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THC vaping under scrutiny after unexplained deaths
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ESTABLISHED 1987
within a week after starting to used an e-cigarette style vape for the first time, she developed a full-blown acute respiratory distress syndrome and died.”
response to the current situation and general health worries surrounding vaping, Michigan have become the first state to ban the sale of flavored vape oils.
Health officials around the US have reported links to vaping and investigations into 483 cases of lung disease across 33 states, where the patient recently started vaping prior to their illness occurring. This number has risen from 450 to 483 cases within just a week!
Acute respiratory distress syndrome occurs when a person's lungs fill with liquid. Symptoms include; coughing, shortness of breath, fever, fatigue and gastrointestinal problems and has seen patients admitted to intensive care departments and put on ventilators. All of the patients have reported vaping nicotine, THC or a combination of the two in the days or weeks before they fell ill.
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is working hard to try and identify any one brand, ingredient or substance that could explain the symptoms; making the statement that “finding answers to the vapingrelated illnesses was a top-priority”
Speaking about one of the fatalities, Dr Lee Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said that the patient "had some underlying medical illnesses, but nothing that would have foretold the fact that
In the face of this sudden crisis, a US Congressional hearing has been scheduled on the matter and the CDC (Centre for Disease Control) has advised people to stop using vaping products, whilst the dangers and risks are investigated. In
The safety of vaping, notably the vaping of THC products has come under scrutiny in the USA after seven people have died as a result of developing a serious respiratory illness that has either been confirmed or is suspected as being the direct result of THC/Cannabis vaping products.
Whilst no single device or ingredient has been linked to all cases, many of the patients have admitted vaping THC previous to becoming ill. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that 84% of 53 patients with lung illnesses in Illinois and Wisconsin reported using THC vape products prior to developing symptoms. Of these patients, 24 out of 41 of them had been using a brand called “Dank Vapes” which contains Vitamin E acetate. This is an agent used by some less scrupulous cannabis oil manufacturers to dilute THC vape oil for maximum profit. The CDC has since strengthened the possibility of a link; stating that “some laboratories have identified Vitamin E acetate in product samples used by patients with e-cigarette associated lung illness” Cannabis vape products have seen one of the biggest spikes of growth within the US legal cannabis market. Unfortunately due to the lack of uniform regulation, product quality varies massively. Whilst the effect of Vitamin E acetate on the lungs remains unclear the FDA has advised people to avoid unofficial vape products sold outside of reputable stores and if possible, to stop vaping of any kind altogether, until the cause of this alarming outbreak has been firmly established. The CDC recently tweeted that it is aware that “people are concerned about pulmonary disease among those who use vape style e-cigarettes. We are keeping the families of those affected in our thoughts & are working with the US FDA & state partners to find out what is making people sick” (RH)
New glookies
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find your nearest wholesaler or retailer
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3 Page
7
CHOCOLATE MINT OG
A SUPERIOR LEVEL
Page
10
THE 5 BEST STRAINS FROM THE USA
Page
15
AUTO COLORADO COOKIES
A DUTCH PASSION GROW REPORT
Page
21
AFGHAN CANNABIS
CULTURAL AND GENETIC LEGACY
Quick Critical + Dinafem Seeds www.dinafem.org
Page
29
A WORLD OF HASH BY STONEY TARK
4
EDITORIAL
BREXIT: AN ACT OF DELIBERATE SELF HARM A Scotsman, an Irishman and an Englishman walk into a bar. A really, really good bar. Then they all leave because the Englishman decides that’s what’s happening. Funny. Not funny. This, readers, is Brexit stripped right down to its essence. It seems very likely that the UK is destined to become a place where the obscenely rich can blatantly dodge and evade paying their taxes free from any sort of impediment. It also seems very likely that, in order to allow the aforementioned obscenely rich to squeeze even more wealth out of the population and into their bank accounts, that a whole range of hard won rights, from living wage to health and safety protection, paid holidays, paid maternity and paternity leave, restrictions on working hours, guaranteed working hours; all of that and everything else that might affect profits will go. We can say bye bye to free healthcare as well. Pfft! Just like that, we’ll be seventy-five years in the past. A surprising number of people (who are mostly quite intelligent and should therefore really know better) I’ve spoken to have told me that because we’re “taking back control” of our own laws, this means that we’ll be able to get a top to tail reform of our current drug laws and effectively legalise whatever we want, free from interference and restriction by Johnny Foreigner at the EU. Really? I don’t know how many times I’ve talked about this (and more than once in these very pages); the EU have quite clearly said that should any member state wish to overhaul or change their domestic laws around, say, the legalisation of cannabis, then this would be a matter for that member state and that the EU wouldn’t interfere. The door for this has been open now for nearly ten years, but successive UK governments have chosen to ignore it, preferring instead to carry blindly on with their absurd “tough on drugs” road to failure. The fact is that this very week (23/10/19), MP’s on the cross-party Health and Social Care Committee recommended that the government consider the decriminalisation of all drugs, in a bid to curb the soaring number of drug deaths in the UK, a situation described as a “public health emergency”. And with 2670 deaths in England and nearly 1200 deaths in Scotland (a country with a population roughly the same as London), they’re not wrong. Completely unsurprisingly, the government has said that it has absolutely no plans for the decriminalisation of any drug. There will be no debate about the matter; experts and evidence will be ignored. Nothing to do with our friends in Europe, just blind and total inflexibility on the part of the government in London. For most of the “leavers” (including those who aren’t just straight down the line racists), everything that’s wrong with the UK is the fault of the EU. I just wonder who they’re going to blame five when we’re no longer in the EU and the shit hits the fan. Just in case there was any doubt about it: I’m Scottish. I didn’t vote for any of this. I voted to remain in the EU in 2016, and I voted for independence from the rest of the UK in 2014. Like almost every other Scottish person I know, I feel completely shafted and completely disempowered. This is in all probability the last piece you’ll be seeing from me. Brexit hasn’t even happened yet, and already Soft Secrets UK is suffering from a lack of advertising revenue arising from the uncertainty around Brexit. This has meant that cuts have had to be made, and I’m one of these cuts. But on the bright side, I’ll have a blue passport (in a final irony, these will be manufactured in France). See ya. Dr. John Dee
5
PRODUCT
PRODUCT
BUBBLESAC Concentrates such as shatter and wax have made a big splash on the market in recent years, but along with their growing popularity is a growing concern over the use of solvents in their production and the effect that those solvents are having on the consumer. With a Next Level Bubblesac you can make incredibly pure, high THC hash with nothing but plant matter and water!
Bubble hash is made by cooling the cannabinoidȴlled glands on the surface of leaf and bud so that they become brittle and snap away from the plant in to ice water. The detached glands are then graded through the carefully sized screens and seperated according to their size/ maturity. Other methods of making extracts use a solvent to dissolve the glands from the plant. The oil contained in the glands becomes suspended in the solvent. It is then extracted by evaporating the solvent away leaving the cannabinoid oil behind. The problem comes in the evaporation process.
No matter how carefully it is done some solvent always remains in the finished product. A vacuum chamber can improve the process but are costly and still don’t fully remove all the residual solvent. With a Bubblesac none of these issues are a concern – both water and cannabis are 100% non-toxic! It is true to say that solvent-extracted cannabinoid products do have higher percentages of THC and CBD than water-extracted hash but it comes at a cost. Solvents can be expensive, especially if processing large amounts of plant matter. They also carry a pretty big environmental impact in their production and packaging. On the other hand, water is...well, water. Made in the UK and using the finest pharmaceutical grade mesh screens Bubblesacs have a relatively low environmental impact, especially when compared to using solvent. What’s more – with Bubble hash more of the plants’ individual characteristics are retained during the high and through the terpenes and flavors that are kept in the end product, a much tastier and healthier alternative for both smoking and edibles. Best of all, by using only water in the process you get the peace of mind that comes from knowing the high-grade product you are enjoying is made from pure, natural, unadulterated cannabis and nothing else. That’s what it’s all about, right?
www.bubblesac.co.uk
IGUANA JUICE ORGANIC™ OIM GROW & IGUANA JUICE ORGANIC™ OIM BLOOM Advanced Nutrients offers the only complete growing system specific to cannabis. The company has brought more than 50 firsts to the market, and continues to revolutionize cultivation science across the world. Now on its eighth generation of products, Advanced Nutrients consistently ranks amongst the most trusted complete nutrient systems for growers who want to unlock the true genetic potential of their plants. b Iguana Juice Organic™ OIM Bloom is the comprehensive one-part liquid bloom base nutrient that is completely water-soluble, ensuring optimal growth cycle and predictable high yields for organic cultivators.b b Iguana Juice Organic™ OIM Grow is the comprehensive one-part liquid base nutrient that is completely water-soluble, ensuring optimal growth cycle and predictable high yields for organic cultivators.
www.advancednutrients.com
7
SEED BANKS TricomaTeam (tricomateam@gmail.com)
CHOCOLATE MINT OG A SUPERIOR LEVEL An exceptional, largely sized Indica-dominant variety with an exorbitant production of resin. Its exquisite and intense flavour and its powerful physical and cerebral effect are impressive. During flowering, some plants turn completely purple and stand out for their beauty in the grow room. Chocolate Mint OG seeds come from an excellent California seed bank named Humboldt Seed Organization. They were produced from crossing Emeral OG and Grandaddy Purple. The resulting plant is impressive, has an
cutting them, so that buds get very hard and trichomes mature completely.
In less than 48 hours, all had germinated and the first radicles were also visible. Based on our previous experience with other Humboldt Seed strains, we placed a lot of confidence in this plant. When radicles were visible, we introduced seedlings in pots of less than one litre, where they remained for approximately 10/12 days. During these first two weeks or so, we only added a dose of rood booster to irrigation water. After this short period of development, the explosive growth of this strain was already perceptible. We moved them to larger 11-litre pots and added an extra dose of root booster during the first days. Then we gradually added a growth fertiliser.
Indoors, under lamps, yield usually ranges between 400 and 600 g/m2. Outdoors, the dry yield per plant can even exceed one kilogram. The Indica/ Sativa ratio of this strain is 80/20 and its THC concentration may reach as much as 26% in some specimens.
Branches abounded and the use of training stakes was required since the beginning. This strain grows quickly with a high number of lateral branches and shoots. Its leaves have a very intense green colour.
This strain can be grown easily, provided that you are able to control its development. You only need to avoid excessive humidity, because it is sensitive to mildew. As for its organoleptic
A large quantity of cuttings could be taken to select a mother. In a little more than one month, the plants had grown to an enormous size and the first pistils were already visible, so we
From time to time, we added extra rope and stakes. The plants were taller and more leafy than most of the strains we had in our grow room. From the very first weeks, we used a specific fertiliser and booster for the fruiting phase. The leaves gradually took on a darker colour and, at the end of flowering, some plants were completely purple. Pistils piled up on the countless shoots and the first flowers began to form. They were oval, hairy and covered with a really impressive resin layer. We washed roots fifteen days before harvest. In about nine weeks, buds were as hard as stones. They were not especially big, but very numerous and compact, purple and spectacular. Trimming took us some time, because the leaf-to-bud ratio was somewhat high. The grass smells exquisite at every cut of scissors. What is more, the small leaves covered with resin that are removed around the buds can be used to obtain a very tasty and powerful hashish. Our harvest had a spectacular look and was abundant, although this plant is not among the highest yielding strains.
A fantastic central bud.
explosive growth, produces high yields, and has an excellent smell with a spectacular production of trichomes that are visible to the naked eye. Outdoors, some specimens can easily reach more than three meters in height, with huge branches and very long buds at their tips. Indoors, the use of stakes is essential from the very first weeks given the high number of long lateral branches. The phase of growth should not be extended too much to prevent plants from ‘slipping out of control’ during flowering. They will be ready to be harvested in outdoor crops between the beginning and the middle of October. Indoors, they mature between the eighth and ninth week. To achieve the maximum yield, we recommend waiting until nine weeks, or even a few more days, before
Secondary buds full of resin.
Bottom view.
properties, it gives off an intense and inebriating aroma; its taste is special, very strong, somewhat earthy and sweet, with touches of mint and spices.
decided to move them to the flowering room with a photoperiod of twelve hours, so that they would not grow much more.
The high it generates is also very strong, instantaneous and devastating. You will be relaxed both mentally and physically. This effect makes the plant suitable for consumption at the end of the day. Indeed, after a few puffs of Chocolate Mint OG, you can be sure you will no longer rise from the sofa.
From our selected mother, we took a very large quantity of cuttings at short intervals. This strain has a rapid development and therefore adapts to all types of crops.
GERMINATION AND GROWTH The first seeds of Chocolate Mint OG we tested were placed in a wet cloth.
FLOWERING With the change of photoperiod and under powerful 600w lamps, Chocolate Mint OG kept growing and branching for a couple of weeks more. Specimens had a significant growth spurt reaching twice their initial size.
TASTE AND EFFECT The grass produced from this plant is of first quality. Its taste is sweet, somewhat earthy, very pleasant and intense. It has a penetrating aftertaste that remains long on the palate with spicy notes and an outstanding mint flavour. The effect is very fast and fulminating and can be appreciated at any time. It leaves your mind and body instantly immersed in a state of peace and relaxation. It is ideal to disconnect from everything and enjoy a moment of tranquillity. A very suitable herb also to fall asleep easily.
8
GROW QUIZ
7. Using an E.C pen does what? a) b) c) d)
Tests the pH of the water Tests the strength of the nutrient solution Tests the relative humidity Tests the vapour pressure deficit
14. ) Which of these is classed as speed drying? a) b) c) d)
Drying flowers in 3-5 days Drying flowers in 10 days Drying flowers in 14+ days Curing flowers in a jar
8. Which of these has an energetic effect?
1. When breeding what is an S1? a) b) c) d)
A second generation lineage A femenised version A male dominant line It means stable
a) b) c) d)
Indica Cannabis Hybrid Cannabis CBD Hemp Cannabis Sativa Cannabis
9. What does the transition stage mean? 2. What does reverse osmosis mean? a) b) c) d)
A recirculating DWC system Filtering water using membranes Using an air pump and air stone It means to ȵush plants with plain water
a) b) c) d)
When the plants produce buds When the plants move to the ȵower room When clones leave the propagator When plants are ȵowered under 12/12
15. Seedlings prefer which environment? a) b) c) d)
Warm and low humidity Cold and high humidity Hot and zero humidity Warm and high humidity
16. What are the signs of mildew? a) b) c) d)
Yellow spots appearing on leaves Roots beginning to turn brown Spider webs between the buds A white powdery substance on leaves
17. A phenotype of Cannabis is what? 3. What does root bound mean when growing? a) b) c) d)
When roots prune themselves naturally When beneficial microorganisms attach When the roots are infected When the roots outgrow the pot
10. What is responsible for the plant’s aromas? a) b) c) d)
THC CBD Terpenes Plant Alcohols
a) b) c) d)
The most potent plant A specific characteristic A female only strain It does not exist
18. Which of these describes Critical? 4. What light cycle do mother plants require? a) b) c) d)
12/12 14/10 18/6 Total darkness
11. What stage is known as the vegetative stage? a) b) c) d)
The germination stage Setting lights to 18/6 Setting lights to 12/12 When plants are harvested
a) b) c) d)
7 week flowering, fruity and big yields 11 week flowering time and fuel flavour 9 week flowering time and lemon flavour 6.5 weeks flowering time, sour flavour
19. Which of these is not real?
5. When should extractor fans be turned off? a) b) c) d)
They should be kept on 24/7 When the lights go o When lights ȴrst turn on Depends on how hot the grow room is
12. do enzymes work? a) b) c) d)
By breaking down organic substrates The same symbiotic way as microbes They make nutrient levels increase They don’t do anything for plants
6. Adding perlite to a medium does what?
13. What does hard water mean?
a) b) c) d)
a) b) c) d)
Improves Nitrogen uptake Leeches Calcium to the roots Increases air pockets and drainage Immobilizes Phosphorus
It has a low mineral content Reverse osmosis was used It has a high mineral content It means it has aerobic bacteria
a) b) c) d)
White Russian White German White Rhino White Widow
20. What temperature should your dry room be? a) b) c) d)
15 degrees Celsius 0 degrees Celsius 24 degrees Celsius -10 degrees Celsius
For answer see page 38!
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10
GROW WITH RICH HAMILTON
By Rich Hamilton
THE 5 BEST STRAINS FROM THE USA
The US influence on current cannabis strain trends is undeniable. Visit any US dispensary and you will be treated to a wide selection of new, stronger, more potent hybrids that have been created from both classic strains and contemporary favorites. Tastes change, and data from US dispensaries show that today’s consumers are favoring sweeter strains that mix fruit and gas flavors in varieties such as Gelato and Zkittlez. Whereas in years gone by, the focus was on predominantly on savory, gas/diesel flavors such as OG Kush and Sour Diesel. Whilst some classic strains have remained, the demand for new, stronger “on trend” flavors means that the menu of most dispensaries will feature strains that are relatively unheard of and the result of intense cross breeding in an attempt to further influence current trends and market demands. By making these, super hybrid, boutique and artisan strains of cannabis the US genetic companies are trying to create the “holy grail”, the champion of strains! In doing this the legal cannabis market is ever changing, improving and evolving. Trends and strains that occur in the US market gain popularity and become the stuff of urban legend, via the world wide online community of smoking and Growing forums, dispensaries and online seed distributors. As with any trend, before long, consumer tastes are influenced and trends are capitalized on and are replicated. This results in many new strains, with similar qualities entering the international market for widespread sale. We have already seen this happening with the whole “Cali phenomenon” dominating the market in the wake of legalization and raising the bar in terms of quality and prices, prices that the industry just keep pushing up, so how do they do this? If Cali bud was the new black, what’s the new, new black? The new Cali, if you will? Here are some of the newest and hottest genetics from the USA currently creating a buzz and taking the USA by storm.
1.Runtz A perfect example of the market power and development of US genetics. Runtz is a cross between 2 of the most recent hybrid giants, “Gelato” and “ Zkittlez”. Given the 2 strains individual popularity it seems a no-brainer to combine them and create a super hybrid!
Runtz is a colorful one, ranging from shades of purple and blues all nestled in between the orange pistils and shades of green. Taste wise, like its parentage it has a sugary-sweet, fruity flavor and scent. There are several phenotyoes available featuring both Sativa and Indica dominant hybrids and for this reason the THC levels can vary. As it is such a new young strain, there is not much solid info on its THC and CBD levels but it has been a hit with consumers and reviewers who love its taste and effects. Runtz induces a high that gives you everything, a euphoric high in the head and a relaxing hit to the body. It is reported to be helpful in treating anxiety and stress along with providing mild pain relief.
2.Ice Cream Cake The sweet dessert flavor trend continues with Ice-cream cake. There are several strains doing the rounds but the most desirable is the cross bred creation of “Wedding Cake X Gelato no.33” which individually are already popular strains on both sides of the Atlantic. Ice Cream Cake is an Indica dominant
strain (75%/25%) coated in frosty trichomes, layered on top of light green buds with dark purple flecks swirled throughout and thick orange pistils piercing through. The flavor is just as the name suggests a creamy sugary cake flavor with tones of sweet nut and vanilla.
buds are heavily laden with trichomes, so much so that Purple Punch belongs to the category of brilliantly termed “Dankenstein” strains. This is where 2 already “dank” strains are crossed to create an even danker monster with stronger taste and potency!
The aroma is a pungent mix of creamy, nutty tones but with less sweetness and a more earthy scent. It gives a strong typically indica effect on the body, from its high THC levels of 20-35%, leaving you very relaxed. A great strain for relieving insomnia, depression and more severe pain conditions.
Purple punch has high THC levels of 18-25%. In appearance it ranges from light fresh green to a bright yellowish green, accentuated by Grandaddy Purple’s signature violet hues that indi-
3.Purple Punch This one is being lauded as the new “Blue Dream” which of course has been one of the best selling strains of cannabis across the legal US states since it emerged in 2014. Purple punch is a mouth watering cross of 2 high quality Indica dominant parents, Grandaddy Purple and Larry OG that produces high Indica levels of 90% to 10% sativa. A very rare and expensive find outside of North America, the
11 ing mood, with relaxation but without a negative impact on physicality. Medicinally it is great for relieving symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress as well as mild pain and inflammation.
5.Garlic cookies (or GMO) This one is important as it bucks the current trend for the “dessert strains”. Although it indeed has cookies in the title it is far from a sugary treat! Garlic Cookies does indeed have an undeniable strong, gassy, garlic, savory and diesel smell, a refreshing reminder of the gassy strains of years gone by, proving that these strains still have a place in the new evolving Cannabis market. A hybrid of the Classic Girl Scout Cookies (GSC) and Chemdawg with a Chemdawg dominant phenotype. Garlic cookies is a heavily potent Indica dominant (90%/10%) hybrid with a THC content that has tested at as high as 31%. The bud itself is fluffy with burning orange hairs and sandy colored trichomes layered over yellowy green popcorn Nugs. cate the volume of terpenes, oil and resins within the buds. The aroma of grapes, blueberry muffins and candy is strong with an underlying sharp fruit fizz. A strong tasty Indica, the effects are potent, calming, relaxing and great for medicinal use. It hits you in the head first before trickling down into you limbs and sentencing you to a long spell on the couch. Purple Punch is great for managing all kinds of stress, anxiety, nausea, depression and chronic pain.
4.Melonade This one has seen a soar in popularity in the US since winning first place Sativa at the 2018 “Sacramento Cannabis cup” Another sweet, fruity and potent hybrid with high THC, Melonade is the love child of Watermelon Zkittlez and Lemon Tree no.11. With an expected fruity and sour profile, that is surprisingly more subtle, than the pungent scents of both its makers, its overall characteristics make it a
more desirable product than either of its parents. This watermelon dominant phenotype is unique in the way the melon flavor cuts through everything else, a real point of difference when set against the background of strains with a lemon terpene profile (limonene) currently dominating the market. This strain is the result of a worthy effort by the Breeders to find a watermelon dominant phenotype. They popped 30 seeds of Melonade before finding this winning one! Melonade buds look fuzzy in appearance due to the dense cloak of trichomes layered upon them. So thick is the layer of trichomes that it makes the light green coloring look even fairer with only the bursts of bright orange pistils to break up the frosty scene. A Sativa dominant hybrid with high THC of over 25% the effects are reported as being mainly cerebal, encouraging a calm, focused and happy mind. Melonade is great for creating an uplift-
both parents, giving you an overall, classic sharp, diesel, skunky taste that those Sour Diesel and Chem Dog fans amongst you will love. The high is full and body buzzing, hitting body and mind without having a heavy couch lock effect. Medicinally this strain is advantageous as it has a high THC level that can help with chronic pain and psychological conditions without putting you out of action physically. Although most of these strains are pretty much confined to the USA for the time being and may not be around for long before “the next big thing” moves in, their existence does help to give you an idea of what we can expect to see emerging in the wider European and UK cannabis market. The legalization and com-
mercialization of cannabis in the US has seen a rise in brands whose products, although only available to buy in legal states, have gained celebrity like status through online seed and review sites.
The aroma is strikingly savory and pungent with notes reminiscent of its ancestral lineage, such as petrol, coffee, curry spices, musk and incense originating from the Chemdawg and a slightly sweet but mainly earthy diesel tone from the Cookies heritage. Think of a food market in the heart of India and you will start to get the picture. The flavor is heavy and follows suit having throwback hints to
This trend has lead to an international awareness and demand for these must-have “boutique” cannabis strains. These strains are grown in big money professional, clinical and legal set-ups by experts, funded by millions of dollars, and the quality and results reflect this. These strains are more potent, smoother, better tasting and most importantly, consistent. These are conditions that struggle to be replicated in many countries where the growing and use of cannabis still remains illegal. As long as current legislation remains unchanged, then the USA will continue to be the leader in new international cannabis genetics and market trends.
12
SEED BANKS
TERPENE TESTING:
Sensi Star and Nebula ll CBD Once upon a time cannabis had one smell - of weed! - or more commonly of 'skunk' because in the early days, the intensity of the odour was so pungent that it became synonymous with the smelly black and white mammal. However, as the cannabis seed industry has advanced and the amount of available cannabis strains has grown, it has opened up a whole new world of appreciation of scent and flavour. Let's take you a little further into this wonderful world of weed scents by focusing on some specific Paradise Seeds strains that have been through the terpene testing process.
SENSI STAR TERPENE TESTING PROFILE Smell: Spicy/Lemon/Metallic This is our original premium strain, an indica variety with a high level of THC. Sensi Star is distinctive thanks to a scent that is unique amongst other strains. As one of the Paradise Seeds breeding team reveals; "With a hint of cold metallic steel on the tip of the tongue the nose receptors experience a scent like squeezed lemon on a branch of fresh pine, with a finish that combines black pepper and woman's perfume." The primary terpene is Myrcene which is also found in mango, hops and lem-
The secondary terpene is Limonene, a citrusy element whose refreshing fragrance makes it a common feature in perfumes. Limonene is recognised for having analgesic (pain relief) qualities and is also recognised for its anti-oxidant and anti-cancer properties. The tertiary terpene present in Sensi Star is Caryophyllene, which is characterized by a spicy, peppery fragrance. This is very common in many different edible plants and has anti-inflammatory properties. Interestingly it can also reduce the craving for alcohol. Terpene percentages: Sensi Star Alpha Pinen 0.02 Beta Pinen 0.05 Myrcene 0.99 Limonene 0.35 Caryophyllene 0.13 Terpinolene 0.01 Linalool 0.01 Terpineol 0.02
profile is again Myrcene, which is the most common found in cannabis strains. The tertiary terpenes present in the Nebula profile are Caryophyllene and Beta Pinene which contribute to those recognisable spicy and piney tones. However, perhaps the most interesting element in the Nebula mix is the secondary terpene, Terpinolene, which is one of the less common of the terpenes that appear in the big 10 list. Terpinolene has a sophisticated bouquet that is not easily characterized by a specific fragrance. It includes a hint of pine, a pinch of flower, a touch of herb and even
Terpene Percentages: Nebula ll CBD Alpha Pinen Beta Pinen Myrcene Limonene Terpinolene Linalool Terpineol Caryophyllene
0.03 0.06 0.2 0.05 0.32 0.03 0.04 0.06
As you can see from the results of these terpene tests, there's a lot to offer the nose in every cannabis strain than the first sniff reveals! While picking out individual terpenes is a challenge, due to the subtleties of tone,
NEBULA II CBD TERPENE TESTING PROFILE
ongrass. It has an earthy/spicy quality to its fragrance with physical effects that are dominated by sleepiness and stress reduction - Sensi Star is of course renowned for its powers of relaxation.
Smell: Sweet/Fruity The fruity taste of Paradise Seeds' has been appreciated by users since we first released this sativa dominant strain in the early 2000s. When we created our first medical strains this variety became one our first CBD rich strains in the form of Nebula ll CBD. Its scent stands out with a very sugary characteristic, which some have compared to honey. What does the breeding team say on the matter?! "Nebula is a heavy cloud of sugar - really similar to the Chong's Choice L.A. Amnesia. Pungent fresh fruits characterize the scent alongside the sweetness of honey, although such is its intensity that the smell will reveal itself as strongly as a freshly opened pack of white sugar!" Terpene testing has found that the most dominant terpene in the Nebula ll CBD
a tickle of citrus! It has relaxing effects and reported medical benefits that include anti-fungal and ant-bacterial qualities, with some evidence that it may have a role in heart disease risk reduction.
exploring this power of fragrance can open up a wonderful new window onto the world of cannabis! www.paradise-seeds.com
YOUR PASSION OUR PASSION DUTCH PASSION www.dutch-passion.com
ME RINGUE
®
Dutch Passion www.dutch-passion.com
15
STRAIN REPORT
AUTO COLORADO COOKIES
A Dutch Passion Grow Report
I have been growing and enjoying cannabis for a long time, I have grown many strains and always like to try something new each grow. It is rare for me to grow a strain more than once. But some strains, are just too good to not have, Auto Colorado Cookies from Dutch Passion is one of those. So easy to grow, and an incredible, tasty end product, Auto Colorado Cookies isn’t just one of my favourite strains from Dutch Passion, but it is one of my favourite strains of cannabis ever. Auto Colorado Cookies, is a Indica Dominant hybrid, that is crossed from Girl Scout Cookies, and Auto Blueberry, if you have tried any of those 2 strains, then just by reading that you should be onto Dutch Passions website ordering some. This strain really is a pleasure to grow, and can be harvested just 11 weeks after germination. If you’re looking for some new autos to grow, then give Autos Colorado Cookies a try
By MACKY - Percygrowroom.com at first above ground, but plenty of root will grow under the surface. After about 3 weeks, the plants will start to really fill out with growth, and the more light you can give them from this point, the better. They should be under at least 100w of light per plant during vegetation. The ACC doesn’t like a lot of food. You can easily push it too far. Monitor the plant for what they want to eat, and raise the amount you feed it as the plant grows. Always keep the food low unless the plant looks hungry. After 4-5 weeks, you will see flowers begin to form. This is when the flowering stage has begun.
potassium and phosphorus. Too much nitrogen during the flowering will cause the buds to be airy (less dense). With the right feed, you will have big dense buds from Auto Colorado Cookies. Reducing the nitrogen early in flower will help give you those dense oily nugs. For me, I grow autos under an 18/6 light cycle for their whole lives. But there is no reason why you can’t grow ACC under 24 hours of light. The buds grow big and fast, and is one of the few strains where you notice the plant packing on weight day by day. After 6-7 weeks, you will see that the trichomes are milky, the pistils are turning
Colorado Cookies go for a full 100 days as a test, and the smoke was incredible. I would recommend you trying the same thing. But It is still quality with 11-12 weeks. The harvesting point is up to you, but make sure your trichomes are at least 90% milky before harvesting to get the best results, and to have the buds express the right characteristics of the Auto Colorado Cookie high.
brown, and the plant is ready for harvest. There is a fresh fruity sweet pungent smell to the buds. My personal preference for this strain is to let it go a little longer. Under the advice of Dutch Passion, I let one of my Auto
harvest. This strain will grow long dense colas, so it is easy to remove a whole branch from the plant and hang it. With the correct training and topping early on in the grow, you will have a number of branches, with huge dense colas. Just
Harvesting When you are happy the plant is ripe and ready for the chop, all you have to do is
AUTO COLORADO COOKIES GROW GUIDE Germination Auto Colorado Cookies are always quick to germinate. I soak the seeds for just a few hours in water, and then plant them straight into my medium (Coco). Within 2-3 days, a shoot would already have surfaced. They are then kept under 50w t5 for a few days maybe a week until the true leaves first grow, and the small plants can handle more light. Some Auto growers will plant the seeds in the final pot, and do not transplant, feeling that doing so will increase their final yield. In my opinion, this is a myth, and I have tested it. I start ACC off in a small pot, no bigger than 0.5L in volume. Once the roots are big enough, I will then transplant them into their final pot. It is up to you, but there is no harm in transplanting once, as long as you do it properly, and keep the stress to a minimum.
Vegetation Vegetation on Auto Colorado cookies only take about 3-4 weeks. The growth is slow
Flowering When flowers begin to form, you should change the feed to a “bloom” or “flowering” feed. You should reduce the amount of nitrogen that is being given to the plant, and increase the amount of
16 harvest them each one by one and hang them in your drying room.
Drying As the buds dry, you will notice the thick resins and oils the flower produced even more. It is very sticky, and is perfect for making extracts and oils. The thick layer
OPINION
The final flavour is intense, fruity, sweet, but has a slight mixture of all flavours. With its deep relaxing Indica high, it is a daytime smoke for only the hardcore smokers, and should be enjoyed lightly by regular by people who do not smoke often. The amount of crystals on the buds and leaves is amazing, and if you’re looking
A Better Tomorrow? By Dr Dee
While the rest of the UK chews at its collective neck around Brexit, in Scotland, the SNP unanimously voted at its annual conference to decriminalise possession and consumption of all drugs. The delegates also called for powers around drug policy to be devolved to Edinburgh in order to enable this. This is crucial, as currently drug policy is controlled by Westminster, who block absolutely everything related to the reformation of the drug laws. The SNP have a track record for this kind of enlightened and pragmatic thinking, as three years ago in 2016, they backed the decriminalisation of cannabis for medical use. The move was blocked by the government in London. The naked fact of the matter is that in Scotland in 2018, we had 1187 deaths directly related to drug use. That’s three times higher than the UK, and the highest rate in the EU. We’ve set up various task forces, had a lot of “talking shops” and all the rest of it. Evidence has been presented by a whole range of parties, from drug specialists through to user groups. I attended a couple of these committee hearings to present evidence a few months ago.
of crystals is amazing, and can actually be scraped off tip leaf. After 5 days, the smaller buds will be dry, the bigger buds should be dry with a week to 10 days. At this stage the cookies are good to go, and you can smoke them if you wish. But to cure the buds for a week at least will really bring out that fruity sweet flavour.
FINAL RESULT My yield varies from Auto Colorado Cookies depending on what light I use to grow it. I have found I will get the frostiest buds under my LED, but get a better yield under HPS, but this is standard for any strain. But no matter how I have grown it, Auto Colorado Cookies has never disappointed me, always brings a good yield, and a very high standard of buds when its finished.
for an auto to make edibles with, I could not recommend Auto Colorado Cookies enough. Even the trim after harvest can be used to make a good amount of extract.
FOLLOW MY GROW If you want to see Auto Colorado Cookies growing, then come and check out my grow diary that will begin soon on percysgrowroom.com I am going to be running a sponsored grow with Invisible Sun LED, and grow 2 Auto Colorado cookies, with Canna Nutrients. If you would like to join me, and grow some of your own Auto Colorado Cookies, then message me in the cannabis growers forum at Percy Grow Room. We can talk you through your grow step by step to get you to the best harvest.
It’s become clear to me that the idea behind these initiatives is to attempt to “tackle” the problem of drugs and drug deaths, but without actually changing anything, because Westminster won’t allow it. In my view, this makes the whole thing a pointless waste of everyone’s time.
to save lives and save money. Again, the Home Office bluntly refused permission. And this is where we’re at in Scotland. We’ve a government with a lot of very good, progressive and humane ideas, but lacking any meaningful sort of power to be able to enact these. This is a source of ongoing and intense indignation and frustration. Nevertheless, there may be a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel here, as Scotland voted pretty convincingly to remain in the EU, and we’re now being dragged out of it against our will. In 2014, we had a vote for Scottish Independence. Unfortunately, this resulted in Scotland staying as a part of the UK. However, one of the big points the pro-remain groups made was that Scotland could only remain as part of the EU as part of the UK: if we chose independence from the rest of the UK, then we’d no longer be a part of the European Union. This point appeared to affect how a lot of people voted. Jump forward five years and here we are, on the point of leaving the European Union, in spite of all of all that was said and promised in 2014, and all because England and Wales are in a state of collective madness and cognitive dissonance. These countries have a collective population of around 58 million people, compared to Scotland, with a population of just over 5 million, so this is never going to change: what England wants we all get.
It has been proposed that safe consumption rooms be trialled, as evidence from elsewhere indicates that these spaces work extremely well in harm reduction terms, and beyond any doubt they save lives (and ultimately, they save the Health Services a significant amount of money). The Home Office refused to grant permission for the trial.
So now it looks very much as though the issue of independence is going to be on the table once again, and this time there is significant urgency attached. It’s hard to know what’s true and what isn’t these days, but it appears that the EU have indicated that Scotland would be welcome back into the fold as a partner.
It has also been proposed that hard core, problem users be provided with heroin, as again, this has been shown
Perhaps all of the current chaos and uncertainty will result in something better. I certainly hope so.
18
GROW WITH JORGE CERVANTES
By Jorge Cervantes – jorge@marijuanagrowing.com
WATER SOURCES Sources of Water: Air conditioner water: Water condensed from an air conditioner or dehumidifier is very clean—virtually no dissolved solids. But the water does trap cannabis fragrance. Most A/C units generate 2 to 7.6–11.4 liters of water a day. Empty containers on a daily basis! Rainwater: You can harvest 2000 liters of rainwater from 3 cm of rain that falls on a 93 m2 roof. Although slightly acidic in urban areas, rainwater is free of chlorine and pollutants or salts that normally occur in groundwater.
prevent evapora- tion and keep out trash. To make sure it is not too acidic (acid rain) and harmful to plants, take pH and parts per million (ppm) readings from collected rainwater before using. Rivers and streams: Usually, these water resources are publicly controlled. Alpine watersheds supply “mineralized” water— water with elements and nutri- ents that plants need to produce food and grow. Tap water: Household water often contains chlorine and other dissolved minerals. Check two or three times a year with your local water bureau to find out
out the sodium, then siphon water from the top of the barrel, refilling after each watering to allow the chlorine to evaporate. Chlorine, like sodium, is beneficial in small amounts. It is essential to the use of oxygen during photosynthesis and is necessary for root and leaf cell division. But too much chlorine causes leaf tips and mar- gins to burn and leaves to turn a bronze color. Chlorine (which evaporates) and chloramine (which must be filtered to remove) are added to household water systems to kill bacteria, parasites, and other organisms. But both oxidize iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide, making them easier to filter out. Empty the
and over time. Do not assume that the mineral content will be the same as that of your neighbors’ well water. Most often well water is hard, with high levels of calcium and magnesium.
Purified Water Bottled water enjoys minimal regula- tion in most countries. The US federal government for example, requires that bottled water be at least the same quality as tap water, but some studies show it is of lower quality. Frequently sold as “mineral water” for $1 to $4 USD per 4 liters, bottled water may contain more dissolved solids than tap water. If you are using bottled water, read labels care- fully to ensure that it contains less than 150 ppm (15 mg/L) dissolved solids (aka minerals). Carbon filters are effective at removing chlorine, chloramines, sediment, and volatile organic compounds (paints, petroleum solvents, and hazardous wastes) from water. But they do not remove dissolved mineral salts from water. Use carbon filters as a pre-filter to reverse osmosis (RO) filters. Deionized (aka demineralized) water has had its mineral ions removed. A water deionizer moves water through special ion exchange resins, complex sodium salts. These resins bind to the mineral dissolved solids (salts), filtering them out of the “pure” water. Deionized water is similar in purity to distilled water. Deionization does not specifically remove viruses or bacteria. Distilled water has many of its impuri- ties eliminated via distillation, a process that boils water. The resulting vaporis captured and condensed into clean water. Purchasing distilled water is very expensive: $0.75 to $1 USD per 4 liters. But home distillation systems can cut prices to $0.25 USD per 4 liters. Distilled water is available at most grocery stores and home improvement centers. Gardeners often use distilled water for cuttings.
Piping water into the garden facilitates irrigation.
Clean rainwater is an excellent choice for irrigation. Collect runoff by plac- ing a barrel under a downspout. Mix the rainwater with tap water to dilute dissolved solids. Roofs and terraces can accumulate trash, which will pollute the otherwise clean rainwater. Covering your catch-barrel will
what is in your water. Also check the pH regularly. See discussion above about water sources. Clean your tap water by filling barrels and setting them 61–91.4 cm above the ground. Add ammonium sulfate to settle
barrel periodically, and scrub out residues and sediments. Well water: Ground water is pumped from a well. Have your well water analyzed at least once a year because mineral content often changes with the seasons
Electrodialysis-filtered water is most economical to use in large- and medium-scale installations when desalinating brackish water and seawater. Smaller systems are also available. This process is most efficient when removing ionic components with a low molecular weight. Water microfiltration systems remove suspended solids down to 0.1 micrometers in size. Use microfiltration as a
19
European bottled water has the guaranteed analysis printed on the label, but in the USA, no specific analysis is available on the label. The dissolved solids in this bottled water are measured in milligrams per liter (mg/L).
Distilled water is expensive and is best used in small amounts such as for watering cuttings and seedlings. pre-filter to RO filters to extend the life of RO filters. Other processes such as ultrafiltration and ultraviolet oxidation, also remove salts and pollutants from water. Check www.wikipedia.org for more information.
Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water Reverse-osmosis machines are used to separate dissolved solids from water. These machines move the solvent (water) through the semipermeable membrane. The process is accomplished by applying pressure to the “tainted” water to force only “pure” water through the membrane. The water is not totally (EC of zero), but
most of the dissolved solids are removed. The efficiency of reverse osmosis depends on the type of membrane, the pressure differential on both sides of the membrane, and the chemical composition of the dissolved solids in the tainted water. Unfortunately, common tap water often contains high levels of sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), alkaline salts, sulfur (S), chlorine (Cl) and other minerals. The pH could also be out of the acceptable 6.5 to 7 range. Sulfur is easily smelled and tasted in water. Saline water is a little more difficult to detect. Water in coastal areas is generally full of salt that washes inland from the ocean or sea. Dry regions that have less than 50.8 cm annual rainfall also suffer from alkaline soil and water that is often loaded with alkaline salts.
This reverse osmosis machine transforms water with a high ppm or EC into “clean” water ZLWK OHVV WKDQ ΄ SSP
Jorge Cervantes is author of the Cannabis Encyclopedia (596 pages, 2,000+ color images, large A4 format) and Marijuana Horticulture (AKA the Bible). Booth books are available at all amazon retailers worldwide. The Cannabis Encyclopedia has an excellent chapter on water. Contact Jorge at www.marijuanagrowing.com.
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21
TRAVEL Text and Photography by @lucaswiseup
AFGHAN CANNABIS
CULTURAL AND GENETIC LEGACY Few countries can claim to have influenced the Cannabis Industry as much as Afghanistan. Yet for the past forty years, since the Soviet intervention in 1979, followed by the Talibans rise to power, and the US military occupation, it remained too dangerous to visit for most Cannabis enthusiasts. With one of the most ancient Cannabis culture still observable in the world today, a visit into the Cannabis fields and Hashish houses of northern Afghanistan feels like going back to the origins of the modern Cannabis consumption.
The Roots of Modern Cannabis Culture Plant selection and resin extraction are the two main areas of innovation of the Cannabis Industry, and it might all have
Afghan Chilum
started somewhere around Central Asia. Among the few possible origins of Cannabis, northern Afghanistan is definitely on the way of the first propagation of domesticated Cannabis. While its neighboring countries used to share the same love for the plant and its
by-products, the war on drugs of the 20th century almost completely erased it and Afghanistan stands as one of the oldest countries to have selected Cannabis for its psychoactive properties. What botanists call 'landraces' or 'pure strains', to refer to ancient domesticated strains are still thriving in Afghanistan, and if they don't really fit the classical taxonomy about Dry Cannabis bud from Sholgara. Cannabis, differentiating Sativas and Indicas, they actually show an incredible diversity. With different plant shapes, leaves colors or aromas in a single field, this diversity is striking against the uniformity of Cannabis fields we can now observe in other ancestral places of Cannabis production. Seeds from the previous year are sown in Spring, perpetuating the millenial selection of Cannabis field, early December, Balkh Afghan Cannabis, and seem to grow without much care, until the harvest from October, up to late in traveling along the Hash trail then December. brought the Afghan Cannabis seeds and sieving technique into Morrocco, to Afghans have selected Cannabis plants supply the booming European demand. producing huge amounts of sticky resin as they don't smoke the manicured It is around that period that emerged buds, but sieve all their harvest to the modern Cannabis culture, when extract Hashish. Turkish poems from 'underground breeders' started the 15th century describing the lifestyle to collect ancestral domesticated of Sufis from Khorasan (Afghanistan's Cannabis seeds from around the world, medieval name), are the earliest and grew them in their backyard, to written traces of Cannabis dust or begin a more intensive selection than powder, locating the origins of Hashish what had been done for millenniums. between northern Iran and northern Selecting techniques quickly evolved Afghanistan. This medieval Hashish from the field to the greenhouse, tradition first spread throughout the to now take place in sophisticated Muslim world, to be introduced into laboratories where plants are crossed, Europe during the 19th century by back-crossed or self-pollinated to Napoleon's soldiers. In the 60s, hippies create the highly potent polyhybrids,
22 some oldest) Cannabis enthusiasts, who may believe Charas is exclusively used to refer to the hand-rubbed Indian extract, yet another sign that Afghan Cannabis culture, has been isolated for too long.Afghan Cannabis tradition has not changed since medieval times in spite, or because, of regional and international conflicts strangling the Afghan population for too long, so any trip in the region requires serious and wise planning. The continuity in the history of Cannabis from landraces to hybrids, and from traditional Hashish to modern concentrates, is still observable in the world today, not only in Afghanistan. But with the rampant worldwide standardization of Cannabis, real ancestral strains become more and more difficult to find. Yet, at the dawn of the first Genetically Modified Cannabis, they constitute our only chance to create a real diversity of Cannabis strains, with better pest and disease resistance. It is about time that Cannabis enthusiasts rise and work towards the conservation of ancestral Cannabis lineages as well as traditional ways of processing the plant. 'Naysha' technique.
feminized, or auto-flowering seeds of the 21st century. Because plant selection aims at stabilizing one particular genetic expression, we now realize that from few ancestral strains (including Afghan landraces), the Cannabis Industry created a huge number of modern Cannabis hybrids, certainly highly psycho-actives but showing, according to recent studies, very little genetic differences. With the global internet market, Cannabis farmers in most ancestral places of production logically started to sow those potent western Cannabis seeds. As Cannabis is easily pollinated, the same genes spread to ancestral Cannabis lineages around the world, with disastrous consequences on Cannabis diversity. It is now a challenge to find Cannabis fields that have not been affected by this worldwide standardization, or skunkization, contrary to Afghanistan which remained an unreachable stronghold since the first legal Cannabis seed bank opened in Amsterdam. As selecting techniques evolved, so did the extraction and purification of Cannabis resin. Despite the recent technical evolutions to produce concentrates (BHO, Rosin, Dabs...) involving chemical solvents and sophisticated tools the internationally recognized expertise of afghan Hashish masters, combining ancestral Cannabis strains, and regional curing methods remains an unmatched recipe for a high-value terroir Cannabis product.
Hashish Culture
in Present-day Afghanistan If this early history of Cannabis and Hashish is still a matter of debates for the growing Cannabis community, evidence of the modern Cannabis culture's foundations is yet to be documented throughout Afghanistan. A large part of the population still indulges in Cannabis in various ways: it is quite common to spot Afghans smoking joints in the cities, in empty cigarettes filled with Hashish and sometimes mixed with a bit of tobacco, but Chilum is the traditional way of smoking Hashish in Afghanistan. Groups of friends gather in ancient Chilum-Khanas (Chilum-houses) where they can puff on a Chilum in exchange for little donations. Cannabis farmers generally have a dedicated room to receive their male friends, where conversations and laughter are eased with green tea and huge amounts of Hashish. In the city of Balkh, the shrine of Baba Ku credited according to the legend, for being the first person to advocate brown Cannabis bowl as medicine, is still a popular landmark. Another technique called 'Naysha', more popular in rural areas, might predate the Chilum and the joint: Hashish is spread on a burning ember, and vapors are inhaled with a straw through water stored in the mouth. If in most Western languages we use the term 'Hashish', the Arabic word for 'herb', Afghans use the persian word 'Charas' (meaning 'leather bag'), to name the resinous extract obtained by sieving dry Cannabis plants. This could sound surprising to some of the youngest (and
Cannabis resin extraction by sieving.
23
GROW WITH MR. JOSE Text and Photography by @lucaswiseup
SELLING MARIJUANA THE AMERICAN WAY VISITING JARDÍN IN LAS VEGAS
dispensary's functioning is quite simple. Once you enter, you have to go through a security check at the reception. You have to present some kind of document proving you're at least 21 years old. The receptionist writes your name down in a guestbook and asks whether you're buying cannabis for recreational or medical purposes. Only then are you allowed into the dispensary itself through an electricallycontrolled door. In Jardín, there is a long L-shaped counter with several shoping assistants (called budtenders) behind it. There are two queues leading to the counter, depending on whether you're after recreational or medical use. All budtenders have been thoroughly trained. They have passed educational courses focusing on production, processing and effects of the products they're selling. This ensures that they can offer both patients and recreational users precisely what they need. Every product has been meticulously marked
Jardín looks fancy even from the outside.
In summer I stopped by to see my friend in the U.S., who was just on his way to a cannabis dispensary. What could I do? I went with him. And while I was there, I used the opportunity to make an interview with the owner of this dispensary. This allows me to take you on a tour through the backstage of this dispensary. Legalization of plants with high cannabinoid content is spreading through the world at an immense pace. This process has been going on the fastest in the U.S. – a country, where the global cannabis prohibition has spread from like a virus many decades ago. Nowadays, the map of the U.S. states that have legalized cannabis in some form or other has to be updated several times a year. Basically, there are two types of legalization. Cannabis is either allowed
for medical purposes only (in this case those who want to buy medical cannabis need to have a prescription or a recommendation from their doctor), or for medical “as well as” recreational purposes, when any adult person can buy cannabis with high THC content. The state of Nevada, where Las Vegas and thus the above-mentioned Jardín dispensary is located, represents the latter case. Medical cannabis, marijuana, weed, hash, extracts, concentrates, essential oils, tinctures,
ointments, cookies, cannabis electric cigar cartridges and other forms of cannabis products – all can be bought by anyone aged 21 and more. The offer is really broad and greatly exceeds that of Spanish social clubs I’ve also visited. What's also interesting is that you can buy products with different proportions of cannabinoids and terpenes, including products with zero THC content, but rich in CBD and with various terpenes. From customer’s point of view, the
American beauty. with a batch number, a barcode and a list of its basic components. A sample from every batch is tested in an independent lab. The result of testing is either attached to the product
24 we phase out black and gray market. Furthermore, all our suppliers are from Nevada. Every product, or rather every batch of it, is tested in an independent laboratory, as required by the law. Growers and producers are thus subject to regulations set by state. The second part of testing is done by us. And that's John's work; he establishes relations with suppliers and searches for high quality products suitable for our business strategy. It works both sides. We want the best product and they want to have their favourite product available in the best dispensary.
packaging, or you receive it separately. So, whether you've bought a classical bud, an extract, a tincture or an edible, you always know what it contains. That way, you are able to get the same content every time you come in. In case something doesn't suit you, you can always try a something different based on the recommendation of your budtender, who will discuss with you the effects you felt after using the product you bought the last time, and what you would like to change. Customer’s feedback serves as a valuable source of information for the budtenders and the dispensary as a whole. During my registration at the reception, a charming receptionist told me that the owner of the dispensary, Adam, is present there at the moment. I encountered him when browsing the buds and extracts at the counter and we agreed that he would tell me more about Jardín. We met later that afternoon, which bought me enough time to prepare a couple of questions. Adam came to our meeting together with his colleague, John, who has a “dream job” of every cannabis lover: his task is to select and test products that would become a part of Jardín's selection. It means he visits producers and growers, observes their manufacturing and growing procedures and tests the taste and effects of the individual products on himself. He's an inventory keeper who knows precisely what the dispensary has to offer. I asked both guys a few questions in regards to how Jardín operates. You can read a selection of the most interesting answers below.
What do people buy most frequently? Are they interested in what they're buying? Is there a limit per purchase?
Conditions inside the container ensure that the quality is preserved. quality products. We opened our dispensary in November 2016, when cannabis could be sold to registered patients only. The prescription is not too difficult to obtain, but we wanted to have a dispensary to serve recreational users as well. We took the risk and invested considerable sums into license, premises and into employees. It worked, and literally one week after the opening, a draft about legalizing cannabis for recreational purposes became law. People voted for full scale legalization in a ballot. June 1st, 2017 we started selling cannabis for recreational use and our bet on luxury setting and a high-quality product is paying off.
Tell me something about the security and surveillance in your dispensary. I can see some cameras here. Are they yours or are they here due to some security regulation set by the state?
Buds are packed and sealed in tin cans. The content of active substances is displayed on the back side.
Adam, could you introduce Jardín a little? Adam: Jardín means “garden” in Spanish, French and I think in Italian as well. This dispensary is the first of the brand. Our goal from the very beginning has been to improve perception of ordinary people regarding cannabis and dispensaries selling it. That's why we wanted to create a high-class dispensary in all aspects. We have extraordinarily beautiful space, attractive and perfectly trained staff, and we are selling top
the contrary. We want to set an example for other dispensaries and we are also aware that we and our business are under a heightened supervision of the state of Nevada, city of Las Vegas, Federal government and the Supreme Court. And, of course, we are supervised by ordinary citizens and our customers. Our goal is for people to say: “Look, they're having a completely normal, legal and transparent business. They're creating jobs and paying considerable taxes.”
Adam: People can buy 28 grams of dried flower or an equivalent in a different form: extracts, edibles, etc. at every purchase. But there's no limit on the number of purchases so you're free to come and shop twice a day if you need it. People still buy dried flower in most cases, but the popularity of extracts, e-liquids and edibles will rise, because smoking in public is forbidden, even in casinos and hotels. And as we know, smoking is the most visible method of cannabis consumption.
How does the control of quality and composition of your products work, who do you purchase from and how are growers and producers controlled?
John: People still don't have enough information about cannabis and its effects, so they wouldn’t ask about any specific product; they would rather say what they expect from it. This is true for medical and recreational users alike. Customers give us their requirements, sometimes even mention their previous experience, and our budtenders offer them products that are suitable for their intentions.
Adam: There are two levels of control. First, we buy cannabis from licensed growers and producers only. That way
So much for the news from Las Vegas. I'm looking forward to seeing you in the next issue of Soft Secrets.
Adam: That is our internal security system. The dispensary is very well secured in all aspects. We have sturdy, impermeable blinds installed on the windows and doors to ensure that the facility is secure even at night. All the doors are also protected by the camera system you've mentioned.
It's not some sort of state regulation asking you to record what's going on here, who's coming and so on, similarly to some countries? Adam: We keep the records for some time, but it's not compulsory. The state of Nevada has set the rules in a way that they don't present unnecessary obstacles to businesses. The rules are not perfect but they still follow common sense. And we want to adhere to the rules because the licence is very costly and we want to keep it. We're not trying to jink and exploit gaps in the law. On
Customers are either medical, or recreational users.
25
STRAIN REPORT
DINAFEM CBD AMNESIA A dense canopy of buds
I was sent some Amnesia CBD by Dinafem and told they were an excellent performer, with a cannabinoid profile of 8% THC and 10% CBD. The lineage is a cross of Amnesia XL with their Pure CBD stud, resulting in a flowering time of 9 weeks. After germinating one femenised seed, below is By Stoney Tark covered the weekly grow report.
SET UP: Lighting: SANlight Q6W (215w) Medium: Coco, worm castings and perlite Pot Size: 11L fabric pot Nutrients: GHE Flora Nova Grow + Bloom Growing Period: 21 days Flowering Period: 67 days Yield: 182g dry
GROW PERIOD - 18/6 The seedling emerges and after the first few days, I feed a mild nutrient solution of Flora Nova Grow. This nutrient is a very heavy mineral based nutrient, so the plants do not need a great deal at this stage. I foliar spray the plants with bottled water and keep her growing under 18/6. My hydrometer indicates the temperature is 22 degrees Celsius and my relative humidity is 68% with oscillating fans on. By the end of the second week of growth, the seedling is 17cm in height
with sativa looking top leaves. One more week to go before flowering, so I continue to feed 3ml per litre of the Nova Grow nutrient. The plant looks very healthy with a bright green glow.
As far as feeding, I will continue to feed 5ml per litre of the Nova Bloom and will cut the nutrient out for the last 20 days of flush. Day 25 of flowering and she has quickly shot up to a height of 67cm. A perfect plant height that has almost trebled in size. Pre-flowers are now heavily appearing with some resin formation happening also. I expect judging from the growth structure and how compact she is, that this strain is a heavy yielding one. Feeding times are once a day, 3 hours after lights on, and then wait for the medium to be light and dry again before feeding.
On day 21 of 18/6, the plant is a height of 26.5cm with long fingered fan leaves. When gently rubbing the stem she has a distinct citrus aroma, with thin woody side branches. Training this strain up would really encourage a large sized bushy plant, which is a good note to remember for future.
The aroma of the flowering sites has a citrus and marmalade background and a sharp lemon bite. The trichomes are covering all buds and begin to create resin rails on the new growing leaves. After week 5 and just over half way through the recommended flowering time, this lady is looking extremely healthy with an exotic waxy appearance. At this point the buds are really starting to form and frost us with long necked trichomes. Her calyx are stacking up beautifully and you can really see her true characteristics. Day 45 and the flushing begins. Only plain water is now fed daily to allow all of the nutrients stored up to be used. This also improves flavour and ash quality once dried. The buds are frosty, greasy and stacking up with bright orange hairs.
FLOWERING PERIOD - 12/12
After day 56, she is looking almost ready and one heavy yielding hybrid! There is a tremendous amount of sugar leaf forming as well making her a great choice for hash making. On day 59 I check her trichomes and notice 75% are dark amber. I will leave her for one more week until she is totally ready and let those resin covered calyx swell up a bit more.
After changing the light cycle to 12/12, the Amnesia CBD will begin to flower, so for nutrients I continue to feed the Nova Grow. Personally I always transition feed between the first few weeks of the stretching phase. After the first week of flower the plant height is 39cm height and a width that is equally as wide. At the start of week 2, I switch the nutrient to Nova Bloom and start with a measurement of 3ml per litre. This lady is growing very fast and loves a big feed. There is an abundance of side branching making the Amnesia CBD structure a bushy, aggressively growing Cannabis plant.
pot with zero training or pruning, the potential to grow Amnesia CBD to a massive size is easy.
Long calyx stacking up with Amnesia CBD
By day 28 of 12/12, the stretching seems to have stopped and I can measure the plant height at 73cm with a bushy figure. Considering she is only growing in a 11L
I finally chop her down on the morning of day 65 and am most impressed with the quality and especially the quantity of CBD rich flowers. Considering she was growing in only 11L with organics and not trained, I would strongly recommend this strain to those in search of medical quality Cannabis.
26
TRAVEL By Thomas Valentine - tw.valentine@hotmail.com
CAMELS & SOFT BLACK HASH Everyone wants to go somewhere warm for their vacation. You want sights to see and people to meet. You also might want some really good smoke, and a lot of it. If this is your desire, then Egypt is the place for your next vacation. Surrounded by some serious marijuana and hashish producing countries, chances are you’ll find the smoke of your dreams in the Egyptian Bizarre. Everyone wants to go somewhere warm for their vacation. You want sights to see and people to meet. You also might want some really good smoke, and a lot of it. If this is your desire, then Egypt is the place for your next vacation. Surrounded by some serious marijuana and hashish producing countries, chances are you’ll find the smoke of your dreams in the Egyptian Bizarre. Generally the police don’t mind hash possession, as culturally it’s a somewhat more acceptable occurrence there. The desert Arabs actually give their camels chunks of hashish to chew on to keep them calm during sandstorms. So now let’s get to some practicalities. The Egyptian pound is the currency of Egypt. One American Dollar is worth just under 7 Egyptian Pounds. It is divided into 100 piastre, or irsh, or 1,000 milliemes. The abbreviation is LE or L.E., which stands for livre égyptienne.
If anything seems foreign or distasteful, politely say no thank you and move on. Many tour operators will cater to your needs and this includes finding you some good smoke for the trip. Most guided tours offer 1 to 15 day adventures in Egypt, starting with the Pyramids and Sphinx on the Giza Plateau. Other sites to see via boat on the Nile or train alongside it are Aswan or Luxor and Dahab. A full 15 night Egyptian adventure will cost you about 450 Egyptian Pounds, or around $65.00 US. You may have to pay extra for meals at some stops along the way. You’ll visit tombs and structures that were ancient in the time of Jesus. One tour offers a 15 day trip down the Nile
occasionally introduce some hashish. But if you’re on the go most of the time, a small brass personal pipe is called for. You’ll find some high craftsmanship when it comes to genuine brass pipes in Egypt. Going the personal pipe route is fine if you’re moving around a lot. But if you’re staying in one hotel every night I advise you to invest in a hookah, some flavored tobacco and a big chunk of hashish. Enjoy the view from your balcony while getting righteously stoned on some of the best smoke our world has to offer.
I personally recommend the Moroccan Black Hash, as it is black and clay-like and smells wonderful. Aim for dark brown and soft most of the time. Look for any imperfections in the middle of the piece after you break it. Look for color splotches and any foreign matter.
Throughout Egypt, days are commonly warm or hot, and nights are cool. Egypt has only two seasons: a mild winter from November to April and a hot summer from May to October. The only differences between the seasons are variations in daytime temperatures and changes in prevailing winds. In the coastal regions, temperatures range between an average minimum of 14 C in winter and an average maximum of 30 C in summer. Egypt receives fewer than eighty millimeters of precipitation annually in most areas. Most rain falls along the coast, but even the wettest area around Alexandria receives only about 200 millimeters of precipitation per year. Alexandria has relatively high humidity, but sea breezes help keep the moisture down to a comfortable level. Moving southward, the amount of precipitation decreases suddenly. Cairo receives a little more than one centimeter of precipitation each year.
Better quality hash like Moroccan or Lebanese will cost you 120-150 an irsh. If weed is your thing, don’t expect big sticky buds like we have here. The grass there is still not as potent as the hydroponically grown stuff we get here in North America. It’s grown in great wild fields, so each plant doesn’t get the attention that we in North America are used to. Some of the hashish even has its own Brand Names: Moroccan Hash (including Red or Blonde) and Honey Hash are a few you might run into. A couple more brand names are Sudanese Bongo and Lebanese Red or Blonde.
sitting and how smooth the ride actually is.
to various historic sites. Then you come back to Cairo and are shown the off limits crypts and tombs every Egyptian aficionado must see at least once in their lives. Just imagine sparking up a bowl while standing in a 4,500 year old ruin. About how many before you have done that? The possibilities seem endless in this ancient land. You can find the Egyptian Hookah pretty much everywhere you go. The practice is to smoke flavored tobaccos and
While wandering around Giza and staring at the pyramids, you may take part in what the locals are offering. This includes everything from food to trinkets to camel rides. I definitely recommend a camel ride as part of your stay in Egypt. It seems a little daunting, but they’ve been beasts of burden since before the Pharaohs were around, so the techniques have pretty much been perfected. Once you mount the camel, be ready for a forward lurch that steadies out when the front legs are up. You’ll be surprised at how high you’re
For those of you who aren’t inclined towards the out of doors, Cairo boasts some great sights. Whether it be a museum or one of the many modern inner city shopping districts, there’s sure to be something for you in Egypt’s capital city. One more parting shot – you’ll be sorely tempted to bring your unsmoked hash with you on your way home. While you may get away with it, no one wants to spend time in an Egyptian jail if you don’t, so don’t tempt fate and leave it in your hotel room or give it to the taxi driver on your way to the airport.
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29
GROW WITH STONEY TARK
A WORLD OF HASH
For thousands of years hash has been used for medicinal use, spiritual enhancement, medicine or for social scenarios. Depending on where in the world you buy your hash can determine the quality, flavour, colour and overall characteristics. Explained in this article are the four different types of hash, how method is traditionBy Stoney Tark ally performed, Rosin and how to check your hash.
DRY SIFT AND PRESSED Morocco is well known for the copious amounts of hash it produces that is exported to the U.K and high end coffee shops and social clubs throughout Europe. Moroccon hash is made using dry material and later pressed, and with mountain sides full of mature female plants, using a series of micron grade filters. These large screens will allow the farmers to work in teams and carefully sift the dried plant matter over each screen until a refined pollen remains.
There is no set method to harvesting charas and all it takes is a clean pair of hands and plenty of patience. In the mountainous areas of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nepal large groups can work their way through fields at a time collecting charas. It is debatable how good the landrace genetics are but one thing is for sure, proper hand rub charas is a true delight and an experience you for sure will encounter on your travels. Top Tip: Next time you are trimming your plants and remove what we call finger hash, you can think that you are smoking your very own version of indoor charas!
Typically bubble bags will have a clean up bag that is 220 micron and when working with dry material, a 220-280 micron sized screen will eliminate plant matter meaning the sift will have a golden blonde appearance. Once a grade below 160 micron is achieved, this is where the full spectrum of the plant can be captured and one reason why hash makers mix a final grade consisting of 25-160 micron. Once a golden sandy pollen is produced, the farmers will then begin to press the hash into shape and apply heat also. The best technique is to use a glass bottle and fill it with boiling water and close the lid. Then place the dry sift powder in between a plastic non stick bag and by rolling over the plastic, the golden sticky sift will begin to darken and change consistency. After working the sift into shape and applying more
generally made from live resin. This basically means that the resin removed off the plants whilst growing has not yet had a chance to dry so the terpenes are different to dry material and the plant did not get chance to decarboxylate and become THC. Hand rubbed charas taken from outdoor crops can be classed as some of the best smoke in the world. Especially when smoking in an environment as spiritually powerful as India or the Himalayas.
ISOLATOR AND BUBBLE BAGS
Dry sift that has been pressed with a hot bottle. heat, the hash takes on a shiny, dark brown with a golden sandy appearance when broken open with fingers. Top Tip: Try working in a cold air conditioned room, to keep the temperatures consistent and wear latex gloves to avoid sweaty hands.
HAND RUBBED CHARAS HASH There are few occasions where a smoker will get the opportunity to smoke charas produced by farmers in the East. Countries such as Pakistan are known for their charas which is
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My personal favourite way to turn all of the sugar leaf and unwanted buds into full melt goodness. Making isolator is very different to the traditional dry sift for many reasons and the main reason is plants are kept in a state of ‘ Live Resin ‘. The original essence of the plants terpenes are more floral and technically the plants have not been decarbed with a darkness period and drying out time. When this happens THCA becomes THC, so in this case the grower knows what to expect in terms of effects and flavour. In order to make excellent isolator you will need to start with top quality material which can consist of lower buds, sugar leaf or whole plant. You will also need plenty of ice for two reasons,
30
Water hash in the drying out stage showing different colours. the first for keeping the water as cold as possible and the second is to aid in the agitation process. The idea is to allow the frozen plant material to sit in the iced water, whilst being allowed to be aggitiatly aggressively. This is often done with a washing machine tumbler that spins a vortex clockwise and counterclockwise every 15 seconds. The trick is to allow the resin to separate from the material and fall to the bottom where it will be syphoned off into your bubble bag set up. For those who are interested in making isolator using a washing machine, should try a spin time of 6 minutes, 3 minutes, 3 minutes and 6 minutes to really get the best returns possible. Using ice cold water is preferred and I personally never use the wash bags that you can zip the trim into. My reason is the vortex effect does not happen and the resin does not get a chance to naturally fall down. I also finished with a mixed patty that consists of 25-160 micron whole plant extract.
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Top Tip: Dry ice is a brilliant way to keep your material as cold as possible. The cold temperatures are what increases the agitation and separation.
THE DIFFERENCE WITH ROSIN AND B.H.O There is often confusion and mislabelling when talking about a hash maker and extract artist. The two are completely different in their end results as one harvests trichomes and the other harvest the oil within the trichome body.
A hash patty ready to be dried out.
Cannabis plants of their essential oils and generally the safest way regarding after care and purging of the product. Extractors using a closed loop system often times ensure the most refined product on the market and will often take the most care when cleaning up of any contaminants. In the past 5 years or so, there has been a new wave of extract artists who are creating a rosin sap. Completely free of any solvents and no need to purge, rosin has allowed anyone with some good flower or ice water hash to use heat and pressure and parchment paper to achieve a medical grade Cannabis
THE BUBBLE TEST Not everyone has the chance to smoke the best extracts or hash around, and depending on where you live can play a big role in the quality of hash you come across. Hash connoisseurs will refer to their hash as full melt or bubble. The reason why is when heated slightly or even briefly shown a flame, there will be an aggressive bubble that dances with a wet foamy shine. Expert hash makers will never let full melt get exposed to a direct flame for too long, as once the bubble is activated, it can catch on until blown out and cooled down. Unfortunately commercial hash that is exported from Morocco, Pakistan, India, Lebanon and parts of the Rif Mountain can purposely contaminate the hash in order to increase their bulk loads. Over time I have heard plenty of stories from Morocons about the tricks of the trade ranging from plant material above 230 micron, powdered milk, sand and to cause the bubble effect henna ink and pig fat.
Top Tip: Never wash your trim for too long as the material can turn mushy. Make sure your material in the freezer is as close to frozen and brittle to touch.
The last thing I want to do is put you off hash, however check your hash for any suspect signs of contaminants. A simple burn will indicate so much, but how white the smoke burns, the flavour and weight will all be a tell tale sign of how clean the hash you are smoking is.
DRY ICE METHODS Whilst we are on the subject of using ice, there is such a way to combine bubble bags and dry ice with dry material to create dry sift. The technique is quite straightforward and many hash makers are having great success with tumblers and dry ice. Obtaining dry ice is not as simple as walking into the local supermarket or gas station and does need to be ordered in advance.
under a rosin press for 75-120 seconds at 80 degrees celsius using a 25 micron bag will produce the very best rosin.
Harvesting trichomes is a delicate process.
An extractor is not looking to work with the necks and heads of the trichomes, but removed those parts which are labelled as wax. Butane is the most popular solvent used to strip
extract. Upon appearance a golden transparent sap will reveal itself rich in terpenes and cannabinoids. Top Tip: Squishing dried ice wash hash
Top Tip: If you burn some hash and there are orange embers burning, then avoid smoking this hash. The ember is a sign of contaminants and will be harmful to your lungs if consumed.
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KILLER KUSH FOR THOSE WHO WANT IT ALL A wonderful medium-sized, autoflowering hybrid with a very high yield and an excellent smell. It flowers in a few weeks, is very easy to cultivate and generates abundant harvests of resinous buds. It has an exceptional and very sweet taste with citrus and acid touches. The effect after consumption is instantly noticeable and devastating. Sweet Seeds is one of the most powerful seed banks out there. After trying several of its autos, we were surprised with Killer Kush, an autoflowering version of one of the most famous cannabis plants in the world, the OG Kush. This 4th generation autoflowering plant is the fruit of crossing a mostly Indica, 3rd generation autoflowering plant with an elite clone of OG Kush. The result is a spectacular specimen in every sense. The plants are medium sized and very compact, about a meter high, with dense buds and loaded with resin. They are very easy to grow and even the most inexperienced grower could easily get a good harvest. It is a really fast strain; its buds ripen
and can be harvested in as little as 8 weeks. Under indoor lamps, it can reach a yield of 550 g/m2. Outdoors,
very pleasant aftertaste in your mouth. In short, one of the best and most complete autos on the market.
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where they would spend the rest of their (short) lifecycle. Indeed, transplanting causes stress and we wanted to avoid it. The pots we chose had a capacity 18 litres. Here we placed seedlings with their radicles downwards. Subsequently, we brought plants to our grow room using a 20-hour light cycle (20 hours of light by 4 of darkness). In less than a day, under the dry heat of sodium lamps, the first leaves appeared through the earth. We used a soil rich in nutrients, in order to add just root booster in the early days of growth and favour the development of a good root ball. We watered them only a couple of times with a specific growth fertiliser between the end of the vegetative phase and the
“KILLER KUSH HAS A THC CONCENTRATION BETWEEN 18 AND 22% AND GENERATES A FAST AND STRONG HIGH AT ALL LEVELS” yield is to the tune of 200g/plant. Killer Kush has a THC concentration between 18 and 22% and generates a fast and strong high at all levels, which leaves you KO. Its aroma and taste are other fantastic qualities of this plant. It tastes better than it smells and leaves a
GERMINATION AND GROWTH We germinated 4 Killer Kush seeds between wet cloths and, in a little more than a day, they were already open. We placed seedlings directly in the pot
beginning of flowering. N.B.: Growers have to be very careful not to overwater plants the first few days, as overwatering will slow down their development. The growth of this strain is constant and vigorous, with a stem and branches that are not very dense, but quite robust. Their internodal distance is short and shoots are abundant. In little more than three weeks, our plants had reached a considerable size and the first pistils were also visible.
FLOWERING After a short period of vegetative development, the plants stopped growing and started to flower. Their branches had their last growth spurt, and the last shoots also appeared. At this stage, we kept the 20-hour light cycle unchanged for all plants to make the most of the energy from lamps. This plant is very easy to grow and virtually unproblematic during its short period of development. At the beginning of fruiting, we added a fertiliser and a stimulator – which were specific for this phase – to irrigation water. The plants responded quite positively at each irrigation cycle and we also added a bloom stimulator. Using a soil rich in nutrients allowed us not to use a large quantity of fertiliser. Indeed, given the short flowering period of autos, there is no much time to fertilise them since, two weeks before harvest, growers have to stop fertilisation and only pour water in order to drain any excess fertiliser away from plants.
A wonderful Killer Kush plant.
Another spectacular Killer Kush specimen.
Killer Kush has oval buds, which form throughout the plant. All of them are enormous, with abundant pistils of strik-
33 ing reddish and very dense colours, both on the branch tips and in the lower parts. They are covered by a dense, sticky layer of resin that gives off an inebriating fragrance right from the start. Almost two weeks before harvesting, we removed all nutrients and additives and only poured water, while waiting for the trichomes to fully mature.
HARVEST It was a pleasure to look at plants and a pity to cut them, but the time had come for the harvest. The buds
recommended by Sweet Seeds. The ratio of leaves per bud is quite low, so the trimming of each plant took almost no time. The quantity and quality of Killer Kush buds was incredible.
TASTING After about two weeks of drying, we finally tasted Killer Kush, a herb with an exquisite aroma and a particularly sweet taste with hints of lemon and pine that fills at each puff. It is not heavy to smoke and the pleasant aftertaste it leaves encourages you
“IT TASTES BETTER THAN IT SMELLS AND LEAVES A VERY PLEASANT AFTERTASTE IN YOUR MOUTH” were bursting and the trichomes were ripe. We harvested the specimens produced from the four seeds after a few extra days than the eight weeks
to try it again after a short time. Its high is strong both mentally and physically; narcotic, rises quickly and leaves you lying on the sofa in a short time.
Dense and resin-filled buds.
34
BACKGROUND
SEEDS & CLONES We’ve all heard of the huge greenhouses that today’s marijuana companies are employing to grow our favorite green. They have spent tens of millions of dollars designing and employing artificial environments that are suitable for the growth of cannabis and cannabis alone. By Thomas Valentine/ tw.valentine@hotmail.com Photo courtesy of Dinafem You might think that the big green companies are starting their plants with seeds. There are many tricks of the trade that will ensure that the plants grown from seed are female, as the unwanted male plant generates very little of the good stuff. I’ve looked in to the price of seeds, and they’re not cheap – some are as much as $30 a seed! Even with millions of dollars at your disposal that isn’t a cost that can be absorbed easily. The only solution, then, is to use clones. Cloning a plant is a no brainer if you do it right. There are a couple of things that you should consider before cutting a clone, though. First, make sure you’ve got a female plant. Next, make sure you have a good rooting hormone and some rockwool. Rockwool is a wonderfully inert blown glass product that is perfect for taking clones. It comes in bars that range in size from one to six inches square. I recommend the one inch square rockwool cube, as it is small enough to allow a healthy root ball to grow out of it while still being big enough to allow the
rooting hormone and nutrient solution to infuse within it. The rooting hormone you use with a clone cutting is very important. The idea is to take the cutting then immediately dip the end in the rooting hormone. The end then gets stuck into a cube of rockwool. You have to be quick at this because the raw end of the cutting can sometimes have a bubble of air form that encompasses the entire end. This bubble of air blocks the clone end from taking up nutrients. If no nutrients are getting to the cutting end it won’t form a healthy root ball. In conversing with several marijuana greenhouses in Canada, I was surprised to learn that the plants aren’t grown by seeds – the production crop is initially grown with seeds, but clones are taken at the height of the green foliage stage. This takes 6 to 8 weeks and as many as 8 clones are taken from each parent plant. Since each seed grown supplies up to 8 clones, the cost for each plant goes down considerably. Instead of $30 a plant
the cost will, in the end, be only $3.75 per clone. This is a more manageable number. One greenhouse of the initial parent crop will fill eight greenhouses after 6 to 8 weeks of growth.
of seeds that are generated from a seeding crop varies per plant. Some plants grow seeds that then fall off the plant to be harvested later and some stay on the plant that then has to be picked.
Most marijuana greenhouses I’ve spoken with keep an inventory of different seeds. Every strain has its own pros and cons. Some have a higher CBD concentration for medical ailments; others provide a recreational high of varying flavors and intensities.
In the months and years to come, you’ll no doubt see a rise in the different flavors and highs that come with genetically bred plants. Most greenhouses dedicate a large section of their growing space to breeding the next super plant. Everyone I spoke with has told me that they have a whole line of medicinal and recreational breeds that will be released to the general public once a large enough supply of the stuff has been grown.
You might think that cloning from parent plants that take 6 to 8 weeks to mature isn’t the way to go. The amount of time it takes to grow a healthy crop from cuttings of a parent plant takes a long time to be economically feasible – there’s no product for 12 to 16 weeks! When I first heard of this growing method I was a little surprised and somewhat skeptical. While clones are useful and commonplace, most private growers will still purchase those $30 seeds for their own home grow operation. I doubt that many people will let their crop go to seed in order to have more seeds later on. The seed banks will always sell their overpriced wares to the public, and the public will always buy them. The big cannabis companies not only supply us with medicinal and recreational marijuana, they still have to eventually let a parent crop go to seed to replenish what the last crop used up. The amount
Highs come in all flavors, from a soothing indica to an intense sativa. The marijuana companies cater to all customers in one way or another. Expect there to be an easing on the rules and regulations that allow you to grow your own crop. The Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Quebec and Nunavut don’t allow private growing, for example – you have to get your dope by purchasing it from legal sources. The next time you go to a marijuana dispensary, think of the amount of effort that goes into producing a crop of nature’s finest weed. On a national scale, the competition is intense. While it isn’t legal to advertise marijuana, there’s no law that says the marijuana retailer may or may not inform its customers of the concentration of all that makes marijuana great, both medicinally and recreationally.
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INTERVIEW By Stoney Tark
AN INTERVIEW WITH EX-TRACTOR
SPECIALISTS IN ORGANIC SOLVENTLESS
Harvesting trichomes and producing top quality, organic full melt hash seems to be an ever growing craze in the States. Soft Secrets sat down with Kees Schelfhout from EX-Tractor, a dutch extractor based in Barcelona who specializes in organic and non solvent. We find out more about hash making, different techniques, terpenes, freeze drying, the hash culture in Amsterdam and Europe and what his top tips are for any purveyors of the finest full melt. SSUK: Can you tell us more about EX-Tractor and how you got involved with Cannabis? I was fortunate to come out of a family that; eats, sleeps, drinks and breath growing plants. My Dad Karel Schelfhout was one of the first to cultivate our beloved plant indoors back in the day. He started the Super Sativa Seed Club in 1985. I also have a brother that got into growing on a young age as well, and he developed a strong talent for pushing the boundaries on increasing the yields when growing organic and setting the standard high, for what we consider a high quality smoke.
ties and quantities that could be reached, when using this technique.In love with the pure smoke and the intense high you can feel, that for real will give you a different perspective to life. Then a whole new world opened for us when the dry freezer was introduced to the party. Now the hash became even cleaner, due to super short drying time, meaning that we won't give terpenes and flavonoids the the chance to evaporate.
The terps on this lady are just all over the place and your nose will be welcomed with fresh citrus notes combined with a gassy, fuel aroma with a background of Haze mixed in. The trichomes are bit dark gold coloured and are quite big in size for a haze cross and the Karels Haze gives good returns and she also packs a real punch with strong flavour ratio. My other favorite is the for me recently discovered Cookies N Cream from Exotic Genetics. The first time we grew it, immediately was visible that the trichomes on this lady, are present in abundance, big sized and the most beautiful golden colour i have seen on trichomes so far, combined with a very creamy smoke and a chill relax buzz..
With the classic dry method you could give mold a chance to develop in the soggy moist hash. We are now dipping our toes in to Rosin pressing and have to say it is loads of fun, trying out different temperatures, pressures and micron sizes. Discovering interesting, changes of structure, smell and colour. At the moment we are most pleased, with the soft golden butter structure squishing can produce.
A larged sized temple ball being made
Dry sift and temple ball
What are your techniques when it comes to washing the buds and trim?
Those two guys are my mentors and our mother Liliana has always supported us, and encouraged us to do it better, cleaner and worry free. Out of love, it is natural to explore the different possibilities of what we are able to do with a plant. Besides the growing, a couple of years ago I really fell in love with iceolator technique. Then EX-Tractor was born.
We like to dry out plants for 7=9 days before we start trimming and storing the trim and small bud in the freezer. Then we are sure all the chlorophyll is dried out and no funky green taste is left in the hash. In your washing bag there should be only small sized buds present and trichome rich leaves. Since we live in Spain and the water has very poor quality, at EX-Tractor we work with clean reverse osmosis water.
Can you explain what EX-tractor specialise in? We like to keep ourselves busy, only with clean organic solventless extracts. In essence we are washing and sifting most of the time and during our trimming we always work above a huge, 1.5x 1M sized 110 micron screen where we collect loads of dry sift trichomes.This technique I learned from my father, when I started rolling in to the weed scene. Our favorite way of mining our beloved trichomes, is the Ice water hash style or iceolator. I started making small batches of iceolator in my student kitchen 7 years ago, and was amazed by the various quali-
Which strains do you personally work with as official hash maker for The Super Sativa Seed Club?
We like to pour a bag of ice cubes inside of the washing bag, so the leave material has more contact with the ice cubes and trichomes can break off easier. We start with short washes around 1- 2 minutes and collect the hash. Then give the hash a little extra wash inside the collection bag with a plant sprayer filled with clean water. We do not use one where nutrients were in before making sure it is clean and sterile.
The Karels Haze is one of my favorite strains to make hash from. My dad and me have been working on that strain for a couple of years now which is Old School Haze X Chem Dog X OG Fire.
The second wash will use new water and some extra ice cubes. The washing time after each collection of hash will become longer until a washing session of 5-6 batches are
An up close shot of trichomes extracted
37 run. Then the hash will be popped in to the dry freezer to get the hash dry in 14- 24 hours depends on how full the dry freezer is.
Do you have a preference to micron size when washing your materials, and which micron grades do you consider inferior? With most strains the 73 # miron will contain the most trichome heads. Although have some Sativas our Old School Haze and Mango Haze, that can fill up the 45 # micron mesh pretty good due to smaller size trichome heads. The 220 and the 160 micron is really for only separating the bad stuff from the good stuff, Some say that quality is great for cooking, but I rather use high quality grade for cooking also.
so the room where would make ice in the temp was pretty constant all the time. This was easy to maintain the same temp in the water, due to the room temp being stable. After moving to Spain and starting to make ice for the first time, we notice that the relative humidity and temperature is always a lot higher here. We lost a small batch to the damp moistyness over here during our first runs, which was way before the dry freezer days of course. Now we work in a nicely sealed room, with a A.C providing us with a fresh cool breeze, making sure the temp stays the same all the time, and giving moist not a chance
The first time I saw quality hash coming out of the dry freezer was so intrigued that I needed to know more! All of a sudden this hash became gold, why does it stay gold, why does it smell so intense? The dry freezer was the secret behind al off this so I ordered one right away and started freaking out at what this device does: It will first freeze the hash all the way to its core. All the water in the hash should be turned in to ice crystals, so first you have to figure out when that point is reached depending on how much freeze time.
Therefore the hash is in minimum contact with air, water and light meaning no chance for oxidation, and will be filled with all the original flavours and terpenes. That is why the hash has such a superior taste. What is also a big benefit of the dry freezer, if you plant material contained some mold or bits powdery mildew, then during the freezing process these will be killed.
What tips to you have for maintaining consistent temperatures both in the water and room temperature when hash making? This is actually funny as I personally learned about this the hard way. In Holland it is always quite cold and dry,
How do you ensure the materials you are using are totally organic? We are very conscious about the equipment and products we use, as they need to be of a high standard, that makes us able to make such a high quality hash. High Quality product in simply means a high quality product out. Only working with the best products out there and how you are feeding the growing medium in the end will decide if the hash is residue free. EX-Tractor grow all our plants 100% organic on the BioTabs organic range. This is a organic strategy that only works living microorganisms, beneficial bacteria and concentrated compost. For lights our standaard was the Gavitas 1000 Watt, but now we are mixing this light SANlight LED and we are providing a much wider spectrum to the plants, and it is stimulation the trichome production significantly.
You dry freeze your hash but can you explain exactly what that means for those who may not know?
Then you have to know that H20 has 3 stages, firstly ice form, then the liquid form and then a gas form. The machine freezes the hash, and after the hash is frozen and the vacuum is pulled. The ice crystals due to the vacuum don’t turn in to water first, they immediately will turn in to gas. This process is called sublimation. During the sublimation process, the hash will start to dry as the ice crystals evaporate immediately and only the essential oils and terpenes will be left in the hash.
ing paper works best. Once the ball starts to shine, she is ready for packing, storing and curing and that is the basics of making a temple ball!
Has EX-Tractor won any awards for your hash making? I have recently entered in one competition which was at the Homegrown Cup in Holland. This is a cup only the competing growers are able to judge the rest of the competition which is how I feel is the most fairest way of judging a cannabis cup. EX-Tractor took home the 1st Place in the NederHash / icolator category. Our entry was a super short cold wash of the Karels Haze for just 1,5 min long and only handed in the 73 Micron quality. Happy days and we cannot wait until next year! Various micrón sized hash pattys drying out
Can you explain step by step how you press your temple balls? I make my temple balls out of dry frozen iceolator of a mix of different micron meshes, in order to achieve that full spectrum experience. I will grab a tray and throw in 3 grams of 73 micron hash, 2 grams of 45 micron hash, 1 gram of 90 micron hash, and 1 gram of 120 micron hash. Next I will mix it up and then add some more 73 micron to get the quality more creamy and extra sticky. We will put a gram in our hand palm and start working it with our thumb and rolling it all together, once it is a nice ball start rolling it on a hard clean surface, on top of bak-
For those visiting Barcelona, where can they expect to find your work? Most of my work is to be found in the Nectar Club who I have been supporting my work right from the start, and are very cool people. In La Kalada some times you can find little bits there also at Dr Dou and the Resin club is where most of our products can be found.
Finally… Where can our readers find out more about EX-Tractor on social media? We are active on Instagram under @ex.tractor where you can see my work and give me a follow. Thank you and keep up the great work Soft Secrets and Stoney, and green greetings to all from Ex.tractor!
38
AMERICA'S FIRST CANNABIS CAFE OPENS IN CALIFORNIA Hollywood’s three-martini lunch may be going up in smoke with the opening of the first restaurant in the United States where weed can be openly consumed. Almost two years after California began allowing sales of recreational cannabis, Lowell Farms: A Cannabis Cafe opened its doors in trendy West Hollywood, offering farm-to-table cuisine alongside vaping, joints, bongs and prepackaged edibles. “We are excited to be that flagship, that benchmark, to show people that a cannabis business isn’t something that is scary,” said general manager Kevin Brady. “It’s something that hasn’t been legal for 120 years,” Brady added of the restaurant venture, which is funded by cannabis farmers Lowell Herb Co., whose backers include the likes of pop star Miley Cyrus, actor Chris Rock and comedian Sarah Silverman. While the food served at Lowell Cafe will not be infused with cannabis, diners will be offered the services of a “flower host” who will advise how to pair different strains of marijuana with menu items and roll a joint at the table. “Each day, we will smell and taste the strains of the cannabis and offer pairings, much as you would do with wine pairings,” said chef Andrea Drummer. Californians have been enjoying cannabis-infused food in private homes and at dinner parties since the state began allowing sales of recreational cannabis in January 2018. But Lowell Cafe is the first to open of eight cafes or restaurants that were awarded licences by
West Hollywood for public consumption, and the first in the United States. The restaurant is aimed beyond Hollywood A-listers. New Yorker Joy Alison Cohen, who was among the first customers on Tuesday, called the opening a “historic event.” “I’ve had to fly to Amsterdam to experience this. No more. We have better pot now too, so it is awesome,” she said. The restaurant has an indoor and outdoor dining space and a high-tech air filtration system that managers say will scrub out the smoke and ensure that no diners go home high for free.
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27
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., Thomas Valentine, and others. Comics: Jim Stewart Photography: iStock
ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ: PAGE 8:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
B B D B A C B D D C
11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
B A C A D D B D B A
Editorial adress: readers@softsecrets.nl Advertisements: E-mail: info@softsecrets.nl A word from the publisher: Soft Secrets is a bi-monthly free magazine which is published in The Netherlands (called Highlife), Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, Poland, Czech Republic and Chile. 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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