Oregon Leaf Aug. 2014

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1 GREAT GUIDETO DWC GROWS

2 PORTLANDDISPENSARIESTO EXPLORE

4 MEDICATEDRECIPES TO TRY

0 REASONS TOBUY LEGAL POT(Okay, almost zero.)

THE PATIENT’S VOICE SINCE 2010

OREGON LEAFaugust 2014

FREE

HIGHTHERE!

THANKS FORREADING

DEGENERATE FLAME-OFF G L A S S B L O W E R S C O M P E T E F O R G L O R Y I N E U G E N E YES, INDUSTRIAL HEMP H O W A P O R T L A N D M A N P L A N S T O F I G H T

SLEEPING INH E A L T H & S C I E N C E

EDITOR’S NOTE......................7 NATIONAL NEWS......................8LA SHUTDOWN...........................10EUGENE HEMPFEST...................14 GLASSBLOWING.......................16 DOGWALKER OG........................24 TASTY RECIPES..........................26DISPENSARY OWNERS...............38HEALTH & SCIENCE.....................40 PASSIONFLOWER...................42 DEEP WATER CULTURE ...............44BEHIND THE STRAIN..................46

Cooking wi th mar i juana has come a long way f rom baking i t in to brownies or smashing bi ts of bud in-between globs of peanut but ter and crackers — now you can wie ld any number of in teres t ing mari juana precursors, o i l , but ter, f lour, and ghee, to make al l four of our tas ty summer recipes.26

PROFILE

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16Portland access reviewDivine Kind’s well-polished service

Degenerate Flame-Off

The Emerald Empire

Extended photo essay coverage

Rehashing Hempfest in Eugene

Grow Tech

Health and ScienceDr. Rose explains how to sleep better

Dr. Scanderson on Deep Water Culture

An honest discussionOMMP leader talks to dispensaries

Strain of The MonthA beautiful Dogwalker OG, up-close

contents AUGUST 2014

COVER PHOTO by Daniel BermanContents Photos by Contributors

OREGON LEAF VISIT NWLEAF.COM | FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF | EMAIL [email protected]

Portland access reviewOregon’s Finest’s unprecedented layout On the cover: See centerfold

MEDICATEDFRIED CHICKENRECIPE

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6850 N. Interstate Ave Portland, OR 97217 || 503-285-4768

Wide selectionFriendly, knowledgeable staff

100% locally owned

Photo by Daniel Berman

contents

Main Street Marijuana in Vancouver opened up to the general public on July 8, joining about a dozen other recreational pot stores across the state. Many ran out of product a few days later. Read more of our opening day coverage at issuu.com/nwleaf >> August 2014 Northwest Leaf

WASHINGTON’S LEGAL POTARRIVES, DISAPPOINTS.

Erik Benavente checks that customers are over 21 as a steady flow of traffic filed through a few hours after opening. Pot was priced at $60 for two grams and $110 for four grams.

Worth waiting for?

AUGUST 2014

ontributor Steve Elliott takes us into the cause of Rick Rutherford, an Oregon resident who wants to grow industrial Hemp, but

government bureaucracy has slowed his mission down. There is also great coverage of a Cannabis farmers market being shut down in Los Angeles, and of the issues facing people trying to become authorized patients in Illinois. Check out news, and stay up to date on the MMJ cause — we’re fortunate to have the access we do in Oregon! This issue’s access section takes readers into two very professional Portland area dispensaries, Oregon’s Finest and Divine Kind. Both are unique in their own way, but they have one thing in common: taking care of patients! Check them out on pages 20-23. If you are into loud and stinky strains, you will love our strain of the month — Dog

Walker OG, tested at 27.5% THC — yum. We also present a little gourmet cooking in our recipes section, along with a presentation of different types of Cannabis infused cooking products. Ask your local dispensary for cooking oils or butters, and head home to try something new. Cooking your own medicine is an empowering experience, and I encourage everyone to give it a try. Dr. Rose also weighs in on the benefits of a good night’s rest, Dr. Scanderson dives into deep water culture systems in Growtech, and there’s a the in-depth guide on Double Barrel OG Kush on the inside cover page to sink your teeth into. Overall, this is one great issue, and I hope you enjoy it and share with family and friends. As always, thanks for reading Oregon Leaf.

editor’s noteThank you for checking out the 2nd issue of oregon leaf!

founder & editor-in-chief

Wes Abney

Daniel Bermanphotographer & designer

contributorsJEREMY BRONSONSTEVE ELLIOTT KIRK ERICSONMALINA LOPEZTYLER J. MARKWARTLEAH NASH DR. SCANDERSONDR. SCOTT D. ROSEDENNIS WISE

the truth about the plantyou thought you knew, IN every issue.

CThis month’s issue is packed with the stories that you need to know...

OREGON LEAF VISIT NWLEAF.COM | FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF | EMAIL [email protected]

aug. 2014 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF /7

Contact oregon Leaf editor Wes Abney to discuss advertising or displaying our magazine in a new location. We want to hear from you! Feel free to send submissions, share news tips, your take on a story or one we should hear. Phone 206-235-6721 Email [email protected]

JACOB THOM Oregon Director of [email protected] 503-516-5934

WES ABNEY, EDITOR

Department of CorrectionsA July 2014 story on Janice Patten (From the Brink) ended early in error. To read the entire story head over to www.issuu.com/nwleaf/docs/OregonLeafJuly2014/20

8/ aug. 2014 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

national STEVE ELLIOTT is the editor behind tokesignals.com, an independent blog of Cannabis news and opinion

griculture officials in Oregon have been working for months on rules for in-dustrial hemp production, with a goal of having them finished in time for a

spring 2015 planting. But one man from Portland doesn’t want to wait. Rick Rutherford, 47, has some land in Dufur, and he doesn’t want to wait, according to a July 17 article in The Oregonian. Rutherford said he sees big potential for industrial hemp. Last month he applied to the Oregon Department of Agriculture requesting permission to grow hemp on his land in Wasco County, an hour and a half east of Portland. “Time is of the essence as plant-ing seeds needs to be underway within the next couple of weeks to conduct a viable outdoor research pilot program in Oregon,” wrote Courtney Moran, a Portland lawyer, in a letter accompany-ing Rutherford’s application. “I think it will be kind of fun to do,” Rutherford said. “I have been itching to do this for a long time.” State officials said they aren’t ready to start issuing hemp-growing licenses.

A The rule writing process has been tortuously slow as officials labor over licensing fees and rules. The farm bill approved by Congress earlier this year allows states where industrial hemp is legal -- including Oregon -- to permit hemp produc-tion by universities and state agriculture depart-ments. Sixteen states allow hemp cultivation. Oregon State University, which would be the best research facility in the state to grow hemp, isn’t interested, and state Agriculture Department officials claim the agency lacks land and expertise in hemp production. Rutherford asked Oregon to designate him as

an extension of the Department of Agriculture, allowing him to culti-vate hemp under the farm bill. He said he wants to learn which type of hemp grows best in Oregon. Hemp, a nonintoxicating cousin of marijuana, is grown for its fiber and seeds. Many hemp strains of Cannabis have insignificant levels of THC. Canada and the Europe-an Union limit hemp’s THC level to less than 0.3 percent.

This year, Congress authorized 16 states where industrial hemp is legal to begin permitted hemp production and research at state agricultural departments and universities. That includes Oregon.

In July, U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Portland) and U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Beaverton) sent a letter urging the establishment of a pilot hemp cultivation project this summer to Katy Corba, who directs the Oregon Department of Agriculture. U.S. retailers already sell more than $300 million worth of products using hemp fiber and seeds each year, the rep’s letter notes. All that hemp must be imported. The letter encouraged the Oregon officials to follow the lead of Colorado and Kentucky in devising a program that “would allow Oregon farmers to demonstrate the viability of this crop for Oregon agriculture.” Oregon’s Agriculture Department isn’t ready to set up a hemp program, said Lindsay Eng, di-rector of market access and certification. Officials haven’t figured how to levy “reasonable fees” that would pay the staff overseeing the program. Eng estimated that hemp licenses could cost $5,000 each, based on 20 farmers signing up to grow hemp, she said. Eng said that while the reg-ulations aren’t yet in place to issue a license to Rutherford, the rules committee hopes to finish its work in time for spring.

Oregon man wants to grow industrial hemp

but officials keep dragging their feet

Rick Rutherford, 47, of Portland.

I think it will be kind of fun to do. I have been itching to do this for a long time.

LET IT GROW

Portrait by Robert Delahanty; Hemp: Creative Commons

Quoted“WE ANTICIPATED BEING IN GOOD SHAPE FOR SEVEN TO 10 DAYS.” -Brian Budz, the owner of recreational marijuana store New Vansterdam in Vancouver, WA. Budz told The Oregonian his store ran out of pot in 3 days,selling briskly the Friday, Saturday and Sunday the week it opened. The first legal pot store to open in Seattle, Cannabis City, ran out in just 48 hours.‘‘ aug. 2014 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF /9

Quick Hits!

Dollar amount in billions in estimates of the value of the Cannabis industry, up from just $1.5 billion last year. That’s a lot of green!2.6

Number of states in the U.S. that have legalized possession of marijuana for medicinal use. Just two states currently allow recreational use.23

Number of dollars those caught with less than an ounce of Cannabis will be charged for possession under new Washington, D.C. laws.25

Number of people caught in Denver International Airport trying to leave with Cannabis. Users were asked to destroy the pot but did not face charges.16

18 Thousands of dollars found in a car by police in St. John Parish, Lousiana, along with 120 lbs. of pot. 60 percent of the money goes back to the police.

44 Percentage of recreational Cannabis users in Colorado that are out-of-state pot tourists, according to a new study by the Marijuana Policy Group.

Number of plants found in a purportedillegal grow in Colorado following a raid. No charges have been filed as the state

works out what is exactly illegal or not under all of the new laws.1,300

Metric tons of pot used by folks in Colorado every year, or about 9 percent of the state’s population,according to a recently released study.121

ourists are responsible for up to 90 per-cent of recreational marijuana sales in some Colorado ski resort towns, accord-

ing to a new analysis from the state. Those visi-tors are infusing tens of millions of dollars into the Mile High marijuana economy. From Aspen to Breckenridge to Telluride, tourists are flocking to recreational pot stores. The study was prepared for state marijuana regulators by the Marijuana Policy Group, which is a collaboration be-tween private consultants and the University of Colorado-Boulder Business Research Division. It says that about 9 percent of Colorado residents are using Cannabis once per month. According to the study released July 16, 22 percent of users consume about 70 percent of the marijuana sold in Colorado. The study defines a “heavy marijuana user” as someone consuming 1 gram or more a day at least 21 days monthly. Colorado residents will consume about 121.4 metric tons of weed in a year, while tourists will buy nearly 9 metric tons, according to the study. Earlier this year, state tax officials estimated the market at just 91 metric tons, and a separate study released last year estimated it at just 64 metric tons. One million grams are in a metric ton. Ac-cording to the study, the average joint contains about half a gram (these guys must roll-pinners). A significant amount of the Cannabis sold in Colorado is in either Cannabis-infused edibles or hash oil, which contains concentrated THC. “This analysis suggests that the Colorado mar-ijuana market is larger than previously thought,” according to the study.

Legal pot is booming all across Colorado ski towns“When combined, total resident and visitor demand is estimated to be approximately ... 130.3 metric tons in 2014. “This is a substantially higher value than re-ported in previous estimates,” the study notes. So far this fiscal year, Colorado has collect-ed $34.8 million in marijuana taxes and fees. Recreational marijuana sales began Jan. 1. According to the study, recreational and

medical marijuana stores will probably sell only about 77 metric tons of weed this year, with the rest sold illegally. Only a small amount is grown by people for their own use, the study said. Taxes on medical marijuana

are significantly lower in Colorado than on recreational weed, and residents with a quali-fying medical condition can get on the state’s “red card” registry for $15. But tourists can’t get those cards. “While many Colorado residents have medical marijuana cards allowing them to purchase at a lower tax rate and at a great-er number of locations, out-of-state visitors must purchase from retail marijuana vendors. Preliminary revenue and sales data from the Department of Revenue indicate that for some counties, 90 percent of all retail sales are likely to be from out-of-state visitors.” Colorado’s ski resorts have been a bit skit-tish about the marijuana boom, taking pains to remind both residents and tourists that smoking pot in public is still illegal. It’s also illegal to use marijuana on federal land, and the U.S. Forest Service owns most of the land in the state’s ski areas.

T

Smoking pot in public remains illegal as isusing marijuana on any federal land, like most of Colorado’s ski areas, owned by the U.S. Forest Service.

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The city attorney is going to waste resources on one of the 134 [dispensaries] that his own websitelists as being allowed to operate legally.”

os Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer was granted a restraining order July 16 to shut down a medical marijuana farmers market that had launched in the Boyle

Heights section of Los Angeles at the beginning of the month. Feuer brushed off arguments for the facility as he hailed it a “so-called farmers market.” The city attorney claimed the California Heritage Market held by West Coast Collective, a medical dispensary in East L.A., violates Proposition D, the voter-approved ordinance that restricts the number of medical marijuana dispensaries allowed in Los Angeles, reports KPCC public radio station. Feuer also claimed the event constitutes

FARMER’S MARKET TOLD TO SHUTDOWN

California

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“a nuisance” to the residents of the neighborhood. “It also fails, we allege, to comply with basic city land use laws,” Feuer claimed. “And they couldn’t get a permit if they tried. So for many reasons -- from the violation of Prop D to the impact on the community to the failure to comply with city land use law -- we allege that this isn’t a use that should be allowed to continue.”

A hearing is scheduled for August 6 for a permanent ruling on the legality of California Heritage Market. The three-day launch of the market, which only allowed patients with doctor’s authorizations, took place during the July 4th weekend. Thousands of patients came to a warehouse, drawn by the promise of lower prices and

Los Angeles officials argued farmer-to-consumer Cannabis sales were a violation of the city ’s dispensary ordinance

farmer-to-consumer Cannabis sales. About 25 vendors offered marijuana products and supplies; the line of attendees stretched for blocks. David Welch, an attorney for West Coast Collective, said he was “shocked and disappointed” by the city attorney’s action. According to Welch, the market allowed growers to sell directly to the collective’s patients, helping reduce prices. “There’s hundreds in the city today,” Welch said of the area’s dispensaries. “Yet the city attorney is going to waste resources on one of the 134 that his own website [lists as being] allowed to operate. Until the judge decides that this is an improper way of operating, my clients have no intent of ceasing.”

PHOTO COURTESY KCRW

California Heritage Market attracted lots of patients during a shortly lived launch on July 4.

California Heritage Market attracted lots of patients during a shortly lived launch on July 4.



Illinois

that medical marijuana has come to Illinois, how can qualified patients get autho-rized to legally use it? That

can be a problem when physicians willing to certify patients for the state’s Medical Cannabis Pilot Pro-gram are scarce, according to a new study. In a weeklong study conducted by DePaul Uni-versity students, 294 physician offices were contact-ed from a list provided on the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation’s physician profile search, and asked whether their practitioners would be certifying patients for the medical use of marijuana in Illinois. Of the 294 offices contacted, 157 offices report-ed that they would not see medical marijuana pa-tients. One hundred and thirty-two of the offices expressed that they were not sure what their physi-cians would be doing to help patients in the future.

Now The offices ranged from small family practices with one physician to large hospitals with hundreds of physicians practicing in one field. Half of the physicians contacted were prima-ry-care physicians, while half were specialists in the fields of gastroenterology, ophthalmology, oncolo-gy, neurology, pain management, infectious disease and rheumatology. Despite the variety of physicians contacted as part of the study, the results yielded an overwhelming answer of “no” to patients seeking medical marijua-na recommendations.

A shortage of knowledge

Many offices had shockingly little information, having no idea that medical marijuana is even legal in Illinois, although the pilot program has been in effect since Jan. 1. In total, only five offices of the

294 contacted confirmed that their physicians were willing to sign Illinois Medical Marijua-na Recommendations. Tammy Jacobi, chief executive of Chicago’s first medical marijuana business, Good Inten-tions Medical Marijuana Services, expressed her concerns for patients in Illinois. “The lack of physician involvement in any state’s medical marijuana program is and should be a serious concern,” she said. “Physicians are the gatekeepers for suc-cessful state programs and although there are many people suffering from the debilitating conditions which would, by Illinois law, qualify them for the program, they are at a loss to find physicians willing to help.” Medical marijuana should be available for authorized patients in Illinois beginning in early 2015, according to state officials.

>> Only five of the 294 offices contacted in a recent survey said their physicians would sign a recommendation

Qualified patientsleft with nowhereto turn as doctorsrefuse to be involved in state’s medical program.

[Patients] are at a loss to find physicians willing to help

-Tami Jacobi Chief Executive, Good Intentions

Medical Marijuana Service‘‘

rehashed By WES ABNEY | PHOTOS by JEREMY BRONSON for OREGON LEAF Eugene, OR July 18-20, 2014

14/ AUG. 2014 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF

The annual event helps spreads information about legalization and the reasons why the U.S. should let people grow hemp without hassle...

EMERALD EMPIRE HEMPFEST

Art by African Ash Glass

Stephanie Bishop speaks out against prison labor andthe drug war.

rehashed


he sixth annual Degenerate Flame Off was a huge success, helping bring a counterculture industry into the light of day and to award those with the best

skills behind the torch. The three-day event June 27-29 was held in Eugene at Cornerstone Glass, a sprawling facility that was packed with booths and attendees. Dozens of booths sold glass blowing supplies and equipment, various types of glass art and other cultural products. Many food trucks were there, as was a beer garden and plenty of places to sit down and take a toke. The first day of the event featured demonstrations from several artists, including some special techniques that are not always shared with other lampworkers, let alone the public. But it all tied into the vibe of the event, which was about sharing the love of glass art. “This event is for the people,” explained Chris Dragovich, a Washington glass artist who made the trip down to Eugene for the weekend. “It’s more of a gathering than an expo; it’s much more community-based. For the artists, the ego goes away for the weekend and everyone gets together for a good time without any drama.” One of the coolest parts of the event were the strolling vendors. Unlike most trade shows where sales outside of booths are forbidden, DFO encourages vendors to bring glass down and share it. The result is that everywhere you look, you see nationally known artists standing together, glass cases open with tens of thousands of dollars worth of glass, all offered to attendees at direct prices. For Chris, the ability to sell a couple pieces of paid for the trip, allowing him to spread his work to new

T people who might not have ever heard of him. Saturday was the competition day, with 18 lampworkers given eight hours to complete a piece of their choosing. By not having specific rules for the type of piece, creativity abounded and some really distinctive art was created in a short time. Several artists had pieces break during the process. The competition stayed friendly despite the high stakes, and by

Sunday, electricity was in the air as people awaited the results. The people’s choice experience was by far the most entertaining part, with a line over an hour long at one point to see the pieces created by the artists. The line filtered through the room where the competition had been, allowing attendees the opportunity to look at

each piece. When they walked out of the room, a crew with tablets took down attendees’ votes, and marked them off to ensure that no double voting occurred. By the time everyone voted, the sun was burning at about 80 degrees and everyone was ready to hear the winners. The artist Burtoni won the People’s Choice Award with a beautiful glass peacock, and he also won the overall judges award. The artist Salt won the Technical and Creative Award with his glass person standing with a classic rebellious stance with a peace sign tossed high in the air. Other cool pieces that didn’t win awards included glass ponies by ACE and a zen garden piece by Chad G. Mark your calendar for next year’s event! You can check out more of our photo coverage online at nwleaf.com and head on over to the DFO website, cornerstoneglass.com/dfo for all the results.

Saturday was thecompetition day when 18 lampworkers weregiven eight hours tocomplete a new pieceof their choosing —in any manner or style.

By WES ABNEY | PHOTOS by JEREMY BRONSON for OREGON LEAF Eugene, OR June 27-29, 2014

DEGENERATE FLAME-OFF G L A S S B L O W E R S C O M P E T E F O R G L O R Y I N E U G E N E

AUG. 2014 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF /17

Burtoni works on his design that would earn him a People’s Choice Award and Overall Judge’s Award.

ABOVE: Glass artists Ryno and ACE compete. LEFT: Glass artists Merc and Bishop compete.


access By WES ABNEY | PHOTOS by DANIEL BERMAN

DIVINE KINDwww.divinekindpdx.com 8601 SW Terwilliger Blvd. Portland, OR 97209

(503) 889 -0929

alking through the frosted glass windows into the bright and open budroom of Divine Kind feels like waltzing into a swanky boutique, but instead of jewelry or clothes,

what’s behind glass here is top-quality medicine. You won’t find high-pressure sales or marked-up prices here. The focus is on the medicine, with friendly staff waiting behind a series of display cases showing off the strains and other products. The feeling is professional and comfortable. For the owners, the husband and wife team of Daniel and Kari Francisco, the vibe is exactly how they de-signed it to be. “I wanted patients to have a medical experience with a resort spa-like feel,” Daniel explained. “We

W fit in this community, and patients and locals alike feel comfortable with what we are doing.” In one corner of the open bud room a se-lection of 420 Wax Worx candles are available for purchase alongside clothes and oth-er accessories. Across the other side is a comfortable nook with seating for pa-tients to take a break or wait if a line has formed to see the medicine available. One of the most distinctive features of Divine Kind is how it has chosen to display medicine. It is balanced by sativa domi-nance to one end and indica dominance at the other, 50/50 hybrids meeting in the middle. By following the display, patients can pick based on effects to find medicine ideal for their condition.

The flower selection is solid, and that comes down to good relationships with the growers producing the medicine. Divine Kind lays claim to being the first licensed dispensary to make all growers taxed

independent-contractors, with 1099s to prove it — paying them like vendors in any other business. “We only work with vendors we be-lieve in, and who believe in what we are doing,” Daniel said. “We have a sign on the front door the that says ‘Locally

owned, locally grown’ and we stick to that.” While the system is running smoothly now, it wasn’t easy when the dispensary opened. “It was hard at first. When we opened we only had five strains on the shelf, and we had grown

From the design to the staff, Divine Kind in Southwest Portland creates a well-polished experience worth checking out

SMOOTH OPERATORS


four of them,” Kari said with a laugh. “There was tons of resistance to it at first. But we stuck with it, and now we get to create more business, more rev-enue for the state, help growers become real busi-nesses, and ultimately create jobs. That’s our pitch to the growers.” The diligence has paid off. By working only with growers who are aboveboard and legal, the shop stays in compliance and avoids bad medicine from unscrupulous vendors. When we stopped in, 23 strains of flower were on the shelf ranging in price from $8 to $12 per gram. One of the best-looking strains was the Sweet Pink Grapefruit, which was bursting with sour citrus fla-

vors. A distinctive Blue Dream phenotype was also on the shelf, which led with sour flavors and finished with a sweet taste. We also liked the Oregon Diesel, a strain grown by a local veteran. It has a heavy chem smell with woodsy notes, and released a deep sweet skunk smell when the nug was snapped open. The selection of concentrates was also impressive. Twelve varieties competed for our attention, rang-ing from solventless to BHO, with some tasty PHO available as well. The P-Funk PHO by Lunchbox Alchemy was gorgeous, with tangy citrus notes and a creative and clear-minded high. The same vendor also had a perfect five-star Sour D X Green Crack

option that was as light as parchment paper and packed with flavor. In the edibles department, Divine Kind has a solid selection ranging from gummies to a variety of baked goods. The Coma Treats Or-ange Kush Honey Pistachio Cookie has 225 mg of THC per cookie and a distinctive fla-vor and taste, all for $9. The Oreo Truffle also looked sinful in the caloric department, with tons of chocolate flavor and 183 mg of THC per truffle. Overall, this is one quality dispensary, with knowledgeable staff who enjoy their work of helping patients. “This is the most fun I have ever had at a job,” said Hunter Barendrick, a budtender. “It’s how everyone feels here — Doing some-thing to help patients and learning about Can-nabis. I would do it even if it wasn’t my job!”

By following the display, patients can pick based on effects to find the medicine ideal for them.

access By WES ABNEY | PHOTOS by DANIEL BERMAN

OREGON’S [email protected] 1327 NW Kearney St.Portland, OR 97209(971) 254-4765

regon’s Finest offers patients an ex-perience built smoothly around the growers and gardening techniques that supply the top-shelf medicine available in the collective. Instead of listing medicine by strain type or

test results, the high-definition menus group every-thing based on what garden the medicine actually has been produced from. It’s a different approach, and one that has been immensely helpful for patients who are picky about their medicine. “We want to give back to the growers and con-nect patients to the best medicine possible,” said Megan Marchetti, manager at the dispensary. “That’s why we don’t use the term budtender. In-

O stead we have grower reps who help connect the two together.” When growers bring in a strain to be offered to patients, they must fill out a three-part infor-mation sheet, providing the quantitative test results from a third-party facility, and listing information such as canna-binoid profiles and terpene percentages. The second step is a qualitative form, filled out by the grower and a patient, who lists the effects of the strain from their actual personal experience. This al-lows for real descriptions of the medicine, and a different perspective from the test results that are required at every collective. In the third and final step, the grower details how the medicine was

produced. Pesticides and nutrients are listed, as is the method of growing (hydro or coco, for exam-ple) before the medicine is harvested and brought in. This transparency encourages confidence and

allows for patients with special medical needs to avoid unwanted nutrients or chemicals. “It’s not like we are asking for the secret to a growers sauce,” Megan said, “but we want to have transparency and provide the most information possible to patients — especially patients who

have serious allergies or are very sick. They deserve to know everything about their medicine.” Once cleared through a protective security door, patients will get a glimpse of what might happen

Exploring Oregon’s Finest, a West Portland dispensary where patients can connect medicine to growers

NORTHWEST VIBES


Owner Troy Moore wanted patients tofeel comfortableenough to lookat all the strains.

if a hipster coffee shop collided with a log cabin. Overlooking the room stocked full of medi-cine is a large wooden backsplash hanging high behind the counters. Corrugated metallic pan-els frame close-up bud shots produced in-house. Hints of Northwest roots are sprinkled about. The result is a friendly atmosphere, with a vibe of exclusivity, that is still comfortable. And that’s where the similarities to any other easygoing dis-pensaries end. One of the shop’s three bud stations is designed to be ADA-accessible, with a special lower counter created after consulting with a patient who special-ized in their construction. And at the rest of the bud

stations, no counters get in the way. Instead, patients can get their own up-close view of the jars, looking through every strain available at the dispensary on shelves shining brightly in two corners of the shop. “I feel like patients at most collectives are often too shy or nervous to ask budtenders to pull out every single strain from behind a counter. And that’s as-suming the person working is friendly,” Owner Troy Moore said. “I wanted people to feel comfortable enough to look at every strain we have available, and pick what is best for their needs. We built this space to promote the grower, and the best way to do that is to focus on the medicine.”

A grower himself, Troy is focused on what makes good medicine for patients. It also al-lows him to have a different take on setting up a dispensary. This is not their original location, but for Oregon’s Finest, a move allowed for the opportunity to recreate a business that was al-ready open and successful. Their new home features a great selection of tested and tasty looking edibles, and a variety of high-quality flower strains from different gardens. Patients can sometimes try the same strain from multiple gardens to determine which works best for their condition. “At one point we had three different Girl Scout Cookies on the shelf at once,” Troy said. “But instead of being redundant or compet-ing with each other, the strains highlighted the differences between growers. The patients love the choice of grower and strain.”

Patients will get a glimpse of what might happen if a hipster coffee shop collided with a log cabin.


Owner Troy Moore wanted patients tofeel comfortableenough to lookat all the strains.

The old school “triple-bag it” warning definitely applies to this flower. And even that precaution might not be enough to contain the heavy and penetrating aroma that oozes out of the Dog Walker OG like a radioactive chemical.

The smell is dominated by sour fruit smells mixing with chemy fuel tastes and a skunky garlic tone that quickly spreads through a room. To say this strain has a complex palate is to not give it enough credit. When smoked, a woodsy fruit taste comes out from behind the heavier green tones, with a lemony finish upon exhale. Flowering in 60-63 days and grown in coco with Cutting Edge nutrients, the flush on the flower is solid and the smoke is smooth and easy.

As for effects, be prepared to clear your schedule! Even experienced budtenders express warnings for this strain. Although it is by nature a hybrid (produced by a cross between Albert Walker OG and Chem Dog) the effects are heavy and couch-locking. This heavy hitter is great for stress, though it isn’t best for daytime as it tends to make users drowsy. It is perfect for insomnia or restlessness, and for heavy pain days.

We found that the strain worked well either through a bong or rolled up, with a solid cure that makes the nugs easy for any patient to use. Check out the Dog Walker OG at Urban Farmacy, and ask for other strains grown by the master grower OneEye on the top shelf !

STRAINOF THE MONTH

OREGON LEAF

Available From Urban Farmacy

420 NE 60th St. Portland, OR 97213 (503) 957-7832 www.urbanfarmacyprc.com

Test Results by Sunrise Analytical


>>The Dog Walker OG is perfect for helping with insomnia or restlessness, and for heavy pain days.

By WES ABNEY | PHOTO by DANIEL BERMAN

DOG WALKER OG

27.5% THC // 7.8% total terpenespasses microbial test

Grown by OneEye


recipes By MALINA LOPEZ for OREGON LEAF | PHOTO by DENNIS WISE for OREGON LEAF

* MARIJUANA BUTTER

*MARIJUANA FLOUR

MARIJUANA GHEE

*


YUMMY!FOUR GREAT

RECIPESP. 28-35

TASTYSUMMERRECIPES

*THESE RECIPES RELY ON MEDICATED INGREDIENTS you can find at many dispensaries, but they’re not hard to make from scratch if you have the time. Get the most out of this beautiful weather with a wonderful medicated meal. You’ll definitely be glad to have more than just bud in your bowl...

MARIJUANA COOKING OIL*


SALAD DRESSINGCombine all ingredients with a whisk, should be foamy and smooth. Refrigerate.

4TBS marijuana cooking oil

1/3 cup champagne vinegar

1TBS dijon mustard

Salt and pepper to taste

1TBS lemon juice

2TBS honey

INGREDIENTS


TOFU CURRY

3TBS Coconut weed butter

1 small onion chopped

1 large garlic clove chopped fine

1 lemongrass stalk, 4-5 slices

4 shitake mushrooms sliced

1/2 cup firm tofu diced

1/2 cup green peas in pod

2TBS green curry paste

salt and pepper to taste

1 can 14 oz. coconut milk

1/2 cup veggie broth

INGREDIENTS

Saute veggies in coconut butter 8min or until soft, add coconut milk and broth

and curry paste, discard lemon grass before serving. Simmer until done 12

min. then add the tofu at the end. Do not boil. Serve with a lime wedge and

chopped cilantro. Salt and pepper to taste.


FRIED CHICKEN

3 drum sticks

3 wings

1C weed flour

salt and pepper to taste

1TBS Smoked Paprika

1 cup butter milk

4-6 cups canola oil to fry

INGREDIENTS

Marinate the chicken in buttermilk overnight. Mix flour, salt, pepper and

paprika together. Dredge the the drained chicken in flour mixture. Heat oil to

very hot, about 350 F°. Fry chicken until golden 12 minutes or so, bake 325 F°

on a cookie sheet with wire rack for 25 minutes. Try adding a dab of honey.


CARAMEL SAUCE

1c sugar

1/2 c heavy cream

2TBS Weed Ghee

INGREDIENTS

Combine the sugar and 4TBS of room temperature water in a 2-qt. sauce pan over

medium heat. Without stirring, cook the mixture until dark amber color, swirling the pan

carefully while cooking about 20 minutes. Reduce heat to low, then slowly add cream

and butter. Cook the mixture until smooth. Let cool and add to ice cream, brownies...

health & science


By WES ABNEY | PHOTOS by LEAH NASH for OREGON LEAF

LEADERSHIP FROM THE TOPDispensary owners and point persons in the medical Cannabis world had a rare opportunity to ask the head of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program about best business practices

groundbreaking meeting of dispensary owners, stakeholders and the director of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program gathered June at the Rivers

Edge Cafe in Southwest Portland for an event hosted by Canna-Daddy’s, the dispensary, and de-signed to build trust, compliance and plans for the future of medical Cannabis. Dozens of business owners and persons respon-sible for site (PRFs) at dispensaries joined for de-licious food, insightful questions and just a hint of controversy because much of the Oregon dispen-sary law went under the microscope. Patients from the businesses were joined by Tom Burns, the di-rector of the OMMP, whose engaging and open attitude provided a welcome change to typical bu-reaucratic meetings.

A The day started with people mingling in the con-ference room of the Black Box -- as the building is called -- which had spacious rooms and a profes-sional environment. After introductions and con-nections were made, the group gathered in the lec-ture room, where Brad Zusman, the Rivers Edge’s owner, addressed the group about why he had the vision to put it all together. “The goal of this event is to create safety for pa-tients and for businesses, and for owners to realize that you are vulnerable if you don’t have ways to reach out and get your questions answered,” Brad explained. “I think everyone here has come to some form of agreement that we need to come together. This isn’t about money or ego, it’s about bringing people together who can help dictate where the in-

dustry is going, and to make sure it is done in a positive way with integrity.” Once the introductions were complete, the group launched into a Socratic-style seminar, with Brad as the MC keeping the flow going. Over the next hour, owners raised concerns about a variety of topics, and then discussed what Tom Burns should be asked when he and his staff arrived. A major source of concern was the potential legalization movement in Oregon, and how it would affect the current medical system. It was invigorating to watch stakeholders working to answer each others’ questions, even when dis-agreements arose about which direction the in-dustry should go.

Saturday June 28, 2014


This isn’t about money or ego, it’s about bringing people together who can help

dictate where the industry is going, and to make sure it is done in a positive way

with integrity. -Brad ZusmanOwner, Rivers Edge Cafe,

which held the meeting

‘‘

Tom Burns, Director of OMMP, at podium, answered questions in a friendly environment that allowed for honest feedback and discussion.

After intense debate for an hour, the group broke for a lunch catered by Rivers Edge Cafe, before gathering again for the main attraction. Tom, sit-ting in a room full of license holders his organi-zation is responsible for, readied himself for a two-hour forum for questions. He took a seat to applause, and looked up eagerly at the crowd with a friendly, jovial spirit. “First and foremost, I want to remind everyone that our goal is to help you meet the letter of law, meet all the rules, and address any issues that you might have. We want to make sure that the public is safe, and that the patients are safe,” Tom explained. “It is also important to remember that the OMMP and the law is not perfect. We will work hand in hand to fix bad rules, and we are going to reopen rules again in the future, and I encourage all you to be active in making those changes. You guys know best, if you like something or don’t, then you need to be in Salem lobbying to make change.” Over the next two hours, topics including the testing of Cannabis, who is responsible for testing, issues of compliance with zoning or new laws, card holder issues, medible questions and security wor-ries. One issue that surprised many attendees was the arbitrary rules over selling seeds at dispensaries. “There is no provision currently in the law for the sale of seeds. It may be silly, but it is the let-ter of the law. My suggestion is do not sell them,” Tom said, showing empathy toward embattled dis-pensary owners wanting to provide every possible product to their patients. “Step back, remember, what are we doing here? We’re protecting public interests and the patients.” Another issue of major contention was the lack-luster regulations for testing companies. Currently, anyone with a machine for testing can enter the

marketplace, without any accreditation or scien-tific background. Many accusations have arisen about “pay for results” companies offering high tests for premium costs. Many are concerned about integrity in the chain of custody between growers and dispensaries obtaining medicine. “The law is very clear on the custody of med-icine in that the PRF must ensure that the med-icine is tested. This means that the dispensary is ultimately responsible for testing the medicine. As for the test companies themselves, what we want to make sure is that we don’t have unscru-pulous testers offering cheap guaranteed results,” Tom said. “The law will need to be changed to reflect this. Remember, part of this is that we [OMMP] are still learning. You guys need to step in and help us.” By giving the dispensaries responsibility, Tom was able to empower the people present. The two hours were filled with spirited discussions, thoughtful responses and polite clapping when someone made a good point. Alongside Tom were three of staff members, who are doing in-spections on dispensaries, which had many plac-es nervous. As questions shifted toward compli-ance, Tom immediately jumped in to quell fears. “We don’t want to be looked at as Gestapo coming to enforce and shut you down.,” Tom said. “We want to help you succeed, meet the

letter of the law, and if you need changes then to make recommendations. Remember that 11 months ago none of this existed. This is a learning experience for both of us.” Overall the experience was refreshing, and helped answer questions of those who are pio-neers in the industry. At the end, everyone gave Brad a big round of applause, and he ended the day with a goodbye challenge. “I want to be able to welcome you back, and use the space, and do this again. I hope I can count on all of you for support in the future!” The answer was a resounding yes.

Brad Zusman organized the event


health & science

THE SCIENCEof SLEEP BY OREGON LEAF

SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR SCOTT D. ROSE

Getting a good night’s rest is about more than just having a nice bed. Your body’s own chemistry can affect how you sleep in so many ways.

An industry has evolved to deal with sleep disorders. Pharmaceuticals either help you get to sleep, keep you asleep, or do both. When one is faced with being offered a prescription, remember that your body is usually not suffering from a deficiency of that medication.

The proper number of hours of quality sleep is essential for good health. Many chronic dis-eases and mood disorders, including depression, are related to sleep insufficiency, or lack of sleep. Sleep insufficiency can be caused by many factors, including our fast-paced culture, use of technologies, or insomnia or sleep apnea. Acci-dents and people having difficulty performing routine tasks increase with lack of sleep. Insuffi-cient sleep has become a public health epidemic in the U.S. with high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and cancer all associated. In the U.S., 62 percent of people experience sleep problems several nights per week and 40 percent have chronic sleep problems. Some re-search points to more than nine hours as be-ing what we need as adults, but more than 30 percent are getting less than six hours nightly. People use medications, herbal supplements,

exercise and many rituals when they are having problems sleeping. Throughout evolution, our sleep patterns have changed, but our need for sleep hasn’t. Sleep is characterized by an altered state of consciousness, relatively inhibited sensory activity and inhibition of nearly all voluntary muscles. However, a lot of business occurs in the body during sleep. When the body is asleep, it is in more of an anabolic state, or a rebuilding and repairing state. During the wakeful phase, the catabolic or breakdown state predominates. Degeneration of the body is when breakdown is occurring at a faster rate than the body can rebuild and repair. At this fundamental level, one can see that sleep hygiene is critical. When studying the physiology of brain activ-ity during sleep, two major categories exist for the stages of sleep -- rapid eye movement (REM) and

nonrapid eye movement (nREM). There are three nREM stages and they repre-sent a progression of incrementally deep-er levels of sleep as identified by certain brain wave activities, response to stimuli and the movement of the eyes. REM sleep is characterized by rapid eye movement and is brief. REM is actu-ally a heightened state of the brain with vital signs and oxygen consumption by the brain found to be higher than when someone is awake. Sleep occurs in cy-

cles from light to heavy nREM 1-3 with shorter spikes of REM measured in minutes; four to five or more times per night is ideal. REM sleep is crucial because it is during REM sleep where the most vivid and memorable dreams occur, and without it, people lose their ability to solve complex tasks while awake. Mammals are not intended to be nocturnal creatures. Humans are mammals responding to the cycle of day and night -- the circadian rhythm. We are meant to be wakeful during daylight. Our endocrine systems are responsible for many pro-cesses in the body and it’s the primary responder to the circadian rhythm. Since the invention of the light bulb, we have been able to extend our wakeful hours. Light pol-lution is an advent of modern society. Even the light emitted from a digital alarm clock on the nightstand might be enough to negatively affect your body. Light through a window, a night light, laptops and other devices can cause problems, too. The appropriate amount of time spent in bed is a critical factor that’s different for everyone. Gen-erally, if you’re tired during the day, stay in bed longer. If you’re not sleeping well, staying in bed perhaps only seven hours can “sleep train” your pattern. An industry has evolved to deal with sleep dis-orders. Pharmaceuticals either help you get to sleep, keep you asleep, or do both. When one is faced with being offered a prescription, remem-


Light pollution is an advent of modern society. Even light emitted from an alarm clock on the nightstand might be enough to negatively affect your body. Light through a window, a night light, laptops and other devices can cause problems with sleep, too.

Dr. Scott D. Rose is a naturopathic physician, acupuncturist specialized in com-bining naturopathic medicine and Chinese medicine to treat a variety of complaints. www.msih.biz

Tips & tricks for promoting good sleep patterns and daytime alertnessAvoid stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine late in the day or entirely if you can help it.

Avoid alcohol because nREM3 or REM are compromised.

Avoid eating food before bed, es-pecially spicy or fatty foods.

Use your bed for sleep and sex only. Don’t use it as an office or for the TV.

Develop regular bedtime & wake times, avoid naps.

Get adequate exposure to natural light.

Regular vigorous morning or afternoon exercise can help sleep, but don’t exer-cise before bed.

Keep your room comfortable and have a comfortable bed.

Keep the bedroom dark.

ber that your body is usually not suffering from a deficiency of that medication. These medications can have side effects, the most common being prolonged drowsiness the next day, confusion and forgetfulness. Other common side effects of prescribed sleep medications include dry mouth, constipation, headaches, muscle aches, dizziness and unsteadiness. Other considerations before taking a pharmaceutical sleep aid are drug depen-dence, withdrawal symptoms, rebound insomnia, drug interactions and a buildup of tolerance. Many over-the-counter medications exist, too. These can be effective when used sparingly. OTC sleep aids contain the antihistamines diphenhydr-amine and doxylamine. These chemicals also are found in products that treat hay fever and com-mon cold symptoms. OTC sleep aids are meant to be used for short-term insomnia only. Sleep experts advise against the use of OTC sleep aids because of side effects, questionable effectiveness and a lack of information about their safety over the long term. Check with your doctor before using these products because they should not be used in com-bination with health conditions such as glaucoma, enlarged prostate, diseases of the lung or with cer-tain medications. Alternative medicine has much to offer with sleep insufficiency. Many herbal supplements can be found over the counter. Three commonly used herbs are valerian, chamomile and passion flow-er. Valerian needs to be taken for several weeks for peak effectiveness and seems to help those who are withdrawing from sleeping medications. Chamomile is easily taken as a tea before bed, but must be steeped covered because the active sleepy ingredient leaves in the steam. The pol-len found in chamomile preparations can cause allergic reactions. If you are allergic to ragweed, you might not be able to use chamomile. Passion flower is used for sleep problems and anxiety. This herb is milder and is often combined with other herbs. These herbs promote relaxation in the ner-vous system. Most people with sleep insufficiency are in sympathetic dominance. In the autonom-ic branch of the central nervous system, the portion that controls factors that we do not need to think about, including breathing and heart rate, two halves exist -- the sympathet-ic and the parasympathetic. The sympathet-ic turns processes up, such as heart rate and muscle tone, and the parasympathetic does the opposite. The sympathetic is the “fight or flight” response so often used in our response to stress. Techniques can be learned through biofeedback to help create a balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic. Muscle

tension is monitored electronically and the indi-vidual can then consciously influence the muscle tension patterns. Chinese medicine offers a different philosophy on insomnia and sleep disorders. The disturbance is on a shen, or spirit level. The shen is said to not be anchored in the heart blood and is up wander-ing. Treatment strategies are to nourish or affect the heart blood with an herbal prescription and to anchor the shen with acupuncture. Acupuncture is an excellent way to balance the nervous system and to promote more parasympa-thetic activity. During an acupuncture treatment, an individual is needled, which might be slight-ly stressful, and then asked not to move for up-ward of 30 minutes, creating a relaxation phase. We are all designed with the fight or flight re-sponse, but we also are designed to rest afterward. Exercise promotes better sleep hygiene. Vigor-ous exercise should be performed in the morn-ing or afternoon -- not in the evening. Walking versus running is more beneficial in the evening, for example. One study found that participants who exercised in the afternoon reported fewer

sleep disruptions than those who hit the gym in the morning. It might not be as simple as increased energy output to increase sleepiness at night. Research has shows a relationship between sleep and exercise. It seems sleeping bad-ly tended to shorten the next day’s workout, while a full-length exercise session did not, in most cases, produce more and better sleep that night. This information is important for those with sleep insufficiency who are exer-cising (and those who are not should be!) to not get discouraged. It might take a while, but regular exercise has been shown to help. Yoga is a form of exercise that strengthens both body and mind. Certain styles of yoga are perfect for promoting better sleep patterns. We live in an age of chronic degenerative disease and sleep is a fundamental determi-nant of health. We can’t live without it. Intrac-table, or untreatable insomnia, leads to death. So many repairing and rebuilding mecha-nisms are at work while we sleep that pro-moting more restful and optimal sleep pat-terns is key to reversing the degenerative process. Even if it’s just a few nights of poor sleep, sleep insufficiency warrants correction. Check sleepfoundation.org for other tech-niques to achieve better sleep. And get rested.


health & science

Passion flower tea recipe: www.tinyurl.com/passiontea

THE SECRET POWER OF passionflower

BY NORTHWEST LEAF SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR

SCOTT D. ROSE

It is a perennial climbing vine, long and trailing, possessing many tendrils. The whitish/purple flower resembles the crown of thorns worn by Jesus during the crucif ixion and through folklore this is where passionflower receives its name. The fleshy fruit isan oval yellowish berry about the size of a hen’s egg.

Parts used: Above-ground parts, flowers, leaves and stems.

Active constituents: The active constituent of a methanol extract was identified as a benzoflavone. These are of the class flavonoids. Flavonoids are found in cereal grains and herbs. The structure of the benzoflavone is similar to that of the benzodiazepine class of sleep medications.

Historical uses: Passionflower was used traditionally in the Americas and later in Europe as a calming herb for anxiety, insomnia, seizures and hysteria. The Aztecs reportedly used passionflower as a seda-tive and pain reliever.

Medicinal uses: Passionflower might increase levels of a chemical called gamma aminobu-tyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA lowers the activity of some brain cells, making you feel more relaxed. One study of 36 people with general-ized anxiety disorder found that passionflower was as effective as the drug oxazepam (Serax) for treating symptoms. Patients who were given passionflower before surgery had less anxiety, but recovered from anesthesia just as quickly, than those given placebo. Passionflower can be such a potent herbal remedy because it calms muscle tension and twitching without affecting respiratory rates or mental

A B O T A N I C A L M O N O G R A P H

Drug interactions: Don’t take if you’re already taking prescription medication for anxiety or depression because excessive sleepiness has been reported.

PHOTO BY FLICKR/TISWANGO

Passif lora Incarnata is native to the tropical & subtropical par ts of the Americas, and grown throughout Europe.

Contraindications: Passionflower is generally considered to be non-toxic when used in moderation. Avoid use in preg-nancy. Passionflower is a known uterine stimulant.

functions the way many pharmaceutical sedatives do. Benzoflavone binds to and inhibits the aromatase enzymes, thus preventing the oxidation of testosterone to the production of estrogen.Benzoflavone also significantly reduces symptoms of withdrawal from, and addiction and dependence on, benzodiazepines, alcohol, morphine, nicotine and Cannabis.

D e s c r i p t i o n

Side effects & toxicity: Passionflower is generally considered to be nontoxic when used in moderation. When taking too much, depression of the nervous system can occur, causing fatigue and mental fogginess.

Dosage: When using in an herbal tea for acute stress and anxiety, drink 2 to 4 cups per day for a week, then reduce the dosage or take less often. For muscle tension and anxiety, take 30 to 60 drops (1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon) of tincture twice a day or up to every two to three hours, depending on your response. Start with a smaller dose and increase amount, frequency as needed. Take 2 capsules 3x/day for insomnia.

Passionflower is often combined with valerian, lemon balm or other calming herbs for effects relaxing on body & mind.

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growtech

Into The Deep > > D e e p Wat e r C u lt u r e g r o w i n g I S P O W E R F U L A N D A M A Z I N G LY E F F I C I E N T — I F YO U C A N g e t e v e r y t h i n g d i a l e d - i n . . .

questions? Never hesitate to email me at [email protected]. See a wide range of useful growing videos and tips at Youtube.com/DrScandersonGt

ushing the boundaries of plant genetics can take many forms. Indoor gardening is constantly trying to improve upon its

accolades in order to make up for its shortcomings. Namely, it is always subject to the inferior light spectrum of human-made lamp technology. There are however, several areas that the indoor gardener can leverage that aren’t as readily or practically available to outdoor growing environments. The ability to control the environment including supplementation with C02 is certainly one area, utilizing specialized growing techniques such as Low Stress Training (LST), FIM’ing, Topping, and Scrog, to maximize the efficacy of horizontally lit gardens is another. Yet another is the growing medium and system itself. Hydroponic gardening was first designed for agricultural food production in arid environments. The opulent amounts of water necessary to properly feed and nourish soils for food production simply isn’t available in these environments. Hydroponic feeding uses water considerably more efficiently and in combination with mineral based fertilizer, does so in a comparably much smaller root space. The evolution of the various types of hydroponic gardening has taken many, many stages of advancement. One of the most exciting and impressive results come from a style of hydroponic growing known as Deep Water Culture. In these systems, the roots are suspended directly into the nutrient solution with no additional

P medium used what so ever. Please let me start by saying that these systems can be very difficult to get dialed in. I do not recommend them for newer growers for a variety of reasons that will hopefully become obvious throughout this piece. Now that I’ve offered sufficient disclaimer, buckle up, because this is growing in the fast lane. The environment that a properly dialed in Deep Water Culture (DWC) system provides is so incredibly ideal for plant growth and development every biological function the plant carries out is exaggerated and the results can be astounding. This article is in NO WAY trying to suggest that DWC improves on what nature provides,

rather, I consider it a redesigned environment — separate from nature — that can achieve similar but also fantastic growing results. DWC systems really focus on maximizing one of the few pillars that every gardener’s success rests

on but is often accomplished invisibly: getting oxygen to the roots. The nutrient solution is treated with an air stone and air pump that is constantly infusing oxygen into the solution. The roots love this environment. The direct and constant contact with the nutrient solution combined with it’s highly oxygenated state makes nutrient uptake and plant growth rates accelerate considerably. No other system gives the amount of control over oxygen availability to the root zone. This results is such superior nutrient uptake that plants grow and in fact thrive in very low nutrient concentrations. With absolutely no medium the

root are able to grow to a more dense mass. In combination with chelated nutrients, DWC allows a phenomenal amount of lush growth in the canopy from an extremely small space (relative to containers) in the root zone. DWC systems elaborately enhance the root zone’s natural capacity to function through its own design. By keeping nutrient levels extremely low (300-400 average) you can avoid many of the issues that gardening with highly concentrated synthetic nutrients can create. You also have complete and direct control over exactly what the plant has access to as you create the medium with whatever nutrient solution that you mix and fill the bucket with.

Why it works

With this level of control it’s much easier to adjust the temperature of the medium as well. A crispy cool medium not only provides higher levels of dissolved oxygen and strong pathogenic resistance but allows the canopy to grow and thrive in a wider variety of temperatures and conditions. The comparative results to traditional container mediums can look like improved yields by 20 to 50 percent, shorter flower times by one to two weeks, faster veg. times by 30 to 40 percent and all the accelerated growth rates associated with attaining these results. This can be both a great thing and the characteristic that makes DWC growing


By SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR DR. SCANDERSON for OREGON LEAF

D e e p Wat e r C u lt u r e s y s t e m s maximize the oxygen getting to your plant’s roots. DWCs generally use a small net pot, filled with a rock medium and fitted into the lid of a bucket which holds the plant’s stalk and acts as an anchor the roots grow out of and are suspend from. The roots grow out of the net pot in a short period of time from transplant and a cool, oxygen rich nutrient solution is there to greet them.

Sink or swim

Always start with one site at a time, leave room for learning. Don’t convert your entire garden to a new growing style.

Synthetic Nutrients (salt-based) work bet-ter in Deep Water Culture systems. Stay away from any organic nutrients and supplements containing organic amendments.

Use only base nutrients and a bloom booster.

Start out at 25% of the recommended nutrient concentrations and consider working your way up to 50%.

Water temps are key. Keep them as low as you can or around 65 degrees F °.

When it comes to Oxygen, the more the bet-ter. Lots of air, lots of diffusers (air stones).

DON’T draw the air you are oxygenating your buckets with from inside your C02 rich growing environment.

difficult to master. If you don’t know what the plant needs and when it needs it, you have no medium with residual food or “as of yet”unavailable nutrients to compensate for any errors. You will learn about nutrient deficiency very quickly as a result. Also because the roots are suspended directly in solution they are more nutrient sensitive and will burn faster and more easily if nutrient concentrations get too high and will lock up faster if pH falls out of line. With fewer days in flower, having every aspect of the garden dialed in each day becomes even more critical. If the initial mix of nutrients is too high, plants will continue on their super high rates of growth as long as they can. In turn, the plants will consume more of the water in the solution than the nutrients, which increases the concentration further and creates a domino effect. If you are not able to catch this within a few hours to a day, your plants may burn, lock up or both, and if that happens during flower on what may be a 55-day cycle you may lose a substantial amount in the results department. Another area highly prone to cause problems in DWC is mechanical failure. Unlike almost every other hydroponic system, adding in redundancy for electrical or mechanical pump failure can be a challenge. If the air pump fails, the roots become suspended in stagnant water and in a few hours will become starved for oxygen, and at risk of aerobic bacterial blooms. DWC systems are generally prone to bacterial root infections because most systems have the bucket with the nutrient solution being pounded by high-intensity discharge lighting. It’s imperative that you monitor your solution’s

temperature. Anything above 72-73 degrees F° will create some pretty comfortable conditions for aerobic bacteria and other fungal infestations that can destroy root systems. Using preventatives such as H2O2, hypochlorous acid or other root

zone optimizers is a wise choice as the adversity of the conditions increase. Adding a perpetual cycle of frozen water bottles can take a degree or three out of your nutrient solution’s temps, helpful if you’re floating right on the border of the danger zone.

tHE “LESS IS MORE” PRINCIPLE

Let me make this as clear as I can. The overwhelming reason one goes through all the effort, utilizes all the resources and ultimately takes all the risks associated with cultivating in “The Deep” is to take advantage of the environment created for the root zone. This means that the “less is more” principle is amplified to a major degree. If you choose to garden using a DWC system, let the system do the work and focus on keeping the nutrient concentrations low and the pH in range. Which type of mineral based supplement you choose, assuming you adhere to the rest of the suggestions is less important in deep water cultivation provided it’s of high quality and you choose a nutrient line suitable for DWC. Lots of growers talk about grams per watt as an ultimate measure of skill in the garden and, to a large extent, I agree. There is a clear and divisive line between those growers who are able to pull north of 1-1.25 gpw and those that do not. But often overlooked in these “efficiency” measures is what it took to arrive at these total grams. Let us not forget the reason hydroponic gardening was invented in the first place. In sealed rooms where transpired moisture is collected and recycled, DWC systems are more environmentally friendly than their organic counterparts from a water conservation perspective and are more efficient. DWC system excel at production efficiency and can not only crush 1.25 gpw yields but can do so using about at 0.01 gpg (gallons per gram). To put that in perspective, the analogous room using high capacity container medium would use roughly 25 times that amount of water to produce the same result and require approximately four times the amount of fertilizer If you dig tinkering, taking readings, making small adjustments and seeing big differences in a short period of time, growing this way might be something you will excel at and come to truly enjoy.



BEHIND THE STRAIN

EFFECTSMy head has reached, the stratosphere, contact mission control. The definition of heady must have been created from this medication. Like drinking a quadruple shot of espresso minus and jitters or heart rate the world is now clear and I’m feeling centered, inspired and ready to take on the day, or night. Thoughts come racing in to which I categorize, create action item list for and get started. First up on the list, RE-TASTE!

Like a quad-shot of espresso minus the heart attacks. I’m centered and ready to take on the day — or night.

Double barrel og kush

HOW IT GROWSlike most elite og kush’S these are not easy to grow — they absolutely demand high levels of calcium and magnesium in veg and early flower but nutrient sensitive to higher salt environments. These girls are sensitive to heat but also grow best with lots of light. Early training and pruning is a must if getting any sort of substantial yield is a priority. 45-50 days of veg build a nice wide base that will hold the weight and account for the vicious stretch they are capable of. Run veg for 60 days + and you can expect pak-a-plant-plus results. Vegging for this long requires advanced experience in height mitigation as these ladies will more than double in size during the first 2 weeks of flower. When dialed in, she responds so very quickly to super cropping they can be some of the most exciting plants to work with. These OG’s like the nitrogen well into flower and show very little natural resistance to mold so clean environments, best practices and plenty of air movement is a must if you’re gardening in the PNW.

GENETICS: WHITEFIRE #2 (RASKALS FIRE OG X THE WHITE) X RASKALS OG KUSH (FIRE OG X SFV OG)

PHENOTYPE: DEVESTATION // FLOWER TIME: 52-55 DAYS

LINEAGEName says it all on this one. Dank House goes out on a limb with an F1 hybrid and ends up with a super champion. This strain sounds like the entire elite OG arsenal combined, and it is. Gene collectors lucky enough to secure these STFO beans can expect a nice variety of POTENT OG pheno’s. From tall fox tailing super sour and pine nut smelling to medium height, more classic golf ball shaped flowers, wreaking of kerosene and pine sol that both yield handsomely for Elite OG’s. The Devastation pheno is more of a White fire leaning pheno that prioritize trichome production and stretch over yield, tipping the scales for THC, testing consistently over 21%, each one is simply a matter of the gardener’s preference.

Densely stacked golf balls of pale green calyxes, complete with plenty of bright orange hairs have that overall “sandy” look from the generous helping of medium sized disco balls that scatter the blooms through out. With a proper 45+ day cure, a delightfully light yet potent scent of fresh lemon chiffon cream pie and pine needles invades the senses. The Devastation pheno hits high on the marks for lemon on citrus lemon cream OG’s almost completely devoid of the ghastly kushy, fuelly flavors that some OG’s are so well known for. Gigantic lung expansion and an immediate head change solidifies the wake of grateful patients that OG kush garners.

BAG APPEAL & SMOKE REPORT

BY OREGON LEAF SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR

DR. SCANDERSON

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Oregon Leaf Aug. 2014

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