Cannabis Contradictions

There are many contradictions in the Cannabis World. There are Coffeeshops that do not sell coffee. There is jelly-hash which looks nothing like jelly (Americans again). There are Afghan-Skunks called "Cheese" and there are Cheese-clones that have never seen the bright-side of Luton.

There are many contradictions in the Cannabis World. There are Coffeeshops that do not sell coffee. There is jelly-hash which looks nothing like jelly (Americans again). There are Afghan-Skunks called “Cheese” and there are Cheese-clones that have never seen the bright-side of Luton. 

In Europe, there are Activists advocating “legalisation” over “decriminalization” while my fellow cannabis suppliers sit in jail (?) There are big seed breeders doing very little these days, and small home breeders cultivating major crops. Then there is lots of money, the people-hours, litres of fuel, and plastic packaging used to transport cannabis/hemp seed all over the globe - when similar seeds could be as easily cultivated for free at home. There are even some horti-canna companies that no longer wish to be “associated with cannabis” (!)

Indeed the Cannabis World holds many contradictions. Every so often, it is worth experiencing “a moment of clarity” just to take stock of what is really happening out there. This report will look at the reason(s) why (or why not) people cultivate cannabis today and why people will not be allowed to grow certain varieties of Cannabis in future.

Why aren't some people allowed to grow certain plants?

When posed with such a simple question, it seems silly (and disrespectful) to suggest that any plant would be restricted or forbidden from growth. The bureaucratic term for such action would be 'withdrawn from availability', while the legislative term would be 'available under licence'. Either way such plant-species have been 'banned' from the gardens of landowners and the general public.

When Richard Mabey, one of the UK's most famous Herbalists (author of 'Food For Free') applied to the British Home Office for a licence to grow a patch of (low THC) Cannabis, on the land it had occupied two centuries earlier, for historical purposes. It was made clear that: “ Home-growing was precisely what legislation was meant to prevent.”  Mabey concludes in his book entitled ' Weeds ' that; 'an ancient fear forbidding plants which could contaminate the soul, as well as the earth, is present in reinforcing the idea that plants (like Cannabis) should be kept well away from humans.'

The hypocrisy in allowing only select Farmers and Smallholders which carry full Government approval to cultivate Cannabis sativa extends way beyond the limitations of the genus Cannabis itself. If we were to view Cannabis as an example, of how other plants might be withdrawn from human intervention (and consumption) in future, then we might wake up one day to find illegality in cultivating tomatoes or potatoes at home (?)  In fact any plant that the Government deems “harmful to health” could be withdrawn from sale. 

Natural Balance

The often unholy matrimony that exists between humans and plants cannot exist if either become absent from the equation. Just as unbalance can only exist when one side (human or plant) becomes overloaded (too competitive). Natural Balance can then only exist when both sides are stable or working in coexistence with each other. This is what Botanists and Biologists call “symbiosis”. The harmony that exists between Gardeners and Plants (and Fungi) is the result of a symbiotic relationship. A relationship that is instilled into the mindset of any agrarian culture, such as our own. Often as a birthright.

To prevent or even go-against our natural impulse towards farming, contradicts the very nature of our existence as humans. The evolutionary transition from Hunter-Gatherer to Agriculture is still happening within our own ecology and society as human beings. Naturally, we should want to get closer to plants; especially when those plants are intended for feeding  or medicating ourselves.

In the most part the role of agriculture has now been entrusted to Farmers, who extensively cultivate food crops and animals on our behalf. Although the majority of people today live in urban environments, many still retain the luxury of a garden. Those areas that do not fall to concrete, usually hold a grass lawn (one big plant) and/or a flower bed (a selection of plants). Likewise in dwellings that do not have a garden area (apartments and flats) there is often a balcony or window box area specifically designed for plants. In-part, the connection with our agricultural past perhaps explains people's fascination with growing Cannabis plants. 

Manipulation

It could be assumed that Cannabis is grown by people purely for the productivity of its crop. However there is often a deeper relationship that exists between both the Gardener and the Plant(s). Much of which is related to routine. Even in the cases where a water boy/girl simply manages the irrigation of a few plants, a relationship will slowly develop, influenced by routine. This is because as a weed-species Cannabis has long since learnt how to manipulate human beings into doing exactly what it wants.

Conversely, the domestication of cannabis has made several cannabis varieties weaker in 'wild-genetics', being less tolerant to outdoor cultivation, pests and diseases. Newer, quicker, auto-flowering varieties also struggle to produce feral off-spring or wild progeny. Meaning most recreational cannabis seeds must be stored (by people), sown (by people), and even bred (by people) to produce viable results in the garden. In fact many cultivated varieties now require total human intervention in order to succeed. Thus contradicting the fact that Cannabis is a 'weed' species at all.

However let us not be tricked into thinking that seeds planted without instant results will not germinate in future. Seed dormancy is, as yet, an unknown science by both Cannabis Breeders and Botanists. A seed might lay silent for weeks, months, even hundreds of years. Just waiting until climatic conditions, soil depth and orientation favour a plant's individual requirements. The truth is no-one really knows how long seed dormancy in  Pansy might last for, let alone Cannabis.

For example, one test with a single Field Poppy (Paparva rhoeas) producing 20,000 seeds was abandoned after just three years. Revealing a germination rate of 85% or 17,000 seed in the first year, with the other 15% or 3,000 seed 'bidding time' or laying dormant until germination. The project was abandoned simply because after the second season it was impossible to count the number of seed produced from the surviving off-spring, let alone calculate the number of seed laying dormant in the soil. [see Mabey R. 2010: 'Weeds' , Profile Books, London].

It could be the case that the latest and most expensive seed packet that did not germinate properly, the ones that were thrown away with the rubbish or recycled with the garden-waste, are now growing happily beside a compost heap somewhere else. Otherwise the seeds might just be sleeping, waiting until they get moved to a more suitable location. For this reason it is always worth placing the compost from otherwise in-germinated seed trays into a separate plant pot or even outdoor onto a flower bed. Some varieties actually prefer outdoor germination; especially land-race varieties and land-race hybrids.

Survival in Numbers

As a rule, plants with fewer flowers produce fewer (larger) seeds, while plants with lots of flowers produce lots of (smaller) seeds. As a result a greater number of smaller seeds will germinate than a lower number of larger seeds in the garden.

Even in domesticated populations of Cannabis this phenomena of “survival in numbers” is evident. For example Cannabis indica varieties which produce seeds in fewer numbers are often more difficult to cultivate. Whereas Cannabis sativa varieties, which by Nature produce a greater number of seeds per plant, are often easier to cultivate, en-mass.

In hybridization, for example when Cannabis sativa 'Haze' crosses genetics with Cannabis indica/sativa 'Skunk' (a classic cross) the resulting off-spring or progeny will produce a variety of results in the garden. Those plants favouring Cannabis sativa 'Haze' genetics in lineage will produce lots of smaller seeds. Whereas those plants leaning towards Cannabis indica/sativa 'Skunk' genetics in lineage will produce fewer larger seeds overall. The seeds of which will grow to display not only the characteristics of their parent plants (Haze and Skunk), but also a percentage of the genetics of their grandparents (Colombian, Thai, Mexican, Afghan).

Plant Patents

In this way parent plants invest both dominant and recessive genetics into future seed lots. In turn this has allowed Plant Scientists to isolate and manipulate certain characteristic traits using several 'unnatural' horticultural methods. Feminized seeds with colloidal silver is one example. Advancements in tissue-culture (see Dutch Passion) suspended in prill form is another. Although many of these techniques are still some way off in practise, the reality of genetic patenting over Cannabis genetics (seed and clone) is slowly rearing its ugly head over the Cannabis Market.

In Europe, there is little growing doubt, that established “Breeders” (if we can even call them that to begin with) are already genetically manipulating plant material with the express intention of patenting (owning) the same genetics in future. With the use of genetic splicing, prills, and “termination genes” such dreams are rapidly becoming a reality.  In future this means that Home-Growers will 'rent' genetics from a breeder; under contractual conditions similar to other avenues within the horticultural industry. At which point Cannabis Culture will become another homogeneous entity, controlled by global corporations and those “breeders” with the finances to employ Lawyers to back them in court.

The future

The worm-cast will really hit the fan the day that Sam the Skunkman patents Cannabis sativa/indica 'Skunk #1, for example. At which point any “Breeder” with Skunk #1 genetics in their line (like our buddy Big Buddha), will be liable to pay royalties, or compensation to Sam the Skunkman for the privilege of using his genetics. Since he could simply DNA test any suspect seed genetics, just before following it up with legislation and a court-case. At which point perhaps 80% of the Seed Companies in Europe with genetics based around Skunk #1 will be dissolved or shut down completely by Sam the Skunkman and his lawyers (or the people that he sells the patent no. to). Not forgetting that Sam the Skunkman already works for GW Pharmaceutical in the UK and is already the joint patent-holder (owner) over the mickey-mouse spray Sativex!

The real contradiction in all this, is that so called 'Hippies' (at least that's how they have presented the image of themselves online in the past) have now sold their souls to the Accountants. Simply for a lasting buck on plant genetics. Genetics which, regardless of all the myths, tall stories, and bullshit generated by such people to begin with, were not even owned or procreated by the same “breeders” originally! Contradiction indeed.

On the flip-side, such methods of control, will only encourage Underground Breeders to produce more and more regular (male and female) seed stocks to compensate for any wrongdoing by their so called contemporaries. As short-sighted as the money-men (and women) may be, the reality is that Cannabis Culture cannot be controlled or manipulated in the same way as the mainstream horticultural industry. Often because many of us work within both spheres of the complex, have seen the pit-falls, and already hold the genetics, knowledge, and traditional breeding techniques to have already taken sensible steps to counter-act the greed that overshadows Cannabis Culture (in Europe) today.

Why patented genetics may not be sold 'off-licence' in future; for fear of reprisal from some jumped up monkey in Holland (no offence to the monkeys out there), the same seed and clone genetics will no-doubt always remain to be shared for FREE by members of the wider Cannabis Community. Mainly because the majority of “commercial cannabis breeders” out there today are not producing anything new in the way of genetics anyway. To this end, at least a slim glimmer of hope remains...

Keep Medicating!