Hydrolife Canada December/January 2017

grow. heal. live. enjoy.
DEC/JAN 2017 // CAN
LEGALIZED.
what happens next?
BITCOIN: A NEW CURRENCY
FOR A NEW INDUSTRY

inside
08 from the publisher / 10 own it / 12 ask a grower / 32 ask a nurse / 74 the chill list
grow.
14 Cut and Dried
16 Trust the Facts,
Not Gut Feelings
22 Classifying Cannabis:
Indica vs. Sativa vs. hybrids
24 Rise & Shine: Why More
Cannabis Greenhouses are
Cropping Up
heal.
34 California Dreaming
42 Sophie‘s Story
46 Stormebud: Chasing Calm
6
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myhydrolife.ca

live.
50 Baking A Fool of Myself
54 Beyond Girl Power:
Creating a Truly Diverse
Cannabis Industry
58 Outside Your Mind
62 A New Currency for a
New Industry
enjoy.
64 Getting to the Good Stuff:
Cannabis Extraction Methods
68 Humboldt’s Finest: This
Cannabis-Flavoured Vodka
is Legit
70 Three Strains to get You
Through the Holidays
myhydrolife.ca grow. heal. live. enjoy. 7

ROW, LIVE, HEAL & ENJOY
from the publisher
8
American citizens voted in some big changes on Nov. 8. Yes, Presidentelect
Donald Trump is a big change, to be sure. But so is California,
Nevada, Massachusetts, and Maine all legalizing recreational cannabis
for adults aged 21 years and older. California’s referendum success is
seen as a gamechanger since it’s the most populous state in the US (and
the sixth largest economy in the world) and could become Ground Zero
for marijuana production. These changes could also prove to be the death
knell for federal prohibition because before, only a handful of Congress
representatives were from states that had legalized cannabis. Now, more
than 100 are. November’s outcomes will more than triple the number
of Americans living in states where recreational cannabis is allowed.
Before the vote, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and the District
of Columbia allowed recreational weed. On Nov. 8, Florida, Arkansas,
and North Dakota also voted to allow medical marijuana, resulting in
a total of 28 states that now allow cannabis for medicinal purposes. All
these states will soon get to work to creating frameworks and issuing
licenses and permits that allow the recreational and medical marijuana
industries to operate. Canada will soon follow suit as Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau has promised to introduce federal law that will legalize
recreational marijuana across all 10 provinces and three territories. As
the movement goes boldly forward, so, too, does Hydrolife. In this issue,
we explore Bitcoin and its use in the cannabis industry; how to best
insure your growing business; and how dosage is tested. Ontario-based
craftsman Jay Hawley tells us how marijuana inspired him to create
Stormebud. With these stories and more, it is clear that the marijuana
industry is becoming accepted in virtually every segment of society, and
it’s just a matter of time before federal governments on both sides of the
49th parallel see the value in legalizing it.
grow. heal. live. enjoy.
December 2016/January 2017
volume 1 - number 5
CONTRIBUTORS
Chris Bond
Isaac Cedillo
Jessica Ferneyhough
Colleen Graham
Cory Hughes
Gibson Lannister
Sharon Letts
Lacey Macri
Jodi McDonald
Alan Ray
Alex Rea
Lindsey Schiller
Jessica Skelton
Watermelon
Published by
Hydrolife Magazine
Inquiries to
info@myhydrolife.ca
No part of this magazine may be reproduced
without permission from the publisher. The
views expressed by columnists are personal
opinions and do not necessarily reflect those
of Hydrolife or the editor.
Publication agreement number 40739092
Printed in Canada
myhydrolife.ca

own it
1
2
3
4
own it
1. Perfect for the on-the-go
smoker, the iChief case
features a built-in rolling
tray and a compartment to
keep your standard rolling
papers safe and handy.
Made in California, the iChief
case combines style and
durability with a one-of-a-kind
function. The handcrafted
iPhone 6/6s case features a
rubber protective casing for
durability and a natural handfinished
bamboo rolling tray.
The iPhone 5 and 4 editions
are made of either black
or clear eco-friendly and
recycled materials.
- ichiefsupply.com
2. Jazz Dispensary: Holiday
Treats invites you to take a trip
on Santa’s sleigh through 10
tracks of holiday cheer. Side
A presents funky chestnuts
from the likes of Booker T.
& the MGs, Electric Jungle,
and The Jive Turkeys, while
Side B contains adventurous
outings from Kenny Burrell,
Rotary Connection, Pharoah
Sanders, and more. Housed
in an eye-catching gummythemed
cover and pressed on
candy-red vinyl, this limitededition
collection is designed
to elevate your holiday
listening experience. Holiday
Treats follows on the heels of
the much sought-after four-LP
collection, Jazz Dispensary:
Cosmic Stash.
– jazzdispensary.com
3. The Black Rock Originals
Safety Case is a stylish,
versatile, and discrete stash
box for professionals on
the go. Its non-porous,
smell-proof stealth design
ensures no one notices your
stash, and the taped zipper
and WeatherTex exterior
wrap protect your supplies
from the elements. Inspired
by travel and influenced
by adventure, there is a
pocket-sized Safety Case kit
for every type of smoker, no
matter if you’re into pipes,
vapes, or rolling.
- blackrockog.com
4. Google Daydream is a VR
platform designed with
immersive experience and
mobile technology in mind.
Hundreds of apps and games
are incoming, including
games, Hulu programming,
YouTube channels, and
Street View tours. The
platform’s VR headset,
called the Daydream View,
emphasizes comfortable
fabrics over hard plastics and
further reduces the distance
between the average
consumer and VR technology.
Other phone manufacturers
and tech developers will
have access to the Daydream
platform, making it even
more accessible.
– store.google.com
10
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myhydrolife.ca

5
6
7
8
5. Stardust Instant THC,
developed by Ed Rosenthal,
is pure CO 2-extracted
cannabis oil that has been
converted into a fine powder.
It is an innovative way for
cannabis consumers to create
their own edibles, anytime
and anyplace. Dissolve it
in hot coffee, sprinkle onto
pizza, add it to soup, and
even blend it into a smoothie.
Results are typically felt in less
than 30 minutes. Currently
available in single-serve
packets containing a reliable
15-milligram dose of THC,
Stardust is the medicated
edible of your choice.
– stardustinside.com
6. Dope Jewelry from Ian
Campbell is handcrafted
and features either images
or real wildflowers and
plants such as cannabis,
wheat straw, hops,
lavender, pine cones,
and more. The pieces
are hardened with an
eco-friendly hemp-based
medium, and the patented,
proprietary process is so
clean the flowers retain
their fragrance. Custom
pieces are available upon
request. What could be
cooler than your favourite,
personalized, long-lasting,
real flowerbud to wear?
– dopejeweler.com
7. The easy-to-use Plazmatic
lighter provides
environmentally friendly and
reliable lighting power in
even the windiest conditions.
Instead of butane or other
combustible fluids, this
lighter relies on a longlasting
lithium ion battery to
create dual electric beams
that provide heat at over
480˚C. Simply plug it into
a standard USB port for an
hour or two and receive 50-
100 lights per charge.
- plazmatic.com
8. The Chuck II Waterproof
Mesh Backed Leather Boot
defies the elements with
a water-resistant upper.
Other features include a
Nike Lunarlon insole for
cushioning, a water-resistant
inner sleeve that helps keep
out rain, a rugged rubber
outsole for superb traction,
and a neoprene collar that
enhances warmth and
comfort.
- converse.com
myhydrolife.ca grow. heal. live. enjoy. 11

ask a grower
Q
What would be the
most efficient set-up for
maximizing a 10x10 room
with an eight-foot ceiling?
I’m asking specifically
about the lighting and
hydro systems. I was
also wondering about
products for odour
sealing the room.
—Anthony
Do you have a
question for
a grower?
A
Hi, Anthony,
There are several
ways for you to
maximize the
utility of your small
space. Each has its
pros and cons. If you were looking
to grow a strain that gets large, i.e.
four feet or more, I would consider
using an expandable drip system,
which is where plants are grown
in large containers connected with
tubing. The nutrient solution is dripor
mist-fed to the plants, and then
gravity brings the solution back
to the reservoir to be recirculated.
This type of system is ideal for
large plants with explosive growth
and plants that take longer to veg
and flower. With the continuous
drip system, there is no risk of the
system drying out if the drippers
don’t clog.
Flood and drain tables are another
tried-and-true method that can fit
many small to medium plants, i.e.
one- to three-feet tall, into a small
space. It would be tight, but you
could cram two 4x8 tables and flood
them off a single reservoir.
To properly light either of these
hydroponic methods in a 10x10
room, you would need at least one
1,000W HID or the LED equivalent,
if not more. I would suggest two
600W HIDs running on two light
rails to evenly and effectively light
your garden.
Another viable option for small
spaces are rotating gardens and
vertical gardens. These all-inone
hydroponic gardens are
designed to hold a very large
number of small plants, i.e.
plants that don’t get larger than
one-foot high. In other words,
you would have to grow a very
small strain and force it to flower
as soon as it has taken root. The
plus side is that this method
reduces the time between crops
by focusing entirely on flowering.
These package gardens seem
complicated, but are rather
beginner-friendly and can hold
hundreds of small plants.
In terms of your room’s
environment, small spaces with
lights running in them for hours on
end are going to get hot. Invest in
a high-quality fan and vent your
room often. I cannot stress enough
how important this is. Keeping
the air in your room in the 18-26°C
range will promote growth; prevent
the contents of your reservoir from
evaporating and becoming toxically
concentrated; prevent the growth
of harmful moulds, bacteria, and
fungi; and limit the likelihood of
a damaging insect infestation.
Finally, venting through a carbon
filter will remove all odour from the
vented air. This is the most effective
method I know of for odour control.
There are sprays and UV purifiers
available that are effective as well.
I hope this advice helps point you
in the right direction. If I can point
you in another direction, head to
your local hydroponics retailer. The
people there can be an invaluable
source of information and can help
guide you through the process of
setting up your grow.
—Gibson Lannister
Email editor@myhydrolife.com
to get an expert answer.
Gibson Lannister, a former hydroponics shop owner, developed a green
thumb as a child, having been born into a family of experienced gardeners.
12 grow. heal. live. enjoy.
myhydrolife.ca

grow
CUT AND DRIED:
A MONTHLY LOOK AT DIFFERENT MMJ STRAINS
BY ALAN RAY
An indica to its core, Afghan Kush produces a stress-relieving
and meditative body high. A word of warning, though;
too much of this strain could lead
to a case of couchpotatoitus…
Afghan Kush
Born in the rugged Hindu Kush
mountain region of Afghanistan
and northern Pakistan, this
sweetly aromatic indica will
have you speaking in tongues if
restraint is abandoned.
Long known for its sedating and
meditative properties, Afghan Kush
(AK) is a hearty plant that is highly
prized for its heavy resin production.
It also has a distinguishable “hashy”
taste; hence why it’s a favourite plant
amongst hashish makers.
A Little History
Afghan Kush first hit the shores of
America sometime in the mid-70s
and it gained a reputation of being
almost therapeutic with its relaxing
and calming effect. Nonetheless, AK
remained relatively unknown until
the British firm GW Pharmaceutical
chose it, along with other potent
strains, for commercial use.
Today, AK is one of the most popular
plants for growers and consumers
alike. Many medical marijuana
dispensaries specialize in the strain
as it is well known for its tensionrelieving
and quiescent properties.
It is a Canadian favourite, and it is
also homegrown in many parts of the
Lower 48 states and Alaska.
Afghan Kush is also used heavily
in breeding. Strains with shorter
flowering times (even those with
auto-flowering) have been created
using original AK as the mother
ship. OG, Larry, Lemon, and Russian
Master, to name a few, owe their
existence to AK. Afghan Kush also
served as the cornerstone for legends
such as White Widow, AK-47, Sensi
Star, and others.
In the Growroom
True to its indica roots, AK has
broad, dark green leaves and
grows with branches outstretched.
In other words, this plant likes
elbowroom. It can also reach
impressive heights if left to its
own devices, though AK is usually
grown as a medium-sized plant.
No matter how tall, however, it
produces a heavy canopy of resinglistening
buds loaded with THC.
With its low maintenance, good
yield, and ability to reach full flowering
in less than two months, AK
is a must-have on your grow bucket
list. It’s a well-established and
stable plant that is easy to grow,
making it perfect for both the novice
and the seasoned grower. Afghan
Kush also thrives both indoors and
out. Optimal indoor yields will
produce 400 grams per square
metre, while outdoors will produce
500-600 grams per square metre.
Physical Effects
Edgar Allen Poe would have liked
AK. Perhaps he did.
While there is some respectable
cerebral euphoria, this indica strain
is almost narcotic in its effect on
the body. It’s excellent for reducing
tension and stress, and produces a
calm and relaxed state of being—a
state of transcendental meditation,
if you will. Afghan Kush also
helps to ease chronic pain and is
recommended for a series of maladies,
ranging from migraines to arthritis.
It’s also wonderful for patients
whose medications or treatments
make them not want to eat.
Remember, though, too much of
anything is not good. Afghan Kush is
most relaxing and enjoyable when
consumed in moderation. Possible
side-effects of AK are cotton mouth,
red and/or dry eyes, dizziness,
paranoia, and couchpotatoitus.
Alan Ray has written five books and
is a New York Times bestselling author.
Additionally, he is a multi-award winning
songwriter with awards from BMI and
ASCAP. Alan lives in Tennessee with
his wife and two dogs: a South African
Boerboel and a Pomeranian/Wolverine mix.
14
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grow
Trust the Facts,
by Jodi McDonald
Growers often have a pretty good idea of the
THC and CBD levels their plants will produce,
but only a lab test can tell them the exact
cannabinoid levels their cannabis contains.
16
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myhydrolife.ca

grow
will begin with a confession: I am a
I lab geek. I love the lab and I enjoy
solving mysteries that come from
unexpected data. I really love knowing
that, in my geeky way, I can help
someone truly understand something
they have a gut feeling about.
This is especially true with cannabis.
(Another confession: I enjoy hearing
about all the attention and care that
goes into raising healthy and productive
plants.) The growers I have met are
extremely tuned in to their growing
processes and thus have a good idea of
what results they’ll get out of their plants.
They particularly have a good sense of
what delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
and cannabidiol (CBD) levels they’ll
see from a strain. Most often, their gut
feeling is right; however, the only way
they can know for sure is with a good
lab test. Through this process, other lab
geeks and I can let growers know exactly
what their crop contains, including the
levels of other medically important
cannabinoids beyond THC and CBD.
Cannabinoid Testing
If you want to know what medically relevant
elements are in your product, get a cannabinoid
potency and profile test. A good test will list
the most commonly occurring cannabinoids—
such as those in Table 1—and measure the
concentration of each in your cannabis.
Sometimes, this list will be separated
into carboxylated compounds (that
is, the acid forms; for example,
tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, or
THCA) and decarboxylated
compounds (or, neutral forms;
for example, THC).
Reliable product testing will
also give an indication of how
recently the cannabis was
harvested. It does this by looking
at the levels of carboxylated
(acid form) cannabinoids and of
a decarboxylated cannabinoid
known as cannabinol (CBN).
High levels of CBN, which is
formed from the breakdown of
THC, indicate that a cannabis
TYPE CANNABINOID USE
Decarboxylated
Carboxylated
Cannabichromene (CBC)
Cannabidiol (CBD)
Cannabidivarin (CBDV)
Cannabigerol (CBG)
Cannabinol (CBN)
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)
Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA)
Cannabigerolic acid (CBGA)
Tetrahyrdocannabinolic acid (THCA)
Anti-inflammatory, antifungal,
antibiotic, analgesic
Anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory,
antipsychotic, antispasmodic, analgesic
Analgesic, mood disorder
treatment, anti-inflammatory
Antibiotic, anti-inflammatory,
antifungal, analgesic
Sedative, anticonvulsant,
antibiotic, anti-inflammatory
Euphoriant, anti-inflammatory,
analgesic, antiemetic
Appetite suppressant, analgesic,
antiemetic, anti-inflammatory, euphoriant
Antiemetic, anti-inflammatory,
antibacterial
Analgesic, antibacterial,
anti-inflammatory,
Antibacterial, antibiotic
Table 1: Medically Important Phytocannabinoids
18
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grow
TECHNIQUE PROS CONS
Colourimetric
Inexpensive, rapid, can be done by a grower
Only able to show presence of
THC or CBD over a threshold
Thin Layer
Chromatography
(TLC)
Inexpensive, rapid
Semi-quantitative method (the
compound is present or absent
over a certain concentration)
Enzyme-linked
Immunosorbant Assay
(ELISA)
Simple, can be sensitive (able to correctly detect
the presence of the compound of interest)
Only able to detect THC and
CBD, cross reactivity with other
compounds known to occur
Gas Chromatograph
(GC)
Excellent for measuring small concentrations,
sensitive, specific (able to differentiate between
the compound of interest and compounds that
may interfere with the test), accurate (measuring
closely to the true value)
Unable to easily differentiate
between carboxylated
and decarboxylated
compounds, measures total
of each cannabinoid
High Performance
Liquid Chromatography
(HPLC)
Highly sensitive, very specific, accurate and
precise (two or more measures agree), able
to differentiate between carboxylated and
decarboxylated compounds
Less efficient than GC,
time-consuming
Table 2: Comparison of Analytical Methods for Cannabinoid Potency
product has been sitting around
for a long time. Same goes for low
levels of acid-form cannabinoids.
Carboxylation is the presence of
a carboxylic acid molecule on a
cannabinoid. Heat, light, or alkaline
conditions can remove this molecule
in a process called decarboxylation,
which creates the active, neutral
form of the cannabinoid. So, as plant
material ages, its levels of acid-form
cannabinoids begin to decrease.
Quantitation of
Total Cannabinoids
A lab test can also report a total
value of the cannabinoids. This
is a calculation of what neutral
forms of the cannabinoids would be
present if there was a completely
efficient decarboxylation process.
A conversion factor is used to
calculate this value.
For example, the levels of THC
and THCA would be converted
to a total measure of THC. If
a sample had 10 per cent
THCA, the total value of
THC would be calculated
to 8.77 per cent.
Available Testing Methods
There are a variety of rapid and highly sensitive
methods for analyzing a product’s cannabinoid
profile. Licensed producers, under Health
Canada's regulations, must use a validated
method that measures THC and CBD, but other
growers have the option to choose a method that
best suits them. The most common tests available
are outlined in Table 2, which also looks at the
benefits and drawbacks of each method.
As you may have guessed, thinking about the
exciting and changing world of cannabis testing
is my kind of fun. It can turn gut feelings into
hard facts, which also makes it an extremely
useful tool for a grower. Cannabinoid testing can
confirm what you know about your growing skills
while showing you a world of other medically
important cannabinoids that you have access to
in your own garden.
Jodi McDonald is the president and founder of
Keystone Labs and is a medical microbiologist,
inventor, and super science-geek. She has 20
years’ experience in the quality control, regulatory,
and quality assurance environment for the
pharmaceutical industry. Jodi believes testing is
essential for taking control of your personal health.
20
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grow
Which strain is best for your highs, your lows, and your
everything in between?
by Lacey Macri
CLASSIFYING CANNABIS:
Which strain is best for your highs, your
lows, and your everything in between?
Indica
VS
Sativa
VS
Hybrids
22
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myhydrolife.ca

Whether you are new to the world of
cannabis or just looking to expand
your horizons, it helps to understand the
differences between indica- and sativadominant
strains. While they do share
a lot of similarities, there are a few key
areas from seed to medicine that set
them apart.
Grow
For those looking to join the grow
revolution, deciding between sativa
and indica is an important choice. The
obvious physical differences between
cannabis sativa and cannabis
indica are debatably most relevant
in the grow sphere, where spatial
limitations, legalities, and timing often
become issues.
Sativa plants are known for their large
stature, some stretching to a whopping
25-feet tall if given the headroom.
Heavy sativa-dominant strains are best
suited for outdoor growing. However,
if you are looking to grow some of
these, check with your local laws
before beginning. Also, before growing
outside, take into consideration privacy
concerns from nosy or unsupportive
neighbours, and other uninvited
visitors like pests, which can present an
increased threat in rural areas.
If any of the above are deal-breakers,
cannabis indica could be better for you
as it can be grown indoors more easily.
Indica plants are usually smaller and
stouter with a slightly shorter growing
cycle. Many hobby gardeners also find
this makes the plants somewhat less
of a commitment over their towering
sativa counterparts. Another difference
between the two strains is that leaves
of cannabis indica plants generally
appear darker green in colour, and the
blades are much shorter and wider than
the long, skinny leaves of sativa plants.
Heal
The medicinal value of cannabis
seems to have more to do with the
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and
cannabidiol (CBD) content of different
strains and the effect these chemicals
have on users than it does the indica
vs. sativa classification. However, some
trends do seem to exist between the two.
Traditionally, cannabis sativa plants
were known for having higher concentrations
of THC, the psychoactive element
in cannabis. As a result, cannabis
sativa has been described as producing
a more energized, uplifting head high.
Patients suffering from depression, lack
of energy, and some forms of anxiety
look for strains that are more dominant
in THC content than CBD to help counteract
their symptoms.
On the other side, cannabis indica
plants were known for having higher
concentrations of CBD, which produces
a more calming, body-high effect. People
suffering from pain, restlessness, lack of
appetite, or stress look for strains more
dominant in CBD content to help balance
their symptoms.
Conflicting theories about the THC and
CBD content of sativa vs. indica strains
are common. Many researchers have
reported very little difference in the
genetics of sativa and indica strains, and
that, combined with the emergence of
a plethora of new hybrids, the variance
continues to grow.
Enjoy
Patients suffering from
depression, lack of energy,
and some forms of anxiety
look for strains that are more
dominant in THC content
than CBD to help counteract
their symptoms.
With the legalization of recreational
cannabis starting to pop up in some
states, and becoming a big possibility
in Canada, many users have identified
additional benefits beyond just its medicinal
value. For both professional and
hobby artists, cannabis has been found
to stimulate the creative workings of the
mind. This experience is most likely due
to high levels of THC in the marijuana
consumed by its users. In other words,
finding a nice, purebred cannabis sativa
strain may help those wishing to crush
their writer’s block.
Users who experiment with recreational
sativa strains while enjoying physical
activity also report a mild boost in
energy and motivation.
It should be noted, however, that users
who suffer from certain diagnosed
mental illnesses or conditions, such
as attention deficit disorder, may
experience a sensory overload with some
cannabis sativa strains. It is generally
suggested that these users stick to
indica-dominant or hybrid strains if they
are looking to play it safe.
Remember, it is important to use any
form of cannabis safely. Practice
designating a safe driver, keeping usage
light while in public, and increasing
dosages gradually as your body
becomes accustomed to the medicine.
Lacey Macri works as head of sales
at CleanGrow Ltd., focusing her time
on business development within the
company. She received a bachelor’s
degree in communications and
psychology from the University of
California, Davis, in 2011, where she
worked at the California Aggie student
newspaper on campus.
myhydrolife.ca grow. heal. live. enjoy. 23

grow
RISE
Why More Cannabis Greenhouses are
CROPPING UP
Traditional greenhouses have presented challenges for cannabis
growers, including security and environment control. Hybrid
greenhouse technology is changing that, filling the niche
between indoor and outdoor grows. Lindsey Schiller
explains why cannabis growers now have another option.
by Lindsey Schiller
photos courtesy of
Ceres Greenhouse Solutions
24
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grow
“UNTIL RECENTLY,
cannabis growers
faced two choices
for housing a grow
operation: indoor
or outdoor.”
Imagine the perfect cannabis growing
environment—high light intensity,
precisely controlled environment, CO 2-
rich air, automated systems, minimal
energy usage…this is the Holy Grail
for many cannabis growers, and with
advances in greenhouse technology, it is
one that is now within reach.
Until recently, cannabis growers
faced two choices for housing a grow
operation: indoor or outdoor. Outdoor
growers commonly tout the higher
yields and lower costs of growing
at larger scales under natural light.
Indoor growers swear by the added
climate control afforded by an enclosed
environment where light, temperature,
CO 2
, and airflow can be controlled with
the punch of a button.
As a category, greenhouses occupy
a middle ground on this spectrum.
However, until recently, standard
greenhouse structures presented their
own challenges for cannabis growers.
Advances in greenhouse design and
technology are changing that, allowing
greenhouses to provide the best of both
worlds: both natural lighting and a
precisely controlled indoor environment.
SHEDDING LIGHT ON
TRADITIONAL GREENHOUSES
Though artificial lights are becoming
more efficient, it is still hard, if not
impossible, to compete with the giant
free lamp in the sky. On a clear day,
indoor light levels in a greenhouse are
in the range of 1,000-1,500 micromoles/
m 2 /second. That wordy unit describes
of the amount light that plants use,
called PAR light, hitting a surface at
a single point in time. In comparison,
light intensity one metre away from
a 1,000W HPS lamp is in the range of
500-800 micromoles/m 2 /second. Light
intensity under a 400W HPS lamp is
only 200-400 micromoles/m 2 /second.
In short, natural light usually dwarfs
artificial lights in its intensity. It’s
also full-spectrum, providing all the
wavelengths plants use. But most
importantly, it’s free. By not having to
run lights 12-18 hours a day, greenhouse
growers dramatically reduce the costs
of year-round cannabis production.
Though estimates vary, most analysts
predict a greenhouse will save 50-90
per cent in energy costs compared to an
indoor growroom.
So, why not greenhouses? Historically,
the top reason has been our legal system
and the underground nature of the crop.
Greenhouses have traditionally been
seen as less secure and durable than an
opaque metal warehouse. Greenhouses
have also been seen as more difficult
environments to control compared
to enclosed growrooms. Standard
greenhouses are constructed out of thin,
uninsulated materials, making them
more prone to temperature fluctuations.
With natural light comes natural heat,
and in sunny climates, greenhouses can
potentially overheat.
To control overheating and humidity
levels, commercial greenhouses are
heavily ventilated. Constantly flushing
the greenhouse with outdoor air
increases exposure to pests, diseases,
and pathogens, making it more akin
to an outdoor farm than an indoor
growroom. Another recent risk is
airborne hemp pollen. If a greenhouse
is in the vicinity of outdoor hemp grows,
pollen can enter through vents or fans
and pollinate flowering crops. The result
is hermaphroditic, or seeded, cannabis
that loses much of its value.
Greenhouses also experience variable
light levels. A heavily overcast day, for
example, typically has only 10 per cent
of the light compared to a clear sunny
day. If growing year-round, a greenhouse
normally requires supplemental lighting
and light deprivation systems to achieve
the right photoperiod.
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Let’s step back for a moment to
differentiate between greenhouse
strategies. Many cannabis greenhouses
are seasonal; they provide added
protection for a crop during the normal
outdoor season, but close down over
winter. Other growers use greenhouses
to achieve year-round production
for vegetative or flowering crops, or
supplement part of a larger year-round
operation. In many cases, a grower may
use a growroom for cloning and as a
veg room, and then move plants to the
greenhouse for the flowering stage.
Controlling the photoperiod for flowering
crops requires both supplemental
lighting and light deprivation
systems. Artificial lights extend the
short days of the winter, and light
dep systems allow for a 12-hour
photoperiod during long summer
days. Some growers note that adding
a light dep system increases the
cash outlay for a greenhouse compared
to growroom. However, due to
the avoided costs of running lights,
it is one that is quickly recouped.
Overall, greenhouses have often
been seen as a more natural
growing method, but one that
sacrifices some control over the
growing environment.
THE NEXT WAVE
OF GREENHOUSES:
HYBRID STRUCTURES
To accommodate for these
drawbacks, a new variation of
greenhouse has emerged. Part
warehouse, part greenhouse, hybrid
greenhouses combine insulated
walls with standard glazed roofs.
From the outside, the greenhouse
looks like a warehouse and is
nearly as secure. Constructed with
metal framing, they are also as
durable as a standard commercial
building. Most hybrid greenhouses
can be rated for any wind or snow
load, making them well-suited for
growers in harsh winter climates.
Beyond security and durability,
hybrid structures are far more
energy efficient than standard
greenhouses. An insulated wall
typically has an R-value of 10-20.
Most glazing materials, in comparison,
have an R-value of less than two.
Replacing glazing with a durable,
insulated structure creates a vastly
more energy-efficient structure and
more stable temperatures for yearround
production.
For these reasons, hybrid
greenhouses are emerging as a new
niche in the spectrum of growing
options—one that is more high-tech
and controlled than a standard
greenhouse, but still relies on natural
light. Some growers are taking this
one step further and completely
enclosing the indoor environment.
Sealed greenhouses are an emerging
trend that allows for even greater
control over climate conditions.
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These structures reduce or eliminate ventilation,
so the crops are not constantly exposed to foreign
contaminants like moulds and pests from outside.
Dehumidifiers, heat exchangers, or energy-efficient
heating and cooling systems control the climate,
providing air circulating and a CO 2-rich environment
without ventilation.
Adding to this, growers are integrating new lighting
technologies to create consistent light levels and
a precisely controlled photoperiod. Innovative
lighting and control technologies can respond to
outdoor conditions, only supplementing as much
light as needed. For example, on a cloudy day, a
sensor detects the light levels in the greenhouse. If
below peak intensity, controls automatically turn
on supplemental lighting, but automated dimmers
only turn lights on as much as needed. In this way,
greenhouse growers can take advantage of natural
sunlight as much as possible while still ensuring
consistent peak intensity lighting, eliminating one
more disadvantage of the greenhouse grow.
Other technologies involve motors that
automatically raise and lower lights to provide
intense lighting when they are on, and minimize
shading when the lights are off. Finally, automated
light deprivation systems seal tightly to the
“HIGH-TECH greenhouses now sit squarely in
the middle between the indoor and outdoor
grow, blending the best of both worlds.”
greenhouse frame, creating 100 per cent blackout
conditions equivalent to an indoor growroom.
With these advances, high-tech greenhouses now
sit squarely in the middle between the indoor and
outdoor grow, blending the best of both worlds
while eliminating many of the sacrifices of each.
As growers continue to demand more controlled,
automated, efficient, and durable structures, hybrid
greenhouses will certainly be here to stay. Moreover,
they will evolve along with the industry, carving out
a significant niche in the spectrum of structures and
inching growers one step closer to that perfect grow.
Lindsey Schiller studied at the University of Arizona’s
Controlled Environment Agriculture Center before
delving into sustainable greenhouse design after she
moved to Colorado. In 2011, she co-founded Ceres
Greenhouse Solutions to enable people to design and
build their own sustainable, year-round greenhouses.
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Herbal
ASK A NURSE: TIPS FOR THE HEART
Q
Dear Nurse Jessica,
I heard that cannabis can prevent heart attacks. Is this true? And is there any evidence to
prove it? Could you explain exactly how cannabis works to prevent heart disease?
Thanks,
Tonia
Dear Tonia,
A
Thank you for writing
me and keeping
me on my toes for
evidence-based
opinion. Information
is one thing, but in general
medicine, it can come across as a
little hippy dippy without studies
to solidify the facts.
The truth is, though, we need
more studies to prove what people
know intuitively about cannabis
and countless patient profiles
continue to identify. Until then,
there are some things in life that
can only be guided by the heart
and followed by the trusted self.
To me, with the right patient,
cannabis is a teacher plant who
calls to those who listen.
There are so many different factors
that play into quality heart
health for me. The core ones are
nutrition and hydration, enjoyable
physical activity, expanded consciousness,
and cannabis use, both
medically and recreationally.
When cannabis is utilized with
precision, and the intake methods
are diversified, this plant has
the ability to heal, inspire, relax,
ignite, and optimize heart health.
Now, this being said, I’m not
saying hit the bong all day and
rock a bag of chips for dinner.
This medicine must be treated like
a goddess. You must understand
how to approach her and
recognize there is comfort in ritual,
but ignition in diversity. Also, you
can only be as healthy as what
you put in your mouth, drop under
your tongue, vaporize in your
device, roll in your paper, apply
with infused lotions, or insert
where necessary and ingest.
Growing cannabis is also an
essential component to a healthy
heart. Getting close to your
medicine and seeing it flourish
can bring an incredible sense of
self-sufficiency and deep healing.
I feel blessed when my patients
open up to me about growing. Like
children at Christmas, their eyes
radiate and the ailments we were
discussing before seem light years
away. These truths cannot be put
into pills.
Your question is best supported
by one of my go-to indexes, The
Cannabis Health Index by Uwe
Blesching, PhD. In this text,
Blesching quotes a few studies,
suggests cannabis particulars,
provides affirmations, and sheds
metaphysical light on the heart
with nutrition and lifestyle.
One of Blesching’s quoted referrals
was from Brazil in 2009. They
explained that “CBD calms the autonomic
responses to stress, such
as rapid heart rates, by engaging
receptors that select serotonin to
achieve a calming effect.” Another
was from New Zealand in
2007, when a team reviewed the
influence of cannabinoids and the
heart. This study unveiled that
cannabinoids positively influence
“vasodilation, cardiac protection,
modulation of the baroreceptor
reflex in the control of systolic
blood pressure, and inhibition of
endothelial inflammation and the
progress of atherosclerosis.”
Take some time to read through
these two studies; I think you’ll
enjoy them.
Lifestyle and consciousness
are at the centre of our wellness,
Tonia. Prevention of heart disease
can be assisted by expressing our
emotions and asking ourselves the
tough questions that keep popping
up. It’s hiding from the kids to puff
a little so you can actually enjoy
them without screaming or feeling
filled with guilt or anger. Ganja
brings lightness to a heavy layer
of concrete and chemicals. She
reminds us that a healthy heart is
a liberated one. One who knows
what works for oneself and can
articulate boundaries in a loving
way. The more ganja I let in, the
more gentleness I express to
myself and those around me.
May you walk from the centre of
your being and allow your heart
to guide your deepest bonds,
self-love, altruism, and truth.
Although I like to chirp, my
advice cannot be substituted for
your physician’s recommendations
or treatment plan. My hope is that
there was something here you
resonated with.
Nurse Jessica
Jessica Ferneyhough, a registered
practical nurse, brings a unique
approach to care, empowering patients
as a medicinal cannabis nurse
and horses for healing advocate.
Do you have a question for Jessica?
Email editor@myhydrolife.com.
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Dreaming
The Golden State Goes Green
by Sharon Letts
When Canadians elected Justin Trudeau, they voted for
the legalization of recreational cannabis. Recently, our
neighbours to the south did exactly that. In this article,
Hydrolife contributor Sharon Letts examines what the future
holds for California’s marijuana industry in the wake of Prop
64—and what we could possibly expect when our turn comes.
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“During what’s touted
as America’s last great
surge of the human
spirit and revolt,
California became the
meeting place of those
looking to change the
world and do away
with the status quo.”
Politics isn’t pretty. In the United
States’ 2016 election, up to 50 per
cent of all eligible voters avoided the
ballot box, with apathy garnering the
largest percentage at the polls. But
where cannabis is concerned, the people
have spoken. Four out of five states
on the ballot legalized recreational
use, giving the country a total of eight
states promoting the recreational use
of cannabis and a total of 28 states now
legal for medicinal use.
Proposition 64, sponsored by Napster
founder Sean Parker, was California’s
second try at legalization under the
Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA),
winning with 56 per cent of the vote.
All eyes are now on California, as the
progressive state sits between Mexico
and Canada—two countries poised to go
forward on legalization.
Having grown up in Southern
California, then transplanting to San
Francisco in my 20s, then working
in media in Humboldt County at the
top of the state for nine years, this
California girl can safely say the state
is divided by more than geographical or
weather differences. Where cannabis is
concerned, there are no greater contrasts
than the division of big business to
the south, farming to the north, and
activism from both sides. In fact, during
the 2016 State of Marijuana conference
held historically on the Queen Mary
in Southern California, no debate was
hotter than the one participated in
by farmers to the north, big business
interests to the south, and activists
wanting to free prisoners and reduce
sentencing from America’s failed War
on Drugs. Farmers spoke of losing their
way of life, big business looked to the
future, and activists demanded freedom
from persecution.
HISTORY OF WEED
IN CALIFORNIA
Photo by Sharon Letts
To understand the fight, it helps to
know the history of the plant in the
country’s most progressive state.
During what’s touted as America’s last
great surge of the human spirit and
revolt, California became the meeting
place of those looking to change the
world and do away with the status
quo. In 1968, after the Summer of Love
ended in San Francisco, the hippies
who congregated from every state in
the union made their way north. They
called themselves Back to the Landers.
They lived off the land and grew
cannabis. When the first harvest was
taken to town for sale, distribution on
the black market began.
For the last 40 years, cannabis has
been hybridized to the recreational
plant we have today, with THC—the
psychoactive compound of the plant—
counts skyrocketing. Ironically, in
the past 30 years, the same plants
were hybridized back down to what
some call the “God plant,” which has
lower percentages of THC and higher
concentrates of CBD—one medicinal
compound of the plant now widely
recognized to treat many ailments. The
tally for cannabis already produced and
distributed from California throughout
the country is estimated to be upwards
of 10 to 20 million pounds a year.
So, this is where we are today,
legalizing for recreational use a plant
that has been customized to heal, with
fourth-generation California cannabis
farmers who were traditionally covert
now dominating a cottage industry
soon to explode.
FARMERS AT
THE FOREFRONT
Humboldt farmer, medicine maker,
and cannabis advocate Chrystal Ortiz
has been vocal on the pros and cons of
California’s Prop. 64. Once in the closet
herself, in the past two years, Ortiz has
joined Women Grow, a national organization
for women in the cannabis
industry; became involved in local pot
politics; and was recently interviewed
on National Public Radio on her plans
for the future of farming in the region.
Ortiz is also the manager of True
Humboldt, one of the first farming
cooperatives to come out of the smoky
closet and start promoting its organically
sun-grown strains in a big way.
One of the greatest fears of farmers
is their way of life changing, of not
being able to keep up in a corporate
environment. However, while Ortiz
says she feels that one point of the
proposition—allowing a five-year grace
period until commercial licenses are
available—should give small farmers
a chance to compete. “Under current
medical regulations, there is no direct
market access,” she explains. “All herb
has to be fronted or sold to a distributor.
If you told all our farmers’ market
vendors that their produce had to be sold
to a distributor, few would survive.”
Under AUMA, onsite consumption,
bud and breakfasts, and microbrewery
businesses are viable options. Ortiz
feels these would be good models for the
small farmer to not only continue to exist
in, but thrive in.
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State of Marijuana Debate in California.
FROM COTTAGE INDUSTRY
TO MILLIONAIRE
When Colorado legalized cannabis,
there were more than 250 medible
companies existing in its medical
market. During the first six months of
legalization, most of them folded due to
both the cottage industry’s inability to
meet supply and demand combined with
a lack of wherewithal to step up. Case
in point: Love’s Oven, based in Denver.
Within one year’s time, it was forced
to lease a larger warehouse space,
purchase automated equipment, and
hire a chef to run such a kitchen. It went
from grossing $50,000 a year as a cottage
industry to $1.5 million in the first year of
the new market. This poses the question
to California’s cannabis industry: Are
you ready to go big?
“The ability for tourism, retail sales,
and auction-type clearinghouses gives
me hope,” Ortiz says. “We have five
years to show the state we have more
than enough in production. We’ll also
have better testing regulations,” she
adds. “With six million tourists visiting
California yearly, I’m betting many of
them would love to see a real Humboldt
County herb farm.”
ORGANIZING FOR
THE GREATER GOOD
Hezikiah Allen is executive director of
the California Cannabis Association,
an organization split down the middle
on legalization in the state. His main
concern after the vote is to make sure
the next gold rush in the state benefits
everyone. “From business owners to
workers at the trim table, to casual
consumers, to patients in need of lifesaving
medicine, we must make sure the
green rush doesn’t come at the expense
of our irreplaceable natural resources
and our quality of life,” he said the day
after Prop. 64 passed.
Allen’s suggestions for the future
were detailed and included imposing
a living wage standard, a social
justice and equity committee to
ensure opportunity, environmental
responsibility in enforcing standards
in sustainable water use, and a
call to rally together to protect the
industry’s tradition and heritage
of independent farms. “There is an
irreplaceable value—economic and
cultural—that small farms provide
to our communities,” he says. “From
urban agriculture to permaculture,
cannabis is a unique opportunity
for California to model the future of
sustainable farming.”
#LEGALIZETOLITIGATE
And what of the more than 6,000 people
currently serving federal sentences
in the state on cannabis charges? The
Drug Policy Alliance that sponsored the
proposition campaigned strongly on
this point, with many voting yes on the
proposition for this very reason.
California attorney Omar Figueroa
says that just days after the proposition
passed, he witnessed numerous defendants
who were ordered released after
Photo by Sharon Letts
felony possession with the intent to sell
charges were dismissed, while others
were reduced to misdemeanours. “One
particularly memorable defendant was
an elderly African American gentleman
who appeared in custody. He was
charged with felony possession for sale
and apparently had been sitting in jail
for months unable to bail out,” recalls
Figueroa. “Thanks to Proposition 64,
the case was dismissed, since the 11359
charge was now a misdemeanour, and
he had already served the maximum
sentence of six months.”
Figueroa confirms California’s Health
and Safety Code, saying, “A person
currently serving a sentence for a
conviction, whether by trial or by open
or negotiated plea, who would not
have been guilty of an offense or who
would have been guilty of a lesser
offense under the Control, Regulate
and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act,
had that Act been in effect at the time
of the offense, may petition for a recall
or dismissal of sentence before the
trial court that entered the judgment of
conviction in his or her case to request
resentencing or dismissal…”
Cheri Sicard, a mainstream author
turned cannabis author and activist,
corresponds and lobbies for prisoners
of the failed War on Drugs on behalf of
the Marijuana Lifer Project. Working
with those serving life sentences for
cannabis, she says it’s a two-step
process and prisoners must take the first
step. “First, we need to get California
cannabis prisoner priors knocked down
to misdemeanours at the state level,” she
says. “Once that is done, then we start
dealing with the feds. Strategy sessions
are being facilitated right now, so it’s still
too early to tell how this will all play out.”
Though there are no perfect propositions
in any of the states, the eight states
now legal for the recreational use of
cannabis are poised to bring cannabis
into the mainstream and prosperity
into the market place. Time will tell
how ordinances will work in real time.
One thing is certain, with Colorado
leading the way with some $120 million
made each month, the plant prevails.
Those already reaping the benefits of
cannabis as medicine are hopeful for
more research leading to education and
wellness for the masses.
Sharon Letts began her life’s work as a
gardener in Southern California and now
calls Humboldt County home. She’s a
writer and photographer. When she isn’t
writing about gardening, she is outside
working in her own garden.
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Helping
Children
Heal
by Sharon Letts
Sophie Ryan was just eight months old when she developed a twitch
in her right eye. Her parents, Tracy and Josh Ryan, said she had
been a happy and seemingly healthy baby, with no difficulties to
speak of from a normal pregnancy and delivery.
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The diagnosis of a low-grade, slowgrowing,
optic pathway glioma (OPG)
brain tumour in eight-month-old Sophie
Ryan was eventually realized with sobering
facts. Success rates are high, but
doctors said Sophie would be completely
blind in her left eye, and partially, if not
completely blind, in her right eye.
Studies found within the National Institute
of Health came up short on OPG,
providing little insight as to the cause
of the rare disorder comprising five per
cent of childhood cancers.
According to cancer.org, more than
4,000 central nervous system tumours
are diagnosed a year in children and
teenagers in the US, with three out of
four children surviving at least five
years after their diagnosis. Brain and
spinal cord tumours are the secondmost
common cancers in children (after
leukemia), accounting for one out of four
childhood cancers.
Through their own research and in
working with experts, Tracy and her
team created organic, solvent-free CannaKids
Honey Gold Cannabis Oil. “We
work with hundreds of patients directly
affected by cancer, epilepsy, and other
childhood illnesses by informing them
on the beneficial uses of cannabis oil,”
says Tracy. “Three different doctors
told one three-year-old child’s parents
with a brain stem tumour that chemo
would not work and they could not save
her life. A few months after reaching a
medicinal cannabis dose, the parents
opted to try chemo, even though doctors
said it would not shrink her tumour.
After only 10 weeks of using cannabis
oil and chemo, the tumour is now 50 per
cent gone.”
Working up to just a tenth of a gram
initially, due to unknown factors
of psychoactivity with THC
(tetrahydrocannabinol), Tracy says
Sophie did remarkably well, with
the only side effect of Sophie being
a little sleepy, which faded as she
became used to the oil. Now at a much
higher dose of around 300 milligrams
of CBD, 100 milligrams of THC, and
50 milligrams of THCa, Tracy shares,
Sophie’s only side effect is hunger.
“When parents come to me with
concerns in relation to the THC getting
them high, I remind them what it is
these doctors are putting them on–
these horrific opiates and damaging
pharmaceuticals that are not only
damaging to their organs, but are
highly addictive,” says Tracy. “The
oil also protects their bodies from the
chemotherapy drugs that are highly
damaging to the immune system.”
Months of Misery, Then
Slight Improvement
Thirteen months of chemotherapy was
recommended for infant Sophie, with the
dismal promise of the tumour shrinking
only slightly as a best-case scenario. Her
parents, Tracy and Josh, took a serious
look at the alternative therapy of cannabis,
with a nod from Sophie’s oncologist.
After creating the Prayers for Sophie
Facebook page, a friend put Tracy in
touch with celebrity and cannabis advocate
Ricki Lake, who was filming a documentary
about cancer, cannabism, and
pediatric patients with filmmaker Abby
Epstein. “I was originally inspired to try
for a natural birth after watching The
Business of Being Born, so I knew if these
ladies were now focused on a film about
cannabis, there had to be something to
it,” says Tracy on youshareproject.com.
Soon Lake and Epstein were
networking for Sophie, putting Tracy
and Josh in touch with some of the top
oil makers and experts on cannabis
as medicine in California, prompting
Tracy to share the wealth by creating
CannaKids, an informational portal and
oil resource for caregivers of kids with
cancer and other serious ailments.
Thirteen months of chemotherapy
was recommended for infant
Sophie, with the dismal promise of
the tumour shrinking only slightly
as a best-case scenario.
CannaKids Creates Miracles
On savingsophie.org, Tracy lists more
than 155 studies proving cannabis is
effective in killing cancer cells, with just
3.8 per cent of government funding spent
on pediatric cancer research. With 15,780
children diagnosed each year, it doesn’t
take much to realize something is wrong.
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So Close to Success
As treatment continued with both
chemotherapy and cannabis oil, with
every follow-up scan, the tumour
presented smaller and smaller–an
anomaly with this type of tumour. “At
just nine months of treatment with both
chemo and the oil, the tumour was 50 per
cent gone,” says Tracy. “By 13 months, it
was 90 to 95 per cent gone. We were told
initially the cyst would remain and it’s
gone, too. We were told she would lose
her vision and it’s saved. The doctors
themselves agreed the cannabis oil
destroyed her tumour.”
Chemotherapy was stopped in
November 2014. With a 95 per cent
shrinkage rate, the downside is an
average of 75 per cent of cases reoccur.
Sophie’s first scan post-treatment
showed tiny specs of cancer in an
area where there was nothing prior,
prompting chemo a second time. After
getting a second opinion, the Ryans
were told that Sophie should have never
been taken off of chemo in the first place
since her tumour at the time was still
shrinking on treatment, hence this new
recurrence happening so quickly.
The good news is that because of
Sophie’s cannabis use her immune
system is stronger than ever during
the traditional treatment of chemo
that typically knocks an adult to the
ground with infections, pain, wasteaway,
and more.
Proof, Protocols, & Patents
In a paper published on the National
Institute of Health’s site, via the
National Cancer Institute (updated
January 2016), help from cannabis with
Sophie’s brain
tumour sample
has been sent
to Israel with the
hope that they
will find a perfect
match from more
than 150 strains
of cannabis.
side effects of chemotherapy are listed,
with nausea, waste-away, and pain a
given. And though Israel first reported
THC putting tumours into remission
in the late 1960s, only recently has
the institute added verbiage stating,
“Cannabis has been shown to kill
cancer cells in the laboratory.”
“Her immune levels hardly ever drop
below a normal range on the oil. And if
they do, they are in the upper range of
low,” Tracy reports. “She’s the only child
during chemo breaks that doesn’t have
to have her labs drawn.”
Doing laboratory work can often be
difficult for anyone. For a child, it can
add to the physical and emotional scars
already received from the ailment itself.
Tracy says due to the persistence of the
cancer, she has what is called a portacath,
or portable catheter, in her chest
where chemo drugs are delivered. “You
can see all the thousands of tiny holes in
her chest from the thousands of needle
sticks she’s had,” says Tracy. “I’ve had
to hold her down while they put this big
plastic thing on her chest, with an IV
running out of it, and blood running in a
tube right in front of her face. Yes, labs
are very traumatic.”
When asked if they are able to do the
cannabis treatment without the chemo,
Tracy said it didn’t work for Sophie. “Sophie
is CannaKids’ only optic pathway
glioma patient who hasn’t responded to
just the cannabis oil off-treatment,” she
says. “We are trying to get to the root
of the problem to find out why her body
doesn’t respond to a maintenance dose
of oil to keep the cancer away. We are
working with researchers in Israel now
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to determine which cannabinoids and
terpenoids are going to most effectively
kill Sophie’s tumour.”
Building a Brain Trust
While Sophie continues treatment with
both chemo and cannabis, Tracy’s latest
project is to bring together what she
calls a brain trust of doctors, scientists,
and researchers from around the world.
Sophie’s brain tumour sample has been
sent to Israel with the hope that they
will find a perfect match from more than
150 strains of cannabis, with the goal of
putting Sophie’s cancer into remission
for good. “I am determined to keep my
child from having to go through this
any longer,” says Tracy. “And I’m just as
determined to help keep other children
from going through this.”
Sharon Letts began her life’s work as a
gardener in southern California and now
calls Humboldt County home. She’s a
writer and photographer. When she isn’t
writing about gardening, she is outside
working in her own garden.
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STORMEBUD:
CHASING CALM
by Chris Bond
recently had a chance to catch
I
Taking medicinal marijuana
for anxiety and depression,
and watching his chosen
profession fall upon hard
times due to the economic
downturn, Jay Hawley
changed course and founded
Stormebud, a company that
produces elegant basswood
cannabis storage products.
Hydrolife’s Chris Bond
caught up with Jay briefly
to discuss Chasing Calm.
up with Jay Hawley, founder of
Stormebud, a discreet cannabis
storage product. Jay’s product is a
high-quality “book” titled Chasing
Calm, designed to store cannabis
and related items in a way that
is discreet and classy. Inside are
compartments to separate up to four
different strains of your medicine.
Think of it as a grown-up version
of the book you hollowed out to
stash your various contraband as a
teenager (or was that just me?).
Jay was unwinding recently at a
Toronto bar on a Saturday evening
after Zoomershow, a lifestyle expo
geared toward the 45-plus crowd.
Medical cannabis was among the
many topics featured at this year’s
show, largely because of its increasing
acceptance politically and medically.
I asked him if he was there to sell
product or learn more about the
industry. He said he was there to drum
STORMEBUD:
up business for his unique product.
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heal
“
Medical cannabis did change me. I am much more empathetic than I ever was before.”
STORMEBUD:
Jay’s full story can be found on his
CHASING CALM
website at stormebud.com, but I
was specifically interested in how
a highly skilled cabinet maker and
woodworker who comes from a long line
of craftspeople in southern Ontario got
into the medicinal marijuana industry.
He seemed honestly excited about his
product, though in typical Canadian
fashion, his energy was mixed with
equal parts humility and politeness.
CB: What prompted the switch from
building cabinetry to making cannabis
storage products?
JH: My family had been making cabinets
in the southeast Ontario area since
1944. The area is known for its quality
cabinetry, but like many other industries,
it has been hit hard. Many companies
have shut down. I wanted to do
something else. I decided to build these
since there wasn’t anything else like
them around that I had seen.
CB: Did you research the market to see
what was out there before coming up
with your design? I know your website
references saying goodbye to the days
of keeping your supply in sandwich bags
between your couch cushions.
JH: I did. There was nothing quite like
it out there. My products are high-end
and unlike anything else on the market.
With my books, your medicine is
protected from light and UV radiation.
It is also odour-proof.
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CB: Why did you choose basswood
for your material?
JH: Basswood looks like paper. Much
of the paper produced in the area is
made of basswood, so the book has
the colour of paper. It is also one
of the lightest hardwoods, and is
sustainably sourced from what would
otherwise be wasted material.
CB: What about the book cover and
the lettering; how do you do that?
JH: They are actually done by a printer.
I called around to find one that did
quality bookbinding work. The cover
material is high-quality vegan vinyl.
CB: Can I ask how much the product
costs and where folks can order it?
JH: The book is CND$200, which
right now is about US$154. We ship
to the US for $20 and in Canada for
$12. For the moment, it is available
from the website only, but we hope
to be able to get it into multiple
places. We just started promoting
these last September.
CB: Let’s get back to you and why
you decided to switch gears and join
the medical marijuana community.
You are a patient yourself, correct?
JH: Yes, I use it to treat my anxiety
and depression, also what is
probably a case of undiagnosed ADD.
I was a non-licensed user for about
a year and a half and then when I
decided to launch Stormebud, I got
my medical cannabis card.
CB: So, you can attest to the
effects of cannabis; is the
difference night and day?
JH: Night and day. It’s all about
education and making the effort to
learn about the effects of different
strains and their possible side
effects. For me, the side effects are
that I am happy more often, or at
worse, there are no side effects.
Medical cannabis did change me.
I am much more empathetic than
I ever was before. Getting into
this business has allowed me to
meet many other people who it
has helped. I didn’t know before
just how much medical cannabis
could fix medical issues for so
many people.
Chris Bond is the manager of the
McKay Farm and Research Station at
Unity College in Maine. His research
interests are with sustainable
agriculture, biological pest control,
and alternative growing methods. He
is a certified permaculture designer
and certified nursery technician
in Ohio and a certified nursery
professional in New York, where
he got his start in growing.
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CAPTURING
a Moment
50
by Watermelon
A FOOL OF MYSELF
A Cannabis Culinary Column
grow. heal. live. enjoy.
Prior to selling watermelon slices
and pot cookies on Wreck Beach,
Watermelon learned everything
she needed to know about
food and business at that same
world-famous clothing-optional
locale. She has a lot of memories
of this “once thriving mecca of
free enterprise and nudity,” and
she’d like to share a few tales
with you before they fade like the
photographs rarely taken during
her time at the beach.
Photos were not a big part of our
history. After all, the proverbial
selfie only captures moments; it does
not experience them.
I bring up the selfie because it is also
possibly the true villain at clothingoptional
beaches these days. You can’t
swing a rescue cat without knocking
over a photo shoot of zero importance.
Camera phones are omnipresent and
the people wielding them are fierce.
I am convinced this is the No. 1
contribution to nudists becoming
endangered species.
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Until recently, cameras were strictly
prohibited on a nude beach. If a photo was
taken, it was with explicit consent. There was
also a custom to bring the photo back once it
was developed and present it to the person
in the photo; if all parties okayed it, the photo
lived on. The only other times photos were
permitted were for special events like Wreck
Beach Day or the Bare Buns Run.
For the most part, though, we nudists are
one big, happy family experiencing life,
not capturing it. Nudist —or naturists, as
many prefer to be called—should never be
confused with exhibitionists. Exhibitionists
need attention. Naturists want to be nude in
nature without a bunch of self(ie)-important
“rubberneckers” as the back drop.
Something amazing happens when you first
decide to get over yourself and get naked. You
leave your camera in your beach bag and you
start to rejoice in nature and your place in it.
Many of the tales I chronicle in this
column aren’t trapped in a phone. They
are captured in my mind. Here are a few
I’d like to share with you:
I first went to Wreck Beach in 1992. It was
busy; weekends would easily attract up
to 4,000 people on a sunny day. I didn’t get
naked my first few times. Mostly, we went
down to get stoned and day party. Who
doesn’t love a good day party? Often, we
went down at night as well to eat mushrooms,
laughing till it hurt. Nobody to disturb.
I went top-free around my fourth time.
Certain areas on the beach were unfriendly to
“textiles” (people with clothes on), and I was
so enthusiastic to fit in. I got the message and
dropped my drawers, too. Free of clothes, I could
frolic into any groovy scene on the beach.
That’s because naturists don’t discriminate.
Anybody, absolutely anyone, can be a nudist;
just take your clothes off. Once it’s over, you
can stop obsessing about being naked and
accept yourself.
One perfect day, a beautifully tanned girl with
long, curly hair was floating down the beach
wearing only a crown of fresh flowers. She
looked angelic; radiant. Most likely, though,
she’d eaten some magic mushrooms. Slowly,
she traversed past throngs of people crowding
the shore, occasionally stopping to kiss a few
chosen foreheads as if to bless them. I was
spellbound watching her trajectory. She had
presence; she had grace.
She broke my trance with a kiss upon my face.
I was chosen.
Her name was Anne. Turns out, she sold magic
mushrooms in wonderful flavour combinations
like Bavarian chocolate mint, dark chocolate
almond, and white chocolate cranberry. She also
took conscious vending to a whole new level.
She would first ask customers if they had any
allergies, then go on to explain what they could
expect from her dose of mushrooms. Anne was
also the first to offer money-back guarantees.
She was very ethical in her “drug dealing.”
She became my mentor and lifelong friend.
The level of freedom and expression Anne
embodied was clearly not for everybody,
but man, was it for me! I was young. I was
entrepreneurial. I was extroverted.
I also met my new best friend, Paddy, right
away. He was a vendor of cigarettes and
candy bars, shuffling along and singing out
his slogans.
“
ANYBODY, absolutely anyone, can
be a nudist; just take your clothes off.”
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“
THE LEVEL of freedom and expression
Anne embodied was clearly not for
everybody, but man, was it for me!”
Quiche Your Ass Good Night!
... with shallots, bacon, and cilantro
4-5g toasted shake flour *
4 eggs
1 shallot
1/3 C cream/milk
1C fresh spinach
1/3 C fresh cilantro
1/2 C sharp cheddar cheese
dash of salt
dash of pepper
4-5 strips bacon (pre-cooked)
12 tart shells
• Pre-heat oven to 350°F
• Cut pre-cooked bacon into 36 pieces
• Set aside a few sprigs of cilantro for decor
• Combine spinach, cream, cilantro, shallot, shake flour, eggs,
salt, and pepper in blender and blend well
• Place two pieces of bacon in the bottom of each shell
• Pour egg mixture into each shell
• Bake at 350℉ for 15 minutes
• Remove from oven and top with sharp cheddar
• Garnish with a sprig of cilantro and piece of bacon
• Return to oven and bake 15 minutes or until golden
• Cool and serve
*Toasted shake flour is dried cannabis leaves that have been pre-toasted in the oven at 240 ℉ degrees for 20
minutes before being ground into flour. This process increases the potency of the shake but is not necessary.
Photo by mariacoletsis.com
Paddy was around 76 years old at the
time, but he coerced me into saying he
was 80. When everybody was trying to
look younger, Paddy wanted to look older.
He thought it made him cooler. “First
guy I ever sold a cold beer to down here
was Captain Cook,” he liked to brag.
I would call him over as he casually
sauntered by; then, out of nowhere, he’d
kick his feet out from under himself. He’d
be suddenly lying on his side, head resting
in his palm, saying something amusing
like, “I thought you’d never ask.” I’d
buy a smoke and light up, anticipating
his bevy of well-rehearsed jokes.
“Cops stopped me at the top of the
trail last night and asked if I had
been dropping LSD down here. I
looked that cop straight in the face
and said, ‘Shit man, you think I got
this way smokin’ tobacco?’”
When you got to laughing the hardest,
he would spring up equally as fast
as he fell and continue on his way.
Always leave them laughing; Paddy
taught me that early.
It was during a cigarette purchase I
asked Paddy if he would help me with
my own comedy routine. I think I flattered
him. We met at his apartment one
rainy afternoon a few days later, where
I sat on the floor at his feet, listening
to him tell tales for four hours uninterrupted.
He had been a comedic actor
on CBC and a few other places, here
and there. He boasted knowing Molly
Ringwald’s dad, Bob, the blind piano
player. He told me he once saw Betty
Davis’s tits backstage. Then, we played
some poker, listened to Tony Bennet,
and ate steaks. I found my new life. I
was Paddy’s new sidekick.
Being unclothed and Paddy’s new
best friend made me quick alumni
down at Wreck Beach, able to sit
most anywhere with anyone. If Paddy
introduced me, I was okay. This is
an important social tool on any nude
beach where police can show up at
any moment, uninvited, and you need
to blend, or worse…hide your cookies.
Both Anne and Paddy have passed
now, taking something near perfect
away from me. Such is the nature of
perfection; it cannot last long, photo or
no photo.
To see Watermelon in action, check her
out on YouTube. Baked: Cooking with
Mary Jean is a special show that features
one special ingredient: cannabis! Follow
Watermelon, a.k.a. Mary Jean Dunsdon,
on Twitter @weeddiva to never miss
an episode, or sign up for updates at
potent.media.
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WOMEN
54
ROW
BEYOND
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GIRL POWER: CREATING A
TRULY DIVERSE CANNABIS INDUSTRY
by Jessica Skelton | The legal cannabis industry is
so new that its members are still deciding on what it’s
going to look like. For the North American organization
Women Grow, that vision is not a male-dominated one.
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Women Grow Leadership Summit 2016
It’s tough, if not impossible, to name
an industry in which everyone has
equal opportunities for employment,
wages, and management roles. The
members of Women Grow (WG), however,
do not want that to be the case in
the regulated cannabis sector.
“We’re starting a new industry,
and let’s start it on the right foot,”
says Shega A’Mula, founder of WG’s
Vancouver chapter.
The organization, which began in Denver
in 2014 by co-founders Jane West and
Jazmin Hupp, is particularly interested in
tackling the issue of gender disparity. It
suggests that the legal cannabis industry
could be the first gender-neutral one,
and since it’s a newborn sector, there is
a unique opportunity to ensure sexism
never ingrains itself at all.
It’s an uphill task, though. The legal
marijuana industry is related to a not-solawful
one where negative female-centric
advertising is as much a part of the game
as Cheech and Chong. Some of these
realities are trying to filter over, making
it so women find it more difficult to enter
and succeed in the cannabis business.
But Leah Heise, who took over as CEO
of WG in 2016, says her organization is
working to divorce the industry from the
image of the “booth babe” and bring
professionalism in its stead.
Women Grow takes a proactive
approach to its goals. Each of its 40
chapters, located across the US and
Canada, hold monthly meetings to connect,
educate, empower, and inspire its
members. The organization also holds
an annual national summit.
Networking is a key aspect of these
sessions, which can see anywhere from a
dozen to 2,000 individuals in attendance.
People have found jobs, investors, and
employees through their connections,
which often span across the organization.
A’Mula, who works in community engagement
for licensed producer Tweed, found
mentors to guide her career. Heise, a
regulatory compliance attorney, says WG
helped her practice gain $200,000 worth of
retainers in three months.
Aside from connections, WG offers a
space for members to learn about cannabis
and marijuana legislation, as
well as openly discuss business trends
and industry policies. “It’s a space
where women can get their feet wet,”
A’Mula explains.
These deliberations have led to real
developments in the regulated market,
including more equal employment
opportunities for women. They’ve also
made a difference in how cannabis
businesses physically appeal to their
customers. A’Mula says business owners
are discovering they must present a
space that makes cannabis consumption
comfortable and attractive to everyone.
As such, clean design, good lighting,
thoughtfully laid out products, and
well-trained staff are more in vogue. “It’s
about the consumer,” she explains, adding
that women often make the purchasing
decisions at home.
Convincing businesses to make legal
weed more attractive to the everyday consumer
also helps WG in its quest to change
the face of a typical cannabis user.
“The normalization of it is so important,”
says Heise, reiterating that her organization
wants to ease the “fear of the suburban
mom” that marijuana will turn her kids
into the deadbeat stoners depicted in film.
The WG membership—which ranges from
professionals to patients, entrepreneurs
“Women Grow
is the best PR
campaign that
could have
ever happened
to cannabis.”
Leah Heise, Women Grow CEO
to academics—reflects the message that
cannabis users lead productive, fulfilling,
and successful lives. “Women Grow is the
best PR campaign that could have ever
happened to cannabis,” says A’Mula.
Until that public acceptance pervades,
however, WG also offers itself
as a safe space for marijuana users
and those curious about cannabis.
Photo by Grey MacKay
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“With its renewed strength and focus, WG
aims to continue creating an industry in
which everyone has equal opportunities.”
Here, anyone can find information,
peers, and support without judgement.
These messages, goals, and visions
truly resonate, Heise says. They’re drawing
people to the organization, turning
it into what she calls “one of the most
recognizable brands in the cannabis
industry” in only two years.
Another solution Heise sees to
maintain WG’s growth is to diversify
its membership. This is already
happening naturally, with men who
support a gender-equal industry
flocking to the organization. In fact,
Heise says that up to 45 per cent of
WG members are now male.
She thinks this occurred because
the group is one of the few that
encourages open discourse, which is
attractive and beneficial to anyone in
the cannabis business.
Women Grow also actively tries
to be a positive space for people
of colour and those of different
sexual orientations and genders.
“Companies serving the community
should look like the community,”
Heise says, adding that diversity
brings broad-thinking and strength
to the organization. “I’d love to see it
[WG] even more diverse.”
Jazmin Hupp, co-founder of Women Grow,
at the 2015 Leadership Summit
Photo by C. Roese Ramp
These solutions, of course, serve a
greater purpose than just expanding
the organization. With its renewed
strength and focus, WG aims to
continue creating an industry in which
everyone has equal opportunities.
Only time will tell if it can achieve
this goal, but WG has already proved
that it can instigate real change
by bringing pride, purpose, and
inspiration to its members. As A’Mula
says, “It’s revolutionary.”
Jessica Skelton is a journalist and
editor based on Vancouver Island,
British Columbia. Her work has
appeared in magazines and newspapers
around the globe since 2008.
Of course, the question now is how
WG is going to sustain its upward
momentum after so much hypergrowth.
One solution Heise sees is to gain
control of the brand by developing a
fee-based licensing program for new
chapters. (Previously, anybody could
open one for free). The upcoming
program will help give WG a more
consistent, robust structure by offering
new chapters—and those grandfathered
in—training and support in the WG
message, she says. It will also provide
member benefits such as a flagship
store to sell member-made products, and
discounts on industry-related services
like insurance and virtual assistance.
Currently, 541 locales—including
several in Europe—have applied to open
a chapter under the new regulations.
The first of these will open in late 2017.
Women Grow, Lobby Days 2015
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by Isaac Cedillo | Ahhh, the great outdoors. Fresh air, exercise,
wildlife. Can it get any better? Isaac Cedillo thinks it can. He
provides a few tips on how to enjoy your favourite strains under
the sun or stars to make time spent in nature even better.
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Passion is defined as “an intense
desire or enthusiasm for
something.” It can be a rarity. But
when you find it, you hold on to it. You
embrace it. You feed it.
I have always been drawn to the
wilderness. The weight of the world
seems much lighter outside. The air is
easy to breathe, the flowers sweeter
to smell, the grass cooler on my feet.
I discovered a passion. I thought it
couldn’t get any better.
Then cannabis came along; the
sweetest flower of them all. The Mona
Lisa to my Di Vinci. The milk to my
honey. My enthusiasm grew for these
two passions, so naturally, I began
to experiment. Altering your state of
mind in the middle of nowhere isn’t
for everyone. Anything can happen.
Things can happen. Your senses
are heightened, the consequences
for every decision you make are
multiplied by infinity. But when it’s
good, it’s good. You’ve suddenly
developed a sixth sense, hell, maybe
a seventh! The birds are singing—
singing for you! The cool mountain
air is dancing with every hair on your
body. The stars are aligned, and the
gods themselves look down with envy.
These are my passions.
“I have always been drawn to the
wilderness. The weight of the world
seems much lighter outside.”
Below is a guide to enjoying canna and
the great outdoors. First and foremost, be
safe, use good judgement, and know your
limits. Be mindful and respectful of your
environment and, finally, enjoy yourself.
ESSENTIALS
• HYDRATION: Water is the elixir of life.
Ideally, your body needs two litres each
day. With the addition of strenuous
activities, its advised to keep well
hydrated. I pre-hydrate before my
journeys by drinking a litre of water.
This ensures you’re plenty hydrated
before adventures while also taking
the load off having to carry extra water.
Depending on your activity, it’s best to
carry one to two litres of water. This
should be enough to stave off any
cotton mouth you’re sure to encounter.
• SNACKS: High calorie, salty, and
crunchy snacks are always a
favourite of mine on my adventures.
I often don’t have an appetite when
I exert myself, so I bring snacks I’m
sure to eat. Be sure to have a hearty
meal before to fuel your body until
the munchies kick in.
“There’s nothing like enjoying a
good cup of joe and some canna
while watching the sunrise.”
• ENERGY: Caffeine is essential for me
and is a great way to get that extra
boost when your body is on empty.
There’s nothing like enjoying a good
cup of joe and some canna while
watching the sunrise.
• GEAR: Do some research and dress
accordingly for your activity and
destination. Don’t be caught off guard
with weather conditions or rough
terrain. It’s best to layer up, keeping
your options open to changing
conditions. A good pair of footwear
goes a long way. No fancy equipment
needed here. Many companies
offer rental equipment or used gear
at a discount. The point is to be
comfortable, but most importantly,
enjoy your surroundings.
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“As a focusing agent, cannabis
keeps you on pace and distracts
from the discomfort you might
endure from trail running.”
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
• STORAGE: Keep it simple when packing
for your excursions. A waterproof
bag or container is recommended to
store all the fun for your day. This will
keep things clean and organized.
• WINDPROOF LIGHTER: Any lighter will
do, but my favourites are windproof
butane lighters. Windy conditions
can become a drag. Ensure
your fun continues
with a lighter
that works.
Carry matches
as backup.
• PIPES: My personal
favourite, outdoors or not.
Pipes are simple to pack,
convenient,
and easy
to share.
Because of
the potential for breakage, it’s best not
to bring your favourite piece.
• JOINTS: Tried and true. These little
bundles of joy are great in all situations.
The only downside is packing
out your butts. Pre-roll different strains
to go with the flow of your day. Who
knows what you’ll encounter.
• EDIBLES: Confections offer convenience
and relaxation capabilities.
Being a heavier option, they are best
saved for the campfire, recovery, and
sleep aid. They can pack a punch, so
be sure to dose out accordingly. Getting
a great night sleep in the middle
of nowhere is essential for the next
day’s adventures.
ACTIVITIES
• HIKING: I love to push my limits on
my hiking journeys, but that comes
with experience and repetition.
Take it easy when first partaking
in cheeba and the outdoors. Only
go on known hikes and keep them
short, say one-quarter of the mileage
you’re usually capable. When
choosing a trail, look for those that
are well-defined and maintained.
Often, this could be a stroll down
to your neighbourhood park or, if
you’re lucky enough, a national
park. Grab a map for exploring.
• TRAIL RUNNING: As a focusing
agent, cannabis keeps you on pace
and distracts from the discomfort
you might endure from trail running.
Breathing becomes rhythmic,
heart rate stabilizes, and time
passes with ease. Cannabis has
the most benefit here as a recovery
agent. It soothes aches and pains
while also aiding in the healing
process. Amongst runners, edibles
are king as there is no smoke
inhalation involved. If timed right,
an edible will kick in just when it’s
needed most.
• WATER ACTIVITIES: Being a
self-proclaimed river rat, this
would have to be my favourite
activity with canna. It’s best
to stick close to shore if you’re
new to water activities. A cool
swim, kayak, or paddleboard
session under the sun could
be just what you need to
unwind, so dip your toes in.
• PHOTOGRAPHY: These days you
won’t catch me outdoors without a
camera. Canna gets my creative
juices flowing and always gives
me a different perspective. Being
able to share my experience with
others is a bonus. I keep it simple
when it comes to electronics. No
need to invest in an expensive
camera, often a phone camera will
do just fine. Do a little research on
camera angles and guidelines to
get the perfect shot. Slap a filter on
and you’re good to go.
There you have it, a simple guide
to enjoying the great outdoors
and cannabis.
Isaac Cedillo works as the marketing
manager at Current Culture H2O in
Fresno, California. He holds his bachelor’s
degree from CSU Fresno and is currently
pursuing his MBA in marketing. As an avid
photographer, Isaac loves to travel the
country, chronicling his adventures through
his camera.
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A
NEW
for a
CURRENCY
By Cory Hughes
Cannabis businesses and financial
institutions generally mix like oil and
water; in other words, they don’t.
Instead of relying on cash, however,
some members of the burgeoning
weed industry have turned to Bitcoin
to securely store their money.
The cannabis industry has been in
full swing for nearly 20 years and
has proven to be one of the biggest
burgeoning industries in the world
today. Despite the vast number of
cannabis-related businesses popping
up, however, dispensary owners still
cannot utilize traditional financial
systems. Federal law frightens most
banks away from dealing with them.
Currently, when you walk into
a dispensary, you will probably
find an ATM and have to pay
cash. This is because it is difficult
for dispensaries to legitimately
accept credit or debit cards. Some
dispensaries open accounts under a
more legal alias, but forcing Jimmy’s
Pot Shop to open bank accounts in
the name of Jimmy’s Shirt Shack just
to offer the standard convenience
of a debit machine is just as wrong
as the act itself. Still, opting to run
an all-cash business opens up the
danger of theft or robbery—not to
mention tax evasion and cooking
the books.
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These roadblocks have driven pot
business owners to get creative with
their finances and seek alternative
methods of accepting and storing money
to solve their cash woes. Bitcoin is one of
these solutions. Bitcoin is a completely
decentralized digital currency, otherwise
known as a cryptocurrency. That means
anyone can buy, sell, and use Bitcoin
anywhere in the world. All Bitcoin
transactions post immediately—not days
or weeks later—to one’s digital wallet
and are fully confirmed by the network
within around 10 minutes.
Bitcoin operates on an open-source,
distributed ledger known as the blockchain.
This simple concept creates
additional layers of transparency and
digital security for its users. In a nutshell,
when you purchase something with
Bitcoin, the transaction is recorded onto
a digital block. Each block is one small
link in a chain of connected blocks—that
is, the blockchain. When the transaction
is confirmed, it is recorded by computers
around the world that all store identical
copies of the blockchain. The individuals
who operate equipment and record transactions
on the network are called miners.
In a traditional computer network,
documents can be taken, altered, or
switched with fraudulent replacements
if one server is hacked. This isn’t the
case with a blockchain. Once a transaction
has been recorded into a block, it
is synchronized with a vast network,
making alteration or removal of the data
impossible. The same goes for the digital
wallet that holds your Bitcoin; hacking or
theft is nearly impossible.
Still, for many years, there was much
concern for Bitcoin’s longevity and stability
whenever it was thrown into the
cannabis discussion. Those were valid
concerns; after all, why accept a currency
that may be worth half as much the next
day? Also, why trust a technology that
pretty much came out of nowhere?
Sure, no one knows much about the
origin of Bitcoin and Satoshi Nakamoto,
its creator or group of creators, but
there is no denying the technology has
grown rapidly since its inception in
2008. Since 2014, it increased in value
from just over $200 per coin to over $700.
Some mainstream news organizations
even post its daily value alongside
gold and oil, if that tells you anything
about its importance in a changing
global market. Also, Russia, Poland,
“DISPENSARY OWNERS STILL CANNOT
UTILIZE TRADITIONAL FINANCIAL SYSTEMS.
FEDERAL LAW FRIGHTENS MOST BANKS
AWAY FROM DEALING WITH THEM.”
China, Japan, and a consortium of
western European nations are actively
researching Bitcoin’s underlying
blockchain technologies. These gains in
popularity and rises in value are what
make Bitcoin a stable alternative to
traditional financial systems.
It is hard to say what will happen with
Bitcoin a decade from now, but the analysts
can predict the next few years. With
governments seriously looking at blockchain
technology, Bitcoin has never been
in a more likely position to excel. You are
sure to see acceptance in local markets
sooner than you might think. Companies
like PayPal and Amazon are already
accepting Bitcoin, and more are adding it
as a payment option every day.
If cannabis companies started to accept
Bitcoin now, they would see a growth in
value greater than any interest rate a
bank or credit union could ever offer. Analysts
see Bitcoin peaking at over $2,000
per coin by 2020, making it a rock-solid
way to get out of the cash-only game.
While it has yet to be accepted as a
standard, Bitcoin is already starting to
work its way into the cannabis industry.
There are a handful of dispensaries in
Colorado and Washington that accept
Bitcoin in lieu of credit and debit cards,
and there are several online seed and
delivery services that offer discounts
for paying with Bitcoin. Besides being
accepted as a currency, the Bitcoin
blockchain is also now home to a
database of cannabis genome sequencing.
Called Kannapedia, the database was
created by the cannabis testing laboratory
Medicinal Genomics. It is the first
database of its type to be stored on the
same blockchain technology that registers
all Bitcoin transactions. Again, this
safeguards the information from hackers
and preserves the integrity of the data.
With blockchain technologies continuing
to be the focus of the tech world, you will
undoubtedly see an increased integration
of cannabis and digital currencies in
the very near future. Besides the ease of
use, it provides an immutable database
of transactions impervious to fraud.
This will allow businesses to keep more
accurate records of inventory, money, and
other sensitive data. It will also ensure
transparency in cannabis businesses,
which could help bring legitimacy to
an industry that is still viewed with
a half-cocked eye by many.
Cory Hughes is a former police officer turned full-time commercial grower in Denver, Colorado.
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Good Stuff:
GETTING TO THE
CANNABIS EXTRACTION
METHODS
by
Alex
Rea
Cannabis extracts are
getting a lot of attention
these days. Whether you
need a more concentrated
dose, prefer to vaporize
oils, or like to cook with
cannabis, an understanding
of extracts will help you
better navigate all the
different products and
ingestion methods.
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Cannabis extracts have been prepared
for hundreds of years. In fact,
the use of cannabis resins in India and
China may go back many thousands of
years. No matter when it started, however,
the basic processes behind making
any extract relies on the fact that marijuana’s
medicinal compounds are only
present in the trichome resin glands.
The glandular trichomes appear most
abundantly on the surface of the female
flower buds. They grow a microscopic
globe of oil at their peak and are the
only location of cannabinoids like THC
and CBD. The plant is thought to use
these chemicals to prevent herbivores
from foraging on them and to protect the
genetic material in seeds from UV rays.
Once a female flower is pollinated,
however, it will divert energy away
from trichome production and move it
toward seed formation and maturity.
This is why farmed cannabis is usually
grown without the presence of male
plants. With pollination, cannabis
buds contain about one to five per cent
cannabinoids. Without pollination, cannabinoids
can reach almost 30 per cent
of the bud by weight. Steep Hill Labs in
California states that the concentration
of cannabinoids in the trichomes can be
as high as 50 per cent.
Extraction removes the oil found
in the trichomes from the plant.
Extraction methods can be grouped
into two categories: physical removal
and collection of the resin heads, and
chemical removal of the resin with a
solvent. The science behind extraction
methods has become a broad subject, so
we will focus for now on the safest and
least labour-intensive approaches to
making your own extractions at home.
PHYSICAL REMOVAL
FINGER HASH – The simplest and
maybe the earliest form of extraction
is live resin hash, known as traditional
Indian charas or finger hash. You know
that sticky brown buildup on your hands
after an afternoon of trimming? Well,
that’s what I’m talking about. It is one
of the most potent forms of cannabis. A
common extraction technique for finger
hash is to trim with latex gloves on and
let the resin from fresh plants collect
on them instead of your hands. After
trimming is complete, freeze the gloves
inside out for 15 minutes. The hardened
resin will easily collect and form a lump.
Of course, the process of making charas
like you’ll find in India is a real art
handed down through hundreds of years
of experience. Don’t expect this level of
quality at home, but your own finger hash
will still be a high-quality product with
the most exquisite smells and tastes.
“ Extraction METHODS CAN
BE GROUPED INTO TWO CATEGORIES:
PHYSICAL REMOVAL AND COLLECTION
OF THE RESIN HEADS, AND CHEMICAL
REMOVAL OF THE RESIN WITH A SOLVENT.”
DRYING AND CURING – Another form
of hash is produced from dried and
cured cannabis buds. When the buds
are dried, the stalks of the trichomes
become brittle and snap off, making
them easier to be collected through a
screen in a process known as keifing.
Buds can be banged on tight, fine-mesh
screens or rolled in a tumbler known as
a pollen collector to yield large amounts
of high-quality, extremely potent hash.
This powder, known as keif, can then be
left as is or pressed into a puck, like the
traditional hash from Morocco. When
pressed together, the resin heads break
open, exposing the oil inside to air. This
Cannabis and Coconut Oil:
A WINNING COMBINATION
causes a brown colour and changes in
smell and effect.
ICE HASH – Trichomes can also be
removed in a process known as ice hash,
which involves using water and ice
mixed with dried buds. The water is then
filtered through fine-mesh screens that
collect the resin heads. The wet resin
is then dried to produce a brown hash
of pure quality. There are also methods
that involve using dry ice to make
the trichomes cold and brittle, which
can yield a higher purity as it doesn’t
accumulate as much fibrous impurities
as the water method.
The extraction of THC into coconut oil is said to be the healthiest and
most bio-available in comparison to other oils. Both coconut oil and
cannabis provide numerous benefits for well-being, and edibles are a
long-lasting effective method of medication.
YOU’LL NEED:
• 8 grams of dried decarboxylated cannabis buds for every cup of
organic virgin coconut oil. (If using bud trim or shake, measure
at ½ C for every cup of coconut oil.)
• Slow cooker
• Cheese cloth
• Metal-mesh strainer
• Bowl with spout
METHOD:
1) Melt coconut oil in the slow cooker, add cannabis.
Cook covered on low for two to four hours.
2) Place the strainer over the bowl and line with a double layer
of cheese cloth.
3) Strain oil through cheese cloth to remove the dried matter.
Squeeze the leftover matter to extract as much oil as possible.
Discard the spent matter.
4) The coconut oil is ready to use. Consume the oil as is, use in recipes,
or rub on skin as a lotion. Store in a cool, dry place or the fridge.
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CANNABIS-INFUSED CHOCOLATE
One of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to consume your medical
cannabis is by extracting the cannabinoids from the dried flowers (bud) into
oil and making something edible with that oil. Making chocolate is easy,
healthy, and very tasty. Here’s how to do it:
YOU’LL NEED:
• ½ C cannabis-infused coconut oil (see pg. 65)
• ½ C organic honey or maple syrup
• 1 ½ C raw organic cacao power
METHOD:
1) Combine all three ingredients. Mix until thick, but still runny.
2) Spread the mixture into a small container, such as a sandwiched-sized
Tupperware, or form a small bar on parchment paper. It will be about
½-inch thick. Put into the freezer until it is set.
3) Cut into ½-inch pieces and keep refrigerated. The chocolate is ready to
enjoy. Just remember to go low and slow with your first dose of each
batch to determine its effects.
“Both
COCONUT OIL AND CANNABIS
PROVIDE NUMEROUS BENEFITS FOR WELL-
BEING, AND EDIBLES ARE A LONG-LASTING
EFFECTIVE METHOD OF MEDICATION.”
CHEMICAL PROCESSES
Other types of cannabinoid extraction
rely on chemical processes that solubilize
or otherwise liquefy the oils to remove
them from the buds. There are two types
of products that can be made with this
method. The first is a tincture, in which
the cannabinoids are left in a solution
of alcohol, butter, coconut oil, vegetable
glycerin, or propylene glycol. The other is to
make a concentrated resin by evaporating
the solvent from a cannabis-solvent
mixture. This is how concentrates like
phoenix tears, shatter, butane hash oil
(BHO), and CO 2 oil are made.
One of the simplest forms of the chemical
extraction process is making cannabisinfused
coconut oil. Coconut oil, as opposed
to butter, is better at attaching cannabinoids
to its lipid structure and thus making a
more potent extraction. Another easy way to
remove the oils would be to use an organic
solvent like alcohol to remove the oil from
the plant matter. Soaking cannabis in
high-proof ethanol creates a tincture of the
medicinal compounds that can then be used
to dose in small amounts under the tongue.
This mixture could also be evaporated
slowly, which would leave a residue of
cannabis resin on the container. The tincture
can also be warmed to increase the rate of
evaporation, but care must be taken that
alcohol fumes do not build up because they
can be flammable or explosive.
ROSIN TECHNIQUE
The last type of extraction is a newer method
that involves heat to liquefy the oils and
pressure to flow them away from the plant
material. This process is known as the
rosin technique, and it can be done at home
using cannabis, parchment paper, and a
hair straightener or a specially made heat
press. Buds or hash are folded in a piece of
parchment and squeezed in the hot press to
push the hot oils from the cannabis. The pure
oil that collects around the pressed product is
a pure, full-melt resin that can be vaporized
in oil pens or shatter rigs without the fear of
ingesting harmful residual solvents, such
as butane, that can be left in commercial
products like shatter or BHO.
Alex Rea is the VP of Homegrown
Hydroponics in Toronto, Ontario, and the
co-founder of Phytomedical, a cannabis
consulting clinic. As a patient, advocate, and
business person in the cannabis industry, Alex
has a keen understanding of the political,
economic, and social hurdles that underpin
cannabis as medicine in North America.
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Humboldt’s Finest:
This Cannabis-Flavoured
Vodka is Legit
by Colleen Graham
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“Humboldt’s Finest
is the best of both
worlds: the taste of
cannabis without
the legal or health
implications of mixing
weed and liquor.”
You may be familiar with Humboldt
County as the home of illicit growers.
It is also home to Humboldt Distillery, a
producer of fine, hand-crafted distilled
spirits with a dedicated fan base.
In an attempt to meet requests for a
vodka with a “local” flavour, distiller
Abe Stevens looked into creating a
cannabis-infused vodka he could
actually sell. The result of Stevens’
pursuit is Humboldt’s Finest and it is
now available throughout California
and Colorado. It sells for US$29.99 for
a 750-millilitre bottle and is 80 proof
(40 per cent ABV).
To make this vodka legit, the chemist
and distiller needed to turn to THC-free
hemp. Stevens found the perfect strain
of cannabis sativa to capture the fresh
taste of cannabis in a bottle without
breaking any laws. Also, because
there’s no THC in the equation, drinkers
don’t have to worry about getting high
from cocktails they make with it. As
we learned with Warren Bobrow’s book
Cannabis Cocktails, Mocktails, & Tonics,
mixing THC and alcohol in drinks is a
touchy subject that can easily turn you
into a zombie if you’re not careful.
Humboldt’s Finest is the best of both
worlds: the taste of cannabis without the
legal or health implications of mixing
weed and liquor. It is a botanical spirit
that, at first sniff, is decidedly cannabis,
yet the smooth taste and finish leave
your mouth refreshed and invigorated.
Sure, a few other companies have tried
their hand at hemp vodka, but none have
taken it as seriously or perfected it as
well as Stevens and the small team at
Humboldt.
How to Drink Humboldt’s Finest
When you first crack the bottle, give
this vodka a taste without anything
added to it. The herbal profile is pleasant
and surprisingly refreshing. Next,
pour a straight shot into a chilled glass
and notice how the botanicals begin to
open up. After this little tasting experience,
your head will be swarming with
ideas for mixing it, which is how this
vodka shines.
Treat Humboldt’s Finest like a gin or
herbal vodka and you’ll have fantastic
cocktails. As a gin substitute, you’ll find
that the vodka mixes well into any of the
clean, crisp drinks gin is best known for.
This includes gin and tonics, as well as
classic martinis. It’s a particularly good
choice for people who don’t enjoy the
piney flavours found in gin.
Along those same lines, almost
any vodka cocktail is a good place
for Humboldt’s Finest. Just avoid
extremely flavourful fruits like orange
and many berries unless they’re used
delicately in the recipe. Instead, pair
this vodka with pears, peaches, and
apples. You might also try a cucumber
cocktail or any recipe that features
fresh herbs.
High Thyme Recipe
Humboldt Distillery’s High
Thyme cocktail is clean, lightly
flavoured, and delicately balanced,
just like the popular
Gimlet (gin and lime cordial)
that is clearly its inspiration.
• 1.5 oz. Humboldt’s Finest Vodka
• 0.75 oz. fresh-squeezed lime juice
• 0.5 oz. honey syrup*
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
Gently and quickly muddle
one sprig of thyme in the bottom
of a cocktail shaker. Add vodka,
syrup, and lime juice and
shake well. Strain into a chilled
double rocks glass filled with
fresh ice and garnish with the
remaining thyme.
*To make honey syrup, dissolve two
parts honey in one part hot water.
Allow the syrup to cool before mixing
the cocktail.
Colleen Graham is a writer and freelance
photographer from the Midwest who
specializes in mixed drinks and covering
the liquor industry. She is the Cocktails
Expert for about.com and author of the
book ¡Hola Tequila! Gardening and
kayaking with her husband are two of her
favourite pastimes.
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by Gibson Lannister | Choosing which cannabis strains are
right for a moment can be overwhelming. Gibson Lannister
has a few suggestions to help ease the confusion.
Of the countless strains of cannabis
available to gardeners and consumers,
here are three very different
well-known strains guaranteed to get
you through the holiday season.
Super Lemon Haze
Super Lemon Haze (SLH)
is an incredibly potent
bud that averages
between 15-22 per cent
THC and 0.1-0.3 per
cent CBD. This sativadominant
strain is
known for clearthinking
and boosting
creativity, making it
great for daytime use.
SLH is also excellent
for improving appetite
and providing pain relief. Its effects
are long-lasting with a mellow
burnout. Due to its legendary strength,
however, it is recommended for more
experienced users.
Super Lemon Haze produces small to
medium compact buds. These choice
nugs are extremely sticky and coated
in THC crystals. SLH has an amazing
scent and flavour profile featuring
sweet notes of citrus.
When growing SLH, you will want to
start flowering while the plants are
still small. They will continue to grow
during the flowering phase, reaching
between three to six feet. Flowering
should last nine to 10 weeks for buds to
fully mature.
Blueberry
Blueberry is a fantastic indica-dominant
strain. It has a high THC-to-CBD
ratio, averaging 15-20 per cent THC and
less than one per cent CBD. Blueberry
has a pleasant, medium-strength high
that is not overpowering. Its relaxing,
long-lasting, and full-bodied effects are
also beneficial for pain relief, digestion,
appetite, and sleep.
Blueberry produces savoury tight nuggets
that dry well and are easy to break
up. They are light green to green/blue
in colour and have a heavy coating
of THC. As hinted to by its name, this
strain has an intense aroma of fresh
blueberries. There are also notes of
melon, citrus, and earth.
Blueberry seeds and clones produce
hearty plants with thick stems.
They are ideal for indoor growing,
with a compact size of 20-40 inches.
For best results, flowering should
last eight to nine weeks.
White Widow
White Widow is a
classic hybrid. A cross
between a Brazilian
sativa landrace and
an Indian indica, this
well-known strain has
a high THC content
of 20 per cent or more
and less than one per
cent CBD. It has been used
to treat pain, inflammation, anxiety,
depression, and appetite.
White Widow gets its name from
the intense white frosting of THC
surrounding each of its buds. Scents
of earth and wood combine with
floral and citrus notes, making it an
aromatic choice. It’s also a potent one;
White Widow is notoriously strong
and recommended for those with some
previous medicinal cannabis experience.
White Widow is a hearty, easy-to-grow
strain that is a good choice for first-time
growers. It is a relatively short plant,
growing 18-30 inches tall, which makes it
ideal for indoor gardens and small spaces.
White Widow is also known for producing
large yields of approximately 21 ounces
of bud per 10 square feet of plant. For best
results, allow White Widow to flower for
seven to nine weeks.
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GROW WITH US.
Grow. Heal. Live. Enjoy.
MODERN GROWING

EXPERIENCE
THE FUTURE
OF GROWING
SAN JOSE, CA
June 3-4, 2017
San Jose McEnery
Convention Center
DETROIT, MI
Sep 30-Oct 1, 2017
Cobo Center
mygrowx.com | #growx2017
Dark orange

y Gibson Lannister
DONOVAN WOODS
HARD SETTLE,
AIN’T TROUBLED
Donovan Woods is from a
small town and his latest
album, Hard Settle, Ain’t
Troubled, reflects that
closeness. The soft-spoken
songwriter tells stories on six
strings like no other. Never
has soft music felt so loud.
5
LAKE STREET DIVE
SIDE PONY
Lake Street Dive proves
the band's no one-trickpony
with their newest
album Side Pony. The soul,
jazz, and R&B influenced
pop band stays true to the
style that has made them
successful. Never scorn a
woman as talented as lead
singer Rachael Price. She’s
liable to record an album
about it!
4
MOBY & THE VOID
PACIFIC CHOIR
THESE SYSTEMS
ARE FAILING
These Systems Are Failing
is the debut release from
Moby under the new moniker.
This reminds me a lot of
vintage Moby. It is fast-paced,
post-punk, and industrial
wrapped around Moby and
his signature sound.
4
Gibson Lannister has
been a musician for
more than 15 years and
continues to expand his
knowledge of theory
and technique.
SIMRIT
SONGS OF RESILIENCE
SIMRIT is an artist with a
deep connection to her music.
She was once an orphan
in Greece. An American
family adopted her and
sparked an understanding of
interconnectivity. Her music
is inspired by the music of the
world, fused with spiritual
chant, polished off with
modern electronica. Songs
Of Resilience is unique and
captivating to say the least.
4
ST. PAUL AND THE
BROKEN BONES
SEA OF NOISE
Birmingham Alabama’s St.
Paul And The Broken Bones
are a soul revelation. Sea Of
Noise harkens to a day when
singers in smoke-filled clubs
sang their hearts out and set
the night on fire. St. Paul takes
this and makes it vibrant, new,
and something to behold.
5
THE HEAVY
HURT & THE MERCILESS
British indie-rockers The
Heavy can boast of another
killer album with their latest
release. Hurt & The Merciless
plays like all of their previous
works, dripping in signature
style sauce. They have notso-subtle
influences of soul,
funk, and R&B that coalesces
into something that largely
transcends genre. They are
The Heavy and that’s all you
need to know.
4.5
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