Marijuana In Montana

      A warm Congratulations Montana! The decision expands the state’s medical marijuana laws. Now, Licensed medical marijuana providers can serve more than three patients at a time. In addition to that, it now allows them to hire employees to grow, dispense and distribute medical marijuana. It is not legal to grow marijuana at home but it is a step in the right direction.

There aren’t many places to smoke and grow weed in the northwest half of the United States. Unless you get past Idaho or head east to Minnesota, the Central and Northwest part of the country is an area of unfriendly weed opponents. Montana is the exception. The state’s small medical program allows for Montana weed growing even though it is unpopular in the area. It’s a step toward full legalization that will, hopefully, encourage its neighbors to follow suit.

The Montana medical marijuana program lets patients with wasting syndrome, chronic pain, nausea, seizures and severe or persistent muscle spasms treat their conditions with marijuana as well as have one ounce of marijuana on them at any time. They are also allowed to grow up to twelve plants, with four mature plants at one time.  Caregivers are allowed to grow cannabis for patients, as long as they do not charge for their services.

Growing in Montana

Montana makes it easy for anyone to grow marijuana.  You simply need to be a patient, or know a patient to grow for. If, for some reason, you cannot meet one of these qualifications, you risk a felony with up to 10 years in jail. It’s hard to imagine why anyone would do that when it is very easy to become a patient or grow for a patient, yet anything is possible.

No matter how you plan to grow your marijuana in Montana, you’ll learn some valuable tips by downloading and reading the Marijuana Grow Bible.  Not only does it explain how to grow in any situation, it also discusses the best way to grow for both medical in non-medical uses. I’ve been growing marijuana for so many years, and I felt it was time to share some of my knowledge. The Marijuana Grow Bible is where I wrote it all down.

Medical Marijuana

Montana has a medical marijuana program, but it is not decriminalized. This means those caught with marijuana could get into serious trouble if they are not a medical patient.  Not only is Montana weed growing a felony without medical need, looking like you intend to sell it is also a felony.   Montana has mandatory jail time sentences for those convicted of selling weed and misdemeanor charges for all forms of possession. Those arrested for possession (that are not patients) will be required to take a drug education course.

Being surrounded by Idaho and the Dakotas, Montana is on its own with its marijuana policies. Although Montana weed growing is a unique situation for the area, it doesn’t mean that Montana is very weed- friendly. If you aren’t a part of their medical program, you are at risk for very stiff penalties.  The good news is: Montana has a conditional release program. This means first time offenders are often given probation or drug education classes.  If you keep your grow very small, not only are you less likely to get caught, you’ll probably be in a lot less trouble.

Handling Contaminants & Viruses In Marijuana

    Growing  marijuana in your own property may be legal but it isn’t that easy. Like many other flowers and vegetables common in a Colorado garden, cannabis cultivation comes with its own set of hurdles including viruses, contaminants and other stressors (and a fair share of cannabis pests, too), which must be remedied quickly and thoroughly in order to reap a quality harvest. Waiting too long to nip marijuana grow problems in the “bud” can result in damaged crops, weak harvests and otherwise dirty weed.

With grow season in full-swing, we’ve decided to list some of the most common, non-pest problems with growing weed – and how to fix them – so that your marijuana grow will be a success.

Powdery Mildew

  • Identifying Powdery Mildew: Powdery mildew can be identified by its powdery white appearance on leaf surfaces. This fungus spreads quickly through the air and can attach itself to your cannabis plants especially following a lengthy wet spell.
  • Problems Caused by Powdery Mildew: Though powdery mildew only affects the plant’s surface, its ability to spread quickly and block out the sun can cause significant damage to the plant and may ultimately cause plant death if not properly treated. Inhaling or otherwise ingesting mildew can also cause respiratory problems or allergic reactions in some people so it’s best to avoid it whenever possible.
  • How to Remedy/Prevent Powdery Mildew: It’s important to act fast at the first sign of powdery mildew to avoid it spreading to other plants. Some common DIY methods to use include diluted apple cider vinegar, a baking soda solution or a milk and water mixture. Also remember to provide plenty of “breathing room” for your plants and remove any plants with excessive contamination immediately.

Tobacco Mosaic Virus

  • Identifying TMV: The Tobacco Mosaic Virus is a virus that affects many plants including cannabis, tomatoes, spinach and marigolds and can spread easily through pollination, contaminated soil or insect carriers. It can be tricky to identify because of its resemblance to nutrient deficiencies like yellow, wilting or distorted leaves.
  • Problems Caused by TMV: Aside from stunted growth caused by the plant’s inability to efficiently process UV light, TMV, like any virus, can quickly spread causing an abundance of cross-contamination. The virus can remain dormant for years in soil, carpet, seeds, tobacco products or infected plants and may only begin showing signs after the plant has experienced some form of stress (transplanting, pruning, light or nutrient problems, for example).
  • How to Remedy/Prevent TMV: Unfortunately, once a plant has TMV it will always be contaminated which is why it is important to grow in completely sanitary conditions when possible (like washing hands after a smoke) and to always keep an eye out for signs. Should a plant show signs of TMV, it is imperative that the plant be removed from the grow area immediately. If you are unsure whether your plant has TMV, place it in quarantine while running other tests like flushing out the soil and cleaning the foliage. If your plant does not recover, dispose of it immediately.

Nutrient Deficiencies

  • Identifying Nutrient Deficiencies: Like all living things, cannabis plants need proper nutrition to thrive. This often involves supplementing nutrients with cannabis-friendly fertilizers and soil modification, but can still leave plants weak and unattractive if administered in improper amounts. Nutrient deficiencies are characterized by the yellowing or browning of leaves, red stems, spots or otherwise inconsistent coloring. On the flip-side, over-fertilized plants may display signs of burning or yellowing, as well.
  • Problems with Nutrient Deficiencies: When plants don’t receive proper nutrients, growth may be slowed, plants may become susceptible to infection or may just die off completely.
  • How to Remedy/Prevent Nutrient Deficiencies: Nutrient deficiencies are often the result of an improper pH balance. For example, while most nutrients are more readily absorbed in soil with a neutral pH, others like iron, manganese, copper, zinc and boron prefer more acidic soil. If nutrient deficiencies are an issue, adjust your pH and nutrient regimen promptly. If the issue is over fertilization, simply flush the soil with pure water, wait for your plant to regain strength and try again at a lower level.

Stress-Related Problems

  • Identifying Stress-Related Problems: Three common stress-related problems cannabis plants experience include root rot (which is caused by overwatering), root bound (which is caused by growing plants in containers that are too small) and heat stress. These issues can be identified by foliage discoloration, curling leaves, brown roots or fowl-smelling run-off water.
  • Problems with Stress: Not only can stress cause plants to wither and die, it can turn female cannabis plants hermaphroditic (you’ll get seedy weed). If your girls show signs of stress, calm them down immediately.
  • How to Remedy/Prevent Stress: To avoid root rot, grow your plants in well-draining soil and make sure there are drainage holes at the bottom. Prevent or remedy root bound plants by transplanting in large pots (preferably with a three-gallon capacity minimum for the full cycle) and prevent heat stress by maintaining a grow environment temperature at roughly 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

It’s not just critters who want a place with your pot. Many contaminants can ruin a good cannabis grow, too. To avoid a wasted crop and produce the highest yield, keep your eyes peeled for these common cannabis contaminants in your marijuana grow.

Should Cannabis Be A Real Cure For Pediatric Epilepsy?

Little did everyone knows but cannabis has been used as a treatment for pediatric epilepsy for decades though much of the public conversation started with the story of Charlotte Figi, a 6-year-old Dravet Syndrome sufferer whose seizures were greatly reduced after taking large doses of cannabidiol, or CBD, derived from the cannabis plant.

Charlotte’s story, as told by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, inspired numerous parents to try medical marijuana to treat their children’s epilepsy (with seemingly great success), often forcing them to leave behind their homes, families and careers in the process. But are these “marijuana refugees” really curing their children’s debilitating conditions or are they simply following the hype and falling victim to the placebo effect?

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures. It may be caused by brain injury, family history or other unknown reasons and can affect people of all ages. Though many types of epilepsy can be controlled with medication (albeit with unfavorable side effects half the time), some sever forms of epilepsy like Dravet Syndrome (which is caused by a gene mutation in the brain) are less receptive to treatment. Children with treatment-resistant epilepsy often also suffer have developmental disabilities, sensitivity to infection, frequent triggers (such as light, stress or emotional situations), growth and nutrient problems and reduced mobility.

Is the cure cannabis?

Cannabis’s effectiveness in treating epilepsy has been well documented. Aside from Charlotte Figi, numerous others have experienced a significant drop in epileptic symptoms shortly after beginning cannabis therapy. Though relapse seems common a few days after ceasing cannabis medication, one study shows continuous use of cannabis to significantly improve both motor and cognitive functions in epilepsy patients. The study found CBD to be most effective when used in conjunction with other anti-seizure medications.

Unfortunately, research into the effectiveness of CBD and other cannabinoids in seizure mitigation is few and far between (largely due to its federally-illegal status) with much of the research being performed as open-label (meaning the patients knew what they were consuming – no placebo is used to test the authenticity of their claims) which often result in biased answers. For example, a 2015 study from the University of Colorado revealed that families of patients who moved to Colorado for medical marijuana witnessed improvement 47 percent of the time. Compare that to families already living in Colorado who witnessed improvement only 22 percent of the time and it’s easy to see how simply wanting the treatment to be effective can be enough to sway the masses into believing.

Nevertheless, it is apparent that more research needs to be done to determine the efficiency of cannabis as a treatment for epilepsy. Research is currently underway in Colorado to test cannabis’s effectiveness at treating pediatric epilepsy (among other things) and is currently in Phase III at the Children’s Hospital Colorado where researchers hope to determine CBD’s exact role in epilepsy treatment using a pharmaceutical grade CBD oil called Epidiolex.

Parents pushing for cannabis therapy

It’s difficult for some parents to attain the medical-grade cannabis they need to treat their children’s epilepsy because of limited research and thus the inability of physicians to recommend it. Anecdotal evidence supporting cannabis as a treatment for epilepsy is abundant, however, and has inspired thousands of parents across the nation to push for more lenient medical marijuana laws. In an article published by NBC News, one parent explained that:

“This is something that needs to happen across the country so that every child who might need this would have access…Why should the state lines be the factor as to whether my child can get help or not?”

In other words, because of varying laws across the nation regarding cannabis as medicine, the location of an epileptic child may literally be a matter of life and death.

While we wait for cannabis legalization to sweep the nation (at least for medical purposes), many parents are taking their children’s health into their own hands. Armed with countless blogs and Facebook stories about the effectiveness of cannabis in treating pediatric illnesses like autism and epilepsy, these parents are either moving to 420-friendly states or traveling across the nation to acquire their children’s medicine — and they’re breaking all sorts of federal laws in the process. Though there is concern about contaminants and a lack of regulatory oversight concerning cannabis products, many parents feel it is their right – neigh their duty – to take back the right to make healthcare decisions concerning their children. There are even support groups to help parents navigate the process of (sometimes illegal) pediatric cannabis therapy.

Opinion improving regarding pediatric cannabis treatment

The idea of ‘experimenting on children’ can leave a bad taste in anyone’s mouth, but that is essentially what many parents are doing when they choose to medicate their children with cannabis without a doctor’s consent. However, because research is so limited (and government funding for medical cannabis so difficult to come by), many parents are left with no other options than to try cannabis in a last-ditch effort to save their children. The good news is that growing public support for these parents has inspired the need for more research into the matter. As stories like Charlotte Figi’s spread across social media (and word of mouth), public perception about pediatric cannabis use will continue to improve, rousing a movement by the people for the people and our rights to medicate ourselves – and our families – however we see fit. Further research into the matter will solidify the concept of cannabis as medicine.

Pediatric epilepsy has long been an arguing point for medical cannabis, but research into the effectiveness of cannabis as pediatric medicine is hard to acquire due to the morality of medicating children with an illicit substance. But with time – and a boat load of government funded research – we’ll soon be able to tell our suffering children that the help and support they need to lead full lives is finally growing.

Cannabis Curing Diabetes

     Do you have a Diabetes? If not, it is an illness for a group of metabolic disorders characterized by prolonged high blood glucose levels. Diabetes affects almost 400 million people worldwide, resulting in up to five million deaths per year–and its prevalence is rising. Substantial evidence indicates that cannabis may prevent and treat the disease.

Preventative

Diabetes is associated with high levels of fasting insulin and insulin resistance, as well as low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). In 2013, the results of a five-year study into the effects of cannabis on fasting insulin and insulin resistance were published in the American Journal of Medicine. Of the 4,657 respondents, 2,554 had used cannabis in their lifetime (579 were current users and 1,975 were past users) and 2,103 had never used the drug.

The researchers found that current users of cannabis had 16% lower fasting insulin levels than respondents who had never used cannabis, as well as having 17% lower levels of insulin resistance and higher levels of HDL-C. Respondents who had used cannabis in their lifetime but were not current users showed similar but less pronounced associations, indicating that the protective effect of cannabis fades with time.

The researchers also ran analyses on the data that excluded individuals diagnosed with diabetes. Even after excluding diabetics, current cannabis users were found to exhibit reduced fasting insulin and insulin resistance levels, indicating that cannabis can help prevent the occurrence of diabetes as well as controlling symptoms in diagnosed cases.

Lowers insulin resistance

Insulin resistance (IR) is a condition that causes cells to reject the normal mechanism of insulin, a hormone that is produced by the pancreas and is fundamental to the regulation of glucose metabolism. IR is associated with type 2 diabetes; in type 1 diabetes, the body is unable to produce insulin, while in type 2, insulin production is unaffected but the cells are unable to process it. When cells become insulin-resistant, they are unable to absorb the glucose needed to supply them with energy, and the unused glucose builds up in the bloodstream–leading to hyperglycemia.

The authors of the 2013 study found that current users of cannabis had a mean IR of 1.8, compared to 2.2 for past users and 2.5 for those that had never used cannabis. Current cannabis users were also found to have lower levels of blood glucose compared to past users and non-users. Current users had mean blood glucose levels of 99.7 mg/dL, compared with 100.6 mg/dL for past users and 103.5 mg/dL for non-users. However, the precise mechanism via which cannabinoids exert their effects on IR has thus far not been determined.

Helps to prevent obesity

Obesity, high body mass index (BMI) and large waist circumference are all linked to diabetes risk. Various studies have been conducted on the relationship between cannabis use and BMI, with conflicting results. A 2005 study on young adults found that cannabis use was not associated with changes in BMI, whereas two large national surveys found lower BMI and decreased levels of obesity in cannabis users despite higher-than-average daily consumption of calories. The 2013 study found that current cannabis use was  associated with smaller waist circumferences than in past or non-users.

While the mechanism underlying the complex relationship between the endocannabinoid system, obesity and diabetes has not been fully established, a 2012 study demonstrated that obese rats lost significant weight and experienced an increase in pancreas weight after exposure to organic cannabis extract. The increase in the weight of the pancreas indicates that the beta cells of the pancreas (which are responsible for the production of insulin) are protected by the presence of cannabinoids–in type 1 diabetes, the beta cells are destroyed by an autoimmune response, so providing protection to them may help to control the disease.

May treat diabetes-induced neuropathy

People with diabetes often experience nerve disorders as a result of their disease. Nerve damage often affects the peripheries such as the hands and feet, but may occur in any organ or region of the body. The damage may be symptomless, but in many cases, pain, tingling and numbness accompany the disorder. As with many f0rms of nerve pain, diabetic neuropathy can be hard to treat with conventional analgesics; however, there is evidence to indicate that cannabis may have a role to play here too.

A study published in 2009 investigated the antinociceptive (pain-reducing) effects of cannabidiol extract in cases of diabetes-induced neuropathy in rats. The authors found that repeated administration of CBD extract “significantly relieved” mechanical allodynia (painful response to non-painful stimuli) and restored normal perception of pain without inducing hyperglycemia. The treatment was also found to protect the liver against oxidative stress (which is believed to be a major contributing factor to developing neuropathy) and increase levels of nerve growth factor to normal levels.

However, studies on humans have thus far yielded less positive results. Also in 2009, a randomized controlled trial investigated the ability of GW Pharmaceuticals’ Sativex spray to ameliorate the symptoms of diabetes-induced peripheral neuropathy. 30 subjects were administered with either Sativex or placebo; pain scores improved significantly across the board, but the effect of Sativex was not found to be significantly greater than that of the placebo.

May treat diabetic retinopathy

Up to 80% of diabetes patients that have had the disease for over a decade acquire a complication known as diabetic retinopathy (DRP), in which the cells of the retina are progressively damaged. This condition is responsible for approximately 12% of new cases of blindness each year in the USA.

DRP is associated with glucose-induced breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier, a network of tightly-packed cells that prevent unwanted substances in the blood from entering retinal tissue. This breakdown causes neural tissue to be exposed to neurotoxins, as well as increasing the chance of bleeding within the retina.

It is thought that the pro-inflammatory immune response and oxidative stress processes have a key role to play in the breakdown of retinal cells–and there is evidence that cannabidiol, with its known ability to combat both oxidative stress and inflammation, may be useful in treating the disorder. In a 2006 study published in the American Journal of Pathology, diabetic rats were administered with CBD and tested to determine the rate of retinal cell death. It was shown that treatment with CBD significantly reduced oxidative stress and neurotoxicity–including levels of tumor necrosis factor-a, a substance that is known to be involved in the inflammatory response–and protected against retinal cell death and the breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier.

Cannabis For Losing Weight

       Myth or Fact? They mentioned that legalizing cannabis, a substance notorious for driving cravings of Cheetos, cookies, and chips, seems a dangerous prospect for a country already struggling with the highest obesity rate in the world. Scientifically, there is at least some evidence to support the old trope about weed enthusiasts’ insatiable craving for munchies.

But other studies have shown that for all this snacking, marijuana users are not necessarily predisposed to gaining weight, but rather the opposite: that cannabis use can assist in weight loss.

Like all substances that assist with weight loss, cannabis is, of course, nothing without a proper diet and exercise regimen. But the research investigating the association between cannabis use and weight loss seems promising.

Take for instance a 2011 study in the American Journal of Epidemiology, which concludes that “the prevalence of obesity is lower in cannabis users than in nonusers.”

The study analyzed two prominent surveys conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and the  National Institute of Mental Health. In total, these two projects surveyed over 50,000 people about the frequency of their marijuana use. This data was then measured against respondents’ body mass index (BMI). This study also controlled for other factors like age, gender and whether these cannabis users are also tobacco smokers.

According to the researchers, “this analysis showed that even if cannabis consumption increases appetite, people using cannabis are less likely to be obese than people who do not use cannabis.” This is especially striking considering that, as the researchers admit, cannabis does increase a users appetite. Therefore, researchers have hypothesized that cannabis’ impact on obesity might be related to a chemical process in the stomach, which manages one’s level of “intestinal microbes” responsible for weight gain.

This point is worth restating: even though cannabis increases one’s appetite, it also appears to help decrease one’s weight.

This extraordinary finding is probably why other researchers, like those involved in a 2013 study published in The National Center for Biotechnology Information, appear openly baffled by their findings on marijuana’s connection to weight loss. The conclusion for this study reads “We, therefore, propose the seemingly paradoxical hypothesis that THC or a THC/cannabidiol combination drug may produce weight loss and may be a useful therapeutic for the treatment of obesity and its complications.”

These findings are also significant because, as the researchers for this study point out, obesity is one of the country’s—and in fact, the world’s—most easily preventable causes of death.

The research doesn’t end there, either.

In 2015, another study used mice to study the effects of THC, the psychoactive cannabinoid present in marijuana responsible for getting users “high.” After administering THC to both obese and normal-sized mice, the researchers found that the obese mice actually lost weight. As the researchers concluded, the THC “prevented high fat diet-induced increases in body weight and adiposity.”

Marijuana users even apparently tend to have a “smaller waist circumference,” according to another 2013 study published in The American Journal of Medicine.

While the research on the connection between cannabis use and lower rates of obesity seem promising, it’s still a little early-on to proclaim cannabis as a miracle weight loss cure. This is because data exploring long-term trends are lacking, and while research conducted on mice can offer important findings, there is no replacement for actual human studies. This type of research is much trickier to conduct with cannabis’ prohibitionary status, which makes it difficult to obtain funding. Hopefully, further research will solidify the evidence that cannabis can be used to assist weight loss. But for now, marijuana enthusiasts can at least take solace that the evidence is in their favor.

Cannabis In Fighting Obesity

         Obesity isn’t just hurtful in physical appearance but it’s a health crisis affecting people of all ages, sexes, and socio-economic standards. The levels of obesity across the world have risen dramatically over the last 30 years, and health authorities are calling it one of the biggest epidemics of our time.

Recently, cannabis has received a lot of media attention, with some arguing that the drug, despite being known to produce a hard case of “the munchies,” is often associated with lower BMIs and rates of obesity.

UNDERSTANDING OBESITY

Obesity is a medical condition characterized by having an excess of body fat that puts the patient at risk of serious health complications. An adult patient is generally considered obese if their Body Mass Index (or BMI) is over 30kg/m2. Diagnosing obesity in children varies depending on age and sex, but children are usually considered obese if their BMI is higher than the 95 percentile.

World obesity statistics have increased dramatically over the last years, almost doubling since 1980. According to the World Health Organisation, over 600 million adults (or 12% of the entire world population of adults) across the world were obese in 2015.

WHAT CAUSES OBESITY?

Obesity is typically caused by excessive calorie intake and a lack of physical exercise. However, genetic susceptibility also plays a big role in the development of obesity. Specific morphisms in genes controlling appetite and metabolism can predispose some people to developing obesity later on.

Obesity can also be associated with a variety of genetic conditions, including Prader–Willi syndrome, Bardet–Biedl syndrome, Cohen syndrome, and MOMO syndrome. Obesity is also a familial condition, with some studies suggesting that up to 80% of offspring from 2 obese parents go on to develop obesity as well.

Some of the main reasons obesity has become so much more prevalent around the world include changes to diet and physical activity. It is interesting to note that urban areas generally have higher rates of obesity, most likely caused by a greater availability of fast-food options, usually at lower prices than healthier alternatives.

Changes to work culture also play a big role in the increased rates of obesity around the world. With the increase of sedentary, desk or computer-based jobs, people are getting less physical activity from their regular daily activities as they may have gotten 30 or more years ago.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF OBESITY?

Obesity has a huge impact on the health of a patient, and greatly increases a person’s risk of developing other diseases and conditions, including:

  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Diabetes
  • Musculoskeletal conditions like osteoarthritis in joints like the knees
  • Some types of cancer, including endometrial, breast, ovarian, prostate, liver, gallbladder, kidney, and colon

Children who develop obesity are also at an increased risk of developing a disability in their later life or dying prematurely. Obese children also experience breathing difficulties, increased fractures, hypertension, insulin resistance, and much more.

HOW IS OBESITY TREATED AND PREVENTED?

Despite being extremely prevalent in both adults and children and both high and low income families, obesity is preventable. It can mostly be prevented using a combination of lifestyle and dietary changes.

The main form of treating obesity involves dieting and physical exercise. Dieting usually involves not only lowering a patient’s food intake but also educating them about making smarter meal choices and straying away from unhealthy foods that are high in fats, sugars, and carbohydrates, and instead turning to natural, less-processed alternatives.

Dieting will generally stimulate weight loss in most patients, but keeping the lost weight off is something most obese patients struggle with. In order to keep off the weight they’ve managed to lose, most obese patients need to follow permanent lifestyle changes that affect both their physical activity and diet. Doing so, however, can be extremely challenging.

Certain medications can also be used to aid weight loss in obese patients. These medications have been shown to increase weight loss by up to 7kg per year; however, some of these medications have also been linked to heart and blood vessel problems, while others are noted for producing harsh gastrointestinal side-effects and possibly cause kidney damage.

One of the most effective forms of treatments for obesity is bariatric surgery, which generally produces the highest rates of weight loss. However, these surgical procedures are very expensive and also put the patient at various risks, including:

  • Bowel obstruction
  • Dumping syndrome, causing diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
  • Gallstones
  • Hernias
  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
  • Malnutrition
  • Stomach perforation
  • Ulcers

CANNABIS AND OBESITY

Medical marijuana has received a lot of media attention recently thanks to new research into the cannabis plant’s main compounds. This research has produced a growing body of evidence that compounds like THC and CBD may aid in the treatment/management of a wide variety of medical conditions and symptoms. Obesity may be one of those conditions.

The thought that cannabis could aid weight loss is counter-intuitive; anyone who has ever experimented with cannabis will likely have experienced “the munchies,” which probably left them digging out every last piece of food in their fridge or pantry.

Actually, the fact that cannabinoids like THC cause “the munchies” makes cannabis a very attractive medication for patients dealing with loss of appetite, rapid weight loss, or cachexia, conditions which are common among cancer and AIDS patients.

The fact that many of these patients turn to cannabis to help them improve appetite and gain weight makes it hard to see how cannabis could ever be used to help obese patients shred the pounds.

But new research suggests that there may be a correlation between regular cannabis use and lower BMIs.

A study published in the Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics in 2016 made note of this correlation. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Miami, looked at a sample of 13,000 participants.

It found that women who used cannabis on a daily basis had BMIs roughly 3.1% lower than those that didn’t. The same was true for men, with daily cannabis users having BMIs roughly 2.7% lower than non-users.

And despite how surprising these statistics might seem, this actually isn’t the first time researchers have noticed a difference in weight and shape between cannabis users and the non-using population.

A 2015 study published in Obesity Biology and Integrated Physiology found similar results. Out of the 786 participants in the survey, roughly 56% self-reported using cannabis. Among those who reported using cannabis, researchers noted lower BMIs, lower body fat mass, and lower fasting insulin, even after adjusting for numerous confounding variables.

So, is this enough to warrant the idea that cannabis could help lower obesity rates? Well, some researchers believe so.

In a study published in the journal Health Economics, researchers from San Diego State University and Cornell University found that legalizing marijuana was associated with 2-6% decline in obesity probability.

Sounds bizarre, right? Well, here’s the reasoning behind this conclusion:

The researchers analyzed over 20 years of data from the US federal Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey to see how the increased availability of medical marijuana affected a variety of health outcomes.

During the scope of the data analyzed, numerous states in the US passed medical marijuana bills. In these areas, researchers noted a decline in obesity and lower BMIs. The researchers tried to explain the possible causes for this trend, and speculated that an increased availability of medicinal cannabis may lead to:

  • Higher levels of activity in patients using cannabis to treat pain.
  • Lowered levels of alcohol consumption and binge drinking, especially among young users

It is important to note that this study received a fair amount of criticism. Nonetheless, it is interesting to note.

CAN CANNABIS HELP TREAT OBESITY?

Unfortunately, there is no clear answer as to whether cannabis can effectively treat obesity. It seems unlikely, seeing as THC generally causes heightened levels of food intake and cravings for particularly unhealthy food options.

However, recent studies make it clear that cannabis users tend to have lower BMIs than non-users. This is an interesting trend given the drug’s efficacy as an appetite stimulant, but it isn’t enough to confidently say that cannabis use can lower a person’s BMI.

As is often the case with medical marijuana, more research into this field is needed in order for us to come to clear conclusions about the relationship between obesity and cannabis.

Be A Marijuana Grower And Neer Get Caught

    Growing marijuana indoor is great. I just love the process of growing! Not only is it a fun and rewarding hobby on its own, growing your own supply of marijuana saves tons of money compared to buying it. Plus, you basically get access to unlimited amounts of the highest quality weed!

What could be better, right?

Well, there is one big problem with growing… the fact that growing marijuana is either totally or at least partially illegal in most parts of the world! Not everyone can construct a secret grow room behind a bookcase, but in this stealth tutorial, I will share a few simple but effective strategies that make it almost impossible for anyone to discover your marijuana plants.

For your security, it’s vitally important to do everything in your power to keep your cannabis garden a secret. If you want to avoid detection, you have a responsibility to become not just reactive, but incredibly proactive to make sure you are not giving off any signs that could possibly hint that you’re growing.

In most parts of the world, cannabis is illegal or at least semi-illegal to grow. Even in places where weed is legalized in some form (for example, the 29 medical marijuana and 8 adult legalization states in the U.S.), there are still federal guidelines that mean you can get arrested for cannabis possession or cultivation, even if you’re following all the local laws. It’s true that federal officials very rarely go after small-time growers who aren’t selling, but it’s better to be safe than sorry by keeping your grow a secret from everyone.

A Secret Grow Space is a Secure Grow Space

So, if you are lucky enough to live in a state with legalized marijuana cultivation, I strongly caution you to still take the necessary precautions and keep yourself out of watchful eyes. These rules may sound a bit overly protective, but they’ve allowed me to grow without any legal problems since I started growing over a decade ago.

Remember, even if sticking with some of these rules can be a pain, nothing is worth spending time in jail!

Here goes…

Rule 1: Never Tell Anyone, Not Even Your Friends, That You’ve Started Growing Weed

I know, I know, this is common sense, right? But unfortunately, it’s not. Telling the wrong person is the number 1 most common reason growers get caught or ripped off.

Hobby growers rarely get caught by helicopters with thermal cameras or RF interference from grow lights. At least, not compared to how many growers get caught from letting their secret out to someone they couldn’t trust. If you want to prevent the number one reason growers get caught, you should never, ever tell a soul that you grow marijuana. No excuses.

Here’s my “never get caught, ever, for growing weed” policy: You can never trust someone else as closely as yourself. If someone isn’t actually growing marijuana with you, as a partner-in-crime so to speak, there is no reason to tell them about your growing activities.  If someone asks you where you got your weed, tell them you’d rather not talk about it and leave it at that. Better yet, don’t tell them you smoke at all if you can avoid it. Remember: If you can’t keep this incredibly important secret to yourself, how can you trust other people to keep it to themselves?

Don’t ever give hints that you know how to grow weed. If you encounter others who are talking about growing, bite your lip and act dumb!

Rule 2: Be Smart When Ordering Marijuana Seeds Online

It’s a good idea to avoid shipping marijuana seeds to the same place you’ll actually be growing your weed if possible. However, most growers don’t have that option, including me. As a result, I have always shipped seeds directly to my house without a problem, and that seems to be what most growers do. Still, I highly recommend paying a few extra bucks for the “stealth shipping” option the next time you order seeds. Most reputable seed banks offer this. Stealth shipping usually comes with a guarantee (they’ll reship seeds if you don’t get them), and seeds are much less likely to get confiscated during shipping because they’re hidden.

I have had my seeds confiscated a couple times over the years. The seeds were taken and the empty package arrived with a letter saying that cannabis seeds are not allowed to be shipped into the US. I understand that this happens to many growers and seed banks will usually reship the seeds if you show them the letter.

However, once you receive seeds that were shipped via stealth shipping, you’ll understand why it’s difficult for someone to intercept the package. I once actually received my seeds and the package had been opened, but Nirvana had done such a good job with the stealth packaging that the officials didn’t see the seeds and just sealed the package back up and sent it to me.

Rule 3: Consider All Sounds, Smells and Light That Come from Your Grow Space

Block all windows with light-proof fabric or blackout curtains. The incredibly bright (and unusually colored) grow lights that are needed to grow marijuana can be a dead giveaway that someone is growing weed inside, so you want to block any light from being seen outside.

A newly popular type of cannabis grow light, LECs (despite the similar name, they’re completely different from LEDs), have the benefit of producing a white-colored light that can appear less suspicious to an outsider than the harsh yellow light of HPS or the purple/pink-tinted light of most LEDs. LECs are performing surprisingly well for growing cannabis, and as a bonus, the crisp, white light makes it easier to take nice pictures of your plants.

As far as sound, grow lights can give off a hum, but usually small fans, exhaust fans, and air/water pumps for hydro are the pieces of equipment that make the most sound when growing cannabis indoors. Powerful exhaust fans can be the worst sound offenders. If you have a roommate, if you share a wall with a neighbor, or if you’ve put your grow tent in your bedroom and want to sleep at night, you need to be especially careful how you hang your exhaust fan. Additionally, try to get high quality, quiet fans, and prevent air or water pumps from sitting directly on the floor as the vibration can travel.  As far as smells, a big thing to remember is that you will get used to the smell of flowering plants, so don’t think that the smell isn’t there just because you can’t smell it. Some strains are high-odor, while other strains are low odor or just do not smell much like typical marijuana.

Low-odor strains include Northern Lights, Papaya (smells tropical), Jock Horror, Ice (smells like jet fuel), and Blue Mystic.  Smells are usually more intense when things get hot and humid, and as you approach harvest time. If you’re venting air outside, control odors in the vented air with a carbon scrubber. This is something that air passes through which will remove the odors before they go outside.

Learn all the ways to prevent smells from leaking out of the grow space.

Rule 4: Be Smart About Comings and Goings to Your Home or Grow Area (especially with lots of growing supplies).

Even if you’re not actually selling anything, neighbors can be surprisingly alert about what you’re doing. Remember that.

If some bored neighbor is watching you, it’s going to seem weird if you’re going in and out of your house with pots, nutrients, big bags of soil or soilless grow mix, etc., especially if you don’t actually grow anything besides marijuana. That’s why one of the best covers for growing weed is growing a few other plants, whether it’s flowers, vegetables, fruits, etc.  I keep a few flower pots with random flowers on my balcony, some rose bushes, a lime tree, and a pink jasmine plant. All this gardening is an ideal cover for growing weed.

If that’s not an option, make sure you are not observed when you come and go with supplies. Moving equipment at night helps as does covering your items with trash bags before bringing them in. Or better yet, consider ordering your supplies online. I order “suspicious” items online from Amazon.com because usually, you can pay a bit extra for them to gift wrap your items. That way you can feel extra sure no one will be able to see what’s inside the box until after it’s inside your house.

Rule 5: Avoid House Guests

Ok, I know that’s a bit over-the-top, but how about this: if you don’t trust someone with your life, and it’s possible for them to find your weed if they’re nosy, don’t let them come anywhere near your grow. This means that at the very least, you should lock the door to your grow room and don’t let people anywhere inside or near if possible. I’m not saying that you should be suspicious of all people; in fact, I believe that most people are good when they aren’t under duress. However, many times it’s the case where they didn’t mean anything, but they told someone who accidentally told the wrong person.

Picture this:

Your friend ‘Dan’ asks why your bud is always “soooooo much better” than what he gets even with top-shelf, so you let him in on a little secret: “It’s because I grow it myself and dispensaries have got nothin’ on me!”

Later on, Dan, now proud of his friend with such amazing weed-growing prowess, goes to smoke with his friend Carla.

Carla asks, “Isn’t this the best weed you ever smoked?”

Dan replies: “Not even close. This stuff is okay, but my friend grows the best stuff you’ve ever had!”. Just then, Dan remembers you explicitly telling him to not tell anyone about your grow. You can’t blame Dan for being excited for you, but your secret is out now, and Carla doesn’t have any incentive to not tell people about what you’re doing.

If you’re serious about privacy and stealth, I strongly recommend no more guests inside your home until after you’ve completely secured your grow area against visitors being able to access it. If someone isn’t growing with you in a place you share, they shouldn’t know about the grow. Simple as that.

Rule 6: Consider That Helicopters with Heat Cameras Can Fly Over Your House

Law enforcement officials may sometimes search for unusual heat activity to discover marijuana grow operations. The intense heat given off by big grow lights (especially when there’s many of them) is a dead giveaway that something unusual is going on.

If you have a large indoor garden, then you already know how hard it can be to control the heat. Controlling heat is good for your plants, but you also need to do it to avoid getting caught. If your grow light is big enough to make it hot in your grow room, you will greatly increase your security by investing in a good exhaust system that pulls hot air out of your grow room and vents it outside (but make sure you don’t forget Step 3, get a carbon scrubber to ensure you’re not venting out the smell of your flowering plants). Good heat ventilation also makes growing less suspicious in your house. That being said, no amount of exhaust will totally offset the heat generated by a grow operation (smaller grows aren’t as easy to detect).

For growers with icy winters, try not to vent out where there is snow, as the lone melted spot from the exhaust heat can look suspicious. Learn more tips about growing indoors in cold climates. Another option is to choose smaller grow lights that give off less heat.Small LED panels, 315 LECs, 250W HPS and CFL bulbs are relatively low-heat grow lights which can still produce many ounces of great bud. They work especially well when one is growing a few plants in a relatively small space, though these smaller-sized grow lights generally aren’t suitable for huge grow operations (where you’d want full-size versions of LED, LEC, or MH/HPS grow lights).

No matter what setup you have, you can employ advanced growth control techniques to produce better yields by using your current grow light more efficiently.

Rule 7: Use Your Common Sense

It’s easy to get comfortable after a while if you’ve been growing weed for a long time.

It’s important to remember that, while medical and adult-use marijuana has been legalized in many areas, it is still considered illegal to grow marijuana in much of the world.

Never let your guard down!

Don’t spend your life behind bars

I’ll admit there may have been a bit fear-mongering in this article. It’s only because I care about the freedom of all growers and want you to be safe and secure so you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor! If you want to get access to cheaper and better-quality cannabis than what you’ll get from your typical dealer or dispensary, growing your own supply is the best way to do it!

Supplements For Cannabis During Heat Stress

           High temperatures will definitely make  growing cannabis a lot harder. The droopiness, nutrient deficiencies and overall slow growth are common symptoms of heat stress, whether your plants are indoors or outdoors!

We know the process of controling heat indoors, as well as how to help outdoor plants during a heatwave, but are there any marijuana supplements that boost the plant’s ability to survive the heat without changing anything else about the environment?

Actually yes! There are 3 specific supplements that are known to help some cannabis plants be more overall resistant to heat stress, drought and high temperatures!

Help your marijuana plants be more resistant to heat stress like this!

1.) Seaweed Kelp Extract

There are numerous studies showing that seaweed kelp extract is beneficial for heat-stressed plants when used as a supplement. Seaweed kelp extract (available as a liquid or powder) has been shown to increase yields, growth rates, and heat resistance in plants experiencing environmental stress.

Kelp naturally contains lots of trace elements and minerals that have protective properties for plants. Studies have shown that supplementing with kelp can increase plant yields, growth rates, and heat/drought resistance for many species of plants.

Besides protecting against heat, kelp supplements may also enhance seed germination, increase uptake of plant nutrients, and give more overall resistance to frost and fungal diseases.

2.) Humic Acid Supplements

Humic acids are naturally found in the soil, but adding extra can be beneficial. Plant supplements for humic acid are usually derived from leonardite, a substance that is mined near the surface of lignite deposits (lignite is sedimentary rock that formed over millions of years from compressed peat). It is a waxy, brown substance.

Humic acids have protective abilities and can help cannabis plants deal with water stress and drought. Additionally, there is quite a bit of evidence (mostly with many different types of grass, but also with plants like soybeans and corn), that combining humic acid supplements with seaweed kelp extract actually increases the overall effectiveness of both supplements. They may have a synergistic relationship!

Not only do humic acid supplements help protect the plant against water stress, they may also enhance the heat-resistance benefits of using sea kelp extract!

3.) Silica Supplements

Silica is not a “required” nutrient and your plant won’t suffer from Silica deficiencies. However, supplementing with extra silica offers additional support to plant cell walls. This can help the plant be more resistant to heat and other types of stress.

 Botanicare Silica Blast or General Hydroponics ArmorSi are examples of silica supplements made for plants

Whenever possible, try to get a silica supplement from the same manufacturer that makes your base nutrients to help ensure everything works well together.

Silica supplements strengthen plant cell walls. This not only makes cannabis plants more resistant to heat, it also helps prevent stems from breaking when buds get big and heavy!

Bonus: Heat-Resistant Strains

Every strain is different, and some strains of marijuana are easily stressed by heat, while other strains would thrive in the exact same environment!

When it comes to strains that tend to be more resistant to heat stress…

  • Sativa, Haze, African and Hawaiian strains all tend to be more heat-resistant since they originate from hot climates.
  • In general, auto-flowering strains to be relatively sensitive to heat since they originated in Siberia, but some strains have been mixed with heat-resistant strains to make them more suitable for warm climates
  • Many Indica plants, which also come from cool climates, can be surprisingly sensitive to the heat.

Example of a Heat-Resistant Cannabis Strain!

Kaya Gold

  • In addition to doing well in the heat, this strain is overall easy-to-grow and resistant to pests and mold
  • Has a surprisingly short flowering stage (8-9 weeks) for a Sativa-dominant strain, and doesn’t get too tall
  • Buds produce very heavy effects – more of a ‘brain-melter’ with couchlock than a good choice for social situations
  • Does well indoors, and grows exceptionally well outdoors (plus it is ready to harvest earlier than most other strains)
  • Great yields
  • Get Kaya Gold from Nirvana (ships to US)

The Kaya Gold strain thrives in the heat. This plant experienced many days over 100°F (38°C) yet plants were unfazed!