Quality of medicine?!?!

[alfonso2002]

weedaddy50 let me go over a few things with MO "there is a difference between weed and medical quality cannabis".....and that difference can and most often is HUGE". It can be but then again it can even be better. There are some very good growers here. "dispensarys will attempt to make the most money". I think we all know that the costs of production for the producers is High so what they have to charge has to cover these cost."Why would anyone want to grow Sour D or almost any OG when it takes 10-12 weeks?" Simple answer The producers want to supply the best meds that they can for the patients and are willing to try most any strain. "As a patient you have to decide what medicine you want to put in your body....cheap outdoor....inferior indoor....average indoor.....mexi-brick weed....or truly AAA medical quality that is certified organic, with strict guidelines." CHEAP OUTDOOR The best bud I have ever had has been outdoor.But your right "or truly AAA medical quality that is certified organic". Will cost you more because of how you have to handle the product "I see this movement as more of a grower to patient direct process" That is the way it is done here in NM. That is why we have not been in the cross hairs from the feds."but the short answer is to grow true medical grade cannabis....it takes experience...time...and lots of hard work....seems like everyone thinks, go to you tube watch some urban growers shows...and bam....I am an expert...but what they find out...is they have just grown B grade indoor weed" there we kind of agree But I think we know like you say ....it takes experience...time...and lots of hard work.If you are truly a grower you take pride in what you grow I do anyway.60 day cure very nice.But looking at your bud I think It looks like it is too dry to still be curing.For a very well cured bud say 6 months the moisture level has to be at least 30% so the time you have to take in checking and adjusting things is HUGE because mold is just right there. If you have ever had that kind of bud you know what I am talking about.That type of cure is not Know by many.The risk for many is just too high.

[CFO]

I totally understand where you're coming from CFO, and under any other case yes I would be wary of purchasing weed from the street. However, I hypothetically know exactly where this master kush is coming from, from production to delivery. That's the only reason I used it as an example, cause I was actually able to compare the one fro NaturalRX with the other and there was no difference. At all. I'm kinda tempted to take them some and see if they can tell the diference themselves haha. LOL

Weeddaddy, thanks for the great pictures! Also, I agree with you. It's about turnaround and profit at this point it seems to me. There is some OG's floating around..but the quality is soooo bad. I mean, it's obviously an OG but just poorly grown. At this point in our state, it really is up to individual dispensary's discretion on how they want to grow their medicine. What is on my mind is the fact that so many people automatically believe organic is better on all levels. I understand the need for organic grown medicine, especially for those patients with suppressed immune systems, but one cannot deny that there is badly grown organic medicine out there. Is it really worth trading off that much quality of product just to label it organic?

Organic is required by the State per the Rules and Regs. The producers have no choice in the matter.

[alfonso2002]

CFO your only half right PPL's don't have to do organic.

[CFO]

CFO your only half right PPL's don't have to do organic.

LOL, Alf. Since the patients cannot sell to other patients, it only matters to the patient how they produce medicine for themselves. When I wrote "producers" I should have written LNPP?

[alfonso2002]

OK now your right again.

[voodoo child]

CFO your only half right PPL's don't have to do organic.

Check out the current regs.......
NM nonprofit producers no longer have to grow organically
some nonprofit producers are hyping their Hydro buds>>>as real meds>>it's pretty pathetic.......
Best to have a PPL and grow your own!
Who needs chem weed!

[alfonso2002]

Voodoo child You can grow" HYDRO" organically.I my self have tried hydro with an ebb and flow system and in my HO it came out better than what I had grown in soil pots here is a little to think about when you are thinking organics.
In the United States there are numerous different definitions of "organic", many of which differ significantly. Each state has its own regulations for labeling produce as â??organic". Additionally, there are 36 non-governmental organizations which can certify" produce as organic. For example, California growers who wish to sell their produce as "organic" must register with the California Department of Food and Agriculture and pass their inspection. However, California grower's can also obtain certification through the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), which actually has higher standards for organic than the state has.

The CCOF certification is optional, but produce with California state registration and CCOF certification may be offered for sale within the state as "certified organic" If the grower chooses not to seek CCOF certification, the produce can be offered for sale in California as "organic," but not "certified organicâ?�. Any produce grown outside of the United States can be sold as "certified organic" in the country if one of the 36 non-governmental organizations certifies it. In fact, produce from any state can be granted certification from one of the non-governmental organizations, even if it does not meet the organic standards for the state in which it is being sold. Pretty confusing!

What this all means is that the "organic" label is a matter of bureaucratic definitions, which can vary from state to state, and country to country. In order to bring some kind of standard into play, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) â?? along with state government regulators, non-governmental certifiers, consumers, industry interest groups, food processors and various special interest groups â?? is writing a federally mandated set of "organic" standards. No state will be able to apply more stringent standards than those of the federal.

The basic objectives of "organic" practice include the following:

Avoidance of pesticides, by use of natural pest controls (also applied by many hydroponics growers).

Caring for soil by recording nutrients and composting, and

Moderation of nutrient application with reliance on the bufferaction of humus derived from compost.

Soilless hydroponic cultivation moderates nutrient supply by the more exact measurements of soluble nutrient formulations, mixed to meet the optimum requirements of each plant species and growth phase. Many consumers select "organic" produce, believing that this is the only way to be assured of pesticide-free nonâ??hazardous food. While "organic" farming methods do produce crops generally superior to and safer than those grown by agri-business practices, modern hydroponic techniques can put forth equally safe food that in many cases offers advances in nutrition and taste over their soil-grown â??organicâ?� counterparts. But to the consumer, it's the label that counts, so an increasing number of growers throughout the United States are struggling to get organic certification in any way, shape or form.

Meanwhile, this whole situation poses an enormous dilemma to hydroponic growers who also want organic recognition for their produce. The primary problem for organic hydroponic growers is in the formulation of the soilless nutrient solution. A secondary issue, which concerns the federal regulators, is in the way used hydroponic nutrient and media such as rockwool are disposed of. Since "organic" is to a large extent a farming philosophy in support of a healthy environment, the federal concern is entirely reasonable.

Although the latter factor has no bearing on the quality and safety of the produce itself, the impact upon the planet is a real driving force behind the issue of "organic" farming. If hydroponic growers can find a way to completely recycle exhausted water, nutrients and media, then the argument in favor of "organic-hydroponic certification" becomes much stronger, but there's still the issue of formulating a satisfactory organic hydroponic nutrient mix.

Organic nutrient regulations prohibit the use of many mineral salts and highly refined substances, including food and pharmaceutical grade ingredients that are extremely important for successful hydroponic nutrient formulation. Only unrefined minerals can be used on "organic" crops and these often don't dissolve well or contain quantities of impurities, some of which are even relatively toxic but are "naturalâ?� and therefore â??okayâ?�, according to organic standards. For example, mined phosphate may contain excessive amounts of fluoride, good for teeth in very small quantities, but harmful to humans in excess.

Mined phosphate also can contain small amounts of radioactive elements such as radium, which releases radon, also not good for human health. Chlorides, too, are permitted for organic cultivation but though they are naturally mined, they can be bad for both plants and soil, especially if used in excess. Some soils used by organic farmers contain such toxic elements as selenium, which can accumulate in the plant tissues and produce. Amazing, isn't it?

When refined, any impurities or toxicities such as those listed above are removed, but refined minerals make for non-organic produce. Blood meal, bone meal, fish meal and manures pose almost no potential safety hazards, but they don't dissolve very well; they must be broken down through microbial action in the soil and therefore don't work well in hydroponic applications. There is also a problem that sometimes arises when using manures. The Western Fertilizer Handbook, an important guide for American farmers, points out that many gastro-intestinal illnesses can he traced back to manures used on organically gown crops.

In the summer of 1995, a serious outbreak of salmonella poisoning resulted from an organic cantaloupe crop growing in soil fertilized with fresh chicken manure. The rinds of the melons had become contaminated and the bacteria caused serious intestinal illness for many consumers.

Another point that can be made is that strict vegetarians or animal rights activists may be offended by the use of blood, bone, horn, hoof and feather meals to grow their food, but these are primary nutrient sources for organic farmers. As you can see, this issue Is very complex and there are many points of view. Essentially though, "organic" farming is part philosophy and part methodology, but unfortunately defined bureaucratically. In short just take care of what you are feeding your plants.

[voodoo child]

Alfonso currently there are no real standards for Organic Hydro.......
look at the amount of heavy metals in most organic hydro nutrients and they are at pretty high levels...
That's not organic IMO.
Advanced Nutrients have some of the highest levels of heavy metals yet they call it organic>>yeah right that's just BS marketing

Real organic meds grown in organic soil will always be superior quality unless you've got a noob grower
that can't grow in organic soil>>this is the case for some of NM nonprofit producers>>Some are still growing mids at best....

I've tried meds from 14 different producers and while some were excellent most samples were mid grade at best,machine trimmed beasters!
some samples from New Mexicann were pure schwag.......1 bud of Ravens Ridge had mold..........
This is not my idea of organic meds, but then I've lived in Cali and Colorado and I expect the same quality of meds here in NM.
I have consistently found Organic meds here from 1 producer........

[CFO]

Check out the current regs.......
NM nonprofit producers no longer have to grow organically
some nonprofit producers are hyping their Hydro buds>>>as real meds>>it's pretty pathetic.......
Best to have a PPL and grow your own!
Who needs chem weed!

I have checked out the regs and under section 7.34.4.8C(4) it states "....organic growing methods". I would take that to mean the LNPP are supposed to be growing organically.

How many patients are growing and using regular "miracle grow" for their nutrients? Unless they are using the organic blend, they are growing "chem weed".

In reviewing the regs to quote in this post, I failed to find the 6 ounce limit that was once there. I also went to the Lynn & Erin Compassionate Use Act and only find the wording "adequate supply". If we are no longer limited to 6 ounces then even with only 4 plants, we should be able to produce that "adequate supply". Someone help me find the section that states we can have only 6 ounces.

[CFO]

Alfonso currently there are no real standards for Organic Hydro.......
look at the amount of heavy metals in most organic hydro nutrients and they are at pretty high levels...
That's not organic IMO.
Advanced Nutrients have some of the highest levels of heavy metals yet they call it organic>>yeah right that's just BS marketing

Real organic meds grown in organic soil will always be superior quality unless you've got a noob grower
that can't grow in organic soil>>this is the case for some of NM nonprofit producers>>Some are still growing mids at best....

I've tried meds from 14 different producers and while some were excellent most samples were mid grade at best,machine trimmed beasters!
some samples from New Mexicann were pure schwag.......1 bud of Ravens Ridge had mold..........
This is not my idea of organic meds, but then I've lived in Cali and Colorado and I expect the same quality of meds here in NM.
I have consistently found Organic meds here from 1 producer........

Wow, you have purchased from 14 out of 25 (now 23) producers?! That's great. Wish all of us could do that. I am unable to travel to Albuquerque or pay the extra 20 - 30 for delivery fees. But the meds in southern NM are damn good.

I don't expect, nor will I for some time, the same quality of meds from the NM LNPPs as from those in CA or CO. Growers in both of those states have had more time to hone their skills. Give the LNPPs 10-15 years and they will be on par or better than CA or CO. (Actually, I don't think it will take that long....some are already there after only a few years.)

As far as schwag from NMNM....they are one of the few LNPPs having their meds tested. You must have purchased from them before they implemented testing.

So, who is the one producer from whom you have consistently found organic meds? initials will work if you don't want to state their full name.