Is it just me?

Is it just me or does some of these so-called budtenders seem pretty fucking stupid about what type of strains helps with certain ailments? I went to this unmentioned shop and they told me sativa buds are the way to go when it comes to nausea. I was ignorant when I asked what they thought I should use and soon realized sativa was NOT the way to go. I just want to know what dispensaries are thinking when they hire some dumbass when there are people like me who want to help people and have a very good knowledge of buds and laws (partially thanks to this site) and can't get a look if I went to try getting a job. I'm just pissed off that some of these places hire complete idiots who are in it because it's 'marijuana', not to help patients.

I hate ranting like this but come on people....get you shit together and hire the right people. I hope some places take this into consideration cuz I would love to see this business smack the government in the face but it's hard when there are the stereotypical pothead working there and knows jack shit about MMJ's relief.

OK enough with this rant...I'm on my way to puff some hash oil!! :rastasmoke:

from: What are the differences between Cannabis indica and Cannabis sativa, and how do they vary in their potential medical utility? - Medical Marijuana - ProCon.org

might be interesting to you....

Valerie Corral, Executive Director of Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana (WAMM), et al., stated in an unpublished study titled "Differential Effects of Medical Marijuana Based on Strain and Route of Administration: a Three-Year Observational Study," (PDF) available on WAMM's website (accessed on Jan. 23, 2007):
"Standardized rating forms provided 1,892 records that were statistically analyzed. Results demonstrated that in the case of nausea and spasm, changes in symptom expression are definitely affected by method of cannabis administration. However, while Cannabis indica strains increased energy and appetite, it is useful to note that in treating nausea in HIV/AIDS and orthopedic diagnosis groups, Cannabis sativa and C. indica strains proved equivalent.
Marijuana, whether Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica, produces its medical and other effects by virtue of the concentration and balance of various active ingredients, especially the cannabinoids, which are unique to marijuana, but including also a wide range of terpenoids and flavonoids. Terpenoids are cannabis constituents that provide the characteristic strong odor of marijuana and hashish. Flavonoids are any of the flavone derivatives. The concentration and relative proportions of these ingredients depend on the plant's genetic structure and applied hybridization techniques, and as such, allow for a substantially varied outcome.
Little is known about how differences in constituent profiles translate into differences in therapeutic effectiveness. A range of differentiable effects has been ascribed to THC (tetrahydrocannabinol is the primary psychoactive component of marijuana) and CBD (cannabidiol, a compound related to THC) when administered in purified form. Studies are lacking on the differential clinical effects produced when varying 'menus' of constituents are taken together. [...]
Results from a drug detection laboratory indicated that C. sativa measured: THC 23.7%, CBD <0.1% and CBN <0.1%. Results indicated that C. indica strains measured THC 19.6%, CBD <0.2% and CBN <0.5%. Cannabis potency testing results by ElSohly Labs of the same sample of C. sativa after storage for eight months yielded a value of THC 17.6%. [...]
Results indicate that cannabis was uniformly effective in relieving symptoms across a wide range of diagnostic categories. No differences were observed in the extent to which symptoms were relieved based on diagnosis, except that patients with HIV/AIDS experienced more relief of nausea than patients with primary orthopedic diagnoses. [...]
C. indica appeared to be superior to C. sativa and 'other' in improving energy and appetite [Table 9]; otherwise, no differences in strain effects were observed. [...]
These findings support that few differences were noted by patients between C. sativa and C. indica strains and between ingestion vs. inhaled routes of administration. This is likely due to modest observed differences in cannabinoid content in the supplied strains. We hope that a reliable and accessible means of analysis will become available in the near future."

Thanks dude....I always find your posts interesting. You're on top of it when it comes to Colorado MMJ. Are you part of an organization? I've been thinking about joining Students For Sensible Drug Policy now that Aaron Houston is executive director. He does a great job and I think the world would be better if there were more people like him trying to make changes in Washington.

Is it true some of these labs that test ask for an ounce and maybe only test a gram? I heard from a few sources that they take a small part and make the rest into hash. That just makes me wonder how accurate these tests are since you can get different levels in different parts of the bud. It makes me think anyways.

I don't know about the testing procedures. if you want me to test your herb, I'll need at least an oz. ;) lol

personally, I think assigning strains to certain sorts of relief is witch doctor-y. I certainly believe in this on a personal level, but would never request or believe some guy behind the counter to make such a distinction for me. 'yea, the beavis kush rocks for ass pain'

I've always heard one is better for this or that, never anything consistent. The only thing that I've seen consistently is harvest time effecting finished product.

When almost all of the trichs are cloudy, your harvest window has begun. Harvesting early will maximize the cerebral effects of the strain you are working with, while a later harvest, when the trichs are starting to turn amber and the THC is degrading, will give you a more body-oriented stone. This is nice for painkilling (muscle pain in particular), anti-anxiety, and anti-insomnia purposes.

I medicate for nausea. I think we're actually luckier than the people who medicate for pain. Most any strain, even small amounts, works fine for nausea, even buds we would all consider too shwaggy to smoke. I listen to the budtenders, but my decisions are made based on appearance under magnification. I always choose the buds with the best trichs/trim, rather than on the sat/ind balance. Ailment-specific marketing of strains is just a marketing tool, IMO.

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Originally Posted by HighPopalorum

I medicate for nausea. I think we're actually luckier than the people who medicate for pain. Most any strain, even small amounts, works fine for nausea, even buds we would all consider too shwaggy to smoke. I listen to the budtenders, but my decisions are made based on appearance under magnification. I always choose the buds with the best trichs/trim, rather than on the sat/ind balance. Ailment-specific marketing of strains is just a marketing tool, IMO.

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while I do agree with you for the most part, there are certain strains of cannabis, that will not do well with some aliments, for example.. Somebody that is trying to treat anxiety, isn't going to want most pure sativa's because a lot of them are anxiety inducing.. So while there isn't a guide to selecting strains for certain aliments, there are certainly ways to educate the consumer on the various effects that will be encountered with each individual strain..:rastasmoke:

What really cracks me up is when people try to use the lineage of the plant to determine the effects of certain plants, all indicas are not all down highs, just like not all sativas are up highs..Those should just be general guidelines. Every strain has a different cannabinoid and terpene profile.. In my experience most people that bud tend have little to no knowledge on cannabis, it's bi-products..Try and go talk to a few of these folks about exactly how their herb was grown, or what micron their bubble is..The majority of the resulting answers will be very vague bordering on comical..

Even more confusing I've found that for bi polar people most effects are backward I.e. Indicas being up and sativas being downers

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Originally Posted by funkfingers

while I do agree with you for the most part, there are certain strains of cannabis, that will not do well with some aliments, for example.. Somebody that is trying to treat anxiety, isn't going to want most pure sativa's because a lot of them are anxiety inducing.. So while there isn't a guide to selecting strains for certain aliments, there are certainly ways to educate the consumer on the various effects that will be encountered with each individual strain..:rastasmoke:

What really cracks me up is when people try to use the lineage of the plant to determine the effects of certain plants, all indicas are not all down highs, just like not all sativas are up highs..Those should just be general guidelines. Every strain has a different cannabinoid and terpene profile.. In my experience most people that bud tend have little to no knowledge on cannabis, it's bi-products..Try and go talk to a few of these folks about exactly how their herb was grown, or what micron their bubble is..The majority of the resulting answers will be very vague bordering on comical..

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How exactly do I determine the micron of my bubbles? And how exactly is that an indicator of potency/effect?

For instance my GDP is well coated with Trichome's, but they are small. Whereas my Blueberry's tricomes are much larger and dense (even growing on the stem, and stalks of the leaves!). Then my Durban has king size tricomes, 2x the size of, but not as packed as the Blueberry's? :wtf:

I ask because I'm interested in knowing more about exactly what I'm growing. I know they all have different THC% and the TCB's and such will vary. I want to learn more. I'm hoping to take a sample of one of my near future grows to be tested (depending on cost)

But for now the fact that the wife is well medicated and happy with our grow is all I really need.:hippy:

Microns are the size of the screen that the trichome passed through in the extraction process.. examples..25u, 45u, 73u, 90u, 120u, 220u. The smaller the # the finer the size of the glands.. That does not necessarily mean that's where you find the best hash. It is dependent on strain, I find that the best hash is usually between 73-120 microns.. Good hash should melt almost completely and will have clear domes at the peak of the bubbles.

I believe you are speaking of the size of the trichomes on your flowers, which usually aren't referred to in microns, but rather a hooked stalk trich or a bulbous straight trich.. Indicas will generally have larger trichomes than Sativas.. Hooked stalked trichs are more common in Sativas.. However there will be combination's of both in some hybrids.. Also be aware that trichome coverage doesn't necessarily indicate potency either ( although it's usually a good bench mark indicator)..There are many books written on the subject of cannabis. I would suggest works by Mel Frank, Robert Clarke, Dj Short, Greg Green, the list can go on and on.. Robert Clarke's Book on Marijuana Botany is a great read, as is Cultivating Exceptional Cannabis by Dj short..Both pretty detailed for the beginner but must reads.. On the subject of hash I suggest reading anything bubbleman has posted on the subject as well as sub cool.. Robert Clark also has a great book on hash called Hashish great read if you're into concentrated forms of cannabis..:rastasmoke: