Hallo, ik ben Theo Van Zon, ik ben een professionele biomedische technicus met veel ervaring in het totale beheer van zorgtechnologie en biedt oplossingen die organisaties helpen hoogwaardige patiëntenzorg te leveren door middel van tijdige, nauwkeurige en kosteneffectieve zorg. Sterk vermogen om technische gegevens en elektrische schema's te begrijpen en te begrijpen; getraind om problemen tot op componentniveau op te lossen.
When it comes to cannabis policies around the globe, there is no one-size-fits-all policy. With the exception of countries that completely prohibit cannabis in all of its forms, every country has a different approach to cannabis policies, laws, and in some cases, industry regulations.
As cannabis reform continues to sweep across the globe, it’s virtually guaranteed that the variety of cannabis laws and policy nuances will increase. Meanwhile, many cannabis enthusiasts and advocates will continue to categorize jurisdictions as either being decriminalized, medical, or ‘fully legalized.’
While those classifications may have been easy to apply in years past, emerging cannabis policies around the world are becoming much more difficult to fit into only three categories. That increasing difficulty often leads to confusion when a new jurisdiction reforms its cannabis laws, especially at a national level.
Are Decriminalization And Legalization Essentially The Same?
A debate is growing in cannabis community circles, especially among cannabis industry professionals, regarding what constitutes legalization. Many are arguing that unless cannabis sales are allowed, then cannabis is not truly legalized since sales are still prohibited.
In that scenario, people argue that cannabis is decriminalized because only the crime component was removed from the equation. Others argue that once penalties for cannabis are removed for individual consumers (cultivation included), that’s all it takes to officially declare that cannabis has been ‘legalized.’
Historically, decriminalization meant that there was no crime attached to cannabis; however, infraction fines could still apply. A current example of that form of cannabis policy is in Spain, where we are co-hosting the world’s largest cannabis superconference next month. In Spain, getting caught with a personal amount of cannabis carries a fine – no jail time.
Why Does Terminology Matter?
If you are involved with cannabis long enough, whether it’s as a consumer or a titan of industry or somewhere in between, you will eventually realize that there is differing terminology for all kinds of things in the cannabis world. Cannabis policy is no different in that regard.
What constitutes legalization to one person may be different than what constitutes legalization to another person. Going forward, policymakers and members of the media will need to be more descriptive regarding what type of actual reform is occurring. Be prepared for the term ‘non-commercial legalization’ to start popping up more often, as it more accurately describes a type of cannabis policy that is growing in popularity in some international jurisdictions.
The rise of non-commercial legalization’s popularity is born out of the effort gap between creating laws, rules, and regulations for a cannabis industry versus only addressing the criminal justice component. The latter is much easier to build a political coalition around since it involves far fewer details for lawmakers to disagree about, although the former is a major driving force for many lawmakers that want to boost the economies that they represent.
Howdy all, True Living Organics’ nutrient spikes are a fantastic tool to use, specifically when container growing using an all-natural style like TLO. Spikes are super friendly to the equilibrium of the living soil. They also allow you to grow larger plants in smaller containers and yield larger.
There are quite a few of you out there from what I have read recently, that don’t really “get” how TLO nutrient spikes work. Especially in relation to the soil life, and particularly the roots of the plant. To be clear, my two remaining brain cells didn’t originate nutrient spikes, it was 10+ years ago I saw that Job brand had something very similar. I basically DIY’d them to adapt them True Living Organics (TLO) style.
TLO Nutrient Spikes Support Large Gooey Buds in Smaller Container Sizes
You can learn all about spikes and more great stuff like recycling your soil and just adding water to rock and roll in your gardens by checking out my book:True Living Organics 2nd Edition on Amazon.Okay then, away we go…
TLO Nutrient Spikes’ Overview
Bird and Bat Guano Works Excellent for Spiking When Cut with Kelp Meal
Let me start out by saying that using the spiking methodology, in container growing, can up your game huge. Because the bottom line is that you are packing more food into your container, for both soil organisms and plants. The big plus here, is you are doing it safely, and not causing chaos to your microbial life; as you would just dosing your entire container with a tea or fertilizers.
Also, you can use those (all organic) Job brand spikes here as an option. The only advice I have if you are doing this is to use them early, about 3 to 4 weeks before starting to flower. These spikes have a verylong duration compared to TLO nutrient spikes. We all should know how bad it is to have too much nutrient value available in the later flowering stage—yuk!
Using TLO spikes, I recommend using them about 1 week before flowering begins. Always spike right after a transplant so you can place the spikes in soil that doesn’t have living roots—yet. If you use spikes in a container already full of living roots, you will shortly thereafter see signs of root damage. Your plant takes a hit it doesn’t need to take.
What is a TLO Nutrient Spike?
Simply, a spike is just a hole made vertically in your soil filled containers that goes almost all the way to the floor of the container. That hole is then filled with an all-natural nutrient. My favorite nutrient source to spike with is granulated chicken guano. The granulated part is important, just like the more air you add to a burning fire the hotter it burns. You want your spikes to “light up fast” and keep “burning” until their gone. The chicken guano lasts about 5 or 6 weeks, waning off in the last couple weeks. Perfect for flowering containers. Here is a link to some good granular chicken guano: Hoffman Granular Chicken Guano on Amazon.
Hoffman Granular Chicken Guano 4-2-3 N-P-K
Now, if you can’t get any granular all-natural nutrient, you will need to use powdered dry nutrients, like bird/bat guano. To add the air to this application is simple. Just cut the guano 50/50 with kelp or alfalfa meal. This dried leaf matter will decompose more rapidly than the guano, leaving space for the guano to get air exposure. You could use several things here as all natural sources rather than guano, like all-purpose (complete) dried organic nutrients, or dried fish. Just mix it 50/50 with the alfalfa or kelp meal and you’re fine.
Another Spiking Bennie…
Using these TLO nutrient spikes has another huge advantage for growers like myself. It allows you to flower larger plants that yield large, in smaller growing containers. Normally speaking the rule of thumb when growing TLO style, is that you would use 1-gallon of container size per foot of your flowering plant in that container, plus 1-gallon. So, if you are flowering 3-foot plants you would want 4-gallon containers. If you are using the TLO Spikes, you would only need a 3-gallon container for 3-foot plants. I’m an injured man, so working with 3-gallon containers is much easier for me than using 4- or 5-gallon containers. Hella easier.
Spiking Methodology
As I mentioned above, you only want to do this in a container you have just transplanted into. You want to place the spikes down into the new soil that has no living roots in it yet. Make sure and mist up the top of your container soil after the transplant and just before making spike holes. This will keep soil from falling down into your spike holes when you make them.
After misting, simply take a dowl about ½ inch diameter and make 2 to 4 vertical holes down almost to the bottom of the container. How many spikes to use depends on how intense your growing environment is. For hot high intensity gardens use 4 spikes, for lower intensity use 3, or 2 spikes.
Top View of Newly Transplanted Container TLO Nutrient Spike Locations
Simply fill these holes up with your granular chicken guano or whatever you are using, put a little soil over the top. Then add your mulch layer. It’s as easy as that.
I only use spikes myself when transplanting into the flowering containers. You can use them during vegetative stage as well if you want to keep larger plants happy in smaller containers, like mother clones or something. Always try for balance, nutrient-wise when choosing your spiking nutrients source. While something like bloodmeal and kelp or alfalfa works, it’s a bit overkill on available nitrogen. So, this can cause other issues.
When Not to Use TLO Nutrient Spikes
Okay, these spikes pack a big punch! You will not want to use the spiking methodology if you also use any kind of acid chelated (force feeding) organic fertilizers, like say Earthjuice type fertilizers. While they are indeed an all-organic nutrient, they are far from natural, regarding the levels of acids present, and nutrient levels too. You don’t want to chelate nutrients in your container when you have those big nutrient spikes present. The chelation will hyper-activate those spikes overdosing your plants fast.
These Kinds of Organic Nutrients Have Way Too Much Acid and Shouldn’t Be Used with Spikes
TLO nutrient spikes are for growers using all natural methods and living soil only, for the best results. You don’t want to add any liquid nutrients, or supplemental things like nectars, sweeteners, tonics, elixirs, etc. These contain pH-tweaking acids/bases that are highly counterproductive to spikes, and arguably to all-natural growing period.
Another Excellent Granular Chicken Guano Product by Espoma
TLO Nutrient Spike Challenge
You may think yay or nay about using spikes. But I really want to open your eyes here in case you don’t think they are worth it for some reason. It’s super easy to test this out yourself without risking your whole grow. Having granular chicken guano around is a very good thing anyways for all-natural growers like TLO growers. Get yourself some granular guano (there’s a link above to some) and take one of your plants and use the spikes on it—using my guidelines. Then all you have to do is see what you see baybee. You don’t have to trust me, see for yourselves—yay you!
Spiking Correctly Will Make You a Believer
Afterword
I hope you guys that are iffy about using spikes try them out. You’ll see clearly how truly awesome they are. Once plant roots find the TLO nutrient spikes, they adapt on the spot to leverage them, safely for the plant. They are pure, safe all-natural plant power man.
I’ll catch ya’ll on the flip-flop right here next Tuesday for another article. Until then, stay happy and healthy as you can. Myself, I just love me a good sativa dominant wake-n-bake with a good coffee as well. That usually gives me an extra happy start to my day, heh heh. L8r G8rs…
How to reduce plastic waste in Hemp cultivation — a complete guide. Know the problems that come with plastic use and what are the sustainable alternatives to the problems. A few alarming facts for you: Each year, 6.3 billion metric tons of plastic end up in landfills. The landfills will hold 12 billion metric tons of plastic by 2050. Researchers have found microplastic particles in the placentas of unborn babies. Hemp cultivation adds to the problem as the process produces 150 million tons of plastic waste each year. Okay, now that you know how much plastic waste Cannabis cultivation produce, you want to reduce plastic use in Hemp cultivation. Organizations such as the Hemp Foundation are working towards the same goal. Over 500 environmental groups have appealed to U.S. President Joe Biden to take actionable steps to reduce plastic pollution. However, how to do it? Hemp cultivation relies on plastic in every step — from using black plastic mulch to suppress weed growth to PVC pipes for irrigation. This GUIDE will offer you solutions. In the next five minutes, learn all about how to reduce plastic use in Cannabis cultivation. The article will discuss: Plastic use in Hemp cultivation and its consequences Sustainable alternatives of plastic to solve the problem Reduce plastic use in Cannabis cultivation — problems and solutions Problem #1: Using black plastic mulch to suppress weed growth The practice known as plasticulture uses plastic sheeting to prevent weeds. The black plastic mulch blocks the sunlight from hitting the ground. Thus, the lack of sunlight suppresses weed growth. The process warms the earth to help seeds germinate. Furthermore, plasticulture promotes crop yield. While the practice is beneficial, using the black plastic mulch poses multiple threats: The plastic residues remain in the soil and take over 300 years to decompose. Plastic under soil means the groundwater will contain plastic residues as well. Thus, you’ll drink water with plastic residues in them. The end result? Researchers finding microplastic residues in the placentas of unborn babies. Burning the black plastic mulch releases hundreds of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and carcinogens into the air. Removing and disposing of the black plastic mulch at the end of the year costs up to $400 for each acre. Solution: Natural mulch, landscape fabric, and bare-ground system Natural mulch Natural mulch uses materials such as straw and compost to cover the cannabis. The natural mulch, other than preventing weeding growth: Breaks down over time and adds valuable nutrients to the soil. Retains moisture of the soil. Prevents erosion. Landscape fabric Landscape fabric — made of ‘breathable’ material such as linen — acts as a cover to stop weeds from growing. You can cover the fabric with natural mulch for better results. Landscape fabric: Suppresses weed growth but allows air, water, and nutrients to pass into the soil. The process promotes cannabis growth. Lasts up to 20 years. Thus, you won’t have to invest in another cover for years. Decomposes within two weeks if you bury the covers. Bare-ground system Farmers till and pull up the soil into low ridges in a bare-ground system. After cannabis plants are set in these ridges, farmers till more soil and toss the soil around the base of the plant. Thus, the height of the ridge increases. The bare-ground system is beneficial as: The bare-ground system lowers weed density. The bare-ground system enhances nutrient and water availability. The bare-ground system triggers the germination of deeply buried seeds. Problem #2: Using plastic pots as growth containers Plastic pots are popular among farmers as: They offer the cannabis structure They’re sturdy They can be reused for up to 3 seasons However, plastic pots come with their set of drawbacks as well: When cannabis roots hit the walls of a plastic pot, the roots turn and grow in circles. The circular roots choke the plant with time. Furthermore, the circular roots prevent small root ends from growing. Thus, the plant cannot absorb water and nutrients. Plastic pots trap heat during the day and release the heat at night. The excessive heat dehydrates the plant, disrupts nutrient transportation, and damages the leaves. After you discard the pots, it takes over 450 years for the pots to decompose. Solution: Air pots and fabric bags Air pots Air pots come with numerous holes or perforated sheets that allow air inside. The pots are a great alternative for plastic waste control in cannabis cultivation as: The pots are made of fabric, paper or recycled plastic. Thus, you’re not adding plastic to the environment. The pots promote cannabis growth. When cannabis roots hit air instead of solid plastic, roots stop outward growth. Instead, the roots focus on fibrous, lateral, and dense root growth. The process helps the plants to absorb more oxygen, nutrients, and water. Thus, plants grow faster. Air pots release excess heat and keep the plant cool. Fabric bags Fabric bags conform to the plants you put inside the bags. Fabric bags: Offer thousands of tiny pores allowing excess water to drain out and air to flow through. Lasts for up to 10 years. Are biodegradable. Thus, you won’t have to worry about fabric residues in the soil. Problem #3: Using trellis netting for better growth and airflow Source Trellis netting: When spread evenly across the tops of the plants, offers equal spacing between the plants. The process allows for enhanced airflow. Furthermore, trellis netting helps each plant to receive equal sunlight. Thus, the process promotes fuller flower growth. Offers protection against mold and bud rot. However, trellis netting poses an environmental threat because: Shaped similar to fishing nets, the netting ends up in the ocean and contributes to the 14 million tons of plastic waste in the oceans. When in ocean, the netting traps all kinds of sea creatures including sea lions, whales, dolphins, penguins, and turtles. When dumped in a landfill, the netting takes over 450 million years to decompose. Solution: Biodegradable netting Biodegradable netting is made up of natural materials such as jute. […]
Adam Dunn is an American cannabis breeder who co-founded the T.H. Seeds. In the early 1990s, Adam was at the center of the “second wave” of cannabis breeders and seed companies that emerged at this time in Holland.
In 1989 as a 19-year-old, Adam traveled to Amsterdam, where he had the good fortune of finding affordable lodging that allowed him to make the country his home for the next 20 years.
It was during his time working at Sensi Seeds that Adam first met and worked with both Tony of Cerebral and later Sagarmatha as well as Simon of Cerebral and later Serious Seeds.
It was also at this time period that Sensi Seeds bought the Cannabis Castle and the Seed Bank as part of an arrangement to smuggle Nevil out of Australia back to Amsterdam.
After taking possession of the Seed Banks germplasm, it quickly fell into disarray in the hands of Marcel, the head breeder and cultivator at Sensi Seeds at the time.
As a result, Nevil was hired by the Dronkers as a consultant to organize genetic stock and improve the breeding program.
Working at Sensi Seeds in the early 1990s gave Adam a front-row seat to witness what happened to the Seed Bank after it was incorporated into Sensi Seeds. It also provided insight into what happens when disorganization and poor breeding practices result in genetic drift and degeneration.
Adam Dunn & Cerebral Seeds
By 1993 Adam’s co-workers at Sensi Seeds Simon (Serious Seeds) and Tony (Sagarmatha Seeds) established their own seed company, Cerebral Seeds.
The initial Cerebral Seeds offerings were the first commercial releases of what would later become Serious Seeds varieties such as AK-47 and Chronic.
Adam Dunn & Cannabis In Amsterdam (C.I.A.)
Adam opens Hemp Works, Europe’s first hemp-product retail outlet.
In 1993 Adam Dunn founded Cannabis In Amsterdam (C.I.A.). The C.I.A. storefront sold seeds (Cerebral, Sensi, etc.), books, hemp clothing, paraphernalia, etc. For a time, prior to the emergence of Canadian and U.K. seed distributors, C.I.A. was the largest seed distributor in the world.
Adam opens Hemp Works, Europe’s first hemp-product retail outlet.
Perhaps more importantly, C.I.A. served as a meeting place and space-particularly for Americans to come together and interact. As Robert Clarke said, in the mid-90s, C.I.A. was “the epicenter of the cannabis universe.”
Richard Lee, the medicinal cannabis activist, was inspired by his experience at C.I.A. when he traveled to Amsterdam and later modeled the Bluesky Cafe and Oaksterdam off of the C.I.A.
Adam Dunn & The Grey Area
While working at Sensi Seeds in the early 1990s, Adam met a fellow Rhode Islander named Victor. Victor and Adam became quick friends and roommates. In addition to being the source for the original seeds that produced the Bubblegum, Victor also opened the Grey Area coffee shop.
From its inception, the Grey Area established a reputation for having a good menu and being popular with Americans.
Many of the early Cannabis Cups won by Cerebral Seeds for varieties like AK-47, Kali Mist, and Bubblegum were entered in tandem with the Grey Area.
Cannabis Cup
In 1993 High Times approached Adam to organize the 6th annual Cannabis Cup, only after they had been turned down by Chris Conrad, who at the time was updating the Hemp and Hashish Museum.
Prior to this, the Cannabis Cup was a private event held by High Times and a select group of judges and seed companies. In 1993 the Cannabis Cup was opened up to the public.
Adam Dunn and his friends organized the event with the coffee shops and seed companies. They printed programs and maps for attendees. They also developed the formula of distinct categories for coffee shops-judged by the public-and seed companies-judged by celebrity judges because the seed companies were unable to sell to the public.
Nearly 200 people attended the event, and it established the formula for Cannabis Cups that followed.
Adam Dunn & T.H.Seeds
In 1993 Adam Dunn, along with his friend Doug founded T.H.Seeds. From the start, T.H.Seeds operated according to a very simple formula: given the fact that American cannabis culture was at the time the epicenter of the international cannabis world (and American tourists were the primary customer base) in order to be successful, T.H.Seeds has always looked at what was popular in the U.S.
Bubblegum
Bubble Gum
Adam Dunn has relayed the history of the Bubble gum in multiple interviews and podcasts (here and here).
The Bubblegum came to Amsterdam in seed form with Adam’s friend Victor who collected the seeds while living in Rhode Island. The seeds were originally found in buds that Victor got from a source in Illinois. Victor called this variety ‘chewing gum’.
Adam popped the Bubblegum seeds and narrowed the population down to seven females and one male. The Bubblegum quickly developed notoriety and was highly sought after being introduced in Amsterdam. After refusing to sell clones of the Bubblegum, Adam’s grow was broken into, and his clones were stolen, and his mother plants were chopped down and stolen— luckily, a mother was salvaged from a single remaining branch.
After the break-in, Adam shared copies with Tony and Simon. These clones were used to create the various Bubblegum varieties sold by T.H.Seeds, Serious Seeds, and Sagarmatha Seeds.
In the early 1990s, Adam’s lifelong friend Mojave Richmond moved to Amsterdam. Mojave journeyed to Europe with pursuits besides cannabis in mind.
After arriving In Amsterdam, however, he decided to begin cultivating. Mojave brought seeds from his family in Big Sur and used these seeds to begin breeding.
Mojave selected a particular phenotype from these seeds from Big Sur with a pronounced sage aroma. This selected phenotype was a throwback to old equatorial hybrids and Haze-type plants popular on the central coast of Cali in the 1970s. After two years of breeding and selection, the parent plants to produce the seed line S.A.G.E. (Sativa Afghanica Genetic Equilibrium) were selected.
AfghanMale
Adam used an Afghan Male in many of the early T.H.Seeds offerings, including the Bubble Gum and others. The Afghan male was also from seed stock that came from outside of the existing Dutch gene pool.
Adam sourced the Afghan from a friend who would pass through Amsterdam on their travels along the hippy trail. This friend would travel the world seeking out the best cannabis or charras he could find on his travels. In the process, he would take notes and photographs to document the characteristics of the varieties he collected.
The Afghan was a short, stout plant that grew slowly in the vegetative stage. The male transferred its stout structure, and Adam found that it also imparted lasting depth and duration flavor on its offspring.
Sour Diesel and OG Kush
In 1999 Adam traveled to the U.S. and brought cuts of the Sour Diesel and OG Kush back with him to Amsterdam. T.H.Seeds was one of the first seed European seed companies to create O.G. and Sour hybrids with the Mk Ultra and Sage-n-Sour.
Colorado Calls
In 2010 Adam returned to the states moving back to Colorado. Since moving back to the states, Adam has started the long-running podcast The Adam Dunn Show and organized the Adam Dunn Invitational. Adam continues to operate T.H. Seeds in the U.S. (T.H. Seeds Europe is a separate entity). Adam has also brought his hemp apparel company Hoodlamb to the states, opening the Hoodlab gallery in Denver.
Conclusion
In the early-1990s, Adam Dunn was a central figure in what has been called the second wave of cannabis breeders and seed companies that emerged in Amsterdam at the time. Adam Dunn and those around him helped establish an enclave in Am
On January 5th of this year, two armed men wearing ski masks entered Dockside Cannabis in Seattle, Washington. After holding employees at gunpoint and robbing the store of cash and weed, they shot one of the store’s budtenders twice, severely injuring him. This year (and we are only in February), there have been 32 armed robberies of cannabis retail outlets in Western Washington because businesses selling weed in the state can only deal in cash because of federal laws.
The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) reports that legislation just passed by the House is seeking to change that and allow cannabis retail outlets across the nation to partner with banks and take credit card payments. The America COMPETES Act of 2022 was passed by a majority of the US House of Representatives and includes provisions of the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act.
But don’t get your hopes up just yet. The House has to date approved the legislation six times, either in the form of an amendment or as a stand-alone piece of legislation. Offered as an amendment by sponsor Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), the bill would allow banks and similar financial institutions to work with state-licensed cannabis businesses which is currently prohibited by federal law, making retail cannabis outlets highly vulnerable to crime and violence. But the Senate has yet to approve the measure.
According to NORML, Whitney Economics surveyed 396 licensed cannabis businesses. The survey revealed that over 70 percent of those that responded reported a “lack of access to banking or investment capital” as their primary business challenge, more so even than state regulations or competing with the black market.
“It is imperative for the interests of public safety, transparency, and the economic viability of small cannabis businesses that this legislation is approved as soon as possible,” said NORML Political Director Morgan Fox. “The fact that the people’s chamber has approved this measure in various forms so many times is a clear indicator of where voters stand on this issue. Continued inaction by the Senate on this popular bipartisan reform puts workers and customers at risk of violence, makes it harder for regulators to accurately track cannabis revenue, and perpetuates the high costs and lack of access to capital that are increasingly widening the gap between large and small businesses in the cannabis space when it comes to their chances to succeed. The Senate should ensure this provision remains in the final version of this funding package and approve it swiftly.”
Fox continued:
“The SAFE Banking Act is only the first step toward making sure that state-legal marijuana markets operate safely, efficiently, and fairly. But unfortunately, the sad reality is that those who own or patronize these currently unbanked businesses are still nonetheless recognized as criminals in the eyes of the federal government and by federal law. This situation can only be rectified by removing marijuana from the list of controlled substances, and there are several pending legislative vehicles before Congress that can accomplish this goal. In the meantime, the passage of the SAFE Banking Act is a step in the right direction that will directly improve many people’s lives.”
Current federal restrictions mean that thousands of cannabis businesses in states that have legalized the recreational sale of cannabis to adults cannot accept credit cards, deposit revenues, get loans, write checks to satisfy payrolls, or pay their taxes. Imagine if the wine industry, for example, was unable to operate under routine business practices. The industry would be hobbled and much smaller than it is today.
State-compliant cannabis businesses operate under draconian restrictions that restrict the industry and increasingly put employees at risk as crime skyrockets across America.
It is time for the Senate to place the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act into law. The result will increase job production and tax revenues. It will also create a safer environment for those who work in America’s cannabis stores while protecting the assets of ganjapreneurs whose economic activism has made the cannabis industry a billion-dollar player in this nation.
Both hemp and linen are remarkable bast fibers that are strong and eco-friendly. This article examines the differences as well as their identical properties. Cotton and synthetic fibers such as nylon and spandex are so readily available that many have forgotten about hemp and linen. These materials were in use for thousands of years for making clothes until cotton plantations in the US put them out of the limelight. The advancement of chemistry, post-WWII, was the final nail in the coffin. Lately, there has been a revival of sorts. Uses of linen and hemp beyond the usual are being explored. Though they both have a long history and were popular far before the modern era, they also have quite significant differences. I make a comparison that covers every aspect thoroughly. A brief history of linen and hemp Linen is a remarkable textile material made from the flax plant. The fibers of flax are processed to provide linen material, which is used for manufacturing luxurious and supple white table cloth and bed sheets. Linen suits used to be quite popular back in the early days of the 20th century, but they have fallen out of favor since polyester yarns made an appearance. Do you know the first evidence of linen, found in Southeastern Europe, is 30,000 years old? That is literally back in the Stone Age era when Fred Flintstone lived! Hemp is not to be outdone. It has a history that predates agriculture. Evidence of hemp use, back in 5000 BCE, has been found in China. It also used to be a very popular crop till it was replaced by cotton in the twentieth century. Now hemp is a raw material for making ropes and sacks. Hemp and linen are bast fibers A bast fiber is obtained from the stem. To be specific, it is the phloem or the skin of the plant that provides the fiber. Cotton, on the other hand, is from the ball that grows around the seed of the cotton plant. Hemp Hemp fiber originates from the Cannabis sativa plant. For sake of being authentic, I have to mention that hemp is commonly associated with smoking marijuana. However, what most don’t realize is that it is a different type of cannabis plant. Just as man’s best friend comes in all shapes and sizes (think of Dobermans and Dachshunds), the hemp plant too can have different amounts of THC—Tetrahydrocannabinol, a psychoactive substance that produces an altered mental state. Industrial hemp contains a minute amount of THC and anyone would need to smoke a truckload to get high. Its cultivation is legal in many nations, including the USA (which held out till the 2018 Farm Bill was enacted). Hemp Plant Linen The material originates from the fibers of the Linum usitatissimum plant, commonly known as flax. Its seed yields oil upon compression known as linseed oil. The stem is used to make textiles. Linen is exceptionally strong and can absorb more liquid than its weight. The word “linens” is usually used to denote not the material but textile products used in bedrooms and kitchens. The material has been traditionally used to make bed sheets, towels, and table covers. A neatly folded linen handkerchief was at one time the standard part of apparel of any well-dressed man. Flax Plants What are the differences between linen and hemp? Differences during lab tests Microscopic Examination Hemp and linen look almost the same. So much so that it is hard to tell them apart unless examined under a microscope. A study of the cross-section reveals that while flax fibers have sharp ends, hemp fibers have dull ends. The lumen of the latter is broad and rarely circular. Swelling Tests Though the fibers look the same, they have different cellular structures. This is best demonstrated through a swelling test. When both are immersed in a deep blue-colored solution of cupric hydroxide in aqueous ammonia, the results are varied. Flax swells rather quickly. The swelling is also uniform. Hemp takes far longer to absorb the reagent solution. Dyeing Tests Hemp has a higher percentage of lignin and non-cellulose material. It is this part that is more receptive to dyes. Adding hemp to fluoroglucine solution causes it to turn dark pink. When the experiment is repeated with cyanin, the fiber turns blue green. Yet none of these coloring agents have any effect on the flax fiber. They remain colorless. Twist Tests The fibers turn in different directions when dried. For this test, samples of both are soaked in distilled water for a few minutes. They are then dried by placing them a little above a heated plate. As they dry, flax rotates to the right and hemp to the left. Hemp Processing Differences in cultivation Hemp is one of the easiest crops to grow. It is remarkably sturdy and the presence of THC means it is naturally resistant to most insects. Hemp also has a higher yield per acre, since the crop can be packed densely like sugarcane. 5000 lbs of hemp can be grown on an acre. Compared to that, 1200 lbs of flax are quite meager. The taproots of the hemp plant are long and penetrate deep into the subsoil. They are able to draw nutrients from deep within the soil. As a result, the topsoil is never depleted. This means hemp can be cultivated year after year. But flax can at most be grown for five years before the soil is depleted. Flax cultivation is not without a few advantages too. Whereas hemp requires 160 lbs (80 kilos) of nitrogen per hectare, flax needs half as much. It also needs half as much potassium and phosphorus. Fewer expenses for the farmers make it profitable. Differences in biodiversity A study to find the biodiversity friendliness of hemp found it to rank quite high. The crop came in fifth behind alfalfa, timber trees, oilseeds, and hemp. Flax did not do as well and ranked ninth. The study focused on several aspects that investigate […]
This edition of the Breeders’ Corner is a more in depth look at selection skills when it comes to judging cannabis resin properties in all its glory. There are some tricky-tricks here when doing this that I will go into detail about, some things that can save you precious time.
A couple weeks ago my article here in SKUNK,An Awesome Cannabis Breeding Routine,showed you some cool breeding stuff, especially when it comes to shaving off some overall time when it comes to the whole selection process. Making hash and selecting from the separate hash-ball samples is not only an epic time saver but keeps you in some awesome hash. Alright then, let’s look at two really cool time saving routines…
Many Heirloom Old World Sativas Concentrate Their Resin Density Towards the Center Mass
Cannabis Resin Properties per Variety
Judging the raw resin production level of each female plant can be done with the aid of a lab of course, or with the aid of making hash from each plant. I mean, it’s straight forward, the bigger (heavier) the hash ball is from each individual plant, the greater the resin production. Boom!
Sometimes while you are looking for special females, it is important that you take something into consideration. Some strains/varieties will tend to create much denser trichomes towards the center mass of the flowers. Old world heirloom and wild IBL sativas and sativa dominants tend to do this fairly often.
More domesticated cannabis varieties, long IBLs inbred for hundreds of years for better hash production, mostly your standard Hashplant type indica strains. These tend to throw out trichomes in more equal density throughout the flower.
If you are unaware of this, it can sneak some uber potent females away from you in your early selections, making you think resin production is low, when in fact it is not at all low.
Identifying These Special Lovelies
If you are making hash from your seeded up buds, you simply can weigh each hash ball to see how the overall resin production compares between plants. Just simply cutting a flower so you can see the cross-section will show you what’s up as well. Some of the most memorable buds I have ever smoked, like Congo Black, and Panama Red, to name two, had exotic colorations. But from just looking at them they didn’t look particularly high in resin production—weak looking, if anything, visually. Actually, at their centers the trichomes were so thick/dense, they were almost hashish-hard. These were ludicrously potent strains.
Judging more indica dominant plants is pretty easy by simply observing how frosty they are. But the hash making method also works well here on a per plant basis, because some plants have strong resin production even on the lowest buds. This will make them more favorable than others that don’t do this. By measuring the hash weight from each plant, you can get a real good grip on this often-overlooked aspect. Here’s a link to an easy-peasy hash-making article: Making Hash from Cannabis the Easy Way– with Rev – Skunk Magazine.
Cotyledons and Cannabis Resin Properties
Jewelers’ Loup 20x Magnification is My Go-To for This Task and Others
In a recent Letters to Rev article I wrote, the person in the email alluded to a selection trick I had taught them years before. This is the ‘cotyledon leaf method’ they were referring to. I find this one handy for females for sure, but especially useful for males. Since trichomes, genetically speaking, are just slightly modified leaf hairs, it seems obvious that the more leaf hairs per square ¼ inch or whatever, would matter. It does.
The cotyledons are those very first round leaves that pop out of your newly sprouted cannabis plants as their very first set of leaves. The resin properties, specifically the resin production potential of the plant can be gauged fairly well by simply examining the cotyledon leaves of each sprout. Noting which have the densest leaf hair expression (number of leaf hairs per square ¼ inch or whatever). It’s as easy as that, just note/label them accordingly as you go forwards.
On these leaves the plants tend to have uniform leaf hair density regardless of whether or not they express more center mass trichomes or spread out trichomes in their flowers later on in life. Super handy trick, especially if going through a variety where many are mediocre and only a very few are stupendous!
Rev’s Tip
Making Dry Sift Hash is Informative and Very Enjoyable
Cannabis resin properties are deep and wide. Many things can be considered. But even things like terpene qualities can be judged when using the hash method, along with high types. The earlier you can get rid of the plants you don’t want, the better, and that’s really what I wanted to do here today. Add to your arsenal of early selection skills.
Want to get some seriously cool exotic seeds to start your new adventures growing and selecting keepers? Buzz by Kingdom Organic Seeds and have a looksee. Grab a copy of my TLO Book 2nd Edition for better insights into all-natural growing.
Cannabis resin properties are one of my very favorite things to sample through finding the gems I love and for breeding with. It’s fun and rewarding, try it you’ll like it. I’m outty for now amigos, lots of things to be doing around here today—like almost every day LoL—so for now I bid you goodbye. But I’ll see ya back here next Tuesday for another article here at SKUNK by yours truly. L8r G8rs…
Sour Diesel and OG Kush 
