobody spoke. That was it, election over. Jose Luis was the new Capo. The prison regime became less tense with the removal of Casablanca and the days passed easier. Kiki, who was destined for a long haul through the Spanish penal system pushed for access to books and music. We were allocated the chapel area of the prison and under the scrutiny of a couple of guards lessons began. Charlie started music classes. We bought a tape machine from Dadi and enjoyed listening to British and American rock and folk. One of the more enlightened guards started to bring in the latest albums. I tried to teach English to the Legionnaires who were keen to learn the meaning of the obscure lyrics of Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd and other favourites. Mike was a mathematical wizard and things I had never grasped at school suddenly became clear and fun. At last I was called from the yard one breakfast and told that my bail money had come through and I was to be released. Harry had done it. He had raised the money. The Consul met me outside the prison and drove me to the customs post to pick up my Morris traveller. It was half buried in sand. The engine started first turn of the ignition. Jim Brown is now 65, retired and living in Edinburgh. He’s been back to Morocco, but has avoided all Spanish territories for more than 30 years as instructed by the Senor Rodriquez.

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GROW WITH JORGE CERVANTES

Mixing Soil for Transplant Mixing several commercial soils is often the best option to get a soil that drains well and holds nutrients too. I prefer organic soil so do medicinal cannabis plants. You have many different soils available. The main thing to look at is the consistency of the soil.

Let’s make some soil. I went down to the store and I bought some good soils, Fox Farm, Roots Organic and good old Black Gold. I also bought some Ancient Forest from General Hydroponics, it’s really full of ancient compost and it is packed with life too!

You can see this is a completely different soil. Let me compare the two. This one’s Black Gold and this one is Roots Organic. You can see Roots Organic is darker and it’s got a lot more Perlite. Black Gold is real light. It’s full of moss, peat moss, and it’s got a few other things but, there’s a lot of peat moss. I will also add a few expanded clay pellets. This brand is called Hydroton. Clay pellets go by many different names. The pellets hold water on the inside as well as air, so these things are really good to mix with your soil and they don’t break down – well, they do, but very little. I’m going to put a few shovelfuls of clay pellets in the mix today.

Take a look at this Roots soil. Here’s a handful, it breaks up real easily, it’s got plenty of white Perlite, about 30 percent, in the mix. And it’s got peat and other compost and coco too. This is a light mix that drains quickly. All that Perlite really makes it drain.

Black Gold holds ton of water, so it has to be lightened up. When I mix the two soils together like this, I get a little lighter mix. There is a lot of Perlite and peat in the blend, so it holds water a little bit better. That’s a better mix and I’m gonna mix a couple more things with this.

First I toss in a about a quarter of a bag of Roots soil. We’ve got a little bit of this Black Gold, an old classic formula; we used to grow with this in Oregon years ago. It’s full of peat moss and sometimes that stuff bunches up or balls up a little bit.

I’m will use my little sawed off shovel to mix the soil. Once you plant, you can’t dig it up and mix it again. Next I will put in a quarter bag of Ancient Rainforest soil – Alaska humus and 100 percent organic.

GROW WITH JORGE CERVANTES

Oh boy, this container is pretty full. It will be a job to mix soil now. The main thing is to get a real good mix until this soil looks pretty homogeneous, so it’s all the same color, same consistency and such. The Alaska humus is about five percent of the mix. Look at the humus. It looks and smells like dirt that you dig up next to the old tree that’s been in the shade for a long time. it is black, earthy and sweet.

Let’s go to our next element, Hydroton. It holds hold air inside as well as water and does a great job of aerating the soil. I will put a few handfuls, maybe as much as 5 percent, probably less, of clay pellets in and mix. I’m just guessing. This is not totally scientific.

I’ll be damned. There’s a rock to toss out. I’ll mix up a bit more. Notice I’m mixing each element separately and then at the end, everything’s way better mixed. Perlite just seems to surface all the time.

See that dust? Dust can get to you. I’d better sprinkle a little bit of water on it to get rid of that dust. A little water makes the dust go away. You don’t want to put too much water in, just enough to settle the dust, and too, if you put too much water in, you’ll learn real fast, the mix gets very heavy.

Let’s put in another little bit of Fox Farm Ocean Forest Potting Soil. It is full of Perlite that’s a little beat up. There’s a few branches in here from a compost mix and bark chips. The chips make it acidic and the pH has to be corrected. So it’s pretty good stuff, it’s a little rough. That’s why I’m mixing it with these other soils, so we get rid of some of this stuff or at least dampen it down a little. So let’s throw a little bit of this dirt in here – soil as it is, and look how the soil color is different, it’s darker.

The next step is to fill a bucket full of soil. I’m putting the soil in the bucket so that I can just transfer it to planting pots easily. Moving soil out of a big container is difficult

That Black Gold has tons of peat in it, you can really tell. We’re gonna have to lighten that up a little bit more. This Fox Farm will darken the soil and you know it’s gotta be full of good organic compost since we saw little branches in it.

I could set pots in the big container, but they will get dirty on the outside and create more work. Moving soil to a bucket and filling pots from the bucket is a lot easier and that’s what we like, easy stuff!

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COMPANY REPORT HESI

Top quality for the right price Hesi is a truly welcome guest in countless growing spaces all over the world. Who would have imagined this success all those years ago in 1993, when two young newlyweds began mixing nutritional substances in their bathtub? Eighteen years later, that “bathtub” has grown into a remarkably solid company. Complex market strategies, advertising campaigns or the drive to constantly invent “new” products have never been part of this Limburg couple’s vision; they prefer sobriety, integrity and working on a human scale. We met with these two entrepreneurs who have managed to remain themselves in spite of all their success. Hesi equals Henk (He) plus Siglinde (Si). Just the fact that Hesi was born as a family-owned business and continues to be one so many years later makes it unique in the sector. “We’re different from most producers of nutritional substances, and one reason is that we didn’t begin developing our products to make money – it just happened by chance,” Henk tells us as we sit in his cosy office. Here’s their story: eighteen years ago, Siglinde was a laboratory manager for a German manufacturer of aquarium articles. Since she was known for her green thumb, one day her boss asked her if she could do something for the blight that had stricken the plants in his luxurious greenhouse. After a few weeks of laboratory studies, Siglinde came up with some bottles that instantly transformed the miserable desert that her boss’s greenhouse had become into a flourishing jungle. That’s when Henk, a long-time haze enthusiast, had an idea. “In the meantime, I’d become the owner of a grow shop called Limbogrow. When I discovered that Siglinde’s formulas were also useful for growing high-quality weed, I began giving away small bottles to our customers – and these experiments were so successful that we established Hesi officially, on 1st April, 1996. We started considering foreign markets right away; as Siglinde is German and my German is as fluent as my Dutch, the logical choice was to concentrate first of all on German-speaking regions, especially because competition was already stiff in the Netherlands (particularly in the area north of the great rivers). And we still enjoy this advantage.”

Rauxel in 1997, and has participated in 84 fairs since then. Henk and Siglinde enjoy personal contact with their distributors, consumers and customers, especially with a freshlypoured draught Alfa beer close at hand. Hesi’s very first stand was a small table, but in time, those stands have grown and become welcoming havens decorated with multiple prizes and awards. “We will never give up our delicious draught beer,” Henk promises solemnly.

Craftsmanship The blend of high quality based on science, excellent quality-price ratio and simplicity has always been Hesi’s trademark. And it’s thanks to this very simplicity that so many shops are happy with the brand: there’s no need to build a new wing to present the entire assortment… Hesi is also very clear as far as prices go. Henk tells us: “Our prices are the same all over the world. And it took eleven years before we were forced to raise our prices; we were able to keep them steady until then, as the higher demand made purchases more convenient. Of course, we grow a lot of goodwill, too.” Constant growth makes entrepreneurs happy, but Hesi will never sacrifice its trustworthy artisan method. Henk: “We

Want a beer? As we already mentioned, Hesi does not care much about marketing and advertising. Henk and Siglinde publicize their products the old-fashioned way: Siglinde was a regular contributor to the magazine Highlife for years, and so managed to explain complex projects to complete beginners in her articles. Readers still remember her with much gratitude. Specialised fairs were also instrumental in making the Hesi brand known: the company was already present at the first HESI: HENK AND SIGLINDE specialised hemp bag expo at Castrop-

chose to handle the higher demand not by hiring more staff but investing in technological improvements. We are a family-owned business and don’t want to spoil the work atmosphere by introducing too many new people. All our staff have worked for Hesi for years.”

The cultivation pattern Not many people know that Hesi was the first producer of nutritional substances to introduce the cultivation pattern. Another Hesi invention was the beginners kit, which many companies have imitated. The kit (Starterpakket) is a colourful cardboard box that contains everything a small-scale grower needs to grow a spectacular product. Hesi’s kit, which Henk nicknamed “Happy Meal”, proved to be a goldmine. Users can get to know Hesi whilst spending little, and shopkeepers are practically guaranteed that these customers will return. A unique feature of Hesi is the colour code system. Each liquid nutrient has its own colour, which also appears on the label, so it’s almost impossible to become confused or make a mistake. These colours are obtained with dyes approved for food use. A true champion of “higher level

chemistry” is the pH correction “inserted” into Hesi’s Bloeicomplex nutritional complex; no matter how hard the water might be, the solution automatically transforms into a slightly acidic pH.

EC: 0 A walk through the manufacturing establishment shows us that Hesi never works with pre-prepared mixes; ingredients are weighed and mixed on site. This is the only way to guarantee that the best possible nutritional substances make up the product in the right amounts and proportions. After we admire the super modern filling machinery, Henk pauses in front of a device that looks like a black metal cylinder. It’s an ion exchange machine and, in spite of its modest appearance, is essential for the manufacturing of nearly all Hesi’s products. Its purpose is purifying water but, as opposed to what happens with inverse osmosis, not a drop of water is wasted during the process. “This way, the conduction water is purified of any impurity, and so the water that our liquids are based on has an EC level equal to zero.”

Quick service “We don’t have to place orders but always have our items in stock; this means that Hesi is one of the most rapid companies in the field as far as deliveries are concerned,” Henk explains as we walk through the warehouses where orders are prepared for transport. “If a client in Berlin places an order on Monday, he is sure to receive it no later than Thursday.” “Of course we are proud of what we have created, and not just because of how good sales are – there are other, more personal aspects, too. Last week, for example, I was with my daughter at the Pinkpop music festival, and someone I hadn’t seen for years suddenly came up to speak to me. He was so moved, and greeted me as if I were the prodigal son. ‘Thanks, my friend; I would never have made so much money without your help.’ I spent the rest of the weekend walking around with a huge grin on my face!” » www.hesi.nl

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45 HERMAPHRODITES FOR FEMINIZED SEED I am under the impression that to get feminized seeds you cross a hermaphrodite with a female. But I have also heard that about 50% (or so) of those crossed seeds will be hermaphrodite plants and would have to be pulled anyway if an allfemale crop was wanted. J.D.

Ed Rosenthal is recognized worldwide as a leading authority on marijuana. In his 30-plus years as America’s “guru of ganja” he has written or edited more than a dozen books about marijuana cultivation and social policy that cumulatively have sold over one million. His first book, Marijuana Grower’s Guide, is the only title on marijuana cultivation to be reviewed by The New York Times Book Review. After almost two decades, his Ask Ed advice column continues to answer questions on all matters of marijuana from readers around the world.

There are several methods of producing feminized seeds, but using hermaphrodites is not a fruitful method. About half the plants will be hermaphrodites and they are harder to detect than males. There are several methods for creating all female seeds. One way is to let buds ripen. Sometimes a few male flowers appear just as the buds ripen. These flowers, which are harmless because the bud is about to be harvested, contain viable pollen that only has female genetics. Be carefully collecting the pollen and using a watercolor brush to pollinate select buds you can produce a samll number of seeds. The second method, and the method used commercially by marijuana seed breeders uses silver containing chemicals silver nitrate and/ or silver thiosulfate to chemically alter sexual expression. The resulting male flowers have only female genetics so the resulting seeds produce only female plants. The process is described in more detail in the new edition of Marijuana Grower’s Handbook.

SUMMER’S TOO HOT I have some plants in 15 gallon white containers on my roof deck. It gets great sun and fresh air, but it can get too hot. On sunny days, it can reach 38°. What should I do to protect the plants from too much heat? SUPERFOOFY As the temperature heats up the plant’s metabolism and rate of photosynthesis increases up to a point. At about 32° the photosynthesis process shuts down as the plant goes into stress mode and uses its energy to transpire water to cool itself. On days when a substantial portion of the day is above this temperature the plant photosynthesizes for just a portion of the lit period. There are two ways that you can help the plants during this stress period. One method is to keep the plant roots chilled to 20-21°. The cool roots help to cool the canopy. Another method is to use micro-misters that emit very small droplets of water that immediately evaporate and cool the surrounding air. This can cool the air up to 10°. One method uses an evaporative cooling device with an oscillating fan. A tube carries water from a reservoir and drops it onto the spinning blades that smash it into tiny bits. A single fan can cool about 18 sq m. Another way of cooling with micro-mist is by using micro-misters that emit the small droplets. A pump that creates water pressure in the misters is part of the set-up. You may be familiar with these misters as they are sometimes used at public gatherings during the heat of the summer. The mist evaporates before it has a chance to touch the leaves so there is no problem with water damage. Growers who have used light deprivation for early flowering sometimes produce buds that are loose, rather than tight, as a result of summer heat. Using a mist system controlled by a thermostat installed at the top of the plant canopy solves the problem.

THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE My plants are at 31°. Do you think that this is too hot? FLETCH I presume you are taking about the temperature in the plant canopy. Another, more accurate way to measure temperature is by using a surface temperature thermometer. This provides a reading of the temperature at the leaf surface, rather than of the ambient air. The correct air temperature is related to the intensity of light and the carbon dioxide content of the air. Plants function in a way similar to cold-blooded animals. Their metabolism and photosynthetic rate increases with increasing temperature. When the temperature is below 15°, no matter how intense the light, virtually no photosynthesis takes place. The photosynthetic rate increases with increasing temperature. Indoors, a well reflected 600-watt high pressure sodium (HPS) lamp area provides about 60,000 lumens after loss from light drift and reflective absorption. Placed over a M2 it is considered high intensity. Placed over 1.2 M2 it is considered moderate intensity. Whether under moderate or high intensity light when the temperature can be adjusted, the limiting factor often is CO2. With adequate CO2 levels the photosynthesis rate increases as the temperature rises. The level of CO2 and the ideal temperature is lower for plants under moderate light than plants under higher intensity. For plants with a moderate intensity light the CO2 level required is about 900 PPM. For plants under high intensity the CO2 PPM level should run about 1300 during the lit period. Cannabis does not use CO2 during the dark period. At these levels the plants thrive at a temperature of 31°. Under moderate light they will probably do better at 26°. If the plants are being grown in a high ventilation garden that depends on fresh air to replace the CO2, its level is a lot lower. CO2’s ambient level in the atmosphere is only 380 PPM. So even with a high light intensity it cannot photosynthesize as quickly and the temperature for ideal growth is lower. Lower the heat in each situation by about 3°. Too high a temperature results in looser, lankier buds A thermometer, even in the plant canopy provides an indirect reading of the plant temperature. It measures air temperature. A surface temperature thermometer can provide you with an exact reading of what is happening at the leaf level. Then you can adjust your thermostat accordingly.

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46 SNAILS I am having a problem with snails. I am looking for an organic remedy to protect my garden from them. Is there anything I can use without wasting my precious beer? MARSHALL WALDEN There are a number of things you can do to protect your garden without too much effort. First, remove hiding places that are attractive to them and where they are likely to hang out. They are active at night and on foggy and rainy days. During the day they enjoy a cool moist area such as under boards, and in holes along fences, in debris or tall ground covers. Removing these spaces from the garden makes it far less attractive to them. On the other hand, creating specific moist spaces where they like to congregate can make hand trapping easy. A few boards in the shade or some watermelon rinds make excellent temporary shelters. Once they are apprehended they can be drowned or stepped on and then thrown into the compost left in the garden. Since they are attracted to moist areas, it is best to water early in the day so the surface has a chance to dry off. Using drip rather than watering large areas limits their territory somewhat. Beer or a combination of sugar, water and yeast attract the mollusks. To implement the plan dig a little hole and place the container top at soil level. Fill it half way with the beer or sugar-water solution and wait till evening. The creatures will sense the odor and make snail-lines to it, fall in and drown. The snail pub is effective for a radius of about two feet so your garden may require a number of local protective cups. The two easiest ways to protect the garden from snails is using copper mesh or powdered iron phosphate. Snails and slugs secrete a slime that helps them move. Researchers think that the copper reacts with the slime electrically and disrupts their nervous systems. Copper flashing, screen or soil can be used around a garden or raised bed perimeter or placed around trays of seedlings or containers with young susceptible plants. If you are placing it around a raised bed or garden perimeter try to eliminate the population from the protected area. The barrier traps any crawlers that are in the enclosed area. Iron phosphate powder is widely available under two brand names, Slug-Go and EscarGo. Scatter the powder all around the area you are protecting. When The mollusks come in contact with it they stop feeding and go to hiding places to die in private. It is pet safe, can be used in organic gardens and is very effective. A single treatment sometimes lasts an entire season and it is economical enough to use to protect large areas.

HARDWARE STORE EQUIPMENT Text missing

Can I use the HPS, MH and CFL lights that are for sale at hardware stores or should I just go to the hydro store and buy them. I don’t trust that the hydro store is safe because of all the stories I hear about the police. FRANKIE112 Usually the lights sold in hydro shops, which are designed for indoor cultivation, are a better “fit” than lamps available at the hardware store. For example, hardware store high-pressure sodium (HPS) and metal halide lamps (MH) usually have wattages no higher than 125 or 150. Their reflectors are designed to throw light over a broad, rather than a compact area, and none of these models feature aircooling. The same holds true for compact fluorescents (CFL’s). The models sold in hydro stores have higher wattages and reflectors that direct the light down to the garden. I have never seen these reflectors in hardware stores. Using dedicated equipment becomes more important as the size of the garden grows. If you are growing less than a M2 you may find that it is not too inconvenient to set up a system using more smaller watt lamps. However, small watt HPS and MH lamps do not convert electricity to light as efficiently as 400 or 600 watt lamps. I understand your reluctance to be seen around a hydro store. This was primarily a problem in the U.S. and not in EU countries for years; the heat has been turned on in England, France, and Holland recently. Once U.S. Justice taught the police how profitable prohibition can be, they changed their attitude about this sweet herb.

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If you don’t want to be seen visiting a hydro store perhaps you could send a friend who isn’t growing. Another idea is to order your goods over the phone or internet and have it delivered to a “drop” address that will never be used for growing. Sometimes used hydro equipment is available for resale on the internet, Craiglist, or on bulletin board notices.

Ask Ed — TM

“Ed Rosenthal is the guru of ganja”-- High Times

LIGHT

LEDs are powere d by either a transformer or a digital driver. Transformers are similar to old-style magne tic ballasts for HID units; they use more energy than digital contro llers and produc Higher quality systems use mostly e heat that may need to light along with red be dissipated. SYSTEM some blue.DRIP This S is OUTDOO a small consideration Just as with RS any other produc compared to Drip irrigation t, manufacturers the heat HPS is a 90% more lamps produc standards differ. A efficient e, which has method’ of few manufacturers delivering water to be vented LEDs are convenient LED lamps emit . to add to plants green light NASA virtually no heat, outhighly efficient light use because they are lightweight thanthe has shown doors other metho so they producers, and emit far to be be placed very ds. That is can with plants, and e less HPS lamps. They are much highereffectiv close to the garden than floodin amber is also small, so they are easy heat than g an area using are not encum and sometimes Stealth LED™ grow to install. The added. Most a hose, bered with tubes light manufacturersor overhead for air or reduces energy consumpti has a 50,000 hour lifetime and include a fewspraying. The result iswater cooling, white light emitter heavy ventila more water deliver systems by 60-70%. on as compared with HPS or MH s in their units. tion, or any ed to the root of the other zone than These diodes actuall problems or other waterin any y emit a combin inconvenienc g system. Drip of HID es ation of red, green, and blue irrigation lamps. other benefits that spectrums,has which commake it useful.Light from LEDs of a 1000w HID bine to appear is easy It can be combin system. to install, white. 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For instance, more HID lamps usually wider Spaa garden using than the bandghetti lines tap rather than a 400w used, that is guar- off a main deliverHPS can be increas LEDs are anteed for each they add PAR y line that is connec ed to the equiva emitter. light, but most ted to the water lent of increas 600 watts using of the source 120 | MARIJ e is in the yellow 100 watts of LEDs. emitter on the . An UANA GROW ER’S HANDB other end of spectrum. AddAdding ing 300 watts of For O Oeven K distribution the spaghe red and blue LEDs creates ti line contro , use tLEDs instead the equivalent ls the rate at water through its porous a water soaker hose, which “leaks” increases PAR light, but which water material. flows. not in the yellow spectrum. As with other plumbing system eastern U.S., s there are all kinds and other areas, MARIJUANA of accessories GROWER’S H there may be ANDBOOK | to deal with no need to irrigate problems that 121 plants at all or may be encoun to use it as plants just a supplem tered by or gardens. Some ent to natural sources. of these are garIn areas where dens located there is a summe on different levels, remote drought such r gardens and as parts of southe different size rn Europe varying and the North plants with American west, water needs. The plants can irrigation fertilize is required or be the plants will d using a fertilize die. r siphon placed Outdoor plants in the water line. and gardens can be irrigated using Irrigation system a hose that fills s vary tremen a trough in reservoir, using dously their complexity a gravity powere resulting from d canal they that delivers the tasks are designed water to a group to accomplish. of plants or most efficien Store bought kits tly using a drip are suitable system. for most backOverhead waterin yard gardens. Even simpler g is very ineffici is the pinhole because of loss ent pail or bag irrigation. to evaporation A container is and the with shotgun approa filled water. The water ch of deliver ing water in slowly drips areas where there to the desired area throug are no crop roots. h small holes Once pierced the plants are drilled or flowering, overhe into the reservo ir. It delivers ad water slowly is dangerous water to the buds to the plant so which are susthat little is lost. ceptible to attack by mold when moisture is present. thrive under those specifi c conditions. Indica plants Thus, in any developed in season, no matter central weathe 292 | MARIJ what the U A N A Asia G R O Wbetwee the r, some plants E R ’ S H An and 35th latitud N D B O O 25th will do better K where the weathe es, others. than r is changeable. Drought one year may Indicas, includi be followed by ng Kush varietie cloudy, rainy or sunny weathe s, have broad genera r. For the popula l characteristic tion s: continue, the they mature to early, have MARIJUANA plant group compact short GROWER’S needed difbranches and ferent individ wide, short leaves uals that survive which are dark and even someti green, mes tinged purple . Their buds are

INDICAS, SATIVAS, ETC.

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MARIJUANA

GROWER’S Handbook

LED lamps use less than half the electricity of HIDs per unit of PAR light produced. At $.10 a kilowatt, LEDs will save $215 per year when compa red to the cost of running a 1000w HID twelve hours a day. UÊ LEDs last longer than HID bulbs. UÊ LEDs need little to no cooling equipment, in contrast to HIDs that require air or water cooling, ventilation system s, or air conditioners.

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tems because each diode emits light in an unusually narrow spectrum. The minerals used to make it determine the spectrum the diode emits. HID lamps emit most of their light in spectrums that are not very useful to the plant. With LEDs, fixtures can be design ed to provide the plants with exactly the spectrum that they need for maximum growth. By tailoring the diodes’ light spectrum to plant requirements, LEDs can be more efficien t PAR produc ers. HPS lamps deliver more total light per watt of input, but LEDs are twice as efficien t in PAR light per watt as HPS lamps. That means a 200w LED lamp can be substit uted for a 400w HPS lamp, and the 300w LED lamps can be substit uted for 600w HPS lamps. The first genera tions of LED lamps did not emit an intense -enough light to support either active vegetat ive growth or flowering, but modern fixtures , which use higher-capacit y diodes, have solved those early proble ms.

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Your Complete Source for Medical & Personal Marijuana Cultivation MANGOLIAN INDICA: Smell/Taste: fresh woodsy,100% Indica, Flowering 55-60 days, High: heavy body mango citrus taste. stone, sleepy, long lasting, 36 | MARIJU ANA

MAZAR: 100% Indica. Afghan weeks, early Nov. outdoors. x Skunk. The Afghani (Mazar-i-Shariff) part is a very short Christmast Photo: Dutch Passion Seeds ree-like plant. High:

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49 GREEN DRAGON TINCTURE

PYRETHRUM

What is “The Green Dragon”? How is it made? STARWARSFAN

How long is pyrethrum toxic to humans? I sprayed some plants three times with it to control mites on plants that had just started flowering and am concerned that they will be toxic even if I stop using this pesticide now. Does pyrethrum break down and if it does how long does it take? Will this crop be OK to use? RICK RITCH

Green Dragon is a liquid concentrate that is made from leaf or bud. It is made by soaking dried marijuana in alcohol for several weeks at room temperature or speeding up the process by heating the alcohol to about 21° for about an hour. Here’s the recipe: 1) Grind the leaf or bud. Use about 30 grams leaf or 5 grams bud in 250 cc’s alcohol. 2) Heat leaf or bud in a 40° oven until it is crisp. This decarboxalates the inactive THCA(acid) molecule, which releases water and CO2, and becomes the psycho-active THC. By keeping the temperature relatively low, the terpenes, the odor molecules, which also give marijuana its “personality”, are preserved, rather than evaporated. 3) Optional Step- Soak the grass in cold water. The chlorophyll and other water solubles dissolve in the water and are removed so they won’t dissolve into the alcohol solution. 4) Soak the marijuana in high proof alcohol such as 90% grain neutral spirits or over-proof rum (150 proof). DO NOT USE RUBBING OR ISOPROPL ALCOHOL. IT IS POISONOUS AND OFTEN CAUSES BLINDNESS. Soak at room temperature or a little warmer for three weeks in a glass container. Keep the solution in the dark. If you are using the cooking method, raise the temperature to 70° and soak the solution for about an hour. Alcohol boils at about 78° so the temperature should remain below that to prevent vapors. Use an electric, rather than a gas appliance to heat the alcohol. Use a cooking thermometer to check temperature of the liquid. Indoors use a stove with an overhead hood. 5.) Remove the marijuana from the liquid using a coffee filter. 6) The Green Dragon solution is ready to be used as is or it can be refined and concentrated. To concentrate it gently raise the temperature to about 78° so the liquid simmers and evaporates. One way to refine it so the non-oil solubles are separated from the psychoactive THC and terpenes is to add a small amount of petroleum ether (which is a restricted chemical in some jurisdictions) and some water to the alcohol in a wide mouthed jar. Shake or stir the jar or bottle. Three layers will emerge. The water level absorbs the water solubles such as chlorophyll and other pigments so it turns dark green. The alcohol layer is pale green. The petroleum ether selectively solubilizes the THC and terpenes but remains fairly clear. Let it sit out and you will be left with a gooey oil that is extremely potent. Another idea is to add the concentrate to some alcohol and let it sit in open air for a few hours, The petroleum ether will evaporate leaving a purified alcohol solution. There are many ways to use Green Dragon. My favorite way is to use a dropper to release drops under my tongue, sublingually. The solution is quickly absorbed through the mucous membranes in the mouth and gets into the blood stream very quickly providing me with a “smoking-it” type high within a few minutes. I have also used it in drinks and placed drops on food. They go through the digestive system, which changes the chemistry a little and gives you an “eating-it” type of high.

Pyrethrum is a natural pesticide made from the dried flowers of C. cinerarifolium, a member of the daisy family that is closely related to chrysanthemums. It has been used as a pesticide for plants and gardens, stored foods and for humans and livestock for hundreds of years in its native area, Dalmatia, the northern Caucasus. Today, 90% of the pyrethrum we use is grown in Kenya. The chemical pyrethrin is obtained from the seeds found in the dried flowers by soaking them in water. Pyrethrin is both toxic and repellant to all insects. It works by opening their sodium ion channels, which regulate their nerve signaling. As a result the neurons fire continuously, which fatigues and inactivates the affected muscles. In quantities that they are likely to encounter it, pyrethrum is safe for most wildlife including birds and mammals. It is toxic to fish and marine invertebrates and is harmful to amphibians and reptiles. Natural pyrethrum biodegrades in the presence of sunlight and oxygen in a few days. Pyrethrum has been used agriculturally, for personal hygiene (de-licing) and as an insect repellant for a long time. It is considered one of the safest pesticides available. In fact, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture considers it the safest. There are some precautions that should be taken when using it. According to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Hazardous Substances Fact Sheet (Rev. 2002) and similar fact-sheets, it should be used with caution. First, avoid breathing either the dust or spray because low exposures can irritate the lungs, resulting in coughing and wheezing. High exposure can affect the nervous system, resulting in headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and restlessness. It can also cause an allergic reaction on the skin. Subsequent low dose exposure can cause rashes and itching. It can also cause an allergy with asthma-like symptoms that include coughing, wheezing and chest tightness. These symptoms are rare with occasional use, but become more serious with frequent or continual exposure. As a safety precaution cover your body completely by wearing a long sleeve shirt, gloves, hat, and goggles. A respirator or at least a mask also reduces exposure. These measures are more important when pyrethrum is applied indoors, and the vapors are more likely to linger. Some pyrethrum products are formulated with an additive, piperonyl butoxide (PBO). It is a pesticide synergist that works by inhibiting insects’ detoxification mechanism, thus making the pesticide more effective. Tests show that repeated exposure during pregnancy results in lower mental development of infants. For this and pyrethrum’s own effects, pregnancy should preclude application or exposure. Pyrethrum with PBO is not considered organic. Pyrethroids are synthetic versions of pyrethrum. They are more persistent because they resist breakdown from sunlight and oxygen better than the original. They are usually formulated with PBO to increase their effectiveness. They are more likely to cause adverse reactions in mammals, including humans, but are less harmful to reptiles.

50 ROOT APHIDS

MESSED UP FLOWERING CYCLE

I have been battling root aphids. I have watered with nematodes twice in two weeks. Now the aphids are walking around on the floor but they are still in the root zone. I set a pyrethrum fogger to take care of the exposed live aphids. I am about to water the soilless planting mix with Botanigard. Then in two days add more nematodes. Do you have any suggestions? DAN, THE HYDRO MAN

The lights in my garden were supposed to be on a 12/12 light cycle for the last 40 days. Yesterday I went into the room and noticed that I had knocked off a segment on the timer so the light was on for 8 hours, off for 15 min and then back on for 3hours 45 minutes. The buds are not growing and the leaves look twisted and weird. The buds have not gotten any larger for 3 weeks. The white hairs are dying on most of the top flowers. If I put them back under the proper light cycle now, will they be OK or should I pull them? VINCE

Most of your efforts are effective. Beneficial nematodes attack most soil dwelling insects. Use pyrethrum as a drench, rather than as a spray or a bomb. This way it gets directly to the insects. Botanigard contains spores of Beauveria bassiana strain GHA. This fungus attacks soft-bodied insects, causing their deaths. It can also be applied as a drench. All three of these treatments can be used concurrently to attack the pests. Botanigard is available in an organic formulation called sold under the name, Mycotrol A. The pesticide “Ed Rosenthal’s Zero Tolerance” is an herbal mixture that is often used for root pests. It is also effective.

CUT LOWER BRANCHES I have 11 plants growing in a sea of green (SOG) system. They are in the third week of flowering. I noticed the lower side branches are not going to produce much. Is it OK to cut them off so the plant’s food and energy can focus more on the bigger top branches? J. CARLSONS Yes, they can be removed. In your SOG system all the action takes place at the top of the canopy. When light hits an opaque surface such as a leaf it gives up almost all of its energy. The only spectrum that passes through is infrared, which is not used in photosynthesis, but is used as a signal by plants to elongate to grow out of the shade. As a result leaves underneath the canopy are in shade and do not produce sugars. Instead they receive energy from the plant, emit moisture and block airflow. For all of these reasons they are a detriment to the plant, which will do better without them.

Plants measure the number of hours of uninterrupted darkness, not the number of hours of light. The small interruption of the light cycle was not long enough to affect the plants’ flowering. All it did was stop photosynthesis because of lack of light. According to your calculations, the plants were getting a total of 12 hours uninterrupted darkness so their flowering should be quite normal. However your description of the leaves and the lack of growth leads me to believe that there were other problems with the light cycle, in which the dark period was interrupted with light early or late in the cycle each day. I would try to salvage the harvest by making sure the timer is working correctly and the plants are getting 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness each day beginning at the same time. The buds will exhibit a little more growth, and then they ripen up within the next 30 days.

HAIR FERTILIZER Is it true that hair is a good nutrient? How much hair do you need to use? SIEMENS 649 Hair is an excellent source of nitrogen (N). It is composed of about 15% nitrogen and under 1% each of calcium (Ca), iron (Fe) and phosphorous (P). There are several ways that you can use it: I have used it to heat up compost piles. It quickly decomposes as it supports microbial activity in the pile. It can be mixed into the soil before planting. It gradually releases nutrients as it slowly decomposes. Rather than providing just a burst of available nitrogen it provides it over an extended period. If you are planning on collecting hair from a barbershop or salon, remember that a fairly large percentage of it is colored using synthetic dyes. Generally speaking, dyes are very small molecules that may be persistent, so it is probably not good to put directly into the soil. They are more likely to break down in the microbial ferment of the compost pile. Both of these methods are used in planting mix/soil-based gardens, not hydro gardens.

UVC LIGHTS Do germicidal UVC lights have any place in an indoor garden? Are they as harmful to plants as they are to humans? I am looking for ways to provide a cleaner environment for the plants. DALTON Germicidal UVC lights are used to kill microorganisms floating in the air. Powdery mildew and other fungus spores are exterminated as the light is passed over them. Germicidal lamps come in an enclosed unit so the light remains unseen, protecting your eyes from the harmful rays. They are used in restaurants, food processing centers and other spaces that require a clean environment. The lights can be used to clean the re-circulating air of a closed space or to cleanse incoming air in a ventilated space. These lamps can substantially eliminate powdery mildew problems by reducing the spore population in the air.

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In Holland, some rose growers have eliminated powdery mildew problems by using UVC lights. The rose plants are on a conveyer belt of sorts. Each day they pass through an arch of bright UVC lamps. Each plant spends about one second under the lamps. Any spores that are on the plant are eliminated.

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GROW WITH LITTLE LEBOWSKI the plant, triggering a survival instinct, forcing all of the energy into reproduction (i.e. the buds). Mineral Salts – a good technique for pure hydroponic systems where the roots are exposed. Large mineral particles are added to the flushing solution, these particles are too large to be taken up by the plant, but when washed through the roots will attract any excess mineral deposits that have built up and wash them away.

It can mean the difference between a harsh or smooth smoke, a natural or chemical taste and – in some cases – an extra few grams of yield. Flushing is one of the most important parts of your grow; yet is also one of the most overlooked. Let’s take a look at this simple, but often misunderstood, technique.

Why Flush? When cultivating plants using mineral nutrients, the NPK levels within a plant can become unbalanced and excess elements are stored within the tissue of the plant. This is particularly true in the case of cannabis cultivation where additives are given to the plant to trigger a specific reaction or process. For example, after the first two weeks of the flowering period it is common to administer a PK additive to trigger bud development and increase the weight and density of the buds. Think of the amount of flowering stimulators, catalysts, ignitors and boosters that are available on the market; each proclaiming to be more powerful and concentrated than the last. The high percentage of mineral elements contained in those products, undoubtedly force an increased yield (some incredibly so!), but if they are not flushed out, they will be stored in the plant and affect taste. End product from plants that have not been flushed can suffer from a ‘chemical’ taste, smokers often complain that hydroponically grown weed has a different taste from soil grown, whereas in reality it is likely to have not been flushed properly. Flushing also affects the ‘burn’ of the end product. Next time you’re smoking on some dealer-bought weed, take a look at the ash on the end of the joint; if it’s been properly flushed, the ash should be light grey, with a fine, powdery texture. Ash created from burning weed that hasn’t been flushed will be black, with a much more solid consistency and – in particularly bad cases – can pop and spark as the impurities still contained are ignited. I can recall a particularly nasty batch of commercial dope that crackled and popped so much, it was like toking on a fireworks display!!

What And When To Flush? Any plant that has been raised on a mineral feed and additives should be flushed, regardless of the growing method or growing medium used. In pure hydropon-

Hormones – flushes containing natural plant hormones will trigger a natural reaction in the plant that forces it to mature and finish. This uses up excess minerals stored and also ripens the fruit, improving quality and yield. Some of the better flushes on the market use a combination of techniques to get the best result. ic growing methods – like nutrient film technique or aeroponics – plants have constant access to mineral nutrients and, provided the solution in the reservoir is balanced, will constantly take all the elements they need via active uptake. These elements will be stored, in the root zone and plant sap, all the way until harvest. Plants grown in soil or coco will also store excess elements. The medium around the roots provide a buffer that protects against over fertilisation. So, unlike in hydro where too much nutrient has an immediate effect on the plant, a soil grown plant may show no effects of over feeding, despite having a build-up of minerals around the roots. Therefore, flushing is still necessary.

There are various flush products on the market, each based on different techniques of removing, or forcing the use of, excess nutrients stored within the plant. These techniques include; Stress – when the flush is administered it creates a root stress that forces energy in the plant to be expended, therefore using up the excess nutrients stored and ripening the plant at the same time. Some of the flushes that employ this technique are so powerful that they actually destroy the roots of

Temptation is a dangerous thing for the home grower, from the excited first timer to the seasoned expert; when those buds get ripe, they’re hard to resist! Just remember, for a smoother, tastier smoke, it’s so worth hanging on that extra week. Trim and smoke a few air buds if you have to, just make sure you flush before you chop the main harvest. And, don’t forget to cure it properly! Happy flushing!

The exception to the rule is growing on organics. With a mineral nutrient the plants are fed directly, using elements that can be immediately taken up by the plant. With an organic feed, you are feeding the microbes within the soil. These microbes then produce elements that the plant takes up. The plant is not fed directly. As a result, there is no excess of minerals stored in the plant and you can feed until the day you chop. One other thing to bear in mind is that a flushing product can be used to clear out any mineral build ups that have occurred through over-feeding, at any stage of development – a sort of colonic irrigation for plants! If your girls are starting to show signs of nutrient overdose – crisping at the edge of the leaves for example – use a flushing agent with water in your hydro system or pots. This will minimise the stress caused by the over-feed and aid your plants’ recovery.

FOR THE BEST END PRODUCT… FLUSH!

How Does A Flush Work? The simplest method of flushing is to just feed water in the last week or two before harvesting. The lack of elements being fed to the plant forces it to use up the excess elements stored within its tissue. This method is effective, but there is still likely to be some excess minerals left within the plant, particularly if concentrated mineral additives have been used.

BLACK ASH MEANS EXCESS MINERALS ARE STILL STORED IN THE BUD

BOOK REVIEW

Marijuana 101: Professor Lee’s Introduction to Growing Grade A Bud This is the book I wanted to have when I first started growing. The explanations are simple to understand, and written for the small-scale by Grubbycup home gardener; no previous experience is needed. Conversational text, photos of pretty buds and straightforward illustrations fill this refreshingly easy to comprehend marijuana grow primer. For those who enjoy good bud photography, some of the flowering cannabis photos are exceptional. For visual learners, Professor Lee includes several stepby-step photo tutorials. The book is divided into two parts, the first portion of the book addresses the technical aspects involved in growing weed, and the second part teaches readers about the practical applications. These divisions are called “lessons” and each is further broken up into several topics.

homemade remedies made from garlic, tobacco, or soap as alternatives to commercial insecticides. Professor Lee gives realistic advice geared for the hobby grower. The chapter on hydroponics includes both do-it-yourself, and store-bought systems. The end of the chapter includes instructions for a build it yourself DWC (deep water culture) system named an “aeration garden”. The book covers soil and hydroponic medias, and includes a step by step recipe for herbal organic tea fertilizer. The section on breeding explains the process well enough for a beginner to start making seeds. I did notice an odd lack of male flowering photos, but the truth is you only need to see a male flower once to know what they look like. The little balls that drop pollen are the male flowers. They are descibed, but not shown. Not a huge omission, but a noticeable one. The second part (or “lesson”) puts the material covered in the technical section to use. From sprout to harvest, Professor Lee walks the reader through each developmental stage. Not afraid to admit his personal past mistakes, Professor Lee humorously describes some of his own “if I knew then what I know now” types of mishaps, to show what can go wrong, and to encourage folks to chuckle at their own errors. After discussing the entire growing cycle, the book includes information about how to dry and cure.

The technical lesson describes the various factors involved. Professor Lee’s instructions read like friendly advice from an experienced grower, his interest in helping people succeed seems sincere. For example, the chapter on nutrients emphasizes what they are, and how they are used. The chapter does so without getting bogged down in the heavy science behind it, or lost between ads from fertilizer manufacturers. The chapter instead focuses on what nutrients are, how to use them, and what happens to plants that don’t get enough of them. Understanding that many real world people grow with limited budgets, frequent references are made to low cost alternatives. For example, in the chapter on pests, the book gives readers step by step instructions on

A quick and easy read, the book is a great choice for the inexperienced cannabis gardener. 101 is the number often given to introductory classes in college, and Marijuana 101 makes for a nice self study introductory class in basic cannabis gardening. This is not an advanced text on the subject, and it doesn’t try to be. It is a well-illustrated book with enough information for a beginning gardener to learn how to grow some smoke. When I say that I wish I could have had this book with me for my first few tries at growing marijuana, that is no exaggeration. Had I been able to read this book before trying, I could have saved myself several mistakes and missteps. Peace, love and puka shells, Grubbycup

GROW REPORT

FROM SEA OF GREEN TO JUNGLE!

Grow Diary Mataró Blue: Part Two One of the best things about growing at home is the incredible variety of strains that are available, with each strain comes a different set of characteristics that you have to learn and manipulate to get the best out of. No matter how long you’ve been cultivating for; a couple of months or a couple of decades, you’re always guarBy Little Lebowski anteed a few surprises!

After a trip to Barcelona at the start of the year, I had procured a nice selection of seeds from the various indigenous seed banks and was itching to get a crop in before the warm summer months. The Mataró Blue from Kannabia Seeds caught my eye with the promise from the Kannabia website of resin production ‘like large drops of caramel’ and a high THC content. Mmmmm! Sea of green was the preferred growing method and all was going to plan. You join us at the first week of the flower period.

results with the Mat Blues! I think that could be an interesting experiment for a future grow, although I would certainly need the 8inch extraction on full whack to deal with the heat coming from a couple of 400 watters side by side in that space!

The Story So Far…

One thing that I wasn’t expecting was the denseness of the foliage to last through the stretch and into the flowering stage. Usually a dense, squat plant stretches out with increased internode spacing and ‘thins out’ at the top end; not these girls! In hindsight, I reckon I could have gotten away with five or six ladies, rather than ten.

For those of you that missed the last issue (shame on you!) here’s a quick recap of the grow room set up; HOMEbox 1m tent 600w lamp 8inch extraction fan and carbon filter, passive intake 6inch oscillating fan, to move the air in the room around Gold Label Special Mix Light Soil Gold Label Root Stimulator, Soil A+B base nutrients, Ultra MG and Ultra PK MID-STRETCH AND STILL SERIOUSLY DENSE

Two and a half weeks into the veg phase; all had gone well. I popped 10 Mataró Blue seeds and put them straight into compost, propagated under the 600 watt lamp (kept at a safe distance of about 30 inches from the seedlings). During the veg phase the Mat Blue’s underwent some serious lateral growth developing a thick canopy across the bottom of the tent, I had planned a Sea Of Green style grow to try and get a quick harvest in before the warmer summer months kicked off. The plants had been reacting very well to the nutrients, which was reassuring as I had not used such a concentrated range of liquids before; the starting dose on the base nutes is 0.5ml per litre and the additives just 0.25ml per litre. Powerful stuff!

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE!

By the end of the third week, I had already upped the dose to 2ml per litre for the nutrient and 0.5ml per litre for the Root Stim and Ultra MG. As I understand it, the Ultra MG additive is the growth stimulator in the range, containing magnesium nitrate; so as well as adding magnesium - for chlorophyll production - it also adds an extra dose of nitrogen, keeping things nice and green.

The Stretch

WHAT IT LACKS IN SIZE, IT MAKES UP IN CRYSTALS!

At the time of switching the lights, the plants were incredibly compact and stocky with really tight internodes and loads of lateral growth. The canopy had formed a proper carpet on the grow tent floor and it looked solid enough to walk on!! I put the short internode length down to using a 600w lamp in a metre square space; I know most people tend to use a 1.2m tent with a 600w. One thing that is for sure is that these plants love light; the Kannabia website actually recommends 800w per metre square for optimum

Three days into 12/12 and there were some serious changes going on, the canopy was rising three or four inches by the day. The stretch had started and didn’t stop for the next ten days or so.

The Flowering Period One thing that I noticed about the Mat Blue’s was the early bud development, within a few days of switching the lights I could see pistils beginning to form and from then on they grew denser by the day. I put this down to the speed of development in the veg period, the plants were so compact, lush and green by the time I switched the lights – they obviously loved the concentrated nutes! The resin crystals were noticeable from around the second week of flowering, the Mazar and Black Domina heritage was really beginning to show through – with a strong musky smell emanating very early in the flowering period. I was glad of the 8 inch fan and filter! The denseness of the foliage was obviously having an effect of the size of the buds and I did some serious manicuring under the level of the canopy to get rid of those excess leaves and divert energy into bud development. I had the oscillating fan on constantly during lights on and intermittently during lights off, this helped prevent any mould or rot developing. Even with plenty of air movement and a big extraction fan, the girls still suffered with a bit of heat stress during the Easter hot spell. One thing that is for sure, what I have lost out on bud I expect to make back in some good quality hash. There is so much trichome development on the plants that I cannot wait to get the extraction bags out. We’re talking serious sugar leaf!! At the time of going to print I reckon we are around two weeks away from harvest, which means by the time you read this I should be enjoying the full hit of the Mat Blue. I’m hoping it’ll be the perfect head wrecker for a warm summer’s day! Check back next issue for the smoke and cure report.

FR EE

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SHOPREVIEWS

A-ZEE II Hydro A-ZEE II has been open a few months, based in Northfleet, Gravesend and is even bigger than their sister shop, A-ZEE. The team know what they are doing when it comes to the Hydroponic industry and it felt good being in the shop and seeing the interaction with the customers and the very sound advice they gave with any queries brought up such as pest control, nutrient recommendations to system set ups and tents. The displays are clean with plenty to see and it was good to have some flora and fauna being grown in the shop, adds to the experience and atmosphere of your visit. A-ZEE II is dedicated to supplying quality Hydroponic equipment for the indoor grower at competitive prices. The

combined experience of over 40 years between the staff will guarantee you receive a service second to none! A-ZEE II is a well stocked shop, in fact, if they do not have what you want in store, it would be surprising!? Location is very important for Hydroponic shops and A-ZEE II is ideally situated with plenty of parking and discreet loading areas if required? Come in and see the team soon or call for a competitive quote!

A-ZEE II Unit 1A Old Pelican Site, Northfleet Industrial Site, Lower Road, Gravesend, Kent DA11 9SN (t) 01322 389630

Angel Grow Hydroponics The newest shop to open in Birmingham, Angel Grow Hydroponics can be found in Pype Hayes, just off the B418, Eachelhurst Road. What stood out the most in this shop was the enthusiasm and sheer dedication the owner had for the industry and what he intends to do:

available to purchase and anything that is not in store can be within 24-48 hours. Considerable effort has been made to ensure customers have good product selection and the owner prides himself on offering great deals for all growing equipment but more importantly sound advice of the various growing mediums available.

‘I want to provide a professional service at affordable prices’

Angel Grow Hydroponics may be the newest shop to open in Birmingham but they have well established contacts to ensure they will be here for a long time to come!

It’s a family run business and the team behind Angel Grow Hydroponics have over 15 years of horticultural experience, so good advice is always available. They are able to source very competitive prices for the various products they have on sale so are very confident they will not be beaten on price. All leading brands are

Drop in or call the shop for a quote. Angel Grow Hydroponics 3 Woodlands Farm Road, Pype Hayes, Birmingham B24 0PJ (t) 07858 123456

Urban Jungle Hydroponics One of the newest shops to open in Birmingham, Urban Jungle Hydroponics has considerable experience behind them. One of the owners of Urban Jungle was part of a well established business and felt it was time to open up their own shop, which is well overdue as Hydroponics is in her blood! The shop can be found just off the Bristol Road Urban Jungle Unit 3, 1669 Bristol Road South Longbridge Birmingham B45 9UA (t) 0121 453 5404 www.urbanjunglegardensupplies.co.uk info@urbanjunglegardensupplies.co.uk

South, between McDonalds and Bristol Road Cars. Nicely set back from the main road, it offers plenty of discreet parking and once inside the shop all your hydroponic requirements will be met. Good displays and product selection will satisfy the novice to professional grower. One product they do sell well is Seramis, a very important product in the growers industry. The owners have over 25 year’s horticultural experience and have established relations with a well known nutrient brand to the region, Hydrotops. This is the only shop in Birmingham who can rightfully say they can offer the best advice when it comes to using these nutrients, they have tried and tested them and the results are amazing! Hydrotops is one of the original British nutrients and now it is back to sit on the shelves alongside Canna, Atami, House & Garden and Bio-Bizz. Be sure to ask in store for more details.

SHOPREVIEWS

Growing Underground Growing underground can be found in Gallows Corner, Romford Essex. The shop is BIG and is situated away from the main road on a private business park. It has a private secure loading bay which is not widely available at shops in the UK, so this stands them out from the rest. They do offer free local delivery within a 2.5 mile radius or can arrange to meet at your chosen venue (Terms apply). Growing Underground offers a wide range of the leading Hydroponics Brands from nutrients to systems at low prices which all helps to make your growing experiences easier. Whatever is required the shop will ensure they have it in stock. The owners and Manger have over 15 year’s horticultural experience and can ensure sound professional advice at all times. The management team are slick and the atmosphere they have created

in the shop is clean and welcoming. What stood for was their inventiveness in how they got traffic to the shop by means of branded black taxi cab and van. This shows they are willing to do what is needed to make sure their customers have the best service and advice around! Be sure to visit them soon.

Growing Underground Unit 1A, Ashton Gate, Gallows Corner, Harold Hill, Romford, Essex RMS 8UF (t) 01708 377600 (m) 07854 648436 www.growing-underground.co.uk info@growing-underground.co.uk

Junction 6 Hydroponics Old Skool! These guys have been there, done it and got the t-shirt!! Jct 6 Hydroponics has been established in Birmingham since 1997, over 14 years and was one of the first to open in Birmingham. The aim was utilise the teams extensive and comprehensive knowledge of growing to help the novice and experienced grower to use and find the best method suited to them. This is why the team have customers from all over the UK visiting their shop! What Jct 6 doesn’t have in stock is not worth having. Due to the length of time in the Hydro industry, the owners have ensured only the best products and advice is available and stocks a wide range of hydroponic equipment. Seemingly

always one step ahead, any new product coming into the market they are likely to have, if it works! Nutrients available: Canna, House & Garden, Vitalink, Ionic and many more. All leading Brands are stocked with plenty to see in store. These guys really do know what they are doing and will always ensure the customer goes away with what they need and some great advice. If you want reliability, competitive pricing and good customer service, drop into Junction 6 Hydroponics.

Junction 6 Hydroponics 176 Slade Road Birmingham West Midlands B23 7PX (t) 0121 386 4111 (m) 07809 430847 www.j6hydro.co.uk

Growkits and = 0DJLF 7UXIÁHV 0DJLF 7UXIÁHV

NEW A FORMUL IGHER MUCH HLD YIE

Ask your local growshop

62 HIGHLIFE CUP 2011

INDEX OF ADS / COLOFON

, THE SMOKE… THE PEOPLE, THE GANJA

Index of ads Name

Colofon Page

8 Ball Hydroponics 58 Advanced Seeds 24 Angel Grow Hydroponics 28 Ashford Hydro 47 Atami 29 Atami 64 Attitude the 4 A-Zee Hydro II 41 Aztec Garden 58 Big Stone River Indoor Garden Centre 51 Bio Nova 8 Bio-G-Power 63 Bristol Genuine Seed Bank 56 Brit Crops 61 Buddha Seeds Bank 20 Buddhas Tree 44 Bushman 58 Carbon Active 9 Cheshire Hydroponics 47 Clever Green 1 Clockwork Horticulture 42 Crystals Coffeeshop 58 DavesHydroLand.com 58 Delicious Seeds 10 Dinafem Seeds 13 Distribuciones Marianas 37 Down to Earth Kent 47 Dr. Blooms Hydroponics 1 E.P.A. 14 Ed Rosenthal 48 Essex Hydro-Garden 55 Eva Female Seeds 37 Flash Seeds 44 Funky Skunk the 61 Green Fever 56 Green Planet 37 Gro-Rite Hydroponics 56 Grow 2 Go 58 Grow Green 55 Grow World Hydroponics 61 Growers Shop the 56 Growing Underground 56 Hayzee Hydro 35 Head 2 Head 58 Hesi 1 Hesi 2 Hockley Hydro 55 Hydro Lab 51 Hygrow II 51 Jorge Cervantes 38 Junction 6 Hydroponics 25 47 Libertarian Money Tree Hydroponics 55 Mycologics 61 Nirvana 23 Odyssey Hydro 61 One Love Hydroponics 56 Paradise Seeds 41 Plagron 32-33 Plant Magic Plus 7 Procare 61 Rapid Roots 1 Red Eye Jungle 42 Seedmadness 49 Seeds of Life 55 Smokin Vinyl 58 Southern Hydro Centre 56 SouthWest Headshops 18 Sweet Seeds 27 TGC Trading 44 Triangle Hydroponics 61 UK GroWorks 51 UK Skunkworks 44 Urban Jungle Hydro 42 Wellingborough Hydroponics 61

Soft Secrets is published by Discover Publisher BV P.O.Box 362, 5460 AJ, Veghel, Netherlands Telephone: +31-(0)73-5498112 Fax: +31-(0)73-5479732 E-mail: uk@softsecrets.nl Editor: Cliff Cremer Contributors: Ed Rosenthal, Jorge Cervantes, Jules Marshall, Lazystrain, Dr. John Dee, Grubbycup, Little Lebowski, The Professor, Kaz Peet, Smokedout and others Translations: Jules Marshall Comics: Jim Stewart Editorial adress: Soft Secrets, P.O. Box 17250, 1001 JG, Amsterdam, Holland, E-mail: ssuk@softsecrets.nl Advertisements: James Telephone: +44 (0)751-4273810 E-mail: james@softsecrets.nl A word from the publisher: The UK government has embarked on a process of relative liberalisation towards the use of cannabis, and cannabis activists are engaged in broadening this engagement. Several local councils and police chiefs now actively support a Dutch-style coffeeshop system as a way of separating soft and hard drugs, as it has proven to do in Holland. Whether they are finding their way to new coffeeshops or growing for their personal supply, cannabis users are a menace to no one, and are causing no discernable social problem. Some politicians and commentators are calling for the outright legalisation of marihuana. Let’s wait and see how the debate develops during a period of relative peace between all sides of the argument. In the meantime, the publisher hopes Soft Secrets will show the public a positive side to the normalisation of cannabis use, and is anxious to offer a forum to both pro- and anti-legalisation advocates. This assumes that the publisher does not necessarily agree with everything that appears in articles and advertisements. The publisher therefore distances himself explicitly from published statements or images that might give the impression that an endorsement is being made for the use or production of cannabis. Nothing from this publication may be copied or reproduced in any format without prior permission from the publisher and other copyright holders. The publisher is not responsible for the content and/or point of view of advertisements. The editors take no responsibility for unsolicited submissions.

Next issue out: October 21 2011