Cannabis Corner – An Xperience Column

Cannabis Corner – An Xperience Column – by MBF and 400 River.

“It’s just a plant.”

We hear this all the time, and sure, cannabis is just a plant. The cannabis plant, however, is an exceptionally interesting one. It’s also a burgeoning new economy here in New York, now heading into its fourth year of legal existence. In our series of articles with Xperience, we hope to explore a little bit of everything cannabis, from the basics of growing, to what’s happening in the NY weed scene. Take a puff and let’s get started.

With this being the first article, let’s start with some random basics about cannabis from cultivation to consumption.

Let’s Grow

Growing a few cannabis plants is fun, totally legal in NY, and very rewarding. Cannabis can be grown outdoors for a natural and low cost approach. While not indigenous to NY, cannabis grows wonderfully here in the summer months. You can also grow indoors with regulated temperature, humidity and light. With a little time and effort, either way should result in some good bud.

Plants can be started from seed or clone. Seeds are the product of pollinated female plants. A clone is a branch cut off of a living plant. Once rooted, the clone will grow into a new plant that is genetically the same as the one it was cut from. Plants growing from seed will show a greater diversity in characteristics than plants grown from a clone.

Boys + Girls

Cannabis plants can be male, female or hermaphrodites. Cultivators look for female plants, since those are the ones that will be producing precious buds. Male plants are generally used for breeding and seed production. Hermaphrodites possess both male and female characteristics. How to know the sex of your plant? If it has pollen sacs, it’s a boy. During the course of your grow, male and hermaphrodite plants should be disposed of so they don’t pollinate the female plants. (Sorry, boys!) Pollination results in a loss in potency and yield, and your weed will have seeds in it. Since pollen can travel miles, you might risk more than your crop. You can mitigate the risk of having male plants by buying feminized seeds or starting from a clone.

What to Consume?

Walk into any dispensary here in New York, and you are faced with a host of product choices. Flower and prerolls are naturally the cornerstones of the industry. Flower products will hit you the fastest, but are great for those just starting to dabble in cannabis. It’s easy to take a puff, feel the effect, then come back for more, if desired. Cannabis concentrates kick it up a notch. Rosin, resin and hash are some super potent elixirs that will hit fast and hard. Some concentrates like RSO are well-known for their therapeutic benefits. Edibles are perfect for accurate dosage. You know exactly how much THC you’re consuming with a 5mg gummy. Some edibles use a

water-based cannabis emulsion that quickly absorbs into the body, others use cannabis oils that take longer to activate. There are also a lot of great drinks in the NY market now. If you’re hesitant to smoke, THC drinks are a tasty way to imbibe. Tinctures are great, especially if you’re looking for a discreet option. Mints and tablets are also an option. As the NY market continues to evolve, I’m expecting to see more really interesting products emerge.

Indica vs. Sativa vs. I need the highest THC possible

When choosing cannabis flower, there are generally two things customers look at: Strain type and THC percentage. Cannabis is usually categorized as either indica, sativa, or a hybrid. (I’m sure a lot of folks will recognize the saying “Indica in da couch” as a way to remember which is which.) Indicas are said to offer a more relaxing body high, whereas sativas offer a more energizing, cerebral high. Hybrids blend the best of both worlds. THC percentage is another huge factor in what a customer tends to purchase. A higher THC % will generally perform better on the market than a low THC product. ‘Tis the way of the world-for now.

The above is definitely the most widespread way of describing the hoped-for effects of cannabis but some different factors are becoming more talked about. Some cultivators or dispensaries enjoy highlighting the main terpenes in a strain of cannabis. Terpenes (aka terps) are essential oil compounds that not only impact the taste of the weed, but the effects it has on your body. Terps like limonene and pinene smell like (you guessed it!) lemon and pine and have energizing effects on the body. Linalool, also found in lavender, and myrcene, also in hops, tend to provide a more calm experience. Studies are now showing that THC and other cannabinoids, terpenes, flavinoids, alkaloids and other substances in cannabis create the “entourage effect.” The entourage effect is the sum of all of the parts of the cannabis plant acting together on your body and it has a marked impact on your smoking journey.

Let’s not forget either that indica and sativa are botanical terms that are used to describe cannabis plants and their structure. Sativa plants are long, lanky units that produce tiny buds and take a long time to mature. They grow in warm climates like southeast Asia and Africa. Indica plants are big, bushy trees that have wide leaves and heavy buds coming from places like India.

It’s 420 somewhere,

Alison

Alison is Director of Operations at Misty Bleu Farm and 400 River Dispensary in Troy. She’s been operating in NY’s legal cannabis market since the start and excited to help New York Xperience the best of cannabis. Email any topics for discussion to

alison@mbfarmcannabis.com. Looking forward to hearing from you.

 

 

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