UK 2023 01

CZECHIA PLANS TO LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL MARIHUANA IN COORDINATION WITH GERMANY

In the Czech Republic, marihuana products have been available in pharmacies since 2017. Czechia is now planning full legalization for 2023 and wants to coordinate the step with Germany.

Czechia is on the way to legalizing cannabis for adults, and it aims to coordinate with Germany to share information and the best practices to regulate the new industry.

Although still against the law, the consumption of marihuana is widespread in the Czech Republic. Around 30% of the adult population has tried marijuana, and 8% to 9% use it regularly, according to the Addiction Report released in August 2022 by the National Monitoring Center on Drugs and Addiction (NMS). According to the data, around 800,000 people in the country of 11 million use cannabis.

"We are one of the countries with the highest rate of people who have had at least one THC experience in their lifetime," said Pavla Chominova, head of the observatory. According to the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), the Czech Republic ranks first among all EU countries with 23% THC users in the 15-34 age group.

The Czech government has now started drafting legislation to fully legalize marihuana products. In the future, they would be considered similar to alcoho or cigarettes.

The issue of cannabis was put on the agenda by the Czech Pirate Party (CPS), the smallest member of the governing coalition. "Legalization will make the Czech Republic a freer country. It will bring billions into public budgets that have so far been wasted on the streets," the party said on Twitter.

Partners in law

The Czech Republic is aiming to harmonize its legislation with Germany. The Czech government is drafting a bill to regulate the industry, which is expected to be presented in March 2023, while full legalization may be entered into effect by January 2024. In September last year, the government commissioned drug commissioner Jindřich Vobořil to draft a law to legalize adult-use cannabis.

Vobořil announced that Czech officials are in contact with the German government to coordinate and consult each other over their proposals. "We are in contact with our German colleagues, and we have repeatedly confirmed that we want to coordinate by consulting each other on our proposals," he said. The idea is that there will be licensed companies working under strict rules for the production and distribution of marijuana, the Czech drug commissioner explained. Dealers would have to apply for a state license.

The Czech Republic is considered one of the most liberal countries regarding cannabis legislation. It decriminalized cannabis possession for personal use in 2010 and legalized medical cannabis in 2013.

Sources: DW.com; Forbes.com

SOFT SECRETS PRESENTS A UNIQUE TEN-PART GROW SERIES: THE PERFECT GROW

Soft Secrets is proud to present a unique ten-part breeding series: The Perfect Grow. We've teamed up with some of the biggest players in the industry. In ten articles, Drew Anger delivers a short course on ‘growing cannabis for beginners’.

All aspects of growing the best weed will be covered, so that you too can grow your own delicious cannabis in no time. The series can be watched exclusively on the YouTube Soft Secrets channel, so make sure you subscribe to it as soon as possible.

GROW TENT

In the series you will learn everything about growing cannabis, from start to finish. First of all, Drew will show you the best way to set up a grow tent. Then all other aspects that come into play when growing your own weed will be covered. Drew: “Have you ever tried to grow plants and it didn’t go well? Or do you want to start your own crop for the first time? Then I invite you to learn all about cannabis cultivation. And the great thing is, I’m also going to tell you what what I once did wrong myself. At least you won’t have to make those mistakes again.”

We encourage anyone anyone who wants to know more about cannabis growing to subscribe to this series on the YouTube Soft Secrets channel. Drew Anger: “With the new technologies that have been developed in recent years, it has become increasingly easy to grow your own cannabis. So go check it out, you won’t regret it!”

YouTube >

The series is presented by the Canadian Drew Anger, who runs his own cannabis farm in Canada and has been a professional cannabis grower for many years. Who better than him can get the plants to perform optimally and use words and images to clearly explain how they do? He has also been active on YouTube for years with educational videos in other areas, so he knows how to teach the finer details of cannabis cultivation in a playful but expert manner.

PROD UCT

CANNASSEUR CLUB

HIGH END HUMIDORS FOR CURING & STORING CANNABIS

The high end humidors from Cannasseur Club® are made for cannabis lovers who share the passion for quality and design. They combine functionality, elegance and practicality.

Perfect curing & storing conditions for your flowers, directly where you need it (no need to hide in a dark closet).

High quality violet glass filters harmful daylight, Boveda packs regulate the humidity on the inside and a built in hygro- & thermometer lets you monitor humidity & temperature.

The high end humidors are manufactured by hand in Berlin, Germany.

www.cannasseurclub.de

By Stoney Tark

7 TOP TIPS ON GROWING BIG YIELDS

One of the most important skills to learn as an indoor grower is how to utilize your space. Big plants mean big yields, and with energy prices higher than ever, every extra ounce counts! In this article, we provide 7 top tips to consider when growing Cannabis indoors, and trying to set a new personal record when it comes to yield.

Top Tip #1: Longer Vegetative Times

This one may seem like a no-brainer, but there can be extra added costs such as high electricity bills and nutrients. Growing a Cannabis seed for 8–10 weeks before flowering under 12/12 will always produce larger yields and make sure that the entire grow room is full of buds.

Our top tip here is to systematically create a plant training regime that will stretch over the 8–10-week period, ensuring that your plants will be the most productive possible. Many growers will use a screen to take the canopy size and structure to another level and be as efficient as possible space wise.

Top Tip #2 Big Yielding Genetics

You will only ever get so far in the yield department with indica dominant strains, and once you find out which plants are better suited for commercial scale yields, you never look back. Hybrid or sativa dominant plants will often be the most productive and will produce excellent results for even a first-time grower.

Our top tip here is to do some research before buying your next pack of Cannabis seeds, and see which ones are known for knocking out a huge harvest.

Like everything, there will be some pros and cons to large yielding plants, but for those who are fed up with small harvests that barely fill a jar, large yielding genetics will certainly give you a head start.

Top Tip #3 Using Coco

One of the best things about coco is how user-friendly and soft the substrate is, its ability to hold plenty of oxygen and is known for producing big plants.

When combined with other substrates such as soil, compost and perlite, the end result can be a sponge-like growing medium that is ideal for aeration and drainage.

Our top tip here is to have a play at making different mixes. Seedlings and clones thrive in a coco heavy mix, and once they are older will adapt extremely well to a coco and organic blend. Overall, plants grown in coco or a coco blend often produce a much larger root zone than a complete soil mix.

Top Tip #4 Lighting Intensity

How intense the lighting is, and the spectrum provided, plays an enormous role in the plant’s photosynthesis, growth, health, and how big they will become.

If you are struggling to get plants to grow big and fill out the space they are in, then you may want to consider increasing the light intensity or upgrading the level of photo active radiation (PAR).

Our top tip here is to research which grow light will provide the ideal range of spectrums combined with light intensity. Always use a 600-1000w HPS or MH, and when using LED lighting, avoid

cheap and low-cost lights that will fall short as far as performance is concerned.

Top Tip #5 Plant Training

Training Cannabis plants from an early age can give you the upper hand when your goal is to produce the biggest plants possible. There are a range of techniques that can be applied at various times, to produce the canopy shape and size you prefer prior to flowering, and they are pinching out, low stress technique, fimming, pruning and snapping stems.

Our top tip here is to experiment with different techniques with different strains, as not all will respond in the same way.

Plant training should really be performed during the vegetative stage of 18/6 and avoid any training or heavy pruning once the plants are producing buds.

Top Tip #6 Adding Support

Once you have got to the stage where your indoors plants are strong, stocky with thick branches with plenty of top crown shoots, then you are ready to

flower and watch them pack on the pounds. The only problem with heavy yielding plants is that in some cases the buds may topple over and begin to fall from the weight they are holding up.

Our top tip here is to use a solid support system such as bamboo canes inserted around the edge of the pot. Tying the side branches up early into the flowering stage will make life easy, and also allow the plants to focus their energy entirely on flower production.

Top Tip #7 Increasing the Darkness Period

Most growers will keep their plants in a vegetative state under 18,6 with some edging closer to 20/4 and in some cases 24 hours of light. The more darkness Cannabis plants receive will determine how tall they grow and the internodal spacing.

Our top tip here is to try using a lighting regime of 16/8 or 15/9 and see the difference in how much taller the plants become, compared to a shorter exposure to darkness. This is also an excellent way to reduce electricity bills and will allow you to save money at the same time.

Good look growing those big yielding plants!

This grower will flower these plants at 90 cm tall with support from bamboo.

By Rich Hamilton

THE TECHNOLOGY REVOLUTIONISING THE LEGAL CANNABIS INDUSTRY

The legalisation of cannabis globally has seen it become one of the fastestgrowing consumer industries.

Medicinal and recreational cannabis has been legalised across various countries, including parts of the USA, Czech Republic, Uruguay, and Canada, to name a few. The trend is anticipated to continue with more European countries and those further afield looking to legalise the plant and its uses.

However, the recent emergence of the legal cannabis market has meant little data to understand it as an industry. As a result, the cannabis industry is predicted to evolve dramatically over the next decade.

The legal cannabis market has provided new opportunities for companies to implement their services into the industry, helping to make it a profitable business sector. In addition, Digital and A.I. technology has been developed to assist within several areas of the cannabis industry.

From using A.I. technology to optimise cannabis plant growth to devising newer and more creative ways to purchase cannabis products, digital and A.I. technology advancements are revolutionising the legal industry along the whole production line.

A.I. POWERED APPS

A.I powered apps are a growing trend within the cannabis industry. For example, the medical cannabis app, "Uppy", uses artificial intelligence technology to track and monitor users' medical needs, habits, and product reviews. The app can then use this information to assist in making more personalised recommendations to the user.

The recent legalisation of cannabis sweeping its way around the world means minimal data is available to define what strains may be the most effective in relieving specific symptoms

of certain conditions. Using A.I. technology in apps allows firms to select the most suitable cannabis product for the patient, ultimately providing more effective therapy.

FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY

Many states in America have legalised cannabis for medical purposes. As a result, medicinal cannabis dispensaries have been widely introduced to enable patients to collect their prescriptions legally. However, these dispensaries have until recently been considered high risk for robberies due to the legal cannabis market being a primarily allcash industry.

Facial recognition is one technology implemented at dispensaries to increase safety for staff and patients. However, in an industry where until recently, you could still be prosecuted for using cannabis, opinions are mixed over the use of facial recognition within such a formerly taboo industry. The fears are that this new technology could pose severe risks to privacy.

"SEED TO SALE" PLATFORMS

A.I. and new technology are being used all the way along the legal cannabis production line. For example, some companies are creating AI-powered platforms that manage the complete "seed-to-sale" process and can offer the user numerous services, from inventive harvesting and plant tracking to prescription managing and intelligent inventory control. By operating

through these platforms, companies can select the most suitable time to harvest, take advantage of faster delivery services and personalise their cannabis creations to their customers, improving yield and profitability.

WEED DELIVERY APPS

The recent emergence of cannabis delivery apps has boosted the connection between cannabis retailers to consumers. The big cannabis delivery companies such as "Eaze" in California offer a range of distinctive products with fast and efficient delivery. In addition, Eaze uses its data and A.I. technology to forecast the supply and demand of products.

However, platforms such as Eaze are not without their problems. Google has recently stated that it will ban any apps that help promote the sale of cannabis, whether legal or not. Opposers have argued that such a rule may promote the illegal cannabis market if consumers cannot purchase legal weed easily.

CRYPTO CURRENCY

Although medicinal and recreational cannabis is legal across many states in America, it remains illegal under federal law. This uncertainty means that banks are still cautious about integrating it. This attitude has made it a predominantly "all-cash" industry. As a result, it is challenging for "all-cash" organisations to grow, forcing cannabis companies to scour new ways to make and process financial transactions.

As a result of this problem, cannabisspecific currencies have emerged. For example, cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin have made it much more straightforward for customers to purchase cannabis products. Some companies have even developed currency specifically for purchasing cannabis, like Potcoin and Hempcoin.

Words & Pics: Green Born Identity –

Biscotti Mintz Barney’s Farm excels itself again

Kaleidoscope-like varied colours, stupendous resin incrustations and a delish mango flavour

In view of that strain description sounding particularly sensational, The Doc was utterly curious about Biscotti Mintz’ blooming performance. After two weeks – flowering had noticeably begun – he noted that bud formation in the branch tips went along with red leaf colouration –“now they’re getting that announced play of colours started”, The Doc rejoiced. It took him by surprise that the two plants revealed a strong stretching temper now, clearly more than doubling their height in the first half of flowering.

Indeed, he witnessed the rise of a kaleidoscope-like festival of varied colours, Barney’s really hadn’t exaggerated: at the end of flowering, the buds were ablaze with colour, shining so gorgeously red, yellow, orange and purple that The Doc, as fascinated as he was, almost couldn’t avert his eyes from them. Also because that glorious colour spectacle further escalated through an insanely abundant

Biscotti Mintz was the fourth variety The Doc grew when did a run with Barney’s Farm West Coast strains only. About its parents, Biscotti and Mintz, Barney’s says they’re “two of the USA’s premium and most elusive strains”. Such statements of rarity always get The Doc fired up, and Barney’s assertion it’s a “plant with trichome production off the scale” added to the fascination of course… Another eyecatching feature of this strain is its dazzling colourfulness – at maturity, leaves are displaying a beautiful array of red, orange, purple, green and yellow.

This extraordinariness continues into the flavour, a terpene content high in limonene, caryophyllene and eucalyptol leads to a spectactular feast of aromas characterised by spicy Kush notes fused with chocolate chip cookies and creamy mint. The description of effect sounds quite unusual for a plant with 80% indica dominance, with Biscotti Mintz delivering a turn physically energising and mentally clear and focused – a way of effect generally ascribed to sativa or sativa dominant varieties.

It’s accompanied by relaxation also though, so not completely lacking an effect typical of indica. Like many other

Barney’s strains, Biscotti Mintz doesn’t need more than 8-9 weeks of flowering to fully ripen and boasts a yield potential of 600-650 grams per sqm. ranging in the above-average department. In sunny regions, outdoor cultivators can even look forward to yields of up to 1.5 kilos per plant if optimally grown, with a harvest window of as early as in the first to second week of October. Outside the usual height measure of the plants is about two metres, whereas 80-90 cm are a standard indoors.

A fully indica style growth habit, absolutely identical

Almost needless to say also those two Barney’s Farm seeds sown by The Doc went through germination with ease, he saw the seedlings standing upright above the ground after three days already. In the veg stage they exhibited a fully indica style growth habit then by becoming very dense and bushy, with a lot of branching propensity. In doing so, the two turned out to be absolutely identical - same height, same width. At the time The Doc moved them into blooming by reducing the daily light cycle to 12/12, the two Biscotti Mintz plants stood 33 cm tall.

trichome blanket, as enthusiastically reported by The Doc: “One has to speak of resin incrustations, so overly generous is the frosting of trichomes, looking as if the buds had been exposed to a trichome shower, with those silvery crystals dramatically piling up.

A truly breath-taking sight!” Also in terms of volume, the Biscotti Mintz buds excelled, in the end having grown into fat chubby rock-hard flower heads looking like pure indica. Last but not least, The Doc was by besotted by the buds’ scent, too – it was much sweeter than expected, pretty exotic and very fruity, providing a delish mango note to The Doc’s nose that was only slightly underpinned by some Kush spiciness. “Jeeez I’m extremely keen to taste and feel Biscotti Mintz, but that will to have a wait a few weeks, so I gotta be very patient”, he said when he harvested his two plants (that had eventually reached 75 and 82.5 cm tall) after timely 59 and 62 days.

Post-drying result: Chunky mango buds spreading hefty aroma clouds

In dried state then, the chunky and massively resin-encrusted Biscotti Mintz buds were most bewitching to look at. Stately yields of 97 and 108 grams went into The Doc’s big storage jars, and when he opened them again the next day, he got engulfed in hefty aroma clouds enthralling his nose with a sweet mango flavour that was even more pronounced and smoother now, that Kush piquancy, already little before, had moved further into the background. “But if it had totally disappeared, unknowing and blindfolded one may have difficulties in identifying this odour as cannabis!”, he marvelled and added, “well, Biscotti Mintz obviously also has a mango pheno…”

The sampling session: A luxury taste followed by a blissful sensation

When his Mighty+ Vaporizer was ready to go, filled with half a gram of Biscotti Mintz, the big moment had finally come. The flavour inhaled with the first toke really was a revelation to The Doc: “What an indulging treat to the palate it is! That sweet exotic mango aroma fully translates to the taste also, deliciously covering my whole mouth cavity. In the aftertaste then, that spicy Kush note becomes noticeable as well, bringing a special twist

to that fruity sensation. So damn tasty I’d like to suck on my vaporizer all day long… And while he indulged in this luxury taste, Biscotti Mintz began to play a second ace: After three drafts, The Doc felt a warm exhilarating wave of blissfulness surging inside of him, Biscotti Mintz rang the bell in his head, announcing a way of effect which, clear and focused, spurred his mind, at the same time providing a nicely chilled feeling of being well-balanced, indeed. Also, he didn’t have a heavy body feeling at all, what he noticed on a physical level though was that his right triceps had stopped to twitch at last! It was an intense turn full of relaxing bliss that lasted more than two hours.

The Doc‘s verdict

„With this fabulous strain, Barney’s Farm has once again excelled itself! Across all departments, nothing else than brilliance, amazement and elation. Lemon Tree recently had become my personal BF favourite #1, but with this awesome ace performance, Biscotti Mintz has drawn level with it, this spectacular showpiece of a plant shares the BF throne with Lemon Tree now.”

Green Born Identity – G.B.I.

Cultivation data:

Genetics Biscotti Mintz (Biscotti x Mintz)

Vegetative stage four weeks (after germination)

Flowering stage 59 and 62 days / 56-63 days in general

Medium Bionova Bio Soilmix, 11 litre pots

pH 6.3-6.8

EC 1.2–1.8 mS

Light up to 5x SANlight EVO 5-100 = 1600 watts

Temperature 19-28°C

Air humidity 40-60%

Watering manually

Fertilisation Bionova Soil Supermix, plus PK 13-14 in the flowering stage

Additives/stimulants Bionova Silution, The Missing Link, Vitasol and X-cel

Tools CleanLight Pro for mould prevention

Height 75 + 72.5 cm

Yield 97 + 108 g

By Stoney Tark

THE BENEFITS OF TRAINING CANNABIS PLANTS

As a beginner grower, you will probably have grown your first few crops without any type of training at all, and are now ready to be more hands on. Plant training applied at the right time can make a massive difference in the final yield, size, shape and height of your plants, so in this article, we explain the various ways of training Cannabis plants, and the benefits and advantages associated

• Topping should really be done with a pair of sharp scissors or scalpel.

• It is possible to top Cannabis plants during 18/6 as often as you want.

• Tall plants will become much shorter and more practical to work with.

Low Stress Technique

LST or tying down, is an old school way of manipulating the shape of the plants, and to temporarily trick them. The way LST works is by lowering the tallest point of the plant, as a result causing the remaining growth sites to now grow up with the intention of becoming the crown shoot. It takes around 3 days for the tied part to resume normal growth, which by this point has changed the shape and dynamic of the canopy. LST is a great way to open plants up and allow more direct light into the lower canopy.

• It is best to use a soft string or gardening wire when performing LST.

• Indica plants will become bushy and dense after being tied down.

• LST is a wonderful way to reduce the final height, which is ideal for small grow spaces

Pruning Before Flower

edge of the pot and to make sure the canes are well inserted and fixed in place.

• The canes should be up to 120-150 cm in size, depending on the plants.

• Avoid using thin bamboo canes, and aim for a solid cane that is 2 cm wide. Do not use cable ties to fix the cane and side branches, and always use gardening ties.

Screen of Green

A Screen of Green can be done with a fabric net, chicken wire built into a frame, or a bamboo trellis. A SCROG can take time and requires an area to be full before switching the timers to 12/12. Usually, a vegetative time of between 6–10 weeks is required to be combined with some plant training, to allow a grower to be hands-on and manipulate the canopy through the net or screen. For those who are limited to growing a few plants, then a Screen of Green can be an excellent way to get the most out of your plants and growing space.

• Screens or nets should be able to be removed and allow you to work around the plants.

Feeding different shoots through the net can be a long process, but well worth it.

Start With the Right Strain!

The first thing you should think about, before you even germinate a seed, is which strain you are working with and if it is a good candidate for training. To give an example, short and stocky indica plants may be good for LST and pruning, but can become difficult once topped.

Sativa strains on the other hand, once trained, have the ability to become enormous and overwhelm the beginner grower. It is a good idea to use a hybrid that expresses indica and sativa genetics, making the pants much easier to work with.

Indica dominant strains will require much more pruning than others.

It is not advised to train auto flowering

seeds after the first 3 weeks.

• Seed banks should explain which strains are big yielders and most productive.

Topping / Pinching Out

Another name for topping is pinching out, and this technique is a direct way to stop plants from growing tall, as it disrupts the production of Auxin, known for apical dominance. Once a Cannabis plant has been topped and the crown shoot cleanly removed, the remaining two axillary shoots will become the crown tops and the rest of the plant will catch up.

After 7 days, the structure will become much bushier and uniform, and ensure that the side branches will produce as much as the top branches.

Pruning the leaves and thin undeveloped side branches off your indoor plants a week before flowering will not only produce the biggest yields, improve air flow and reduce small sized buds, it will allow the plant to focus its energy on top-heavy colas. Everyone has their own method when it comes to stripping down a plant (lollipopping), but we recommend stripping everything apart from the top 2 internodes 7 days before switching your timers.

• Pruning is simple and easy to perform and produces incredible results.

• Use a sharp scalpel or scissors when pruning and double check everything.

• There will be no smaller and undesir able buds grown once pruned.

Insert Bamboo Canes

Using bamboo canes inserted around the edge of the pots like the numbers of a clock, are my personal favorite method of training plants and providing the ideal support for them. These cheap to buy canes can be used time again once given a quick wash, and when used with gardening wire, work a treat to tie the side branches up. It is very important to insert the canes at the

• Some strains are better adapted for SCROG, so do your research beforehand.

GROW

This grower has chosen to use a net to SCROG his plants.

Bamboo canes and a heavy prune have been used in this tent.

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE LONDON SEED CENTRE

Like many a successful business, the London Seed Centre, usually referred to as LSC, began life specialising in something very different – hydroponics. However, LSC became the first UK retail outlet for cannabis seeds after this family-run business spotted a gap in the market. In the UK the law was, and still remains, that it is perfectly legal to own and sell cannabis seeds, it is just illegal to allow them to germinate and grow cannabis plants.

Part of the success of the company comes from the fact that while it does a considerable amount of business online and all over the world, it also has brick-and-mortar premises in London where it has built up a substantial and very loyal clientele, receiving visitors from all over the country and even the world. Today, LSC is one of the UK’s largest distributors of cannabis seeds,

orders generate seed chips, which are a form of loyalty points. These can be redeemed as a means of discounting the cost of future orders. Free seeds are also included in each order and tailored to customer selection. Not content with that, LSC also has monthly free seed and merchandise giveaways which, for obvious reasons, are extremely popular with the company’s many customers.

To help explain LSC’s success, everyone who works there is extremely knowledgeable about cannabis and cannabis seeds. Like any good trade outlet, the team works hard to remain fully up to date with any new strains which become available, and they all read avidly in order to keep up with new trends and to keep abreast of what breeders have been up to. Beyond that, they all keep a close eye on annual cannabis plant and seed competitions and

both domestically and globally while it still remains a friendly, familyrun business.

As far as the company’s offerings are concerned, it currently holds seeds for over 5,000 cultivars (who knew there were so many different strains of cannabis?!) and all orders are processed the same day, with delivery, worldwide, usually within five business days. Customer satisfaction is extremely high up on LSC’s list of priorities. In addition, as a personal reward program, all

keep a close watch on what many of the recognised breeders have been up to. Finally, to keep their many customers entertained and to also attract interest on the ‘net, LSC has its own YouTube Channel, The Cannabis Experts, where it has posted over 170 videos and despite being a relatively new addition to the list of company offerings, already has over 140,000 Subscribers, which is testament to just how popular the company is.

www.londonseedcentre.co.uk

By Rich Hamilton

PERSIAN PIE

Are you bored of your usual smoke? Stuck for something new to try? What has Rich Hamilton been smoking lately? Here is an extract from his bud diaries that may give you a bit of fresh strain inspiration.

STRAIN

This Indica dominant hybrid comes courtesy of Gener at White Jesus Genetics. This strain can be cultivated indoors, with a flowering time of about 60 days, or outdoors if conditions allow.

Persian Pie is a THC-dominant variety and is only available as feminised seeds.

GENETICS

Persian Pie was born from a cross between Lemon Tree and Banana Krumble. Lemon Tree is a cross between the iconic Las Vegas Skunk and the legend that is Sour Diesel.

No surprise, therefore, that the resulting offspring gives rise to a vigorous, tangy and productive variety with high levels of THC averaging at about 25%.

Banana Krumble is in no way inferior, however, and has become a true favourite among many for its characteristic flavour and potent effect.

A hybrid between Banana OG and Purple Punch strain, its powerful relaxing effect and complex flavour and fragrance are the two features that characterise it best.

ROW INFO

This bud was grown to perfection under

Telos LED's using the whole "Demon Nutrients" feed range and Indica Substrate "All Mix". Indoors this variety has the potential to reach heights of over 1.5 meters. A true high-yielder in every sense of the word, it is not uncommon to see crops of more than 500g/m2. One of the primary attributes of Persian Pie is its vigour and robustness as a plant that does not require too much extra care. It can be grown in all types of substrates. However, if you want to bring out its full potential of complex, intense flavour and aroma, try growing it with organic nutes.

FLOWER

Persian Pie grows strong with a relatively short internodal length and a beautiful pine tree structure. It has Strong branches that can hold some heavy flowers. The buds are very tight and compact, connecting to make big colas. All covered in beautiful trichome layers, ready to release an army of terpene essences if you touch them! With some broad and short-bladed leaves that can show hints of beautiful purple by the end of the flowering time, it is a unique, attractive, resistant strain for all growers to try.

ODOUR

boasts bold citrus and banana aromas.

It delivers an intense, multifaceted experience that'll activate your mind and relax your entire body after just one puff. Her scent is very lemony, with earthy undertones and hints of other citrus fruits. At the same time, Persian Pie has inherited just enough from her Banana Krumble parent to balance out these strong citrus overtones with subtle yet notable hints of sweet, caramelised bananas.

CONSUMED

Pure (no tobacco) in black king-size Raws with hand-rolled hemp filters, lit on a hemp wick. I smoked this over a cold weekend at home in front of a wood fire. I planned to have a weekend to myself relaxing.

However, after being gifted this bud by the man who had grown it to perfection, I wasn't going to pass on it. About halfway through the first Spliff, I started to sit back and feel the heat from the fire; it inspired me to start writing a new book, which seemed to flow out of me, helped by the heavy and exciting high the bud gave me. It took me into complete tunnel vision, which excited me. It helped me utterly focus and have faith in my creativity.

So over the weekend, I smoked, stoked, ordered take-out, and wrote. A fantastic,

productive, creative, high weekend. Well done, White Jesus. This is definitely someone to watch in the future.

TASTE

The combination of these two powerhouse parent strains produces a descendant featuring the sweetness of banana with the earthy yet acidic notes of the Lemon Tree. It is an eruption of fruity and sweet flavours, offset by the earthiness and gassy backdrop of the OG and Sour Diesel predecessors on the exhale, making for a beautiful experience. The effects are instant and intense.

STONE

At 25% THC, Persian Pie is best enjoyed in moderation; just one hit of this strain will deliver an intense head rush, immediately accompanied by a full-body buzz that'll relax you from head to toe. This Indica-dominant hybrid provides soothing effects. The sensations it causes are intense and can be felt immediately after the first pull. Strap yourself in to induce an uplifting and euphoric high that quickly becomes recognisable as a strong sense of relaxation. Allow it to spread through your body and create a very mellow muscle relaxant effect. You won't be sorry.

By Hortizan

WILLOW, A MEDICINE FOR THE SOIL AND PEOPLE

Willow (Salix) is a genus of trees and shrubs with over 350 species. It belongs to the Salicaceae family, which also includes the Populus genus (aspens and poplars). A good way to tell them apart is to observe their inflorescences, i.e., catkins hanging downwards for poplars, and upwards for willows. Recognised since antiquity for its medicinal properties, willow is also used for woodworking and as a biostimulant in gardens.

Willow, an essential material for mankind

Willow is one of the first materials used by man. The oldest fishing net found to date is made of willow! Having sunk to the bottom of Lake Ancylus (now the Baltic Sea) nearly 8,000 years ago, this net was woven from the fibres of the inner bark of this wood. At all times, man has used it to make a wide range of objects such as boxes, tool handles, flutes, chairs or furniture, etc. Willow is also a raw material

ageing, acne and psoriasis. But the willow tree also produces numerous tannins and flavonoids. The combination of this diversity of naturally occurring molecules produces a synergetic function. Several studies prove that formulas containing willow bark are less irritating to the skin than products containing only the synthesised element (Thornfeldt and Sigler 2006, Jellin and Gregory 2012).

A benefit to the environment

Willows offer multiple benefits to their environment including biofiltration and soil stabilisation, etc. and are also used as wildlife shelters. Their massive, intertwined roots stabilise slopes and prevent soil erosion. Willow is a perfect candidate for planting near watercourses, protecting the banks against the action of the current. Its windbreak effect provides ideal shelter for wildlife. It is also melliferous (used in the production of honey). Willow catkins provide a modest amount of nectar, but this is particularly appreciated as they appear from February onwards, a season when pollen is scarce.

for wicker. Mainly used for basketry, wicker is simply a young willow shoot harvested in winter. Relatively flexible and less likely to split when woven than other species, wicker has long been used in a variety of ways, i.e., baskets, fish traps, fences and cob used in buildings.

Use in medicine since antiquity

The white willow (Salix alba), the emblematic tree of the Assyrians, was known to many ancient civilisations for its medicinal properties. The Sumerian and Egyptian civilisations mentioned it as a remedy for soreness and fever, several thousand years before our era. In Greece, the physician and philosopher Hippocrates, in the 4th century BC, recommended the bark of Salix alba for its analgesic properties. The spiric acid of the meadowsweet (formerly known as Spiraea ulmaria) is chemically similar to salicylic acid and is one of the ingredients of aspirin. Contained in the bark of willow trees, this acid has numerous analgesic, antipyretic (fever-fighting and fever-curing) and anti-inflammatory properties.

As a precursor of salicylic acid, salicyline is beneficial to the skin, which is why it is used in many treatments for skin

The phytoremediation powers of the Salix genus make it the tree of choice for cleaning up soil damaged by years of pollution. Petroleum products and pesticides are generally degraded by the bacterial and fungal activities of the rhizosphere (environment in direct contact with the roots). Heavy metals, on the other hand, are absorbed by the plant so that it accumulates and stores them in its tissues. This type of action takes time, as the plants have to store the contaminants before they can be harvested and incinerated. Fortunately, metals such as copper, zinc or cadmium can be recovered and even reused. The biomass generated by willows can be recycled as compost or biofuel.

Finally, willow water can help plants heal at any time during their lifetime. Like the rooting hormones found in our specialist shops, Salix contain a high concentration of β-indole butyric acid. Like salicylic acid, this element promotes rhizogenesis (root formation). There are several recipes for willow water to extract its active ingredients. You can simply soak a few centimetre-long cuttings for 2 days (take the youngest stems so as not to damage the tree too much). If you want a more concentrated gel, soak larger stems for 3 to 4 weeks in a large bucket of water. These willow cuttings will then root, and can be planted! The water itself develops a certain viscosity, and acts as an extremely effective rooting gel!

Willow catkins, particularly appreciated by bees!

Branch of an ornamental variety, Salix matsudana, also known aś corkscrew willow.

By Stoney Tark

A BEGINNER GROWER’S GUIDE TO CLONING

Cannabis clones are a quick and reliable way to source a genetic replica of an existing plant. Usually, the plant that has been cloned will be one that has either been grown out, or passed out by local growers. There are many benefits to using clones, so in this article we break down all you need to know about cloning, the different methods and mistakes to avoid.

and will be found in tiny amounts to coincide with state and country laws.

The Advantages of Using Cannabis Clones

• Clones save time and can grow much faster compared to seedlings.

• You can keep a mother plant alive to source fresh clones from.

• Taking clones saves money by not buying new seeds each harvest. It is easy to source clones which already have hype around them.

• On a commercial scale, clones are highly practical and advantageous.

The Different Methods of Cloning Explained

Jiffy plugs and hormone - The most basic way to clone, and an old school method passed down by growers for decades. For this method you simply need to use a scalpel, soaked jiffy plug / rockwool cube and rooting hormone.

a source of freshwater, and in the space between the surface of the water and where the clones hang, will be the optimal humidity level. Some growers like to leave the bottoms of the clones directly in the oxygenated water, which can be a great way to transition straight to deep water culture (DWC).

Air Layering - It is very rare to see clones taken using an air layering method, as the clones will actually root whilst still on the mother plant.

This abnormal way of rooting Cannabis clones works well on outdoors plants during Summer and, when done correctly, allows a grower to end up with 10–15-inch rooted hardwood clones.

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Cloning

1. Always make sure that you are using clean equipment, so your scalpel or scissors are sharp and sterile. Blunt blades will not create the clean and precise cut you desire, and for the sake of a new scalpel, it is not worth using old and dirty blades.

2. It is very important to use fresh water when taking clones. A good idea is to use bottled water or reverse osmosis, if you think that the water you have is not ideal. Avoid using stagnant water or anything that has nutrient solution.

3. Do not expose the cuttings to direct intense lighting, as this will create too much of a demand from them, resulting in fragile and unhealthy plants. Use a bubble wrap sheet or some type of cover to create shade.

What are clones?

Basically, a cutting of a small side branch, or depending on the size and maturity, multiple cuttings at one time. The cutting then needs to be placed in an environment that will encourage roots to grow as a way of the clone absorbing nutrients.

The Ideal Environment

Firstly, there needs to be a high amount of humidity, so using a propagator or two plastic cups taped together is a good solution, especially when taking a small number of clones. The temperature of the propagator should remain consistent at 18-22 degrees Celsius, which can be aided with the use of an electronic heating mat if the temperature is too cold.

As far as lighting is concerned, at this stage the clones only need a soft amount of

light, and using a CFL, or placing the plants far away from the main grow light is best advised. The light needs to remain on for at least 18 hours with a darkness period of 6 hours, however many growers have 100% success using a 24-hour schedule.

How Long Before I See Roots?

On the basis that everything has been done correctly and in a clean and sterile manner, then depending on the size of the clone, you can expect to see bright white and healthy roots within 7–14 days.

What About Rooting Hormones?

Using a rooting gel or powder that contains hormones and vitamins can give your cuttings a jump start, and allow them to root much faster than without. Rooting hormone typically contains Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA)

Once the cutting has been dipped and placed into the jiffy, it is now ready for its new home for the next 10–14 days.

Aeroponic cloners - These systems are a lot more advanced than the traditional jiffy and hormone method, and require the clones to be suspended in an air chamber that is misted with plain water. The frequency of the misting will range from a permanent sprinkle or every 30–60 seconds.

DWC bubbler - Similar to the aeroponic cloners, the cuttings are suspended into

4. It is better to take fresh cuttings that are able to be bent and have more bend to them. Hardwood clones can root also; however they can be much slower and take experience. Herbaceous cuttings are the best ones to work with, especially if it is your first-time cloning.

5. A cold temperature inside the grow room or propagator will prevent clones from rooting. Avoid allowing the room to drop below 16 degrees and if possible, use a reptile heat mat to keep the temperature consistent for the 14-day duration.

Conclusion

Cloning may be tricky at first, but once you get it dialled in, you will never look back! Good luck rooting clones and finding out what works for you.

GROW WITH STONEY TARK

Using plastic cups with a small slit works well.

This clone has rooted into coco after 10 days.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS LAUNCHES THE FIRST-EVER F1 HYBRID SEEDS INTO THE CANNABIS MARKET

Royal Queen Seeds' new F1 hybrids are set to transform the cannabis industry with superior performance, offering growers uniform plants with higher yields, increased THC potency, and unbeatable F1 stability.

Barcelona, 04 January 2023.

One of Europe’s leading cannabis seed banks, Royal Queen Seeds, just

became the first company to offer true F1 cannabis hybrids with the uniformity, stability, and yield quality needed by the budding legal cannabis industry. Bred from pure inbred lines,

RQS F1 seeds aim to revolutionize the world of cannabis, offering a stable crop and a consistent end product

‘’"The new autoflowering F1 hybrids have a solid structure, are nicely uniform, and have a beautiful inflorescence structure, almost indistinguishable from a photo-

dependent cannabis plant."’’

The new F1 Hybrids will be a game changer in the cannabis industry, just as feminized seeds were in the 90s.

The creation of Royal Queen Seeds’ F1 hybrids started in 2019, when the bank created its first pure inbred lines

potent, higher-yielding plants for their gardens/tents. Browse the full selection of Royal Queen Seeds F1 hybrids: www.royalqueenseeds.com/f1-hybrids

Royal Queen Seeds has over 10 years of experience passionately breeding cannabis cultivars of all types, from Dutch classics like White Widow to modern US strains like Royal Gorilla and even CBD-rich varieties.

The bank's catalogue comprises regular, feminized, and autoflowering indicas, sativas, and now F1 hybrids, as well as everything growers need to cultivate a top-quality product.

From veteran green thumbs to hobby growers and complete novices, growers of all skill levels recognise Royal Queen Seeds as a leader in cannabis genetics and grow gear.

Aroa Taberner, Digital PR RQS

(IBLs) with exceptional grow traits. After some further tweaking, RQS crossed its IBLs to create the world’s first true F1 cannabis hybrids that promise to revolutionise the cannabis industry.

As opposed to the cannabis strains (and their unpredictable phenotypes) that have long served as the backbone

of both domestic and commercial cannabis grows, F1 hybrids are uniform plants with countless benefits for all sectors of the cannabis industry: medical patients will benefit from consistent, quality cannabinoids, commercial growers will be able to streamline their operations by working with a reliable crop, and even home growers will have access to more

Purple Punch OG XL Auto® and Skywalker OG Runtz XL Auto®

2 HEAVYWEIGHTS BY SWEET SEEDS®

Recently, I was given two packets of autoflowering seeds from the Sweet Seeds® genetics collection for free, i.e., a seventh-generation autoflowering, Skywalker OG Runtz XL Auto® (SWS97), and the delicious Purple Punch OG XL Auto® (SWS96).

A good start

I started with Skywalker OG Runtz XL Auto®. The 4 seeds germinated in less than 72 hours and were planted directly into the final pots. During the vegetative period, the plants developed with impressive vigour and had a compact

structure, with many side branches. This was in winter and temperatures were really low, so I decided to use a 250-watt MH lamp for the first 15 days, and a 400-watt HPS lamp later.

Between day 25 and day 30 from germination, all the plants started to produce

Very excited about this new adventure, I prepared my small indoor grow tent (60x60x120 cm) and decided to make two tests this time, each with 4 seeds of each strain.

I preferred to have fewer plants but with more space for them to develop laterally and spread their roots, instead of having 8 plants in such a small grow tent. In actual fact, I was told that both strains

have the same structure and harvest time (about 8 weeks from germination), so I figured they would grow well together indoors.

But this time I wanted something different, and it seemed interesting to grow one strain at a time and compare them at the end of both tests, because all the growing parameters were the same.

Tommy L. Gomez / Photos: Jaypp, Sweet Seeds®

pistils and, a week later, the pistils clustered together to form flowers. Luckily, the plants grew more laterally than vertically, so I was able to let them develop freely. They were all between 45 and 50 cm long.

Until day 37 from germination, I did not use any flowering fertiliser. As the soil mix used was rich in nutrients and the pots were prepared with different layers of soil (more nutrient-rich in the lower areas of the pot, where the roots arrive a bit later), they enjoyed their first month of life only with pure water with a pH of 6.7.

A pure resinous delight

About a week later, at 45 days from germination, the aromas of Skywalker OG Runtz XL Auto® began to pervade the room. At this point, the third and final dose of flowering fertiliser was administered, as the harvest was expected to take place no more than 10 to 15 days later. In the last two weeks, the plants showed their full potential, turning the small flowers into big compact buds, fully covered with aromatic resin.

All 4 plants were harvested on the 62nd day after germination, which is very good considering the end result in terms of yield and quality. At the time of harvest, the aromas and flavours were a

combination of sweet tones with earthy and spicy undertones of blue cypress. Overall, it called to mind the aromas of the Diesel and OG Kush families, but with a sweeter nuance.

The total (dry) yield was 233 grams, i.e., 58 grams per plant. This was more than enough for my personal use, so it lived up to my expectations and satisfied me completely in terms of quality and type of effect.

Indeed, with Skywalker OG Runtz XL Auto® you get a feeling of relaxation mixed with creativity and motivation to get things done.

About Purple Punch OG XL Auto®

A few days before harvesting my 4 Skywalker OG Runtz XL Auto® plants, I put the 4 Purple Punch OG XL Auto® seeds between a damp paper towel, which I closed in a hermetically sealed plastic box and opened every 12 hours to change the air.

The day after harvest, the new plants were moved to the same grow tent where I had grown the other strain 2 months before, under exactly the same conditions, i.e., same soil mix, pots, lights, air extraction system, air circulation system and even approximately the same temperatures.

The vegetative phase was quite similar to those of the previous test. The plants developed very well and reached day 25 from germination with basically the same size as the other plants. Perhaps they were less bushy, which only became a problem between day 30 and 40 from germination since the 4 Purple Punch OG XL Auto® plants stretched (vertically) about 6 to 8 cm more than the 4 Skywalker OG Runtz XL Auto® specimens.

Still, in such a small space, an excessive growth makes a big difference, so with this strain I had to something. Normally, to lower the height of autoflowering

intense and relaxing. The final yield (dry) was 245 grams, only slightly more than in the previous grow test.

Final Conclusion

Growing the two strains, one at a time, under exactly the same conditions was a very interesting experience that I will probably repeat many times in the future.

Although these two strains are very similar in terms of structure, yield and harvest time, there were small differ-

plants, I prefer to do some Low Stress Training (LST). One LST session was enough to lower the top branches by about 10 cm. Luckily, they stopped stretching a few days later and remained controlled in height.

They were then fed with the same doses of fertiliser and, on the 59th day after germination, all 4 plants were at ideal maturity for harvest. At this point, they released a deliciously sweet and complex aroma, with strong, spicy OG Kush undertones. Half of the plants ended up with discreet but magnificent reddish tones inherited from the Grand Daddy Purple ancestry, and their effect was

ences that I could appreciate. All things considered, either one is a perfect choice if all you are looking for from Sweet Seeds® are faster, sweeter and more productive strains.

CANNAFEST PRAGUE 2022

Thirteen years ago, the gates of the international cannabis trade show Cannafest in Prague opened for the first time. The expo has come a long way since then and became one of the most attractive events of its kind, with the number of visitors reaching up to 30,000 in recent years. It has also become a sort of a mirror of current trends and mood of the cannabis sector – including new products. Let's take a look at what interesting things were happening there in November 2022. The past few years were not exactly easy for trade shows. As you surely know, the restrictions due to covid have prevented a large number of expos from taking place all over the world. Luckily enough, Cannafest was only cancelled in 2020, and the next year the show seemed to have grown a little. I think it was mainly because of the expected increase of THC limit in cannabis to 1% in the Czech Republic, which took effect on January 1, 2022. Many cannabis entrepreneurs were hoping for something like CBD boom 2.0 with strains with up to 1% THC. When the same legal change happened in Switzerland some seven years ago, many people made quite good money there. I remember one whole exhibition hall at Cannafest 2021 filled with CBD growers from Poland, Switzerland, Italy, the Czech Republic and other countries.

Eventually, the year 2022 did not bring just an increase in the THC limit, but also a massive jump in energy prices and soaring

quantities in cannabis plant. What is more, it can also be produced synthetically directly from THC or CBD. And since CBD is legal and HHC is legal in Czechia (for the time being), there was nothing to prevent an uncontrolled market explosion with a relatively little-studied psychoactive substance. HHC is now sold in various forms. You can buy oils, e-liquids, edibles or flowers with HHC applied to “ordinary” strains rich in CBD, which weren’t originally psychoactive. Such cannabis then looks and works similarly to strains with higher levels of psychoactive THC. To be absolutely fair and square with you, I am not a big fan of HHC because I think such substances should be sold only with some regulations surrounding them. But this is yet another consequence of cannabis prohibition. If cannabis strains rich in THC were legal and regulated for adults, HHC would probably never have appeared on the market in the first place.

And there is, of course, the business side. Dozens and dozens of CBD growers who thought they would be reaping huge profits from the sale of their flowers found out that their expectations of demand and prices were greatly overestimated. Many people who have put their savings in CBD grow-ops are lost now because they can’t sell the material they've grown due to market saturation and lack of demand. The HHC boom provides them the chance to get rid of some of their CBD buds to directly produce HHC. Then, they can also spray their top flowers with HHC and sell them as psychoactive cannabis. And as we all know, cannabis which can get you high is much easier to sell than non-psychoactive CBD weed. The problem is that nowadays pretty much anyone can buy such cannabis, regardless of age. And that is definitely not a good thing.

PEOPLE OF CANNAFEST

inflation. And to make things even more complicated and complex, there is a lively discussion in the Czech Republic at the moment about creating and regulating recreational cannabis market, which eventually could give the whole cannabis industry a significant boost. So I was very curious about what impact these developments would have on this year’s Cannafest.

CBD REPLACED BY HHC

One of the most visible changes in the cannabis market during Cannafest was the rise of HHC (short for hexahydrocannabinol). HHC is a psychoactive substance with similar effects to THC. You may have already heard that this cannabinoid occurs naturally in small, essentially insignificant

Cannafest has always had a good vibe. For a lot of visitors, it's an expo they look forward to all year, and you can see it in their smiling faces. Even though almost everything is more and more expensive, the Cannafest tickets are still super cheap, and one was able to get a ticket for the whole weekend for about €12 in the presale. My estimate is that about 20,000 people came to the show this year. More than 350 exhibitors were expecting them in four exhibition halls. In addition to the trade show, all visitors could gain some knowledge and attend the accompanying professional conferences with interesting and renowned speakers. Topics included the medicinal use of cannabis, cultivation, legislation, but also issues related to the current economic crisis and its impact on the cannabis market.

When compared to previous years, I have noticed one fundamental change. There

was a significant decrease in the number of business visitors. People are obviously spending less, input costs for production and transport of materials and products have skyrocketed and the expected liberalization of laws which would allow the sale of cannabis is painstakingly slow. CBD growers as well as medical and recreational cultivators are now struggling to find customers. There is simply too much product and not too much demand. This fact does not really contribute to the willingness of investors to put more money into our industry. In North America, hundreds of tonnes of cannabis destined for the recreational market have to be destroyed because there is simply no market for it and the material grown cannot be stored indefinitely. The situation does not look much better when it comes to the European producers of medical cannabis.

NEWS AND INNOVATIONS

People visit cannabis expos for many reasons, one of them being the desire to see something new and intriguing. However, such things are often harder to find, because not many producers of new products can afford a large and eye-catching booth. But I always like to look for interesting things, so I can tell you about some of them. Among the news I dare include an updated version of my book How to Grow Cannabis Indoors 2.1, which I introduced at Cannafest. The book has been updated quite extensively and includes even more information on what plants really need and how to meet all their needs. I've also included advice for those interested in larger scale commercial growing. The new edition is printed on better paper obtained from responsible sources and includes a number of new graphics for better orientation. You can find the book in any good bookstore and on my website www.pestovat.cz.

maintain set levels of nutrient solution in hydroponics, control lighting and other equipment important to control the necessary growing conditions. For the average home grower, such equipment may not be worthwhile, but if you are planning a larger grow operation and want to use a European supplier, you know where to go. Another interesting novelty for me was the Flex supplementary lighting from SANlight. It is a light source designed for additional lighting of lower levels of plants or for growing clones. And the second option is what I find very innovative. Because conventional LEDs are often not suitable for growing clones. Either they do not have the right colour spectrum or they are too strong and give the plants much higher intensity than needed. In both cases, it reduces the success and speed of rooting. I will definitely try this light for cloning. The third item on my list of things worth mentioning are the HortiOne lights. These are lightweight compact modules where the diodes are placed on a thin aluminium

reflector. The advantage of this technology is high intensity lighting at a relatively low cost. This is achieved by lower energy consumption of cooling tools. In fact, you won't find massive fins in these modules designed to cool semiconductor diodes. HortiOne uses Osram, Samsung and Cree diodes and according to the company's CEO Julian, they are of the highest quality available. Compared to, say, SANlight, the lifetime of HortiOne is shorter, but for a significantly lower price you can have comparable light spectrum and efficiency. Also, I have to mention the presence of a high number of breeders and seedbanks.

In terms of cultivation, four things caught my eye at Cannafest. The first was the complex control systems from Numazon, a Czech company that focuses on automating the growing process. Their systems can automatically adjust and Jewel next to jewel.

The seedbanks had a lot of interesting stuff on display.

You could win something at almost every stand.

Hey man, what would you like?

New varieties are not usually launched until sometime in February, just before the spring season. In this respect, Cannafest is not the ideal time to launch new varieties, but those who wanted to buy seeds at a discounted price had the ideal opportunity. Whether you headed to Dutch Passion, Paradise Seeds, Royal Queen Seeds, Seedstockers, Barneys Farm or oth-

ers, there were significant discounts waiting for growers everywhere. I know a lot of growers who go to Cannafest to stock up for next season because it simply pays off. Not to mention the various contests and wheels of fortune where you can win seeds for free. Recently, filters for cannabis joints have become very popular. This trend was also confirmed at the twelfth

Cannafest. The company Putize, which also captivated sneaker fans with their tailormade Nike shoes, enjoyed the most attention. I also found White Rabbit's hemp jewellery very interesting. Buds or leaves are coated with a layer of precious metals and they look really perfect.

Last but not least, I'm always interested in hemp food. This industry definitely has

a great future. I like the homemade pastries and candies the most, but I also like the gelatine candies and chocolates that come in different shapes. So far, unfortunately, only CBD and HHC versions are allowed to be sold in most countries. Well, I hope that at next Cannafest the legalization situation will be a bit better. And, of course, I will definitely attend the 13th edition. I hope to see you all there.

Yields

From left: Edwin, José, Robert Veverka and Jos.

Will there be legal THC next year?

GROW WITH JORGE CERVANTES

Jorge Cervantes jorge@marijuanagrowing.com

MISDIAGNOSED GARDEN PROBLEMS

Common misdiagnosed problems affect nutrient uptake and masquerade as nutrient deficiencies or excesses. All of these cultural problems center around the five basics – Light, Air, Water, Nutrients, Soil, or what I refer to as LAWNS.

Control and maximize each one of the basics and nutrient deficiencies and excesses disappear. Many problems in containerized garden and to a lesser degree outdoor gardens, are

Nutrient excesses and deficiencies are often the result of other factors that affect nutrient uptake. Adding more fertizer often causes more problems and does not solve the actual problem.

misdiagnosed as a lack or excess of fertilizer. Inexperienced growers tend to solve nutrient concerns by adding fertilizer rather than learning the cause of the problem. Often, adding fertilizer compounds and complicates cultivation problems.

The basic elements of the environment must be checked and maintained at specific levels to avoid problems.

Check each of the vital signs including air, light, water, nutrients and soil. Fine-tune these vital factors before deciding that plants are nutrient deficient.

Multiple problems usually ooccur at the same time. For example, a lack of light of the proper spectrum will cause slow growth.

It is easy to over-water and overfertilize coontainerized plants when they do not receive adequate light.

All the plants on this terrace have different problems that manifest and nutrient excesses and deficiencies. The grower started using reverse osmosis (RO) water and all the problems went away.

The soil remains too wet and excess humidity hangs in the air.

Soon nutrient deficiencies and excess occur. To correct these deficiencies and excesses, you must increase useable light and fine tune the irrigation and fertilization. In this case light, air, water, nutrients and soil are all affected.

Once a plant demonstrates symptoms, it has already undergone stress. It will take time for it to resume vigorous growth. Correct identification of each symptom as soon as it occurs is essential to help plants retain vigor.

Many indoor, greenhouse and outdoor marijuana crops live a short three or four months and are harvested so fast that plants do not have time to recover from problems. One small imbalance could retard growth by a week or more and diminish harvest.

Complete chapters are dedicated to Light, Air, Water, Nutrients and Soil. You can easily use the “Global Search Function” to look up anything in this book quickly. The Global Search Function allows you to search the entire book at the same time.

Diagnose problems under natural light spectrum (about 5,000 degrees Kelvin) so that you are looking at the true color of the foliage. Diagnosing problems under an unnatural light spectrum may alter the “true” color of foliage. This means your diagnosis is not accurate.

High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lamps emit a yellowish spectrum that provides limited spectrum for cannabis growth. This leaf shows the yellowish HPS spectrum. The foliage is too hot and there are several problems with nutrient uptake in the soil. Changing to LED grow lights that emit less heat and the proper spectrum for growth and fixing the nutrient uptake problem cured this plant.

The proper spectrum of light is essential for rapid growth. Cannabis plants can be pushed to their limit when they have the correct light spectrum and intensity for growth.

Lack of light in indoor gardens is easy to overcome with information and a relatively inexpensive (€500) Quantum Light PAR Meter. Measuring the exact amount of useable light cannabis needs to grow is relatively easy to calculate for light fixtures in a garden. New LED growlights provide almost twice as much light for the same cost as a HID while generating a fraction of the heat. This giant step in LED technology has doubled yields.

Light of the proper spectrum and intensity is essential for rapid growth. Indoor growers use the proper LED grow lights to supply light for photosynthesis and rapid growth. A dim light and light with minimal benefit for plant growth causes stems to stretch during vegetative growth and also delays flowering.

It also causes slow growth, slow nutrient uptake, over-watering and over-fertilizing. Too much “hot” intense light can burn foliage. Hot sun tends to dry foliage quickly.

Lack of light causes slow growth and leads to many other problems. Air,

Stems stretch for light when it is lacking. Seedlings stretch for light often because the substrate is too wet and too cold. Stems also stretch when the nighttime temperature differential is beyond 15 degrees F (7 degrees C).

water, nutrients, and soil – are able to benefit plant growth the same percentage as light. For example, if only 80 percent of the light needed for plant growth is supplied, air, water, nutrients, and soil can supply only 80 percent. You can look at these five

Interrupt photoperiod at night to keep cannabis in vegetative growth stage. But, if a light is turned on for a few minutes–long enough to disrupt the dark period–for 3-7 consecutive nights, plants will start to revert to vegetative growth. Backyard plants often receive a little bit of light from a window in the gorwers home. A little bit of extra light from this window during the nighttime will prolong flowering and it may keep cannabis plants from finishing flowering before cold weather sets in. A layer of black plastic between the house and plants will keep cannabis in the dark when the sun goes down.

elements – light, air, water, nutrients, and soil – as each one being the link in a chain. The chain is as strong as the weakest link.

Indoors – air, water, nutrients, and soil are relatively easy to supply at close to 100 percent efficiency, but they are also easy to over-supply.

An over-supply causes water and nutrients to be taken in more slowly, and soil to remain too wet, which soon leads to toxic conditions.

Often, toxic conditions are not visible for two weeks. Over-watering is also promoted by low light levels.

Light burn is cause by a bright light that also emits high levels of heat such as a HID bulb, is too close to foliage. The problem is extremely rare with LEDs.

The photoperiod signals plants to start flowering; it can also signal them to remain in (or revert to) vegetative growth. Cannabis must have 12 hours

of uninterrupted, total darkness to flower properly. Dim light during the dark period in the pre-flowering and flowering stages prevents cannabis from blooming.

When the 12-hour dark period is interrupted by light, plants get confused. The light signals plants, “It's daytime; start vegetative growth.” Given this signal of light, plants start vegetative growth flowering is retarded or stopped.

Less than one half of one foot-candle of light will prevent cannabis from flowering.

That is a about twice as much light reflected by a full moon on a clear night. Indica-dominant varieties may revert to vegetative growth in 3-7 days.

Sativa-dominant plants take several more days to revert to vegetative growth.

Once they start to re-vegetate, it takes four to six additional weeks before inducing flowering.

This is because more leafy growth will appear before regular growth starts.

I have spoken to growers who claim their plants flower under a 6-hour dark and 12-hour light photoperiod. This expedited, 18-hour photoperiod regimen is supposed to work, but I'm not sold on it.

Growers say that their harvest is undiminished that they are getting 25 percent more cannabis at the same time. I have not visited their grow rooms to verify these claims.

This article was excerpted from the update of – Marijuana Horticulture “Bible” (6th Edition) by Jorge Cervantes. The new digital edition will be available as summer, 2023. Jorge is very excited about the new digital edition that will help hundreds of thousands of growers grow more and better cannabis! © 2020, © 2021, © 2022. Download your FREE copy of the new FREE 100-page digital book, We Grow Cannabi! at www.Jorge-Cervantes.com. Sign up for our mailing list at www.marijuanagrowing.com for updates on the new digital 6th Edition.

Award-Winning cannabis cultivation author Jorge Cervantes teams up with Seedsman for a FREE, comprehensive digital book on home growing.

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270+ color images

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Dedicated to increasing cannabis yields

Discover the magic of cannabis!

www.marijuanagrowing.com/grow-cannabis-book

Co-Authors

Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Gary Yates

Stefan Meyer

Table of Contents

• Cannabis Botany

• Life Cycle of Cannabis

• Cannabis Seeds & Seedlings

• Plan Your Garden

• Grow Room Setup

• Twelve-week Garden

• Harvest, Manicuring, Drying, Curing & Storage

• Diseases, Pests & Problems

JORGE CERVANTES

Author Marijuana Horticulture.

Legendary Jorge Cervantes, published in eight languages sold over a million copies worldwide.

HIGH CUISINE WITH BETTY GREEN

By Betty Green

BETTY GREEN’S ULTIMATE CLUB SANDWICH

The average person eats over 18,000 sandwiches in their lifetime. But, of course, that number is probably even higher if you are a stoner. So why do we love sandwiches so much whether we are high or not?

Sandwiches have layers of different flavours. We might try a new sauce, another kind of cheese, or a new slice of meat, or switch to a different loaf. We can choose what we put in our sandwiches, dipping into different tastes and combinations until we find the perfect flavour and texture.

Sandwiches make it easy to layer flavour. You can try a new condiment, fresh cheese or a different bread. It's also about trying other foods from different cultures. So there is a familiarity of new meat, vegetables, and cheese flavours between two pieces of bread. This offers a friendly approach while allowing you to experiment with new cultures.

The club sandwich is world famous. Consisting traditionally of toasted bread, sliced cooked poultry, fried bacon, tomato, lettuce, and lashings of mayonnaise. It is often served cut into quarters or halves held together by cocktail sticks. Modern versions usually have two layers separated by an extra slice of bread.

The club sandwich may have been born at the Union Club in New York City around 1889. However, another theory says it was first created at the Saratoga Club in New York in 1894.

Variations of the traditional club sandwich are common. Replace the meat with eggs or roast beef. Use ham instead of, or as well as bacon? A slice of cheese, perhaps? Anything goes these days.

So, the Club Sandwich is a perfect candidate to make an excellent "infused" sandwich. By the sounds, The Club has been "pimped" up by everything else, so why not some THC? Here is how to make the "Ultimate Club Sandwich", a THC BLT if you prefer.

The following recipe is to make enough sandwiches for two people. Who wouldn't want to share this delicious creation? If you are on a solo mission, simply half the ingredients.

INGREDIENTS

• Splash olive oil (canna cooking oil if you wish)

• Six rashers smoked streaky bacon

• Two small free-range chicken breasts halved horizontally

• 3-6 large vine tomatoes, sliced

• Tabasco (red)

• Six slices of good-quality bread

• 3 tbsp mayonnaise

• 1 tsp dijon mustard

• Canna Butter for spreading

• One avocado, mashed

• Four crunchy lettuce leaves

METHOD

• Splash a dash of oil in a frying pan on

high heat, fry your bacon until crisp, then set it to one side. Use canna cooking oil here if you wish.

• Add the chicken to the same pan and fry for about 4-6 minutes on each side until golden and cooked. Add more oil if needed. Be aware of your dosage if using canna oil! Once cooked, Slice your chicken and put it with the bacon.

• Now the chopped tomatoes go in the pan; 3-4 minutes is enough to warm them through and absorb any juices, flavours and cannabinoids in the pan. Add more butter here if you want them extra silky.

• Lightly toast the bread. Mix your mayo and mustard with a pinch of black pepper and spread half over two slices of the toast. Butter the remaining slices with cannabutter, regular butter, or a mix of the two depending on your preference.

• If you want a light "microdose" effect,

use canna oil or butter, not both, and use sparingly. Remember, an edible high and smoking high are two different beasts! If unsure, always take caution and go with a smaller dose.

To assemble your sandwich, butter two slices of toast and top each with lashings of dijon and mayo, two crunchy lettuce leaves and a quarter of the sliced chicken. Top that off with two crispy bacon rashers and a generous spoonful of tomatoes.

• Now to tackle the buttered middle section. Butter a slice of toast on each side for each stack. You are halfway there, and I bet it's looking good.

• Once added to the stack, spread each one with half the smashed avocado, then another quarter of the sliced chicken, 2 Bacon rashers and more tomatoes.

• Top this beast off with the final toasted slices and a good amount of Dijon mustard and mayo on the inside.

•  If you like it spicy and have any tomatoes left in the pan, add some Tabasco and warm it for a few minutes until soft. Voila, you have a spicy tomato chunky dip on the side, perfect for soaking the crusts.

Sandwiches are a strange obsession; thousands of meals exist with weird, wonderful and exciting flavour combinations, textures, and consistencies, yet over 50% of us choose a sandwich daily. I put it down to a mix of convenience, versatility, comfort and nostalgia.

Have you ever met someone who doesn't like sandwiches?? It's impossible. This Club sandwich is as good as it gets, and if you are looking for that little bit extra, then this will give you that too.

By Rich Hamilton

MUSIC ICON AND WEED ADVOCATE DAVID CROSBY DIES AT 81

David Crosby, the legendary singersongwriter-guitarist, died 18th?January 2023 at age 81. Crosby was an OG member of iconic sixties bands "The Byrds" and "Crosby, Stills & Nash".

The latter of which played a significant role in developing folk rock, country rock, and the emergent "California sound" that dominated rock radio throughout the mid-Seventies. Crosby was prolific when it came to touring, right up until the end, being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame not once but twice in his lifetime.

Crosby was heavily instrumental in creating songs that personify their time including Turn, Turn, Mr Tambourine Man, Judy Blue Eyes and Just a Song Before I Go.

Despite the trippy relaxed vibes of his music, there was a dark side to Crosby, including his stormy relationships with bandmates, his excesses his addiction to hard drugs, and his five-month sentence in a Texas prison following drug and arms violations. Despite his "larger than life" persona, his bandmates have forgiven him for clashes.

"I know people tend to focus on how volatile our relationship has been, but what has always mattered to David and me more than anything was the pure joy of the music we created together, the sound we discovered, and the deep friendship we shared over all these many long years.

"- bandmate Graham Nash.

However, another aspect of Crosby was his passion for legalizing cannabis and ending shameful convictions and jail time, even nonviolent weed offences. Crosby joined the advisory board of NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, in 2018.

"David Crosby was a genuine American original and an outspoken advocate for ending our nation's failed war on cannabis consumers," - Erik Altieri,

executive director of NORML.

Crosby served as a celebrity judge at Cannabis events and was frequently invited to speak at Cannabis industry conferences. NORML were ecstatic about having Crosby on board and at the

prospect of having him lend his voice and platform "to the ongoing fight for cannabis freedom after a lifetime of personal advocacy,"

Crosby openly smoked on stage throughout his career and said about his activism on the issue: "I'd like cannabis to be legal everywhere. I knew people in jail for years over a couple of joints, and it's just not right. The bottom line is: It should be legal, and people shouldn't be going to jail for it, and I want to reinforce that to the degree that I can."

Crosby has a tale or two to tell. He famously smoked out the Beatles and the Grateful Dead and spent much of the 1970s with some of the era's most prolific weed smugglers.

He also earned the reputation for having the strongest stash in the rock scene back when the best buds came in from overseas.

On whether the 60s and 70s weed was that different to what we get today, Crosby had this to say on the topic:

"The pot we had in the early sixties was crap: bricked-up seeded kilos coming up from Mexico in truck beds. Then somebody brought up sinsemilla, and as soon as we got hold of that, it was an entirely different world. There was no shortage of truly stunning cannabis back then. We were getting "Thai Stick" that was still on the stick. "

Upon his release from his 5-month spell in Mexican Prison in 1986, Crosby quit all intoxicants, including weed. But then,

around 2000, he decided to reintegrate cannabis into his life as a medicine for the tendinitis in both his hands and as an alternative to alcohol and hard drugs. Later, Crosby would even go on to launch his own craft cannabis brand.

The "Mighty Croz" was founded by Crosby and a long-time friend. "Mighty Croz" launched in 2018 and is one of the world's largest connoisseurs of cannabis.

When asked for the motivation behind launching his own brand, Crosby said:

"People worldwide have been asking me to do this – forever. Other than music, it's what I'm known for. The Beatles and even Willie would say I always had the best weed. I've been enjoying cannabis for over sixty years – so I have a lot of experience. Weed is fun; people who like weed are fun – and I like to have fun in my life. I have a PhD in fun,"

R.I.P David Crosby.

By Rich Hamilton

SOFT SECRETS MEDIA

HERE

IS

SOFT

SECRETS RUN DOWN OF WHAT TO WATCH, CREATE AND READ THIS MONTH.

WATCHTHE LAST OF USHBO-SKY ATLANTIC

What if it wasn't a flu-like COVID virus that endangered the existence of humanity but a parasitic fungus that utilised increasing temperatures to evolve and switch hosts, from ants to humans? That is the horrifying premise of The Last of Us, TV's newest post-apocalyptic drama.

Much has been made of its roots as a video game, with the source material presenting the most convincing evolution of a computer game to a TV Show that we have seen yet. The game's creator, Neil Druckmann, and award-winning "Chernobyl" showrunner, Craig Mazin, have had a hand in adapting the series for TV, which goes a long way to telling us why it feels so authentic.

The Last of Us games are known for being harsh, passionate, profound, and actionpacked. Those familiar with the gameplay will spot recognisable scenes, locations, and dialogue as the TV adaptation stays close to its source material.

The series starts with a panel of scientists theorising the possibility of the parasitic fungus scenario on a talk show in the 1960s. The timeline then jumps to 2003, when that worst-case scenario has been unleashed on humanity to an apocalyptic degree.

Next, we are up to the current time, 2023, and the aftermath of what is left as the virus remains rampant and without a cure. What is left of society live in quarantine zones under an authoritarian military regime embroiled in fighting with rebel groups. It's safe to say that at this point, the "zombies" are not the only thing people live in fear of.

the White House roof to the life-changing first time Maya Angelou got stoned, Carl Sagan's scientific epiphanies as fueled by weed, and the persuasive proof that Jesus accomplished healing miracles by infusing his Holy Anointing Oil with THC.

Once aligned with the biggest brands in cannabis media, the hosts and real-life close friends are producing this podcast independently as a new venture on a new cannabis media platform that is not under corporate control.

Abdullah Saeed is a cannabis journalist, personality, media maker, host and producer of the TV series Bong Appetit, star of the political roadtrip series Vice Does America, and creator and host of the viral cannabis short-form series Smokeables. He has written about cannabis since 2012, is the creator and author of the Weediquette column on VICE and is a contributor to other publications.

David Bienenstock is the author of the books"A Highbrow Guide to Getting High" and "Legalised It!" Previously, he was Head of Content at HIGH TIMES as well as a columnist contributor and video host/ producer at VICE.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

LISTEN“GREAT MOMENTS IN WEED HISTORY”DAVID BIENENSTOCK AND ABDULLAH SAEED.

This podcast deep dives into our 10,000+ year relationship with cannabis to find this exceptional plant's humour, heart, and historical importance.

In each episode, your co-hosts, David Bienenstock and Abdullah Saeed take on distinct great historical moments and spotlight a new cultural hero. Through the episodes, they cover everything from the evening Willie Nelson smoked a joint on

READDRIPPY BY DESIGNGRAFFITI CHARACTERS BY HOAKSER-AMAZON

Drippy By Design features canvas paintings and original sketchbook drawings of a series of paintings created by UK graffiti artist Hoakser between 2017 and 2022.

Since 1998, Hoakser has been developing, studying and working on his skills from his base in Kings Heath, Birmingham. Experimenting with new techniques and materials, his distinctive graffiti character and lettering styles are used on all kinds

of surfaces. Entirely self-taught in every aspect of his work, Hoakser has produced custom commissions in various forms alongside other creations in the form of toys and canvases. Work from his trademark Pre-Graffalite series has been shipped to private collectors across five continents.

In 2016 Hoakser worked with Warner Brothers Oscar-winning art director Adam Stockhausen on the set for Steven Spielberg’s science fiction movie Ready Player One.

Published by the Artist, this book of drawings and paintings gives an insight into the work and techniques used to create these characters. Painted onto both canvas and walls, in spray paint and acrylic, the original sketches are the most important thing. But unfortunately, they are often things that are never seen.

This 172-page hardcover book has five years' worth of sketches drawn on paper showing the character's rough working out and more detailed studies created on 34 canvas paintings with spray paint and acrylic brush paint.

This is an excellent little book for anyone who appreciates graffiti art and character design. Find out more about Hoakser at www.hoakser.com.

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. José, Green Born Identity (G.B.I.), Betty Green, TricomaTeam, Tommy L. Gomez, Fabrizio Dentini, Boisterix and others.

Photography: iStock

Editorial adress: readers@softsecrets.nl

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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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