2019 02 UK by SoftSecrets

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Britain's first medicinal cannabis clinic opens in Greater Manchester AMSTERDAM

AMSTERDAM

ESTABLISHED 1987

RRY SENSI-STAR DELAHAZE PANDORA BELLADONNA WAPPA ALL

Quick Kush

A new private clinic in Greater Manchester has become the UK’s first specialist medicinal cannabis centre. Patients at The Beeches, in Cheadle, will pay £200 for appointments with doctors

PURPLE KUSH www.kannabia.es/en

and between £600 and £700 a month for a prescription. Decisions to prescribe cannabis will be taken on a case-by-case basis, and will only be considered when staff are satisfied that licensed products cannot treat the condition. The clinical director of The Beeches is Prof Mike Barnes, who last year helped secure the first medicinal cannabis licence for epilepsy sufferer Alfie Dingley. Barnes said: “Patients suffering from chronic pain and other serious neurological or psychiatric conditions have been crying out for this kind of lifechanging treatment. “This clinic will represent a lifeline to those who have found other treatments ineffective. This also brings the UK into line with other countries when it comes to pain management. “The hope is that over time patients all around the country and not just in Manchester will have access to the relief that they need.”

Dr David McDowell, who will run The Beeches, has previously prescribed medicinal cannabis to the 32-year-old student Forzana Nasir, from south London. She suffers from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which leaves her in severe pain and suffering from nausea and vomiting. Since using medical cannabis, Nasir said she had gone from taking 13 different medications a day to three. Nasir said: “Having access to this medicine allows me to ease my chronic pain which turns an unbearable day into a manageable day. It has been lifechanging for me. I was almost bed-bound before this and now I have much greater quality of life.” The government announced last year that specialist doctors would be allowed to prescribe cannabis products to patients for medicinal use from November.

Source: theguardian.com

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COOKIES 2.0

OCEAN GROW COOKIES AND BLUEBERRY COOKIES

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GORILLA

GROW REPORT WITH STONEY TARK

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FLUSHING PLANTS EXPLAINED WITH STONEY TARK

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Shiva Skunk www.sensiseeds.com

NUTRITION AND WATER QUALITY FOR CANNABIS CULTIVATION WITH MR. JOSÉ

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CANNABIS TEA FOR TWO RE-DISCOVERING ANCIENT CANNABIS METHODS IN THE MODERN WORLD

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL: LET’S HEAR IT (AGAIN) FOR THC

A recent study from the University of New Mexico presents results described in the mainstream media as “startling” and “surprising”. The research paper is titled “The Association between Cannabis Product Characteristics and Symptom Relief”, and in a nutshell, the results would indicate that as much as CBD is currently being heralded as the big reliever of a whole range of symptoms (particularly pain), if one is looking for real and effective pain relief, then THC is where one needs to look, as it “generates measurable improvements in symptom relief.” As mentioned, these results have been described as “startling” and “surprising”, though this surely can only be true of those with no experience of cannabis, politicians, Big Pharma and journalists from the MSM. And there’s more; using herbal cannabis (i.e. the dried flower, as opposed to edibles, tinctures or even concentrates) inhaled directly into the lungs is the most immediately effective delivery method for the alleviation of symptoms. However, there’s also an increased chance of adverse side effects, by which we assume possible increase in anxiety and suchlike, particularly among novice users. This makes sense, and while the smoking of anything should be discouraged, regarding vaporizers, the authors point out that “There is some evidence that vaping is associated with decreased reporting of negative side effects relative to smoking joints.” A caveat here is that obviously, we can’t really have children vaping flower: the other methods do work, but they take a bit longer. A further result of note is that higher THC content results in more effective and longer lasting symptom relief, whereas higher CBD content doesn’t. My own view of all of this is that we should remain cognisant of “the entourage effect”, whereby all of the different components of the plant work in a sort of synergy. Before we throw the baby out with the bathwater, we should be aware that that there is almost certainly a role for CBD in all of this, as there seems little doubt that it mediates between, so to speak, “pleasantly stoned/high” and “stuck to the floor with the room spinning round”. These results will inevitably cause yet another headache for our own government, who continue to push the narrative that CBD “works” and works best “alone” (or with at the very most a 0.2% THC content), while THC continues to be painted as the bad guy, detrimental in all manner of ways to our mental and physical health. It would certainly appear that the many CBD companies that have sprung up over the past couple of years are making claims for their “wonder drug” that are at best misleading and at worst plain wrong. One of the biggest problems we have here in the UK is continued government resistance and heel dragging over even allowing “proper” CBD as a medication. There are frequent reports of doctors turning down legitimate requests for CBD, partly on the grounds of cost (see Soft Secrets editorials passim), but also because they feel that they have not received any or enough training in the area. And that’s just for CBD! We can only imagine how they are going to respond to demands from the parents of grievously ill children for THC. Two things really need to happen here, and there’s little point in one happening without the other. Firstly, there is a clear and urgent need for a change in the law regarding THC, specifically around the ridiculous “no more than 0.2% content” rule. The second is that our doctors, and particularly those caring for children (adults can do the research and decide for themselves) need to be properly instructed regarding cannabis; if prescribing or even advising about a supposedly “toxic” substance is a problem for them and “goes against all of their training”, then they need to be re-trained, for everyone’s benefit. We will undoubtedly return to this subject. https://news.unm.edu/news/notorious-psychoactive-chemical-thc-moreimportant-for-therapeutic-effects-in-cannabis-than-previously-believed https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-39462-1

Dr. Dee

READERS@SOFTSECRETS.NL

DEAR SOFT SECRETS ATTENTION READERS! Fancy a free packet of feminised seeds from Sweet Seeds? Then send us a photo 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 bikini or hot lingerie, you will receive 2x3 seeds. Reader’s Wife of the Month will receive 3x3 prime quality feminised seeds! With compliments of Soft Secrets and Sweet Seeds! E-mail your entries to readers@ softsecrets.nl. 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!

CANNABIS FAIRS

Photos: © Mary Jane Berlin / www.offenblen.de

GERMANY'S LARGEST HEMP FAIR FROM 21 TO 23 JUNE 2019 IN BERLIN MARY JANE BERLIN PRESENTS THE LATEST TRENDS IN THE GERMAN HEMP INDUSTRY BERLIN - The "Mary Jane Berlin" has expanded again and now allows over 250 national and international exhibitors to present the future of the green power plant in Germany. On more than 8,000 square meters of indoor space and 5,000 square meters of outdoor space visitors will be introduced to both well-tried products and new innovations in the industry. The special highlight will be the newly designed and enlarged outdoor area: a sandy beach and pool directly in Berlin’s river Spree provide cooling in the hot summer days. Thus, the Mary Jane Berlin Festival triples its area to create a unique atmosphere throughout Europe. The three-day hemp event in the ARENA Berlin (Eichenstraße 4, 12435 Berlin) com-

small companies of the hemp industry especially from Germany, Austria und Swiss will be represented in the central exhibition hall directly at the river. The number of exhibitors will increase again compared to the previous year (2018: 200) to around 250 companies.

wants to offer German start-ups the opportunity to easily entry their domestic market. On Saturday and Sunday, selected start-ups will be presenting their ideas to potential investors and customers in a short elevator pitch at the conference. The application phase is still in process.

Visitors have the opportunity to com-

In addition to the trade fair, national and

bining product exhibition, congress and cultural festival directly at the river expects more than 25,000 visitors (www.maryjane-berlin.com).

pare, test and buy over 30,000 products. From hemp oil, concentrates, fertilizers, snacks, vaporizers, textiles and smoking accessories - everything can be explored. This year many CBD products are represented, which reflect the current hemp trend in Germany. With the increasing interest of large foreign companies, the Mary Jane Berlin

international experts will discuss cannabis cultivation, legalization developments and the medical use of cannabis. Especially the latter will be extensively illuminated by renowned German doctors such as Dr. med. Franjo Grotenhermen, Dr. med. Christian Kessler and Dr. med. Eva Milz. Patient experiences and studies complete the spectrum. In addition, Prof.

OVER 30,000 PRODUCTS UNITED IN ONE PLACE

Both European market leaders as well as

Dr. Justus Haucap will present the study commissioned by the German Hemp Association on how Germany could save 2.66 billion euros annually, only through the legalization of cannabis. Likewise, German judge Andreas Müller will be also on stage. In addition to the trade fair, visitors will find the Mary Jane Berlin Festival with live music, DJs and numerous culinary (hemp) highlights at the food stands on the outdoor area while overlooking the river between 21 and 23 June 2019. The so-called “bathing ship”, which is exclusively accessible to trade fair visi-

tors, is located in the middle of Berlin’s river Spree and ensures a quick cooling off in the hot summer days with a relaxed view over the water. Mary Jane Berlin – most unique hemp fair across Europe. www.maryjane-berlin.com For info: info@maryjane-berlin.com

GROW QUIZ

7. K stands for..? A. B. C. D.

1. What is meant by pruning? A. B. C. D.

Bending the main stem down Pinching the top shoot Stripping away lower growth Dry trimming plants

2. What are the benefits of terpenes? A. B. C. D.

They contain THC and CBD They contain essential oils and aromas They increase THC levels Terpenes are without benefits

3. What is a Mother plant? A. B. C. D.

The best plant in the grow room The female used in the breeding cross The first seedling that sprouts A plant clones are taken from

4. What is the NPK ratio of a nutrient? A. B. C D

The ratio between feed water and nutrients The levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium It’s a EU certificate It’s about the salts and sugars in the nutes

5. When placing a seed into soil, how deep should it be? A. B. C. D.

2cm deep with the root tail facing down 2 inches down with root tail facing upwards 1cm deep with the root tail facing up You can place the seed on the surface

6. In which of these do we find the most Phosphorus? A. B. C. D.

Bone meal, worm castings manure and wood ash Dried up and rotten leaves Black soil taken from cemeteries Old stagnant, putrid water

Copper Cobalt Phosphorus Potassium

8. Which of these lamps are the best suited for growing Haze varieties? A. B. C. D.

LED 1000w HPS 400w HPS 1000w HPS 600w

9. What does an S1 plant represent? A. B. C. D.

A femenized seed made with female plants The first generation from regular seeds The second generation from regular seeds A femenized plant made with hermaphrodites

14. What is the ideal temperature of feeding water? A. B. C. D.

32° Celsius 27° Celsius 14° Celsius 21° Celsius

15. What does a hermaphrodite plant do? A. B. C. D.

Produces only female flowers Produces male and female flowers Produces only male flowers Produces hollow seeds

16. Which important building block would we find in wood ash? A. B. C. D.

Phosphorus Nitrogen Potassium Zinc

10. When is not a good time to pinch plants?

17. What is a so-called ‘Strijkzak’ (Ironing bag)

A. B. C. D.

During the growing phase The transition stage After the transition stage You can pinch plants anytime

11. What should the humidity be when rooting clones? A. B. C. D.

15% 50% 85% 0%

12. What does GG#4 mean? A. B. C. D.

Gorilla Glue #4 German Goo Girl nr. 4 Go Getter #4 GaGa#4 from Hollywood

13. High humidity in flower can cause what? A. B. C. D.

Buds to increase in size Buds to mould and rot Buds to produce seeds Plants to turn dark purple

A plastic bag that is smellproof A 100% smellproof bag made of Mylar A tube-shaped cone that holds weed The Dutch version of the Scottish pipebags

18. Poorly flushed plants will cause what? A. B. C. D.

Joints to pull smooth with grey ash A harsh taste and black ash A smooth taste and black ash Flushing makes no difference

19. How many hours of light do autos needs? A. B. C. D.

12/12 18/6 24/0 Still open for debate

20. What are meant by pre-flowers? A. B. C. D.

The last set of flowers before harvest The first dried flowers The first pistils to turn brown The first signs of sex

For answers see page 38!

BUBBA ISL A ND K USH Dutch Passion

SEED BANKS

ENJOY COOKIES 2.0 OCEAN GROW COOKIES AND BLUEBERRY COOKIES

nation and, consequently, the dissemination of plagues and diseases. They selected élite clones with outstanding potency and an impressive aspect. Both of the parents used showed evident signs of the Kush lineage - the rest came from the qualities that only a Durban can pass on to a Cookies strain, as evidenced by the fruity taste and Purple colour of the final product.

taste; plants are large and resinous, highly potent and with an amazing aspect. Zkittlez is a Kush version with an intense fruity backdrop which is also unique and personal. Tangie has dominating orangish notes. Gorilla Glue has already become a legend for its huge resin quantities (with buds flooded by a seamless sticky layer) and also offering skyrocketing potency. The demand for

We visited Dinafem to discuss their new Kush 2019 catalogue with the two flagships Ocean Grow Cookies and Blueberry J. Searcher Cookies

THE COOKIES FAMILY The market demands innovation. That end consumers like new flavours and strains never tried before is normal. The origin of Indica-based THC-rich strains is California. The Cookies family comes from OG Kush, with which it shares a lot of similarities while retaining also a few peculiarities. If grown correctly, with organic fertilisers enhancing its flavour, it becomes an outstanding plant.

various élite cuttings, such as e.g. Phantom Cookies, Forum Cookies, Thin Mint Cookies, Animal Cookies, Monster Cookies and Peppermint Cookies. The Dinafem team worked on a number of versions. Many of the most famous élite clones of the GSC family are hermaphrodite, which would normally disqualify them for feminised strain breeding. In the first part of

THE SWEET AND SAVOURY COOKIE TASTE RESULTS FROM AN OPTIMUM BALANCE The sweet and savoury Cookie taste results from an optimum balance between an earthy OG Kush backdrop and new organoleptic qualities added over the years, which ultimately gave the plants of this family a more fruity taste. The aspect is quite peculiar, with large calices wrapping up an elongated bud at the end of its growth.

PARENT SELECTION: VERIFICATION AND TESTS GSC or Girl Scout Cookies has now become an icon. It is a very popular family, with

the process, however, they found out that the genetics of these plants was the original one and made the grown specimens perfect parents for breeding. The use of a wrong strain can be explained by a variety of reasons ranging from an exchange of cuttings to a messed-up source. What Dinafem did was to grow up a genotype. Then they verified that the genetics was the original one and yielded the expected results. They monitored plants to exclude traits of hermaphroditism and also to make sure that these traits would not be passed on to the offspring. These processes were carried out in various rooms, to avoid contami-

Blueberry Cookies After selecting these clones, Dinafem made various crossings to investigate which results best suited the objectives they had set out for themselves. On the one hand, they wanted to achieve a backcross to the Kush ‘essence’; on the other, they attempted to obtain a fruity hybrid with typically European qualities. Through their collaboration with the Humboldt Seed Organization, Dinafem now has a comprehensive library of Kush élite clones in very high demand, such as OG Kush, Bubba Kush, Gorilla Glue, Chemdog, Chemdawg and Guava Chem. They also made hybridisation tests with other Kush élite clones which now, for one reason or another, are all the rage, such as Zkittlez, Wedding Cake, Purple Kush, Tangie or Gorilla Glue. Wedding Cake retains a Kush

Gorilla is so high that they decided to release two additional versions, i.e. Gorilla Quick, with a shorter flowering time, and Gorilla CBD, a CBD-rich variety designed for medical use and consumers seeking a Gorilla with a more balanced effect. The first two hybrids that came out of these tests were Ocean Grow Cookies and Blueberry Cookies, although research pathways are still unfolding and other novelties are in store.

OCEAN GROW COOKIES AND BLUEBERRY COOKIES The case of Ocean Grow Cookies epitomises a return to the Kush origin achieved by crossing a Cookies phenotype with an OG Kush

Blueberry Cookies

Ocean Grown Cookies

selection. This helped revert to the classical essence of the strain. Among the most outstanding features is its ‘demolishing’ effect with a marked Kush taste. Consumers were longing for a Cookies strain leaning towards Kush dominance. In this sense, Ocean Grow Cookies meets their expectations and lives up to the name of the Kush family.

Cookies élite clone. The merit here was to enhance the fruity taste and smell and the dark hues of the original plant. Growing it organically is definitively worthwhile. With a good degree of care, growers will be able to exploit its full potential and achieve a premium-quality smoke that smells like pastry – which is why this family was named Cookies.

through cross-breeding made Blueberry Cookies a strain full of vigour, which also simplifies its growing. As it stretches a lot during flowering, its growth cycle is shorter. It is five days quicker than Ocean Grow Cookies. In short, yields are boosted, flowering is shortened and growing becomes easier, while retaining the Cookies essence.

Blueberry Cookies is a hybrid between a Blueberry selection bred by Dinafem and a

Regarding its aspect, most hybrids have purple hues. The European traits transferred

During the golden age of Dutch breeding, American strains reached Amsterdam and,

from there, the rest of the world. Now, the breeders of Hispania Cannabicum already have direct access to American varieties to produce their own strains. Dinafem started to collaborate with Humboldt Seed in 2009. Over the last 10 years, they learned a lot about Kush genetics. For 2019, the time had come to release a catalogue that reflected this development. Ocean Grow Cookies and Blueberry Cookies are the first Kush novelties of the year, but others will follow.

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GROW REPORT WITH STONEY TARK

GORILLA

By Stoney Tark

Tent:

1.2m x 1.2m

Lights:

SANlight Q6W x 2 (430w total )

Medium:

Coco, worm castings, perlite, BIOtabs beneficial microbes

Nutrients:

Feeding only tap water

allowing a further prune and tie down before flowering will really bring out the best in this plant, in terms of structure, vigour and overall production. Feeding the plants only water, the Gorilla is a big eater and is growing new, lush green growth all the time. The leaves are now more narrow and longer than when first growing, and under the SANlight LED, she

THE FLOWERING STAGE The plants will be left to grow from this point on without any further pruning. I will feed only water for the next 2 weeks until the stretching phase has ended. After the first 7 days of 12/12, the plants are still looking very happy with leaves pointing upwards to the sky praying, and there is

Growing Period: 40 days (18/6) Flowering Period: 60 days (12/12) Flush:

3 Weeks

I was gifted some Gorilla by Dinafem and could not wait to get these started. Recently Gorilla Glue has become a heavy hitting favourite in America, and has now made her way to Europe in femenised form courtesy of Dinafem. I will grow only one plant amongst my many other varieties in my grow tent and will provide L.E.D lighting from SANlight LED and as far as nutrients, I shall only feed the plants water, as a grower who is heavily focussed on organics and microorganisms. As an organic enthusiast, l will choose to feed only water until the flowering period, where I will apply an organic compost tea. After germinating the seeds overnight in a glass of water and kept in a dark cupboard, the next day I was happy to see that my one seed had sprouted. There was a healthy white tap root and a few hours later, the seed was planted into my growing medium. This particular medium is heavily treated with beneficial microbes and fungi, so the need to apply liquid nutrients is not necessary. Once the tap root had made contact with the seed, the micro-organism will attached themselves to the root and begging a long term partnership with the root zone and surrounding growing medium. Whenever testing a new strain for commercial reasons or for breeding projects, I personally like to feed only water and create an organic substrate that requires little maintenance and will return the best results. When the seedling sprouted, the first thing that could be noticed was the thick white stem, similar to a bean sprout in appearance. The first leaves grow with a dark green, healthy glow and by the time she has her first true leaves, she is around 2 inches tall. After the second set of leaves grow, here is when I decide to pinch the plant out as my overall goal is to have a plant that is shorter, and wider in structure, allowing me to train the canopy as I desire. After the first 7 days of growth, I foliar spray the plant as she recovers from the removal of the crown shoot and grows 2 shoots in return. Now over the next few weeks I will patiently wait for the structure to become more bushy as I begin to train the axillary shoots to grow outwards. Basically this is a form of low stress training

$IWHU ·΃ GD\V WKH EXGV DUH VWDFNHG DQG IURVW\

Sharp bladed narrow fan leaves with a sativa influence

and the Gorilla is an excellent variety for L.S.T and topping. The growth structure is more sativa dominant in appearance with sharp bladed fan leaves with a thin width. The stem has become quite thick and woody after the 21 day mark and now this plant has a solid feel and look to her. A height of 4 inches and the aroma of the plant when smelling under the leaves and rubbing the stems reveals a pungent, gassy, earthy musk that is a good indicator this lady will have a serious strong body when flowering. After day 30, the plants have grown up very quickly so decide to tie my plants down further to open up the spacing between the main branches. I also take this opportunity to prune all of the lowest growth from stems to fan leaves. This not only improves the spacing and airflow around the canopy, it also converts all of the new growing energy to the remaining crown shoots. From this point on, vegging my plants for a further 3 weeks and

is really thriving and pointing her leaves to the sky at all times of the day. So far looks wise after pinching and pruning, the Gorilla is fast growing plant with thick stems and branches. I have even noticed resin forming on the newest growing leaves which is a very impressive trait especially during the growing stage. After day 40, she is ready to be flowered in the tent a long side the

an explosion of pre-flowers. Due to the amount of training that was performed during the growing period, there should be very little stretch and the plants will focus all of their energy into the top parts. The aroma of the plants is still earthy with a background of fuel and glue. After feeding every few days and when the plants need it, two weeks in and the plants are flourishing with pre flowers at every point. Over the next few weeks is when this lady

HER RESIN PROFILE IS HEAVY AND AS SHE GLISTENS WHITE AND SILVER, THE MIXTURE OF PURPLE, ORANGE AND PINK HUES AS SHE FLOWERS IS CERTAINLY A SIGHT TO SEE other strains that I have growing in there. Her height now is close to 12 inches tall with strong side branches all around. A wonderful strain for people who like to train their plants, also for anyone who does not have a lot of height and requires short, stocky plants.

will begin to pack on more structure and fill out with pudding sites. The internodal spacing is very short and this plant is perfectly suited for growers who prefer small sized plants, due to circumstances and practicality. After day 21, the stretching phase seems to have

17 full potential and to use up any dissolved minerals and salts left behind over time. After 50 days, the calyx are stacked and swelling up very nicely and the pistils are fading to a mixture of maroon and dark red. There are so many smaller leaves surrounding the buds which will make Gorilla ideal for collecting quality trim material for making isolator with, as the buds are drying out. The flowers are dense and after a squeeze, the greasy nugs reveal a dank, musky fragrance that smells pungent and potent at the same time.

Gorilla is a great strain for L.S.T and training

ended at 20.5 inches with multiple tops. This is the total height from the base of the main trunk to the tallest point of the canopy. If you were to leave this strain untrained she will grow much taller yet when trained does a great job of staying low and wide. There is a strong presence of trichomes that are growing on all of the new flowering sites. The buds grow between every

The plants are now flowering under 430w of SANlight LED and have reached the eighth week mark. The plants look ready to harvest in my opinion, however I shall let the plants finish up and truly ripen over the next week and allow the calendar to extend by four more days. Trimming will be quite easy and as their is such an abundance of frosty buds, it may take some extra time to really clean these nugs up professionally..

High h Times Cannabis Cann Cup Amsterdam 2006 (Bio Category)

My Conclusion On Dinafem Gorilla After growing this femenised strain, I have written a short list of attributes that I feel this strain represents. ȏ /LJKW KXQJU\ VWUDLQ ȏ 7KLFN KDUGZRRG VWHPV

WHEN THE SEEDLING SPROUTED, THE FIRST THING THAT COULD BE NOTICED WAS THE THICK WHITE STEM, SIMILAR TO A BEAN SPROUT IN APPEARANCE internode that are all clustered together quite tightly despite the plant training. The once smaller side branches have now become thick, hardwood which indicates that this variety is a big feeder and has a tough resistance to any environment.

ȏ 9LJRURXV JURZWK ȏ 3XQJHQW HDUWK\ DURPD ȏ %LJ IHHGHU ȏ ([FHOOHQW IRU / 6 7 6FURJ ȏ /RQJ IDQ OHDYHV ZLWK WKLQ ILQJHUV ȏ *URZV GDUN JUHHQ ȏ 9HU\ ODUJH SURGXFHU

After the fifth week, she is becoming seriously stacked and is easily the biggest producer in the tent amongst my other plants. Her resin profile is heavy and as she glistens white and silver, the mixture of purple, orange and pink hues as she flowers is certainly a sight to see. The buds are beginning to fatten up and as I feed a BIOtabs compost tea every 3-4 days, the Gorilla is really taking shape now and the vuds are very thick and dense. The aroma of the flowers up close is pungent, very earthy and lightly gassy. One thing I must say is that I am impressed by the resin profile of this strain and how abundant the trichomes are as we enter the last part of the flowering stage. This strain will be taken to a total of 60 days, meaning I shall start to feed only water as we get close to day 40 and despite my plants being totally organic, for the sake of pushing the plants to their

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and wants of their customers. At the core, Namaste Vapes are vaporizer buffs who are passionate about supplying the best vaporizers to the UK. In fact, they are so passionate that they research, analyze and test every product before it is listed. If any products do not meet their strict guidelines, they are not carried on in their sales network. One of their most popular vaporizers at the moment is the Puffco Peak. The Peak is truly amazing, it is a new innovation into the world of dabbing and traditional rigs. It will provide you with the best flavor which means you will get an enjoyable experience both faster and easier than ever before. Namaste Vapes UK has a discount code exclusively for Soft Secret readers. Get 15% off sitewide using the discount code SECRET15.This discount code will be valid for the first 100 customers! ZZZ QDPDVWHYDSRUL]HUV FR XN

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GROW WITH STONEY TARK

WHAT DOES FLUSHING MEAN? Usually the only time we hear the word flushing is when it ȏ 7KH DURPD RI D EXUQLQJ MRLQW ZLOO VPHOO pleasant comes to a toilet, so what exactly does it mean when growing ȏ very %HVW SRVVLEOH H[SHULHQFH DQG IHHOLQJ plants? Basically, water is a solvent and will break down ȏ $OO H[FHVV VDOWV UHPRYHG and dissolve minerals of salt. As plant nutrients are salt POORLY FLUSHED based, especially hydroponic nutrients over time a build up CHARACTERISTICS of undissolved salts can occur in the growing medium and The only way you can really tell if a flower around the root zone. If a root zone is unable to buffer the has not been correctly flushed is until you it, and there are a number of red remaining minerals in the growing medium, this may lead to smoke flags to look out for. Firstly the joint will By Stoney Tark almost instantly side burn as the ember a lock out, nutrient deficiency or toxicity. Flushing plants simply means to supply only water for a certain time frame to act as a solvent and to break down any remaining undissolved salts. Enzymes will help speed this process up as their role is to actively break down organic substrate

Commercially in coffee shops, social clubs and dispensaries, smokers who go to these places as part of their normal culture will expect the flowers to be well grown, correctly flushed and trimmed to as close to perfection as can get. Any of the outlets that supply Cannabis to connoisseurs and Cannabis enthusiasts would soon go out of business if they provided flower that was harsh on the lungs and throat, joints that constantly needed relighting and a charcoal black ash that falls of in lumps. Flushing is part and parcel of growing top quality Cannabis, so those who skip this part of the grow cycle are usually short sighted or are simply number driven and are only focused on the largest harvest without consideration to the taste and overall experience to the end user.

WELL FLUSHED CHARACTERISTICS

)OXVKLQJ FDQ EHJLQ ZKHQ EXGV DUH ZLWKLQ Ά weeks to harvest into smaller bite sized pieces the roots can utilise. The way that plants absorb nutrients from the growing medium to the root hairs is through the fine film of water that come in contact with the root hairs and growing substrate, so the plants will always be able to access nutrients if they require them.

WHY IS FLUSHING NECESSARY?

Flushing Cannabis plants is necessary for a number of reasons and they cover both the growing experience and the overall quality of the harvested flower.

struggles to burn correctly causing the joint to feel tight. The flavour will be very bland and almost spicey hot on the roof of the mouth and the aroma will not smell like someone is burning some high grade.

This plant is showing Nitrogen defeciency during the flush sure leave a black residue that needs cleaning off. ȏ /DFN RI WDVWH RQ LQKDOH DQG H[KDOH ȏ -RLQW ZLOO NHHS JRLQJ RXW ȏ -RLQW SXOOV YHU\ WLJKW

YOU SHOULD NOT NEED TO LIGHT THE JOINT MORE THAN ONCE AND THE CLEAN, OILY FLOWER WILL BURN ALL THE WAY DOWN THE END Tapping the ash can cause the ember to fall off completely with a loose bit of tobacco, again down to the ember struggling to burn together evenly. The colour of the top of the joint will be a dark, charcoal black and when rubbing the ash in your hands, it will for

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Well flushed Cannabis when smoking will supremely smooth on both inhale and exhale, accompanied by a lip licking after taste, that is long lasting an clear. The joint will burn with ease and at an even speed meaning there will be no side burning of the paper. When tapping the joint in the ashtray, the ash will be very soft and seem lightweight as it falls very similar to cigarette ash. You should not need to light the joint more than once and the clean, oily flower will burn all the way down the end without being nursed from a lighter or constantly blowing the ember. The actual ash will be so clean you should be able to drop some ash in the palm of your hand and once rubbing it in to the skin, there will be zero residue and you can simply blow the soft ash away. ȏ 6RIW OLJKW JUH\ DVK ȏ (YHQO\ EXUQLQJ MRLQW ȏ 1R QHHG WR UHOLJKW MRLQW ȏ 1R FRXJKLQJ VHQVDWLRQ DW DOO ȏ /RQJ ODVWLQJ IODYRXUV RQ ERWK LQKDOH and exhale

When flushed well, buds will be at their most aromatic and dense

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Dutch Passion in the USA Dutch Passion begin 2019 with some new cannabis varieties with USA genetics. Following on from the theme of recent years, cannabis genetics from the USA are just getting better and better. The USA has been a hotbed of genetic development and improvement in the last 5-10 years. The last few years in particular have been very impressive as momentum in the USA cannabis industry has reached new levels. What has been really impressive about the way the USA has set about cannabis breeding is the impressively large scale used by some of the better breeders. In the USA many of the large scale growers often prefer to grow from cuttings rather than seeds. This allows them to fill their grow rooms with identical plants, all the same height and all with the same nutritional feed requirements. For industrial-scale growers, the need to grow factories full of genetically identical plants allows them to standardise their grow conditions. Grow lights can all be set at the same hight above the canopy, and nutrients are the same for each and every plant. It may not be the approach used by home growers (who often value phenotype variations). But for the larger cannabis growers it makes life simple if the plants are all genetically identical. Some of these commercial croppers go to great lengths to identify the single ‘elite’ mother plant which they want to grow from. Sometimes this mother plant is selected from hundreds of plants grown from seed. Often, the top 10-20% of heaviest yielding plants are separated from the rest and all undergo a lab analysis of the buds. The growers often select the plants that combine heavy yields, ease of growth and the best cannabinoid profile to be the mother plants. Sometimes an unusual feature, such as an unusually appealing aroma or color can be a deciding factor. The cannabinoid analysis looks at the overall cannabinoid profile as well as the specific THC content. Some growers look for the presence of minor cannabinoids in the buds as an indicator of a good ‘well rounded’ smoke. Usually the USA licensed growers look for a heavy yielding variety with a good THC level and indications of minor cannabinoids (CBD, CBG, THCV etc) in the buds. A blind smoke test by a team of experienced smokers is often used to differentiate between several closely matched varieties. A good quality smoking/vaping experience is the most important quality! So, from several hundred plants some of the USA commercial breeders will end up with a few mother plants. All will have been chosen for yield, potency, aroma, smoke quality and general ‘bag appeal’ of the buds. It is these special mother

plants which are so highly prized by the commercial USA growers. When hundreds (or thousands) of plants are harvested by a large licensed grower, even small differences in potency and/or yield can have a large effect on the overall crop value. The best of the USA genetics have a great deal to offer the home grower, and that’s one of the reasons why Dutch Passion have worked so hard over recent years to establish a breeder network with access to these special ‘1 in 1000’ plants. Dutch Passion take great pride in offering these genetics as feminized seeds, and the latest varieties produce some genuinely special results.

MOKUM’S TULIP The Dutch Passion Head of Genetics came across a really special phenotype of Gelato with an amazing candy smell and some beautiful blue tones in the leaves. This Gelato pheno arrived in “Mokum” (the old Hebrew/Yiddish word for Amsterdam) and was crossed with a vigorous Sherbet individual that also leans to the sweet side of the Cookie family. Amsterdam became

appreciation and enjoyment of music. This THC rich feminized seed variety combines a creative feel-good high with

of well being and relaxation. The blissfully enjoyable effects last for a good 3 hours. When you consume a large amount in a short period of time you will be aware of a powerful, and deeply enjoyable, couch-lock body stone.

AUTO LEMON ZKITTLE Auto Lemon Zkittle uses the famous USA Zkittlez genetics in a convenient and fast autoflowering variety. Yields are heavy and the skunk genetics ensure this is easy and undemanding to grow with a rich aroma, a sour citrus

top quality mental anaesthesia. Harvests are easy with this uncomplicated variety, she is simple to grow under a wide range of grow conditions. A great terpene profile, vigorous growth and a thick coat of glistening trichomes, makes this XL yielding plant perfect for concentrate producers and extractions.

MERINGUE Meringue is a cross between Wedding Cake and a special Animal Cookies clone. It delivers a pleasing and sweet tasting result. This indica dominant feminized seed variety has a very large sativa-like main bloom along with a smooth smoke and a sweet aftertaste on the exhale. She has numerous side branches which

taste and a really powerful long lasting euphoric high. This is a variety that suits the grower looking for the latest USA genetics with guaranteed potency and an uncomplicated growing experience. Indoors she takes around 75 days from seed to harvest under 20 hours of

THE USA HAS BEEN A HOTBED OF GENETIC DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT IN THE LAST 5-10 YEARS grow heavily with resin crusted blooms full of compact buds. A euphoric high is accompanied by a rising, powerful sense

famous for tulips back in the day and the smell of this new creation was similar to a very sweet smelling red tulip. The name “Mokum's Tulip” quickly came to mind. This XXL yielding strain is a must for your empty cookie jar.

HIFI 4G This variety combines WiFi OG and our prize winning Glueberry OG. This strain is great for relaxation, especially listening to music. HiFi 4G seems to amplify

daily light. Occasional heavy yielding phenotypes can take an extra week or two. Outdoors this variety takes around 100 days from seed to harvest. USA cannabis growers are enjoying a golden period of growth and expansion. Technology and investment is arriving at quite a pace. Skilled growers and horticulturalists are honing their skills in optimized environments. As a result the USA continues to produce some genuinely excellent genetics. This is likely to continue, USA cannabis sales grow each year and investment is showing no sign of a slow down yet. Dutch Passion are building a larger and better USA network with each year, we hope to keep serving customers with the best of the North American USA genetics for many years to come.

HOME GROWING

Understanding and Measuring pH What’s pH? This is a question that usually makes new growers scratch their heads and reach for the pipe. pH applies to the level of alkalinity or acidity of a given “thing”, in this case a liquid. The liquid is the nutrient solution being used to grow your green. The pH scale starts at 0 and rises to 14. A value of 7.0 is considered neutral, with values over 7.0 being alkaline and values below 7.0 being acidic. The question that must be asked is why this is important. By Thomas Valentine The nutrient solution is basically a cocktail of various chemicals. These chemicals can react to each other in a process called covalent bonding and form new chemicals that aren’t wanted. They’re not wanted because the plant can’t use them. This process of covalent bonding is largely dependent on the pH of the solution the chemicals are suspended in, in this case water. With the chemicals being used in your average hydroponic solution, a chemist would say that the optimum pH would

like a lower pH in the range of 5.2 to 5.9. Fortunately, a lower pH will bond fewer nutrients than will a higher pH. If the pH value goes beyond the optimum range of 5.2 to 5.9, undesirable levels of nutritional deficiency and toxicity will occur, both of which can seriously impede plant growth. Be vigilant. In researching the various hydroponic methods in use, it might have been

the required nutrients, the rest of the plant will benefit.

MEASURING PH Measuring pH is relatively easy, and there are quite a few choices in terms of methods. The most inexpensive and low-tech method entails taking a sample from the nutrient solution. It is put into a clean vial you get with the pH kit. Test for the pH by putting a drop of the something-or-other liquid that came in the kit into the vial (NOT the solution). The something-or-other makes the nutrient solution turn color, usually shades of green or blue-green. This color is then compared to a color chart that comes with the kit. The closest color is the pH of the solution.

get to the kitchen section of the nearest department store first. Never add the acid to the vat of nutrient. Fill a small glass container with the nutrient to be balanced and add a few drops of the necessary chemical. Stir it in well and add small amounts at a time to the large vat of nutrient until the proper pH balance is achieved. That’s all there is to it. As time goes on, the amount of salts produced by the breakdown of fertilizers in the medium causes it to become increasingly acidic. Eventually, the concentration of these salts in the medium will stunt the plant and cause browning out of the foliage. Also, as the plant gets older its roots become less effective in bringing food to the leaves. To avoid the accumulation of these salts in your medium and to ensure that the plant is getting all of the food it needs, be sure to flush the system with clean, pH balanced water every couple of weeks. Do this in lieu of that cycle’s feeding. There’s always been a big debate over when to adjust your pH – before and after you add nutrients to the water, or just after. We talked to an expert, and

This low-tech solution poses some obvious limitations, not the least of which is the difficulty in deciding which color is closest if you’ve been into the fruits of your previous harvest. The kits sell for 5 to 10 dollars.

ADJUSTING PH Knowing what chemical to add to the nutrient solution and when is paramount to success as a grower. When the pH level is too high (alkaline), it can be lowered with saltpeter, sulfuric acid or phosphorous. When the pH value is too low, it can be raised with calcium carbonate, lime or, potash. Most fertilizers cause a pH change in the nutrient solution. Adding fertilizer to the nutrient solution almost always results in a more acidic pH. Adjust accordingly. be 7.0, which is neutral. The reasoning behind this is that in keeping the solution neutral, covalent bonding of the constituent parts of your solution will be kept to a minimum. But since cannabis plants like a different pH level for optimum growth, lower the pH, and take the slight loss of nutrient value. Fast growing leafy plants generally

noticed that most of the growing media in use is relatively inert (rockwool, pea gravel, sand, etc.). That is, the growing medium won’t react with the nutrients in the solution. For those methods that use inert media, a pH of 5.2 is recommended for optimal elemental uptake. It is at this pH level that the roots will assimilate the nutrients in the solution most efficiently. If the root has to work less to assimilate

The proper way to handle all of these chemicals is important. The first general rule is don’t do it when you’re high. Just don’t do it – the plants can miss a feeding if necessary. Another general rule is to use glass or plastic, never metal. The nutrients will react with the very free elements in the metal and mess up the nutrient ratios. Glass or plastic doesn’t have that problem, so

she said to do both. The reasoning for doing both is that water is rarely dead on neutral. It’s either acidic or alkaline, depending on your region. Our chemist said that the way the professionals do it is to render the water neutral first (pH of 7.0). You would then add your nutrients to that chemically neutral solution and adjust to the desired range within 5.2 to 5.9 pH. Makes sense.

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NUTRITION AND WATER QUALITY FOR CANNABIS CULTIVATION In order to make your plants grow as planned, you need to create ideal conditions for them. The most important aspects include proper nutrients and high quality water. Those two things are closely related. Without water, plants would not be able to absorb the nutrients, and, on top of that, its quality may also influence the growing medium or fertilizers in one way or another.

HOW PLANTS ABSORB NUTRIENTS Plants obtain nutrients through their roots, although to a certain extent, they can absorb them through their leaves, too. Every plant needs to have a properly developed and healthy root system in order to be able to receive enough nutrients. Furthermore, it is important for the growing medium to be suitable for the intake and storage of nutrients. As far as hydroponic growing is concerned, the growing medium in the default state does not contain any nutrients. The plants thus receive nutrients directly from nutrient solutions. When they are grown in soil, nutrients are contained in substrate. After watering, some nutrients dissolve in water enabling plants to absorb them through their roots. You can see that water significantly influences the

go the best possible development and can absorb the most nutrients in temperatures just around 20 °C. They also need oxygen, which they absorb and use as prevention from root rot and other pathogens. Without access to oxygen, the roots start rotting off and they are not able to absorb nutrients from the growing medium. Water for watering, as well as nutrient solution, should both be oxygenated. You can either use an aquarium compressor or let a small circulator pump do the job. As soon as water starts to move, it automatically gets slightly oxygenated.

when the pH value is higher, whereas other elements, e.g. iron or zinc, are more accessible when the pH value is lower. For cannabis to absorb all the necessary elements in optimal amounts, it is recommended to keep the pH between 5.5 and 6.3 for hydroponic growing and between 5.8 and 6.5 for growing in soil. If the pH gets distinctively lower or higher, your plants do not absorb the nutrients evenly, which

nutrient solution. Cannabis plants can soak up dissolved nutrients with EC value up to 2.4 μS/cm2 or 1200 ppm (whichever unit of measurement you prefer). The conversion of EC to ppm can be done easily by multiplying the EC value by 500. If unrefined water from your source has EC 0.3 μS/cm2, you can provide the plants with up to 2.1 μS/cm2of nutrients in a ratio which they need. However, if the water from your source has EC of 0.7 μS/ cm2, you can provide the plants only with 1.7 μS/cm2 of nutrients. If you want to find out what nutrients are contained in your unrefined water, you need to have it examined in a lab. Nevertheless, it can never have composition as good as the water you could prepare for your plants yourself. Thus, the lower the EC of your unrefined water is, the better nutrient solutions you can make.

CHLORINE IN WATER If you use tap water and do not have any special water filter, you need to take into account that this kind of water contains chlorine. It is added to it as disinfectant to kill bacteria, viruses and other pathogens.

IMPORTANCE OF PH AND EC

The pH and EC of water and growing substrate also have a great impact on the absorption of nutrients. If the pH or EC values are too low or too high, the plants can-

Simple filtration system for the removal of impurities and chlorine

A quality equipment should be used for the measurement of pH and EC levels. This combined EC and pH meter is perfect for hydroponics

process of nourishment of the plants. That is why its quality is so important. Healthy roots are the cornerstone of every good harvest. Never forget to keep them in appropriate living conditions. Roots under-

not soak up nutrients the way they would under optimal circumstances. The pH value tells you how acidic or alkaline the water, the nutrient solution or the growing medium is. Some elements, e.g. calcium and magnesium, are more accessible for plants

makes the unused ones accumulate in the medium, while the plants suffer because of shortage of those nutrients. A so-called nutrient lockout can occur (it is a situation when the nutrients are present, but the plant cannot absorb them), which can lead to substance imbalance, formation of toxic substances and creation of optimal conditions for pathogens. A regular check up of optimal pH level is incredibly important for successful harvest. Tap water is usually a bit alkaline, which means that its pH is over 7. Water from well or rain water is usually neutral, or a little acidic, with pH between 6.5 and 7. If you are using an electronic pH tester, do not forget to calibrate it regularly every month. PH electrodes also do not last forever and they should be replaced at least once a year. This maintenance is costly, but it is worth the money. You know, measuring pH is pretty much useless when it is not accurate. Another crucial factor for nutrient absorption is electrical conductivity – EC. This value tells you how many nutrients are contained in water, growing medium and

That is surely good for hygienic reasons, not for the growing medium. The first problem lies in the fact that chlorine can damage weaker roots, and you definitely do not want that to happen. Another problem occurs when you are using some beneficial microorganisms. Not only does chlorine kill the pathogens, it also kills all the salutary molds and bacteria that you have carefully raised in your growing medium. Usage of mycorrhizal fungi, trichoderma or parasitic nematodes against pests is then less effective. Since chlorine is a gaseous element, it slowly evaporates. Lots of growers count on that. They simply have a water tank where they put water in advance and let chlorine evaporate. But how long does it take before all the chlorine is gone? Are 24 hours enough? There is no clear-cut answer, because there are lots of variables – the size of your tank, room temperature, water level and so on. The evaporation can be speeded up by using an aquarium compressor, or a circulator pump. Still, you can never be sure that the chlorine is

30 completely absent. If you want to be 100% sure, you need to filter the water.

FERTILIZATION At this point, no one probably doubts the importance of water quality for growing. No matter if you grow hydroponically or in soil. When you want to have a proper nutrient solution and allow your plants to absorb these nutrients, you need to

or different growing system, you should backwash the water regularly with clean water with modified pH. Do the backwash every seven or ten days – the same with the complete exchange of nutrient solution in your tank. Continually high EC levels and the absence of backwashing lead to the quality degradation of environment in your growing medium, which prevents the root system

Nutrient imbalance and over-fertilization express themselves on leaves inconspicuously at first, but more distinctively after some time

measure the pH and EC values of clean water, then the same values of water with fertilizers in it and sometimes even the values of water that leaks out of the growing medium. Measure the pH and EC daily or every other day. This will give you a good overview of how much nutrients you supply your plants with and how much they use. Any deviations from ideal pH and EC values can be adjusted quickly. Let me just say a few more things about fertilization. As stated before, plants can absorb up to 2.4 μS/cm2 of nutrients. Do not forget, though, that the nutrients cannot stay too long in the growing medium. It is necessary to wash away nutrients that have not been used for some time and make way for new ones. If you grow in flowerpots, you must water them with so much liquid, so that one third of it leaks out – this way you replace all the water containing dissolved nutrients. Water your plants so heavily at least once a week. In case you are growing hydroponically, no matter if in flowerpots

from further growth and causes damage to it. Furthermore, the pH then changes quite quickly, leading to other problems.

exchanged twice a year, but it is not a big deal, if you take into account the benefits it has for your plants. Filtration will rid you of chlorine and impurities, but if you experience problems with high EC levels of unrefined water, you need to take it to the next level. Once the EC of your water reaches 0.5 μS/cm2 and more, it is too much. If water from your source has higher EC than this, you should start thinking about reverse osmosis. In this case, water is driven under high pressure through several layers of fine membrane, which filters out impurities up to 0.0001 microns, heavy metals, salts and other chemical substances. The EC level is reduced up to zero or to a value very close to zero; that depends on the quality of water and on the system you used. Another advantage of reverse osmosis is that the adjusted water has pH around 6.5, which is a very good starting point for cannabis cultivation. Generally speaking,

reverse osmosis enables you to have a complete control over the nutrients – how much of them and in what concentrations you provide to your plants. Naturally, you have to pay extra for such a system. You can come across another problem that concerns water quality. Water can contain undesirable amount of bacteria and other organic pathogens. This problem is more common when water from wells is used. The UV radiation is a great tool for killing bacteria. Special pipes are used – you just interconnect them with your water source and plug in. A UV lamp lights up inside and it irradiates the flowing water, but the light does not reach out of the system. This way of water treatment allows you to kill harmful bacteria without the use of chemical solutions. Before you use UV radiation, you should have your water examined in order to find out the amount bacteria present in it – just to avoid spending money needlessly.

Everything You Ever Needed to Know About Indoor Cannabis Growing

WATER TREATMENT Now, we are going to review possible active adjustments of water. You must have heard of filtering, reverse osmosis and UV radiation. All three methods improve the quality of water, but each of them has different uses and results. Water Filtration is a pretty cheap way of water treatment, which removes mechanical and chemical contamination. Proper filter can also immediately get rid of 99 % of the aforementioned chlorine. Should you have problems with impure or chlorinated water, the filtration system is a reliable and cheap solution. You can easily plug the filter to the source from which you pump water for your plants. Such a system for small home grow room costs roughly about the price of ten grams of fine hashish. The filter’s cartridges need to be

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CANNABIS TEA FOR TWO (PLAY ON 420)

RE-DISCOVERING ANCIENT CANNABIS METHODS IN THE MODERN WORLD

By Rich Hamilton

There are many ways to enjoy cannabis, from smoking, to Vaping and edibles. One market that is currently seeing a huge amount of innovation and expansion thanks to the beginnings of legalisation in the USA and Canada, is the drinks industry. Brand giants from both the soft drinks and alcohol sectors are investing heavily in the research and development of potential cannabis drink products that could revolutionise the legal cannabis market and change the face of what cannabis consumption looks like, forever. Whilst the general sale of such products is still a long way off (along with international legalisation) there are options that allow you to enjoy all the benefits of cannabis in a drink form, for little expense and effort, in the comfort of your own home or discreetly when you are out and about. A cup of tea will draw much less attention than having a joint in your hand. So, where do you start? Well first, decide on the purpose of your tea. Do you want the "high" effects of the THC? Or do you just want general health and well being benefits? Or both?

plant is harvested and begins to dry out but in order to really maximise the conversion you need to add a flame. A high temperature will make sure the conversion takes place in full. In short, THCA cannot get you high and CBDA is much less medicinal than CBD. The conversion process starts when the plant is cut and is drying out. Tea is a drink brewed at a high temperatures meaning that any cannabis used (dry or not) once heated, will decarboxylate more once it is heated by the hot water. It is therefore pretty much impossible to make a tea that will not get you even

THCA and CBDA as a dietary supplement without getting noticeably high. This tea is commonly made from young cannabis plants that are not yet at full ripe maturity, making for a much less potent tea that delivers all the cannabinoids possible whilst only inducing a mellow,

slightly high. If you absolutely do not want to feel any of the psychoactive effects of cannabis, then juicing raw fresh young cannabis into juices and smoothies is a much better idea. Raw Chinese and Jamaican style Cannabis herbal tea is an easy way to feel all the effects of non psychoactive

If you want your tea with more of a THC kick then an Indian "Bhang" inspired tea is ideal. Bhang is a strong psychoactive ancient tea, that has its origins with the Hindu religion, which views cannabis as a sacred plant. It is made from ground cannabis buds, milk, butter, spices and sweeteners like cinnamon honey and cloves. Think "Chai latte" and you are getting there. It was first made around 1000 BC and remains the official drink of the Holi Festival of Colours in India. It is also still used during meditation, and yoga to help achieve transcendental states. Medicinally it is used in North India to treat symptoms of anxiety, fever, dysentery, digestion, colds and flu, nausea and even language and speech problems! In terms of the effect it will have, half a gram of cannabis buds is adequate to induce a long lasting manageable body buzz, similar to the kind induced by edibles, that will kick in about 45-90 minutes after consumption of your tea

BRAND GIANTS FROM BOTH THE SOFT DRINKS AND ALCOHOL SECTORS ARE INVESTING HEAVILY IN THE RESEARCH OF POTENTIAL CANNABIS DRINK PRODUCTS relaxing, mild body high with little cerebral effect. To Put the strength of this tea in perspective, it was traditional for mothers of rural working-class families in Jamaica to give their children this "ganja tea" several times a week if not daily to help keep them healthy for the strenuous farm work and school work that they had to partake in. It was said that it helped keep them focused and energised whilst not affecting their performance.

Let’s cover a few basics first. Raw live cannabis contains THCA and CBDA, which are the non-psychoactive cannabinoid foundations of the more famous THC and CBD. THCA and CBDA convert into THC and CBD through a process called decarboxylation where the dried cannabis is heated. The conversion process begins after the

as the THC will bind to any fat and become more psychoactive.

ΖI WKLV VRXQGV OLNH \RXU FXS RI WHD here's how to do it. 1. Cut and thoroughly grind about half a gram of fresh young cannabis stems, leaves and buds for each serving. 2. Spoon ground mixture into a metal tea ball and place in mug 3. Heat water but do not allow to boil ( this is important as too high a temperature will cause your cannabis to start decarboxylating) think how hot a normal cup of tea is when you have just put the milk in. 4. Pour the warm/hot water into the mug and leave to brew for as long as you like depending on your desired strength. At this point you can also add regular tea or sweeten to flavour. 5. Milk and cream should not be added

7KHUH DUH PDQ\ YDULDWLRQV RI UHFLSH but here is a good one to start. 1. For one serving, grind up half a gram of cannabis buds and add to a blender with 1/2 gram of butter, 250ml of whole milk and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Blend until thick and smooth. The Milk, cream, butter, and the fats held within them aid in the psychoactive effect by binding with the cannabinoids and enhancing any psychoactive effects. 2. Leave the mixture for at least 1 hour in order to allow everything to infuse and combine fully, allowing aromas and flavour to develop. 3. Heat 125ml of water in a pan to boil and then keep at a low simmer. Add your mixture from the blender. Allow to simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding small amounts of water to keep mixture from over thickening or burning. 4. Remove from heat and add a chai tea bag. Brew for as long as you like dependent on the strength of flavour desired. 5. Take chai tea bag out and strain the mixture through a fine mesh/sieve, over a big mug. 6. add sweeteners, milk, cream, cinnamon or toppings like

34 marshmallows or chocolate powder and serve! You will find a whole host of recipes online for all tastes and needs. Once you have mastered these basic recipes, the possibilities are endless in terms of creativity and playing with flavours and effects. Cannabis has so many undeniable benefits for mind and body, whether consumed raw or dried . It contains a plethora of vitamins, minerals, terpenes and non-psychoactive cannabinoids, such as CBD, CBN, and CBG. These cannabinoids can work as an antiinflammatory, an anticonvulsant, an appetite suppressant, a mood enhancer and a notable source of magnesium, needed for various body functions, including the regulating of blood sugar levels and blood pressure. It also contains Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, which hold powerful health advantages for both body and mind, alongside various amino acids which are a great support in assisting the body with muscle building. Cannabis tea offers you a great healthy alternative to smoking and can help with

nervous system) which has a proven direct link to stress induced depression. The second trigger is a deficiency in "neurotransmitters" (a chemical messenger which transmits signals across cells and nerves) resulting in a lack of serotonin, an important

THCA AND CBDA CONVERT INTO THC AND CBD THROUGH A PROCESS CALLED DECARBOXYLATION WHERE THE DRIED CANNABIS IS HEATED many physical and mental conditions, but especially the following... $Q[LHW\ DQG 'HSUHVVLRQ There are a number of undeniable triggers for anxiety and depression. The first of these being "neuronal inflammation" (chronic inflammation of the central

contributor to our over all feelings of well-being and happiness. Cannabinoids consumed in a tea, help by binding to receptors in both the brain and throughout the body, giving you a mild mellow body high. Pain Relief- Cannabis is safe, non

addictive and has successfully been used for treating pain for centuries. It works by the binding of cannabinoids to pain receptors in the central nervous system, which then dampen down any pain signals. Ingesting cannabinoids via tea is great because the tea is absorbed through the digestive system, delivering longer lasting relief throughout the whole body. 'LJHVWLYH +HDOWK Cannabinoids in tea are absorbed mainly by receptors in the digestive tract and so are excellent for helping to maintain good digestive health as well as occasional conditions such as constipation, diarrhoea and acid reflux. They can also relieve symptoms of other mild to moderate digestive conditions such as IBS and its associated cramping. Autoimmune Disorders Cannabis is proven to have anti-inflammatory effects, making it great for multiple sclerosis, arthritis and IBS,to name but a few conditions. Cannabis tea offers an accessible, easy, healthy and

effective alternative or compliment to prescription medication. $O]KHLPHU V DQG 'HPHQWLD Recent studies show that THC can slow down and block the production of Beta-amyloid proteins, believed to be the first warning signs of Alzheimer's. These studies have also shown that cannabinoids could offer a protective effect against all kinds of agerelated mental deterioration. Teas are great as a preventative measure, fitting in easily with daily routine and appearing less daunting, easier and more acceptable to an older generation who may be wary of all the common misconceptions that they may have concerning cannabis. So whilst the way you choose to consume cannabis is ultimately down to personal preference, cannabis tea is definitely worth trying out. It doesn't have to be for a specific medical reason, it could just be to add a little variety; expanding and enhancing how cannabis fits into your lifestyle and also deepening understanding of how versatile this incredible plant really is.

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Summer Growing Tips the watering with the closest plant and proceed to the furthest. Wait for the water to be absorbed on the last plant, then work back to the first plant, watering the plants again on the way back. In this way the growing medium will be gently moistened. If lots of water is poured on the plant at once, the risk of exposing the roots goes up. The sudden onrush of cool water will also shock the roots of the plant, slowing down growth until the roots heat up again.

approach is the simplest way to navigate in a very wild area. If there is dense foliage that blocks the line of sight on the ground, place the colored stone in a tree branch where it bifurcates. Other ways are to mark the trees or bushes in a way that makes it easy to understand that that is the way to go. If there are no large trees in the area, you might want to tie a sapling in a knot. Another thing you can do is gather some long grass and tie that in a knot. Be creative and realistic and the crop will never be lost. It is recommended that there be 10 to 12 seedlings planted. Planting this many will result in harvesting 5 or 6 plants at the end of the season. This is because some plants will be lost to animals or insects. Weeding out the male plants will also reduce the number of mature plants when harvest time comes along.

Should the planting area be in a very wild place, the crop will obviously want to be found again. There are a couple of things that can be done for this to happen. Most growers like to place their crop in an off the trail place. It is recommended that a walk of ten minutes into the area that is going to be planted be adhered to. Find the way back to the trail again by dropping 6 inch wide painted stones along the way. Keep dropping stones, with the general rule being that if the last stone cannot be seen, drop another stone. This breadcrumb

A few words should be given to harvesting your mature cannabis. The easiest and safest way to harvest a mature plant is to cover the erect plant with a big garbage bag, then pull the plant out of the ground by the lowest grasp possible. There should be one plant per bag. Try not to damage any branches, should the strain you’re using may have bud bearing limbs. These tips will help the crop along immensely. Following these simple rules will make the growing experience an enjoyable and fruitful experience. Be well.

For those that don’t have the space or inclination to grow indoors, here are a few tips that will ensure the success of this year’s outdoor crop. There are a few tips and practices that should be adhered to. Follow them and this year’s crop will generate By Thomas Valentine enough bud to last all winter. Planting marijuana just anywhere won’t do. Choosing the proper growing location is of paramount importance to the success of the crop. Whether it is just a few plants or a dozen, it is the location that will ensure success. The location should be remote enough to keep attentive eyes from finding and possibly destroying the crop. It should have moist soil, but it shouldn’t be wet. Check for standing water near where you’ve chosen. If it is close to the crop area, make sure the standing water isn’t stagnant or soiled. Standing water can poison the local aquifer. Make sure the standing water is at least ten paces from the growing area. Proper drainage is important, since marijuana likes water but doesn’t like growing in standing water - the roots go moldy. If you see insects or even frogs in the standing water, chances are the water is permanent. Watch for areas with lots of large weeds, as they tend to grow in the same conditions as our favorite green. Clear the area of weeds by pulling up the weed from its roots. Plant in the exposed earth or dig out the area and use a pot filled with growing medium. If there is already a seedling in the pot, don’t take it out - bury the pot. The roots will be damaged no matter how careful it is de-potted. Another tip is the growing medium. Since it is not recommended that the crop be visited on a daily basis, the growing medium should be able to hold lots of water. Use a mixture of 50% potting soil, 25% peat, 10% guano and 15% vermiculite. Vermiculite is a white blown glass-like material that holds moisture jealously. Guano, especially bat guano, is simply the manure from any given animal.

FOLLOW THE

BIGGEST LEADER

Beneficial insects can make or break an outdoor crop. An example of a beneficial insect is a worm. Worm castings are great for the growing medium. The act of pushing itself through the growing medium keeps the material loose and airy. Use four to six worms per pot. If it is a seed that is being planted make sure the soil is aerated, fluffing it up to allow for the new roots to grow easily through the soil. Aerate down about six inches. Drop a few worms on the fluffed area. They’ll stay in the fluffy earth, since it is easier for them to push through. Don’t fluff the growing area again or there is the risk of damaging the roots. A large and extensive root system is the sign of a very healthy plant. Since cannabis needs a good supply of moisture, there may come a time when it is necessary to water them artificially. The general rule is that if there is no rain for 3 sunny days, they’ll need to be watered. The idea is to moisten the first inch or so of growing medium to begin with. Start

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industry event. Billed as part trade show and part research conference, Spannabis has plans to return to Barcelona for its 16th edition of the celebration this March. The festival, which also includes its own award ceremony crowning the best cannabis and cannabis-related products in the region, attracts tens of thousands of consumers annually from across the globe. “Spannabis is one of the most prolific events in the cannabis ecosystem and one of the most well-known annual festivals within the EU,” says Adam Levin, High Times’ CEO. “This acquisition will provide an additional international platform for our customers looking for additional international exposure opportunities.” The deal terms, which included $3 million cash due at closing, $4 million in Hightimes common stock, and two milestone payments for the show in 2020 and 2021. The latest acquisition will expand on High Times’ impressive event production business, which includes entertainment festivals such as the Cannabis Cup, Reggae On the River and industry events like the High Times Business Expo, along with the recent proposed addition of the bi-annual BIG Show. This marks the second foray into Europe for the predominantly US driven brand and is a sign of the markets eventual globalization. “We believe that High Times is the most recognizable brand in Cannabis across the world,” Levin says. “You can see our logo proudly displayed from New York to Singapore and we look forward to creating more access and experiences for consumers no matter where they live.” “This deal is a game-changer for Spannabis,” says Carlos Palomino, the

CEO of Spannabis. “We’ve idolized High Times for decades, so to be adopted by this groundbreaking team is nothing short of extraordinary! We know the future is bright for cannabis, and for High Times who has been leading this movement since many of us were in diapers. We look forward to continuing to push this thriving movement forward, together.” The closing of the acquisition is subject to certain customary closing conditions. Accordingly, there is no assurance that the Spannabis transaction will be consummated. The transaction is expected to close during Q1 of 2019. The announcement comes amidst the Hightimes Regulation A+ crowdfunding campaign, which has already raised millions of dollars from more than seventeen thousand investors across the globe.

COLOFON Soft Secrets is published by Discover Publisher BV P.O.Box 362, 5460 AJ, Veghel, Netherlands Telephone: +31-(0)73-5498112 E-mail: info@softsecrets.nl Web: www.softsecrets.com Editor: Cliff Cremer Contributors: Ed Rosenthal, Jorge Cervantes, Dr. John Dee, Stoney Tark, Rich Hamilton, Mr. Jose, Robert B., cccp, Thomas Valentine, and others. Comics: Jim Stewart

ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ: PAGE 8:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

C B D B A A D B A C

11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

C A B D B C B B D D

Photography: iStock Editorial adress: readers@softsecrets.nl Advertisements: E-mail: info@softsecrets.nl $ ZRUG IURP WKH SXEOLVKHU Soft Secrets is a bi-monthly free magazine which is published in The Netherlands (called Highlife), Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, Poland, Czech Republic, Chile and Argentina. World wide there is a process going on of relative liberalisation towards the use of cannabis, be it for medicinal or recreational purposes. Several countries legalised cannabis as a way of separating soft and hard drugs, as it has proven to do in Holland. Other countries legalised

the use of medicinal cannabis, including the right to grow cannabis plants for one’s own use. The publisher wants to highlight the process of normalisation of cannabis use. This assumes that the publisher does not necessarily agree with everything that appears in articles and advertisements. The publisher therefore distances himself explicitly from published statements or images that might give the impression that an endorsement is being made for the use and/or production of cannabis. Nothing from this publication may be copied or reproduced in any format without prior permission from the publisher and other copyright holders. The publisher is not responsible for the content and/or point of view of advertisements. The editor takes no responsibility for unsollicited submissions. The publisher has endeavored to reach all copyright holders of photos and/or images. Those who still believe they are entitled to these rights may contact the publisher.

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