In this issue:

18+ For adults only. Soft Secrets is published six times a year by Discover Publisher BV Netherlands Issue 3 - 2012

Continues on page 3

FREE

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF SEEDLINGSThe first 10 days after germination can be the

most crucial of your plants life. Just like a new

born baby, your girls are vulnerable to the

elements and are totally dependent on you to

give them the best start. Lots of growers, both

new and experienced, lose plants at this stage,

get disheartened and move away from using

seeds altogether. But taking care of seedlings

doesn’t have to be difficult. Just follow a few

simple rules and you’ll raise healthy seedlings,

time after time. ›› 22

Autoflowering

Cannabis:

Here To Stay! ›› 18

A SPANISH SUBURB’S GROWING PLAN

At the beginning of March, the govern-

ment leaders of the Catalan town of

Rasquera entered into an agreement with

the Asociación Barcelonesa Cannábica de

Autoconsumo (ABCDA). The ABCDA is one

of the non-profit cannabis growing organi-

sations for members in Spain. The town has

provided the club with 7 hectares of land,

in exchange for € 650.000 per year. The

struggling town intends to use this income

to pay its debts off within the next two

years, and the project has also made 40

new jobs available. Following legal advice,

Mr. Pelissa, mayor of Rasquera, concluded

that the plan is in keeping with the cur-

rent regulations, but the Spanish law has

already announced the intervention as

soon as the first seeds are planted.

RPAS FIGHTING AGAINST DRUGSRPAS aircraft (remotely piloted air system)

will become more and more important in

future wars, according to defence experts.

Except during the war against the Taliban

– who were unarmed, according to the

police – RPAS aircraft have also been used

to monitor the United States-Mexico bor-

der since 2005. Frontier police have six

Predator B airplanes that monitor the con-

traband of both people and marijuana for

the 3100 km length of the border. Thanks

to the information provided by these high

tech busybodies, 7,500 arrests have been

made and about 20,000 kg of marijuana

have been seized. It might seem like a

lot, but actually this quantity represents

a mere 0.003 % of the cannabis the fron-

tier police have got their hands

on in the past six years. Each

Predator costs taxpayers

15 million Euros, not including the

cost necessary to fly surveillance aircraft

which, according to critics, amounts to

€ 4,500 per kg of cannabis. For a small

percentage of that amount, they could

have just bought the ganja and smoked

it themselves!

MARIJUANA SCENT CAN CAUSE CANCERAfter a raid in Corby, in England,

which yielded 80 home-

grown plants, police

stated to local newspaper

Harborough Mail that the

scent of cannabis in the final

flowering stage can cause

cancer. Why would agents

wear gas masks and protec-

tive clothing when they

clear out marijuana

plantations? A logical

example that leaves

no space for doubt!

DID THE POLITICIAN SMOKE A JOINT IN POLISH PARLIAMENT?Polish political leader Janusz Palikot is

amongst the most folkloristic politicians

in all of Europe. Palikot, an ex Philosophy

student who made his fortune dealing

in vodka, is known mainly for his radical,

anti-Catholic and dissolute ideals. In addi-

tion to his campaign for the legalisation of

cannabis, his party, “Palikot’s Movement”,

also fights for homosexual rights, abor-

tion and, in general, for everything the

Catholic Church stands against. In 2007,

Palikot caused commotion for a demon-

stration held during a press conference

when, gun and dildo in hand, he launched

himself against the police officers present.

At the end of January, a new incredible

action: as a protest against the Polish law

regarding cannabis, he allegedly lit

a joint inside Parliament. He wasn’t

threatened with arrest, but Palikot

certainly struck a blow for cannabis

with his action.

DOUGH SINGHIn Belize, a small Central

American country,

Minister of Police

Dough Singh

requested that

the government

liberalise the use of cannabis – quite

remarkable, as senior officials usual only

suggest ideas like this once they’ve retired.

Singh’s proposal focuses on decriminal-

izing the possession of small quantities of

marijuana. The minister, who has already

brought up the heavy question of diet, has

not yet decided whether to set the limit at

5 or 7 grams. Singh’s proposal is a conse-

3

Moby Dick is Dinafem´s most psychoactive strain,

with a concentration of up to 21% THC and the

presence of THCV, a substance (present in equatorial

Sativas) produced in response to the sun’s ultraviolet

rays; this substance makes the effect of the THC

stronger, to the point that the effect can be felt after

just 2 or 3 hits. The low CBD concentration helps

make the effect psychoactively intense and lasting; it

speeds you up both physically and mentally and the

comedown is long, slightly physical and noticeable. It

makes you very hungry and thirsty, so it is advisable

to eat and drink well after smoking, to counteract its

effects. Due to this increase in appetite, Moby Dick is

recommended for treating the secondary effects of

chemotherapy and anorexia.

Outdoors with full sunlight, plentiful soil and water

and wide spacing, the plants will become practically

trees, which grow to 3 meters tall, and you will have

a harvest of up to 1500 grams per plant (!) in optimal

conditions.

The flowering period is quite fast indoors (60/70

days). Outdoors, the plant is ready by mid-October,

with good mould-resistance inherited from its Sativa

parent plant.

Moby Dick is already a legend in its own right, and is

destined to become one of the great classics of this

new century!

Genotype: Haze X White Widow

Genetics: Sativa/Indica with Sativa

dominance

Flowering period: 60-70 days

Outdoor Harvest: From 10th to 25th October

THC: Very High (16%-21%)

CBD: Low

Production: Very High

Outdoor Height: Can reach 3.5 m.

Creator: Dinafem Mo

by

Dic

k

Continued from front page

quence of his frequent dealings with the

many youths who are instantly branded as

criminals for minor infractions, thus enter-

ing a vicious cycle.

PROPOSAL FROM THE LEFT The German political party Die Linke is

once again trying to move something in

Germany’s rigid cannabis legislation, this

time with a proposal that allows admit-

tance to cannabis clubs only to legal adults

and limits personal use to 30 grams. An

estimate shows that between 3.5 and 4

million Germans use cannabis and will

continue to do so, as the current law has

no influence on this fact. Die Linke claims

that prohibition simply encourages use,

contravening regulations. Germany should

instead consider education and prevention

as priorities, as well as controlling the drug

market, rather than criminalizing it.

FRENCH POLYNESIA TURNS GREEN In French Polynesia, a group of Polynesian

islands in the Pacific Ocean, law enforce-

ment authorities destroyed over 67,000

marijuana plants in 2011, nearly 17

plants per square km – not counting the

plants that haven’t been unearthed yet.

Reason enough for Richard Didier, High

Commissioner of the islands, to explain

that “the majority of crime on the 128

islands has to do with marijuana.” Most

notably, according to Didier, psychiatric

wards in Polynesia are crowded with drug-

related cases. Colonel Valentini, head of the

local gendarmerie, added that “drugs can

be found on the islands in ways unimagi-

nable in France.” The call for decriminalisa-

tion on behalf of a representative of the

islands’ administration held last June has

yielded few results...

CANNABINOID BECOMES PAINKILLER In the past few months, forums for

patients suffering from chronic disorders

have been mentioning a new wonder

that works against nearly any chronic

pain. The product, which comes from

Italy, is called Normast and is sold as a

nutritional supplement. The active princi-

ple of Normast is Palmitoylethanolamide

(PEA), a cannabinoid considered equal to

a painkiller. The substance also has anti-

inflammatory properties and increases

the effectiveness of opiates. It presents

no side effects, and there is no problem

in taking it in addition to other medi-

cines. The only disadvantage is its cost:

about € 30 for 20 tablets or 600 mg

sachets (enough for 10 days) is a lot of

money for a nutritional supplement but,

as the substance is not patented, it’s to

be expected that other producers will

begin proposing less expensive alterna-

tives. It is currently unknown whether the

substance is cannabis-derived and how

much is necessary to produce 600 mg.

IN ISRAEL, CANCER PATIENTS ARE TREAT-ED WITH MARIJUANA A recent Israeli study shows that 67 % of

cancer patients who use marijuana for pain

therapy are satisfied with the treatment.

The study was promoted by the Sheba

Medical Center and presented this month

during an Israeli oncologists’ conference.

Many issues related to medical marijua-

na remain unsolved, but health experts

believe that the number of patients treat-

ed with medical marijuana in Israel will

soon reach 40,000. Only seven of twelve

official cultivation centres in the Holy Land

are currently active, because distribution

centres can only provide patients with the

equivalent of €75 of marijuana per month.

5

I would like to warn your readers about a strain called Red Dragon from Barneys Farm. When

grown it produced a few seeds at the base of the buds. which I then used as they would all

be female they grew very well , good and strong and all was well untill untill week 7 when

I noticed that the crop had seeded. I had had a heater fail and the temp dropped to 9 0c so

I put it down to cold stress and tried again with seed from the original grow, this time they

had perfect conditions 28 c max with lights on 20 c with lights off 12/12 to the second feed

and watered with care not to much not to little. However despite my care at week 7 plus 3

days I found the bannanas of doom [ see attached ] I strongly suspect this strain is prone to

this. I found 13 of these on four plants out of 8 . This photo was taken using my USB micro-

scope to the naked eye they just look like yellow blobs about 2mm across at the base of the

buds and on one plant on the stem at the base of a plant not easy to spot , if you grow this

strain constant vidulance from week 5 onwards is recommended I inspected mine every day

and the day before I found them there was no sign, your only chance is to spot them as they

open. I cropped them there and then not wishing to lose another crop but they would have

been better for another week.

ENGLANDER

Thanks for the heads up, Englander. Much appreciated. We’re happy to pass the message

on and prevent other UK growers from experiencing the bananas of doom!

6week in GH seeds A.M.S 100% organic

d/w/c my 1st grow

BOBBY FISHER

Filling out nicely. Couple of bits of advice; try

to raise your oscillating fan so that its mov-

ing the air between the lamp and the canopy,

it’ll reduce heat and allow you to get your

lamps closer. Also, move that hot ballast away

from your DWC buckets, you’ll want to keep

the temps in those buckets between 18-24°C.

Other than that, keep it up mate.

Attention Readers!Fancy a FREE packet of FEMINISED seeds from

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS? Then send us a picture

of your grow room or best cannabis plant,

including a visible copy of Soft Secrets, and

we’ll send you 3 seeds. Should your photo

happen to feature your beautiful wife or girl-

friend wearing a sexy microbikini or super hot

lingerie, you will receive 6 seeds. Photo of

the Month will even receive 9 prime quality

feminised seeds. With compliments of Soft

Secrets and Royal Queen Seeds!

E-mail your entries to SSUK@softsecrets.nl.

NOTE: All entries are handled with the utmost

discretion. We don’t publish out of focus pics,

and we don’t like photos of plants in veg stage.

It’s fat buds & sweet babes we want to see!

E-mail: SSUK@softsecrets.nl

This woz my first time at growing , here is 6 Northen Lights crossed wiv Blueberry I used 2 400w HPS for veg then

added an exta 600w HPS light for flower, I vegged for 6 weeks then fowered for 8 weeks all my foods I used woz from

the Plant Magic range. I am lookin for sum usefull info to help me produce better plants.

Our advice would be to keep doing what you’re doing! Great results for a first grow mate, you should be really pleased. We

hear a lot of good things about Plant Magic. For you next grow, try using some of their beneficials and see what difference

that makes. Keep up the good work!

6

LOLA AND BIG BUD !

Nice! Now let’s have the same picture, without the buds!

A couple of articles in the current issue mention cancer and emphysema. I

have believed for many years (I’ve been stoned since July 1971) that tobac-

co causes cancer and that cannabis can cure cancer but, after switching

from American tobacco (containing 5000 chemicals we’re told), to German

‘Pueblo’ tobacco (100% additive-free), my emphysema has actually got a lit-

tle better. Something the doctor said would not happen, even if I gave up

smoking.

This made me wonder about these chemicals they add to the stuff in the

drying process, I guess. Are they, in fact, more dangerous than the tobacco

itself? Why do they even add any chemicals in the first place? Pueblo is just

as good without any. American ‘Crossroad’ tobacco claims to be additive-

free but if you read the small print on the inside of the pack, it admits

to using only natural additives, dur, arsenic is natural. I wouldn’t trust

American Spirit iether.

The first reason for adding chemicals that came to my mind, is maybe

tobacco companies got worried because so many people were trying to

give up the habit. So how do you stop people giving up? By adding other

addictive substances to tobacco that no amount of nicotine chewing gum

will satisfy the withdrawal from. Could American tobacco barons be so mer-

cenary? ‘Ye bet yer sweet ass’ (sounds funny with a yankee drawl). How far

would Yankees go? Maybe some of the Directors of the tobacco companies

also have seats on the boards of companies producing inhalers, for people

suffering from asthma and emphysema. So if they add chemicals to tobacco

to irritate the lungs, they would increase inhaler sales in the future. You may

think me very cynical for suggesting these things of Americans but how

can you trust people who live in cities built by slaves, in a country stolen by

genocide and who stay rich by robbing other countries. God Bless America.

KOFI ANAN

Some interesting points there, Kofi. Thanks for taking the time to share them

with us. Let’s be honest, we wouldn’t put anything past these companies.

Whatever their reasoning behind adding such chemicals is, the motivation is

always the same; greed and money! Keep fighting the good fight, mate.

Gilly hull, hey up’s ther peeps wots good? and how do’s to you’s in the Netherlands

your a wealth of knowledge so thanks I’m fairly new to all this green finger twitchin I’m more of an original smoker than a grower but I ve had a crack at it this is my

attemp at Cheesewreck from Seedism seeds used Superthrive Coco A+B in veg and PK13/14 and corboload and Sensizym in flower under 600w HPS lights in a 60

40 Coco perlite mix n I thought I’d treat the editor to a couple of pics of my handy work and more importantly our lass cos thats how we roll anyways the green was

belting but I think you’ll agree shes sumfing else mmm, tastey!

ANONYMOUS

She’s a bonny lass, sir. No doubt about that! Very tasty indeed. Some nice looking plants too, decent main colas. We’ve been hearing good things from the UK about mixing

coco with perlite or clay pebbles, makes an airy free-draining medium with the back up of holding moisture in the coco.

Check our brand new website www.plagron.com for tips&tricks

higher yieldsare possible.

pass it on!

8

ANONYMOUS

Heres a pic of my

auto OG Kush, its

my first grow so

not a bad top bud

its the size of a 4

pinter of milk! And

then there’s my

bud queen.

Look at the size

of that main bud!

Another impres-

sive auto plant

this month... and

an impressive lady

too! The only fault

we can find in this

picture is the choice

of football team on

those curtains!

This is my photo with

Big Bud XXL and

Zensation in third

week of flowering.

In the background is

my girlfriend

DAWID

Some stretchy looking

plants there, we hope

they fill out for you.

That lovely looking

lady certainly makes

things all better.

9

Hi SSUK

Great paper keep up the good work. If

my pics are deemed worthy of your fine

publication they are of my super silver haze

3 days into flush. Topped to keep them

unruly sativa’s in check. Ready in just 9

weeks! In sum of the pics you can see my

blackstar 600w LED, very impressive no

noticable difference compared to my 600w

hps. Grown in 2 BIG 8 pot wilma systems

using Atami ATA nutes.

11

Hi all at Soft Secrets HQ, here are

pics of my best plant so far. It is an

autoflowering AK47, grown in my

little cupboard with a 400w light

(metal halide for first 4/5 weeks,

then sodium for the final 5), the

others all grew quite tall and lanky

but all were started together and

had exactly the same soil, water

and feed so unsure as to why

the stretching occurred! Anyway,

am hoping for more like this one

when I start my next crop, hope-

fully with a few seeds contrib-

uted by your good selves at Soft

Secrets, bye for now

JEN X

Wow! These auto varieties get bet-

ter and better. Good work Jen. The

use of the MH light for a few weeks

has produced a nice dense plant.

Interesting that the others got the

dreaded stretch, maybe check the

distance of the the bulb from top of

the canopy? Keep it as close as you

can. Check out the Autoflower arti-

cle in this issue for more auto tips.

Hi

SSUK,

Here you can see my first crop of 26 Chronic (from clone) in a run to waste drip feed system (the waste goes into a them 5ltr

water bottles you can buy anywhere) which was highly recommended by a friend, fed with Canna Rhizotonic, Canna Hydro

vega A & B, Canna Hydro flores A & B, Hesi PK13//14 and Canna Booast. 4 600watt HPS lights in a 2.4 x 2.4 secret jardin tent

which has been fantastic, I had al kinds of problems at the start pH, Temp, Food and Light interruptions but in the we ended up

with 2413gms of dried grade-A smoke, made some great cannabutter out of the trim to. Sorry for not having a sexy girl in the

pictures but these 26 babies are enough for me at the moment. I will be starting the next crop immediately I welcome any feed-

back you have I want to learn as much as possible and make the next crop better! From what I read I just bearly made the mini-

mum of the 1 gram of dried herb for every watt of light!Thank you for your truly great magazine the information is soo helpful.

JIMINY CRICKET

Thank you Mr Cricket! Some good looking girls there; compact and dense. Plus you hit the magical gram per watt figure - con-

gratulations. We know a few UK growers that use aqua trays and run to waste, they swear by them. As for extra advice; keep

going with you feeding programme, but maybe add an additional foliar feed in there and see what results that brings.... oh, and

lets see some other female parts in the next picture!

12 PRODUCT FLASH

You decidewhich way to grow!

From just plain simple to highly sophisticated, all Bio Nova ways are incredibly effective.

Would you like to grow things, but lack a green thumb? No problem! Use The Basic Way and be overwhelmed by the success of your effortless input!

Are you a passionate grower who wants high quality? Use The Dedicated Way of growing, it will blow your mind!

Or are you that perfectionist, who knows exactly what he is doing and why? The Professional Way will be your path to ultimate satisfaction!

Your green companion in every way!

www.bionova.nl | Distributors United Kingdom: Mariner Packaging Company Ltd. - Progrow Scotland

BLOOMSTIMULATORS 100ML

As always Atami remains responsive to consumer needs.

After the great success of the B’cuzz booster in 100ml containers, Atami has decided to bring out the famous B’cuzz

Bloomstimulator in a 100ml version.

For many plants the floweing period is the most important period in the cycle. The B’cuzz bloomstimulator wil force

the plant to flower earlier, so the flowering will be longer and more intense. The Bloomstimulator is 100% …, directly

absorbed, available for each medium and leaves no residue behind. You can use the bloomstimulator as a seccessor

from the booster and can be used in combination with PK-containing products.

The stimulators and liquid nutrients from Atami are screwcap and light sealed so the quality is guaranteerd.

The B’cuzz bloomstimulator 100ml will be available at your supplier very soon!

For more information Atami B.V. 0031-(0)73-5223256

www.atami.nl

BN SOILMIX A-QUALITYPRE-FERTILIZED SOILMIXTURE

For many years Bio Nova has been offering an excellent pre-fertilized potting soil

mixture called BN Soilmix A-Quality.

This mix consists of grinded and sieved garden peat (of a “Regeling Handels

Potgronden”- quality, i.e. “Regulation for the Trade of Potting soil”), Baltic white peat

(“R.H.P.”-quality), special PG mix, magnesium lime and specific additives.

This mix is delivered in plastic bags and is ready-to-use. The included fertilizer suffices

for the first three weeks, after this period use a liquid fertilizer such as Soil SuperMix or

Hydro SuperMix (see the fertilization schemes for more information).

This mix is of a sublime quality and does not set fast and is therefore suitable for re-use.

For an optimal distribution of water in potting soil it is recommended to use FreeFlow,

this product lowers the surface-tension of liquids. This makes possible equal wetting

of the soil in pots or trays.

When BN Soilmix A-Quality (or another potting soil) is re-used, it is recommended to do

an analysis a week before the harvest after which a specific fertilizer advice can be given.

This secures the mineral balance and a maximum yield of your crop.

www.bionova.nl

14

MEGA WORM FROM PLAGRONPOWERFUL WORM HUMUS WITH A NEW NAME

Plagron has a comprehensive range of additives. These UNIVERSAL prod-

ucts can be used with all substrates and can be combined with all fertilisers

from Plagron. One of these unique additives is Mega Worm.

This additive recently got a new name and new packaging. Mega Worm, former-

ly ‘Worm humus’, is a natural soil improver based on composted plant remains. It

creates optimum balance in the soil so the plant can grow and flower profusely.

Mega Worm has a very high organic content: it contains a quantity of trace ele-

ments, enzymes and minerals like Mycorrhiza and Trichoderma, which protect

and feed the plant.

Distinguishing manure

Mega Worm provides a rapid germination of seeds, a strong root development,

increases resistance and stimulates growth. Formerly, Mega Worm was only

available in the famous green bag. Now it is available in purple pots of 1 litre,

buckets of 5 litres and bags of 25 litres. Plagron has grown because of the worm

manure. Our worm humus still stands because of the extensive analyzes we

perform on the nutrition of worms. We only select the best manure.

Pass it on!

More information can be found on our new website, www.plagron.com. Here you

will find loads of information on Plagron products and growing in general. The info

on Plagron products will be easy to find on this site, giving you useful tips, showing

you our related products and FAQ’s for each product. This is an interactive website,

where one grower gets to meet the other and can share his/her experience or opin-

ion on Plagron products with other growers. Exactly how our slogan ‘pass it on’ is

meant to be. Keep a close eye on our website for the latest news and developments

of our products and for growing in general. Don’t forget to check out our Facebook

page for extra tips and tricks (facebook.com/plagron). Of course you can also con-

tact our servicedesk through servicedesk@plagron.com.

WILMA SYSTEM

The co-developed Atami Wilmasystem by Atami BV is since its launch a worl wide

success,which is particularly due to the combination of versatility, quality and simplicity.

This culture system is designed so that everyone can handle it, thus can be used at any loca-

tion and ideal in combination with tents.

The Wilma system is a tank and irrigation system in a set up and available as a stand alone,

or in reciculating edd and flood.

The Wilma system scan be used in combination with any medium, the pots are

easy to install and easy to remove, if necessary without removing the nutrition

supply to the other pots.

This highly versatile system is available in 6,5, 11 and 18L pots, using the easy setup and

automatic feeding saves a lot of work and you get great results in any medium.

For more information you can visit us at www.atami.com

PRODUCT FLASH

15AMSTERRANT 15HOW WOULD IT BE ENFORCED?

The Dutch 15% Rule The government of the Netherlands recently announced the proposal of a new law that would redefine any Cannabis product containing more than 15% THC as a hard drug. It would preclude sales of most hashish, especially the ice- or cold water extracted varieties the Netherlands is so famous for – and according to some, up to 80% of the herbal Cannabis varieties currently sold in coffeeshops. Any esta-blishment found during routine checks to be stocking illegally potent strains would be subject to fines, and upon repeated violations, potential closure and loss of license. by Kali Mist

The passing of the new law would involve

the modification of the existing Opium Act,

a procedure that has often been claimed

to be nigh on impossible to achieve. In

the past this argument has been used as

a way to explain previous governments’

reluctance to legalize Cannabis; that leg-

islating against Cannabis would be so

easily accomplished is extremely telling of

the political direction the nation is taking.

Although the proposal is ostensibly made

with the developing youth, the unwary

tourist and the hopeless addict in mind,

it seems that it is truly intended to fur-

ther frustrate and hinder the beleaguered

ranks of the coffeeshop owners – as part

of the ongoing campaign to make busi-

ness so full of red tape and taxes as to be

unappealing, and indeed nonviable.

Opponents of the law have pointed out

several fairly glaring errors of judgment

inherent in the proposal. Perhaps most

pressingly: while a very slim selection of

at-home THC testing kits is available, it is

very difficult to test THC levels in Cannabis

at point-of-sale. Most kits work on the

basis of thin layer chromatography (TLC)

and require a control specimen (of which

the THC percentage is confirmed) for pur-

poses of comparison.

If these control specimens were to be

acquired through liaising with a lab, speci-

mens would then need to be kept in a

state where the THC would not degrade

(unless specimens were sent out to all cof-

feeshops every few days – which would

be ridiculous, not to mention costly.)

Providing such optimum conditions may

not be possible for most coffeeshops,

who are by their very nature not labora-

tories. Just sticking it in the deep freeze

is not quite what is meant by a scien-

tific approach, after all. Without a control

specimen, the most a TLC test can really

do is show the existence of different can-

nabinoids and give a rough idea of the

ratios in which they are present.

On top of all this, DIY testing programs

would likely be liable to a higher margin

of error than those conducted in a con-

trolled environment by trained techni-

cians. This fact remains even if one con-

siders the possibility of regulating the

cultivation of Cannabis, rather than its

sale, to retail establishments – although in

some respects it would make a little more

sense as an option. Ideally, if the law must

be implemented, the grower will know

which strains will fall within the legal limit

before even attempting to cultivate any-

thing, and will be able to assess the levels

of THC throughout the grow in order to

ensure no loss of earnings from growing

unusable crops. A stable lineage can usu-

ally be expected to produce offspring that

will be similar in cannabinoid profile to its

parents, so buying good quality strains

from reputable seed companies should

provide some guarantee to the grower.

However, in practice one can never be

entirely certain of what one is purchasing,

and the possibility for anomalous potency

may also lead to the potential for laws to

be broken entirely unintentionally.

The common preference for clones is a

double-edged sword: while one can be

sure the genetic profile of the clone is

identical to the mother’s, clones are only

available through the black market and

the likelihood of such genetics to be rigor-

ously tested and reliable is low. Potential

THC percentage may in the future be

discoverable through genomic testing of

young clones or seedlings; however, such

technology is in its infancy and is unlikely

to be available for some years. It is also

very unlikely that growers or coffeeshops

would be able to accurately implement

such exacting procedures.

Even if proponents were crystal clear

about how they intend to enforce the

rule, the thinking behind it remains dubi-

ous. The main argument seems to be: if

THC causes developmental problems in

young adults, schizophrenia, and depres-

sion, then products higher in THC will

therefore be even more likely to produce

these effects. Firstly, it is far from clear how

much blame can truly be laid on Cannabis

for many of these occurrences in humans.

Secondly, the argument fails to take into

account the importance of the cannabi-

noid ratio, which includes myriad different

compounds whose individual effects on

humans are yet to be determined – let

alone the effects of their countless differ-

ent combinations. Specimens of Cannabis

that fall within the 15% THC limit may

contain ratios of other cannabinoids that

moderate the overall effect in particu-

larly harmful or undesirable ways. Until

we know more about this vastly complex

interaction between our two species, an

arbitrary rule such as this makes no sense

and may well do more harm than good.

It remains to be seen what methods

would be used by growers and wholesal-

ers to circumvent the rule. As many have

found out (after purchasing a bud that

turned out to be coated in weight-increas-

ing substances) those behind the scenes

in a criminalized industry seldom have

the best interests of the end-user at heart,

preferring to prioritize profit. If safety was

truly paramount, the Netherlands would

have a legalized and regulated industry.

Passing a law in the name of safety that

in no way ensures it is at best hypocritical

and at worst highly dangerous. However,

it has not yet passed the final stages of

the legislative procedure – many such

proposals have not, in the past – and the

fervent hope that it will not is shared by

many, both in the Netherlands and in the

wider international community.

ONE OF THE FEW AVAILABLE DIY TESTING KITS FOR CANNABINOIDS (PHOTO:

MONTANA BIOTECH)

TO ENSURE VALID RESULTS, SPECIALIZED CONDITIONS AND EQUIPMENT MUST

BE USED (PHOTO: TOUNOTOUJI)

THE DUTCH COFFEESHOPS ARE NOT HAVING AN EASY TIME OF LATE

(PHOTO: LIBER)

16

During a festive and moving ceremony,

the Cannabis Culture Awards 2012 were

awarded in Amsterdam. Two former

statesmen, Mr. Thorvald Stoltenberg,

former minister of Defense of Norway

and Mr. Dries van Agt, former Prime

minister of the Netherlands, expressed

their hope for a future without can-

nabis prohibition. ‘Hope is almost as

important as life itself’, said Stoltenberg.

Mr. Stoltenberg accepted the Cannabis

Culture Award on behalf of the Global

Commission on Drug Policy. Former

CCA winner Dries van Agt handed

him the award and complimented Mr.

Stoltenberg on his groundbreaking

work in this commission as well as in

Norway. Mr. Van Agt played a key role

in establishing the world famous Dutch

tolerance policy on cannabis. He was

very outspoken in his criticism of recent

policy changes in the Netherlands. ‘This

policy change to more repression, or

even “zero tolerance”, is devastating

nonsense’ van Agt said.

Lester Grinspoon, associate profes-

sor emeritus of psychiatry at Harvard

Medical School, was unable to travel

to Amsterdam to receive his award.

Thankfully, the Hash Marihuana & Hemp

Museum was able to arrange a video con-

ference between the Academic Medical

Centre Amsterdam and the library of the

Harvard Medical School where Lester

Grinspoon first started his research. The

third Cannabis Culture Award Winner,

Psychiatrist Fredrick Polak, commented

on the most recent political develop-

ments: “The resignation of the Dutch

government will hopefully lead to termi-

nation of the new rules for coffeeshops

and the so-called ‘weedpass’.”

World’s largest cannabis museum opened in BarcelonaFour festive and magical days marked

the opening of the world’s largest can-

nabis museum in Barcelona, Spain. The

Hemp Museum Gallery is a branch of

the orginal Hash Marihuana & Hemp

Museum in Amsterdam.

The new museum is located in the

famous gothic quarter of Barcelona,

within walking distance of the beach and

the Ramblas boulevard. Ben Dronkers

(Sensi Seeds, Hempflax, Hash Museum)

purchased the wonderful 16th century

Palau or Palace Mornau in 2001 and

spared no expense or trouble to turn

it into a world class museum.His vast

cannabis collection of over 6500 piec-

es has finally been professionally cata-

logued and the original Hash Museum in

Amsterdam has been thoroughly reno-

vated and upgraded. Hats off to the

extended Dronkers family: the results in

both cities are spectacular.

The reopening of the Amsterdam muse-

um and the grand opening in Barcelona

coincided with the 2012 Cannabis Culture

Awards. In Amsterdam, the awards were

presented by former Dutch prime minis-

ter Dries van Agt, who received the award

in 2009. Winners included Norwegian

elder statesman Thorvald Stoltenberg,

father of the current prime minister

and member of the Global Commission

on Drug Policy and Dutch psychiatrist

and drug policy activist Fredrick Polak.

Finally an award was presented to the

legendary Lester Grinspoon. Because

of his inability to travel a Skype inter-

view with Ben Dronkers was shown at

both ceremonies.

The Barcelona ceremony took place on

May 9th, two days before the official

opening of the museum. The event was

dominated by Virgin founder Richard

Branson, who accepted an award on

behalf of the Global Commission on

Drug Policy. The two hours the British

super entrepreneur spent in the museum

were one big media blitz; a notable dif-

ference with the Amsterdam ceremony,

attended by only a handful of journalists.

Branson promised to urge the Global

Commission to issue a strong statement

denouncing the repressive course Dutch

cannabis policy has taken and stated

that legal cannabis could solve Spain’s

economic crisis.

The two other winners in Barcelona

were Todd McCormick and Fernanda de

la Figuera, Spanish grower and cannabis

activist since 1973. After the awards

ceremony, the party went on for four

straight days, with special openings for

the press, locals, members of Spanish

Cannabis Social Clubs and the general

public. The museum is a magical place

where even the most knowledgeable

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: FREEK POLAK, THORVALD STOLTENBERG, BEN DRONKERS OF

SENSI SEEDS AND FORMER DUTCH MINISTER DRIES VAN AGT.

Cannabis Culture Award Winners 2012:

Richard Branson is the founder of the Virgin Group, a

conglomerate of more than 400 companies. He founded

‘Student’ magazine at the age of 16 and would later go

on to establish a record label, music stores, a railway com-

pany, an airline and even a business offering trips to outer

space. In 2007, Time Magazine included Branson in its list

of the world’s 100 most influential people. Branson is a

member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy and

sits on the Honorary Board of the Drug Policy Alliance.

He is one of the most eloquent and famous advocates

for the decriminalisation of cannabis. An important

cornerstone of Branson’s business success has been to

recognise when a strategy is not working and to have the

foresight to change direction when the situation requires

it. The war on drugs is a failed enterprise as far as Branson

is concerned. This is why he thinks that governments

need to learn from the failures of drug policy and have

the courage to enact better solutions.

Dr Lester Grinspoon is Associate Professor Emeritus of

Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Now one of the

most respected and outspoken proponents of cannabis,

Dr Grinspoon originally set out to prove it was a harm-

ful drug. In 1967 he began research to scientifically

define the dangers of marijuana. His studies led him to

a surprising conclusion, the opposite of his hypothesis.

Cannabis was not the dangerous drug that he, and the

general public, had been led to believe it was. His book

´Marijuana Reconsidered´ (1971) reflected this reversal

of opinion and was followed by several more, including

´Marijuana: The Forbidden Medicine´ in 1993.

One of the most dedicated, passionate medical marijuana

campaigners in America, Todd McCormick describes him-

self as an ‘activist/author, traveler, photographer, friend

to many’. He has been actively working on initiatives for

cannabis and health since 1994 and was instrumental

in promoting the implementation of new medical mari-

juana legislation following Proposition 215 in California.

He is the Editor in Chief of Hempire magazine and author

of How To Grow Medical Marijuana, an acclaimed step-

by-step guidebook (which he offers as a free download).

Currently he is working on the upcoming THC Expo in

Los Angeles, which last year attracted over 40,000 people.

cannabis afficionado can learn some-

thing. The best places might be the

small balconies at the front of the build-

ing, where you can sit and smoke canna-

bis, while looking at passers-by gazing

up and taking pictures. Certainly one

of those things you have to do at least

once in your life…

Hemp Museum Gallery,

Carrer Ample 35,

Barcelona, Spain

» http://hempmuseumgallery.com

Text © Derrick Bergman (G0NZ0 Media,

VOC)

EVENTS

Guaranteed Quality*** ***

FLOWERING

18 GROW WITH LITTLE LEBOWSKI

Autoflowering Cannabis: Here To Stay!Unless you have been living in a cardboard box for the last few years, you can’t have failed to notice the craze for autoflowering seeds and their rise in popularity. Take a minute to look at the various adverts for seed banks in this very issue of Soft Secrets, the vast majority have an autoflowering option in their range. Some even deal exclusively in autoflowering stock! So, what is the deal with this trend? What are the benefits? And…. are they here to stay…..? By Little Lebowski

So, what are they?The term ‘autoflower’ refers to Cannabis

plants that switch from the vegetative

to flowering phase depending on the

age of the plant, rather than the amount

of light they receive.

Regular, photoperiod sensitive, strains

of Cannabis are grown vegetatively on

18 hours of light and 6 hours of dark-

ness and are triggered into flowering

by altering the ratio to 12 hours of light

and 12 hours of dark. Reducing the light

‘fools’ the plant into putting out flowers

(growing buds); as, in nature, a reduc-

tion in daylight hours would mean that

Autumn is approaching and the plant

needs to reproduce.

Autoflowering plants will begin to pro-

duce buds, regardless of the amount

of light they receive. Grown from seed,

the plants will begin to develop buds

from around 3 to 4 weeks old. There is

no need to reduce the amount of light

hours they receive.

In an outdoor situation, regular

Cannabis Sativa and Indica varieties can

take 6 months from planting to harvest.

Grown indoors, they can take 3 months

to harvest.

In contrast to this, autoflowering strains

will grow from seed to harvest within 8

to 10 weeks. This means that you plant

them alongside your regular outdoor

crop and have a nice harvest in the mid-

dle of the season!

Basically speaking, you plant the seed,

wait for it to germinate, propagate for

a couple of weeks and then move into

your final container. No need for clones,

no need for separate vegging and flow-

ering rooms and no need to change the

timers on your lights.

Autos are the fastest, easy to grow and

most compact (and easy to hide) plants

available on the market.

How were they created?Most of you will be aware of two types

of cannabis variety; Indica and Sativa.

The ‘Indica’ plant varieties are typically

squat, bushy plants, highly resinous and

high yielding, producing buds with a

strong ‘stoned’ effect. The ‘Sativa’ plant

varieties are typically taller, less bushy,

with long thin leaves, producing buds

with a soaring ‘high’ effect.

Put simply, breeders cross Indica and

Sativa varieties to produce mixed

strains containing the positive char-

acteristics from both parents. Check

online or on the back of seed packets

and the breeder / seed bank will usu-

ally advertise the % of Cannabis Indica

and Sativa in that strain.

Autoflowering strains introduce a

third Cannabis variety; the Cannabis

Ruderalis. Reports vary, but it is largely

thought that this variety originated in

South East Russia and spread into China

and further East. As a smoker or grower,

the pure Ruderalis plant is of little inter-

est; it grows small in height – up to

around 60cm – produces few female

flowers and the buds that it does pro-

duce contain relatively little THC.

However, as a breeder, the Ruderalis

contains a very interesting charac-

teristic; the variety has the ability to

grow from seed to adult in around 10

weeks (allowing it to grow in cooler

climates, with less available light). Also,

the female Ruderalis quickly generates

flowers without needing a reduction in

daylight ours. It flowers when it reaches

a certain age, rather than being depend-

ant on light. It autoflowers!

The first crosses of the Ruderalis plant

weren’t particularly popular but, as dif-

ferent breeders and seed banks got

involved, the quality quickly improved.

Now you can get autoflowering varieties

of many of your favourite strains and the

majority of them are also feminised – no

need to sex your plants or change your

lighting, what could be easier?

What Are The Benefits?Autos have quickly become popular

within the Cannabis community; here’s

why;

- Ideal for beginners (or lazy growers!)

– no change in photoperiod to worry

about, no need for separate vegging

and flowering rooms. Just plant your

seed, propagate for a couple of weeks

and let the genetics do their thing. Get

an Auto feminised seed and you don’t

even need to sex your plants.

Also, the small stature of the Auto plant

lends itself well to the inexperienced

grower who needs to concentrate on

feeding and creating the correct envi-

ronment, rather than pruning or train-

ing their plants to ensure they don’t

outgrow their room.

- More outdoor harvests – because Autos

begin flowering automatically, growing

outdoors and starting a crop early in

the year (weather permitting) means

that you’ll be harvesting in the middle

of summer. Overlapping your plant-

ing and harvest times by a week or so

means that, even in the UK, you could

conceivably pull 3 outdoor harvests in a

year!! The short growth cycle also allows

you to start an outdoor crop later in the

year. So, if we have a crap spring (and

we usually do!) you can plant well into

the summer months and still pull an

outdoor harvest.

- Grow outdoors, up North! – growers in

the North of England and Scotland can

conceivably grow an Auto outdoor crop

now that they are not reliant on a mild

spring and consistent daylight hours.

- Hardy plants – the Cannabis Ruderalis

influence in the genetics of Auto strains

means that they are more resistant to

the cold weather, disease and moulds

(they grew up in Russia and Siberia

after all!). This is handy for outdoor

growing in the UK and for newer grow-

ers who don’t have the experience

maintain a stable temperature in their

grow room.

- Small in size – most of the Auto strains

(with the exclusion of the ‘Super

Autos’) will remain small. This is perfect

for growers with a small room or grow

tents and for guerrilla growers looking

for an easy to conceal plant.

- Beat your mates! – we all know that

loose lips sink ships (and get grows

busted!), but we also know that there

is some healthy competition between

friends who are growers. Beat them to

the harvest time with an Auto strain!

- Interesting for hobby breeders – the

Auto strains show their sex after just

3 weeks and a female can produce

100’s of seeds despite standing less

than 2 feet tall! The fast harvest time

means that you can cross and produce

quickly. One tip: the Auto trait tends

to be recessive, so if you breed with

a photoperiod sensitive plant (rather

than another Auto), you are likely to

lose the autoflowering characteristic.

What Are The Down Sides?Every positive has a negative, every ying

needs a yang! Autos are no exception;

- Much reduced harvest – you will crop

less bud with an Auto plant. The plants

are smaller in stature anyway and you

can’t control the vegging period in

order for the plant to fill out and ‘fill’

your growing space before flowering.

The Ruderalis plant, that Auto strains

descend from, produces less bud than

a Sativa or Indica strain anyway. Some

of the dwarf Auto strains, which fin-

ish in around 60 days, will typically

produce under an ounce per plant.

Although, with the introduction of

‘Super Autos’ this is now changing.

THE PLANTS WILL BEGIN TO PRODUCE BUDS,

REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT THEY RECEIVE

AUTOFLOWERING STRAINS INTRODUCE A THIRD

CANNABIS VARIETY; THE CANNABIS RUDERALIS

1919

- Lower THC content – the influence of

the Cannabis Ruderalis means that the

THC content of Auto strains can be less

than some of the stronger, more estab-

lished Indica or Sativas available. Some

of the early Auto strains produced

had very little psychoactive content

whatsoever, which gave the plants a

bad reputation with some growers.

However, with more and more com-

mercial seed banks and breeders com-

ing on board, the quality of Autos has

advanced rapidly and will continue

to advance – take a look through this

magazine and see the big names that

are now producing Auto varieties.

- No clones – growing Autos is really

only viable from seed. It’s not impossi-

ble to clone an Auto plant but, because

the plants will mature and flower

regardless of the amount of light they

receive, you cannot prolong the veg-

etative phase to develop the clone. If

you take a cutting from an Auto plant

that is just about to flower, then that

clone will begin to flower. So, there is

no swapping or selling of clones.

Autoflower Growing TipsIndoor Lighting – Auto’s can be flow-

ered under 12 to 24 hours of daylight.

In theory, the more light they receive,

the greater the yield they produce –

since the maturation is determined

by age rather than light hours, you

won’t really shorten the growth cycle

significantly with more light, the plant

will just photosynthesise more and

produce more yield within the set

amount of time.

Economically speaking, it’s advisable to

think about your electricity bill when

you decide on the amount of light you

give. Is it worth keeping that 600 watt

lamp blazing 24 hours, to get a few

extra grams? Probably not, you’ll end

up spending more on electricity than

you get back on yield.

The best advice is to experiment

between 16-20 hours of light and see

what results you get with the same

strain. As with photoperiod sensitive

plants, using a blue / white fluorescent

or metal halide lamp in the first 3 weeks

will encourage vegetative growth and

give your plants a solid structure to

flower on. You could change to a HPS

lamp in the red spectrum once you

begin to see bud development.

Nutrients – as with regular plants, using

a specific Grow and Bloom nutrient will

help to promote dense lateral growth

in the vegetative stage (first 3 weeks

after germination) and development

of buds in the flowering stage. Use the

Grow nutrient until the end of the first

week of flowering, just as you would

with a regular Cannabis variety. Root

and bloom stimulators and PK addi-

tives can all be used as normal.

Potting UpAs the majority of Auto strains will

remain at a relatively small size, it is

counterproductive to use very large

pots – because they’ll start to flower

before they fill them. Remember that

you can’t prolong the vegetative stage

to allow the roots to fill the pot. The

plants will flower from around 3 weeks

old and you want all energy to be con-

centrated on bud production after this

time, so, one pot up after germina-

tion should be all they require, nothing

larger than an 11L container.

Outdoor growing – autoflowering varie-

ties can be grown in the UK much further

North than regular varieties as the matu-

ration time is so much quicker. Just plant

out at the end of May / early June and

you’ll be harvesting at the end of summer.

Also, the small size of some the Dwarf

Auto varieties makes them ideal for

sneaky guerrilla grows or that space in

the greenhouse or garden, that is just

out of site of the neighbours!

The FutureAs discussed, autoflowering plants have

grown in popularity to the extent that

many award winning and ‘classic’ strains

are now available in Auto form. These

plants have aroma and strength compa-

rable with regular photoperiod plants

and aren’t too far off in terms of yield

production (when compared to a regu-

lar plant, flowered after 3-4 weeks).

A recent development in the field of

autoflowering is the emergence of the

‘Super Auto’ strains. These varieties are

far larger than regular Autos and have a

much longer vegetative period, allow-

ing them to grow to an impressive size

before flowering is automatically trig-

gered. Expects harvests after 110-120

days rather than the 60-80 days with a

regular Auto. The advantage with the

‘Supers’ is that the longer veg time (a

Sativa characteristic) will mean much

larger yields.

It’s clear that Auto’s are more than just

a short term craze and for the begin-

ner, outdoor guerrilla or grower short

on space they can make more sense

than a regular variety. They are here

to stay!

- JUST PLANT YOUR SEED, PROPAGATE FOR A COUPLE

OF WEEKS AND LET THE GENETICS DO THEIR THING

20 GROW WITH GRUBBYCUP

The Fungus Among UsThe realm of things that are alive is separated into various kingdoms. There are several different ways to do this, but a common way is to group life forms into kingdoms of Bacteria, Protozoa (Amoebas), Chromista (algae), Animalia (animals), Plantae (plants) and Fungi. By Grubbycup

Members of the Plantae kingdom are the

plants that gardeners grow. These belov-

ed members of their kingdom supply us

members of Animalia (people are mem-

bers of the animal kingdom) with treas-

ures of fibers, foods, flowers, and flavors.

But they are not alone. The neighboring

kingdom of Fungi includes both enemies

and allies including molds, mildews, mush-

rooms, yeasts, and mycorrhiza.

In general, fungi prefer dark, wet, undis-

turbed environments. While members of

the plant kingdom use cellulose to build

cell walls, fungi use chitin, which is the

same substance found in lobster shells,

insect carapaces, and octopus beaks. They

often reproduce by releasing spores, which

are tiny groups of cells that float through

the air in the hopes of landing in a hospita-

ble area to form a new colony. Spores from

common local fungi are often already pre-

sent in gardens, and they are just awaiting

proper conditions to begin growth. These

spores often require near continuous avail-

able moisture, and as a result overly humid

or wet gardens have a greater tendency

to have fungal problems. Humidity above

70% is ideal for fungal growth, although

outbreaks can occur at lower levels. Air

circulation can have a strong influence on

fugal growth, since poor air movement

can create “pockets” of high humidity air

around plant material that encourages det-

rimental fungal growth. Since fungi do not

use chlorophyll, they have no light require-

ments, and in fact often prefer darker areas.

Wet plant refuse in a pile is an open invita-

tion for an opportunistic fungal colony, so

garden waste should be dealt with and

not allowed to collect in damp conditions.

Fungal outbreaks can start with as little as

24 hours of appropriate conditions.

Stem Rot is a fungus that can develop on

and kill off overwatered seedlings. Once

contracted, it is usually fatal, but can be

avoided by proper watering. Root Rot is

also caused by overwatering plants, but

again can usually be avoided with proper

watering and root aeration. Gray Mold

attacks areas of poor air circulation, and

can usually be avoided with some com-

bination of proper ventilation, trimming

areas of dense growth, and trying the

plant open to allow for internal airflow.

Powdery Mildew is another moist garden

fungal menace, common to appear, but

with several treatment options includ-

ing milk and other homemade remedies.

Verticillium Wilt is a destructive fungus

that invades and grows inside infect-

ed plants, an almost always fatal and

untreatable arrangement. Dutch Elm dis-

ease is another terminal fungal ailment

. Prevention is easier than treatment,

so keeping humidity under control,

removing decomposing plant material,

and the elimination of standing water

are the best methods to avoid an initial

outbreak. Once a colony has become

established, in most cases it must be

treated. Correction of environmental

issues, removal of colonized plant mate-

rial, chemical fungicides, and biological

fungicides are all options for treatment.

Sulfur is a common treatment, as are

neem oil, and the bacterium Bacillus

subtilis (Serenade).

Yeast is a fungus commonly used to make

bread rise, and creates the alcohol in

wine and beer. Edible mushrooms can be

grown at home using logs inoculated with

the proper mushroom spores. However

some mushrooms can be toxic, so make

sure of the identity of any mushroom

considered for consumption.

Fungi assist in plant decomposition and

the conversion of waste plant material

into compost. They break down large

and woody plant material into forms

more accessible to further decomposi-

tion by bacteria.

Some fungi are so helpful they are inten-

tionally added to gardens. Mycorrhiza

are often added to plant root systems to

improve nutrient uptake, and some are

even used as biological pesticides. For

example, entomopathogenic fungi such as

Purpureocillium lilacinum have been used

to combat parasitic nematodes by infect-

ing their eggs.

Mycorrhizal fungi have formed symbiotic

(mututally beneficial) relationships with

almost all terrestrial plants. These colo-

nies are in a symbiotic relationship with

the plant, where each benefits more than

it loses from the presence of the other.

Mycorrhiza fungi are found naturally

occurring in healthy “live” soil. The com-

bination of mycorrhiza fungi and plant

root are what is known as mycorrhizae

(fungus-roots). Plants with well established

mycorrhizae tend to perform better than

those that do not. The plant provides a

carbohydrate source for the fungus, and in

return, the fungus helps assist the plants

in nutrient uptake, drought resistance,

and blocking their environmental niche

from pathogenic fungi. Mycorrhizae col-

lect and process nitrogen, phosphorus and

a variety of micronutrients and pass to

the plant. Of particular use is their abil-

ity to increase phosphorus uptake, which

dramatically increases over non infected

plants. Mycorrhizae thrive on carbohy-

drates, which is part of what they receive in

return from the plant in exchange for their

helping the plant to thrive. One way to

boost mycorrhizae is to feed them with a

carbohydrate additive such as molasses.

If using mycorrhizal inoculants, apply at

the beginning of the season to establish

the colonies early. Once established, the

infected roots should serve as a host to

allow the fungus to spread throughout

the root system. Much like a small colony

of mold will take over an entire loaf of

bread, in a healthy root system mycorrhi-

za will spread to fill the available space.

Plant improvements from inoculate use

are particularly pronounced when used

early in poor or sterile mediums. In soil

that already contains high levels benefi-

cial fungi, adding more spores has a less

pronounced effect.

Plantae isn’t the only kingdom that fungi

interact with, lichen are part fungi and part

algae, and penicillin (Penicillium chrysoge-

num) is taken as penicillin by the Animalia

kingdom to combat invasions by members

of the Bacteria kingdom.

Speaking of the interaction between ani-

mals (us) and fungi, the hallucinogenic

psilocybin mushroom is another fungus

occasionally consumed for it’s effects.

While the dangers of eating a non-iden-

tified wild mushroom are very real. They

can be safely grown at home as a hobby

using a prefabricated kit such as the ones

offered from Back to Roots who sell small

mushroom kits made from recycled cof-

fee grounds. Several online merchants sell

spores and other equipment needed for

more the adventuresome hobbyist, but a

small kit is a fun way to try out the experi-

ence to see if it suits you.

There are good fungi, and then there are

some unpleasant ones. Like with every-

thing else, make friends with the good, and

avoid the bad where you can.

Peace, love, and puka shells,

Grubbycup

THESE OYSTER MUSHROOMS ARE AN EDIBLE FUNGUS.

MUSHROOM KITS ARE AVAILABLE

FOR HOME USE.

POWDERED MYCORRHIZA FUNGI IS

USED AS A PLANT ADDITIVE.

STEM ROT IS A FUNGUS THAT CAN DEVELOP ON AND

KILL OFF OVERWATERED SEEDLINGS.

22 GROW WITH LITTLE LEBOWSKI

How To Take Care Of Seedlings

Growing from seed is great; there is a vast range of seed banks to buy from and – unlike growing from clones- you get to pick what-ever variety you want to grow rather than relying on whatever cuttings are going around at the time. By Little Lebowski

The first 10 days after germination can be

the most crucial of your plants life. Just like

a new born baby, your girls are vulnerable

to the elements and are totally dependent

on you to give them the best start. Lots of

growers, both new and experienced, lose

plants at this stage, get disheartened and

move away from using seeds altogether.

But taking care of seedlings doesn’t have

to be difficult. Just follow a few simple rules

and you’ll raise healthy seedlings, time

after time.

Pre-Germination TipsSome of the problems associated with

bringing on seedlings can stem from the

fact that not all of your seeds will germi-

nate at the same time. For example, keep-

ing the vents on a propagator closed while

you wait for all your seeds to show can

lead to the germinated seedlings rotting or

‘damping off’.

To avoid these problems, you may

choose to germinate or ‘pop’ your seeds

before you plant them into their growing

medium. This way you can be sure that

you have selected the healthiest seeds

and won’t be waiting around for the

weaker ones to germinate.

There are a couple of tried and tested pre-

germination methods;

1. Cup of water – take a cup of mineral

water and leave it in for a few hours to

bring it up to room temperature. Put

your seeds into the water and break the

surface tension with a (clean) finger so

that the seeds sink. Place the cup in a

dark place that stays at a constant tem-

perature, preferably between 19-24°C.

Within 24-48 hours the seeds will have

cracked and the tap roots will show. The

seeds can be left in the water until the

tap root protrudes a few millimetres and

can then be planted out.

2. Paper tissue method – sandwich the

seeds between pieces of damp tissue or

paper towels and place them in an air-

tight container, ziplock bag or between

two upturned dinner plates. Place in a

warm, dark environment; an airing cup-

board or on top of a fridge or dvd player

– where warm air is constantly vented

out. The seeds should germinate within

48 hours and can then be planted.

Ensure that you plant the seeds a few mil-

limetres under the surface of your chosen

growing medium with the tap root point-

ing down, within a couple of days the

seedlings will break through and you won’t

be left waiting around for any runts.

Choose The Correct EnvironmentWithout doubt, the absolute best environ-

ment for a young seedling is a propaga-

tor. Seedlings need consistency in order

to grow healthily; that means consistent

temperature, humidity and air flow. A

propagator provides this consistent envi-

ronment. Any changes to these environ-

mental factors need to be done as gradu-

ally as possible – to prevent shock - and it’s

easy to do this with a propagator.

In its simplest form a propagator can be

made from any material that allows light

to reach the seedling and maintains a

constant environment by trapping heat

and humidity inside it. A clear plastic bag

sat over the top of a pot and attached

with an elastic band, forms a cheap but

effect propagator!

Your local hydro shop will stock inexpen-

sive plastic propagators that comprise of a

seed tray and a clear plastic lid or humid-

ity dome. The lids often have adjustable

vents that allow you to control the airflow

and humidity levels inside the propagator.

When seeds first germinate, you need to

maintain humidity of around 80%, this

is done by keeping the humidity vents

closed, which stops airflow and prevents

moisture from escaping.

Once all seedlings are showing, gradually

open the vents a little each day, this will

increase the airflow and decrease the

humidity, this process is called hardening

off and gets the seedlings ready to be

moved into the main room. It also pre-

vents ‘damping off’. After 10 days the lid

should be fully removed and your seed-

lings will be ready for transplanting up.

The ideal root zone temperature for seed-

lings to develop is between 19 - 22°C.

Keeping temperatures uniform across all

seedlings will ensure that they develop at

the same rate and are ready to transplant

at the same time. This can be achieved by

placing your propagator onto a heat mat

or, if you’re bringing on lots of seedlings,

invest in a heated propagator.

Use The Correct LightOnce your seeds have germinated and

have broken through the surface of the

growing medium, they will begin to pho-

tosynthesise and must have light for a

minimum of 18 hours per day.

Although it is certainly possible to start

Cannabis plants on the windowsill using

natural sunlight, this method carries its

problems; the main one being that the

sun is not as consistent as a grow lamp.

A hot sunny day is difficult to plan for

and you could return home to a window

sill full of wilted plants. Seedlings are

vulnerable and can wilt within hours if

the conditions are wrong. Direct sunlight

can fry them!

If natural light levels are poor, the seed-

lings will stretch for light, leaving you

with long, spindly plants that only

develop small yields. Remember, if you’re

growing indoors, you need to maxim-

ise the available headroom under your

lights. You need to keep plants short and

squat until they are ready for flowering.

Otherwise you are wasting space on long

stems, rather than long buds!

Why spend good money on seeds and

then risk losing all of your plants on the

windowsill? It makes sense to invest in

some indoor lighting.

When plants are very small, excessive

heat and light can stunt their growth or

even kill them. For this reason it is not

practical to start them under a HID lamp,

you’ll certainly be wasting money if you

TWO FRESHLY ‘POPPED’ BEANS.

GERMINATED USING THE TISSUE

PAPER METHOD FIRST SET OF TRUE LEAVES BEGINNING TO SHOW

A HEALTHY LITTLE SPROUT IN THE DIRT

- THE FIRST 10 DAYS AFTER GERMINATION CAN BE THE

MOST CRUCIAL OF YOUR PLANTS LIFE

23do as you’ll need to place the lamp a

good distance away from the seedlings

(so you’ll be wasting heat and light).

Fluorescent lighting is less intense and

gives off less heat, so is much more suit-

able. The propagation lighting available

from your local grow shop – such as T5

propagation strips or CFL ‘eco lights’ will

have an output in the blue / white spec-

trum; this encourages plants to develop

roots, grow outwards rather than upwards

and will see your plants through the propa-

gation phase and into the early vegetation

stage of growth.

These fluorescent lamps are cheaper to

purchase and operate than HID lighting

and, because they give off much less heat,

they can be placed closer to your seedlings

– so you waste very little light.

In the UK a single 24 watt T5 strip light will

cost as little as £20 from your local hydro

shop. This would cover 10-15 seedlings in a

small propagator. Bargain!

Feed At The Right TimesBefore planting your seed, your growing

medium should already be moist, but not

completely saturated. Peat or coco plugs

should be soaked in water until they are

fully expanded and then allowed to drain

overnight. If you are using rock wool

cubes to propagate, soak them in a solu-

tion of quarter strength nutrient solution

that has been pH’d to 5.5 and allow them

to drain overnight before using.

As discussed, the main objective when

propagating your seedlings is to quickly

establish a healthy root zone. To do this

it is good to understand the effects of

watering the root zone.

Roots grow in response to depletion

zones, i.e. outwards to search for water

and food. When a root has absorbed all

of the available water and minerals in

one area of growing medium, it grows

outwards to find more. This is how the

plant ‘fills’ the growing medium with

roots. Therefore, it is essential to allow

the growing medium to dry out before

re-watering. This allows the roots to

use up the majority of the food and

water present.

When water and food is always available,

the roots don’t need to search out for them

and the root zone will be underdeveloped.

Obviously, it is very important not to over

water seedlings, however it is a balancing

act, as under watering will cause the roots

to die back and this too limits development.

It’s worth remembering that seedlings are

tiny and are unlikely to need any additional

food or water for the first 3 to 5 days after

germination. If in doubt, you can purchase

a soil moisture meter to double check.

The first feed can be given to your seed-

lings once the first real leaves appear;

these are the second set that develops

after germination. Don’t feed stronger

than an EC level of 1.2, including back-

ground EC. Always stay on the cautious

side with your feed, it’s easy to give addi-

tional food if your plants need it, but it’s

difficult to correct over feeding with very

young plants.

Learn to read your plants; as a general rule,

if the lower leaves start to yellow, they

are hungry. If the edges of the leaves are

brown or curling, they are overfed.

Transplant With CareIf you’ve started your seeds in a propa-

gation medium like rock wool cubes,

peat or coco pellets then within 10 days

of germination they should be ready

to transplant onto the next stage. Even

seeds started in a small 3 inch pot of soil

of coco will probably be ready to move

up a pot within two weeks of germina-

tion. The seedlings will still be vulnerable

at this stage, so the main goal is to mini-

mise transplant shock.

For best results – and to minimise shock –

transplant into the same growing medium

that you started in, for example seeds ger-

minated in soil should be transplanted to a

soil pot, coco to a coco pot. This will speed

up the time the seedling takes to root in its

new medium.

The exception to this rule is rock wool,

which provides an inert, sterile starting

block which can be transplanted to any

medium. Each block is completely uniform

to the next, so each seedling will grow

consistently and will be ready to transplant

at the same time.

Contrary to popular belief, when trans-

planting into a new medium, it’s a good

idea not to water on the day of transplant-

ing. It’s likely that the seedlings will have

suffered some root damage when they

were transplanted, watering immediately

can introduce pathogens into the dam-

aged roots. It is best to wait until the next

day and water in with a dose of plant stress

reliever, like SuperThrive.

This will also help to prevent root rot or

‘damping off’.

It is also worth mentioning that you can

bury a plant up to the first node (or branch)

when transplanting. This allows you to

shorten the height of individual plants and

ensures an even canopy. This technique

can be done at every stage of potting up.

Timing is key for successful transplanting;

you want the roots of the seedling to have

appeared on the outside of the propaga-

tion medium. Transplant too early and you

can stunt top growth as you wait for the

roots to fill out the medium.

Transplant too late and the seedling may

become root bound in its cube, become

dehydrated or begin to develop deficien-

cies. If your seedlings begin to yellow then

they are in need of food and need to be

transplanted up and given additional feed.

Once seedlings have been transplanted

into their new pots or cubes, they can be

put back into the propagator for a couple

of days before hardening off and going

into the main grow room.

Label Up!Labelling your seeds when you sow them

is really a must. When growing more than

one strain at a time, one thing that catches

out even the most experienced of growers,

is forgetting which plant is which! No mat-

ter how good your memory is, after a cou-

ple of joints, that stoned visit to your grow

room will inevitably lead to the seedlings

getting mixed up.

Different strains may need different levels

of feed, so it’s well worth remembering

which is which. Use plastic stake labels

rather than wooden ones, they are easy to

wipe and, in some instances, damp wood

can harbour the larvae of certain grow

room pests.

Now get germinating!!

INVEST IN A PROPAGATOR. YOUR GIRLS WILL LOVE YOU FOR IT!

TIMING IS KEY FOR SUCCESSFUL TRANSPLANTING; YOU

WANT THE ROOTS OF THE SEEDLING TO HAVE APPEARED ON

THE OUTSIDE OF THE PROPAGATION MEDIUM

®

Sale prohibited to people under 18 years old. Seed for coleccionist use exclusively. It´s ilegal to make them germinate. They´re not for agriculture purposes. Consult laws about cannabis aplied in your place of residence. Sweet Seeds will not be acountable for ilegal use of this seeds done by third parties.

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25TRAVEL

DODGY STASH AND EVOLVING LAWS

Argentina

If only the Argentinian football team

was as easy to beat as the quality of

weed the country has to put up with!

Even so, from a cannabis perspective

Argentina is a very interesting coun-

try for a number of reasons; there is

a strong passion for cannabis culture,

and their legal and political progress

towards accepting our favourite plant

as a normal part of life is keeping pace

with the consensus in the streets... So

why is it so chuffing bloody hard to find a

decent smoke in this land of mullets and

gauchos then? For this issue of SSUK we

take a look at recent legal and political

developments in the Argie weed scene,

why their stock of marijuana is so poor,

and why it could improve rapidly in the

coming years...

Being in the ‘back yard’ of the USA,

Argentina had, for a more than a gen-

eration, been on the receiving end of

the irrational, ignorant and highly politi-

cised US-led ‘War Against Drugs’. This all

changed in 2001 though. As a result of

the economic collapse of Argentina in

2001, a national rebellion against US

neocolonialism saw the Argie’s boot out

their US-supported fascist government

along with the inhumane economic

diktats of the IMF. A socialist-oriented

government was voted in and a political

revolution of the country began.

So what’s all this got to do with weed? You

only have to take a quick stroll around the

streets of the capital Buenos Aires and

chat with a few of the locals to understand

that their politics and passion for ganja

are strongly interlinked – the graffiti on

the city walls, the saturation of dread-

locked and pierced heads in the streets

and the amount of headshops hawking a

full range of bongs and skins also confirm

a story that needs no translating.

Their impassioned political debate

surrounding the decriminalisation

of drugs for personal use turned into

political reality in 2009 as a result of

the famousArriola case. Without going

into the precise details of this case,

the case-related comments of three of

Argentina’s Supreme Court Judges (SCJ)

give us a great snapshot of the current

ways of thinking amongst many in the

Argentinian Judiciary:

In 2009 the standing law (Law 23.737) was

deemed unconstitutional because “it vio-

lates Article 19 of the National Constitution,

in the sense that it invades the sphere of

personal liberty, which is excluded from the

authority of state organs... it incriminates the

possession of drugs for personal use under

circumstances that do not bring any concrete

danger or harm to the rights and welfare of

others.” (SCJ Elena Highton de Nolasco)

SCJ Carlos Fayt went on to point out

that, with regard to drug trafficking “the

approach of criminalising drug use is reveal-

ing itself to be ineffective...”

In mind of the individuals affected by

the laws, Fayt added “Criminalizing

an individual [for drug use] is undeni-

ably inhumane, subjecting the person to a

criminal process that will stigmatize him

for the rest of his life and subject him, in

some cases, to prison time.”

The popular SCJ Raul Zaffaroni follows

that with: “the criminal sanctioning of

drug users… has become an obstacle for

the recovery of those few who are drug

dependent, since it only serves to stigma-

tize them and reinforce their identification

with drug use, clearly undermining pro-

gress in any type of detoxification therapy

and change of conduct that seeks pre-

cisely to build self- esteem on the basis of

values other than drug use.”

An educated layman and avid smoker

then told us that “now the main political

will is to punish only major traffickers; their

logic is that if every smoker had even only

one plant then narco-trafficking for can-

nabis would end within a few months...”

At the political level the consensus

has been a little more divided though;

the move towards decriminalisation

is supported by the President Cristina

Fernandez de Kirchner, recently voted

in for a second term, but was opposed

by the old vice president, Julio Cobos.

At the time of writing we are still waiting

to see what consensus of opinion will

develop when Amado Boudou, the new

vice president, finds his feet in the job.

The arguments given by politicians

opposed to decriminalisation appear to

be more evasive and dogmatic rather

than based on facts or knowledge; in an

interview with THC magazine one politi-

cian argued that he ‘wants a debate with

the security forces before any law changes

are introduced. Right now is a bad time

for the debate because there are a lot of

BUDS ARE A RARITY AND SELL FOR ROUGHLY FOUR

TIMES THE PRICE OF THE PARAGUAYAN IMPORT THAT 99%

OF ARGENTINIANS HAVE TO PUT UP WITH.

The Professor

26

big issues that need dealing with and this

is not a majority concern… The vision for

a decriminalised Argentina is complicated

and has many critics.’

Moving out of the linguistic gutter of

the political world, up at street level

the major force in raising public aware-

ness in all aspect of cannabis culture in

Argentina over recent years has been

the magazine ‘THC’. Our educated lay-

man and avid pot smoker told us “we

are learning so much about the plant,

about the science, politics and the laws,

because of this magazine – it is serving

an important purpose for us. One of the

things it is doing is letting us know about

cases that are being fought in the courts

so that people can support the defend-

ants with money and our good wishes for

them; this is important because now we

feel we are really part of a community and

that we have a way to make our voices

heard.” Talk to any discerning pot smok-

er out here and the conversation won’t

get far before they mention the maga-

zine; knowledge really is power and the

knowledge being shared through THC is

clearly empowering a lot of Argentina’s

finest heads...

Cameron & Clegg Inc. and their latest

drugs advisory council would do well to

have an ear on the debate that’s been

going on over here. It’s great to hear

such considered thoughts coming from

people like Highton de Nolasco, Fayt and

Zaffaroni, people in power, even if they

are from the other side of the Atlantic.

Considering all the fuss that’s being made,

you’d think they’d have some nice smoke

knocking about then… Fat chance!

Flowers (buds) are a rarity and sell

for roughly four times the price of

the Paraguayan import that 99%

of Argentinians have to put up with.

Exported Paraguayan weed is notorious

for its poor quality in both Argentina

and Brazil – occasionally you can get

hold of a good ounce for 80-120 pesos

(15 quid-ish) but most of the time you

wouldn’t want to pay that for the ounce

of crap you end up with; full of seeds

and stalks, compressed and packed wet

most of the time and sometimes even

cropped off-season… And then there’s

the joints they roll! I’ve never been

passed so many spitting, bum-sucked

joint butts anywhere. Ever. Get it togeth-

er guys - joint rolling’s an art, not a way

of putting your mates off their food!

These old ways are all set to change

when/if the new law changes go

through though. We paid a visit to a

couple of the headshops where we

were told “in the last two and a half to

three years the home growing scene is

just starting to take off. We’re still not

allowed to sell seeds but we can sell lights,

and hydroponic equipment and fertilisers,

some people even come here because they

really just want to grow some plants or

flowers in their apartment and they need

the equipment – we never really expected

those customers. It’s a bit crazy though,

everything we sell is for Maria but it’s ille-

gal for us to sell the seeds!”

There are a good few places in Argentina

where the climate is great for controlled

outdoor grow ops as well; in one of

these spots, living in a community of

like-minded souls, we found Luz…

“Me and a group of friends decided that

we would all grow four plants and share

whatever we managed to produce when

we cut them down – we did that because

none of us had grown Maria before and

we didn’t know if they would die, I’m usu-

ally terrible with growing plants! I loved

those plants so much! They were the first

plants I ever grew that lived properly and

the police came and took them, and they

arrested me! I was at home one day and

my friend’s little son come running to my

house… “Luz! Luz!” He was shouting, “the

police have just come round to mama’s

house to take her plants and they’re going

to take her as well!” I rushed to throw

the plants away… They were less than a

week away from being cut down! They

were so beautiful! The police caught me

in the garden trying to throw them over

the fence so they arrested me. Two of my

friends managed to hide their plants for

when the police came but me and my

friend had to go to the police station for

interviews. When they were interviewing

me the plants were on the table so every

time I got the chance, when the police

wasn’t looking, I pinched some flowers off

with my nails and put them in my pock-

et… At the end of the interview he told

me I could go and that they’d let me know

what action they were going to take – if

I have to go to court or no… A few days

later they sent me a letter and they said

that the matter was finished and that they

weren’t going to do anything more. I was

so relieved, I’ve never been in trouble with

the police before and it would be really

bad for my job, but my friend said “That’s

shit! They can come here and break into

your apartment and steal your plants but

then they don’t do anything more…” She

told me I should take the letter to the

police and ask for my plants back – I

thought she was crazy but we had a drink

and smoked a joint and she convinced

me! I went down to the police station the

next day with the letter and I ask them for

my plants back… At first they couldn’t

believe what I was asking but then they

told me to go home before they changed

their mind about giving me a punishment!

We have to do it though, I love to smoke,

usually just two or three nights in a week

but I love it, and this Paraguayan Maria

is so horrible – it’s like they pee on the

plants when they cut them down, some

people think they do! Whenever we have

flowers it’s so good, that’s always really

lucky times!”

A lot of twenty-something Argentinians

have even left Argentina altogether

because of the lack of decent puff in the

country… “I have friends who spend most

of their time in Bolivia and Peru now, the

Maria is much better in those countries – in

Bolivia it’s quite good and very cheap, but

in the north of Peru it’s the best weed in

South America; they have a great climate

and the soil is really good there for growing

most crops.” These poor folk we’re talking

about have pretty much left their home

country altogether because of the cattle-

feed they get served by their dealers.

And before we leave you with the idea

that the Argentinian police are all as

generously humoured as the cops in

Luz’s local north, very different stories

emerge about the cops in the south of

the country. An Aussie brother I met in

Buenos Aires ended up being chased,

beaten and locked in a cell for nine

hours along with his English hitch-hik-

ing pal by some bored southern cops,

for no apparent reason other than the

fact they were English speaking gringos.

Rumours abound that after the fall of

German Nazism in 1945 many of their

old guard fled to Argentina to avoid

being swept up by the war crime police

– a lot of these peeps joined Argentina’s

police force: add to that legacy the

recent Anglo-Argentine spat over the

Falkland Islands and you have a group

of cops down in the south of the coun-

try who aren’t too friendly to vulnerable

English travellers. Be warned.

THE MOVE TOWARDS DECRIMINALISATION IS

SUPPORTED BY THE PRESIDENT CRISTINA FERNANDEZ

DE KIRCHNER

28 CANNABIS FAIRS

2012The history of cannabis fairs began with Soft Secrets magazine and the successful Highlife Fair organised in towns such as Utrecht, Amsterdam or Barcelona. This first stage saw the public speeches mainly concentrated on hemp and its uses, namely in the textile, food or cosmetics fields. It’s also important to emphasize that this sector of our industry has by now become well-established, with several fairs held throughout Europe, carrying on the concept of cannabis fairs that we began last century. author: El Druida

All this inspired the Soft Secrets group

to take a few years’ break before return-

ing with a completely new concept.

2012 is the year that saw the reorgani-

sation of the Highlife fairs under the

new name GrowMed, the fair dedi-

cated to self-cultivation of cannabis

and other medicinal plants. Returning

to a new city with a new concept is a

task to be faced with courage and long-

term vision. And that’s exactly what

Soft Secrets did, trying to include every

aspect of this concept in the fair.

Feria de ValenciaThis new vision led to the choice of the

Feria Valencia fairground for GrowMed.

It’s one of the best fair centres in all

Europe, offering the highest possible

quality in services and resources. The

entire third floor of the central pavilion

– wide, bright and professional – was

reserved for the occasion. Its natural light

and 20,000 sq m capacity impress any-

one who walks through the doors. This

allowed us to organise a fair with wide

corridors and a smooth flow of visitors;

there were never any problems due to

over-crowding during the entire week-

end, not even on Saturday, when the fair

saw the largest number of visitors.

The wide, blue-carpeted sponsor cor-

ridor which the fair centred around,

hosted the brands that staked the

PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS AND CONFERENCES ON THE MEDICAL

USES OF MARIJUANA WENT ON ALL DAY.

WERNARD BRUINING CAME SPECIALLY FROM

THE NETHERLANDS TO SPEAK ABOUT HIS MEDIC-

INAL MARIJUANA OIL.

THE PUBLIC FOLLOWED EVERY CONFERENCE

WITH GREAT INTEREST.SWEET SEEDS WAS OFFERING A FABULOUS PAELLA

29most on the fair, each with its 100 sq

m stand. The main sponsor was Royal

Queen Seeds, while other important

sponsors were Grass-O-Matic, Soft

Secrets, Future Care, Sweet Seeds,

Dinafem, Bio Ibo, Canna, Grotek, Hesi-

Hortitec, Atami, Plagron and GreenGo.

Mention must also be made of the

second-level Eva Seeds and Plantasur

stands, as well as the effective use

Paradise Seeds made of its space, by

placing its advertisements above the

stand, striking a balance between

volume and visibility. Several other

exhibitors, such as Grow Solutions or

Hemp Trading, also set up stands at

GrowMed. We certainly must under-

line the huge efforts on behalf of all

the exhibitors who realised the level of

professionalism that GrowMed aspires

to and made it their mission to rise to

the occasion with their stands.

Along with a significant national and

Valencian community delegation,

there was also a sizeable international

presence, with exhibitors hailing from

all over Europe. Luc, the owner of

Paradise Seeds, was quite adventurous

in choosing his means of transport, as

he travelled the Barcelona-Valencia

stretch by bicycle. In a show of friendly

rivalry for originality points, the differ-

ent brands displayed their mascots for

visitors to snap photos with – from the

Royal Queen Seeds lions to Elite Seeds’

BananaMan. As far as original mar-

keting goes, the Advanced Nutrients

Europe badges certainly stood out:

each one had a number written on it,

and when two lucky people ended up

with the same number, they received €

500 at the Advanced Nutrients stand,

amongst much joy and celebrating.

Med ParkOne of the main distinctions of

GrowMed was the central medical

arena. Four 70 sq m areas, outlined by

trees, aromatic and medicinal plants,

made up the medical arena, dedicated

to spreading information on medicinal

cannabis in its four main aspects: sci-

entific, legal, self-cultivation and clubs.

To promote contact with the public

during the talks, the format chosen was

that of round-tables with the addition

of information stalls.

The focal point of the Med Park was the

Medical Lab, where the round-tables

saw the participation of four members

of the SEIC (Spanish Association for the

Investigation of Cannabinoids). Thus,

Javier Pedraza dealt with cannabis and

pain, Koldo Callado spoke of cannabis

and neuropsychiatric diseases, Javier Díaz

of the cannabinoid system and Manuel

Guzmán, president of the SEIC, spoke

of cannabis and cancer. Dr. Joan Parés

and assistant Monserrat Torres also par-

ticipated, on behalf of the medical con-

sultancy of the Catalan association MACA.

The round-table on cannabis and cancer,

which saw Javier Díaz and Javier Pedraza

flank Manuel Guzmán, was indubitably

one of the highlights of GrowMed.

This area was also characterised by the

Canna foundation laboratory, where

experts analysed samples not only to

test their cannabinoid contents, but

also in search of possible contamina-

tion. An important note is that, for the

first time, the laboratory was directed

exclusively by one of the most impor-

tant scientists on the scene: Iñaki

García. And his expertise showed in the

results, which seemed much more real-

istic compared to other series of tests.

An example of this new arrangement

is that the sample with the highest

THC content belonged to Hugo, of the

Bilbao grow shop Recoge y Siembra,

with 15% THC.

The legal area was coordinated by

the legal office Brotons & Albert.

Furthermore, this area – as well as the

one previously mentioned – boasted

the SEIC seal of approval, and sev-

eral lawyers belonging to the FAC

(Federation of Cannabis Associations)’s

group of legal consultants were pre-

sent. Thus, Rafael Agulló and Hector

Brotons dealt with the legal regime

of medicinal cannabis, while the pair

made up of Hector Brotons and Miguel

Torres explained the situation of social

cannabis clubs and therapeutic uses.

Finally, Alacannabis’s legal consultant,

Esther Concepción Sanchez, spoke

about medicinal purposes in self-culti-

vation. Brotons & Albert also provided

a consulting service for any growers or

users with doubts and legal problems.

The star of the self-cultivation area

was certainly Jorge Cervantes, with his

talk on outdoor medicinal self-grow-

ing in the United States. The world-

famous cannabis guru entranced his

audience with a great display of pho-

tos and scads of information. Wernard

Bruining’s talk about his work using

AN IMPORTANT MEETING WITH THE TESTIMONIAL GIRLS.

30medicinal tinctures for patients with a

variety of ailments was also extremely

successful. Joan Parés and Monserrat

Torres also spoke on this subject.

The club and associations area hosted

members of PUKA (National Association

of Consumers of Therapeutic Cannabis)

and of the RCN-NOK (Navarra Cannabis

Representation) therapeutic cultivation,

as well as members of the FAC. However,

we suffered two serious losses. Friday

morning began with the tragic news of

the death of José Julián Sanchez, known

as Coque, the president of therapeutic

association El templo del cannabis. José

Julián was a great supporter of medical

cannabis, a fighter and an example for all

of us. He was deeply committed to this

fair. On Thursday he was seen getting his

accredit and overseeing the fair assem-

bly, but he never made it to Friday. José

Julián was an agricultural expert who had

prepared a talk on the medicinal uses of

cannabis that we never had a chance to

enjoy. It’s a great pity that he never got to

see the first European medicinal cannabis

fair, although his energy certainly accom-

panied us and intervened on behalf of

the success of this first edition, because

it was one of his greatest dreams. On

Saturday there was an emotional moment

of silence in his honour.

Martín Barriuso, president of the FAC,

was unable to attend due to a fairly

serious case of pneumonia that he still

hasn’t recovered from, weeks later.

Although social cannabis clubs, which

have greatly benefited from his contri-

butions, are enjoying a moment in the

sun, the case is different for Pannagh

– the club that Martín Barriuso is presi-

dent of. The club was confiscated and

Martín has invested all his money and

the money he has been lent to meet

bail. All this in addition to health trou-

bles. Pannagh is undoubtedly a refer-

ence point for European activism, and

the time has come for all of us to sup-

port the club, which has always fought

on behalf of all cannabis clubs. After

having battled for the model that has

helped us all, it’s time to return the

favour, by making a donation to Victims

of the Pannagh Breaking Up, 3035-

0104-27-1040051014.

Aside from the four main round-tables,

ten additional information stalls were

set up in the Medical Arena, where

visitors could directly contact several

groups and associations. The user asso-

ciation PUKA was present, along with

other mixed groups like THC Valencia,

Alacannabis and the FAC. Another

participant was the association called

“Dulce Revolución”, dedicated to the

circulation of medicinal plants like

Stevia, Kalanchoe and many others.

Recreational programAnother aspect to set GrowMed apart is

that exhibitors weren’t allowed to set up

their own sound systems; the fair itself

took charge of background music with

several sound towers distributed through-

out the building. GrowMed’s musical con-

cept was entrusted to Victor Santana, an

electronic music producer at the height

of fame, who also happens to be a grower

himself, and has followed our fairs since

the Amsterdam Highlife years, as he lived

in Holland at the time. During the three-

day weekend, Victor played soul, funk

reggae and other “black” musical genres,

much to the appreciation of all visitors.

Another important musical point was

the outdoor area or Smoking Lounge,

THE PROMOTIONAL MODELS WERE REAL BEAUTIES.

MIGUEL FROM ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS IS HAVING A GOOD OLD TIME.

sponsored by Resin Seeds. There can’t

be a Soft Secrets fair without a smok-

ing area, so the outdoor truck access

(third floor) was reserved especially

for the Resin Seeds Smoking Lounge,

which also hosted representatives

of the Rototom festival – an impor-

tant European reggae festival held in

Benicassim. It was a pleasure to have

our Rototom friends introducing us to

the music they play during their festival.

This area also hosted the giant pael-

la offered by Sweet Seeds and Hemp

Trading, which fed about 800 people!

Of course, these weren’t the only rec-

reational activities available during

GrowMed; there were also a Silent

Disco and an Art Space, which saw

the performances of artists such as

Moduleight, D.Forma, Mighty Mike and

Mr. Marshall. Not to mention Madame

Gimeno’s mini theatre - the famous

comedy club performer – and the poet-

ry of Gonzalo Escalpa.

Another important spot was the

VideoWall, with its shining moment

with the cast of the series Malviviendo,

as well as documentaries like “Exodus”

and “Rototom para el mundo”, on the

Rototom festival, or “La otra realidad”,

on medicinal cannabis.

GrowMed 2012 AwardsThe climax of GrowMed 2012’s suc-

cess came with the presentation of the

awards on Sunday in the Medical Arena.

The winners were chosen by the exhibi-

tors themselves; this is the traditional

voting system used for the Highlife Fairs,

although the GrowMed organisation has

already announced important changes

in the system for future editions.

An overwhelming majority declared the

best stand to be Eva Seeds / Cactus

Martorell for their double plant factory

of illusions, which have caught the atten-

tion of the public at every fair they’ve

attended. The award for second place

went to Sweet Seeds, and Atami won

third place. Deimos’s Buddha Seeds won

for most popular variety, as well as for

Chica of the Year 2012, awarded in Soft

Secrets’ varieties special. Another com-

pany that scored twice was 00Box, whose

solar light won both for best accessory

and best new product.

The award for best medical bank

went to two seed banks who shared

a stand: Resin Seeds and CBD Crew.

The award for best grow product was

given to Advanced Nutrients Europe

and Plagron was declared the most

responsible stand.

Closing time: “Gracias”On Sunday, at the end of the fair when

everything was being dismantled, sat-

isfaction was the general feeling on the

grounds. The newly-born GrowMed

passed its trial by fire and it was obvious

that it’s here to stay. Victor Santana, offi-

cial DJ for GrowMed, played a beautiful

and heartfelt composition of his own,

called “Gracias” - a fitting subject when all

that was left was to thank everyone who

helped GrowMed possible from the bot-

tom of our hearts – workers, public and

exhibitors. Without the efforts of every-

one involved, it would never have been

possible to carry out the first Medicinal

Cannabis Fair in Europe.

The GrowMed documentary will be avail-

able online shortly, for you to relive the

GrowMed 2012 speakers’ speeches as

well as photos taken during the fair.

And... we’ll see you at GrowMed 2013!

33ED ROSENTHAL

Jane and I were in Florida in February. Before heading back to the West Coast we decided to spend a few days in Jamaica, just a short flight away. An old friend who lives part-time in Negril had invited us to stay with him.

We were strategically located near the

beach and spent a day there. Our goal

for the first day was to go to a stand on

Negril Beach, which was recommended

in Trip Advisor. The sun was shining in

its weaker winter mode, pleasant and

warming as we walked on the sand.

Summer sun in Jamaica is intense.

There was a time that the beach was

natural, of course, but that was decades

ago. Today it is totally tourist-oriented.

Our friend had never heard of Niah’s

Patties and he was impressed with

both their size and quality. Most stands

just serve commissary-bought patties,

but Niah makes his to order.

We spent the next day going to YS

Falls in St. Elizabeth. It is a series a

falls dropping into swimmable pools.

There’s a stepped boardwalk that

makes it easy to climb to the top

pools. It was fun and relaxing to bathe

in the warm flowing water. We arrived

around 2:30 p.m. and within an hour

the tourist buses with almost all the

guests in the park departed. We were

virtually the only people there, and it

was romantic enjoying this paradise of

water, falls, pools, and even tiny fish at

the water’s edge.

On our way back, we stopped at Cloggy’s

on the Beach where we chose from a box

of fresh just-caught fish. The sun was set-

ting as we shared a delicious dinner of fish

and prawns grilled with special sauces.

A VIEW OF THE RAISED BED GARDEN MADE FROM TIRES. THE TIRES WERE FILLED WITH SIFTED MINERAL SOIL LACKING

MUCH ORGANIC MATTER. THEN THEY WERE FERTILIZED WITH A HIGH NITROGEN (N) FERTILIZER SO THE PLANTS GREW A

BIT BEFORE THEY PUT MOST EFFORT INTO FLOWERING. THE SHIRT HANGING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GARDEN WAS USED

AS A SCARECROW AGAINST BIRDS THAT WOULD EAT THE NEWLY PLANTED SEED.

ABOUT 40 SEEDS WERE PLANTED IN A 33CM TIRE, MORE IN LARGER TIRES. MALES WERE PULLED AS SOON AS THEY

INDICATED, LEAVING 10-20 PLANTS. PLANTS GREW BETWEEN ONE AND TWO FEET TALL. ALL HAD SINGLE BUDS

BECAUSE THEY WERE FORCED INTO FLOWERING A SOON AS THEY GERMINATED BY THE SHORT WINTER DAYS CRE-

ATING MORE THAN 12 HOURS OF DARKNESS.

The driver had arranged to take me to a

garden on the third day. We drove about

an hour from town into the country.

Turning off the main road we took the

car through a winding dirt road barely as

wide as the taxi. We tortured the chassis

for more than a mile, and then the driver

parked the car in the shade where road

turned abruptly into a footpath. The

path meandered through brush and

forest, blending into the lightly covered

forest. We walked along one more turn

and the vista opened to a garden that

had been used for several years.

The garden was planted all year and I

arrived a couple of weeks before win-

ter harvest. These plants were started

in late November and would be ready

over a period of time. A few had already

been harvested and the rest would be

ready over a period of two weeks. The

raised-tire bed garden was packed with

mineral soil sifted from the rocky gar-

den. There is very little organic matter

in this soil and in most tropical soils—as

bacteria work at frenzied speed in the

heat and eat it up. The farmer had fed

34

the garden with a water-soluble high-

nitrogen fertilizer. However, the flower

size suffered from a lack of potassium.

The following day we went to “The

Blue Hole,” which is located at the site

of a future spa-resort. Although it was

listed as a destination it was hard to

get to; the final stretch of road was

unpaved, not a typical tourist spot.

When we arrived in late afternoon, the

workers had stopped for the day and

were just hanging out at the pool and

hole. The hole is an exposed cave filled

with deep blue water, which is 9 meters

below the surface and 9 meters deep.

The workers, young men, were making

acrobatic jumps, then climbing the lad-

der out. Jane and I declined the steep

jump and contented ourselves with the

swimming pool.

A woman who was staying there

brought out some bubble-blowing

gear and made giant undulating bub-

bles. The red tones of the sun begin-

ning to set lit the giant bubbles afire

with a red tinged rainbow. She contin-

ued creating these undulating sculp-

tures for about 20 minutes and then

mysteriously disappeared. It was like a

scene from an absurdist play.

This was the most laid back scene that

I experienced on the island. When we

arrived, people just accepted that we

were there. No one asked for an admis-

sion or stopped to “help” us. I started

a conversation with some of the very

friendly people and they explained that

RIPENING BUD. THE PLANTS WERE A HYBRID OF TRADITIONAL JAMAICAN AND NORTH AMERICAN ADAPTED DUTCH PLANTS SUCH AS KUSH AND SKUNK.

THE TIRES WERE LAID OUT IN ROWS. THEY VARIED IN SIZE FROM 33-45 CM. PLANTS

IN THE LARGER TIRES GREW LARGER THAN IN THE SMALLER ONES.

ANOTHER VIEW OF THE GARDEN SHOWING THE ROCKY LIME OUTCROP. CDS WERE

HUNG TO DETER BIRDS, AS WERE PIECES OF CLOTHING.

they were building the place. We used

the pool, which overlooked the ocean

and was surrounded by a beautiful scene

of forest green and the blue ocean.

As dusk approached, I suggested that

it would be great if we could see the

sunset from the roof. Others agreed

and we all climbed to the top of the

construction site, the roof of the future

hotel, to partake with our new friends.

Reggae filled the air with as we filled it

with smoke from our spliffs. After the

sunset, we left to return to Negril.

That evening was the last day of the

Bob Marley Festival, which was held in

a park just outside the center of town.

The bands were all local. The reggae

beat has evolved and was supplanted

with rap, but the festival stayed true

to Marley’s philosophy of One-Love.

Unfortunately, the price of admission

was too steep for many Jamaicans who

would have attended.

We spent the last day at the beach fol-

lowed by dinner at Ivan’s restaurant,

where we had another great meal and

watched the moonlit ocean from the

restaurant veranda. It was a perfect

ending to a wonderful excursion.

The Jamaican Ganja I smoked was all

mid-grade, and the resulting hash was

not the purest. Still, I stayed pleasantly

high and the price was right. It cost

about $30 an ounce. Next time I’ll bring

a screen to hand rub some hash.

Check out the video of the dives into the Blue Hole—a test of stamina and daring:

» http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuXFDWTSV4U&feature=youtu.be

35

DRIED BUDS FROM THE FASTEST RIPENING PLANTS. DON’T THEY LOOK JAMAICAN?

BUD CLOSE-UP.

HIGHER QUALITY JAMAICAN BUD FROM ANOTHER GARDEN. THIS BUD WAS THE RESULT OF A BETTER-FERTILIZED GARDEN. IT

WAS THE SAME VARIETY AS IN THE GARDEN I VISITED.

SKUNK BUD CLOSE-UP.

SKUNK BUD GROWN NEAR NEGRIL GIVEN TO ME BY A FRIEND. DUTCH-AMERICAN SEEDS

HAVE THOROUGHLY INFILTRATED JAMAICAN GARDENS.

WATER HASH PROCESSED LOCALLY.

MID-GRADE. UPBEAT.

FINGER HASH. NOTICE THE IMPURITIES

SUCH AS LEAVES THAT STICK TO THE

GUMMY MASS. THIS WAS REALLY WORTH-

WHILE. IT WAS FRESH AND FRAGRANT

AND PRODUCED A REALLY GOOD FEEL-

ING HIGH THAT WAS QUITE ENERGIZING.

37

GIANT BUBBLES REFLECT THE LATE AFTERNOON LIGHT. THE BUBBLE MAKER SET UP, BLEW BUBBLES FOR 20 MINUTES, THEN MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARED.LUEGO

DESAPARECIÓ MISTERIOSAMENTE.

THE SIGN AT NIAH’S.

BRIDGE VIEW OF EGRETS RESTING AT SUNSET. NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE RIVER IS JUST A

FEW BLOCKS FROM BUSY DOWNTOWN NEGRIL.

SUNSET AT THE BEACH AT CLOGGY’S. THE BEACH WAS UNDEVELOPED WITH

FEW VISITORS.

THE SETTING, OVER THE CLIFFS PRESENTS A DRAMATIC VIEW WHILE DINING. ALL

THE DISHES WERE EXCELLENT.

AT NIAH’S THE PATTIES ARE PREPARED TO ORDER, NOT PRE-MADE. THE

RESTAURANT HAS A FULL MENU INCLUDING LOVINGLY PREPARED VEG-

ETARIAN DISHES.

THE FALLS FORM A SERIES OF POOLS THAT ARE FUN TO SWIM IN. THE WATER IS A COMFORT-

ABLE TEMPERATURE AND THE FALLING WATER IS INVIGORATING. THIS IS THE CARIBBEAN

AT ITS BEST. THE FRAGRANT WARM AIR ENVELOPS YOU AND ENTICES YOU INTO THE WATER.

[PHOTO: TRIPADVISOR]

38 GROW WITH JORGE CERVANTES

Jorge Cervantes is the author of: Marijuana

Horticulture: the Indoor/Outdoor Medical

Grower’s Bible in English and Spanish,

Jorge Cervantes’ Ultimate Grow DVD, Indoor

Marijuana Horticulture: The Indoor Bible,

Marijuana Indoors: Five Easy Gardens,

Marijuana Outdoors: Guerrilla Growing and

Jorge’s Rx. He writes for 12 magazines in 6

languages. Jorge’s books are published in

Dutch, English, French, German and Spanish.

QUESTIONSTO JORGE

Manicuring buds is time-consuming.

Budget 4–6 hours to manicure a single

pound (454 gm) by hand with scissors.

An automatic trimmer will cut mani-

curing time to 1–2 hours.

Use small easy-to-maneuver pointed

scissors to reach into crevices in buds.

Have 2 or 3 different pairs of scissors

available. Switch scissors when your

hands fatigue.

Manicure over a fine silkscreen, glass,

or slick-surfaced table. Scrape up fallen

resin glands on the table or under

the screen. This potent resin can be

smoked immediately or pressed into

blocks of hash.

Wear inexpensive rubber gloves to

collect “finger hash.” After trimming,

remove accumulated finger hash on

gloves with rubbing alcohol. Set the

hash-laden alcohol on the counter

overnight to evaporate. Scrape up the

remaining hash after all the alcohol has

evaporated. Or put the rubber gloves

in a freezer for a few hours. Cooling

will make it easier to scrape and rub

the accumulated hash from the gloves.

RScrape accumulated resin from scissors

when it clogs blades. Use a small knife to

remove built-up resin from blades. Ball up

small bits of scraped resin by rubbing it

together between fingers. The ball of hash

will grow as manicuring progresses.

Drying

Fresh green marijuana is not very

potent. Drying converts THC into its

psychoactive form and removes about

75 percent of the moisture from freshly

harvested plants. Moisture evaporates

evenly when plants are dried slow-

ly over 5–7 days or longer. Buds are

dry throughout so will taste sweet

and smoke smooth. Buds dried too

quickly retain chlorophyll and other

substances within foliage. Such poorly

dried cannabis tastes “green,” burns

unevenly, and tastes bad.

The temperature in the ideal drying

room is between 65° and 75°F (18°–

24°C) and humidity from 45–55 percent.

Temperatures below 65°F (18°C) slow

drying, and humidity is more difficult to

control. Humidity above 80 percent slows

drying and increases the chances of mold

attacks. Temperatures above 75°F (24°C)

may cause buds to dry too fast, and humid-

ity can also fall below the ideal 50 percent

level more easily. Always use an accurate

maximum/minimum thermometer and

hygrometer to ensure temperature and

humidity are kept in the ideal range.

Small harvests can be dried easily in

a closet, cabinet, or a cardboard box

that is a fraction of the growing area’s

size. Large harvests require much more

room. See Marijuana Horticulture: The

Indoor/Outdoor Medical Grower’s Bible

for more information.

Manicuring

39Curing and Storage

Once buds are dry, they are ready for curing. The curing process lets buds dry evenly

so they smoke smooth and taste sweet. When properly cured, all unnecessary mois-

ture is removed and THC reaches its most psychoactive potential. Proper curing

ensures buds are completely dry and much less susceptible to mold when stored.

To cure buds, gently pack them into sealable airtight containers. Moisture will

move from stems to drier foliage. Place the containers in a cool, dry, dark place.

Open the container after 2–4 hours to let humid air escape. Leave the top off for

5–10 minutes so moisture evacuates. Close the container. Open the container for

a few minutes every few hours to release excess moisture before closing the lid

again. Depending upon moisture content, buds should be totally dry in a few days

to 2 weeks. Gently squeeze buds to feel if they are more pliable and moist than

they were a few hours before. Once they are evenly dry, they are ready to smoke

or seal in an airtight container for storage.

Store packaged buds in a cool, dry, dark place. The owner of this Volkswagen

Beetle stored buds in a cool, dry place, but he forgot to keep it dark. Buds stored

in the refrigerator will stay fresh a few months longer. Make sure buds are in

an airtight container when stored in the refrigerator to prevent moisture from

entering the container..

Use a small circulation fan to keep air moving in the drying room, but do not train

the fan directly on buds or they will dry unevenly. A ventilation fan may also be

necessary to help control temperature and humidity. Use an air conditioner or

heater to control extreme humidity and temperatures.

Check for dryness by bending a stem. The stem should snap rather than fold when

bent. The bud should be dry to touch, but not brittle. Dry buds burn well when

rolled into a joint. Once dry, buds are ready to cure. Curing is essential!

40 GROW WITH GRUBBYCUP

Organic Nutrients and Chemical ShortcutsOne hotly contested topic of cannabis gardeners is whether to use che-mical based, or organic nutrients. While it is fine to disagree, there are benefits to both sides, and ignoring the camp you don’t agree with has been the cause of a lot of ignorance in the world. By Grubbycup

Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium

(K), and other nutrients are needed by

plants for healthy growth. These are ele-

ments, and as such, there is no difference

between the nitrogen (N) from an organic

nutrient, or a chemical nutrient. Elemental

nitrogen is the exact same thing regard-

less of the source.

What garden plants most often use to

allow them to take up nitrogen (N) is a form

known as nitrate (NO3), which is a nitrogen

(N) atom connected with three oxygen (O)

atoms. Nitrate (NO3) is easy for the plants

to separate the nitrogen (N) from the oxy-

gen (O), and therefore makes for a good

source of nitrogen (N) (woody plants like

trees can also use ammonium (NH4)).

Plant material that has fallen to the

ground and animals leaving waste mate-

rial are two sources of nitrogen (N) that

are naturally occurring in untended wil-

derness. To emulate this, organic nutrients

tend to be made from naturally occurring

materials with minimal processing. One

advantage to this is that the materials

can often be collected cheaply (i.e. leaves,

lawn clippings, livestock manure etc.)

Compost (3-1-2) is very similar to what

happens in nature when leaves fall, and

assorted other plant material winds up

on the ground when nobody is around

to rake it up. It is as these things decom-

pose (or compost) that bacteria and fungi

convert them into ammonia (NH3), and

ammonium (NH4). This process takes time

as the bacteria process the ammonia as

they get to it.

I like to compare organic nutrients to eat-

ing oatmeal for breakfast, they tend to be

bulky and release their nutrients over a

long period of time. Some forms of organic

fertilizers can continue to release nutri-

ents for more than one season, improving

the general long term health of the soil.

Because the percentage of nutrient to total

mass tends to be lower, the NPK values for

organic nutrients tend to be lower than for

chemical based solutions. Because they are

closer to a natural state, the NPK values for

organic products also tend to be less exact

than with chemical based fertilizers, which

can be made to exact recipes. With the

exception of high ammonia “hot” manures,

organic nutrients tend to be less prone

to overfeeding. Compost, worm casting,

and fish excrement can be used in almost

unlimited quantities without causing “nute

burn”. Since organic nutrients tend to be

less processed, they also tend to be more

prone to clogging hydroponic systems that

rely on sprayers and pumps.

However,there is more than one way to

make ammonia (NH3) it can also be a

manufactured chemical made from nitro-

gen gas (N2) by applying heat, pressure,

and an iron catalyst. Ammonium sulfate

((NH4)2SO4 ) and ammonium nitrate (NH4)

(NO3) are other manufactured forms of

nitrogen that allow for later parts of the

process so be skipped over. Any of these

allow for a short cut in the process, and

makes the nitrogen available faster than

with the natural process.

Chemical nutrients are more like having

an energy drink for breakfast, they release

their nutrients quickly, and then need

more to avoid a “crash”. Since chemical

nutrients are shortcuts to the natural pro-

cess, they can allow for a greater level of

control as to how much and when the

nitrogen becomes available to the plants.

This can allow for a higher nutrient level

and resulting increase in performance

than is possible with organic nutrients.

With this level of control comes respon-

sibility however, as introducing an over-

abundance becomes a much more likely

temptation, which can result in “nute

burn” or overloading and damaging nat-

ural systems with the runoff. Adding a

chemical nitrate (NO3) for example, allows

for the entire nitrate (NO3) creation pro-

cess to be skipped, and immediately sup-

ply nitrogen (N) to the plants, but it is also

very water soluble, and what isn’t taken

up by the plant will quickly wash down-

stream (unless recirculated) .

Overdosing plants with chemicals can

imbalance a natural system to the point

that becomes inhospitable to the benefi-

cial bacteria and fungi normally responsi-

ble for the process. Because chemical fer-

tilizers are shortcuts to the process, using

them to treat nutrient deficiencies will tend

to give faster results than an organic solu-

tion which is better suited for long term

release. Depending on the exact chemical

used, there may also be “leftover” residue

after the ammonia or nitrate is used which

can build up in the system over time. This

is where the practice of watering heav-

ily without nutrients for a time (flushing)

comes from, to help wash away any lefto-

ver chemical residue buildup.

Regardless of the source, if the ammonia

(NH3) is exposed to acidic conditions (pH

less than 7) it picks up another hydro-

gen (H) atom and converts to ammo-

nium (NH4). This is part of why pH can

have an effect on plant growth, if the

pH is too high, this conversion is inhib-

ited. Beneficial bacteria then convert the

ammonium (NH4) to nitrate (NO3) which

can then be used by the garden plants.

Phosphorus can be obtained natural-

ly from organic composts, rock phos-

phate or bone meal, or it can come from

chemicals such as ammoniated super

phosphate (5-50-0), or ammonium phos-

phate (18-46-0). Overuse of phosphorus

is one of the sources of environmental

pollution. Potassium can be from organic

sources like compost (3-1-2), kelp (1-0-4),

or from a chemical such as potassium

nitrate (13-0-44).

The differences between chemical and

organic nutrition are not as absolute

as they are often portrayed, they both

supply the same elements to the plants.

The primary differences are in how many

shortcuts are taken, and what remains

afterwards. Although purists on both

sides may strongly disagree, I believe

there is little reason not to make use

of the benefits of both in moderation.

Plants awaiting organic nutrients to

become available may benefit from a lit-

tle chemical boost to tide them over, and

long lasting organic materials can help

create a buffer for fast acting chemical

nutrient gardens.

Sometimes a big hearty high fiber break-

fast is what is what a person needs to start

the day, and sometimes you just need a

good strong cup of coffee to get your eyes

to open. As always, understanding why

you are adding something to your garden,

and how it works, goes a long way toward

picking what’s right for you.

Peace, love and puka shells,

Grubbycup

AN ATOM OF NITROGEN IS THE SAME AS

ANY OTHER REGARDLESS OF THE SOURCE.

ORGANIC NUTRIENTS SIMULATE NATURAL EVENTS SUCH AS FALLING LEAVES.

THERE ARE MANY NUTRIENTS,

BOTH CHEMICAL AND ORGANIC

TO CHOOSE FROM.

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INCLUDING:

Dei

mo

s p

lan

t o

f th

e ye

ar 2

012

Breeder: Buddha Seeds

1st StepCross between auto x

Northern Lights (non auto).

2nd Step1st generation 50% auto x

50% Northern Lights. Neither is autoflowering.

3rd Step2nd generation 25% autoAutoflowering individuals

selected and crossed.

4th Step3rd generation 100% auto with approx. 50% Northern

Lights characteristics. The best individuals are selected and crossed.

5th StepSelection of the

best individuals, to be recrossed with the original

mother plant.

6th StepThe best individuals

obtained are crossed x the original Nothern Lights.

7th Step5th generation predominance of Northern Lights genetic. No autoflowering plants. Selected 5th generation plants are crossed with

each other.

8th Step25% auto

Autoflowering individuals are selected and crossed.

9th StepWe obtain 100%

autoflowering plants with variations of the best quality. We select the best individuals

to cross with each other.

10thStepThe generation of the

best 100% autoflowering and individuals is ready to hit the market with the

name of Deimos.

Mother Plant

Mother Plant

45ENDANGERED STRAIN GUIDE

Durban Poison & Kali MistDurban Poison is not extinct, according to many. It’s rare, but still pos-sible to locate in California if you look for it. Others say that the form available from dispensaries today is not the original, and samples have been laboratory tested to be 90% indica and 10% sativa. The Poison was originally sativa, as most South African landraces are, so while the new strain may be a descendent, it’s hugely different genetically. Rumor has it that a pair of breeders from the Bay Area introduced the indica lineage a few years back; by now it seems to have effectively replaced the old genotype, as it’s nowhere to be found.

The current incarnation is described

as having an intense psychedelic high

mixed with a full-on body experience –

somewhat different from the clear, ener-

getic effect its predecessor is described

as having. Although it is a true inbred

landrace, little- to no original seed stock

is thought to exist. In the US at least, it’s

believed the genetic is lost, and the sur-

viving progeny heavily hybridized. The

pure-lineage descendents of the original,

however (or at least some very closely

related varieties), are still believed to per-

sist in South Africa, so while that particu-

lar phenotype is lost there is potential to

breed something very similar. Some dis-

pensaries are selling a pure sativa called

Durban Poison – while this may be excel-

lent South African, it lacks some of the

distinctive traits smokers of yesteryear

remember so well.

The Durban Poison genetics were

brought over to the US in the 1980s,

where the unique high proved to be

greatly popular, although it has always

been rare due to its flowering time

(originally around 12 weeks) and del-

icate nature. Various different hybrids

appeared, usually bred with indica to

enable more indoor success, and much

shorter in flower time (usually 8-9 weeks

from what I’ve seen). Maintaining such a

pure sativa in its original state for many

years would be tricky even in optimum

conditions, and most don’t have the ded-

ication for sativas, so breeding programs

inevitably went in an indica direction.

It wasn’t long before what was being

sold as Durban just wasn’t what smok-

ers remembered it to be. To many, any

of a number of related South African

landraces can be called Durban Poison.

However, to some purists, they are

merely related and not the real thing.

The original strain is apparently very dis-

tinctive, with thin, dark leaves and a red-

brown coloration to its stringy, sticky

colas. It has an unmistakeable menthol

and licorice aroma that can be some-

what putrid. The taste is very intense,

both sour and earthy, but at the same

time fresh and cool. If you’ve smoked

it, you’ll remember it forever – that why

so many of the old school stoners are

adamant that they can’t get their hands

on it these days!

Another strain that’s massively changed

since the original, but still goes under the

same name, is Kali Mist, queen of all sati-

vas. First bred by Serious Seeds in 1993,

Kali Mist was a Cannabis Cup-winner

by 1995. She was over 90% sativa, from

secret parentage (though the South-East

Asian landraces are believed to have

been greatly influential), and had an

unmatchable high. Then it was decided

that increasing the indica influence by

introducing an Afghan father would be a

good idea, as the original 84-day flower

time and low yield was thought to be

off-putting to growers.

However, the reaction from the fan-base

at losing their precious clear high made

it obvious that many are prepared to

go that extra mile to get results of such

quality. Unfortunately, it is never easy

to go back in time, genetically speaking.

Back-crossing can have almost miracu-

lous effects but the complexity of gene

expression is bound to mean that not all

foreign new DNA is eliminated.

So, a new father was again selected,

and while Serious Seeds managed to

recapture the pure sativa high by 1998,

many still complained that it wasn’t the

same. Not long after this, a bust meant

that all specimens of the new male were

lost – this was to result in a total lack

of availability of Kali seeds for almost

a year while the damage to the library

was repaired. Fortunately for the Serious

guys (and the whole stoner commu-

nity, in fact!) several very closely related

males were salvaged and the breeding

line was re-established. A third, more

highly-sativa father was also introduced

into the mix at around this point, and

by the time the new millennium came

around, the new Kali was back on cup-

winning form – picking up the sativa

prize in the 2000 High Life Cup.

Kali Mist is known for its tendency to

stretch indoors, and often will need to

be tied down as her height easily reach-

es five feet or more. Outdoors, it’s a real

hot-climate favorite, with heights up to

ten feet and multiple branches laden

with heavy buds. The loose and airy

structure allows light to penetrate fully

and even the lower branches are able to

develop quality flowers. It’s also mostly

humidity- and mold-resistant (although

it can be susceptible to mildew) and

produces a huge quantity of crystals.

It’s good for relieving pain and the

effects of multiple sclerosis, and may

be helpful in treating depression and

fatigue. These days the sativa percent-

age is 80-90%, and while it may not be

identical to the original form it has still

become fully established as a strain, and

known and loved by many. Of course it’s

a shame that the prototype has been

lost, but the modern form is without

doubt one of the highest caliber sativa

strains available today. Kali’s not the

easiest strain to grow but your patience

will be well-rewarded, so I’d urge any-

one who can get their hands on some

seeds or clones to try for themselves.

DURBAN POISON GENETICS WERE BROUGHT OVER TO THE USA IN THE ‘80S; THE

UNIQUE HIGH PROVED TO BE GREATLY POPULAR

DURBAN’S LONG SUMMERS PROVIDE THE PERFECT HABITAT

FOR LONG-FLOWERING SATIVAS (© NORREBROGADE)

A MODERN DURBAN POISON, SHOWING WIDER, LIGHTER

LEAVES THAN THE ORIGINAL (© AEROSOUL)

A BEAUTIFUL STAND OF OUTDOOR KALI MIST

46 COLUMN

Dutch cannabis reforms: where is it going to end?

Dr Dee

Well, who’d have thought it? After all

of the “will they, won’t they” specu-

lation, the Dutch government actu-

ally went ahead and passed their law

prohibiting anyone other than Dutch

nationals from using the coffee shops.

Personally, I was always of the opinion that

it would happen, given the centre-right,

Christian sort of stance of the gov-

ernment; consider, for example, the

reduction in the size of the red light

district in Amsterdam. We’re not

suggesting that the two (weed

and prostitution) are in any way

connected, but it’s quite obvi-

ous to see why people of a

more conservative and/or

a Christian outlook might

have a problem with

both of these areas of

enterprise. While we

have no problem

with restrictions

on prostitu-

tion (dress

it up how

one likes,

it’s still

an

unsavoury and

exploitative indus-

try with the significant

involvement of people

traffickers and other crimi-

nals), the restrictions on cof-

fee shop use remain some-

thing of a mystery.

A number of Dutch friends assured

us that it would never get past first

base. How wrong

could they have

been? It appears

that Holland is

becoming like the UK in

that respect: proposed

changes to the law that

are plainly stupid on

a number of levels

being passed in

spite of the

misgivings

of many.

Understandably,

those involved in the

coffee shops and their chain of

supply are dismayed by these devel-

opments as their businesses are with-

out a doubt going to be adversely

affected. I expect that the police in

all likelihood aren’t overjoyed at the

prospect of having to deal with the

inevitable fall out that will come from

this move. And it’s not just growers

and suppliers and law enforcement

who are concerned: an acquaintance

of mine who runs a small business in

a town outside of Amsterdam - he’s in

the bicycle trade, about as far from the

cannabis industry as one could imag-

ine – thinks that the ban will inevitably

have some sort of knock on effect for

him in terms of tourist income.

One does wonder what the rationale

for this move really is. We’re informed

(by the same Dutch friends) that the

problem lies with the towns on the

southern borders of the country, that

is to say, where Holland borders with

Germany. For many years we’ve been

aware of problems arising specifically

due to German drug tourists, and it

appears that someone has finally

decided to do something about it.

Presumably, a ban specifically

on our German friends would

have been fraught with prob-

lems (and almost inevitably

would have raised charges

of racial discrimination) and

therefore the ban has had to

be a blanket one. However,

other than Dutch nationals,

we’ve since been told that

the ban will not affect peo-

ple from Belgium. Belgium?

What’s that all about?

Of course, and this is quite perverse,

there are some who have the idea that

the dope ban on non-nationals will

actually make visiting Amsterdam a

considerably more pleasant experi-

ence than it currently is. Let’s face

it, goes this particular argument,

there’s nothing particularly pleasant

about sitting with hordes of stoned

Brits, Americans, Canadians, Germans,

nation of your choice here. And there’s

an element of truth to this. I recall on

one occasion I visited Holland being

appalled and embarrassed by the

antics of a large crowd of my coun-

trymen. I do, therefore, understand

there’s a perceived need for some-

thing like this. It’s a just pity no enter-

prising scientist has come up with a

device that can screen for individuals

who are a pain in the ass when they’re

stoned or drunk. That would solve a

number of problems.

So where will this end? Will the new

law survive or will everyone – as we’ve

heard suggested - merely ignore it

and carry on as they have been for the

past 30 years or so? Will there perhaps

be an unofficial ban on people from

Germany, leading to the potential for

a diplomatic incident?

Whatever happens, and we’ve said this

before, can the Dutch government

really afford to alienate such a huge

source of income in these days of

recession and hard times?

Comments welcome at:

dimethyltryptamine777@hotmail.co.uk

48 BACKGROUND

Sweden: The Dope Smokers’ North KoreaA number of weeks ago I received an email inviting me to a confer-ence in Sweden. The email itself was vague and other than the use of the word “drugs”, it didn’t really give too much away. There was a link there though:

http://www.wfad.se/

Feel free to take a look at this. I did and my initial thought was “surely, this is some kind of a joke?”

“WFAD” stands for World Federation against

Drugs, and the conference was to promote

the aims and ends of this lot along with the

Council for Drug Free Europe, Drug Free

America, etc. Now, as any regular reader of

my stuff will be aware, I’m of the view that

a “drug free world” is about as likely as the

“paperless office” and about as practical as

a paperless toilet.

All of these “drug-free” outfits are bizarre

set ups. Presumably a number of them

are funded from the public purse by the

financially beleaguered tax payer. Well, I

say this: what an absurd waste of public

money; talk about Canute trying to hold

back the sea; pissing in the wind. I’m

actually rather appalled that in lean times

such as these that public money is still

found to propagate these sorts of anti

drug fantasies. As I’ve said many times

before, I’m not particularly big on the idea

of legalisation, but here’s the thing: I’m

a pragmatist, and we really need to get

around a table and engage in some adult

debate about the whole issue. However,

while we have irrational puritan “drug

free” groups like WFAD obstructing any

sort of rational and pragmatic discourse,

that’s not going to happen.

Anyhow, as I had never heard about

World Federation against Drugs, I

thought I’d look into all of this. I’ve still

absolutely no idea why an email invite

should have come to me; after all, my

views are pretty public and about as

radically different to those of WFAD as it’s

possible to find, but there you go. Maybe

they wanted to try to convert me, or to

burn me in Stockholm central square.

Sweden is a strange country. The impres-

sion many people have is that it’s liberal,

it’s vaguely socialist and it’s wealthy. And

it appears that all of these things are to a

degree correct, and I’m reliably told

that Sweden is a pretty wonderful

place to live...unless, that is, you hap-

pen to be a drug user (and unless you

happen to be an immigrant, but that’s

a whole other story, and outside of the

remit of this article).

So, drugs. In many ways, the attitude

of the Swedish (or the Swedish govern-

ment at any rate) towards intoxicants and

intoxication reflects that of the American

government, which is to say with consid-

erable mistrust and fear.

The similarities go deeper than just this;

a strong Protestant/Calvinist/Lutheran

ethos apparently pervades both societies,

bringing with it a number of viewpoints

one would expect from such a mind-

set. In particular, “Cleanliness is next to

Godliness” (Acts 9:32-10:23)

This rather fundamentalist point of view

is what has informed a whole range of

policies and social rules: the Temperance

Movement, as one example, and the

Eugenics Movement, as another.

Both of these – temperance and eugenics

– are crucial to understanding the prohi-

bitionist mindset, and they both feed off

of each other in an unhealthy symbiotic

relationship. Both the temperance and

eugenics movements were very en vogue

in both America and Sweden for a num-

ber of years. The Temperance people (or

“Drys”) had some considerable – albeit

temporary – success in America with

Prohibition. In Sweden there continues to

be prohibition of a sort as regards alcohol,

but this has begun to change over the

past few decades.

As for Eugenics, both countries ran pro-

grammes of enforced sterilization of

“imbeciles” and anyone else it was decid-

ed might “taint” the gene pool. In both

countries, these sorts of public health

experiment ran quite far into the 20th

century before being utterly and com-

pletely demonised in the eyes of Joe

Public via newsreels of Dachau, Belsen

and the rest of them, where the Nazis took

eugenics to its logical conclusion with one

of the most the most severe and ruthless

“social cleansing” programmes in recent

history. Like the Germans, neither America

nor Sweden seem to be particularly keen

to talk about these specific parts of their

more recent history.

The concern regarding drug use appears

to come from a similar place; if you like, it’s

“internal” social hygiene. Drugs of any sort

taint the mind and the gene pool.

The mind set of successive governments

when it comes to the issue of intoxicant

use in Sweden appears to be along the

lines of “we know what’s best for every-

one, and we’ll do what we see as best for

everyone, even if it means putting them

in prison and/or forcing them into treat-

ment for a drug “problem” they may or may

not have”. It’s tough love, if you like; the

nanny state taken to the nth degree, “we

love you but we have to protect you from

yourselves”. This is why, for example, the

distribution and sale of alcohol is almost

completely under government control and

the price of alcohol is kept artificially high

in order to discourage over indulgence.

Alcohol aside, the very use of a controlled

substance equates to a “problem”; in

Sweden there is no drug “use”, only drug

“abuse”. Take cannabis as an example. It’s

SWEDISH DRUG POLICY IS ONE OF “ZERO TOLERANCE” AND IS HELD UP BY (WHO ELSE?)

THE AMERICANS AND THE UN AS A FINE EXAMPLE OF HOW DRUG LAWS SHOULD WORK.

49

a controlled drug so if one uses it then

clearly one has a “problem”. Intoxicants

lead to crime and degeneracy. They’re

deviant. They’re used by non-conformists.

They’re trouble. And they’re not safe. Safety

and risk aversion appears to be another

part of the Nordic psyche (see, for exam-

ple, cars that only operate with their head-

lights on even during daylight).

Swedish drug policy is one of “Zero

Tolerance” and is held up by (who else?) the

Americans and the UN as a fine example

of how drug laws should work. Anyhow,

according to the Swedish National Alcohol

and Drug Action Plan of 2002, “the objec-

tive of Swedish drug policy should con-

tinue to be a drug-free society”.

So what we’re talking about here is an

approach involving heavy handed polic-

ing, an almost blanket dismissal of the

harm reduction philosophy, together

with a focus on coerced abstinence-

based treatment.

Since 1993, the Swedish police have had

the power of arrest of individuals they

suspect may be under the influence of

a controlled intoxicant, even if that indi-

vidual is minding their own business and

bothering nobody. And as well as this, the

police have been trained in how to sup-

posedly spot any signs or symptoms that

might indicate that someone is under the

influence of a controlled substance; so

any spontaneous outbursts of a) giggling,

b) dancing or c) general joie de vivre will

not be tolerated. You have been warned.

Any transgression of the rules can lead to

a number of potential outcomes ranging

from a fine to a spell in prison. More likely,

however, is being put in the hands of the

rather sinister sounding Kriminalvården,

which is a “rehabilitation” program

designed to help unmanageable dope

smokers and so forth see the error of their

ways and “modify” their behaviour.

But does it all work?This, of course, is the bottom line, and the

answer seems to be that, while it used to

work quite well, it works less well now. The

restrictions on alcohol, for example, mean

that binge drinking is common and recent

years have seen an increase in teenagers

accessing illicit “moonshine” alcohol of

questionably quality.

We’re told that Swedish policy is so

successful that the country has the low-

est level of drug offending. This, how-

ever, appears to be a fallacious piece

of propaganda as it would appear that

Sweden actually has one of the high-

est bust rates for possession in the EU

(EMCDDA 2011 report). Cannabis use is

lowest in Sweden but is most definitely

on the increase (EMCDDA). Drug-related

deaths in Sweden are more than treble

that of Holland, a country with a rather

different approach to the whole issue of

intoxicant use. Presumably harm reduc-

tion doesn’t fit into the education agen-

da in Swedish schools.

“Drunk as a Swede”Here follows a slight digression, but

you’ll see the point so please bear

with me. In my younger days, I lived

and worked in a number of port cities

on the east coast of Scotland and the

north east of England.

During these years, I had the misfor-

tune to witness firsthand what hap-

pened when large numbers of Swedish

men – a lot of them apparently in the

merchant navy – hit the town with a

lot of money – certainly in comparison

to the local population – and access

to cheap – certainly in comparison to

Sweden – alcohol.

Picture, if you will, a scene of a late 20th

century Viking raid: Berserkers, fight-

ing, pillaging, extreme drunkenness. Bar

fights the like of which most people only

saw in old Hollywood westerns.

Up to the first time I witnessed this, I’d

heard the expression “drunk as a Swede”

but never really knew what it meant. After

all, I’m a Scot and my race (Celts) could/

can give anyone a run for their money in

the alcohol consumption stakes.

This, however, was something quite dif-

ferent as it seemed as though “normal”

constraints, codes of behaviour had been

lifted, and these guys went way beyond

the levels of drinking I was used to (and

believe me, at that time I was no shrink-

ing violet where booze was concerned).

All in all, very horrible, and providing

some proof that, whatever the rules

were at home certainly didn’t travel

beyond the borders of the country

(unless we’re talking about countries

with an even more prohibitive alcohol

pricing policy; Norway, for example).

Binge drinking when away from the

mother country is highly problematic

for the host country.

And yet, here’s the thing; perversely,

Sweden is one of the few countries to

license Sativex – the pharmaceutical can-

nabis drug - for medical use in the treat-

ment of multiple sclerosis. Go figure.

North Korea for drug users or not, on the

upside, Sweden thankfully doesn’t have

the clout of the United States when it

comes to shaping (and enforcing) inter-

national drug policy. That really would be

a major problem for anti-prohibitionists.

To finish this article off, I’d like to use a

quite from the Transform website (see

below) that I think sums up the whole

thing very clearly:

“Dr Peter Cohen, Director of the Centre

for Drugs Research at the University of

Amsterdam, has argued that Sweden’s

low level of drug use and repressive

drug policy, rather than being causally

linked, are in fact both merely expres-

sions of its historically temperance ori-

ented culture, noting that Sweden also

has historically low levels of alcohol,

tobacco and prescription drug use. It

is also worth pointing out that Sweden

has low levels of social inequality, social

deprivation, and unemployment, com-

bined with a very high level of health

and social welfare spending. There’s a

lot to admire about Sweden, but even

they can play drug-war politics.”

Please email any comments, complaints etc to: dimethyltryptamine777@hotmail.co.uk

Additional sources:

http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/annual-report/2011

http://transform-drugs.blogspot.co.uk/2007/05/swedens-drug-policy-reality-check.html

50 BACKGROUND

free in all coffee shops, grow shops

and head shops in the Netherlands.

Boy Ramsahai then decided it was

time to go European-wide. The first

Soft Secrets UK appeared in England.

Followed by Soft Secrets France. Then

came a Spanish edition, which at first

was called La Maria. The magazine has

become an instant success wherever it

is launched due to its simple formula

and the fact that the magazine is free.

In England, the magazine is so suc-

cessful that grow shops only give the

magazine to their best customers, as

it would otherwise quickly disappear

from the shelves.

Soft Secrets is now published in eight

languages, and appears throughout

Europe, the United States and Latin

America. People around the world

have discovered that growing their

own marijuana is not only a fun hobby,

but also a guarantee for good marijua-

na. Soft Secrets is their friend in that

process, one who gives them the best

tips and advice every two months. This

is how an obscure club magazine of

an Amsterdam grow shop became the

largest, most popular and widely read

cannabis magazine in the world!

» www.softsecrets.nl

Soft Secrets With a combined circulation of more than one million copies printed annually in eight languages, Soft Secrets is by far the largest and most successful cannabis magazine in the world. The free bi-monthly magazine now appears on almost all continents and the online digital version is downloaded daily by people from around the world. Few know that Soft Secrets began as something of a club magazine of the first grow shop in the world, Positronics in Amsterdam. However, the magazine only began its steady global rise when cannabis entrepreneur Boy Ramsahai bought the publi-cation and hired Cliff Cremer as editor-in-chief. We look back at the history of the now legendary Soft Secrets.

Amsterdam, 1985.The cultivation of

marijuana plants was a very rare activ-

ity in Europe at the time. Only a very

small group of cannabis pioneers in

Amsterdam were doing it, and in par-

ticular a group of enthusiastic hobby

growers revolving around Wernard

Bruining, a hippie and an idealist

who opened the first coffee shop in

Amsterdam in 1975, the Mellow Yellow

(not the Mellow Yellow that currently

exists in Amsterdam - ed.). The Dutch

government had implemented the

infamous “tolerance policy” in the sev-

enties, which legalised the sale of soft

drugs. It was an excellent policy, which

separated the soft and hard drug mar-

kets, so that recreational cannabis

users no longer had to rely on the

criminal world to acquire marijuana

or hashish. The tolerance policy paved

the way for the emergence of the

many coffee shops in the Netherlands.

However, these shops did of course

need to be supplied. In the seventies

and eighties, this was done through

massive import of marijuana from

countries like Colombia and Thailand,

and the import of hashish from coun-

tries such as Morocco, Lebanon and

Afghanistan. As good as the toler-

ance policy was, it did have one weak

point: the so-called “back door” system

of coffee shops. In all their wisdom,

Dutch politicians decided that coffee

shops were allowed to sell marijuana

and hashish, but could not buy it. A

strange loophole, which continues to

this day. Because coffee shops have to

rely on people who are by legal defini-

tion ‘criminals’, coffee shops will always

be associated with criminality.

Wernard Bruining decided that things

could be done differently. Home-

grown weed is better and safer than

imported weed. In 1984 he found-

ed the first grow shop in the world,

Positronics in Amsterdam. So-called

home-growth slowly but surely start-

ing gaining in popularity among

Amsterdam cannabis smokers because

the cannabis obtained from home-

grown plants is often much better

than the garbage that is imported

from Thailand and Colombia. Wernard

Bruining acquired his knowledge for

growing plants at home through close

cooperation with Old Ed, a legend-

ary American grower from California

who had been engaged in cultiva-

tion, refining and crossing of mari-

juana species since the early seven-

ties. Old Ed began teaching Wernard

and his shop Positronics became the

first shop in the world to sell items

used in the cultivation of marijuana,

such as lamps, nutrition and seeds.

The success of Positronics exceeded

every expectation. With ever-improv-

ing techniques, home growers were

generally very successful, resulting in

a true ‘grow-boom’in the Netherlands,

with growers selling their marijuana

by the kilo to coffee shops. The culti-

vation of Sensimilla, marijuana buds

without seeds, became the standard

for the entire industry. Customers

could become members of Positronics

and Bruining decided to set up a

magazine called Soft Secrets. His wife

became editor-in-chief. The magazine

looked like a school newspaper and

was not very interesting. If you were

not an insider at Positronics, you often

had no idea of what was going on.

Soft Secrets therefore began as an

unremarkable club magazine read

only by a few dozen people. Grow

shop Positronics closed its doors in

the nineties. Bruining decided to stop

Soft Secrets, also because his wife no

longer had time for it.

In the meantime, a glossy cannabis

magazine appeared on the Dutch

market in 1994, called High Life. The

founder of this highly successful bi-

monthly magazine, Boy Ramsahai -

wanting to publish another magazine

- purchased the name Soft Secrets

from Wernard Bruining for a few

thousand guilders. As editor-in-chief,

he hired Cliff Cremer, a writer and

freelance journalist from Amsterdam

who previously made High Life for

him. Cliff Cremer had clear plans for

Soft Secrets. His formula was simple,

and came down to just one thing:

a magazine for growers by growers.

The title was perfectly appropriate,

because the ‘cultivation secrets’ were

not ‘hard secrets’, which no one could

know, but soft secrets, which everyone

could know. Gladly. After a year Soft

Secrets was a great success, partly

because the magazine was distributed

SOFT SECRETS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CLIFF CREMER AT THE HIGHLIFE CUP 2011

OLD ED IN FRONT OF GROW SHOP

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53MUSIC

Marijuana and Music Part 1Music is a pattern of interesting sounds

made by instruments, animals or voices.

Traditionally Music was a natural sound

produced by people, often aided by instru-

ments crafted from the trees. Today how-

ever music can also be created by using

a number of artificial materials including

worked metals, plastics and silicon.

The word ‘Music’ comes from the ‘Muses’

or Goddesses of the Arts and Sciences

in Greek Mythology. Those concerned

with amusing people; or more specifi-

cally ‘musing’ the minds of people with

creative thoughts. The origins of the word

Marijuana are Spanish-American.

Music and Marijuana have always shared

a close relationship throughout the his-

tory of people. The symbiotic connection

between Music and Marijuana however

extends way beyond our own time; back

towards more cosmic beginnings. A time

when natural vibrations helped to shape

and maintain life on earth.

Music in Marijuana Despite lacking any so-called “scientific

knowledge” about Botany, many old

Herbalists over-stood the vibrational

context of plants. More recently qualified

Botanists and Plant Scientists have learnt

to understand that ALL plants vibrate to

and omit a specific resonance of sound.

Although lacking the adequate language

to explain this natural phenomena, it

would appear that the old Herbalists

were correct all along.

Moreover when one vibrational plant

frequency is removed from a Natural

environment, another being (plant or

animal) with the same frequency moves

into the area. Counter-acting any vibra-

tional difference and maintaining bal-

ance by compensating for the absence

of specific sound.

For a long time, Students of Horticulture

have been asked to conduct ‘sound tests’

over plants to observe how they react to

different types of music. Initially it was

thought that certain plants responded to

the tempo or frequency of a certain piece

of music over others. Only recently did

Botanists slowly discover that it was the

vibrational changes in air-pressure sur-

rounding the plant, as the result of a cer-

tain style of Music, that produced predict-

able results within controlled experiments.

At which point we must again remember

that plants put out their own vibration - as

well as responding to separate vibrational

frequencies surrounding them. Vibrational

plant frequencies then meet or react with

opposing frequencies within the environ-

ment. Whereby those vibrations that har-

monise or correspond directly with the

vibrations of the plants in that location,

naturally find the path of least resistance

and flourish with healthy growth.

At which point any sceptics are most

welcome to isolate two separate clones

from the same mother plant. Then sub-

ject one clone to Rock Music and the

other clone to Classical Music for several

weeks. In the majority of cases the clas-

sical works of Bach and Vivaldi are pre-

ferred over Guns and Roses or Nirvana.

For the majority of house plants anyhow.

All evidence would then indicate that

Cannabis plants will also omit and

respond to specific vibrational frequen-

cies. It would make sense that an inves-

tigation into Cannabis’s most preferred

vibrational frequency should there-

fore be conducted by both Musicians

and Marijuana Growers (or preferably

Marijuana Musicians) forthwith.

Note: Lazystrain suspects that most ver-

sions of Reggae Music will sit happily

with most garden plants in frequency.

Still many an old Herbalist probably

already knew this.

Marijuana in Music Cannabis (Marijuana) has been used as a

channelling akin to meditation (dissimilar

yet almost the same) for centuries. At such

a level of intoxication or esoteric enlighten-

ment the mind slowly begins to open out.

A state of mind which often plays tricks on

itself. Gradually we enter into a subcon-

scious almost trance like state. A state-of-

mind which while daydream like, is in fact

left wide awake.

Music naturally harmonises with Marijuana

in the mind during this time. Which in turn

motivates the body to feel upbeat and in

‘tempo’ with the pulse of Life itself. In other

words, when consumed Cannabis vibrates

the body in correspondence with the same

vibrations that the mind desires via the

music we enjoy. At which point, a state of

harmony or tranquillity may exist between

Marijuana and Music in the mind.

One of the greatest Sound Engineers, Lee

‘Scratch’ Perry, the man who once produce

Bob Marley & The Wailers, over-stands the

reason that “Not everyone feels the same

vibration of music”. Meaning that some peo-

ple feel the vibe of certain types of music

over other types of music. Just like plants!

Music in MedicineMusic has been applied as a form of sha-

manistic medicine for centuries. Today

music is known to help to relax people

both before and after surgical opera-

tions and during dentistry. People that

dance to music on a regularly basis

are generally healthier. More recently

Scientists have also discovered that

sound-waves can be used to treat a

variety of Cancers. This is because all

sound-waves vibrate and resonate to a

set pattern or frequency.

Music and Medical Marijuana Having assessed that People, Plants, Pests

and Diseases respond to certain vibrations

better than others, we must then question

the role of Music and Medical Marijuana.

In theory, certain varieties of Cannabis

should respond to certain varieties of

music, which in turn may benefit certain

types of medicinal user. The cannabinoid

profile of a plant directly relates to its over-

all health (often during the later stages

of vegetative growth into mid-flowering)

regardless of its age, height, or structure.

It is then plausible that the cannabinoid

profile of a plant could be enhanced (or

even altered) during various stages of

growth with the addition of various types

of music (?)

As far fetched as this may initially sound,

pardon the pun. Let us think about the fan

with a broken bearing that makes a funny

noise, the constant humming of an old

ballast or a new ballast which is not seated

comfortably. Such might prove to be those

vibrational frequencies that plants like or

dislike. Who knows?

Now before you all disappear to listen-out

for strange noises in the garden. Please

remember that “Music comes from the

trees” [Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry].

by Lazystrain

IT IS PLAUSIBLE THAT THE CANNABINOID PROFILE OF A PLANT COULD BE ENHANCED (OR EVEN ALTERED)

DURING VARIOUS STAGES OF GROWTH WITH THE ADDITION OF VARIOUS TYPES OF MUSIC

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58 BACKGROUND

Fake DrugsRecently a friend wanted to buy some

Jungle (on vinyl) for another friend’s

birthday. So we dropped into one of

our local music shops. Besides the

records and spray paint canisters on

sale, we noticed that the shop was also

now advertising Cannabis seeds. This

got us thinking about the cross over

between genres, as well as the way that

‘legal’ products are marketed in the UK;

especially Fake (legal) Drugs or “Legal

Highs” as they are sometimes known.

Many moons ago the only legal-high

available in the UK besides tea, cof-

fee, tobacco, alcohol and solvents, was

a herbal smoking concoction called

‘Yuber Gold’. This product was normally

advertised in Viz magazine and was

mostly smoked by teenagers and/or

people that couldn’t purchase any real

Cannabis. Today, following the gradual

decline of club-culture (and its associ-

ated ecstasy use) there are literally

hundreds of legal-highs (fake drugs)

available for young adults (like guinea-

pigs) to test and try. Arguably fuelled

by prohibition, in the absence of real

narcotics to consume, this trend in

sampling “designer-drugs” from online

outlets and head-shops, without any

prior knowledge of the product, is in

fact in vogue.

There is also plenty of debate sur-

rounding the UK Government’s stance

in allowing such products to be sold

“off-licence” originally. The health and

safety of those young adults consum-

ing such legal-highs remains much an

unknown. Especially when contrasted

against more moderate traditional ille-

gal-drugs - which scientists and the

government fully understand the con-

sequences of.

During the 1990s the streets of the UK

were awash with Acid (LSD), Speed

(Amphetamine), Ecstasy (MDMA),

Smack (Heroin), and to a lesser extent

Coke (Cocaine) and Crack (Free Base

Cocaine). Today in 2012 the streets of

the UK are still saturated with Coke,

Crack and Smack; yet with several

fake (legal) drugs filling the gap in the

lack of supply in Amphetamine, Acid,

and Ecstasy. It would appear that our

youths are being corralled towards a

few limited options. No Drugs? Fake

Drugs? or Hardcore Drugs?

Many of the legal-highs available today

contain chemicals which are listed

as not suitable for human consump-

tion. It says so on the packet! The UK

Government has banned several ‘legal-

highs’ in the past few months/years;

only for the Manufacturers to tweak

the composition of the product just

enough for it to register as a different

chemical compound. Thus requiring

re-analysis by the Government before

banning it again. By-which time the

youths will have switched onto the

next chemical compound completely .

Just breaking down the chemical anal-

ysis of many of these fake drug prod-

ucts involves a degree in Chemistry

-which few (if any) of the people smok-

ing, eating, or sniffing such substances

hold. Possibly because they are merely

sheep following other online-sheep ;

ignorant to the unknown long-term

effects of such substances ; and / or

they simply didn’t know any better to

begin with. At which point the Elders in

the community need to regain a sense

of responsibility and step in.

The death of several young adults, as

a result of their “experimenting” with

fake (legal) drugs, which neither them-

selves or the Government knew any-

thing about at point of sale, is both

saddening and neglectful. It would

appear that completely Unqualified

Legal Drug Dealers (head shop owners)

are free to push an unknown quantity

of pills and powders into the online

shopping baskets of our youths (?) To

quote the name of a band at school...

Shit Stinks! And the UK Government are

in it up to their necks!

For as callous as the shop-seller is for

pimping such fake drugs into the nos-

trils of our youth to begin with, they

break no law in doing so. For as igno-

rant as the kids are for buy into the

whole meow-meow trend at high cost

to their wallets, they break no law

(when over 18) in doing so. Yet the

Government makes LOTS of money,

ever time a fake (legal) drug is sold over

counter or online, via the Government’s

system of tax.

In truth, such “legal-highs” do not

expand the brain in the ways they

claim to on the packet. Nor do they

provide the body with a natural source

of stimulus. Much is placebo. In truth

such chemicals tend to make people

dumber than they were before they

ingested them! Which is exactly the

reason the UK Government is all too

happy to let youths continue destroy-

ing their lives with such substances.

Unlike the more traditional illegal hal-

lucinogens and uppers, which have

been tried and tested on millions of

people (including youths) world wide,

the modern scientifically engineered

products may only hold a shelf-life of a

few months - before they are complete-

ly withdrawn from sale. By which time

the mind and body of an individual

consuming such substances may be

permanently and irreparably damaged!

Let’s face it, it doesn’t take a Rocket-

Scientists to work out that snorting

plant food up the nose isn’t good for

anyone; regardless of how high it might

get you in the process! Hell, snorting

bleach might be fun for a split sec-

ond (NOTE: do NOT snort bleach kids!)

My point is where does such madness

end? With more deaths? With further

prohibition on fake (legal) drugs? What

nonsense! Who regulates such mat-

ters in society? Clearly NOT the UK

Government or the retail outlets push-

ing this toxic filth into the minds and

bodies of our young!

We are NOT suggesting that Soft Secrets

readers boycott all head-shops or get

involved in any hardcore drug stuff!

But we would advise all ages of Reader

to stop playing about with potentially

lethal substances. Let us all remember

that just 1g of chemical is enough to

contaminate and pollute one billion

litres of water! That’s approximately a

small stream 30 miles long!

K

f

K

60 MUSIC

We understand that you have been

recording a new album with Youth.

How did you enjoy the process and the

collaborations that it involved? Are

you happy with the result?

I enjoyed making this album with Youth

very much; it was a very fruitful collabo-

ration. I collaborate with many people

and I do my thing working with different

people wherever I go. I met Youth and he

suggested doing this album. He wanted

to make something that was like jazz and

beatnik poetry. I said that’s kind of what

I do. So we started working together and

he brought in other people to collaborate

with us. One of them was Howard Marks

who then invited me to do this tour with

him. As for the results of the recording, I

am really, really happy with it. We found

things that work together in a quite spec-

tacular way. It all really kicked.

Some things were new to me in terms of

fusing poetry with popular music because

he wrote choruses for some of my poems.

I would do a couple of verses and then

there would be a chorus with backup sing-

ers. That thrilled the hell out of me.

Do you think that it the album will

appeal to new generations of smok-

ers, heads, protestors, musicians and

artists? That the spirit of rebellion is

ageless?

I have no idea. I don’t focus on what hap-

pens with something that I’m making it.

I’ve got to a point where I just make the

production and hope that somebody will

like it. The people that hear this will prob-

ably never have heard of me or my works

before so I felt free to just use whatever

I liked the best; so it’s a really interesting

experiment and I would enjoy it if folk

would enjoy and like it.

Do you see any modern day equiva-

lents to the infamous beat characters

of the 60’s and 70’s such as Ginsberg,

Leary, Kesey and Burroughs?

No I don’t. There’s not even many of us left

that followed them, such as Ed Sanders,

and myself. They were too original. Now

they are just using all the stuff that eve-

rybody else did before in music, poetry

and art and everything; because they’re

getting paid for that. Nobody wants to

do this shit without getting paid anymore.

They’re more interested in doing their own

television show. I don’t even watch televi-

sion, I don’t want a television.

What is the most exciting project, hap-

pening or moment that you have been

involved in?

Oh man, there have been so many. It

would be hard to begin to list them. Now I

would say my own radio station and being

able to make up programs and put them

on for people to listen to.

What is your smoke of choice – your

favorite buzz?

I’m a weed man. White Widow is my

favorite.

About the proposed legislation to pre-

vent coffee shops in Holland serving

non-Dutch people. Is this the end of

Amsterdam as we know and love it?

The only way I know here in Amsterdam

is the coffee shop world and I spend

most of my time in them. Everyone I’ve

talked to, and I write columns about

this for papers in the United States, they

say it’s not going to happen and that

it’s definitely not going to happen in

Amsterdam. On the other hand, they’ve

got it happening on a trial basis in sev-

eral other cities in the Netherlands such

as Maastricht. So I am following it very

closely. This whole thing is so un-Dutch

like and I can’t understand it at all, it

doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.

How do you see things now compared

to the 60’s? Have times changed

much for you?

Well, in the 60’s I was part of a mass move-

ment that was trying to alter the shape of

our society. Now I’m just out here on my

own or with my friends, moving around.

Culturally, they haven’t really grasped the

great cultural movement of our history that

sustained me for example. I think when

they get beyond pop music and television

as their principle forms of entertainment

and information, and start looking into

great music, poetry and art, whenever it was

made, then things will get more interesting.

I’m an art-oriented guy, for me everything

centers on art and I wouldn’t know what

to live for without it. I feel like an isolated

individual in that respect and that’s why

I’m always moving around looking for oth-

ers who I can have conversations with.

In these often dark and difficult times,

what do you believe to be the most

important thing to be saying to people?

It’s quite simple – do what you want to do!

What is your advice to help people be

able to do what they want?

Turn off the television set. That’s the first

thing. If you want to get somewhere you

got to get some room to think and use

your mind. Modern media is all designed

to keep peoples minds tied up so they don’t

ever get to think about what kind of world

they’d really like to live in and what they

want to do and how they could do it. Its’

not very profound but that’s just about it.

In the words of another beat-poet,

musician and radical – Gil Scot Heron –

“The revolution will not be televised.”

Tune into radio freeamsterdam.com

‘Beatnik Youth’ is available on Track

Records.

Emerging from the beatnik generation of the 1960’s, which represented bohemia and liberation, John Sinclair is now in his 70’s. A Joker smoker, radical poet and lover of music, laughter and life, he is as active and on point as ever. Massively inspired by Ginsberg, and manager of the New York punk band MC5, he inadvert-ently shot to global underground notoriety when, after getting set up and nicked for marijuana, John Lennon famously championed his cause at the legendary Freedom Rally in Ann Arbor. Currently on tour with Howard Marks, John has recently released ‘Beatnik Youth’, an album which fuses his edgy spoken word with a Detroit driven spectrum of rhythm n’ blues and rock n’ roll; co-written and produced by Youth with contributions from a host of musicians including Bobby Gillespie, Larry Love and Mark Stewart. Soft Secrets swung by the 420 Coffee shop, where he is poet in residence, to share a spliff and a few questions. By Kaz Peet

STILL BLAZIN’WITH A LUST FOR LIFE

John Sinclair

61SHOPREVIEWS

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the unit for customers requiring a discreet loading area.

All the usual nutrients are stocked; Canna, BioBizz, Ionic,

House & Garden, GHE and Plant magic+ as well as a cou-

ple of ranges chosen specifically by the owners such as

HydroTops and Ferro.

The team have over 20 years of horticultural experience

between them and will always ensure the customer leaves

with what they need, not what they think they can sell to them!

Systems available for purchase in store

include; IWS, Wilma, NFT, Oxy Pots and

Auto Pots and if there is something else

required it can be ordered and in store

within 48 hours.

H2G in their own words: ‘BIG orders will

be rewarded with BIG discounts’. So be

sure to take advantage!

Hydro 2 Grow (H2G)

299 Gander Green Lane

Sutton

Surrey

SM3 9QE

(t) 0208 6443780

(e) sales@hydro2grow.co.uk

Red Eye Amazon, BirminghamRed Eye Amazon is a new shop to open on

Ladypool Road, Birmingham. It is the sister

shop to the well established Red Eye Jungle,

Walsall which has been open for over 12 years!

This experience and success has now resulted

in Red Eye Amazon being opened and the

product selection available will suit all require-

ments/ budgets. A lot of effort has been

made to ensure the shop stocks exactly what

is required with the main focus on souvenir

seeds which include:

Royal Queen Seeds, Dutch Passion, Dinafem,

Greenhouse and the well established

Birmingham brand, Big Buddha + many more.

What they don’t have can be in stock within

24 hours!

The owner also prides himself on his collection

of rolling papers/ blunts and tips. It is a great

selection and any connoisseur would

be happy to shop here with the great

choice available. The shop also carries a

good range of scales, baggies (inc. Smelly

Proof ), grinders, pipes and bongs as well

as legal highs and room deodorisers such

as ONA. Other products available include

bandanas, flags and hats as well as a

small choice of CD packs.

Be sure to drop in soon to purchase all

your smoking accessory requirements.

Find us on facebook/redeyeamazon..

Red Eye Amazon

402 Ladypool Road

Balsall Heath

Birmingham

B12 8JZ

(t) 07976 247920

62 CANNABIS NEWS / INDEX OF ADS / COLOFON

Next issue out: august 31 2012

ColofonIndex of adsName Page

8 Ball Hydroponics 1

Advanced Seeds 10

Amsterdam Seed Center 47

Angel Grow Hydroponics 52

Atami 64

Big Stone River Indoor Garden Centre 51

Bio Nova 12

Bio-G-Power 63

Brit Crops 19

Buddha Seeds Bank 4

Bushman 59

Carbon Active 32

Clever Green 1

Clockwork Horticulture 41

Deep Impact Plant Care 51

Dinafem Seeds 13

Down to Earth Kent 44

Dr. Blooms Hydroponics 1

Dutch Passion 47

Eva Female Seeds 44

Funky Skunk the 56

Grass-O-Matic 27

Green Life Seeds 52

Green Park Specialists 52

Greenday Horticulture & Hydroponics 25

Grow Room (Worthing) the 55

Growing Underground 55

Growryder 27

Hesi 1

Hesi 2

Hydro 2 Grow 14

Hygrow II 56

I Grow Ponics 55

Jorge Cervantes 36

Junction 6 Hydroponics 35

LTT 59

Money Tree Hydroponics 8

Mycologics 56

Nirvana 17

Odysseed.nl 59

Paradise Seeds 1

Paradise Seeds 51

Phytolite 55

Plagron 7

Procare 56

Pyramid Seeds 21

Red Eye Amazon 56

Royal Queen Seeds 41

Seedmakers 31

Seeds of Life 28

Smokin Vinyl 59

Southern Hydro Centre 56

SouthWest Headshops 49

Sweet Seeds 24

UK GroWorks 55

UK Skunkworks 52

Wellingborough Hydroponics 56

Soft Secrets is published by

Discover Publisher BV

P.O.Box 362, 5460 AJ, Veghel, Netherlands

Telephone: +31-(0)73-5498112

Fax: +31-(0)73-5479732

E-mail: info@softsecrets.nl

Editor: Cliff Cremer

Contributors: Ed Rosenthal, Jorge Cervantes,

Lazystrain, Dr. John Dee, Grubbycup, Little

Lebowski, The Red One, the Professor,

O’Riodon, Kali Mist and others

Comics: Jim Stewart

Editorial adress:

E-mail: ssuk@softsecrets.nl

Layout & print:

R&B Communicatie, Schijndel, Holland

Advertisements:

E-mail: james@softsecrets.nl

A word from the publisher:

The UK government has embarked on a pro-

cess of relative liberalisation towards the

use of cannabis, and cannabis activists are

engaged in broadening this engagement.

Several local councils and police chiefs now

actively support a Dutch-style coffeeshop

system as a way of separating soft and hard

drugs, as it has proven to do in Holland.

Whether they are finding their way to new

coffeeshops or growing for their personal

supply, cannabis users are a menace to no

one, and are causing no discernable social

problem. Some politicians and commenta-

tors are calling for the outright legalisation

of marihuana. Let’s wait and see how the

debate develops during a period of relative

peace between all sides of the argument.

In the meantime, the publisher hopes Soft

Secrets will show the public a positive side

to the normalisation of cannabis use, and is

anxious to offer a forum to both pro- and

anti-legalisation advocates. This assumes

that the publisher does not necessarily agree

with everything that appears in articles and

advertisements. The publisher therefore

distances himself explicitly from published

statements or images that might give the

impression that an endorsement is being

made for the use or production of cannabis.

Nothing from this publication may be cop-

ied or reproduced in any format without

prior permission from the publisher and

other copyright holders. The publisher is not

responsible for the content and/or point of

view of advertisements. The editors take no

responsibility for unsolicited submissions.

LTT MAASBREE, HOLLAND

Horticultural products at a competitive price

Land en Tuinbouw (Agriculture and

Horticulture) Trading (LTT) Maasbree is

based in North-Limburg (Netherlands),

just over half an hour drive from

Duisburg (Germany). In a large (more

than four metres high) warehouse,

which is accessible by truck, LTT

Maasbree sells everything a grower

could possibly need. Parking and dis-

crete service are guaranteed. The ware-

house is located in an industrial area

and is easily accessible from the motor-

way. Soil, nutrition, seeds, irrigation

systems, equipment... Truly everything

a beginner or experienced grower

could need are in stock. LTT Maasbree

also has a selection of growth tents

available. For a reasonable price, Secret

Jardin tent offers a complete growing

environment, which is extremely easy

to assemble.

LTT Maasbree provides an exten-

sive number of services. In addition

LTT Maasbree

Groesweg 37

5993 NN Maasbree

The Netherlands

Opening times:

Mondays-Fridays: 10:00 – 17:00

Saturday: 10:00 – 15:00

Tel.: 0031 (0)77-4770919

Fax: 0031 (0)77-354 42 22

http://www.growshopltt.nl

Email: info@growshopltt.nl

to expert information on growing pro-

cesses, the company offers various pos-

sibilities in the field of delivery and pay-

ment. Customers are helped in German,

English or Dutch.

081111

SAME QUALITY!!!… NEW LOOK!!!SOON IN

YOUR LOCAL SHOP!