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The best way to make change is by sharing your knowledge about cannabis and a top ten list is easy to remember and can help to convince sceptic people, so here is a list of the most notable benefits of marijuana.

1. Treats Migraines
2. Slow Tumor Growth
3. Relieves Symptoms of chronic disease
4. Prevents Alzheimers
5. Treats Glaucoma
6. Prevents Seizures
7. Helps those with ADD and ADHD
8. May treat multiple sclerosis
9. Helps relieve PMS
10. Helps calm those with Tourettes Syndrome and OCD

Phosphorus plays an important role in all living organisms and forms an essential element in plant and animal foodstuffs. It has a key position in cell metabolism and the plant’s total energy transfer. It is also a building block for the cell walls, DNA and all sorts of proteins and enzymes. The availability of phosphate is essential for young plants since approximately three-quarters of the total amount of phosphorus absorbed by the plant occurs before it is a quarter of the way through its life cycle! The biggest concentrations of phosphorus are also found in the self-developing plant parts such as the roots, side shoots and vascular tissue.

Phosphorus is a non-metal, chemical element which, because of its nature, is not found in its pure form because it is extremely reactive. It was discovered in 1669 by an alchemist who was condensing urine in an attempt to make gold. Phosphate compounds are rarely found in nature in the form that plants can utilise. Ground bones (bone meal) were previously used as fertilizer and they were later treated with sulphuric acid which made the phosphates a lot easier to absorb. In the second half of the 19^th century, guano, a natural phosphate fertilizer, was dug up on a large scale and used in farming. These raw materials are currently obtained from rock phosphates which are phosphate rich ores. Some of the locations where this is mined include Morocco, Algeria and North and South America. In order to make rock phosphates suitable for use in agriculture and market gardening they are first acidified and purified. In alternative agriculture they are first finely ground or heated and are then available to the trade as expanded granules.

• In the beginning the plant has a dark green color but it’s a different dark green (blue-green) from that of a K deficiency.

• Growth in height and the development of side shoots are inhibited.

• After 2 to 3 weeks dark purple/black necrotic spots form on the older and middle-aged leaves causing them to deform.

• The purple/black necrosis later spreads out to the leaf stalks. The leaves turn, curl badly and die.

Developments in chronological order:

Symptoms

Certain phosphorus symptoms that are described in the literature should not be confused with a nitrogen deficiency. In cannabis, a phosphorus deficiency is not particularly characterised by striking purple colouration of the stems and leaf stalks, but by a small plant that has purple/black necrotic leaf parts that deform the leaf and cause it to curl up later.

Development:

• In the beginning the plant has a dark green color but it’s a different dark green (blue-green) from that of a K deficiency.

• Growth in height and the development of side shoots are inhibited.

• After 2 to 3 weeks dark purple/black necrotic spots form on the older and middle-aged leaves causing them to deform.

• The purple/black necrosis later spreads out to the leaf stalks. The leaves turn, curl badly and die.

Possible causes of Phosphorus deficiency:

Because phosphate is almost always found in very low concentrations in the environment the affinity of plant cells for phosphate is very considerable and it is absorbed by the entire root.

Deficiencies are therefore quite unusual except for:

• Conditions where the pH is too high (>pH7) in the growing medium. Under these circumstance the plants can barely absorb phosphorous at all and insoluble phosphorus compounds form in the soil.

• If the growing medium is rich in iron or zinc or if it is too acidic.

• Because of soil fixation.

What should you do?

Inorganic phosphates in ion form are absorbed very easily. As far as is known, plants do not absorb phosphorous in its organic form but inorganic phosphates can be released by the decomposition of organic soil particles. Because of the residual effect of phosphate it’s often the case that the older the ground the richer it will be in phosphate. Using fertilizer that contains phosphate, after it has been established that there is a deficiency, often has little effect. This is because hardly any phosphate enters the growing medium due to precipitation or absorption and any growth disorders that occur in the young plant hardly respond at all to repair at a later date. Because of this the phosphate fertilizer should be thoroughly mixed through the soil.

• Prevention is better than cure, use good soil and/or a good fertilizer. Go to your specialist trade shop for expert advice.
• If the pH is too high it is best to use a diluted solution of phosphoric acid to acidify the growing medium. Safe pH values for hydro: 5.2 – 6.2, clay soil: 6 – 7, potting compost and sandy soil: 5.5 – -6.5.
• Alternative fertilizers that contain phosphate include: guano, blood meal, bone meal, rock phosphates, Thomas slag and semi-liquid manure. The disadvantages of these is that their phosphate content varies greatly and absorption is often only moderate. How finely the rock phosphates are ground and acidifying them before use will improve their solubility. It is best to use products where the packaging guarantees certain percentages.

Warning: Excess phosphate damages the environment and can cause all sorts of side effects such as zinc, copper or magnesium deficiencies.

A gem of German technology

Cannabis was illegal throughout Germany until the federal constitutional court decided on 28 April 1994 that people need no longer be prosecuted for possession of soft drugs for personal use. Since then, most German regional governments have tolerated the sale and use of soft drugs.

In some cities, cannabis supply is now tolerated in a similar way to the Netherlands. In other places the courts still treat possession as an offense. For example, in one state, Schleswig-Holstein, no charges are usually brought for possession of less than 30 g, but in Thuringia people are prosecuted for possessing even tiny amounts.

In March 1999, Germany’s drug tsar, Christa Nickels, said she considered it sensible to use cannabis products such as marijuana and hashish for therapeutic purposes in medicine.

With the new law coming, doctors could write prescriptions for cannabis, and pharmacies would be authorised to sell the plant once the law had been adjusted, a member of the junior coalition party, the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), said Monday.

Marijuana would also be permitted for use as a pain reliever for the terminally ill in hospices and other care facilities, making it a legal part of their emergency pain-relief stocks.

The new law will end a long-running struggle between German officials, doctors and health insurers over use of the proven herbal therapy for treating the pain stemming from diseases such as cancer and multiple sclerosis.

According to the International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines (ACM), only 40 patients in the country are currently allowed a medical marijuana prescription – even though law enforcement generally tolerates small amounts for personal use.

Almost two years ago, the conservative Christian Democrats, the FDP and the center-left Social Democrats all voted against loosening medical cannabis laws. Opponents had warned of the drug’s alleged potential for addiction and doubted its medical benefits.

Sources: Student BMJ

Magnesium is a vital element for humans, plants and animals. Among other things it is a building block for chlorophyll in plants so it is essential for photosynthesis and it also plays an important role in a number of metabolic processes. Magnesium compounds have been used since antiquity in medicine for heartburn, against poisoning and as a laxative. Magnesium powder is used on equipment for gymnastic exercises because it makes the hands rough and absorbs moisture. Magnesium is a very light, malleable, elastic metal with a silver-white sheen that burns with a blinding light in the air. It is one of the most common elements on earth and the earth’s crust contains approx. 2.09% magnesium, but only in compound form. Magnesium compounds are frequently found in seawater, salt deposits, water from salt lakes and in some mineral waters. It is also present in tap water and, together with calcium, is responsible for the hardness of water. Inorganic, magnesium fertilizers are prepared from the same salts as are used when preparing potassium fertilizers. When grown from seeds cannabis don’t need extra nutrients for the first two weeks.

• There are no visible symptoms in the first 3 – 4 weeks, the plant continues to grow well, is dark green and looks healthy.

• The deficiency symptoms first become visible in cannabis after 4 – 6 weeks when small, rust brown necrotic spots and/or cloud-like chlorosis appear under the flowering top on the middle-aged leaves. The color of the young leaves and the development of the flowers remains normal.

• The size and number of the rust brown spots increases on the leaves while the chlorosis also spreads and becomes yellower.

• The symptoms spread throughout the plant which will now look a sorry sight.

• If it is a serious deficiency the young leaves will also become chlorotic and production will fall.

Developments in chronological order:

Symptoms

Magnesium is mobile in the marijuana plant so if there is a deficiency, the chloroplasts in the middle-aged leaves that are below the flowering top are broken down and the magnesium is transported to the young parts. This process of breaking down the chlorophyll is manifested in the rust brown spots and/or vague, cloud-like chlorotic spots between the veins. It is more difficult to extract magnesium from the older leaves because the magnesium is an intrinsic part of the organic material. A minor magnesium deficiency has little effect on flowering despite the fact that the formation of flowers makes the magnesium deficiency symptoms worse.

Development

• There are no visible symptoms in the first 3 – 4 weeks, the plant continues to grow well, is dark green and looks healthy.
  

  

• The deficiency symptoms first become visible in cannabis after 4 – 6 weeks when small, rust brown necrotic spots and/or cloud-like chlorosis appear under the flowering top on the middle-aged leaves. The colour of the young leaves and the development of the flowers is still normal.

• The size and number of the rust brown spots increases on the leaves while the chlorosis also increases and becomes yellower.

• The symptoms spread throughout the plant which will now look a sorry sight.

• If it is a serious deficiency the young leaves will also become chlorotic and production will fall.

Possible causes

Magnesium deficiencies in cannabis occur more often relative to other deficiencies. Magnesium deficiency in the root environment can also occur when magnesium levels are normal or high as well as when there is a deficiency. This is because absorption can be slowed down by all sorts of circumstances.

Some of these are:

• A very wet, cold and/or acidic root environment.

• High levels of potassium, ammonium and/or calcium (for example a lot of lime in the tap water or lime rich, clay ground) compared with the magnesium levels.

• Limited root system and a heavy load on the plants.

• High EC in the medium, inhibited evaporation.

What should you do?

• Use fertilizers that contain magnesium as a preventative measure and spray with Epsom salts as a curative measure.

• Check the temperature, humidity, EC and pH in the soil or substrate.

• Go to the shop for expert advice. They specialize in this crop and have the right products available. Correctly formulated fertilizer contains sufficient magnesium.

• If it has been established that there is a deficiency you should spray with a 2% solution of Epsom salts.

Fertilizing via the roots: Inorganic: Epsom salts on hydro, kieserite on soil. Organic: old, rotten stable or turkey manure.

• Correct possible causes: If the pH is too low (< 5) when cultivating in soil use turkey manure which contains magnesium. With hydro cultivation temporarily drip feed the nutrient solution at a higher pH of 6.5. If the EC is too high rinse and/or drip feed with just tap water temporarily. When cultivating inside keep the root temperature above 19 ?C (20-25 ?C).

A little extra magnesium won’t do any harm and excess magnesium doesn’t occur very often when cultivating with soil. If there is too much magnesium, calcium absorption will slow down and it will look like there is too much salt because growth will slow down and the crop will turn dark green.

With permission from the Department of Primary Industries, they are in the first stages of a pilot project aimed at teaching farmers how to grow hemp and commercialise its countless byproducts.

The Friars are hemp evangelists, firm believers in the world-changing potential of this most versatile of plants, which can be used in everything from food to fabrics and building materials.

With permission from the Department of Primary Industries, they are in the first stages of a pilot project aimed at teaching farmers how to grow hemp and commercialise its myriad byproducts.

The Friars’ crop, a mix of Chinese cultivars known as Yellow River and Lulu, is a fine example: the stalks can be used in the textile and construction industries – “they even use it, instead of steel, to reinforce concrete” – while the seeds can be eaten.

In December the couple applied to Food Standards for permission to sell the seed for human consumption, with approval expected early next year.

“They are a real superfood,” Wendy says. “It’s 23 per cent protein, and has more Omega 3 and Omega 6 than virtually any other source, including fish.

”In the early 1800s, Australia was twice saved from famine by eating virtually nothing but hemp seed for protein and hemp leaves for roughage.”

But the couple also plan to become brokers for hemp products, importing seeds and matching overseas and local producers with those undertaking retail or construction projects.

“We want to kickstart consumer demand,” Wendy explains. “It’s hard, though, because hemp has for so long been vilified as a dangerous drug.”

A film-maker, farmer, former horse trainer and grade rugby union player, Mr Friar has long been interested in permaculture and recycling; his company King Poo was one of the first to sell worm farms in the early 1990s. But it is hemp that has him raving.

“As a grandfather several times over, I am championing this now as the answer to a lot of our sustainability problems. We just have to lose the baggage we have about hemp, and approach it in a more mature way.”

If you thought that was strange, wait until you hear this.. The new chairman that will replace David Nutt, Les Iversen, had exactly the same opinion with regards to Cannabis. During a lecture in 2003 he said the following;

“There have been no deaths to date caused by use of cannabis. Cannabis should be legalised, not just decriminalized, because it is comparatively less dangerous than legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco.”

In an article in 2003 he wrote that cannabis had been incorrectly classified for nearly 50 years as a dangerous drug and that it was one of the “safer” recreational drugs.

When he was questioned about these remarks during an interview on BBC Radio 5 Professor Iversen stated the following; “I don’t remember saying that. It’s certainly not my position now”

“We have now to confront the more potent forms of cannabis. We have the new evidence that arose since 2003 linking cannabis to psychiatric illness. I think it’s quite free for a scientist to change his mind when faced with new facts.”

We wonder what these new facts are? Is it the fact that he will get sacked, like David Nutt,  if he says that cannabis should be legalized? Or the fact that he would never have been appointed in the first place if he still had that opinion?

We have recently come across this very interesting press release from Professor Peter Walker at the University of Bath (U.K) who is leading the research into the use of hemp-lime in construction.  Buildings and other infrastructure currently accounts for almost 20% of the UK’s eco-footprint.  This is another example of how this wonderful plant can help save reduce carbon dioxide emissions.  Recently we brought you the news that Hanes – one of the worlds biggest consumer brands – has been investing in a new hemp technology called Crailar which requires only a fraction of the water needed to make cotton; and we are very happy to announce that it is the subject of another of our articles, a Dutch company called Hempflax who has won the contract to supply the raw materials to Hanes – i.e. the HEMP!

Here’s the press release:

Houses made of hemp, timber or straw could help combat climate change by reducing the carbon footprint of building construction, according to researchers at the University of Bath.

Currently the construction industry is a major contributor of environmental pollutants, with buildings and other build infrastructure contributing to around 19% of the UK’s eco-footprint.  Researchers at the BRE Centre for Innovative Construction Materials are researching low carbon alternatives to building materials currently used by the construction industry.  Although timber is used as a building material in many parts of the world, historically it is used less in the UK than in other countries. Researchers at the Centre are developing new ways of using timber and other crop-based materials such as hemp, natural fibre composites and straw bales. Their work using straw bales as a building material has already been featured on Channel 4’s Grand Designs series.

Professor Peter Walker, Director of the Centre, is leading the research. He said: “The environmental impact of the construction industry is huge. For example, it is estimated that worldwide the manufacture of cement contributes up to ten per cent of all industrial carbon dioxide emissions.  “We are looking at a variety of low carbon building materials including crop-based materials, innovative uses of traditional materials and developing low carbon cements and concretes to reduce impact of new infrastructure. As well as reducing the environmental footprint, many low carbon building materials offer other benefits, including healthier living through higher levels of thermal insulation and regulation of humidity levels.”

Their research is being presented at the Sustainable Energy & the Environment showcase at the University of Bath.  The exhibition will be opened by David Willetts MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities & Skills, and will be attended by industrialists, research councils, local and national government representatives and other key stakeholders from across the South West.  The exhibition coincides with the launch of the Institute for Sustainable Energy & the Environment (I-SEE) at the University of Bath, which will bring together experts from diverse fields of science, engineering, social policy and economics to tackle the problems of climate change.

I  found another article on the subject which can be read here:

Hemp could be used to build carbon-neutral homes of the future to help combat climate change and boost the rural economy, say researchers at the University of Bath.

A consortium, led by the BRE Centre for Innovative Construction Materials based at the University, has embarked on a unique housing project to develop the use of hemp-lime construction materials in the UK.  Hemp-lime is a lightweight composite building material made of fibres from the fast growing plant, bound together using a lime-based adhesive. The hemp plant stores carbon during its growth and this, combined with the low carbon footprint of lime and its very efficient insulating properties, gives the material a ‘better than zero carbon’ footprint.  Professor Pete Walker, Director of the BRE Centre for Innovative Construction Materials, explained: “We will be looking at the feasibility of using hemp-lime in place of traditional materials, so that they can be used widely in the building industry.  “We will be measuring the properties of lime-hemp materials, such as their strength and durability, as well as the energy efficiency of buildings made of these materials.  Using renewable crops to make building materials makes real sense – it only takes an area the size of a rugby pitch four months to grow enough hemp to build a typical three bedroom house.  Growing crops such as hemp (cannabis Sativa) can also provide economic and social benefits to rural economies through new agricultural markets for farmers and associated industries.”

The three year project, worth almost ?750,000, will collect vital scientific and engineering data about this new material so that it can be more widely used in the UK for building homes.  The project brings together a team of nine partners, comprising BRE Ltd, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studio architects, Hanson Cement, Hemcore, Lhoist UK, Lime Technology, National Non-Food Crops Centre, University of Bath and Wates Living Space.  As part of the project the University of Bath received a research grant of ?391,000 from the Renewable Materials LINK programme run by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). ]]> http://weedforneed.com/2009/10/houses-made-of-hemp-could-help-combat-climate-change/feed/ 0 http://weedforneed.com/2009/10/marc-emery-%e2%80%93-prince-of-pot/ http://weedforneed.com/2009/10/marc-emery-%e2%80%93-prince-of-pot/#comments Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:11:55 +0000 kanaman http://marijuanacannabis.wordpress.com/?p=779

Here’s a piece I found on Marc Emery on U.S TV – it includes an interview with his wife Jodie Emery and is well worth a watch!

Marc is one of the figureheads of the cannabis legalization movement and his treatment by U.S and Canandian prosecutors who circumvented normal procedure to extradite him from Canada is both contradictory and illegal in our eyes.  Further information can be found at drugwarrant.com

Just thought we’d share some helpful tips on what NOT to do when growing cannabis:

• 1. Don?t Over water – Over watering kills weed plants. Water once the top few inches of the soil dry out.  Hydroponics is harder to over water because rockwool has such excellent drainage properties. As long as the rockwool cubes are not sitting in liquid it is virtually impossible to over water a hydroponic setup. A hydroponic setup could either be watered constantly as the drip method, or once to three times a day as in the flood and drain method.

• 2. Don?t Tell People – Why? They will only be jealous. People love to feel important and that is why they will tell other people; because others will listen to them. – Keep it to yourself.

• 3. Touch/kill Germinating Seeds – Please have some patience. It sometimes takes 10 days for a seed to sprout. The paper towel method is recommended but be careful  because you must handle the seeds when transferring them from the paper towel to your growing medium. This must be done with extreme care!

• 4. Grow seeds from seeded weed – One of the greatest disappointments known to the growing man.

90% of what the final product will be is in the seed?s genetics and has little to do with the environment the plant is grown in.

Many get their hands on the seed and think they have a gold mine. They will probably grow something like this: hermaphrodites, tall late flowering females coupled with early flowering males. This is because the only pollen that could have produced the seed was from a hermaphrodite or a very stunted and late flowering male the grower did not notice. Unless you are prepared for possible disappointment don?t use “unknown”  cannabis seeds. This is why people buy seeds from seedbanks such as Sensi Seeds, White Label Seeds, Weed Seed Shop or Flying Dutchmen.

• 5. Don?t Over fertilize -Fertilize after first 2 spiked leaves appear follow the label. DON?T FERTILIZE EVERY TIME YOU WATER!!! Start with 25% and work your way up!  Leach the plants with lots of pure water every 2-4 weeks.  If the leaves suddenly twist or fold under, Leach and Spray with pure water for several days!

• 6. Don?t Under fertilize – Under fertilizing is less common but it happens. If you are one of those people that likes to give the plant just enough nutrients make sure you use a organic soil mixture with blood meal and bone meal or some slow release fertilizer with micro nutrients.

• 7. Don?t Start Too Early Outdoors – For several reasons! If you are starting outdoors June 1 is perfect. But if I start earlier I will get bigger buds right? Probably Wrong! Its strange but usually true: Plants started in early spring will get big but they will take significantly longer to start flowering. This is because at the peak vegetative period they sense the light cycles getting longer and longer, until June 21. But they don?t realize that its time to flower yet. Finally in the middle of August the plant says “HEY” “time to flower already” and it produces buds in August and September or later they will be tall as trees but thinner buds due to the fact that the sun is not as strong in September. Now if the ganja plants were put out later, as soon as they get a foot off the ground they say “what?s going on” I am just in early veggie and the light hours aren?t getting longer in fact SHORTER” Then the plants go crazy and since the sun is so bright in July and August you get amazing 6 foot trees that are heavier than the plants started in April!!! in addition to finishing earlier the late started plants are not nearly as noticeable.

Indoors is the same for different reasons. The light cannot penetrate more than a foot or two. So flower when plants are a foot tall. If you wait longer because you want bigger yields, you will get smaller yields and wait longer for them.

• 8. Don?t Start too Late Outdoors – Plants need atleast a few weeks growing time before flowering starts as the summer days get shorter.  Starting too late in the summer will lead to small and/or immature plants by the time the season ends (harvest time)

• 9. Don?t Provide A Bad Environment – Always provide air circulation and fresh air even during the night cycle is fine. All the air indoors should be replaced every 5-10 minutes.  Humidity between 30-70% temp aim for around 75-85? Even seedlings need a gentle fan to strengthen the stems.

• 10. Don?t Harvest Too Early – We know its hard. You see the buds and resin forming at a rapid rate. The buds are potent and you feel tempted to chop em down! The only problem is that another 25% of the weight will form in 2 more weeks. Wait until the plants have totally stopped growing and the white pistils are at least 50-75% brown.

*NOTE: Outdoors if security is a factor make your own call on when to sacrifice the fields. Also take buds continuously in case of thieves.* ]]> http://weedforneed.com/2009/10/the-10-biggest-mistakes-growers-make/feed/ 0