1103 by SoftSecrets

ISSUE 3 2011

ESTABLISHED IN AMSTERDAM, 1985

18+ For adults only. Soft Secrets is published six times a year by Discover Publishers USA, Inc.

In this issue: RICK SIMPSON If you don’t know who Canadian Rick Simpson is, then you must read this interview. Responsible for single-handedly introducing thousands, if not millions, of people all over the world to the benefits of medical Cannabis, Simpson’s tincture/oil extractions have literally saved lives. ›› 5

Hemp Plastics

›› 9

JOHN SINCLAIR Living legend John Sinclair talks about the old days, new music and what the future holds for the legalization movement. ›› 13

The Energetic Evolution of Cannabis

›› 33

RICHARD DAVIS Curator of the USA Hemp Museum, Richard Davis explains how he ended up where he is now, and where he found all that great hemp stuff! ›› 17

Summer Reading: Getting to Know Your Hemp Heroes Welcome to another fresh installment of Soft Secrets USA! For those of you interested in Cannabis culture, we’ve given you some proper summer reading material. When you travel to the beach in the coming weeks, make sure to bring along your copy of SSUSA to keep you busy while sunbathing. This issue is dedicated to featuring some of North America’s Hemp Heroes: John Sinclair, Rick Simpson and Richard Davis. Sinclair, pioneer, wordsmith and musical activist, discusses his arrest and incarceration (in response to which John Lennon implored, “Let him be; set him free!”), the current state of popular music and what we need to do if we want to avoid the ‘20 to life’ mentality of past decades. Rick Simpson has prevailed in the fight against debilitating and fatal illnesses such as cancer, MS and arthritis. His hemp oil has literally saved lives, and Simpson was repaid with years of legal trouble for his efforts. In spite of this, he continues to educate and assist those who need him most. Hear the man himself defend this amazing product and explain its genesis. Richard Davis, founder of the USA Hemp Museum, presents an interesting tale of his journey down the road of public enlightenment. It’s impossible to ignore the virtues of hemp when visiting his display; now you can find out how it all started, and from where all those interesting hemp artifacts originated. The warmer months are upon us, and we are here to help with your summer

stumbles in the garden. Read on to find out why it’s possible to select the best available strains for your environment, and how some varieties can even gradually adapt to the harsh rays and high temperatures of new regions. We’ll show you some of the common issues associated with the warm summer months, and explain what you can do to soothe your over-heated gardens. In- and outdoor growers, breeders and the simply curious will benefit from our in-depth analysis of Cannabis evolution and adaptation. The invention of feminized genetics has split the Cannabis industry. What’s the real story behind these ‘Franken-strains’?

The science that explains light and an indepth examination between water and pH, EC and PPM are also highlighted, as well as the technical side of the production of hemp biodiesel and hemp plastic. These two innovative fields are potentially the solution to our overconsumption and depletion of the Earth’s natural resources. Inside, you’ll find all the reviews, editorials, interviews and more that have made the Soft Secrets family the number one Cannabis publication worldwide. Pull up a beach lounger, put on your sunglasses (and hemp sunblock) and get ready for some good reading. Enjoy!

FROM THE EDITOR

The Original Amnesia owes its name due to Dinafem’s access to the Dutch breeder who popularized this gene, the original Dutch Amnesia. Since 1994, it has dominated the menus of Dutch coffeeshops; it is faster, more resinous and more productive than most other known sativa plants. This strain has been winning award after award at cups in Europe and international Cannabis festivals. In fact, it has accumulated 16 first prizes, in sixteen years, at the prestigious High Life Cannabis Cup, in the categories of Hydro and Bio Haze. For its cultivation we recommend lots of light, fertilizers and continued micro-element supplements. Even the lower branches of the plant produces buds of desirable size and density. Outdoors, you can expect to have a tree. It is very vigorous and its clones take root very easily. Reaches a considerable height, up to 13 meters. It grows fast, being predominantly sativa, and needs between 65 to 75 days of flowering. Type: Genetics: THC: Height: Flowering Time:

Sativa Haze High up to 3.5m indoors 65 to 75 days

Photo credit: Dinafem

Original Amnesia (Feminized)

Are you Talented? We’re not talking about reality TV show kind of ‘talented’; rather, are you or is someone you know particularly gifted with a camera? Then why not submit your amateur photos to SSUSA? They could end up on the cover! Subject is of your choosing, and an emphasis on Cannabis is absolutely not necessary. Be as creative and expressive as possible, and you might just see your work on the front page of the next issue of Soft Secrets USA. Photographers will be credited for their work. Oh, and let’s keep it classy, people! Not into photography but still have an interesting talent or story? Contact us if you think you deserve a place in our publication. Feel free to let us know about new books, television and film projects; festi-

vals, events and demonstrations, medical advances or even interesting companies who deserve a little support and free press. We love hemp, and are always happy to highlight the innovations that make this industry so exciting. We hope to hear from you.

* Press concerns and photos (minimum resolution 300 dpi at 4 x 6 inches) may be emailed to Kristie@softsecrets.nl. * All submissions will be handled with discretion. Soft Secrets USA is not responsible for unsolicited submissions, either for graphics or text.

IN THIS ISSUE: Who’s Who in the Industry?

FROM THE EDITOR

Page 3 Girl

STRAIN REPORT

Rick Simpson

HEMP HEROES

Hemp Plastics

HEMP INNOVATIONS

Strain Awards

STRAIN REPORT

Light, Wavelengths and Intensity 12

SERIOUS GARDENING

John Sinclair

HEMP HEROES

Richard Davis

HEMP HEROES

Zombie Weed

MADE IN HOLLAND

Hemp Biodiesel

HEMP INNOVATIONS

Acapulco Gold & Jamaican Lambsbread 22

ENDANGERED STRAINS

Surf, Skate, Sativa

CULTURE

The Value of Water

SERIOUS GARDENING

Mile High & Cannabisbevrijdingsdag 27

FESTIVALS & EXPOS

Summertime

ADVANCED INDOOR GROWING

Ganja Juice & Higher Level Co-op 31

MEDICAL PRODUCTS/DISPENSARY

Hy’s Deli

COMIC

Energetic Evolution of Cannabis

BOTANY

Accidental Smuggler

SMUGGLING

Kuchi by DHSC

POSTER

Sweet Seeds

SEED BANKS

Drug War Rant

OPINION

Cannabis Goddess Cults

HEMP HISTORY

A Stoned Selection

MUSIC REVIEWS

Confessions of a Cannabis Junkie

FEMININE PERSPECTIVE

HEMP HEROES

Rick Simpson HIGHLIGHTING A LEGEND If you don’t know who Canadian Rick Simpson is, then you must read this interview. Responsible for single-handedly introducing thousands, if not millions, of people all over the world to the benefits of medical Cannabis, Simpson’s tincture/oil extractions have literally saved lives. SSUSA was lucky enough to steal some Robert Michael time from this busy, busy man. When did you become aware that the oil from this plant you were smoking could be a potent medicine? Rick Simpson: I became aware of the fact that cannabinoids are an effective treatment for cancer after hearing a radio broadcast in 1975. The report was read like it was some king of joke, and as time went on I heard no further reports like this so I thought that, possibly, the report I had heard was a farce. Almost thirty years later I had three skin cancers that had to be dealt with, so an operation was preformed on the cancer that was close to my right eye. Later, I was to return for two more operations on the other cancers. About a week after the surgery had been performed, I was looking at the area that they had operated on when suddenly the report that I had heard years before popped back into my mind. Since the operation they had done was

not a pleasant experience, I was looking for some way to avoid the the two other coming operations. I started to wonder what would happen if I put the oil directly on the two remaining cancers. I went

that time to the present it has been an uphill battle to have this medicine recognized for the true healing wonder that it is. How does the oil kill the cancer cells exactly? For years we went over scientific reports about the medicinal uses of this plant, but I found most of these reports to be very vague. They always said things like it ‘may,’ it ‘might,’ it ‘could; but in reality I learned very little. After years of reading such reports, I had pretty much given up hope of ever finding out how this oil was working all these medical miracles.

When a patient takes the oil it de-calcifies the pineal gland and your melatonin levels go through the roof. This is, in part, what we believe has a great deal to do with this medication’s effectiveness on so many serious conditions. Our endocannabinoid system allows our bodies to absorb the beneficial cannabinoids. This boost in cannabinoids balances the body in all respects and produces full body healing. There are other explanations by those who are much more qualified than myself, but even if I’m not quite correct, I take great satisfaction in simply knowing that this medication works.

But, a couple of years ago, a lady by the name of Batya Stark contacted me with information about the pineal gland and melatonin. Once we connected all the dots it seemed to explain how this oil was having such an effect on incurable condi-

How come this relatively simple connecting of the dots with Cannabis oil has never come out in a mainstream way? The reason this plant’s medicinal use is so misunderstood is simply caused by all the misinformation that big money interests

DISEASES LIKE MS ARE VERY EASY TO BRING UNDER CONTROL - IF THE PATIENT STARTS USING THE OIL SHORTLY AFTER THEY ARE DIAGNOSED down to the bathroom and applied oil on the two areas and covered them with bandages. I never felt a thing and four days later, when I took the bandages off, the cancer was completely gone. Within weeks the cancer that had been removed by surgery returned and I cured it in four days also. It was about this time that it finally sunk into my head, what this natural essential oil could do. But from

tions like cancer. Many of the chemicals that doctors give us – and substances like fluoride – impair the function of the pineal gland. When the pineal gland becomes impaired it secretes much less melatonin; melatonin is the greatest anti-oxidant on Earth and it travels to every cell in our bodies. People suffering from cancer and many other conditions have lowered melatonin levels, which allows their bodies to become a breeding ground for disease.

shove down the public’s throat. Hemp is man’s oldest-known and safest medication and its use in medicine is legendary. Up until about a hundred years ago, hemp produced the most widely-used medicines on this planet. However, its presence was a huge threat to many big money interests so lobby groups greased the right palms in government – and this was how the growing and free medicinal use of this plant was outlawed. Imagine if we were allowed to grow this

SIMPSON IS “SIMPLY HERE TO BRING MANKIND THE TRUTH AND TO TRY TO EASE THE SUFFERING OF THE MASSES”

SIMPSON EVEN HAS A STRAIN NAMED AFTER HIM, FITTING OF A LEGEND

plant – as we should be able to do for our own medicinal use – the effect this would have on the drug companies? In no time they would be out of business because we would have no further use for the poison chemical trash they have been providing. Now, I don’t mind companies making money, but when that money is made at the expense of the public’s health and well-being, something has to change. Cannabis/hemp is a God-given plant and since it is totally harmless, what right does anyone have to tell the human race that its use is restricted? Did these people talk to God and get permission; or was it done just because these heartless fools had the money to make it happen?

How does dosing work? The dosage regimen is about the same for all serious conditions: build up your tolerance as quickly as possible in the beginning, and in a short time most people no longer feel the oil’s effects. With life-threatening conditions like terminal cancer, the idea is to get the treatment into the patient as quickly as possible. I’ve seen some people with terminal cancer take the whole 60g. (ca. 2oz.) treatment in one month and cure their cancer. It usually takes the average person about 90 days to ingest the full 60g. treatment. We all have different tolerances for everything; some people can take this medicine very quickly, while others take longer.

RICK SIMPSON, JENDRICH BAYER AND DR. LUMIR HANUS (L TO R)

If the medical system would do tumor inoculations with this substance, the same as researchers have been doing to lab animals for decades; I think doing this would be of great benefit to a patient whose life is threatened. But, since the medical system refuses to do this, we are only left with the option of having the patient ingest the oil as fast as possible. For patients who have lung cancer, I think it’s a good idea to ingest the oil and also to vaporize the substance – so the unburned cannabinoids can be inhaled directly into the lungs, where they can go to work destroying the cancer. Doing the treatment in this manner attacks the cancer from both directions, which I think can increase the

patient’s chances of survival. The effects from so-called treatments like radiation and chemotherapy linger in the body for years. All the damage these treatments have caused must be reversed in the quickest way possible. In cases like this, the patient will require more than just the standard 60g. treatment. Quite often it may require 120g. or even 180g. of high grade oil to undo all the damage that has been done. Diseases like MS are very easy to bring under control – if the patient starts using the oil shortly after they are diagnosed. But, for others who have suffered with this condition for years and have taken many chemical medications, it will take much longer to heal.

RICK SIMPSON, JENDRICH BAYER AND DR. LUMIR HANUS (L TO R)

7 Can you take the oil along with chemo and/or radiation? Yes. A patient can take the oil along with chemo and radiation and it would give them a better chance to survive treatments like this. Lung cancer is notoriously difficult to heal – how effective is the oil here?

a month. I always tell people to apply the oil directly on the cancer and cover it with a bandage that is not waterproof. Then apply fresh oil and a new bandage every three to four days until the cancer is gone. I also tell patients to continue treatment for two more weeks after the cancer has disappeared. If they do this it will destroy any cancer cells that may remain and, to

How have the law and medical communities reacted to your treatments? I have been treated very badly by both the law and the medical establishment and they have called me a ‘charlatan’ and a ‘drug dealer’. But how many drug dealers do you know that give their products away free of charge? I am not here to sell the public anything; I am simply here to

bring mankind the truth and to try to ease the suffering of the masses. If indeed I was some kind of charlatan, do you not find it strange that no one in the medical industry can defrock what I have been telling the public?

Luckily for us all, we really don’t need them; for now anyone can produce their own medicine. But it is my intention to try to bring this medicine to the public in the cheapest possible manner. I now have offers from three countries who are willing to turn me loose and, if all goes well, in just a few days from now I will start getting things underway in a big way. Then we will be able to start mass distributing this medication, and in a very short time this oil will be available to all.

They are the real criminals and they are the ones who are deceiving you, not me. The Canadian legal system broke every rule in the book trying to make the public believe that I am some kind of criminal. If it’s a crime to help suffering and dying people, then I am as guilty as they come. They have given me a criminal record

Finally, why is your Cannabis oil so much better than others? The oil that I produced gained its reputation due to the fact that I used the best material possible in its production. I know there are also many others that are trying to do the same thing. But still there are suppliers who are trying to rip people

I BECAME AWARE OF THE FACT THAT CANNABINOIDS ARE AN EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR CANCER AFTER HEARING A RADIO BROADCAST IN 1975 Many people that I have put under treatment were lifetime smokers and often, even though they are dying, many people do not want to quit smoking. One of these cases was a 79-year-old man who had smoked all his life and the first thing he asked me was, Would he have to quit smoking? I told him that I didn’t care if he smoked during the treatment or not and that the choice was his to make. His breathing was down to 70% and the medical system didn’t even offer treatment; they simply told him that he had three months to live. I really think the only reason that he decided to do the oil treatment was because I did not insist that he quit smoking. He smoked two packs of cigarettes every day during his treatment. Ninety days later his lung cancer was completely gone and his breathing capacity was back to 100%. I think such cases highlight the effectiveness of the oil treatment and dispel many things that doctors tell us. How many patients have you treated? I have been directly involved in the treatment of about 5,000 people with many different medical conditions, and countless others have followed my protocols with great results. The success rate is extremely high in the treatment of all conditions and I often tell people that if the oil can’t help them, then likely there is nothing that will. If you have been diagnosed with something (like a serious cancer) and you have not had any other treatments, it’s almost a given that the oil can cure you.

the best of my knowledge, all who have followed my instructions have never had the cancer return. Arthritis? There is no better treatment for arthritis of all forms than this amazing oil – it is the greatest natural anti-inflammatory known to man. We have seen all types of arthritis brought under control and even cured with the use of this substance. So again, why suffer the effects of this condition and the medications the medical system provides? Do yourself a favor and stop using these harmful substances to treat

THEY HAVE CALLED ME A ‘CHARLATAN’ AND A ‘DRUG DEALER’. BUT HOW MANY DRUG DEALERS DO YOU KNOW THAT GIVE THEIR PRODUCTS AWAY FREE OF CHARGE? your arthritis; give mother nature a chance to show you what pain relief is all about. What about side-effects and overdosing? A great number of people have overdosed with the use of this substance because they did not follow the dosage instructions in the beginning. Of course since this oil is totally harmless and its effects wear off quite quickly, no danger was presented to the patient. This oil is not like the chemical trash drug companies provide, which can and often does cause death. Unlike what the medical system gives us, which can be very deadly if too much is taken, no one dies from an overdose of hemp oil.

Skin cancer is the fastest growing of all cancers. How long does it take for the oil to work here?

How high do you get when ingesting the oil? Of course a person can become ‘high’ if they take too much of this oil. But why are people so worried about the so-called high that hemp can produce? Do you know anyone who has died or even been harmed by the effects of getting high on hemp? I, for one, do not want to take the high out of this medication; it’s the high that causes the sedative effect and kills the pain. This was the same lame excuse the drug industry tried to use and they said this was the reason that they wanted to produce synthetic THC.

In the treatment of skin cancer it usually doesn’t take very long to cure the condition, but it does depend upon the patient’s own healing rate and how long the cancer has had to establish itself. I have seen many skin cancers cured in a matter of days and it’s quite unusual for the treatment to be needed longer than

We all now know, even their synthetic trash gets you high, so what have they really accomplished? Look at the harmful and often deadly highs produced from the drugs that they prescribe to us every day. Drug companies do not seem to be concerned about the deadly and dangerous effects such drugs have upon the public.

For those who have been badly damaged by other treatments the success rates are still 70-80%. Even for people who are too badly damaged to save, many can survive for much longer than expected. In the end, when they do die at least they pass away with no pain and they die with dignity. Which is a lot more than treatments provided from the medical system can provide.

we already have a medicine at our disposal that is far better than anything they have ever produced? It’s my point of view that these companies have been killing us long enough. If the drug companies are allowed to get their dirty hands on this oil’s future development, curing cancer and other conditions will not come cheap.

and I wear the badge proudly; one day very soon now the general public will finally realize the real truth. When that day comes, it will be very clear just who the criminals really are and I doubt very much that my name will be among them. Have you ever been approached by a drug company to mass produce and try to get the word out about your hemp oil? I was approached by a drug company to collaborate with them, but they can take such offers and shove them where the sun don’t shine. This medicine belongs to the people; I would never work with drug companies to develop anything – and why would I need to? Since it seems that

off by selling low quality oil just so they can make more money. In the near future when we have some standards in place there will no longer be any room for rip off artists in the Cannabis oil business. At present I am not in the position to supply oil, but in the next few months I should have a clinic where people can come to be healed. Until I can get this up and running, I advise people, if at all possible, to produce their own. In the coming months and years I hope to see production facilities in all countries. But I still insist that everyone should have the right to grow and produce their own medicine. » www.phoenixtears.ca

MILAN ROMSY, RICK SIMPSON AND DR. LUMIR HANUS (L TO R)

HEMP TECH

Hemp Plastics

Kali Mist

HOW IMPORTANT ARE THEY TO THE GLOBAL PARADIGM SHIFT TO SUSTAINABILITY? Some of the first plastics ever made were bioplastics: in 1869, John Wesley Hyatt Jr. created a cotton cellulose derivative to replace ivory in billiard balls. He went on to produce cotton celluloid and cellophane, both of which can also be synthesized from hemp. As ever, murky legality has hindered research here, as prices are high and supplies are inconsistent. Yet when compared with other bioplastics crops, such as soy and corn, hemp has many advantages. The bast fibers, when mixed into a composite form with glue or resin, are extremely strong, durable and flame-retardant. Cellulose, the basis of around 77% of all plastics, constitutes as much as 85% of the hurds, according to some sources. Cotton contains percentages reaching the high nineties, but cultivation requires very specific climatic conditions and many fertilizers and pesticides. Hemp has few such requirements and flourishes in all manner of habitats. Corn, which contains around 45% cellulose and is very damaging to the environment when intensively farmed, prevails as the favored crop for bioplastics – against all logic. Outside of the US, the movement is experiencing some ongoing success in the effort to legitimize hemp. Funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) has been available since 2008 for initiatives to use locally-produced hemp in car parts for the UK firm Lotus. A $2.13m grant from the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) for New South Wales company Biofiba to further develop their 100% natural and biodegradable hemp fiber and ‘natural starch’ composite was approved in April this year. Vancouver-based Hemptown Clothing received government funding to the tune of $1.45 million as early as 2005, to develop their natural fiber Crailar, primarily used in textiles but also useful for creating advanced composites. Funding has also been awarded to other participants in the

hemp industry, from primary producers to initiatives specializing in textiles; industrial materials such as insulation, hemp concrete and isochanvre; and producers of hemp oils and foodstuffs. Most hemp plastics so far produced have been composites, where fiber is mixed with synthetic thermoplastics (such as polyesters or natural resins) to form rigid, durable materials similar to fiberglass. Even the resin used to bind the fibers can be produced from hemp-seed oil. These composites are suitable for injection molding, and can be thermoplastic or thermosetting. They are very diverse in application, but colors have so far been limited, and appearances often somewhat rudimentary. This is now changing, and as more is learned about the mechanical properties of fiber in different hemp varieties, techniques are set to undergo rapid evolution. Cellulose, a natural polymer (or long-chain, structurally repeating molecule) of glucose, can be isolated and modified to form many kinds of ‘100% hemp’ plastics, without the need for any resins or glues. The processes involved are often much more expensive and final costs are therefore much higher than for composites. They are remarkably attractive and versatile, however. Hemp ‘stone’ is an extremely strong blend of cellulose and water used to make musical instruments and other durable items. Hemp cellophane is significant, although the process to produce it involves highly toxic chemicals. The potential to replace traditional plastics in packaging is very significant, as the percentage of all plastic currently produced for this purpose is estimated at up to 56%. Bioplastics for packaging are usually designed to rapidly biodegrade, making them safer for the environment. However, they remain more expensive than standard petrochemicalbased synthetics. In the categories they are most useful for, hemp plastics have started to gain a rea-

INJECTION-MOLDED HEMP AND RECYCLED POLYPROPYLENE TOY CARS DISPLAYED ON A BED OF THE RAW MATERIAL FROM WHICH THEY ARE MADE sonable – and growing – market share and the expected pattern of cost reduction and streamlining of production has begun. New formulas are being developed continually, and an increasing amount of new applications are being discovered. Hemp Plastic (UK), established in 1996, last year released their highest performance composite yet, and also manufacture high-end 100% hemp plastics. With the capability to produce plastic tailor-

widespread. In 2004, Stanford University discovered that hemp fibers fused with polyhydroxy-butyrate (PHB), a natural resin, formed the strongest synthetic wood substitute out of all tested combinations. This composite can be molded into heavyduty flooring and building materials, or bottles and other lightweight plastic items. This is encouraging, but we need to invest further in bioplastics research in order to not fall far behind globally. The time is ripe for the domestic market to take advan-

WHEN COMPARED WITH OTHER BIOPLASTICS CROPS, SUCH AS SOY AND CORN, HEMP HAS MANY ADVANTAGES made to their customers’ requirements, they are in the process of developing specific compounds for several multinational electronics corporations keen to enhance their green credentials. Currently, the most well-known proponents of hemp plastic are in the automobile industry. Companies in Canada, Germany and Austria are acknowledging hemp composite plastic’s many qualities as a fiberglass substitute, and its contribution to overall emissions reductions in the sector. Hemp is lighter, and very encouragingly, 20% cheaper than fiberglass. This is very significant when one considers the variety of products (sporting goods, boats, suitcases, flat roofing, piping, and many more) for which fiberglass is in widespread use, and we may see the biggest market advances of all being made in these sectors. As ever, in the US our biggest obstacle is the illegality of domestic production, which forces businesses to import from Canada or the EU. There are companies that use imported hemp, but the practice is far from

100% HEMP PLASTICS CAN BE USED FOR

A HEMP AND RECYCLED

HIGH IMPACT PURPOSES, SUCH AS THIS DRUM

POLYPROPYLENE FLOWER POT, ANOTHER

KIT AND OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

EXAMPLE OF INJECTION MOLDING

tage of such research and push for more. To innovate further with hemp plastic we need a consistent, affordable supply. It must be reiterated – we have a potential goldmine awaiting us if we legislate for hemp. As we’ve stated in previous articles, many states have approved industrial hemp production and license applications have been made to the DEA, which have simply taken the fees then denied the requests. On April 28th of this year, the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners in Michigan approved a resolution to relax restrictions on industrial hemp, with a specific request for state control of licenses that would effectively bypass federal obstructions. This may represent a legal precedent for other wouldbe hemp activists to follow, but whether they are successful remains to be seen. In the meantime, we and many like us are going to keep on piling up the evidence for hemp, because, sooner or later, the world just has to pay attention. Photos courtesy of www.hempplastic.com

A CHAIR MADE FROM 100% HEMP CELLULOSE

STRAIN AWARDS

Strain Genius Lab Awards

Best Pain Relieving Strain Award (High THC)

Best Anxiety Relief Award (High CBD) While we see many great rating THC strains every day, the rarest of the rare are high CBD (Cannabidiol) strains. These are an interesting breed that, strangely enough, are known for their properties in not getting you too high. They maintain many pain relief qualities, but are best known for their exceptional anxiety relief. It’s a completely different experience that we highly recommend. So if you gotta pass that calculus test, and need to take the edge off, pick up some Sour OG from H.I.P Collective. Remember though, not all strains are created equal! Hats off to these master growers for cultivating this rare gem.

As difficult as it may be to choose one single strain for this award, this month we were blessed with a real beauty. Blue Rhino from Chronically Inclined scored super high at nearly 25% THC. This indica is sure to knock your socks off and most likely your sensibilities too. Beginners beware! Too much tokin’ on this baby and you’ll find yourself painless, yet immobile. Even the cartoons you’re watching on the television set will know how high you are. Connoisseurs: rejoice, relax, and enjoy.

Purple and Gold Award LA is known for its Purple and Gold Champions, and what better way to pay homage to the Lakeshow than with this winning strain from Downtown Collective? This month’s Purple and Gold award goes to the Royal Grape Ape for its outstanding purple perfection. Dark purple throughout, this strain provides an all-around high for every need and still allows you to ball with the best of them, instead of riding the bench.

Green Monster Award Baseball season is back, and a great way to celebrate is with this beautiful green strain from GSC Wellness. The Purple Blueberry Kush is bound to lift you over the fence and keep you medicated long into those extra innings. It’s another home run for GSC Wellness! This picturesque Kush strain provides a monster high, extreme pain relief, and massively increases your appetite, giving you a triple crown winner through and through.

Dirty Hairy Award I know what you’re thinking: ‘Did he award six strains or only five?’ Well, to tell you the truth, I’m pretty stoned and kind of lost track myself. But, being as this is a Magnum force hybrid, the kindest bud in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk? The Dirty Hairy bud award goes to the Hindu Skunk from Venice Beach House and will definitely make your day.

ADVANCED INDOOR GROWING

Light, Wavelengths and Intensity Light is one of the most important aspects to a successful garden, and serious growers should understand at least the basics. by Grubbycup Light Light is energy specifically; it is a form of electromagnetic radiation. The two components of light are the electric and the magnetic fields, which are set at right angles to each other. These fields are synchronized together and collectively are known as an electromagnetic field. Electromagnetic radiation travels in a wave from a source.

Wavelength Although the speed of the wave is constant, the frequency or wavelength is not. The speed at which the same point on the wave passes by a point in space is the frequency. The distance between wave crests is its wavelength. A wavelength is literally the length of the wave. Even though specific numbers are often used as a boundary, electromagnetic waves are a gradient. Where one color starts being a different color is more an approximation than a hard line. The order of longest to shortest wavelengths is: radio waves, infrared (heat), visible light, ultraviolet, x-rays and gamma rays. The human eye only uses a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to see. These wavelength of visible light are between about 790 and 390 nanometers. This visible light is further broken down into colors. The long wavelength end of the visible light spectrum is perceived as red, and at the short end of the spectrum is violet. Approximate values by color: Red 700-625nm Orange 624-600nm Yellow 599-670nm Green 569-500nm Blue 499-465nm Indigo 464-426nm Violet 425-400nm Light waves slightly too long to be red are called infrared, wavelengths slightly too short to be violet are called ultraviolet. Objects appear to be the color of the light they reflect. If all colors are absorbed by a leaf except for green, then the leaf will appear green. The wavelength of the electromagnetic field determines its color if visible, or its type if not. Photosynthesis in plants makes best use of light with wavelengths from peaks at the red, blue and violet bands. Chlorophyll a is the blue-green pigment in plants,

and two peaks of absorption occur at 665nm (red) and 465nm (violet-indigo). Chlorophyll b is the yellow-green pigment in plants, and absorbs light at two peaks of 640nm (red) and 450nm (indigo-blue). The valley between the two spikes – between 600 and 500nm (the green and green-yellow bands) – is not used as much, and is reflected by the plant. An ideal light source should supply wavelengths including 665-640nm (red) and 465-450nm (indigo). A rule of thumb is that ‘cool’ lights lean toward the blueviolet side, and ‘warm’ lights tend toward the red-orange side. A METAL HALIDE (MH) LAMP WILL GIVE OFF

Intensity Waves not only have length, but also have height, or amplitude. The greater the amplitude, the brighter the light. A light at 550nm will appear green, either dim at low intensity or bright at a high intensity; however, the color remains the same. The greater the intensity, the more energy is being transmitted. A lumen is the light of one candle. A lux is that light from one meter away spread over a square area one meter wide. A full moon on a clear night lights at about one lux; a well-lit indoor room is about 400 lux and bright sunlight is about 100,000 lux.

Lighting Efficiency Power comes from some source, such as a wall plug, and goes through a process to give off light. How much of this power is converted to useful light is the lighting efficiency. If the process produced 683 lumens per watt used, perfect efficiency would be achieved. Fire gives off light, but most of the energy is expressed in the infrared wavelengths, and therefore it is not well-suited for growing plants. Incandescent lighting has an efficiency of about six percent (10-30 lumens per watt). LEDs are also about six percent (2060 lumens per watt) efficient although in theory they could be made more efficient. Fluorescents measure at 10% (30100 lumens per watt), metal halides/MH around 14% (70-125 lumens per watt) and high pressure sodium/HPS at 15% (60-140 lumens per watt). The excess heat generated by lighting systems is often the largest source of waste heat in a garden.

Matching the Light to the Space One number that is often listed is the lumens, which includes all the light given off (including the less-used wavelengths), but at least it is an estimate with which to work. The amount of light that hits the plants drops off as an inverse square to the distance. At two meters, the lux is reduced to 25% and at three it is reduced to 11%.

MORE OF A GREEN LIGHT THAN AN HPS

RED LIGHT HAS A LONGER

IF AN OBJECT REFLECTS GREEN LIGHT,

WAVELENGTH THAN BLUE LIGHT

THE OBJECT WILL APPEAR GREEN

A plant that is twice as far from the light source only receives a fourth of the light. A plant three times as far only receives a ninth. If a 400w bulb gives off 50,000 lumens in an area one meter to a side, then the bulb gives off 50,000 lux. These lights are used for areas .5m to 1m to a side. This same bulb could be used to light an area two meters on a side, but at only 12,500 lux to the plants. A 600w giving off 95,000 lumens at one meter still delivers only 23,750 lux at two. Good for 1-1.25m gardens.

OBJECTS AT TWICE THE DISTANCE ONLY RECEIVE A QUARTER OF THE LIGHT

A 1000w bulb may give off 130,000 lux which would be overkill for a one meter, but 32,500 lux over a two meter space is more reasonable. These are well-suited for gardens of 1.5m to a side. If you measure your grow space, you can draw out different scenarios until you find one you like. For example, in a space 1.5m x 3 m, two 1000w lights, two or three 600w lights or three 400w lights could be used as a general guideline. However, make sure you can deal with any waste heat the lights generate as cooked plants perform even worse than under-lit ones do. There are many factors involved in choosing the lights for an indoor garden; the better informed you make yourself, the better the chances are you’ll be happy with the results you get.

HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM (HPS) LIGHTS GIVE OFF A LOT OF ORANGE AND RED LIGHT, BUT NOT MUCH GREEN

LIGHT EMITTING DIODES (LEDS) CAN BE USED TO TARGET SPECIFIC WAVELENGTHS. THIS UNIT EMITS

Peace, love and puka shells, Grubbycup

MOSTLY RED AND INDIGO LIGHT.

“RICHARD DAVIS, CURATOR OF THE USA HEMP MUSEUM” 17 “THE ENERGETIC EVOLUTION OF CANNABIS: WHY IS THIS SPECIAL PLANT SO KEEN TO ADAPT?” 33

HEMP HEROES

John Sinclair

PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE “They gave him ten for two.” -John Lennon Claims to fame: John Sinclair was a beatnik poet and activist arrested and sentenced to ten years for giving away two marijuana joints to an undercover policewoman. A jazz musician, Cannabis activist, prolific author, White Panther, journalist, father, former manager of rockers the MC5, poet, activist and friend, John Sinclair is both the voice of his generation and a shining star in America’s musical history. by Grubbycup The Cannabis scene needs more people like John: despite his bitter arrest, conviction and incarceration, he is still one of the warmest, most easily accessible activists and musicians in the history of our industry. SSUSA: Thank you, sir, for taking the time to share with our readers. John Sinclair: Oh Grubby, please don’t call me ‘sir’ any more okay? It scares me. SSUSA: [Laughs] Well, we can’t have that. JS: John is good enough. Fire away when ready. SSUSA: Art for art’s sake isn’t in vogue right now. JS: Exactly, but what is in vogue is so ugly and awful that everybody wants something different. Why not try creative music? Why not try something that challenges your intelligence? Something that expands your ability to feel things about other humans. Why not? The current trend isn’t working – any fool can see that. SSUSA: Do you think the Internet has helped the indie movement? Helped independent people get their art out there?

JS: Absolutely. It hasn’t really solved the question of how to get paid for your efforts, but at least you can publish them and get them heard. Or you have a chance to get them heard anyway. You still have to go through the complicated machinery of publicity to get people to want to listen to your works. But at least you get them out there; you aren’t sitting in your basement wishing you had enough money to rent a studio like you used to. Nothing is more perfectly suited for the independent frame of mind than the contemporary communications media. You can do whatever you want. SSUSA: Since independent art tends not to be financially rewarding, do you think we miss out on a lot from people who have to spend their time flipping burgers just to get by? JS: Absolutely – it’s what’s sick about our social order. It punishes people who are creative and original and productive artistically. It punishes the non-academic intellectual, because there is no market for your services. It’s not what they want. In music, they want somebody who sing songs written by somebody else. It’s all

one ugly fabric, tightly-woven. You have to turn off the television set; that’s the first step to freedom. Turn off your TV, and try to think. Not constantly be bombarded by the shit that the rich people want to keep you occupied by so you buy their products. That’s my simplistic solution. [laughs] It works for me. SSUSA: Any advice on how a non-academic intellectual can get by? JS: You have to figure that out yourself. Everybody’s circumstances are different. Some people can work at some jobs, and be comfortable, and still have a creative life. And some people can’t be creative and have a job or any responsibilities at all. Make your output as large and as productive as you want. Focus on what you can make or create. I’m not saying an audience will gravitate to you, but what can you do about an audience? I don’t know. I don’t know how to get an audience. I’ve never got one – I’m underground. I’m so far underground they have to pump air down to me. I don’t really know and I’ve been doing this fifty years. I mean, I know how they do it, but I don’t know how to do it and have the integrity of my work that means so much to me, that I derive so much enjoyment from. So I just don’t worry about it any more. I’m old, I’ve been through the hard parts, and I don’t have that much longer to worry about how to keep going and survive. I grew my children; now it’s just me, and I don’t have that much to pay for. So I don’t have to raise that much any more. SSUSA: Once upon a time, underground newspapers like the 5th Estate were one of the few ways that passionate political writers could have a voice. With the Internet everyone can have a voice, but there are so many; it’s hard to be heard. Which is better? JS: With the Internet things are much better. The Internet is better since it practically doesn’t cost anything. You can publish what you believe in, and you can reach a lot more people. Beats having to stand on a street corner and give away papers that you had to pay to have printed up. It’s just we don’t have the ideas now. We had a lot of ideas. Like in the music, we had a lot of ideas. You just didn’t have the means of distribution.

JOHN IS A PROLIFIC POET AND AUTHOR, TRAVELING THE WORLD TO SHARE HIS WORDS AND MUSIC WITH HIS FANS

Now you have unlimited means of distribution, but very few people with any fucking ideas. Do a little surfing, you see a lot of endless horseshit about every trivial thing it’s possible to imagine. You know

where Lady Gaga played last night. You can find sites where they analyze Lady Gaga’s costume down to the last button on the last shoe. But they have three wars going on in the United States and nobody seems to even say anything about them. The failure is in not getting the people to rise above their fucking television sets, movies and horrible pop music, so they can have some ideas. Too much ‘same old, same old’. You have a much better chance now of getting them across. Man, I love the fucking Internet. You can make a record in your living room, put it up for free, and anybody in China can listen to it if they want. I shouldn’t say China – they might not be able to listen for very much longer. SSUSA: That’s the second time you’ve said something disparaging about today’s music; would you elaborate? JS: Yeah, I can’t stand it. I’ve had a problem with pop music for almost forty years. Since the mid-seventies. The Eagles, and Fleetwood Mac, that was the end for me.

14 joints with a little filter in there. I do that, but I don’t add tobacco. SSUSA: What’s your favorite hangout? JS: 420 Cafe [in Amsterdam]. It’s my favorite haunt. [coughs] The combination of smoking tobacco and marijuana: one is bad for you, and the other is good. One is toxic and one is not. SSUSA: One is legal and one is not. JS: But it’s the toxic one that’s legal. Marijuana isn’t about bud, it’s about what happens inside your brain when you ingest it, and what you create as a result. Everybody gets high, it isn’t just goofy people in a rap band or something. Everyfucking-body gets high, not just stoners. In the creative world, penetration is at least 90%. Can you imagine any records being made? Any movies? Paintings? Without people getting high? It’s out of the question, it isn’t going to happen.

IN EARLIER DAYS, “THEY GAVE HIM TEN FOR TWO.” - JOHN LENNON

SSUSA: And it’s been that way for… JS: Forever; since the ‘50s anyway. All the best ideas during the modern period, in my experience. Look at our history, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, you know, everybody. I’d like to see that reflected more in magazines. That’s kind of been my mission, I started in the marijuana movement almost fifty years ago.

Elton John. I don’t want anything like that in my life. Bruce Springsteen. I can’t handle any of it; I don’t even want to think about it. SSUSA: Too commercial? JS: No, I don’t know; it’s just lame. James Brown was commercial. You don’t have to be shitty to be commercial. ‘Commercial’

In 1964 I was inspired by other poets – Allen Ginsberg and Ed Sanders – who became activists to try and change the marijuana laws. They were the first; I was the third. I came right after them. It was because in our work – our artistic work – first of all, we got high. Then we wrote something, you know what I’m saying? That came first: you get high, and then you have the idea and then you write something. So it was important, but then we were getting attacked. We were just trying to write poems, and they were trying to send

FANS SHOULD CHECK OUT 20 TO LIFE

I was charged with giving two marijuana cigarettes to an undercover policewoman. just means people like it. Chuck Berry was commercial. Little Richard was commercial. John Coltrane sold a million copies of A Love Supreme over the years. I hate popular culture. I just think it’s lame. I don’t like the way it feels or sounds. SSUSA: Let’s switch over to Cannabis – what’s your favorite method of consuming? JS: I’m a joint man. Since I’ve been based in Amsterdam, I’ve adapted to the tippy. SSUSA: Tippy? Is that like a crutch? JS: Yes. The filter, the rolled up piece of paper that keeps the weed from touching your lips. Don’t know why they call it a filter; it doesn’t filter anything. I smoke my

us to prison. The movement comes out of that. We just didn’t want to get fucked any more. SSUSA: Can I have your opinion on what’s going on in the US as far as the legalization of marijuana? JS: Very little is going on in terms of legalization per se; although there are a couple of cities where it’s pretty close to being legalized. But the bulk of the action is in the medical marijuana field. Big wonderful things are happening in that rubric. It’s changing everything. It’s taking the weapon out of the hands of the police for those who have the good sense to register as patients, like myself. I’m a patient in Michigan.

THE JOHN SINCLAIR FREEDOM RALLY TOOK PLACE ON DECEMBER 10TH, 1971. THE FILM VERSION OF THE RALLY AND CONCERT WERE RELEASED UNDER THE NAME TEN FOR TWO.

15 SSUSA: That sounds like a good thing. JS: Well yes, it’s the first step toward the end of the War on Drugs. I got my patient card. I left my patient card with my caregiver. I just changed my caregiver – now my caregiver is my daughter, Marion. (I’m also a proud parent.) It gives a caregiver and an address. This takes the main weapon of the War on Drugs away from the police: ‘Where did you get it?’ ‘Tell us who gave it to you.’ You know, that’s what they’ve used to corrupt America’s morals for the last fifty or sixty years. Get everybody to rat their friends out. So that’s really the beginning of the end of their power, I think. Of course we hope so – but I think now it’s actually happening. They don’t willingly give up this power. In some parts of the state the prosecutors and the police are still treating medical marijuana patients as criminals. So there is still some work to be done in the courts. But then, take those areas where the police and the prosecutors accept the will of the electorate and recognize the new law. Then it changes things considerably, and

SSUSA: That was when getting picked up for marijuana was really scary. JS: That was forty years ago, yes. I was charged with giving two marijuana cigarettes to an undercover policewoman – that came under the ‘sales and dispensing’ schedule. So for two-and-a-half years I was on bond for the sale of a narcotic, which carried a minimum of a ten-year sentence, and a maximum of life. I served 29 months out of a ten-year sentence. Over two joints that I gave away. SSUSA: What bits of wisdom do you have to share with the Soft Secrets readers? JS: Do what you want to. Figure out what you want to do, and then figure out how do to it, and then do it. It seems so easy; but it seems so difficult for many. SSUSA: Why do you think it’s so difficult? JS: I don’t know, it’s not my problem. That’s not my job. I know what I want to do, and I’m doing it. I’m a happy guy. SSUSA: What is your typical day like? JS: I have no typical day. But typically, a day starts with a cup of coffee, a cigarette,

In poverty, you can do anything you want to, as long as you don’t have to pay for it. a person who smokes medical marijuana and has a card can walk around without worrying about being arrested by the police. That’s a big step forward. The essential step I think. Whatever comes after that is of a lesser magnitude. SSUSA: Oh yes, helps keep the vipers out of the dark. JS: That’s the big step, to keep the police off of our asses. What did they have to do with this in the first place? It was all good until they that usurped this power, and then they had a lot of nerve. There weren’t enough people standing up, because we were demonized – not only as felons and criminals, but as dope fiends. People who get arrested on a drug charge often lose their jobs, lose their scholarships, lose their government-approved housing. They can lose their car, their house. Over what? Wanting some relief? SSUSA: Do you have any advice on how citizens can help advance the cause? JS: To fight back when persecuted. I think that was the downfall of the [antiweed] movement, when NORML came in. Forty years ago, lawyers started being the front line against the drug law. What a lawyer knows how to do is get you to cop a plea, and get you probation. That just perpetuates the structure, the framework. My example, and my belief, is that you fight them back on this. I fought back in Michigan when marijuana was classified as a narcotic. I went to prison to prove it wasn’t a narcotic. They can’t call it a narcotic any more, and they can’t call it a felony.

reading my paper and doing a crossword puzzle. I do that every day, and have breakfast. Then after that, who knows? SSUSA: It’s things like that, that help keep you sane. JS: Well I don’t have any chance of being sane. I gave that up a long time ago. The search for sanity is not my search. SSUSA: What has been your search? JS: I’m searching for a way to do what I want to do, and to get out of doing what I don’t want to do. That’s my goal. I’ve kind of found ways to make this happen. But the temptation dangling, that someone will pay you for doing something else? You swallow that, and then you accept that life. In poverty, you can do anything you want to, as long as you don’t have to pay for it. SSUSA: What are the things you don’t want to do? JS: Have a job, get up and have to be somewhere at a certain time. Have to drive a car in traffic. Have a car. I don’t even want to have a house, I’m a beatnik! Old school. I want to have a good time, and be productive artistically. SSUSA: What do you think about Obama? JS: I voted for him. He’s my President. I’m happy he’s the President. He just has the unrelenting opposition in the rich people backing the

Republicans. Rich people own all the television stations, all the newspapers, all the radio networks, all the movie studios and all the record companies. They own every piece of media in America, except what goes on the Internet. So they fight

they change that it’s going to be like this. It’s a sad commentary, but there it is. We have the power to, there are more of us then there are of them, but we keep allowing them to run the world for

We were just trying to write poems, and they were trying to send us to prison. him on everything, every minute. I saw this in Detroit when the first black mayor of Detroit, Coleman Young, was elected in 1974. They pounded him daily, the media.

their own benefit. If the 99% under the one percent on top could get their shit together, we could all be a lot better off. If they can’t, what am I going to tell them?

SSUSA: The Republicans tend to be the cats on the very top and the cats on the bottom. A huge portion of the Republican party is made up of the people who get screwed the most by the Republican party. How do we wake up the cats on the bottom? JS: They watch too much television; I don’t think we can. I wish for their own sake that they’d wake up. But they’ve been like that forever – it’s the way of the world. We can’t even keep from killing each other. There are more of us than there are of them. They are the minority, but they vote in every election, and they organize themselves. They put its principles and ideas forward, and they win, because there are lots of people too dumb to speak up for themselves. Until

Trouble is, intelligent people have different ideas, and then they start fighting each other. It’s just part of the human condition. I try to take it with a sense of humor, and remain flexible. Realize the one thing I can do is alter my own behavior – and I can change that for the better if I want to. I don’t have to be like the people I don’t like if I decide not to. That is the one thing I can do. I can’t make them do anything, but I can make myself be different. SSUSA: That sounds like a very sage philosophy. John Sinclair: Well I’m old, I’m supposed to have learned something. That’s my job. » http://johnsinclair.us/

HEMP HEROES

Richard Davis of the USA Hemp Museum: SCIENTIST, FARMER, HEALER, AUTHOR, INNOVATOR, CHEF AND CURATOR A few hundred yards from the Staples Center, and the swirling hive of the new downtown LA, lies (believe it or not) the biggest treasure trove of hemp artifacts in the world. Just across the train tracks and down Flower Street, in a nondescript warehouse, USA Hemp Museum curator Richard Davis has assembled his life’s work: hemp. Robert Michael

In fact, you may have seen him driving around town in his maroon Honda, adorned with a massive hemp bushel atop it like some sort of automobile reindeer, and the blaring HONK IF YOU LOVE HEMP stickers splattered everywhere. “Yeah, you can’t miss the car,” Davis tells me, his Indiana Jones-like fedora and urban-jungle outfit giving him the look of a modern day Romancing the Stonetype figure. “Oh, look at this – it’s a Bible made from... hemp!” Yes, the 8,000-square-foot warehouse is stuffed: posters, books, soap, food, literature, elixirs, flags, shoes, cereal, magazines, shirts, pants, suits... well, almost anything you can imagine – and all made from hemp. The boats that discovered the West were sailed with hempen rope; the prairie wagons that rambled across America were covered with hemp can-

vas. Kentucky, Missouri and Wisconsin farmers grew acres and acres of hemp on their rich, well-drained soil, planted like fields of corn all the way to the sunset – the August and September harvest being so plentiful that party celebrations were always in order. In a glass display case an old copy of Popular Mechanics magazine declares on its cover that HEMP IS A MIRACLE CROP and, a few displays down, a short video declaring that the parachute George Bush used during WWII was made from hemp rope. As we toured the museum the soft-spoken Davis, who is also the author of three books on hemp(Hemp for Victory, A Global Warming Solution and The Trillion Dollar Crop) offers me

California or Arizona every four years. Some of the towns were Gilbert, Ajo and Willcox in Arizona, and Paso Robles and Yorba Linda in California. WHEN DID YOU FIRST HEAR ABOUT MARIJUANA? RD: In Yorba Linda, which is Orange County, California; friends of my older brother were busted for pot. I was maybe fourteen years old. I had the same job as Richard Nixon had: mowing Mrs. Pickering’s lawn. WHEN DID YOU FIRST SMOKE CANNABIS? RD: I joined the Air Force right out of high school in Willcox, Arizona, and started taking college courses at night.

leave of absence and never went back. I moved to Mendocino County and began to grow Cannabis. AT WHAT POINT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT HEMP, AND THAT IT CAME FROM THE SAME PLANT? RD: I learned about hemp in 1990, after almost twenty years of growing pot. I was already an activist in the pot movement, having run for Congress from the First District in Northern California as an admitted pot grower in 1985-86. I lost, but being out there in public probably kept me out of trouble. I met Jack Herer, author of The Emperor Wears No Clothes, at a demonstration against the Army being used against citizens in the King’s Range of Humboldt County in 1990. He

DAVIS IS CURRENTLY PITCHING HIS HOME-MADE HONEY-ROASTED HEMP NUTS TO ALASKA AND SOUTHWEST AIRLINES TO CARRY ON THEIR PLANES AS NUTRITIOUS SNACKS a hemp milkshake (“I make them every day”), some green paste in a small jar (“This will help your mom’s arthritis... I make this on my farm; hemp oil lotion is very effective for many ailments”), and his very own honey-roasted hemp nuts, which he is currently pitching to Alaska and Southwest Airlines to carry on their planes as nutritious snacks. After the tour was over we sat down for a chat – and, well, a real education. WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? Richard Davis: I was born in Phoenix, Arizona. My Dad was a Methodist preacher so we moved somewhere in Southern

THE USA HEMP MUSEUM WAS INITIALLY KNOWN AS THE MENDOCINO MOBILE MARIJUANA MUSEUM

After four years of the Air Force, I went back to school full-time and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology at Cal State U in Los Angeles (CSULA). I was working on my Master’s Degree in Biology when I met my future wife, who turned me on to pot. I didn’t drink for eight years because I hated to get sick. Here was a smoke that didn’t get me sick and had no hangover. Cannabis changed my whole life. It was the ‘60s, and I became a long-haired hippie feminist while attending the School of Public Health at UCLA. In 1972, after becoming a Doctoral Candidate, I took a

sold me two copies of his book on hemp. I knew hemp; I had been growing it for twenty years. I read his book twice in two days. WHEN DID YOU START INVESTIGATING THE USES OF HEMP? RD: I needed little investigation to figure out I had been lied to and deceived about hemp. I knew how fast hemp grows. I had the resource at home and didn’t know what I had until I read the book, really. WHEN DID YOU START COLLECTING HEMP MEMORABILIA AND TURN IT INTO YOUR LIFE’S MISSION?

RICHARD DAVIS IS ENTHUSIASTIC AND PASSIONATE ABOUT HIS LIFE’S WORK: HEMP!

18 RD: I am a scientist, who had worked in the school museum at CSULA. The museum idea took about a week, after Jack’s book in 1990. The first item from outside the farm was neighbor Bill Griener’s grandfather’s forty-five star US death flag for being a Spanish-American War Veteran. These flags are traditionally flown over the US Capitol. The late Bill donated it to the museum effort. All made from... hemp. WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE USES FOR HEMP THAT AMERICA HAS SEEN IN THE PAST? RD: More books should be written and many more corrected about the history of hemp. The time of early America could be called the ‘age of hemp’. We grew hemp to supply the Navy and Army clothes in a war that won us our independence from Britain. Every farm grew hemp for homespun cloth or to pay taxes, or for rope, paper, sails, tents, etc. The paper on which our laws were written was hemp paper. And hemp was the first true pulped paper in China some 2,000 years ago. AND BIBLES.... RD: The hemp museum has three hemp paper Bibles. The oldest is a hemp rag bond Bible from England in 1830; I picked it up in a San Francisco library book sale for $4. Remember, Bibles used to have this ultra thin crisp paper? That was hemp paper. Great paper.

leading ‘marijuana’ word. ‘Hemp’ is the correct common term for the Cannabis plant, there being only one species. The museum was invited to the first Hemp Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center by Brian Roberts. He allowed me to spread out the museum for the first time. Now we have 38 display cases and ten tables of hemp, hemp history, hemp products and hemp collections, including books, magazines,

items, for sure, not counting boxes of papers and magazines not yet cataloged and displayed. This collection is the result of twenty years of being aware and not letting anything hemp past my eye. I’ve scoured flea markets, yard sales, antique stores, hemp rallies – and friends have all contributed to the collection. YOU ARE ALSO A FARMER AND CREATE HEMP OIL FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES AND HEMP FOOD/DRINKS?

HEMP TWINE AND ROPE ARE ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE ITEMS ON DISPLAY

WHERE DO YOU SEE THE HEMP INDUSTRY GOING IN 5-, 10-, 20 YEARS? RD: We have a model to show how fast hemp can be incorporated into the economy. During World War II, we needed hemp for the war and in two years – the first year to grow seed – 360,000 acres were planted, mills were built, and

I LEARNED ABOUT HEMP IN 1990, AFTER ALMOST TWENTY YEARS OF GROWING POT stickers, buttons, patches, belt buckles, roach clips and jewelry. I call them the ‘rooms’ of the museum, which include agriculture, history, biofuels, textiles, food, rope and twine, medicine, plastics, building materials, paint and varnish, recreation, religion, economics, environment, legal, library and hemp heroes. Some of the neat things are a page of hemp paper from 1,496 AD, a board with samples of 99 different kinds of hemp fabric from China, a vintage Civil War can of varnish from the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. (the varnish is still good!), the medical display; and the varnish, paper, press board, boxes, and ‘hempcrete’ (hemp concrete) that I make. A very effective and very durable and environmentally friendly alternative to concrete. Hempcrete is ‘carbon negative’. Like other

RD: I have heard it from all the experts: hemp seed protein and hemp seed oil are excellent foods. The protein is easily digestible and the oil is like fish oil, very high high in Omega 3 fatty acids that clean your arteries and veins, with other fatty acids – in a perfect blend for humans – and seal your cells from virus invasion.

rope and canvas were being produced. Canada, which has been growing hemp for ten years, has concentrated on seed crops for food production and it is quite a big and growing industry. In Canada, the farmers wanted hemp and they got hemp. It seems like we in the US always need a crisis to institute a new way of doing things.

Less meat, more hemp. Less meat, more water to grow hemp.

WHAT OTHER COUNTRIES ARE PIONEERING THE HEMP MOVEMENT? RD: It is hard to keep up with the international movement but Google mentions lots of companies under the global hemp industries in England, Spain and France. And China is producing a lot of paper from hemp. The Germans are doing plastics from hemp. The US is stuck in a prohibition mentality that stifles most experimentation.

WHAT IS THE MAIN IMPEDIMENT TO BRINGING BACK THE HEMP INDUSTRY AND CREATING ITEMS AND A BRAND NEW INDUSTRY THAT COULD PUT FARMERS BACK TO WORK, ETC.? RD: One of the main impediments to free market hemp is ignorance. We have been lied to and deceived by the govern-

THE US IS STUCK IN A PROHIBITION MENTALITY THAT STIFLES MOST EXPERIMENTATION HOW DID THE MUSEUM COME ABOUT, AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST SURPRISING ITEMS YOU HAVE IN THE MUSEUM? RD: The USA Hemp Museum started as the Mendocino Mobile Marijuana Museum, a play on the fact that the US Government calls all Cannabis the mis-

cotic), exempts industrial uses of hemp, which the rest of the world is now planting. Just pure ignorance.

plant products, the hemp crop absorbs CO2 gas as it grows, retaining the carbon and releasing the oxygen. They are using it to build houses in Asheville [NC] – even the Mayor had his house built from it! HOW MANY ITEMS DO YOU HAVE? RD: I haven’t counted, but thousands of

ment and corporate America. Obama says he wants more science, but the science is there and he continues the war on pot and hemp. Shame on him. The government has known since 1974 that Cannabis kills cancer cells. The UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, which erroneously includes Cannabis (non-nar-

FINALLY, TELL US ONE ITEM THAT CAN BE MADE FROM HEMP THAT WOULD SHOCK MOST PEOPLE? RD: Gasoline! Oil companies have patents for processes that turn wood alcohol from hemp into synthetic gasoline. Of course, flex-fuel cars and other vehicles can run on any mix of alcohol and gasoline right now. How do we get off the fossil fuel grind? Grow hemp! I’m not kidding.

THE 8,000 SQ. FT. WAREHOUSE IS STUFFED WITH HEMP PRODUCTS AND INFORMATION

MADE IN HOLLAND

Zombie Weed: IS FEMINIZATION THREATENING THE INTEGRITY OF OUR GENETICS?

Hailed by some as the industry’s best innovation, by others as a scourge to the preservation of true Cannabis genetics, feminized seeds have been surrounded by controversy since their introduction into the mainstream. SSUSA attempted to find out how the insiders – the people who now must produce these seeds in order to compete – feel about the oftThe Sativa Diva maligned alternative genetics. If you want to run a successful business, you must compete. In order to do so, professional business owners should be constantly aware of changes in the market and to what extent they are being topped in their field. Owning a Cannabis seed label is no exception – especially now, considering the industrialization of the plant in some parts of the western world, plus innovations such as feminization. Due to the unnatural – that is, straining against the plant’s inherent botanic and genetic tendencies – quality of femin-

established just over a year ago, have been behind the scenes much longer than in the spotlight. In fact, it was perhaps this wealth of knowledge and experience that makes them such a successful seed label, despite the company’s young age. A willingness to share information, coupled with a finesse for heavy-hitting genetics, has made the DHSC rising stars in the Dutch and international ganja game. And none of it would have been possible without feminized seeds. The DHSC aren’t breeders, and they’re quite honest about that. “We make

Popular with “commercial growers, and... more of the young, stoner population,” the DHSC is quickly rising in popularity as developers of Amsterdam favorites such as Kuchi, Strawberry Sour Diesel, Dazy Jones and Shoreline, the effect of which the two describe as a “great kick in the head.” Despite being experienced growers and preferring regular strains for themselves, the duo became faced with a harsh truth a short time into their professional careers: no seed company would excel without a feminized option – for at least a few varieties.

gest company that went for it. They used gibberellic acid (which was an old method) and found out how to make feminized seeds, which before were being made by farmers around, roughly, the early 1900s. No one really used it on Cannabis until the present day, when it started becoming so popular and people started becoming ‘hobby’ growers, demanding less space being wasted and more efficient grows. Feminization became very popular in the mid-nineties, when they realized they could provide that for their customers.”

Luckily, the transition posed few problems. The DHSC were already working to produce S1 seeds, since the original parentage for so many beautiful varieties has been lost. “We’re providing Amsterdam coffeeshop genetics, that otherwise aren’t in seed form, and we’re making them into seeds and making them available for people to gather in libraries – again, preserving Amsterdam genetics; it’s more about keeping what’s present alive.”

With regard to the public’s perception of these newly-debuted Franken-strains, the smokers “just didn’t know the difference – in the beginning – but nowadays they realize that when they start smoking seeds in their weed, there’s something wrong.” The DHSC also remember, wryly, how growers thought that feminization was the “answer to all of their problems,” but in reality, “they got more problems than solutions in the end, because it backfired. The primary method of feminizing Cannabis seeds wasn’t good.

We in the industry are lucky enough to still have access to some of these legendary varieties: some have later-generation offspring for which seeds are available; while others are limited to being doled

“Feminization methods originated with gibberellic acid. But then, as the demand further increased, people tried other methods. Nowadays it seems the ‘STS

A MACRO SHOT OF THE DAZZLING SHORELINE TRICHOMES

DAZY JONES DELIVERS A ‘GREAT KICK IN THE HEAD’

SHORELINE IS DESTINED TO BE ONE OF THE BEST-

IT’S IMPERATIVE THAT HEALTHY, FEMALE

SELLING STRAINS FROM THE DHSC (SHOWN AT SIX

(NOT HERMAPHRODITE) CLONES ARE USED

WEEKS OF FLOWERING)

IN THE FEMINIZATION PROCESS

ized seeds, many experienced growers choose to avoid them, instead purchasing ‘regular’ genetics. (For the amateurs out there, feminized seeds produce ‘female only’ plants; regular genetics result in a rough 50/50 ratio of male to female plants.) In addition, the process of feminization usually includes the application of chemicals onto the plants; therefore, many have environmental and health objections to the practice. So how are we to learn anything about it, when the industry surrounding it appears to be one of shame, guilt or secrecy? Luckily, one company stepped forward and offered to talk with us. Amsterdambased Devil’s Harvest Seed Company,

crosses; we don’t breed strains. We’re not breeders – we’re just taking today’s popular strains and making them into new crosses. That’s what sets us apart

CHEESE MEETS SAN FERNANDO VALLEY (SFV) OG KUSH IN THE KUCHI, WHICH WILL JOIN THE

out, a gram at a time, in obscure coffeeshops. The DHSC would hate to see some of these legends disappear, created at a time when the two were just

RANKS OF FEMINIZED STRAINS

Formula’ works best for feminization, provided you’re using really good genetics that don’t have hermaphrodite traits existing in their lineage. So, we’re try-

WHEN PEOPLE FOUND OUT THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, AK-47 GIVES OUT THE MOST POLLEN, THEY WOULD USE THAT ONE PLANT TO BREED OUT ALL OF THEIR FEMINIZED SEEDS from other companies.” The fact that they were willing to sit with SSUSA and spill their technical secrets also makes them unique. Many seed companies refuse to divulge company information to even their own staff. This should give you an idea of just how lucrative the feminization movement has become.

wetting their feet in the industry. This happened to coincide with the birth of ‘female seeds’. They take us back to the awakening of the feminization movement, which occurred from the mid- to late-nineties. “Back then, Dutch Passion were the big-

ing to take the strongest female plants that are available in the current market, and we’re only feminizing the ones we think are best suited to feminize with. Otherwise, certain flavors that are really popular just can’t be feminized because of the onset of troubles you’ll get when you grow them out.”

20 If only the earliest, intrepid seed labels were aware of this. Perhaps the reason feminized strains have a bad reputation can be traced to those early, gibberellic acid-soaked days. “It became more of a hassle to grow feminized stock than it was the original way – and people forgot how to do it the original way, because feminized [seeds] took over in such a short space of time. So, if anything, it nearly crushed the market.” The worst pitfalls that breeders encounter when feminizing seeds? “Well, firstly, it’s the hermaphrodite problem; it’s a big issue with them – especially when they pollinate other rooms and pollinate other plants.

THE BUDS USED IN THE FEMINIZATION

one breed that puts out enough pollen. When people found out that, for example, AK-47 gives out the most pollen, they would use that one plant to breed out all of their feminized seeds. They’d then sell you the seeds as if it were another cross, like Cheese. But that ‘Cheese’ has been crossed with an AK-47 x Cheese, and they don’t tell you that at the seed company. And you don’t notice it because you don’t expect it or weren’t looking for it; whereas we’re trying to do it the way you should be doing it. “Some people who are making them are still using gibberellic acid. There’s another way – people are trying a ‘home method’, and mixing their own formulas,

After all their years of research and observation, the DHSC has settled on the STS Formula. Why? “Because through trial and error, the STS method seems to be the most successful one in the industry, and from talking to many people who make feminized seeds, this method seems to be the favorite of everyone. It seems to be the most reliable; it works, simple as that.” In the Netherlands, at least, it isn’t always easy to get a straight answer out of the super-secretive breeders, due to the clandestine nature in which the (legal) seeds are produced. That’s right: everything leading up to the sale of the little bubble packs in shops and online is illegal and

HOW RESINOUS THE KUCHI, A

EVEN IF THEY’RE AS LOVELY AS THIS KUCHI

DHSC ORIGINAL, REALLY IS

“Also, mutated genetics. Not getting what they expect to happen. Freaky plants – that was the biggest problem. With clones, you can be sure that you’re getting an identical plant to the original mother; but with feminized seeds, you

which aren’t really good to be making. You have to get the components from pharmaceutical companies, but you need licenses to purchase them. So, resourcing the formulas can be difficult – that is a flaw of this whole industry, getting the

COMBINES TWO LEGENDARY STRAINS AND WILL

a punishable offense. Selling the seeds themselves, however, is quite legal if the business is registered and taxes are paid. For this reason, many new seed companies find it difficult to survive

THE PROCESS OF FEMINIZATION USUALLY INCLUDES THE APPLICATION OF CHEMICALS ONTO THE PLANTS; THEREFORE, MANY HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH OBJECTIONS TO THE PRACTICE can never be certain that you’re going to get the exact same result each and every time. Problems occur from that, because it’s so unpredictable (what can happen with each different strain). Also, with the batches of seeds that are being made by the feminized seed breeders, you don’t even know if it’s the same person who made this batch, or if it’s the same seed batch that was made the previous year.”

resources to make feminized seeds has proven to be difficult.

If the process is difficult for breeders, then the result is devastating for growers. We as growers are limited in our success by the limits of our breeders’ abilities and knowledge. It is a shame; however, this issue highlights the need for diligence among the Cannabis cultivation community.

“There’s another method that I found out about here in Amsterdam, where they’ll take a whole room and spray them, and let them trigger and turn into hermaphrodites, and pollinate themselves. They then take all those seeds and sell them as feminized seeds; when this happens people automatically have hermaphrodite problems. The ‘breeder’ then may also take the weed he produced, bash it up and make it into hash and sell it back to people, but that would be contaminated product. Because of the lack of knowledge on his part (it’s not his fault; he’s just trying to make money like we all do) he wouldn’t know what he was really doing.

Breeders are able to select from several tried methods for feminizing seeds. “It seems that the most popular thing that people are doing is to select only

“Regarding other methods, people claim to have natural hermaphrodites; I don’t believe that that’s so. I don’t think they’d breed with them in that way.”

The only reason people should be using them, as such, is when good genetics become lost, and you only have the female available – the S1 genetics, they are definitely the good ones to find.

THE DHSC’S STRAWBERRY SOUR DIESEL

THIS MACRO REVEALS JUST

PROCESS MUST BE DISCARDED AFTERWARD,

Despite the transparency with which my questions had been answered, their next response was still a little blunt. When asked if there is anyone out there who should not be using feminized genetics, the DHSC openly replied, “Experienced growers shouldn’t be using feminized genetics. Anyone who has any experience should know fully about them and why not to use them, and why they aren’t good for everyone.

and compete in the Dutch industry, especially with more than one popular process – and little related info – still floating around. “Other people will tell you that they do one thing, and maybe

SOON BE AVAILABLE IN FEMINIZED FORM

“If you’ve got experience, you should know not to use them; those are the only people who I think shouldn’t. Basic growers can use them; mid-level growers can use them; but, other than that, experienced growers should know better.” It may seem strange to hear this sort of blatant honesty from the people who are trying to sell you feminized seeds, but that wasn’t the purpose of this interview. We’re not trying to smear the name of feminization, nor are we implying that such a product doesn’t have a healthy market and a viable future. As the DHSC puts it, for the alternative strains, a “lack of consistency, lack

IF YOU DO IT RIGHT, IT WORKS; IF YOU DO IT WRONG, IT WILL MAKE EVERYONE ELSE LOOK BAD they do, but maybe they don’t. There aren’t any other methods here, besides STS, that people are using successfully at the moment.” So who benefits from feminized seeds, other than the seller? “For the outdoor growers, they get the benefit of maximized space; for indoor growers, the benefit is not having to keep a collection of mothers and clones, and constant storage. Also, they don’t have to maintain a library, which is fucking hard!”

of stability of genetics, mutant-ism and hermaphroditism are the major issues – zombie weed! If you do it right, it works; if you do it wrong, it will make everyone else look bad.” Stay tuned for Part II; we’ll be joining the DHSC again in SSUSA#4/2011, where they will reveal their exact process for feminization.

» www.thedevilsharvestseeds.com

HEMP TECH

Hemp Biodiesel A Truly Viable Solution for our Future Energy Needs ‘Biodiesel’ is the blanket term for a group of long-chain, mono-alkyl ester oxygenated fuels made from plant oil or animal fat, catalyzed with alcohol. It is unique amongst alternative fuels in that any diesel engine can run on it without the need for special modification. Biodiesel is non-toxic, has a high combustion temperature, compared with petroleum diesel, and is therefore safer to store and transport. Emissions are cleaner, and costs are competitive. Kali Mist As an oilseed crop, hemp has been known as a good alternative to petrochemical fuels for over a century. Unsurprisingly, much past reluctance to conduct serious research can be explained by the traditional intolerance to a crop that some governments still refuse to view in its own right, as separate from marijuana in growth patterns and requirements. Now, biofuels are increasingly attractive, discussed at length in political discourse, and subject to exploding demand. Beyond being the choice of the environmentally-conscious, it is a question of growing insecurity over future energy sources that now drives this biofuel frenzy. With biodiesel representing a small but explosively growing segment of the global market for diesel, the hunt is on for the best oilseed crop – and hemp is a very strong contender, indeed.

other biodiesels that may become gelid and inoperable as molecules aggregate to form crystals.

Hemp leaves the soil in a better state than it finds it, absorbs as much CO2 as will be used in its combustion, can grow on infertile ground much faster than other biofuel crops, and offers higher yields of usable ‘feedstock’ per hectare. As one of the biggest arguments against biofuel is the environmental damage by pesticideand fertilizer-hungry crops, which leave good soil exhausted, hemp would seem a hugely viable alternative. Hemp can be used to produce various forms of fuel, from different parts of the plant. Hemp biodiesel exhibits all the expected positive traits; as well as the important characteristic of functionality at low temperatures, unlike

Although monoculture of hemp is arguably less damaging than that of most crops, it is nonetheless vital that future developments with hemp biodiesel are realized within an environmentally- and politically sound framework, to adequately present sustainable alternatives to current practices. Intrusive rainforestclearing initiatives to provide cropland for soybeans and the like have been roundly criticized in the media, and rightly so – it is important not to see repeats of these complaints with hemp.

However, one of the major arguments against biofuels in general is that to provide enough to supply the whole of, say, the USA’s energy needs, a huge amount of land would need to be set aside – quite possibly from our diminishing untouched wilderness – for large-scale monoculture of a single crop. This in itself is worrying, although estimates suggest that 6% of the USA’s total area could provide the country’s entire biomass requirements – a potentially manageable figure. Of course, the usual reaction of Western corporations in this scenario is to simply buy up chunks of less developed countries, a growing and short-sighted trend.

Biofuels represent one aspect of hemp research where the US may well be ahead

of most other nations. Many European governments seem to be completely unaware of the plant’s biofuel potential, despite actively encouraging research and development in other areas, such as plastics and building materials. In the US, on the other hand, several organizations are actively investigating hemp. Investment in biofuel has been significant: the US recently overtook Brazil as the world’s largest ethanol producer. The US military has even been investigating biofuels for supersonic jets over the last few years. Bio-ethanol accounts for about 90% of total biofuel production, so any unexplored sources are taken increasingly seriously. As well as biodiesel from hemp seeds, ethanol and methanol can be produced from waste (woody and starchy) materials by gasification and acid hydrolysis – ten times more efficiently than corn, the current ethanol crop of choice. The potential profit in biofuel is encouraging further research into hemp as a feedstock.

A BEAKER OF HOME-MADE BIODIESEL

A FLOURISHING OILSEED CROP IN FRANCE Last October, the University of Connecticut unveiled plans to build a plant capable of processing hemp into 200,000 gallons of biodiesel annually, funded by a $1.8 million grant from the Department of Energy. This rate of production is small, but the facility is intended to be used for experimental research into future largescale production methods, rather than to itself providing energy for the masses. The University holds a patent for a specific design of reactor system that converts hemp-seed oil and other feedstocks with an efficiency rate of up to 97%, following research involving conversion of the virgin oil through a method known as ‘transesterification’. Their process involves use of methanol, isopropyl and lye, which separate the glycerol and other waste products from the hemp seed oil to produce methyl ester. This obvious interest in hemp from a federal agency such as the DoE is almost unheard of – and highly significant.

If successful, this initiative could pave the way for many like it, increasing the necessity for domestic production yet further. Currently, the major obstacle to more widespread implementation of hemp biofuel is high cost and lack of availability. In Canada, and much of Europe, cultivation of hemp is still a niche industry, such that available harvests are quickly snapped up at a premium by health food manufacturers and producers of expensive ethical textiles. As production increases, costs are anticipated to decrease, and more consistent supplies will become available for biomass needs. With awareness of hemp as biofuel increasing throughout the world, it is to be hoped that enlightened and strategic decisions for funding allocations will continue to be made, and the growth of this inspiring industry will continue unabated.

THE PROCESS OF TRANSESTERIFICATION

ENDANGERED STRAINS

Acapulco Gold

By Kali Mist

ulco

Although Cannabis is believed to have originated in the region now comprising parts of Kazakhstan, Afghanistan and India, humans have enabled its spread over thousands of years, so that the plant has established distinct communities in many places worldwide: Jamaica, Thailand, South Africa and Brazil, to name a few. These ‘landraces’ have provided the building blocks for the massive variety of Cannabis genetics available today, but as a result of hybridization and exposure to foreign genetics – as well as human eradication efforts – many of these strains are disappearing. On our list of endangered strains is the legendary, almost mythical Acapulco Gold, arguably one of the most famous of all landrace varieties. First popularized in the 1960s, the variety was given the title of ‘gold’ due to the yellowish-gold coloration of the leaves and flowers – although in time the term became synonymous with superlative quality and potency. According to local myth, growers of the Acapulco Gold would, in recognition of the superior potency, treat the harvest differently to the usual Mexican method of pressing uncured, half-dried buds into a ‘block’ – instead leaving the buds to cure in the sun and keeping them in the loose, unpressed form for sale. For the average end-user, used to receiving seedy bricks of dark green leaf and twig, the overall

appearance and effect marked it out as something super-special. Furthermore, the price-tag of up to four times the normal cost ensured that it was the smoke of connoisseurs.

incentive for local growers to protect the strain more decisively. There is a new favorite for growers in the form of the foreign hybrids – they yield higher and command a reasonably high price themselves, meaning that the overall value of the harvest is often greater. Sadly, as with all commodities in this modern world, A VERY PROFESSIONALLY-CURED AND potential profit is the key. It is for this reaMANICURED BUD, SHOWING THE CARE son that we see the natural strains like the THAT IS TAKEN WITH THIS SPECIAL VARIETY. Acapulco Gold disappearing. © ANARGRATOS (WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)

The Gold has a very special place in the annals of weed history. It seems that several landrace strains emerged in Central and South America after undergoing a natural process of adaptation to their surroundings over a period of at least 300 years, sometime after the introduction of Indo-European and African genetics to the local gene pool by early Spanish colonists. The Gold, while not unique amongst Cannabis genetics for exhibiting the characteristic yellow coloration, is more prized than others due to the flowers having a seriously weighty kick, along with the unusual appearance. Although falling victim to the same influx of hybrid genetics that has occurred in most Cannabisfriendly terrains, now that commercialization has taken such firm root, it is believed that the pure Acapulco Gold strain still flourishes in certain remote areas of the Acapulco region. As with many of the old-school sativa landraces, the Gold is less favored by commercial growers as it has a long flowering period and a relatively low yield. Unfortunately, the high price it has always commanded does not provide enough

A RARE SNAP OF AN INDOOR GROW OF THE ACAPULCO GOLD, SHOWING THE DISTINCTIVE YELLOW COLORATION. © FLICKREVIEWR (WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)

Jamaican Lambsbread Kali Mist

the strain of choice for most commercial growers, due to the flower time and comparatively low yield, but for the connoisseur or medical breeder, it has a place in the library due to its very clear, cerebral sativa effect.

A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE LAMBSBREAD VARIETY IN FULL FLOWER

Our second Endangered Strain is Jamaican Lambsbread – the fabled smoke immortalized in song by Bob Marley – famed for its bright green, sticky appearance and legendary high. In Jamaican patois, ‘lamb’s bread’ is often used simply to mean good ganja; although most breeders use the term to denote a particular long-flowering sativa, the type of which can still occasionally be found growing wild in some remote areas of the island. It is not

The Lambsbread has fallen victim to invasion of Dutch varieties favored by commercial farmers, mostly growing outdoors where escaping male pollen can find its way to the unprotected females and intermingle with the gene pool. Growers often remove male Lambsbread plants to ensure high quality flowers – as a result of this, the natural gene pool lacks male DNA and crops are vulnerable to that of invaders. It is increasingly hard to find genetically pure examples growing wild, although certain seed banks and medical research institutes retain it in its natural form. According to rumor, certain Hawaiian breeders keep the strain as part of their library. From US- and European seed banks, it is possible to find many Lambsbread crosses, but the real thing is much harder to find. For the indoor grower, it exhibits many undesirable characteristics: it is lanky and spindly, usually undergoes a substantial vegetative period and shows resistance

to height restriction techniques; coupled with the low yield it is a tricky plant to grow successfully. However, its clear sativa high is prized when hybridizing for indoor growing with strains (such as skunk) and for this reason its survival in the pure form is much desired. It is not just for our benefit that we preserve the landraces, but also for the ecosystem in which they have evolved to be an intrinsic part. Repeated

foreign invasions could cause complete disappearance of the indigenous strain, and the effect this could have on the local environment is unknown. It is safe to say that loss of biodiversity is seldom positive. However, Cannabis is an extremely adaptive plant and, when left untended, will rapidly revert back to the dominant genotype through the generations. Let’s hope the wild Jamaican varieties are given a chance to recover, and soon!

A TRADITIONAL JAMAICAN GANJA PLANTATION

CANNABIS CULTURE

by Lazystrain

Today, surfing, skateboarding and Cannabis sativa are still synonymous as shared pastimes within certain contemporary sub-cultures. Traditionally, however, this has not always been the case. The dichotomy that exists between the often contrasting cultures of surfing and skateboarding, while stemming from the same root, have not always flowered from the same stem. The point where surf culture and skateboard culture often reunite and entwine however, is over a reefer of the finest grown flowers of Cannabis sativa. Before continuing it must be made clear that skateboarding (and to a lesser extent surfboarding) are the pursuit of teenagers and young adults. Primarily this article does NOT aim to encourage the use of Cannabis amid teenagers. But let us not get things twisted. In reality teenagers do smoke Cannabis, several of whom immerse themselves into various forms of ‘street culture’ as a form of artistic expression. It would also be misleading to think that all Cannabis smokers skateboard and/or that ‘sativa culture’ is somehow based around surfers. Soft Secrets USA is always interested in exploring the historical context of Cannabis culture in its various forms – including the street culture that Cannabis culture now shares. Today, this street culture comprises of many elements including dance, graffiti, underground music; as well as extreme sports like BMX-ing, snowboarding and skateboarding. To really understand the relationship between ‘surf, skate and sativa’, we must firstly (to quote the Mad Professor), ‘turn on, tune in, and drop out’; or, more specifically, ‘drop into’, several of the predominant sub-cultures that were happening in California during the late 1960s.

info-mercials, iPods and computer games. Rather, teenagers were outside enjoying life; which, back then, included the ‘new’ sports of surfboarding and skateboarding.

Early Surf Culture The origins of surf culture date back hundreds of years in the Pacific, Polynesia and Hawaii. The modern fashion of surfboarding (and skateboarding), however, only really started to develop into a ‘scene’ during the 1950s in California. The original style back then could be described as ‘monotone’, since both surfboarding and skateboarding were still heavy, clumsy, and generally lacking the slim lines that define both sports today. Initially surfing was practiced by wealthy adults. Learning how to hitch rides by holding onto the back of Cadillacs along the beach front, on the other hand, was more the pursuit of Californian’s youth. Gradually as the ‘sport’ of surfboarding developed into the 1960s, local competitions, hang-outs and happenings started to occur all the way up the west coast of the United States. Many travelers then drifted overseas looking for the perfect wave and Cannabis to toke. As a result many surfers came back home with Cannabis surf friends and Cannabis seeds. Filmmakers (such as George Greenough from Santa Barbara and David Elfick from Australia) later projected the essence of this scene on cine-film in 1973. The film-documentary Crystal Voyager best captures this unique lifestyle from inside the wave during surf culture’s early days. George Greenough is still considered a ‘pioneer of the ocean’, since he

Early Skateboard Culture Likewise, during the early 1970s, the pursuit of ‘street skating (when there were no big waves to surf) slowly started to unfold in Santa Monica, California. This revolutionary movement was spearheaded by the then- Zephyr Surf Shop owners Jeff Ho, Skip Engblom and Craig Stecyk, who, as the ‘Elders of the Village’, adopted a group of wild-eyed rebellious teenagers from Venice Beach. At this point skateboarding and surfing crossed paths temporarily and intermingled between genre. As a result, a whole new form of street culture started to evolve between the beach-front and the break of the next wave. Modern skateboarding was arguably shaped by the perception of style: by bringing surfing out of the waves and onto the streets. Following the introduction of new urethane skateboard wheels, the

ocean. A dichotomy in style that would later (and still does) typify the sport of skateboarding. Pinnacle to contemporary skateboard culture is the day that Jay Adams and Tony Alva broke into an empty garden in Santa Monica with the express intention of skateboarding the ‘transitions’ in the yard’s empty swimming pool. At the point Jay Adams decided to jump the lip of the edge of the swimming pool another branch of urban skateboarding was rooted into popular culture. Shortly after that, the Zephyr Surf Shop became more of a skateboarding shop ‘where you could also purchase surfboards’. The early history of this movement is covered both in the documentary film Dog Town and the Z-Boys and in the later movie The Lords of Dog Town. Notably

The Hippie Movement Contrary to popular misconception, the ‘hippie movement’ only really lasted for a few years at the end of the 1960s. As the birth-child of an earlier ‘beatnik movement’, the ‘hippie generation’ did, however, continue well into the 1970s and beyond. During this time beatnik parents gave birth to hippies and hippies gave birth to lots more hippies. These hippie children were raised in an altogether different environment and society to the one that surrounds teenagers today. The air was cleaner, the grass was greener; and people were not as preoccupied by

helped to design the style and shape of the surfboards we recognize today. Most notably Greenough based his designs on the dorsal fin of a Marlin; which allowed surfers to gain more speed and control over their surfboards. Only a keen eye will notice the cultivation of Cannabis sativa in such films (now available on YouTube).

young ‘Zephyr Boys’ (which also included a girl) were able to bring the fluidity of surfing into their skateboarding technique. Likewise, by attempting maneuvers never witnessed before, Jay Adams, Tony Alva, Stacy Peralta, and fellow members of the ‘Zephyr Team’ started to push the boundaries of street culture back out into the

following the illness of a skater friend who was prescribed medicinal marijuana, the Zephyr Boys further immersed themselves into California’s Cannabis culture.

Teenage Rebellion Alongside the dramatic changes in street culture that were happening above, to

25 quote Tony Alva, ‘a total F-You attitude’ started to develop amid teenagers. Not only in Santa Monica, but across the whole of the western world. An attitude that was well beyond the hippie ideals their parents had nurtured them towards. An attitude that still persists today within certain aspects of underground street culture and, to a lesser extent, within the wider mainstream. An attitude that was further personified by ‘punk’ and ‘punk-rock’ music in the UK during the same period. Teenagers have always rebelled against their parents’ commands – as children growing into adults it is natural that teenagers should explore the wider world about them, on their own terms. Until the 1960s, however (and the invention of the notion of a ‘teenager’), a ‘them and us’ attitude had always persisted within the root of western society. Hippie parents raised their children in a completely different way altogether, where free speech, freedom of expression and freedom of liberty were values to be upheld within society. This naturally included the freedom to experiment with substances, including Cannabis. Ironically, during the 1980s President Ronald Reagan is quoted to have been deeply disturbed about three social pariahs. Firstly, that teenagers smoked Cannabis. Secondly, that teenagers

GEORGE GREENOUGH

JAY ADAMS

TONY ALVA TODAY

smoked Cannabis with other teenagers. And third, that teenagers smoked Cannabis with other teenagers and read books. A ‘dangerous’ combination that allowed teenagers to question authority and think for themselves. During this period, many teenagers decided to do away with books completely, choosing to listen to music and partake in surfing and skateboarding instead. What most

from an almost biographical perspective. The results of these efforts are still held in high regards as the cornerstones of empirical study. Thus was born a ‘culture’ of marijuana growing and smoking, which ultimately stemmed from Mexican influences within California at the time. This was true of both the origin of the Cannabis the majority of people were smoking, and the method via which

taking Cannabis indica hits on a bong. Just as skateboarding took center stage, while its water-borne twin, surfboarding, was happy to take a backseat down at the beach; so Cannabis sativa took a few years to redevelop its own style and technique.

social historians fail to mention, however, is that many teenagers held on to the Cannabis part of the equation.

people were learning how to grow a superior quality seedless marijuana as sinsemilla at home. Gradually this culture of Cannabis (or at least its present ideology) spread itself north-eastward from the west coast to cover the whole of the United States and beyond.

across the oceans like a surfer-skateboarder from Venice Beach. This happened seemingly totally beyond control, yet, ironically, in ‘full control’ of the situation at its feet. Meanwhile, Cannabis sativa was pretty much left alone during this period to naturally drift about onroad and off-shore, wherever it landed. Like the wave that carries the willing into paradise, this soon attracted those surfers with a specific passion for heirloom genetics of Cannabis sativa.

Sativa Culture The very term ‘Santa Monica Airlines’, which later became synonymous as one of the world’s leading skateboarding manufactures, implies that some folks back in California during the 1970s were getting high on the whole concept of local supply. Cannabis culture in California during the late 1960s, following recent prohibition, had not yet eclipsed the idea that marijuana smoking was still just another thing that cool-cats and tourists did when they weren’t surfing. The coolest of which were those that bummed down at the beach all day on a fat bag of sinsemilla and practiced what they preached. The inquisitive nature of surfers and skateboarders (and hippie parents) takes them to remote places. Over fences and briefly onto other people’s property – with the soul intention of being there for as long as possible and having fun. Conversely, while skateboarders often arrived armed with a can of spray-paint, intent on leaving their art work on the wall, surfers often arrived with a spade and seeds – with the intention of growing sinsemilla from their favorite varieties of Cannabis sativa. During the 1970s, many hippies were still contently ‘growing their own’ at home, just as they had in the late 1960s. Not just in Humboldt County and at the ‘Brotherhood of Eternal Love’, but all over California, people were busy growing seeds from freshly-imported varieties. Varieties of Cannabis sativa from South East Asia, including Vietnamese, Cambodian and Thai became increasingly popular at this time. Many of these form the genetic base of some of the most commonly-held varieties of Cannabis sativa/indica in the USA today.

Cannabis as a Culture SCOTT BLAKEY AND HOWARD MARKS IN SWITZERLAND

In a similar spirit to those early surf documentary-makers in Santa Barbara, Cannabis botanists (including Mel Frank and Ed Rosenthal) started to pattern the culture of Cannabis in the United States

This is not to say that farmers were not harvesting seeded flowers of hemp in Kentucky and Nebraska way before even the beatnik generation cottoned on to the ethos of growing their own. Likewise, farmers in the deep south have always valued the virtues of Cannabis sativa as an annual crop, as have many other regions and peoples of the United States throughout history.

A New Wave The uptake of home-growing, from the late 1970s onwards, followed that of the overall ‘New Wave’ in culture, music, fashion and lifestyle that was happening. Gone were the days of rolling really long reefers of pure Cannabis sativa at parties; the new buzz in California was

From the 1980s onwards the new Cannabis sativa/indica hybrids traveled

Much later, during the 1990s, an Australian surfer called Scott Blakey (aka Shantibaba) took his enjoyment for cultivating Cannabis sativa and collecting Cannabis seeds to the extreme, and became a professional Cannabis breeder in Holland. Likewise, many of the contemporary activists, breeders, bongshapers, bubble-makers, journalists and seed bank owners involved in Cannabis culture today, if questioned, would probably admit to having been a skateboarder, if not a surfer, during their heyday. Until next time, keep it street!

ADVANCED INDOOR GROWING

The Value of Water: pH, EC & PPM Water, H2O, is the basis for life on this planet, and without its existence we would cease to be. Not only do plants need water to absorb nutrients but they themselves weigh, much like the human body, 2/3 water. Understanding the water that feeds your plants is as important as knowing what foods to eat and how they act on your own body. Water content varies, so here are some simple guidelines to better understand By Sativa Indica its value.

buffer. Therefore, the pH of the water used does not require compensation, given the more direct nutrient input. The pH of food solutions is not always the pH at the roots; check the table for compensation values for respective mediums. Remember: all pH, EC and PPM (parts per million) values are temperature- and time dependent.

Throughout the scale, (1 to 14), are conditions that will affect the ability of the plant to absorb the various nutrients you feed it. Constant monitoring of pH levels is vital to prevent damage to the roots and to the plant altogether.

Compensation pH Value for Food

Soil

5.8 -6.2

5.8 6.0 6.22

5.5-6.2

Rock Wool, Clay

5.2-6.2

Water is essentially the primary food delivery system via a process called ‘osmosis’. Through the roots, nutrient levels balance between water in the plant and water around the roots. The plant will absorb nutrients from the outside water, while discharging waste products (salts). The logic of ‘don’t shit where you eat’ applies to plants as much as to humans, which is why we need methods of determining how many nutrients already are present in the water we use.

EC and PPM

Using soil as a medium will act as a buffer, which can reduce damage from possible mistakes. This means that using soil can be a lot more forgiving for firsttime growers; the down side being that any damage done is also a lot harder to remedy. Mixing distilled water with a sample of your soil can help determine what the pH of your soil is, to avoid this kind of mishap.

Electrical Conductivity (EC) and PPM (Parts Per Million; also referred to as TDC, or Total Dissolved Solids) are two scales with which we can measure the presence of ionic salts in the fluid. Pure H2O water does not actually conduct electricity efficiently. However, most water found in pools and taps contains ions (H+, Cl-) that do. The more ions in the water, the better it is at conducting electricity. This is the relationship we use to measure the amount of nutrients (salts) present in the water.

Aeroponics takes the feeding process one step further by using no medium at all, resulting in the absence of any

>6.2 5.8-6.2 <5.8

With reservoir/re-circulatory water systems, cleansing methods such as reverse osmosis can greatly improve the quality of water. By filtering out excess salt build-up, growers can maintain the quality of their water, and encourage nutrient-absorption, to provide optimum grow results. Basically, ensuring water quality takes a bit of effort but is essential to a successful grow – therefore well worth the effort! Any comments/questions? Feel free to get in touch with us at the Cannabis College in Amsterdam: The Cannabis College Oudezijds Achterburgwal 124

Soil, Hydro-, Aero-

Hydro- systems work by directly feeding the plant everything it needs with mediums that are more inert than soil, thereby reducing the buffer zone. Using cocos or rock-wool maintains a small buffer with its own pH. This means that the pH of the nutrient solution should be adjusted to compensate.

Growers using soil will generally be more concerned with their pH than with their EC/PPM, though having an EC meter is never a bad investment. Generally speaking, soil can be monitored by using pH alone and keeping within the advised range.

Required pH Range pH of Sample from Medium

Coco

Imagine pH as being how ‘hot or cold’ your food is. If the food is too hot, you get heartburn; too cold and you get brain freeze. In the same way, finding the right balance is vital for your plant’s ability to absorb its ‘food’ and therefore, to its good health.

starve, but not enough to restrict the roots’ absorption with salts.

Soil

Grow Medium

pH Scale The pH Scale is a measurement of acidity and alkalinity of water. The term ‘pH’ stands for the potential (p) of the hydrogen ion (H+) in water. At a pH of 7.0, there is an equal balance of hydrogen (H+) ions and hydroxyl (OH-) ions. The simplest method to get a precise measurement is by using an electronic pH meter.

Feeding the Plants

The diets for plants are as varied as there are diets for humans. Certain plants might require heavy meals to help provide all the nutrients for growth; whereas other plants will get clogged up with too much food at once and require lighter meals. Optimum EC values change with different foods as well as plants.

>6.2 5.5-6.2 <5.5

5.5 5.8 6.2

>6.2 5.5-6.2 5.2-5.5 <5.2

5.2 5.5 5.8 6.2

Specific nutrients are better absorbed at different pH values. The graph displays the best pH value to maximize the absorption of nutrients. For example, while nitrogen (N) is best absorbed from pH 6.0, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) peak from about 6.25 onwards. This indicates a necessary change in pH when going from vegetative cycle to the flowering cycle.

» info@cannabiscollege.com » www.cannabiscollege.com

pH SCALE

Quick tip: when mixing a nutrient solution, always prepare the formula first, before measuring and adjusting the pH.

pH ABSORPTION RANGE

Hydro-, AeroSince hydro- and aero- mediums reduce the buffer, emphasis should be made on the EC and PPM of the water, as well as pH. Like pH, absorption of individual nutrients is optimized at different levels of conductivity. These media employ direct feeding, meaning that extreme care must be taken to give the plant enough food so it doesn’t

YOU CAN CHECK YOUR LOCAL GARDEN CENTER, POND STORE OR GROW SHOP FOR AN INEXPENSIVE pH METER

FESTIVALS & EXPOS

Mile High in Denver THE DENVER INDOOR GARDEN EXPO 2011 Co-hosted by the Progressive Gardening Trade Association (PGTA) and Maximum Yield Magazine, the show was held from March 31st to April 3rd. At one mile above sea level, Denver’s air takes a little getting used to, so if you visit, be prepared to drink plenty of fluids. However, the people are friendly, and the law of the land is reasonably pot tolerant.

ence fiction movie. Short towers of Just Right Xtra soil, a pyramid of General Organics ‘Go Boxes’, and a psychedelic bus made for an unusual landscape. A sea of hydroponic chatter washed though the room, and Nickel City Wholesale Garden Supply’s ongoing prize drawing announcements boomed through the hall. Over 240 exhibitors filled the expo.

Normal-looking doors opened into a gardening wonderland. The mysterious, multicolored fluids pumping through auto-dosing equipment would not have looked out of place on the set of a sci-

Sexy sirens sang songs of bigger yields and new products to try. An oversized ballast waved and shook hands with visitors, and barely-dressed women in tempting outfits drew in the crowd to view their wares. Friendly faces vied for attention as products were displayed, discussed and demonstrated.

ELABORATE EXHIBITS CATCH THE EYE, AND ATTEMPT TO OUTDO THE NEIGHBORING STALLS

As I wandered from stall to stall, I was greeted with smiles, and had my questions answered pleasantly and thoroughly. It was a nice stroll, and by the time I reached the end I was pleased with the experience.

by Grubbycup

The smoking section was both popular and uncovered, which had its drawbacks under a light spring snow. It was interesting to note that several people braved the weather (myself included) to share a smoke with friends, rain or snow. Beyond the spectacle of the trade show proper, the event really shined in the opportunities for learning and making new contacts that it presented. Business cards were traded by the hundreds, and industry folks who had previously only spoken on the phone had the chance to meet face to face. Authors Ed Rosenthal, Jeff Lowenfels and myself were on hand signing books and answering questions. I had a chance to chat with Mr. Rosenthal and Mr. Lowenfels, and I walked away with a handful of handy new tips from each. Jeff and Ed were a hit with the crowd, and often had a line waiting to speak to them. I had the chance to meet Lee and Beau from Chlorophyll Hydroponics, who

A MAD FARMER REPRESENTATIVE ENCHANTING AN AUDIENCE explained their new fully-functional indoor greenhouse that runs inside their store. The produce from the sealed room is used by local gourmet restaurants. Such mainstream activities help integrate the industry into the local economy instead of just skirting the edge of respectability. With more and more trade shows being scheduled every year, organizers are going to have to compete for attention. In these tough economic times, vendors and visitors will have to pick events in which to participate carefully. For me, the Denver Indoor Garden Expo was well worth the trip.

Cannabisbevrijdingsdag Amsterdam 2011 AMSTERDAM’S ANNUAL CANNABIS LIBERATION DAY Sunday, May 8th marked the annual Cannabisbevrijdingsdag (Liberation Day) in Amsterdam’s beautiful Westerpark. Finally settling in to the comfortable location (after originating in the famous Dam Square), the Cannabis Liberation Day drew mixed crowds of activists, medical users, vendors, musicians, growers and regular old smokers. The Sativa Diva The event started off slowly at around 2PM, which was a nice break for local business owners and stall holders. Usually, especially if the weather cooperates, they don’t get much of a chance to network and catch up with each other, due to the large crowds that sometimes wait at the gates. This year, however, the first few hours of the event seemed to crawl by, as local business owners filled each other in on their progress for the past year. Reunion over, at around 4PM the crowd swelled, and with it the music. Guest speakers, poets and lots of music boomed out from the larger of the two stages; the

King Shiloh Sound System, a staple at many Amsterdam parties, entertained the visitors with their own massive speaker stacks and island grooves. Two long market-style tables contained the dozen or so vendors, and those in attendance took advantage of the unseasonable lack of rain to lounge about on the grassy verge of the park, smoking, shopping, dancing and generally enjoying the relaxed vibe. Hemp clothing, vaporizer hits from the famous Verdamper and Volcano machines, and loads of books, pamphlets and other info were in abundance. Strangely enough, there were even a few seed companies in attendance (strange because most people in Amsterdam grow from clones).

the event. Due to the ever-increasing conservatism that seems to be gripping the Netherlands, many people downplay their interest in our beloved plant – especially when in public or with family and friends. The Cannabis Liberation Day, with its scenic location, relaxed entertainment and mellow crowd, allows the Cannabis community to gather, inform themselves and present a united front in support of legalization, without furthering any stereotypes that we might want to avoid.

DESPITE OVERCAST SKIES, SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE WERE IN ATTENDANCE AT MOST POINTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY

Legalize! Amsterdam were visibly present, hosting a Cannabis Film Festival that drew in most visitors at one point or another. Films such as Run from the Cure: the Rick Simpson Story and What if Cannabis Cured Cancer? were a huge hit, along with others from both Canada and the US, as well as the UK and Holland – and even an animation special with scenes from cult favorites such as South Park and The Simpsons. HEMP CLOTHING AND OTHER MERCHANDISE WAS AVAILABLE FROM Reports are mixed, but throughout the day around 500 people wandered through

AMSTERDAM INSTITUTIONS HEMPWORKS AND THE POLLINATOR COMPANY

ADVANCED INDOOR GROWING HIGH HEAT, HUMIDITY AND HARVEST HEARTBREAK

Summertime, and the Growing Ain’t Easy Indoor grows can be a nightmare in summer. Even if lights are timed to come on during the relative cool of the night – as many indoor growers will tell you is crucial – the hot months bring a whole host of problems. Most indoor grows rely on induction ventilation systems to regulate temperature, but when the air drawn in from outside is almost as hot as the air inside, this system fails dramatically.

THIS PLANT SHOWS SEVERAL SIGNS OF HEAT STRESS AND NUTRIENT BUILDUP, MOST NOTABLY IN THE CURLED-UP, DISTORTED LEAVES

Most Cannabis varieties can withstand a maximum ambient temperature of around 95ºF before systems begin to shut down, and anything above 85ºF will usually affect yield and quality of harvest if uncorrected. How well your plants will respond to heat depends on genetics, the stage of life they are at, and various other environmental factors. Cannabis is found in many hot areas of the world and the key to successful harvests is maintaining balance between the temperature and all other factors. Humidity is one of these factors – a major one. Cannabis usually prefers a relative humidity (RH) of 60-70% (55% during flowering) to effectively maintain the transpiration cycle, but some strains can handle 80% or even higher. As temperature rises, plants drink and

ration point is reached, the excess water vapor in the air simply condenses on any available surface, including the leaves that are attempting to lose it. When the humidity level in the air immediately surrounding the stomata is high, there is no steep temperature gradient to encourage transpiration, which slows and eventually stops. When transpiration stops, the plant’s internal temperature increases until it can reach a critical point, where growth stops and irreparable damage may occur. Ventilation and good air circulation are the best cures for this problem, but again – in a region where the outside air is also humid and hot, even the best rate of air exchange will do little to maintain correct conditions. Some heat-adapted varieties can tolerate up to 120ºF if light intensity and irrigation

close to lights will burn more easily and severely as air flow becomes less effective. In hot, dry conditions, spider mites and other insect pests can thrive. Conversely, heat coupled with high humidity causes the plant to become susceptible to increased pathogen levels. Botrytis (otherwise knows as bud rot or gray mold) and other fungal infections can take hold. Whole, apparently healthy crops can be ruined almost overnight. Solutions to increased temperature in grow rooms include: addition of CO2 to the atmosphere, A/C units, adding cooltubes to lights or switching to cooler systems (such as LEDs), making sure your nutrient solution is constantly cool (more important for hydroponics growers), and buying up the entire stock of fans from

AS LONG AS YOUR VARIETY IS CORRECTLY SELECTED FOR YOUR CLIMATE ZONE, YOU SHOULD HAVE FEW PROBLEMS OUTDOORS transpire more water in an effort to keep cool. Increased transpiration (where the stomata on the leaves open to release water droplets that often evaporate in high temperatures) leads to a dramatic increase in humidity. As air temperature increases, more water vapor can mix with it before being forced to condense or precipitate. In an insufficiently ventilated room, the effect can become runaway. When satu-

are adequate, but this is most often seen outdoors, where air replacement is more than sufficient to ensure humidity does not get too high. In the average grow room, temperatures that high indicate that something is seriously wrong. Cannabis that is flowered in consistently high temperatures often shows a loss of potency, with unusually light harvests of stretched, airy buds. Vegetative growth is often also stunted. Flowers and leaves

every hardware store in the local area. The last is less a solution, however, than a desperate last resort by unprepared growers about to lose their entire crop.... With CO2 enrichment up to 1500ppm, it is believed that plants will actually grow faster in high heat, at least in the vegetative stage, and as long as light is ample and humidity is kept below around 60%. Increasing atmospheric CO2 in high temperatures allows the stomata to open

and transpiration to resume, and according to some sources it also has the added benefit of killing many parasites, including spider mites. Using this technique has its risks, however – allowing the concentration to exceed 1800ppm can cause toxicity to the plant. It is generally accepted that CO2 use to maintain rapid growth in high temperature should be stopped when flowering commences. In nature, flowering mostly occurs when the days begin to cool and shorten. By all accounts, your plants will not thank you for excessive temperatures at this stage, CO2 or not, and alternative methods to control conditions should be employed. Temperatures can be lowered with the use of air conditioning, but this can cause costs to skyrocket as large systems consume much power, and can be expensive to buy and install. They are also noisy, which is a real disadvantage when attempting to maintain discretion. Watercooled systems have the advantage of being quieter but will cause another hike in monthly bills, while possibly attracting the attention of more suspicious officials. Some A/C units also act as dehumidifiers, and these are especially worth consideration by those experiencing very hot and humid conditions. A small A/C and dehumidifier unit that is sufficient to cool up to three 1000w lights can cost as little as $300 new, but can use over 2000w in power. It is a cost that simply must be borne in some situations.

“RICHARD DAVIS, CURATOR OF THE USA HEMP MUSEUM” 17 “THE ENERGETIC EVOLUTION OF CANNABIS: WHY IS THIS SPECIAL PLANT SO KEEN TO ADAPT?” 33

30 Cooled HPS lights can knock a few degrees off the mercury, but switching to LEDs can dramatically lower the temperature of your room. The lower power consumption of the light itself, when added to the savings made on cooling systems, presents an attractive solution. But initial cost of the top-end products remains so high as to be unaffordable to many in the short term. Growers are also still wary as LEDs

tropical lineage will respond much better to increased heat and humidity than a temperate zone specimen. There is a variety for almost every climate zone, and finding the right strain for your own may be challenging but will certainly prove rewarding. Although this is obviously much relevant to outdoor growing, it will have some bearing on an indoor grow. Conditions inside still to some extent

few problems outdoors. The more sun the better, as long as the plant is comfortable in other respects. As I mentioned earlier, Cannabis is designed to grow during the hot months and in much of North America your harvest is more likely to be affected by the fact that the season ends too soon for many strains to finish with full potency. The more south you look, the greater the variety that can safely

(such as Dinafem’s Blue Hash strain) may be more suitable, and ruderalis hybrids should be considered. Frost in early spring is a risk for most of the US, so it is always wise to germinate indoors in February or March and transplant when conditions are favorable, often in April or May. Beyond issues of climatic suitability, the risks associated with outdoor growing in

THIS HAWAIIAN HAZE SHOWS THE WIDESPACED BRANCHING AND INTERNODES

HPS GROW LIGHTS ARE ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTORS TO

THIS CROP SEEMS TO BE FLOURISHING IN 90°F

EXCESS HEAT

TEMPERATURES, WITH CO2 ENRICHMENT

have received poor press over the years, but recent advances have been rapid and results are becoming more and more impressive with time. As experimental LED grows continue, we will learn more about how they are most effective, but conclusions are already being drawn amongst enthusiasts that they may indeed be the solution to the summer heat problem. In cold conditions they are in fact ostensibly pointless due to the need to use energy-consuming supplementary heaters. A set-up consisting of several lowerwattage LED lamps will provide superior light intensity and coverage to a single high-power light. Using this as an important guideline, growers are reporting tight buds and good yields in summer. Paying attention to the genetic background of the strain you choose will serve you well – plants with a subtropical or

THIS SILVER HAZE, WITH ITS VERY

depend on external conditions, unless you do not rely on air drawn in from outside. Sativas found in hot, dry regions often have narrow leaves with high resin content which reduce transpiration. Long internodes, wide-spaced branches and loose flower structure allow greater air-

FROM HOT, HUMID CLIMATES grow outdoors. Some growers are even managing two harvests a year! Variation in day length throughout the year is much smaller in these areas – in California it’s around four-and-a-half hours, in southern Texas and Florida just three hours, compared with closer to eight in the north-

summer are mostly to do with pests and diseases. Although a plant that flourishes in your climate zone may be well adapted to resist local parasites, this may not be total, and regular visits to ensure health will be necessary, along with a foliar spray every so often to guarantee peace of

MUCH OF THE CONTINENTAL US IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GOOD HARVESTS OF INDICAS AND INDICA-DOMINANT HYBRID STRAINS flow and less opportunity for damp spots in hot, humid conditions. Leaves are often somewhat wider to provide greater surface area for transpiration. Cooler, humid conditions (such as are found in parts of mountainous northern India and Nepal) see indica varieties with shorter, stockier structures and very wide leaves. These are the strains that are most dependent on photo-period to flower: equatorial plants are used to a 12/12 light cycle so will continue to flower; ruderalis and some hemp varieties auto-flower based on age rather than change in day length. Cool northern conditions favor these hemp and ruderalis landraces, which are highly resistant to molds and fungi. When attempting to grow potent marijuana in these short summers, outdoor growers encounter many difficulties, and varieties bred to withstand cool and damp are often lacking in potency and yield. The best solutions are often compromises, and in this case there is great potential for some of the more potent ruderalis crosses to make a mark.

NARROW LEAVES, SHOWS ADAPTATION TO HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS

THAT ARE CHARACTERISTIC OF PLANTS

As long as your variety is correctly selected for your climate zone, you should have

ern states, and fourteen in Alaska. Yet there are strains that will grow in all these places, and just as a tropical sativa used to small day-length variation will be useless outdoors in Anchorage, a strain that really needs long days to prevent flowering will have a hard time growing in Key West. Much of the continental US is capable of producing good harvests of indicas and indica-dominant hybrid strains, so sticking with these varieties is usually a safe bet. If you are in the south, you can choose sativa strains, but be careful with regards to humidity as there are massive variations between states. California is much less humid than Florida, it goes without saying, as although they experience similar annual precipitation, the westerly prevailing winds carry most of the moisture eastwards. In the far north, strains such as Matanuska Tundra have been developed for the colder climate, though with many of these indica-dominant varieties, the tight bud structure means extra care must be taken to prevent mold and a lower RH is preferred. For cold, damp conditions, indica varieties selected for mold resistance

mind. Always ensure plants have adequate root space, as with strong sunlight outdoor growth can be rapid. In hot, dry areas, placing water-absorbing polymers in the soil reduces the need to water as frequently by releasing water steadily. However you choose to go about your summer grow, the important concept to bear in mind is that all conditions must be right. Many strains will grow in lessthan-ideal circumstances but it is a deeply unsatisfying feeling to spend months on a crop only to see substandard results. While it may not be possible to tweak every last variable to perfection, we still have a lot to work with when ensuring our crop remains trouble-free in the heat. If you’re serious about your horticulture, it should not be an impossible challenge to optimize your growing conditions. It may take some financial investment, but a lot rests on making the correct, informed decisions about the variety you will choose and the methods you will employ, and a solution should be within reach whatever your budget. Making sure that we check all the boxes and provide the best possible care to our plants is the least we can do – the rest is up to nature.

DISPENSARIES / REVIEW

Higher Level Co-op 4443 30th Street, Suite #105 San Diego, CA 92116 (North Park) (888) 987-MEDS (6337)

The first thing you notice as you enter Higher Level Co-op are the beautifully painted walls: a sweeping lime green jungle of Cannabis plants, pleasing to the eye, set behind the well-polished goblets and jars of medicine; and with

Robert Michael

dark wood floors and creamy suede couches you immediately feel you are in a modern and classy establishment. “It’s sorta got the vibe of a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon’s office,” quips Matt, one of the owners of Higher Level. The second thing you notice is the inviting and eclectic menu: Hybrids like Duck’s Foot and Allen Wrench; indicas from Aztec OG to Super Bubba Kush; sativas like Hawaiian Ono and Super Silver Haze; and, perhaps most inviting, edibles such as Goldfish Edibles (“regular goldfish crackers tossed in hash oil”), Pepper Mint Patties (“mixed with half a gram of hash”) and a concoction called Blackberry Volcano Melt (“concentrated hash made with higher pressure CO2”). However, menu and decor aside, what truly

Ganja Juice MOTHER NATURE’S WAY OF SAYING ‘HIGH’ For those for whom smoking is a bad idea, why not try a Ganja Juice Smoothie? Kief Hempner, Founder: “With Ganja Juice Smoothies you get 100% all natural ingredients without added sugars or sweeteners. The Ganja Juice is 100% organic flax seed oil infused with a controlled amount of THC and CBD for maximum results and potency. With all natural ingredients and 100% organic oils and medication, you have the best and healthiest way to medicate without smoking. “There are many benefits: no smoking and great medicinal results equals a much healthier experience. Also, in-taking fruits

and veggies as well as flax seed oil for a healthier diet and lifestyle is a big plus. And it is very discreet; no marijuana odor and it does not have pot leaves all over it... so it’s subtle and easy to take on the go. “Dosages are done in shot form and can be added to the drinks based on personal desired effects; most feel the effects between one to two shots but some go as high as six shots. The average shot has approximately 12-18% THC and over 40mg of THC-A, which is the unburnt or unused THC before it is broken down; the CBD-A is also above 20mg per shot, giving the more physical body effects. “Anyone who benefits from smoking medical marijuana needs to try a Ganja Juice.

“It can be taken orally or topically by rubbing on the skin. You can even rub Ganja Juice in its raw form right onto the desired area, or you can mix it into many different foods and drinks to take orally. “Ganja Juice can now be purchased at your local collective.”

separates Higher Level from other dispensaries is its professionalism, knowledge of the medicine on a connoisseur level; it’s no surprise that their slogan is ‘The Co-op.’ “Our clientele is 30-65 years old with an array of backgrounds and occupations,” says Matt. “And they appreciate the staff members’ willingness to assist in getting the right medication for each individual ailment.” And, well, if all this wasn’t enough good news, Higher Level runs a smattering of inventive specials (‘Daily Deals’) secondto-none: ‘Early Bird Gets the J’, a free joint with a $50 donation between 11AM and 1PM; ‘Power Hour’, where you get a free raffle ticket with a $40 donation between 7 and 8 PM; and our favorite, ‘Hash Wednesdays’, 10% off all hash. If there was ever a name apropos of a dispensary, it’s without a doubt the Higher Level Co-op.

Premium Organic Treatments PCA 3148 East La Palma Ave Suite J Anaheim 92806

CANNABIS BOTANY

The Energetic Evolution of Cannabis WHY IS THIS SPECIAL PLANT SO KEEN TO ADAPT? Although it has been assisted in its conquest of the world by humans for at least the last 4,500 years, there are several characteristics of Cannabis that enable it to adapt remarkably well – and quickly – to its environment. Indeed, this is partly what makes the species such a good candidate for selective breeding programs, the like of which have given us the huge variety of cultivars available today. Here, we attempt to briefly describe how Cannabis came to be so varied and ubiquitous, how it has co-evolved with humans, and how it has affected the ecosystems it has been introduced to. In doing so, we aim to shed a little more light on the ever-appealing topic of just what Kali Mist makes Cannabis so significant to us. The genus of Cannabis, which comprises a single species (Cannabis sativa Linnaeus); three subspecies, C. sativa Sativa, C. sativa Indica and C. sativa Ruderalis; and many postulated varieties (although the distinction, and whether the three are indeed subspecies, or in fact separate species, is still unclear despite years of debate within botanical circles), is believed to have existed for around 34 million years. It is classed as belonging, along with Humulus (hops), Celtis (hackberry) and about ten other flowering plant genera, to the family Cannabaceae, present in the fossil record since the early Tertiary period, which began around 65 million years ago.

Its rare dioecious nature can also be sidelined in times of genetic emergency, enabling females of a population with few males to develop monoecious traits (usually instances of male and female ‘imperfect’ flowers at different points on the same plant, and more rarely true hermaphroditism where individual flowers are simultaneously male and female, or ‘perfect’) to ensure new plants will grow next season (albeit as clones of the mother) in the hope that new and more diverse male DNA will eventually find its way to them. Conversion back to strictly dioecious can then occur, allowing for rapid genetic exchange and an increase in variation in subsequent generations.

Biologically, Cannabis exhibits many traits that enable it to flourish in a wide variety of habitats. Not all varieties exhibit all these characteristics, but for every climatic zone except polar, there is a type of Cannabis that will grow well there. As the plant is so quick to reproduce, it stands to reason that any introduction of Cannabis to an area will lead to rapid selection for dominant traits that fit the environment until a new variety is established, even without cultivation.

Cannabis is also a ‘colonizer’ species, meaning that it is often the first plant to grow on ground newly cleared by flood, landslide or fire, and due to the ubiquitous method of seeds being distributed where they naturally fall around the branches, thick stands of it are often found in these areas. However, it is not the most aggressive species and is not so invasive that it will take over already densely populated ground. For this reason it is the perfect ‘camp follower’: it is postulated that back in the Neolithic, clearings left by human settlements would be colonized by Cannabis, and on the reappearance of the nomadic humans initial contact with the plant was made.

It can withstand large fluctuations in average temperature and rainfall (from 43ºF to 80ºF comfortably with 12 – 160in. of annual precipitation), as well as drought and frost; it will grow in all manner of soils from loamy to sandy (it does not flourish in poorly drained soils, particularly clay-based, although it does not mind temporary flooding, making it a common feature of river banks in many parts of the world). It is highly resistant to fungus, disease and weeds, has few pests, and can grow at any altitude with no apparent signs of stress on slopes. Some varieties, mainly in the hemp category, can also handle massive variations in pH (4.5 to 8.2).

So it is arguable that humans have been truly crucial to its spread, and that contact in fact began closer to 10,000 years ago. The pattern of domestication runs as follows, according to a Russian study of Siberian country-dwellers in 1926: populations of Cannabis establish themselves in the wild, then invade areas of human settlement in a weed-like manner; the ‘weed’ is then recognized for its properties and utilized, and finally attempts at cultivation are undertaken.

34 Kush mountain range neatly isolating the subspecies (or species, or variety) of C. Indica prior to any human involvement. But despite these physical barriers leading to massive genetic variance through the world, any two Cannabis plants, whether Ruderalis growing wild in Hungary with a 20-week Cambodian sativa, or North American ditchweed with the finest Hindu Kush, can reproduce. Much like humans, really! Add to this the rapid growth rate and effective reproductive cycle, which can lead to two healthy harvests in one year in some climates, and we quickly see the generations passing – in each the potential for new mutations, and with almost limitless possibilities for what will be the new dominant strain or characteristic. The genome of Cannabis is currently being researched and mapped by more than one team, and distinct markers are now being discovered that show true genetic differences between many cultivars: for example, the University of Minnesota discovered in 2006 that hemp cultivars display DNA fingerprints notably different from ‘marijuana’ strains.

ESCAPED CULTIVAR GROWING WILD

ESCAPED MALE CANNABIS PLANT

The reason for resin production in Cannabis is unclear - it has been suggested that it may be to protect developing seeds from moisture loss (production goes up with temperature and stems may split to allow resin to run down stems, encasing them in an impermeable layer preventing loss of water); or to discourage insect and bird pests through intoxication (although the preferred method of seed distribution is surely partly through bird ingestion/expulsion, and therefore the reverse could to some degree be true - that animals actively seek out the intoxicant and therefore distribute the seeds more effectively); perhaps the resin also acts as a temporary adhesive for animals rather like ‘burrs’ and other plant adaptations. However, the fact that an unfertilized female will produce more resin is strong causal evidence that resin is produced primarily to attract pollinators rather than distributors of seed, especially as the female largely stops producing resin after receiving pollen. To return to the idea of animal ‘self-medication’: although it is difficult to prove a link here, there is some evidence of animals (e.g. chimpanzees) seeking out flowering Cannabis as an anti-nausea treatment in times of gastric difficulty (and perhaps as it also can reportedly kill intestinal parasites), so there is a strong likelihood that its unique properties are not just known to humans.

Research into animal use of Cannabis is sparse, but is sure to increase with time, and deserves further attention. It is more than possible that we were drawn to the plant in the first place by observing such animal behavior (although I’m sure the smell would have been a dead giveaway, if nothing else), and true understanding of how the plant fits into the ecosystem would be massively aided by knowing more about its relationship with our animal brethren. The fact that physiological barriers to reproduction seem to be absent in Cannabis would belie the argument that the plant is, in fact, several species in one genus (although ‘species’ is a difficult term to define, and interfertility does not always denote lack of speciation). It is yet another feature of the plant that would seem to greatly increase its chances of taking hold, flourishing and cementing new DNA within an existing gene-pool, and thereby increasing diversity, viability, and chances to further evolve. An introduced genetic can therefore co-operate with existing local genetics, rather than being in competition – as would be the case with two non-interfertile populations. Physical barriers may exist, and thank who ever’s up there for that as it’s provided us with some lovely (apparent, if not actual) speciation – such as the Hindu

This research may ultimately aid the cause for legalization of industrial hemp in the US, as it can be used to prove its THC-free nature. THC testing will not always show accurate results as THC production differs through the life cycle of the plant; whereas these tests can accurately show the potential for THC production throughout the life cycle of the plant. With scientists only now beginning to perceive just how far the genetic iceberg extends below the tip we are now uncovering, it is difficult-to-impossible to ascertain why certain features in species came to be – geneticists can often see when characteristics began to emerge, but it is often unknown why they emerge in the first place, and in response to what. In an isolated population, strains that interbreed or self-replicate through ‘hermaphroditism’ may breed true for certain

purples and blues; height ranging from less than three feet to more than twenty; fragrances from spicy to earthy, from fruity to skunky; and thousands upon thousands of different combinations of cannabinoids are just some examples of just how varied a plant Cannabis really is. As we have ourselves spread over the planet, we have taken the tools for survival with us: our weapons and tools, our foods and medicines, and our knowledge of how to use them. With Cannabis, in every new ecosystem we have introduced it to, we can see which characteristics best suit the local environment from our earliest attempts to cultivate, and can select accordingly. This helps to speed up the evolution of the plant. For example, in temperate and subtropical zones, it is the hemp varieties and those narcotic varieties that are short-day obligate (i.e. require fewer hours of light than darkness to trigger flowering) such as ruderalis and indica, that are most adapted to the climatic conditions. In tropical areas, the long flowering period allows for greater production of THC, and therefore resinous sativa strains are more prevalent. We recognize this: we grow existing strains that match up as closely as possible, we select from the natural variation in progeny the offspring that are even closer to what we want (say, strong and woody with few lateral branches for fiber crops), and we breed new generations from them that are increasingly close to the ideal we seek. In doing so, we are part of a cycle that is hugely beneficial: to us, for obvious reasons; to the plant, as we are enabling more effective colonization; and to the ecosystem itself, as a plant well-adapted to its ecosystem will be more successful and develop a greater degree of integration with other member species. This at least is the traditional pattern, although it remains to be seen what consequences lie ahead due to the trend

IT IS AN HOMAGE TO THE MAJESTY OF NATURE THAT WE SEE THIS ALMOST INSATIABLE DESIRE OF THE CANNABIS PLANT TO ADAPT TO FIT ITS ENVIRONMENT characteristics while varying in others, or they may not breed true for any traits, but instead display what botanists call ‘segregated’ or ‘hybrid’ genes. Usually, within a few generations of inbreeding, these segregate genes will be much less common and populations will rapidly begin to breed true for numerous traits and resemble each other more. It is an homage to the majesty of nature that we see this almost insatiable desire of the Cannabis plant to adapt to fit its environment expressed in the – now often threatened – landrace varieties that have sprung up across the planet after its introduction. Huge differences in coloration, from yellows through reds to

for large-scale monoculture that is on the increase worldwide. Monoculture is rarely good for the environment, and it must be stressed wherever possible that small is beautiful when it comes to agriculture. No matter how well-adapted a plant is to its surroundings, if biodiversity is lost the whole balance of the ecosystem becomes out of synch. Cannabis is unfairly labeled as a ‘noxious weed’ by the USDA, and it would be terrible to see it become truly the case through the actions of money-hungry commercial growers. Where production is smallscale, with respect paid to the environment, Cannabis is truly a crop that has a place in every ecosystem.

SMUGGLER’S TALES

The Accidental Smuggler By O’Riodon

Our story begins in the tribal area of northern Pakistan in the late ‘80s. Clark, an antique dealer, was on his second trip to the area and excited at the prospect of a acquiring a batch of rare Chinese artifacts. Since the recent opening of the Karakoram Highway, there had been a steady trickle of rare Chinese and Tibetan antiquities smuggled into Pakistan for hard currency. The area was dangerous and outsiders usually disappeared unless accompanied by a local. Malik was just such a local. Born in the Swat valley, he’d met Clark in Islamabad a few months prior. Together they’d traveled the tribal area; Clark had bought a few Tibetan artifacts and sold them in Paris for a handsome profit. This time he’d been promised first pick of a load due in a few days. After days on a bus they arrived at a remote guest house close to the meeting place, only to find two Scotsmen staying there. Foreigners in this area were either gun runners or drug smugglers; this pair turned out to be the latter. They seemed friendly enough and over the next days

a short conversation with Malik in Urdu he turned to Clark and addressed him in English, getting straight to the point. “I’ll pay you $10,000 to take an attache case to Amsterdam.” He pulled out a wad of cash. “Half now, half on delivery.” Clark eyed the cash. “I won’t carry heroin.” Shalid looked shocked. “No, it’s just hashish, twenty kilos of it. A bag will be under your seat when you board the plane and in Amsterdam somebody will take it from you before customs.” Clark thought for a moment. He had no choice – he was bankrupt. “Ok, I’ll do it.” He shook Shalid’s hand and took the cash. “I’ll return tomorrow with your ticket and the case.” The next morning he reappeared carrying a light brown attache case. “You’re flying tomorrow night,” he said “and this will accompany you.” He lifted the case to the table and flipped it open. Inside was a huge block of Afghani hash, wrapped in plastic. “In Amsterdam’s airport, deliver it to the gate for the Brussels flight and someone will switch cases with you and

AFGHANI HASH The minute he stepped off the plane he saw them: two men trying to look like tourists, but obviously policemen. Still in conversation with the American, he walked toward the terminal and the

I’LL PAY YOU $10,000 TO TAKE AN ATTACHE CASE TO AMSTERDAM shared their excellent Afghani hashish with Clark. It was during one of these stoned evenings that Clark revealed the reason for his visit and that he was carrying cash – a bad move. The next evening they put sleeping pills in his drink. He woke to find his money and plane ticket gone, along with the Scotsmen. Malik returned from his meeting with the Chinese smugglers to find Clark in a rage. The guest house owner told Malik the Scotsmen had left hours ago and could be anywhere by now. Devastated, he didn’t know what to do, but Malik said he had a solution. There was a man in Islamabad who could help. Two days later they booked rooms in the Intercontinental; fortunately he still had a credit card. Malik made a phone call and an hour later there was a knock at the door. Shalid was well-dressed, and after

AN ATTACHE CASE FULL OF AFGHANI HASH

give you the rest of your money.” He handed Clark the ticket and shook his hand, then snapped the case closed. “The next time you see this, it’ll be under your seat.” Thirty six hours later Clark boarded the PIA flight to Amsterdam. Taking his seat, he felt case underneath and settled down for the nine hour flight. Next to him was an American and soon they were in conversation. During the meal Clark noticed a man staring at him and the bag at his feet. It made Clark uncomfortable, but he dismissed it as paranoia. The remainder of the flight was uneventful, aside from the

policemen followed. The flight was ‘dry’, so the American offered to buy Clark a cognac and he needed it. The American chatted away, but Clark was busy thinking how to get rid of the bag’s contents. Drinks finished, they shook hands and parted company. Clark headed for the tax free shop. Inside he went to the cigarette aisle and kicked open a hole in a pile of Marlboros. He planned to dump the contents in it, but the case wouldn’t open, the locks had jammed. By now the policemen had caught up and were watching him from

was the luggage shop to look for a similar attache case, but there was only a black one. Desperate, he decided just to dump it among the bags. Then he walked out into the open and headed toward the exit. When the police spotted him without the bag, he saw just how many there actually were. They ran in all directions trying to find who he’d passed it to. Passport control was no problem and Clark was almost through customs when he was stopped. After a search he was taken for interrogation. In the next room the American was professing his own innocence. They asked where the bag was and were serious about it; Clark denied any knowledge. This continued for a few minutes until an officer entered and said they’d found it. There followed a lot of ruckus; eventually it stopped and the officer returned. “It’s only hash,” he said. They all groaned, then got up and left. They’d thought it was a bag full

HE WOKE TO FIND HIS MONEY AND PLANE TICKET GONE, ALONG WITH THE SCOTSMEN man occasionally staring at him. After the plane landed he thought to leave the bag where it was, but dismissed his feelings as nerves.

the next aisle. Clark knocked over a whiskey display – the distraction allowed him to slip through the crowd and run, and the policemen were left behind. Next stop

of heroin. Apparently Shalid was a known heroin smuggler. 24 hours later Clark was back on the street with only a five thousand dollar fine.

PIA ARRIVES AT SCHIPHOL AIRPORT

Kuchi

The Devil’s Harvest Seed Company www.thedevilsharvestseeds.com Kuchi (Cheese x OG SFV Kush) Flowers in: 56-70 days Yield: High Flavor: Unique twist pleases both the US and the UK Smell: Fruity, tangy, sweet and pungent

SEED BANKS

Since the beginning of the 21st century, the entire Western world has known a boom in the growing of cannabis destined for consumer selfsufficiency. In the following article, we describe the basic features of auto-flowering seeds, as well as introduce the new wave of autoflowering seeds known as “Super Autos”. As an example, we provide information pertaining to the development of the Sweet Seeds seed bank’s catalogue of auto-flowering seeds. All photographs are of Mr. Stoned Edge auto-flowering seeds belonging to this bank. Nowadays, auto-flowering varieties are becoming more and more sought-after and requested by cannabis growers all over the world. Their main trait is that they flower automatically, regardless of the hours of light they receive. This entails a whole series of advantages in comparison with their non auto-flowering relations, thus resulting in the fact that, in such a short period of time, these once-despised plants have found their place in the hall of fame of cannabis varieties.

plants, which maintained cannabinoid levels without giving up the aromas typical of the élite clones used. The amazing success obtained by these auto varieties in recent years is due to their ever improving quality, as far as cannabinoid levels and aromas are concerned. It is also and especially due to the many advantages discovered by cultivators in these new strains. The main advantage is the ability to flower and be harvested regardless of the hours of light they receive.

Modern auto varieties inherit the autoflowering trait from plants of the Ruderalis type (Cannabis Ruderalis), which come from the cold areas of Eastern Europe (Hungary, southern Siberia, Russia) and Central Asia, where the climate – especially the cold and snow - only allows for three or four months of favourable conditions in which the plants can grow and reproduce each year. Thus, these varieties developed special adaptation traits in order to flower and produce their seeds in the short period of time available to them, perpetuating their species even in such inhospitable places.

In outdoor cultivation, this allows for several new possibilities and combinations, helping cultivator-consumers to better program their annual cannabis self-sufficiency. The possibility of harvesting out of season is an incredible advantage for all outdoor cultivators. With the arrival on the scene of auto varieties, these farmers no longer need to limit themselves to a single yield at the end of the summer; now they have the possibility of enjoying yields before the summer, as well.

The above-mentioned wild Cannabis Ruderalis plants have always been looked down on, for medicinal as well as recreational uses, as they produce cannabinoid plants with a very low THC content. Furthermore, these Ruderalis plants are fairly short, 30-80 cm – which is another reason they used to be scorned as raw material for industrial uses, due to the small size of the fibres. Interest in auto-flowering varieties initially arose when a few enterprising breeders observed the immense potential hidden by the small, condemned plants in question. Thus, the decision to experiment, cross-breeding the primitive Ruderalis with selected clones. Their purpose was to obtain 100% auto-flowering

Taking advantage of these opportunities, outdoor cultivators in humid areas, which are susceptible to fungal attacks because of the environmental conditions, have also started to grow these varieties, to avoid the September-October climate, when fungal attacks might otherwise cause the buds to rot. Cultivators in high mountain or cold areas are also beginning to plant these varieties in the spring-summer season, obtaining excellent results. In cities, these varieties are immune to light contamination from street lighting, flowering correctly even directly under a lamppost. This, together with the small size of the plants, makes them perfect for city growing, perhaps on a balcony. There are also several indoor cultivators who are starting to make space for these varieties in their closets. The main reason these cultivators select auto varie-

ties is the velocity of their life cycle: just 60-70 days from planting to harvesting. Although these auto-flowering varieties are cultivated indoors, with a photoperiod of 18-20 hours of light and 4-6 hours of darkness for the duration of the plant’s life cycle, this excess of hours of light compared to the 12 hours needed by non auto seeds is more than made up for by the month of growing duration that the cultivation of auto-flowering seeds saves. The end result for indoor growers is a savings in electricity, as well as a month of cultivation. Those growers who have a room set aside for mothers and cuttings also enjoy the benefits of the openings in the room, with an 18/6 growth photoperiod, to grow auto plants. Another of these varieties’ main features is their small stature. This is also considered

to be an advantage by the many growers who require small, discreet plants. It has been observed that these varieties are much more popular in the Western countries with rigid laws against self cannabis growing than in countries whose legislation is more permissive.

The Sweet Seeds example The Sweet Seeds seed bank of feminised seeds began experimenting with autoflowering seeds around 2007. Early in the 2009 season, Sweet Seeds presented their first auto-flowering variety, Speed Devil, to the cannabis community. And it was immediately successful, offering growers a 100% auto-flowering strain with an extremely rapid flowering period, characterised by an abundant resin and cannabinoid production as well as a pleasant Skunk-type aroma, with yeast and cheese tonalities. Sweet Seeds presented two new autoflowering varieties for the 2010 season:

BLACK JACK AUTO

39 During the 2009 and 2010 seasons, Sweet Seeds breeders continued to work with these three auto varieties, keeping them in a constant state of evolution, mainly due to the necessity of selecting the best specimens of each generation to be parents for the next generation. Breeders must also keep in mind that the process has to include new genetic contributions, to avoid inbreeding, which could cause the loss of valuable hybrid vigour. Selections must be made, generation by generation, also considering the risk of producing genetic derivations with undesired qualities. With non autoflowering varieties, genetic compositions remain much more stable as the years go by; thus, selected clones are used to produce commercial seeds. BIG DEVIL Now, for the 2011 season, Sweet Seeds presents a revolution of these three proposals. The new versions are being marketed under the names Speed Devil #2, Fast Bud #2 and Big Devil #2. The seed bank doesn’t intend to eliminate the original versions of these varieties from the market; also, and very importantly, not to mention appreciably, considering the current financial crisis, Sweet Seeds is offering a significant price reduction for these varieties, which were the most popular auto-flowering seeds in Spanish grow shops for the 2010 season. With this price reduction, we can safely say that they are the most inexpensive feminised auto-flowering seeds on the market, with a really excellent value for money.

BLACK JACK AUTO

CREAM CARAMEL “Fast Bud” and “Big Devil”. Fast Bud is the Sweet Seeds catalogue’s most rapidly growing strain, a high-quality autoflowering seed that is ready to yield just seven and a half weeks after planting. It is characterised by an abundance of resin and exotic aromas inherited from plants of the Diesel family. Big Devil is the result of a program designed to come up with high quality, larger auto-flowering plants; this strain produces plants that reach a height of 80-150 cm, with an abundant production of resin and a sweet, incense aroma similar to Haze plants.

Aside from the three new versions, Sweet Seeds’ surprises for the season include another three new auto-flowering varieties: Cream Caramel Auto, Black Jack Auto and S.A.D. Auto. They are the result of breeding programs aimed at introducing and stabilising the auto-flowering trait from some of the best and most renowned Sweet Seeds strains. The seed bank currently has more than ten open programs for crossing their best strains with the latest auto-flowering strains. The long-term objective is having all of the Sweet Seeds catalogue varieties available both in the auto and non auto versions. These new auto-flowering versions represent a step up, quality-wise, compared to the majority of auto-flowering seeds that are currently on the market. They are far removed from their Ruderalis ancestors and more similar to the modern, polyhybrid, non-automatic seeds we are used to. These new generations, 100% automatic and feminised, are in no way lacking compared to their non auto-flowering relations – as far as vigour, flower density, aroma, resin and cannabinoid production are concerned. Thus the definition “Super Autos”, which is beginning to circulate amongst cannabis farmers. Not much is left of the Ruderalis in these strains, except for its auto-flowering trait and the rapidity of its life cycle. Below you will find some information on the new auto-flowering seeds, courtesy of the bank itself.

Speed Devil #2 First evolution of the Speed Devil strain, developed during the 2009/2010 seasons. All plants begin flowering approximately from the fourth pair of real leaves, regardless of the photoperiod and the time of year. This new version of Speed Devil maintains its predecessor’s rapid flowering period, yielding plants whose resinous and aromatic buds are mature and perfectly formed just 60 days after planting.

S.A.D. Auto and a Jack Herer Auto, created by Sweet Seeds’ R&D department especially in order to produce this cross. A high quality auto plant, with abundant buds and resin productions. Intense, sweet incense aroma, rapid flowering, powerful effect, with the great vigour of a hybrid.

With Speed Devil #2, the average plant is larger, 70-80 cm. Another characteristic is the noticeable increase in side branches, which produce large buds; this also increases production. This version shows an increase in resinous crystal. The aroma is much more intense, sweet and musky, with tonalities reminiscent of yeast and cheese.

Fast Bud #2: First evolution of the Fast Bud strain. This auto-flowering variety produces numerous large buds laden with an abundance of aromatic resin; a more productive and aromatic new version. It produces extremely vigorous plants, with more side branches compared to the previous version, and reaches a height between 40 and 90 cm. Powerful effect and sweet aromas with an exotic touch inherited from plants of the Diesel family. Rapid flowering auto plant.

SAD AUTO

Big Devil #2: The first evolution of the Big Devil strain is an auto-flowering and feminised, high stature variety. Sweet Seeds selected this strain, which can reach a height of 1-1.5 m, to satisfy customer request for taller auto-flowering plants. More productive and aromatic than its previous version, resinous and compact buds with an abundance of side branches. Sweet, incense aromas with a touch of Skunk.

S.A.D. Auto: Auto-flowering version of the S. A. D. S-1 aromatic, the result of cross-breeding and subsequent stabilisation of the best autoflowering indicas with the S.A.D. S-1. A high quality auto plant, with abundant buds and resin productions, an intense, sweet and musky aroma, rapid flowering, powerful effect and the great vigour of a hybrid. The auto-flowering revolution is here. By the end of their flowering period, these plants show the same resinous and desirable appearance as their non autoflowering siblings.

SPEED DEVIL

Cream Caramel Auto: New auto-flowering version of Cream Caramel, the result of cross-breeding between the best auto-flowering indicas with the Cream Caramel strain. A high quality auto plant, with abundant buds and resin productions, an intense, sweet aroma with earthy tonalities, a powerful effect, the great vigour of a hybrid and rapid flowering. Medium-small size (40-80 cm).

Black Jack Auto: An auto-flowering version of Black Jack, the result of a cross-breeding between

SPEED DEVIL

DRUG WAR RANT

heroin off the streets. The offer was turned down, so the opium was refined into heroin and shipped to America realizing many times that amount, along with untold crime and misery. Khun Sa’s response was that his people had to eat and, in the jungles of Burma, nothing else would grow.

What if? By O’Riodon

POPPIES THAT WILL SOON BE SHIPPED TO THE WEST AS HEROIN I came across an interesting fact the other day. It seems that more people die from tobacco-related illnesses in one year than the total drug deaths in the last hundred years. Now, given that the government is supposed to be in the business of looking after our welfare, this is a very large elephant in the room. Turning a blind eye to collateral damage in a tobacco tax garnering scheme that kills thousands is a little cynical. (Marijuana deaths over this, or any other period, by the way, were zero). So what is locking up 800,000 for marijuana offenses actually protecting us

Cannabis. Isn’t it about time an adult took over and sorted out this mess? Drugs have been a part of our culture for thousands of years. A large proportion of art and culture wouldn’t exist it if weren’t for drugs. Great thinkers, artists, writers and musicians have all experimented with mindaltering substances; it is part of the creative process. We should have the right to control what we put into our own bodies and be free to explore altered states of consciousness. We do it all the time with meditation; mind expanding drugs are just another

Drug cartels grow powerful off the trade and their profits are flowing freely into the financial world, buying them influence and power that could one day rival the government itself. Destroy one cartel and another fills its place. To defeat the cartels you must remove the profit. Of the billions the drug trade creates, only a small proportion ends up back in the producing country. Add the billions governments spend fighting it, plus the crime and health costs, and you’ve got an astronomical sum. Back in the producing countries the drugs themselves actually

IT SEEMS THAT MORE PEOPLE DIE FROM TOBACCO-RELATED ILLNESSES IN ONE YEAR THAN THE TOTAL DRUG DEATHS IN THE LAST HUNDRED YEARS from, hoards of people in a good mood? Because it costs the taxpayers $8 billion per year. The government has really painted itself into a corner on this one. It spent years telling us about brains turning into fried eggs and meanwhile we just got hungry! As a result, when they now try to warn us about something truly dangerous, we don’t listen! The US has always been the biggest dog on the block when it comes to dictating drug policy, but it’s time to admit the plan isn’t working. The War on Drugs has turned into an industry, a job creation scheme that’s just lining people’s pockets; the CIA has even run the stuff to top up its funds when they needed it. On top of that there’s only a 10% seizure rate – a private corporation would have fired its executives for this kind of performance. If they really wanted to protect us from ‘dangerous substances’, better to start with education. Tell the truth about drugs, the positive along with the negative. It is so cynical to condone the sale of alcohol, a drug that makes us stupid and kills millions, and then deny us the right to use

facet of this experience. Consciousnessexpanding drugs (particularly Cannabis) combined with a healthy lifestyle can actually open doors to new levels of awareness. You’d think the government would wake up to the tax dollar potential on this one, especially during a recession. In a country that willingly spends more money on illegal drugs than it does on food, does it make sense to continue fighting a losing battle?

cost a fraction of the total trade. In this there is a clue to a new approach. It’s time to draw a line separating the harmless drugs from the dangerous ones and focus on the latter. Thirty years ago Khun Sa, the Burmese drug lord, offered the United States his total opium production for five years in exchange for 30 million dollars. A paltry sum for keeping eighty percent of the

MARIJUANA LAWS PLACE ONE MORE BEHIND BARS

The world drug trade is now measured in trillions of dollars per year; for a fraction of that sum governments could buy the crops at source and put them to better use – or destroy them. A few years ago there was a worldwide shortage of morphine, yet in that same year Afghanistan had a bumper crop of opium (opium is turned into morphine before it becomes heroin). The entire crop was refined and ended up on the streets of the west as heroin! If we want to solve the problem we have to admit that addiction is an illness and not a crime. Take the addicts out of the hands of the dealers. Science has already proven that some people carry an addiction gene, so locking them up is not going to solve the problem. Heroin and cocaine should be provided under controlled circumstances; this would reduce crime and improve health, as it’s often their adulterants that do the damage. Holland decriminalized Cannabis a while back, separating it from hard drugs and running a successful heroin program that has seen a reduction in addiction and a general falling off of the hard drug trade. Obviously this is the route to follow if governments genuinely what to help people. Because Cannabis is (mostly) illegal and expensive, prescription drug abuse is the major problem among the young in the US today. These are more addictive and dangerous than the generally considered ‘illegal’ drugs. If Cannabis was freely available, perhaps people wouldn’t resort to dangerous prescription drugs. Let’s face it – you don’t see many Cannabis overdoses in the ER. Media scare tactics also have a lot to do with the present situation. Millions travel everyday in cars; however, only the accidents get reported. So it is with drugs: millions get high every day in a responsible safe way and have good time. An idiot jumps off a building on acid and the media claims all drug users are destined to do the same. It’s time the powers-thatbe grew up; we have.

THE CARTELS’ BILLIONS IN PROFIT

ANCIENT HISTORY

Marijuana – Smoke of the Goddesses? THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE CANNABIS GODDESS CULT Historically women were very involved with plant care and cultivation – we may well have learned the secrets of plants before men, and enjoyed the power such knowledge would bring. As was common with highly significant plants, many Cannabis-worshiping goddess cults once existed; some, such as the faithfuls of the Hindu goddess Kali, continue their use today in certain rituals. Other goddesses associated with Cannabis include the Egyptian goddesses Seshat and Bast, Ashera of Canaanite mythology, Freya of the Norse pantheon, the Titaness and mother of the principal Greek gods Rhea, and the Chinese ‘Hemp Maid’ (and ‘protector of females’) Ma Gu. Many great ‘mother’ goddesses are strongly linked to Cannabis or hemp. Marijuana, when correctly used, is said to exert a leveling influence on the genders until something close to equality may be achieved. It puts men ‘in touch with their feminine sides’ or, at least, their spiritual, meditative sides. Therefore for the male mystic and seeker of enlightenment it’s always been useful; whereas for the aggressive and domineering personality type the effects are often detrimental. Unification of yin and yang, it is said, is the key to spiritual transcendence: the Hindu Lord Shiva, whose May celebrations have long been associated with harvest and consumption of Bhang, is also the god who is both male and female.

During my years researching the history of Cannabis, I’ve noticed something: in many places, within similar historic time-scales, use of Cannabis was strongly linked to Goddess worship. There’s an obvious link between the rise of male-dominated monotheistic religions and the destruction of the feminine deity. This ties in so strongly with the drive to eradicate Cannabis use throughout the world that I wonder if the one could have been achieved without the other. Furthermore, this attempt to stamp out the feminine side of religion (and culture and power itself) has led to a massive imbalance – not only within our species but within the ways we interact with our environment. Kali Mist masculinity, monotheism, and modern issues seem to be inextricable. As possibly the world’s most important cash crop, it is extremely telling that women have been excluded from the Cannabis market. It is laughable that the same old fear of female empowerment should persist in this day and age, but hey, its ubiquitous, we just have to deal with it, right? We need to look back to the time of the monotheistic takeover to see how the disenfranchisement of women in the weed world took place. As monotheism spread,

so did the beginnings of capitalism, and the switch from traditional methods of producing and marketing commodities such as Cannabis to new, larger-scale techniques occurred. As profits increased, so did levels of violence, sparking the vicious circle leading to alienation of women, as production of Cannabis was now dangerous, ‘man’s’ work. For the powers involved, organized religion served as a tool for indoctrination of required ideals, and helped – by providing scriptural precedent for the ‘roles’ of men and women – to reinforce ‘new’ capitalist ideals of separation of labor according to gender. In areas where production is much more limited

Many of the old Pagan gods and goddesses are now forgotten. It’s not universally applicable, but it seems the emphasis in most young monotheistic religions is more on wine than on weed. Possible tentative quotes in the Bible have been postulated as referring to Cannabis, but definite repeated references to wine persist throughout, at least in translations with which we are familiar. While replacing sacramental use of Cannabis with that of alcohol may not necessarily have been the primary objective in the destruction of the cults, it could definitely be argued that it was a by-product. Aggressive, imperialistic cultures certainly have far more use for alcohol than for Cannabis. Similarly, it seems that the effect of Islam, another masculine monotheistic religion (even if it abhors alcohol), has caused or perpetuated the trend of side-lining women in the Cannabis industry in Muslim countries. Who knows, maybe money and the way that modern business operates is to blame. But there’s a striking difference between the legendary hash-making matriarchs of Malana (where pantheistic Hinduism has obviously persisted) and the fact that Moroccan women are ‘just not involved’ in traditional hash-making there. Maybe it’s just money; but money,

SESHAT DEPICTED WITH WHAT SOME ARGUE IS A SEVEN-POINTED HEMP LEAF ON HER HEADDRESS (© EGYPTARCHIVE.CO.UK) and methods are traditional and smallscale, such as Malana, the ‘need’ to exclude women has perhaps not been so pressing. I can’t help but prefer Malana’s arrangement and I wish that it could be applied universally. It’s tragic (and not necessary) that we as a species have reached a point where we can no longer sustain ourselves through traditional farming methods, not just of Cannabis but every important crop. I’m not alone in my conviction that largescale monoculture in farming is destroying swathes of the environment, and it’s crucial to embrace something closer to our ancestors’ ways if we are to ensure our survival on this planet. It requires a complete cultural shift away from the violent, profiteering ways we currently rejoice in, as we can’t seem to separate this profit from environmental destruction. Equal participation from both genders is vital to a sustainable future that is truly in balance with our environment. During the years in which the balance of power and wealth has been so firmly weighted towards the masculine side, we have seen the balance that humans have historically enjoyed with our ecosystem become so dangerously misaligned that we are at risk of causing massive disruption, to ourselves and everything else that we depend on for survival. Perhaps balance with our ecosystem simply cannot be achieved without balance between the two halves of our species.

THE MOTHER GODDESS HERSELF, KALI-MA: THE FUNDAMENTAL FEMININE LIFE-FORCE, WHOSE DEVOTEES USE CANNABIS IN THEIR RITUALS TO THIS DAY (© RICHARD B GODFREY)

Religion has a purpose: to guide society and establish who power belongs to. If we could do without it entirely, I for one would be overjoyed, but it seems that even in this rational age its hold is tenacious. If we must look for divine guidance, let’s at least give the older gods and goddesses a chance. Religions that teach harmony with nature are better served to protect nature (than those teaching that the mortal world belongs to Satan); following such principles, society will surely then begin to re-accept female power and significance.

“RICHARD DAVIS, CURATOR OF THE USA HEMP MUSEUM” 17 “THE ENERGETIC EVOLUTION OF CANNABIS: WHY IS THIS SPECIAL PLANT SO KEEN TO ADAPT?” 33

MUSIC REVIEWS

By Kaz Peet

Compilation Delta Swamp Rock - Sounds from the South: At the Crossroads of Rock, Country and Soul SOUL JAZZ RECORDS Soul Jazz really is a music lover’s label. Every compilation, whatever the genre, reaches right into the heart of the matter always drawing together top class material. This double CD pack, accompanied by a 68-page book of background information and insight (along with some excellent photographic material) is certainly no exception. DELTA SWAMP ROCK IS AN INTERSTATE SOUTHERN ROAD-TRIP THROUGH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – WHERE COUNTRY, ROCK AND SOUL MET AT THE CROSSROADS – AN EXPLORATION OF THE MUSICAL AND CULTURAL LINKS BETWEEN THE CITIES OF MEMPHIS, MUSCLE SHOALS AND NASHVILLE IN THE 1960S AND ‘70S. Featuring Lynyrd Skynyrd, Cher, Link Wray, Linda Ronstadt, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and many more, this is an impeccable collection of Southern Rock: the musical representation of a post-civil rights southern identity, complete with a celebration of the region’s natural landscape and way of life.

Pablo Fully Baked SELFISH RECORDINGS Los Angeles-based artist and lover of everything psychedelic, Pablo releases his third album – Fully Baked – a true mind bending explosion of style, tone and color, a little akin to the infamous 1960s album White Noise. Created as ‘an alternative to consensus reality’, multi-instrumentalist Paul ‘Pablo’ Thomas was sickened by the media obsession with celebrity culture. Playing most of the instruments himself – including guitars, sitar, organ, Meinl Helix Bowl and percussion – the album is a roller coaster ride through a gamut of genres, from acid rock and garage through blissed-out ambience and trance, into psychedelic folk (with a cover version of Jerry Garcia’s Bird Song). There’s even a strangely atmospheric take on 1950s rock ‘n’ roll tune Got My Mojo Working. TWISTING AND TURNING LIKE THE CHANGING PHASES OF AN ACID TRIP, FULLY BAKED OFFERS A COMPLETE PSYCHEDELIC EXPERIENCE. HOLD ON TIGHT!

Creation Rebel Starship Africa ONU SOUND Re-released as part of the ongoing 30th anniversary celebrations of the On-U Sound label, Creation Rebel’s Starship Africa is the greatest sci-fi dub soundtrack never put to film. Produced and arranged by Adrian Sherwood and created by some of the greats from the On-U stable of musicians (including Doctor Pablo, Crucial Tony, Style Scott and Eskimo Fox), it is one of the finest moments of British Dub. Compared to acts as far afield as Tangerine Dream and the Grateful Dead, Starship Africa is a truly psychedelic dub experience, spread over just two tracks (albeit broken down into five- and four movements apiece), that stands among the most intriguing of Sherwood’s early work. This album is a criminally underrated masterpiece and essential headphone listening. ORIGINALLY RELEASED ON THE LABEL IN 1982, THIS NEW EDITION ALSO INCLUDES FOUR BONUS TRACKS PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED OUTSIDE OF JAPAN. DON YA LIDS, BUILD UP A BIGGEE AND SPACE RIGHT OUT!

Grey Reverend Of The Days MOTION AUDIO The latest artist to be championed by Jason Swinscoe’s Motion Audio imprint will be familiar to fans of The Cinematic Orchestra. Brooklyn based L.D. Brown (AKA Grey Reverend) had a chance meeting with Swinscoe shortly after the Cinematics’ main man had relocated to NYC. Impressed by his material he asked Reverend to supply a cover version of To Build A Home. Swinscoe liked the resulting mix so much that Grey Reverend began to tour with TCO, singing with them and performing his own material in support. Now, four years on, Brown releases his first album, Of The Days, with Swinscoe’s new label. Brown performs his songs primarily as a soloist, using acoustic guitar and voice to convey his music to his audience. THE DEVILISH DETAIL WITHIN THE SONGS CREATES FLASHES OF ALLEGORY, IN WHICH FAMILIAR SENTIMENTS SIMULTANEOUSLY COMFORT AND UNNERVE THE SENSES. COMPELLING AND POSITIVELY AMBIGUOUS, WITH REVERENCE FOR THE GRAY, UNDEFINED AREAS OF STYLE, HIS SONGS ARE UNCONCERNED WITH MUSICAL OR SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS. THEY SIT COMPLETELY OUTSIDE OF TIME AND FASHION, THE BEAUTY AND SIMPLICITY OF HIS VOICE ENOUGH TO CARRY THEM.

DJ Shakra & Mandjou Koné Wamian - DJ Shakra Maian Mix GARDEN HOUSE RECORDS Released on 12” vinyl, this latest project from San Francisco-based Audiokin Design is destined to inspire and uplift the dance floors across both clubs and festivals this summer, and beyond. A collaboration between Malian singer Mandjou Koné and master percussionist Ben Issacs (co-written, produced and arranged by David Jenkins) the song is dedicated to Mandjou’s great great great grandfather who was the ‘Michael Jackson of Mali’. Wamian reportedly lived until he was over 120 years old. Mandjou Koné was born and raised in West Africa in the countries of Mali and Burkina Faso. She was born into the Konés, a well-known Griot family. The Griot people of West Africa are world renowned for their unique ability to record events carefully and accurately, passing history from one generation to the next. One cannot learn to become a Griot; rather one is born into it, along with the responsibility to preserve the culture. As a young girl, Mandjou assisted her Griot father in keeping his band alive by singing, dancing and playing instruments like the djembe, bala, dundun, kora and tama. She also danced and performed with the National Ballet of Burkina Faso. With her brother’s group Surutukunu, Mandjou toured Europe extensively as lead singer; she was then invited to come to the United States to help translate a documentary about the last 40 years of her family’s musical tradition and history. The film, entitled Great Great Great Grandparents’ Music, went on to win several awards from the Pan-African movie world. A PROPELLING AND DELICIOUSLY DEEP ACID BASS LINE, AIDED BY DEFTLY SHAPED ELECTRONICA, FLOWS NATURALLY AND EFFORTLESSLY WITH TRADITIONAL PERCUSSION (SUCH AS THE BALAPHON) CREATING SHIMMERING WAVES OF RHYTHM. THE POTENTLY BEAUTIFUL VOICE OF MANDJOU BLOWS SURE WIND TO THE SAILS. WHILE IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE, FOR SOME YEARS AT LEAST, TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY HER WORDS, THE ESSENCE OF THIS COMPELLING AND REMARKABLE AFRICAN PAST REVERBERATES THROUGHOUT THE SONG, TRIGGERING POWERFUL VISUAL IMAGES AND A FEELING OF HAPPINESS AND HARMONY. Including two monster remixes by B. Smiley and DJ Majitope along with a dub mix from DJ Shakra, this is a sonic connection to our archaic phuture!

EDITORIAL

Confessions of a Cannabis Junkie OR, WHY CUTTING DOWN IS A GREAT IDEA

Since my elder brother first thrust a nugget under my nose at the age of eleven, I’ve had a fascination with weed that borders on unhealthy. Tobacco, alcohol, and all the rest: I can take ‘em or leave ‘em, and I have done, quite enthusiastically, at certain points in my life – but, like a not-entirely-suitable lover, it is marijuana that’s always been the thing that I have found hard to shake off, the one I crave when I wake up at 4AM and cannot sleep, and the only one I still find myself By Kali Mist wanting to be near every hour of every day.... After the initial meeting, Mary Jane and I went our separate ways for a while, but we began to run into each other now and again soon after, and by the time I was sixteen we were inseparable. I guess it was the group I was hanging with that really brought us together; but even at our first meeting, aged eleven, I had a feeling I couldn’t quite define, that we were going to be close. I guess we just had so much in common from the start. My dreamy, abstract nature was perfectly complimented by my new friend’s exquisite capacity to express the most complex of ideas, and our gang’s conversations during those stoned summer evenings could have healed the world. I look back on those days with nostalgia, my accumulated cynicism now informing me that those so-called revelations are nothing new. They are simply a part of growing up to be a thinker, and a thinker should also be a doer. So what went wrong? How is it that my new friend led me astray instead of down the path to enlightenment, seemingly so inevitable

So: after becoming emotionally dependent and even moving to Amsterdam to be near her, I began to abuse weed by being constantly stoned, on waking and immediately prior to sleep. A vicious circle of depression and inner conflict ensued that took five years to climb out of. I lost all confidence, the thoughts I was initially trying to quell became more insistent in their demands for my attention, and, due to the introspective nature of marijuana, I spent hours wrapped up in dangerous thought processes that caused serious damage to my health (both mental and physical). Of course I do not lay the blame for this only on weed. However, if a person is susceptible to certain thought processes, marijuana can act as a powerful amplifier.

every day – life, in fact, was and always had been sufficient, and that I did not need to fear anything. My future is now full of promise, and I’m starting to make some truly ambitious plans again. I’m back to the real me. I know I’m far from being alone in going through these experiences. Many people I know will reach a crisis point such as the one I describe, and at that point they completely stop their Cannabis use. They feel that the are crazy, ‘paranoid’, and losing control. But they need to remind themselves – as my small posi-

oneself off from its benefits. Those initial reasons to fall in love with Mary Jane still hold true: but are so powerful in themselves – they open the doors to what’s really inside one’s head – that they must always be approached with caution, and only when one is strong enough to prevent overuse becoming the pattern. Now that I know how to maintain my game plan and stand on my own two feet without her, we’ve gotten back to having the easy-going carefree vibe we used to have way back when. The slate has been wiped clean; we’ve made a few ground-

ONE DAY I FELT I WANTED TO KILL MYSELF; THE NEXT I FELT FULL OF A BOUNDLESS ENERGY AND HOPE tive voice still managed to occasionally achieve in me – that they have become dependent on a powerful, unpredictable drug that must be used with respect and in moderation. When used in such a manner, there is no reason to totally cut

rules which will prevent this whole sorry situation ever happening again. Me, I’m getting back to those plans to take over the world that have been gathering dust in the attic for the last few years. This time I know how Mary Jane can help.

I was – and still am – extremely susceptible to introspection; when negative thoughts abound, perpetuated by constant marijuana use, reality ends up feeling like a permanent bad dream. The courage in my convictions and actions I was feeling when I first began to smoke had been entirely replaced by fear: that I

IT IS MARIJUANA THAT’S ALWAYS BEEN THE THING THAT I HAVE FOUND HARD TO SHAKE OFF and so total at the time? Why did my unshakeable beliefs become so shaken? Why is it that instead of feeling that my thoughts can change society, right now it’s enough to just live a quiet life and put a roof over my head? Granted, life has taught me harsh lessons and increased my sense of caution. But life had already gotten to me well before I encountered weed, and at first it truly helped me to cope. But, as the cliche I refused to believe in goes, too much of anything is a bad thing. One must never make oneself too available. To a lover, a friend, or a powerful drug, which many users fail to truly comprehend Cannabis is. Too much constant emotional intensity drains whoever is involved until the relationship becomes unhealthy and stagnant. An enduring, positive exchange of energies can only happen when each participant is given time to re-invigorate between encounters.

was a weak and useless person, that the future could only be terrible, and that the world was full of horrors. The voice in me, which had always told me how wonderful I was, began to sound sad, pathetic, and ashamed of even trying. But it still piped up occasionally. One day, something changed. I’m sure the process was gradual, but it felt very sudden – one day I felt I wanted to kill myself; the next I felt full of a boundless energy and hope that I somehow knew was not going to fade away into more depression. It was too strong, too new, too vital for my survival for me to keep that feeling alive. I don’t know exactly what precise circumstances surrounded this moment, but I do know that it happened during a day where I wasn’t completely stoned from start to finish, and having that gap in the weed-induced haze enabled the clarity that sparked off the crucial thought process. I knew then that I did not need to be stoned all day,

IN AMSTERDAM, CONSTANT AVAILABILITY DOES NOT HELP WHEN TRYING TO DISCIPLINE ONESELF

WITH SO MUCH VARIETY, THERE’S ALWAYS AN EXCUSE TO ROLL ANOTHER ONE

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Balcony Babes: Fill Your Place in the Sun with Shades of Green Stuck in a high-rise apartment (plenty of sun and wind; good soil), water and building? With the warmer organic plant nutrition. months upon us, why not take Environment advantage of your (limited) Small plastic collapsible greenhouses are often available at home improvement outdoor space and fill your stores, traditionally sold to protect gardenlittle balcony with beautiful ers’ tender shoots in the colder months. These are perfect to squeeze into your The Sativa Diva ganja plants? square meter of outdoor growing space, You may not be fortunate enough to be a homeowner, or able to enjoy a lush, rolling lawn or fertile vegetable patch. If you, like many, are stuck in a suburban (or worse, downtown) location and hungering for your own outdoor weed plants, don’t despair. A tiny balcony can perfectly suit your purposes. Of course outdoor cultivation is more difficult for some, especially with the patchwork progress currently being made across the country with regards to legalization. However, all the plants need to thrive are a good location

and can help to prevent infestation, protect against cold snaps and shield the plants from the whipping wind. Of course, if the summer sun gets too hot, the greenhouse may need to be removed to prevent heat stress. While the plants love a well-lit, south-facing spot, too much sun can burn the leaves and decimate seedlings. The wind may be too strong on higher floors, but don’t ‘spoil’ or protect the plants: the wind naturally ventilates the plants (helping them to ‘breathe’) and strengthens the plant’s stalk by stimulating cellulose production, leading to nice, thick stems. Wind can even pop those nasty predators off of the leaves and branches.

IF YOU LIVE IN A COLDER CLIMATE, YOU CAN START YOUR SEEDLINGS INDOORS TO PROTECT THEM,

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Food Balcony plants tend to be on the smaller side (think of a fish tank), perfect for those attempting to avoid detection – and the lazy! Since the plants are smaller, be careful that you don’t overfeed – especially if you’re used to growing indoors or large patches outdoors. In addition to the usual adjustment of nutrients per strain you may find that the plants simply don’t eat or drink as much due to their stunted size and pampered life. Conversely, a warm spell can double their water demands. The equipment necessary for balcony growing makes it a preferred method for those with not only limited space, but also limited funds. All you need are a few different-sized flower pots (the smallest for seedlings; transplant to slightly larger pots every few weeks, only during veg), some good organic soil and nutes for the seedlings and plants, and clean water (pH 5.8-6.8). Treat these plants as you would your prized tomatoes.

Hygiene It’s not easy to keep outdoor grows clean. However, as long as you sterilize the space beforehand and attempt to maintain basic cleaning routines, you should anticipate few problems. Occasionally there is an infestation in a particular neighborhood, such as spider mites or aphids, and the plants cannot be saved. However, you have the benefit of both rain and wind on your balcony, which will help to keep the plants clean. In addition, you should sterilize your pots and other equipment between grows. If you end up with bugs, always shower and wash your gardening clothes immediately to prevent cross-contamination. With little space and limited effort, your balcony could be a sea of green!

Editorial adress: E-mail: kristie@softsecrets.nl Advertisements: Jessica Telephone: +1-661-333 3151 E-mail: jessica@softsecrets.nl Distribution by: P.A.I.N. Distribution Carlos Garcia Circulation Manager www.magazinedistribution.org Telephone: +1-310-488-1911 A word from the publisher: To the chagrin of the US Federal Government, almost half of the states have embarked on a process of relative liberalization towards the use of Cannabis, and Cannabis activists are engaged in broadening this progression. Some townships, mayors and police chiefs – on a local level – now actively support a ‘compassion club’ distribution system as a way of separating recreational stoners from the people who legitimately need therapeutic help, simultaneously decreasing the number of unnecessary arrests. Whether they are finding their way to the local medical distribution point or growing for personal stash, Cannabis users are a menace to no one and are causing no discernible social problem. Some politicians, and even more non-users than ever, are calling for the outright legalization of marijuana. Taxpayers are frustrated with funding the incarceration of first-time, non-violent drug offenders (read: pot smokers) as well as the social toll that high numbers of imprisonment brings to some towns and neighborhoods. Now we must be patient and see how the debate develops during a period of relative peace between both sides. In the meantime, the publisher hopes Soft Secrets will expose the positive aspects of the normalization of Cannabis use to the public, and is excited to offer a forum to both proand anti-legalization advocates. Soft Secrets forums operate under the assumption that the publisher does not necessarily agree with the views and opinions expressed in articles and advertisements therein. The publisher therefore distances himself explicitly from statements or images that might give the impression that an endorsement is being made for the illicit use or production of Cannabis. Soft Secrets does not advocate breaking any laws, whether local-, state-, Federal or international. Nothing from this publication may be copied or reproduced in any format without prior permission from the publisher and other copyright holders. The publisher is not responsible for the content and/or point of view of advertisements. The editors take no responsibility for unsolicited submissions.

Soft Secrets USA 4/11 out: August 13th, 2011