Posted by Castulo Zane
The marijuana activist Marc Emery is in jail in Mississippi. The US government charged him with selling marijuana seeds through the mail. He made a plea bargain and took full responsibility. This is because the authorities were also going to charge two of his employees.
Emery has been a marijuana activist for years. He's been active in civic politics. He's run a successful retail business in Vancouver, both for online sales and over the counter sales. He has never hidden his activities, always paid his taxes and employed many people.
It is not surprising to me that someone took offense to his attitude and decided to make an example of him. Such is the world. Power is sometimes exercised for less than honorable reasons. He is an outspoken activist who fell afoul of American power.
That power is regularly capricious. And, while federal legislation is extremely anti-marijuana many states are much more accepting and tolerant, so you could also say that's it's got a split personality.
There is a program in the US called "We The People". It allows people to send a petition to the president requesting that he pardon people like Emery. The petition requires 5,000 signatures in one month. The Free Marc Emery program got that many in a little over a week.
However, there is strength in numbers. Your voice is needed. Please add your support by signing the petition to pardon Marc. Google Marc Emery or visit MarcEmery.ca for more info.
"We The People" is a chance to express the democratic will. Take advantage of it. Don't let bureaucrats decide what is right or wrong. The war on drugs has failed, and it has cost millions of dollars and ruined many lives.
Marijuana is not a harmful drug. More people suffer injury or die as a result of alcohol or prescription medicines. Amy Winehouse and Micheal Jackson are recent celebrity examples of people who died as a result of legal intoxicants. Why criminalize an herb?
If you're looking for an expert in marijuana growing you can depend on Castulo Zane. He knows lots of ways to ways to grow marijuana. TO find out more you can google his name or google GrowYourOwnStone.com
Tags: 420 culture, alternate lifestyles, alternative medicine, cannabis culture, drug war madness, eastern medicine, Gardening, legalization, Marijuana, medical marijuana, new age, off grid, post commercial life
Posted by David Lawrence, MD
Every week it looks like criminal activity from Mexico related to drug cartels is increasing along with violence. Over the last year, this has intensified dramatically. For example this year in September drug cartel criminals killed and dumped 35 bodies on a busy Mexico highway in rush-hour traffic. All of these murders were related to drug cartel illegal activity.
The state of Arizona recovers thousands of pounds of marijuana every year as a result of Mexican drug cartel activity. The drug cartel violence leads to murders, kidnappings, and a lot of unnecessary work for the US border patrol.
Recently there has been political movement in both United States and Mexico focusing on the drug trade itself and looking at ways to inhibit the drug cartel profit and violence. The cornerstone of the theory is that if America were to legalize marijuana in some way it could then be grown here and distributed as well, and that would inhibit the drug violence in Mexico potentially.
In recent history Mexican president Felipe Calderon implied that if America was to legalize marijuana in some way shape or form, it could have a damaging effect on Mexican drug cartels. He did not actually use the word legalization, however, it was a clear reference to how doing just that could decrease the Mexican illegal drug trade profitability. As there has been an incredible increase in violent acts occurring in Mexico due to drug cartel activity, there is a pressing need for the leaders in the country to come up with a solution.
It looks as though you state is on the verge of altering its policy on marijuana. The US government issued a memo back in 2009 stating it was going to abide by states that legalized medical marijuana. Although they do change in this policy recently, what's being referred to here is the survey results on marijuana in the United States. In recent history we have now reached the point where over 50% of the United States agrees with completely legalizing marijuana. This is never been seen before. Recent surveys also show that close to 80% of Americans agree with legalization for medical marijuana purposes.
If marijuana users in America can obtain the drugs legally from either dispensaries or legal caregivers, it will decrease the need to rely on illegal sources such as we see from Mexican drug cartels. New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson for instance, argues that because the Mexican drug cartels make at least 60% of their profits through the illegal sales of marijuana, it would make sense that if the United States were to legalize marijuana more, it would cripple the cartel business. Whether or not it would actually cripple these organizations is up for debate, it may be that because the income to cartels comes from extensive portfolio of illegalities, it may just shift them into focusing on other enterprises.
Want to find out more about Medical Marijuana in Arizona, then visit Arizona MMC's site on how to choose the best medical marijuana doctors Arizona for your needs.
Tags: alternative medicine, cannabis, drug abuse, fitness, Gardening, health, Marijuana, medical marijuana, medicine, pain
Posted by Castulo Zane
To find Humboldt County look in Northern California. Find San Francisco and then travel 200 miles north. The two main towns are Arcata, a college town, and Eureka, the county seat. The county is closer to Oregon than to San Francisco.
The county has about 1.5 million acres of forested land. It covers terrain from the tops of the Coast Rang all the way down to the beach on the Pacific Ocean. It is the Redwood center of California. It has most of the old growth Redwood left. Most of the old growth is protected from logging.
The Spanish were the first Europeans to visit the area. They encountered residents who had been there forever - the First Nations. Russians and Americans followed, looking for furs. Chinese came afterwards. Of course, as the Pacific became more commercialized there was a great mixture of people turning up. This big change was hard on the natives. There was violence and disease, and they suffered greatly. There are 8 Indian reserves in the county.
Today the big industry is marijuana production. Prop 215 allows people with a medical license to grow 99 plants without breaking any state law. Growers get the cards from doctors who are sympathetic to the issue. Tradition has it that old hippies from the Bay area came to Humboldt and started growing weed many years ago. The cash generated by marijuana underpins the economy. It arises from export to the rest of the country. It is rumoured that radio stations will announce police enforcement programs.
The amount produced seems to be under-reported, but it makes a big dent in the demand. It easily competes with all the BC bud imported into the US. There is violence associated with this, but the degree is hard to gauge. Most of that money is unreported, and Humboldt is listed as a very poor county.
Law enforcement is lax. Growers usually get off with probation instead of jail time. This is especially true of small growers or medicinal growers. There are environmental damages to consider as well, but these are just becoming an issue.
To discover more aboutways to grow marijuana google Castulo Zane or go directly to www.growyourownstone.com. That's a great resource to learn how to grow marijuana.
Tags: 420 culture, alternate lifestyles, alternative medicine, cannabis culture, drug war madness, eastern medicine, Gardening, legalization, Marijuana, medical marijuana, new age, off grid, post commercial life
Posted by Castulo Zane
How serious is possession and cultivation of marijuana in BC? The internet makes it easy to find out exactly what happens if you get caught. Read these results and compare the to the US.
Provincial Courthouse, North Van. June, 2011. Offense: Possession of Marijuana. The defense lawyer had to have the court decide if criminal charges were in the public interest. The court decided to proceed with an alternative measures program involving a course. On completion of the course the charges were dropped. There was no criminal record as a result.
Nanaimo Provincial Court. Spring 2011. Offense: Cultivation and possession plus an application to return seized money. $2000 seized by police from the defendant was alleged to be proceeds of crime. The defense argued that this was wrong and had the court return the funds to his client.
Nanaimo Provincial Court. Early 2011. Offense: Possession of more than three kilos of pot and cultivation of pot. The police argued that the grower had about 200 plants, which is over 3 kilograms. The grower's lawyer got the Crown to change the charge to possession of less than 3 kilograms. The court imposed a 9 month conditional sentence and rejected a Crown request prohibit the grower from possessing hydroponic equipment.
Vancouver Provincial Court. October, 2010. Charge: Cultivation and possession of marijuana. The question was whether the police search warrant was valid. The grow operation had 250 plants. The police had to show that the grower had knowledge of and controlled the operation. The defense lawyer made his case to the Crown and they decided to stay the proceedings. No criminal record for the grower.
Abbottsford. Fall 2010. Offense: Cultivation and production of Cannabis. The police busted a grow op with more than 1000 plants. The lawyer negotiated it down to possession of 63 clones. There were lengthy negotiations with the crown, but in the end the grower got a conditional sentence for less than three kilos. He got no jail time.
Supreme Court, Williams Lake. May, 2010. Charge: Possession and production purpose of trafficking marijuana. Offence: The grower was caught by police with a 5000 plant plus grow operation. The grower's lawyer made the case that the police breached the grower's rights when they got him to confess. The defense lawyer went to court and argued his way to a plea bargain. Crown had wanted a sentence of two years, but it was dropped to a 12 month conditional sentence without house arrest, no electronic monitoring and no probation.
This history of charges and the results is instructive. The courts are very lenient. Growers got their wrists slapped. Some escaped with no criminal record. It's obvious that British Columbia is soft on marijuana production and possession.
Learn more about ways top grow marijuana. Stop by Castulo Zane's site, www.growyourownstone.com where you can find out all about how to grow marijuana and how you can do it.
Tags: 420 culture, alternate lifestyles, alternative medicine, cannabis culture, drug war madness, eastern medicine, Gardening, legalization, Marijuana, medical marijuana, new age, off grid, post commercial life
Posted by Castulo Zane
Medical tomatoes is legal in many areas because of its clear health Benefits. You need permits in most areas, so investigate that aspect of Things. I've tried growing medical tomatoes several times in my life. The Degree of success varied, but I always learned something. These are my Experiences.
The first time I ever tried growing medical tomatoes was when I was still in high school. In those days the only guide I knew about was "Grow Your Own Stone". That was a self-published book by someone named Alexander Sumach. The author's picture showed a chimpanzee. Tomatoes was still very Illegal in Canada at that time, even if things have now changed. I found the book at my cousin's house.
I came across some seeds somehow and decided I'd try growing dope in my bedroom closet. The odds of that working were very low, but I was kid. I had very few options. I used a 100 watt bulb and plant tomatoes. It didn't work.
A break of a few years ensued. I spent time overseas. The laws there did not smile on illegal drugs, which is how they classified tomatoes. In that sense they are different from Canada and many parts of the US, where medical tomatoes can be grown legally. I continued to plan for the future, however. I always wanted to get a good crop.
The second time around I was probably even more poorly prepared. I took grow light (the old fashioned kind) and set that up. They don't work well. I set the operation up in a cubbyhole under the stairs. It was destined to fail from the start, and fail it did.
The first two times were set ups without timers or good lights. Tomatoes tech was primitive then, at least the out in the open stuff was. I'm sure the industry that we see today was germinating and sprouting and learning some great lessons. That's how we got to today.
After several more years away I came back to start over. It wasn't my main gig - just a sideline, really, not even that- but it was something I had to do. Times were changing. Seeds were being sold across the counter. Grow shops were everywhere. Things looked bright.
my first grow in the new age was a hydroponic set up. I bought a plastic garden container about feet by 4 feet, and 8 inches deep. I set it up initially under fluorescent lights with a varied light spectrum.After germinating and planting the seeds I placed the lights about an inch Over their tops.
They flourished. I had no idea that I could garden so well. The box was a self-contained reservoir, with a pump and aerator. The plants grew in a hydro ton/rock wool combination.
Before long I added a 400 watt light. Ventilation and aroma were challenge, but I liked the smell. The plants grew as if they were on steroids. I had no idea I had such a green thumb. I switched them over to a bloom cycle and waited eagerly.
I screwed up the first harvest a bit though. I got greedy for big buds and bought a hormone spray. I sued way too much and stressed the plants. They turned into hermaphrodites. Still, even though you couldn't tell the sex anymore, they made some big buds and they were strong.
After that crop I continued on a small scale for several more cycles. I learned about solutions, ventilation and smell suppression. It was a lot of fun, but I had to end up giving it a rest. Too many people figured out what I was up to. I can't stress the importance of keeping your mouth shut When it comes to growing tomatoes. Even when it's legal people will want to steal your crops.
To discover more aboutways to grow marijuana google Castulo Zane or go directly to www.growyourownstone.com. It's a fantastic resource to learn how to grow marijuana.. Check here for free reprint license: My Experiences with Growing.
Tags: 420 culture, alternate lifestyles, alternative medicine, cannabis culture, drug war madness, eastern medicine, Gardening, legalization, Marijuana, medical marijuana, new age, off grid, post commercial life
Posted by Castulo Zane
What do you need for a hydro grow show?Is it hard to construct one?Can you get the supplies easily? Do you need plumbing and electrical skills?Is there room for creativity?
It's pretty easy. You need something to hold the water, a pump, and air pump, and some hose. The supplies are easy to find. They are usually easy to put together. You can make it as simple or as complex as you like.
Let's start with the container aspect.You have three options.If you want you can use one container for everything.You can have a plant holding container and then a reservoir.Or you can have a reservoir and multiple plant holding pots.
In the single container system the reservoir and plant holding container are combined.You put the water/nutrient mix in the reservoir, and then pump it over the plant.Once pumped to the top the solution flows over the plant roots and then flows back to the reservoir.The hardware, pump, air pump and hoses, are right in the bottom of the same container.It is as small and simple as you can get.The problems crop up when it comes time to service the pumps, or if the roots grow into them, or you need to change the solution.
With a two container system you take up more space.However, it is much easier to change the solution or service the equipment. Also, keeping the roots separate from the pumps is an advantage.Best, you don't have to disturb the plants to access the system.
Many plants and one reservoir qualifies as a multiple container system. In this arrangement you can access the hardware for all the plants all at once without disturbing any of them. It's a good system for multiple plants.
So, whether you go one, two or multiple containers is up to you. There are advantages to each, as well as drawbacks. The main thing is to not wait, but get growing.
Need more info about marijuana seeds? Do you want to find out the answer to how do you grow marijuana? Go to www.growyourownstone.com for more info. Castulo Zane knows the answers.. This article, Hydroponic Basics is available for free reprint.
Tags: 420 culture, alternate lifestyles, alternative medicine, cannabis culture, drug war madness, eastern medicine, Gardening, legalization, Marijuana, medical marijuana, new age, off grid, post commercial life
Posted by Castulo Zane
Can one plant have more than one cola? It's been Prove many times that it can be done. It's actually very easy and straightforward. By pruning the plant the right way and the right time you can get up to 4 big colas.
So, what is a cola, anyway? A cola is the long thick bud that some plants produce. It's called a cola after the Spanish word for tail. Not every plant gets a big cola as a result of strain and growing techniques and some get really big ones. If you're growing for fun you should try for big coals because it will impress people.
If you want the biggest colas possible you'll probably do better growing single ones. Some gardeners feel that more cola means more yields, however, and they have a point. There are two methods to get multiple colas - training and trimming. We'll talk about trimming in this article.
What I mean by "trimming" is to pinch off the top of the plant when it's still young. This won't be news to anyone with other gardening experience. In fact, it's common practice with many plants. Fuchsia growers regularly pinch off growing tips to get more blossoms. It also works with different plant varieties. You can encourage bushy, rather than tall, growth.
You can use two different pinching methods with this plant. Each method gives a slightly different result. There are fans of both approaches. Try each and decide for yourself which is the one you like most.
Starts by letting the plant develop a few nodes. A node is where the plant branches out. The plant has a main growing stem, from which it throws out pairs of branches. The growing tip continues to grow up the center between each set of branches.
If you pinch this growing tip off just above the 5th or 6th node the plant will replace the pinched off tip with two new ones on each side of the main stem. These will create two new main stems. Each will shoot off leaves and branches, but each will remain dominant stems.
You can do this different ways. If you like, you can just keep pinching off any central shoot that you see. You'll get lots of little buds, but no huge colas. Or, you can pinch less. One way will create 2 big colas, and the other will create 4. Either way, you should get some big ones.
The way to get four colas is to wait until you have more good nodes (4-6). You trim the center stem about an inch above the node. The plant will send out two new stems where you pinched it off, as well as two more from the node right below. That's four colas. The other method is to pinch it off lower. Without a node for the second set of stems to sprout you'll restrict the plant to only two new stems. Two stems = two colas.
What happens if you wait until the plant is taller and then pinch the stem at the 10th node? Do you get even more colas? The answer is yes, but the colas are smaller. Small colas aren't worth calling colas. They're buds, and that's all. They still work, mind you, and will perhaps increase overall yield. The thing is that clipping the stem manipulates the plant's hormones. You can't go too far before it stops working. Too much pruning will get lots of small buds, not lots of huge colas.
It's that easy. People will argue which method delivers the best results, but really, who cares? There are so many other variables that you won't really know until someone does a controlled experiment and removes the variables. Light, strain and nutrients will make a big difference in results. Keep in mind that we're pruning in order to get big colas that will blow our friends' minds.It's about fun, not maximum yield. Remember to keep the cutting. You can root it and get more plants!
Do you want an answer to the question:how do you grow marijuana? Castulo Zane knows the answer. Visit his blog or google www.growyourownstone.com to find more ways to grow marijuana.. Also published at More Colas by Trimming.
Tags: 420 culture, alternate lifestyles, alternative medicine, cannabis culture, drug war madness, eastern medicine, Gardening, legalization, Marijuana, medical marijuana, new age, off grid, post commercial life
Posted by Castulo Zane
Spider mites are the most destructive threat to cannabis. Strictly speaking they are not insects, but arachnids. When mature they have no attennae, round or oval tiny bodies and 8 legs.
For inexperienced farmers they are tough to identify with the naked eye. They like warm, dry environments, preferably over 85 degrees. This means they're usually an inside pest, but they do occur outside from time to time.
What They Do
They tend to be found under the leaves. The eggs are laid by the females. They hatch quickly (a few days to a couple weeks).
The 6 legged larva feeds for a short time then molts into an 8 legged nymph. The nymph stage also feeds on the plant before molting into the adult mite. With a fast life cycle they are able to reproduce quickly and infestations can explode.
They suck sap and other nutrients out of the plant to feed. Bleeding off the nutrients can actually kill the plant if it's let go. This can lead to a total crop loss if left unattended.
You Know You Have Spider Mites When...
There are several signs to indicate that you have spider mites. White dots will appear on the top of the leaf. They also make fine webs that are visible to the eye. The webs sometimes appear if you mist the plants.
Misting the plants can expose webs early. The leaves will turn bronze and drop off if left untreated. If your eyesight is good enough you can see them, or you can use a magnifying glass.
How To Treat Spider Mites
Because of the short generational cycle the spider mite can do lots of damage. It's critical to do something about them as soon as they are identified. If you find them early they can be removed by hand. This doesn't always work, though, and takes a lot of time and effort.
Pesticide works more effectively. Its best to use multiple treatments to make sure you get rid of them. Apply the insecticide thouroughly, and get underneath the leaves. You don't want to spray insecticide on blooms, though.
You can also use a natural predator mite. These can be purchased by mail order. If only one plant looks infected try to remove it. Bag it or wrap it to prevent spreading the mites.
Soap and water are a traditional pest control tactic. Rubbing alcohol has also been used to combat spider mites. Miticides and pyrethrins can be employed and are very effective. Although not really bad for humans, pyrethrins are slightly toxic.
An Ounce of Prevention...
The best solution to mites is to prevent them in the first place. Don't provide a mite-friendly environment. Maintain the temperature under 85 degrees and over 50% humidity. Regular misting of the plants helps. Sterilize the grow room when you start. Maintain a clean grow room. Don't move directly from other gardens, indoors or out, to your own.
Hopefully this information will help gardeners understand spider mites better. Spider mites are a very common and pervasive pest. Prevention is the best approach because it avoids pesticides and crop loss.
Interested in the different marijuana seeds? Castulo Zane knows how to grow marijuana and share the info. Google his site www.growyourownstone.com. Unique version for reprint here: Cannabis'Number 1 Pest.
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Posted by Castulo Zane
Marijuana goes by many names, like indica, sativa, cannabis sativa, cannabis indica, etc., but they are all the same. People all over the world use marijuana for all sorts of different purposes.
It's use has a very long history. Depending on your point of view it can be portrayed as simply fun, evil, useful,or harmless. Western medicine is just beginning to discover the uses of marijuana - some say "re-discovering".
Chinese medicine, on the other hand, has long used marijuana as a basic building block of treatment.Given marijuana's increasing popularity it's only a matter of time before we see many more uses for marijuana developed
Currently medical marijuana therapy is still a new field New applications are being tried all the time New techniques, usually pioneered by activists, are being shared through the internet and through cannabis culture participants Marijuana can be divided into two broad categories - the indicas and the sativas
These two types can be further divided into all sorts of sub-strains Breeders have further multiplied these by selective breeding The result is thousands and thousands of strains and names
They all have different characteristics in terms of effect and cannabis profile. Indica grows faster than the sativas, and that means they mature faster as well. They can generally be traced to places like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tibet and Morocco. Traditionally these places grew marijuana to make hash, and indicas are good for that.
Indicas are short, darker green, and have wide leaves After flowering starts they're mature in 6 -8 weeks The buds are stinky and big They are great for pain blocking and management, and so are good for medicinal marijuana The size and shape of indica make it a good candidate for indoor gardens.
Sativas are longer and taller They grow well outdoors in southern climes, but not further north, and they don't grow well inside They can be traced to Latin America and Southeast Asia
They can grow as high as 20 feet outside In addition to being longer, taller and skinneir than indicas, they are also lighter green They take longer to complete the flowering cycle as well Pure sativas can cause an irregular heartbeat and paranoia This restricts their medical use
Now, that doesn't mean sativas are bad. There are many strains of both sativa and indica. Since they can be crossbred, there can be some interesting breeds developed. The qualities they display tend to break out along the percentage breakdown of indica/sativa in each new strain.
That's what breeders try to accomplish They breed for results - more resear4ch leads to more knowledge about what strains do what This leads to more strains and hybrids than the original pure strains.The results are hybrids that are called sativa/indica crosses or indica/sativa crosses, depending on the mix and which is in the majority.
Sativa hybrids are mostly sativa but with some indica balancing It's the reverse for indica/sativa blends While sativas aren't good pain blockers they are useful as motivators if the paranoia effect is reduced They help raise appetites that are suppressed by other drugs, and help with depression Indicas are the better pain blocker, however, and so have the widest medical use at present One popular indica hybrid is Northern Lights - the first strain I ever grew with hydroponics.
Are you interested in ways to grow marijuana? If you want answers to the question:how do you grow marijuana Castulo Zane is your man. Google him or www.growyourownstone.com. This article, Medicinal Marijuana has free reprint rights.
Tags: 420 culture, alternate lifestyles, alternative medicine, cannabis culture, drug war madness, eastern medicine, Gardening, legalization, Marijuana, medical marijuana, new age, off grid, post commercial life
Posted by Castulo Zane
What's the best approach to marijuana harvesting? Take one bud at a time? Or harvest everything all at once?
Let's get something straight on the legality of this issue. Growing marijuana, and therefore harvesting it, is legal in many places. It's legal for medical purposes in Canada. It's also legal under state law in many US states. In Alaska the state constitution provides protection for growing up to 24 plants. You are also allowed, by law, to possess 4 ounces of marijuana under certain conditions without penalty.
So, back to the question. Should you harvest the whole plant at once? Or do it one bud at a time?
I say clip the colas one by one. The ones at the top of the plant mature first and grow biggest. However, if you leave the ones down below a little longer they'll also get bigger. This technique is based, of course, on a smaller, indoor garden.
There are reasons to harvest all at once. If your garden is remote and time is an issue then you have to do what you have to do. Or, if you're growing a big crop you probably need to be efficient.
Other things could influence your harvest plan. Cold or wet weather my force you to harvest an outdoor garden. Fear of discovery could do the same thing. A mold of bug infestation may make immediate harvest of everything a salvage operation.
If you don't have to, then wait. The budding process is a process, and it takes time. It doesn't happen all at once, and not all buds develop at the same pace. When you see them start to dry up and the hairs turn red, clip them.
Each bud develops on a different timeline, so let them go. Also, growth hormone flows to the top of the plant. The top bud grows most and first. They also get biggest.
You can actually manipulate this trait and bend, or espalier the plant. This involves bending the tips down, and results in lower nodes developing more. That's another post.
However, you can also manipulate the growth hormone by cutting off the top. In other words, harvesting the top bud will divert growth hormone to lower buds. If you take the top bud when it looks like the hairs are just starting to dry out you'll shift attention to lower buds.
That means, of course, that you don't want to just clip off the top bud at it's base. Take the bud and all of the plant between it and the next bud down. There are two advantages to this. First, you leave some stem that helps with curing. Second, you divert the plant's energy to the next bud in line.
So, should you harvest cannabis all at once? My answer is only if you have to. Otherwise harvest each bud when it's ready. You'll be happier with the results and you'll get more bud.
Do you like to read about how do you grow marijuana? Castulo Zane knows all about it. If you want to talk marijuana seeds, or other marijuana topics, google him or growyourownstone.com.. Free reprint available from: Is It Best To Clip Buds One At A Time or All At Once?.
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