THE CANNABIS PLANT
From a new cannabis industry. It will take a huge groundswell of support for legalization to overturn 70 years of suppression, however. Governments that have prohibited cannabis cultivation and made a concerted effort to outlaw the drug and punish users would most certainly lose face if they turned around now and admitted they were wrong. Governments rescinding their cannabis policies would also have to release people from prison radically change their justice department's stance on cannabis and even compensate those imprisoned for cannabis-related offenses.

Effects of Cannabis

THE HIGH
THC
Cannabis plants produce psychoactive ingredients called cannabinoids. The main ingredient in cannabinoids that gives the high effect is called delta-9 THC. All strains vary in THC levels and quantities or percentages. The difference between THC levels and THC quantities is that THC levels are genetically determined: they cannot be influenced by the grower. THC quantities, on the other hand, are related to bud mass and how much resin can be collected from that bud mass. By way of example: some bud may only contain 20 percent THC, with a THC level of 5. The same plant grown under better conditions could produce 70 percent THC, with a THC level of 5. The level is genetic. The quantities of 20 percent and 70 percent are under the grower's control.
CH3
OH
H3C
C3Hn

Genetic THC levels correspond to the ratio of THC to other cannabinoids contained in the trichomes of the pistils of a flowering female plant. Although this ratio varies depending on the strain, how it is grown, when it harvested and how it is cured, under optimal conditions a stable strain should produce a consistent THC level that is genetically inherited. Once the THC level is genetically set in the cannabis seed it can not be increased past this point during the plant's life. Likewise, the maximum quantities of bud that the plant can produce are also genetic and can not increase past this point during the plant's life. The grower should endeavor to create a growing environment which optimizes both these traits to their full potential. Emphasis should be made here on choosing good genetics. You can't improve on something that isn't there in the first place.
An optimally potent plant will have both high levels and quantities of delta-9 THC. Cannabis plants also produce a compound called delta-8 THC. This ingredient is found in low levels but does contribute to the high. When we mention THC levels, we are referring to both delta-8 and delta-9 THC. There are also other ingredients that add to the high, such as CBD, CBI\I, THCV, CBDV, CDC and CBL. Since these are minor components compared to THC they will not be discussed in this book.

When examining a strain in a seed bank catalogue you can check the THC levels of that plant to understand the potency. Many seed retailers and breeders measure their plants’ THC levels and offer accounts of how much THC their plants have. Of course, breeders may be tempted to embellish the THC levels their plants produce. If you want to know more about the THC level of a specific strain, you should consider consulting the seed bank or breeder for details.

Hemp

Another interesting fact is that some cannabis plants do not produce any THC at all. These plants have been genetically engineered to produce very low levels of THC and are mainly used by farmers in countries that permit the growth of cannabis for hemp production only. It is best to keep away from these seeds and strains, as they do not produce a high.

The myth that birdseed food contains cannabis seeds is true but birdseed food usually contains the low THC level hemp seed that we are referring to above. It is the author's opinion not to waste your time with these and to buy better genetics instead.

Growing Marijuana Resin (Hashish)

Resin
Some female plants produce resin glands that contain lots of resin but are not considerably potent. Other plants may have little resin but be highly potent. Optimal growth gives rise to a plant that has both a considerable amount of resin and is highly potent. Resin glands are produced a/I over the female flowers and new leaves, and can be seen clearly with the use of a magnifying aid. These resin glands are called trichomes.
Resin can be rubbed off the bud using your Fingers and then rolled into the palms to create small balls of hand-rubbed hashish. The main concentration of produced cannabinoids and THC exists within these glands. When a plant is in full flowering some of the resin glands may explode or break, drooping resin onto the leaves below, giving these leaves an extra shiny potent look during flowering. Toward the bottom of the plant are the fan leaves. These leaves are generally large, outstretched and are used to collect light for plant growth. Because these leaves are far away from the top of the plant and the furthest away from the light, they produce the least amount of resin glands and collect the least amount of burst resin from the tops. They are considered to be not very potent. It is best to consider separating the fan leaves from the rest of the plant after harvesting as these leaves will not provide the best high. Zero Cannabis can be cured into various forms. A popular form is hashish.

Hashish can also be graded, and one of the most famous grades of hashish is called Zero Zero. Hashish making can improve but sometimes degrades the overall potency of marijuana. The grades of hashish are as follows: 00 (Zero Zero), 0, 1, 2, 3. Zero Zero is by far the purest form of hashish and comes from plants that have high levels of THC in conjunction with a good hash-making technique. Sometimes the technique may be good yet the levels of THC in the plant are low. This may produce a hash grade of two or three.
The potency of a plant depends on a number of factors. It should be the goal of every grower to produce a potent, high-grade product. Hash making is discussed in greater detail in Chapter 17.

Growing Cannabis Facts

THE PLANT
When the word cannabis is uttered, the image of the famous leaf shape is immediately recalled. Leaves are in fact the least potent part of the plant next to the stem and the roots. The cannabis plant can be divided into six main sections; they are the bud, stem, branches, nodes, leaves and main cola.

The next thing to note is that plants have genders. They can be male, female or a mixed gender (hermaphrodite condition). There is also a condition of the female plant called sinsemitta that growers and breeders alike need to understand.

Male Plant
The male plant contains low levels of THC and does not taste very good, but it can produce a high. Growers only cultivate male plants for pollen so that they can make cannabis seeds.

Female Plant
The female plant, when pollinated, produces THC but also produces seeds, which
Prevents larger quantities of bud from growing.

Hermaphrodite Plant
Hermaphrodite plants contain both male and female organs. If the pollen is viable, the plant will automatically pollinate itself (selfing), resulting in a crop that can never be sinsemilla. Although most strains have the ability to become hermaphrodites under poor growing conditions, there are some cannabis plants that are genetically hermaphroditic and this disorder can not be reversed—even under optimal growing conditions. Avoid growing these genetically hermaphrodite plants because they do not help the cannabis gene pool.

Sinsemilla Plant
A non-pollinated female (sinsemilla) plant will produce more flowering buds and more quantities of TH C than the male plant or a seeded female plant. The buds produce resin, which contains THC and can drop down onto the leaves. When fully mature, it should produce a very pleasing high, depending on the grow method, the strain of plant and time of harvest.

It should be the goal of every canrtabis cultivator to grow non-pollinated female plants because these produce the best yield. The goal of a cannabis breeder is growing cannabis seeds and plants of quality. How breeders and growers achieve these goals is the subject of this book.

More information on growing cannabis, growing marijuana, and the effects of cannabis can be found here.