Untitled - The BurnMag.com Coming Soon!

by Ed Gorski
The artic chill that has spread across the state has put Michiganders into hibernation.
The freezing temperatures have made many residents question their loyalty to Pure
Michigan. Few people actually embrace the beauty of the winter months and understand
the need for changing seasons. Much like our medical marijuana act, people focus on the
negatives. It is so much easier to sit at home and criticize others and their agendas than
it is to get out and fight for your principles. Michigan may not be the leader in progressive
marijuana policy, but we are far from last. There are at least 30 different states that
have harsher marijuana laws than Michigan. They can only imagine an opportunity to
legally grow medical marijuana and envy the idea of not being persecuted for treated your
illnesses with cannabis. The next time you feel unhappy or unsatisfied with the way the
marijuana movement is going, get out and fight to make a change. Odds are there are
many people who share your concerns.
Marijuana continues to be a hot topic throughout the country. The legalization of
cannabis in Colorado and Washington has helped lift the taboo of discussing marijuana.
Do not be afraid to voice your opinion with your local business owners. If they don’t
share your views than maybe they don’t deserve your money. Support the marijuana
community and it will benefit us all in our quest for reform.
I have been overwhelmed with the positive responses we have been getting from growers
across the state. Our tips on EC levels have changed the way some of our readers
grow their plants. We are glad to help and were not slowing down, this month we are
bringing you award winning flushing techniques, everything you want to know about
hermaphrodites, and so many more tips and techniques that will improve your grow.
Donny’s Inside the Grow Room takes the readers behind the scenes of one of the most
secretive gardens in Detroit. “Pete” is producing super dense buds that taste so good it’s
easy to over-medicate. His Headband phenotype is one of the best versions of the strain
I have ever tried. If you grow high- quality marijuana and want your grow room featured
in The Burn, send us an email. All correspondence is kept highly confidential.
The High Times Medical Cannabis Cup is coming to Flint, July 26th and 27th. The
exact location has not been revealed but there will be a smoking area on premise and
5000+ people in attendance. Booth prices range from $1,500 to $10,000. The Cup
will consist of 6 categories, Indica, Sativa, Hybrid, Concentrate, Non-Solvent Hash
and Edibles. You may enter one strain per category. The cost per entry is $1,000 plus
40 grams flower, 20 grams for concentrates, or 20 pieces for edibles. Booth Sponsors
receive half off their entrée. Deadline for entrees is July 9th.
It was nice to see Obama’s statement that marijuana is no more dangerous than
alcohol. While I would have preferred him to say that prohibition of cannabis is
ridiculous and a waste of resources, I’ll take what I can get. Hopefully his statement
will save someone from being prosecuted or start a venture towards total legalization
but I am skeptical. After reading Rick Thompson’s article this month about the Duvall
family, it is hard to have any faith in our failing judicial system. The Federal government
refuses to listen to the voice of the people and is far from willing to lose the cash cow
that prohibition provides. As the fight for marijuana reform continues it is important
that we stay involved, stay united, and most importantly, stay classy.
RACINE, Wisc. - CORRECTIONS OFFICER
BUSTED
A 42 year old sergeant at the Racine
Correctional Institution will soon find
himself on the other side of the prison
bars after police executed a warrant at
his home last month. Christopher Hall,
employed by the Wisconsin Department
of Corrections since 1998, will now
face multiple felony marijuana charges,
including possession of 2,500 – 10,000
grams and maintaining a drug trafficking
place, after police found a “large” and
“sophisticated” grow operation comprised
of nine plants at his home. Police found
paraphernalia and under a half pound of
dried marijuana. Hall was also charged for
the total weight of the growing plants in
his room, totaling over 2,000 grams. His
bond was set at $10,000 cash.
SAN LEANDRO, Cal.
GROWERS GET ZAPPED
–
ILLEGAL
Two grow houses containing more than
1,500 illegally cultivated marijuana plants
were discovered Tuesday in San Leandro
after police responded to a call about a
power line sparking on a residential street.
The incident occurred in the 15000 block
of Endicott Street last month. Further
investigation determined that someone
had tampered with the power supply in
order to power the illegal grow house,
which San Leandro police described
as larger than usual. The investigation
also revealed a second marijuana grow
house in the 14900 block of Crosty Street,
leading to the arrest of Sonny Chen, 49, of
San Leandro. Chen has been charged with
illegal cultivation of marijuana, sale and
possession of marijuana and utility theft.
“Illegal marijuana grow operations are a
major fire hazard and anyone who sees
suspicious activity at an abandoned home
should immediately report it,” said Lt.
Randall Brandt of the San Leandro Police
Department.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – IMPORT BUISNESS
INFILTRATED
The Metropolitan Nashville Police
Department has busted a drug trafficking
organization that they claim has
distributed more than 600 pounds of
marijuana in Middle Tennessee. The drugs
had been brought in from California, and
were being sold for more than $3,000
per pound to distributors, who sold
them to local drug dealers. Informants
and surveillance led police to arrest nine
people in all. The case continued as a 46
year old woman was also arrested after
she was stopped in Utah with 127 pounds
of marijuana from the distributors in
California. To date, investigators have
seized more than $220,000 in drug profits
on their way to distributors in California.
Additionally, police seized more than
$150,000 when they arrested another
suspect at Nashville International Airport
on January 13. Police said he hired a
private jet to take him to California for
$20,000 in cash. When he arrived at the
airport, police said he had more than
$150,000 in cash inside a suitcase that
they believed was drug money intended
to be taken to California.
FRESNO, Cal. – MARIJUANA RAID
INDUCES LAB0R
About $2 million worth of illegal
marijuana is in the hands of the Fresno
County Sheriff’s Department as a result
of a bust in the foothills. Deputies seized
about 200 pounds of processed pot and
more than 200 marijuana plants during a
bust in Dunlap. Officers were called to the
house when neighbors who thought the
home was vacant
spotted trespassers
on the property.
Investigators say the
suspects claimed
the operation was
a legal medical
marijuana
grow.
The persons arrested used the medical
marijuana card excuse to try to get out
of trouble, however the copies of the
cards that were posted did not match
the people on sight and detectives
determined it was nothing more than to
be sold out on the street. Investigators
also seized about $15,000 in cash and
three handguns. Authorities arrested two
people during Thursday’s bust 29-yearold Rudy Gonzales Rocha and 34-year-old
Eloy Gonzales. A third person, a pregnant
woman who was not identified went into
labor during the bust. She was taken to
the hospital but authorities say she may
also face drug charges.
“I’m guilty. You know what I’m saying?
But not for everything. You know what
to having all of that heroin?” He
replied, “I mean, would it even help
PENN HILLS, Pa. — MARIJUANA
BUST LEADS TO HEROIN SEIZURE
A months-long investigation led
police to uncover a marijuana
growing operation in Penn Hills. The
investigation, which began in June, also
recovered several thousand dollars in
cash and two handguns at the home of
Trey Alexander Clark in the 100 block
of Emrose Drive, according to Mike
Manko, spokesman for the Allegheny
County District Attorney’s Office.
Clark’s day went from bad to worse
when police also discovered 10,000
bags of heroin. As Clark was being
taken away in handcuffs, the 22-yearold suspect told reporters, “It’s a
misunderstanding.” He then added,
I’m saying?” As he was being arrested,
Clark was asked, “So you’re admitting
me to not admit it? I mean, it is what it
is. I came clean.” Clark faces
drug-related
charges
of possession
and
possession with intent
to deliver, according
to the online criminal
docket. Traveling south bound down I-75. Bumping some Master P “Bourbons and Lacs”
(no you won’t find the P on the radio, independent and rowdy). Welcome to DETROIT,
as I pass 8 mile, 7 mile, off the beaten path with only the spirit of the D and his
overwhelming presence that encompasses ones every thought with impressions …
welcome to the REAL DETROIT, soldier up you ain’t in Kansas anymore Toto. This is
the underground scene in the D. With a flash of the credentials (high times cannabis
cup medal) and a sweet ass magazine THE BURN I am allowed to enter. It was like a
movie three knocks on the door, enter the garage, then into the well kept old school
set up producing high quality weed. Enter the grower aka Pete Clone (not real name).
An educated man with a master’s degree looking forward to a new era of an old
industry waiting to come back to life.
I have sampled the meds, nice heavy stone with a full Cali style flavor, clean smooth
white ash and very well groomed. Won’t find this at the cups or in the clubs (at least
not yet) straight old school underground train of thought, which The Burn respects.
The interview begins…
How long have you been
growing?
4 years with a wink
Hydro or soil?
Hydro, ebb-n-grow 2-1/2
gallon pots. It’s been very
good for me a good running
system.
What led you to growing
marijuana?
I’m a hobbyist, and I kind
of just learned a lot as
spent more time in my room.
My patients love my stuff
that’s how you found out
bout me.
What type of lighting do you use?
I use 6 high-pressure sodium 1000 watts
I
What nutrients do you use?
I use Botanicare but not disclosing my recipe it took me
years to perfect my blend…I was going for Cali style buds
that’s what my patients wanted so I researched and read
everything and just taught myself.
You use a hardener, any recommendations for our readers?
Research hardeners thoroughly and make sure you are not
using anything toxic. There are several out there and you
should be leery of any questionable products.
How long do you flush your plants?
Seven days.
Do you trim by
hand or machine?
I trim with an
electric trimmer,
but you must
learn how to use it
properly or it can
ruin your whole
crop.
How long do you dry and in what
environment?
I dry on the rack for three to four days in
a room that is 70 degrees with 50 percent
humidity. They are jarred and burped after
for approximately two weeks.
Any significant tips for our readers?
Relating to the last question, and as you
can see from my grow facility; I keep
my plants in a very clean, controlled
environment. I spend time here and
have made it into a top-notch growing
facility. Every day it is being maintained
and tinkered with. I have a schedule and
an agenda. All aspects are analyzed and
addressed.
Because of the recent legalization of marijuana
in Colorado and Washington, numerous people
are choosing those as travel destinations.
Transportation of marijuana across state lines
has become a hot topic in those states as well as
throughout the rest of the country. Can you drive
with it? Can it be transported in the air with the
rest of your luggage? Can it be shipped?
Colorado is running short on supplies and most
of what has been sold is likely being consumed
within the state. However, travelers from near and
far may have had eyes bigger than their lungs, and
couldn’t quite finish it all. Subsequently posing the
question, “What do I do with it?”
Driving across states lines with your medicine is
a tricky matter. I am a medical marijuana patient
from Michigan. I am surrounded by states (and
a country) that do not have a medical marijuana
program and/or do not acknowledge my Michigan
card. Therefore, I cannot cross any state lines with
my medication because there is no avenue legally
available to me. Wherever a person may live, they
would have to determine if they legally could
cross any state lines. In Michigan, I have done
the research and no bueno. This is a significant
drawback of medical marijuana. Thus far, without
federal involvement, each state makes their own
rules and those rules do not transfer with the
patient and reside only within the geographic
confines.
Back in 2006 while on vacation, I took a little
seminar about medical marijuana in the lovely
town of Orange, California. I learned a significant
amount of information I had not ran across before. In
California, they were the pioneers and by that time,
had this whole thing figured out. One significant
issue they lectured on was that regardless of the
laws of the state, if you are on federal land, you
are not protected by laws established by that state.
Once you step foot onto any federally controlled
or designated area, federal laws apply. As every
airport in the United States is controlled by the
TSA (Transportation Security Administration), a
federal agency, once you are in an airport and up
to the TSA check point, you have no legal right to
keep your marijuana, and you also can be turned
over to authorities as well. In addition, even if you
were in a private aircraft and did not go through
a traditional airport, TSA is also in charge of the
airspace above. While you are soaring high up in
the air, all federal laws apply.
As a friendly reminder, Colorado Springs
Airport has placed three green marijuana disposal
containers inside the building, and they are
clearly marked and located prior to interaction
with a TSA check point. They are giving the public
an opportunity to properly dispose of their trip’s
spoils in a pleasantly convenient manner. On
the other hand, Denver International Airport has
taken a hard-ass approach and banned marijuana
on all airport property. I would think that after
all the positive publicity Colorado Springs Airport
received about how they handled the situation,
it should be a lesson to all airports on how to be
firm, but friendly to their patrons. By giving people
who are leaving an easy way to properly dispose
of marijuana prior to departure, they solved their
own problem (marijuana being thrown into open
garbage containers or otherwise disposed of in an
inappropriate manner). When I travel, I always buy
too much and am scrambling to figure out what to
do with it. Give it to the maid as a tip? I think not.
I would much rather have green containers in my
path that I can easily ‘donate’ to.
Traveling with marijuana within my home state is
nerve-wracking enough with all the recent changes
in the law (Update: Must now be kept in your trunk).
There are just too many road bumps that make
road trips utterly undesirable. I therefore tend to
only take trips by air, and fly to states or countries
that have some type of legal marijuana. Without
the rescheduling of marijuana at the federal level,
this issue will not be resolved. Medical marijuana
patients will have to continue being creative while
traveling, or just resolve to stay within their home
state.
There is some progress that gleans some hope
things are moving in a positive direction now that
20 states have some type of legal marijuana. Also
the list of marijuana-friendly countries is growing,
and patients now have more travel options than
ever. Maybe Uruguay has never been a place you
wanted to visit, but Google it. If they are so far
advanced beyond us in the ‘War Against Drugs’
and other social issues, maybe there is more to
that little country than we all thought. Otherwise,
the west coast and Rocky Mountains are always
beautiful. Have fun and stay legal!
For those of you that have
been living in fear …Fear NOT,
the Prezzz (our new main
man on ending prohibition
or legalizing cannabis) told the New Yorker
magazine weed is less dangerous than alcohol.
Wow this is big… imagine what this could mean
for “The U.S.” as a nation. But, even more “the
us” here in Michigan.
Wait (what???) “the us” here in Michigan???
What is “the us”? The us is all in the industry
here, which is still in its infancy, which largely
stems from 3 major complications. The first of
them is lack of vision by the authority and “the
lack of a unified voice of the people at that time
2009-2010”. This is what caused the next two
major complications i.e. 2nd the people with out
a unified voice and with out any participation
by most (but not all) politicians. There were
No open forums to formulate a plan to ensure
the spirit of the new law is achieved without
arresting and destroying citizen’s lives (which
was done for political points) for following the
law, as people understood it to be. The Only open
forums were to put in moratoriums or to ban
marijuana. Which was and is unconstitutional.
Which then led to the 3rd major complication
and that is wide spread panic and fear amongst
the people and any person with social status
insecurities (lawyers and politicians included.)
All fled the scene and left just the harder,
rougher around the edges types, the warrior
class “the prol’s” to head the groups and to give
voices to our cause and our stories of the cross
we all have to bear as marijuana patients.
Such a gloomy start to what will be THE SAVIOR
OF the NATION again “ HEMP FOR VICTORY”…
ALMOST God/NATURE SENT …TRULY A
MIRACLE…
We as a people, as a nation, we have been
pushed to the precipice with the war on drugs
and it turns out it is actually greener if we all
just let go of our past beliefs (which is based
on lies and propaganda causes people to make
unjust laws out of fear) and realize we are now
crossing over the thrush hold of a new huge
life changing industry…and here we are just
hanging over this thrush hold afraid to let go.
This huge industry will be coming soon through
out our nation state by state most are legal or
about to be very shortly and just as BILL MAHER
said all will… “join the love train”.
Its coming and it will bring decent paying jobs.
Imagine if Michigan grew hemp, processing
and manufacturing the fiber to be used in
automobiles just as European companies have
been doing for years (instead of the inferior
plastics), sold n shipped to the big 3 (Ford, GM,
Chrysler) right here in Michigan and all the
money stays here in our communities. It seems
to me; it could be a huge trough that stretches
from the rural farmland to the inner cities of
this great state and deep enough for all walks of
life to eat from. (The common man to the huge
corporations)
Just think Henry Ford and his early model T,
it was made from hemp fiber and ran on hemp
seed fuel, the cleanest energy source known
to man at the time and still today. This was
over 100 years ago. What? No pollution from
automobiles, sayyy wwwhhattt…
Keep chipping away and stand up for those
who can’t because they are in prison. No one
should be going to jail for an herb that grows
naturally word wide. We have to support these
people that have had their lives destroyed over
marijuana being illegal.
What up…we are going to talk about flushing…if you
are new to growing and don’t really understand ec/
ppm…chances are you will be following a grow chart
from the hydro stores or online somewhere... these grow
chart/ feed schedules will tell you that you need to use
this much, but in reality you need to know how much
nutrient is being used and what is not used and this can
only be determined by e.c. and ppm.
But let’s say you have read the 1st and 2nd issue of The
Burn…and the e.c. / ppm info is still spinning in your
mind and you don’t quite have a handle on the full
comprehension of these two very important readings.
Well,
then
you will need
to flush your
garden, because
there will be a lot
of residue left in
the soil/media
and the plant,
after following a
grow chart provided by nutrient companies. Remember
MORE IS NOT BETTER because it will leave residue if,
the ladies (plants) don’t use it all.
Now I’m going to tell you how I flush my award
winning strains… “Impressing our judges with a clean
and smooth taste” (H.T. Cannabis Cup Detroit 2011…
issue Dec 2011.) I hope it helps you and hopefully it can
keep your meds safe.
I use 10-gallon pots 85 to 90% filled with soil and the
pots sit inside a mason tray/tub similar to a bus tub that
restaurants use.
Now first things first (3) 5 gallon buckets full of water,
the first bucket has a flushing agent in it. I pour the first
5 gal. of water in and let it settle in and the run off slowly
fills the tub/tray as flows out the bottom of the pots.
After about 30 minutes most of the water fills up tub/
tray at this time I use a wet/dry shop vac and vacuum
the water out of tray. As the water is removed from tray
place the vacuum next to side holes at bottom of pot and
water is pulled through the soil for a couple minutes.
Now the second 5 gal.’s of water is poured into that
very same pot. While this is being done you can empty
the shop vac and when you are dumping the flushed
water you will notice the color of the water. The first
run through the water will be the darkest of the 3 5gal.’s
buckets. If, it is really dark then you know there is a lot
of residue, so this will tell
you that you are using too
much nutrients in your
feed schedule/chart.
Repeat this process with
all three 5gal. buckets of
water in the same 10-gal
pot. You will notice the
second bucket after being
shop vac’ed the water will
be yellowish not as dark
as first run through and
on the third run through the shop vac’ed water will be
clear and this is a good sign because the soil is flushed
and clean of any residue.
This doesn’t mean the plant is flushed, there is still
nutrients in the roots and the plant itself. Using water
ONLY for at least a
week or two can clear
out the excess nutes in
plants. You will see the
leaves turn yellowish
or some will look like
they are dying off as
the plant looks ripe for
the pickings. This color
change is indication that
the nutrients in the plant
are gone and the plant is
using the nutrients stored
up in the leaves kind of
like fat cell storage on us.
This is my final flush… getting my ladies ready for
harvest. I also use one 5 gal. bucket of water flush when
changing from veg. to flower. (18/6 hr. light to 12/12
hr. light) then again 3 weeks into flower clearing any
residue of higher nitrogen levels of early flower as I
increase the phosphorus and potash.
Most important to remember is that after a flush,
shop vac most of the water from side ports in pot to
help clear water from soil and pull oxygen into the soil.
This helps knock down the normal 48 hr plus dry time
to bout 16 to 28 hrs. Don’t water; it will need to dry out
so the roots can breathe once dry (water only if final
flush for week or two or light nutes because root cells
are completely open right after flush and heavy nutes
would restrict them clogging them again). You must let
the soil dry or you can suffocate your plant.
Now hydro growers tend to know e.c. and ppm’s and
they know how important it is to monitor these levels.
This allows the hydro grower to know what is being
used and can feed the plants properly saving money
from using less nutrients. Flushing hydro is not as a
chore as flushing soil but it has to be done properly.
Changing the reservoir water and running a flushing
agent (as directed) and feeding… water only to clear
residue from the roots and plant if the final flush.
Hope this can help you if you were having problems
trying to produce a flushed product.
When flushed properly, meds when smoked, will burn
nice and even with a white ash. Mostly White ash
is a positive sign your meds are clean from residue.
Black ash
and having
to re-light
often means
residue is in
the bud still
and be careful
because
smoking this
is harmful
because these
nutrients are
chemicals
whether they
are organic
or synthetic.
Educate
yourself it’s
your health…
The Prophet
POTUS ON POT
Barrack Obama has finally come
to the defense of marijuana
smokers,
acknowledging
that “marijuana is no more
dangerous than alcohol.” In a
recent interview, the president
also noted the obvious racial and
economic disparities regarding
enforcement of marijuana laws.
“Middle-class kids don’t get
locked up for smoking pot, and
poor kids do,” he said. “And
African-American
kids
and
Latino kids are more likely to
be poor and less likely to have
the resources and the support to
avoid unduly harsh penalties.”
Although Obama warned his
daughters that marijuana is “a
bad idea, a waste of time, not
very healthy” he believes “we
should not be locking up kids
or individual users for long
stretches of jail time, when some
of the folks who are writing
those laws have probably done
the same thing.” He added it
was “important for society not
to have a situation in which a
large portion of people have at
one time or another broken the
law and only a select few get
punished.”
MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN THE
BIG APPLE
New York Governor Andrew
Cuomo will use his executive
power to set up a pilot medical
marijuana program. Cuomo
announced the plan in his
annual State of the State
address, saying that he would
allow up to 20 hospitals to
prescribe medical marijuana
to qualified patients.
Under
his plan, people with cancer,
glaucoma and possibly some
other “life-threatening or sensethreatening” conditions could
seek to get marijuana through
studies based at hospitals yet
to be named, with “stringent
research protocols and eligibility
requirements.” Cuomo’s initiative
bypasses a state Legislature
that has declined to pass more
ambitious medical marijuana
laws. He’s relying instead on
his administrative powers to
carry out a 1980 law allowing
medical-marijuana research. It
has yet to be determined where
the marijuana will be produced
or who will grow it.
COLORADO
ROLLING
IN
GREEN
Last month, visitors from as
far away as Australia and New
Zealand flocked the mile high
state to be among the first to
legally purchase marijuana for
recreational purposes in the
United States. Under state law,
Colorado residents may legally
buy up to one ounce of marijuana
in a transaction. Tourists can
purchase up to one-quarter
ounce. Lines stretched for blocks
and many people waited over two
hours to make their purchases.
Owners
of
larger
shops
reportedly sold from 50 pounds
to 60 pounds of marijuana in the
first week. Smaller shops sold
20 pounds to 30 pounds. The
37 new dispensaries reported
a combined 5 million dollars
in sales during this time. One
million of that came on the
first day of legal recreational
marijuana. Colorado, the first
state to allow retail recreational
marijuana sales to adults age
21 and older, has projected
nearly $600 million in combined
wholesale and retail marijuana
sales annually. The state, which
NFL URGED TO END PLAYERS
PAIN
Although it is listed as a banned
controlled substance by the NFL,
it is estimated that almost 50%
of players in the NFL have used
marijuana for pain management.
Advocates are petitioning for
an exemption that would allow
medical marijuana as a possibility?
A. I do not believe so. The federal
government takes every possible
opportunity to tell us that
marijuana has no medicinal value.
At best, it says that whatever
benefit its active ingredients may
have is outweighed by its harmful
effects when marijuana is in
“crude” form. I see no indication
the federal government wants to be
in the business of supplying state
patients with marijuana. Besides,
it is unlikely patients would be very
excited about it either. The federal
government’s
Compassionate
Investigational New Drug program
players to use medical marijuana makes only one strain available to
without fear of fines, suspensions, its four remaining patients, and it
or other repercussions. Eight is very poor quality.
medical marijuana states are home
to NFL teams, and it is almost Q. We saw the billboard in
universally accepted in the medical Denver encouraging marijuana
community as a safe and effective use instead of alcohol for NFL
pain reliever. Yet according to the players. What is the extent of the
NFLPA, no player in the league MPP’s involvement in professional
has received an exemption to sports?
use pot for medicinal purposes. A. We believe the billboard is a
In response to a question about clear message that employers, and
allowing marijuana use in the in particular those in professional
NFL, Commissioner Roger Goodell sports, should recognize state
said, “I do not know what is going laws that allow citizens access
to develop in medicine as the to a substance that is safer than
next opportunity, to evolve either alcohol and many more harmful
to help with pain or help with prescription medications. You
injuries. But we will continually may have seen a slightly different
support the evolution of medicine message run on a billboard in
because we believe it is important Indiana at a stock car race, the
Brickyard, last year, as well as
to our players,” our parody of beer commercials
WMPP’s
CHRIS
LINDSEY calling marijuana the “new beer.”
WEIGHS IN ON THE ISSUES
Our communications department
New York Governor Andrew is ever on the lookout for effective
Cuomo has hinted that he will ways to get the message out, and
look to the Federal government I would not be surprised at all if
to supply marijuana for his we see similar messaging in other
pilot program. Do you see the sports and areas of the country.
government supplying any state’s
Q. After heavy lobbying from the
MPP, the New Hampshire House of
Representatives recently approved
a bill to regulate marijuana as they
do alcohol. What needs to be done
to ensure this bill becomes law?
A. The New Hampshire House
made history last Wednesday
by becoming the first legislative
chamber in the U.S. to approve
replacing marijuana prohibition
with regulation. The final vote
was 170-162, with a number of
excused and absent legislators.
The bill does not go to the Senate
yet; instead, it goes to another
House committee (Ways and
Means) before a second House
vote. Unfortunately it has dim
prospects in the Senate, and
Gov. Maggie Hassan (D) has said
she would veto it. She has gotten
a great deal of criticism for her
opposition through prohibition
opponents on Facebook, and via
email and though phone calls to
her office. Tactically, the next step
is to put as much public pressure
on senators and the governor as
possible to follow the will of the
voters.
Q. Can I grow marijuana using outside dirt and no nutrients?
A. It’s possible but not advisable. Marijuana is a weed and therefor very resilient to harmful conditions
but the quality and yields are reflected in your efforts. It is unlikely that you will grow quality
marijuana without spending some money on the operation. At the least you will have to acquire food
for your plants. Through trial, error, and research you will learn what works best for your plants and
ways to keep your cost to a minimum.
Q. My young plants have purple stems. Should I be concerned?
A. Purple stems in younger plants are often the results of the genetics. If your plants appear healthy
wait a week or two before making any changes. The stems should turn green soon in most cases. If
the plants are showing other problems, such as slow growth or discolored leaves, you may have a
magnesium deficiency, which may be causing the purple stems. If this is the case, you can easily fix the
problem by adding a little extra magnesium (1 tablespoon of dissolved Epsom salt per gallon of water)
at their next feeding.
Q. How often should I water my plants and how much should I give them?
A. You will want to water your marijuana whenever the top of the soil or growing medium starts to
feel dry, about an inch down. In the early stages you may only need to water every couple of days but
during the end of the flowering cycle you may be watering every day. You want to ensure that you
provide enough water that you get about 20-30% extra run-off out the bottom of the container every
time you water your plants. Marijuana plants love well-draining soil so the run-off will alert you to
drainage problems such as the water taking a long time to drain or not draining at all. Under-watered
plants will show signs of wilting and turn crispy, over-watered plants tend to droop and curl down
from the stem to the leaf.
Q. Are BHO extractions safe to smoke if they still have trace amounts of butane in them?
A. Butane is considered to be non-toxic by inhalation. Inhalation of heavy concentrations (10,000 PPM)
may cause drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, and similar narcotic symptoms, but no long term effects.
Most problems with butane happen during the hash making process as it is extremely flammable.
Aside from explosions, in its liquid form, contact with butane can also cause frostbite or freezer burn.
Q. Where should I keep the humidity levels in my rooms?
A. You can successfully grow marijuana in a variety of humidity levels but maintaining proper levels
will increase your yields and potency. You need to keep humidity at 50-60% during the vegetative
stage. Keeping the humidity at these levels during the vegetative stage will reduce salt levels within
the plant while encouraging healthy and lush growth. During the flowering stage you will want to
keep the humidity under 45%. Drier air during the flowering stage helps prevent mold and actually
increases trichome production. For the last 2-3 weeks of the flowering cycle, use your dehumidifier to
lower the humidity as low as possible. If you can hit 35% you will see a difference. The extreme dryness
will encourage the buds to seal and protect themselves with additional resin, creating shiny crystals on
your buds.
Just a few thoughts concerning HB4271 that sits
before our State Senate. I have some concerns
that I would like to share. Under (section 7/
sub-section 5) a new regulation states that a
Provisioning Center that advertises medical
marijuana for sale shall not include an image of
a marijuana plant or leaf in any advertisement. I
am completely insulted by the regulation. Think
about what they are saying... “Yes medical
marijuana is helpful for patients and Yes, it is
legal but you must still hide this truth from the
public. I am not ashamed that I use medical
marijuana and I don’t believe I should hide
from the public. The regulation violates several
rights or laws including freedom of speech. The
marijuana plant or leaf is beautiful and signifies
our medical marijuana culture. The regulation
is a blatant attempt to
undermine the medical
marijuana movement and
suppress our freedom of
speech. The regulation
will create an over-riding
sense of suppression
and shame associated
with the image of the
marijuana plant or leaf.
As an older individual
I am tired of this
suppression technique!
I am no longer willing to
remain hidden under the
thumb of ignorance and
hopefully, like yourself...”I am most certainly
not ashamed!”
Some of the new regulations will have a direct
negative effect for all registered patients and
caregivers. Section 7 subsection 9 will require
a patient to be limited to one purchase from a
provisioning center equal to the amount allowed
for possession under the Michigan Medical
Marijuana act or 2.5 ounces per patient in a
10 day time period. To start with, a patient’s
medical marijuana usage is between a patient
and their doctor, not the patient and our State
or municipality. This regulation will adversely
affect patients treating cancers with oils as well
as terminally ill patients and patients treating
seizure disorders. 2.5 ounces makes 2 or 3 grams
of oil, enough for a day or two. So, patients will be
required to wait another 8 days for medicine? This
regulation is seriously flawed! So, how are they
going to track your usage every 10 day period?
Under Section 7 subsection 10 they require all
provisioning centers to collect and store on file
your personal information for 90 days. They
require that the provisioning center gathers
your patient or caregiver registry identification
card number. They require the provision center
to record the amount, date and time the medical
marijuana was purchased and then store this
information as confidential records. Once
again, a patient’s usage is between the patient
and their doctor, not the patient and the State
and the provisioning
centers. This regulation
violates privacy laws
and
places
both
patients and caregivers
at risk. In light of all
the security breaches
and information thefts
across the United States
over the past several
years
including
the
most recent security
breach with the store
chain Target in which
millions
of
people
had
their
personal
information stolen... why would anyone want to
place themselves at risk of losing their personal
information to criminal theft? It is easy to foresee
the problems this regulation will cause should
a criminal manage to acquire or steal your
personal information. As a patient I don’t want to
be susceptible to a criminal knowing how much
medicine I procure, the date and time and where
I live. Many patients are handicapped, suffering
from cancers, or elderly. What is the logic in a
regulation that creates a situation where patients
are susceptible to criminal intent or theft? ...You
are right... it makes no logical sense...and places
all of us as patients and caregivers at jeopardy.
A fact our Senators and elected officials should
clearly embrace concerning these new regulations
is that all parties: the patient, caregiver and
provision centers have already fulfilled all the
legal requirements to possess and transfer
medical marijuana. A patient or caregiver
supplies all the required information necessary
to obtain a Michigan Medical Marijuana Registry
card to the State. This card is granted only
after a patient or caregiver passes a criminal
background check. The patient or caregiver is
allowed to possess a certain amount of medical
marijuana and must be able to show proof of
Registry at all times. A provision center and its
employees also go through the same process
including being licensed by the Municipality.
This should be the end of the story. All parties
involved have met their legal obligations to the
State and their Municipalities. There is no point
or logic involved in laying in several more levels
of bureaucracy into an already functional legal
transaction. There is no logic in placing patients
and caregivers personal and medical information
at risk.
If these new regulations seem flawed and
senseless to you as well don’t hesitate to contact
your Senators and local electives and let them
know your opinions. Politicians do pay attention
to your opinion and how their actions affect you
and the community at large. Lastly, don’t forget
to remind them you always Vote! Remember...
there are enough of us now to collectively swing
or change any future elections.
NWS. KRIS.
Well, it wasn’t his day- the
hearing involved charges
against both Gerald (Jerry)
and his imprisoned son, Jeremy. It
was a hearing about their case but neither
man was present; Jerry is in a Massachusetts
federal penitentiary and Jeremy is in a federal lockup
in West Virginia. And the hearing wasn’t about what
the Duval men had done, either; it was mostly about
what law enforcement agents had done while seeking
a warrant to search the Duval’s Monroe County
property for marijuana plants.
Welcome to the confusing world of federal drug
prosecutions. This story is easier to understand if you
take in in bite-sized chunks.
THE MEN
Jerry and Jeremy had a hearing in federal court in
Cincinnati late in January. The Duvals asked for the
hearing in hopes that the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals
would give the men a new trial, based on misdeeds
and mistakes arising from the raid on their property.
That raid led to the charges both men were convicted
of. The warrant was signed by a local magistrate, it was
executed by local law enforcement and members of
a multi-jurisdictional drug task force with the intent
of prosecuting the Duval men at a local level. When
local authorities determined that they could not get
a conviction under Michigan law they turned the
case over to the federal authorities- who pursued the
case through a jury trial. The two men were found
guilty and are currently serving long sentences for
manufacturing narcotics, despite their registrations
with the Michigan Medical Marihuana Program. Not to be overlooked: Jerry Duval is a very sick man.
He is an organ transplant recipient, which requires
a very strict schedule of
anti-rejection drugs. That’s
not his only illness and ailment,
either. Late in 2013 the federal
penal system rejected his application
for their Compassionate Release Program. HISTORY
Jerry and his son Jeremy were participants in the
Michigan Medical Marihuana Program (MMP). In
2010, a flyover by a National Guard helicopter during
Michigan’s annual Operation HEMP marijuana
eradication program revealed marijuana plants were
being grown on the Duval residential property. A
ground team went to the property, interviewed Jerry
regarding his garden, and then left.
Those officers gave Jerry Duval advice on how to
change his growing operation to be more compliant
with Michigan laws. Duval followed their advice;
for example, he built a pair of greenhouses on the
property and moved the plants indoors.
Months later a team of officers raided the Duval
residence, seizing marijuana and plants from the
greenhouses and a pole barn on the property.
That group contained members of the Operation
HEMP team, and officers acting as part of a multijurisdictional drug task force. They took other items,
too, like trucks and cars, things they could sell at a
forfeiture auction. Local drug officers have been so
aggressive toward the entire Duval family that they
have raided Jerry’s mother’s home three times. The legal path was rocky for the local authorities;
eventually they determined that the Duval case
could not be concluded to their satisfaction under
state law due to the Duval family’s MMP status. The
case was turned over to the federal government, who
prosecuted Jerry and Jeremy. In federal court there
is no such thing as medical marijuana; without the
state-based defenses and protections granted by the
MMP the men were treated like drug dealers. Jerry
was sentenced to 10 years, and Jeremy to a shorter
sentence.
FEDERAL HEARING
The federal hearing in Cincinnati centered around
the legitimacy of the actions of the local police officers
when swearing out the warrant and executing the
search of the Duval home. The warrant itself contains
many factual errors, as admitted to by the attorney
assigned to defend the federal position during the 6th
Circuit Court of Appeals hearing.
One of the overriding principals of the Duval defense
case is that a Michigan court decision, People v Brown,
contains as a footnote a statement that declares any
warrant which fails to describe a target’s MMP status
to the magistrate can be overturned.
“This is not a medical marijuana caregiver case,”
the federal prosecutor said. Gerald Duval was not
a caregiver under Michigan law,” agreed attorney
Andrew Greenlee, on behalf of the Duvals. “He was a
patient.” The defense pointed out that other members of the
Duval family were caregivers, and that the marijuana
plants the officers observed at the Duval residence
were legitimate since multiple family members were
gardeners. Greenlee went on to say that the District
Court did not find any evidence that the Duvals were
out of compliance with the MMP.
“The District Court was erroneous in their assignment
of overriding authority,” Greenlee stated. “State law
should govern” the case.
WHAT DID THEY KNOW, AND WHEN
In presenting a search warrant that omitted known
facts, the officers mislead the magistrate into agreeing
to authorize the raid on the Duval home, according to
the defense position. These omissions are known as
‘Franks omissions,’ a phrase that references a case
where the rules for warrants were outlined.
The officer in question is Detective Glick. At the time
of the HEMP flyover Glick was “a road patrol sheriff,”
according to the government attorney, and he was
from 2007 through December of 2010. Glick was not
part of the Operation HEMP team that visited the
Duval home, the attorney claimed, and he swore out
the warrant in 2011 after his promotion to Detective.
Glick did not know that Duval had been visited by the
officers and that he had been given advice on proper
cultivation of marijuana, the federal attorney claimed.
That is hotly disputed by the defense team. “Three
witnesses testified that Glick visited the Duval
home,” claimed Greenlee. The Duval’s cultivation
of marijuana was “the worst kept secret in Monroe
County,” Greenlee said, and Glick’s participation in
the OMNI multi-jurisdictional task force makes the
federal statement unrealistic. Glick also participated
in other Operation HEMP tasks.
The federal judges seemed to not accept the
government’s claims of Glick’s ignorance, but they
were willing to hypothesize anyway. If Glick knew
about the previous visits and committed a Franks
violation of omission, “doesn’t that make the defense
case stronger?” asked Judge Gilman.
“No,” responded the government attorney. It is “easier”
to just deny local laws in favor of federal rules, she
told the panel; that statement brought gasps from
the gallery of observers. The attorney explained that
the legitimacy of the local warrant was not a factor
in determining the validity of the Duval convictions;
federal rules only require that a warrant was obtained
and that a magistrate signed it.
WHERE IS JUSTICE?
We all know the legal story of the Poisonous Tree. If
an officer breaks the law while conducting a search,
the items and evidence found during that search (the
fruit of the Poisonous Tree) is considered tainted and
cannot be used in court. Although there are exceptions
to that rule, the actions of the officers involved are
a question of fact and those are issues for a jury
to weigh and consider. If the search warrant was
improperly obtained, the evidence they seized during
that raid should be thrown out of the prosecutionand that would possibly mean the case against the
Duvals would be dismissed. The first time the Duvals went to trial, their defense
team was disallowed to bring up any issues regarding
the search warrant- or the Duvals’ registration with
the MMP. These men are seeking an opportunity to
let a jury hear about the omissions made by Glick
on the search warrant, and to have the jury decide if
there were significant errors made. It seems common sense to let a jury of their peers
determine the validity of the police action against
them- but in marijuana cases, common sense is often
discarded for an easy path to prosecution. The federal
Judges that sit on the Appellate Court could deny
all opportunity for the Duvals to dig up the details,
but they could also insist that the facts be brought
to light. Hiding behind a federal shied is the way business has
been handled in the past, but a new day is dawning
for marijuana patients- and prosecutions- in America.
With the President saying that marijuana is no more
dangerous than alcohol, these cases seem unjust.
It’s time to throw out the old mindset and embrace a
new way of treating marijuana users with dignity and
respect, and that could begin with a single case of two
men from Michigan.
As a grower or a seed breeder you are going to encounter hermaphrodites. Learning to identify hermaphrodites
may answer some of your existing questions and help you create a seedless garden or quality hybrid.
Understanding what a hermaphrodite is can be rather confusing. The quick answer is a female flower with pollen
sacks...a kind of male/female plant.
(Good place for a picture)
I have placed hermaphrodites into 4 categories or sub-types. Types 1-3 are based on the time male flowers or
pollen sacks appear during the flowering cycle. Type 4 is caused by environmental changes and hermaphrodites
may appear at any time throughout the flowering cycle.
There are factors that can cause hermaphrodite problems:
Extreme EC levels, too much nitrogen during flowering, a change in the
light cycle or, extreme temperature changes.
These are factors you can control as a grower or breeder.
The hermaphrodites and sub-types 1-3 we will be discussing describe
plants or strains that have a natural set genetic disposition to
hermaphrodite. Type 4 being caused by an environmental adaptation
Type 1
process.
Type #1:
Strains or plants that show both male and female traits at the onset or very early in flowering. Often having a
fairly even amount of both male and female flowers. Although this is not a set rule there may only be a few male
flowers or vice versa a few female flowers. The key to type #1 is it occurs at the onset or very early into flowering.
This is the most obvious form of hermaphrodite. Type #1 should be removed from your garden and under no
circumstances should ever be used for breeding.
Type #2:
Strains or plants that develop male flowers later in the flowering cycle. Instead of displaying the trait at the onset
of flowering this type occurs about half way into the cycle leaving enough time to cause seed development. Type
#2 often have fewer male flowers and may take some careful observation to find; often hidden under and between
budding flowers. This is not a set rule. The male flower to female flower ratio could be closer to even but, that
would be rare at this stage. The point to type #2 is it occurs later, about half way through the flowering cycle. Type
#2 should be removed from your garden and under no circumstances should this Type #2 be used for breeding.
Type #3:
These appear a week or two prior to the end of the flowering cycle. Perhaps only showing a few single anthers
or pollen sacks popping up in the female flowers. This type #3 is confusing to growers and breeders alike. Ed
Rosenthal points to this type as a sign of maturity. “Yes” this type occurs at the end of the flowering cycle and
“Yes” these plants are hermaphrodites. Type #3 poses little threat of pollen contamination or seed development.
Many growers keep these type #3 strains as mother plants. On the other hand, type #3 should not be used for
breeding.
Type #1 through #3 should never be used for breeding purposes under any circumstances. There is the belief out
there that you can breed out the hermaphroditic tendencies. This is a misnomer, a complete falsehood. If you
breed with types 1-3 the genotypes of the offspring will be predominantly hermaphroditic and problematic.
There is also the belief that seeds created from hermaphrodites are female seeds. This is also 100% false. The
offspring will be predominantly hermaphroditic. Unfortunately, a large number of breeders and seed
ompanies pass these off as pure females. People try them and become discouraged with the idea of using
feminized seeds while all along they were growing hermaphrodite seeds and not feminized seeds. The two are
not the same thing... They are worlds apart.
companies pass these off as pure females. People try them and become
discouraged with the idea of using feminized seeds while all along they were
growing hermaphrodite seeds and not feminized seeds. The two are not the
same thing... They are worlds apart.
Type #4:
This type applies to plants or strains that have demonstrated no previous
hermaphrodite tendencies until an environmental change had occurred. This
type #4 is not caused by a set genetic disposition in a plant or strain. This type
occurs when environmental conditions are changed. The plant hermaphrodites,
caused by an environmental adaptation or chromosomal adaptation process.
For example: A plant or strain that grows very well outdoors with no
hermaphrodite tendencies moved to an indoor garden-- now, bursts into
hermaphrodite flowering. The environmental change is responsible for the
onset of this process.
There is no single consensus as to why this type #4 process occurs. This type
remains confusing to growers and breeders alike.
Type1 or 2
I surmise that this type #4 is created by environmental or biochemical changes that the plant interprets as detrimental
to its survival and future existence. So, the plant hermaphrodites as a kind of built in survival mechanism; creating
just enough seeds to extend into the future season.
A strain that grows well in a warm climate moved to a cooler climate--now, hermaphrodites. A plant that does very
well in soil but hermaphrodites when grown in a hydro system...An outdoor strain moved to artificial lighting-now, hermaphrodites. These are all examples of type #4 brought about through an environmental adaptation or
chromosomal adaptation process.
As a grower a type #4 plant or strain may not pose a problem. Just avoid the
environmental or biochemical triggers.
As a breeder some strains can make the transition or ultimately adapt to a
new environment. I have had success making the transition by repeatedly
growing plants until identifying a female that showed no hermaphrodite
tendencies. Then, utilizing this isolated true female to produce offspring
that will perform in the new environment without issues.
I also have tried to make the transition with no success. One of my favorite
outdoor purple strains is Twilight. This strain grows beautifully outdoors
with no issues. I tried to adapt this strain indoors by several methods
Type 4
including creating hybrids. After a decade of trying, I gave up on the project.
It can go either way when breeding with a type #4.
Any reputable breeder or seed company will clue you into this type #4 strain. A seed company will state the strain
excels outdoors but does not perform well indoors--or, this strain excels in dry soil but struggles in a hydro system.
After 30 plus years and having experienced growing over 130 different strains from seed companies around the
world-- not including land race strains and my personal hybrids, I have concluded
there is no such thing as a strain of marijuana 100% free from hermaphroditism.
Although, there is such a thing as a true pure female. Finding a pure female may take
hundreds of attempts depending on the strains you are working with.
Unfortunately, a large number of breeders and seed companies either by ignorance
or a genuine lack of concern, skip this process or create strains with hermaphrodite
parents. Finding a true female and the effort involved is what separates a passionate
breeder from a seed salesman.
To summarize, as a grower, the last thing you are planning for is a garden full of
seeds. To prevent this, remove all type #1 and #2 plants from your garden. Keeping
Type 1
around a type #3 will not cause any major problems and a good number of sativas and
land race strains exhibit this tendency. As a breeder avoid using type #1-3 under any circumstances.
As a grower, a type #4 situation can be avoided by researching and procuring strains that compliment your
garden’s environment and your gardening methods. As a breeder, when working with strains susceptible to type #4
hermaphroditism patience will be your best approach. The process could take many years to complete a successful
strain or hybrid. There is always the high probability that despite all your efforts the strain will never transfer or
adapt to a new environment.
As frustrating as hermaphrodites may be, it’s worth remembering it is part of the true nature of the marijuana plant.
Without this built in genetic tendency, there is a real chance the marijuana plant could not have projected itself into
the future and our present conversation.
I hope some of these insights and information have helped answer some of your existing questions and
help you to create a successful seedless garden or hybrid.