A Field Guide to Marijuana Explores Today’S Very by Dan Michaels Best Cannabis Strains in Glorious Full Color
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CANNABIS Michaels COPYRIGHTED: & NOT AUTHORIZED STRAIN VARIETIES Christiansen FOR DISTRIBUTION 100% sativa [14 profiles] 0% sativa hybrid [40 profiles] 50% hybrid [60 profiles] hybrid 50% to Marijuana A Field Guide [39 profiles] indica hybrid 0% [39 profiles] indica 100% Green: A Field Guide to Marijuana explores today’s very By Dan Michaels best cannabis strains in glorious full color. The “Primer” $30.00 U.S. / £15.99 U.K. Photographs by Erik Christiansen section demystifies the culture of this complex flower and A Field Guide explains the botany that makes each strain unique. The “Buds” section describes the variations of lineage, flavor, aroma, and mental or physical high that define 170 exceptional strains. to Marijuana Smart, practical, and beautiful, Green is essential reading for both the cannabis connoisseur and the occasional toker. Primer p/11 COPYRIGHTED: NOT AUTHORIZED FOR DISTRIBUTION Cannabis Overview In order to truly appreciate and enjoy all the wonderful things marijuana has to offer, we must first lay a healthy foundation of knowledge on which to build our experiences. Lies, propaganda, and misinformation about marijuana have proliferated through- out history and it is only through proper education and the sharing of accurate information that we can start to undo the harm this has caused. Famous scientist and botanist George Washington Carver wisely said, “Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.” Hopefully, with the help of the enlightenment provided in this book, we can all continue to spread the truth that has already begun turning this key. Primer p/12 Primer p/13 COPYRIGHTED: NOT AUTHORIZED FOR DISTRIBUTION What Is Marijuana? Figuratively, marijuana is earth’s greatest gift to mankind. Physically, marijuana is a 7,000 BC 1937 1,000+ natural body and mind–altering First known use of cannabis Year the U.S. federal government Estimated number of different treat. Literally, marijuana is the plant in China. passed the Marijuana Tax Stamp Act marijuana strains created. budding flower of the female making marijuana illegal. cannabis plant. But what makes marijuana so desirable is that it naturally produces a multitude 0 220m+ of diverse chemical compounds called Number of deaths caused from 1/3 “phtyo-cannabinoids.” When consumed, Estimated number of adult marijuana these cannabinoids produce a variety of using marijuana. The total worldwide cannabis users worldwide according to the wide-ranging effects on the human mind cultivation and production that United Nations. and body by activating and stimulating our body’s internal cannabinoid receptors. takes place in North America. All humans and animals naturally possess these “endo-cannabinoids” receptors. This complex cannabinoid system is the 75+ very reason cannabis has been consumed for both recreational and medicinal Number of diverse chemical 420 purposes by ancient cultures and modern compounds, called cannabinoids, $300 Cannabis culture’s universally societies alike. found naturally in cannabis. The most well-known cannabinoid is Average price for an ounce of accepted time (4:20) to enjoy mari- called delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). marijuana in the United States. juana and date (April 20) to observe It is the psychoactive chemical that pro- and celebrate cannabis. duces the desirable “high” or “stoned” feeling when consumed. The other primary cannabinoid is 14% known as cannabidiol (CBD). It has been found to be an effective treatment for a Average THC potency found 1996 wide range of health conditions and thanks in marijuana compared to 1% 2014 to modern scientific research, we’ve finally Year California passed been able to quantify and prove these in the 1970s. Prop 215, making it the first Year Colorado became the first health benefits. state ever to legalize marijuana state to sell legalized marijuana for medicinal use. for recreational use. Primer p/16 PrimerCANNABIS IS CLASSIFIEDp/17 INTO THREE SPECIES: SATIVA , INDICA , OR RUDERALISCOPYRIGHTED: . NOT AUTHORIZED The cannabis we love to smoke is either indica, sativa, or usually a hybrid of theFOR two. DISTRIBUTION LONG, THIN WIDE, BROAD What Are Strains? LEAVES LEAVES A marijuana strain is simply a particular variety of the cannabis plant. Not so simple is the breeding process and genetic makeup within each strain. Lucky for us all there are master growers, creative breeders, and other amazing minds hard at work behind the scenes hunting for, cloning, and creating all the super strains LIGHT DEEP that are available to all of us today. COLOR COLOR But you don’t need to be an expert to Hybrids provide a combination of understand that all strains fall into one effects that depend on the strains’ lineage— vs. of three main categories: (1) sativa, their parents. Typically these hybrids are SATIVA INDICA (2) indica, or (3) hybrid. Sativa and either indica or sativa dominant, meaning indica strains are the two main naturally they will express the characteristics of RUDERALIS is a short, hearty, wild strain with fewer leaves and low THC content. It is not used for consuming occurring species, and hybrid strains the dominant variety with less character- but is sometimes crossbred with indicas or sativas to produce an “autoowering” hybrid—meaning it will are a mix of the two. As new hybrid istics of the secondary variety. An indica- produce owers (buds) based on age rather than light cycles like sativas or indicas. strains are developed they are crossbred dominant hybrid might give you a strong with other existing strains, giving growers body buzz without feeling tired, or a endless opportunities to experiment and sativa-dominant hybrid may make you GROWING produce the next great strain. No matter very sociable and cheerful but still calm if a strain is a natural variety or a hybrid, and relaxed. Other times, a hybrid can FLOWERING TIME: 10-16 WEEKS FLOWERING TIME: 6-8 WEEKS each will have very specific qualities be a “true” hybrid, meaning that it is and unique psychoactive effects (What’s an even mix of both varieties. AIRY, TALL BUDS DENSE, PLUMP BUDS Your Phenotype, see page 18). As more and more strains become HYBRID available, it can seem overwhelming to SATIVA STRAINS INDICA figure out which ones are best to procure 8-15 FEET TALL and enjoy. You obviously can’t rely on all the crazy and unusual names given to 2-6 FEET TALL these strains, so what do you do? For THC CBD THC CBD starters, it’s best to begin by narrowing LEVEL LEVELS LEVEL LEVEL down your choice to the variety type. Sativas are known for being a “daytime” EFFECTS strain because they provide you with an uplifting and energetic head high. Indicas COUCH- SLEEPY on the other hand are a better “nighttime” CREATIVE ENERGETIC LOCK ALERT strain and will get your body stoned, mak- RELAXED ing you feel relaxed, mellow, or even sleepy. CAREFREE EUPHORIA SOCIABLE CHEERFUL MELLOW CALM DAYTIME: NIGHTIME: MIND/HIGH BODY/STONED Primer p/18 Primer p/19 COPYRIGHTED: NOT AUTHORIZED FOR DISTRIBUTION INDOOR VS. What’s Your Phenotype? OUTDOOR Buds 1, 2, and 3 were The term phenotype or “pheno” will inevitably come up when 1 2 3 grown indoors while buds talking about cannabis strains. It’s one of those heady words that 4, 5, and 6 were grown is actually pretty basic in concept but very complex in nature. outdoors. Plants grown indoors By definition, a phenotype is simply any living thing’s observable use artificial light under characteristics. In the cannabis plant these traits include size, a completely closed environment—soil, water, shape, color, THC content, bud density, flavor, and smell to name fertilizers, even tempera- a few. All these various traits can come together in a multitude of ture and carbon dioxide levels are monitored combinations adding to the complexity and variety of strains. and controlled. This method often produces strains coated in precise Seeing and smoking an assortment for. This is why educated smokers talk crystals with very high potency and consistent of strains will help you to start noticing about phenotypes and why it’s so impor- phenotypes throughout these distinctions in phenotypes and more tant to know which phenos to look for the crop. importantly help you to figure out what when trying new strain varieties. Outdoor strains on the traits you like or don’t like. If you prefer For example, every bud shown here is other hand use natural an energetic high, a pure sativa strain like the same strain called Girl Scout Cookies sunlight and interact with 4 5 6 Durban Poison (see p/166) will carry that (see p/182). Each bud came from the same the terroir, the unique trait. Or if you prefer the mellowing smoke genetic code but is grown from different land and climate of a specific location. This of an indica strain, than maybe a strain producers or crops. As you can clearly produces larger plants like Platinum OG (see p/298) is worth see, not all buds from the same genotype that are generally more trying. There are even strains bred with will look or behave the same. This is why robust to combat Mother amazing flavors like Bubble Gum (see when you buy Girl Scout Cookies from Nature’s variables like p/114) or Blueberry (see p/104). one source, that bud’s characteristics may wind and weather. The flavors and resin glands It’s the strain’s unique combination vary slightly from the same strain bought are also often more of phenotypes that makes each strain so elsewhere. Maybe the color is slightly off, complex and viscous. distinct and special. Each strain is care- or perhaps the smell is more pungent, or Simply put, indoor fully bred to express very specific trait maybe the effects don’t last as long.