Bud of the Week - Chronic

     Dr. Dre would be proud... All kidding aside, Chronic has become one of the iconic cannabis strains in the marijuana community.  A 50/50 hybrid with Skunk, Northen Lights and AK-47 ancestry, Chronic is a highly sought-after strain for its great yield and potent medicinal value.

     For those interested in growing Chronic, you will be happy to know that with the right growing techniques, this strain has a production ratio of one gram per one watt of light!  Because of its tendency to produce monster top colas, Chronic makes for a great SOG grow.  Flowering stage for Chronic is about two months.

     Do you like a more subtle taste in your strain? Chronic may be the bud for you!  With a little patience, one can draw out the wildflower and sweet tones by curing your buds properly.

Medicinal Uses: Chronic Pain, Cancer, Insomnia, Depression, MS, Cachexia, Crohn's Disease, Arthritis 

Cannabinoids vs. MRSA

      Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) kills about 20,000 people in hospitals in the U.S. each year.  MRSA is what some would call a "superbug" - Staph bacteria that have developed resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics (which include penicillins and cephalosporins).  These strains are a result of society's overuse and/or misuse of conventional antibiotics.

     We gotta love our cannabis-researching scientists!  In a joint effort between Italy's Universita del Piemonte Orientale and Britain's University of London, School of Pharmacy, five cannabinoids (cannabidiol [CBD], cannabichromene, cannabigerol, Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol [that's THC, folks!], and cannabinol were found to show a "potent activity against a variety of (MRSA) strains". Here is a *link* to the study's abstract.

     Maybe you know of someone who is battling a nasty MRSA infection...  There is hope and help available.  God provided mankind with a wonderful healing herb that has been suppressed for decades by governments.  We need to take back our freedoms - and this is just one more reason why!

     

Intellectual Honesty: Ron Paul

     For years, I was spoon-fed the argument that marijuana is bad - bad for one's health and bad for the moral fiber of society.  Then I got a clue. After watching numerous documentaries, reading many books, and sprinkling in a little bit of common sense (a little bit is all it takes and frankly, it is all I am capable of!),  I had changed my position on cannabis.
    First, cannabis is not harmful when used in moderation and the studies that claimed marijuana smoking is dangerous used ABSURD amounts (such as 10-15 joints a day) of it on the test subjects to get their results! Here is a helpful *LINK* in regards to the "harm" of cannabis...
     Second, cannabis has NOT destroyed our nation's "moral fiber".  The prohibition of it has given cannabis a bad name. Prior to the 1940's, cannabis was socially accepted - it was actually used as a cure for alcoholism!   It later became taboo and illegal due to *racial bigotry and corporate greed* on the part of Big Pharma and many other industries that competed with hemp.
      I have included a few videos of Republican candidate Ron Paul discussing cannabis and personal freedoms.

      I even threw in a video for my liberal blog followers:

      Be honest. Learn the facts and don't be afraid of something that you are not sure about. Ask questions. Seek answers.

Mycorrhizae for Better Cannabis!

     Myco-what?  Many people who grow their own cannabis do not realize that they may be missing out on a great way to protect and strengthen their plants from the roots up.  Lo and behold, mycorrhizae!  *Mycorrhizae* are colonies of fungi symbiotically joined with root systems of plants - each providing unique benefits to the other.
     The picture here shows a root system of a seedling on the left prior to inoculation while the shot on the right shows the mycorrhizal symbiosis.  The fungi act as "webbing", allowing the plant to grab much more water and nutrients from the surrounding soil. The plant in return provides sugars as a food source for the fungi.
     Mycorrhizae provide protection to the symbiotic plant as well.  Scientists have found that mycorrhizal fungi provide superb soil remediation by guarding the plant roots from pollutants such as heavy metals and other inorganic toxins.  Plants are also more disease-resistant and handle environmental stresses such as drought much better.
     When shopping for mycorrhizal fungi, make sure you look for endomycorrhizae - NOT ectomycorrhizae.  This is important if you do not like spending money for nothing.  While "endos" actually bind internally with the plants roots, "ectos" do not.  Certain plant species only benefit from one or the other.  Cannabis has been found to only respond to the endomycorrhizae.
     I hope this can be a help to those trying to grow the best medicine possible.  The Internet is a great tool for further research.  Also, message me with further questions and I will be glad to answer them.

Bud of the Week - Blue Cheese

     Don't let the name fool you - this strain has nothing to do with the fungus-laden cultured dairy product that we associate with the name "blue cheese".  A popular strain among connoisseurs, Blue Cheese combines a delicious flavor with a decent yield of quantity and quality.
     An Indica-dominant hybrid, Blue Cheese is a result of an ideal phenotypical selection through over forty male Blueberry x Big Buddha Cheese strains.  The best male then was crossed with a female Big Buddha Cheese to give a plant that is predominantly cheese with a little blueberry.
     This strain can do well indoors or outdoors.  Due to the internodes being so close, this plant can be groomed for Sea of Green and will do well.  Yields of over 2 ounces of cured bud have been reported when proper pruning techniques have been implemented.
     Despite its Cheese-heavy genetics, Blue Cheese delivers mostly blueberry and vanilla flavor with a dank, woodsy undertone.  Also, for being mostly Indica, the euphoria is clear and functioning without the "couch-lock" feeling.  Blue Cheese is recommended for daytime use and has a decent potency to deliver the relief you need.

Medicinal Uses: Chronic Pain, Cancer, Muscle Spasms, Nausea, MS, Gastrointestinal Issues, Crohn's Disease, Arthritis 

2011 MMMA Rally in Lansing

      It was an amazing scene... Thousands of people gathered on the front lawn of Michigan's Capitol Building, some holding signs while others clapped and cheered.  Many medical marijuana activist groups, including NORML, were represented.  Scores of unemployed dispensary workers were present to speak their minds.  On the front steps of the Capitol stood a few dozen protesters with a podium in front, giving different people the platform to rail against Bill Schuette or give praise to the medical research that has been done with cannabis.  I have included a few photos taken from my phone.  Enjoy!

Cannabinoids and Uterine Contractions

     I find myself ever amazed at the scientific research results of cannabinoids.  For most of my life, I was led to believe that cannabis offered NO medicinal benefits and only caused harm to one's body and mind.  Once again, I come across a study that puts the fables to rest.
     In 2004, The National University of Ireland's  Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology reported that, contrary to popular belief, cannabinoids do not cause premature labor.  Here is a *link* if you would like to see the abstract.  In the study, scientists took human pregnant myometrial (middle layer of the uterus) tissue and exposed it to anandamide (a cannabinoid found naturally present within our bodies) and delta 9-THC (the main cannabinoid in marijuana).  These cannabinoids bind to the endocannabinoid receptor CB1 found in the tissue and cause a relaxant effect! The scientists concluded that cannabinoids do NOT directly induce contractions in the pregnant uterus and that anandamide may actually play an important role in pregnancy and childbirth.
     If only more research could be done, we could possibly find that cannabis may help prevent early labor and premature births. Unfortunately, as long as the DEA keeps cannabis listed as a Schedule 1 drug, further research will be very limited and it may be many years before we get a clue as to how great this plant actually is.
P.S.- I do not encourage pregnant women smoking cannabis or any other product for that matter...  There are other ways to receive the benefits of cannabis without smoking - expecting Jamaican women have for years been known to drink a tea made with cannabis!