United States of Anthony

Ogden Police Messed Up, Nothing New

2012-01-11T06:48:00.004-05:00

I've been loosely keeping track of the home invasion by the Ogden, Utah police which resulted in the death of one of their own officers, Jared Francom, as well as 5 more officers wounded. The victim of this home invasion was Matthew Stewart, a veteran of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was also injured in the home invasion.

And now, the DA is seeking the death penalty for a man who was simply protecting his home.

My big problem with this whole issue is that the police aren't taking any responsibility for their actions. The prosecutors and judges are ensuring that the police aren't held responsible for their actions either by charging the victim with murder. They're hiding behind the rule of law and procedure instead of admitting they messed up by purposely creating a "war zone" situation where none existed.

First of all, let's take a step back. Why did the Ogden police invade this man's home? There was suspicion that he was growing marijuana. The police got a search warrant. They went to conduct a search.

So, why did this turn into a war zone? How did a simple search warrant turn into a veteran of two wars firing on police officers?

It's because the Ogden police, like many other police departments, decided to raid this man's home. But, they didn't want to raid his home while he was at work. They didn't want to raid his home while he was out shopping for groceries. They wanted to raid his home while he was IN his home. They wanted to make sure this guy was at home.

Unfortunately for the overzealous wannabe-military Ogden police, Stewart was a real military person with post traumatic stress disorder. You don't get PTSD from sitting behind a desk for a few years. You get it from being involved in some things, like war. You get it from being traumatized and stressed so hard that it becomes a mental disorder.

So, how did the Ogden police mess up?

They forgot they they're a pansy civilian police department. In doing so, they made of the fatal mistake of deciding to bring war to a man who's not mentally out of a war zone yet and THEY GOT THEIR ASSES HANDED TO THEM. It's not the first time and it won't be the last. As more of our troops come home, they've seen and done things that aren't easily forgotten. Many of them will have PTSD; many of them will be medicating with marijuana; and many of them will be growing at home.

How could the Ogden police have carried out this search warrant in a smarter way?

One, they could have no tried to bring a war zone to a man who's not quite out of the war yet. You do that by conducting your search warrant while he's NOT at home. That, alone, just might have avoided any and all confrontation.

Two, they could have lied to him to get him to come back home if they needed him there. That's been done before.

Three, they could have maintained a perimeter (in case of escape), and just waited for him to answer the door and spoke to him.

Four, they could have asked his parents for help.

But see, none of these things are on the menu for most police departments. Some alternative ideas to raiding a man's home while he's home might not be the smartest or the best. It's definitely not as much fun as creating a war zone. But then, Jared Francom might be alive today.

Hindsight is 20/20. But, with as many botched raids as have been conducted by various police departments over the years, I have to seriously wonder why law enforcement doesn't have any kind of foresight, whatsoever. How stupid are you to create a war zone for no apparent reason especially when there are other options available?

And because of typical police stupidity, one man is dead, others are injured, and now the state of Utah wants to murder an innocent man for protecting himself against a home invasion. Or do they? Let's see what jury of his peers has to say. If I was on that jury, I'd vote "not guilty". If Utah wanted to bring suit against the Ogden police for reckless endangerment and negligent homicide, that's an easy "guilty" for me.

It's so sad that any of this has to happen over a marijuana plant. It's clear that this ramping up of state sanctioned violence against peaceful citizens is a sign that this war on drugs is coming to a close. It's that final ditch effort by law enforcement to maintain a strangle hold of control. What they don't understand is that it's acts like these that help people make the decision to legalize, outright or for medical purposes.

I wish Matthew Stewart the best of luck.

Opinion: Marijuana Use is Not on the Rise

2011-09-08T17:48:00.000-04:00

I just peeped a little tidbit about marijuana use on the rise...

"Overall, 8.9 percent of the U.S. population or 22.6 million Americans aged 12 and older used illicit drugs in 2010, up from 8.7 percent in 2009 and 8 percent in 2008, according to the survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.... Gil Kerlikowske, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy in the United States, said increases are especially prominent in states in which medical marijuana use is legal. [LINK]"

Well, it would seem that marijuana use is on the rise acoording to statistics. But, is it the rise in use or the rise in people willing to admit that they're users? See, my thinking is, because the rise is mainly in medical marijuana states, these people are people who feel comfortable admitting to using marijuana as some states' laws provide a safety net against the detrimental effects of marijuana - arrest records and employment termination.

So, is it that marijuana use is up or the amount of people willing to admit they use is on the rise?

On another note, I'd like to point out an important fact. According to Harry Anslinger, in 1936, "There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the U.S...." I won't bother you with the rest of that quote. Look it up for yourself to see the true reason why marijuana was criminalized in the Untied States. The US population in 1936 was about 128,000,000 people; that's 0.08% of the population. In 2010, 22,600,000 marijuana smokers have revealed themselves; that's 7.5% of the US population, up 22,600% since 1936. And, these are just the people that admit to using marijuana.

So, yes, marijuana use is definitely up, on the rise, skyrocketing, if you will. But, there are still so many people who have not admitted to using marijuana, understandably. Personally, I think at least 25% of this nation smokes marijuana regularly whether it be daily, weekly, or monthly.

So, prepare for that explosion in marijuana use when it's legalized. Most "new" users will be full of longtime tokers and ex-smokers. Then, you'll have a bunch of truly new users finally jumping on board to try it out. I would love to see the numbers then.

The War on Drugs is Very Winnable

2011-06-15T08:30:00.000-04:00

Why do people suggest the War on Drugs is unwinnable?

Law enforcement, in a good year, may seize 5% of the total marijuana this nation imports. Hundreds of thousands of people are arrested each year for minor possession of marijuana. Homes are invaded on a regular basis. Families are torn apart. People have lost their lives. Billions in taxpayer funds are slotted for this campaign against marijuana use

Yet, finding marijuana is actually a rare concern for many people in the US. Billions are spent yearly for a paltry 5%. People arrested have become nothing more than mild-mannered, non-threatening, financial burdens on society. How many innocent people have been harmed by raids on the wrong home or just misinformation.

If someone is to win this War on Drugs, then who would be winning if it's pretty obvious that law enforcement has been losing?

Sounds like WE are winning the War on Drugs and we haven't used fear or murder as a tactic to do it. We use our brains. They shut down airports, we drive it in. They shut down roadways, we burrow it in. They collapse tunnels, we swim it in. They catch our boats on the water, we go under water. All the while they're losing the border war, we're growing it on window sills, in pc cases, mobile closets, basements, attics, whole homes, freight bins, underground bunkers, etc etc etc.

The war on drugs is very winnable. We just don't see that we - growers, tokers, and advocates - are the ones winning it.

Let's stop looking at it from the point of view of law enforcement. That's been the problem with this nation so far. We're too individually annoyed at law enforcement's ankle biting to recognize how far marijuana has come. We are way bigger than them. That's why they've been losing.

You can't beat a plant that can grow anywhere!!

Imagine that in 1937, marijuana was essentially criminalized. It was near impossible to get and not widely spread. They've set up laws, set up agencies, institutionalized and terrorized generations of Americans for some 75 years. And 75 years later, you'd be hard pressed to find a person who hasn't come into contact with marijuana or someone who uses it.

Is the War on Drugs winnable? Absolutely. Just look at the record!!

They may never cave in or give up. Marijuana might not be legalized for a long time. But, this war will end some day. It will not end with the eradication of marijuana. Marijuana will be legalized. History is on our side.

I love when Above the Influence people say "Studies show..."

2011-03-24T14:23:00.004-04:00

I was recently looking at abovetheinfluence.com just for giggles sake because I was really looking for those hilarious "truth" ads. I like the one where there's 4 young black men in a car, 3 of them are wasted and the driver is ragging on them while talking about how many great things he's going to do because he's not using marijuana. It's my favorite because I find the driver to be quite pathetic in the sense that he can't find better friends to hang out with. They went to a party, had a great time, and he's sitting there bored like a jackass.

Then the other commercial that gets me is the one where the girl is sitting on the couch, literally deflated. Somehow, marijuana did that to her. Her friend is ragging on her as well. We go back to the same issue... WHY ARE YOU SO FUCKING LAME THAT YOU CAN'T FIND BETTER FRIENDS?

I think, the people behind those ads are a bunch of dumb asses. That I could easily develop better anti-drug PSAs while high really shows the level of their stupidity. Perhaps, what it really shows is just how much they're lying about marijuana use.

What makes matters worse is that they're not only dumb asses but they're damned liars as well.

Just looking over the website, I get to the Q&A and it's filled with falsehoods and general misinformation. But, the kicker for me has to be the claims they make regarding these scientific studies. And, I am the kind of guy who respects a good scientific study, of course. There are thousands of studies on marijuana and its individual compounds all around the world. The problem that I find is that the folks behind Above the Influence have yet to produce a study that backs up any of their claims.

Now, you can go through my blog and see me make tons of claims. The difference between the claims that we make is that, I can actually back up the shit that I speak on. For example, folks at Above the Influence say that marijuana causes learning disabilities and a number of other issues. They always say "studies show...."

Well, you're the government sponsored website.. where are the studies that prove what you say?

They don't exist. I'll tell you specifically why they don't exist. That claim is backed up by a study. And, that study, the Tulane/Heath study specifically, has been debunked and rebuked. The goal of the GOVERNMENT sponsored study was to show marijuana killed brain cells. And, they sure as hell proved that marijuana killed brain cells.

But, and here's the kicker, they did NOT release the actual study for review by other scientists and researchers for, what I believe was 3 years. In that time period, the government ran with that information. They told the world that marijuana killed brain cells, causes learning problems, etc etc etc. However, when the methodology was released........... STOP THE PRESSES.. THEY DID WHAT TO THOSE MONKEYS?

The study was supposed to last approximately one year. Monkeys were to smoke marijuana joints daily. They'd get tested before and after the trial was over to see differences in learning.

Mind you, they were SUPPOSED to do all that. What did they really do?

These lying bastards hooked the monkeys up to gas masks and basically smoked the monkeys out in 3 months with the amount of marijuana that was supposed to be used in one year. In doing so, they suffocated the monkeys, depriving their brains of oxygen. The marijuana didn't kill brain cells. Asphyxiation through smoke inhalation killed brain cells.

So, I wonder, when the folks at Above the Influence say, "studies show...", is this the study that they're saying shows whatever it is they're trying to get you to believe? Who knows? The bastards NEVER point to any studies. Where are the independent doctors, scientists, and researchers who actually conduct the studies that prove the bullshit? Dr. Fog? Is that all you have over there at the ONDCP?? A fucking mascot in a white coat?

Remember, there are thousands of studies around the world. But, do yourself a favor and look that shit up for YOURSELF. These "above the influence" websites are run by undereducated mothers who are scared to let their children eat candy more than once a week. They don't do the research and they come up with these incredibly DUMB ASS ads that are, at best, ineffective and laughable.

The ONDCP should give me the money to come up with those ads. Sure, I'll lie for you, for the money. But, I'll want twice what you're paying the idiots who run the current ads right now. It's not because I'm lying or going against some moral obligation... BAHUMBUG. It's because I am that damn good. Of course, I'll smoke a blunt before I get to work. But, you'll definitely get some quality advertising with some intelligent thought behind it AND it will actually be effective and not the joke of America.

I don't want to smoke anymore...

2011-03-13T22:16:00.005-04:00

Mind you, I type this with a half-burned joint between my lips which I will relight as soon as I find my lighter....

I have just had the most smoked out weekend I've ever had in my life. Absolutely, the most smoked out weekend.

So, I went down south with some friends. And, we're keeping actual identifying details to a minimum here, of course. Anyway, it was two days of good friends and good bud. There was some other kinds of bud there but nothing was better than what I 'had brung' from up north, that OG Kush to be exact.

I know most of my readers are bong smokers but we roll blunts around here. So, get your cringing out now if you're inclined to do so. I do understand but it's a way of life up here.

We smoked all the time. The only time we weren't smoking is when we were asleep. There was always a blunt in rotation.

I actually got tired of smoking marijuana. So, I need to take a break... 30 days! My tolerance was already way too high and I definitely need to give my lungs a rest anyway. And, they say marijuana is addictive.. what a joke!

Special thanks to...
...my friends
...my connect here in NYC
...the smoking suites at Comfort Inn and Econolodge in NC
...the cop who smelled the car, knew what we were doing, and let us go free in... VIRGINIA.
...Republicans for defunding government services such that there aren't any police on the street and they aren't educated enough to know where to look even if they were on the street

Damn.. haven't blogged since August..

2011-01-04T13:01:00.004-05:00

Don't worry, I wasn't arrested or anything... as if that would happen to me!! I'm so careful, I'm reckless with it. Does that make sense? Eh.. whatever.. quote me on it.

The reason I haven't posted since August is because I lost faith in this movement. Although, a lot of progress was made, I look on it with a pessimistic eye; I'm just waiting for the hammer to drop. The reason is because of these politicians. Marijuana laws should never be this complex. It shouldn't take countless moratoriums and years to implement medical marijuana programs. It proves to me that there are simply too many people in the way of progress.

The problem is that the goals of medical marijuana are not difficult to implement. However, the politicians have made the laws so complex that they've become difficult to implement. In doing so, the little county politicians can play this little game of "wait til you die". On top of that, you've got the feds breathing down the necks of everyone, legal and illegal. Obama is worthless to the movement as he is worthless to a lot of other movements as well. Conservatives paying heavy lip service and Democrats not doing much different.

BLAH BLAH BLAH

The point is, this shit stinks! I don't like shit so I stay away from it. So, all I am going to say is that I, as a grower, will continue to keep things quiet on the home front. When I want marijuana, I call the dealer. Fortunately, I don't live in a medical marijuana state so I don't have to be bothered with that confusion. Beyond that, I am quite healthy so chances are I'd be stuck in the same boat anyway. In any case, don't waste time going to the doctor, entering your information into some govt database in the form of a card, and then going to some dispensary where Holder and Leonhart are sitting in an unmarked car snapping pictures of you.

Go back to the days when you could call up the dealer, get it delivered or just go meet up. I know some folks have trouble finding quality dealers too. That's when you put seeds in the ground. Go learn how to grow your own. It ain't hard to do. Remember, I've had a number of successful grows (so I say) and I'm the same guy who watched a bamboo plant wither at his hand. If I can do it, so can you!!!

But, I'm back... if only for a little while.... keep smoking folks!! I know I will!!

And, I'll be looking forward to either updating or moving this site. I don't know just yet!

Did the Brooklyn US attorney lie, use children to demonize marijuana growers?

2010-08-24T16:20:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine pointed me to an article in the New York Daily News about a firefighter who was caught growing marijuana [link]. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love reading these stories because you can see where the person messed up. You can try to avoid those kinds of mistakes. In this case, it was an anonymous tip! You can't always tell with these kinds of tips. However, if police didn't pull off a raid and picked the guy up while he was there, they had to have been tipped off by someone who know about it personally. In other words, he broke rule #1 of marijuana growing, don't tell anyone! Even I'll go down by that one some day. But, what can human beings do but be human and trust their friends.

But, that's not really worthy of a whole blog post from me. What is worthy of discussion are the comments by Assistant Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Soumya Dayananda.
Patrick Murray was not only running an illegal drug operation, but he was also endangering three young kids living above the drug den, exposing them to harmful fumes from powerful chemical fertilizers and carbon dioxide gas, said Assistant Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Soumya Dayananda.
This is what we need to expose more - these government officials who use children and their position of authority to lie and demonize other marijuana growers. They create this air of danger around marijuana growing to discourage others from trying to grow. The more I expose these intentions the better others can judge for themselves the future of marijuana in the United States.

So, what's so bad about her comments? What do I, a marijuana grower, see that mainstream America may not see?

First of all, let's discuss these harmful chemical fertilizers. A typical chemical fertilizer, or PLANT FOOD, used in marijuana growing is General Hydroponics Flora Series. Go ahead and check it out. It's the stuff I use.
Is it dangerous? NO!
Is it harmful? NO!
Does it even give off any fumes? I can put my nose right in the bottle and I wouldn't smell a thing.. NO!

So what's in these chemical fertilizers? Look, I have a bottle right here of some GH FloraGro from the Flora series. 9% of the chemical includes nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous, and magnesium in salt form diluted in 91% water. How dangerous is it? Well, it's all the things you'd find a plant using for photosynthesis. I wouldn't drink the stuff straight. It's plant food and I'm more into steak and potatoes. Sorry PETA!

And, there are other brands of chemical fertilizers including MiracleGro, Advanced Nutrients, Botanicare, B.C. Hydroponic Nutrients, Dutch Master and many more! Just look for the N-P-K to see all the ingredients of these "child endangering" plant food formulas.

I hope that wraps up the mystery of the dangerous chemical fertilizer fumes. Where's Scooby Doo? I have a snack for him.

Wait.. there could have been fumes from some place else? Right?

It's possible that the fume claim isn't a complete lie but I highly doubt those fumes came from that grow operation. The clue here is the use of Carbon Dioxide. How are the children in danger from carbon dioxide use in marijuana growing? Well, they aren't but here's EXACTLY why that IS the case. Carbon dioxide is odorless and it's heavier than air. You wouldn't smell it and even if it were in use in the basement, it wouldn't have risen upward.

But, that's not the reason why I believe fumes did NOT come from that grow operation.

See, to use carbon dioxide in marijuana growing, you have to maintain the levels, measured in parts per million or PPMs. Normal CO2 levels in the air is around 300 to 500 PPMs which has always been good enough for growing plants. You'd need 1200-1500 PPMs in a grow room to be effective. Anything over 2000 PPMs has a negative effect.

To maintain these levels, you need an airtight, self contained marijuana grow room because CO2, being a gas, has a funny way of slipping through cracks really fast. Providing CO2 for 100 plants is expensive. I very much doubt that someone who would go through the trouble of setting up 100 plants and providing CO2 for all of these plants didn't think about sealing the room as tightly as possible.

You want more proof that the "fume danger" is a lie.. here it comes.

Marijuana stinks (in a good way). Growing marijuana stinks. Any marijuana grower worth his salt knows that marijuana is very fragrant (much better word). Even if you're new, you'll find out quickly that it is a definite giveaway. So, as a grower, you'd want to mask the scent or, what we learn to do, clean the air. Even in a sealed room, you have to get in and get out. You don't want that smell to get out. 100 plants gives off a lot of scent.

If Patrick Murray invested in CO2, he definitely invested in odor control FIRST. CO2 is the LAST thing you should consider when running a grow room. It's expensive and most growers consider it unnecessary. It isn't worth it! So, it would be outrageous to believe that this guy didn't invest in odor control?

So, WHERE IS THE DANGER TO CHILDREN?

These children were in NO danger at all! Those chemical fertilizers are possibly concentrated, not powerful. If it were concentrated, it would be pure salts, just add water (like Kool Aid for plants). Remember, it's plant food, not terrorist bomb making materials. Patrick Murray is not Timothy McVeigh or Osama bin Laden! He's just a marijuana grower who also happens to be a firefighter.

The greatest threat to the people of this nation doesn't come from marijuana growers. It comes from our own government officials who lie to the American people - "Weapons of Mass Destruction" is no different from the boogeyman which is no different than Patrick Murray, the child endangering marijuana grower. None of it exists.

Attorney Soumya Dayananda will have her day in court to prove the child endangerment story she told reporter, John Marzulli. But, if she's a smart attorney, she'll stay away from those charges and stick to what she knows she can win. However, the damage from her lying has already been done. Countless people will see that article and further demonize marijuana growers. They won't do the research. They won't ask the important questions. They won't get the truth. From now on, marijuana growers will be seen as dangerous because of her Republican-like fear-mongering comments. The worst thing Soumya Dayananda could have done to the people of New York City was make them fear nothing.

We have to be above THAT influence.

I look forward to keeping up with this case. I'll put up any updates I find. If I'm wrong about this child endangerment, I'll admit it here first because it's something we marijuana growers should keep in mind for today and future. We're not criminals or dangerous. I don't know any marijuana growers that want to hurt children.

Boondocks: Mr. Medicinal..

2010-07-19T10:30:00.001-04:00

Y'all know I love marijuana right?

Yeah, y'all know that.

Y'all know I am not just some pothead either, right?

Yup, I'm sure y'all know that.

I went from schwag smoke to growin some fine ass Princess Diesel [video]. When it comes to marijuana, I could probably run Oaksterdam. They should make me the dean or something.

Anyway, enough self-aggrandizing. I wanted to pay homage to this last Boondocks episode, Mr. Medicinal.

Let me get my beef out of the way first.

They should have put me in it. Instead, they put some ol' regular stuck up dude in there. They could have had the super laid back, chubby Black Buddha type such as myself. With my mellow flow and superior knowledge, I would have made the perfect Boondocks character to cultivate and distribute high quality marijuana in Woodcrest.

Anyway, without spoiling it too much for others who haven't seen it, I loved the way the episode went down. It pretty much covered all the bases - first time introduction to weed from Thugnificent, the rabid anti-marijuana knucklehead in Tom, the first smoke, being high, driving while high, trouble with the law, and so on.

But, most importantly, I think it caught a bit of that enchantment that people have with marijuana. We all know Granddad is an uptight ornery ol sumbitch that gets angry at the drop of a hat. But, when Granddad is high on marijuana, he's a completely laid back and relaxed individual. As he mentions, he isn't going to let the small things bother him. When you feel like that, you're not going to want to go back. You gain better perspective because when you can treat the small things like small things, you can concentrate on the bigger picture being your life, friends, and family.

Yes, everything looks better, tastes better, and feels better, especially sex!

Anyway, I tend to get long winded and I wanted to try to keep this short and sweet. But, I can't just leave it without spreading some knowledge.

"There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz and swing, result from marijuana usage. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others."

- Harry J. Anslinger, testimony to Congress, 1937

After Anslinger's racist comments to the US Congress, which they ate up, marijuana became illegal through the Marijuana Tax Stamp Act of 1937. Basically, this act dictated that you have to pay taxes on marijuana. The catch-22 is that you had to bring the marijuana to get the stamp. However, you couldn't have marijuana without the stamp. The act was repealed in 1967 because a judge caught the catch-22 which was conveniently overlooked for three decades.

Everything was good until the US Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. What a lot of people don't know is that the CSA is a response to the United Nation's Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs Treaty in 1961. This is important because to ban drugs in the United States, there needs to be a Constitutional amendment. The best and only example of this is the 18th Amendment which prohibited alcohol in 1917 and was repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933.

Now, let's tie this all together. How is it that the US needs a Constitutional amendment to prohibit alcohol but doesn't need one to prohibit marijuana use?

Article VI of the US Constitution answers that question.

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

In other words, if the US signs a treaty, whatever is in that treaty supersedes any and all laws in the United States including the US Constitution itself. So, there will be no legalization efforts at the federal level because of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs as well as some other treaties that were signed afterward.

What it all amounts to is someone using Article VI of the US Constitution to tell American citizens what they can and can't do with their lives.

If you think for a second that there isn't a racial motivation for this effort, at least in part, just look at marijuana statistics today. 70% of marijuana users are White compared to 15% of those users being African American. However, 60% of those incarcerated are African American compared to 20% White. Yes, there are people who would go through all of that just to get us!!

Check me on it. I always feel good about what I write, when I decide to write, for a reason.

Marijuana Growers, Don't Fear Legalization

2010-06-28T10:00:00.002-04:00

Hey folks, here I am back with another post. I know I am usually far and in between with my posts but you must know I don't blog just anything. I blog when the passion hits me. That means, it has to be important enough for me to address.

19.0 wet grams of Princess Diesel

Well, here we are in the United States, not quite on the advent of legalization but the movement is steady in that direction. We'll truly be on the advent of legalization when the US Congress starts having the guts to challenge the status quo. But, I doubt that will happen until this treaty business with the UN is addressed. But, I will address that at another time when all my information is gathered.

Anyway, there seems to be a major problem within the marijuana growing community in regards to legalization.

What?

Some folks simply don't want it legalized. We're not talking about the maniacs who've drinking that DEA juice. We're talking about the growers who are persecuted AND prosecuted by the very laws they want to protect.

Why?

Well, what really happens if marijuana is legalized? It means that the local and illegal market will have to contend with the world market as well as large money interests who can eye a new major industry.

In other words, COMPETITION.

It's easy when there isn't much marijuana to go around and millions of users. You can pretty much charge what you like. If you're a student of business, as I was (BBA in Marketing), you understand that price can dictate demand if there isn't enough product to go around. However, demand will dictate price if there is too much product on the market. When marijuana is legalized in the US, you're going to have entire nations clamoring to supply this hungry market. The situation reverses.

The idea of paying $50 to $65 for an 1/8th (3.5 grams) of marijuana is out of the window.

But, is it?

Absolutely not. I want to let my marijuana growing friends know that it isn't out of the window at all. The game just changes. And, you will have to learn to adapt with those changes. Let's look at the tobacco market which, I believe, is identical to what a marijuana market will look like if and when legalized.

Sure, you have companies like Marlboro who sell cigarettes by the ton. But, what do they do to that tobacco? That's right. We all know that story. The tobacco industry tuns tobacco into smokable bullets. Take enough hits and you will die. It's as simple as that. However, who says you have to buy tobacco from Marlboro?

I always remember going to Nat Sherman in NYC on 42nd Street. It's an amazing tobacco shop. They don't sell crap either. I don't smoke tobacco at all. However, if I did, Nat Sherman would be the only place I would visit. You go inside and you see jars of loose tobacco on the counter. It looks like a dispensary would look like today. As old as Nat Sherman is, I'd bet they were the model for many of these marijuana dispensaries today. But, they sell tobacco.

Simply put, there are pockets of tobacco aficionados out there. And, I know this doesn't alleviate your fears but let me show you why you shouldn't be fearful of a legal marijuana market. Keep reading...

Ounce of Mexibrick schwag.

At the same time, you have Mexican drug cartels who sell marijuana by the ton. We all should be familiar with Mexican grown marijuana (see pic). It's basically the same as corporate tobacco - mistreated and trashed. And, who exists among those large corporations to bring customer high quality marijuana??

YOU EXIST!!!

Just as folks at spots like Nat Sherman don't care for the low-cost poison that companies like Marlboro deliver to communities around the US, we don't care for the low-cost poison that Mexican drug cartels deliver around the US. Just like Nat Sherman, you will and have always targeted folks who could afford, and would pay for, a high quality product.

Will things change? Absolutely. But, the change simply means you'll be able to come out from hiding. You will find it easier to attract better clientele. It's like the wine industry, the cheese industry, the beef industry and so on. They all have low quality producers and high quality producers. Someone looking forward to a nice wine isn't going to the corner liquor store for some Yellow Tail.

If you want to stay competitive in the future, worry about the quality of your own product. Don't worry about the large corporations, the Mexican drug cartels, or nations in Asia, Africa, and so on. They'll all be thinking about high profits by increasing production and cutting costs. That means, just as they do with tobacco now, they'll gladly shred up seeds and stems in your future marijuana cigarettes as well as poison them.

They won't be able to produce a high quality product like you and therefore won't be able to compete at your level nor for the same customer base. It'll be the right of the people to choose their poison. And the same market that goes after high quality marijuana right now will be looking for you tomorrow. This is why I say worry about the quality of your product.

Do you think the likes of Marlboro can compete with this when marijuana is legalized?
They can't even compete with other quality tobacco today!!

Also, differentiation and specialization will become important. Since we may be a few years away from legalization, it's not a bad idea to shed the European breeders and start some breeding programs of your own right here in the US if you haven't already. For example, I grew out some Princess Diesel. But, who can't get Princess Diesel through a quick visit to the Reservoir Seeds or some other seed site. Imagine if I had a strain of my own. Sure I could grow out other stuff. But, this strain would be mine and no one would be able to grow it but me.

So, stand out even more by creating your own strain and stabilize the phenotype (grower talk). We have a few years before marijuana is legalized. It won't hurt to start now. Just make sure that when you're finished, you keep seeds in a safe location for the future.

First time smoking? Don't trip, ride it out

2010-05-29T09:46:00.008-04:00

I've been inspired to write this post from a question: "Why are there hospitalizations from marijuana use?" It made me think about that question seriously. As long as I've been smoking (7 years) and growing (3 years), I have not ever come across someone who has been hospitalized for smoking marijuana. However, I have read the articles from various sources claiming hospital visits for marijuana use. The main theme in all of these articles comes down to someone who is simply not ready to get high, usually first-time users.

Let's get this fact out of the way
No one has ever died from marijuana use. 5000+ years of recorded history and not one recorded death. I'm not saying there aren't any deaths. I'm just noting that in 5,000+ years, there haven't been any recorded. You would think that in 5000+ years of recorded history, at least ONE person could have died from marijuana use alone. Once again, no one saying it hasn't happened. Then again, do your research and you'll know exactly why it shouldn't, couldn't and wouldn't happen.

We all know there are different kinds of marijuana, all with different levels of potency broken down into three. You have your Mexican schwag which floods the US. It's cheap and easy to get. The THC level of this stuff is somewhere around 5%. Then, you have your mid-grade. You can't really say what's mid-grade until you look at it but the THC level here is around 5-15%. Then you have the kind, or high quality stuff. The THC is 15% and up, but usually tops out at around 20%.

There is no such thing as "super bud".
Don't believe the hype when police say they've found marijuana with THC at 50% and sometimes more. It doesn't exist. Don't sweat the seed dealers when they claim they have stuff that produces at that rate [New Marijuana Growers Beware]. The police and these seed dealers that overstate THC levels are just preying on the ignorance of individuals. Police want you to think there's some "super bud" out there to scare you and the seed dealers want you to buy that "super bud". It's a twisted symbiotic relationship.

The main reason most people end up in the hospital is because they simply aren't ready. Sure, many users know to expect certain feelings, even first timers. But, it's one thing to have an expectation while it's another to not know what exactly to expect.

And, this is where paranoia and anxiety show their ugly heads. You expect an altered mental state but you don't know how altered nor how intense. No one told you about your heart feeling like it's going to beat out of your chest. You can't remember what you were just talking about. It was funny in the movies but you're really not used to it. You hear a noise outside and remember, you're doing something illegal; is that the cops? mom? the kids? nosy neighbors? You don't want to get caught like this! Now you want to regain some control but can't - you've just hit the panic button on yourself. This is where most people end up in the hospital.

What's a hospital going to do for you?
I always wondered what doctors will do for you once you go to the hospital for marijuana use. Simply put, their advice will always be to just let the high take its course. While the nurses and doctors monitor you, they'll be laughing at you as well. Guess what? There is no treatment for marijuana use. You think the doctors are going to put you on some magical pill that will make the high go away? Yeah, they do. It's called the bill. That will induce sobriety within seconds. We, potheads, call it "buzz kill"!

Here is a list of potential effects of marijuana use:

Dry mouth
Also known as cotton mouth; drink lots of water
Decreased coordination
You might stumble, knock stuff over; just relax, take it slow, don't drive
Increased heart rate
Your heart may feel like it's beating out of your chest; calm down, deep breaths
Increased appetite
Also known as hunger; eat something; try not to raid the fridge
Hallucinations
Depends on what and how much you use. Smoke enough of a strong sativa, you will experience hallucinations, some mild [Best marijuana I've ever had!] and some intense [New Suppliers & Pink Bunnies].
Sleepiness/Sedation
Yes, you do become relaxed. Depends on what and how much you use. Indicas will put you right to sleep. [Marijuana Strains and Potency; Indica vs Sativa]
Altered libido
There is a chance you will get horny. It depends what you're smoking as not all strains are the same. And, sex is better on marijuana but not so much that you have to be high to enjoy it. If I had to apply a number, I'd say 20% better.
Worsened short-term memory
Yes, you will forget what you were just going to say; just let it go and move on, you will NOT remember.
Altered time perception
Time may fly by quickly or slowly, depends on your mood
Anxiety, confusion, paranoia, and panic
This is not because of marijuana. It's natural to have these feelings because you're stepping into the unknown for the first time. Maybe, it's your first time using marijuana or your first time being that high. It'll happen. Just ride out the high and you'll be fine. What are you going to do - go to the hospital?

Here are some tips on getting high safely

Comfortable Environment
Make sure that if it's your first time, you are around truly trusted friends/family. An environment where there are too many unknowns - people, places, things - will cause paranoia to go into overdrive. Over time, this will loosen up and if you're smoking for years like me, you'll do so in public eventually.
Start slow
The good thing about marijuana is that it's scalable meaning the more you take the higher you get. Conversely, the less you take the less chances you have of getting too high. Take your time. You don't have to hang with the big boys.
Relax, Breathe, Focus
You will feel a lot of different sensations. That is supposed to happen. Let it happen by taking deep breaths, close your eyes to shut out other stimulation, and relax. You smoked marijuana to see what it feels like. Well... don't sweat it. It will all go away when the high wears off.
Don't hold it in
A lot of times your friends will tell you to hold it in. Don't hold smoke in your lungs for more than 5 seconds. I can't quote exactly why but it has something to do with the air exchange in the lungs. It happens.
No large pulls
This is another case of bad friend advice that usually goes along with "Dude, you gotta hold it in!" Sometimes you see people take a huge pull from a bong or a joint. The idea behind that is if they fill their lungs with smoke, it will absorb more smoke. That is partially true but there is an unintended consequence. Think about it. You've filled your lungs with smoke - little to no oxygen whatsoever. That's suffocation. This issue may have to be another blog post.

Good luck folks and remember, marijuana use does not need to end in a hospital visit. It should end with you waking up, taking a few minutes to adjust, and going on about your day.

The Problem With The Marijuana Legalization Movement

2010-05-11T11:31:00.005-04:00

Here I am responding to a YouTube video where this guy is going nuts over some nice hash. As a grower myself, I like what I see. It's good stuff. But, something stuck out to me and this interaction came about.

Ya know, I love to go on YouTube to see folks smoking buds, talk about growing, etc etc etc. You know when someone is in it for the recreation, medicinal value, and/or just the love. I have to admit that for some time I did kind of feel that medical marijuana was only a stepping stone to legalization. Then, I saw folks like Michelle Rainey. I knew people who needed marijuana for true medical reasons existed but I didn't really see them.

That changed my view of medical marijuana. Granted, I am indeed a recreational smoker. I have no medical need unless you count the slight bouts with insomnia. Marijuana has always helped me get to sleep and regulate my internal clock. But, I don't need marijuana to do that. So, yeah, I am totally recreational with it. I grow for my own personal use. I have no problem admitting that.

However, that doesn't mean I can't have and show some respect to the people who actually do use it medicinally. So, it bothered me to see this guy on The Weed Report acting like a pure fuckin idiot in regards to medical marijuana. That's why I posed the question to him.

Simply put, how are other people supposed to think about marijuana after seeing this stupid 'sumbitch' on YouTube completely disrespect medical marijuana by claiming VIP patients. I just wanted the guy's point of view. And, he dodged the damn question. Like I alluded, he lost a lot of points for that.

First of all, how does it look to people who don't know much about marijuana or who are brainwashed by the government? Let's keep in mind that in many states, those people are in the majority. We need their support. Second, if medical marijuana is a stepping stone, then why destroy the step before we get to the next step of legalization?

You want to run a medical marijuana business, at least act like medical is somewhere in there and has some importance. Have some respect for the cause. There are a lot of sick people out there that really need marijuana and many who don't need it taken away from them by stupid, arrogant stereotypes.

I truly hope that when it comes down to it, there are enough of me - professional, self-employed, successful potheads who give a damn- out there to keep clowns like that in the shadow long enough to make his influence insignificant. What's sad is that at the end of it all, the clown thinks he's being brave. Go figure.

I am just trying to imagine any pharmacist raving about the potency of the medication they're giving people.

"Oooooo Anthony, this Albuterol Inhaler hits like a dream man! You'll be breathing like a champ in no time. Check me out while I take a few pulls.... AAAAAAHHHHHHHH GOOOOOD *cough cough* SHIT MAAAAN.. HIT THAT, HIT THAT! Albuterol is wild stuff."

Would you take your pharmacist serious if they had that attitude about the medication you're buying?

Quick Update 5/28/10
As predicted the coward deleted the last three comments and blocked me from commenting on his video. I only went back because someone else commented to what I said. Make up your own conclusions.

Homegrown: Fears of Marijuana Growing

2010-03-24T09:00:00.002-04:00

First, I want folks to understand that this is geared more toward the personal marijuana grower. These are people who grow under 10 plants at the most. So, I don't go into the problems of a commercial grower. However, a lot of what's said in this post will definitely apply to a commercial grower's concerns.

Intro to my world

Ever since I decided to grow my own marijuana, I've gone through many of the fears and paranoia of growing marijuana. But, I didn't hide from the fears. I chose to investigate them. I wanted to know the reality of the situation. Growing marijuana is not legal and can result in jail time. But, there are so many marijuana growers in the United States that get away with it eventually. So, I wanted to understand it thoroughly. The best way to do that was to actually do it. So, from my fingers to your eyes, allow me to alleviate your fears.

Please ask questions if you don't understand how to proceed about something.

The number one fear of any marijuana grower is, of course, getting caught. We always see someone getting caught in the news. Law enforcement tends to make a big deal over every marijuana grow they get their greedy little hands on. I always take the time to read those articles because I find those gems of security information to keep me aware. In other words, how in the hell did they get caught? From those lessons, I either add to or reinforce the knowledge that I have learned.

The best way to think about security is to draw three circles, one inside the other, with yourself as the core. Each circle represents a security concern. The inner circle represents your control over the grow room itself. The middle circle represents the home and includes close friends and family.The outer circle represents your community.

Let's start...

Core: YOU

As a grower, your job is to be responsible for no one within those circles to reach the core. You're responsible for a clean running grow room. You're responsible for any friends and family that you entrust with knowledge of your activities. And finally you are responsible to anyone else who finds out that you grow. So, change your way of thinking.

Recklessness will get you nowhere.

Inner Circle: Is your grow room snitching on you?

In a grow operation, you'll have a lot of things going on - lights, fans, pumps, and so on. These can all be security concerns. It comes down to the planning and strategy of the grower. Just having the right space is a concern. Other concerns include lights which are bright and give off heat. Fans make a lot of noise. Odor control is major issue which can invade the home which is a bad thing if cops are at your door step. Electrical fires can happen with those Home Improvement/Tim Allen types who aren't careful with wiring.

Usually, in the news, you hear about growers getting caught due to their own carelessness. Some homes are dead giveaways because the rooftops weren't covered with snow during the winter due to the heat from the lights. Neighbors can smell your marijuana from inside their own homes. Someone may see a bright light that comes on at the same time every day. All a concerned neighbor saw was smoke coming from the basement so they dialed 911.

All of those lines are examples of things to keep in mind when growing. So, conceal the light, vent the heat, clean the air, and be very careful. You don't want your grow room to snitch on you. Pay cash! Rip off barcodes/labels when done. Don't stop there. Keep thinking of everything else you can do to keep your grow room from snitching.

Middle Circle: Home, friends, and family

The number one rule in marijuana growing is don't tell anyone.

Unfortunately, this rule is always broken and probably leads to the most problems for marijuana growers. Human beings are social creatures. We do something, we talk about it. Marijuana growers are no different. We can't live alone like some hermits. We have friends and we come from families. Law enforcement counts on that. The police will go after your friends and family like any criminal organization looking for blood. Keep your friends and family safe, and especially yourself, by simply keeping your mouth shut about what you're doing.

Usually in the news, you'd hear about some grower going down because someone, an informant, told on them. It could be a jealous friend, an angry lover, a greedy partner, and even a "concerned" family member. Don't tell anyone anything. Even if they seem cool at first. Things can change. Things always change. The best kept secrets are the ones you keep to yourself.

Although I try to remain approachable, I advise potential growers to join a marijuana growing forum - International Cannagraphic. You can get the best advice there from growers with way more experience than me and communicate anonymously.

Outer Circle: The Community

Unfortunately, we do not live in this world alone. It is important to be a good neighbor, employee, father/mother, etc etc etc. People are very suspicious, especially those suburban, conservative types. If something seems out of place, they will complain. A neighbor who never seems to be home or outside will arouse suspicion in a small community "where everybody knows your name." Employers do drug tests and coworkers will take notice if you don't act like everyone else.

The point is to keep up appearances as much as possible. You want to create an image for the community that if someone smelled something or saw something, they'd be willing to talk to you before outright dialing 911.

If you feel that you are not up to this.. perhaps it's too much to deal with in your situation, then definitely postpone any growing until you feel you are in a comfortable space. For example, since this economy has basically been trash, I have a few friends who have moved back home with their parents. Another friend lost her house to foreclosure. They're all interested in growing but want to be in a better situation - their own place. Some rather have a house because they're worried about inspections.

A few more things
When I say ask questions, get an assessment of your situation. For example, those friends in an apartment waiting to get a home, you want a portable grow box. Simply put, you build a wooden box to whatever dimensions you need and outfit it to grow. Then you put wheels on it. Inspection day is here? Wheel it to a different location. Or, if the build was incredible, you wouldn't need wheels because you could simply leave it in plain sight. It's all about planning and strategy.

Lastly, no one gets caught from good police work. If that were in the news, I'd have to make sure I was reading the actual news and not some comedy. It's hilarious. The police do not work. You will not hear a case where police infiltrated some network, went undercover, etc etc etc. I can't recall a marijuana grow operation that wasn't busted due to growers violating these unspoken rules. The last few cases I could think of were grower mistake - grower got caught smoking in the car, grower got pulled over for a busted tail light, grower's house burned down due to electrical fire from grow room, and grower got caught after partner ripped off the grow to make it look like a robbery leaving the grower with liability. You stay within the circles and you'll be fine.

Homegrown: The Future of Marijuana

2010-03-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

Although this occurred to me a long time ago, I've yet to give the concept its true attention.

DEA targets marijuana grow operations at a cost of some $12 billion every year. Local cops purposely create pseudo-war zones in urban communities with minority targets. Criminals destroy one another in search of a piece of the pie. Politicians stand by twiddling their thumbs as people are murdered in the street. Bullets flying from both directions. Marijuana users can't find decent marijuana at a fair price.

The best option to put a stop to all of this pain is legalization.

But, you have law enforcement building lies upon lies to protect their easy jobs. Lawyers salivate over marijuana cases because of the ease in prosecuting marijuana cases. Large companies put millions behind pro-prohibition candidates to keep marijuana competition from being legitimate. By being tough on easy marijuana crime, politicians can pretend to care about their constituents.

It's clear to me that the movement toward marijuana legalization is a perfect example of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object. Then again, the details of this situation prove to be a less difficult scenario. Criminals work with law enforcement because most times, law enforcement are the criminals. So, the immovable object and unstoppable force become one and the same. That's the current nature of this war on drugs. This is why it's failed.

But, that's aside from the point.

All of these people have their own loyalties whether it's to their own riches or to someone else. That's the nature of humanity. We really only care about ourselves individually. And, this is what what I appeal to with my marijuana using peers.

You see.. the criminals only care about making money. Law enforcement only cares about statistics. Politicians only care about getting votes. And, those random prohibitionists only care about who they can tell what to do. We all know, behind closed doors, the prohibitionists are doing the worst.

The solution becomes simple. What's the best way to stay away from criminals? What's the best way to keep off of law enforcement's radar? How do we go about keeping those random prohibitionists out of our business? How do we get politicians to do something about marijuana legalization?

Answer: Set up your own personal grow room/box.

The main problems most people have with growing their own marijuana is fear of being caught. Rippers may find your stash and try to run off with it. Cops may show up at the door to investigate a noise. And, there are always nosy neighbors who smell or hear something. There's a lot to be concerned about. But, all of these concerns can be addressed.

There's a reason many people grow their own marijuana and get away with it. I'll tell you how it's done next time...

Another Reason Marijuana Prohibition Won't Win

2010-03-17T17:35:00.000-04:00

I was walking back home from the store when I noticed something and thought I should take a picture:
Yes, those are simple plants, growing in the corner between the base of a building and the sidewalk. There isn't much sunlight on this particular block. Beyond that, there isn't much soil for the roots either. As far as a water source, the closest this plant will get is rain water. For most people, this plant shouldn't even exist.

Yet, there it is. Life.

I wonder if the proponents of prohibition understand this level of resilience and strength.

Sure, the building's superintendent will probably scrape out those plants as he cleans up the sidewalk. Law enforcement is no different. They'll scrape out whatever marijuana plants they can find. As both the super and law enforcement know, it's a plant and it'll be back.

Even if you tear up the foundation of the building and tear up the sidewalk, the plant will be back. It's not going anywhere. If you think about it, to get that sidewalk and build that foundation, plants were already destroyed.

That's the marijuana movement folks. We're just like that plant. You feel we don't belong. You feel we should be eliminated. You'll get a few here and there. But, even without the light, without a true foundation, and without a source of food, we're still here. Even if you get every last root, we'll be back with the wind.

70+ years later, we're still here, old plants and new plants. We're all still here.

Nope. Prohibition won't win. You folks simply don't understand the resilience and strength of a plant.

Marijuana Does NOT Cause Psychosis

2010-02-28T16:20:00.001-05:00

So, I've been pretty much inundated with nonsensical articles about marijuana causing psychosis. While many people have set the record straight on this issue in the past, it keeps coming back as some new article. Simply put, someone put together a half-assed study and somehow came to the conclusion that marijuana caused psychosis - schizophrenia, etc.

Well, let's set the record straight again...

No, marijuana does not cause psychosis. This is more prohibitionist, drug war lies to keep marijuana criminalized. They purposely confuse causation and correlation. In other words, does marijuana use cause psychosis or is it the case that people who are predisposed to psychosis seek drugs most likely as a way to cope with their psychosis?

Instead, the authors of articles, most likely inspired by prohibitionists, purposely leave out many facts. For instance, what other factors in their lives may have affected the subjects mentally?

For example, you may see a 65yo man with mental problems claim he's been using marijuana for 20 years. And, that's pretty much all the study took into consideration - marijuana use. Well, what if that 65yo man was a Vietnam War veteran? Wouldn't the hardships of war contribute to a psychosis? What about potential exposure to chemicals used by the military during the Vietnam War such as Agent Orange? How do you factor the possibility that 65yo man's other habits may have included alcohol and cocaine abuse?

These factors are NOT considered in these studies. That is why, many times, these studies are debunked and ignored (yet again).

Yet, prohibitionists pick them up and sensationalize them to make our friends and families seem like they are crazy animals instead of decent human beings. The prohibitionists are losing the war on marijuana and they know it. So, they trot out these old, tired arguments that have been debunked time and time again because for many people, this is new information. As I know, this is not new information nor is it a "new" study.

Even before these studies came about, during prohibition's early days, marijuana was painted as causing psychosis. Documentaries developed in the 30s portrayed marijuana users as everything from out of control young girls to crazed murderers. Law enforcement tried to blame many crimes of that time on marijuana use as is the case with Victor Licata. So, there is a long history dating back to the initial days of prohibition in which law enforcement tries to connect psychosis to marijuana.

The more you educate yourself and educate one another against the misinformation campaign by prohibitionists, we find more and more that marijuana is not the dangerous killer drug that it's made out to be.

Education is legalization.

Enforcement of marijuana prohibition costs American taxpayers approximately $12,000,000,000 (billion) per year (which goes directly into the pockets of prohibitionists). With politicians interested in cutting spending, wouldn't it be nice to cut $12,000,000,000 from the budget by legalizing marijuana? Imagine the tax revenues that can be received if marijuana were legalized in the form of new businesses and jobs that can increase tax revenues across the board.

Law enforcement could also do more to solve real crime instead of wasting their time and tax payer funds on petty marijuana arrests.

Never Tax MEDICAL Marijuana

2010-02-27T17:30:00.000-05:00

How do you go about telling a terminally ill person that they'll have to pay more for their medicine? Do you just pass the tax without so much as speaking with them? Do you ignore their hardships and pain? Have they ever even bothered to visit someone in true pain?

With that said, what kind of no-soul-having-black-hearted-son-of-a-bitch would seek to tax the medicine of someone suffering from AIDS, cancer, or a multitude of other terminal diseases?

In passing medical marijuana legislation, politicians admit the medical utility of marijuana while rejecting recreational use. They may not understand how marijuana helps but they only need to know that it does help. This is why they gave marijuana the respect of "medicine" as it deserves. If you respect medicine, especially the kind that truly helps the worst of the worst, then you shouldn't seek to worsen a terminally ill patient's overall condition by increasing the cost of their medicine even further.

In taxing marijuana, politicians show it disrespect as a medicine. If they don't respect marijuana as medicine then why pass the medical marijuana legislation?

What's happening here is that politicians are playing a game. Unfortunately, this little game they're playing is on the backs of dying people. I'd rather see marijuana re-criminalized than to see greedy politicians seeking to tax terminally ill patients' medicine.

It's just not right.

If politicians want to tax marijuana, then legalize it completely. You can't have it both ways. Unfortunately, that's coming from a person with a heart. It might not be a heart of gold but it isn't blackened and hardened to the world around me.

Unfortunately, this is coming from some very cowardly politicians who want to try to juggle the lives of the constituency between rabid law enforcement, a not-much-better criminal element, and budget deficits. This is totally NOT the right or honest way to go about it.

You do NOT close your budget gaps on the backs of the sick.
That is just filthy.

At least if you legalize marijuana you could affect a lot of positive change in the US. For starters, we could free up law enforcement funding to fight true crime - rape, murder, battery, robbery, and so on. Instead, police officers are busying themselves with petty marijuana arrests simply because it's easier and safer to do. At the same time, it makes them look like they're doing their jobs which they rarely do.

You can allow an entire industry (that already exists) to be legitimate. Businesses can open up, employees can be hired. You can also protect the citizens by regulating for quality control. And, you can collect taxes on it all - newly developed businesses, purchases, imports/exports, and so on.

I am not saying that legalization will save the economy. But, it can not hurt us more than the mess we're in now. And, you won't have to do it on the backs of sick and dying people.

Either, respect the medicine or legalize the "drug"!!

Thoughts on Medical Marijuana in NY

2010-02-25T13:30:00.006-05:00

Yeah. You read the title. On Feb. 23rd, the NY State Senate Health Committee passed medical marijuana legislation. I'll admit, I don't fully understand all of these political procedures that NY State government must go through before a bill becomes a law. It seems a bit more complicated than the cartoon of the bill on the steps of Capitol Hill (ha, I'm a rapper now) in DC.

Wait.. it was Capitol Hill right?

Anyway, on the surface, I am happy that NY is finally coming to its sense on medical marijuana. Honestly, it should have happened at least at the same time as California who passed their medical marijuana legislation in 1996.

However, as I read the bill, I am quite upset with the language.

Read for yourself: S4041B: Provides for medical use of marihuana

Low Limits

It would seem NY politicians want to be super strict and allow for tiny amounts of marijuana for seriously ill patients. While they get the gist of medical marijuana, they need to fully understand that they are NOT patients or doctors. Even most doctors don't understand how to prescribe marijuana. The amounts allowed under this bill - 2.5oz - don't factor in the need of the patient or the tolerance of the individual.

Some patients are known to use up to an ounce of marijuana a day. I am not talking about the typical recreational user. As a recreational user myself, I don't think I could do more than a gram a day which amounts to an ounce per month. But, I am talking about seriously ill patients for which this bill is intended. On top of that, the "caregiver" is not allowed to care for more than 5 patients. (Sections 3362 and 3363)

It's like saying you're only allowed 10 regular strength Tylenol pills per month for serious migraines. Of course, you can buy a box of Tylenol, thousands of pills, and no one will think twice about it. Unfortunately, you can't have enough marijuana for terminal illness.

I don't need ID for Tylenol

The other thing that bugs me is the registration for ID cards. Basically, you're getting a driver's license for medical marijuana - name, address, picture, etc etc etc. It says that the Dept of Health will keep the information confidential, that is, until they have a reason to snitch on you which could be as simple as a DEA or FBI or even some local cop requests it.

If marijuana is to be considered medical, why do you need to alert a government agency that you're using it? It's medicine, right? I am sure we all, at some point in time, visited a pharmacy to fill a prescription for various medications from asthma pumps to antidepressants to oxycontin and percocet. Did any of us have to register with the government to use these medications? Did you have to stand in line at the DMV to get your picture taken?

I can understand the caregiver, much like a pharmacist, needing registration as a business. But, I don't see why patients need to be registered with the government to take medicine. It's an unnecessary invasion of privacy.

No Plant Limits?

The other problem that I have with it so far is that I don't see any specific information as it pertains to cultivation. For example, how many plants would someone - patient or caregiver - be allowed to grow?

Section 3364 defines "registered organization" as a pharmacy, a licensed facility, a non profit corporation, the department, a local health department, or a registered producer. However, the registered producer, which seems to be the grower/cultivator/manufacturer, can not provide directly to the patients. Such a designation completely separates the grower from the potential role as a caregiver.

Edit
After re-reading this section, it looks like I want plant limits. As far as I am concerned, the more the better. No plant limits is great. However, I am afraid that it will be addressed and severely limited by politicians. If they think that 2.5oz is good for a seriously ill person, I can't imagine what they would believe is acceptable in a grow operation.

At any rate, there is a lot missing from this bill and far too many limits. I have to question politicians that wrote this bill. I wonder if they had any input from the patients that use marijuana. Did they even bother to look into the other 14 medical marijuana states and their provisions. This bill is so very incomplete. If it passed, as is, it would cause more trouble than it's worth.

If Senator Tom Duane ever reads this or any senator that has to vote on this bill, I'd beg him and them to please talk to patients from other states. Do not ask police or the DEA for their input as they are not doctors nor are they patients. They aren't even growers/botanists. Speak with the people who need the medicine, not the people who benefit from its control. It would not be unreasonable to allow for more marijuana per patient and to allow patients to grow their own. It would be sensible to allow caregivers to also be "registered producers."

As a marijuana grower and user, myself, politicians have a lot to learn about the use of marijuana. If they are willing to admit to its medical utility, at some point, they will have to be willing to learn and comprehend why different strains exist outside of the cute names.

I think I need to make some phone calls.

Just as a reminder.. marijuana should be legalized, regulated and taxed. Medical marijuana is nice but it still leaves the door open to the black market and violence against citizens from gangs and police.

Legalize it.
(It's been 70+ years. It's obvious you can't stop it.)

Seed Sites Need Marijuana Porn

2010-02-23T17:20:00.004-05:00

I am sure many of my (3 or 4; lol) readers has visited a site that sells marijuana seeds. I know I visit them all the time. The next strains that I have my eyes on include Brainstorm and Mazar. I have some history with Brainstorm. And, Mazar, as I've read, is supposed to be an aphrodisiac for the ladies.. heh heh heh.

That's neither here nor there...

The problem that I have with these sites is how they present the images of marijuana or marijuana porn. Most times, I can't see shit. If you ask me, all the images might as well be the same save for the major differences in color from purples to deep greens to orange hairs and so on.

When I visit sites for specific strains of marijuana, I don't even bother looking at the pictures. I already know their small. I'll see them because they're there but I am always disappointed. I want BIGGER pictures and I want to see more pictures as well. While the descriptions are usually incredible, bigger images are still good for folks to see just what kind of buds can be grown.

Beyond that, who doesn't love some great "marijuana porn".

Well, I'll quit bitchin'. I figure it's better to lead by example. Unfortunately, I don't have a site for the purposes of selling marijuana seeds since I don't sell marijuana or the seeds. However, I do have some killer pictures of Princess Diesel. So, if I had a marijuana seeds to sell, I'd present the strain like...

Princess Diesel

Breeder
Reservoir Seeds

Environment
Indoor/Outdoor

Flower Time
8 to 9 weeks

Description
The Grimm's Ice Princess meets Rez's Sour Diesel. Fat, quick plants that finish at 56 days,with superb yield and specifically bred for lower odor, for the stealth indoor grower with odor control problems.

Grower Testimonials
"PD had a lemon diesel fuel/cleaner smell as well." -Anon

"We called it "giggle weed" as it put a major grin on our faces for hours." -Anon

"Seems like the Sour Diesel is dominant." -Anon

"She's a pretty resistant strain putting up with my newbie grower mistakes. Can't wait to see what the smoke is like." -Anon

Price
I don't sell seeds. This is just an example!! HA!

Now, go visit some sites that sell marijuana seeds. They're expert growers, seed breeders, with award winning strains. The descriptions speak a lot. They make a lot of money. Why can't they put up a decent picture of the marijuana that they're trying to sell? Wouldn't you, as a potential customer, like to really see what the seeds you're about to buy can put out? I know I would like to see better images.

Marijuana Patients Need Future Protection

2010-02-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

The one thing I never liked about Obama's memo regarding medical marijuana is that his memo is nothing more than a memo. It's not a change in the law. I've always stated the memo doesn't really mean anything. If the DEA decided to ignore it, they'd be in the right. They are a law enforcement agency. Last time I checked, there were no "memo" enforcement agencies.

Today, 14 states and Washington DC (not a state) have legislated some form of medical marijuana. In most of these states, the patient and/or "caregiver" need to register with the government to be considered "legal".

I have a major problem with all of this.

First of all, have we forgotten that the law has not changed? The good thing about being in New York City is that we have some serious problematic politicians (ie Bloomberg) so medical marijuana hasn't come here... ~~yet~~. So, I haven't forgot. I am sure many of us haven't forgotten either. While Obama's love letter to the DEA suggests they concentrate on commercial business that somehow remains illegal, it's obvious from various news reports that the DEA is still doing the same damn thing. Obviously, they aren't giving President Obama much attention.

Aside from the obvious fact that Obama's memo doesn't mean much outside of a toilet stall, I have to wonder, how many people in these states (and territory) are registered with their local governments? Is it over one million or maybe less than 100,000?

Now, another question comes about. What is going to happen when Obama is not the president anymore? Does his memo still stay in tact?

Simple answer.. NO.

The memo goes in the trash along with all of Obama's other "middle of the road" policy. Of course, it depends who the next in charge will be and what they will do. Maybe this nation will luck out and get someone whose common sense outweigh special interest money. Chances of that happening or low. Chances are much higher that this nation will have to further waste its time with another drug warrior.

The question becomes, when this new president gets into office, what will be the state of registered patients and their caregivers? What protections will they have from the US Government? Will the Department of Justice draft subpoenas for the names and addresses of all the "caregivers" and their patients? Will local and state governments help the people that they've registered or sell them out in the long run?

These are real questions that I believe should be addressed for the sake of those that are truly ill and find benefit from the use of marijuana. As far as I am concerned, my policy has always been to keep my mouth shut regardless of the state. I'll change when the actual law changes. Until then, I am keeping well below the radar.

Perhaps my paranoia is getting the better of me. I do truly fear that one day in the future, there will be mass arrests of medical marijuana users. When you think about it.. what would stop the DEA from carrying out mass arrests? Is there some law in place that would prevent it? No. In fact, they'd be well within their right to do everything I just mentioned.

I hope it doesn't come to that. I just don't see any reason why it would not come to that. Perhaps some of you have more faith in humanity. I don't have that kind of faith when it comes to law enforcement.

I'z Back..

2010-02-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

Wow. My last blog post was November 15th. *sigh*

Most folks would probably think that I quit. Some folks might even think I got arrested.

HA!

I'm good folks. Nothing is happening over here other than ordinary life. Well.. as ordinary as it could be for me - growing, smoking, and teaching.

I just had to rethink the focus and execution (other definition) of the blog.

Do I really want to be so serious, so politically/socially motivated? No, I don't. At least, not any more. I've settled on the conclusion that American people are just stupid due to a gutting of the education system in an effort to support the prison industrial complex. There's not much for me to do other than manage my own situation, help out where I can, and vote my conscience. And, that's the final word

Aside from that, the "rethinking" is over. I want to have more fun in general. It started by deleting about 80 blog posts, all primarily political and social in nature and mostly unrelated to marijuana. I just don't care to rehash it. The posts are still around. I just put them some place private. My posts will be shorter as well. No more long essays. I also want to answer more questions. And, I plan to include more pictures of pretty things. YAY!

So, yeah, The United States of Anthony is back.

Princess Diesel @ Week 3 (22 Days) in flower

New Marijuana Growers Beware

2009-11-15T16:26:00.004-05:00

Germination

I've been pretty quiet lately, just interested in handling my own business and keeping my finger on the pulse of grower community through forums and the people I know. I want to speak on something that's bugging the hell out of me (which is usually the only time I speak).

Who the hell is behind BCSeeds.com?

Vegetation

Marijuana seeds are a huge and important commodity to the grower community. As a grower and connoisseur, I know that marijuana is not all the same. Ask any grower, medical user, or connoisseur. A typical person, using or not, wouldn't understand the nuances of marijuana to appreciate the different effects.

Once you get to the point where you're looking for specific traits, that's when you start paying attention to the names and how they differentiate from one another. You can tell by the leaf structure that a plant is either sativa or indica or which side is most prominent in a hybrid. You can smoke marijuana and relate to it beyond the typical comment, "This is good shit!"

Flower

As a grower and connoisseur, I am extremely pissed off at BCSeeds.com for attempting to take advantage of marijuana growers. They claim their marijuana is the "world's strongest" alluding to its high percentage of THC. Take a look at some of their seed stock... [link]
Pickle Bud @ $2,995 CND ($2850 USD)
Oracle Bud @ $1,995CND ($1898 USD)
Labrynth @ $1,495 CND ($1,422 USD)
Euphora Express @ $1,495 CND ($1,422 USD)
If you've already looked into purchasing seeds, you know these prices are upwards of 10 (ten) times higher than normal pricing for the more popular strains of marijuana...
Sensi Seeds Jack Herer @ $150 EUR ($223 USD)
Soma Seeds NYC Diesel @ $130 EUR ($193USD)
Green House Seeds Trainwreck @ $45 EUR ($66 USD)
While I want to say that BCSeeds's claims are total bullshit, I will give them a chance to prove it. I want to see diaries/journals of their marijuana plants from seed to harvest with pictures. I want to see video of the THC testing by an independent party.

In other words, I want justification for these ridiculous claims and outrageous prices.

Also, I want to point out that these strains - Jack Herer, NYC Diesel, and Trainwreck - are popular due to their numerous awards. In other words, the men behind these strains of marijuana had the guts to compete against other breeders. Where are BCSeeds's awards that may at least help justify these outrageous prices?

Harvest

If you have $2,850 to purchase "pickle bud" seeds, I suggest you go to Canada and pick them up personally. It's not to insure that you receive your product. It's to make sure that you have a face and concrete location to associate this nonsense WHEN you want your money back.

Cure/Smoke

Don't buy from BCSeeds until they do a better job of proving their claims. Don't get ripped off by these people. Stick with the award winners. They've won awards for a reason.

Haaa, can't tax my marijuana!

2009-10-28T15:55:00.000-04:00

Legalization/Taxation

The fight to legalize marijuana seems to be making major inroads as politicians, greedy for funds of any kind, find ways to get those tax revenues without a direct increase to the taxpayer. While there are some politicians have a more honorable reason for promoting the legalization of marijuana, there are many others who have no interest in the welfare of their own friends, family, and community; they're in it for the money.

At any rate, I could care less about their reasons for legalization. All I care about is that it get legalized.

However, what I do care about is how legalization takes place, particularly in the way of taxation, for now. I assume that quality control will be an issue in the future as I am sure companies like Altria, makers of smokable poison like Marlboro cigarettes, would find ways to weaponize marijuana as they did with tobacco.

But, I have a solution for all of that.

The problem with taxation are the high expectations for tax revenues. These politicians believe that the current pricing for marijuana will be stable. For them, that high cost equals high tax revenues. But, they don't recognize that these high costs are in part due to prohibition. Once prohibition is repealed, marijuana prices will drop considerably and those major tax revenues will drop with it.

This is why legalization is not a particularly great solution for the economy. And, here I am making that prospect even worse.

The reason I intend to make it worse is because there's a segment within the marijuana community that believe in absolutely no taxes for marijuana use. This is because they consider marijuana a medicine and you simply don't tax medicine. However, it stands in the way of legalization because it if we're to get it legalized for everybody, taxation has to be a reality.

Besides, medicinal users are already being taxed by having to pay upfront fees for licenses, doctors prescriptions, and the ability to grow if they are providers.
Side Note
I call that the Republican way to tax. See, Democrats tax you from the front so you see it coming - income tax, sales tax, etc. Republicans reduce face-front taxes. They just wait for you to turn around and bend over so they "tax" you up the behind with increased fees for anything you want to do. Democrats will rather tax your income to pay for roads. Republicans rather put tolls at every street intersection they can find. For example, in NYC, Mayor Bloomberg has sought to lower "face-front" taxes, yet proposed fees for entering the Manhattan below a certain street. Hey, you'll pay either way so just laugh about this now, think about it later.
The real issue is that medicinal marijuana users don't like the idea of being taxed at the rates proposed under complete legalization. It truly is their medicine and they shouldn't be taxed for it. And, let's be honest, those rates are incredibly ridiculous no matter who's paying. Not even alcohol or tobacco are taxed as heavily as what's proposed for marijuana. So, I don't blame people for getting upset.

Proposal

As a consumer, I propose that, under legalized and severely overtaxed marijuana, users, for whatever purpose, do not buy any marijuana until competition increases supply causing prices to come down and the tax rates are reasonable, at least within comparable levels with alcohol and tobacco.

The question at this point is how can this be done.

First of all, the politicians will do most of the work for this effort to be a success. By promoting prohibition level pricing, even after the repeal of prohibition, it wouldn't make sense for a marijuana grower to sell his product at wholesale prices when he can still operate and compete as though prohibition still exists. In fact, it can be considered as prohibition-plus since taxes are going to be a major factor. As a consumer, it would make sense to simply go directly to the grower and avoid any taxation whatsoever.

Side Note
While this may not be desirable, the politicians will have to learn a hard lesson here. It's not a lesson that wasn't already anticipated in history. During the repeal of alcohol prohibition, politicians, then, knew that the legal market would have to price-compete with the illegal market. Otherwise, it would be impossible to regulate and collect taxes. If today's politicians are too stupid to anticipate such competition and too arrogant to listen to the people, then they deserve to look like fools when their ridiculous taxation scheme doesn't produce the kind of tax revenues expected.

The second and most favorable method is self-reliance - grow your own marijuana. I am always promoting growing your own marijuana for personal use, so nothing new here. If marijuana is legal, who's going to come looking for you if you're growing a few ounces. Even though that marijuana is illegal, it's still safer because you completely remove yourself from law enforcement radar. You're not a Mexican drug cartel. You're not out trafficking bricks of marijuana. And, you're not out dealing on the streets. The only problems you may have is if smell gives you away or someone you tell decides to snitch on you. So, limit your exposure by investing in heavy odor control and not telling anyone.

Final Side Note
Personally, the only reason I would ever get caught is because of this blog or perhaps the few people that know about me. And, I know what I am doing by exposing myself. But, if I can motivate more people to grow their own, I can help limit the violence injected into the lives of peaceful people by careless drug dealers and aggressive law enforcement as well as reduce the profits of violent drug cartels that most law enforcement protect with their support of prohibition. It's worth it if I can save another life.

Obama's Medical Marijuana Memo Means Nothing

2009-10-19T13:44:00.003-04:00

Background

Today, President Obama released a memo in regards to states with medical marijuana laws. Basically, this memo is telling federal prosecutors along with the DEA and FBI not to waste their time and energy on [destroying the lives of] medical marijuana patients and their suppliers IF they conform to the state's laws.
Feds Can't Touch This
Justice shifts course on medical marijuana prosecutions
Feds: Medical marijuana prosecutions not a priority

Reality

This memo is nothing more than a piece of paper. It doesn't change anything. Think of this policy change as a mother asking her child to do his chores five minutes earlier at 5:55 PM instead of 6 PM. Although, it would be nice if you did it five minutes earlier, it's not anything you have to take into consideration. It just would be nice.

Think about it.

What laws were changed with this memo? Did marijuana, all of a sudden, become legal? Was marijuana removed from the Controlled Substances Act? Will the federal government begin recognizing marijuana's medicinal utility?

NO!

This memo hasn't changed anything. As long as prohibition remains the denominator in the nation's marijuana equation, this memo is nothing more than words on paper. Without the protections and consequences that come with actual changes to the law, nothing has changed.

Problem

President Obama has failed to alleviate or even address the problems that millions of marijuana users, medicinal and recreational, face against violent law enforcement. Well over 800,000 people are arrested and incarcerated yearly. Billions of dollars are burned by law enforcement officials that are only interested in playing 'Judge Dredd' with the lives of nonviolent people. When President Obama has the courage to face these gun toting animals, that's when the memos and speeches will stop. That's when laws begin to change.

Until then, I'd rather President Obama just shut up and leave it alone if he doesn't plan on truly changing anything or helping us. I'm used to the status quo and it's how I operate. It's how thousands of us operate on a daily basis. I won't change how I do things because of some useless memo. I would hope that my grower friends, especially those in medical marijuana states, keep their heads low as well. I don't want them falling for this nonsense.

Just know one thing. Marijuana is not going anywhere. No matter how hard the prohibitionists push against us, we'll still be here - growing, smoking, and teaching!

Marijuana: Legalization vs Prohibition and Children

2009-10-18T09:30:00.000-04:00

Children as a tool for prohibition

One thing that prohibitionists use to keep marijuana illegal is the fear that legalization will be a danger to children. Children seems to be the door into the heart of a parent. Prohibitionists lie about marijuana's use, effects, and its users. One on side, you have the local, state, and federal authorities who get people to believe that marijuana users are dangerous. On the other side, you have organizations who want you to believe that potheads are lazy, unemployed, losers. In both of these ways, they strike fear into parents about what their children will become if they started using marijuana.

What mother wants to hear that her child will become from raving maniac after using marijuana? What father wants to hear that his son might end up lazy and worthless in the home after trying marijuana? If you're a parent that doesn't know anything about marijuana, you'd play it on the safe side doing what you can to keep your children from using marijuana. It makes sense to me. I'd do the same thing if I were walking in their shoes.

But, the difference between myself and these parents is that I know all about marijuana. I know the good and I know the bad. Although this is not about the safety of marijuana, I'd be foolish to not at least mention this once: Marijuana is safe! The point of this is to present the argument to a parent who believes that marijuana is dangerous.

I prefer to compare prohibition to legalization as it pertains to the safety of children.

Prohibition vs Legalization

We know what prohibition brings us. We're living it. Every year, billions of tax payer funds are spent fighting this war on drugs. Millions of marijuana plants are eradicated every harvest season. Hundreds of thousands of people are arrested and/or incarcerated for anything from a joint to pounds of marijuana. Hundreds of indoor grow ops are torn apart.

That all sounds good. If you pay attention to what law enforcement is doing, you'd feel they were doing a lot. But, how does this all factor into the protection of your children?

Well, if it's fair, we can say that the amount of marijuana that gets into the United States is directly related to the ease of access by your children. The more marijuana in the US, the more available it will be in your area. To get a good idea of how much marijuana gets into the US, we have to look at what law enforcement's eradication efforts really mean as a total of all marijuana. In other words, how much does law enforcement shave off of the total supply? The answer - law enforcement's eradication efforts account for only 5-10% of all the marijuana that gets into the nation. In other words, the remaining inventory of marijuana in the US is about 90% and higher. That means your children have a much better chance of finding marijuana than law enforcement is admitting. The point is that marijuana is free flowing and freely available in the United States.
Anecdotes
The first time I ever tried marijuana was when I was 14. I didn't get high so I didn't think about it again. The next time I smoked marijuana was when I was 16. I got very high but it wasn't something that would stay with me. My friend got that marijuana from a dealer both times. I didn't smoke again until I was 23.

I am now 30 years old. About 3 weeks ago, I was on Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn, NY. I went into the store with friends to buy cigars (used for rolling marijuana blunts) and the clerk asked me for ID. I found it hilarious. I hadn't been carded in a long time. My friends told me that I still have a baby face. It reminds me of times when I go into ask for an alcoholic drink in a restaurant and the server asks for my ID. They ask for IDs in clubs, bars, and lounges. If it's got an age requirement, they want to see ID.
If you're a parent, like my own parents, my friends' parents and some of my friends now, you know you can not be there all of the time. The best you can do is teach your children right from wrong and hope they don't get into any trouble. But, they do. You were once a child, as I was, and the one thing we did was get into trouble.

The question that I have for parents: When your children are introduced to marijuana, do you want it to be from a dealer on the street or store clerk that will ask for ID?

Think about it.

How many children have you seen walk into a liquor store? Even in regular grocery stores, what are the chances that a baby-faced kid can walk out with a bottle of beer or a pack of cigarettes?

Under legalization, regulation is necessary. That means, the same controls in place for adult items - tobacco, alcohol, pornography - is the same controls that would be placed on marijuana. Chances are it would be sold alongside tobacco products in a tobacco shop. Maybe, marijuana would be sold in grocery stores. The common thread here is that all these locations offer control, more control than what is offered by a dealer on the corner.

Prohibition won't protect your children

Prohibitionists claim that marijuana is dangerous to children. How can they advocate for a system that gives control of such a dangerous substance to criminals? How can they claim that they want to protect children while promoting a black market that don't have a reason to care about children?

You can believe that marijuana is the most dangerous substance in the world. It doesn't matter how you feel about marijuana. What matters is that we protect children. Prohibition didn't protect me then, it doesn't protect your children now, and it won't protect your children tomorrow.

It's All About The Magic Beans

2009-10-10T16:30:00.000-04:00

Of Growers and Genetics

A lot of marijuana growing is in the genetics - the magic beans or the seeds - that you use. Quality genetics matched with a competent grower can bring you very incredible marijuana.

Check out this picture of the Deep Chunk strain:
If you don't know what you're looking at, it's definitely marijuana that's producing THC at an amazing rate. But, also notice the deep green and waxy reflection of the leaf. That's a sign of incredible plant health which is a sign of how an incredible marijuana grower was matched with incredible genetics. Even if the genetics were sent by God, it takes an amazing grower to push that plant to its best. Yeah, that's just nice!

Usually when you smoke marijuana, you're smoking the clusters of flowers or the buds which usually contain the most THC. Sometimes leaves will produce a little THC but nothing serious and that Deep Chunk is serious.

What to do with quality genetics?

So, you want some of those quality genetics - Deep Chunk, Cinderella 99, Black Domina, Mazar, Afghani Bullrider. Maybe, you're already growing and you've got some quality genetics - Jack Herer, Sour Diesel, Super Silver Haze, Grand Daddy Purple - but you're running low or you want something different.

So, you go get those magic beans, now what - just grow them out, dump the males, let the females flower so you can smoke?

HELL NO. YOU MAKE MORE MAGIC BEANS.

Female marijuana plants are the ones that produce high levels of THC. Males produce THC at incredibly low levels; so low, they're not worth keeping around. Therefore, marijuana growers are taught to cull or destroy the males once identified. Males, just like humans, will pollinate the females. A pollinated, or "knocked up", female will produce seeds. The problem is that the energy the female plant would use to produce THC is diverted into producing seeds. So, it makes sense to get rid of the males.

However, anyone who has purchased seeds knows how troubling it can be to get those seeds in the US. You can lose your money in many ways or even go to jail if the delivery is intercepted by federal authorities. And, the amount of money you lose can be substantial. Seeds can cost between $50 and $400 per pack with only 5 to 10 seeds each. The higher the THC, the more popular the strain, the higher the price.

With all of that in mind, wouldn't it make sense to make more seeds when you get your pack of quality genetics? It's not hard to do. You simply have to let the males and females do what they've been doing for thousands of years. That 10-pack of Jack Herer you purchased from Sensi Seeds for well over $200 can easily turn into 200+ seeds.

From that point on, you can start a seed collection of your own, share with friends to increase your collection, and give seeds to other people. Get a large enough collection of seeds and you might be able to start your own seed business. I sure as hell need to boost my own collection and I'd be more willing to buy locally than from afar.