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cannabinoids. Photograph by Joop Jumas.

Female plants produce resin glands (Figure 1.12 and 1.14). Some of these glands may have lots of resin but are not very potent. Other plants may have little resin but are very potent. Optimal growth gives rise to a plant that has lots of resin and is very potent. Resin glands are produced all over the female flowers and new leaves. They can be seen clearly with the use of a magnifying aid. These resin glands are correctly called Trichomes.

Resin can be rubbed off the bud using the fingers and then rolled into the palms to create small balls of hand rubbed hashish. It is within these glands that one is to find the main concentration of produced cannabinoids and THC. When a plant is in full flowering the resin gland can explode or break dropping resin down onto the leaves below. This can also give the leaves their shiny frosty potent look during flowering. Towards the bottom of the plant are located the fan leaves. These leaves are generally large and collect most of the light for plant growth. Because these leaves are far away from the top of the plant, which produce the most amount of resin glands and buds, they collect the least amount of resin and are not very potent. It is best to consider separating these fan leaves from the rest of the plant after harvest because these leaves will not give you the best quality high.