Grow Life 420

The phone alarm goes off at 5 AM, but True Terpenes co-founder Ben Cassiday is already awake. He couldn’t sleep last night. Cassiday just tasted his great white whale.

All hunters have the one quarry they’re still hunting. Captain Ahab had Moby Dick, King Arthur had the Holy Grail, and for Cassiday it’s a candy-sweet, berry scented cannabis that he got from a Columbia University botany professor when he was 18 and involved in the Michigan medical cannabis program.

Those early days in medical cannabis also led Cassiday to Oregon and True Terpenes co-founder Chris Campagna. Cassiday and Campagna founded True Terpenes to educate patients about terpenes at the medical cannabis clinics they ran. Terpenes are the compounds responsible for the flavor, scent, and effects of cannabis.

The demand for terpenes in cannabis products, food, drinks, and cosmetics quickly outpaced the medical clinic market and True Terpenes, as you know it, was born.

True Terpenes has become the household name in terpenes by replicating the flavors and effects of cannabis. Their strain profiles are created from triple-distilled isolated terpenes and use industry-leading analytics to make blends that are as close to the original flower as humanly possible. The strain profiles are developed using botanical terpenes such as linalool from lavender or beta-caryophyllene from hops which have been formulated to recreate the taste, aroma and effects of cannabis without any of the legal concerns.

However, in order to recreate something you first have to find it. Like all great hunts, hunting for terpenes starts with scouting.

Cassiday’s expeditions have taken him to Hawaii, Israel, and beyond in search of rare cannabis and terpene profiles to bring to True Terpenes audience and the world. Cassiday knows more growers than he can count and speaks with researchers like Ethan Russo routinely, but often it’s the unexpected moments of life that bring the greatest results.

A decade and several states after his meeting with the Columbia University botanist, Cassiday found himself at yet another cannabis convention. Thankfully this event featured an after party at a mansion with open consumption. That’s where the smell of berries drew him to a dark, cloudy section of the mansion and a gentleman with two very pungent zip lock bags.

A couple joints later and they had drew up plans to deliver samples to a lab for a custom terpene profile formulation project. Cassiday has to secure multiple harvests or vintages of a strain for testing to give the formulation team the best picture of what he experiences in the field.

The strains that caught Cassiday’s nose that evening? Strawberry Cheesecake and Blueberry Cookies.

“Usually I am evaluating for the bag appeal, the smell once the nug is broken, and then how that does or does not transfer to the experience when smoking,” Cassiday said. “I like to break it up with a grinder to get the most scent activation.”

These techniques showcase an important fact about terpenes and cannabis. Terpenes are volatile and will evaporate at different temperatures depending on their mass. As such you’ll mostly be smelling the monoterpenes that have evaporated and built up when you open a jar. As such it’s important to have a process like this to experience the entire profile in the flower.

“I’m always mentally taking notes of what terpenes I’m tasting,” Cassiday said. “I like to be able to compare that to what we see when we get the data back.”

It was thoughts of this data that were dancing in Cassiday’s mind as the alarm again went off. Time to catch the plane back to Portland.

Finding unique cannabis is only the first step in the process to develop True Terpenes Strain Profiles.

The True Terpenes formulation team gets to work piecing together the terpene and volatile profile of the strain once the analytical data comes in from the lab. But not before Cassiday takes a moment to compare his blind terpene tasting to the numbers coming from the machine.

“I knew these would have high linalool and terpinolene,” Cassiday said. “Those two are responsible for that floral, sweet, tart taste in blueberries, cranberries and strawberries. There’s definitely some surprises though.”

The surprises came in the form of a ketone this time. Most of the tastes, aromas and effects we love about the plant are created by terpenes. However, there are some other interesting compounds in cannabis from alcohols and esters to ketones that provide unique mouthfeel, scents and flavors. True Terpenes tests for and utilizes these compounds to create a mirror of the cannabis experience. These volatiles provide a next level of flavor for True Terpenes profiles and their new custom formulation services.

Despite utilizing cutting edge science, the process often requires several iterations to find the best recreation of the profile. Just like with cooking from a recipe, it’s always important to taste before you serve. The formulations team at True Terpenes serves as our terpene sommeliers. Our team makes sure our profiles or your custom project go beyond matching the analytical data from cannabis, to matching the experience of cannabis.

If you’re ready to level up your cannabis experience, or want to bring the flavor of cannabis and terpenes into your food, beer, or skincare find True Terpenes. True to the plant. True Experience. True Terpenes.

Written by David Heldreth

The post Hunting for Terpenes with True Terpenes appeared first on High Times.

http://bit.ly/2I68Fi3 April 14, 2019 at 09:05PM, 420GrowLife, KahliBuds

For veteran Bobby Russo, cannabis cultivator and co-owner of Maine’s Hive Medicinal, giving back to his community means ensuring all veterans have access to safe medicinal cannabis.

Russo’s Hive Medicinal dispensary is set to open — when else? — April 20th of this year. The dispensary will sell the cultivation’s own high-quality cannabis, all grown with Rx Green Technologies nutrients. Russo uses Rx Green Technologies products because he “knows vets are getting clean meds.” Rx Green Technologies uses pharmaceutical grade minerals which have been refined to eliminate toxic heavy metals.

Russo also loves that Rx Green Technologies is based in New Hampshire because “that puts them at my fingertips for feedback and troubleshooting.” Rx Green Technologies has offices in both New Hampshire and Colorado, where their R&D facility is located.

Hive Medicinal is in Maine, situated near the Togus VA Medical Center. Russo puts the operation’s transportation vehicle to good use in service of fellow vets with appointments at the VA.

“We have a couple of veterans that don’t have transportation, so we’ll pick them up and bring them to the appointment,” Russo says.

That vehicle? Hive Medicinal’s own Humvee.

Russo purchased the Humvee for the express purpose of giving vets rides. “We were just hanging out — me and two other friends,” he explains. “I was on Craigslist and found a Humvee, randomly! I said, ‘We should get this and give people rides.’ And the other veteran, my friend, said, ‘No, we should give vets rides — it will be like it was when they were serving.’”

True to Russo friend’s prediction, his fellow vets find the Humvee rides familiar and comforting.

“They started making that Humvee in 1985, so you have a pretty large number of veterans that have ridden in one of those,” Russo says of his military-issue vehicle and its modest interior. “For a lot of those guys, it’s like being back in that situation [active duty] but without the stress or pressure … It reminds them of their prior service in a good way.”

Of course, driving around Maine in a military Humvee means Russo shuttles his vets in style. “Half of the guys see the Humvee and say, ‘That’s what I used to drive.’ The other half say, ‘That’s what I want to drive!’”

Rides on Hive Medicinal’s Humvee are all complimentary. Russo says the Humvee rides were inspired by his previous work with NEVA — the New England Veterans Alliance, a nonprofit which connects veterans to medical marijuana education, doctor recommendations and other natural health options.

Rx Green Technologies has pledged to cover the cost of gas for the next year. Rx Green Technologies CEO Wes Matelich states, “We’re honored to work with Hive Medicinal to support the men and women who served this country.”

Russo plans to shuttle veterans to and from Hive Medicinal between their VA appointments, ensuring that his Humvee will host many more happy veterans in its future.

Find Rx Green Technologies at: @rxgreentechnologies on Instagram and at rxgreentechnologies.com

Find Hive Medicinal at: @hivemedicinal on Instagram.

The post Hive Medicinal and Rx Green Technologies Serve Maine Veterans appeared first on High Times.

http://bit.ly/2uEgYtD April 11, 2019 at 09:12AM HT Sponsor, KahliBuds

With so many people raving about CBD (cannabidiol) these days, it’s natural to wonder if you should really believe all the hype. But even though public awareness of CBD is relatively new, the plant it’s derived from, cannabis, has been used medicinally for centuries. If you’ve been curious about trying CBD but aren’t sure if it’s for you, then keep reading to find out the top 10 reasons you should try CBD oil today.

1. CBD won’t get you high

First things first: while it’s true that CBD comes from the cannabis plant, it won’t get you high. That’s because the psychoactive effects of cannabis are caused by THC, not CBD. And while some CBD oils contain traces of THC, it’s not enough to bring about the altered mental state that marijuana is famous for. For legal reasons, most CBD you’ll find on the market today is made from hemp, which has less than 0.3% THC. Either way, if you’d rather have your CBD oils with absolutely no THC, look for CBD isolate or broad spectrum products. Both of these types of CBD are processed to remove all THC, unlike full spectrum, which tends to contain both THC and CBD.

2. CBD works with your body’s natural systems

You may have heard that CBD is great for pain, anxiety, seizures, sleep, and more. It’s true – but how can it be so versatile? It all comes down to the endocannabinoid system, a network of receptors throughout the body that help regulate physiological processes like – you guessed it – pain perception, sleep, mood, and more. Our bodies produce neurotransmitters called endocannabinoids, and CBD mimics these, interacting with endocannabinoid receptors to produce a variety of health effects. In other words, CBD works naturally with the human body to regulate health.

3. CBD is safe, non-addictive, and has no (or mild) side effects

One reason CBD is so popular is that it’s completely safe with no potential for addiction, unlike many commonly used medicines and drugs. Plus, most people don’t experience any side effects from CBD products – but for those that do, they’re very mild (such as dry mouth, and sleepiness at higher doses). There is also no maximum dose of CBD, meaning you can’t overdose on it. Even the World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized the safety and utility of CBD oil.

4. CBD is easy to use

There’s a huge variety of CBD products available these days, so you’re bound to find the perfect one to suit your lifestyle. Every Day Optimal CBD Gummies and other edibles are great for those with a sweet tooth, while vaping is popular among people trying to quit smoking. Every Day Optimal Tinctures are another favorite; they’re fast-acting, portable, and allow for easy dose adjustments. They’re also super concentrated, making them ideal for anyone who needs a higher dose.

5. CBD relieves pain and reduces inflammation

Whether you’re dealing with pain associated with arthritis, migraines, fibromyalgia, IBD, or an old sports injury, CBD has powerful pain relieving properties that make it valuable across a wide range of conditions. It can relieve muscle pain, joint pain, and nerve pain, and it’s also an effective anti-inflammatory. Even if you don’t deal with chronic pain, CBD can be great for soothing sore muscles after a workout.

6. CBD supports good health

Thanks to its potent anti-inflammatory properties, CBD offers a long list of health benefits – after all, inflammation is associated with just about every illness out there. But that’s not the only reason to take CBD every day; there’s also evidence that CBD can protect against heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as lower blood pressure. It’s also an antioxidant, and early research indicates that CBD can possibly slow or prevent tumor growth.

7. CBD is a mood-booster

Sometimes we all need a little pick-me-up, and CBD can be excellent for bringing a little sunshine to an otherwise gloomy day. In fact, CBD has such potent mood-boosting properties that it has even been studied as a potential treatment for clinical depression. This could be because CBD activates a serotonin receptor called 5-HT1A, but further research is needed to understand how CBD works to improve mood.

8. CBD helps you unwind

Along with boosting your mood, CBD is also calming and relaxing. One of CBD’s most well-studied benefits so far is its ability to reduce anxiety, helping people with conditions such as social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. But even if you don’t have clinical anxiety, CBD can be a great stress reliever, and help you unwind after a long day.

9. CBD improves your sleep

If you’re struggling to fall or stay asleep at night, tossing and turning, or dealing with nightmares, CBD may be able to help. There is a growing body of evidence showing that CBD can help you fall asleep faster, improve your quality of sleep, and reduce nightmares. Researchers have speculated that CBD’s sleep benefits could actually be the result of its effects on pain and anxiety, since both pain and chronic worrying can keep one up at night. That said, some studies indicate CBD may affect sleep-wake cycles and prolong the duration of REM sleep.

10. CBD doesn’t require a prescription

You don’t need a medical marijuana card or a prescription to buy CBD, so it’s not just easy to use, but easy to buy, too. In most US states, you can buy CBD legally online, or in local head shops. But it’s always a good idea to speak with your doctor before taking any new supplement, including CBD – especially if you take medications, since CBD can potentially interact with them.

Ready to try CBD for yourself? Before you go shopping, there’s something else you should know: not all CBD is created equal. Luckily, there are a few easy ways to spot a quality product, such as:

• CBD sourced from organically-grown hemp
• Published third-party lab test results
• Using CO2 extraction methods instead of solvents
• Products that are clearly labelled to indicate amount of CBD

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The post 10 Reasons and 2 Coupons To Try CBD appeared first on High Times.

http://bit.ly/2uEgYtD April 10, 2019 at 07:24AM HT Sponsor, KahliBuds

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If you’re a true cannabis enthusiast, chances are you’ve dreamed of growing your own huge stash at least once. Now, thanks to new recreational laws throughout the country, more people than ever before have the opportunity to grow their own. As of the most recent state elections, recreational marijuana is now legal in eleven states. In most of those states, it’s legal to grow in the privacy of your home, but for those of us new to growing, how do we even get started?

Diving into all of the options for growing indoors can get overwhelming quickly as you fall deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole of available information available in just a few keystrokes. There are as many ways to grow cannabis as there are opinions on the matter, and trust us, there are a lot of opinions. Thankfully, one California company has made it their mission to lower the barrier of entry to indoor growing by offering a premium grow tent kit for a very affordable price.

How to Get Started

Before running out and filling your trunk full of clones, it’s worth noting that each state has different laws, and counties within those states may have their own unique restrictions. In Michigan, for example, you can grow up to 12 plants in the privacy of your own home. In Oregon, however, you can only grow up to four plants per household. In Washington, the first state to legalize recreational cannabis, it’s not legal to grow your own unless you’re a medical patient. In order to ensure you are operating within the confines of the law, be sure to check any local ordinances regarding growing cannabis in your area. Just because it’s legal to consume doesn’t mean it’s legal to grow!

Now that the legal stuff is out of the way, let’s get down to the basics. Besides seeds or clones, there are three things you must have to start growing—a dedicated space, a grow medium, and light.

A benefit to growing weed indoors is that it actually helps you conform to the law and avoid unwanted attention from nosy neighbors. In states where recreational marijuana is legal there are guidelines as to how and where you can grow, and in most cases it boils down to “keep it out of sight and secure.”

The simplest and best solution for growing indoors is a grow tent kit like the RecRoom. Light, temperature, and humidity control are vitally important throughout your grow, and a grow tent kit will be incredibly helpful in regulating the environment for your plants. The secure enclosure eliminates potentially disastrous light leaks, the reflective interior helps to maximize your light source, an inline fan helps to keep the air inside the tent circulating, and charcoal filters eliminate any odor. Premium grow tents from Gorilla Grow Tent feature incredibly thick and durable materials like super-thick canvas and strong steel poles, and even feature height extension kits, providing a vertical grow space up to 10-feet tall so you can really maximize your available space.

For those new to growing, soil is a great medium to start with. It’s readily available, there are no pumps or reservoirs to worry about, and moving your plants around if you need to is much simpler in a soil pot. Once you’ve settled on a grow medium, it’s time to choose your nutrients. Due to the difficulty in combining essential macro and micro nutrients, most as many as a dozen separate products in order to obtain all of the nutrients cannabis plants need throughout their lifecycle. These liquid nutrient programs can be needlessly complicated and bulky, due mostly to the large amount of water included in every mix. Newcomer Lotus Nutrients has blended all the essential nutrients into a super simple three-part water-soluble powdered solution, and are quickly becoming a preferred choice for commercial agriculture and a great solution for new growers.

The biggest decision for the new grower is deciding on what lighting system to install, as basic home lighting won’t cut it. When it comes to grow lights, there are two primary options, high-pressure sodium lights (HPS) or LED.

The commercial marijuana industry is slowly moving away from inefficient HPS or Metal Halide (MH) lighting systems, and home growers are following suit. Both HPS and MH lights run hot and require investment in full-blown ventilation and cooling systems. If you are growing in your home, you want to make sure your space is as safe as possible, which means keeping a close eye on heat sources within your small grow space.

LED grow lights are much more energy efficient, put off considerably less heat, have a longer life, and offer a spectrum optimized for growing cannabis. Top-of-the-line full-spectrum LED grow lights like the ones manufactured by Kind LED even include IR and UV wavelengths, and have been proven to produce up to 80% more terpenes than traditional HPS grow lights in third-party testing. This not only means better smelling and better tasting buds, but also helps with the “entourage effect” of cannabis, in which terpenes interact with other cannabinoids to provide therapeutic effects.

The RecRoom has taken all of these factors into consideration, and has put together an incredibly affordable package featuring the best products on the market from award-winning brands like Gorilla Grow Tent, Kind LED Grow Lights, Lotus Nutrients, Smart Pots, and more. It’s a fantastic kit for the new grower to get started growing their own stash of premium buds.

But Why?

With so many states starting to legalize marijuana, one might wonder why learning to grow your own herb is even worth the trouble when you can just go to a dispensary. There are countless reasons why growing is a fantastic hobby to get involved with, but you may be surprised to learn that in the long run, growing your own is considerably more affordable than going back and forth to your local weed shop.

As recreational cannabis has become legal, it’s been heavily taxed—as high as 37% in Washington State. California’s recreational marijuana is taxed at just 15%, but the state has added taxes for both commercial growers and dispensaries which has increased the retail cost considerably. With mandatory lab testing, licensing fees, and new regulations for packaging, the price has grown even higher in several states as cannabis companies attempt to recoup some of those fees by passing those expenses on to the consumers.

Nationwide, the average price of mid-range legal, recreational cannabis is roughly $10 per gram but can cost you as much as $18 per gram in Washington DC. By growing your own at home, you can easily cut that cost-per-gram down considerably-by 75% or more.

How?

When you take into account the cost of your grow tent kit and the costs of running your lights and fans over the course of the entire grow (generally between 8-12 weeks), you can grow your first crop of premium bud for under $2.50 a gram. We won’t bother you with all of the math, but if you’re into that kind of thing, the folks at the RecRoom have done it all for you here. The best part? After you’ve recouped your initial investment with the first harvest, your costs drop even lower—and you can harvest a new crop every 3-4 months.

Studies have shown that the average consumer spends roughly $100/month on cannabis ($150 around April 20th for some reason)—and as we established earlier, $100 doesn’t get you too far nowadays in the recreational marketplace. With rising prices in the recreational marketplace, that number is likely to increase steadily each year. When you consider that for a small investment (that pays for itself very quickly) you can find yourself flush with premium homegrown buds year-round, the prospect of growing your own at home starts to become more and more appealing.

If you’re looking to get into indoor growing, the RecRoom is a great place to start. With premium components from trusted brands and lifetime grow support from their team of experts, you’ll quickly be rolling in premium bud. What are you waiting for? Start growing your own today!

The post How to Grow Weed in the Comfort of Your Own Home appeared first on High Times.

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http://bit.ly/2I68Fi3 April 3, 2019 at 03:05PM WEED.NEWS, HT Sponsor April 3, 2019 at 05:14PM