Hydrolife Canada February/March 2017

grow. heal. live. enjoy. 

FEB/MAR 2017 // CAN 

ROSS’ GOLD 

HOW ROSS REBAGLIATI’S GOLD MEDAL CHANGED 

THE CANNABIS LANDSCAPE FOREVER

inside 

08 from the publisher / 10 own it / 12 ask kyle / 42 ask a nurse / 74 the chill list 

grow. 

heal. 

32 Mastering CO 2 

14 Jacked Up Cannabis 

16 Experienced Growers 

Need Only Apply 

22 Go Organic or Go Home 

28 Lock Up the Biosecurity 

of Your Grow Op 

38 Cut and Dried 

40 Dispensary Etiquette 

44 Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome 

46 7 Tips Toward Improving Sleep 

50 Seek Out the Best Strains 

for Aches and Pains 

53 Real Science, Real Relief 

6 


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live. 

54 Dispensary Profile: Trees 

58 Royal Queen Seeds 

60 Ross' Gold Feature 

enjoy. 

68 Comprehending Your 

Cannabis Test Results 

70 Baking a Fool of Myself 

66 Keeping the Cannabis 

Industry Safe 

myhydrolife.ca grow. heal. live. enjoy. 7

from the publisher 

February/March 2017 

volume 1 - number 6 

CONTRIBUTORS 

Dan Banks 

Michael Caffrey 

August Dunning 

Jessica Ferneyhough 

Kent Gruetzmacher 

It is amazing how an event from almost 20 years 

ago can remain fresh in the mind. It certainly 

doesn’t seem that long ago that Canadian Ross 

Rebagliati rocketed down Nagano’s Olympic giant 

slalom snowboard course, ripping through the 

finish line to claim the first-ever Olympic men’s 

snowboarding gold medal despite starting the 

final run in eighth position. We all know what 

happened after that. The image that I remember 

most wasn’t the fresh-faced, blond, blue-eyed 

26-year old carving a beautiful turn around a 

gate, or Rebagliati’s giant smile on the top tier of 

the Olympic podium. It was a photo of a rattledlooking 

Rebagliati emerging from a rental car, 

surrounded by police, International Olympic 

Committee members, and a crush of global media 

after testing positive for THC. The gold medal 

earned him some attention, but not nearly as 

much attention as having it taken away for testing 

positive for THC, or, more significantly, having 

it returned by the IOC because THC wasn’t on 

the list of banned substances (of course, the IOC 

moved swiftly to amend its doping laws to include 

marijuana, though they have since been relaxed). 

The drama earned Rebagliati international 

recognition, but it was also a key pivot in how 

society viewed marijuana. If an Olympic golden 

boy could be affirmed, couldn’t everybody? 

Since then, Rebagliati has become a cultural 

phenomenon and advocate of marijuana use, and 

it is no coincidence that since that foggy day on 

Mount Yakebitai near Nagano, how we perceive 

the use of marijuana in society has changed for the 

better. Hydrolife recently caught up with Rebagliati 

(on page 60) to talk about Nagano, his thoughts on 

marijuana, and the launch of Ross’ Gold. 

Cory Hughes 

Kyle Kushman 

Gibson Lannister 

Lee G. Lyzit 

Lacey Macri 

Jodi McDonald 

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 

8 grow. heal. live. enjoy. 

myhydrolife.ca

own it 

3 

2 

1 

4 

own it 

1. Even the most hapless 

gardener can successfully 

harvest their own plants with 

Grobo, a compact, lowmaintenance, 

and easy-touse 

hydro growing system. 

Simply add your favourite 

seeds or cuttings, tell the 

app what you planted, and 

let the machine do its thing. 

Each kit comes complete 

with a carbon filter, one coco 

pod, and all the nutrients 

you’ll need to grow one plant 

to its maximum potential. 

Just top up the nutrients and 

water, and clean the filter, 

when the app tells you. 

– grobo.io 

2. The Genius Pipe 

is sleek, simple, and 

discreet—but what makes 

it so, well, genius? The 

2,000 little dimples lining 

the inside of the anodized 

aluminum device. When 

you inhale through the 

pipe, these dimples create 

thousands of tiny vortices 

that cool the smoke to 

room temperature and 

catch impurities before 

it enters your lungs. This 

leads to a more pleasant, 

tasty, and guaranteed 

cough-free experience. 

– geniuspipe.com 

3. Need to restore some some 

balance in your life? Evoxe 

Labs’ Balance CBD 

self-contained vape pen 

is loaded with 99.6 per 

cent pure hemp-derived 

CBD isolate and hemp 

stalk extracts to act as a 

natural pain reliever, antiinflammatory, 

sleep aid, and 

relaxant. Also, frankincense, 

ylang ylang, geranium, and 

tangerine essential oils give 

this non-psychoactive device 

a flavourful boost, as well 

as refresh and cleanse the 

body, awaken the senses, 

and lift mood. 

– evoxelabs.com 

4. Need a new project to 

get you through the 

last part of winter? Why 

not learn how to knit or 

crochet with one of Loopy 

Mango’s DIY Kits? Each 

kit comes with needles, 

cotton or merino wool 

yarn, and easy-to-follow 

instructions. There’s 

patterns for cardigans, 

sweaters, vests, coats, 

summer tops, shawls, 

scarves, blankets, throws, 

pet rugs, or toques for 

the whole family. 

– loopymango.com 

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myhydrolife.ca

5 

7 

6 

8 

5. While cannabis and 

creativity go hand-inhand, 

forgetfulness 

sometimes likes to thirdwheel—especially 

if you 

overindulge. You know 

how it goes: you come 

up with an amazing idea 

only to completely forget 

it a few minutes later. 

Thankfully, you’ll never 

have that issue again if you 

keep the pocket-sized, 

32-page Brilliant Ideas 

I had While Stoned 

Notebook handy. Just 

remember to use it. 

– coolmaterial.com 

6. Legal sparkling tonics aren’t 

your normal soft drinks. The 

ready-to-drink concoctions 

are made of simple, allnatural 

ingredients: just 

water, fruit, agave, and 

cannabis extract. Choose 

from Pomegranate Power 

Tonic for an uplifting sativa 

high, Lemon Ginger Dream 

Tonic for a super-chill indica 

high, Rainier Cherry Joy Tonic 

for a blissed-out hybrid high, 

and Cranberry Peace Tonic 

for a well-rounded TCH/CBD 

combo high. Each bottle 

contains two full servings, 

so it’s perfect for sharing or 

spreading out over two days. 

– mirthprovisions.com 

7. Streamline your cannabis 

experience with the Nuggy, 

a ten-in-one gadget designed 

specifically for smokers. It has 

everything you need for rolling, 

grinding, packing, scooping, 

shredding, dabbing, vaping, 

scraping, and poking: a knife, 

roach clip, tamper, mini-spoon, 

glass-safe bowl scraper, 

bottle opener, pick/poker, 

and scissors. There’s even a 

LED flashlight and flathead 

screwdriver because, hey, you 

never know when you’ll need 

them. As an added safety 

bonus, all the stainless-steel 

tools in this slick everyday carry 

item are spring-locked. 

– nugtools.com 

8. The secret to success for 

Skunk Guard’s Smellproof 

Bags lies in their 

patented, top-of-the line 

activated carbon technology 

and silver antibacterial 

lining. The activated carbon 

absorbs molecules in its 

proximity, much like how 

a sponge absorbs water 

on contact. This not only 

neutralizes odours but also 

traps harmful chemicals and 

gases in its pores. 

– skunkbags.com 


ask kyle 

Q 

I’ve always thought using an 18/6 (18 hours on, six hours off) light schedule while plants 

were in veg stage was the way to go, but recently I’ve been hearing a 6/2 (six hours on, two 

hours off) schedule is better because pot plants only flower when exposed to long periods 

of darkness. Is this true? Are there benefits or drawbacks to changing my light schedule? 

a 

abandoned using 

I the traditional 18/6 

schedule long ago due 

to the following facts: 

First, you can veg a 

plant under 24 hours 

of light, growing more 

biomass in less time and getting you to 

the point of flowering quicker. However, 

after a few weeks, this benefit lessens 

due to plants needing a break. 

When the plants are photosynthesizing, 

all the movements of water, nutrients, 

and pressure go upward. At night, 

the motor—so to speak—is turned off. 

This allows for the pressure to reverse, 

root exudates to be fully discharged, 

and plants to rest. 

Secondly, most of today’s strains are so 

hybridized that they sometimes begin 

flowering under an 18/6 photoperiod. 

They require less darkness to begin to 

flower. So, I adopted a 20/4 (20 hours on, 

4 hours off) vegging schedule after two 

to three weeks of continuous light. I find 

this to be the best combination between 

nature and production. 

As with almost any subject regarding 

cannabis cultivation, there are many 

different schools of thought when suggesting 

photoperiods. Are you most concerned 

with maximum production and 

yield? Is finding the most efficient input 

of energy in return for yield what you’re 

after? Does closely mimicking nature 

make your heart sing? All the above are 

valid intentions and widely practiced 

throughout the home and commercial 

agricultural communities. 

I tend to fall into the category of those 

trying to closely imitate nature whenever 

possible. The second lighting schedule 

you suggested above reminds me of 

a cloudy day. The lights or sun come out 

for six hours, then go behind the clouds 

for two hours. I don’t see any gain by 

denying your plants full sunny days. I’m 

sure my vegetable garden grows bigger 

when there are more sunny days. 

However, there are noticeable gains to 

be made regarding light intensity during 

flowering. That’s the science behind the 

new lights coming onto the market that 

sequence short periods of lower wattage, 

thus mimicking cloudier days and 

giving plants a chance to recover from 

direct, intense light. 

Outdoors, in addition to clouds, the sun 

moves across the sky, lighting different 

parts of the plant. Indoors, the most intense 

projection of your light hits the exact 

same spot for the entire lit portion of 

the photoperiod. This is one reason why 

it is extremely important to have lots of 

circulation, most importantly across the 

space between your lights and plant 

canopy. Plants should gently sway from 

an intermittent breeze. 

Late season sun is far less intense. 

Having the same light intensity on 

your buds at the end of the growing 

cycle, as in the beginning, is less than 

optimal. I always leave room for raising 

the lights to double their distance 

from the plant, or have the ability to 

lower the wattage on digital lamps just 

in case I don’t have the vertical space, 

near the end. Growers may want to 

consider 10-K finishing lamps, which 

give off higher UV levels, mimicking 

the late fall sun. 

Kyle Kushman is an internationally renowned marijuana 

cultivator whose collaborations have earned 13 Medical Cannabis 

Cup awards, including three US Cannabis Cups for Best Flowers. As 

the creator of Vegamatrix, the only line of vegan and organic nutrients 

designed for growing cannabis, Kyle continues to make advances for 

people who want to cultivate the purest, cleanest medicine possible. 

Do you have a 

question for Kyle? 

Email editor@myhydrolife.com 

to get an answer. 

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BY LEE G. LYZIT 

JACKING UP YOUR PLANTS’ POTENCY CAN INCREASE THEIR MEDICINAL PROPERTIES AND 

MARKETABILITY. WHILE GENETICS PLAY A PART IN THE ABILITY TO RAMP UP CANNABINOID 

LEVELS, THERE ARE A FEW OTHER WAYS TO ENHANCE TRICHOME PRODUCTION. 

Cannabis growers are always on the lookout for products 

or techniques that will enhance the potency of their 

crop. After all, the potency of cured cannabis affects both the 

product’s effectiveness as a medicine and its marketability. 

When discussing potency, we are actually talking about 

the levels of cannabinoids found in a finished product. The 

two most sought-after cannabinoids by cannabis growers 

are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol 

(CBD). These cannabinoids are found throughout the 

cannabis plant but are most concentrated in the essential 

oils found in and on the trichomes. Trichomes are the small, 

glandular, almost mushroom-like structures found on the 

leaves and flowers of the cannabis plant. 

The easiest way to get a potent cannabis crop is to 

choose plant varieties that naturally create an abundance 

of trichomes, a genetic trait that can give the flowers or 

leaves a whitish colour. 

Breeders can also use these plants and other varieties 

that naturally produce more THC and/or CBD to create potent 

hybrids. However, aside from picking the right genetic 

profile, there are a couple of ways growers can enhance 

the essential oil production and, in turn, ramp up the THC 

and/or CBD production of their cannabis plants. 

ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT 

To understand why ultraviolet (UV) light enhances the 

production of trichomes, you must first understand the 

main purpose of trichomes. Contrary to popular myth, 

the cannabis plant does not create trichomes, or THC, 

specifically for human consumption. Truth is that 

trichomes serve as a form of protection for the cannabis 

plant. In particular, they protect the plant from 

insects, moulds, and UV light. 

Like just about everything else on the planet, cannabis 

plants are damaged by too much UV light. 

That’s why a cannabis plant will create more 

trichomes to protect itself if there is an increase in 

harmful UV-B rays. As such, supplementing this 

light using UV-B fluorescents (commonly sold at 

pet stores for reptiles) in a flowering room can help 

boost trichome production. This trick is particularly 

useful to growers who exclusively use high pressure 

sodium (HPS) bulbs for flowering as that technology 

doesn’t produce much UV-B light. However, 

it is important to remember that the supplementary 

UV-B light is just that: a supplement. You don’t need 

a lot of it and too much can be counterproductive. 

One to two watts of UV-B light per square foot of 

garden space is efficient. Also, note that other commonly 

used lighting technologies, such as metal 

halide, already contain a good amount of UV-B 

light and do not need additional supplementation. 

NUTRIENT ADDITIVES 

Another way cannabis growers can enhance their 

plants’ trichome production is with nutrient additives. 

Terpenoid enhancers trigger the plant’s 

natural defence system and cause the plant to 

create more essential oils. As there are many of 

these on the market, the best way to figure out 

which product works best for your plant variety is 

to experiment and test the results. 

Another additive used by cannabis growers to 

enhance trichome production is silica (potassium 

silicate). Plants that receive silica have a stronger 

resistance to pathogens, and it is believed 

that silica boosts the physical hardiness and 

resilience of the cannabis flowers and trichomes. 

This makes the finished product more potent and 

less susceptible (even after harvest) to damage 

that could diminish its overall quality. In other 

words, some growers believe that cannabis flowers 

harvested from plants supplied with silica 

have a longer shelf life. 

More and more, growers are striving for bountiful 

crops of high-quality buds as opposed to high 

quantities of mediocre cannabis—which is good 

news for both the medical and recreational 

cannabis industries. By using terpenoid 

enhancement products and/or supplementing 

UV-B light during the flowering stage of growth, 

cannabis growers can boost the trichome 

production of their plants and maximize the 

potency of their particular cannabis strain. 

Using potassium silicate can also offer their 

plants a unique defence against pathogens and 

the possibility of higher potency for a longer 

period of time. It can take some trial and error to 

determine the exact products and techniques that 

will ramp up a strain’s trichome production, but 

it is worth the effort. After all, experimentation is 

how we discovered these tricks to boost cannabis 

potency in the first place; just imagine what 

practices we could develop if we keep trying. 

Lee G. Lyzit has been involved in the medical cannabis 

industry for nearly 15 years. His passion for 

natural healing drives him to learn as much as he 

can about the cannabis plant. Lee breeds his own 

strains of cannabis to create concentrated glycerine 

and coconut oil extracts. Aside from cannabis education 

and consumption, Lee enjoys playing music, 

gardening, hiking, and cross-country skiing. 

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grow 

EXPERIENCED 

GROWERS NEED 

by Kent Gruetzmacher 

ONLY APPLY: 

Translating Your 

Personal Cannabis 

Growing into 

Resume Format 

In decades past, the 

prospect of including 

your home growing 

experience on a 

resume was a fantasy, 

afterthought, or simple 

impossibility. However, 

times are a-changing. 

Here’s a guide on how to 

interpret your personal 

cannabis cultivations and 

previous work experience 

into language you can 

use to land a job. 

THE ERA OF THE MODERN 

PROFESSIONAL GROWER 

HAS ARRIVED 

Instead of remaining a secretive 

enterprise, cannabis cultivation 

is rapidly transforming into a 

legitimate and respected profession. 

Knowledgeable, disciplined, and 

versatile cannabis growers are highly 

pursued assets in the contemporary 

business world. Of course, cultivators 

ready to make the transition into 

hydroponic and cannabis industries 

require a solid resume to gain these 

employment opportunities. 

COMPETENCY-BASED 

HIRING AND RECRUITING 

When crafting a resume for a legitimate 

cannabis business, applicants can 

use the competency-based model of 

hiring and recruiting to generate an 

informative and up-to-date document. 

Instead of focusing on previous 

employment, this model highlights 

skills and knowledge obtained through 

practical experience—even if that 

experience was underground cannabis 

growing. For example, a familiarity 

with regulating climactic fluctuations 

in a greenhouse environment would be 

considered an occupational competency. 

This model also allows applicants 

to highlight behaviours that would 

contribute to success in the workplace. 

HOME GROWING 

IN RESUME FORMAT 

Constructing an informative resume 

for the hydroponic and cannabis 

industry is a different process than 

building a traditional resume. After 

all, this is a novel job market and 

most candidates do not have formal, 

commercial, cannabis growing 

work experience. As a result, hiring 

companies are most attracted 

to candidates who explain their 

cultivation talents effectively. 

Cannabis growers should be 

as specific as possible in their 

resumes to highlight applicable 

skill sets for any given position. 

This is because, according to the 

competency-based model, potential 

employers are most interested in 

specific previous actions that are 

applicable to future occupations 

and endeavours. For example, an 

experienced greenhouse cultivator 

interested in acquiring a head 

grower position in a commercial 

greenhouse setting should show that 

he or she has competent, in-depth 

knowledge concerning pest control. 

To elaborate, that he or she knows 

pest control in a cannabis garden 

involves both the foresight to avoid 

potential problems in the operation 

with sanitation, as well as the ability 

to effectively solve issues as they 

arise with effective spraying. 

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grow 

cannabis resume example 

To effectively express how specific 

actions are used to solve problems 

in the workplace, descriptions of 

abilities on a resume should always 

begin with verbs. To illustrate, see 

the cannabis resume example above. 

Here, phrases like “Advanced a 

deep appreciation for sterilization 

in a greenhouse environment” and 

“Eradicated or avoided harmful pests, 

mildews, and moulds with organic 

sprays” help market a grower’s pest 

management competency. 

IMPORTANT SECTIONS 

TO INCLUDE 

There are three sections that 

should be included on all cannabis 

cultivators’ resumes. (The following 

examples are again drawn from the 

above cannabis resume example.) 

SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES 

The competency-based model markets 

a candidate’s cannabis cultivation 

knowledge as his or her primary 

asset. That’s why the ‘Skills and 

Capabilities’ section should be at 

the top of an artisanal, homebased 

cannabis grower’s resume 

instead of a traditional inverse 

employment history. 

Individual skill sets should then 

be described under subheadings 

like the following: 

Artisanal Greenhouse 

Management presents 

the various gardening 

competencies involved with 

atmospheric and operational 

control in a greenhouse. 

These skills should be further 

explained with descriptions 

like, “Developed expertise 

with industrial fans, inline 

fans, atmospheric controllers, 

cooling walls, heating 

devices, and dehumidifiers”. 

Cannabis Cultivation 

exhibits a cannabis 

grower’s specific 

familiarities with the 

actual cultivation process. 

The phrase “Gained 

intimate understanding 

of a variety of cannabis 

genetics and phenotypes, 

including NY Diesel, 

Gorilla Glue #4, Tahoe 

Kush, Blue Dream, 

Chem Dog, and Cherry 

Pie” depicts this 

competency nicely. 

Time Management and 

Planning illuminates 

the organizational 

competencies and 

foresight necessary 

for a bountiful 

cannabis harvest. 

For example, use 

descriptions like 

“Mastered the 

time schedule for 

the successful 

greenhouse 

flowering of cannabis 

year-round using blackout tarps and 

supplemental lighting”. 

EDUCATION/TRAINING 

The job market in the cannabis industry 

is competitive, so college degrees of 

any form will help candidates stand 

out in a prospect pool. Again, growers 

should look to their skill sets to decide 

what elements of their education are 

applicable in obtaining a specific 

position. For example, the phrase 

“Experienced in using Word, Excel, 

PowerPoint, and MS Office” shows that a 

candidate is fluent in modern computer 

technology, an asset necessary in almost 

any professional capacity today. 

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grow 

“ 

A resume is the beginning of a relationship 

with an employer, and maintaining honesty 

and integrity with this document will lay 

the cornerstone of a successful career.” 

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY 

If a person’s professional history 

has nothing to do with the cannabis 

industry, he or she can still utilize 

the competency-based model to 

isolate transferable skills. This 

process often requires some 

creativity, but it can be rewarding. 

For example, if an applicant worked 

as a line cook in a restaurant, they 

could exhibit his or her transferable 

aptitudes with phrases like “Perfected 

multi-tasking abilities” or “Expanded 

a sense of urgency in the workplace 

through high-pressure work scenarios”. 

Candidates should also include 

any artisanal/home-based cannabis 

growing work on a resume. For 

example, a proper description 

of this professional experience 

would be “Medicinal Cannabis 

Cultivator: Entrepreneurial/Non- 

Profit (2011-Current)” and a tasteful 

description of this experience would 

be “Produced exceptional organic 

cannabis for medical dispensaries 

in the Lower Mainland”. 

One final tip: don’t exaggerate. 

A resume is the beginning of a 

relationship with an employer and 

maintaining honesty and integrity 

with this document will lay the 

cornerstone of a successful career. 

Kent Gruetzmacher is a 

California-based freelance writer 

and the west coast director of 

business development at Mac 

& Fulton Executive Search and 

Consulting, an employment 

recruiting firm dedicated to the 

indoor gardening and hydroponic 

industries. He is interested in 

utilizing his Master of Arts in 

humanities to explore the many 

cultural and business facets of this 

emerging industry by way of his 

entrepreneurial projects. 

20 


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ORGANIC 

GO ORGANIC 

HUGHES 

OR G O H O M E ? 

3 

by Cory Hughes 

Organic certification has never been more popular, and it has moved 

beyond just food and drink to other products we ingest or put on 

our bodies. But is it better? And as a cannabis cultivator, what are the 

benefits to going the organic route? Cory Hughes lays out what needs to 

be considered and weighed when it comes to this method of growing. 

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grow. heal. live. enjoy. 23

grow 

“ Non-organic fertilizers 

are typically made from 

combining raw elemental 

salts whereas organic 

fertilizers are made from 

plant and animal waste.” 

With more and more people interested 

in growing cannabis at home, 

the question arises: Is organic better? 

There is no easy answer as there are 

no one-size-fits-all solutions to growing 

quality cannabis. Many times, your purpose 

will determine if organic is the best 

solution for you. 

There are many misconceptions about 

organic cannabis production. Some think 

that organic is automatically better, and 

that isn’t always the case. The questions 

to ask before undertaking an organic 

cultivation regimen are, “Why am I interested 

in organic production? Do I want 

the best quality? The best flavour? Do 

I just want to pump out as much a possible? 

Am I concerned about pesticides?” 

Understanding the benefits of organic 

cannabis cultivation will help you answer 

these questions and determine if it 

is the right production method for you. 

Fertilizers and Pesticides 

In food production, organic holds a very 

different meaning than in cannabis 

cultivation. In agriculture, "certified 

organic" not only indicates the seed was 

not genetically modified but was raised 

using an organic method of cultivation. 

Products throughout the grocery store 

that say they are “organically produced,” 

however, only infers that the process of 

growing the seeds was organic. 

Genetically modified cannabis seeds 

haven’t made their way onto the market 

yet, so when you talk about organic 

cannabis, you are only talking about the 

cultivation method—specifically about 

the types of fertilizer and pesticides 

used. What differentiates organic 

fertilizers from non-organic? Nonorganic 

fertilizers are typically made 

from combining raw elemental salts 

whereas organic fertilizers are made 

from plant and animal waste. 

With the large number of commercial 

cultivation facilities popping up and 

vast quantities of marijuana being 

pumped out, many are asking how the 

big facilities are doing it. Due to the 

sheer volume of required nutrients, 

it is by far more cost-effective to 

use elemental salts, as large scale 

production with organic nutrients 

cuts into profits big time. Just because 

that’s how they do it, doesn’t mean 

you should. Organic cultivation 

techniques are much more suited to 

home grows and boutique-type strains 

than for mass production. 

Pesticides also usually confuse 

people when it comes to organic 

cultivation. Organic doesn’t mean 

you can’t use pesticides. There are 

a range of organic pesticides that 

are non-toxic and leave no residues 

behind that affect smell or taste. 

Organic pesticides are generally 

safe and have a very short re-entry 

time. The “interval of entry” refers to 

the amount of time needed after an 

application before humans can re-enter 

the area safely. Non-organic pesticides 

can have a re-entry interval of days, 

if not weeks, compared to organic 

pesticides, which have a relatively 

short re-entry time of hours. Organic 

pesticides can also be applied up to the 

day of harvest in most cases, whereas 

with non-organics, your pre-harvest 

interval can be weeks or months. 

The reality is, organic pesticides are 

effective and all but gone from the 

plant by the time of consumption. 

The biggest question to ask is, “Why is 

organic better?” The single biggest reason 

is increased nutrient bio-availability. 

Organic nutrients are closer to the forms 

of nutrients plants would be exposed to 

in the wild and are more readily absorbed 

by the plant, which by definition, 

results in higher bio-availability. 

24 


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grow 

Bio-availability is the measure of 

nutrients that can be absorbed by the 

plant. When dealing with nutrient 

salts, the electrical conductivity has 

to be pumped up to much higher 

levels to make up for the lack of bioavailability. 

When using nutrient 

salts, on average, you are only getting 

around 25 per cent nutrient bioavailability. 

With organic cultivation, 

your bio-availability doubles. 

The reason for that is when a plant 

grows in natural surroundings, the 

raw elements and animal matter that 

breakdown to provide sustenance are 

transformed by beneficial fungi and 

microbes in the soil. Nutrient salts 

are not friendly to this environment 

and will result in soil that contains no 

beneficial microbes or fungi. Organic 

cultivation fosters the growth of these 

microbes and beneficial fungi, which, 

in turn, metabolize the raw elements 

into a form more easily absorbed by 

the plant. People will try to supplement 

non-organic grows with microbes, 

however, the pH of the nutrient salts is 

typically enough to kill them, leaving 

you with no added benefit. 

To maximize nutrient bio-availability, 

veganic cultivation is an option. As growers 

search for the most natural methods 

of growing cannabis, veganic cultivation 

has become the talk of the town.Veganic 

cultivation redefines simplicity and, as 

you could have guessed, involves no 

animal products. This isn’t necessarily a 

statement about animals per se, it’s about 

maximizing nutrient uptake through fostering 

an environment in which beneficial 

fungi and microbes are free to thrive. 

Veganic cultivation revolves around 

the use of compost and compost teas 

to enrich the soil. Grass cuttings, 

vegetables, cannabis leaves, and any 

other greens will break down over 

time, which allows a compost heap to 

form a black sludge at the bottom. As 

it decomposes, the compost becomes 

home to a world of insects, larvae, 

and fungi. One big shovel of compost 

placed into a five-gallon bucket of 

water, then strained, creates one of 

the single best nutrient and microbe 

cocktails on the planet. Advocates 

of veganic cultivation claim that the 

nutrient bio-availability is as close 

to 100 per cent as it can get. Thanks 

to beneficial microbes and fungi, this 

massive increase in nutrient uptake 

results in greener fan leaves, fuller 

buds, and a flavour free of residues 

left behind by animal waste in typical 

organic cultivation. 

So, is organic better? The short 

answer is yes. Understanding 

your need, however, is paramount. 

Nutrient salts are cheaper and 

they work. However, they are not 

nearly as effective as organic 

supplementation. The increase in 

nutrient uptake alone makes 

organic cultivation worth 

exploring. If you are 

looking to produce 

commercial quantities of 

cannabis, organic will 

be pricey and harder to 

implement: however, for 

a home grower, organic 

is by far the way to go. 

“ 

One big shovel of 

compost placed into 

a five-gallon bucket of 

water, then strained, 

creates one of the single 

best nutrient and microbe 

cocktails on the planet.” 

Cory Hughes is a former police officer turned full-time 

commercial grower in Denver, Colorado. 

26 


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grow 

By Michael Caffrey | The importance 

of physically securing your facility 

is established knowledge among 

growers, but failing to secure your 

high-grade crop against an infestation 

of pests or contaminants can be 

financially devastating as well. Surna’s 

Michael Caffrey looks at biosecurity 

and how to take preventative 

measures against these issues. 

The biological security of a 

cultivation facility is just as 

important as the physical security. 

The physical security includes 

measures such as locks, cameras, 

fences, and lighting, and is often, 

at least in part, required by law. 

Biosecurity includes measures such as 

air sanitation, dehumidification, and 

cleaning procedures, and is often not 

directly required, though it can become 

an indirect requirement due to product 

testing and purity requirements. 

While less familiar than physical 

security, biosecurity is no less 

important, especially when growing 

for a medical market. Creating and 

maintaining a clean cultivation 

Lock Up the 

BIOSECURITY 

of your 

GROW OP 

“Prevention is easier 

and cheaper than 

dealing with a 

contamination.” 

environment results in reduced 

pesticide and fungicide needs, a 

reduced risk of crop failure due to 

contamination, and increased chances 

of passing any required lab tests. 

Implementing an effective biosecurity 

system within in a cultivation facility 

comes down to being thorough and 

regularly assessing the effectiveness 

of both the procedures and equipment 

used in the quest for a biologically 

secure facility. 

Routine assessments should be performed 

often—at least once a week but 

daily if possible—to catch any problems 

before they become critical. 

Routine checks also ensure the measures 

in place are working to prevent 

contamination within the facility. 

Prevention is easier and cheaper than 

dealing with a contamination. A bleach 

wipe-down of all surfaces costs less 

than six cents per wipe, whereas a crop 

failure or recall can cost tens of thousands 

of dollars and potentially create 

irreparable damage to your brand. 

Once a contaminant such as powdery 

mildew gets into a facility, it can be 

nearly impossible to remove. 

Once biosecurity standard operating 

procedures have been established in a 

facility, routine checks both ensure they 

are working and are actually being followed. 

A large part of biosecurity comes 

down to relying on employees to follow 

proper procedure, and routine checks 

ensure they will do so. 

WHAT TO LOOK FOR 

During your routine biosecurity checks, 

it is important to know what to look for. 

Here are the top things that are typically 

seen, but be sure to incorporate 

your own factors into this list: 

Are employees following standard 

operating procedures? 

Are equipment and tools being 

cleaned before use on a new plant? 

Is humidity at the correct levels? 

Are there any spikes throughout 

the day? 

Is water draining properly? Are 

there any standing pools of water? 

Are there any visible signs of pests 

or pathogens? 

Is the air quality at proper levels? 

Routine checks will help establish a 

baseline for biosecurity and allow holes 

in the current system to be revealed 

before a bigger problem occurs. If at 

any point your biosecurity is found to 

be lacking, call an expert to perform an 

analysis and help create a safer environment 

for your plants. 

Michael Caffrey serves as a biological engineer for Surna Inc., whose mission is to provide efficient, reliable, and intelligent climate 

control solutions designed exclusively for cannabis cultivation. With a degree in molecular cell and development biology from University of 

Colorado, Michael understands what makes plants tick. His past research experience includes studying microbiology and plant genetics. 

28 


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30 


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grow 

Mastering 

CO 2 

BY DAN BANKS 

THE BENEFITS OF CO 2 enrichment on cannabis growth 

and productivity are widely recognized, but growers often 

debate how to best apply this technique. Daniel Banks 

sheds some light on the phenomenon of CO2 fertilization 

by investigating what aspects of cannabis plants, and their 

environment, can influence its effectiveness. 

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grow 

“WITHOUT FANS 

ACTIVELY mixing and 

replenishing the air 

in contact with your 

plants, they will run low 

on CO 2 , no matter how 

much is available in the 

surrounding room.” 

There are several variations on how 

plants like cannabis fix carbon. 

The most common of these is termed 

C3 photosynthesis. Cannabis, and all 

other crops that benefit from CO 2 fertilization, 

uses this pathway. Structurally, 

think of the inside of a cannabis 

plant's leaves as composed of tiny 

reaction sites stacked on top of one another, 

with empty space and plumbing 

in between. These sites harness light 

and turn raw materials into energyrich 

building blocks to fuel plant 

growth. The building blocks generated 

by these reaction sites are simple sugars, 

and CO 2 is a key ingredient. 

CO 2 molecules present within the leaf 

need to be channelled to provide a constant 

supply of fuel for photosynthesis. 

The answer to this need is the enzyme 

RuBisCO, which binds to CO 2 molecules 

and transfers them to the photosynthetic 

machinery. Under ambient CO 2 concentrations 

(about 400 ppm) and otherwise 

favourable conditions, the activity of 

RuBisCO is the limiting factor on photosynthetic 

productivity. This means that 

when temperature or light intensity rises 

above the cannabis plant's tolerance 

level, RuBisCO is unable to keep up 

with the CO 2 demands of the reaction 

sites and the excess energy becomes 

stressful. By adding additional CO 2 to 

the equation, we boost the activity of 

RuBisCO. It encounters CO 2 molecules 

more often and can transfer them more 

efficiently, allowing the plant to extend 

productivity beyond normal limits. 

AIR CIRCULATION AND 

CO 2 UPTAKE 

As RuBisCO uses up CO 2 inside the leaf, 

more is drawn in through diffusion— 

the natural movement of molecules 

from higher to lower concentrations. 

To enter the leaf, additional CO 2 must 

pass through tiny pores called stomata. 

Since this is a passive process, only CO 2 

contained in the air that immediately 

surrounds the leaf, (known as the 

boundary layer) is available. Poor air 

circulation leads to stagnant boundary 

layers that are rapidly depleted of CO 2. 

This concept is critical to maximizing 

CO 2 enrichment. Without fans actively 

mixing and replenishing the air in 

contact with your plants, they will run 

low on CO 2, no matter how much is 

available in the surrounding room. 

In addition to facilitating the passage 

of CO 2, stomata also regulate water 

loss through transpiration. Leaves close 

stomata to reduce water loss, but doing 

so reduces CO 2 uptake. It's a dry world 

out there, and C3 plants constantly 

regulate stomatal openings to balance 

CO 2 uptake against water loss. Due to 

the large moisture gradient between 

leaves and the surrounding air, taking in 

CO 2 is costly in terms of water. 

Dr. Suman Chandra, lead author 

in several studies on cannabis 

physiology, found that when CO 2 

concentrations are raised well 

above ambient, cannabis responds 

by partially closing its stomata. 

Without the need for CO 2 driving 

them to open, the stomata naturally 

close to conserve water. This is 

important for several reasons. It 

means that cannabis water use, 

per unit area, may decrease with 

CO 2 fertilization. It also makes air 

mixing even more important, since 

partially closed stomata will slow 

CO 2 uptake. Finally, this can lead 

to higher leaf temperatures by 

restricting transpiration. 

TEMPERATURE AND 

LIGHT INTENSITY 

CO 2 fertilization allows cannabis 

to thrive at higher temperatures 

and utilize higher light intensities, 

but these two factors need to be 

considered together. Light comes 

with more heat, especially in HID 

illuminated environments. Both 

parameters shift the photosynthetic 

machinery into higher gear and CO 2 

enrichment allows it to run faster 

and cleaner. However, even with 

CO 2, pushing too hard with light 

and/or temperature can send your 

plants into stressful conditions. 

The general recommendation 

for maximizing CO 2 fertilization 

in greenhouse crops is to raise 

the growth temperature by three 

to six degrees Celcius above the 

ideal temperature in the absence 

of CO 2 enrichment. For cannabis, 

this means that the ideal bloom 

temperature is shifted into the high 

20s to low 30s. It is important to note 

that ambient grow temperature 

does not usually represent the 

temperature that the plant canopy is 

experiencing. A room temperature in 

the mid 20s will translate to canopy 

temperatures closer to the ideal for 

growth with CO 2 enhancement. Some 

strains may enjoy an even higher 

temperature, but I don't recommend 

running your space above 28°C 

unless you know your strains will 

respond favourably and you have 

tight control of other environmental 

parameters. Be cautious when 

pushing the temperature envelope, 

the difference between ideal and 

harmful can be a few degrees. 

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grow 

IDEAL CO 2 LEVELS 

One of the most hotly debated 

aspects of CO 2 fertilization in 

cannabis cultivation is the proper 

concentration of CO 2. The only 

cannabis-specific research done 

is this area is presented in Dr. 

Chandra's publications. He found 

that raising CO 2 concentration to 700 

ppm resulted in an instantaneous 

increase in photosynthetic 

productivity of 38-48 per cent, 

depending on strain. Unfortunately, 

his work doesn't discuss the effects 

of CO 2 fertilization at concentrations 

higher than 750 ppm. 

As CO 2 concentrations are 

increased well above ambient, the 

law of diminishing returns applies 

to the benefits. This means that the 

degree to which additional CO 2 

increases productivity drops as ppms 

increase, ultimately reaching the 

point at which plant stress occurs. 

As with most things, too much CO 2 

can have negative effects, leading 

to lower yields and leaf death at 

extremely high levels. 

The concentration at which CO 2 

becomes detrimental to plant health 

varies widely between species. 

Tomatoes, for example, have an 

upper threshold of about 2,000 ppm, 

while chrysanthemums experience 

stress at concentrations greater 

than 1,200 ppm. In the absence of 

research to clarify the issue, my 

view is that our favourite plant 

likely falls on the higher side of 

the continuum, as cannabis is a 

highly productive annual capable 

of explosive growth. 

Another consideration is that, 

over time, many C3 plants fail to 

maintain the productivity gains that 

they initially experience with CO 2 

fertilization. Understanding this 

goes back to RuBisCO activity. 

Scientists studying the phenomena 

have found RuBisCO levels in many 

plant species lowers over time in 

response to elevated CO 2. This 

occurs because the environmental 

cues that drive RuBisCO production 

are suppressed under enhanced 

CO 2 conditions. The degree to 

which acclimation to enhanced 

CO 2 occurs is species-specific, and 

few studies have evaluated this 

response at CO 2 levels higher than 

700-800 ppm. In cannabis, it may be 

more effective to gradually increase 

CO 2 concentrations over the crop 

cycle, as opposed to raising them to 

the highest level immediately. 

As cannabis legalization continues to 

progress and the markets in legal states 

mature, the physiology of cannabis will 

hopefully be studied to the same degree 

as other crops. With these efforts will 

come a better understanding of how to 

best use CO 2 fertilization in cannabis 

cultivation. Until that time, my advice 

is to enhance bloom in the 1,200-1,600 

ppm range, with 1,400 ppm as a good 

rule of thumb. If you are running CO 2 

in the vegetative phase, I don't recommend 

exceeding 800 ppm. This level 

provides your vegetative plants with 

a good boost and ensures that they 

see a significant benefit as they move 

into higher CO 2 in flower. If able, I also 

recommend experimenting with different 

levels of CO 2 fertilization and with 

gradually increasing CO 2 concentrations 

across the bloom cycle. 

Daniel Banks is a consultant and 

passionate cannabis enthusiast based 

in Denver, Colorado. He completed 

a bachelor's degree in Horticultural 

Science and a minor in Entomology at 

Colorado State University in 2012. His 

company, Next Generation IPM LLC, 

provides Integrated Pest Management 

focused consulting to licensed 

cannabis cultivators. 

“CO 2 FERTILIZATION 

ALLOWS cannabis 

to thrive at higher 

temperatures and 

utilize higher light 

intensities, but these 

two factors need to be 

considered together.” 

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heal 

CUT AND DRIED: 

A MONTHLY LOOK AT DIFFERENT MMJ STRAINS 

BY LACEY MACRI 

Earthy and fruity, Hashberry is a high-quality, indicadominant 

strain. From its origins to appearance, medical 

use, effects, and cultivation habits, Lacey Macri reviews 

this award-winning cannabis for Hydrolife. 

Hashberry 

Origin and Genetics 

Originally from a territory in India 

called Kashmir, Hashberry got its name 

from the region’s reputation for producing 

high-quality hashish products. Like 

many other popular strains, Hashberry 

has undergone several variations in its 

lineage along the way. Some of the best 

Hashberry you will find in California 

is spawned from a cross between two 

powerful indica strains—Kryptonite 

and Kashmir Kush—and she certainly 

lives up to her parents’ expectations. 

The uniquely high THC content of its 

parent strain Kryptonite has remained 

one of the most notable features of the 

Hashberry plant. This quality helps 

to produce a non-drowsy body sensation 

that is very relaxing. Hashberry 

has won awards over the years and 

consistently delivers across a span of 

different parameters. 

Physical Description 

The poster child for high-quality cannabis, 

Hashberry is known for its super 

dense, perfectly formed buds. On a scale 

from one to 10, with one representing the 

lightest-coloured cannabis you’ve ever 

seen and 10 being the darkest, the cured 

flowers of a Hashberry plant are around 

a seven. This colour is primarily made 

up of two different shades of green and 

dark, rust-coloured stoma. The aroma 

of these buds is equally as stellar, with 

pungent whiffs of spicy, earthy, and 

fruity berries rampant. 

Medical Uses 

Medicating with Hashberry has been 

reported to relieve migraine headaches, 

body pains, and insomnia. Surprisingly, 

however, if you are well-rested, it is 

also suitable to be used during the day 

without inhibiting your ability to interact 

with others or be productive. In other 

words, although it is recommended for 

sleep disorders, it is not your typical 

couch-lock nighttime-only medicine. The 

effects set in quickly and the user starts 

to feel an intense body high. While 

partaking, you will feel uplifted, both 

physically and mentally, in the most 

comfortable of ways. It’s kind of like a 

magic carpet ride. 

Growing Patterns 

For an indica-dominant strain, Hashberry 

can be a moderately heavy yielder, 

assuming all environmental conditions 

are optimized. Its indica roots are 

manifested in its stature, as it typically 

grows to be more squat and stout, with 

dark green foliage and wider fan leaves 

at the base, narrowing toward the tip. 

Hashberry is a good strain to grow 

indoors as it is unlikely to stretch much 

taller than most standard grow tents. It 

is important to space them generously, 

though, to allow for their maximum 

reach potential. This strain feeds relatively 

heavy and may require additional 

supplements such as cal-mag to accommodate 

its unique nutritional demands. 

Flowering Hashberry follows typical 

indica traits, averaging right around a 

60-day flowering period. As the buds approach 

the final ripening phase, they really 

start to dense up and harden pretty 

consistently from the top cola all the way 

down the chutes to the centre zone of the 

plant. Purple hues will be more apparent 

when grown indoors, as temperatures 

are more easily controlled compared 

to an outdoor growing environment. 

This strain is very manageable to grow, 

even for beginners. 

Lacey Macri works as head of sales at 

CleanGrow, 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, where she 

worked at the California Aggie student 

newspaper on campus. 

38 


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heal 

Dispensary 

Etiquette 

by Kent Gruetzmacher 

With the inevitability of Canada passing laws allowing both 

medical and recreational cannabis use, it's possible that you 

may visit a dispensary sometime in the near future. However, the 

notion of walking into a storefront and purchasing marijuana 

products is still quite intimidating. If that’s how you feel, 

Hydrolife’s Kent Gruetzmacher has a few tips on how to make 

your first trip to the dispensary smooth as cannabutter. 

Though the legality of cannabis has 

made many advances in recent 

years, the negative stigma surrounding 

its use remains deeply embedded 

in the collective consciousness. As 

a result, the thought of going to a 

dispensary for the first time can make 

even a veteran cannabis enthusiast 

a bit uncomfortable. To help quell 

these uneasy feelings, here is 

a little advice on what one can 

expect—and how one should 

behave—during that initial visit. 

Know the Local Laws 

Perhaps the most effective way 

to ensure a smooth visit to a 

dispensary is to research local laws 

before making a visit. As cannabis 

legislation is in a constant flux, taking 

a few minutes of investigative reading 

will get one up to speed on Canada's 

laws concerning marijuana use. Once 

educated on local policy, cannabis 

consumers can feel prepared and 

confident on how to safely fulfill their 

cannabis needs at a local dispensary. 

Security Guards 

Novice shoppers are often 

intimidated by the presence 

of armed guards in the 

parking lots and entrances of 

dispensaries. After all, it is 

easy to mistake these guards 

for police officers. Don’t fear, 

though; armed guards at 

cannabis dispensaries work 

for private security firms that are 

subcontracted by the businesses. These 

guards are simply on site to keep the 

premises secure and customers safe. 

They’ll often want to look through 

a patron’s backpack or a purse to 

ensure there are no weapons inside. 

So, to ensure a smooth entrance to the 

dispensary, cannabis patrons should 

not have anything threatening or 

embarrassing in their baggage. 

Check-In and Sharing 

Personal Information 

Every time cannabis users visit a 

dispensary, they must wait in a checkin 

area located outside of the shopping 

space. This area exists so dispensary 

employees can ensure the clients have 

the proper paperwork before entering 

and accessing any product. Furthermore, 

the waiting area ensures that the 

purchasing space doesn’t become 

overcrowded, allowing budtenders to 

give customers their full attention. 

As mentioned above, doing research 

regarding local laws beforehand will 

pay off when it comes time to check-in 

as you won't have to scramble to find 

your government-issued ID, doctor's 

referral, etc. On a similar note, don’t 

be intimidated by the prospect of 

sharing your personal information 

with a dispensary. This data is 

protected by law. 

Other Patients and Consumers 

At this point in time, remember that just 

because people can access cannabis 

at dispensaries does not mean that its 

use is condoned in their professional 

and personal lives. Therefore, small 

talk between patrons in dispensaries 

is acceptable, but anonymity should 

be respected. That way there’s less 

of a chance that a person’s life could 

be negatively impacted by gossip 

or hearsay concerning his or her 

responsible cannabis consumption. 

Know Your Product 

When shopping for cannabis products, 

utilize the staff’s knowledge. A 

well-informed budtender should be 

able to inform customers about the 

specific effects of each strain, as well 

as recommend products based on 

clients’ needs and tolerance levels. 

This care and attention is particularly 

important when it comes to edibles 

and concentrates as a little bit often 

goes a long way with these potent 

THC products. Still, the final decision 

is placed on the consumer. That’s why 

it’s a good idea for patrons to do some 

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cannabis research ahead of time, have 

an idea of the effect they’re seeking, 

and take note of how cannabis 

affected them in the past. The more 

information someone has before 

purchasing product, the better. 

Parking Lots and Exits 

At the conclusion of a dispensary 

shopping experience, patrons should 

aim for a quick departure from both the 

building and the parking lot. Again, 

this practice is in the best interest of 

customer safety; depending on the locale 

of the dispensary, crowds in cannabis 

dispensary parking lots can easily 

attract unsavory attention. 

Also, remember that a dispensary can 

lose its licence if cannabis consumption 

or sharing occurs on its property. 

Clients must never consume cannabis 

products in the parking lot or within a 

vehicle on the premises. Furthermore, 

they must not share cannabis with any 

friends or family that were in the car. 

There are many legalities surrounding 

this type of “distribution”. 

Finally, cannabis patrons must respect 

the parking areas and properties of 

other businesses near the dispensary. 

“Prepare yourself with 

knowledge and follow some basic 

etiquette, and everyone will feel 

the positive benefits.” 

The taboos surrounding cannabis 

culture already present the industry with 

enough challenges; irresponsible actions 

like vagrancy, loitering, and illegal 

parking just make things more difficult 

for everyone as they give the public a 

negative view of cannabis consumers. 

Visiting a dispensary for the first time 

can be nerve-wracking, 

but it doesn’t have to be 

a negative experience. 

Prepare yourself with 

knowledge and follow 

some basic etiquette, 

and everyone will feel 

the positive benefits. 


heal 

Herbal 

ASK A NURSE: TIPS FOR THE GAME 

Dear Nurse Jessica, 

Q 

I’m a 35-year-old woman in good health. I haven’t 

really used cannabis all that much, but with so 

many dispensaries popping up all around me, 

I admit I’m tempted to see what all the fuss is 

about. It’s possible I’ve been missing out my 

whole life! What’s my best approach here? Walk in and fake 

an illness, be upfront, have someone “boot” for me? How much 

information will a dispensary want from me, how honest do I 

have to be, and what do they do with the information? 

Well, hello there, 35-year-old woman in good 

health. Of course you’re curious; who isn’t? 

A 

Especially these days with a plethora of 

cannabis-friendly establishments to choose from. 

Stress less about lost time with this divine plant 

and embrace her with your arms wide open. 

I would never recommend someone fake an illness. Lying 

is toxic and it’s a waste of precious time. Always be up front. 

Just walk in and tell them that you’re a novice. If a dispensary 

can’t help, try another one, or try a local hydro shop, cannabis 

clinic, or vape lounge. The truth is more people than you know 

have been incorporating this plant into their lives for years. My 

experience is that folks in the cannabis industry want to help. 

We like new people; it gives professionals an opportunity to 

pass on some of the knowledge it’s taken us years to acquire. 

The more relevant the information they have from you, the 

better. This is often used to implement precision towards 

products that would be best suited for you. All establishments 

have their own client tracking systems, so just feel it out. 

Since you’re in the recreational zone, it’s different all over. I’m 

writing to you from Canada, so our laws are currently rooted 

in the ACMPR (Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes 

Regulations). I strongly advise you become well-acquainted 

with marijuana laws where you live. 

If I want something, I go out and get it. Don’t have someone 

“boot” for you. You can “boot” for yourself by putting them 

on your feet and walking into a cannabis establishment to 

ask a few questions. The marijuana vibe has called you, 

so have some fun with this and start hunting. You may end 

up wanting to work in the industry and consume very little 

cannabis, or even none at all. 

Enjoy your introduction to cannabis like the cosmic 

explosion of a divine lover. Take your time with it and 

allow yourself to test this plant with a clear self. To truly 

feel the effects of different intake methods and specific 

strains, it’s important to do it without alcohol or cigarettes. 

Ganja has white light angel wings, in my opinion, so why 

not enjoy her true? The other two have ulterior motives. Get 

a journal, start recording. Be present to what comes up for 

you and allow this plant to be your guide. 

Infused creams and Epsom salts for baths are two of my 

favourite intake methods. 

These intakes deal with pain from arthritis, inflammation, 

muscle tension, menstrual cramps, stress, anxiety, spasms, 

insomnia, and just plain healthy people getting healthier. Use 

an infused topical with essential oils on your temples, chest, 

feet, or neck to stay balanced in Babylon. The absorption 

through your skin is processed through your liver differently 

than combustion or edibles, so the effects are not comparable. 

These are the safest cannabis-infused starters, in my opinion. 

Once you rock these, I highly recommend you find what 

I call a “yoni plug” (aka vaginal suppository). The ones 

I get have cannabis infused coco butter, vitamin E oil, 

frankincense, clary sage, and lavender. These are the best 

things I have ever incorporated into my day. If you enjoy 

multiples, this will get you out of your head and back into 

your body like nothing else. Great for cramps and a perfect 

way to start the day before coffee. 

Have some fun with this, you 35-year-old healthy goddess. 

This is a great opportunity for you to redefine your personal 

bliss with cannabis. 

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. 

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heal 

by August Dunning 

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: 

It Might be Time for a Detox 

Several US states have reported 

seeing chronic marijuana 

users walking into emergency 

rooms with abdominal pain 

and intense vomiting, though 

medical professionals are 

mystified as to why. August 

Dunning examines the 

factors contributing to this 

phenomenon and what 

can be done about it. 

Let’s be honest, unless you are growing 

your own weed, there is a high risk 

that toxic chemicals have contaminated 

your marijuana. High demand, little 

oversight, toxic fungicides, and greed 

have created a situation that immediately 

needs to be addressed. 

Several states in the US have seen chronic 

marijuana users coming into emergency 

rooms complaining of abdominal pain 

and cyclic vomiting, a condition that has 

been labeled as cannabinoid hyperemesis 

syndrome (CHS). Hyperemesis means “prolonged 

vomiting”, while syndrome means 

“a condition characterized by a set of associated 

symptoms.” One study in Colorado 

reported that emergency room diagnoses 

for CHS have doubled since 2009, when the 

government allowed medical marijuana. 

Doctors have a theory that CHS occurs 

due to regular, long-term use of marijuana. 

But is it? The clue may be in the vomiting. 

“Vomiting is a natural reflex that often 

occurs as a form of protection,” says Dr. Joe 

Mercola in an article on his website. “In 

the event you consume something that is 

contaminated or poisonous, vomiting is your 

body’s way of getting rid of it.” 

When we compare the doctors’ theories 

about chronic cannabis users and what 

vomiting indicates, it sounds like CHS is the 

body’s attempt to try and rid itself of something 

contaminated or poisonous. So, are 

cannabinoids in the marijuana (which are 

noted for being non-toxic) the problem, or is 

it something else tagging along for the ride? 

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“The most likely cause is that people 

using marijuana frequently and in high 

doses have changes in the receptors in 

their body, and those receptors become 

dysregulated in some way, and it starts 

causing pain,” says Dr. Kennon Heard, 

co-author of the study and a physician 

at the University of Colorado Hospital. 

In other words, doctors have no idea 

why this is occurring. The condition is 

treated with hot showers and baths, 

but most medical professionals also 

suggest reducing or eliminating the 

intake of marijuana. However, 

I disagree with this theory. 

Missing from these scenarios is a trend 

that has seen a dramatic increase in liver 

disease in the human population. Broken 

agricultural methods have led to a decrease 

in calcium and sulphur in the food 

supply. With this, comes a subsequent 

inability to conjugate toxins in the phase 

one and phase two detox pathways. The 

liver is designed to bind toxins to compounds, 

to neutralize them for elimination 

in the bowel. It can only do this if it has 

the necessary ingredients to perform this 

function. Over the years, calcium—one of 

the most important parts of the phase one 

detox functionality—has been drastically 

reduced in the world’s vegetable supply, 

and along with the advent of processed 

food, it has been almost eliminated from 

the modern human diet. This depletion 

of calcium coincides with an increase 

in liver disease. 

With this insight in mind, CHS may be 

exacerbated by both the condition of an 

increased toxic load in commercially 

grown cannabis, with all its pesticide 

residue, and toxins in the food supply 

as well. Unable to be removed by a 

non-functioning liver, toxins overload 

the body and lead to vomiting. There 

are two problems occurring here. The 

first is that the liver is unable to detox 

due to mineral malnutrition, creating 

the inability of the liver to perform 

glucuronidation. Glucuronidation is the 

body’s major phase two detoxification 

pathway in which hormones, foreign 

substances, and toxic chemicals— 

especially pesticides—are made 

harmless and eliminated. Many of these 

chemicals are potential carcinogens. 

The second problem is that some gut 

bacteria produce an enzyme called 

ß-glucuronidase that destroys the bond 

of toxins conjugated out of a functioning 

liver while in the bowel, which 

allows the toxin to be re-absorbed 

through the intestinal wall back into 

the blood stream. This means that 

even if the liver was working, ß-glucuronidase 

prevents toxins from being 

eliminated. In a non-functioning liver, 

some toxins never get eliminated, 

which leads to toxic overload, which 

leads to vomiting. My theory is that it’s 

not the cannabis itself that causes a 

person to vomit; it’s the toxic chemicals 

used to grow weed, the chronic toxicity 

of the modern world, and the depleted 

nutritional content of our food supply. 

In the late 1990s, Dr. Walazek, a Polish 

doctor working on cancer treatments 

with calcium salts, found that a derivative 

of broccoli and apples can suppress 

the enzyme ß-glucuronidase: calcium 

d-glucarate. This is a critical part 

of a larger solution to CHS. The 

first step is to get the liver working 

again, which requires calcium and 

sulphur to get toxins in a molecularly 

bonded, neutralized form for 

elimination. Growing plants with 

gypsum or added minerals, such 

as a multi-mineral complex from 

ocean water raises the calcium and 

sulphur levels in the food. Eating this 

high-sulphur and high-calcium food is 

then the fastest and easiest way to get 

the liver detox pathways working. 

Organically grown yellow onions 

(the ones that make you tear when you 

cut them) provide sulphur, and kale 

and spinach can provide calcium. The 

second step is to use the calcium d- 

glucarate to suppress the enzyme so you 

can start getting rid of stored toxins. The 

suggested solution by the doctors show 

that they do not know these parts of the 

puzzle. They say to reduce or eliminate 

marijuana. This may not be possible 

if you are using cannabis for medical 

reasons, but it will tend to reduce some 

levels of toxic accumulation. Experts 

also suggest taking hot baths, which 

may cause an increase in blood flow and 

elimination of toxins by the kidneys to 

bypass the liver to reduce toxic levels. 

CHS is an important condition 

to resolve. While I can’t prescribe 

anything specific, I have never 

“ 

In the event you 

consume something 

that is contaminated 

or poisonous, vomiting 

is your body’s way of 

getting rid of it.” 

personally experienced this 

problem, even with years 

of chronic cannabis use, 

because I go on a course of 

calcium d-glucarate once 

a year—60 capsules of 200 

milligrams each evening at 

bedtime and in the morning 

for 30 days. Calcium d-glucarate is 

proven to get rid of pesticides, aromatic 

hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and 

agricultural chemicals. It also reduces 

reactive oxygen species because it 

prevents gut bacteria from producing 

the bond-cutting enzyme, allowing 

toxins sent out of the liver the leave 

the body. Calcium d-glucarate breaks 

down to glucaric acid. 

Apples are one of the best sources of 

glucaric acid. Here’s another way to 

look at it—an apple a day keeps the 

oncologist away. 

Augustus Dunning is the CEO of Eco 

Organics and is a physicist, chemist and 

inventor. He is the former systems ops 

designer for the International Space 

Station and a former regional manager 

of liquid, solid, and electric propulsion 

systems for Pratt and Whitney space 

propulsion, Edwards AFB, NAWC, and JPL. 


7By Lacey Macri 

heal 

A lack of sleep can negatively affect your mental and physical 

health. Making a few easy adjustments to your activity prior to 

turning out the lights can go a long way in helping you wake up 

feeling refreshed and ready to tackle anything the day throws at 

you. Lacey Macri has some tips to help you get to dreamland. 

If you’re one of the hundreds of thousands of Canadians struggling to get 

sufficient sleep, you may be just a few steps away from hitting the hay a 

little harder. Every day, we are inundated with chores, tasks, obligations, 

and struggles on the physical, mental, and emotional level. At the end of the 

day, unwinding can be yet another chore in and of itself! 

Getting adequate sleep is important for a number of reasons, including 

stabilizing mood, heart health, mental health, energy level, immunity, and 

both physical and cognitive performance. Recent studies even suggest 

that a lack of sleep may increase your likelihood of gaining 

unhealthy weight. From time to time, we may be forced to 

pull all-nighters to keep up with life’s insatiable demands; 

however, habitually getting seven to nine hours of sleep 

per night will best prepare us to tackle these demands 

optimally while maintaining good overall health. 

Tips 

Toward 

Improving 

Sleep 

READ MORE 

If you’re reading this article, you’re already on your 

way toward improved sleep. Picking up a book or 

magazine before bed is a great way to relieve your 

mind of all the residual thoughts leftover from the 

day that are interfering with your ability to rest 

peacefully. That, combined with the slight boost 

in concentration and eye muscle movements 

required to read, pretty much seals the deal on 

coaxing you to sleep. Let it go for now; there will 

be more time for problem-solving tomorrow. 

AVOID ALCOHOL 

Despite alcohol’s ability to knock you out flat for 

extended periods of time, the quality of alcoholinduced 

sleep is far from rejuvenating. Studies show 

that alcohol consumption interferes with a person’s 

ability to engage in REM sleep. REM, or rapid eye 

movement, sleep typically begins within 90 minutes of 

officially falling asleep. During this stage, the muscles 

are totally relaxed, and the brain and body participate 

in a regenerative stage that contributes to a more productive 

following day. People who lack REM sleep 

may struggle with concentration, memory 

loss, grogginess, and learning. If 

you do partake, do it earlier in 

the day so your body has a 

chance to digest the alcohol 

before lying down to sleep. 

46 


myhydrolife.ca


heal 

“WHEN USING medical marijuana 

as a sleep aid, be careful not to 

overdo it or consume sativa-dominant 

strains, as doing so may increase 

heart rate and alertness, furthering 

your inability to sleep.” 

MMJ 

For those of you who like to calm your nerves with a nightcap, 

it may be a good idea to consider other options. Medicalgrade 

cannabis can have very positive effects on the ability 

to fall asleep, stay asleep, and quality of sleep. Currently, 

there is mixed research on the effects of cannabis on sleep, 

some suggesting that cannabis, like alcohol, may interfere 

with REM sleep, others suggesting just the opposite. However, 

qualified medical marijuana patients consistently report 

waking up feeling refreshed after a full-night’s rest while 

using cannabis as a natural sleep aid. The same reports are 

unavailable for alcohol users, most likely due to a little thing 

we’ve all come to fear called hangovers. When using medical 

marijuana as a sleep aid, be careful not to overdo it or 

consume sativa-dominant strains, as doing so may increase 

heart rate and alertness, furthering your inability to sleep. 

EXERCISE EARLY 

If you spend most of your day relatively immobile, odds are 

your body isn’t going to feel the need to sleep quite as early 

as your mind might. Desk jobs are notorious for causing this 

discrepancy between body and mind. It’s important to regain 

that equilibrium for the sake of your sleeping habits. Unfortunately, 

busy schedules don’t exactly make time for a trip to the 

gym before or after work, so if you are bound to a desk all day 

long, get outside and go for a walk on one of your breaks. If 

you do feel like going the extra mile, so to speak, make sure to 

get your exercise in at least an hour before going to bed so you 

aren’t overly energized when it comes time to rest. 

STAY CLEAN AND COMFORTABLE 

Maintaining good hygiene and comfortable surroundings 

helps create a more suitable environment for sound 

sleep. Throughout the day we encounter bacteria, viruses, 

allergens, dust, moulds, and more, which can all contribute 

to sneezing, coughing, itching, congestion, laboured 

breathing, and a general feeling of discomfort. Keeping 

your garments, linens, and overall environment free of 

contaminants will help prevent additional distractions that 

keep you from a better night’s sleep. Wearing breathable 

clothing and keeping the room temperature cool will also 

help lull you into deep sleep, as your body temperature 

naturally decreases during this process. Even better, save 

some time for a hot shower before sleep to cleanse your body 

as well as help relax your muscles. 

ABANDON TECHNOLOGY 

Recent studies have pointed to a possibility that the high 

intensity light emitted by technology such as smartphones, 

televisions, tablets, and computers may in fact delay 

a person’s ability to fall asleep or become tired. Some 

researchers believe this happens as an involuntary reaction 

to bright light that imitates the sun. They believe that this 

artificial light emission may signal our brains to prepare 

for being awake, since sunlight is typically associated with 

hours spent awake. This is why reading a book is generally 

preferred over watching a show within the last hour or two 

before bed, so we can attempt to prime ourselves for sleep 

rather than activity. Listening to upbeat music is also not 

recommended, as it may inspire an adrenaline rush to the 

bloodstream. On that same note, playing high intensity 

video games or watching a thriller right before bed might 

cause your body to tense up, delaying your ability to relax 

and sleep even more. 

MEDITATION 

For some, meditation may bring to mind a calling of the 

spirits and singing "Kumbaya". And for some, this may 

work, but for the sake of this article, having a full-fledged 

seance is not necessary to improving sleep. Basically, 

the point here is to decompress and allow yourself to let 

go of all the frets you’ve encountered over the course of 

the day, bringing both your mind and body into a tranquil 

state. Ancient breathing exercises have long been 

favoured by yoga enthusiasts as a means of achieving 

deep relaxation and meditation. Voice coaches also 

teach their students these techniques to improve lung capacity. 

While there are hundreds of different strategies, 

one of the most simple and effective methods is the 16-16- 

16. While lying flat (preferably on a yoga mat or something 

similar), relax your shoulders and waist, allowing 

all of your weight to sink down into the earth. Inhale fully 

within a 16 second count, hold for 16 seconds, and then 

distribute a full exhale within another 16 seconds. After 

repeating this cycle three or more times, you will begin to 

feel fully relaxed and refreshed. Preceding these breathing 

exercises with some stretching will also lend itself 

toward a deeper sense of relaxation upon completion. 


myhydrolife.ca


heal 

SEEK OUT THE 

BEST STRAINS FOR 

Aches 

and 

Pains 

BY CORY HUGHES 

MORE AND MORE, CANNABIS IS 

ACCEPTED AS A MEDICINAL ALTERNATIVE 

to more conventional, yet controversial, treatments. 

Cannabis legalization has opened doors for 

millions of patients who seek to move away from 

pharmaceutical treatments for pain to embrace 

more natural alternatives with less side effects. 

With specific cannabis strains that work best to 

treat specific ailments, Cory Hughes explores which 

strains have been found to alleviate pain in particular. 

Cannabis is effective for pain 

management due to the balance 

of THC, CBD, and a slew of other 

cannabinoids contained within it. It is these 

varying ratios of cannabinoids, to some 

degree, that define the strain and determine 

many of its individual qualities. Typically, 

high-CBD strains are associated with painrelieving 

properties, although this is not 

always the case. Understanding the ratios 

of THC to CBD and the other cannabinoids 

will help you pick the strain that's right 

for you. Here is my list of the best medical 

cannabis strains for pain management. 

50 


myhydrolife.ca

CHARLOTTE'S WEB 

This strain made headlines when the 

battle for the right to use cannabis 

as medicine first entered the public 

consciousness. Having virtually no THC 

and high amounts of CBD, Charlotte's 

Web is the perfect strain for those who 

want soothing relief without the buzz. 

Having no psychoactive effect, it has 

even been used to treat the symptoms 

of epilepsy in children, including a girl 

named Charlotte, for whom the strain is 

named. It is a safe and effective choice 

for pain management that won't induce 

the intoxicating effects generally associated 

with cannabis use. Charlotte's Web 

has earned its place among the best 

strains for not only pain relief, but stress, 

depression, and myriad other ailments. 

HARLEQUIN 

An uplifting and euphoric strain that is 

often hailed for its medical properties, 

Harlequin has relatively low THC, high 

CBD, and makes for a smooth and focused 

high with incredible pain relief. 

Its flavour can be described as earthy 

with a touch of spice. Harlequin is one 

of those strains that throws a wrench 

into what we think we know about 

indicas versus sativas. A 75/25 sativadominant, 

Harlequin delivers the buzz 

you'd expect from its Colombian Gold 

and Thai lineage but has an unusually 

high amount of CBD for a sativa. 

There are a handful of sativas known to 

rival their indica counterparts for their 

medicinal properties and Harlequin is 

one of them. It gives the perfect combination 

of head and body high that will 

let your mind wander while your aches 

and pains wash away. 

“ Typically,,, high CBD 

strains are associated with painrelieving 

properties, although 

this is not always the case.” 

PURPLE OG KUSH 

Ever smoked purple weed? I mean really 

purple? Purple OG Kush isn't just a 

fancy name; it's the real deal. A heavy 

indica with high THC and moderate 

amounts of CBD, Purple OG Kush is a 

favourite among those who enjoy solid 

pain relief packed in a heavily floral 

and enticing cannabis experience. 

Often called Twisted Purple OG, you 

can tell it's a kush strain from the first 

hit. Earthy and subtle fruit flavours 

make smoking Purple OG Kush one 

of the most transcendental cannabis 

experiences you can have. Purple OG 

Kush is a relatively low yielder, which 

makes it more of a boutique strain, if it's 

grown right. The colour is a deep purple, 

making it unmistakable in your garden 

and in your bowl. Few strains live up to 

the experience of smoking Purple OG 

Kush, not just for pain relief but for the 

incredible flavours and essence. 

WHITE WIDOW 

White Widow is one of the more 

famous strains in the world of 

cannabis and pain relief. The white 

in White Widow refers to the thick 

coating of crystals you are likely to 

see encasing its pale green buds. As 

a 60/40 hybrid, White Widow seems 

to have inherited the best traits of 

both worlds. With relatively low CBD 

but high levels of THC, the buzz is 

focused if not slightly dissociative. 

It's this dissociative effect that 

disconnects you from your pain. 

When smoked, the buzz will start 

in your head but will soon radiate 

downward and out through your 

arms and legs, leaving every inch 

of you tingling. The buzz is uplifting 

and thought-provoking; so much 

so, you won't even remember what 

aches and pains were troubling you. 

AFGHAN KUSH 

It is believed that some of the earliest 

strains of cannabis were found deep 

in the mountains of Afghanistan. 

There, the first landrace Afghani 

indicas were cultivated. Generations 

of breeding have resulted in a 

powerful yet sedating strain we 

have all come to know as Afghan 

Kush. Afghan Kush has a distinctly 

earthy yet floral flavour; a true oasis 

in the desert. It is often turned to for 

pain relief, particularly migraine 

headaches, as well as to help with 

loss of appetite. As a resin-heavy 

plant, it is often a first choice for 

hash production. The buzz is mostly 

concentrated in the head, however, 

many have reported a numbing 

sensation to the body, which is great 

for easing the discomfort associated 

with nausea or muscle cramps. 


heal 

“ It is believed that 

some of the earliest 

strains of cannabis 

were found deep in 

the mountains 

of Afghanistan..” 

If you are growing Afghan Kush, you 

can expect heavy yields of large, 

hash-green nuggets. Great for relaxing 

and taking the edge off at the end 

of the day, Afghan Kush makes the 

perfect nightcap. 

CANNATONIC 

Cannatonic was bred specifically to be 

high CBD and low THC to treat a wide 

variety of pain-related ailments and other 

conditions like depression and anxiety. 

First bred in Spain, it quickly caught 

the attention of the medicinal cannabis 

community where it is now embraced as 

one of the best strains for pain. The high 

is laid-back and relaxed, to say the least. 

You won't get sucked into the couch, but 

you won't be out running any marathons, 

either. Cannatonic tastes mildly sweet 

with a slight bit of citrus. The flavour is 

not overwhelming, but it fits the calming 

atmosphere that is sure to set in. 

Cannatonic has been associated with 

reducing inflammation in muscles and 

joints, which makes it a great choice for 

that post-workout cool-down. 

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES 

Did you buy your Girl Scout Cookies this 

season? Fortunately for us, this kind of 

Girl Scout Cookie is available all year 

long. GSC, as it is commonly called, is 

another boutique strain that produces 

small clusters of tightly packed buds 

covered in trichomes. Another hybrid, 

GSC has a unique quality. It is high 

in CBG, or cannabigerol, which has a 

profound impact on your experience. 

Many times, patients seeking pain relief 

are put off by the intoxicating effects 

of marijuana. CBG helps balance the 

way cannabinoids interact with your 

body, making for a more well-balanced 

experience, reducing the chances of 

anxiety rearing its ugly head. GSC's 

balance of cannabinoids makes for 

a truly unique buzz. As an indicadominant 

hybrid, the effects are as 

soothing as the taste is sweet. 

NORTHERN LIGHTS 

Northern Lights is probably the bestknown 

strain on the list. It is a pure 

indica whose genetics are a mix of 

Afghani and Thai landrace strains. No 

one is quite sure where it originated, 

however, as rumour has it it came out 

of the Pacific Northwest just outside of 

Seattle. Northern Lights is a heavily 

euphoric strain that draws the user into 

a trance-like state. It has a moderate 

amount of CBD and with THC levels 

approaching 18 per cent, the buzz is 

evenly split between your mind and 

body. Some strains are energetic and 

will keep you up at night. Northern 

Lights has a sweet, piney flavour that 

will ease you into bed and carry you into 

a deep slumber. This is the perfect strain 

for unwinding and leaving the pains and 

troubles of the day behind you. 

52 


myhydrolife.ca

When it comes to cannabis, there can be too much of a good thing. 

That’s why CannaSafety has developed a fast-acting, patent-pending 

antidote for the nausea, anxiety, and paranoia that can come with consuming too much marijuana. 

CannaRelief, CannaSafety’s 

flagship product, started as a 

personal project. The company’s 

founder, a former Microsoft employee 

who uses medicinal marijuana to 

treat fibromyalgia, needed something 

to combat what he calls “the red 

zone”: the nauseating, anxiety-ridden 

state that stems from the accidental 

overconsumption of THC. 

“You don’t have to suffer, call 911, 

and go to the emergency room, 

where they can do nothing except 

give you a bed to ride it out in,” 

says CEO William Brouillet, who 

helped start CannaSafety after 

trying CannaRelief. “I tried it and 

wow,” Brouillet says. “I said, ‘This 

is a great product; there is a great 

business here’.” 

Each bottle of CannaRelief contains 

20 milligrams of CO 2-extracted 

cannabidiol (CBD), which has been 

found to counteract the negative 

effects of THC. It also contains 

a semi-secret blend of vitamins, 

herbs, and additional anti-anxiety 

ingredients like citicoline and 

alpha-pinene. Most consumers 

keep CannaRelief on hand in case 

they accidently consume too much 

cannabis. It can also be given to 

pets and children who confuse 

THC-infused edibles with a regular 

treat. Brouillet says the all-natural 

concoction reduces THC-induced 

nausea, anxiety, and paranoia in 

as little as five to 15 minutes, even if 

someone is “vomiting sick”. It also 

has no known side effects. “People 

get excited when they try it; they 

can’t believe how well it works,” he 

says. “People can now place aside 

their worries about using cannabis.” 

Some clients also use CannaRelief 

to manage the effects of medicinal 

marijuana by ingesting it before they 

use cannabis. Brouillet distinctly 

recalls receiving a phone call from a 

woman who bought the product for her 

bed-ridden husband to use along with 

Rick Simpson Oil. She had ordered 

it online as a last resort when he 

wanted to stop taking the oil, which he 

uses as cancer treatment, because of 

the major negative side effects. Three 

days after trying CannaRelief, he was 

out of bed and feeling like his old self. 

“They were even going to go away 

for the weekend; she thanked me 

for giving her their lives back,” says 

Brouillet, who remembers that call as 

his best day on the job. “She was so 

happy; she called me an angel.” 

It’s customer testimonials like 

this that keep the CannaSafety 

team going. “I can’t explain the 

feeling; you get to be responsible 

for changing a person’s life for the 

better,” says Brouillet. “Money is 

not the driving force; sure, we make 

money, but we care.” 

“We work with people to make sure 

they can get our products, whether 

they can afford it or not,” he adds. 

“CannaSafety products are affordable 

to most, but that word is ambiguous 

if you have nothing. We are a 

company dedicated to helping people 

and will let our actions in the industry 

speak for themselves.” 

Ironically, though, the main struggle 

CannaSafety still faces is public 

education and making people aware 

that there is a product that allows 

for the safe consumption of cannabis. 

The issue is slowly improving 

as more places pass pro-marijuana 

laws, more people become curious 

about cannabis, and the media 

catches wind of CannaRelief; however, 

the company still mostly relies 

on the overwhelmingly positive 

word-of-mouth recommendations 

from its clients and supportive 

members of the cannabis industry. 

“Word of mouth in the industry is key 

… People try it, talk about it, and our 

phone rings,” Brouillet says. “Like I 

said, when you have a product that 

works, it sells itself.” 

CannaSafety is also trying to bring 

CannaRelief onto the shelves of 

heal 

Real Science, Real Relief 

major retailers. Until negotiations 

are complete, however, it will 

continue to sell via Amazon and 

major distributors in Europe, 

Canada, and the US. CannaSaftey 

also recently partnered with 

Blackline Land Management 

Group to manage the emerging 

Australasian markets. 

Building and maintaining a strong 

team has also helped bring the 

company success. CannaSafety 

now employs seven people, all of 

whom truly believe in the company’s 

product and its effect on clients’ lives. 

“All companies say such things as 

a standard operating statement, but 

I tell you, it’s true; they care,” says 

Brouillet. “When we talk and have 

our company meetings to discuss 

products sales and marketing, it is 

always about how well the product 

is working for people, how can we 

get the word out faster … customer 

stories on how much they love our 

products. The enthusiasm they bring 

every day is over the top.” 

Recently, the team focused its 

energy on expanding CannaSafety’s 

line. First, CannaRelief AM, which 

is designed to quickly remove the 

foggy, my-head-is-in-the-clouds 

feeling some people have the 

morning after cannabis use, will 

debut in the first quarter of 2017. A 

second new product, CannaRelief 

Extra Strength, will hit the market in 

the second quarter of 2017. 

“I have put up everything I own 

because I believe in this company 

and the people I work with every 

day,” Brouillet adds. “From the very 

start, it has been truly amazing, and 

gets more amazing every day.” 


live 

LOCATIONS: 

Victoria, BC 

• 1040 North Park Avenue 

• 2610 Rock Bay Avenue 

• 546 Yates Street 

• 695 Alpha Street 

Nanaimo, BC 

• 1483 Bowen Road 

PHONE: 

1-778-265-8733 

WEB: 

treesdispensary.com 

MOTTO: 

Good Things Come in Trees 

“I came to see that we 

were offering a real service 

that the local community 

wanted and needed.” 

Trees Dispensary currently operates five storefronts on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, 

and started out in Victoria in 2012 as a medical cannabis storefront on Quadra Street. After 

a prompt raid by Victoria PD, they moved to Rock Bay Avenue and started operating as 

Shiva Compassion Society. They subsequently opened a storefront on North Park Avenue 

and then worked with activists in Nanaimo to open a storefront on Bowen Road, which was 

originally called the Vancouver Island Health Advocacy Coalition (VIHAC). 

Back when he was a PhD candidate 

in political science at the University 

of Victoria, Alex Robb’s research project 

explored the political philosophy of Gandhi, 

the dynamics of non-violent political 

resistance, and the ideal of ahimsa— 

love and compassion—in everyday life 

and politics. To support himself while 

writing his dissertation, he joined the 

Trees dispensary as an employee, but 

swiftly found that the company also offered 

a fertile ground in which he could 

enact his beliefs, and he quickly became 

consumed by the work. 

“I came to see the cannabis industry 

on Vancouver Island was an important 

model in Canada of how to be disobedient 

to federal laws in a way that offers 

an example of the how things should 

be done,” says Robb, who now works as 

their community liaison and director. 

“I came to see that we were offering a 

real service that the local community 

wanted and needed. In my mind, we had 

every right to legalize and regulate the 

cannabis industry on Vancouver Island 

from below, before the federal government 

came up with their convoluted and 

corporate-influenced legalization plans. 

My focus and interest has been on what 

Trees can deliver to the Victoria communities 

by focusing on harm reduction and 

health advocacy.” 

The other members of the board share 

similar ideals. Trees founders Shannon 

and Ashley Topfer were both disaffected 

refugees from the healthcare industry. 

Shannon was involved in pharmaceuti- 

54 


myhydrolife.ca

“Another challenge the 

Trees team has run into is 

law enforcement policy, 

which does not yet accept 

the validity of the business 

or the medical need for it in 

our communities.” 

cal sales to doctors and Ashley had just 

completed her nursing degree when they 

started the storefront. Disillusioned by 

mainstream healthcare, they opted to 

start providing cannabis to anyone who 

could benefit from it. 

Former publisher Dadmehr Naimi, who 

previously ran Hush Magazine out of 

Vancouver, joined the team in 2014 when 

he saw the promise of the Topfers' dispensary 

model and invested in it so they 

could expand. He brought a branding 

and marketing focus into the mix of what 

was then three separate storefronts, and 

united them under the same banner as 

“Trees Dispensary” later that year. 

Brandon Wright, a serial entrepreneur 

and dynamo who holds a business 

degree from the University of Victoria, is 

always looking towards the next trend 

and identifying the best way of building 

the business and providing for customers. 

He saw the promise of the emergent 

municipally-licensed cannabis industry 

in 2015, and brought in his business 

organizational skills to help turn their 

dispensaries into a smoothly-functioning 

business capable of serving all of 

Vancouver Island. It was around this 

time that they opened another Victoria 

location on lower Yates Street and Naimi 

then made a partnership arrangement 

with Eden Medicinal Society to turn their 

storefront near Mayfair Mall into Trees of 

Eden Dispensary. 

“We are always looking for interesting 

and mutually beneficial partnerships 

to expand to new jurisdictions 

that want to take the leap toward 

licensing cannabis dispensaries,” 

says Robb, who adds that the retail 

storefront cannabis industry in 

Victoria continues to be a situation of 

ongoing problem-solving and crisis 

management. “How do you provide a 

population with access to a medicine 

that they need, but that remains illegal 

and inaccessible to most of the 

population that needs it? It was clear 

that the federal government's ACMPR 

program is not working, and many 

people with terminal illness are left 

in a lurch. Our biggest challenge has 

always been education.” 

Another challenge the Trees team 

has run into is law enforcement policy, 

which does not yet accept the validity 

of the business or the medical need for 

it in our communities. 


live 

“Ultimately, the Trees 

team say their dream is 

to offer the whole country 

access to the kind of quality 

and variety of medical 

cannabis products that are 

found on Vancouver Island.” 

“The underlying problem arises from 

almost a hundred years of prohibition 

and stigma. I don't begrudge law 

enforcement because I understand 

the complexity of the situation where 

they must enforce a non-local government's 

prohibition of a life-sustaining 

medication,” says Robb. “The only way 

to overcome this constant struggle is 

for municipal and provincial governments 

to create rational regulations and 

enforcement methods that address this 

issue. Only then will law enforcement no 

longer be forced to take action in what 

is currently a lose-lose situation in most 

cities across Canada.” 

Each location Trees operates comes 

with its own history and challenges that 

have been overcome. 

They were evicted from their first storefront 

on North Park Avenue, which began 

at the suggestion of their landlord—an 

acquaintance of Shannon's—who kicked 

them out with the intention of opening his 

own dispensary, once he heard the City 

of Victoria intended to license cannabis 

sales. Serendipity intervened, however, 

and this led them to a much better location 

three doors down on the same street. 

Their Nanaimo-based store was started 

in partnership with a local activist and 

is one of their strongest locations. Their 

flagship Victoria location on lower Yates 

was their first venture into the downtown 

area and was chosen to both establish 

a presence in downtown and become 

intertwined with other local businesses 

prior to the advance of municipal licensing. 

Their branch on Alpha Street was 

first opened by another dispensary chain 

based out of Vancouver and Toronto, but 

as a company that was not local, they 

experienced difficulty finding traction in 

an increasingly competitive market. Once 

Trees struck a deal to take over the store 

and operate it from a local perspective, 

they have seen progressive growth in 

membership ever since. 

Robb feels that the real value of cannabis 

dispensaries lies in the diversity of 

useful products they provide that cannot 

be found elsewhere. Most patients come 

in to their dispensaries looking for a 

specific outcome or effect rather than a 

specific strain. From there, their customer 

service reps then make recommendations 

from their wide menu of strains 

or alternative products, which include a 

regular supply of edibles, oils, tinctures, 

capsules, balms, and salves. “We strive 

to stock products that are more difficult 

to acquire elsewhere, such as suppositories, 

CBD concentrates, or even bath 

bombs and cosmetic products made with 

cannabis. Our strain menu is always 

changing according to the harvest schedule 

of our suppliers, and often we source 

special offers for our members. We 

operate on a ‘hub-and-spoke’ distribution 

model that allows us to offer as many 

products as possible at each location. We 

purchase new product all the time and 

often stock the most in-demand strains 

of the season,” says Robb. Trees has also 

begun to retail cannabis accessory products 

like vaporizers, pens, and e-nails for 

dabbing—often at prices that are better 

than online retail or in typical bong 

shops or vape shops—with the desire 

to be a one-stop shop for medical users 

where they can obtain everything needed 

for their self-treatment with cannabis. 

Ultimately, the Trees team sais their 

dream is to offer the whole country access 

to the kind of quality and variety 

of medical cannabis products that are 

found on Vancouver Island. They are 

looking to other Island jurisdictions like 

Cumberland and Port Alberni that have 

passed municipal bylaws to provide for 

business licensing for cannabis retail, 

and hope to open storefronts there with 

local community partners, with an eye 

towards expansion into the mainland of 

BC and western Canada. 

56 


myhydrolife.ca


live 

Cannabis Genetics 

Fit for Royalty 

Thanks to the progressive nature of our country’s cannabis 

reform, Royal Queen Seeds—headquartered in Barcelona, 

Spain—is spreading its seeds to Canadian soil. And with the 

way things are going in America, the online seed bank is also 

gearing up to start selling directly to customers there as well. 

With the cannabis industry gaining 

a stronger foothold in Canada, it’s 

business time for companies like Royal 

Queen Seeds (RQS). Already amongst 

the fastest-growing cannabis seed 

businesses in Europe, its offerings in 

the Great White North are expanding 

at a breathtaking rate. 

The online seed company was started 

by a small group of breeders as a passion 

project. “Starting up the RQS website 

was a labour of love and passion, 

as cheesy as that sounds,” shares Shai 

Ramsahai, RQS sale manager. “With 

years of growing experience and experience 

working in the European cannabis 

industry, we decided it was time to share 

some of our creations with the world.” 

“We started off small, offering a select 

few of our favourite, most cherished 

strains. They proved to be extremely 

popular, which allowed us to grow 

and develop our range of seeds even 

further,” he says. 

The RQS team also expanded as 

time passed, allowing the company to 

continue developing new and interesting 

strains, as well as refine some of 

its classics, such as its ever-popular 

Special Queen and Amnesia Haze. 

Thanks to this innovation, RQS now 

sells a wide range of items, spanning 

autoflowering seeds, feminized seeds, 

CBD seeds, CBD oil, merchandise, and 

select grow gear. Plus, their stock keeps 

on diversifying. 

“Our push to discover new ways of 

breeding and new genetics makes us 

unique,” says Ramsahai. “A fine example 

is our foray into autoflowering CBD 

strains. While we have a few awardwinning 

feminized CBD strains, creating 

an autoflowering CBD strain of worth is 

a tough challenge, but we feel we have 

achieved it. We are certainly one of the 

first in Europe to have done so.” 

Another huge industry development 

that has helped RQS expand its 

portfolio is legalization. “Legalization 

movements making progress across 

the world have spurred genetic 

experimentation,” says Ramsahai, 

citing RQS’s new CBD-focused 

autoflowering cannabis strains, 

Stress Killer Automatic and Fast Eddy 

Automatic, as examples. These strains 

are suitable for people who want to 

create their own crop of CBD-rich bud 

without having to be pro growers. “They 

can plant a seed or two in their back 

garden and get a personal harvest of 

CBD-rich weed, growing multiple crops 

a year,” Ramsahai says. 


myhydrolife.ca

Currently, RQS products are available 

only in Canada and Europe, and everything 

is sold through online orders. “The 

Internet has opened the door for a much 

wider audience to find our seeds, allowing 

growers of all skills and knowledge 

levels to get hold of them,” Ramsahai 

says. “What has really struck us is the 

way the global cannabis community 

has banded together using the power of 

the Internet. Before, people had to rely 

on friends, local growers, and trial and 

error to learn and grow. The Internet has 

created a platform for everyone to share 

techniques and ideas, and easily obtain 

new genetics to try out.” 

The RQS website and Facebook 

page are great examples of what 

Ramsahai is talking about. The 

company receives overwhelmingly 

positive feedback from the cannabis 

community for helping to share 

knowledge about cannabis, as well 

as selling its seeds. 

Another thing that boosted business 

for RQS is its ability to process Bitcoin. 

This form of online payment allows its 

customers to purchase products with 

a digital currency not tied to any one 

country. “Bitcoin provides a safe and 

secure alternative payment method that 

has proven immensely popular, especially 

by those concerned about privacy,” 

Ramsahai explains. “Once set up, 

Bitcoins are extremely easy to use, and 

[they] have become the preferred choice 

of payment for many of our customers.” 

Although the Internet has paved a 

path for RQS, legal restrictions and 

ambiguous laws remain common 

road blocks. The company deals with 

them, however, with its ability to 

adapt. “If you are not willing to adapt, 

then succeeding is very tough,” says 

Ramsahai. “Laws are slowly changing 

for the better, but it is not a solid 

upward trend; you need to be prepared 

for the downs just as much as the ups.” 

Still, the team at RQS isn’t shying 

away from exploring new frontiers as 

it sees change coming. “Fortunately, 

Spain is at the forefront of European 

legalization and moving in the right 

direction,” Ramsahai says. “With the 

spread of knowledge, cannabis has 

become much more widely accepted by 

the general populace, especially here 

in Spain. It is leading to changes in 

cannabis laws, as evidence and reason 

overtake fearmongering.” 

“It is still early days, but the industry 

has become a lot more accessible, with 

people moving away from buying off the 

WHAT’S ON THE MENU AT RQS 

Northern Light • Power Flower • White Widow • Royal Critical Automatic 

Amnesia Haze • Blue Mistic • Easy Bud • Northern Light Automatic 

Candy Kush Express • Quick One • Honey Cream • Haze Berry 

Royal AK Automatic • Stress Killer Automatic • Shining Silver Haze 

Fast Eddy Automatic • Royal Automatic • Royal Cookies 

Royal Bluematic • Royal Domina • Kali Dog Shirt 

black market to growing their own supply 

in their backyard. This makes things 

safer and more prosperous for everyone. 

We are experiencing this change in accessibility 

firsthand,” he adds. 

Since RQS was founded on a passion 

for plants and for growing, the team 

wants to help nurture this passion 

in hobby growers around the world. 

Ramsahai says offering unique, reliable, 

and high-quality strains at an affordable 

price helps make that possible. “Our 

goal is to have something for everyone 

while maintaining a strict level of 

quality. As we are often looking at ways 

to create something new, the selection 

process can be quite slow. We won’t 

select something for retail sales unless 

we are confident that it can perform 

time and time again, and not just in the 

growroom, but in the joint as well.” 

When it comes to the great seeds 

versus clones debate, Ramsahai says 

there are two main reasons to grow 

from seed. First, it allows growers to 

experience the various phenotypes of a 

strain. “Not all plants of the same name 

are the same, so being able to grow a 

few allows you to find your favourite,” 

he says. Second, plants grown from 

seed also tend to have a much betterdeveloped 

root base with a tap root, 

giving them the potential to flourish 

under the right hand. “It is how nature 

intended, and how it is strongest,” 

Ramsahai asserts. 

Still, not all seed companies sell 

quality product. That’s why Ramashai 

says it is important to do your homework 

and rely on the cannabis community 

to guide you when looking to purchase 

from a seed company. “Check out the 

reviews its strains have, awards, grow 

reports, and just general opinions. A 

seed company with a good reputation 

and some tried and trusted genetics will 

take a lot of the trial and error out of 

growing from seed,” he says. 

With cannabis reform on the horizon, 

RQS will continue going from strength to 

strength, and doesn’t intend on slowing 

down. “We are keeping a close eye on 

the worldwide legal situation and, with 

time, will hopefully expand where we 

ship. Where exactly we end up may 

largely depend on the global legalization 

movement, but trust us when we say that 

the breeding won’t stop,” says Ramsahai. 

The close-knit team behind RQS also 

intends to continue improving its 

catalogue and experiment with the 

latest genetics, making sure everyone 

has access to high-quality cannabis 

seeds. “To all the fans of our original 

old-school Dutch genetics in Canada 

and the USA, we would like to say: Keep 

an eye out for original RQS, as we are 

coming your way!” says Ramsahai. 

For more information relating to RQS, 

visit royalqueenseeds.com. 


feature 

At the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympic Games, 

Canadian snowboarder Ross Rebagliati became 

the first ever to win a gold medal in men’s 

snowboarding. He was then disqualified for having 

THC in his bloodstream, a decision that was soon 

overturned because marijuana was not banned by 

the International Olympic Committee. Nineteen years 

later, the events remain clear in his mind. Rebagliati 

spoke with Hydrolife to discuss the events that 

changed his life, how they changed society’s views of 

marijuana, and how it all remains relevant today. 

ROSS’GOLD 

HOW AN OLYMPIC 

SCANDAL CHANGED 

CANNABIS PERCEPTIONS 

HYDROLIFE: Looking back at your win, then your 

disqualification, then having your medal returned, does 

it still amaze you how all of that went down? 

ROSS: (Laughing) Yes, it was incredible. First of all, it was 

a huge shock that it happened in the first place. It took me 

forever to recover from having my dreams slip between my 

fingers like that right at the end of my career. We prepared 

for it for four years and as snowboarders, we had never 

prepared for anything for four years before because all of our 

races were every year, so that was a departure from what we 

were used to. So, yeah, it made it extra dramatic but, at the 

same time, very revealing about, you know, the support I got 

from Canadians and from people around the world. Not only 

for the athletic performance but for my cannabis views and 

in spite of my cannabis use. So, I think a lot of people really 

have a hard time wrapping their head around the whole 

thing, but in general, you know, the majority decided at that 

time 20 years ago that, ‘Ah, we’ll just forget about the weed 

thing for now, it was a killer race,’ you know? 

HL: Yeah. 

R: But, that was definitely a tricky situation at the time. Even 

afterwards, dealing with different pressures that I wasn’t 

used to, like being recognized outside of the snowboard 

world and just extra attention on me and pressure to succeed 

and to be successful and just things that you think about 

in your 20s that aren’t quite, you know, 100 per cent. As I 

get older now and I look back on it, I see how I was putting 

too much emphasis on some things that I thought were 

important at the time, but now when I look back on it in 

retrospect, it’s all easy, right? 

HL: Do you ever wonder how things might have turned 

out if the events in Nagano didn’t happen? 

R: Yeah, from time to time I run a couple scenarios of that. 

I don’t really dwell too much on shoulda, coulda, woulda 

scenarios. But yeah, I didn’t get the average amount of 

attention and my 15 minutes of fame has lasted for a lot 

longer. There are a lot of things to be thankful for and I think 

that the support that I got from Canada, and in general, is 

basically the foundation of when I was sort of reborn then 

and had to kind of relearn my life. Having that support was 

the foundation of me being able to move forward. 


myhydrolife.ca


feature 

HL: Do you feel smoking pot gave you a 

competitive advantage in your racing days? 

R: I do, but I wasn’t using it during competition 

or anything like that. A lot of these events were 

international. For one, it was kind of hard to 

find at the time; you had to know a few people 

or whatever. In the off-season when I was 

training, that was the beginning of me learning 

about how I could use cannabis to improve my 

performance during the winter. While I was 

doing my dry land training during the summer, 

for me, it was about my motivation at first. Like 

when I first started competing on the World Cup 

Tour in ’91, it was just pure adrenaline. I couldn’t 

believe I was on the tour, you know? When I 

first got accepted into it, I couldn’t believe we 

were going to live in Austria and I was going 

to do the tour that all my idols that I followed 

in all the snowboard mags in those days [did]. 

I was going to do the same thing; I was going 

to be competing against them. So, for the first 

couple of years, it was all good and fine, and 

then after a while, it turned into, ‘Holy crap, I’m 

never home.’ It’s hard to keep the motivation up 

when you have to work out two and a half hours 

a day at the gym, five days a week. So, over time, 

I found that if I smoked some cannabis in the 

morning before I would go to the gym, I would 

feel so much more enthusiastic about it. Yeah, 

the motivation that you need to go and pound 

out the workout and go and do the 100-km bike 

ride—cannabis really got me out on a regular 

basis. By the time the winter came, I really had 

a good foundation of training and cardio and 

power under my belt. So, that’s how I first started 

using, and, of course, it was introduced to me 

through other people, older people, that were on 

my team who came from a different era, when 

snowboarding was more edgy. But these guys 

were smoking dope on the trip! I couldn’t believe 

it! That was astounding to me, that they would 

smoke dope on the chair and then rip a cord, and 

it just never even occurred to me to ever do that. I 

tried it a couple times during training and it totally 

put me through a different level of feeling my 

equipment working underneath me and how my 

feet were positioned on the board and whether or 

not my board was running fast. Before it was more 

like, ‘Ahh! Get to the finish line; I’m just going to 

power through the whole thing,’ and my equipment 

just kind of followed me. But after I started using 

cannabis and riding, it gave me much more interest 

in where I wanted my gear to be, how I wanted my 

boots set up. All kinds of different things like how 

sharp my edges were or if they were too sharp or 

not sharp enough. So, that kind of gave me more 

insight to set up my equipment in a different way; 

I was more comfortable. So, basically that’s how it 

started and that was early on in the ‘90s. I never did 

compete and use cannabis the same time. 

HL: Do you feel that for you or many athletes 

today—like NFL players, ultra marathoners, even 

current medalists—pot is a performance enhancer? 

R: Like I said, it has a lot to do with your training. 

If you smoke a joint, you’re not going to necessarily 

sprint 100 meters faster. I don’t think it would slow 

you down from your normal speed. But I think 

what it does is when you’re doing your training, 

[it helps] the motivation that you get to do your 

training in the first place. Here’s the thing: you end 

up being stronger, faster, and higher, maybe. But, 

that’s basically where you get the performance 

62 


myhydrolife.ca

enhancement from: being healthy on that regular 

day-to-day basis, having the motivation to go to 

the gym and do your workouts. I would do a bike 

ride that was 150-km long and I would stop every 

two hours basically to smoke a joint. At first, it [the 

ride] was kinda nice, like ‘Oh, beautiful.’ But after 

100 km or 120 km, it’s like, ‘What am I even doing 

out here? This is ridiculous!’ And then, you smoke 

a joint and you’re like, ‘This is kinda fun actually,’ 

and you get back on your bike and keep going. 

So, you know the exercise that you get from your 

workout, due to the motivation that you’re getting 

from using cannabis, at the end of the day is 

performance enhancing. 

HL: How do you feel the public perception around 

using pot has changed, from the time you won 

your medal to today? 

R: It’s changed a lot. I think it’s going to change 

a little bit more, but I think that everybody is 

starting to realize that the science is backing up 

the industry; it’s backing up the cannabis plant. 

I felt like it was my responsibility after Japan to 

not turn my back on it, but to make people realize 

that it wasn’t a mistake that I was using cannabis 

before the Olympics. It was a mistake that I tested 

positive for it because I didn’t know I was failing 

my drug test before I went there; as it turned out, I 

had tested positive three times for cannabis before 

I went and I didn’t know. They didn’t tell me about 

it, so I could have made sure I wasn’t going to test 

positive for it. It’s kind of weird—they wouldn’t tell 

you, but then they took your medal away after you 

get there. Anyways, perception has changed a lot. 

At the time, people were really, I don’t want to say 

brainwashed, but the propaganda that was put 

out there in the ’80s especially about the dangers 

of cannabis and that it was a gateway drug. That 

was the beginning of a new idea about it. 

HL: You haven’t exactly faded from the 

limelight. You have multi-million dollar real 

estate developments, you participate in several 

charities, you’re working through licensing with a 

medical marijuana company. How do you stay so 

focused on so many things? 

R: I am pretty busy, compared to some people. I 

think that I’m just accustomed to it. [I] focused on 

my racing and all that it entails, and throughout 

the ’90s, I was flipping real estate in Whistler 

and that basically paid my way to the World Cup 

Tour and to the Olympics. I had some European 

sponsors, but I was on a shoestring budget. 

I've been paying a mortgage since I was 19. I’m 

used to having these pressures on me and at 

first, they’re like these huge pressures, then the 

feeling just becomes normal; the new normal. 

Having kids helped me focus a lot. I’ve worked in 

the construction industry for roughly 10 years in 

Whistler, building houses there. That gave me a 

different perspective on life and what a dollar is 

worth and that sort of thing. 

And so I always kind of felt I had more to do and 

I was waiting and waiting for cannabis to sort of 

catch up to where I was or where British Columbia 

was so that I could launch Ross’ Gold and have it 

be successful and looked up to instead of, ‘Oh, now 

look what he’s doing!’, you know? I feel like when 

we finally came out four or five years ago with the 

“I FOUND THAT if I smoked some 

cannabis in the morning before I 

would go to the gym, I would feel 

so much more enthusiastic about it.” 

company that it was still ahead of the curve, it 

was still an edgy idea. But now after five years of 

growing the company, our store is about to open. 

Not only that, but the federal government is finally 

being proactive about legalization, so now it’s the 

perfect storm. But it took me a lot of years to get 

here, for everyone to catch up and in the meantime, I 

sort of had to make do. You know, I did walk on to job 

sites in Whistler looking for work. I did go through 

a period where I was basically broke and had to 

kind of build up from zero. I went through some 

unfortunate relationships that not only emotionally 

but financially drained me. And so, I think it’s just 

life. Going through life and realizing that the bad 

feelings do go away and that the sun does shine. 

There’s been some tough years, but it’s made me 

realize that you just keep doing what you want to do 

and what you love. And just never give up about it 

and you can accomplish it. I did it once already! 


feature 

HL: You started [cannabis company] Ross’ Gold in 

2013. What opportunities do you see in Canada 

for treating people with medical marijuana? 

R: The number one reason why I want to do this is 

so that we can help as many people as possible. 

I know through my own experiences that it helps 

me get out of a lot of, you know, not depressions, 

but depressants, disappointments. And how I had 

different expectations of what it would mean to 

go to the Olympics, I had different goals. Life is 

never how you think it’s going to be and I think 

that from my experience using it and being able 

to be positive throughout everything, I think 

that is something that people struggle with on a 

regular basis. Like normal day-to-day life; like 

give me a break already, you know?! And I think 

that cannabis is a healthy alternative to alcohol. 

For a lot of those same reasons, you can easily 

categorize things in your head like what your 

priorities are. They come flying at you at 100 

miles an hour and you know what you need to 

do. Where as with alcohol, you’re like, ‘Well, I’m 

drunk now, I can’t do anything.’ And then you 

wake up in the morning, you feel like crap, you 

don’t sleep, and you don’t eat right, and that just 

leads to more and more unhealthy things. 

HL: Even on a pharmaceutical level, you know? 

Everyone is always so quick to go to the doctor 

and get pharmaceuticals. 

R: Absolutely, and being able to tell people like, 

‘Look, it’s not only healthy to use cannabis, but 

its family-oriented.’ You can have a family and 

use cannabis. The idea might be shocking to 

people that you would use cannabis and raise 

a family but, I’m telling you, you totally can do 

it and it helps tremendously in a million ways. 

But you know, if you’re having a couple of beers 

on the patio, okay, fine, whatever. But you know, 

you can’t treat yourself with beer when you’re 

stressed out because your kids are driving you 

nuts. But you can go and have a little quick 

puff somewhere and, you know, deal with the 


myhydrolife.ca

“I FELT LIKE it was my responsibility 

after Japan to not turn my back on 

it, but to make people realize that 

it wasn’t a mistake that I was using 

cannabis before the Olympics.” 

situation and be totally capable and be yourself. Also, 

the specific aliments that are out there in regards to 

medical cannabis like cancer treatments, arthritis, 

and epilepsy. There is new research on brain trauma 

that I think is especially promising, with regenerating 

certain damage with brain cells from a concussion and 

the plasma that protects itself around your brain from 

a future concussion. I think it’s just amazing stuff. For 

all this science to be done and to prove these things is 

beyond, I think, anyone’s expectations. 

HL: How many joints do you smoke a day? 

R: Uh, I would say… (laughing). Let me count. I 

probably have one in the morning before I go to work 

and I probably have, like, three to four, maybe up to 

five joints at work throughout the day and at the end 

of the day, it depends if my neighbour comes over. 

But, it could be anywhere from three to 20 joints a day, 

depending on what I have to do in the day. 

HL: So, it’s more recreational for you. It’s not medicinal. 

R: I’d say there is no such thing as recreational pot 

smoking. It helps you whether you want it to or not and 

for me, it gets me through my day in a really positive way. 

HL: You sell a $24,000 gold plated water pipe. 

Obviously, you are kind of confident that pot isn’t 

just for your stereotypical stoner anymore. 

R: You’re right. Yeah, it’s gotta fit into the 

Maserati somewhere. 

HL: So, you’re pretty confident that there’s no such 

thing as the stereotypical stoner? 

R: There is a stereotype of a stoner, but weed smoking 

comes from all walks of society —from the billionaires 

right on down to the guy begging for money on the 

side of the street. 

HL: What other projects besides Ross’ Gold 

do you have going on? 

R: We have a bunch of stuff going on with the store and 

the products that we are licensing out. So, we are in in 

touch with the 420 Games to be involved. I’m not allowed 

down to the US, I haven’t been since Nagano, basically. 

So, we are waiting for them to come here, like Kelowna 

or Vancouver. That’s on the back burner. We’ve got TV 

shows. Trying to figure out how to do a show; there 

might be a movie that is being produced right now by 

some producers that you would be familiar with. I don’t 

know if I can say very much about it right now. We 

have a bunch of cool stuff coming out. I’m just trying 

to get ready for ski season right now, cross country 

skiing and downhill skiing. I went back to downhill 

skiing. I used to ski race, right? I kind of got addicted 

to it all over again. Taking it one step at a time. We got 

the store, it’s the number one thing; it’s about to open 

and there has been some delays with construction and 

stuff, so it’s driving everyone nuts. 

HL: That’s ok. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Everything 

in moderation and time, right? 

R: I tell the guys, ‘Don’t worry, it’s only going to 

open one time and then it’s always going to be open 

after that.’ We’re planning for 99 more stores across 

Canada, so a lot on the go! 


live 

Keeping the Cannabis Industry Safe 

3SI Security Systems 

Malvern, Pennsylvania 

1-800-523-1430 

3sisecurity.com 

45 years in business 

"Innovation that Protects" 

3SI Security Systems is the world leader in asset protection systems. The 

company seeks to create a safer world by protecting and recovering stolen cash 

and high-value assets and apprehending criminals. With 45 years’ experience 

and protecting more than 250,000 locations worldwide, 3SI’s innovative 

solutions combat crime and protect thousands of institutions and organizations 

in the financial, retail, courier/cash in transit, and law enforcement markets. 

We’ve all seen the action movie 

where the bad guys rob a bank 

and make a daring escape. Just when 

they think they are home free, they 

open their money bags and … poof! 

Their hands, faces, clothing, and all the 

bills they just risked their lives for are 

instantly dyed an unmistakable red. 

Soon after, the police close in and it is 

game over for the crooks. 

For the 270 people who work in 

offices around the world for 3SI 

Security Systems, watching bad 

guys get caught isn’t just in the 

movies—it’s their job. 

“The best part of working at 3SI is 

receiving our Robbery Report emails,” 

says Lisa Moughan, 3SI’s global 

marketing communication manager. 

“What that means is that every time 

a 3SI tracking device is deployed by 

one of our customers in a robbery, 

we receive an email update telling 

us about the crime, the pursuit, the 

capture, and the recovery. It is so 

rewarding coming to work every 

day knowing that we are helping 

to make the world a safer place by 

catching criminals.” 

3SI, founded 45 years ago in 

Pennsylvania, started out by 

supplying its trademarked 

SecurityPac dye pack products 

to financial institutions. From 

there, the company expanded to 

include GPS tracking and now 

serves retail markets and law 

enforcement agencies in addition 

to banks and credit unions. 

With the rise of legal cannabis-based 

businesses in 

the US and around the world, 

especially for retailers and 

commercial growers, 3SI’s 

products are the perfect fit to 

help protect what is still a 

largely cash-based industry. 

“We are spending a lot of time talking to 

people in the industry to better understand 

their security challenges and to understand 

the business processes they follow,” 

says Moughan. “It has been interesting to 

learn that they have many of the same concerns 

that our other retail customers have. 

One differentiator, though, is that this is 

a cash-based business. While the model 

for a lot of retailers is to use less cash and 

more card transactions, the cannabis industry 

is still limited in those capabilities, 

so they still use a lot of cash. Storing and 

moving large amounts of cash makes them 

an attractive target for criminals.” 

Moughan adds that 3SI continues to 

keep a dialogue open with retailers 

and growers to learn how to best 

prevent robberies. 

“We’ve learned that there are a lot of 

times when the product is vulnerable to 

robbery and we’ve been excited to learn 

that we have existing products that 

are perfect to protect product in these 

circumstances,” she says. 

With direct distribution throughout 

North America and Europe, and 

indirectly in 40 other countries, 3SI is 

considered the global leader in providing 

innovative solutions, professional 

service, and customer satisfaction. 

With a long list of employees who 

have chosen to stay for 20-plus years, 

the company has an internal saying 

of ‘3SI – ONE team,’ one that Moughan 

says the team takes to heart. 

“We take pride in knowing that our 

devices helped capture a criminal, 

especially ones that have been implicated 

in numerous other crimes,” says 

Moughan. “Taking serial and sometimes 

violent offenders off the street makes all 

of the hard work very worthwhile and we 

are looking forward to partnering with 

cannabis customers to find solutions to 

help them with security concerns.” 


myhydrolife.ca


enjoy 

COMPREHENDING YOUR 

CANNABIS TEST RESULTS 

BY JODI MCDONALD 

No matter the reason 

you tested your 

cannabis plants, the 

lab results are useless 

if you don’t know how 

to read the report. 

Jodi McDonald gives 

us the lowdown on 

cannabinoid potency 

reports and how to get 

the most out of them. 

People who send cannabis products to 

the lab for testing typically fall into 

one of three categories. The first type of 

tester wants clinical confirmation of the 

cannabinoids their expertise tells them 

should be in the product. The second 

type of tester is usually someone who 

likes to experiment with the growing 

conditions and wants to see how their 

changes affected the potency of the product. 

The final group of testers are worried 

about dosage safety. They may have a 

product of questionable provenance or 

simply do not have enough information 

on their cannabis to make decisions 

about appropriate dosage. 

While the lab results will provide 

answers to all the above inquiries, what 

most people don’t know is that there 

are hidden gems of information in the 

graphs and charts of a test report that 

give added insight about their product. 

Let’s take a closer look at a sample 

cannabinoid potency report (Fig. 1). The 

first thing you see at the top of the report 

is the identification information about 

the testing method. Immediately below 

that, you will notice a picture (Fig. 2). 

This is a chromatogram from a highperformance 

liquid chromatography 

(HPLC) instrument and it is essentially a 

fingerprint of the product. This graph is 

particularly useful for ongoing testing; 

one can simply compare the graphs to see if 

the peaks and valleys change—and thus, the 

product itself changes—over time. 

Below the HPLC chromatograph are two 

charts that highlight the cannabinoid 

potencies of your product. The first chart 

identifies cannabinoid concentrations 

(Fig. 3). As you can see, the delta-9- 

tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) level is 

24.64 per cent (the product sample analyzed 

in this example is a cannabinoid extract, 

so the concentrations are much higher than 

what would occur in dried flowers). The 

graph also shows the concentrations many 

other important cannabinoids, such as 

cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG). 

The carboxylated, or acid, forms of these 

cannabinoids are also listed (for a more 

detailed explanation of these compounds, 

read “Trust the Facts, Not Gut Feelings” in 

the Dec/Jan 2017 issue of Hydrolife). 

As you can see in this example, the levels 

of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA)— 

the carboxylated form of THC—is at 

56.26 per cent. This result tells us that the 

tested extract has not been decarboxylated 

very efficiently; ideally, the THC level 

should be higher than that of the THCA. 

In fact, if any carboxylated cannabinoid 

concentration is higher than that of its 

corresponding the decarboxylated form, we 

know that the decarboxylation process is 

not as efficient as it could be. 

68 


myhydrolife.ca

FIG.2 

FIG.3 

FIG.4 

FIG.1 

In the final section of the report, there 

is a chart to show the potency totals of 

each cannabinoid family (Fig. 4). These 

values represent typical concentrations 

if an efficient decarboxylation process 

is used. While the carboxylated and 

decarboxylated cannabinoids are 

grouped together for this section, the 

family totals are not calculated with 

straightforward addition. Labs first use 

a conversion factor, which is specific 

to each cannabinoid to account for 

the weight of the carboxyl group, to 

calculate a new total percentage for 

the acid form. These conversion factors 

are listed in small print below the 

totals chart (Fig. 5). In this example, a 

conversion factor of 0.877 is used for the 

THC family group. 

Here’s how one would use that factor 

in calculating the total potency for that 

cannabinoid family: 

THC: 24.64 PER CENT 

THC-A: 56.26 PER CENT X 0.877 

= 49.34 PER CENT 

TOTAL: THC (24.64) + THC-A (49.34) 

= 73.98 per cent 

Quantitation: A conversion factor of 0.877 is used for adjustment of the molar mass 

of THC-A and CBD-A; a conversion factor of 0.878 is used for CBG-A; both after 

decarboxylation. These conversion factors were not applied to other cannabinoids. 

BQL = Below Quantitation Limit, 

for information purposes only. 

THC: CBD RATIO: 19.8 : 1 

ACTIVATED TOTAL: 36.08 

Activated Total: Cannabinoids that have been activated through decarboxylation 

(curing/storage of flowers, or heating/cooking of edibles and concentrates). 

9-THC + CBN + CBD + CBG + CBC 

Near the bottom of the report are 

two key numbers (Fig. 5). One is the 

activated total, and the other is the THC 

to CDB ratio. The activated total, which 

is calculated with a straightforward 

1+2+3 = 6 formula, represents the sum 

of all the decarboxylated cannabinoids 

that were measured. The THC to 

CBD ratio is included here as a 

quick reference for individuals who 

are targeting a specific ratio for its 

therapeutic benefits. 

While a single test can provide anyone 

with a wealth of information, testing 

over time can be particularly useful 

to cannabis producers. Each change 

made in the growroom or to the postharvest 

process can have an impact 

on cannabinoid potency, and ongoing 

FIG.5 

tests can provide producers with a richer 

understanding of how their processes 

affect their product. Growers quickly 

begin to recognize the unique fingerprint 

of their products, and thus know at 

a glance when things are working 

perfectly or when production requires 

some attention. 

Jodi McDonald is the president and 

founder of Keystone Labs and is a 

medical microbiologist, inventor, and 

super science-geek. She has 20 years 

of 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. 


enjoy 

by Watermelon 

A FOOL OF MYSELF 

A Cannabis Culinary Column 

Photo by Tom Davidson 

Famous for selling watermelon slices and pot cookies on Wreck Beach, 

marijuana pin-up girl and advocate Watermelon is also a chef and 

business owner with a popular cannabis cooking show on YouTube. 

This month, she shares one of the gluten- and dairy-free recipes 

that has helped her pursue healthier habits. 

For many years now, I have been attempting to quit one thing for a year, to 

see what happens. It’s an excellent dietary exercise as well as one in selfcontrol. 

At the end of the year, I take it back up again. To date I have quit 

coffee, dairy, corn/corn products, white flour, overeating, and alcohol. 


myhydrolife.ca

Chocolate Quinoa Cupcakes 

Makes 12 servings 

STEP 1 

Start with: 

• 3/4 C coconut oil 

• 12 g shake flour 

I like to put this in a crock pot on medium/low and walk 

away for an hour, maybe two, but you can simply put this 

in a sauce pan on low heat for 25 minutes. Longer cooking, 

without burning, equals stronger cupcakes. Let cool. 

STEP 2 

Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Place into the 

food processor or blender: 

• 1/3 C cashew milk (sprouted cashews and water blended) 

• 2 C cooked quinoa * 

• 4 eggs 

Mix thoroughly, then carefully add the cooled coconut 

oil and cannabis mixture. Mix thorough again. 

STEP 3 

Put into a medium bowl: 

• 1.5 C white sugar 

• 1 C cocoa powder 

• 1/2 tsp baking soda 

• 1.5 tsp baking powder 

• 1/2 tsp salt 

Add to wet ingredients in blender and mix thoroughly. 

STEP 4 

Place in pre-heated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. 

There are two ways to test that they are done: Lightly 

press your finger into the top of a cupcake—if it 

springs back up it’s cooked; if the impression stays, 

it is not cooked. Or, poke a toothpick directly down 

the centre of a cupcake. If it comes out clean, they are 

cooked; if there is wet dough stuck to it, then they are 

not cooked. Once cooked, let cool; then decorate your 

cupcake any way you like. 

*quinoa cooks a lot like rice, 1 cup grain to 2 cups water 

“Make your goal achievable, 

and don’t beat yourself up 

about the other things.” 

The key is to pick one thing. Make your goal 

achievable, and don’t beat yourself up about the 

other things. For instance, the year I quit coffee, I did 

not quit caffeine. Totally achievable. Focus on what 

you are quitting and not what else you should quit. 

The only thing I wasn’t successful quitting for a 

whole year was swearing. I even tried two years in 

a row. No luck. Swears just come out of your body. 

Things coming out of you are harder to control than 

things going into you. 

This year I planned to quit gluten. Very fashionable, 

don’t you agree? I have always avoided shoddy, 

white, baked goods and focused more on whole 

grains, but now I will attempt an all-out assault 

against gluten entering my body for 2017. 

Everybody who eats kale and avocados knows 

that quinoa is the queen of gluten free. Quinoa is 

versatile and a great source of protein. We make an 

amazing quinoa, amaranth, and cashew milk waffle 

at my store (the Commercial Drive Licorice Parlour). 

They sell as fast as we make them. 

Let’s ring in a new year and get ready for spring with 

medicated chocolate quinoa cupcakes. I use coconut 

oil in place of butter and cashew milk in place of 

dairy milk. Gluten- and dairy-free. Oh yeah! 

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. 

myhydrolife.ca 


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

y Gibson Lannister 

JULES LARSON 

PARALLELS 

Jules Larson is a Los 

Angles-based indie singer/ 

songwriter. Her self-released 

EP, Parallels, is powerful pop 

flecked with rock, folk, and 

R&B. A solid EP all around, 

Parallels offers us a glimpse 

of what Jules Larson is 

capable of. I am anxiously 

waiting for more. 

4.5 

NATHANIEL RATELIFF 

& THE NIGHT SWEATS 

A LITTLE SOMETHING 

MORE FROM 

Nathaniel Rateliff & The 

Night Sweats return with A 

Little Something More From, 

a perfect follow-up to their 

celebrated debut. It’s just 

more of that wonderful, swig 

your whiskey, spin your 

partner, foot stomping, good 

time music. Don’t expect to 

stay seated for this one! 

4 

NO NETS 

BRIGHT LIGHT 

Brooklyn-based band No 

Nets is proving that less is 

more with its newest release, 

Bright Light. The strippeddown, 

post-grunge rock 

transports you back in time 

when you and your friends 

bared your souls, jamming 

late into the night in damp, 

smoke-filled garages. 

4 

Gibson Lannister has 

been a musician for 

more than 15 years and 

continues to expand his 

knowledge of theory 

and technique. 

SAM ROBERTS BAND 

TERRAFORM 

Terraform is the sixth fulllength 

album by legendary 

Canadian indie rocker Sam 

Roberts. His music is deeply 

personal and distinctly 

his own. Each time I listen 

to Terraform, I discover 

something new that just 

makes me love it even more. 

I’m going to put it on again 

and see what I can find. 

5 

SHARON JONES 

& THE DAP KINGS 

MISS SHARON JONES 

Sharon Jones recently passed 

away after a prolonged battle 

with cancer. I was lucky 

enough to meet her once after 

a show. She signed my record, 

gave me a hug and a kiss, and 

sent me on my way. I’ll never 

forget the energy she brought 

to her live performances. 

Miss Sharon Jones tells her 

story the way she would have 

wanted it told. 

5 

TOR MILLER 

AMERICAN ENGLISH 

Indie pop singer Tor Miller 

is a man in love with New 

York City. His debut album, 

American English, is a pianodriven 

tribute to this love. For 

a young man, Tor Miller has 

the power and depth of an 

artist that has resided in our 

hearts for years. 

5 

74 


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Hydrolife Canada February/March 2017

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