Monday, 17 August 2020

The Best Marijuana Fertilizers on the Market

Marijuana plants, much like animals, need food. A common misconception is that all a marijuana plant needs to thrive, and grow is sunshine and water. However, marijuana plants also need a healthy amount of nutrients in the soil to make them grow strong and healthy.

Without the proper 'food' for your plant, there is a higher chance of it developing diseases and dying--or failing to grow entirely. That is why choosing the right fertilizer is essential to a healthy and happy marijuana plant. PS. Have you checked out our newest article on Organic Weed Vs. Nonorganic Weed?

Let's talk about marijuana fertilizers, and which ones you should be looking at for when you begin to grow your own marijuana plants.

What is Fertilizer?

Fertilizer is simply a blanket term for nutrients that are introduced into soil in order to make it more beneficial for the plant. Fertilizers come in all different varieties with a host of different nutrient and mineral combinations. It is very important, before buying, that you always make sure the fertilizer you are using is good for marijuana plants. Marijuana plants are very particular about what sets of nutrients and minerals they like, and when they like them.

Commercial Fertilizers

For beginner growers, it might be easier to simply go with a specialized marijuana fertilizer compound that will take a lot of the guesswork out of the process. There are tons of amazing options out there for marijuana safe, pre-made nutrient supplements that can be added to the soils.

For example:

  • FoxFarm's Liquid Bloom Trio
  • Osmocote Smart Release Plant Food
  • Maxicrop Soluable Powder

These are not marijuana specific necessarily, but they do offer all of the valuable nutrients that marijuana needs. Choosing pre-made fertilizers makes it easy to mix with water and without having to worry about the deep intricacies of the process of mixing your own fertilizers.

Using Mineral Compounds Like Perlite & Vermiculite

Perlite and vermiculite are two separate mineral compounds that are tried and true in the marijuana cultivation community. While often mentioned synonymously, they are actually two separate compounds. Perlite (volcanic glass) and vermiculite (mica) are both made by super heating different starting compounds until they transform into the porous, nutrient dense soil additives that they are.

Both perlite and vermiculite are excellent sources of potassium, calcium, and magnesium. These are three core nutrients that marijuana plants need to thrive and grow. When going with a hydroponics set up, mixing 50% perlite or vermiculite with peat moss and water is the perfect ratio. When using natural soil, all you need is about 10% perlite or vermiculite.

Composting Takes Time but It’s Worth It

Many marijuana cultivators like to make their own compost. While this takes the 'buying' aspect out of it, you can generate a more connected feeling to your crop this way.

Composting can take a very long time, and a lot of effort--but it might be the most effective. Composting allows you to precisely mix and create the perfect marijuana superfood YOUR way. Just remember that marijuana needs potassium, magnesium, and calcium when thinking of what to add into your compost mixture.

Making sure that your marijuana plant gets the nutrients it needs is always the most crucial step towards cultivating cannabis. It's not enough to simply plant and water it. It needs all the right little touches of nutrients and conditions in order to thrive--just like the human body. Make sure to feed it well no matter what source of nutrient delivery you choose. In the end, you will have a tall, thick, and healthy marijuana plant to enjoy!

Original Content Source: discountpharms.com

Sunday, 16 August 2020

What Makes MedMen One of the Top Dispensaries?

In the world of medical marijuana, some companies have been able to stand above the rest in success and industry. Much like with the tech boom in Silicon Valley of the early 70's, the marijuana industry is exploding across the nation--with only a small handful of individuals leading the charge.

In the case of the marijuana industry in North America, being first to market has been a swift indicator of potential success. This is what helped propel two young marijuana tycoons into national cannabis stardom.

What began as a small business in medical marijuana, turned into the vast multi-state retail marijuana enterprise that it is today.

That is, the dispensary chain called MedMen. As a sidenote, feel free to check out our Tips on Improving Your Cannabis Flavor.

Seeing Potential in Marijuana

Marijuana has been legalized in California for medicinal use for quite some time. However, it wasn't until 2012 that the real explosion of marijuana as an industry in the United States began.

Prior to this, in 2010, Adam Bierman and Andrew Modlin claim that they saw a serious potential for the marijuana industry nationwide and decided to invest as soon as they could.

It would take 8 years to achieve widespread success. It was in 2018 when the state of California legalized marijuana use for recreational purposes, and MedMen became a household name. In that same year, using aggressive expansion tactics, the pair expanded MedMen into New York, Nevada, and even Florida in 2019.

As of now, you can find MedMen stores in Arizona, Nevada, California, Illinois, Florida, and New York. Today, MedMen is a multi-million-dollar mega corporation within the small (but growing) marijuana industry. Aside from becoming so massive so quickly, what makes this 'Apple Inc' of the Marijuana world so much better than the rest?

De-stigmatizing Marijuana

In many ways, the marijuana industry is still rather stigmatized. Many recreational and medicinal users find themselves trying to visit their dispensaries discreetly, and away from prying eyes. There is simply too much social stigma surrounding cannabis use to eliminate in only a few years. However, MedMen has done a bang-up job of trying.

The MedMen experience is unlike any other dispensary experience in the United States. Founders Modlin and Bierman always strove to make MedMen akin to shopping at somewhere like 'Whole Foods' or 'The Apple Store'. That is, they wanted buying marijuana to be a sleek, stylish, and cutting-edge experience that makes shoppers feel welcome and 'at ease'.

When you enter MedMen stores, you will find Budtenders who are knowledgeable and welcoming, and who will even check you out with iPads and iPhones. You'll find a clean atmosphere with sleek and minimalist decor and furniture, and the entire experience is like being in a high-end retail chain. Which is what sets them apart in the eyes of marijuana users.

You see, for many, the dispensary experience can be a bit grungy or shady. Many dispensaries across the United States and Canada seem to be marketed towards the stereotypical 'stoner'--which is not what the majority of users are.

MedMen targets their services towards the average user who wants to feel like they are buying something normalized, and even cutting edge--not some back alley weed from their dealer. It's this difference that has made MedMen spread to over 32 locations, across 6 states, with over 1,000 employees, and earning a $1 billion evaluation.

The MedMen chain is a look into what marijuana as an industry can be if given enough time. It is a chain of marijuana dispensaries that aims to provide a comfortable, sleek, and high-tech experience--not a skeezy feeling. Buying marijuana is still stigmatized in many social circles, and the MedMen experience is going a long way towards changing that.

Original Content Source: discountpharms.com

Tips on Growing Bushy and Dense Marijuana Plants

Getting the most out of your marijuana crop harvest is always the ultimate goal of any marijuana cultivator. A dense and bushy marijuana plant is one that will have a higher yield, waste less space in the grow room, and remain heartier during the growing process.

In essence, everyone is trying to get thicker, bushier, more dense marijuana plants. Before you delve deeper into this article, feel free to check out another one of our recently published articles, Tips on Improving Your Cannabis Flavor.

If you are new to cultivating marijuana, you might want to know a few tips and tricks to getting your marijuana plant to be as dense and bushy as possible. Here are a few of the most reliable methods:

Start Off With A Superior Strain

The greatest tip you will ever receive, is to always start off with a good strain of marijuana. No matter if you are growing from a seed or a clone, good genetics are going to be the first indication of a dense and bushy plant.

If a plant is genetically inferior, it will never grow to be as dense and bushy as you would like it to be. Always avoid getting seeds or clones from anywhere other than a reliable and trusted source--you're better off that way.

Trellis Support Allows the Plant to Grow

Trellising your plants is a great way to make them grow dense and strong. If you want your plant to grow to be huge, it needs the support to be able to do so. A plant that is not trellised or supported in any way will not have the strength to grow massive in size.

Using some form of trellis--made of wood, bamboo, or even metal--you can give the plant the support it needs to grow as tall as you can get it. However, always make sure you are well versed on the art of trellising, otherwise you could end up damaging your plant in the process.

Learn How to Train and Prune Your Plants

Marijuana plants naturally like to grow 'up' rather than 'out'. This leads to very thin and vertically oriented plants. If you wish to maximize your yield and create a more dense and bushy plant, you need to train and prune it.

Training your plant involves either low stress (stem tying) or high stress (topping) training techniques. In addition, pruning away dying or decaying excess leaves and 'mess' in order to allow light to get into otherwise untouched places. These techniques are all crucial for growing a big and thick bush.

Light Control is Very Important

Plants get their energy through photosynthesis (thank-you biology class!). This is the process of converting light into energy for processing nutrients and growth. However, not just any light available will be able to do the trick. Marijuana plants need a very specific type of lighting in order to generate the right amount of growth.

When growing outdoors, this should be very little concern to you except for where you position your plants to give proper amounts of shading during hot peak hours. When growing indoors, LEDs are generally considered to be the best as they are bright, put out the proper light spectrum, and aren't too hot. Always pay attention to the amount of light and the type of light your plants are getting.

Growing and cultivating marijuana is a fun exercise in patience, trial and error, and learning. It's incredibly common to fail on the first try. However, over time, anyone can learn to grow thick and bushy marijuana plants that will produce massive yields. All it takes is a bit of practice, and you too can have plants that look massive, happy, healthy, and dense!

Original Content Source: discountpharms.com

Missouri Finally Has Its First Legal Cannabis Grow House

It's an exciting time to be a marijuana cultivator in the United States today. Each year more and more states are opening their borders to marijuana cultivation, research, and use. Slowly but surely the prohibition on marijuana cultivation is being lifted; and for residents of Missouri, that door has been flung wide open as of June 11th.

As a side note, feel free to check out our Tips on Improving Your Cannabis Flavor.

The St. Louis based BeLeaf Medical LLC was the first applicant to receive their official marijuana cultivation licenses in the state of Missouri. After legalizing the use of medical marijuana in 2018, the Missouri government has spent some time working out the kinks and legalities of allowing legal cultivation.

Having jumped at the chance as soon as applications were being accepted, BeLeaf Medical LLC applied and was subsequently approved for 10 separate medical marijuana licenses. Three of their licenses are for cultivation purposes, two of their licenses are for manufacturing, and the remaining five are for retail and sale.

Kevin Riggs, president of BeLeaf Medical LLC, has spent four years operating a CBD cultivation operation within the state of Missouri. In this way, he is no stranger to the world of marijuana cultivation and retail. However, he hopes to be able to fulfill a much sought after gap in the market with THC medical marijuana as soon as product and crop is available--which he hopes to be by the end of the third quarter - beginning of the fourth quarter.

The State Health Department of Missouri has required all marijuana cultivation and distribution license applicants to undergo rigorous inspections prior to being issued licenses. Riggs stated that BeLeaf's cultivation center underwent this 'commencement inspection' 10-days prior to being issued the licenses. The inspection is meticulous in the sense that it covers every aspect of the health, safety, volume, and operations within the marijuana growing facility.

BeLeaf Medical LLC will be cultivating and distributing their marijuana products under the brand name of Sinse. This comes from the term 'sinsemilla' which is a term used to describe prime, ideal marijuana flowers that are seedless and perfect for general consumption. The grow center is located just outside the center of St. Louis in the suburb of Earth City. Riggs hopes to begin the slow roll out of their Sinse brand of medical marijuana.

Currently there is no real knowledge of exactly when the state of Missouri will allow full distribution of medical marijuana. There is still a long list of logistics and licensing issues that need to be worked through before the state will allow cultivators like BeLeaf Medical to distribute what they grow.

Riggs himself cautions residents to temper their expectations, and that launching a medical marijuana infrastructure in a state is not like 'turning on a light switch'.

The process of building the infrastructure for the industry in Missouri is moving forward quickly, but not without some hurdles and challenges along the way.

However, BeLeaf Medical LLC is not the only player in the game. In southern Missouri another cultivation center is set to open under the teamwork of BD Health Ventures and ERBA Holdings LLC. This could very well be the beginnings of a lucrative and vast medical marijuana industry in the state of Missouri.

Original Content Source: discountpharms.com

Marijuana Charge Lands Man in Prison For 18 Years--He Is Now Free

The prohibition on marijuana, and subsequently the war on drugs, has brought no small amount of unjust prison sentences throughout the years. Each year hundreds of non-violent men and women are caught in possession of marijuana and sentenced to massive fines and even prison time. Discount Pharms has the details:

In a country where nearly half of the population has access to legalized recreational marijuana, the imbalance of justice is anything but fair. However, for some, the punishments are more imbalanced than others.

Craig Cesal

In the case of one man, Craig Cesal, the punishment he faced for being caught with connection to marijuana was far, and way worse than anyone could have ever dreamed. Craig Cesal was a Chicago native who lived a life many of us would consider normal. He had a wife, kids, a university education, and he even owned his own business repairing trucks in Lakeland, Florida.

The trouble for Mr. Cesal began when a certain group of individuals began asking him to repair their refrigerated trucks. Mr. Cesal stated that he had a feeling that these trucks were being used for smuggling something, but he felt it was none of his business. That is, until it was discovered that the trucks had been used to smuggle tons of marijuana illegally.

In 1996, Mr. Cesal was sentenced to lifetime in prison for a non-violent conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Despite Mr. Cesal himself never having any contact with marijuana, nor having any knowledge of the marijuana in questioned--he simply repaired the trucks for the clients. This landed him what has now been 18 years in prison and should have been far more if not for a major break in his case.

On the 17th of June 2020, Mr. Cesal was approved for release to home confinement due to complications in the prison system with Covid-19. Mr. Cesal himself is in the high-risk group with diabetes and lung related issues. This only came after multiple denials from the Bureau of Prisons and Federal Corrections Institute of Terre Haute, IN.

His current home release was made possible by a massive online campaign backed by friends, family, locals, and even some within the marijuana industry. The outpouring of support for Mr. Cesal even sent word to Attorney General William Barr. Finally, after enough noise, Craig Cesall was able to be released for the duration of this coronavirus epidemic. Although it should be noted, he has not earned his freedom yet.

Craig Cesal still hopes to fight his sentencing and earn his freedom entirely. Behind him are his daughters, his family, and many within the marijuana community.

Mr. Cesal claims that he did not know what he was doing was even against the law, as he had no connection to the marijuana and did not even know it existed. As a truck repairman, he claims he was innocent of the charges brought against him--and many are inclined to agree.

Despite the situation not being perfectly remedied, Mr. Cesal still states that he is happy to be home with his family. He feared that with a life sentence, he would never get the chance to see and hug his daughters again as a free man. For now, he will get to spend time with his loved ones, and he hopes to fight for his full freedom moving forward.

Original Content Source: discountpharms.com

Tuesday, 23 June 2020

Main Ways To Extract THC From Marijuana

Cannabis extracts are an amazingly versatile way to consume cannabis in general. By extracting the THC from the cannabis plant, consumers can use those extracts in edibles, vape oils, as dabs, or in tinctures and more.

By creating a pure THC extract, consumers are able to more accurately control their dosage, and get a stronger experience in general.

The exact methods used for extracting THC from marijuana plants can vary wildly and will yield slightly different results. Here are the four most popular ways of extracting THC from marijuana in consumer products. PS. Take a look at our hemp seeds for sale page for specific information on quality seeds.

Ethanol Extraction

Ethanol extraction, otherwise called alcohol extraction, is perhaps the most popular method of extraction. This is primarily because it is the most cost effective and can be done very quickly. This makes it great for manufacturers as it can yield high volumes quickly.

Ethanol extraction involves running ethanol alcohol through the plant material in order to extract the cannabinoids by stripping the cannabinoids and terpenes away from the plant itself. The alcohol is then dissolved through a vacuum evaporating process, leaving only the terpenes and cannabinoid extracts.

Supercritical CO2 Extraction

Supercritical CO2 extraction is a popular method of extraction that is on the rise in mass production manufacturing. This is primarily because it can yield incredibly high amounts of extract and is also able to more accurately target certain compounds and cannabinoids during the process.

The process is done by bringing the CO2 to a supercritical temperature, in which it is both a liquid and a gas. During this process, the supercritical compound will be passed through the cannabis plant material and used to strip away the desired cannabinoids and compounds for the extract. This method produces an incredibly 'clean' extract but has a significantly higher production cost.

Butane/Propane Extraction

Butane or propane extraction is another solvent method of extraction that is relatively popular in the cannabis industry. This process uses a heated and pressurized chamber with the solvent and cannabis plant matter within it.

This method of extraction yields what is known as butane/propane hash oil (or shatter). This method of extraction is similar in concept to ethanol extraction but can be a bit more volatile if not performed correctly. This method is usually used to create the very specific product of extract that it yields and is considered a 'niche' extraction method.

Non-Solvent Extraction

There are more 'natural' ways of creating cannabis extracts that do not require the use of solvents or expensive equipment as well. In fact, hash and kief are both considered cannabis extracts in their own right.

This is because hash and kief are made by separating and isolating the trichomes of the cannabis plan and using them as a more potent and direct method of consuming THC. Kief can be made by simply running your bud through a grinder and using the tiny little particulates that collect in the chamber.

Hash can be made by freezing or cooling the bud and breaking it down to isolate the trichomes. These methods are easy to do at home and are considered 'solvent-free extraction methods'.

Understanding the exact method used to create an extract can help you to understand how the final product will taste and feel when used. Solvent extractions can contain trace amounts of residue from the solvent used to create them and can often have a distinct flavor profile. Supercritical CO2 extraction will typically come at a higher price tag.

Ultimately, your preferred extraction method will come down to personal preference; although they are very unique in their own ways.

Original Content Source: discountpharms.com

Organic Weed Vs. Non-Organic Weed

As with any sort of crop or consumer plant, marijuana is not immune to the 'organic vs. non-organic' debate. While it is easy to say that organic is always best--that is how nature intended things--sometimes non-organic growing methods have advantages as well.

There is a rather spirited debate among the cannabis community about the merits of growing organically as opposed to non-organically, but ultimately it will come down to the preferences of the grower.

Cannabis in general is a very hearty crop. It can be grown in a wide range of climates ranging from warm to cold. This means that cannabis can withstand quite a bit in the way of diversity when it comes to growing methods and styles.

If you want to buy high cbd hemp seeds, take a look here.

Both Kinds Will Yield Similar Results

In this regard, growing cannabis organically versus non-organically will ultimately yield very similar results. In most cases, the final product will be indistinguishable from each other unless you are an expert on the subject. However, that is not to say that each method does not have its own reasons for choosing it.

Non-organic Growing is the Most Popular

Non-organic cannabis growing is perhaps the most popular method of cannabis growing in the world. As with many things, science and synthetic processing has made the absolute need for organic nutrients a non-necessity.

These days, plant 'super-foods' can be synthesized and created in order to hone in on the exact amount of organic matter and nutrients required to make a cannabis plant thrive. Non-organic nutrients and water treatment methods can allow for growers to get really precise in their measurements, in addition to saving a whole lot of time.

Organic Growing Uses Only Naturally Sourced Materials

Organic cannabis growing is the act of using only naturally--and often locally--sourced materials in order to feed and nourish your cannabis plants. This is done by creating organic super soils, composts, and compost teas to feed the plant throughout the growth process.

In many cases, organic cannabis growing will require the grower to let the cannabis plant do its thing with very little intervention or adjustment in the pH or nutrient levels once the plant is in the ground. Organic growing can be very time intensive, and extremely 'hands-on' in the beginning phases.

It Comes Down To the Cost

An additional direct comparison of the two methods will come down to cost. Often non-organic growing is cheaper up front as it requires the grower to purchase less in the way of necessary nutrients and ingredients. Organic cannabis growing will require a bit of an 'up-start' cost to buy the ingredients needed to make the super coil, compost, etc.,

While these organic materials are not expensive individually, the mounting cost of all of them together can and often does exceed the cost of non-organic nutrients and soils. However, it is important to know that super soils and composts can be made in massive quantities and can save the grower money in the long run.

In the end, the choice will be up to you as the grower which method you prefer. Many growers prefer to grow organically as it helps them feel more connected to their crop; it ensures that no harsh chemicals or compounds enter the Earth or their plant.

Other growers like the ease and speed which comes with non-organic growing. Each method is valid, and each has merits. All you have to do is decide which works best for you!

Original Content Source: discountpharms.com