Quantity and Quality Cannabis Lighting
Light is, in itself, just another type of “food” for plants. Keeping this in mind will allow you to better decide what is right for you. Just like an athlete has a specific dietary regime for his sport, so must you consider what is the ideal type of light for your growing conditions. Quantity The quantity of light is synonymous with light intensity. The measure of light intensity is Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (or PPFD), or the number of photons at wavelengths of 400 – 700 nanometers (or nm) striking a square meter per second. This wavelength range is known as Photosynthetically Active Radiation (or PAR) because it can be used to drive photosynthesis and a PPFD of 2,000 is comparable to the summer sun’s noonday light. Cannabis can handle intense lighting, but it is suggested that cannabis yields increase in a linear fashion up to 1,500 PPFD, or about double the intensity more commonly used. It is estimated that an even higher beneficial PPFD of 2,000 can increase the yields of your cannabis plants. Since more light requires more electricity, yields more efficiency (grams per watt) may impose a barrier that limits the amount of light. UV Radiation (100 – 400 nm) Ultraviolent light (or radiation) can be harmful to humans and plants (ex. sunburns) and UV-B (280 – 315 nm) light has the potential to damage plant tissue, but in limited supplemental doses, may lead to increased Tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC) content in cannabis. PAR (400 – 700 nm) PAR drives plant growth and development. It consists of blue light (400 – 500 nm), green light (500 – 600 nm), and red light (600 – 700 nm). Sunlight emits roughly equal amounts of each one. Using artificial cannabis lighting, however, differ in the amounts emitted. High-Pressure Sodium (or HPS) lamps emit mostly red and green frequencies. Metal Halide (or MH) lights and fluorescents favor green light with equal amounts of blue and red. LED lighting can be keyed for different frequencies but often emphasizes red. Red light is generally most energy-efficient in terms of eliciting photosynthesis. However, blue and green lights have critical effects on plant metabolism and growth. Too much or too little of one type can be detrimental; excessive blue light may stunt plant elongation. Light quality is especially important in situations of low light intensity (or quantity) found that supplemental red-blue and red-green-blue sub-canopy lights enhanced both yield and terpene profiles of indoor cannabis. Far-Red Radiation Far-Red radiation affects extension growth by enlarging/elongating leaves to capture more usable light. It mimics shade and may induce flowering in photoperiodic plants (like cannabis) that bloom in response to light variation. Incandescent lamps have high far-red frequency and can induce premature flowering. Optimization Quantity and quality are key factors when designing a cannabis lighting scheme. But the grower must also consider variables such as chemotype, space limitations, and light schedule. Sustainability dictates the threshold of energy/resources and yield. In short, the grower must analyze their circumstances and experiment with the quantity and quality of light for optimum results.
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Your Body’s CB1 & CB2 Receptors Cannabis topicals are all the rage right now, and for good reason. Tens of millions of people are afflicted with chronic pain, and many are seeking safe, non-addictive solutions to ease their suffering. Topicals represent one of the fastest-growing segments of the cannabis marketplace. But all these balms, creams and lotions can get confusing. Are cannabis topicals safe? Do they get you high? How does putting cannabis on your epidermis work? Cannabis and the Body The world’s most trusted scientific bodies confirm that cannabis has pain-relieving properties. But to fully understand how topicals can relieve pain and other ailments, we need to take a quick tour of the human Endocannabinoid System (or ECS). The ECS is a vast network of receptors throughout the body. It’s responsible for modulating many physiological systems involving the brain, endocrine, immune and nervous systems. Researchers have found that the ECS is essential for maintaining homeostasis or balance, in these various systems. There are two main types of receptors or “message receivers” in the ECS, classified as CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are predominantly located in the brain and central nervous system; CB2 receptors are primarily in the peripheral nervous system. If your skin is extremely sensitive or reacts to just about everything, treat it to this nourishing, moisturizing, calming blend of oat milk, cruelty-free silk and lavender. This dream cream earns its name with olive oil and shea butter, which both are great for rejuvenating dry and chapped skin. Show your skin some love and pamper it with Cali Dream Cream. The “messages” these receptors receive are chemicals that bind to the receptor and either activate it or shut it down, producing a corresponding effect within your body. The chemical compounds in cannabis that interact with the ECS are called cannabinoids – the most well-known being psychotropic Tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC), which activates CB1 receptors in the brain to create the “high” feeling. More than 100+ cannabinoids have been identified in the cannabis plant, including non-intoxicating Cannabidiol (or CBD), and others like Cannabinol (or CBN), Cannabigerol (or CBG) and Tetrahydrocannabivarin (or THCV), whose various medicinal properties are under escalating scrutiny. When you apply a cannabis topical to your skin, the cannabinoids interact with CB2 receptors in your epidermis and muscles. Researchers found that when such CB2 receptors were targeted, the result was reduced inflammation, an immune response that plays a role in many ailments including skin conditions and chronic pain. Unlike anti-inflammatory medications, cannabis topicals can be used without risking unpleasant potential side effects or overdose. Topicals and the Endocannabinoid System Some cannabis topicals do contain THC, but when applied to the skin, the cannabinoids don’t enter your bloodstream. Instead, THC interacts with the ECS receptors outside the blood-brain barrier. Furthermore, research has concluded that “activation of CB2 receptors does not appear to produce…psychotropic effects”. Topicals allow consumers to localize and directly target an afflicted area to reduce inflammation. People can and do ingest cannabis via smoking, vaping or edibles for generalized pain relief, but many prefer to single out that aching knee or sore neck by applying a topical directly. Some research even indicates that cannabinoids may accelerate our bodies’ natural healing process. A study that focused on CB1 and CB2 receptors in the gastrointestinal system found that cannabinoids can promote the healing of epithelial wounds. Our skin is composed of epithelial cells, which also line the surfaces of our organs and blood vessels. So, while further study is needed, cannabis topicals may also promote a quicker healing response for skin conditions and injuries. Perhaps best of all, cannabis topicals offer consumers a simple, safe and low-stakes entryway into exploring the skin care benefits of cannabis. Many people still harbor fears about cannabis, but topicals are approachable, and are, in many ways, the best ambassador for the cannabis plant’s pain-relieving and healing capabilities. The emerging research is clear in showing the tangible ways cannabis topicals work with our bodies. Just let that knowledge soak in.
Brewers Mixing Alcohol and Cannabinoids
CBD is sourced from cannabis plants, with the exception that you won’t get high. That’s one of the reasons why breweries are so interested in cannabis chemistry and their specific cannabinoid compound. Combining alcohol with a hallucinogen like Tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC) is fraught with legal challenges. The mixture is too intoxicating, and there’s no way to determine how your body will react. But because CBD is non-psychoactive, you don’t have to worry about the mental effects of mixing it with adult beverages. “On CBD, you’re very chill, very lighthearted, mellow. The alcohol will make it that more intense,” James Giordano, professor of neurology and biochemistry at Georgetown University Medical Center, explained. “For some people, it makes them very, very sedated.” Consumers report that CBD has a relaxing effect and unlike THC, you don’t experience the euphoric head high, but you may feel slightly calmer or less anxious using CBD. Research indicates that CBD can blunt some of the negative effects of alcohol.
Researchers have also performed studies on rats. One study found that ingesting CBD before consuming alcohol had a protective effect on the rodents’ livers. Although there is no guarantee that humans experience the same benefits, the results are promising nonetheless. Alcohol and THC are a forbidden combination in every state, although the law looks at CBD more favorably. In states with explicit, legalized cannabis markets, thriving CBD breweries are popping up. Mixing CBD oil into cocktails is perhaps even more popular.
As consumer interest in CBD continues to soar, people shouldn’t be surprised to see the cannabinoid appear on a bar menu. Cannabis Point-of-Sale Tracking System How Cannabis Tracking Systems Work Growers must place tags with an embedded radio transmitter on each plant. The tags correspond to a unique ID number, basically giving each plant an identity. Every plant’s tag is scanned at every step of the supply chain, with employers updating the plant’s information like cultivar, weight, potency, other cannabis testing and analysis results, etc.
Pros: Cannabis Seed-to-Sale Tracking System
Cons: Cannabis Seed-to-Sale Tracking System
The track-and-trace system may not be perfect and might not be for the immediate future, like refining and adjusting to it both logistically and financially will take some time. However, to continue without it is basically reverting to the industry’s old ways.
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authorLilly, the gardener. Archives
September 2019
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