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Cannabis Tests: fact or faux?

Cannabis Tests: fact or faux?

Cannabis tests have become essential for new cannabis businesses looking to get their products onto dispensary shelves. This is a good thing, but it isn’t as well-rounded as it should be, yet.

According to the most recent round of testing for legal cannabis distributors, one in five products have failed the cannabis tests conducted since July 1st. This does not mean that the cannabis may be poisonous or too risky to consume. It just doesn’t meet the standards of the testers and their criteria. Since July 1st, California has tested over 5,000 batches of legal cannabis, with roughly 20% failing.

Cannabis tests in California

Before legalization, there was still testing. It was way more limited, and only select people did it. Some used cannabis tests to show off their THC content with the lab tests backing them up to boost their credibility. Others would only get their product tested if it was required by the dispensary they were trying to get the product into.

The shady side of cannabis tests becomes apparent when you examine who was conducting the tests. Many were found to be merely scams. Their tests were faked or their results falsified. Others charged exorbitant prices to get the tests.

Not only were the testers an issue, but the tests themselves. Back in the day, growers had the option of just testing for potency, or testing for everything like pesticides and other potentially harmful additives. With the potency testing being the cheapest and fastest option —and the majority of consumers focusing on potency as a signifier of quality — most opted for this test.

Testing in the new industry is now much more strict. Cannabis tests will test a batch for everything, including potency and other chemicals without needing separate tests. But with more people trying to get into the industry legally, labs are backed up across the state. There are currently just 31 labs licensed to test products for distributors serving more than 400 licensed dispensaries in the state.

It’s clear that the legal industry in California has some way to go before it will truly be standing on its own.

Hear Chip and Tony talk regulation and other aspects of cannabis on this week’s episode of Tony Don’t Smoke OG, straight out of Humboldt, the cannabis hub of the Emerald Triangle.

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The Origin of Trainwreck: Tony Don’t Smoke OG Ep. 102

The Origin of Trainwreck: Tony Don’t Smoke OG Ep. 102

It seemingly came out of nowhere. It’s origin is shrouded in mystery. Trainwreck is a legendary, elite strain that any cannabis connoisseur will recognize when they hear the name.

The heavy-hitting sativa-dominant hybrid blew up when it came around, with growers and consumers alike loving its energetic effects that came from it’s Mexican and Thai sativa heritage. The Afghan cross adds a little indica to the mix, making Trainwreck an ideal strain for the active consumer.

But where did it come from?

The mystery remains. But there are theories. And boy, do Chip and Tony have a few.

Listen to this week’s Real Dirt segment of Tony Don’t Smoke OG. Chip and Tony are joined from Dan of Humboldt Integrated Cannabis as they puff on some Trainwreck, talk about some hilarious stoner stories, and ponder the origins of the legendary strain.

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CSI Humboldt: Breeding top shelf feminized seeds

CSI Humboldt: Breeding top shelf feminized seeds

CSI Humboldt is known for breeding some of the most elite feminized seeds and strains in the world. But Caleb the Nspecta, the founder of CSI Humboldt and Pirates of the Emerald Triangle, wasn’t always a legendary breeder.

Caleb was at a turning point in his life. He had seen some success as a graphic artist, working for the likes of D.C. and Marvel comics. But he was also growing his own cannabis on the side and started to build his feminized seeds repertoire. He was passionate about both, but realized he had to choose one to pursue full time.

It didn’t take him long after that to establish CSI Humboldt. A third generation Humboldt grower, Caleb’s family was well-known for their cultivation abilities and the quality of their cannabis. Add to that Caleb being one of the first growers to breed and pursue feminized seeds.

Today, CSI is one of the most well known seed banks in the world, with a massive following and growing seed inventory. Hear Caleb’s story, the story of CSI and more on this episode of The Real Dirt with Chip Baker!

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Tony Don’t Smoke OG Ep. 101

Tony Don’t Smoke OG Ep. 101

Introducing Tony Don’t Smoke OG,  a new Real Dirt mini-series devoted to the art of weed-snobbery. Hang out with Chip and Tony as they smoke and jive on some of the most popular strains and trends in the industry and talk about what’s happening across the country.

This 10-part mini-series will be intermixed with Real Dirt episodes so you can have a mid-week break with a little Tony Don’t Smoke snack, or sit down and enjoy a full-length Real Dirt episode! Each episode the duo will be smoking something new and different, and they aren’t holding anything back.

Listen to Tony Don’t Smoke OG right here on TheRealDirt.com or listen on the go on iTunes or Spotify!

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60 Nuggets Explained: how to know your cannabis

60 Nuggets Explained: how to know your cannabis

In this episode of The Real Dirt Chip talks about the Cultivate Showdown, a secret cannabis competition hosted by The Real Dirt. The best of the best growers from all over came to showcase their cannabis, with only one winner being chosen.

Check out the entries below as Chip and his guests analyze them on this episode!

You walk into the dispensary. There are a dozen different strains on the shelf, some are labeled as the “bottom shelf” strain choices, others are the supposed “top shelf” strain options.

You ask to see one of the bottom shelf strains — because let’s be real, if you can get solid cannabis at a cheap price, why not? — and they bring the jar closer for inspection. The bud might not look super frosty or appealing, but when they open the jar, you’re hit with a wave of smells that linger in your nose. Fruitiness, gassiness, dankness. All the smells you want.

Then you ask to see one of the top shelf strain options. It looks great; the bud structure is what you look for, it has a nice crystal to hair ratio. It’s everything you would look for in a top shelf bud. The keyword being “look”.

The budtender brings the top shelf jar over and cracks it open. You aren’t smacked in the face with the same smell explosion as before. In fact, this strain seems to be very mild in smell compared to the bottom shelf option. It might even smell a little bit like hay. This is where the average cannabis consumer gets lost.

The top shelf bud should be better. It looks way better, but most importantly, there has to be a reason it is priced higher than the bottom shelf stuff, right? Not always. One of the most important things to remember about cannabis, especially when it comes to dispensary cannabis, is that looks are not all that matters.

Dispensaries do not allow customers to touch the cannabis. Obviously this is due to contamination concerns, but an added benefit of this rule is just that; you aren’t allowed to touch the cannabis. An essential way of being able to judge the quality of cannabis is through touch.

A bud could look super dense and sticky in the jar, but once you get home you find out it was just a fluffy bud that looked dense, and it’s dry to the point you don’t even need a grinder. Since it’s unlikely that you’ll ever be able to touch the cannabis at a dispensary, you must utilize your other senses, sight and smell, for the majority of your judgement. So you better make sure they are fine tuned!

In this episode of The Real Dirt, Chip sits down with Jess Baker, Jacob Sarabia and Travis Crane to go through a dozen different strains to analyze them all. Learn what to look for, what to smell for, and what to avoid before you decide to light up that next strain you see at the dispensary or in your smoke circle.

The European Hemp Exchange

The European Hemp Exchange

Returning for a second impromptu, sea-side episode in Croatia, Mike Leago joins The Real Dirt once again to discuss the growing European hemp market.

As a member of the International Hemp Exchange, Mike connects hemp farmers and producers with buyers all over the world. Whether its getting hemp seeds to the UK or finding a specific hemp product anywhere in the world. As the exchange grows, so does the reach of the hemp industry.

The European hemp industry

The European hemp industry grew over 30% just in 2016 and is showing no signs of slowing down. Hemp has a much less negative stigma surrounding it, making European countries more likely to push legislation that moves the European hemp industry forward much more quickly than its psychotropic counterpart.

In fact, in the European Union, it is legal to cultivate and supply cannabis plants for hemp fiber if they have low levels of THC. This is now starting to expand to other uses beside fibers, including CBD isolates and high CBD flower.

 

Listen to this week’s episode of The Real Dirt with Chip Baker where Chip and Mike hang out in Croatia and talk about the booming European hemp industry and what the future holds.

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