Cannabis Science Archives - The Real Dirt with Chip Baker

CANNA Nutrients: THE Cannabis Nutrient Line

by Travis C | Jan 30, 2023 | Blog, Broscience Mythbusters, Cannabis Science, Culture, Grow Tips, Growing, Opinion, Science & Technology

canna nutrients review, cannabis nutrients

CANNA is a leading company in the world of cannabis cultivation and nutrient management. The company provides a full line of professional-grade nutrients and supplements specifically designed for plants of the cannabis family. With CANNA’s decades of experience in the field, growers can trust that their products are the highest quality and most effective for optimal growth.

CANNA Nutrients designed by science

First and foremost, CANNA products are designed with the intended environment in mind. CANNA offers a specially designed nutrient line for hydroponic systems and one for soil systems, both of which have been expertly created to optimize yield and quality. CANNA also offers tailored nutrient solutions for different stages of development, so no matter which stage your crop is at, you can trust that the nutrients it is receiving are the best-suited for maximum growth.

Beyond optimization, CANNA nutrients are also designed to be eco-friendly and sustainable. CANNA utilizes natural ingredients and avoids the use of unnecessary chemicals, allowing you to rest assured that your cannabis is being grown in an environment that is safe for both you and the planet.

Top Quality Cannabis Nutrients

The company also prides itself on its strict quality control standards. Before any product is shipped, it is meticulously inspected and tested in order to ensure that it meets the highest standards of purity and potency. This ensures that the nutrients you are providing for your crop are of superior quality, so that you can trust that the results you are getting are the very best.

Finally, CANNA provides outstanding customer service and support. All CANNA products come with a full warranty, and the company is dedicated to providing customers with helpful advice and assistance. If you have any questions or concerns, the knowledgeable staff at CANNA will be more than happy to help you out.

Cannabis Growers Agree on CANNA

CANNA nutrients are a great option for growers looking to get the most out of their cannabis crop. With powerful and eco-friendly products, strict quality control standards, and excellent customer service, it’s easy to see why CANNA is the go-to choice for many professional and amateur growers alike.

Top 3 Machine Trimmers for Cannabis

by Travis C | May 19, 2022 | Blog, Cannabis Business, Cannabis Science, Grow Tips, Growing, Opinion, Science & Technology

The rise of machine trimmers for cannabis across the industry has made them an essential for commercial cultivators that want a manicured final product that still holds its quality. The rough-bladed, choppy machine trimmers of the past are no more.

Now you can get a bud that looks like it is handtrimmed, while trimming more pounds per hour than ever before.

When it comes time to trim, you have two things to decide; whether you want to trim your harvest wet or dry, and choosing between hand trimming or machine trimming.

For the former, it is mainly preference. Trimming dry or wet is more of a personal choice and different growers will express the pros and cons of each method.

Trimming by hand or with a machine on the other hand can be a much simpler decision, dependent on the size of your operation. It might only take a few hours to trim up 6 plants, but 6,000 plants? That’s a lot of time, and a lot of hands.

In a large scale operation, you might pay a dozen people to trim it all by hand which can take days. A machine trimmer for cannabis can get the same work done in mere hours. But what about the quality?

Those who prefer hand trimming to machine trimmers for cannabis mostly claim that the same quality trim is just not possible with a bud trimming machine. However the quality of bud trimming machines has improved exponentially.

You can achieve a great looking, well-manicured harvest with a bud trimming machine these days, as long as your using the right one. Here are three of the best bud trimming machines for getting a quality trim without doing damage to your harvest.

GreenBroz Model M Dry Trimmer

GreenBroz Model M Dry Trimmer bud trimming machine

The GreenBroz Model M Dry Trimmer is designed to closely mimic the act of hand trimming your harvest while at the same time increasing the consistency and efficiency of your harvest process.

While the Model M is primarily designed to be gentle, quiet, and extremely easy to clean, the 16 pounds per hour capacity allows you to trim as quick as anyone in the game.

Their patented blade design features surgical grade stainless steel which allows for the gentle rolling of the flower maintaining the natural curves and integrity of your product.

You can trim over 16 pounds per hour with the Model M, and it’s easy to take apart for cleaning. GreenBroz was one of the first companies to produce high quality machine trimmers for cannabis. They’re reliable and effective for the price.

Twister BatchOne Dry Trimmer

Twister BatchOne Dry Trimmer bud trimming machine If 16 pounds per hour just won’t cut it, the Twister BatchOne Dry Trimmer will exceed your expectations.

With the ability to trim up to 88 pounds dry per hour, the BatchOne allows you to move through your harvest quickly so you can accelerate your time to market and maximize your return on investment. The BatchOne is designed with ultra-fine saddle adjustments and paired with a ¼ HP motor which prevents stalling, to provide the confidence needed to walk away while achieving the industry’s tightest batch style trim.

Everything from the ease of loading and unloading product from both sides, to a removable control box for simplified wash down and even 360 rotating casters makes BatchOne portability a dream. The BatchOne machine trimmer for cannabis is the next generation of trimmer; sleek, easy to use and effective.

CenturionPro Original Wet/Dry Trimmer

CenturionPro Original Wet and Dry bud trimming machine What if you want the best of both worlds with the option to trim wet or dry? The Original Trimmer from CenturionPro can meet your needs.

The CenturionPro Original Standard System comes all-inclusive with the largest hopper in the industry, a 3 horsepower leaf collector suction system and our unique triple-bag kief filtration & trim collection system. Our machines are specially designed to trim both wet and dry material.

The Original can process 50 pounds per hour wet and 10 pounds dry. While not the the most efficient in terms of output per hour, having the ability to trim both wet and dry with one machine puts the CenturionPro Original ahead of the competition.

Cultivate offers drop shipping on all of the industry’s leading wet and dry bud trimming machines, so you never have to worry about us being out of stock! Get in touch with us to set up your order for a high quality machine trimmer for cannabis.

What is IPM? Integrated Pest Management Explained

by Travis C | May 11, 2022 | Blog, Cannabis Science, Grow Tips, Growing, Hemp, Marijuana

It’s easy to think that dealing with a pest problem on your plants is as simple as spraying some pesticides and letting it do the work. But it isn’t always that simple.

Different pesticide products can fight various forms of pests, mold and mildew, at all different stages of development. Some focus specifically on eggs, while others focus on dealing with matured pests.

The key to dealing with potential pest problems is preventing them from happening in the first place. That is where Integrated Pest Management, aka IPM, comes in.

What is IPM?

IPM is relatively self-explanatory. You are integrating preventative pest management practices directly into your grow regiment.

That doesn’t just mean using various pesticide products throughout your growth cycle to prevent various issues though. In fact, we would argue that just as important to your IPM regiment, if not more important, is your environmental control practices.

Certain environments not only welcome, but help to breed various pests that you’ll then have to apply additional products to in order to destroy. Keeping your environment under the right conditions is the first step to preventing an eco system welcoming to pests.

Integrated Pest Management Practices

Opposed to waiting for a problem to appear and dealing with it, IPM aims to prevent the problem from happening at all. This is done by using a range of pest control products throughout your plant’s growth cycle.

That means from the very beginning, regardless of if you even have a bug problem, you need to be giving your plants pest control products anyway. Think of it like wearing a seat belt.

You never plan on getting in a car accident, but you wear a seat belt as a safety precaution just in case. IPM is the seat belt for your plants.

Through providing your plants consistently with pest control products, if any pest, mold or mildew were to appear (which is already less likely thanks to IPM), you have a head start on fighting it.

While you will be giving your plants these pesticide products regularly, you don’t need to use the full dosage that you would use if the pest was already there. This means you can use less of the product throughout your growth cycle, so you’re less likely to damage your plants while still preventing potential problems.

So what products should you use?

Best IPM Products

At Cultivate we recommend three types of pesticide products for IPM: an oil-based product, a pyrethrin product, and an azadirachtin product. Using these three products in unison will help prevent just about any potential pest, mold or mildew issue that could arise.

But remember, it can all be for nothing if you don’t take control of your environment.

Lost Coast Plant Therapy is an oil based product that in its traditional usage will adhere to the target insect, egg case or larvae to destroy it. When used in a diluted fashion, the oil coating of Plant Therapy will prevent any bugs from landing on the plants and laying their eggs.

Pyrethrins are a class of organic compounds normally derived from Chrysanthemum flowers that have potent insecticidal activity by targeting the nervous systems of insects. Bonide Pyrethrin Garden Spray is effective against just about any potential pest.

Even in its traditional usage, Garden Spray can be used up until the day of harvest if necessary. That makes this product a great addition to your IPM regiment in a diluted dosage.

Azadirachtin is a chemical that is sourced from the Neem tree which is most prevalent in India, and one of the oldest known pest control products in history. AzaMax is an antifeedant and insect growth regulator that controls pests through starvation and growth disruption.

AzaMax is effective against all of the most common pests that might come for your plants. It is also organic and avoids using harsh chemical solvents, which makes it great as an IPM product.

Remember…ENVIRONMENT

While using the above products together is a great way to protect your grow from unwanted pests, mold or mildew, they can only do so much to combat a bad grow environment.

Hot, humid environments are breeding grounds for bacteria and make a great home for pests to lay eggs. Cold and dry environments can cause the same issues.

Your environmental needs will depend on what is being grown. You wouldn’t just throw some tomato seeds out into a dry dead field and expect them to grow without doing some research. Your indoor grow shouldn’t be any different!

Is the FDA cracking down on Delta 8 THC?

by Travis C | May 6, 2022 | 420 Culture & Travel, Blog, Business, Cannabis Business, Cannabis Law, Cannabis Law and Compliance, Cannabis News, Cannabis Science, Culture, Hemp, Hemp Law, Industry News, Legalization

Delta 8 THC gummies under scrutiny from FDA

The FDA recently issued warning letters to several companies for selling Delta 8 THC gummies and other Delta 8 THC products. Is a crackdown coming?

On May 4 of this year, the FDA issued five warning letters to Delta 8 THC retailers. It is not uncommon for the FDA to send warning letters to companies that could be making false medical claims about their products.

But this is the first time the FDA gas written warning letters specifically to Delta 8 THC companies.

The FDA has also released a consumer advisory warning on their official website regarding Delta 8 THC gummies and other Delta 8 THC products. In other words, D8 has been on the FDA’s radar for some time.

It is possible that more scrutiny could be coming down on the Delta 8 THC industry, which is mostly unregulated at the moment.

The FDA is approaching Delta 8 similarly to how they deal with CBD and other hemp products. The Farm Bill passed in 2018 legalized “industrial hemp” on the federal level. Under the ruling any cannabis plant that has lower than .3% THC on a dry weight basis is legal to possess, grow and sell across state lines.

The Farm Bill is responsible for the rapid expansion of the CBD industry, and D8 is a product made from CBD in most cases.

This association implies that Delta 8 THC should be legal as it comes from the hemp plant and CBD, both of which are legal. Despite the size of the CBD industry, it still lacks proper oversight from the FDA. What the FDA will do is devote a limited amount of agency resources to enforce against companies making medical claims about their products.

Legally, a CBD company can’t put any sort of medical benefits on the label or marketing for their products. This is because the FDA doesn’t recognize CBD as a medical supplement. They don’t recognize D8 either.

Delta 8 THC FDA Warning Letters

The five letter issued by the FDA went specifically to companies that were making “misleading claims” about medicinal benefits in D8 products. In their letters to the companies the FDA included the claims that were made. Here are a few examples:

“Delta-8 consumers report many of the same effects as THC, such as . . . relief from some symptoms such as pain . . .. Delta-8 can also help with insomnia.”
“Delta-8 THC Syrup from Kingdom Harvest is ideal for anybody experiencing a sleeping disorder or other ailments looking to be relieved.”
“If you have cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and migraines, Delta-8 THC can help alleviate the pain because it has immunosuppressant properties.”

According to the FDA, the presence of drug claims on the products technically classifies them as unapproved new drugs. Under the FDCA (Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act), new drugs may not be introduced into interstate commerce without being approved by the FDA. Because the products were not approved, they are technically illegal under the FDCA.

So does this mean that D8 gummies are going away any time soon? Unlikely.

Misleading branding

Misleading branding is nothing new to the cannabis industry. The illicit market is flooded with knockoff D8 products that are imitating popular brands like Doritos, or making Delta 8 THC gummies that look like Haribo gummy bears. Because the market isn’t regulated, there is very little oversight to keep these products off the market.

While some big companies like Skittles have fought back against their likeness being used in Delta 8 THC products, most don’t even know that their likeness is being used. When a customer sees a name-brand logo on a pack of Delta 8 THC gummies, unsurprisingly they are more likely to think it is a legitimate product.

Additionally, no D8 products are approved by the FDA as generally recognized as safe (GRAS). Due to this Delta 8 is not approved for use in human or animal products because the required safety data is lacking.

Because the ingredient in the products is not approved, any D8 product is technically “adulterated”, and cannot be sold over state lines. However anybody who has looked up Delta 8 THC gummies online was still probably able to have them shipped from a different state.

While it appears the FDA is beginning to look at D8 more closely, there is still no determining evaluation by the FDA deciding its true legality. Delta 8 THC may be a legal byproduct of industrial hemp, but adding it into food items and supplements is where the lines get blurry.

For this reason, one should always be extremely weary of any D8 product that makes a medical claim or markets the product to have specific benefits. There is no way to verify their claims, and they could be completely false.

The FDA is still devoting very limited resourced to enforcing rules against Delta 8 THC retailers. They have only sent out five letters, when there are thousands of Delta 8 THC gummies and other products being sold online across the country daily.

The longer it takes the FDA to reign in CBD and D8, the more out of control the market could become, making it too large to reign back in and increasing risk for consumers.

How To Make Tincture: An easy cannabis tincture recipe

by Travis C | Mar 3, 2022 | 420 Culture & Travel, Blog, Cannabis Science, Culture, Medical Marijuana

Cannabis tincture recipe for how to make tincture

There’s no shortage of ways to consume cannabis these days. From traditional flower consumption to extracts and edibles, there is something for everyone.

But the tradition of making cannabis edible products at home hasn’t gone anywhere. Cannabis tincture is one of the oldest cannabis edible products that has been made DIY for decades. Knowing how to make tincture provides a way to create your own cannabis edibles easily with just a few steps.

Check out our simple cannabis tincture recipe to learn how to make tincture and create your own quality edibles at home!

What is cannabis tincture?

A tincture is typically an alcohol-based extraction that is made with a high-proof alcohol like Everclear or other grain alcohol. Tinctures themselves have been used in medicine for centuries.

Cannabis tincture has become popular because it is easy to make with few ingredients, and it is a tried and tested method that we know works. Compared to other edibles that require baking or mixing in multiple ingredients such as brownies, cookies or gummies, a cannabis tincture recipe will typically only have just two ingredients; cannabis and alcohol.

The result is a liquid form concentrate that can be easily consumed with a dropper under the tongue. This consumption method is typically faster acting, making it great for those who don’t want to wait an hour for edibles to kick in.

In addition to consumption with the dropper, another major benefit of cannabis tincture is that it can be mixed into just about everything. Once you know how to make tincture there is more room for experimentation like adding in flavors, other herbs and adding it into various dishes.

Using MCT oil instead of alcohol

When purchasing cannabis tinctures from retailers, it is likely that the tincture will be made with MCT oil instead of alcohol. This can be for a few reasons.

MCT oil, or Medium Chain Triglyceride, is a cheaper alternative that is more readily available than high proof alcohol, which may not even be legal in various states in the US. It doesn’t have any flavor, it is colorless and it has a high smoke point. These qualities make MCT great for longer cannabinoid extraction processes that can create a more concentrated final product.

Anyone who wants to avoid any hint of alcohol taste in their tincture should definitely consider picking up MCT oil instead. It may even be available at your local grocery store.

Now, on to the cannabis tincture recipe!

How to make tincture (alcohol based)

Firstly, you’ll need to gather your “ingredients” for making the cannabis tincture. Luckily very few are required. Here is what you will need for this alcohol-based cannabis tincture recipe:

1 Glass Jar
1 Baking Sheet
1 Small Funnel
1 Strainer (cheesecloth or coffee strainer will do)
1 Glass Tincture Bottle with Dropper
Cannabis Flower (at least an eighth of an ounce)
High proof alcohol (190 proof grain alcohol recommended)

One of the most overlooked steps in following a cannabis tincture recipe is the decarboxylation process. More commonly called “decarbing”, this process helps to activate the THC molecules in the flower using heat. This is why you cannot get high from just eating raw cannabis flower.

To decarb your cannabis, break it up and place it on the baking sheet. Preheat your oven to 230 degrees Fahrenheit and place the baking sheet in for 30 minutes. After this time is up, remove the cannabis flower and place it into the glass jar. Make sure your jar has enough space for you cannabis flower and your alcohol.

After adding enough alcohol to completely submerge the cannabis, seal the jar and store it in a cool, dark place for at least three weeks. Be sure to shake the jar once daily for roughly 21 days. This is typically how long it takes for the cannabinoids to completely dissolve into the alcohol.

Extremely impatient people can instead shake the jar rapidly for several minutes after sealing it and strain it after for a much quicker, and much less potent result. For everyone else, the jar can be strained after 21 days through your filter, into the tincture bottle. It can be easy to overfill the bottle without leaving room for the dropper, so make sure to leave a little extra room at the top.

That’s it! Your alcohol-based cannabis tincture is done and ready to consume. For those that want to make tincture with MCT oil instead, the cannabis tincture recipe is slightly different. However it’s just as easy, and even quicker!

Cannabis tincture recipe (MCT Oil)

To make cannabis tincture with MCT oil instead of alcohol, the only addition is a crockpot. In terms of ingredients, you’re just swapping out the alcohol for MCT oil. You will want to use roughly an eighth ounce of flower per 1 cup of MCT oil.

The first crockpot method is super simple. Pour in your MCT oil followed by your decarbed cannabis flower. Turn the crockpot to “warm” or “low” and simmer 2 to 4 hours, stirring occasionally. Lower time requires a higher temperature, while longer time can stay at a lower temperature. The community is split on which produces a better product, so it is probably comparable either way.

Pouring the finished tincture directly from your crockpot into a dropper jar will prove difficult. So strain your tincture first into a larger jar to separate out the cannabis flower. You can then use this jar to store the bulk of your tincture, and refill your dropper bottle as needed from the jar.

If you’re really trying to avoid extra mess, or if smell is an issue, there is a twist on the crockpot method that will help.

Instead of pouring your MCT oil and cannabis directly into the crockpot, fill the crockpot about halfway with water. Then take your MCT oil and cannabis measurements and put them into a sealed glass jar. Put the sealed jar into the water filled crockpot and turn it to “High”.

Burp the jar and shake it regularly to make sure there isn’t a build up of pressure. After 30 minutes, strain into your dropper bottle and the tincture is done.

Knowing how to make tincture at home can save a lot of money at the dispensary. Not only that, having a cannabis tincture recipe on hand is always useful, and not just for cannabis! The medicinal benefits of various herbs and flowers can be extracted in the same exact way.

Let us know what you think of this cannabis tincture recipe and how it worked out for you, and what we should give a guide on next!

Up to 80% of pro athletes may be using cannabis

by The Real Dirt | Feb 8, 2022 | 420 Culture & Travel, Blog, Cannabis Law, Cannabis News, Cannabis Science, Culture, Medical Marijuana

80% of pro athletes potentially using cannabis

You probably have heard about a runner’s high, but many professional athletes are actually getting high before they compete.

A former Georgia Bulldog and NFL player told Channel 2 Sports Director Zach Klein about 80% of the guys in the league are using marijuana.

Football is known for bone crushing hits. More and more players are turning to marijuana to help relieve the pain from the physicality of the sport.

“I would probably say around 80 % of the guys in our league use cannabis,” said Tavarres King, who played for the Georgia Bulldogs and spent seven years in the NFL.

“You mentioned 80% of your teammates or guys that you know in the league were using marijuana. Were you one of them?” Klein asked King.

“100 percent,” King answered, going on the record for the first time about his marijuana use during his NFL career.

King said marijuana helped him with anxiety and focus.

“Playing with it, laser sharp. I was laser sharp, laser focused,” King said.

“So, everyone knows you with the Giants, Lambeau Field, catching a touchdown pass from Eli Manning and you were high that game?” Klein asked.

“Yeah, yeah I was,” replied King laughing.

“You did your job,” Klein said.

“Yeah, I did my job,” King said.