Celebrate Women's History Month With a Historic Brand Launch: Introducing Her Highness
CAC Patients, we have news for you. This March, in celebration of Women’s History Month, CAC is partnering with Her Highness to bring THC versions of their brand favorites to the Massachusetts market!
Her Highness is bending cannabis to suit women, not the other way around. Founders Allison Krongard and Laura Eisman's mission is to create products that increase joy in women’s lives by delivering curated, female friendly effects and memorable highs using elegant hardware and the highest quality cannabis and materials.
Coming in hot, are three new products.
FOR JUSTICE
Her Highness' partnership with Last Prisoner Project speaks to the founders' passion and commitment to all women in cannabis. 50% of proceeds of co-branded products profiling 3 female victims of the war on drugs will be split between each woman and a fund to support other females incarcerated for non-violent cannabis offenses.
These pre-rolls will be filled with LA Kush Cake, Jilly Bean, NF1, AND justice. Did you know women are now a fast growing segment of the U.S. prison population, largely because of strict drug laws. More than 61% of women doing time in federal prison are behind bars for nonviolent drug offenses.
FOR PLEASURE
Make your romance novel fantasy a stimulating reality with a super charge of our ultra-premium cannabis female arousal oil. Not to be mistaken for a lubricant, this orgasm oil for sex (with partner or solo) only requires a few female pleasure-inducing drops. CBD, a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis, helps muscle relaxation while its psychoactive sister, THC, works to increase blood flow. We’ve added to our female arousal oil a South American medicinal plant extract known for increasing salivation—AKA wetness. Put all these botanical, women-pleasure powerhouses together in a base of extra virgin olive oil, and you can guess what kind of female pleasure that means for your nether regions. You won’t get high, but you just might have the best orgasm(s) of your life.
Remember, this THC arousal oil is not a cannabis lube for women but a female orgasm enhancer, so a little goes a long way. Apply a few drops THC oil on your female pleasure zones and expect to feel an immediate, pleasant tingle. Then allow at least 20 minutes for the full effects of the cannabis oil to kick in before you get it on—may we suggest killing the time with foreplay?
Take note: not latex safe, this marijuana oil for sex can degrade the structural integrity of latex condoms, so plan accordingly.
There is undeniably a lack of focus in pop culture and consumerism on women's sexual health and pleasure! So naturally, a cannabinoid rich lubricant for intimate activity is a game changer!
Important facts, before you have fun.
Helpful to those with Endometriosis, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, Uterine/Cervical/Ovarian Cancer, etc.
Not designed for oral consumption, though it is not toxic orally.
Not technically a lube, and can be used in conjunction with lube.
Only requires a few drops.
Apply a few drops THC oil on your pleasure zones and expect to feel an immediate, pleasant tingle. Then allow at least 20 minutes for the full effects of the cannabis oil to kick in before you get it on.
Not latex safe, this marijuana oil for sex can degrade the structural integrity of latex condoms, so plan accordingly.
This product DOES contain peppermint essential oil, which could be irritating if the patient has particularly sensitive skin.
This product is oil-based, in order to infuse the cannabinoids properly. Cleanup afterwards is a MUST! Always make sure to pee and rinse the area it was used on with warm water after sexual activity- for all partners!
• Each pack contains 4 kief-infused, .5g cones of indoor flower
• Extra long crutch protects lashes and manicures
• Re-fillable gold lighter included
• Strain: Cinderella 99
Savings Greetings! Save Money this Season with Medical Cannabis
Tis the season of giving! But unfortunately, this year there have been unforeseen circumstances and the COVID-19 pandemic has been hitting most people very hard. Whether it is financially, physically or emotionally, we have all experienced some sort of hardship this year. Because of these reasons, we want to make it a bit easier for you to get your cannabis. In this article are many of the ways you can save money on your cannabis medicine! It just takes a little research!
GEtting your medical card
This is the first step because you cannot get your medicine without your card and it can be a straightforward process. You must fall under one of Massachusetts qualifying conditions and there are many, so look and see if you may qualify and then the next step is to look for a doctor. We are partnered with Medwell Health and Wellness and below is a link to their website is above. Our next Monthly Q+A webinar on this very subject being covered in our blog post. It is titled “Savings Greetings: How can you maximize your savings while accessing affordable Medical Cannabis?” Here is the link for more information: Monthly Q+A
Tip: Look around for a doctor who suits your specific needs and gives discounts based on financial needs, veteran status, senior status, and other ways you may qualify for further discounts. There are many, so here is a link to all the Cannabis Physicians in MA.
Here is some of how Medwell Health and Wellness may be able to help you with safety and savings:
TeleMed
We also wanted to make sure everyone knew that an alternative method of receiving your medical card has been available since the start of Covid, and that is through Telemedicine. This allows for you to be remote and sign on to some form of video conferencing so you don’t have to risk going into a doctor’s office. The option of in person appointments is still available but be sure to wear your masks, social distance and be respectful to the health care workers who are risking their lives to help you with your medical marijuana needs. For more information on Telemedicine through Medwell Health and Wellness, check out this link: Medwell: Telemedicine
What kinds of discounts are offered for medical cards?
We want to share with you some offers that Medwell Health and Wellness offers so you can see what can be offered and then how to research for yourself so you can find the best offers for you!
First and foremost, if you look at this picture below, it shows just some discounts offered by Medwell Health and Wellness. New MMJ patients are a pretty standard $175 BUT if you are a veteran with 50%-99% disability you get your card for only $100. If you are 100% disabled, you get your card for FREE. They also do other promotions! As of right now, if you are in the industry, your card only costs $75 AND you can refer a friend or family member for the same price!
Dispensary Discounts and Promotions at Dispensaries
Next, we want to share with you some opportunities you have to save money at dispensaries. We have lots of discounts here at CAC and high-quality products BUT we really want to ensure you understand that this is your medicine and we are here first to say “Find what works for you.” With that being said, here are some points to consider when shopping:
There is no tax.
Recreational cannabis has a nearly 20% tax and some municipalities will raise that tax even further. There are also far fewer discounts and promotions with recreational cannabis. In the long run, you will have many more savings with a medical card, even though there is an upfront cost.
First Time and Renewal Discounts at almost every medical dispensary
At CAC, our First Time Discount is $100 off of $200 dollars OR $50 off of $100 twice. YOU also don’t have to use it the first time you come in. You just have to redeem it before you renew your card because that is ANOTHER discount; $50 off of $200! Most dispensaries have these discounts so shop around because the next point we have.
Shop around at dispensaries and you will make back most of your First Time Discount.
If you come to us here at CAC, $100 credit is already most of the cost of your card right back in your pocket. We all want you to get your medicine and experience whatever pain relief you are seeking. Cannabis is an amazing medicine and you shouldn’t be spending an arm and a leg to be relieving your arm and your leg!
Financial hardship discounts, Veteran discounts, Daily Deals and more.
Most medical dispensaries also do a Financial Hardship discount and Veteran discount and ours is 10% for each! We also do discounts for Seniors 62+, Industry Workers, Teachers, and Students. Also, the first page of our menu is filled with our Daily Deals and Promotions! Here is the link to our Menu and a list explaining all of our every day discounts:
Commonwealth Alternative Care’s Menu
Commonwealth Alternative Care’s Discounts
We hope this helps and we hope to see you soon here at CAC. Check out all the links below. And share this with your friends and family members because we want to spread the word on how beneficial and inexpensive cannabis can be!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!
Sources:
Compassion for Patients: Physician List
Commonwealth Alternative Care: About How to Get Your Medical Card
Mass.gov: Patients of The Medical Use of Marijuana Program
InhaleMD: List of Qualifying Conditions
Why Vote?
Why vote?
Today is the LAST day to Register to vote in MA! October 24, 2020
Election Day: November 3, 2020 - 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Voting is fundamental to a democracy and even though popular vote doesn’t determine the outcome of our presidential election in the United States of America, that doesn’t mean your vote doesn’t count. Here are some of the reasons you should vote:
It doesn’t take long.
Registering to vote takes less than 5 minutes and then going to vote in person (if there is no line) also takes no time at all. If you are worried about a line or cannot make it to the polls then fill out an absentee ballot/mail in ballot. You can do this in the comfort of your own home and the best part is that it gets sent right to your door. And right now with Covid-19 still affecting so many US citizens, it is a very valid reason to utilize this method of voting.
It’s free.
Unlike so many essential things we need on the daily, such as food and water, voting is free. There is no tax, fee or cost of any kind. So many things essential for life cost money, yet we do not have a poll tax anymore. On January 23, 1964, the 24th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, which prohibited any poll tax in federal elections.
You are part of the decision.
This means that along with your fellow citizens you have the ability to say who you want to see running this country and who you want in control of your rights.Voting is an important step to our democracy, and to further the American Dream for all citizens. It is essential that we elect leaders who are committed to furthering our country, for one and all. Your right to vote is one of the most important rights we have. Practicing this right keeps it alive and well, not only for you but for future generations.
Not every human has the right to vote in their respective countries.
Voter suppression and the loss of civil rights, such as the right to vote, are still very real in many countries. Regardless of gender, race, color, religious beliefs or country of origin, you can now vote as a citizen of the United States of America as long as you are over the age of 18. Which again, brings up the point that future generations are looking to us to make these decisions. And people who reside in all the US territories and the District of Columbia itself do not have the right to vote, even though they are citizens. So many people before us fought to get us to where we are today, so let's work together to keep this progress moving forward.
Do your research, make informed decisions and practice your right to vote. And continue to vote in any local, state and federal elections because they also determine the outcome of future presidential elections. And unlike the Presidential Election, all local and state elections are chosen by popular vote, so choose your state representatives, senators, and congress-people wisely.
At CAC, we strongly encourage you to share your voice by registering and then voting with us for the November 3rd 2020 Presidential Election. To do so you can check out Rock the Vote’s website because they make the whole process so simple. And for more info on the elections, below are links to help inform you about our rights, our history, the election process, current Primary Electoral Candidates as well as how to register to vote. So join us, because your voice matters.
“No man is good enough to govern another man without the other's consent.” - Abraham Lincoln
Thank you!
Links to help you stay informed!
Rock the Vote:
MA Information for Voters Pamphlet:
https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/IFV_2020.pdf
2020 Presidential Debate:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wW1lY5jFNcQ&ab_channel=C-SPAN
2020 Vice-Presidential Debate:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_G0ia3JOVs
Timeline of Voting History in the US:
https://www.sos.wa.gov/_assets/elections/history-of-voting-in-america-timeline.pdf
Our Constitution:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/the-constitution/
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript
CAC’s Beginners Guide to: Growing Cannabis at Home
Have you ever wanted to grow your own cannabis but didn’t know how to or maybe you just need some tips? Well, we might be able to help! It may seem like a lot of information but if you are willing to put in the work, it is nothing but rewarding.
The following is a guide to growing your own cannabis at home. It is filled with advice and links to many different sources on growing. We have also asked some of our coworkers here at CAC for some tips and stories that helped them learn to be better home growers so we wanted to share with you all what I have found out. First, let’s talk about what you need to know BEFORE you start growing.
State Regulations
Even though it is legal in Massachusetts to grow cannabis, there are still laws that regulate how many plants you can grow and how you grow within your household. Make sure you are following these laws to ensure you are being compliant and legal. Here are the laws and regulations to keep in mind:
You can grow up to 6 plants in your home but if you have 2 or more adults in your home you can have up to 12 plants, but no more.
Wherever you decide to grow in your home, all plants and grow equipment will need to be located in an area that's equipped with a lock or some sort of security device.
No one should be able to see your home grow without the use of any optical aids such as binoculars.
Cannabis based extracts and concentrates that are made with any liquid or gas, other than alcohol, that have a flash point of below 100 degrees Fahrenheit are NOT allowed to be produced at home.
Advice Before We Start
This section is filled with some great advice from my coworkers here at CAC about home growing that we really want to share before we get started. We felt the need to put this in our post while discussing this blog with my coworker and friend Darius (PSA/Head of Delivery) who has been growing for years. While trying to gain direction on how to write this post, I asked Darius for a piece of advice about growing that he wanted everyone to know. He emphasized to me the NEED for discipline, explaining that “It is work. You come home from a long day of work and do MORE work. Your plants don’t take days off.” In other words, if your plants are not taken care of, they will not succeed and neither will you. Put in the time, take care of them, treat them with respect and you will reap the benefits they provide.
When asked to give a piece of advice, Kait (Cultivation/Hiring Coordinator) replied “Listen to your plants. They will let you know when they are happy or when they aren't. Don't obsess over the little things, but make sure you are still paying attention to detail.” At this point, we genuinely could not remember if we were getting advice on how to grow cannabis or how to be in a successful relationship. But it makes so much sense! Plants are alive and we must treat them like the living breathing organisms they are. “So many first time growers come to me and say ‘Oh my gosh, my plant is dying!!!’ because one lower leaf turned yellow.” Your plants are okay Kait says, this is normal. AND if your plant is half yellow, don’t freak out, change course.
Furthermore, Kait and Jaraud (Trim, Harvest, and Cure Manager) had the same piece of advice for us, which is to “Keep a journal.” Jaraud says “Make sure you track everything from your nutrient input to the environment for the day. This will help narrow down your desired feeding schedule and if anything goes wrong, you can look back and see what happened. Knowledge is key!”
And remember, no one is perfect, Sam (Fertigation Lead) professes that you must “Humble yourself” and “Ask questions” because we not only learn from our own mistakes but others’ mistakes as well. “Every grower has knowledge and insight that I may not have experienced or learned on my own. Why limit yourself to one avenue of learning?” Never stop learning and never stop growing. Pun completely indented.
There is more advice and some stories we have for you all and we will share those but first let’s go into the basic necessities for starting a home grow and the processes within each growth stage that we must follow to optimize success.
Basic Needs and Equipment
First and foremost, here is our piece of advice. Start small. Try one plant or just a few, so that you can really start to understand the process of growing. It is a small investment compared to an entire room full of cannabis grow equipment and plants that you cannot handle. The biggest reason most start growing cannabis is to save money. Don’t let your money go to waste, take it step by step. Here is a brief explanation of some options you have.
Grow area
According to a Leafly article (link above) on how to grow indoors, it says you don’t need a special room. That even a closet, tent or corner can be sufficient for your few plant(s). It just needs proper ventilation, lightening, and other growing conditions explained below.
seeds
.Your seeds should always be dry and brown (light to dark), NEVER slimy, squishy and pale. You can get seeds a few different ways: Maybe you have a friend who grows? Ask them for a clone or if their plants have produced seeds. When you obtain seeds, make sure to store them in a dry, cool place until ready to grow.
SOIL MEDIUMS
Soil or Compost
Soil is everywhere but the best soil to use is an organic soil mix with 20-30% per lite because it helps drain the water so the roots get a solid amount of oxygen.
As for compost, it doesn’t take much effort to save your scrap food. You just need to ensure you add to it constantly and turn it to make sure all the scraps are decomposing evenly. (Here is a guide to composting:)
Benefits:
Soil is the easiest to use and access.
Compost will give your bud a more robust and complex taste profile.
They are the most natural soil mediums, filled with microorganisms and a balanced amount of nutrients.
Soil-less mixes (Coco Coir, peat moss, perlite, etc.)
With these mediums, the nutrients should be mixed into the water you feed your plants and cannabis tents to do better with these because there is more room for oxygen to reach the roots, since it is great at draining the water.
Benefits:
Less likely to run into pest problems
Less likely to over water
More direct hit of nutrients and oxygen right to the roots
Great for beginners
Hydroponic (Water)
Hydroponics is literally water. The cannabis plants get a direct hit of all the nutrients you place in your water. The roots grow extremely fast and in huge clumps.
Benefits:
Fastest growth (especially when paired with HID grow lights, which we will go into next)
Lights
Fluorescent Grow Lights
Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) and High Output (HO) T5 grow lamps are some of the best lights for clones, seedlings and young plants.
Benefits:
Cheap
They don’t use a lot of electricity or make too much heat so you don’t need a cooling system.
Great light spectrum for growing cannabis
Good choice for short spaces because they can be close to the plants
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Grow Lights,Metal Halide (MH), and High Pressure Sodium (HPS)
Benefits:
Most efficient type of grow lights
Best for the flowering stage
They can be hung the right distance and no need to adjust the lights frequently like you might have to with LED’s
LED Grow Lights
Most popular in the cannabis home growing world and some growers even believe LEDs produce more resinous buds. Keep the lights at least 18 inches above your buds to ensure you don’t burn your plants
Benefits:
Usually have built-in cooling system
The smaller ones can be plugged directly into the wall
They can hang right over the plants
Most effective for new growers
Combining LEDs with HPS grow lights is believed to get growers great results
Water
The pH of the water you use should be between 5.0 and 7.0 and always make sure it is room temperature. Don’t over or under water because you could drown and don’t underwater because your plants need hydration and nutrients. Cannabis LOVES water but it also loves oxygen so again a soil medium that can drain well or allow for a good amount of aeration will be super beneficial.
Distilled water
Distilled water is boiled to the point of evaporation and the condensation is captured leaving a highly filtered water. This will be the most beneficial for inside grows because of the high quality, lack of minerals. It is not as effective as removing volatile chemicals as reverse osmosis but it is very acceptable to grow cannabis.
Benefits:
Lacks most contaminants and minerals
Ensures your plants will get high quality every time
Most accessible to new growers
Reverse osmosis water
Reverse osmosis is a high pressure filtration system that results in an ultra filtered water that is emptied of all its nutrients and minerals by passing through a series of fine membranes. This is the most expensive process of filtered water but it is the cleanest
Benefits:
Cleanest form of water, lacking the most minerals and volatile chemicals
Tap water/City water
This is totally okay to utilize but you have to ensure you aren’t contaminating your plants with too much chlorine and other chemicals and minerals existing in your city water. You can evaporate the chlorine out of your water but this surely isn’t the simplest method, just the cheapest.
Benefits:
It is free
Easiest to access
Nutrients
Are you growing organically? Then your starting soil is very important and quite frankly will taste phenomenal if you have a nutrient dense soil (compost is a great way to get this soil) with lots of microorganisms but if you aren’t growing this way you will need to put nutrients in your water source.
If you're adding nutrients to your water, water until you see a little run off, about 10-20%, in order to properly flush out accumulated minerals from your soil medium. If not and you are going organic, you want to just moisten the soil to stop the moment it starts to drain even a little because you don’t want to lose any vital nutrients in your soil. If you have ever grown anything you probably know about the NPK ratio.
The NPK ratio is Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. These are three nutrients needed by most plants but these are not the ONLY nutrients your plants need. I will list these out but then give some resources that recommend the amounts of these nutrients. There is a link at the beginning of this section that goes into how to use these nutrients properly.
Macronutrients (Needed in large quantities)
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium (NPK ratio)
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulfur
Micronutrients (Needed in small quantities, still VERY important)
Boron, chlorine, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc
The ratios, specified below are subject to change and vary based on strain type, it will be a lot of experimenting if you are taking this route. The big focus here is to give the plants what they need and not forcing them to do anything that they don’t naturally want to do. You can give too many nutrients and in fact it can cause the chemical burning of your plants so learn what your plants need for each stage of growth, journal the progress.
Growing Stages
Like every living thing, cannabis goes through several growth stages and it is important to understand them to ensure you are growing your plants properly. Each stage has different needs, just like humans. Be very aware of what stage your cannabis is in and the needs of each phase. If you understand these stages and what is necessary for optimal growth, you will become a great grower one day.
First Stage: Germination 5-10 days
Right now your seed is lying dormant before you germinate it. Invigorating it with water will cause the seed to burst with life! Not all your seeds will germinate, sprout or turn into seedlings so do not worry, use the ones that do and give the others time. It is no big deal if you don't succeed the first time, just have the confidence that one day you will. Remember “Knowledge is key.” There are so many ways to germinate but I have specified one method below I have seen many growers use, not just cannabis growers.
Temperature
Day: 70-85 Fahrenheit
Night: 5 to 10 degrees less
Humidity
Medium Humidity (avoid low humidity): 40-60%
Lights
Light: 18 hrs
Dark: 6 hrs
Wet Paper Towel Method of Germination
Soak paper towels in distilled water until it is damp all the way through. You do not want it dripping wet.
Place that towel on a plate and spread the seeds apart atop the towel.
Place another damp towel on top and then a second plate.
Store in an area between 70-90 degrees Fahrenheit.
This process will take anywhere from 1-7 days so check periodically to make sure the paper towels are still damp. Just do not touch the split seeds, they need to stay within a sterile environment.
Once you see your cute little tap root popping out the seed it is time to transplant your sprouts into the soil medium of your choice.
Transplanting Your Sprout
Pick up your cute little sprout with a clean pair of tweezers and plop it into a 2 inch pot filled with your soil medium.
You want it to be tap root facing down and then cover it lightly in soil.
Spray a little bit of water on your sprout, not too much, we don’t want to drown it. Pay attention to the temperature and moisture level and it should produce a seedling within the week!
Second Stage: Seedling 2-3 weeks, needs 18 hours of light
How much light, water and nutrients you are giving your plant at this stage is vital to its initial growth. You will start off with those one or 2 leaflets but then you will start to see 3, and then 5-7 or more and it will really start to look like cannabis. Before this is happening consistently in the vegetative stage, you have to build that strength and solid growth in your seedling stage. You don’t want your plants to be reaching for sunlight, we want them to be a little more stout at first to provide your plants with a good strong stem.
Temperature
Day: 70-85 Fahrenheit
Night: 5 to 10 degrees less
Humidity (avoid low humidity)
Medium Humidity : 40-60%
Lights
Light: 18 hrs
Dark: 6 hrs
Nutrients
NPK Ratio: 2-1-2
Third Stage: Vegetative 3-16 weeks
Just like a teenager, the vegetative stage is where everything happens SO fast. A lot of growth takes place because you’ve transplanted your seedling and it has so much space to grow. Here is where you will train your plants to be the strongest, healthiest adult flowering plants they can be. The roots are spreading so you want to water away from the stock to promote the spread and growth of the root system. They will need more water and nutrients to help their development. The plants are very resilient in this stage so if you make a mistake, figure out what is happening and change it, your plants should bounce right back.
Temperature
Day: 70-85 Fahrenheit
Night: 5 to 10 degrees less
Humidity (avoid low humidity)
Medium Humidity : 40-60%
Lights
Light: 18- 24 hrs (depends on the strain of cannabis)
Nutrients (NPK Ratio)
Early Vegetative: 4-2-3
Vegetative: 10-5-7
Vegetative to Flowering Cycle Change: 7-7-7
Fourth Stage: Flowering 8-11 weeks
This best way I can explain this stage is relating it again to human development. These are feminized plants and they are going through a stressful but amazing time in their life. Imagine pregnancy in humans. Female organs are putting in SO much work to create life and even though we might be avoiding the development of seeds, these plants are going through the process of developing life. They want to spread their genetics but we are trying to control this process so again, your level of respect for these plants will show in the end result. Be cautious and note everything these plants are going through just how a pregnant woman must be aware of everything their body is going through.
It is as though the summer is ending and they are preparing for less light. Your buds are starting to develop and like I stated earlier in the stages of growth, you want to weed out the plants that are turning male. This will start to show a few weeks into this stage. So keep an eye out for that everyday because it occurs very fast. Do not prune at this time because it will upset the hormones of your plants.
Your plants need support, you can trellis them with netting so that the buds are supported and the stems stay strong and upright. Now is the time to give your plants blooming nutrients. This is a very tricky stage in the life cycle because you have to make sure to keep a close eye on your plants and look out for signs of deficiencies or overfeeding. For best practices, check out the link in the header of this growing phase
Temperature (avoid hot temperatures)
Day: 65-80 Fahrenheit
Night: 5 to 10 degrees less
Humidity
Medium Humidity: 50%
Lights
Light: 12 hrs
Dark: 12 hrs
Nutrients (NPK ratio)
Early bloom: 5:7:10
Mid-bloom: 6:10:15
Mid–late bloom: 4:7:10
Late bloom: pH balanced flush
Harvesting, Drying and Curing
This is probably the most exciting part of growing cannabis because you are so close to the end result. You DO NOT want to rush these last processes though! Let me say that again, the slower and more controlled your dry process, the better the outcome.
Harvest
In this process you will need a great pair of clippers, powder free latex gloves, clothes hangers, thin line to hang your cannabis plants on and labels. The best time of day to harvest is right when the lights go on in the morning because at night is when the plants have the most optimal resin growth.
Put on some gloves because the resin will be a lot and then start trimming any excess big leaves away from each individual to make it easier to cut your plants down. You could wait until you cut to do the majority of this but it may be easier to get the bulk of it done while they are standing upright.
You can cut your plants at the base, and one at a time. You must have a strong hand to cut and prune but be gentle with the growth at the same time. Don’t rip your plant out of the soil or snap it in half. If it falls over on it’s own, that is okay according to Jaraud, “I had a nearly finished flowering plant fall over because it was too top heavy. I was very nervous about what damage might have been done due to the fall but it was all good and smoked beautifully.”
Next, cut it from the base and lay it out to be trimmed properly. OR cut off individual branches if that makes more sense to you. Whatever is easier in this case is usually the best way to go. You can either wet trim your leaves off (right after harvest) or dry trim them (right after drying), it is personal preference but I suggest getting rid of the biggest leaves and trimming away all the little dried sugar leaves just before cure, just be cautious and use little precise clippers.
Dry
Even before you harvest, you want to prepare your drying area so it is as simple as moving it to that area and allowing the cannabis to do it’s thing right away. You can use hangers and string, drying trays and so much more. For all you options, here is a link to a blog specifically for this process:
Temperature:
Keep the room, closet, etc. at around 68 degrees Fahrenheit for the first 3 day and do not let it get warmer because it could cause mold to grow. Then bring the temperature even lower after the first 3 days, at about 65 degrees in order to slow down the process.
Humidity:
Keep it consistently in between 55 and 65 percent humidity to ensure it doesn’t grow mold or dry too fast.
Lights:
Keep room DARK.
Exhaust fan:
If you can, set your fans to run for five minutes every two hours to ensure proper ventilation.
cure
This process is fairly simple. First you place your newly dried weed in airtight glass jars and you let it sit in the jars for at least two weeks except for 10 minutes every day, where you open the jars and let them breathe. Just make sure the conditions below exist for proper cure.
Temperature:
About 65 degrees Fahrenheit
Humidity:
50-55% humidity
Lights:
Keep the room DARK.
after cure
If you are storing your jarred cannabis for longer than cure, only a few times a month for twenty minute intervals to ensure quality and aeration.
STORY TIME!
Why did you start growing weed?
Kait
I started growing cannabis because I got into the industry! I figured since I am a cultivator here, the only way to expand my own skills and bring my personal knowledge and experience was to do it all on my own. Now I have a grow constantly going and let me tell you, there is no weed better than your own weed even if it's not top quality. There's just something so special about smoking cannabis that from seed to smoke was cultivated by you!
Jaraud
I started to grow cannabis because I wanted to know exactly what I was putting into my system. I started using cannabis recreationally at first and started to find some to be more therapeutic than others. Hence, I began studying on how to cultivate it and the science behind the scenes and fell in love. Now I continue my cannabis growing education and experience in hopes of becoming a master grower.
Darius
I paid for weed. It is free! I started researching cannabis and wondered “What was wrong with it?” It is all natural and it doesn’t show signs of harming people and other drugs are hurting people. It just made sense to try.
Sam
I started growing cannabis because I was tired of paying someone else to do it. I love learning, and competition. So weed was a great avenue. I was looking for a career as the prohibition was lifted in Massachusetts, so I figured why not do something I love. Plus, I love how simple of a plant cannabis is. It’s hardy enough to where you can push it to the limits, and usually still get a great result. It's so responsive to environmental factors in almost predictable ways, which makes playing with it fun.
So, what type of home grower will you be?
A very special thanks to Darius, Kait, Jaraud and Sam for your responses! The stories, advice and pictures have made this process that much more exciting! It is making me want to grow and I hope it inspires others to learn about this rewarding process.
This Blog/Web Site is made available by the publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. The use, possession, sale and distribution of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. By using this blog site you understand that there is no attorney client relationship between you and the Blog/Web Site publisher. The Blog/Web Site should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.
Sources:
Royal Queen Seeds: Reverse Osmosis Water and Growing Great Cannabis
Spliff Seeds: What to do with a Hermaphrodite Cannabis Plant
https://www.royalqueenseed: Rookie Guide, 3 Steps to Master the Seedling Stage
Grow Weed Easy: Temperature for Seedling and Vegetative Stage
Dinafem Seeds: How to harvest, trim, dry and cure your cannabis plants
Royal Queen Seeds: Top Tips To Successfully Dry And Cure Your Fresh Cannabis Buds
Meet Casey, CACs Analytical Lab Manager!
Name: Casey
Hometown: Mattapoisett, MA
Years in Cannabis: 2
Interesting fact: I played soccer for 19 years
Official Job Title: Analytical Lab Manager
What is your strain of choice?
Animal Cookies
Favorite delivery method? e.g. smoke, dab, vape, eat, topical
Smoke and edibles
What do you do for fun?
Hiking, traveling, and growing all types of plants!
What is your cannabis origin story?
My cannabis story began here at CAC in 2018. I have been able to develop my analytical chemistry skills in a cannabis lab while learning about the industry and all the products this plant can produce. This opportunity has given me a great appreciation for the whole plant and all the healing possibilities it holds for current and future patients.
What is the most interesting thing you’ve learned about cannabis recently?
The research that is just beginning on mental health disorders and what cannabis could do to help.
What steps do we take to ensure consistency and efficacy of our products?
I test products/flower for potency, residual solvents, and terpenes to help ensure quality products.