http://michiganmedicalmarijuana.org/page/news.html/_/growers-corner/ Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:05:09 +0000 43200 Growning help from our crack staff of trained monkeys. http://michiganmedicalmarijuana.org/page/news.html/_/growers-corner/us-ca-what-gives-marijuana-its-signature-scent-r100 http://www.mapinc.or...2/n115/a04.html
Newshawk: http://www.drugsense.org/donate.htm
Votes: 0
Pubdate: Thu, 09 Feb 2012
Source: Sacramento News & Review (CA)
Copyright: 2012 Chico Community Publishing, Inc.
Contact: sactoletters@newsreview.com
Website: http://newsreview.com/sacto/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/540
Author: David Downs

WHAT GIVES MARIJUANA ITS SIGNATURE SCENT?

From Harborside to Halent Labs, Experts Now Know Way More About What Makes Bud Reek

Sacramento cannabis enthusiasts have yet another thing to be snobs about in 2012: terpenes, the building blocks that make up the unique smell of cannabis, which are beginning to waft into the mainstream.

Drug companies are researching the therapeutic properties of these simple organic molecules, and at least two California medical-cannabis labs have begun testing for their presence in dispensary weed.

According to Donald Land, a UC Davis chemistry professor who cofounded Halent Laboratories, which tests for terpenes and conducts occasional smelling classes, "Terpenes are a set of relatively simple organic molecules that are present in all living organisms." He noted that most of the flavors and aromas of plants comes from terpenes.

"The name terpene is derived from the main ingredient in a certain type of pine pitch called turpentine," Land explained. "That piney smell that comes along with turpentine comes from terpenes. There are lots of others."

Herbalists have recognized the power of terpenes for decades. "Cannabis and other plants share a lot of the same terpenes, so terpenes have been legal for many decades," Land said. "There's been quite a bit of research on them in the U.S. and abroad, including many well-documented medicinal effects."

Rick Pfrommer, manager at Harborside Health Center in Oakland, said that as head buyer for the popular dispensary, he has smelled countless numbers of bags and glass jars full of the sticky ick, and that a lot of the odors he detects aren't actually coming from the weed.

"You can smell everything from bat guano to heavy salt-hydroponic fertilizers," Pfrommer said during an interview inside Harborside's buyer's room. The space is dominated by an examination counter, shelves of pot-strain reference books and expensive computers. Pfrommer has been selling ganja for about 25 years.

Pfrommer insists that if one boasts an acute sense of smell, you can smell chlorophyll in a bud that hasn't been cured well, and even molds. "Once you've smelled multiple thousands of samples of cannabis," he explained, "when something is off, it's apparent that it's off, like, as soon as you crack the bag open."

Like a wine sommelier or a buyer for a boutique coffee roaster, Pfrommer smells each potential new addition to Harborside's menu using a specific ritual. First, he pops open a glass jar of coffee beans and takes a big sniff. Like ginger before sushi, coffee beans reset the palate, he said. Then he takes a big whiff from a sample cannabis bag, fishes out a single nug, cracks it open, and inhales deeply.

"All you really want to smell is the terpenes," he said.

According to a literature review by the medical-cannabis journal O'Shaughnessy's: "Limonene ( also found in lemon ) is an antidepressant and immune-stimulant in humans; alpha-pinene ( also found in pine needles ) is an anti-inflammatory, a bronchodilator, and a wide-spectrum antibiotic; nerolidol ( also found in oranges ) is a sedative; linalool ( also found in lavender ) has an anti-anxiety effect; and myrcene ( also found in hops ) is a sedative, a muscle relaxant, a sleep aid, and an anti-inflammatory."

Trainers teach drug dogs to hunt for beta-caryophyllene, a terpene in cannabis that also is an anti-inflammatory. Terpenes are also the chemical precursors to the euphoric ingredient in pot, tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, making them a proxy for potency.

Researchers like Ethan Russo, senior medical director at GW Pharmaceuticals, believe that terpenes contribute to the "entourage effect" that lies at the core of medical cannabis's efficacy in treating nausea, inflammation, chronic pain and more. GW Pharmaceuticals has started growing terpene-only pot-sans THC-to better investigate the effects of terpenes, O'Shaughnessy's reported.

And, unlike the THC pill Marinol, new prescription throat spray Sativex contains THC, its therapeutic peer CBD, and terpenes.

Terpenes also enable pot snobs to make outlandish yet credible claims that they smell chocolate, mango, diesel or lavender in their bag. The five to 10 main terpenes in cannabis have about 25 more rare peers, but cannabis has been found to contain more than 200 different types of them. The combinations are infinite.

Cannabis lab data from Halent and The Werc Shop near Los Angeles is helping to elevate breeding to a science. It's also giving patients a first-ever ingredients list for that dubious doobie, said Jeffrey Rabe, director of The Werc Shop.

Pfrommer envisions legal OG Kush deodorizers or Agent Orange floor cleaners. "I think, along with CBD, terpenes are one of the two most exciting things going on in cannabis," Pfrommer said. "We're just scratching the surface now."

And sniffing.

http://www.mapinc.or...5/a04.html?1042]]> Sun, 12 Feb 2012 01:28:33 +0000 cc3d69ed781b16bce06687822ae56e6d http://michiganmedicalmarijuana.org/page/news.html/_/growers-corner/seeds-or-clones-where-to-start-r48


This is a commonly talked about topic, and it should be. “A new grower should grow out bag seed”. Ever hear that one?? It’s true. Common sense says that a new grower needs all the experience they can get. Growing from regular seed will give a grower the chance to see both male and female parts, and allow them to sex plants. It will allow the new grower to see a plants life from beginning to end. It will make a new grower learn how to germinate seeds. It teaches a new grower about the fragile first week of a seedlings life. Common sense says that a new grower is prone to make mistakes and should not start with expensive seeds for this reason. But what about this clone thing??

Michigan is hurting for good caregivers. This is no secret. And for this reason I try to steer newer growers to Compassion Clubs and friends for clones. Starting via clone will give you meds for you and your patients quicker, and still allow you to learn 90% of the grow process as well. After you get meds out to your patients, and get your grow room and skills tuned in, it can be time to play around with seeds and seedlings.

One major concern growing from seed is the possibility of male plants pollinating your crops. Even if the seeds are feminized, there is still a chance of a hermaphrodite plant. In many circumstances, the hermaphrodite plant is much more difficult to spot that the true male. In either case, the new grower may not 100% know what to look for, or may look too late. Pollination will ruin a crop, and if not cleaned up well, it can pollinate crops for cycles to come as well. Patients expect seedless meds. Sure, there are understanding patients who will work with you, and work around the seeds for a cycle or two, but it gets old real quick. If you start with clones, you will not have this problem.

Too many new growers/caregivers promise the world and then have disaster. Could be pests, pollen, or just grow failure in general…… Leaving the grower look bad, and also leaving patients without medication. Starting with clones will take a ton of “ifs” and potential problems out of your grow. Simplicity is key for the newer grower.

Good, bug free clones are available all over the state from caregivers and Compassion Clubs alike. Many are free, some ask for a small donation/compensation. Anything more than $15-$20 per clone is probably too much. If you are looking for 8-10-12 clones…… do the math. It may be worth it to put that money in your gas tank and drive a distance for free clones from a reputable person, or a person who maintains a grow journal on the internet. This gives you a chance to see the characteristics of the plant before you pick up a clone and go growing blind. The more homework and research you do before planting, the better off you are in the long run.

Another thing to worry about is plant count. Obviously we are held to 12 plants per patient in Michigan. Well, if you plant 12 regular seeds, you might have 10 or 11 make it to seedling phase. Out of those 10 or 11, half will be males. So we are left with 4 or 5 female plants. This is nowhere close to our limit. It would be much better to start with 12 clones.

The same can be said for 12 feminized seeds. Maybe 10 or 11 will make it to the seedling stage. Now we have 10 or 11 females right? Hopefully, but that’s not going to always be 100% true. If a hermaphrodite plant pops up in those 10 or 11 plants and goes unnoticed for more than a few days, the entire crop will be pollinated and you are back to square one. Once again…………. It would just be so much better to start with 12 clones.]]> Tue, 23 Nov 2010 13:52:39 +0000 01386bd6d8e091c2ab4c7c7de644d37b http://michiganmedicalmarijuana.org/page/news.html/_/growers-corner/nutrients-and-all-those-bottles-on-the-wall-r33
If you are confused by nutes you are not alone. The explosion of Medical Cannabis over the past years has trickled down to an explosion of indoor growing as well. This has brought no-name companies out of the woodwork to sell their products to you….. boasting all kinds of crazy gimmicks. Nutrients are no different than anything else in the world. They have evolved with the changes and needs of today’s gardens and their tenders. Take for instance the 3-part Flora Series from General Hydroponics. This system has been around longer than I have been alive. OK im exaggerating, but...... Its formula has changed probably 20 times in the past 30 years (i do not know these numbers to be fact....just saying it HAS changed). It is because the label stays the same that nobody knows this. The same can be said for other old-school favorites like Fox Farms. These “old-school” companies are still around for a couple reasons. They work, and they are constantly spending millions of dollars yearly on research to improve. The same cannot normally be said for the new thing on the market. Believe me, if I were peddling nutrients, I would be thrilled if my gross sales were a million a year….. Fox Farms spends that on research alone. Some of the things you see advertised in these new companies has already been around for years. There is no need to go spend top dollar because it is new and colorful and has a cool name.

My concern is the 12 part programs out there with 3 additional additives that the manufacturer “highly recommends”. (you get the idea) I will not promote or degrade any company, but the thought that “more is better” should stick with sex …………… it does not apply to cannabis cultivation and the food required for your plants. There is no need to pick up 15 bottles and spend $700 on food to grow a cannabis plant. Especially if you are a newer grower. Keep it simple.

Common sense/science tells us that some raw nutrients cannot be mixed together without a diluting agent like water, and this is why we can’t just run to the store and buy one bottle that contains everything we need to grow. Certain strains need different foods. Another reason to sell nutrients separately is so that certain things can be added/deleted at certain times. All this makes perfect sense. But what doesn’t make sense is the money hungry nute companies that sell 10 different bottles when it could all be done with 3. I actually know of a company that bottles the exact same product in 2 different packages. And then tells you that you need to add both of them….. thus directing you to purchase 2 products instead of just one. Twice the money for the exact same thing. That's a lot of money when you are dishing out 20 bucks a quart for multiple products and the gallon price is so much cheaper in the long run.

Regardless of the nutrient regiment you choose, please know that it’s not rocket science. The company that you purchased your products from has already done that for you. If you are a skilled grower with a finicky strain, I would expect to see a good number of bottles on your grow room shelves. If you are a newer grower and have more than just a few bottles up there, you are headed for trouble. Keep it simple. Do your homework. And believe that they are out to get your money anyway possible. They are a business and require profit.

Everything that I post on this site is geared towards the newer grower and this is no different. YES there are companies that sell 750 different nutrients. And yes there are master growers who spend the thousands of dollars to use these. The simple fact is that these growers did not become masters because of a nute plan. These growers have spent the time/energy/money/YEARS to master the plant itself. As a newer grower, this should be your goal as well. Use a simple and affordable nutrient plan and find a quick/hardy/easy strain. Keep it simple. Learn the plant first. You will have enough problems with your plants and grow room as it is, the last thing you need to worry about is a nute burn or a deficiency. There will be plenty of time to play around later. Keep it simple. So many times i have new growers coming to me for assistance in choosing a bloom/taste/flavor additive?? serious?? You don't even know what your meds taste like naturally?? And you want to alter the flavor already?? I'm not a food critic, but i am a lightweight chef and food lover. I would NEVER add salt/pepper to my dish without tasting it first. Cannabis is no different. Learn your plant, learn your strain in its simple/natural setting. Then play around/spend money/add spice if you feel the need to.

10 years from now you will be staring at that long colorful shelf in the store…………. SMILING…………….. and thinking the exact same thing.]]> Sat, 13 Nov 2010 04:46:12 +0000 310dcbbf4cce62f762a2aaa148d556bd