Cannabis Committee

The Wonder Drug that Fights Nausea and Shrinks Tumors
By Dr. Jean Talleyrand
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and all of us at MediCann wish to shed
light on this insidious disease that affects our wives, mothers, grandmothers, girlfriends
and friends. As doctors and healers, we are scientifically and ethically committed to
doing everything in our power to stamp out cancer in our lifetime. As family members of
victims, we are emotionally invested in creating awareness in every corner of the earth
to stimulate action and results.
The tangible takeaways of medical cannabis in the treatment of cancer are well
documented, and can be a game changer in the healing process, especially when it
comes to reducing nausea and inflammation. Cannabis also alleviates the side effects
(nausea, headache, insomnia, and even arthritis) of the pharmaceutical drugs Femora
and Tamoxifen, commonly used in treating breast cancer. But, the exciting news is that
there has been significant new research about cannabis and its role in the shrinking of
tumors.
From the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute to Complutense
University in Madrid, studies are revealing what cannabis specialists have suspected
since the 1970s : Cannabis is more than safe, natural, medicine, it’s a miracle plant that
has myriad uses in healing a multitude of diseases, in this case cancer.
Researchers at the Complutense University assessed, “…the anti-tumor potential of
THC and JWH-133, a non-psychotropic CB2 receptor-selective agonist, in the treatment
of ErbB2-positive breast tumors – a highly aggressive form of breast cancer that is
typically unresponsive to standard therapies. Both Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol …
and JWH-133 …reduce tumor growth [and] tumor number [in mice]. … These results
provide a strong preclinical evidence for the use of cannabinoid-based therapies for the
management of ErbB2-positive breast cancer.”
As well, scientists at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute researched
and reported in the medical journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment “that
treatment of mice with breast cancer and lung metastases with cannabidiol (CBD)
showed significant reduction in the primary tumor mass as well as the size and number
of lung metastases. The CBD accomplishes this by regulating genes that control the
proliferation and invasion of tumor cells.”
What’s going on here, and why did it take centuries for the truth about the benefits
of medical cannabis to become a part of mainstream medical cancer research? Are
research institutes finally seeing the light and funding legitimate studies to rival the
trillions of dollars spent by large pharmaceutical companies in their quest for ‘the
cure?’ And if medical cannabis, a relatively inexpensive plant to cultivate, was seriously
studied, funded, and allowed to flourish as mainstream medicine, would it put more
expensive (and less effective) treatments out of business? Let’s not forget, the
healthcare industry relies on debilitating disease such as breast cancer to stay viable.
One thing we are sure about: if Wall Street is investing in cannabis-like drugs, it won’t
be long until it heads into the mainstream, and is classified, once again, as a legitimate
medicine (as it was in centuries past).
But in the winding road to medical cannabis legitimacy, and the pace at which critical
research can shed new light on the disease, we suffer the loss of time and lives.
All of us at MediCann believe that ‘sunlight is the best disinfectant’ to quote Louis
Brandeis. Knowledge is power, and if we can all continue to shed this sunlight in the
darker corners of ignorance, we can hopefully, together find a cure for breast cancer
and wipe cancer off the face of the earth.
To survivors of breast cancer everywhere: we salute you, you are brave and courageous
women that.
To our departed mothers, grandmothers, wives, girlfriends and friends: we didn’t get
to you in time, and for this, we are profoundly sorry. It’s now time for all of us to get to
work…

The Cannabis Chef
Holiday Weekends Start with Recipes from ‘The Cannabis Chef’
We all know that cannabis is safe and natural medicine, offering relief to those inpain from debilitating disease such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, lower back pain andmore. What many users of this wonder drug don’t know is that cannabis lends itselfto delicious, nutritious and even pain relieving meals.
Spending time with our loved ones is one of the best parts about holiday weekends.Spending them without pain is even better: alleviating stress and anxiety ensuresrelaxation and enjoyment of your time off, and a win-win all around! So how best tostart a three-day weekend than with some delectable goodies from the kitchen ofour new favorite lifestyle and cannabis-cooking site: thecannabischef.com.
Starting with kitchen staples such as CannaButter or CannaOil (the baseline of homecooking), to Pizza, Pesto Verde, Bruschetta and even cocktails (The Green Dragon!)holiday cooking has never been so satisfying.
A virtual cookbook, The Cannabis Chef takes us through the science of cookingwith the herb. The key is to maintain its potency throughout the cooking processthat is central to the enjoyment of the medicinal benefits.
Now the fun begins: pick your palate – sweet, savory or even a cocktail with a kick,and start planning your menu. These flavor-forward, road-tested recipes utilize thehealing properties of cannabis with your favorite ‘Date Night’ entrees.
We’ve excerpted one of our favorites: fresh vegan Bruschetta, with rich redtomatoes, fresh basil and garlic, and magical CannaOil for healing.
Labor Day cooking just got a little tastier, thanks to The Cannabis Chef!
Bruschetta (Vegan)
Description:Quick and easy, delicious, vegan cannabis bruschetta recipe made with only 4ingredients. This is a great appetizer for parties and a quick healthy snack.Estimated Time: 15 minutesServes: about 4Ingredients:6-8 roma or plum tomatoes4 cloves fresh garlic1/4 cup fresh basil4 tablespoons CannaOil (use extra virgin olive oil) (this contains 2 grams worth of
cannabis)Instructions:1. Chop up tomatoes, garlic, and basil.2. Combine tomatoes, garlic, basil, and CannaOil. Try a little and alter it to your taste.Let sit for at least 15 minutes to let the flavors mingle (overnight is best).Serving Suggestions:Try eating it plain, serving it on your favorite toasted Italian bread, or putting it onpizza or pasta.
Credits:Recipe Excerpted from TheCannabisChef.comFind the Cannabis Chef on Facebook

I normally work in Oakland during the week and so  I decided to take a walk over to Organicann  at 705 Broadway.    The greatest part about the location is that it’s right across from the police station.

When you walk in, you are greeted by a receptionist who goes through the typical verification process, so make sure to bring a valid license and your medical cannabis recommendation.   The process is very quick and the receptionist is very polite.

When you walk in the door you will see a large wrap around bar with a very large selection of edibles, flowers, concentrates, tinctures, and seeds.   The clones actually have their own area completely separate from the dispensary, which they will be happy to show you.

Organicann has a somewhat unique set up in that you can inspect the flower buds all on your own.  They have buds in class jars along the wall of the dispensary, opposite the counter, and you can inspect (look at and smell) them for yourself and you can ask them about the different strains.    The folks at the counter are very willing to let you know what’s what and they will make recommendations based on what you tell them.  They also have a brochure with everything that they sell.  It’s very extensive and has something for everyone.

I explained that I have arthritis and like to medicate during the day but I don’t want to fall asleep.   They recommended Blue Dream and I was not disappointed.   Blue Dream is a hybrid of Blueberry and Haze and is a good daytime pain reliever without the drowsiness.  In other words, you get the Indica for the pain and the Sativa for the brain.

All in all Organicann has a very nice feel inside with a lot of wood and muted colors.   The staff is friendly and welcoming which adds to the warmth.  It’s too bad that Oakland doesn’t allow medicating in any of the clubs here, because this place would be ideal for that.

Organicann also has a plethora of choices for buds and concentrates at various price points.  The most expensive buds were $55 and the least expensive were $35.  They also offer a fat sack (7grams) for between $65-$85 depending on the strain.  At various times you will find different strains, however, they seem to always have Cherry Pez.  They also have strains like Banano, OG kush, Trainwreck,  J-27 and Mr. Nice.  You can by 1gram for as low as $6.00.  They also offer pre rolls including Honey King Cones for $18-$20.

Their concentrates consist of kief, bubble  and powders,  moon rocks, honey combs and my favorite ear wax.  The prices range anywhere from $10 a 1/2 gram for moon rocks to $40 a gram for top shelf kief.   They also carry tincture, coco caps and kief capsules.

One thing that really impressed me was the amount of edibles they carry.  Anything from ice cream to pizza and everything in between, including cookies, candies, pies and suckers.  They also carry canna butter, medicated teas, honey, sports drinks, olive oil and garlic spread.

Topicals are also becoming quite popular and some physicians are actually recommending them for pain.  Cannacare has balms, salves and sprays for $8-$12 depending on amounts.

If you are someone who is interested in clones just let them know.  They will let you into the other part of the dispensary where they have clones and mother plants.

Most of the clones looked pretty healthy and they had some interesting varieties.  They range anywhere from $8 to $16 and mother plants range from $30 to $150.    I am not an expert on growing and haven’t talked to anyone who has purchased clones from them, so all I can tell you is they looked good for the most part.   They also carry seeds in 10 packs for $65 each they have about 21 varieties.   Their special seeds are called DJ Short Seeds and a ten pack is $10 and they have a 6 pack for $40 called Medicinal Organic Nursery.

All in all Cannacare has something for all your medical needs and they are worth visiting. If you are not in Oakland they also have two other locations .   One is in Santa Rosa and one is in  San Diego and it’s called Hillcrest Organics.   You can check  them out online at organicann.com

If you are a patient in Oakland and you haven’t stopped there, you may want to check them out. The dispensary itself is in a good location and it’s  very nice inside with a large inventory to choose from.  The staff is friendly and helpful and make sure to ask them about their clone room, if you like growing your own.

This past Thursday I decided to take a run down to San Jose to check out what’s going on in terms of collectives/clubs/dispensaries.    As someone who is used to the clubs in San Francisco, I have to say San Jose definitely has it’s own “vibe”, so to speak.    Now, that’s not to say that it’s good or bad it’s just different.   The one thing that stood out for me was the amount of security each one that I visited had.    There was one in particular where I felt that I was going to visit someone in prison.  There was an outdoor guard and then when you entered there was a man with a walkie talkie who asked “new or returning”.  I said “new”.  He said “great I can give you my spiel”.  He very nicely and politely told me all of the rules of the club and asked me to take out my papers and the receptionist would help me, once I was inside.  He then barked “new” through the walkie talkie and I was let into the back to get verified.

The other thing that stood out for me in S.J. was the location of the clubs.  Some were located in industrial parks, others were located in small commercial areas and in warehouses, and the first one I visited the  All American Cannabis Club A2C2, was located right off the freeway in a house.

The A2C2  seemed much more relaxed with no “in your face” security.  Once you enter the building you’re greeted by several receptionists who are professional and friendly.   They took my paperwork and gave me their papers to sign and they had me verified in no time.

Dave Hodges, the manager/founder, of A2C2 is a very personable guy and cannabis activist who opened up the first store front cannabis club in San Jose in 2009.  At that time it was called the San Jose Cannabis Buyers Collective and was located on Monroe St.    The SJCBC left Monroe Street after the landlord received a letter (sent out in February of 2010) by the city of San Jose, citing the club as a “nuisance”.   The city threatened the landlord with fines and law suits if they didn’t evict the club, so they did.    The club has since moved to Stocton Ave and later changed it’s name to A2C2 the  American Cannabis Club.

After the receptionist verifies you, you have two choices.  You can either go to the express line because you know what you want and don’t really need to talk to anyone, or you can go for the private 1 on 1.  I really love this idea.  This is especially good for a first time patient.  You can go in and talk to someone about your needs and not feel that you are holding up the line or that your questions are stupid.  This is the only place I have ever been  that offered this service.  Since, I was a new patient at this dispensary I opted for the private 1 on 1.   Dave explained all of the products that he carried and which ones he thought were good for what ailed me.  He recommended an outdoor Romulan and I was intrigued.    I am all for outdoor growing and feel that the more natural the medicine..the better, but that’s just me.   I did get some of the Romulan and I have to agree that he was correct.  It really calmed my anxiety without making me sleepy so I was happy with the suggestion.    Dave carries a fairly wide array of buds, concentrates, edibles, tinctures and salves.  The prices vary but for the most part everything is reasonably priced, comparatively speaking.  There is also a 10% discount for Medicare/Cal, SSI, students, military and 55 and over.

All in all I felt taken care of by Dave and his staff at A2C2.   Dave has a lot of cannabis knowledge and it shows.   He knows his products well and instead of trying to “sell” me he actually listened to what I needed and it worked.   I would definitely go back again when I’m in the area.

If you want to visit A2C2 they are located at 1082 Stockton Ave.  San Jose, Ca.  and you can visit their website at http://a2c2.us/.

So on Friday I decided to take a ride over to Berkeley Patient’s Group as  I had heard some good things about them from several people that I know.  I called my colleague J and asked him if he’d like to go with me.  J had visited Berkeley Patients Group (BPG) at times  in the past and I thought he might like to go along for the review.    I picked him up around 11:30 a.m. and we headed over there.    I have to say, I really wanted to like this place.

In my mind, I thought it would be a nice relaxing experience.  I pictured myself sitting in their lounge relaxing and medicating.  Well, I have to say that never happened.   First, there were no spaces in the parking lot so we had to park on the  street.   The parking lot isn’t really small, but apparently they were very busy, at this time.    The building looks like it used to be an old “fifties style”  restaurant.   At the entrance security guards checked our physician cards before we were allowed in and then once inside we went up to the receptionist’s desk.   The receptionist was crazy busy but very efficient.  She took our recommendations for verification and then she had us sit and read the rules of the club.  These were very basic rules:  no weapons or firearms on the premises, no smoking in your car in the parking lot, keep the noise down, etc.    I looked around at their shelves and saw that most of their literature is from the ASA (American’s for Safe Access)  and there are several stacks of doctor’s business cards, as well.    They also offer acupuncture, massage and services for cancer patients.  You can find this on their website, which I will list at the end of the review.   I think it’s a great idea to have these services and I was happy to see that they did.

After J and I were verified the receptionists told us that we could go on in.  Since, J had been there before she said he could give me the tour.  I thought the receptionist was very nice, professional and efficient.

J and I then walked around to the back where there is a lounge, and a place to buy pipes, bongs, vaporizers etc.   The area that sells medicating paraphernalia is very reminiscent of a head shop on Haight Street in S.F.  and they carried quite a few items.     The lounge area, on the other hand, basically consists of a few tables and chairs.   It’s not very inviting and I would say calling it a lounge is stretching it a bit.  It reminds me more of a waiting area, in a brightly lit office.    While I was waiting  to receive my verification in the reception area I could hear a lot of people coughing behind the wall, in the lounge area.   Some people may not find this off putting but I have to say that I did.

From the Haight Street head shop area and Faux lounge you have to walk back a little further, through another door,  to where the medicine is actually sold.  This is where you’re herded into a line that snakes around through some ropes.  I believe they had about 5 or 6 people waiting on patients, so they were quite busy.    The BPG has large menu signs that list all of their flowers and concentrates along with the prices.  Prices start at $60 for 1/8th.  and go down to  as low as $25/20 for the same.   They have quite a few strains of both concentrates and flowers.     What I don’t like about the signs is that they keep changing so you have to stand there and look at them for awhile to see what they actually have for sale and at what price.  I don’t feel that this is a major flaw but I found it to be fairly annoying.  The menu signs themselves are big and remind me of the signs in a casino sports book.     I also think that charging $60 for 1/8th oz. of medicine is too expensive.    I realize that there is a wide range in the pricing but all that says to me is that, as a patient you can either pay for premium medicine or you can get the crap for 20 bucks.  The $20 strain may be great but I wouldn’t know that because I never got to talk to anyone about it.   To help offset the price they have a discount card that gives  2-1/2%  off on your purchase total, it used to be a 5% discount.       I’m fairly certain that they don’t test their products.   I wanted to make sure so we called them back later and asked if they tested and they said “yes, they tested everything upstairs”.   I’m not exactly sure what that means.  Regardless, they don’t list THC/CBD content on any of their medicines on the menu signs.     As I was standing in line I tried to take in everything that they offered.     They have quite a bit to sell.  I noticed juices, many different types of edibles, tinctures, pre rolls etc.    It was our turn next to purchase so J went up and motioned for me to come with him to the counter.   I stood there while he ordered some edibles and a concentrate and then it was my turn…so I thought.  Actually, the wait person yelled out “next patient”.  I looked at him and said “What about me?”.  He said, “two people can’t stand together to purchase”.   I said ok J is finished I’m here alone.  He said no and it was painfully obvious that he really didn’t care if I was there or not.     So I said “fine, there are too many other places to buy medicine to put up with this.”  As I was walking out, one of the many security guards came up and asked what was going on and I  repeated to him what happened and he said “yeah that’s our policy”.  Ok?  Why is that your policy?  No answer.    I told them I was not going to get back in line again.  They were fine to let me leave, after all they seem to be doing a booming business, so why care about me.   What I found most disturbing about this whole episode was that there was no explanation as to why this was their rule and I didn’t see it displayed anywhere.  I know if the “sports book” menu sign would have stated it, I would have seen it.  I left without purchasing anything and I have to say I was very angry at the way that I was treated.    It would  have been nice for the wait person to have explained the rule to me when I first when up with J.     When we  called them later we asked if there was a sign posted with this particular “rule”  and they said they DID NOT have anything posted.   They did apologize for out experience, but that was it.   Personally, I think it was too little too late.  I would think that any business would not want someone to leave upset, but they didn’t seem care.

In all honestly BPG had a couple of things that I felt were positive.  Having services available to the community is one of them and having a very nice receptionist is another.    However, having arbitrary rules that are not publicized and giving the patient the feeling of not caring is a negative and a reason why I won’t recommend BPG.     This should never happen at a dispensary.   I’m not buying drugs from a dealer and don’t want to be treated that way.   Unfortunately, that is what it felt like for the most part.

Berkeley Patients Group is located on San Pablo Ave. in Berkeley and this is their website:   www.berkeleypatientsgroup.com

While walking through the Castro neighborhood the other day I happened upon a new dispensary called The Apothecarium.  I had heard about it but wasn’t sure exactly where they were located.  I was actually starving and on my way to get a bite to eat when I just happened to pass by the place.   I made a mental note to stop in after I ate and check it out, which is exactly what I did.

Upon entering The Apothecarium you get a nice warm feeling.  The muted colors and dark wood give the impression of  walking into an old time apothecary, which needless to say is the whole point.    The space resides in what used to be a video store next to the Ace Hardware on Market Street, in San Francisco.    Given that the old Cannabis Buyer’s Club that was on Church is gone it looks like the Apothecarium will be a nice addition to the neighborhood.

Jamie Shira, who is one four owners, verified my MediCann recommendation, which took about 2 minutes and I was free to go to the counter to pick out my medication.    The person that helped me was named Chase and  I told him that sometimes really strong sativas produce anxiety in me but that I prefer them for my day time medication.  Chase recommended a strain called Fox Farms Sour Diesel, which is actually a sativa.    He said that it was grown indoors, organically.   That definitely piqued my interest, because I really strive to get medicine that is clean and organically grown.   I’ve been suffering  lately from arthritis and I wanted something to take away inflammation but not put me to sleep.  The Fox Farms SD ended up being good for pain and it definitely made me feel mellow without feeling too sleepy.    The staff handles the medicine with care and they have lights and magnifying glasses mounted on the counter for a quick but thorough inspection of what you’re purchasing.  I also like the fact that they don’t carry strains called AK 47 or Green Crack.    Jamie explained the staff is trained for a more one on one experience with the patient and although they may not be experts on all things cannabis, they do have first hand knowledge about the products at The Apothecarium and mainly from first hand experience.  I could tell this was true because Chase said that he used the external spray for his hand pain and that it worked well.  I am one of those patients that really wants to hear other people’s experience with cannabis.  It’s always enlightening.   The Apothecarium has some other strains which are a mixture of indoor, outdoor, sativa, indica, and hybrids.  All of them look to be of good quality.   Their prices are pretty on par with most of the collectives in San Francisco, which average around $50 for 1/8th.  of quality medication.   They also said that they will be having more promotions in the future.

Apothecarium also carries edibles from Kanaroo Kitchen.    One of the reasons they carry Kanaroo Kitchen is because they claim the dosages in the products are very consistent and some edibles have up to 10 doses in them.  Since I don’t do many edibles, I had a patient friend try out the Kanaroo cookie called ANZAC.  This acronym is short for Austrailian and New Zealand Army Corp and apparently the woman who started Kanaroo is Austrailian.   My friend loved the cookie and said it was the perfect dose.  I did take a taste and I have to say it was really delicious.    They also carry tincture, salad dressing, external sprays and some other products that I did not get a chance to check out on this visit, but I will be back again.

I did ask Jamie if they planned on having their flowers inspected by a lab in the future   Jamie said that “although CBD and THC percentages provide valuable insight, they do not always reflect what the personal experience of the patient will be like. This is still highly personal, therefore we strive to provide as much information as possible to help members make the right choice. Still, testing is something we hope to bring about in the future.”  She also stated that “Cannabis product is chosen for our members through a tedious process that involves not only inspection of the product by experienced professionals but also is assessed for assurance that the product comes from reliable sources who keep patients in mind. Medicine is also tested subjectively to see if effects advertised are true, and if not, what effects are actually available is recorded”.

All in all I had a very positive experience here and plan on returning soon to get more of the Fox Farms Sour Diesel.   It’s a perfect day time hybrid for me.  I don’t get nervous or couch locked and it keeps my arthritis pain at bay.

To get more information about The Apothecarium please visit them at www.apothecariumsf.com

Dr. Mark Rabe of MediCann, Inc. explains how using opioids over a period of time can effect patients.

The most common reason that patients come to see us at MediCann is for the treatment of some type of chronic pain (chronic pain is commonly defined as pain that lasts longer than 3 months).

More than 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain.

The prescription of opioid medications for the treatment of chronic noncancer pain has increased dramatically over the past 20 years, along with growing concerns about the adverse effects of long-term opioid use (not to mention diversion and abuse).

Many patients choose to use medical cannabis as an alternative to opioid medications for the treatment of chronic pain – both because it often works better and because it has fewer side effects.

When making the risk-benefit analysis with respect to the use of medical cannabis versus opioid medications in the treatment of chronic pain, it is important to be familiar with side effects associated with the prolonged use of opioids.

Following in a summary of key points from an article that appeared in the May, 2011 edition of The Journal of Family Practice.

What are the adverse effects of prolonged opioid use in patients with chronic pain?

• Nausea, constipation, and dyspepsia are the leading side effects.

A Cochrane systematic review of 26 studies (25 observational studies and 1 randomized controlled trial) of adults who had taken opioids for noncancer pain for at least 6 months assessed the adverse effects of long-term opioid therapy.  The most common complications were nausea, constipation, and dyspepsia.  The review found that 23% of patients discontinued oral opioids because of adverse effects.

A cross-sectional observational study evaluated self-reported adverse effects in 889 patients who received opioid therapy for noncancer pain lasing at least 3 months.  40% of patients reported constipation and 18% reported sexual dysfunction.

• Sexual dysfunction, fatigue, and depression are also very common.

A case-controlled study of 20 male cancer survivors with neuropathic pain who took 200 mg of morphine-equivalent daily for a year found that 90% of patients experienced hypogonadism with symptoms of sexual dysfunction, fatigue, and depression.  Only 40% of the 20 patients in the control group experienced these symptoms.

A case-controlled observational study of 54 men with noncancer pain who took opioids for 1 year found that 87% of the 45 men who had normal erectile function before opioid therapy reported severe erectile dysfunction while taking the drugs.  Levels of testosterone and estradiol were lower in men taking opioids compared to opioid-free controls.

• There is a potential risk for fatal arrhythmias in some patients.

From 1969 to 2002, the US FDA’s Medwatch Database reported 59 cases of QT prolongation or torsades de pointes in methadone users, 5 (8.5%) of them fatal.  In 75% of reported cases, patients had no other known risk factors for QT prolongation or torsades de pointes, including female sex, interacting medications, potassium or magnesium abnormalities, and structural heart disease.

• Prolonged opioid use may increase a patient’s sensitivity to pain.

Case reports and case series have found that the prolonged use of opioids causes some patients to experience an increased sensitivity to pain.  This increased sensitivity to pain is different from – and often difficult to differentiate from – opioid tolerance.

Reference: Edgerton L, Loven B, Mounsey AL. What are the adverse effects of prolonged opioid use in patients with chronic pain? The Journal of Family Practice. 2011; 60(5):288-289.

Dear Community,

I have come to notice that of the seemingly endless plant species in existence, there is a great divide in their manifestation.  There are species which exist in a state of natural expression and there are species that are cultivated by human beings.  The difference lies in what is provided, or rather, what isn’t made available that can be a detriment.  Why is there a difference?  Why can’t the cultivar (cultivated variety) be given everything that nature warrants?  Truthfully, there is great complexity in what makes Mother Nature run her awesome show and without the total knowledge of who the players are and why they are important, one cannot hope to achieve anything close to what the system of natural forces has organized.  The goal of indoor organic cultivation for medicinal cannabis is to provide these natural interactions in every way in the most unorthodox way.  Plants love deep, unobstructed earth to push roots into vast strata of soil.  Conversely, they don’t like small containers.  They love fresh air full of both CO2 and oxygen which can become depleted quickly if not continuously replenished.  They love the environment from which they have become accustomed to over millions of years, not your moldy old closet.   The biggest factor to consider once fresh air and appropriate container size is selected is:  What do I feed these plants?  The first thing I consider as an organic cultivator is not ’what do I feed these plants’, but:  What do I feed this soil?  Why? Because the soil or more specifically, the Rhizosphere, is where all of the truly important interactions seem to happen.
The Rhizosphere is an incredible universe in and of itself!  So what the heck is this place and why should I care?  The rhizosphere is the specific area surrounding the roots within the soil.  If the center of this universe is the root itself, then the outer limits of it are about a tenth of an inch from the root surface.  This incredible and microscopic world could be a place where one could simply inundate the appropriate nutrients in the right concentration and hope that every part of that nutrient solution is available to the plants roots, or it could be a place where millions of microscopic life forms live symbiotically with the plants roots to form a synergistically stronger organism.  In nature, plants do not have human beings mixing up nutrient solutions or checking the soil for moisture.  How could plants have possibly survived for so long on this earth without us?!  What do they do for nutrients or water when scarce?  Plants need us to give them everything or they will die out, right?  WRONG!!!  The truth is that Mother nature has a far greater plan.  Remember this phrase: The Soil Food Web.  One more time:  THE SOIL FOOD WEB.  I didn’t invent it, nor did I discover it.  Look up Dr. Elaine Ingham for a more comprehensive version of this condensed chunk I give you today (and believe me, this is extremely condensed).  Succinctly, the Soil Food Web is the interaction between life forms starting in the Rhizosphere and ultimately ending with us if you really think about it, which perpetuates the life of a healthy robust and ORGANIC plant.  To put it even more simply, The Soil Food web is the food pyramid created by the existence of a balanced microbiological society.  The microbiological life which exists in the soil is not only an incredible source of food and water for the plant, but perpetuates itself and maintains the overall soil structure.
Let’s start at the bottom of the Food Pyramid, Bacteria and Fungi.  The plant has a root system and thus creates two major sources of food for the micro-herd.  The first is called Exudate and should simply be thought of as a waste product that is excreted from the roots in the rhizosphere (I think of this as the plant’s sweat from growing so profusely).  This exudate is in turn a food source and attractant to soil-born bacteria and fungi.  The second source that roots create is a “sloughing-off” off cells that naturally occurs as the root tips penetrate the soil.  Bacteria are so small that up to half a million individuals can live in the period at the end of this sentence.  Up to five billion bacteria can be created in a twelve hour period in laboratory conditions!  As a corollary, these single-cell organisms constitute most of the life forms in a proper soil system.  In order to populate an area, bacteria create a bio-slime which acts as a sticky and viscous media of which to adhere and thrive.  This Bio-slime is an incredible way for bacteria to survive and as a product of this material being present, it sticks microscopic soil particles together to form aggregated soil.  Fungi also live in the rhizosphere and create their own form of bio-slime called Fungal Hyphae.  This Hyphae can be thought of as webbing.  This webbing is formed as a protective barrier around the root structure where they live.  It is a living second skin which can protect plant roots against drought and invasion of detrimental nematodes.  Both bacteria and fungi perform incredible service to the plant which gives it life.  Aside from inundating the plant’s root biomass with it’s population (which is a form of protection from other bad populations developing) and various sticky protective films aggregating the soil particles together, they also perform an arguably greater function: Preservation of plant accessible nutrients.  Bacteria can break down organic matter like sugars, carbon chains and carbohydrates for their own consumption locking the nutrients up in their single celled bodies.  Only later will these nutrients be freed up through being eaten or dying of old age (a condition which rarely exists in the tremulous world of the rhizosphere).  Most likely bacteria will be eaten up and pooped out by protozoa.  Without protozoa, bacteria would take over the world.  They are the natural predator of bacteria.  The fungi and bacteria are eaten by protozoa and nematodes, but not before the bacteria and fungi have successfully converted atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonium, nitrate and nitrite (otherwise known as “fixed” or plant available nitrogen creating the condition of Nitrogen fixation)  Nitrogen, carbohydrates carbon chains and simple sugars need to be processed by the “micro-herd” before is readily available to the plant.  Luckily, all of this bio-chemical transfiguration happens right at the site of root development a.k.a. the Rhizosphere, where it can be readily absorbed by hungry plant roots.  Both fungi and bacteria generate available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium (N-P-K), trace minerals and all of the essential micro, macro and secondary nutrients.  These little guys also have to burrow through soil creating aeration and through the aggregation of soil particles, assists in capillary water movement (which is water concentrations so slight that gravity does not affect it‘s movement).  This capillary action of water moving up, down and sideways within the soil structure allows for free and easy movement of all microbiological life.
Harvestable flower, fruit and veggie crops (like cannabis) require a proper ratio of all of these life forms to co-exist in order to have the true effect of organic cultivation.  The basic ratio is a 1:1, bacterial to fungal population respectively, on the bottom of the food pyramid.  If this ratio exists, one can only imagine that a natural equilibrium of other larger life forms will develop.  Larger plants such as trees require a far more fungally populated soil structure to truly gain it’s advantages.  So how does one attain this magic equilibrium?  The answer lies in the creation of compost tea.  What is compost tea?  It’s exactly what it sounds like.  By taking various dry and wet organic, compostable ingredients and combining them in warm water with an air pump forcing oxygen into the media, one can create aerated compost tea.  It’s cheap, clean and actually smells pretty good despite the mounds of poop, molasses and inoculants squished into a teabag and bubbled in water for up to three weeks.  In fact, if it smells bad you did something wrong!  The essential body of what is produced is a powerful concentrate of plant available nutrients (NPK, secondary , micronutrients, and trace minerals) with BILLIONS of bacteria and fungus.  This super combo of probiotic life and complete plant nutrition relies heavily on your recipe.  I have many very successful recipes that have been concocted and compounded to form what I think of as the greatest natural fertilizers that money cannot buy.  To give you an idea of the cost of producing this complete cocktail you should look up the cost of guano, alfalfa meal, earthworm castings and molasses, the main constituents of the mix.  You will find that a single 5 gallon bucket can be enough feed and probiotically inoculate an entire acre of row planted veggies for around ten dollars per bucket-full.  There are many complex recipes available but most listed for cannabis seem to be an accumulation of “Voodoo” knowledge from stoners.  If you find yourself trying to find items like eye of newt and kitten tails, you ‘re definitely on the wrong track.  Teas should be dynamic in their ingredients, but too much poop can ruin the soup.  Stay below anything with an NPK value higher than twelve and, of course, don’t use anything that is processed or inorganic.  Also, too much poop in relation to green compost  will make a fungally dominated tea somewhat unfit for cannabis cultivation.   That 1:1 ratio will create a nitrogen fixation and break down carbon chains and carbohydrates for the plants roots.
Chemical fertilizers DO NOT CONTAIN probiotic life!  Sorry folks, but Chemical fertilizers bypass all of the aforementioned bio-chemical processes in exchange for water soluble plant available nutrient inundation in the rhizosphere.  Simply put, synthesized chemicals work by addicting the plant to it’s presence in the rhizosphere (I call these plants “Junkie plants”).  Also, many nutrients are simply inappropriate for plants and tend to toxify the soil with metallic salt build-up rather than enrichment.  Going halfway doesn’t exactly work either.  Inoculating your soil with expensive probiotics and then burning them to death with hydroponic fertilizers (NPK: 10:50:27 as an example) is like buying a $150,000 car and filling it with Hydrozene (rocket fuel) expecting it to just go really fast instead of blowing up.  Trust in nature, dammit!
Proper manifestation of the bottom of the food pyramid will also support larger soil life such as nematodes and protozoa (and in turn micro-arthropods, earthworms, and arthropods).  Throw in about nine earthworms per gallon of soil and trust that they will balance the PH in the soil along with the bacteria (who acidify) and the fungi (who alkalize).  In fact an earthworm will process soil particles and not only spit them out as yet another aggregate/fertilizer, earthworm castings, but will balance it as close to PH 7 (Neutral) as possible.  This allows for the development of even more of those fast propagating bacteria and fungi through the breakdown of the castings.  The life forms retain the fertilizers in the rhizosphere and feed one another forming a web, The SOIL FOOD WEB!  The web that retains a conservative approach to feeding the roots of the plant.  All of the food stays in the system instead of leaching out into the world below us like chemical fertilizers do.  The creation of these microbiological bio-chemical interactions in the compost tea translate to soil and supports a healthy web that lives in equilibrium.  All of the players work to create a perfectly aerated soil chalk full of water and nutrients.  They also create soil structure to support the overt life of the plant and the lives of their micro-community.  Furthermore, This micro community lives in balance by densely populating every inch of rhizosphere and disallowing non-beneficial organisms to get a foothold.  If there isn’t any room to set up a community a rogue pathogen or detrimental nematode will find a billion single celled army ready to take it out for the competitive need of water, food, and space.   How can a bad guy live in a heavily fortified system surrounded by aerated assassins?  They can’t. The strength of living soil can conquer all.
So why go through this minutiae of nebulous information?  Simple. If you’re trying to grow the best medicinal product, you should use the most natural system, because plants are a part of nature and they do their best in the true manifestation of their origins.  This system of bio-chemical interaction has been in place and working for millions of years.  In addition, this system works better than the simplified human idea of feeding the plant.  Feed the soil and support your web because after all, we are a part of it too.  When the Soil Food Web is in place you will see exceptional results.  When it comes to your medicine I feel that nothing but the highest caliber should be accepted.   Nature knows how to live in balance.  Don’t over-simplify the needs of cultivation and you will see the true difference in quality and quantity.

Resources

Teaming with Microbes: The organic Gardener’s guide to the Soil Food Web.  Revised edition.  2010 Timber press Inc. Jeff Lowenfels and Wayne Lewis

Ingham, E.  2004 The field Guide to Actively Aerated Compost Tea.  Soil Food Web, Inc. Corvallis, Ore.  http:/www.soilfoodweb.com