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< Previousfeatures IN THE CUT The final stage of the cannabis cultivation process, after the harvest, drying, and curing, is the meticulous task of trimming, and it’s all about turning rough buds into retail-ready nuggets. Although tedious, trimming is an art form that requires care, precision, and great attention to detail. The best trimmers transform ragged, fresh-cut plants into gorgeous retail-ready nuggets worthy of a magazine cover. In this article, we’ll examine the tools, techniques, and insider tips needed to become a cannabis-trimming pro. DO THC NUMBERS MATTER? The THC percentage often receives significant attention as a marker of cannabis quality. Typically, the higher the THC percentage, the higher the associated price and perceived quality. However, it’s important to note that while this is a widely used metric, it may not always provide an entirely precise assessment of quality or desirability, especially when differences are within a few percentage points. OLD-SCHOOL METHODS & NEW-SCHOOL GROWERS If any one thing defines the cannabis industry of today, it’s change. On the surface, it might be obvious how things like legalization, technology, and business have evolved over the past decade. Yet, there hasn’t been much discussion on ways cultivation knowledge is shared amidst these ever-changing tides. Here are some reflections on how the grow game has changed over the years. 32 42 52 8 GROW | FALL 2023contents MUDROOM 18 •Cannabis Helped Covid •Save The Bees With Hemp •NCAA Reconsiders Cannabis ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS 20 Nutrients, monitoring, and storage FROM THE FIELD 26 ASPERWHATUS? Mold and regulation MEET & GREET 78VIC MENSA Activism through entrepreneurship FARM VISIT 82 REBEL SPIRIT Ethics, ecology & Oregon-grown cannabis ASK A CULTIVATOR 86 Q&A About Flushing GROW FILES 90 PODCASTS FOR THE HOME CULTIVATOR Listen while you grow 96 NEW DRYING & CURING TECHNIQUES Big changes in post-harvest cannabis 102 DELTA-8 What is it and will it be regulated? CULTIVATE BY STATE 106 New Jersey EVENTS CALENDAR 108 Upcoming cannabis events #GROWMAG 110 Instagram features SHOW YOUR GROW 112@seattles.privatereserve3 @dankshire_ GROW CHRONICLES 60 Rainbow Belts 3.0 62 Super Boof 64 Dante’s Inferno 66 Cookie Runtz 68 Bottom Bird 70 Dolato 72 Moon Pie Terp Diamonds 74 Dank Dough Terp Badder/ Buttermilk Biscuits Terp Sugar 76 Hood Candies Terp Diamonds ON THE COVER Hollywood OG made by Seattle’s Private Reserve. Photo by Sean Moore @dankshire_ 12 GROW | FALL 2023SafeVac ® USE THE FOR THE RIGHT TOOL RIGHT JOB Visit www.GroveBags.com for details. Sales@GroveBags.com | (833) TerpLoc Sandwich Bags Turkey Bags Food Sealer Bags TerpLoc ® Pouches Terpy Bags ® SafeVac ® Vacuum Sealing Solution Powered by LEARN MOREGrow Magazine is published bi-monthly by Grow Media, LLC. Editorial, advertising and administrative offices are located at 1255 Railroad Blvd., Eugene, OR 97402. Grow Magazine 2023 by Grow Media, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic, or mechanical, without the express written permission of Grow Media, LLC. Subscriptions: Inside USA $39.99 for four issues, single copies $6.99. See back issue availability at growmag.com The views and opinions expressed in these articles and advertisements are the authors’ and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Grow Magazine or Grow Media, LLC, its employees, staff, or management. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. CEO Lanny Olivier PUBLISHER Guy Holmes EDITOR Vanessa Salvia ART DIRECTOR Megan Keough DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Kelley Dixon PHOTO EDITOR Clive Holmes SALES ASSOCIATE Chantal Richard WILDCARD Aviva Stuart OFFICE MANAGER Trisha Schoenberg DESIGN ASSISTANT Tammy Roche CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Veronica Castillo, Kent Gruetzmacher, Grubbycup, Keegan Williams, Wil Wilson CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Blair Kirby, Sean Moore, Oleg Zharsky @ growmagazine @ growmag growmag.com VOL. VIII ISSUE 4 Fall 2023 KENT GRUETZMACHER While Kent really enjoys critical historical perspectives, he hasn’t had the chance to apply this sort of analysis to cannabis writing until he wrote the feature in this issue. “I really appreci- ated talking with growers about their views on old-school and new-school techniques, as well as how the market is evolving,” he says. When he’s not writing about cannabis in his home base of Colorado, Kent spends his time exploring the mountains and deserts of the Western US or relaxing on tropical beaches in Mexico. CONTRIBUTORS KEEGAN WILLIAMS Keegan Williams is a Los Angeles– based freelance writer, editor, artist, and model. Holding a bachelor’s de- gree in journalism and media commu- nications with a sociology focus from Colorado State University, Keegan’s journey in the cannabis space began in 2017 as a front-of-house manager and patient coordinator. Along with their work in various cannabis publications (High Times, Dope, Culture), Keegan is an avid essay and feature writer with recent work published in HuffPost and LGBTQ Nation. When they aren’t working, Keegan enjoys cooking plant- based meals, relaxing with their hairless cat, and dancing the night away as a part of LA’s titanic rave scene. Blair Kirby is a San Diego–based photographer who works full time as the in-house lifestyle and brand photographer for Blenders Eyewear but also freelances for other brands all over the US. Blair’s journey in the cannabis industry began around 2017 when she started creating content for brands and hosting creative portrait sessions with San Diego women in the cannabis industry. These shoots have become one of her favorite ways to create and push her boundaries. Follow her on Instagram at @kirbybk, and check out her Valentine’s Day cannabis-styled shoot on High Times’ Instagram. BLAIR KIRBY 14 GROW | FALL 2023T he days have grown shorter and the coveted cannabis harvest time has arrived! In this issue, we trace the evolution of cannabis cultivation from the old school growers who forged their own path through trial and error to the new school farmers leveraging technology and shared knowledge to perfect their craft. Old school growers learned in secret, possibly buying a book by legendary growers like Ed Rosenthal or Bill Drake, or possibly going into a gardening supply store and asking about growing “tomatoes.” Today’s growers have monitoring technology older growers never dreamed of, books, magazines, blogs, and podcasts galore — not to mention expos and conventions! (Want to take your learning off the page and listen? We recommend a few podcasts for the home cultivator.) Yet some principles remain timeless. Our farm visit to Oregon’s Rebel Spirit pays homage to the wisdom of legendary growers. The namesake rebel spirit, Uncle Mark, was a grower and all around cool dude who was arrested for growing this plant we all love and then died in prison. Stories like this are unfortunately common, but hearing them doesn’t lessen their impact. All of us today owe a debt of gratitude to the growers who risked their lives keeping this plant accessible for those who wanted and needed its medicine. Another heartbreaking story that doesn’t diminish, regardless of how many times you hear it, is that of the racist narrative that permeated the earliest days of cannabis in this country. As outdated stigma fades, we’re heartened to see pioneers like the rapper Vic Mensa fostering inclusion and righting past wrongs through ethical business practices. His passion for justice infuses his brand, 93 Boyz, and he is now running the first Black-owned cannabis brand in Illinois. To produce top-quality cannabis, the post-harvest drying, curing, and trimming processes require great care and expertise. We share insider tips from veteran trimmers on how to build an efficient team, spot talent, and get the most from your crew during this crucial stage. Handling matters! And so does keeping your crew happy. The bottom line is a quality product you’re proud of, so your trimming crew has got to be a crucial part of your team. And our popular Ask a Cultivator column dives into the science behind flushing — the sometimes-debated technique of using pH-balanced water for the last week or two before harvest to improve smoothness and flavor. Some growers do it, some don’t, but those who do flush believe in its effects. While high THC content still grabs headlines, one of our features investigates why it doesn’t necessarily translate to a better cannabis experience. Other subtle flavors and effects deliver a more satisfying smoke or vape. And sometimes, too much is just . . . too much! And of course, there’s always page after page of essential products we recommend and stunning photos of flower and extracts as you’ve come to expect in each issue. Thanks for joining us! Let us know what you would like to read in a future issue of Grow, and happy harvesting! Vanessa Salvia, Editor editor@growmag.com 16 GROW | FALL 2023 EDITOR’S LETTERThe Extractory’s OpusMagnum150L Closed Loop Extraction System Built for reliability, function and performance, it is truly a machine that was built by extractors for extractors. 150L of solvent capacity and four individual material columns allows for nonstop processing. Experience extraction with all the control you could desire and more. sales@the-extractory.com 313.366.2020 www.the-extractory.com SPEED Oversized heaters and chillers along with the ability to run various blends of LPGs makes the Opus Magnum 150L one of the fastest on the market. Up to 60lbs an hour. FOOTPRINT The modular design of the Opus Magnum 150L allows for configurations that fit medium to large scale operations. 23’ x 3’ footprint. VERSATILITY Industry leading functionality brings technology to your lab that allows for solvent recovery in the material columns, without the use of a heater or thermal fluid, and duplexed CRCs with dual reactors to allow for uninhibited continuous remediation. CERTIFIED The Opus Magnum 150L has been peer reviewed by licensed professional engineers, and meets and exceeds industry standards listed: IFC, 2021NFPA 1, 2018 NFPA 55, 2020 NFPA 58, 2020NFPA 70, 2017 NEMA 250, 2018 NFPA 497, 2017 ASME BPVC, VIII Div. 1, 2019 IBC IMC THROUGHPUT Offering a 60lb of biomass per hour throughput, and four jacketed columns that allow for non-stop processing. The real question is - “How big do you want to go?” TURNKEY The Opus Magnum 150L is turnkey and comes complete with installation, training, and outstanding customer support. THE FUTURE OF EXTRACTION HAS ARRIVED Our team of engineers have rigorously designed high-quality botanical processing machines, and meticulously sourced lab equipment, fittings, and parts. Our products have been site tested in-house to ensure exceptional function and reliability. We provide products and design solutions for any extraction or distillation requirement, from pilot to industrial scale.Next >