1206

ISSUE 6 2012

ESTABLISHED IN AMSTERDAM, 1985

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

In This Issue:

Hempie Holidays! ›› 8 MUD PIES TO GRUBBYCOINS: Use your childhood play skills to create natural products for your garden, grow room or viper’s den.... ›› 12

War Dispatches: Part II

›› 15

WHAT’S UP WITH THE WEED PASS? The much-dreaded ban on tourist entry to Amsterdam’s famous coffeeshops has been struck down...

›› 20

The True Origin of 420 ›› 23

Blue States, Green Ideals Just in time for the holidays, three ‘blue’ states experienced major victories on the Cannabis front. Colorado and Washington legalized pot for recreational purposes, becoming the first states in American history to allow adults to partake in peace, although similar attempts in Oregon failed. Massachusetts said ‘yes’ to medi-weed, joining the ranks of seventeen other states, plus the District of Columbia, to offer patients this herbal alternative. Medical Cannabis was also voted upon in Arkansas and Montana, but no pro-pot progress was made. A majority of voters in five major Michigan cities supported medi-weed measures; however, authorities have already vowed to maintain their prohibitive stance.

Aside from the immediate effects of the November Cannabis victories, the long term benefits for society present a far healthier approach than incarceration. The legislation in Colorado and Washington aims to dissolve the issue of criminal drug dealing, not only by allowing for the creation of legal retail establishments for Cannabis, but also slowly removing the stigma from lowlevel dealers by morphing that former crime into a legitimate, taxable job.

Thus, drugs would be removed from the hands of ‘criminals’, in theory allowing for the proliferation of safe, regulated

locations from which the public may purchase their stash.

Even if drug dealers drop their prices, legal retailers can offer their customers safety features that are likely to sway sales in their favor. Regulation of quality, testing for potency and contaminants, etc., will be made even more attractive when combined with uniform, professional packaging. All of this will need to be done by someone – and the growers will be busy in their gardens – thereby requiring specialized staff. This is just one of the ways

that legalization creates jobs (although drug dealers losing customers to these impending pot shops might disagree).

In addition to an increase in available police resources for tackling real crime, a further long term benefit would be the homogenization of the recreational weed industry. Colorado and Washington state will serve as templates for implementation that, if successful, will assist legalization efforts across the country.

Continued on page 4

3 C

Attention Dispensaries and Doctors: With no shortage of medi-weed patients in sight, California furnishes an everincreasing supply of customers to dispensaries and collectives, especially in towns or cities that are only zoned for a handful of such establishments (or towns adjacent to those with none at all). If you are looking for new customers or just wish to stay visible as a reminder to returning patients, exposure to readers of Soft Secrets USA is an effective means by which to do either.

Promote your special offers, discounts, social gatherings and holiday functions – or simply introduce your business to those who may not be familiar with it.

Doctors who prescribe pot to those in need may not be easy to locate for some patients, especially those recently-prescribed. There is also heavy competition among the subset of pot-prescribing MDs to retain as many repeat annual renewals as possible; as medical Cannabis becomes more mainstream across California, prices for referrals and renewals decrease, intensifying an already competitive scene.

Advertising in our publication is a great way to expand your patient reach!

For information on advertising packages, please contact DeWayne Snodgrass by emailing DeWayne@softsecrets.nl (© Shutterstock)

IN THIS ISSUE:

A vigorous sativa hybrid from Advanced Seeds, with an exquisite aroma and strong, lasting effects.

Crossing a selected Kali Mist, adapted to a Mediterranean climate for over nine years, with AK-47, the result is a mostlysativa strain with a short flowering cycle and a satisfactory performance. Its flavour is very sweet and reminiscent of caramel and fruits. Kali 47 is easy to grow, ideal for beginners.

Genetics: Yield: THC: Indoor Height: Outdoor Height: Indoor Flowering Period: Outdoor Harvest:

Kali Mist x AK-47 400 - 450 g/m2 19% 24 - 34 inches 79 - 118 inches From 55 to 60 days Mid-October

KALI 47

Kali 47

Blue States, Green Ideals Page 3 Girl: Kali 47 Attention Dispensaries and Doctors Growmed Hempie Holidays!

MarijuanaMajority.com The New Super-Automatics Mud Pies to Grubbycoins Grow Diary: Swazi War Dispatches: Part II Moby Dick Aeroponics Explained What’s Up With the Weed Pass?

Hy’s Deli by oz.

Organic vs. Synthetic, Side-by-Side True Living Organics The True Origin of 420: Part I Hydro Hygiene HT Cannabis Cup 2012 LEDs in the UK Do You Have Questions About Your Crop?

Colophon Index of Ads

1 3 3 7 8 9 10 12 14 15 17 18 20 20 21 22 23 25 27 28 30 30 30

U.S. LEGISLATION STRAIN REPORT FROM THE EDITOR FESTIVALS & EXPOS CANNABIS KITCHEN ONLINE SEED BANKS DIY STRAIN REPORT SMUGGLER’S TALES POSTER CULTIVATION 101 LEGISLATION COMIC ORGANIC CULTIVATION BOOK REVIEW HISTORY & CULTURE ORGANIC CULTIVATION FESTIVALS & EXPOS SERIOUS GARDENING FROM THE EDITOR FROM THE EDITOR FROM THE EDITOR

4

U.S. LEGISLATION

Blue States, Green Ideals That latter point is perhaps one of the most important windfalls of legalization: excise taxes levied upon weed retailers will help to improve our communities, and this could remove the taboo that ‘drug money’ is always bad. McAllister reminds us that perhaps the least obvious benefit of Amendment 64 is staring us all in the face: “more money for school funding” could be available to any state with similar measures, helping to heal our ailing education system.

While McAllister reports that no battles have flared between the federal Schedule I classification and Colorado’s new law, not everyone supports this new freedom; however, opposition to the Amendment was not unexpected.

The tired, disproved ‘gateway theory’ has once again reared its ugly head, emphasizing the fact that even the most

Colorado: Amendment 64 Back in 2006, forty-one percent of voters in Colorado supported legalizing possession and consumption of Cannabis; this past November, that number had risen to fifty-five percent. The legislation amends Article 17 of Colorado’s constitution, and it means that adults will now be treated as adults, free to relax at home with a joint or bong instead of – or in addition to – a cocktail or frosty beer.

Simply legalizing pot possession is a huge step towards ending the War on Drugs.

However, the authors of Amendment 64 were also careful to include home growing. Sean McAllister, a long-time Cannabis advocate and former assistant district attorney for Colorado, details the new freedoms: “People can grow their own and keep their own harvests, even if it is over one ounce. They can share up

to an ounce at a time with friends, for no money, and that is legal. They cannot sell to anyone; they cannot distribute through the stores.”

As each state successfully implements an approach similar to the regulation of liquor shops or tobacco counters, the risk of children having access to Cannabis is greatly reduced. These arguments have been promoted by the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (www.RegulateMarijuana.org), a group whose efforts were essential in the passage of Amendment 64. They feel that legalization will help to control Cannabis access, thereby reducing usage rates among teenagers, strongly curtailing availability for non-adults, minimizing pot smokers’ hard drug exposure, and re-directing drug dealers’ profits towards the infrastructure.

Continued from front page Author: Sativa Diva

The following announcement was made to the press on November 7th, by our friends at Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP – www.leap.cc), who were instrumental in the passage of Amendment 64 and are active across the United States: Pro-Legalization Cops Cheer Marijuana Reform Election Results Nine States and Localities Vote for More Sensible Drug Laws: In a historic night for drug law reformers, on November 6th, Colorado and Washington passed measures legalizing and regulating marijuana, Massachusetts became the 18th state to allow medical marijuana and six localities voted to modernize policies on marijuana. Law Enforcement Against Prohibition,

ONCE RECREATIONAL WEED IS AVAILABLE, THE AMOUNT OF STONERS POSING AS PATIENTS WILL LIKELY DWINDLE, RESULTING IN HUGE LOSSES OF REVENUE FOR DISPENSARIES OR COLLECTIVES. accurate, scientifically-proven information often falls upon deaf ears. Several groups involved with youth addiction and public safety had voiced concerns, in spite of the fact that pro-pot experts emphasize the importance of education and harm reduction as an essential facet of legalization.

Legal analysts warned that, in addition to Cannabis remaining a Schedule I drug on a federal level, likewise cultivation remains outlawed. However, even Governor John Hickenlooper, a vocal opponent of Amendment 64, agrees that no young person’s life should be ruined by a felony pot charge. The Colorado Criminal Defense Bar assented.

Opposition also surfaced within the propot community, and not just because of the (perhaps mistaken) belief that legalization will drive down the price of Cannabis, threatening profits for growers. In addition, once recreational weed is available to interested adults, the amount of stoners posing as patients will likely dwindle, resulting in huge losses of revenue for dispensaries or collectives.

As McAllister bluntly states, “long term, legalized recreational weed, if allowed by the feds, will likely put medical marijuana people out of business.”

a group of cops, judges, prosecutors and other law enforcement officials advocating for the legalization of drugs, has speakers on hand to comment.

Norm Stamper, former Seattle police chief, had this to say: “I cannot tell you how happy I am that after forty years of the racist, destructive exercise in futility that is the war on drugs, my home state of Washington has now put us on a different path. There are people who have lost today: drug cartels, street gangs, those who profit from keeping American incarceration rates the highest in the world. For the rest of us, however, this is a win. It’s a win for taxpayers. It’s a win for police.

It’s a win for all those who care about social justice. This is indeed a wonderful day.”

Reformers are now focused on successfully implementing the new marijuana legalization laws in Colorado and Washington, and on determining which states are most likely to enact legalization in the near future.

“Because of the victories in all of these places, we awakened this morning in a slightly better country. It’s a little safer, a little bit more just,” said Neill Franklin, Executive Director of Law

5 Enforcement Against Prohibition and 34-year veteran of the Baltimore and Maryland State police departments. “And when the rest of the country follows the lead pioneered by the voters of Colorado and Washington, we’ll be closer to living in a country with a drug policy that is truly about public safety.”

Following is a list of all marijuana reform measures on the ballot across the country and a list of LEAP speakers available to discuss these historic reforms: Colorado: Marijuana legalization – Passed!

Washington: Initiative 502 Up in the northwest corner of the country, Initiative 502 passed with a vote of 55.51 percent. In effect as of the sixth of December, 2012, the new law allows adults (21 and up) to possess up to an ounce of bud, sixteen ounces of infused product if solid, seventy-two ounces of liquid infused product – or some combination of the three.

These items are to be purchased in legal pot shops – at least 1,000 feet from a school – regulated and enforced by the Washington State Liquor Control Board.

A license system for growers, handlers

AS IN COLORADO, WASHINGTON’S LEGAL VICTORY WILL FREE UP POLICE RESOURCES AND ALLOW FOR MORE EFFECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT. Washington: Marijuana legalization - Passed!

Oregon: Marijuana legalization – Failed.

Massachusetts: Medical marijuana – Passed!

Arkansas: Medical marijuana – Failed.

Detroit, MI: Decriminalization of adult marijuana possession – Passed!

Flint, MI: Decriminalization of adult marijuana possession – Passed!

Ypsilanti, MI: Marijuana to be lowest law enforcement priority – Passed!

Grand Rapids, MI: Decriminalization of adult marijuana possession – Passed!

Kalamazoo, MI: Three medical marijuana dispensaries permitted in city – Passed!

Burlington, VT: Recommendation that marijuana should be legalized – Passed!

Montana: Referendum restricting medical marijuana – Passed.

and the retailers themselves will be introduced, costing $250 (to be renewed annually for $1,000). No financial interest may be held between the producers and the retailers.

In its own words: This measure removes state-law prohibitions against producing, processing, and selling marijuana, subject to licensing and regulation by the liquor control board; allow limited possession of marijuana by persons aged twenty-one and over; and impose 25% excise taxes on wholesale and retail sales of marijuana, earmarking revenue for purposes that include substance-abuse prevention, research, education, and healthcare. Laws prohibiting driving under the influence would be amended to include maximum thresholds for THC blood concentration.

As in Colorado, this legal victory will free up police resources and allow for more effective law enforcement. It is no coincidence that the passage of I-502 is a result of the passion and determination of people like Norm Stamper (former Seattle police chief ), who knows better than anyone that prohibition is a failure, as he fought on its front lines for decades.

He recalls, “I became a ‘non-active’ advocate for Cannabis legalization during my rookie days as a cop in San Diego. Later in my career I became much more outspoken, calling for legalization and an end to the Drug War.” Perhaps one of the best people to offer perspective on the situation, as a former law enforcement officer, Stamper is among those with concerns about the DUID (‘driving under the influence of drugs’) provisions of Initiative 502.

Washington is a ‘per se’ state, meaning that drivers are tested for a legal maximum of five or more nanograms THC per milliliter of blood, resulting in convictions based upon numbers rather than actual impairment. Some prominent Cannabis advocacy groups denounced I-502, due to its lack of protection for drivers (patients or otherwise), inherent threat to personal liberty and even alleged ‘hypocritical’ wording. For example, there is a discrepancy between a state legalizing an ounce for possession, but retaining a felony charge for 40 grams or more.

“I share the concerns raised by opponents of I-502, particularly the ‘per se’ DUI provision of the new law. However, I agree with sponsors of our new law that the state would have gone the way of California in 2010, had that provision not been included. Exit polling on that state’s Proposition 19 revealed that many people opposed

the voter initiative because it did not address ‘stoned driving’. I think a goodfaith effort was made to make the DUI law reasonable, scientifically defensible, and effective, but I do believe either legislative or judicial review is essential. I’m troubled by the under-21 provision and by the possibility that either a medical or a recreational user, who is not impaired, could get busted.”

Stamper counters, “That said, if you’re under the influence of booze or weed or prescription drugs or any other skilland/or judgment-altering substance it’s time to stay home, call a friend or a cab, take public transit, walk. Also, everyone needs to understand that nothing of substance changes in how cops will handle DUI cases. If the driving shows no sign of impairment, if no traffic laws were violated, if the (over 21) driver passes a field sobriety test, there’s no justification for an arrest.”

Residents of Colorado, as well as Americans across the nation, are waiting with bated breath to see if the feds will enforce the Schedule I classification of weed, in spite of I-502. However, even non-users and Cannabis opponents must admit that these recent victories are foreshadowing for a more liberal nation. I-502 will benefit recreational users, medi-weed patients, growers, dispensary/collective owners, or even law enforcement themselves.

Norm adds, “Americans who believe in civil liberties, and those who are excessively heavy users, whose dependency has cost them relationships, jobs, health... the approximately half billion new revenue dollars will finance education, prevention, treatment.

“One footnote: those who are currently making millions of untaxed dollars will be hit hard. Application fees and taxes will take a big bite out of their profits – if they decide to stay in business and seek a license. But staying in business without constantly looking over your shoulder (for cops or robbers) strikes me as not a bad tradeoff.”

A slice of success enjoyed in Colorado, but not Washington, is the ability for recreational users to grow their own supply. Stamper suggests, “This can and, I predict, will be changed in the future as recreational growers lobby for the freedom to grow their own, much as ‘home brew’ enthusiasts are permitted to do with alcohol products. As envisioned, the only ‘police observation’ of retailers will come from the Liquor Control Board... but I think in most cities throughout the state, we’ll find the police are more than happy to be out of the pot-enforcement business.”

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws: www.norml.org Sensible Washington: www.SensibleWashington.org Continued on next page

6

The Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Initiative: Question 3 Accepted by sixty-three percent of voters and boasting numerous public health groups as proponents, Question 3 in Massachusetts represented a more traditional American approach towards legalization, ushering in legal medical Cannabis. Voters across the country viewed this as a more ‘normal’ procedure than the total legalization

“As a State Trooper, it was my experience that enforcing Cannabis laws was a low priority for the majority, if not all [of ] the State Troopers with whom I worked. The instruction I received in the State Police Academy regarding Cannabis was that it should be considered a low priority, because possession of Cannabis is not something that poses a threat to public safety. There are real crimes that seriously threaten public safety, and those

THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY MAKING MILLIONS OF UNTAXED DOLLARS WILL BE HIT HARD; APPLICATION FEES AND TAXES WILL TAKE A BIG BITE OUT OF THEIR PROFITS. adopted by Colorado and Washington; although, buoyed by the victory, many in the state believe this paves the way for a bookend ballot question in 2016, legalizing recreational use and possession of the drug.

Karen E. Hawkes, Massachusetts State Trooper First Class (retired), herself a medical patient, agrees that even nonusers are now becoming supportive of the medi-weed movement. “[O]nce they are informed, they see that certainly medical marijuana should be available to patients, and that it makes much more sense to legalize, control and regulate (and tax) marijuana, because prohibition causes so many more problems than legalizing. Probably most importantly, our policy of prohibition allows access to minors: children who I have met as a State Trooper as young as eight years old have access to marijuana, because drug sellers don’t ask for ID, all they want is your money. There are no ethics involved in the underground drug market; criminals will sell to anyone....

are the crimes that we should be fighting. If there is no harm in possessing Cannabis and we treat those who possess Cannabis as criminals, then we are, in effect, criminalizing innocent people who are doing no harm. Criminalizing innocent people has serious negative implications – not only to those who are criminalized, but to the integrity of the law and law enforcers, as well as the taxpaying public.

“Law enforcers need to be responsible in spending taxpayers’ money, and use our limited and valuable resources to fight real crime. Enforcing Cannabis laws takes money and resources away from fighting real crimes such as murder, rape and robbery; these are real crimes that a law enforcer with integrity will fight.

“I have not always been an advocate...

I was neutral on the issue of Cannabis until I found myself in the position of being a medical marijuana patient.”

She elaborates, “When I became a medicinal marijuana patient, I realized

that the Cannabis issue is not to be taken lightly. Cannabis has so many helpful medicinal qualities that it is a shame that it is not available to doctors to recommend to their patients, as a safer and more effective medicine than harmful pharmaceuticals. Before I had a stroke, I was very healthy and had no idea the negative impact that legal pharmaceuticals have on patients. I also had no idea how safe and effective medical marijuana is to sick people.

Law enforcement certainly has no place in deciding what medicine is best for people who are suffering and dying from chronic and terminal illnesses.”

Production is an obvious concern; however, growers should follow state laws and hopefully the feds will not intervene. The wait-and-see approach, as in Washington and Colorado, has been adopted here. On a state level, Hawkes reveals, the issue is far more straightforward. “There are protections under the Massachusetts law [against] state prosecution and penalties for health care professionals, for dispen-

laws without federal interference.

“This new legality will mostly affect patients who are suffering and dying of chronic, debilitating and terminal illnesses by allowing patients safe and legal access to their medicine. This law is going to alleviate so much suffering.

It has already alleviated a lot of anxiety that goes with being labeled a criminal, just because your medicine happens to be illegal – even though you know it is safe and effective. It’s a wonderful thing to get the sick and dying off the battlefield of the Drug War.” All this progress is potentially set to be offset by the same issue affecting the other two states featured here, which involves driving with Cannabis in your system.

Karen informs us that “Massachusetts State Police are trained to detect alcohol and drug use during field sobriety testing. Law enforcers in [the state] must prove probable cause in order to make a DUI charge. In Massachusetts, a person’s blood cannot be taken without the person’s consent; or in the case of a motor vehicle accident, if blood is taken at the hospital for medical purposes, a subpoena must be issued in order to get blood test results.

“So, if a patient is responsible in taking their medication – as they should be in taking any medication – and gives law enforcers no cause to believe that their ability to safely operate a motor vehicle on a public way has been compromised, then patients and the public are safe. If a person is driving in such a way

THE MASSACHUSETTS LAW ADDRESSED CONCERNS PEOPLE HAD OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA BECOMING AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO WERE NOT QUALIFIED FOR ITS USE. sary agents and for growers. Growers with a ‘cultivation registration’ are protected against forfeiture and arrest for the lawful possession, cultivation, transfer, transport, distribution or manufacture of medical marijuana, as authorized by the law.

that might indicate, and help prove probable cause of ‘operating under the influence’, then this will be used to prove an OUI (DUI). In other words, if a patient poses no threat to public safety, then public safety should pose no threat to the patient.

“Massachusetts has taken a look at the medical marijuana laws in the seventeen preceding states, as well as Washington, D.C., to make the most effective and safe medical marijuana law yet written in the United States.... I think the Massachusetts law addressed concerns people had of medical marijuana becoming available to those who were not qualified for its use. I believe the law in Massachusetts is not going to raise any hackles on the feds, and that the feds will allow Massachusetts to handle their own medical marijuana

“I think a less obvious benefit to Question 3 is that it validates Cannabis as a useful medicinal plant. There are many suffering people who either don’t know of the plant’s medicinal benefits, or who would not use it because of its illegal status. I believe a lot more people are going to be helped by this plant, now that Question 3 has passed and doctors have this available to recommend to their patients as a safer and more effective alternative to the harmful and often dangerous side effects of pharmaceuticals.”

Committee for Compassionate Medicine: www.compassionforpatients.com Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance: www.masspatients.org

GROWMED 2013

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Book your stand now for GROWMED, the biggest medical marijuana show in Europe!

GROWMED is a medical marijuana expo that caters to those who are interested in growing medical marijuana plants, and also to people who use medical marijuana. This will be the largest medical cultivation show in Europe, presenting a huge amount of exhibits including seed companies, nutrient producers, caregivers, evaluation services, legal services, educational institutes, equipment, accessories and much more.

The medical Cannabis industry is booming in Europe, presenting a unique moment to enter the European market. GROWMED offers an excellent platform upon which you can present and/or sell your products. You will also meet all of the major European wholesalers, manufacturers and shops while attending GROWMED. This year will present the second-ever edition held in all of Europe. The first edition was held in April of 2012 and was very successful, with over 129,000 square feet of exhibits.

We urge supporters of the medical marijuana industry to come to Europe and participate in what is sure to be the biggest medical event on the continent. Due to high demand in the fastest-growing industry in Europe and the limited spaces available, contact us ASAP to reserve your spot. We even offer special prices for medi-weed related vendors from the United States and Canada.

Fact and Figures: t &VSPQF NJMMJPO JOIBCJUBOUT t 5SBEF 4IPX -PDBUJPO 7BMFODJB 4QBJO t %BUF "QSJM th, 20th, 21st t 5PUBM &YQP 4QBDF GU2 (12,000 m2) t "MM TFSWJDFT BSF BWBJMBCMF TVDI BT GVSOJture rental, modular stands, hostesses, printing, etc.

Interested in getting started in Europe?

Start building your European network and book a stand today! Send us an e-mail, or call for more information. www.growmed.es info@growmed.es Call DeWayne at (310) 926-3400

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CANNABIS KITCHEN

I love this time of year! No matter where you are in the world or what nationality you might be – it’s time to gather with family and friends, reflect on the past year, remember those who have left us and celebrate our accomplishments. This is the time of year that I always find a good excuse to cook something delicious... here is just a taste of what will be on our table when we gather this Hempie Holiday Season!

Hempie Holidays! t 3FEVDF UIF PWFO UFNQFSBUVSF UP EFHSFFT t 6TJOH B WFSZ TIBSQ LOJGF DVU UIF MPHT PO UIF diagonal into slices 3/8 -inch thick. t 4UBOE UIF TMJDFT VQSJHIU PO UIF CBLJOH TIFFU BOE return the sheet to the oven for 15 minutes to dry the cookies thoroughly. t 5SBOTGFS UP SBDLT UP DPPM t 4UPSF CJTDPUUJ JO BO BJSUJHIU DPOUBJOFS GPS VQ UP four weeks.

mixture to a boil; reduce heat to low and cook uncovered for two hours. t .FBOXIJMF QMBDF UIF SJDF BOE XBUFS JOUP B TBVDFpan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until all liquid is absorbed and rice is light and fluffy, about 20 minutes. t #FGPSF TFSWJOH SFNPWF UIF IBN IPDLT GSPN UIF pot. Coarsely chop the meat and return to the black-eyed pea mixture. Serve hot over rice.

Add about ¼-inch of water to the bottom of the pan. Roast in the preheated oven for three to four hours, or until the internal temperature of the bird reaches 180 degrees. t -FU UIF CJSE SFTU GPS BCPVU NJOVUFT CFGPSF carving.

BISCOTTI Colorful little red and green dotted cookies – excellent any time of the day! ½ cup canna-butter, room temperature ¾ cup sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 teaspoons orange zest 2¼ cups flour, all-purpose 1½ teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon ground cloves ¼ teaspoon salt 1 cup dried cranberries 2 /3 cup raw pistachio nuts Directions: t 1SFIFBU PWFO UP ¡ ' t #VUUFS BOE GMPVS B CBLJOH TIFFU t *O B CPXM DSFBN UPHFUIFS UIF DBOOB CVUUFS BOE sugar until light and fluffy. t #FBU JO UIF FHHT WBOJMMB BOE PSBOHF [FTU VOUJM blended. t *O BOPUIFS CPXM TUJS UPHFUIFS UIF GMPVS CBLJOH powder, cloves and salt. t "EE UIF GMPVS NJYUVSF UP UIF DBOOB CVUUFS NJYture and beat until blended. t 4UJS JO DSBOCFSSJFT BOE QJTUBDIJPT t %JWJEF UIF EPVHI JO IBMG t 0OF BU B UJNF QMBDF UIF UXP EPVHI QPSUJPOT PO the prepared baking sheet and form each into a log about ½-inch high, 1½ inches wide and 14 inches long. t 4QBDF MPHT BU MFBTU UXP JODIFT BQBSU t #BLF UIF MPHT GPS UP NJOVUFT PS VOUJM TFU and light brown. t 5SBOTGFS UP B DVUUJOH CPBSE BOE MFU DPPM TJY UP eight minutes.

ROASTED VEGGIES ROSEMARY TURKEY LUCKY BLACKEYED PEA SOUP This recipe is a wonderful combination of all things bringing prosperity for the New Year; black-eyed peas provide luck and the cabbage brings money.

3 tablespoons canna-oil 1 onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 3 cups finely-shredded Napa cabbage 1 (8-ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained 1 pound ham hocks 1 /8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 bay leaves ½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning Salt to taste 1 quart chicken stock 1 (10-ounce) package frozen black-eyed peas Directions: t )FBU UIF DBOOB PJM JO B EFFQ QBO PS TUPDLQPU TFU over medium-high heat. Stir in the onions and garlic; cook until transparent, about five minutes.

Mix in the Napa cabbage; toss and cook until wilted, about two minutes. Add the ham hocks, cayenne pepper, bay leaves, Cajun seasoning and salt, stirring for two minutes more. Pour in the chicken stock and black-eyed peas. Bring the

This recipe makes your turkey moist and full of flavor. You can also use this recipe for Cornish game hens, chicken breasts or roasting chicken. ¼ cup and 2 tablespoons canna-olive oil 1 tablespoon and 1½ teaspoons minced garlic 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped 1½ teaspoons fresh basil, chopped 1½ teaspoons Italian seasoning ½ teaspoon ground black pepper Salt to taste ½ of a turkey (12-pound) t 1SFIFBU PWFO UP ¡ ' t *O B TNBMM CPXM NJY UIF DBOOB PMJWF PJM HBSMJD rosemary, basil, Italian seasoning, black pepper and salt. Set aside. t 8BTI UIF UVSLFZ JOTJEF BOE PVU QBU ESZ Remove any large fat deposits. Loosen the skin from the breast (this is done by slowly working your fingers between the breast and the skin).

Work it loose to the end of the drumstick, being careful not to tear the skin. t 6TJOH ZPVS IBOE TQSFBE B HFOFSPVT BNPVOU of the rosemary mixture under the breast skin and down the thigh and leg. Rub the remainder of the rosemary mixture over the outside of the breast. Use toothpicks to seal skin over any exposed breast meat. t 1MBDF UIF UVSLFZ PO B SBDL JO B SPBTUJOH QBO

This colorful dish has the perfect blend of sweet and savory. It is simple to prepare and can be served as a side dish, salad or light meal. Feel free to substitute whatever veggies and herbs you have on hand.

2 tablespoons canna-olive oil, divided 1 large yam, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces 1 large parsnip, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces 1 cup baby carrots 1 zucchini, cut into 1-inch slices 1 bunch fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces ½ cup roasted red peppers, cut into 1-inch pieces 2 cloves garlic, minced ¼ cup chopped fresh basil ½ teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon ground black pepper t 1SFIFBU PWFO UP ¡ ' (SFBTF UXP CBLJOH sheets with one tablespoon canna-olive oil. t 1MBDF UIF ZBNT QBSTOJQT BOE DBSSPUT POUP UIF baking sheets. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, then add the zucchini and asparagus, and drizzle with the remaining one tablespoon of canna-olive oil. Continue baking until all of the vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes more. Once tender, remove from the oven, and cool for 30 minutes on the baking sheet. t 5PTT UIF SPBTUFE QFQQFST UPHFUIFS XJUI UIF garlic, basil, salt and pepper in a large bowl until combined. Add the roasted vegetables and toss to mix. Serve at room temperature or cold.

9

ONLINE

www.MarijuanaMajority.com “BAD LAWS CHANGE WHEN GOOD PEOPLE SPEAK UP!”

In an era of simply clicking ‘share’ on a news article or ‘like’ on the latest meme, it is imperative that people attempt to maintain some sort of real connection with the current political climate, whether locally, nationally or internationally – especially when public opinion on certain issues is changing and shifting so rapidly. One of

adults over 21. Even more voters approve of medical Cannabis, an herbal alternative that is battling the pharmaceutical takeover of the United States and attempting to wean an over-medicated nation.

Legalization has become a mainstream issue over the past decade or so, and even non-users are beginning to understand

legalization of Cannabis for medical applications, recreational use, or both. Some people just want to stop wasting trillions of dollars on the federal calamity known as the War on Drugs. In America, over half the population is no longer afraid to voice support of legalization, at the risk of

Sativa Diva

option is to look for particular groups or occupations. Site visitors can follow the progress of legalization via members of the press and other media moguls, journalists, scientists, entertainers, medical professionals, producers, directors, religious leaders, economists – or even give feedback to world leaders or elected officials, former and current, from past presidents to police chiefs, Democratic and Republican heads, White House officials, judges, and many more. All this serves to prove that the majority of Americans now realize the Drug War is archaic and pointless, not to mention horrendously expensive and damaging, and are trying to do their part to end prohibition.

The regulation of Cannabis will allow for a healthier America – physically, socially and economically.

“The main point in [our] report was to recommend decriminalization...because of the way laws are applied, which have not worked. We have applied them for decades

MEDICAL PATIENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE STILL BEING DENIED EFFECTIVE MEDICINE THAT CAN ALSO HELP THEM AVOID THE NASTY SIDE-EFFECTS ACCOMPANYING MANY PHARMACEUTICALS. alienating family or friends, or even losing employment. Naturally, stigma persists, and more progress needs to be made to educate and advocate with accurate information, beginning with doctors’ ability

and it’s got the prisons filled with lots of young people who sometimes come out destroyed for having half an ounce... [W]e should approach it through education [and] health issues rather than a brutal reaction...

A majority of Americans support medical or recreational Cannabis, or both

the best ways that all generations can get involved in and keep in touch with the pro-legalization front is via websites such as www.MarijuanaMajority.com – ‘sign’ petitions, learn statistics, donate, find out how you can help, or just keep yourself informed. What you may find surprising is how many different people from incredibly varied backgrounds now support the cause. The global progress of the pro-pot movement is gaining ground.

Across the United States, people are now realizing the harm done by arresting and incarcerating first-time, non-violent or low level drug offenders (at racially disparate rates, in many cities), and many support the taxation and legal sales of pot to

what we activists have been claiming all along: the destruction inflicted upon society is not from the drug, but rather the Drug War itself.

Incarceration is senseless and irresponsible, and causes lasting damage to the ‘criminal’ pot user – and eventually, to society as a whole. In many states and on a federal level, much-needed potential tax revenue is being ignored, which could fund schools and improve infrastructure.

Perhaps worst of all, medical patients across the country are still being denied effective medicine that can also help them avoid the nasty side effects accompanying many pharmaceuticals. For these reasons, a majority of Americans now support the

(Flickr: Kofi Annan - World Economic Forum on Africa, 2012)

to prescribe, much less discuss, medical Cannabis as therapy.

At MarijuanaMajority.com, a comprehensive approach is taken towards networking and furthering the weed agenda by presenting a one-stop collection of propot, or anti-Drug War, enthusiasts. You can search for info on certain issues: legalization, decriminalization, medi-weed or the failure of the War on Drugs. Another

There is need for change in policy, but it has to start with debate and discussion... I think the whole approach has to be reviewed.” – Kofi Annan, Former Secretary-General of the United Nations (Speech to Brookings Institution) Expand your horizons at www.marijuanamajority.com or e-mail info@marijuanamajority.com for more information.

10

SEED BANKS

The New Super-Automatics 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, in addition to introducing the new wave of auto-flowering seeds known as ‘Super-Autos’. As an example, we provide information pertaining to the development of the Sweet Seeds seed bank’s catalog of auto-flowering seeds. All photographs are of 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.

tained cannabinoid levels without giving up the aromas typical of the elite clones used.

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

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 cultiva-

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. This 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.

THE MAIN TRAIT OF THESE STRAINS IS THAT THEY FLOWER AUTOMATICALLY, REGARDLESS OF THE HOURS OF LIGHT THEY RECEIVE. snow – only allows for three or four months of favorable conditions each year in which the plants can grow and reproduce. 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.

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 at 12 to 35 inches – which is another reason they used to be scorned as raw material for industrial

tors. 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.

varieties in their closets. The main reason these cultivators select auto varieties is the velocity of their life cycle – just 60 to 70 days from planting to harvesting. Although these auto-flowering varieties are cultivated indoors (with a photoperiod of 18 to 20 hours of light and four to six 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 autoflowering seeds saves. The end result for indoor growers is a savings in electricity, as

Mr. Stoned Edge

Cannabis community. It was immediately successful, offering growers a 100% autoflowering strain with an extremely rapid flowering period, characterized 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 auto-flowering varieties for the 2010 season: ‘Fast Bud’ and ‘Big Devil’. Fast Bud is the Sweet Seeds catalog’s most rapidly growing strain, a high quality, auto-flowering seed that is ready to yield just seven-and-a-half weeks after

IN CITIES, THESE VARIETIES ARE IMMUNE TO LIGHT CONTAMINATION FROM STREET LIGHTING, FLOWERING CORRECTLY EVEN DIRECTLY UNDER A LAMPPOST. 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 feminized seeds began experimenting with auto-flowering seeds around 2007. Early in the 2009 season, Sweet Seeds presented their first auto-flowering variety, Speed Devil, to the

planting. It is characterized 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 35 to 60 inches, with an abundant production of resin and a sweet, incense aroma similar to haze plants.

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 vigor. Selections must be made, generation by generation, also con-

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

THE POSSIBILITY OF HARVESTING OUT OF SEASON IS AN INCREDIBLE ADVANTAGE FOR ALL OUTDOOR CULTIVATORS. uses, due to the small size of the fibers.

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 plants, which main-

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

Speed Devil

11 sidering the risk of producing genetic derivations with undesired qualities. With non auto-flowering varieties, genetic compositions remain much more stable as the years go by; thus, selected clones are used to produce commercial seeds.

stature variety. Sweet Seeds selected this strain, which can reach a height of 3’ 3”to 4’ 11”, 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.

Last year, for the 2011 season, Sweet Seeds presented a revolution of these three proS.A.D. Auto: posals. The new versions are being marAuto-flowering version of the S.A.D. S-1 keted under the names Speed Devil #2, Fast aromatic, the result of cross-breeding and Bud #2 and Big Devil #2. The seed bank does subsequent stabilization of the best autonot 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. Speed Devil With this price reduction, we can safely say that they are the most inexpensive femin- predecessor’s rapid flowering period, yieldized, auto-flowering seeds on the market, ing plants whose resinous and aromatic buds are mature and perfectly formed just with a really excellent value for money.

60 days after planting.

Aside from the three new versions, the Sweet Seeds surprises of the season include With Speed Devil #2, the average plant is another three new auto-flowering varieties: larger, at 27 to 32 inches. Another charac- S.A.D. Auto Cream Caramel Auto, Black Jack Auto and teristic is the noticeable increase in side S.A.D. Auto. They are the result of breeding branches, which produce large buds; this flowering indicas with the S.A.D. S-1. A high programs aimed at introducing and stabiliz- also increases production. This version quality auto plant, with abundant buds and ing the auto-flowering trait from some of shows an increase in resinous crystal. The resin production, an intense, sweet and musky aroma, rapid flowering, powerful effect and the great vigor of a hybrid.

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.

Cream Caramel

Black Jack Auto: An auto-flowering version of Black Jack, the result of cross-breeding between the S.A.D. Auto and a Jack Herer Auto, created by the Sweet Seeds R&D department especially in order to produce this cross.

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 auto-flowering siblings.

Cream Caramel Auto: 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 catalog 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, poly-hybrid, non-automatic seeds we are used to. These new generations, 100% automatic and feminized, are in no way lacking compared to their non auto-flowering relations – as far as vigor, 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.

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 16 and 36 inches.

Powerful effect and sweet aromas with an exotic touch inherited from plants of the Diesel family. Rapid flowering auto plant.

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 production, an intense, sweet aroma with earthy tonalities, a powerful effect, the great vigor of a hybrid and rapid flowering.

Medium-sized (16 to 32 inches).

Black Jack Auto

A high quality auto plant, with abundant buds and resin production. Intense, sweet incense aroma, rapid flowering, powerful effect, with the great vigor of a hybrid.

Big Devil #2: The first evolution of the Big Devil strain is an auto-flowering and feminized, high-

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 Big Devil

Black Jack Auto

12

DIY

Mud Pies to Grubbycoins Making mud pies is a pretty common childhood activity. There is something almost instinctively satisfying about taking soil or clay and pressing it into small, compressed shapes. Through trial and error one learns how too little water crumbles apart, too much turns to mush; somewhere between, it becomes malleable yet still able to somewhat hold its shape. Skills worthy of pride are sometimes developed, and then all too often, the adults come by, and one day they tell you that you are too old for mud pies. Gentle readers, I want you to know those skills were not developed in vain. Cast off those shackles of “Don’t get Grubbycup your hands dirty!” and get a little grubby.

do tend to dry out quicker than a larger mass would – and water or nutrient solution can be precisely applied. Since

matching square form. One nice thing about this method is that the form can be made to fit the post. Do not make the fit too tight, however, as the wood may swell a bit. A nub on the end of the piston will create a hollow to place the seed into. They can be made in any

Homemade soil cubes require childhood mud pie skills

the sides of the cubes are left open, the sprout’s roots will naturally ‘air prune’ when they reach the edge. The cubes are usually two inches or smaller, so they

THE NEWLY-FORMED CUBES ARE AT THEIR MOST FRAGILE RIGHT AFTER PRESSING AND SHOULD BE MOVED CAREFULLY WITH A FLAT TOOL, SUCH AS A PUTTY KNIFE OR SPATULA.

Moisture activates the plant embryo; it will burst through the shell case and sprout ‘Propagation’ is simply the art of making more of something. When growing Cannabis, the plants start out small as seeds or cuttings, which are then encouraged to grow larger and then flower.

Seeds are covered with ‘seed casings,’

size that works out well, but two inches across is a nice size for starting Cannabis seeds while giving them room to sprout before transplanting.

mon to use some sort of ‘starter cubes’, either homemade or store-bought.

These cubes are small plugs of growth medium that allow a seed to be planted and cared for individually. Moisture levels are easy to monitor – although cubes

AS SEEDS NEED TO BE KEPT MOIST (AND SPROUTS MOIST BUT NOT SOGGY) IT IS COMMON TO USE SOME SORT OF ‘STARTER CUBES’, EITHER HOMEMADE OR STORE-BOUGHT. which are protective shells that protect a dehydrated plant embryo. When the seed casing becomes moist, water is absorbed through small holes in the shell. This absorbed water re-hydrates the small embryo until it swells and starts to develop, bursting through the casing. The reason that seeds are often soaked for a day before germination is to accelerate this process. Cannabis will germinate well at temperatures of 70º to 85º (F), with 75º being about ideal.

While seeds need to be moist for sprouting to occur, sprouts need more than water – they need light and oxygen. The leaves need light to develop, and the taproot that is sent out requires air as well as water. Care must be taken not to over-water and wind up with either a Pre-made cubes like these fungus problem or drowned sprout. are easy to use, and can be As seeds need to be kept moist (and planted in minutes sprouts moist but not soggy) it is com-

are easy to move around and don’t take up nearly as much room as full-sized pots would.

Pre-made cubes are on the market, and tend to be easier and sturdier than homemade ones. They also tend to be more expensive, and do not allow you to customize the mix used to form them.

To make soil cubes at home, dust off those mud pie skills: you will need some sort of form, a suitable soil mix, water, at least one tray – and a place to make a mess. The concept is to press the sprouting mix into the form, and then remove the form without destroying the cube.

The best way to remove the cube from the form without breaking it is with a piston.

You can press the mix together with your hands to make plugs, but they look nicer – and more consistent – if you use some sort of form. A simple form and piston can be made from a pair of plastic pill bottles, one slightly larger around than the other. Remove the bottom of the larger one, so that it becomes a tube, then slide the smaller bottle inside. It should fit closely, so finding the right pair is critical. Mix is added to the tube, and then the smaller bottle is used to compress and hold the soil in place as the tube is slid off.

Square plugs can be made with a small wooden post with a nub on the end, surrounded by a

Commercial soil plug presses are available in either metal or wood. The metal press I tested did not compress the blocks as much as my homemade wooden one, but it pressed much faster, and made four blocks at a time. Once

A homemade soil cube press

13 Wash the soil-cube fingerprints from earlier off your cup, and get a refill – this part is messy, too.

As humidity increases, the hair stretches, and the pointer lowers formed, they both seemed to hold up equally well in use. I would suggest making a small batch with a homemade form as a ‘proof of concept’ prior to spending money on a purchased form.

The forms are expensive, so if you are not going to use them enough to make it worthwhile, your money might be better spent on pre-made cubes.

The mix that you use makes a big difference they hold together and mixes intended for seed

in the forms in how well perform. Soil sprouting are

the cubes. The newly-formed cubes are at their most fragile right after pressing and should be moved carefully with a flat tool, such as a putty knife or spatula.

As they dry, they will get harder and a little sturdier, but will always be fairly fragile and prone to fracturing.

Seeds can be placed onto the cubes, loosely covered with a pinch of mix and kept moist (but not soggy) until sprouting occurs. Do not crowd the cubes too close together or the roots will not prune correctly. Humidity has an impact

THE MIX THAT YOU USE IN THE FORMS MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE IN HOW WELL THEY HOLD TOGETHER AND PERFORM. often acceptable. I use a mix made with approximately equal parts coir, peat moss, perlite and compost, but success can be had with many different recipes.

Mild nutrients or other additives can be included into the mix if desired, but use sparingly so the tender sprouts are not overwhelmed.

Have a couple of tokes, fill your own ‘grubby cup’ with your favorite beverage and keep it handy – this next part gets a little messy.

on how quickly the cubes dry out; the lower the humidity, the more frequent watering they require. In areas of low humidity, covering with a transparent dome can help trap moist air near the seeds. Once the cubes are well-rooted, they can be planted directly into the garden, or into pots. Small pots can be made with cheap plastic drinking cups or the bottoms of two-liter soda bottles.

An inexpensive soldering iron can make neat drainage holes easily, but be careful not to burn yourself.

Water should be added to the mix until it forms a mushy, firm, oatmeal-like consistency. You should be able to squeeze a lit-

While a hygrometer can be purchased pretty inexpensively to display humidity, there are several basic ones that

ity, the hair will shrink, contract, and the weight will rise.

As an upgrade to this design, a pointer can be attached to a pivot and the free end of the hair attached to the pointer.

A loosened tack stuck through a bamboo skewer can act as a pointer. Attach the hanging washer to the pointer, and the smaller movements shown by the washer will be amplified at the tip of the pointer. ‘Low’ marks can be added to show the range of wetness, and ‘high’ the dryness, of your room.

In areas of low humidity, one common problem is with your buds drying out in storage. They can become brittle and turn to dust if improperly stored in such conditions. Commercial products are available for maintaining proper moisture levels in containers, and often use either a silica gel or a propylene glycol and water solution. Many home remedies include adding something moist (e.g., fruit slices, a bit of bread, etc.) but these release their moisture very quickly, and can lead to molding if not carefully tended to.

The clay should be wet enough to shape with your hands, and dry enough to hold its shape once formed. If the clay is too dry, add a small amount of water and mix. Add water in only small amounts, as too much water will make a soupy mess that is difficult to work with. If the clay becomes too wet, let the air dry it (mixing occasionally) until it reaches a more usable consistency.

Mud pie and soil cube skills come in handy here, too.

Touch the tip of your finger to the tip of your thumb, in a circle. That is about the diameter your coins should be, about a quarter-inch thick. Using a toothpick or other instrument, words or shapes can be inscribed. Once the coins have been shaped, they must be allowed to dry completely: the charcoal burns very hot, and a piece of pottery buried in charcoal can reach temperatures high enough to glow, ‘firing’ the clay. Firing will turn any trapped water into steam, which will burst through the clay as it escapes.

Put down a layer of charcoal, then the coins, then gently cover with a layer of additional charcoal. Carefully light the coals, and do not disturb the pile until the fire has burned itself out. Once the

MAKE SURE THAT ANY CLAY PURCHASED IS NATURAL CLAY, AS THERE ARE MODELING AND POLYMER CLAYS THAT ARE UNSUITABLE. Small pieces of terra cotta (such as from a broken flowerpot) soaked in water release moisture gradually. By checking at least daily, adjusting the number and moisture level of clay pieces, and opening and closing the container, moisture content can be regulated.

You can also make your own, but be careful: making homemade clay coins involves hot coals, and should only be attempted by those able to deal with hot objects safely. The first ingredient needed for making clay coins is natural clay. Make sure that any clay purchased is natural clay, as there are modeling and polymer clays that are unsuitable.

ashes are well-cooled, fish the coins out of the ashes and rinse in clean water.

The coins are now ready for use; dip in water and place in stash jars as needed.

For the craft-oriented gardener, these simple do-it-yourself project ideas can be a fun way to take a ‘hands-on’ look at some of the principles involved. While it may be easier to just purchase soil cubes, hygrometers, pots, etc., understanding them well enough to be able to improvise them in an emergency can be a handy skill to have.

Peace, love and puka shells, Grubbycup

These Grubbycoins are useful in keeping your stash fresh tle water out of a handful of the wet mix, but the mix itself should not be runny.

Press the mold into the mix to fill it. With a sort of scooping-twisting motion, lift up the form (hopefully without spilling too much) and fill any voids by hand.

Set the form on the drying tray, and press the plunger – first, without moving the form to compact the mix until some of the water is expressed, and then again, moving the form to release

can be made at home. A basic example can be made with a small, flat board, a thumbtack, three or four long human hairs (eight inches or more) and a washer. Tie one end of each of the hairs to the thumbtack, and tie the other end to the washer. Push the thumbtack into the board so the hairs dangle the weight along one face. By marking where the weight is, humidity can be estimated: in high humidity, the hair will lengthen and the weight will lower; in low humid-

The clay coins become waterproof with firing

14

STRAIN REPORT

Grow Diary: Swazi

1 Packed Nicely

Maximize your space with this easy trellising technique...

For this grow I went with Swazi. Originating in Swaziland, South Africa, it’s a pure sativa that can reach heights of 6’ 7” to 9’ 9”, with an exotic taste and smell. The flowers tend to have large bracts that are resin-coated, and it has a flowering period of nine to fourteen weeks – with high yields.

A cutting was taken from a mother plant, applied with Clonex and allowed to propagate until it was brimming with roots. It was placed on an Atami Wilma four-pot, but the four 11-liter pots were replaced with a single, Mapito-filled 18-liter pot to accommodate one plant and greater root growth. I

THIS METHOD IS A FORM OF TRELLISING AND HELPS WITH LIGHT EXPOSURE, ESPECIALLY WHEN USING A LOWER-POWERED LIGHT. am a great believer in providing the proper quantity and quality of light, but with this grow I was interested in seeing just what was possible to achieve with this one plant and single 400-watt HID. See photo 1 On the nutrient front, this time I went for the Atami B’Cuzz Hydro range with Bloom Stimulant and Bloombastic. I also used the additive Vitalink Biopac during the veg stage to ensure a healthy root zone, and the provision of beneficial bacteria.

I believe that observation and awareness are the keys to a quality crop, not just checking the pH and EC, but looking – gaining knowledge about your plants. Having said that, of course the pH and EC were regularly checked, but neither required much alteration during the entire grow. The minimum and maximum temperature and humidity levels were also measured to ensure that there were no major swings that could cause difficulties detrimental to the growth of the plant. Pleasingly, there were no pest problems, either.

The Mapito was thoroughly soaked prior to use, in order to lower its EC value. The cutting was placed in a four-foot (1.2 m) tent that had been lined with diamond reflective material. After the first few weeks of vegetative growth, a plastic mesh was fitted across the tent at a height of about 18 inches above the pot top, and molded into a concave shape to ensure that growth not directly beneath the light was pushed closer to it, for more exposure. Throughout the veg cycle and for the first week of flowering, any new

LEAVES WERE REMOVED FROM BELOW THE MESH LINE TO PREVENT THEM FROM WASTING ENERGY BY STRETCHING IN A SEARCH FOR LIGHT. growth was woven through the mesh, being careful not to cause damage to the delicate shoots and meristems (although if they are given time, plants do normally tend to recover from the occasional snapped stem and they can actually be mended by fixing the two ends of the stem back together with sticky tape). See photo 2

This method is a form of trellising and helps with light exposure, especially when using a lower-powered light, and is also a method worth considering when dealing with a low ceiling height. The plant was trained to grow horizontally, and a vegetative state was maintained until the majority of the mesh was utilized. Let’s face it – veg is everything to good flowering. Vigorous growth was observed through this period of around ten days, as the plant filled out across the mesh.

Throughout the grow, leaves were removed from below the line of the mesh to prevent them from wasting energy by stretching in a search for light.

Other leaves were periodically pruned from the canopy, but never more than twenty-five to thirty percent of the large leaves; after all, these are the sites that produce the sugars for growth and flowering. From experience, I have realized that it pays to put the plant into flower when there is still some area of mesh available. This takes into account the growth during the early flowering phase, when the plant makes some room for the buds to grow. See photo 3 Once this point was reached, I started using the B’Cuzz Bloom stimulant, slowly increasing the dose over the flowering period from half a milliliter to one milliliter. At this time, I also reduced the light cycle from the 18.5 hours the plant had been receiving down to 11.5 hours, to induce flowering. I used a Sunmaster dual-spectrum bulb with its (thirty percent more) blue spectrum for the vegetative growth and the initial couple of weeks of flowering; then I changed to a Grolux bulb, to give more of the red light spectrum for the final weeks toward harvest.

It was not long before there was an observable response from the plant, as flowers began to form across the mesh. See photo 4 As mentioned earlier, I also introduced Bloombastic into the mix as a bloom booster for the last four weeks, or ripening phase, of flowering. With this product it is advisable to steer away from also using a PK booster. There is no need, as Bloombastic has enough bio-minerals and bio-stimulators contained within it (and I have heard tales of plants being killed when using both together). There was soon a visible increase in the formation of trichomes across the leaves and calyxes.

The plant was put into flush for just under two weeks and was provided with only water to ensure the dissipation of any excess nutrient salts. Then the day of harvest finally came; by this point one got the impression that the mesh was beginning to strain from the weight resting upon it. When cutting, most of the bud was found above the mesh (one of the benefits of this technique) but there was also a very charming crown of frosted buds, profuse with crystals, that was located just below the mesh. When dried, the yield came in at just under 14.5 ounces of sticky, sweet Swazi bud – a very satisfying and smashing harvest. See photo 5 Sadly and illogically, it is still illegal in most parts of the world to cultivate any Cannabis without a license. If you want to decrease the danger but heighten the delight, then perhaps you might want to consider ‘branching out’ and trying this trellising technique.

A single Swazi plant under a 400-watt HID

2

As the plants grow, ease the branches through the mesh

3

The flowers take advantage of empty space as they develop

4

5

Most of the buds sit above the mesh, but lower branches will also yield

15

SMUGGLER’S TALES

War Dispatches: Part II It was six months since I had been busted and the Spanish summer was full on. Prison is no fun at the best of times, but an overcrowded, halfbuilt one in summer is hell. The other guests, a quadrillion flies who had moved in, split their time between the kitchen, toilets and us. The toilets were their main hangout, an eye-watering oasis of ammonia that had you retching. The other attraction, and their breeding ground, was the un-built kitchen: a muddy patio strewn with rotting food, presided over by a one-eyed gypsy who never washed or peeled anything. He was O’Riodon also covered in flies.

Part of our punishment was ‘limpieza’ or cleaning duty. If you had money you paid it off – especially kitchen duty, which was hell. The chef, who liked to drink, hated foreigners and was allowed to carry a knife for his job. Paying this off was the only answer. Low on money, I had once worked ten minutes of a breakfast shift before a knife at my throat convinced me to pay, but not before I saw a pound of bromide being poured into the morning coffee. I quit coffee that day.

My lawyer showed up again. He had delayed the trial, having not quite yet sucked me dry. The whole system moved so slowly and in only one direction, so nobody returned to tell what was happening at the other end. It could be that

lowing day, a record player and a load of records arrived. From now on, we would have music each Sunday afternoon, and what music – Zeppelin, Hendrix, Airplane, CSNY, the Stones – after six months of flamenco, it was a relief.

cell, things were starting to happen. I felt sorry for the guys who were tripping and locked up with Spaniards, but we had cheesecake. During the next two-and-ahalf hours, my bed floated around the cell, my cellmates dematerialized a number of times and I discovered the meaning of life.

And we had cheesecake!

Siesta ended with the distant sound of sliding metal, followed by a ‘clang’: they were

The guards (a bunch of sadistic cartoon characters) were always poking, prying and quick to use violence, but foreigners really worried them. There were too many different nationalities, and they arrived in waves: Americans, Danes, British – at one point, half of Holland was there – but new people brought new things. When the acid arrived it really cranked up the crazy. One of my cellmates, an American, had a visit from his brother and every day, food packages arrived loaded with goodies – including lots of acid. This went on for a week; soon we had enough acid to trip the place out, many times over.

The following Sunday was to be our first try. Unfortunately, it was a day with a particularly noxious shift of guards, Julio and

MONEY COULD ALSO BUY PRIVATE PARDONS, SO IT WAS A GAME OF ROULETTE – YOU NEVER KNEW WHEN YOU WERE GETTING OUT. the ‘three years and you’re out’ story was just a load of crap to keep the lawyers in business. Money could also buy private pardons, so it was a game of roulette – you never knew when you were getting out.

the Sadistics. Julio, the Chief of Services, was a fat, sweaty man stuffed into a uniform two sizes too small. He wore thick glasses and carried a big stick; he also liked to drink. His henchmen were two identi-

Cadiz Prison The day arrived soon enough. Some attended church (remember, it is the priest who has the power and it pays to be appreciative). We also prayed for a good trip. After church, there was a particularly

opening up. As the sound drew nearer, the anticipation was electric. Then, the door swung open and one of the evil twins thrust his head inside – it was hideous and we froze like rabbits... but then, he was

THERE WERE AROUND EIGHTY OR SO FOREIGN PRISONERS IN A POPULATION OF THREE HUNDRED, AND ALL WERE CONSIDERED AN ESCAPE RISK. An instrument of torture

There were quicker ways to freedom, but they involved very large sums of money, and few had that. Escape, the only other option, was severely discouraged. Guards got a bonus if they shot an escaping prisoner, so they were very keen. To emphasize that fact they occasionally carried out target practice during siesta, with live ammo.

Life in here could be a little tense.

There were around eighty or so foreign prisoners in a population of three hundred, and all were considered an escape risk.

cal twins, thin and ferret-like with identical glasses and hairstyles; it was creepy, but not enough to dampen our sense of adventure. We already tried the acid and were impressed. What a social experiment this was going to be.

Meanwhile, the brother, with that wonderful pushy quality that only Americans have, visited the most powerful person in the prison: the priest. A short talk and a donation convinced him that we should be allowed to have some culture. The fol-

fortuitous omen: we were allowed two glasses of wine before lunch! This rarely happened, and never on Julio’s shift. There was a real sense of anticipation as we lined up for the count. On command, we turned and marched inside... for what we were ‘about to receive’.

We decided to drop the acid during siesta, to give everybody a chance to mellow out before hitting the patio. During lunch, most of the foreigners got a hit, and a few Spaniards as well. Then we were locked down for siesta, enough time for us to develop our own version of reality. In each

gone. There was a suspicious gleam in his eye; who knows what insanity he had witnessed upon opening other cells. We got up as if learning to walk and approached the open door. Out on the landing, our neighbors also emerged in lower gravity, and as one we headed down to the patio.

No words were needed and for the first time I noticed the intense beauty of the flaking paint.

It was at that moment that my cellmate did a very heroic thing: he entered Julio’s office and asked him to play Jimi Hendrix.

As the opening notes filled the patio, I

16 to piss. One note and I was going to solitary for sure, and I would not be alone – all around me, guys were cracking up.

The bugler was now defying gravity in

it off. We fell into our cells and rolled on the floor, paralyzed with laughter, the kind that hurts, but only in the nicest possible way.

WE STOOD TO ATTENTION AS THE BUGLER CLIMBED THE PODIUM – AND THEN FELL STRAIGHT OFF THE BACK. an attempt to connect with his instrument, and we were about to explode with laughter when he did. The bugler staggered, and at that point Julio called

The very next day, my lawyer showed up with a court date. Was I still tripping?

Stay tuned for Part III!

Solitary confinement, on LSD! watched my fellow inmates come alive.

Julio stared down suspiciously from his office window, sure that something was going on. Was the music doing this? Most of us found a spot in the sun and listened, but people do strange things on acid. During the next hours, we witnessed grown men on their hands and knees communicating with ants, while others chased bubbles around the patio.

By the time we got to Sergeant Pepper, Julio was so worried that he sent a ‘snatch party’ to the patio to find out what was going on, but they grabbed the only foreigner who wasn’t tripping. For us, it was magical and a reminder that our minds are always free. There were tears in my

the guard’s snitch. He also dressed the part: tight black jeans, greasy, slicked back hair and brothel creepers, all in an oversized, stained suit jacket; however tonight the ensemble was barely able to stand. This was going to be quite a show.

We lined up in front of our cells on the third floor. Below, the guards took their places. We stood to attention as the bugler climbed the podium – and then fell straight off the back. All around, suppressed laughter escaped like high pressure steam. Julio strode to a point directly below, purple with rage, and looked up at me.

Our prison kitchen

“Anyone that laughs, will go straight to solitary!” I grabbed the rail with both hands.

WE DECIDED TO DROP THE ACID DURING SIESTA, TO GIVE EVERYBODY A CHANCE TO MELLOW OUT BEFORE HITTING THE PATIO. eyes as I watched the sunset with Little Wing riding the evening breeze, but the fun was not over just yet.

We lined up for the evening count in a happy, rebellious mood. Julio watched from above; in his bones he knew something was going on. We filed inside for ‘Recuento’, Spanish Taps played on a bugle, but the bugler was drunk. The guards had plied him with brandy, trying to find out what was going on. A real lowlife, he was

The desire to laugh was overpowering, and it was the same for all of us. The bugler (with some help) was on his feet and in position. Julio raised his hand for silence.

The bugler even played bum notes when he was sober, so tonight’s performance was going to be hilarious.

Swaying on the podium for what seemed like an eternity, he slowly brought the bugle to his lips. My knuckles were white from gripping the rail, and now I needed

Guards received a bonus for The view from the patio

shooting escaping prisoners

Image: Dinafem

Moby Dick by Dinafem

18

CULTIVATION 101

Aeroponics Explained Aeroponics is the growing method of choice for cultivating high value crops across the globe, from commercial production for American supermarkets, to small-scale production in the NASA space station!

efit from a much-improved success rate, as the lack of growing medium used means the propagation environment is kept sterile.

Little Lebowski

Aeroponics may be seen by a percentage of growers as too expensive, complicated or advanced to be considered as a method for growing at home. In reality, the aeroponic systems available to the home grower are straightforward to use, and cost little more than any other hydro system. If you can maintain a nutrient

Why aeroponics over handwatering pots? t 6MUJNBUF TQFFE PG HSPXUI BOE NBTsive yields: Aeroponic systems offer the maximum possible exposure of plant roots to water, nutrients and oxygen.

The more availability of these three key elements the plant has, the faster

IF YOU CAN MAINTAIN A NUTRIENT TANK, CHECK EC AND ADJUST pH, THEN YOU CAN HANDLE AN AEROPONIC SYSTEM. tank, check EC and adjust pH, then you can handle an aeroponic system. Get ready for some monster yields!

What is aeroponics?

Aeroponics is a growing method whereby the roots of a plant are suspended in air and constantly sprayed with a mist of nutrient solution. No growing medium is used, other than a propagation cube if the plant was started from seed. The roots of the plant grow into a chamber or channel where they are fed by misters, sprinklers or

it will develop and, ultimately, the more it will yield. t 'BTUFS UVSOBSPVOE PG IBSWFTUT 5IF SBQJE growth that aeroponics offers allows growers to shorten the vegetative period of their growth cycle and get more harvests per year. t )FBMUIZ SPPU [POF /P HSPXJOH NFEJVN is required whatsoever – this means a reduced risk of soil-borne pests and diseases. t /FWFS VOEFS GFE PS VOEFS XBUFSFE BOE no nutrient buildup: Plant roots have constant exposure to all of the water

Clones are placed in a tray using neoprene clone collars; some of the propagators available use a mesh pot and a collar. The stems of the clones are

suspended underneath the tray, inside a misting chamber, and are constantly sprayed with a mist of nutrient solution.

This constant supply of nutrients, water and oxygen, combined with the lack of restrictive growing medium, encourages roots to develop rapidly from the stem of the clone. The fast root development allows you to get your grow started earlier. Clones developed aeroponically will also have stronger, thicker roots that are less prone to transplant shock.

Some of the better aeroponic propagators on the market are supplied with a dome lid, which allows you to control the airflow and humidity and harden the clones off before you transplant them.

Recirculating Low Pressure or ‘Droplet’ Aeroponics These systems are readily available from grow shops across the country and, com-

ent buildup, water-logging or potential restriction of oxygen to the roots.

High Pressure or ‘True’ Aeroponics Most commercial aeroponic applications involve high pressure aeroponic systems.

This is where water and nutrients are delivered to the plant roots via a high pressure pump and misting system, or ‘atomizer’. The systems are used to cultivate high value crops such as lettuce and basil. In order to exploit maximum yield, they are usually part of a complex setup that monitors and adjusts air and water purification, nutrient sterilization and environmental conditions.

The ‘Amazon’ low pressure, recirculating aeroponic system For domestic cultivation and smaller setups, high pressure aeroponics can be cost prohibitive and difficult to maintain – high pressure spray heads can become easily blocked, if used with concentrated nutrients and additives.

For which type of grower is aeroponics suitable?

Aeroponic propagators are perfect for raising clones quickly and easily, ideal for: t -BSHF TDBMF HSPXFST MPPLJOH GPS B RVJDL turnaround on clones; some of the bigger cloners on the market can fit over 100 cuttings and will have them ready for transplant in under ten days! t 1FSTPOBM HSPXFST TNBMM TDBMF DMPOFST are a perfect fit for a small grow room and can even fit into a small wardrobe or kitchen cupboard. They are suitable

THE RAPID GROWTH THAT AEROPONICS OFFERS ALLOWS GROWERS TO SHORTEN THE VEGETATIVE PERIOD OF THEIR GROWTH CYCLE AND GET MORE HARVESTS PER YEAR. Healthy aeroponic root development spray heads that deliver the nutrient solution via a pump.

Aeroponics can be used to grow plants full cycle and also produces excellent results when used to propagate clones.

Plants that are grown aeroponically have constant access to nutrient solution and oxygen, taking up much more water and nutrients than plants that are handwatered. The more oxygen, water and nutrients that a plant can absorb, the bigger the yields they will produce.

and nutrients they require; they uptake whatever they need and, in the majority of aeroponic systems, whatever is left drains away rather than building up in the root zone.

Types of Aeroponic Systems: Aeroponic Propagators There are a number of aeroponic propagators on the market, and most of them work on the same principle. Designed specifically for clones, growers can ben-

pared to high pressure systems, are low cost and low maintenance. They use a low pressure water pump to deliver a constant supply of nutrient solution in the form of a spray.

Young plants or rooted clones are placed in mesh pots and suspended in a misting chamber, or channel, that sits on top of a nutrient solution tank. The roots are constantly sprayed with nutrient solution, while suspended in air, and grow down into the chamber. All of the unused nutrient solution drains back into the tank to prevent nutri-

for any type of grow, as the clones can be transplanted into any medium or hydro system. t (SPXFST XIP IBWF FYQFSJFODFE QSPClems raising clones in the past; lack of growing medium means a sterile root zone, stronger roots and less risk of disease or transplant shock.

Aeroponic growing systems are better suited to smaller-scale setups for: t 1FSTPOBM HSPXFST MPPLJOH GPS UIF OFYU level in hydro; for experienced growers looking for bigger yields, aeroponics can offer unrivaled growth rates and

19 those extra ounces that they have been chasing! t (SPXFST XIP VTF BO BFSPQPOJD QSPQBgator; their plants can be transplanted directly into the system and will ‘take’ almost immediately, with little risk of transplant shock. t (SPXFST XIP EP OPU IBWF UIF GBDJMJUZ UP dispose of lots of soil or cocos; the only growing medium used is propagation

system, remove from the propagator when abundant roots have grown three to four inches long, and transplant directly into the system.

- A good tip for transplanting into an NFT system is to grow the roots to around five inches long. Punch a hole in the bottom of a three-inch rockwool cube, sandwich the clone between two halves of a propagation cube,

be propagated in an aeroponic cloner, transferred into the aeroponic system and literally vegged on 18 hours of light for a couple of days (just enough time to allow them to get established in their environment) before being switched to flower.

REMEMBER THAT AEROPONICS IS A ‘BARE-ROOTED’ TECHNIQUE AND THERE IS NO BUFFER SURROUNDING THE ROOTS. cubes or, if propagated aeroponically, no growth media at all. This means no bags of waste to throw away after you harvest. t 4FB PG (SFFO HSPXFST NPTU BFSPQPOJD systems allow plants to be spaced close together, and the rapid growth experienced allows the veg period to be cut down to just a few days.

The Three Steps to Aeroponic Heaven: 1. Adding an anti-blocking agent to your reservoir will keep things flowing freely. Both high- and low pressure aeroponic systems run the risk of the sprayers blocking with nutrient salts.

2. Leave the pump on, always. For optimum results, a plant’s roots need constant access to water, nutrients and oxygen. Remember that aeroponics is a ‘bare-rooted’ technique and there is no buffer surrounding the roots.

Turning off the pump, even for a short period, could potentially damage them.

3. When propagating clones aeroponically, allow the roots to develop according to the growing method that they will be transplanted into.

- If transplanting into soil or cocos, remove from the propagator after the roots have grown two or three inches long. Carefully pot up into three- or four-inch pots, and grow on for a few days before transplanting into larger pots.

- If transplanting into an aeroponic

and place into the three-inch cube, allowing the roots to trail through the punched hole and directly onto the NFT tray.

Quick Q&A With an Aeroponic Grower When can plants be transferred to an aeroponic system?

Cuttings that have been started in an aeroponic cloner are ready to transplant as soon as the roots are two or three inches long. The beauty of growing aeroponically from start to finish is that you don’t have to wait for the cuttings to root into a growing medium; this can cut your propagation time down by a good few days.

If plants have been started in a propagation medium like rockwool cubes, root riots or jiffy pellets, then they are ready to transfer into an aeroponic system as soon as they are root-bound; the outside of the medium should be covered in white roots. If you transfer before white roots are visible, then the root zone can become saturated – best case scenario, the plant develops slowly, worst case the roots are starved of oxygen and can develop root rot!

How should plants be spaced?

This will depend entirely on your style of grow. Aeroponics lends itself very well to Sea-of-Green, particularly if you are growing using cuttings, because of the speed of growth. The cuttings can

How high should EC be set?

Aeroponics is a ‘bare-rooted’ hydroponic technique: the root zone is an air chamber or channel that contains no growing medium. Although this means that the roots will

Aeroponic cloners are a great method to propagate clones, fast!

If you choose to grow less plants and go for more yield per plant, then space them out to allow one plant per square foot.

Vegging plants for a longer period in aeroponics will require more maintenance in terms of training and pruning – otherwise you can literally fill your growing space with foliage in a couple of weeks – but you will get rewarded with yield. Aeroponic buds can be enormous!

The majority of the aeroponic growing systems on the market have predeter-

uptake as much oxygen, water and nutrients as possible, it also means that there is no buffer (or protection) against overfeeding.

Any mistakes in dosage can potentially damage the plant, and there is no medium to flush through; if you overdose on nutrients, you need to change all the solution in the reservoir.

When your plants first go into the system, add the nutrients at fifty percent of the manufacturer’s recommended dosage, and keep checking the EC every few days.

If the EC drops, the plants are taking up nutrients at a faster rate than they are taking up water; you can top up with an

WHEN YOUR PLANTS FIRST GO INTO THE SYSTEM, ADD THE NUTRIENTS AT FIFTY PERCENT OF THE MANUFACTURER’S RECOMMENDED DOSAGE... mined plant spaces set out on the lid or channel. By ‘plugging’ any unused spaces with neoprene collars, you can successfully keep light out of the rooting chamber and space your plants into any configuration you want.

increased dose of nutrients. If the EC rises, they are taking up water at a faster rate and you need to back off the nutrients. If the EC remains the same, you have hit the ‘sweet spot’ and the plants are taking up the nutrient and water at an equal rate.

Will plants need to be supported?

Yes, absolutely. Plants that are grown aeroponically have no medium surrounding the roots and are therefore not supporting themselves like plants grown in pots and compost do. It is a good idea to set up plant supports as soon as the plants go into the system, as it can be difficult to do once the growth has started – particularly when using a grow tent where access to the plants at the rear of the system can be tricky. The type of support depends on the type of grow. If you are going for a Sea-of-Green, then pea netting should be sufficient; if you are going for a longer veg time and bigger plants, then roller hooks or yoyos will be needed to support those trees!

The ‘AeroFlo’ aeroponic channel system

Ready for some rapid growth and monster buds? Get down to your grow shop and grow aeroponically!

20

LEGISLATION

What’s Up With the Weed Pass?

Buddy Kush

The infamous green city has been an icon of Cannabis tolerance in the world for decades – the rendezvous point for the marijuana-loving community, welcome to enjoy all aspects of the plant in peace. However, over recent years this lib-

Amsterdam’s Red Light District eral approach and the freedoms it entailed have slowly been eroding, placed under continuous attack by conservative and right-wing political parties. This distasteful, irrational and counter-intuitive move slowly culminated into what most activists had originally rejected as unthinkable: the ‘wietpas’ or ‘Club Card’, commonly referred to as the ‘weed pass’.

idea was simple: limit coffeeshop access to Dutch residents only, while obligating said residents to officially register as a Cannabis smoker to obtain a (weed) pass, which allows them to purchase their herb or hash of choice. This measure was actually put in place in October 2011 in the southern provinces, leading to the obvious increase in crime one would expect from pushing the industry further underground. Even the most fervent weed pass supporters started backtracking lately, no longer able to justify the mounting police costs and increasingly loud civil outcry for things to return to the way they were before.

It was heartwarming to see the slow rise in consciousness regarding this issue throughout the country. Even the media, slowly but surely, started taking an antiweed pass stance, communicating this through their newspapers and during the evening news. The arrival of new elections for the Dutch parliament in September could only mean one thing: the weed pass was going to get it! And boy, did it ever… the weed pass is now officially

Many of you will have heard of this discriminatory measure; for those of you who haven’t, the weed pass was set up by the The Hash Marihuana & Hemp Dutch government in order to reduce ‘inci- Museum in Amsterdam, an intrinsic dents’ linked to Cannabis sales to foreignpart of modern Dutch culture ers, and their consumption of the drug. This was mainly due to issues occurring in the southern provinces, linked to drug tourists dead. Following the formation of a new driving to Holland to purchase Cannabis coalition government, the decision was before driving back over the border. The officially made to lay the weed pass to rest,

once and for all, putting it down in writing in the coalition’s manifesto (published on October 29th).

Before you start celebrating the death of this disastrous measure, though, it is important to underline the exact content of this agreement concerning coffeeshops.

It states that, whereas the pass in itself is gone, access to coffeeshops is still to be limited to Dutch residents alone, that the fight against drug tourism and organized drug crime will carry on, and that THC content shall remain bound to a maximum level of fifteen percent.

So does this mean that tourists are now definitely going to be barred from enjoying the mouth-watering delicacies on offer in the Dutch capital? Well, no. The agreement mentions that a flexible approach

It is hard to avoid certain cliches when introducing the one city that has come to represent Cannabis throughout the world. One could carry on about its cultural heritage, the enormous influence the city had on the world during the Dutch Golden Ages, the beauty of its canals or – for the raunchier ones among you – the area it set up to cater to sailors’ needs to release the tension built up after long months at sea. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this one’s about Amsterdam! the country remains far from a reasonable, legal, regulated Cannabis market. However,

Coffeeshops are here to stay, and you are all still welcome! will be applied, with each city keeping the ability to apply these measures in the way they see as most suitable. Specifics are not mentioned in the document, making it quite vague, but it did not take long for Amsterdam mayor Van der Laan to state that tourists will remain able to access the city’s 220 coffeeshops, come January 2013. Despite a quick response from an officer of the Ministry of Justice stating that Amsterdam would not be exempt, Mayor Van der Laan was quick to maintain his position during a televised interview, implying that he was more aware of Minister of Justice and Defense Ivo Opstelten’s position on the subject than his own officer seemed to be.

The situation is far from definitive. Too many loose ends still need to be tied and

the good news is that everyone remains welcome to come and enjoy the pleasures of Cannabis in its European capital.

Amsterdam Mayor Eberhard van der Laan (© Patrick Ravensbergen)

21

ORGANIC CULTIVATION

Organic vs. Synthetic, Side-by-Side There are some differences of opinion that are argued over more that others, and a common topic for debate is the difference between organic and synthetic nutrients. The amount of conflicting information available on the topic is staggering. I have heard both sides of the fence hurl claims and Grubbycup insults at each other, with vehemence and determination.

Gentle reader, I thought I’d take a few plants, and a few nutrients, and see what I could find out for myself on the topic. I tried three drip/DWC hybrid systems, three clones and three sets of nutrients, to see what I could see. I’m not claiming this is the definitive test on

cies, but appeared to be a fair amount smaller and busier than the commercial, synthetic-fed plant.

At four weeks from seed they were moved outside, for two reasons. One, so the long nights of autumn would trigger

The commercial, synthetic line produced 71 grams to the organic line’s 32 grams

THE THREE PLANTS WERE ALL TAKEN FROM THE SAME MOTHER, A PURPLE LADY FROM G13, AND STARTED INDOORS UNDER A 1000-WATT, METAL HALIDE LAMP. the topic, I’m just reporting what happened with three particular plants.

The three plants were all taken from the same mother, a Purple Lady from G13, and started indoors under a 1000watt, metal halide lamp. One was fed a prepared line of organic nutrients; one was fed on traditional organic nutrients, including bone meal, blood meal, alfalfa meal, guano, kelp and potash; the last was fed a line of synthetic nutrients.

The traditional organic plant suffered from gardener error and was mistakenly overdosed with potassium (K) in early growth, stunting it. The commercial organic plant grew well and did not show indications of nutrient deficien-

flowering, and two, because that was when my 1000-watt digital ballast died.

The natural lighting in the area I had available to use was not ideal, but some light is better than none at all, and the same goes for yield.

During flowering the plants looked very similar, with no noteworthy differences in bud structure appearance between the three. The ‘synthetic’ plant continued to enjoy a lead in size throughout the grow.

At harvest, root development was best with the synthetically-fed plant, with a final harvest of 71 g dry smoke. The two organic plants came in well behind, with 32 g for the commercial line and 24 g for the traditional organic plant.

A double-blind panel of ten was used to taste test the results. Only after all the comments and rankings were documented were the identities revealed. Since my ‘poker face’ isn’t the best, I thought it prudent if I didn’t know the identities of each of the samples, so I wouldn’t influence the panel in their responses. I hid the true identity of each of the three in the lids of a set of three matched jars. The jars were mixed, shuffled, randomized, and otherwise spun about so that I had

and Thing 3, three. When panel members responded, they addressed their remarks only by ‘Thing’ and the number, since the true identities of each was hidden.

Here are the results:

In third place, with seven points: Organic (Traditional) I thought it was the smoothest of the three. It was more like using a vaporizer than smoking a joint. On the down side, it shared the same drawback, in that it

DURING FLOWERING THE PLANTS LOOKED VERY SIMILAR, WITH NO NOTEWORTHY DIFFERENCES IN BUD STRUCTURE APPEARANCE BETWEEN THE THREE. no idea which was which. Then each was assigned a label, ‘Thing 1’, ‘Thing 2’ or ‘Thing 3’. Joints rolled from Thing 1 had one stripe, Thing 2 joints had two stripes,

is almost too smooth to feel fulfilling.

Comments from the panel also remarked on the mildness, although not always as kindly, with one respondent calling it “bland” and other remarks such as, “No fruit nor floral fragrance. No fruit flavor.

I missed the fruit and floral notes in this one.” Also, “Had a very smooth taste, like an ultralight cigarette. Hard to tell for sure that you got a hit until you exhale.”

I believe that the comparatively lighter nutrient regimen allowed for a cleaner flavor. However, the low ranking may be a reflection that too light and clean of a flavor may not be the most popular.

In second place, with eleven points: Organic (General Organics GO Box)

The synthetically fed bud [L] appears very similar to the organically fed bud [R]

This was my favorite, and only a single point separated second place from first in the flavor rankings. I thought it was the most floral tasting of the three. Panel members agreed with comments such as, “Fresh-cut florals! Fresh berries and citrus!” and, “The scent and taste is both woody and floral, with a light, berry/ citrus fruit scent and pineapple-mango taste on the top notes.” Also, “has layers of flavor, and it’s easy to detect the florals, the fruit and the woody earthiness. This is my favorite of the three.” The high-

22

ORGANIC CULTIVATION / BOOK REVIEW

est praise came from a respondent who wrote, “Liked the mildness and gentleness to Things 3 and 2. Didn’t feel like coughing at all. Wrote a little poem afterward:

“Thing 1 is done, Thing 2 is through, Thing 3 is free Hooray for me!”

In first place, with twelve points: Synthetic (General Hydroponics Flora Series) When I tried it, I found it to be both smooth and pleasant, with a mild fruity flavor on the tip of the tongue upon exhalation. Panel members remarked that it was “detectably

F N

There was a noticeable difference between the two: the synthetic tasted fruitier, and the organic tasted more floral, but the answers as to which tasted ‘better’ was almost split down the middle, with only a single point between them. Apparently, personal preference plays a key part.

When the lid disks are flipped, the secrets are safe

fruity on the inhale, smooth and no harshness on the throat,” with a “berry-fruit-light citrus taste and scent.” The “strong grape

A single test with a couple of plants isn’t a very large sample, so this may be an exception and not representative of nor-

THE ‘SYNTHETIC’ PLANT CONTINUED TO ENJOY A LEAD IN SIZE THROUGHOUT THE GROW. notes” were said to have “a stronger taste, more substantial and satisfying.”

The synthetically fed plant had the largest roots

I was pretty surprised at the result. I had been led to believe that the Cannabis grown with organic nutrients would taste substantially better than the one grown with synthetics.

True Living Organics

mal results. However, each time things are tested, and each time results are reported upon, the body of knowledge that we all share gets just a little bit bigger.

Peace, love and puka shells, Grubbycup

Grubbycup

Organic gardening author ‘The Rev’ and Green Candy Press have teamed up to bring True Living Organics to life.

Organic gardening is enjoying a return in popularity; the basic concept is to use natural organic processes nurtured to a ‘best-case’ scenario. Like feeding alfalfa to cattle in a barn, cattle would eat it in the wild as well, but the amount available can be higher and the barn provides more ideal and controlled conditions.

experience with a 205-watt LED being an acceptable replacement in performance to a 400-watt HID is in line with my own experience – although there was no comment on the issue of price difference.

The Rev’s writing has a healthy dose of organic zealot to it, but faulting him for that would be tantamount to faulting me for having fingerprints on my glass. His collection of organic best practices is collectively known as True Living Organics, and this book spells them out in easy-to-read language, with colorful photos. All the major topics required for success are covered.

The Rev walks the reader through garden setup, and discusses soil and soil amendments in detail. One of the fundamental principles of soil web gardening that the author advocates is to take care of the soil, and let the soil take care of the plant. To ensure proper soil activation, The Rev describes a process of setting newlymixed soil into a cold (or warm) compost pile, and allowing the organic biological processes a chance to get started, before using the soil as a growth media for plants.

We share a preference for MH HIDs (metal halide, high intensity discharge), and his

My favorite parts of the book are the sections on base mixes and dry amendments

– well worth reading several times, and sure to be some of the most frequently consulted parts. Expect those pages to become the most thumb-worn. I tend to treat my soil for reuse by mixing it in with the rest of my garden waste for a trip through the compost pile. The Rev shows a simplified method that does not require any additional material.

Actively-aerated compost teas are a proven method of inoculating soils, and The Rev devotes an entire chapter to the manufacture and use of these teas. His recommended reading list has several of my own favorites listed.

Overall I thought it was a good book on organic gardening, one I am sure to refer to myself in times of need. It is obvious from the writing that The Rev is pas-

sionate about organic gardening, and is excited to share with his readers all that he has learned over the years. Although a bit heavy-handed on the organic crusader side of issues, True Living Organics presents a solid addition to any soil gardener’s library.

Peace, love and puka shells, Grubbycup

23

HISTORY & CULTURE THE BEBE IS THE THOMAS EDISON OF ‘420’...

The True Origin of ‘420’: Setting the Record Straight

Rob Griffin, 420 Magazine

October 15th, 2012: Ever since I read an article about a group of guys named the Waldos claiming to be the originators of ‘420’, I had doubts from the start. Something didn’t make sense. Why did they choose 4:20 as the time to meet at the statue, and who was the one that first coined the term? This never made any sense to me, and I knew something wasn’t right. Suspecting there was a true originator, I began sending out energy for them to contact me for this article. Today was that day.

I received an email from a guy named Brad Bann (a.k.a. ‘the Bebe’) claiming to be the Father of 420, and saying that it all started in 1970 with a group of

Bebe said, “The Bebes and the Waldos are still good friends to this day; however, it’s time the truth be told.” He went on to say, “The Waldos were a group of guys I ordained,” referring to Steven Capper as the ‘Original Waldo’. He explained that they were a small group of non-athletic guys he dubbed ‘Waldos’, because they were uncoordinated and goofy.

“During the summer of 1970, at San Rafael High School, there were two groups of people involved in bringing forth the term 420: the Bebes and the Waldos. The Bebes beat the Waldos to the punch on nearly every phrase. The Waldos put a story on the web in 1998, but not the real story. They never mentioned the Bebes, because they would have some explaining to do.”

Brad Bann, the Bebe, is the Father of 420

guys called ‘the Bebes’. They lived on a golf course, in a neighborhood called Peacock Gap in San Rafael, California.

The Bebe and one of the other Bebes named Bone Boy sent their claim to High Times in 2003, after someone sent them the article they did on 420 and the Waldos. They waited for months, yet never received a reply.

420 Letter from Bone Boy: The Bebe Is the Thomas Edison of 420 With over 420 million Google results, the morphing of the number 420 into an international phenomenon is fairly baffling to me, an early ‘70s graduate of San Rafael High School in Marin County, California.

I’ve been sent numerous stories over the years regarding tracing the beginning of 420. I’ve listened to syndicated radio talk show hosts devote nearly entire shows to 420 on April 20th, heard radio shows celebrate each weekday with a reggae tune at 4:20, and have seen 420 features on TV. How about the number being a police code, or penal code, or The Who’s 1965 album cover of My Generation in front of Big Ben at 4:20, clocks in the film Pulp Fiction set to 4:20, etc.? Anyway, I can tell you, as one who has firsthand knowledge of its true origin, that nearly everybody has been had…

It is amazing to me that even sociologists have weighed in with their ‘expert’ 420 viewpoint (and they get paid for this!?) of what it means. “420 creates an intense sense of group belonging among friends, strangers and crowds,” or “a kind of mystical, spiritual or extraordinary sense of belonging, where the group exists as a reality greater than itself.”

What? Way too stoned in Madagascar, I’m afraid.

True, the term initiated its international acronymic ascent in the early 1970s – actually 1970, at San Rafael High School (SRHS). And the notions SRHS alumni left Marin County, taking 420 to the collegiate level – mostly along the West Coast, the I-5 and 101 corridors, and in fact, all the way past Seattle and up to Prudhoe Bay – are true as well. I know: I took it to the Arctic Sea with an ‘Arctic four-twone’, standing on frozen water. The number also surfaced and spread throughout the Grateful Dead concert community, thanks in large part to the Waldos, I’m certain, taking the term east, promoting the newly-fabled number on a national scale. Deadheads are a great promotional vehicle; however, this is about where the myths end and the truth takes off…

I’m sorry, but the real story is rather short, unimpressive and unimaginative. It is spontaneous though, just like the character who first coined the term – completely by accident, like most things from his youth. Brad Bann, a.k.a. the Bebe (Beeb – a nickname), about seventeen at the time, was the Father of 420 and many other terms that caught on around the campus of SRHS in the Fall of 1970. Take for instance ‘Waldos’, used in the current 420 smoke lore, denoting a group of guys. It was a word originally made up to describe an odd, awkward, out of place person. Its predecessor was ‘Gome’ or ‘Gomer’, after the TV character Gomer Pyle, and our neighborhood Gomer, Gary ‘Gomo’ Schweitzer. When Bebe didn’t know you, he would call out, “Hey Waldo” or “Hey Gome”.

Bebe also had specific nicknames for everyone and everything in our neighborhood: the Blue Boys, Puff, Du, Hello Andy, Turkey, Bone Boy, Thorgy, the Mead, Pig Newton, the Incredible Walking Man, and Bonfiglio (or Bonfig), a tag he would use to address bearded hippies of the era. There was Dune (pot, taken from the title of a sci-fi novel) and Alfred, a term meaning “to borrow, but never return”. He spawned Jimmy Bardoni, a fictitious name he would use whenever he got into hot water. Bebe not only concocted 420, he labeled the guys who claim to have created it. The Waldos (though they were not the Waldo Fathers of 420) were perhaps the greatest promoters of the number back then. I mention all of this in an attempt to lay a foundation, I suppose, of a history of ‘Mindless Term Invention’ by the Bebe.

Du and Puff at San Rafael High School

Quite simply, the birth of 420 occurred at precisely 4:20 in the afternoon, to begin a bedroom bong session at the house of Du and Puff on a Saturday in October of 1970. The Bebe, along with the brothers, began preparing to ‘bong out’ when Bebe glanced at the

24 clock on the nightstand and said, “It’s 4:20, time for bong loads.” After getting high, they proceeded to do some audio recording with Bebe, as we did frequently, using his assortment of voices (including his impression of Abraham Lincoln) and said as tape was rolling: “Four score and twenty years ago…” As it turned out, 420 became an instant code in our neighborhood.

We gravitated to any and all Bebe terminology he conjured up. 420 seemed to just roll off the tongue better than any other number – 4:19, 2:37, 3:58, etc. – and gosh knows we needed a code to use in front of non-stoners, especially for the parental establishment. I remember Bebe once saying, “It’s 420” in front of Hello Andy’s mother, and she responded by saying in a minor panic, “My goodness, it can’t be that late yet; I have to go pick up your sister!” As knucklehead teenagers, I guess we never realized parents were on such prompt time schedules.

420 developed its own lexicon: “Do you have any four-twone?” or “who’s got the fourtwone?” “This is excellent four-twone” or “four-twenty”, and “I’m too four-twentyed”. Sign language and lip reading also evolved, as well as a hesitation code of sorts, where a person would say four, then moments later, two, followed shortly thereafter by a zero. There was the countdown as well: four... two... zero. Way too stoned: “four-twoned”. It was also used to define certain kinds of weed: “420 Colombo” and “Thai 420” for Thai sticks.

I submit the story just shared is the truth and nothing but the whole 420 truth. ‘Fourtwenty’ was only designated as an actual time at the moment of its inception. It was never intended as a time of day to get high, but evolved into that, as well as the coronation of April 20th into the stoner holiday all over the world. It was and will always be, first and foremost, just a simple code – period. Four-twenty is an accidental anomaly. There is no deep meaning. A guy looked at a clock as he was about to smoke out with some buddies, blurted out the time, and it became local stoner lore. If Bebe would have said, “It’s twenty minutes after four,” the term probably would have never gotten legs to get out of the bedroom that day. ‘Four-twenty’ just sounded stoner poetic.

The Waldos were a real group of guys, ordained by Bebe. One of them, Bebe referred to as the ‘Original Waldo’, I believe. But now, it’s time to examine the story. Of the Waldos in 1970, I believe one was a junior, one or two were sophomores and the others, freshmen.

Two of them, I believe, lived in the same neighborhood, and the others in different parts of town. One dude’s dad was a DEA agent, as I recall.

School finished at about 3:00 p.m., for some, earlier. Some may have had sports after school; some didn’t. Now, let me get this straight: guys are going to return an hour-and-a-

half after school was dismissed to meet at a statue, get high and go look for pot plants a lengthy drive away? If this is believable, you must be in possession of some excellent 420.

Have you ever driven from San Rafael to Point Reyes? It’s about an hour each way (without commute traffic). So, at 4:20, guys get together at the Louis Pasteur statue in the middle of campus, away from sports fields or gymnasiums, pile into a car and cruise out to Point Reyes looking for pot plants based on some map, then return? 4:20 seems kind of late to be driving an hour or so to look for pot plants. Might the sunset have interfered with their ability to find anything? What time did they get home, especially if they indulged in herb and did a bit of wandering out at Point Reyes? Which, by the way, is highly likely. Of course they didn’t have any homework.

If they played sports, how could one be sure practice was going to end close to 4:20? It is a reasonable assumption that practice for any sport lasts close to two hours, but wouldn’t the coach be the only one with that information? A meaningful question that should be asked of the Waldos is, “Why did you choose 4:20 as the time to meet at the statue, as opposed to 4:15 or 4:30?” Seems so implausibly random. And which of the Waldos was the one who first coined the term? One might suggest they chose the time because they gravitated towards the Bebe’s new code, and turned 420 into their time of day to partake in herb. But even that would be flawed, because they chose 4:20 as a time of day to meet and drive somewhere, not get stoned.

Postmarks on letters is an interesting tool in tracing the beginnings of 420, but I’m sure that if Bebe saved any of his reel-to-reel tapes of prank phone calls, 420 would no doubt be heard.

I was in Las Vegas with a friend during NCAA March Madness this year. As we were going down the elevator from our hotel room to the lobby, we stopped at several floors acquiring passengers along the way. Most were sporting shirts from their favorite teams. When I asked one young man what time his team played, he replied, “Game starts at 4:20.” Most of the eight other people in the elevator began to chuckle. People from various parts of the country knew exactly what the number represented.

Four-twenty is now a brightly colored number in the fabric of pop culture. When something enters, then becomes part of pop culture, the truth of where that something originated demands to be uncovered. That moment for 420 has been now, for quite some time.

How did it come to be? How was it intended to be used? Who first conceived and uttered the term? Who is responsible for creating this iconic three digit number?

It’s a simple truth, really. Brad Bann, a.k.a. the Bebe, is the Thomas Edison of 420.

The moment of truth. I finally had the answer I’d been seeking, and it was time to set the record straight – once and for all.

Stay tuned for part II...

The Bebe with some quality ‘four-twone’

Rob Griffin, Editor-in-Chief 420 Magazine www.420magazine.com E-Mail: editor@420magazine.com

Bone Boy at SRHS

25

ORGANIC CULTIVATION

Hydro Hygiene Growing in hydro has serious benefits for the home grower: faster growth rates, more crops per year and more yield per harvest. When you are growing a decent-sized garden, and it isn’t your only form of employment, it is easier and less time consuming to maintain one Little Lebowski or two hydro reservoirs than it is to water by hand.

We had a chat with ‘John’ an experienced hydro grower from the southern UK, to gain an insight into where some growers may be going wrong, and to get some top tips on how to keep it clean.

SSUSA: John, thanks for doing this interview for Soft Secrets. Let’s start with your background – how do you grow?

amongst growers on how to keep their reservoirs clean?

John: I don’t think it’s a question of how to keep it clean, although the general hygiene is an issue. I think it’s more about what you can and cannot put into your reservoir and

Hydroponic systems are very popular in the Cannabis community for this very reason.

However, by asking around the industry one thing becomes clear – not everyone is getting the results that they could be, because not every grower knows how to keep their hydro systems clean.

Dipping your cuttings in Trichoderma will give your plants a good start, as it colonizes the root zone and is a very aggressive fungus. It will attack other pathogens that come into contact with the roots, so it is a really effective precau-

SSUSA: So, what is the sterile option?

John: Just continuous use of a sterilizing agent like H2O2, hydrogen perox-

DIPPING YOUR CUTTINGS IN TRICHODERMA WILL GIVE YOUR PLANTS A GOOD START, AS IT COLONIZES THE ROOT ZONE AND IS A VERY AGGRESSIVE FUNGUS. ide. This will help to oxygenate your nutrient solution, and roots obviously need oxygen to stay healthy – the more, the merrier. H2O2 will kill off all of the microbial life in your reservoir: nasty pathogens and bacteria, but also the good bacteria. It will sterilize the root zone.

John: I started off in soil many years ago and then a friend of mine turned me on to hydro after a couple of years. I had always been happy with my yields, but when I first tried an NFT tank it totally blew me away.

Watching the roots grow inches by the day was fucking magical!

SSUSA: Interesting. What about other products that you add to the reservoir, like the nutrients themselves? We have seen so-called ‘hydro-organic’ nutrients in the United States (where the certification system for whether or not something is ‘organic’ is different than in Europe).

I did some fairly large setups for a good few years, always using big NFT tables. Now, I have scaled things back quite a bit. I’ve usually got a couple of lights on the go – one for hydro, either NFT or aeroponics, and one for soil. I like a couple of strains that seem to react very differently in soil than they do in hydro, more resin production using an organic feed than a mineral feed Bad hydro hygiene leads to root problems in a system.

SSUSA: So, you got the hydro bug, but still keep a few soil pots on the side?

and fungi actually help to keep things clean.

also how to keep the microbial life balanced, if you decide to go down that route.

IF YOUR ROOM IS RUNNING TOO HOT THEN YOUR RESERVOIR WILL BE RUNNING TOO HOT, AND THAT IS WHERE YOU’LL GET INTO PROBLEMS WITH TECHNIQUES LIKE NFT AND AEROPONICS. John: Yeah, ‘variety is the spice of life’, and all that!

SSUSA: How do you mean? Please elaborate for our readers...

SSUSA: You mention NFT and aeroponics... they are pure hydro setups, no growing media around the roots, right? Do you find that you can use them all year ‘round, even in the summer?

John: The way I have always looked at it is, you can go completely sterile in a nutrient tank and actively kill off the microbial life in there in order to

John: Regardless of the weather outside, it’s all about controlling the ambient room temperature. If your room is running too A big NFT setup can run 33 square feet of hot then your reservoir will be running too hot, and that is where you’ll get into growing space from one tank! problems with techniques like NFT and aeroponics, because they are ‘bare-rooted’ keep – there is nothing protecting the roots. If it clean. it’s too warm, you risk damaging the roots, Or, you go and when they are damaged they are more completely the vulnerable to attacks from pathogens, like other way and deliberthe dreaded pythium. If your reservoir isn’t ately introduce beneficial clean, then you will be at risk even more. microbial life, which will colonize the root zone and work your SSUSA: Is there a lack of education plants.

tion to prevent against pythium. Also, if you inoculate the root zone with mycorrhiza, then you will benefit from more nutrient uptake and healthier grow as the fungus works together with your roots, breaking down food to be taken up – at the same time feeding off the waste products that your roots put out.

It seems weird to recommend adding microbial life to a nutrient tank, because it is microbial life that causes that shitty smell you get from a tank.

John: Bollocks! There is no such thing.

If you are growing in hydro then you need to use a proper hydroponic nutrient. In a hydroponic feed the key elements that a plant needs are made available in a form that the roots can directly uptake. Think of them as ‘bitesized’ particles, just like cutting up food for a little kid. A nutrient containing chelated elements is best, as these are easier for the roots to uptake. Adding organic nutrients to a hydro reservoir is like trying to feed a whole steak to

a baby – just plain wrong!

SSUSA: Just explain a little deeper what you mean by that...

But, that smell comes from bad bacteria releasing elements, like sulfur, that stink! Beneficial bacteria

John: I’m not a qualified scientist, haha.

But as far as I’m concerned, organic foods feed the microbial life in the growing medium; in turn, this life will release nutrient for the plant. So the organic nutrient feeds the soil, and the soil feeds the plants.

Adding anything organic to the reservoirs – unless it is inoculating the root zone, like the beneficials that we dis-

26 cussed earlier – will have bad effects.

The plants cannot feed on the organic material; it has not been made bitesized for them, so bacteria will feed on it and break it down. This is what causes slimy deposits and the shitty smell that you get in some nutrient reservoirs.

cooler area of the house or outside, or get yourself some air-cooled lights.

SSUSA: How else can growers prevent this from happening?

Another thing that I would recommend is adding an enzyme product to your reservoir. An enzyme will quickly break down any dead plant material, like old roots, and prevent it from being broken down by bad bacteria – which will start to cause problems for you.

John: Basically, avoid putting anything organic into the reservoir – that includes starting your plants in any

You can get natural enzyme products like Cannazym or Atazyme – or nearly any product with ‘-zym’ or ‘-zyme’ in

ber that the older the solution in the reservoir is, the more unbalanced it is becoming. So, you are really getting false EC readings after a while.

It is easier and more beneficial to completely drain and refill your reservoir a minimum of once every two weeks.

Reach into the reservoir and mop up the last bits of old solution with a big sponge; wipe the sides to prevent mineral deposit buildup. Then fill the reservoir with water so that the pump is just covered, and run the system for ten minutes. Empty it out again and

air movement in your grow room. If there isn’t, then you will find that areas of still, damp air can encourage mold – particularly in dense foliage. Mold spores can then enter your tank and cause problems, so it is always good to keep the air moving.

Oh, and before I forget, if you are getting plants from a friend, make sure they are healthy before you bring them into your room. Take a good look for any signs of fungus or pests. You do not want them contaminating your nice, clean room!

SSUSA: Nice advice. A lot of hydro growers around the world seem to use air pumps, do you?

John: I have done so in the past. One thing that I would say is that in a very small NFT or aeroponic system, the nutrient solution is being circulated so often – because the reservoir is small – that it is probably aerated enough.

Although, air pumps and air stones are so cheap now that it doesn’t do any harm to throw one in.

Only one tank feeds this large aeroponic system of 84 plants

organic medium. Start them in something inert, like rockwool or clay pebbles. These will not break down later on in the growth cycle.

the name! These will use natural processes to break down the old root material into elements that are actually usable by the plant.

Also, if you are growing in ebb and flood or a re-circulating drip irrigation system, I would use an inert medium.

If you use soil or cocos then you will run the risk of introducing organic matter into the reservoir. I’m not saying don’t do it – I know that loads of people like to use cocos in something

Or, if you are going down the sterile route that we discussed earlier, you will need a synthetic enzyme or cleaning product. If you are keeping the root zone sterile, you will not get the best out of a natural enzyme product.

Some of the better synthetic compounds available are Hygrozyme, Ata

IT IS EASIER AND MORE BENEFICIAL TO COMPLETELY DRAIN AND REFILL YOUR RESERVOIR A MINIMUM OF ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS. like a Wilma system – I’m just saying be prepared that you will need to keep on top of cleaning the reservoir.

Clean and D-Block. Just ask your local grow shop – they should be able to steer you in the right direction.

Also, algae is something that you need to avoid. It will develop on the surface of your nutrient solution, if you allow light in. The best way to avoid this is to use a hydro system with a black tank, or if you have got a DIY setup, use a reservoir with a lid (like a water butt). If you are worried about a black tank getting too hot under your grow lights, then you can always buy a couple of yards of silver sheeting to lie on top and reflect light.

SSUSA: What about some very simple hygiene factors for the growers who are just starting out?

But, like I said earlier, if you have got an issue with heat in the reservoir then you probably need to sort out your ambient room temperature. Increase the size of your fan, add an intake fan to your room that is bringing in air from a

then refill fully with water, add your nutrient and beneficials, then adjust your pH as necessary. The whole pro-

For bigger reservoirs, it is important to keep the solution agitated and circulating. You need to prevent the minerals in the solution from settling on the bottom of the tank.

Just remember that if you break the surface tension, then you are oxygenating the solution; a lot of growers use

A LOT OF GROWERS USE A TECHNIQUE CALLED ‘FLOOMING,’ WHERE AN ADDITIONAL PUMP IS ADDED TO THE WALL OF THE RESERVOIR TO CIRCULATE SOLUTION.... cess might take you half an hour, but you will be rewarded with healthier plants and a better yield.

One more thing that is good practice is to make sure that there is plenty of

a technique called ‘flooming,’ where an additional pump is added to the wall of the reservoir to circulate solution, but is angled slightly upwards so it also breaks the surface tension. Give that a try!

John: Keeping it simple, I would say make sure you keep your entire grow room clean. That means removing any dead leaves or pruning material from the grow room, and not letting it accumulate all over the floor. Make sure that you clean all of your measuring equipment frequently: jugs, buckets, pipettes, whatever.

Most importantly – and obviously, because it is what we are talking about – is to keep the reservoir clean. It is easy to monitor nutrient solution and maintain pH and EC levels, but remem-

Just one example of the enzymes available today

27

FESTIVALS & EXPOS

High Times Cannabis Cup 2012 From November 18th to the 22nd, the Amsterdam Roest hosted the annual High Times Cannabis Cup. Presenting perhaps the smallest expo in the Cup’s history, the format also changed slightly, resembling a more typical American festival layout. The main expo was housed in an old warehouse, with a trendy bar/cafe and outdoor eating space just beyond. Behind that was a large, ‘indoor’ tent with a lounge area, plus the stage where the speakers and daytime performers appeared before varied audiences.

The Founders Cup expo was much smaller than in past years

Attendees of this year’s Founders Cup were hoping to avoid a repeat of last year’s police intervention. The 2012 event did begin with minor police involvement; however, the cops simply showed up early in the festival to remind people of, and enforce, the five-gram limit. Exhibitors’ booths were checked and only one competitor came in over the possession limit, the surplus of which was confiscated – no charges. In fact, it seems as if this enforcement led to nearly zero coffeeshop representation at the expo. Twenty-four seed banks, plus glass merchants, wholesalers, hemp producers, etc. were in attendance (American, Dutch, Canadian, British – even Japanese) but the coffeeshops themselves promoted their entries almost solely through their retail establishments, a first in Cup memory. Another surprise was the absence of the Barney’s franchise among the list of competitors.

Keeping the possession limit in mind, one can imagine how difficult it would have been for the coffeeshops to exhibit their strain entries: the various dabs, bong rips, vaporizer hits, pipe tokes or free joints that are usually offered to judges are nearly impossible to supply with only five grams per staff member. The larger coffeeshops, with more workers at the expo, would theoretically be able to smoke up more people; however, those big booths are often more heavily-visited and therefore require more weed and hash in stock.

Smaller coffeeshops would have even less of a chance, with some only bringing one or two people to staff their stand. Five

grams doesn’t last long anywhere, much less at the Cannabis Cup. Rumors attributed the reduced size of the expo to the looming threat from the members-only ‘Weed Pass’, which has been

And the winners are...

Freedom Fighter of the Year: Mason Tvert, instrumental in the passage of Colorado’s Amendment 64 Dutch Master Award Honorees: Wernard Bruining and Nol van Schaik Counter-Culture Hall of Fame Inductee: Steve Hager, Founder of the Cannabis Cup Seed Companies: INDICA First: Kosher Kush – Reserva Privada Second: True OG – Elemental Seeds Third: S.F.V. OG Kush – Cali Connection SATIVA First: Amnesia Haze – Soma’s Sacred Seeds Second: Sour Amnesia – HortiLab Seed Company Third: Green Shack – Strain Hunters Seedbank

implemented in the southern provinces of the Netherlands for nearly a year. It seems irrational that would-be judges declined to attend for fear of being unable to enter the twenty-five Amsterdam coffeeshops that were competing, as the Pass was not even scheduled to outlaw foreign visitation until January of 2013. At any rate, the Mayor of Amsterdam’s recent refusal to implement the Weed Pass alleviated any such concerns. This legal conundrum shall be revisited and re-contemplated next year, which potentially explains the suggestion that 2012 presented the last-ever Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam. However, for the past five years or so, murmuring about the ‘last Cup ever’ has been rife.

The separation between the performers’ tent and the expo meant that Cup visitors had to choose to attend one or the other, often missing parts of speeches or performances. Lecturers included Wernard Bruining, founder of Positronics, explaining his method of producing ‘Rick Simpson oil’, Robert Connell Clarke, international expert on Cannabis botany and author of Hashish!, Marijuana Botany and others, Mila’s ‘Concentrates vs. Hashish’, and Nol van Schaik discussing the Weed Pass situation. Of course there were also cultivation FAQs, hemp information and more. The plus side to the smaller expo was that attendees had more time to alternately attend seminars and then chat with the vendors while checking out their entries.

Evening events for the several-hundred judges included smoke, vape and dab

HYBRID First: Loud Scout – Loud Seeds Second: Rock Star – Bonguru Beans Third: Rug Burn OG – Rare Dankness Seeds HASH First: The Wheezy – Reserva Privada Second: Tangerine Compound – Rare Dankness Seeds Third: The Tangie – DNA Genetics CBD AWARD Lion’s Tabernacle – Cali Connection Coffeeshops: CANNABIS CUP First: Flower Bomb Kush – Green House Second: Shoreline – Green Place Third: Evergrey – Grey Area NEDERHASH First: Lemon Crystal – Green House Second: Grey Crystal – Grey Area Third: M.O.G. – Green Place

Sativa Diva

Kevin and his Puk Pipe enjoyed a second place finish sessions at various coffeeshops and the free cannabinoid testing at the Cannabis College Amsterdam. The obligatory concert series and awards ceremony at de Melkweg (The Milky Way) featured musical acts such as Ghostface Killah, N.O.R.E., Styles P and DJ Scram Jones. A major highlight of the nighttime parties was the ‘Phat ToonzDay’ Hemp Hoodlamb fashion show, accompanied by a Fun Lovin’ Criminals DJ set, Amsterdam DJ favorite Adi-J, the Hoodlamb Rebel Soundsystem and the Cheeky Monday crew.

A smaller, more intimate festival than usual, it seems as if the Cannabis Cup is returning to its roots: a group of weed-loving folks gathering together to celebrate the harvest, in good company..

IMPORT HASH First: Sharkberry Cream – Green House Second: Twizzler – Green Place Third: Maroc Lemon Haze – The Bushdocter Expo: BEST BOOTH First: Big Buddha Seeds Second: Cali Connection Third: ROOR BEST PRODUCT First: Big Buddha Seeds Goodie Bag – Big Buddha Seeds Second: PUFFiT Inhaler/Vaporizer – VapoShop and Discreet Vape Third: Tiny Sister – ROOR BEST GLASS First: Drill Bill – ROOR Second: Puk Pipe – Puk Pipe Third: MF Doom Borch – DNA Genetics and Hitman Glass

28

SERIOUS GARDENING

LEDs in the UK

1

Smokedout

In this issue of SSUSA, I will be documenting the UK usage of a new-ish piece of technology, LED lighting; in this case the fixture being used is the ‘Evader Bloom’ LED (300-watt). This expensive bit of equipment is part of a whole range of LED lights on the market that have been designed and tested specifically on Cannabis plants in Canada, to find the best spectrum for the plants to absorb the maximum amount of light energy available to them. There has been a lot of hype around this new technology, which has grown massively in the last few years and has seen companies like Advanced Nutrients taking an interest and helping to design LED lights for use in the hydro garden This unit costs around £600 ($960), which is a horrendous amount of money to be spending on a light; however, if the hype around LEDs proves to be true, then this will be the way to grow in the future. When the initial costs come down a bit, and then a little more still, more people will be buying these lights as they run at a lower wattage – which means less power consumption. They

positions and the 300-watt LED is hung and switched on at about 15 inches from the top of the canopy, just to be on the safe side.

Although these lights run very cool, the light they give off is very bright and intense and can still give you leaf burn if you place them too close, too soon. Once the light is on all the plants turn a deep, dark, purply-black color. The light penetrates through every

These plants vegged for a few weeks under fluorescents and CFLs

2

IF THE HYPE AROUND LEDs PROVES TO BE TRUE, THEN THIS WILL BE THE WAY TO GROW IN THE FUTURE. also function with virtually no heat at all, so you can get away with using smaller intakeand exhaust fans, which again means less electricity use! For this particular test, we will be looking at growing Super Skunk under the 300-watt LED light to see if this can really match a 900-watt HPS, as they say it can, or if it falls short of the mark. See photo 1 These plants have been brought through to the flowering room after a couple of weeks veg time under fluorescents and CFLs. They were looking healthy and strong after a good start of being fed on the pH/ EC-perfect range of grow nutrients from Advanced Nutrients.

leaf and stem and through to the bottom of the plants, which just seems odd in the grow room after using bright, yellowish-colored HPS lights for so long!

The plants are all looking a good, healthy... uh, purple... and all the leaves are pointing for the light – which they seem to be loving and thriving under at the moment. The EC in the tank is at about 1.3 after a dose of amazing Aqua Flakes Bloom Nutrients, a two-part formula that I’ve used for a few years now. This is a very good set of plant feeds that cover all bases from start to finish.

See photos 2 and 3

WEEK 3: The Wilma System I in which they were grown was set up a few days prior, to speed up the process of moving them and reduce any chance of transplant shock. In the bottom of each 11-liter pot was a layer of felt to filter out any leftover dust from the clay pellets, which were being used as the growing medium), so that the drip emitters did not become clogged.

When filling up your tank, make sure that the water either comes from a large feed tank that is pH-corrected, or fill up the nutrient tank with water a few days before the plants get moved in to provide time for any contaminants in the water to evaporate.

After this you can start to adjust your pH levels and add base nutrients. I prefer to give a slightly weaker dose of nutrients than what is stated on the labels for the first week, so as to wean them off the grow formula they have been using for the last three weeks.

WEEK 1: The plants have been set out in their final

White pistils on every bud site, always a good sign

3

The plants are all looking healthy after a couple of weeks of adjusting to the new light and have gained about 12 to 16 inches in height. All branches are beginning to show white pistils forcing their way out from the calyxes on every bud site, which is always a good sign! The nutrient solution is then drained down, out of the nutrient tank, to get rid of old or stale feed water. This is replaced with HEPA-filtered water from two dehumidifiers from within the grow room itself (a small example of self sufficiency within the grow room).

Then, fresh feeds are added back into the tank, so the plant receives cleaner nutrients that are easier to take up and shift around its internal cells.

The LED light is an amazing bit of equipment: it runs so cool, yet is so bright and the plants seem to be liking the different light wavelength, as the internode spacing is tight with only 10 to 15 mm of spacing between each set of leaves/branches. I decided that now was the time to lower

While tight and dense, the yield was still lower

29 the LED light, down nice and close to the canopy, as they had proved that they could handle it from a reasonable distance. So, I dropped it to nine (yes, nine) inches away from the top of the buds, and thought I would keep a close eye on them for the next couple of days, just in case the intense light burned or hurt my ladies. I spent the next week monitoring the tops and the leaves to make sure they were still in good form; to my surprise, they did not seem to care that the light was that close as they all still looked a lovely, deep shade of purple – and with no signs of leaf curl or burned hairs in sight. See photos 4 and 5

WEEK 5: Not a lot has changed in the size of the plants, but there are now plenty of visible bud sites all over the place that are soaking up the light and making good use of it, as there is not a wilting, yellow or dead leaf in sight. The smaller leaves surrounding the buds are shining with a layer of resin glands already, and things should be looking good as today is the day that the Shooting Powder is brought into the equation – this takes the grow to a totally different level.

As done during the start of week three, I drain down the tank and repeat the process of refilling and re-feeding the system.

However, when applying the base nutrients (Aqua Flakes A+B) I only add enough to bring the EC up to 1.4; I then add a whole sachet of Shooting Powder into a jug that has been filled with water from the nutrient tank and stir until all lumps have dissolved and the mixture has finished fizzing. (I would like to mention that when doing this I held the jug up to the purple light from the LED and it gave the water a cool, radioactive look!) This additive is a great investment in your garden as it works wonders in both plumping up your flowers and in the production of essential oils. This is clearly visible by the next week, when you get to add two sachets into the tank.

All the plants are healthy and look great, although the buds forming lack a little in size, compared to a 600-watt HPS, but are a great deal bigger and better-formed than under the 150-watt HPS lights from a previous grow. Harvest time should be interesting!

WEEK 8: Week eight turns up after a pretty uneventful grow that has gone surprisingly smoothly, considering this is a new technology to me. (The only downside to this grow was the overall yield, which was about half of what you could get from a 600-watt HPS.) However, things do look very good, with glistening THC crystals covering the buds and any leaf close to them. At this stage the plants have had five weeks of feeding followed by three weeks of supercharged feeding – due to the Shooting Powder – so they have had a whole lot of nutrients pumped into them. Although this is good for the plants, it is not so good for us, the consumer, so now we must flush the whole system for about 10 to 14 days to leach out as much nutrient solution as possible from the plants, making the end result as smooth as possible.

When draining the tank down, you must

make sure you have somewhere suitable to dispose of your waste so that it will not overfill while draining down, or pollute the local water supply. Once the tank is empty I like to run the hose through each pot for short amounts of time, so as to remove any excess salt buildup from any unused feed. I then drain that away, too, before filling up the nutrient tank with pure water to set the plants on the final stage of their life – basically, a good clean-out before the last phase.

The ladies are looking good, although the amount of large colas is not that great.

However, upon closer inspection you can see that the bud structure is a lot tighter and looks better than when under HPS lamps, and the crystal content is unbelievable. The smaller yield looks as though it may deliver a knockout stone at the end, as all the nuggets are extremely dense and coated in more THC than I have ever seen on a plant.

See photos 6 and 7

4

Not a lot has changed in the size of the plants

5

GENERAL CONCLUSION: To get the chance to work with an LED light is a great experience, as it shows you what modern technology can do for us gardeners and our plants. The cost of this unit is a major investment and at first you must show a bit of patience when using this type of light, as simply swapping it for your old lamp means that you have altered your plants’ environment right away. The LED light gives off little to no heat at all. This may be advantageous if you live in a sunnier climate and struggle with horrific temperatures indoors, even without turning on a HPS lamp. However, if you live in a not-so-sunny area, then you may need to think about somehow adding a heater to your grow room. This brings the temperature up a bit to compensate for the sudden loss of heat.

The hype was that this lamp should outshine a 600-watt HPS light – and it may well do – but on this particular grow it fell short of the mark by quite a bit. This is not to discredit the lamp as it has many great points – which can be seen by just looking at the plants, as they have not yellowed off at all and appear to be quite healthy, not to mention the thick layer of crystals that cover the plants and the tight, crisp feel of each bud. I am going to keep playing with this light for a while, as I feel that I can get a better result with it; this means doing some drawings and a bit of rearranging to get the optimum environment for it to do its thing. Maybe, just maybe it will produce what they say it can.

When growing with LEDs, purple plants can be typical

6

Bud structure is much tighter and looks better than when under HPS

7

I would recommend growing a maximum of three plants under one of these lights to get the best results, otherwise things can become a bit awkward trying to work in purple light when branches become entangled together.

I do not think you can beat HPS; buy a cool tube, get a heat deflector, put on some fans – HPS produces the goods every time. Unless a major jump is made in LED technology that visibly trounces HPS lighting (and the prices fall), people will not want to part with their hard-earned cash on a lamp that costs more than a secondhand car and yields them less than their other equipment.

One strain under both types of lamp allows for accurate comparison

30

INDEX OF ADS / COLOPHON

Do You Have Questions About Your Crop?

Almost everyone, beginners or professionals, has experienced some sort of gardening disaster. Some folks have lost thousands of plants as a result of infestations or simple errors; for others, the death of a single cutting is devastating.

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Send us your questions about a traumatic grow room or garden episode, and our medically-certified cultivation expert will answer them in a new column. Photos (.jpg only) of the carnage should be high-res and as large as possible to illustrate your woes. The more humorous your anecdotes, the better chance you have of being printed, so let’s hear it. Please include how you prefer to be credited. All submitters’ email addresses and personal details are kept confidential.

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Index of Ads Name Advanced Seeds

Cannabis.info

Colophon Page 1

31

Dinafem Seeds

2

Mountain High

1

Pasquini Bini

Plagron

Pollinator Company

31

32

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Soft Secrets USA is published six times per year by: Discover Publishers USA, Inc. Century Park Plaza 1801 Century Park East, 24th Floor, Suite 2400 Los Angeles, CA 90067 Editor-in-Chief: Kristie Szalanski Editorial E-mail: Kristie@softsecrets.nl Contributors: Grubbycup, Sativa Diva, Buddy Kush, O’Riodon, Little Lebowski, The Professor, Smokedout, et al.

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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.

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Soft Secrets USA #1/’13 out: February 15th, 2013