Marijuana Grower's Handbook

by Ed Rosenthal

  Citrus

  Limonene has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-cancer activities. It inhibits the Ras cancer gene cascade which promotes tumor growth. Since limonene is such a potent anti-fungal and anti-cancer agent, it is thought to protect against the Aspergillus fungi and carcinogens sometimes found in cannabis smoke streams. It synergistically promotes the absorption of other terpenes by penetrating cell membranes. In humans, limonene’s design facilitates a direct response by quickly permeating the blood-brain barrier. The result is increased systolic blood pressure. In one test, participants reported an increase in alertness and restlessness. Various limonene analogs can cue the brain to sexuality, buoyancy or focused attention. Limonene sprays are used to treat depression.

  B-CARYOPHYLLENE is a major terpene found in black pepper (15-25%), clove (10-20%) and cotton (15-25%). It is found in smaller percentages in several other herbs and spices. It has a sweet, woody, dry-clove odor and tastes pepper-spicy with camphor and astringent citrus backgrounds. It contributes to black pepper’s spiciness and is used industrially to enhance tobacco flavor.

  Black Pepper, Clove

  B-Caryophyllene, ingested in large amounts, blocks calcium and potassium ion channels. As a result, it impedes the pressure exerted by heart muscles. Applied topically, it is an analgesic and is one of the active constituents of clove oil, a preferred treatment for toothache. It docks on the CB2 receptor site, the same site for which cannabidiol has an affinity. Thus it may help reduce inflammation. In a recent experiment, a group of experienced marijuana users smoked a joint with caryophyllene added. All but one reported good feelings and were slightly giddy. The other individual had positive feelings but was more contemplative. It added a slightly woody taste to the bouquet.

  PINENE is the familiar odor associated with pine trees and their resins. It is the major component in turpentine and is found in many other plant essential oils in noticeable amounts; including rosemary, sage and eucalyptus. Many additional plant oils contain minute quantities of it. Pinene is used medically as an expectorant and topical antiseptic. It easily crosses the blood-brain barrier where it acts as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor; that is, it inhibits activity of a chemical that destroys an information-transfer molecule. This results in better memory. Largely due to the presence of pinene, rosemary and sage are both considered “memory plants.” Concoctions made from their leaves have been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine to retain and restore memory.

  Pine

  Rosemary, Sage

  Pinene is likely to give the true skunk varieties, ones that stink like the animal, much of their odor. It is also a bronchodilator. The smoke seems to expand in your lungs and the high comes on very quickly since a high percentage of the substance will pass into the bloodstream and brain. It also increases focus, self-satisfaction, and energy. This might seem counterintuitive to experienced marijuana users because Afghani Skunk experiences are often calming or sedating. This is caused by the presence of terpineol, which is often found in combination with pinene. Pinene’s intense odor camouflages terpineol. The hidden terpineol knocks you out, but because it’s odor is undetected, the effect is attributed to the pinene. If you notice a sweet sensation in the skunky smell, there is a good chance that terpineol is present.

  Lilac, Apple Blossoms

  TERPINEOL has a lilac, citrus, or apple blossom/lime odor. It is a minor constituent of many plant essential oils. It is used in perfumes and soaps for fragrance. Terpineol is obtained commercially from processing other terpenes. It reduces motility, the capability for movement, by 45% in rat tests. This may account for the couch-lock effects of some cannabis, although terpineol’s odor is not usually associated with body highs. That may be explained by the fact that terpineol is often found in cannabis with high pinene levels, as mentioned above. Its odor is masked by the pungent woodsy aromas of pinene.

  BORNEOL smells much like the menthol aroma of camphor and is easily converted into it. It is found in small quantities in many essential oils. Commercially, it is derived from artemisia plants such as wormwood and some species of cinnamon. It is considered a “calming sedative” in Chinese medicine. It is indicated for fatigue and recovery from illness and stress. The camphor-like overtones of Silver Haze varieties are unmistakable. The high of these varieties does have a calming effect, in addition to its psychedelic aspects. This indicates there may be a large amount of borneol present in these varieties.

  Artemisia

  Cedar

  DELTA-3-CARENE has a sweet, pungent odor. It is a constituent of pine and cedar resin but is found in many other plants, including rosemary. In aromatherapy, cypress oil (high in Delta-3-Carene) is used to dry excess fluids, tears, running noses, excess menstrual flow and perspiration. It may contribute to the dry eye and dry mouth experienced by marijuana users.

  Lavender, Lilly of the Valley

  LINALOOL has a floral scent reminiscent of spring flowers such as lily of the valley, but with spicy overtones. It is refined from lavender, neroli and other essential oils. Humans can detect its odor in the air at rates as low as one part per million (ppm). Linalool is being tested now for treatment of several types of cancers. It is also a component of several sedating essential oils. In tests on humans who inhaled it, it caused severe sedation. In tests on rats, it reduced their activity by almost 75%.

  Minty-Camphor

  PULEGONE has a minty-camphor odor and flavor that is used in the candy industry. It is implicated in liver damage when used in very high dosages. It is found in tiny quantities in marijuana. Pulegone is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor; that is, pulegone interferes with the action of the protein that destroys acetylcholine, the chemical the brain uses to store memory. Pulegone may counteract THC’s effect of lowering acetylcholine levels. The result is that you’d forget more on THC alone than THC accompanied by pulegone.

  Eucalyptus

  CINEOLE is the main ingredient in oil of eucalyptus. It has a camphor-minty odor similar to pulegone. It is also found in other fragrant plants and in minor amounts in marijuana. It is used to increase circulation, pain relief and has other topical uses. Cineole easily crosses the blood-brain barrier and triggers a fast olfactory reaction. Eucalyptus oil is considered centering, balancing, and stimulating. It is probably the stimulating and thought-provoking part of the cannabis smoke stream.

  TERPENE INTERACTION

  The way terpenes interact with one another and their resulting effect on brain activity provides fascinating territory for another level of exploration and creativity for seed breeders. By learning the odors of the terpenes, you may be able to predict the mind-altering properties each lends to a bud.

  MAPPING THE POT PALATE | DJ SHORT

  The breeding and production of fine cannabis is more art than science. A creative mind and sense of intuition are necessary to achieve success in this field. While some herb is strictly pleasing to the mental palate, taste can also be tantamount to the buzz for the cannabis connoisseur.

  The range of flavors expressed by the genus cannabis is extraordinary. No other plant on the planet can equal the bouquet of smells and tastes available from cannabis. The spectrum of possible smells and tastes a human can experience is large and complex. To date, no one has created a fully usable olfaction chart, although Ann Noble of the wine world has developed a nifty “aroma wheel” for that industry, which inspired me to develop a similar map for cannabis. Like its counterpart, categories branch out from the general to the more specific. For instance, a category like “fruity” will subdivide into “berry” and “citrus;” citrus divides further into the more distinct flavors of “lemon,” “lime” and “orange.”

  The range of aromas and flavors represented on the chart (next page) are all possible to achieve. Some of these are already well known and represented among widely available cannabis varieties, while others require some cross-breeding to achieve. Some of the most desirable bud bridges multiple categories, creating a complex sensory experience.
Although the strength of smell and flavor may vary, many strains’ flavors were best expressed when they were grown outdoors in their region of origin. Note that aroma and flavor vary by growing method and also between various stages of the plant. The aroma of a live bud on the plant, a dried and cured bud, and the smoke on the inhale and exhale, may all be different from each other.

  The physical palate of cannabis is a wondrous dimension, important in distinguishing the good from the superb in the weed world. Capable of being refined, one’s palate is best educated through experience. The map that follows is meant to aid the discriminating stoner in charting the territory. Happy travels.

  The array of different flavors and aromas of marijuana fall in a range among these general categories: Chemical/Astringent, Sweet, Spicy, musky

  TERPENE KEY

  THESE CHARTS SHOW LEVELS OF SPECIFIC TERPENES:

  1–Alpha-pinene

  2–Camphene

  3–Beta-pinene

  4–Sabinene

  5–Delta-3 Carene

  6–Alpha-Phellandrene

  7–Beta-Myrcene

  8–Alpha-Terpinene

  9–Limonene

  10–1.8-Cineole

  11–Y-Terpinene

  12–Cis-Ocimene

  13–Trans-Ocimene

  14–Alpha-Terpinolene

  15–Trans-Caryophyllene

  16–Alpha-Humulene

  Green House Seeds developed this odor wheel to help classify their varieties.

  THE TERPENE CHARTS

  Green House Seeds has been testing for terpenes since 2008. This has allowed breeders, growers, and users to take a good look at the analysis of some of the bud they are growing and using. Still, this field requires more investigation.

  Terpenes create the “personality” of the high, so the recipe, that is, the combination of terpenes in a bud, determines its direction. Each recipe produces a slightly different effect. Each is an adventure. Perhaps that’s why so many people are interested in breeding and even more people enjoy trying new varieties.

  Here’s my interpretation of the results based on aromatherapy and researchers’ controlled experiments using essential oils individually or in combinations.

  Tests were performed for sixteen terpenes. (See Terpene Key).

  To simplify interpretation we can combine numbers 1 and 3- alpha and beta pinene, 8, 11 and 14- alpha and terpinene and terpinolene, and 13 and 14- cis and trans-ocimene. The pinene helps create the more acrid pungent odors, as does terpenine and terpinolene.

  In addition to the terpenes that were identified in several of the varieties, Trainwreck and White Widow had similar unidentified spikes, which delineates a bit of their similarity. Cheese also contained terpenes not identified by the test. These terpenes have not been found in other varieties tested by Greenhouse. This may account for its unusual aroma and high.

  Most of the varieties had high levels of 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14 and 15. It is interesting that White Widow and Trainwreck have wide bands at 7, beta-myrcene. Myrcene makes the blood-brain barrier more porous, allowing more THC to get to the brain faster. This results in a faster, more powerful initial experience and perhaps a more intense high.

  Alpha-terpinolene, band 14, has a wide band in Arjan’s Haze #1 (AH #1) and a very narrow band in Arjan’s Strawberry Haze (ASH). Terpinolene and its cousin terpineol, which was not tested for, have sweet odors reminiscent of apple blossoms or lilac. They also are responsible for serious couch-lock. One would assume from this that AH #1 is fairly laid-back, while ASH is more energetic. On the other hand ASH is lower in cineole than the others. Cineole helps THC pass through the blood-brain barrier, so it is slow to come on.

  B-Caryophyllene (15) is anti-fungal and protects the body from fungi that may be present in the bud. All these varieties contain ample amounts.

  Between 15 and 16 an unidentified terpene (A) appears on all the charts. It’s most prominent in Cheese, but is also significant in White Widow and Trainwreck. It is insignificant in the Hazes.

  Humulene, #16, is the main essential oil in hops flowers, cannabis’ cousin. It imparts aroma to beer, but also has both anti-inflammatory effects and is used as a sedative and to relieve stress. Varieties containing high quantities may relieve pain, reduce inflammation, lower stress and induce better sleep. On the other hand, it might not be the best therapy for concentration or even socializing. Two varieties that are often used medically, White Widow and Cheese, both contain more of it than the other varieties do.

  You can see the test results of other varieties on the Green House Seeds website.

  SPEED QUEEN | Photo: Mandala Seeds

  INDICA & SATIVA RUDERALIS & KUSH

  Marijuana grown in the United States has been developed from the two potent sub-species or varieties: indica and sativa. Another sub-species, ruderalis, is also available and is used to create auto-flowering varieties that do not wait for shorter days to begin budding. The kush varieties, sometimes called Afghani, are a sub-group of indicas.

  Plants of the same population from higher latitudes have a lot of variability. These include Southern Africans, Northern Mexicans, and indicas. Marijuana within these groups look slightly different from each other and have different maturities and potency. The ratio of THC (the psychoactive ingredient) also varies. The differences in native climate makes low-latitude populations more homogeneous and high-latitude populations heterogeneous.

  Plant varieties originating in lower latitudes have less variation within their population. There is little change of weather in more tropical areas, where every year tends to resemble the last. In temperate climates, by contrast, there can be wide variability—one year may be cold and rainy, the next hot and dry.

  The wide selection of characteristics in northern-latitude varieties means that some individual plants will thrive no matter what conditions occur in a particular season. Most varieties available today are hybrids of these types, and bred to have the best characteristics of each. Beginning in the 1970s, breeders crossed different landraces (varieties native to Afghanistan, India, Colombia, Mexico, Thailand and Vietnam and Equatorial Africa). The result was some of the first domesticated varieties, including Skunk #1, Big Bud, William’s Wonder, Haze, Northern Lights, and Afghani-Kush. A second generation of breeders included landraces from Brazil, South Africa and Burma.

  After 40 years of breeding, the marijuana plant has been substantially changed.

  Within a few years, breeders started working with the resulting domesticated varieties, selecting for more sophisticated highs, faster ripening time, controlled odor and growth, bigger buds, and pest resistance. Most of the varieties offered today are many hybridizations away from the original landraces from which they started. They have been totally domesticated to modern standards.

  INDICA

  Indica plants developed in central Asia between the 25th and 35th latitudes, where the weather is changeable. Drought one year may be followed by cloudy, rainy or sunny weather. For the population to continue, the plant group needed different individuals that survive and even thrive under those specific conditions. Thus, in any season, no matter what the weather, some plants will do better than others.

  Indicas, including Kush varieties, have broad general characteristics: they mature early, have compact short branches and wide, short leaves which are dark green, sometimes tinged purple. Their buds are usually tight, heavy, wide, and thick, rather than long. They smell “stinky,” “skunky,” or “pungent,” and their smoke is thick—a small toke can induce coughing.

  MANGOLIAN INDICA: 100% Indica, Flowering 55-60 days, High: heavy body stone, sleepy, long lasting, Smell/Taste: fresh woodsy, mango citrus taste.

  MAZAR: 100% Indica. Afghan x Skunk. The Afghani (Mazar-i-Shariff) part is a very short Christmastree-like plant. High: very “up.” Flowering: 8 - 9 weeks, early Nov. outdoors. Photo: Dutch Passion Seeds

  HINDU KUSH: Original sativa from the Hindu Kush region, Flowering: 10-12 weeks, High: cerebral. Tast
e/Smell: musty, earthy, hash-like. Photo: Mel Frank

  Indica plants were developed for resin content, which was removed from the flowers to make hashish. It is only after these varieties were introduced to the West that their buds were consumed. The best indicas have a relaxing “social high,” which allow you to sense and feel the environment, without analyzing the experience.

  Kush varieties are indicas that were developed in the Hindu-Kush valley that stretches through northern Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. They are a variant of indicas and have many of the same characteristics. Some growers look for extra-wide leaf blades. The difference between Kush varieties and other indicas is one of nuance, rather than distinct difference.

  ARJAN’S ULTRA HAZE #1: Sativa, Neville’s Haze x Cambodian/Laos, Flowering: 13 weeks, late Nov. outdoors. High: intense sativa high, psychedlic.

  PLANT CHARACTERISTICS: INDICAS v. SATIVAS

  INDICA SATIVA

  Height 2’ to 6’ feet (60 to 180 cm) 5’ to 25’ (1.5 to 7.5 m)

  Shape Conical to bushy Tall, Christmas-tree shape

  Branching Lots of side branching, usually wider than its height Moderate branching, wide at its base, single stem at top

  Nodes Short stem length between leaves Long stem length between leaves

  Leaves Wide short leaves, short wide blades Long leaves, thin long blades