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New report labels UK drug policy as "not fit for purpose" Calls are growing for urgent reform of UK drug policy, following the 2nd instalment of the Dame Carole Blacks governmentcommissioned review. The report into the UK's existing drug prevention and treatment policies branded current legislation as "disturbing, even shocking". The report concludes that "the public provision we currently have for prevention, treatment and recovery is not fit for purpose and urgently needs repairing". Also that "The current situation is intolerable". The review echoes the views of many, especially concerning the regulation and legislation of cannabis cultivation, possession and use in the UK. The argument is that existing policies are doing more harm than good and that we are desperate to reform. A recent YouGov poll reports that 52% of UK residents believe cannabis should be legal for recreational or adult use. Many advocates claim that current UK drug policy laws do nothing but put the government and organised crime gangs on the same side. The review concludes that the current policy hasn't just failed but made things worse. Nobody wants to see cannabis remain illegal more than organised crime gangs making billions through trafficking and selling banned substances. The study makes clear the existence of a relationship between restrictive laws and growing space for criminality. Organised crime practices like "County Lines" are considered a direct consequence of police tactics.
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PM Boris Johnson and other leading Conservatives disagree, however, continuing to believe that drug use contributes to the majority of social problems and should therefore be discouraged. Only in July, the Prime Minister announced a 50-page plan to crack down on drug trafficking in the UK, warning dealers, "we are coming for you". Additionally, the first part of the Dame Carol Black review outright accused the police force of having "too often exacerbated the problem" of drugs. However, the response of Current Home Secretary Priti Patel's primary
response was the vow to bring "the full force of the Government's response to bear on drugs supply". It is a widely held view that the current UK drug policy and tactics used to enforce it is the reason for the damaged relationship between police and local BAME communities. Figures show that black citizens are nine times more likely to be pulled for a "stop and search" based on suspicion of drug possession than white citizens. This is even though the likelihood of the two ethnic groups using illegal drugs is about the same! To make things worse, no force, when questioned, could satisfactorily explain why this is the case. Law enforcement was also unable to prove that 'stop and search was an effective tool in preventing drug trafficking. A total of 63% of all drug arrests made in 2020 were for possession of cannabis. According to the Ministry of Justice, there has been an average of 969 people serving sentences in UK prisons for cannabis offences since 2015. The UK Sentencing Council acknowledged, this year, that there were disparities based on ethnicity and gender concerning sentences handed out for drug offences.
Within BAME communities Police are far from being seen as any protection, more a source of persecution. A direct result of the enforcement of current drug laws. There's plenty of evidence available that could help the government take a new approach on the subject of legalising or decriminalising cannabis. The success of CBD has helped to change the perception of cannabis and its medicinal benefits. A legal cannabis market could also help to generate millions of pounds in tax. This is an extremely attractive proposition for any government as the world's economy tries to recover following the COVID 19 crisis. There is a glimmer of hope, too, as support from politicians is growing. Ten years ago, there were only a handful of MPs who supported legalisation. Now that number is in the several hundred. 14 European countries and 31 US states have decriminalised adult cannabis use to some extent, so there is plenty for the UK to study and learn from to find the best fit model. Hopefully, with the pressure mounting on the government to address our inadequate drug policies, we may indeed see, at the least, the decriminalisation of cannabis in the next 5-10 years. (RH)
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CANNABIS By Rich Hamilton
REMEMBERING REGGAE LEGEND LEE "SCRATCH" PERRY Lee "Scratch" Perry, the OG of roots reggae and dub who put Jamaican music on the map, has died aged 85. Perry died in hospital in Lucea, Northern Jamaica, on 29th August 2021. The cause of death has yet to be announced. Perry's musical style became the foundation of the "roots reggae" sound made world-famous by Bob Marley. At the same time, his dub production, with its unique use of space and echo, had a profound influence on post-punk, hip-hop, and dance music, amongst other genres. Viewed as one of Jamaica's most eccentric and esteemed artists, Rolling Stone, Keith Richards once described Perry as "the Salvador
Dalí of music. He's a mystery. The world is his instrument. You have to listen." Born in Northwest Jamaica in 1936, Perry left school at a young age. Clement "Coxsone" Dodd, head of the reggae studio and label Studio One, hired him as an assistant. Perry quickly rose through the ranks as a talent scout, DJ, store manager and recording artist. The name "Scratch" came about from an early recording called, The Chicken Scratch in 1965. Perry became increasingly independent as his career progressed, breaking away and forming his backing band, "The Upsetters", and releasing some early tracks fixated on spaghetti westerns:
Clint Eastwood, Return of Django, and The Good, the Bad and the Upsetters, amongst others. In 1973, he built his renowned Black Ark studio and experimented with drum machines and other studio equipment. As well as legendary tales of firing guns, breaking glass and sampling animal noises, Perry was known to blow marijuana smoke onto master tapes to "enhance" the recordings. He pioneered dub versions of reggae tracks, emphasizing the bass and adding reverb to create an eerie, echoing feel. "I see the studio must be like a living thing, a life itself," "The machine must be live and intelligent. Then I put my mind into the machine, and the machine performs reality." -Lee Scratch Perry. The Perry-produced album "War Ina Babylon" featured one of the genre's biggest anthems of politicized reggae in the mid-1970's "Chase the Devil". Perry produced other classics, including the Congos' cosmic masterpiece "Heart of the Congos" and the Heptones' Dylan-covering "Party Time". Junior Murvin's "Police and Thieves" hit an anthem against police brutality, later covered by The Clash. Perry went on to also produce the Clash's 1977 single Complete Control. Before Black Ark, Perry and The Upsetters famously worked with Bob Marley and the Wailers. Their recordings in 1970 and 1971 are still held in high regard today. "Scratch helped my father look deeper into himself and was instrumental in my father's career."- Ziggy Marley. Perry has always been somewhat of an advocate for cannabis and embroiled within the culture and lifestyle. In 1980, Paul McCartney was busted with 7.7 ounces of weed in Japan, a country not known for its drug tolerance. Perry had worked with McCartney and his wife previously in 1977 at his Black Ark studio in Jamaica.
When Perry heard that McCartney had been arrested, he wrote a letter to Tokyo's Minister of Justice requesting his release. "I would LOVE to express my concern over your consideration of one-quarter kilo to be an excessive amount of herbs". "I find the herbal powers of marijuana to relax, calm, and generate positive feeling a must." "Please do not consider the amount of herbs involved excessive. Master Paul McCartney's intentions are positive." Perry smoked for decades but eventually quit weed in 2008 when he was in his 70's. "Since 25, I have been smoking pot, and it overloads the brain" " I don't smoke anymore." Few people adored weed as much as Perry did, and its influence is evident to see over 50 years of his work and legacy. Perry burned down the Black Ark studio in 1983, convinced evil spirits possessed it but continued to record new music throughout the rest of his life. In 2003 he won a Grammy for the album Jamaican ET. In his later career, he also collaborated with George Clinton, Moby, the Orb, the Slits' Ari Up, The Beastie Boys and British dub producers Adrian Sherwood and Mad Professor. As much as for his music Perry was also known for his eccentric, colourful dress sense and spiritual views. "I am an alien from another world," "I live in space – I'm only a visitor here." Tributes to Perry poured in from around the world at the news of his passing. "The world of music has lost one of its most enigmatic creators; an amazing, incomparable phenomenon whose sonic sound waves transformed our lives". Reggae DJ David Rodigan summed it up perfectly. Novelist Hari Kunzru described Perry as "one of the greatest artists of the last 50 years. Much of our lives (whether we know it or not) are lived-in sound worlds he created".
RIP Lee Scratch Perry 1936-2021
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BARNEY’S FARM STRAIN STORY Words & Pics: Green Born Identity – G.B.I.
Dos Si Dos 33 6-in-1 formula with super powers! He has had almost all of them. And dearly beloved them. One could almost speak of polygamy: OG Kush, Girl Scout Cookies, Gelato, Sunset Sherbert… Quite a few cannabis ladies counting among the crème de la crème of US genetics have gone through the loving grow hands of The Doc, each time greatly enthralling him. No wonder he was keen on another heavily trendy cultivar from the land of opportunities: Dos Si Dos. More precisely, Dos Si Dos 33 from the Cali Collection of Barney’s Farm. Barney’s had recently provided him with some seriously stunning genetic bombshells that set his grow room on fire. Fascinatingly, in this Dos Si Dos version of the Dutchmen with excellent US connections, numerous illustrious names of the recent US strain history are coming together for a spectacular fusion, it’s a very complex multiple cross: Adding to three of the four varieties mentioned at the beginning, OG Kush Breath, Face Off OG and Thin Mint GSC are joining the party here, yielding the genetic lineage ([OG Kush Breath x Face Off OG] x [OG Kush x GSC]) x [Sunset Sherbet x Thin Mint GSC]. What reads like the beginning of a complicated mathematic formula, can be broken down and simplified to Dos Si Dos (consisting of the first four strains) x Gelato #33 (consisting of the last two). This most glorious parade of several mightily strong flagship strains, this 6-in-1 super formula lends Dos Si Dos 33 extremely high potency – she has some amazing 22-28% THC under the hood. Also yield-wise, her performance can be extraordinary: according to Barney’s, up to 700 grams dry per sqm. are achievable under lights, with plant heights of about 90 cm. Outside, Dos Si Dos 33 flaunts a potentially record-breaking yield of up to two kilos per plant, finishing fairly early under natural light, between the first and second week of October. Indoors, she needs 60-65 blooming days to mature. Outwardly characteristic of this 60:40 indica/sativa variety is its breath-taking insane frostiness plus strikingly lime green leaves. In addition, it has a boosted terpene profile, bursting with Cookies sweetness freshened by dashes of lime and mint. The most powerful buzz of this plant splits into two phases: At first Dos Si Dos 33 sparks an energising sativa fire potentially accompanied by a wave of euphoria, then it segues into stage of deep sedative indica calmness which leaves the user with a blissful state of mind and a wonderfully relaxed body.
Vigorous branchy growth in the veg stage The Doc was very much looking forward to his grow date with six US ladies at one sweep as 6-in-1 was the strain motto. The usual two feminised test seeds went into the ground and sprouted perfectly, after less than three days the seedlings’ heads stood straight above the ground. A great deal of vigour was exhibited by the two plants during the four weeks veg stage, with many lateral branches coming off the main stem. They stretched much more whilst vegetative growth than The Doc had expected in view of their slightly dominant indica share, already standing 44 and 49 cm tall when he triggered them into flowering, displaying an open growth pattern with quite generous internodal spacing.
The blooming stage: „One glistening silver pole“! In the blooming stage, the two Dos Si Dos 33 ladies then showed a likewise strong instinct to stretch by more than doubling their height during the first four weeks. “This sort of more airy plant
structure provides the advantage of better ventilation through the plants, with the buds getting optimally aerated which, as we all know, is a good basic protection against mould infestation”, The Doc commented. Very early the two plants started to do what is a trademark feature of the Dos Si Dos genetics: producing overly rich amounts of resin glands. They formed fairly big calyxes that were increasingly stacking upon one another, eventually uniting into thick chubby buds that were distinctly leaning towards the indica side. More and more, they puffed themselves up and pumped out opulent trichome layers until after nine weeks of flowering they looked so white as if they were stuck in a blizzard. Or, to put it in the words of The Doc, looked like “one glistening silver pole”. Even multi-fingered flower leaves were entirely coated in crystals.
The smell: An enormously sweet, multi-faceted potpourri The two Dos Si Dos 33 plants also presented themselves with the dial turned up to the max on smell, by giving off an
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enormous sweetness undercut with both a spicy note of blond hashish and a fruity, slightly sourly touch of citrus – “an absolutely tantalising multi-faceted potpourri that evokes a most pleasant anticipation of the forthcoming taste experience”, swooned The Doc. His two plants were ready for harvest after timely 65 days of flowering. That strong extension growth in both the veg and flowering stage had made the plants shoot up to 104 and 110 cm in the end,
The Doc smokes Dos Si Dos 33: „As if a horse kicked me!“ In its dried form, the sweet ‘n spicy fragrance of the heavily silver-crusted Dos Si Dos nuggets reminded The Doc of freshly mixed cookie dough into which a pinch of lime peel and nutmeg had been grated – “that’s oh-so-delicious, sending my nose into rapture!”, he enthused. The yield of both plants was a veritable combined 167 grams. To test smoke Dos
due to the fact that he had eaten little that day or that this marijuana simply was so damn strong, or both: right after the first hit, The Doc felt as “if a horse had kicked him”- this new Barney’s Farm strain announced itself like a mighty bell reverberating through his head. To stick to that horse metaphor though - that imaginery horse didn’t kick his head, but his butt rather, which jumpstarted him awake - there it was, a really peppy sativa kick! Two hits more and his heart began to throb violently, so he he couldn’t sit still any longer and restlessly jumped off his couch. A walk in the beautiful spring sun seemed to be a great thing to do now… the burgeoning vegetation’s green now seemed even more lush and vibrant to him, the birds’ twittering crescendoed into a boisterous polyphonic chorus and The Doc’s sense of vision felt as sharp as though he was hawk-eyed and could spot every single rabbit, mouse and
earthwoarm in the environment. When he was back home after about 45 minutes and made himself comfortable, a restful deep indica relaxation came over his body and mind and caused a lovely long-lasting warm feeling of harmony and balance. A grandiose match to this state of mind was watching the Netflix nature doc series “Night on earth” with its fantastic animal and nature shots. When he declared his concluding verdict, The Doc sang a hymn of praise: „Dos Si Dos 33 is an absolutely bodacious strain that in many respects has totally blown me away: This kind of weed is tremendously frosty, tremendously sweet and tremendously potent! And then it has that great twophase effect which makes you get going at first and then super chilled. Hooray! Barney’s Farm’s triumphal procession through my grow room has impressively continued.” Green Born Identity – G.B.I.
Cultivation data:
so they proved to be pretty uniform, too. When harvesting, The Doc had close to no work to do as the buds displayed only a small amount of little leaves and were so resinous in their entirety that he actually could have left them as they were. Here a snip, there a snap - manicuring was as simple as that.
Si Dos 33, in excited anticipation The Doc prepared a fat doobie with half a gram of weed that he eagerly put to his lips, sucking a huge first draft out of it. Which provided him with such an insanely sweet, only slightly zesty flavour that Dos Si Dos 33 seemed to him like some delectable sweet titbits. Whether it was
Genetics
Dos Si Dos 33 (Dos Si Dos x Gelato #33)
Vegetative stage
four weeks (after germination)
Flowering stage
65 days / 60-65 days in general
Medium
Plagron Grow Mix soil, 11 litre pots
pH
6.2-6.6
EC
1.2–1.8 mS
Light
up to 12 x SANlight S4W = 1680 watts
Temperature
19-28°C
Air humidity
40-60%
Watering
by hand
Fertilisation
Organic Bloom Liquid from Green Buzz Liquids
Additives/stimulants
Living Organics, More Roots, Humin Säure Plus, Big Fruits, Fast Buds and Clean Fruits from Green Buzz Liquids
Tools
CleanLight Pro for mould prevention
Height
104 and 110 cm
Yield
together, 167 Grammes
10
GROW WITH JORGE CERVANTES Jorge Cervantes jorge@marijuanagrowing.com
PLAN YOUR INDOOR GARDEN NOW plants that are 30-60 cm tall requires little space, electricity and ventilation. Large gardens require more space, electricity, water and ventilation. If you plan to grow a perpetual crop you will need at least two different rooms, one for seedling, clone and vegetative growth and a second room for flowering growth. Post-harvest drying and processing may require a completely separate room for larger crops.
SINGLE CROP Growing in a single room is a good way to harvest a crop every 4-6 months. You can take the time to set up the garden properly and not be overwhelmed with growing plants when problems arise. Starting too many plants in a big room in a “get rich quick” scheme often results in a substandard harvest and in some cases, crop failure.
LED grow lights are the most efficient at turning electricity into light cannabis needs to grow. INTRODUCTION Plan your indoor garden on paper before investing any time or money. A few hours of planning and research on the internet will ensure a good start and increase your chances of success. What are your goals? Do you want to grow a single crop from seed to harvest? Do you want to grow a perpetual crop and harvest a few plants every week or two? Or do you want to harvest a crop every 2-3 months?
will require extra time to fine-tune the first few months. I have found that every time I set a budget for a project it always costs me more time and
money than anticipated. Site selection can limit the options for the type of indoor garden you can set up. Growing a few seedlings into
Maybe you have designs on starting a big commercial garden. Are you an outdoor or greenhouse gardener who wants to get an early start on the growing season by starting plants indoors? Your decision will dictate the type of garden area you set up and the materials and supplies you will need. Set a budget that fits your needs. A small area to start seeds that grow into plants 30 cm tall to transplant outdoors is inexpensive and requires a minor financial and time investment. Setting up a large space to produce several kilos per month requires a serious budget, planning and dedication. Remember that all gardens
A single crop of cannabis is all you need to keep you smoking all year.
Purchase female clones legally at cannabis dispensaries or germinate seeds. Huddle small plants in containers under artificial light. Small plants in the vegetative growth stage
11 Induce flowering with a 12-hour day, 12-hour night photoperiod in the vegetative room.
PERPETUAL CROP
This room full of clones will start flowering in one week. The room will be cleared and replanted the same day. Jaime from Resin Seeds has several rooms that he fills with clones after harvest.
Two separate rooms are necessary to harvest a perpetual crop unless you are able to trust a clone vendor. The vegetative room should be about one quarter the size of the flowering room. This is a ratio of 1 to 4. Set up a vegetative room and a flowering room so that you can grow a perpetual crop. Take several clones from vegetative plants in the vegetative room every day or every week. Move the same number of plants to the flowering room daily or weekly. Harvest the same number of plants daily or weekly. Take clones of the same number of plants harvested. Actually, take one or two more clones to allow for mistakes.
Jaime from Resin seeds shows off his garden in Thailand where he employs a staggered harvest technique. Using this method Jaimie is able to the grow space full of plants all the time.
Harvest a plant in the flowering room and move in a plant from the vegetative room into the flowering room.
BIG GARDENS
This room full of clones has been flowering for almost three weeks.
need less intense light levels. Spread plants out and add more lights as their size increases. Set your timer to 18 hours of light and 6 hours of darkness for the vegetative growth stage. Induce flowering with an even 12 hours of darkness and 12 hours of light. Set up a vegetative garden room. Apply the information in “Vegetative Room” below until plants are flowering size – 30-60 cm tall. Note: the room will need to be big enough to accommodate a flowering crop.
Big gardens will require several rooms to nurture plants in each stage of life. Separate rooms for. Seedlings, clones and mothers are necessary to give each the exact conditions they need. The seedling and clone rooms can be a part of a larger room as long as they are sectioned off so that temperature, humidity, ventilation and light levels can be controlled separately. The small plants use very little water and can be irrigated by hand. Small plants should be set up off the ground so that they can be visually monitored.
Big garden rooms are my favorite! This one is packed with flowering females that are on the verge of harvest. Big rooms can contain a single crop or plants in many stages of life.
INDOOR, GREENHOUSE & OUTDOOR CROP Start seedlings and clones indoors under lights and move them into a greenhouse or outdoors. Grow small plants to 15-60 cm tall before transplanting outdoors. Small plants must be hardened-off when they leave the protected indoor environment before making the final move to harsher outdoor and greenhouse environments.
These seedlings were started indoors and moved outdoors to a greenhouse in Northern California. The plastic was recently removed. The light bulbs to interrupt the nittime photoperiod so that plants remain in vegetative growth were removed later that day.
This an excerpt from the Outdoors chapter in the new, unpublished 6th Edition of Marijuana Horticulture (AKA the Bible) by Jorge Cervantes. The 6th Edition of Marijuana Horticulture will be available Spring 2022. Find all of Jorge´s books at all amazon retailers worldwide.
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GROW WITH STONEY TARK By Stoney Tark
STONEY'S TOP TIPS on Growing Auto Flowering Cannabis
Auto flowering Cannabis plants are incredibly popular and are now being grown all over Europe, South America, and the USA. Auto flowering simply means the plants can be grown under any lighting environment and do not require the standard 12/12 cycle as when growing photo-period Cannabis strains. Below are my top tips to consider when growing auto's and the best ways to make the most of your garden. MULTIPLE HARVEST OUTDOORS
USE YOUR VEGGING ROOM
Every grower is different in how they set their rooms up, however for the more organised person who has a separate room for mother plants, clones, and seedlings to stay in the vegetative state then it is possible to add some auto's in there. My top tip is to leave a few auto's in your vegging room where the light is constantly on 18/6 and within 10 weeks or less you will have plants ready to harvest that require little maintenance. Sea of Green (SOG) Outdoors As a fan of auto flowering Cannabis myself, there is no better feeling than harvesting a Sea of Green outdoors every 3 months. The days of planting a small number of auto's is long gone and now planting 36 or so in an outdoor polytunnel is far more rewarding. My tip here is to dedicate an outdoor space to growing a minimum of 16 auto's (4 rows x 4 rows). You will be pleasantly surprised at how easy the grow to flower cycle is and the return on investment.
This one is aimed at those who live in a Mediterranean climate with a long season. South Spain is a perfect example of how once you have your outdoor space dialled in, you can easily harvest 4 times per year. If you are working with an auto flowering that can finish in 10-12 weeks for example then you can crop between FebApril, May-July, Aug-Oct, and Oct-mid Dec. My tip here is to find a fast flowering and highly resistant auto flowering strain and the rest will be a case of maintenance and reusing your organic growing medium.
AIR PRUNING
Cannabis plants that allow roots to freely breathe in felt pots will always grow better than those in plastic pots that are destined to become root bound. When it comes to auto's, it is all about a strong start and felt pots will encourage the root hairs to prune themselves, resulting in a more enhanced network of roots. There are many pots available to buy specifically designed to prune the roots of a plant, however my tip here is to buy a roll of felt and make your own custom sized pots.
BIGGER POTS ARE BEST
There is nothing more disheartening than harvesting 10-20g off an outdoor plant that was given the best nutrients and direct sunlight possible. One way to counter this is to start your auto flowering seeds off in large-sized pots. My tip here is to use a minimum of 15 litres and give the seedlings the very best chance to establish their roots and grow to a good size. It is often the first 2-3 weeks that play a massive role in the final height in my opinion, so large-sized pots will work best.
ADD BENEFICIAL MICROORGANISMS
There is a good chance that the store bought soil you are using is already packed with beneficial micro-organisms, but it is always good to add more in my opinion. The moment the tap root of any seed opens it should be treated with microbes and fungi and form a longterm symbiotic relationship. My tip here is to add the beneficials into the soil in powder form, then use as a liquid tonic with aerated teas every couple of weeks to ensure your soil food web is as efficient as possible.
TAKE NOTE:
Photo courtesy of Barney’s Farm.
BUILD A POLYTUNNEL
Polytunnels are cheap, long laying, and will give you peace of mind that your auto flowering crop is well protected from the wind, rain, insects, and neighbours. Once you have your tunnel built to the size you prefer, now you fill the tunnel with auto's and depending on where you live, you may be able to harvest your plants 3-4 times per year. My tip here is to buy the wooden stakes, plastic netting and plastic pipe, and get to work!
TRY DIFFERENT LIGHT CYCLES INDOORS
If you are growing auto flowering Cannabis plants indoors and have stuck to the conventional 18/6 schedule, then it may be a good idea to experiment with different lighting cycles. Allowing your plants to receive more than 6 hours of light could be beneficial and especially when working with different auto flowering strains, so my tip here is to flower the autos under 16/8 or 14/10.
– Auto's really are meant for outdoor grows. – Since auto's are very unstable due to their Ruderalis genetics, you will get many different shapes and sizes of plants, which is not well suited for indoor grows where you want an even canopy. – Cheese auto varieties are the most stable ones, so these you can grow indoors. – For auto's the max. pot size is 20l since the roots don't grow out so much as with photo-period plants. – The seeds of auto's are bigger and rounder then seeds of photo-period plants. – Yields of auto's are always smaller then yields of photo-period plants. – You can't take any clones of an auto variety nor can you keep an auto as a mother plant. Happy growing!
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PLANT GROWING TricomaTeam (tricomateam@gmail.com)
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Providing the right nutrition to marijuana plants throughout their development is crucial for the best quality and most abundant harvests possible. Well-fed plants grow faster and healthier, and are also capable of producing larger buds during flowering with a superior taste and smell. If we want to get the most out of our crop, we should use quality fertilisers that provide all the nutrients demanded by the plants in the appropriate quantity according to their various growth stages.
The plants will be healthier and stronger and, therefore, more resistant to problems such as pests or diseases. Flowering will be much more vigorous and the overall quality of the final product much better, with bigger and denser buds and a higher concentration of resin. There are thousands of brands and products to choose from on the market, with more or less bottles to be used based on the dosage shown in the attached growing
The first time we tried Emerald Harvest was on a crop that had already been flowering for about a month. We used the two-part flowering version, Bloom A and Bloom B. We also added Emerald Goddness, Honey Chome and of course King Kola to the nutrient solution. The plants already had a fairly well fertilised soil and were still quite green, so we decided to add a little less than the dosage shown in the growing table, for fear of over-fertilising the plants. We were a little
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table. Products worthy of note are produced by Emerald Harvest. We were very surprised by the results obtained in our growing test. The effect on our crops was clearly visible as early as the first days of growth.
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A healthy and strong growing plant. worried that this would happen but, on the contrary, the plants had a growth spurt. In a matter of hours, the leaves had risen even higher towards the light. We completed our crop using this brand of fertiliser and the result was spectacular. Every day you could see the size of the buds and the resin covering them increase. At no other time during the plants’ growth had they been so lush.
and Emerald Goddness, designed to be the most powerful biological catalyst on the market. With Emerald Harvest's base nutrients and range of supplements, growers will meet all the nutritional needs of their plants, improve their health and increase yield and quality. Emerald Harvest will help you reap abundant harvests and produce large and dense buds with an exquisite taste. If the manufacturer’s recommended feeding programme is followed, the growth of your plants will be explosive and the absorption of nutrients will be greater, thus improving their health and resistance to diseases, and, above all, the quantity and quality of your harvest.. Fertilisers and additives should be added to the nutrient solution exactly when plants requires them, as they do not have the same nutritional needs at all stages of development. As plants grow, so does the demand for food. In addition to a higher dose of nutrients, the proportion of the various nutrients differs when plants are in the growth phase compared to when they are in the flowering period. Plants hardly need any nutrients in the first few weeks after germination but, little by little, they will need more and more. The proportion of each nutrient needed also differs according to the stage they are in. For example, during growth, plants absorb a large amount of nitrogen, whereas during flowering, the demand for this nutrient is much lower and plants appreciate a higher supply of phosphorus and potassium. Always check the pH and EC of the irrigation water. An EC meter measures the amount of dissolved salts in the water. It is an ideal tool to get an approximate idea of the amount of nutrients added to the nutrient solution.
tive stage (one week after transplanting the seeds or cuttings); and the second after the first week of flowering. All this while adding and mixing the base nutrients and other additives as explained in the previous section. Root Wizard is an excellent root stimulator. In addition to encouraging the development of a good root ball, it strengthens and protects the roots. It contains different species of rhizobacteria that stimulate plant growth and invigorate the root system. These bacteria will cause an explosive development of the roots and stimulate the plants to extend their root system with longer roots and capillaries. In particular, the bacteria ingest, digest and dispose of organic matter, which is therefore converted into food that can be easily assimilated. When they die, they leave fresh organic matter. Root Wizard can also be used on the foliage to cover leaves with beneficial bacteria.
Emerald Goddness This is another great product under the Emerald Harvest brand. It makes the plants grow green and healthy and produces an even heavier harvest. This stimulator supports the development of the plants during all stages. It has been created to be the best product in its class and contains extracts of
A good dried bud. From that day, on we started to try all products from this brand, both in the growth room and in the flowering room.
Emerald Harvest When it comes to growing marijuana, Emerald Harvest is synonymous with success. This is the name of the company that, for several years now, has been known as the best manufacturer of fertilisers for Cannabis cultivation in America. They have two lines of base nutrients, a somewhat simpler 2-part line and a 3-part line for growers who wish to fine-tune their nutrient solution even further. They also have other supplements with an incredible quality that will help us get the most out of our plants. The response of the crops to Emerald Harvest's fertilisers and additives was spectacular, and the effects after each watering cycle were visible in all strains in a matter of hours. With each new product we tested, we noticed an immediate reaction in the plants. In addition to the base nutrients, the brand also offers amazing additives to supplement the nutrition, such as Root Wizard, a powerful root stimulator containing different species of rhizobacteria; King Kola, a flowering stimulator containing hemp seed proteins;
They contain four main chelated micronutrients that are involved in various plant processes, i.e. copper, which activates certain plant enzymes and in chlorophyll production and lignin formation; iron, which also helps chlorophyll production and activates metabolic processes for respiration and photosynthesis; manganese, which works with iron also in chlorophyll production; and zinc, which helps regulate plant growth. The two-part base nutrient, with part A and B, consists of two fertilisers for growth and two for flowering. When adding the base nutrients A and B to the nutrient solution, you should first add part A and mix it well with the water, then add part B and mix it in together with other additives. Then, you should adjust the pH and check that the EC is appropriate.
King Kola This is probably Emerald Harvest's flagship product. It is a very powerful bloom stimulator. In addition to increasing phosphorus and potassium, which accelerate flowering, it is the only product that contains hemp protein. The high proportion of hemp seed flour contained in King Kola is a source of protein, which contributes to the development of buds and helps improve nutrient absorption. This protein is perfect for crops, as it is of vegetable origin and has a profile more similar to that of plants. The extra amount of phosphorus and potassium it adds to the base nutrients helps plants mature first during flowering and increase photosynthesis, bud formation and their overall resistance. King Kola can also be used on the foliage to increase stress resistance.
Honey Chome It is an aroma and taste enhancer for buds, which nourishes the plants and helps the development of a healthier and more extended root ball. It also promotes the production of terpenes and flavonoids and makes flowers more potent and colourful.
Base nutrients Emerald Harvest has two professional line of base nutrients. A two-part line for growers who wish to keep it simple, and a three-part line for those who prefer to have more control over the nutrient solution. All the nutrients that plants may require are available in these fertilisers. The Emerald Harvest base fertilisers contain high levels of chelated micronutrients, which facilitate absorption and prevent nutrients from remaining in the soil.
promotes plant resistance and vigour at all times. It contains growth hormones, such as auxins that stimulate growth and cytokines that boost root and leaf growth at the cellular level. It also increases the chlorophyll content in the plants and helps them flower properly. Humic acid promotes root and organic processes in plants. It is a natural chelator that binds to other compounds so they can be absorbed by plants. Emerald Goddness also contains a large amount of nutrients and raises nitrogen and potassium levels, which ultimately increases the bud size and quality.
A beautiful Chocolate Mint covered with trichomes. seaweed (alfalfa and kelp), humic acid and vitamin B1 among other ingredients. Alfalfa produces a hormonal response in plants, improving root development and the growth of new shoots. In particular, it contains the natural plant growth factor triacontanol, which stimulates root development and promotes photosynthesis. Kelp extract, which supports cell growth,
Flavonoids are related to the pigmentation of the plants; the concentration of terpenes in a plant depends on its aroma and taste. The more concentrated the terpenes in a bud, the greater its taste, smell and potency. This product also contains three sources of carbohydrates that support growth and encourage flowering. They do not feed the plants, but the beneficial microbes in the roots. With a higher concentration of beneficial bacteria in the rhizosphere, more nutrients will be available to the plants.
Root Wizard This product is very powerful and highly concentrated. It is only used for a couple of weeks, i.e. the first one during the vegeta-
Honey Chome surrounded by resinous Gorilla buds.
A Critical Jack specimen surrounded by good buds.
15
INTERVIEW
BETTY GREEN First of all, I would like to congratulate you on the success of your feature here in Soft Secrets. Tell me about what got you interested in cooking with cannabis. Thank you. It was natural really, I have a big passion for both cannabis and cooking, so it seemed logical to combine the two. I'm not a massive fan of smoking either, so edibles really appeals to me and fits in with my lifestyle. It's such a versatile way to enjoy cannabis; you can basically incorporate it into any kind of dish these days. The possibilities are endless, and I enjoy coming up with new recipes and experimenting. Have you had any professional cooking experience, or are you self taught? I am self-taught. I don't claim to be the best cook, and I don't think you have to be. You just have to be passionate about food and be creative. Getting things wrong is all part of the learning process. However, "getting it wrong" with edibles can sometimes have pretty intense consequences! Yeh, I think we have all been there when it comes to misjudging an edible.
So, are you a believer in the phrase that "edibles aren't for everyone" No, not at all. I think that you just have to respect the ingredient. We are no longer in the days of piling a load of weed into some cakes and hoping for the best. People still do that, but there is no excuse
One of our newest features here at Soft Secrets is the cooking with cannabis section by Betty Green. We thought we would catch up with her and learn a little more about the lady behind the cannabisinfused cooking. Finally, this is the hardest one, pace yourself. Too many people treat cannabis like alcohol and binge it. Many people don't understand the difference between edibles and smoking and the effects until it is too late.
for it, not with all the infusion methods and information on potency that we have available to us now. We know so much more about how cannabinoids work, how to use them in cooking, and their effects on us that there is a pathway for everyone. Whether that is micro-dosed gummies to keep you alert or a heavily laced cake to assist with chronic pain or insomnia. You can achieve the effect you want; you just have to do your research first. The market is so much more sophisticated than it was.
When your dish is cooked, try a teaspoon and WAIT! It takes at least an hour to get in your system; you can gauge your consumption based on that teaspoon. I know it's tempting to just scoff the lot but try not to. Like I said, respect the ingredients.
Do you look to the legal edibles industry for inspiration? Oh definitely, I am actually quite jealous of it. Living in the UK, we obviously still have to keep everything on the down-low. In contrast, it is such an established culinary industry in the US; there are restaurants, TV shows, cookbooks, and food lines. The things chefs are achieving are amazing! Pairing terpenes with foods as you would wines and incorporating cannabis into every kind of meal, it's incredible! I also love the idea that you can walk into a store, pick up an edible, and know what you are getting in terms of strain, flavour, and, most importantly, dose.
What is it about dosing that is so hard? It's Chemistry, basically. There are so many variables involved, like the ingredients you are cooking with, how well the cannabinoids bind with them and what heat you cook at. You also have to consider how well you decarboxylated
What can we expect from you going forward in your regular feature? your cannabis, whether you are using hash or Flower and whether you are cooking with an infusion or organic flower material. The list goes on. There are calculations that you can use to "average" out the potency, but that is all it is an average. On that note, what would be your top tips for anyone cooking with cannabis?
The 7-minute eggs I recently did is a personal fave. It's the perfect way to wake and bake if you don't fancy smoking at 8 am in the morning! I hope to do more dishes like that in the future and some exciting food that shows the culinary versatility of cannabis. Any other plans in the pipeline?
Always decarboxylate your weed. People will say that you don't need to do it. YES, YOU DO! You will not be unlocking the true potential and any entourage effect if you don't. Secondly, try and dose your recipe as accurately as you can. There are dosage calculations and calculators available online that will at least get you in the right ballpark of strength.
I am planning on doing a cookbook, something modern and relevant that feels British. Many of the great canna cookbooks out there are US-based. I want to see things that are a bit more relatable to British food culture and nostalgia. I also want to make it a digital book that is accessible to all and is easily kept discreet.
16
QUIZ
7. In the 1830's a doctor discovered what? A. Cannabis could get you high. B. Cannabis could help with depression. C. Cannabis could be eaten. D. Cannabis could treat chronic pain and sickness.
8. What happened by the late 1800's? 1. Where did cannabis and hemp plants originate? A. Europe around 500 BC. B. Northern America around 500BC. C. Central Asia around 500BC. D. South America around 500BC.
2. What did ancient cultures grow cannabis for? A. Herbal Medicine. B. To get High. C. As food. D. As a decorative plant.
3. Where was cannabis introduced next? A. Holland. B. England, Ireland, Scotland. C. Spain. D. Africa, Europe, The Americas.
4. What happened in the 1600's? A. Cannabis was outlawed. B. US farmers were ordered to grow hemp. C. People started smoking cannabis. D. War over hemp.
A. Cannabis sold by doctors in Europe and US. B. Cannabis tax introduced. C. Cannabis outlawed in Europe. D. Cannabis outlawed in USA.
A. To get high. B. To use as food. C. Hemp fiber for textiles and other materials. D. Oil. 6. How were early cannabis plants different? A. Grew much smaller. B. Harder to grow. C. Lower levels of CBD. D. Lower levels of THC.
1937? A. Criminalisation of all but industrial use of the plant. B. Tax on cannabis used medicinally. C. Tax on all cannabis entering USA. D. Tax on anyone found in possession.
15. Nixon's "War on Drugs" 1970 did what? A. Allowed cannabis to be grown for medicine. B. listed cannabis as schedule 1 drug. C. Banned hemp as well as cannabis. D. increased prison sentence for possesion.
9. When did smoking cannabis start in the USA?
16. What else is a "schedule 1" drug?
A. Late 1800's. B. Early 1900's. C. Mid 1900's D. No one knows.
A. Prescription drugs. B. Store bought Painkillers.. C. Heroin, LSD and Ecstasy D. Any mind altering substance.
10. How did this come about?
17. Which was the first state to legalise cannabis?
A. Doctors suggesting it as medicinal. B. Cheap and widely available. C. Mexican immigrants introduced it. D. Traders from Asian cultures.
A. California, 1996, for medicinal use. B. New York, 1996, for medicinal use. C. Canada was first to legalise all use. D. California, 1996, recreational use.
11. What did Mexicans call Cannabis?
18. How many US states is cannabis legal in today?
A. Weed. B. Mary Jane. C. Four Twenty. D. Marijuana.
12. What was the US Prohibition period 1920-1933? 5. What were the main reasons for its cultivation?
14. What was the Marijuana tax act of
A. Ban on immigrants entering USA. B. Ban on manufacture or sale of alcohol. C. Ban on Public Houses. D. Ban on drinking in public.
A. 18 states recreationally, 37 medicinally. B. All 50 states recreationally and medicinally. C. All 50 states medicinally. D. 40 states recreationally and medicinally.
19. When was cannabis fully legalised in Canada? A. It isnt. B. October 17th 2018. C. January 1st 2020.. D. January 1st 2018
13. 29 States outlawed cannabis by 1931, why?
20. For 2020, the global legal cannabis industry was valued at..
A. Considered dangerous to health. B. Too much crime surrounding it. C. Prohibition, hatred immigrants & fear of "evil weed". D. Governement could not tax it.
A. $10 Million USD. B. $1 Billion USD. C. $9.1 Billion USD D. $2.1 Billion USD. For answers see page 32
17
GROW REPORT By Stoney Tark
SAN BACIO GELATO Strain: San Bacio Gelato Lineage: Bacio Gelato x 3 Kings BHB Lights: 2 x SANlight Q5 LED Growing Time (18/6): 28 days Flowering Time (12/12): 63 days Flushing Period: 21 days Grow Medium: Coco + Compost + Guanokalong complete mix powder (2-5-3) Pot Size: 12 litre fabric pots (Root Pouch) Nutrients: Guanokalong Seaweed liquid + Guanokalong Bat Boost (0-0-2) Final Height: 85 cm Growing Period - 18/6 After being sent a pack of the new collaboration with Sherbinski, I was excited and overzealous to get these germinated. My growing medium that I will be using is a mix of compost and coco with a granulated nutrient mixed in from Guanokalong. This nutrient contains a balanced mix of the entire Guanokalong range in one, and a superb product to use from seed until harvest. The measurement is 5ml of nutrient per litre of water and that will remain the same until the flowering period. As usual, I plant the seed directly into the 12 litre fabric pot and lightly water, and within a few days the seedling will
emerge strong and healthy. The room has oscillating fans on the floor and middle points of the tent, ensuring a great air flow, and the temperature is 24 degrees and the humidity is 75% with the aid of a humidifier. 72 hours after first planting, the seedling has popped up and by the end of the first week has grown 5.5cm. During this time, I feed only water and lightly foliar spray making sure the humidity stays in the comfort zone of 70%. During the vegetative period I shall feed only a liquid seaweed nutrient and foliar spray only, as the growing medium is packed full of nutrients and the microbes and fungi present in the mix will do lots of the hard work. After day 25 of the growing period, this strain has grown very short and bushy, and will be tied down to encourage more spacing in the middle. The appearance reminds me of the old school indicas that would require heavy pruning due to the close quartered structure and awkward angle of the leaves. FLOWERING PERIOD - 12/12 The start of flowering starts and my temperature is 24 degrees during the day and night time 17.5 degrees with the relative humidity currently at 55%. For the first week of flower, this girl will be fed a mix of the seaweed liquid nutrient and Guanokalong bat boost at 2ml per litre, and there will a top layer of Guanokalong bat guano (0-10-0) added at the start of flowering and at the start of week 5.
A close up of the top bud of this frosty lady. By day 28 and just under half way into the flowering period, the amount of resin is wild and every leaf in site is top shelf extracting material. Now I add the final top dressing of bat guano powder and feed at 5ml per litre with the seaweed and bat boost liquid nutrients. Over the next 3 weeks, the plants will do lots of work, then they will endure a 3 week flush to make sure all of the nutrients inside the plant and available in the medium have been totally used up. By feeding only water, it does not take long before the first colours start to show, and the fade begins. I notice there are purple streaks running through the main fan leaves and the tips of the lower leaves closest to the buds, have also turned pink with a purple hue. By day 50, the buds are as stacked and developed as they will get, with the trichomes under close inspection revealing the majority to be clear.
The resin production is heavy and will make excellent hash.
After the second week of flushing, the colours of the leaves have become multicolored and have a hypnotic quality.
By day 60 I measured the San Bacio for the last time, and she is the shortest of the of the other strains growing alongside (L.A Gelato and Forbidden Dream) measuring 85cm in height with a width of 63cm. She has been flowering now for 60 days and has a purple tint on the outside of all the leaves. The buds have turned into a light purple with pink tops, giving her a lovely bag appeal once harvested. When checking the trichomes of the buds, I see that they are mainly cloudy with a few amber ones which is just the right time to pick in my opinion and depending on the cultivar. The plant is harvested after 63 days making it 9 weeks exactly. The amount of trim that will be collected for making dry sift is exceptional quality and there is not one leaf that will be thrown away, prior to a 14 day full plant hang in the dry room. The buds stink of a creamy, gassy, vanilla cookie that has sweet fruit notes. HAPPY GROWING!
18
INTERNATIONAL CANNA NEWS By Rich Hamilton
CANNABIS CONSUMPTION LOUNGES FOR VEGAS ARE ON THEIR WAY! ease of buying cannabis in Las Vegas is cancelled out by the difficulty in finding somewhere to enjoy it.
Still, each company are only permitted to have one lounge. At first, the state will only license 20 standalone lounges, with ten permissions reserved for social equity enterprises.
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak signed a bill in June to regulate and license consumption lounges. This is a big deal for the cannabis industry in Nevada. Up
It is thought that by as early as October, we should begin to see the first consumption lounges opening up. Assembly Bill No. 341, to give it its official name, will allow cannabis dispensaries to apply for on-site consumption licenses. Stand-alone
Under the new regulations, all lounges must be equipped with adequate ventilation and exhaust systems. All employees must be fully trained on how to serve cannabis products. They must describe each product's
until now, it has been illegal to consume cannabis products anywhere except in a private residence.
businesses will be able to open what essentially will look like a regular bar that serves cannabis.
It is currently classed as a misdemeanour to consume cannabis in public. It has been banned from hotels and casinos. This has meant that, especially for tourists, the
However, there will be some restraints, such as lounges not serving alcohol or hosting gambling. There are still some question marks over the categories of cannabis products authorized for use in lounges. Still, the bill so far is expected to legalize smoking and the consumption of single-serve THC-infused edibles and drinks. Live entertainment will also be allowed.
potency, absorption time, and effects and understand and demonstrate the proper use of any consumption paraphernalia. Training to recognize cannabis impairment and how to handle patrons who over-consume will also be mandatory.
Self-proclaimed "Sin City" and hedonists paradise Las Vegas will introduce cannabis consumption lounges in the infamous entertainment capital before the end of this year.
Vegas being Vegas, there is much excitement about the creative concepts that will no doubt materialize. Anything goes when it comes to Vegas! The sky is the limit with the possibility of weed-friendly yoga studios, cannabis-serving comedy clubs and high-end restaurants that infuse dishes with THC. Every dispensary has the opportunity to apply for a consumption lounge license.
Before introducing this new legislation, there was only one place visitors could consume cannabis legally in public, The NuWu Cannabis Tasting Room. This is a 16,000-square-foot cannabis store owned by the Paiute Tribe just north of Downtown Las Vegas. However, the doors have been blown wide open, and the race is on to create the most fabulous, exciting and unique cannabis experience Las Vegas has to offer. Dispensary giant Planet 13 owns a 112,000-square-foot superstore just five minutes from the famous Las Vegas Strip. They have wasted no time building a weed-
friendly Vegas-style venue in next to no time. "We look forward to setting the bar and showing the industry what is possible when your goal is to Out Vegas, Vegas,"Bob Groesbeck, Co-CEO of Planet 13. Cannabis super brand "Cookies" opened a dispensary on the Las Vegas Strip in May. The ongoing canna success story, famous for its cannabis strains and
merchandise range, has cut a deal with Chicago-based Green Thumb Industries (GTI). GTI are a cannabis company that operates in 12 states and reported $194.4 million in revenue; for the first quarter of 2021! The deal with Cookies founder Bay Area hip-hop artist Berner and longtime grower Jai will see GTI apply for a cannabis consumption lounge for the dispensary a stone's throw from the famous Strat Hotel. With the brand power and money behind that project, I'm sure we are in for some incredible results! "When people come to Vegas for a holiday, bachelor party or a wedding, they're going to want to socialize and consume cannabis, and they're going to want to come to Cookies". "What better place than Vegas, It's an experience city in the middle of the desert." - Ben Kovler, CEO and founder of Greenthumb industries. What better place indeed? I know that I, for one, will be booking some flights!!
ROYALQUEENSEEDS
RQSEEDS
ROYALQUEENSEEDSRQS
20
GROW WITH STONEY TARK By Stoney Tark
REGULAR AND FEMINIZED SEEDS EXPLAINED
The Benefits of Each
A Male plant outdoors releasing pollen.
Seeds come in all shapes, sizes, and patterns.
REGULAR SEEDS EXPLAINED This simply refers to the sex of the seeds and has nothing to do with the quality of the seed. A grower can expect to find both male and female Cannabis plants from a pack of regular seeds, and typically, the regular version of a strain compared to the feminized version will be cheaper in price.
offspring are then classed into different generations depending on how far the breeding lines continue. Once a plant has been successfully crossed together from 6-8 generations, it can now be classed as an IBL (Inter Bred Line) and should be completely stable and homogenous.
WHO BUYS THEM? As the possibility of finding both male and female Cannabis plants is very strong, the type of grower who wants to work with regular seeds over-feminized seeds will be: An experienced old school grower who spends the time, energy, and resources into pheno-hunting keeper female plants, that will express different desirable traits depending on the grower’s preferences. Breeders will also use regular seeds when hunting for a male Cannabis plant to use as the father pollen donor to make a first generation cross (F1). It is advised to use regular seeds to begin if you are new to breeding at home.
HOW ARE THEY MADE? Regular seeds are made as nature intended and by allowing a male and female Cannabis plant to synchronize pollen, producing seeds. Everything starts off as a parent plant (P1) and the
P1 x P1 = F1 F1 x F1 = F2 F2 x F2 = F3 F3 x F3 = F4 F4 x F4 = F5 F5 x F5 = F6 F6 x F6 = F7 F7 x F7 = F8 (IBL)
HOW MANY WILL BE FEMALE FROM MY 10 PACK? Generally speaking, a grower may end up with 3-4 males and 5-6 females from a 10 pack of regular seeds. However, environmental impact and stress can have an effect on the outcome causing a higher number of male or female plants. I personally find plants that are left in smaller-sized pots and fed less frequently turn male and happy, warm and wellfed plants with plenty of root space will typically be female.
FEMINIZED SEEDS EXPLAINED As the name suggests the seeds will be all female, which is music to the grower's ears and means that they can use their growing space efficiently without any wasted nutrients, growing medium and space once sexing would normally take place. If you are new to growing Cannabis, it is recommended to start with feminized seeds to make life easy and then move onto regular seeds for the experience. WHO BUYS THEM? A grower who cannot take the chance of sexing their Cannabis plants later on, and need to ensure that all of the plants in the grow room will be female only and produce high-grade flower. Commercialscale growers will have peace of mind planting feminized seeds on a large scale, as well as anyone who use hydroponic systems and need to guarantee the space. HOW ARE THEY MADE? Unlike regular seeds that rely on a male Cannabis plant to release pollen onto the female pistils, feminized seeds require much more work and understanding the timing of a reverse female. This is done by using either colloidal silver or silver-thiosulfate spray (STS) and treating the plants a few weeks prior to
12/12 and for the first 2 weeks of 12/12. The female Cannabis plant that is being treated will reverse and start to produce what can be described as male pollen sacs. The chromosomes of this pollen are all female and this means when the pollen of the reversed female passes to another female, the offspring produced will be 100% female. The seeds produced are classed as S1 referring to the selfing and reversal. SOME GENERAL INFORMATION ON SEEDS: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Store seeds in the refrigerator at 7° Celsius, you can store them there up to 5 years Haze seeds are generally small in size, automatic seeds are bigger and rounder The colour of seeds says something about their life span. Lighter coloured seeds were harvested earlier than darker coloured seeds, but this does not have any effect at all on germination. Not keeping your seeds in a refrigerator will dramatically lower germination rates!
21
THE BUD DIARIES
Every month Soft Secrets' Rich Hamilton shares with us an extract from his own personal bud diaries.
FORBIDDEN
ZKITTLEZ A hybrid of Californian genetics from Ethos Genetics with around 20% THC and 1-2% CBD. Forbidden Zkittlez is a mix of Forbidden Fruit, Mendo Royal and California Black Rose. The result of this is a strain that has two distinct phenotypes. The first is a short plant full of fruity flavours and vibrant purple buds, great for SOG. The second is much taller, with a gassy profile backed up by undertones of grape, more suitable for SCROG. GROW INFO Grown in Scotland in 6 inch rockwool cubes with floracaps to help keep the moisture in and prevent algae growth. Grown under mixed spectrum 2x 750w helions and one 630cdm. Grown in a run to waste system to help with control of pH, EC and pythium prevention. Took it up to 9.5 weeks followed by a 10 day Flush.
trichomes, giving you lots of green and yellow gold tones that compliment the purple in the nugs majestically.
FLOWER Medium to large buds covered in trichomes that overflow onto your leaves and could clog up your grinder in the best way. The gorgeous smell of fruity flowers (if that’s a thing) on breaking up and grinding is something else. It was almost so good I didn’t want to smoke it; I was content enough just smelling it! Long elegant pistils pepper in the gaps between clusters of
ODOUR With a dominant Pinene tone followed by peppery Crayophyllene and lemony Limonene, it’s strong but not overpowering, much like its effects. There are definite diesel hints in there too, and I even got a whiff of apple at one point. As it is a great pain reliever strain anyway, the noticeable Limonene profile would be a bonus for anyone struggling with headaches.
CONSUMED This was smoked with friends while we skated at the local park as the sun set on a warm day in September. Smoked pure with a card roach, it was wrapped
up in a CBD infused slow burning ultra thin rolling paper. I had an 8th in total at the start of the day and by the time we had finished skating it was all gone. Good times with Good people.
TASTE What we have come to expect from modern American Genetics, a highly fruity flavour with some background floral, grape and diesel tones. As previously described, this strain has two distinct phenotypes. The shorter Indica variety leans more heavily into the fruit terps, whilst the taller Sativa is gassier and diesel-based.
STONE I enjoyed this strain. I would describe it as relaxed, uplifted and happy. This thoroughly modern hybrid makes for a
reliable daytime strain that promises a joyful, healthy day! An excellent choice for mild pain relief, anxiety and stress. Great for a lazy Saturday afternoon In the park or chilling in the garden. I smoked quite a lot and did not feel the sleepy coming down effects. To sum it up, it is euphoric, but you are still functional. (RH)
BL ACK V E NOM Gene Seeds www.geneseeds.eu
23
BACKGROUND NEWS By Rich Hamilton
How Delta-8-THC is causing a stir in the legal market Delta-8-THC has been shaking up the legal cannabis market in the US for the last 18 months. A milder psychoactive than Delta9-THC, Delta-8 is created from cheap, hemp-derived CBD distillate and isolate. It can then be sold on as regulated cannabis products. Delta-8 is a minor occurring cannabinoid that makes up less than 0.1% of the cannabis plant's chemical composition. As well as being mildly psychoactive, Delta 8 supports the endocannabinoid system, assisting in crucial bodily processes related to our overall wellness, just like CBD. So if Delta 8 is technically THC, then it must be classed as an illicit substance, federally speaking. Well, here's the thing: technically, it |IS federally legal. The Farm Bill of 2018 saw hemp declassified as an illicit substance. Before this, all forms of cannabis, whether derived from hemp or marijuana, were illegal to buy, sell, possess, and consume. But thanks to the Farm Bill, people could now purchase and use hemp legally in all 50 US states. This meant that it was legal to consume any form of hemp, including extracts and concentrates of its compounds. CBD is a great example; CBD is cannabidiol, the dominant hemp compound and can be taken legally in various forms. So, this same logic has to apply to Delta-8. It is legal because it comes from hemp. Hemp is legal because it contains no more than 0.3% THC, making it technically a nonpsychoactive substance. Delta 8 is illegal in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, Rhode Island, and Utah. It is (currently) legal in all other States, meaning that you could buy Delta-8 products in the same way as CBD products in a State where Cannabis may not be permitted either recreationally or medicinally.
THC than to grow cannabis for its THC. Therefore, the concern is that these newly synthesized products could significantly affect sales of plant grown cannabis. For now, however, business is booming! One CBD retail franchise in Ohio stated that Delta-8 THC products currently represent 60% of its sales. More customers are buying Delta-8 THC than expected, with the products being so successful that they are somewhat cannibalizing CBD sales. The success of Delta-8 is in no doubt a result of its mild Psychoactive qualities. Something that CBD cannot compete with. As state limits on hemp-derived delta-8 THC begin to tighten up, manufacturers and retailers aren't taking it lying down. Companies will not stop making products like delta-8 THC, not when they prove profitable and cheap to make. One such product emerging from this new market is THC-O-Acetate. Reported to be more potent than delta-9 THC and with effects that last significantly longer, THCO-acetate is made from hemp-derived Delta-8 THC. Many are already swapping over to THC-O-acetate, claiming that it is legal because, technically, it is neither THC nor an isomer of THC. To put it simply, as Delta-8 THC is banned in more and more states, manufacturers are making a derivative substance that isn't barred. Other products coming to market include high-CBD, low-THC ratio products. Colorado-based "Trojan Horse Cannabis" is making Hemp-derived gummies containing 10 milligrams of delta-9 THC and 100 milligrams of CBD per gummy in an attempt to take full-spectrum to the next level. The product is formulated at around 0.2% THC, and there is no converting or creating of cannabinoids, making it technically legal. These products prove very appealing to retailers looking for something to replace Delta-8-THC and turn a similar profit.
regulations to cover Delta-8 and any new products that will inevitably come to market. "Delta-8 is symbolic; its flavour of the month, there's another hundred or more flavours of the month to explore and innovate around," stated Garrett Graff, cannabis attorney with Denverbased Hoban Law Group. To me, this is a perfect example of the big problem with legalization. It would be terrible to lose the authenticity and experience of consuming natural plant material to something that
has been made in a lab. To me, there is no comparison. When it comes to large scale commercialization, it is tough to keep out those who are just looking to make quick, easy money. Think about it like a diamond; what would you rather have in a piece of jewellery? a precious stone that has naturally formed over thousands of years? Or a "simulated" version that a machine has created for a fraction of the price?! What's special about that? I mean, is that even the same thing? I would argue that it's most definitely not.
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However, many state legislators are beginning to determine that it should be classified as a controlled substance and are banning its sale. This is a result of the lack of regulation and research into synthesized cannabinoids and their safety. Cannabis growers are not happy either. It is much cheaper to convert CBD isolate into Delta-8-THC and even Delta-9-
Demand for Delta-8 has taken everyone by surprise over the last 18 months, disrupting the legal cannabis market and sparking massive debate. Cannabis farmers fear that these synthesized products could undercut them and eventually drive them out of business. State lawmakers are in a fluster as they attempt to develop new comprehensive
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27-08-2021 11:19
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GROW WITH MR. JOSE Mr. José / info@mrjose.eu
ICBC BERLIN 2021 Hopefully the world is finally starting to get back on track and, as a result, exhibitions and conferences are slowly starting to pop up once again. One of the most important events in terms of the European cannabis market took place in Berlin. The fourth edition of the ICBC has brought together people from all around the world and you can bet that a representative of Soft Secrets was there, too. And now you can check out all highlights. Same as other conferences, ICBC had to take a forced break last year. When I heard that there would be one this year, I didn't hesitate for a minute. I adjusted my working schedule and headed to Berlin on August 25. After three previous editions, the event moved to a new location – the Vienna House Andel's Berlin. Compared to the previous location near the Brandenburg Gate, it was much quieter and easier parking, which came in quite handy. The programme of the conference was very promising, and I was looking forward to learn about the current situation in regards to medical cannabis and the regulation of its cultivation, distribution and availability.
Luc a Damian from Paradise Phytogenetics.
Special packaging is necessary when handling medical cannabis.
Cannabis in Germany The first day of the conference was all about the medical cannabis market in Germany. Peter Homberg, partner at Dentons Europe LLP and probably the most respected German lawyer specializing in the cannabis industry, gave an compelling lecture on the regulation of medical cannabis in Europe and Germany. Among other things, Mr. Homberg pointed out the difference between the amount of imported medical cannabis and the actual market needs. In 2020, about 9.5 tonnes of cannabis was imported into Germany, but to meet last year's demand, 28.5 tonnes would have been needed, which is about three times more. It seems, however, that this year the difference will not be so huge. Cannabis is currently being imported into Germany from Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Denmark and also Australia, and there are talks about adding five more countries to the list. There is no doubt that some of the demand should also be met by cannabis cultivated in Germany. Broadly speaking, the price of cannabis treatments is expected to decrease as competition increases. There was also an interesting chart with information on the indications for which cannabis is most frequently prescribed. A total of 75% of imported cannabis is prescribed for pain, another 10% for spasms (spasticity), 6% for anorexia, 4% for nausea, 3% for depression, etc.
medical cannabis market. As you are aware, there will be a major election in Germany this fall, so nobody was really surprised to see the members of FDP, CDU, SPD, Die Linke and Green Party attending the conference on Thursday. We will soon know which of these parties will be deciding about the future of cannabis laws in Germany. And since Germany is much more advanced in the field of medical cannabis than most of the 27 EU member states, it may well become a determining policy for the whole EU.
Growing and processing of cannabis Every product made from cannabis starts with a small plant. And there are two regulations in place already at this point: Good Agricultural Cultivation Practice (GACP) covering cultivation and harvesting and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) covering all other processes leading to a medical product. Growing and processing facilities must have both certificates. The first step to reduce the risk of viral contamination of plants is to grow from clones grown in vitro, i.e. using tissue culture techniques. In this process,
The other lectures of the first day were mainly discussing regulations and rules – a huge challenge for many players involved in the medical cannabis business. The journey cannabis needs to endure from licenced grower to patient is full of thorns and involves many roadblocks, for example the contamination or degradation of flower or products made from it. The actual processing of cannabis into extracts, pills or edibles is also subject to a number of regulations, even for products containing fully legal CBD. Since cannabis is still a relatively new kid in the block of established pharmaceutical and food companies, its regulations are not always clear and they also frequently complicate the journey from grow rooms to pharmacy shelves. As someone said during the conference: it is extremely vital for all those interested in participating in cannabis market to learn the rules of the game, follow them carefully and try to react to any possible changes as quickly as possible. This is the only way to succeed in the regulated
Micha with his book on cannabis extractions. the plant tissue, made up of cells with a dividing function (meristem), is removed from the mother plant. Such tissue is found at the apex of the plant (apical meristem) or at the tips of the lateral branches (lateral meristem).
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with the talk about technology that took place on Friday afternoon. I am always interested in the opinions of people who have been in the big cannabis business for a while. There were three hypotheses mentioned during the lecture that I fully agree with. 1) It is necessary to continually improve methods of cannabis cultivation and, even more importantly, increase its efficiency. 2) We need to minimize human contact with the plants during cultivation, harvesting and processing – these processes need to be automated as much as possible. 3) It is essential to continue research in all areas of growing, processing and distributing medicinal cannabis.
Boveda bags. The advantages of obtaining clones via tissue culture were summarised by Damian Nixon of Paradise Phytogenetics. If the name sounds familiar, then believe that this company was founded by Luc Krol, the owner of the renowned seedbank Paradise Seeds. Paradise Phytogenetics focus on the production of clones of registered varieties with clear provenance and genetic stability, all achieved thanks to
can be a rather space demanding activity. On average, the space taken up by mother plants and clones is about 20% of the total cultivation area of each grow-op. With tissue culture, much of this space can be used for other purposes, because in tissue culture a single mother plant can produce incomparably more clones than when
Interesting bits and pieces From the other exhibitors, I was intrigued by a company called PolySto, which is supplying hygienic coatings for the floors and walls of cultivation facilities. Hygiene in a cultivation facility
is of utmost importance, since every little crevice can be a breeding ground for mould or other pathogens. All gaps can be sealed with a special coating and easily cleaned afterwards. This is a pretty good way to significantly improve the hygiene standards in almost any grow room. What else to say? I was lucky to meet a number of fascinating figures at the conference. For example, the wellknown activist Micha briefly introduced to me his new book on extraction methods. It is a great tool not only for home growers but also for anyone who wants to learn as much as possible about extractions. The book contains many illustrative pictures to help readers understand the processes. Another traditional guest, Boveda, has also presented at ICBC. If you store cannabis in jars, give their products a try, because they maintain just the right amount of moisture and so positively affect the taste and smell of your buds. The flowers also stay ideally humid for much longer. That's about all I could fit into today's article. I wish you good health and look forward to next time in your cherished Soft Secrets.
Everything You Ever Needed to Know About Indoor Cannabis Growing
Extracts with CBD.
tissue culture techniques. Their customers are mostly medical cannabis growers. Damian emphasized a well-known advantage - the removal of potential viruses or other pathogens from the plants - while another advantage is the shape of the root ball, which looks the same in tissue culture as in seed cultivation, with the lateral roots growing out from the main root and forming an ideal and natural conical shape. Another pretty significant advantage is that the “ordinary” method of cloning
using conventional methods. Therefore, the growers do not need to maintain a large number of mothers. By saving space, which was originally used to grow clones, the annual profit from a commercial medical cannabis farm can be increased by around 5 million Euro per 1 000 square metres. This is, without any doubt, a great incentive. Paradise Phytogenetics currently offer tissue culture clones of ten varieties with various ratios of main cannabinoids. I was very impressed
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26
GROW WITH STONEY TARK By Stoney Tark
THE IMPORTANCE OF BENEFICIAL MICROORGANISMS AND CANNABIS The complexity of the root zone of a Cannabis plant is incredible and how it interacts with the beneficial microorganisms that are naturally available. What we can’t see below the soil is the symbiotic relationship between the roots and the bacteria and fungi and this interaction determines the nutrient uptake, the plant’s defence against disease and pathogens and overall health and vigour. In this article we break down the importance of the root zone, how it functions alongside the microorganisms and the life-cycle of the soil food web.
to the plants and the grower. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a natural pesticide that once digested by the caterpillar will infect their stomach and cause them to quickly die. By simply foliar feeding the plants and making sure the bacteria
the earth will become attracted to this source of sugar provided by the roots, which in return causes the beneficial microorganism to attach themselves to the root mass and form a symbiotic relationship. It is the constant exchange
5 Benefits of Using Beneficial Microorganisms 1) Treating old and infertile soil with beneficial microorganisms will rejuvenate and bring the earth back to life, and continue to do so until a soil food web has been established. This is a great way to treat farm lands that have used chemical nutrients for a long time.
Understanding Beneficial Microorganisms The effect that these little helpers have on a Cannabis plant is incredible and in some cases can increase root mass to prolific proportions. They utilize the Phosphorus that is available and have the capability to transport readily available nutrients to the plants on demand. Another wonderful function that beneficial microorganisms have is their ability to protect the soil / growing medium from any threatening pathogens. Trichoderma for example has the ability to fight off all disease and is highly resistant to pesticides also. EM1 (effective microbes 1) is especially good for composting organic matter and are used for farm yards to prevent odour and disease. If you grow outdoors in hotter climates such as Spain, you will find that caterpillars will go crazy for Cannabis plants. Sometimes the damage they do is irreversible and can cause a lot of stress
be visible at the time to be fed by the same soil food web. Another good way to think about this is similar to having a fridge that is full of everything that you need. There is a perfect balance of all the macros you need and never at any point too much or too little. When Cannabis plants are able to access available nutrients in this way, the outcome is a much more resilient plant that will grow much bigger and yield more than a plant without the aid of beneficial microorganisms. For those who are interested in regenerative farming and working with low mineral soil, treating your garden or plot of land extensively with organic compost tea, calcium, and fish emulsions will guarantee a huge increase in the fertility of the soil. Top dressing with compost and worm castings will create a long-term scenario that allows your crops to only naturally get better with time.
2) The root mass of your Cannabis plants can increase by up to 500%, increasing the nutrient uptake and yield a great amount. A close up of roots with beneficial bacteria and fungi growing in coco.
get a chance to live on the leaves and stems, the caterpillars will ultimately eat themselves to death and the caterpillar population will dramatically reduce.
of carbon in sugar form that keeps the soil food web maintained and thriving.
How Do Cannabis Plants Use Sugar?
One of the most important roles that beneficial bacteria and fungi play is their arrangement of the soil food web. If you imagine a network of roads that are connected to a motorway, then you can begin to understand the intelligence that operates beneath the soil.
We know that all plants undergo photosynthesis and a by-product of that is oxygen and sugar. What the plants do with the sugar is actually different to what we think, as the sugars are transported below ground level to the root zone. Bacteria and fungi present in
Nutrient Availability
Fungi and bacteria can expand for miles, allowing other plants that may not even
3) Trichoderma is an excellent plant defence against unwanted pathogens such as root rot. The fungi will fight to keep the bad bacteria and fungi away and ensure maximum plant health. 4) Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a natural pesticide that will kill caterpillars on your outdoor Cannabis plants that are chewing their way through your mature buds. 5) Organic compost teas are very easy to make and will give your plants a boost of billions of bacteria and fungi. You simply need an air pump and stone, unsulphured black strap molasses and your beneficial microorganisms to add.
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CANNABIS CUISINE By Betty Green
PIZZA ROLLS WITH BETTY'S THOMATO SAUCE Comfort food is always popular, especially now that the darker nights and colder weather is coming in. Who doesn't enjoy a tasty, filling, cheesy treat?? I am going to show you how to make these deliciously simple pizza rolls with a THC twist!
to taste. Add as much cheese as desired, stuff it into the gaps to ensure it gets a good coating everywhere.
The versatility of these rolls makes them great, too, as like with traditional pizza, anything goes when it comes to toppings; pepperoni, olives, anchovies, even pineapple (no judgement here) There are two ways to approach these pizza rolls. One is to use regular storebought tomato sauce and then drizzle canna-coconut oil on the finished product before serving. The other is to make your own cannabisinfused tomato sauce. You can use this homemade sauce for lasagne, Bolognese, pizza topping, casseroles or any other dish with a tomato sauce base. You can keep the fresh sauce in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze it in portions.
Cover again with layers of sauce, Cheese, Chilli, garlic, salt and pepper as desired.
Add toppings, stuff salami, pepperoni, olives or whatever you have into the gaps.
Finally, sprinkle with some dried Oregano and place under a medium-hot grill for roughly 10 minutes. Check your rolls regularly and pull them out when they look good to you. I like my cheese bubbling and turning golden brown, but each to their own. Finally, if not using "Betty's THomato sauCe", drizzle with canna coconut oil and enjoy!
"Betty's THomato sauCe" Firstly let's look at how you make the pizza roll, and then I will give you the recipe for "Betty's THomato sauCe", should you wish to make it!
INGREDIENTS- FOR TWO ROLLS Two large bread rolls-crusty, soft, your choice. Tomato Sauce (think pizza, not ketchup!) small store-bought tin/bottle or use your homemade "THomato sauCe". Grated Cheese- your choice as many varieties as you like; I go with classic mozzarella and cheddar. Garlic, Chilli- use a lot, use a little it's all dependent on your tastes. Toppings- again, go with what your heart desires. For me, it's salami. Dried Oregano for sprinkling. Method Use a very sharp knife and cut across your roll twice to make a cross, DO not cut all the way through. If the bread roll is big enough, cut again twice to end up with eight sections. Pull apart gently to separate. Take a spoon and drizzle as much tomato sauce on the roll and into the cuts as desired. Finely chop your garlic and Chilli and sprinkle them into the different sections
Here's how to make my simple, tasty, versatile tomato sauce with an added psychoactive punch!
INGREDIENTS- ENOUGH TO COVER 4-6 LARGE PIZZA BASES 2 tbsp of unsalted butter (substitute regular butter for your chosen amount of cannabutter) 1 small onion, finely chopped 1 garlic clove, crushed 2x400g cans chopped tomatoes 3 tbsp tomato puree 1 bay leaf 2 tbsp dried Oregano
Method Heat butter, onion and a big pinch of salt over a low heat. Fry gently for 10 minutes or until the onion is soft and translucent. Add garlic, fry for 1 minute more. Pour in chopped tomatoes. Add puree, bay leaf, oregano and brown sugar. Bring sauce to a boil and then lower the heat and simmer uncovered until the sauce has reduced down and thickened. If you prefer a smooth sauce, blitz it with a hand blender. Finally, stir in the chopped Basil. The strength of your infused sauce will, of course, vary depending on how strong your cannabutter is. Bear this in mind when substituting your regular butter for cannabutter. If unsure, swap out a teaspoon worth for this first time. You can always make more sauce and increase your dosage next time if you need to.
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SEED BANKS Jaypp
All in red! THE SURE BET OF SWEET SEEDS
®
This year 2021, the top quality seed bank Sweet Seeds® has churned out 6 new state-of-the-art, highly appealing strains. Today I am going to focus on two great plants that I have fallen madly in love with after their cultivation: Red Gorilla Girl XL Auto® (SWS89) and Red Strawberry Banana Auto® (SWS90). The Red Family® seals. This ensures a lot of potency and flowers with extravagant and exotic colours, such as red, violet, pink or dark purple, almost black. And with all this, who is not going to fall in love with them? As if that wasn't enough, the resin tends to cover the plant’s calyxes and leaves almost entirely, making it a unique picture reminiscent of frosted red fruits. An orgy for the eyes! Come on, let's dwell on its characteristics and take a walk through its sweet buds.
RED GORILLA GIRL XL AUTO®. THE GORILLA WEARS RED I'm sure many of you have already tried (or grown) the legendary Gorilla Girl® (SWS74) from Sweet Seeds®. This strain has already had a very good impact, both in the photodependent version and in its auto version, being one of the most potent Cannabis plants in the world cannabis scene, which gave rise to the "Super strong" product category. The breeders from this seed bank have recreated this marvel to obtain reddish or purple colours, accentuated aromas and an enhanced sweet and citric taste with a touch of spices plus the fresh tones of cypress (typical of this family). Hello, fellow growers! Today it's time to enjoy a colourful report, and for this, get a good vaporiser or eat a piece of your favourite edible before starting to delve into this "Cannabis Casino", if you wish to make your experience even more enjoyable! After nearly 30 years of cannabis growing, I can hardly be surprised by something new. Yet, every year I find new strains that hit me
hard and leave their mark on my palate making their memory last for the rest of my life. The truth is that the Sweet Seeds® team always bet big and I rarely don't end up falling in love with their novelties, but everyone has their own preferences and personal tastes. This year I have been ‘hit hard’ by two of their creations in autoflowering version, where both genetics carry the USA and
It was obtained from a cross between Gorilla Girl XL Auto® (SWS82) [Gorilla Girl® x Sweet Gelato Auto® (SWS76)] and the red-flowered auto Bloody Skunk Auto® (SWS44). Its final height, after 8-9 weeks from germination, can reach 120cm in good conditions and yields soar to over 500g/m2, with over 100g per plant. If you spend some time to shape its branches, you can achieve top
yields with an extraordinary quality. It is a very balanced strain as can be noticed from the following data: Indica 52.3% / Sativa 45.2% / Ruderalis 2.5%. As for cannabinoids, THC is around 15-21% and CBD around 0.5%. In cultivation, it behaves very well. It is a pleasure to see it growing and forming flowers. I usually grow my plants with organic fertilisers and use soil as a substrate, but if you use coco or a hydroponic system, your yields will exceed the nominal figures given by the seed bank. It is a plant that grows very fast. In my case, before it reached flowering, it was already 80 cm tall. It does not usually branch a lot but, with Low Stress Training (LST) in the central branch, you will enhance lateral growth and help light filter through more evenly. Its flowering is majestic with long pistils in large quantities that will soon grow into bulky pyramidal buds. During this flowering period, specimens, which normally withstand high doses of fertiliser, need to be fed to avoid deficiencies. A spectacular play of colours will please your eyes with plants going from green in their leaves and calyxes to an intense purple-reddish colour all over. An extensive and overflowing production of trichomes accompanies the colour change. In the calyxes, which are super swollen, the amount of trichome heads is a real show worth photographing (see the attached pictures), even if the leaves tend to remain totally waterlogged. It is difficult to prune them because “all parts are good”. These plants are ideal for extracts or to produce Rosin concentrate by pressing them. If you wish to produce
30 Before drying, the plant’s aroma is very fruity and sweet, although you can also smell tones of nuts and garden rocket. Once dried and cured, you will be able to taste one of the richest herbs you have ever grown. It is very tasty and leaves an intense flavour after consumption. You will enjoy every puff or vape from start to finish. The effects do not take long to kick in and are very relaxing, creative and evocative. I usually grab my guitar and enjoy creating impossible music, or take a walk in silence, navigating the landscapes that my mind offers me. It is ideal for shaking off all the accumulated stress. And with these two wonderful bets that Sweet Seeds® offers us this year 2021, I bid you farewell until next time. Do not forget to visit their website and profiles on social networks, or the specialised forums they have. In addition to good customer support, you will enjoy their great contests and promotions. Sweet harvests! bubble hash (ice-o-lator), you will notice very appealing red hues in the hash you will obtain. Its aromas are really pleasant and heady. I love smelling buds by keeping my nose close to them and then rubbing them all the time, so I can continue to enjoy their rich aroma. The amount of terpenes this plant has is amazing. If you vaporise this beauty, those aromas will saturate your palate with a sweet, spicy and very fresh taste, followed by a pleasant citrus and fruity aftertaste. The effect is instantaneous, a little strong at first, but soon leaves your body totally relaxed and your mind floating on a feather bed. It is ideal for a special moment with friends or to let yourself go at home after an intense day. My friends are crazy about it and I am sure you will also love it!
RED STRAWBERRY BANANA AUTO®, SEASONAL FRUITS We could say that this new Sweet Seeds® plant is the successor of the famous Red Poison Auto® (SWS39); which is obvious as it was obtained by crossing an elite clone of Strawberry Banana with a selected strain of Red Poison Auto®. I loved its magnificent taste and the quality of its effect. What is more, its cultivation is extremely simple and also ultra-fast. I think this strain is ideal for beginners who are looking for quality and want it in record time. Imagine that it can be ready for harvest in as little as 7 to 8 weeks after germination. This makes it ideal for continuous outdoor growing or intensive
indoor growing. In my case, I grew an indoor organic crop with last generation LED lights. The result was spectacular. That is why I have decided to put some seeds to germinate and then grown its seedlings on my terrace so I can be ready to harvest my plants in early summer. Indoors it behaves very well, showing its Indica character from the beginning, with a more stocky growth habit. Its leaves are simply huge. Since it is a plant that does not need a large load of EC to form good flowers and stay healthy, fertilisation should be dosed gently. You will see that it has a lot of vigour and it is very easy to keep it in good colour at all times. When it starts to form flowers, it does so quickly and very profusely, so I recommend to use a good flowering stimulator to take advantage of its initial spurt of growth to obtain good buds. It is a fast flowering plant, so it should be fed properly before bloom starts. If you tend to fertilise a lot during this period, you will be really surprised. But beware! Since it is fast, do not over-fertilise it after 6 weeks from germination and keep an eye on it, because as soon as you see its first pistils wither, it will most probably be ready for harvest after no more than 10 days. The buds are rounded and scattered, very hard and dense. The red-purple colour gradually pervades the whole plant and becomes very noticeable when you start washing roots. You will see that its calyxes are huge, so do not be impatient and let them swell completely. The reward is high quality, potent flowers and lots of resin. At first glance, you can see an out-of-the-ordinary amount of trichomes and… enjoyment is assured.
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CANNABIS FAIRS UK By Rich Hamilton
PRODUCT EARTH
THE U.K.'S LARGEST HEMP AND CBD EXPO Last summer saw the welcome return of Product Earth, the U.K.'s largest Hemp and CBD Expo, at the NAEC in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire. The three-day festival event featured businesses from all areas of the cannabis and hemp sector alongside a dedicated seminar area, a great selection of world foods, camping, live music and even a Skate Park! After the drought of live events we have all experienced following the COVID-19, this is just what the U.K. canna community needed! SSUK spoke to CEO Matt Clifton to get the full details of what was an event to remember! with Delta 9 Analytics, for those who had legal prescripions. I am glad that the “glass zone” was back this year. I have not seen a dedicated area for this at any other UK or Europe show that I have been too. Absolutely. Unfortunately glass blowing is dying art form and so it is great to support these artists.We are grateful to the Hashashins, the glass zone sponsor, as well as all of the artists who came to the show and added a level of beauty that was well received by all. SSUK: Product Earths first show was in Birmingham in 2017. What were the origins of the show? What inspired you to get involved? What did you want to achieve? James Walton, the founder of Product Earth, wanted to provide a solid foundation for the U.K. cannabis industry and community to grow from as well as providing education around a misunderstood plant medicine. How do you think the show has changed since you moved to a larger venue? Product Earth is constantly evolving. When you have a plant with hundreds of applications, which get adopted into the mainstream at different rates, you attract new cohorts to the show each looking for something different. It is this diversity we truly celebrate. The lifestyle, culture & interests of the cannabis consumer pro-
vide us with a wealth of opportunities to explore at the show and having such a big venue is the ideal canvas for us to experiment with. This year, introducing a skate park created a real buzz and we were very excited to welcome the 2019 UK Street Skateboarding Champion. There was a great atmosphere and buzz at the show as it’s been so long since there have been any live events, was that something you expected? The atmosphere was amazing. To be surrounded by so much positivity in a time of
such negativity is awesome. We wanted this to be the best customer experience yet and that goes from the big ideas through to the small touches. We have a large” patient contingent” and we wanted to improve their experience as much as possible and so added tweaks like improving the disabled showers and adding a tractor train to ferry people around the site all day. There were of course some old favourites returning, like our glass blowing zone and some new additions like morning yoga, sleeper cabins, enhanced seminar zone, DJs all day, the list goes on! The After Dark Village was a great addition, how did you go about curating the line up? In 2019, we had a big name act in a separate field, but after a long day walking around, people just wanted to have their own parties in the camp site. This
year we picked up the entertainment and dropped it in the campsite. We had Drum Machine & DJ Woody, to name only a couple of acts that put on an audio & visual masterpiece! The seminars were great, what do you think the main talking points within the industry are at the moment? Medical Cannabis is a big one. Mislabelling, bud rot, being forced into unsanitary environments to medicate. We addressed all of these in the seminar zone and across the show, including testing capabilities
It’s great to see UK shows such as Product Earth growing in popularity. I think it reflects the growing interest in the market as well as a change in perception. Where do you think the UK will
be in 5 years time in terms of reform? That’s the big question! Brexit, for the car crash that it has predictably been, has provided us with an opportunity to create our own path. However you don’t need to look further than our CBD brands who have to jump through both EFSA & FSA hoops to see how woeful our planning capabilities and infrastructure are, or the hemp farmers who have to destroy most of their crops, whilst the UK has attained the medal for the 2nd largest CBD market, by importing the product from other countries. I would like to see legalisation, regulation & more information to create a trustworthy and quality industry that is good for the planet and all those who inhabit it. We deserve access to all and that includes the ability to grow your own.
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STONER By Olivier F / Photo: Beth Lesser
LEROY SIBBLES
In this magazine section we interview artists or personalities who use or grow cannabis. Leroy Sibbles is a Jamaican singer, bass player, songwriter and producer. He began his career in 1965 as the leader of the rocksteady band The Heptones. Leroy Sibbles is considered one of the inventors of reggae. He worked for a long time as a bassist and arranger at the legendary Studio One. Leroy Sibbles has recorded several solo albums and participated in numerous recordings.
medical cannabis has been legalised there… I thought that in Jamaica the arrival of medical cannabis would change things and I am really disappointed. The population has not been able to benefit from this windfall. The only changes I see are: more weed on the market with higher prices and weird names… Have you ever recorded any ganja tunes? I recorded a song called High Grade, with the lyrics: « Offer me some herb, it must be Callie Bud. Understand me Yes Bloo… »
SSFR : At what age and under what circumstances did you smoke your first joint? Leroy Sibbles : I smoked my first joint when I bought my first acoustic guitar. I took it to a restaurant owner called Ras Huntly to teach me how to play that guitar. I visited him almost every day and there was always grass. And even before that meeting, I grew up with the smell of marijuana. I've been smoking weed for over 50 years and sometimes I can take a break for a month or two weeks, but I've never stopped smoking it! And your latest joint? I just smoked one while taking this questionnaire. I've always preferred smoking to drinking alcohol. Do you prefer hashish or marijuana? I'm a marijuana smoker and weed is priority number one whenever I'm looking to smoke. Hashish comes second if it's all there is. There is nothing better for me than a good weed smoke. What is your favourite strain? Identifying all these strains is something new for me. When I first started buying weed, it was Collie Weed, the original Jamaican strain. Then I started hearing
about Lambsbread. Now you have all these different strains and all these new names, a bit confusing actually… Do you prefer pipes, bangs, vaporisers or traditional joints? I used to smoke pipe a little when I was a bass player at Studio One. But now I'm a joint smoker. Do you smoke ganja pure or mixed with tobacco? I smoke pure weed, it's better for my health. I see a lot of people smoking weed with tobacco and I feel like they can't smoke without using tobacco… Have you ever grown cannabis? I grew some for the first time last year. I have successfully grown three plants. I grew beautiful buds...I was very happy with the result. You have travelled a lot. Which country do you think has the best weed? To be exact, Belgium! And that allows me to do some really good concerts. I love touring in Europe. Cannabis use has recently been decriminalised in Jamaica and
Apart from your tracks, what is your favourite ganja tune? Pass The Tusheng Peng by Franky Paul. You started playing music in the 1960s. Which artists inspired you to play music at that time? In the early days in Jamaica we only had one radio station that played a lot of Motown music. So I was influenced by people like the Four Tops, Curtis
Mayfield, The Dell and a few others who made me want to start my band. Who are the artists you listen to now? Now I listen to all the reggae singers, like Morgan Heritage and many others… You recently collaborated with the French label Humbleness Production. How did you meet them? I travelled to France several times to do concerts and festivals. I made a lot of friends and contacts. In this context, I was contacted by Humbleness Production. What are your professional projects for the months and years to come? Well, I hope that this pandemic will allow me to get back on the road to meet my fans again so that we can all have a good time. In the meantime, I'm continuing to make music and I'm planning to release a new album. I am also producing a new artist called Young Garvey. Singiel: Pretty Brown Eyed Girl (Humbleness Production)
ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ: PAGE 16:
1. C 2. A 3. D 4. B 5. C 6. D 7. D 8. A 9. B 10. C
11. D 12. B 13. C 14. A 15. B 16. C 17. A 18. A 19. B 20. C
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34
MEDIA
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READ- HYDROPONICS: INDOOR HORTICULTURE JEFF WINTERBORNE.
The secret to the success of this podcast is that host Joe Rogan is not afraid to experiment. The format stays the same but the people he has on come from all walks of life. From Elon Musk to Derren Brown, Kanye West and Bernie Sanders, past episodes are an eclectic who’s-who of personalities, interests and controversial figures and opinions. The constant experimentation with guests and conversation topics ranging
from hallucinogenics to politics keeps the podcast fresh. There truly is an episode for everyone to explore, enjoy and learn from. The Joe Rogan Experience is available on Spotify.
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Do you want to know the esoteric secrets practised and used by the most experienced, seasoned and successful hydroponic cultivators? "Hydroponics Indoor Horticulture" is the key to successful indoor growing. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned veteran looking for more inspiration or information, this book is for you. Written by a true legend of the UK Hydro scene-Jeff Winterborne, this book offers you the most modern, advanced, and accessible information available on indoor gardening. An easy-to-understand read, this book goes step by step to explain every currently known method and technique for producing super-sized yields and humongous harvests. Simply put, it's a must for every passionate grower's library. Available from www.thegrowersguide. com £20.00 with free UK Delivery.
"Fantastic Fungi" is a descriptive documentary-style film with some gorgeous time-lapse scenes that uses expert mycologists such as Paul Stamets to talk about fungi's mysterious, magical, and medicinal world. Including their power to heal, sustain and contribute massively to the regeneration of life on earth.
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36
GROW WITH ROBERT B. by Robert B.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GROW ROOMS EVERY GROW ROOM IS DIFFERENT!
- Cellars Cellars present the great advantage of being cooler in summer, and can be easily ventilated using internal air, or air coming from a fresh spot in the shadow of trees. In winter, it is also fairly easier to heat them up compared to uninsulated attics, where snow melting on the roof may suggest that plants should be moved away at once. What is more, in summer, cellars can be kept at a temperature range of 22 to 26°C during light hours. Heat can be generated through warm NDL lamps and ventilation can be ensured through an efficient fan system. In Winter, instead, a heating system is required. A gas heater for indoor use with thermostat control will create low, constant ventilation. But gas bottles have to be changed regularly. The gas line connected to the heater should fastened tightly by pliers to ensure that the right pressure is kept in the pipe. Combustion also generates humidity. But this is not a problem since, if the room is kept warm enough, it will also be more ventilated and moisture will be carried away. With no ventilation, instead, humidity will remain in the room and mould will develop. A cellar is also an ideal room for growing with air pots and light soil and does not require much irrigation. A disadvantage is that air flows out at ground level, which generates a hum that will be heard in the rest of the house, unless the fan is really quiet. Without soundproofing in the ground floor of the house, a humming fan, which may also let some odour through at some point, could be very annoying.
- Attics Even with an insulated roof structure, a grow room under the roof is more exposed to severe overheating in summer and excessive cooling in winter. Good LEDs could be a good choice for summer, and NDL lighting systems for winter. However, winter heating could be ensured by a gas heater is as described above. In an attic, space can only be optimised if the roof is flat. With a sloping roof, instead, the cultivation space will be reduced. In addition, in an attic, the choice of pots and soil may change depending on the season, considering that there is more evaporation during summer than in winter. In these rooms,
depending on the situation, it may be difficult to draw in cool fresh air in summer. Of course, it is preferable to choose a room looking northwards or in the shadow. To that end, a slight fan noise or minimal odours caused by ventilation will be less disturbing.
- Flats facing north A flat facing north is a win-win situation. Humidity is less of a problem than in cellars and more stable temperatures can be achieved than under a roof. Cool air can be drawn in to keep the temperature down in summer. Cooler LED lamps can be used, if the temperature gets too high. Possibly, you can decide to light the grow room partly with LED lamps and partly with NDL lamps to make sure that the right temperature is reached and not exceeded. If the flat is not on the ground floor, expelling air from the house is quite easy.
- Flats facing south The south side of a building tends to overheat in summer causing strong evaporation. Air pots with light soil will quickly dry out. Of course, heat may not be as high as in a grow room placed under the roof but still be a problem. LED lamps would be preferable here, at least for the summer, and could also be kept on at night It can make a very big difference if at least fresh air can be drawn in from the north side, whereas in winter the difference between north side and south side would not be great.
make a difference. If the room is large enough, you can fit diesel tanks for a power generator and produce electricity without being dependent on the power grid. If the machine room does not overheat in summer, it might help to place fast-growing plants on the south side or, however, create a shadowy spot.
and filtered air can be drawn directly out of the shed. Old sheds tend to be cool inside, and only overheat in summer for the heat released by animals. If the shed is not cool enough, you may decide to create a shadowy spot with vegetation, which can go unnoticed, on its south side.
- Old cattle-sheds or pigpens with exhaust fans
- Open barns
Flat-roofed cattle-sheds or pigpens with fans on the roof are quite common in the countryside. Today’s exhaust fans efficiently draw air out, but cannot be used for a grow room, as no activated coal filter can be fitted in between to remove the plant smell. It is normally
Normally barns are covered by simple roofs, their walls are not even windproof, and also include open sides. These open sides can be partially protected by boards and used to build a grow box. Boards can be lighttight, but still let draughts through. However, if corrugated metal sheets or other cheap structural
the wind that carries away the air and, with it, the smell. The exhaust fans of these and other cattle sheds, instead, are particularly suitable for air extraction. They are extremely powerful. In addition, they can be integrated with carbon filters
panels are used, these grow spaces can be both lightproof and windproof. If you want to use open barns as grow rooms in winter as well, you should insulate their walls and create a front room for air conditioning. As long as
- A machine room You need not necessarily use a machine room but, let us say, there are rooms in industrial buildings, farmhouses or other locations that can be rented or used. Because of their open-space configuration and high ceilings, machine rooms are usually very cool in summer. In winter, instead, they can get cold and heating the whole room may be costly. This can be remedied by installing a couple of plasterboard walls or a plasterboard ceiling, if you are a skilled DIY enthusiast. Of course, plasterboard is not the only solution. Another possible option is oriented strand board (OSB). Again, air can be drawn in from a cool part of the building and a gas heating system can be installed. The choice between LED and NDL lights can also
37 structural materials do not have to be weatherproof or carry heavy loads, you can therefore set up a grow room in one of these open barns without spending much money. As long as you do not grow plants in winter, you should be able to get by with modular grow tents. Open barns are normally cool in summer. In winter, they are not affected by moulds (normally due to air humidity). However. for the benefit of your plants, you will need to set up a heating system in order to favour ventilation and, in turn, reduce air humidity. Make sure no unauthorised person gets close to this open barn, that the fan with the carbon filter effectively removes the smell, and that the snow remains on the roof in winter.
- Construction-site trailers or containers There are people who live in construction-site trailers. Containers or railway carriages are also used as dwellings. Why not use them to grow marijuana? Their walls provide sufficient insulation. Their space is small, which means no much heating is required. If you own a large plot of land, perhaps you may choose whether to place a container in full sun or in the shadow of a tree. There are growers who place their containers flush with the ground to conceal them. However, in that position, pressure on the top and sides should be avoided. These and, perhaps, log cabins for gardens are other useful options for grow rooms, and can be easily ventilated with air coming from a shady spot. In winter, you can use heaters if the temperature is too low. Of course, great care must be taken not to burn everything down with the heater in such a confined space. Sodium vapour lamps may be a good choice for winter, as they are warmer and fulfil the dual function of lighting and warming up the space. You can also use second-hand objects as ‘decorative elements’ or even a covering platform to conceal the container in your garden.
- Old bunkers Hardly anyone will have an old bunker that is not accessible to unauthorised persons. However, you could also build your own bunker. Digging in your garden and laying foundations will of course attract attention. However, exhibition construction companies or other event organisers offer quick-build and lightweight structures for rent that can be assembled and used as halls. Large tents can also be rented for parties or for use as temporary storage spaces. These structures will provide you with the space and quiet you need for your excavation and construction work to go unnoticed. Of course, you should not excavate right up to the sides of the structure, but bear in mind that the side walls may slide down. Another option is building a deep pool to be later covered by a flat roof that can be vegetated. Maybe, mobile silos for forage maize placed flush with the ground are yet another
possibility. In each case, you will have an underground grow room with a roof on top that can be vegetated. So, your plants will be grown in a bunker below ground level. In all three situations, you will benefit from a cool space in summer. In winter, however, you would have to heat it up and ventilate it to remove air humidity. While your bunker is under construction, make sure that nothing goes wrong. If it does, you will have trouble explaining it. If you are using an old bunker, you should make sure that it is not in danger of collapsing and that it is suitable for your project. If no intake and exhaust fans can be installed, the project will be doomed to failure from the outset.
- Winter gardens or greenhouses Growing in a winter garden or greenhouse can avoid high electricity bills under certain circumstances. In both cases, your plants will receive sun from the east and south. If you use artificial light for your plants, the brightness of your lamps will be such as to make your crop noticeable even at long distances. In a winter garden or greenhouse, the temperature and humidity levels can be somewhat adjusted by heating or ventilation to create good conditions for your plants. When this happens with auto-flowering plants, even two or three harvests per year are possible. Otherwise, you will only harvest once. However, you should avoid planting marijuana in the internal garden of a block of flats or, however, one that is visible from outside in the street, where smell can also be perceived. That would be a fatal error for your crop.
- In gardens If you have a few good spots in your garden with sun, good soil and enough water, you can plant your hemp outdoors and harvest rich plants in autumn. The prerequisite for this is having strains suited for outdoor growing, which will be ready by the end of September, if possible. Even if plants are well concealed, their smell could still be perceived at flowering time and beyond. This means that the garden should not border on public paths or ‘wrong’ neighbours’ properties. Even the right people sometimes receive the wrong visitors and visitors have noses.
In conclusion The above suggestions are only a few of the typical and atypical ways to grow marijuana in a hidden location. Of course, the list is incomplete as, e.g., a cellar of one building may differ completely from that of another. If you know how to evaluate a room, you can figure out in advance whether you will use it at all and how to do that. Many rooms are virtually unusable. Far too often, with the right approach in each room, good marijuana can be grown.
38 COLOFON Soft Secrets is published by Discover Publisher BV Galvaniweg 11, 5482 TN Schijndel, Netherlands Telephone: +31-(0)73-5498112 E-mail: info@softsecrets.nl Web: www.softsecrets.com Editor: Cliff Cremer Contributors: Jorge Cervantes, Stoney Tark, Rich Hamilton, Mr. Jose, Green Born Identity (G.B.I.), Betty Green, Olivier F., TricomaTeam, Hortizan and others. Comics: Jim Stewart Photography: iStock 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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INDEX OF ADS
Name Page
Atami 13
Mama Publishing
37
Barney's Farm
7
Paradise Seeds
1
Cyco
39
Paradise Seeds
23
Emerald Harvest
2
RQS 19
Greenlane 33
Sanlight 31
Jorge Cervantes
35
Seed Stockers
1
London Seed Centre
1
Sweet Seeds
40
December 27 2021
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