Introduction 1
About This Book 1
Foolish Assumptions 2
Icons Used in This Book 3
Beyond the Book 4
Where to Go from Here 4
Part 1: Getting Started with Cannabis 5
Chapter 1: Taking the Nickel Tour 7
Exploring the Basics of Marijuana Consumption 8
Considering medical use 8
Looking into adult recreational use 10
Acknowledging the potential drawbacks 10
Knowing What Makes Cannabis So Special 11
Recognizing the Diversity of Cannabis Strains 13
Buying Cannabis 14
Knowing where and where not to get it 14
Understanding what you're buying 15
Avoiding rip-offs 16
Exploring Different Consumption Methods 16
Smoking or vaping 16
Edibles 17
Tinctures 17
Topical or transdermal applications 18
Getting Up to Speed on Cannabis Laws 18
Being a Safe and Responsible User 19
Grasping the Basics of Cannabis Production 20
Growing cannabis 20
Harvesting and curing cannabis 21
Creating cannabis, extracts, concentrates and infused products 22
Making Money in the Cannabis Industry 22
Recognizing the challenges 23
Getting a job in the industry 23
Starting your own cannabis business 24
Exploring ancillary business 25
Investing in the industry 25
Chapter 2: Brushing Up on Cannabis Anatomy and Chemistry 27
Getting to Know the Plant from Top to Bottom 27
Examining the structure of the two primary strains 28
Checking out the buds and flowers 28
Taking a peek at the seeds 29
Combing through the trichomes 30
Considering the lesser parts of the plant 31
Taking a Crash Course in Cannabinoid Chemistry 32
Assessing factors impacting individual effects 32
Exploring the endocannabinoid system 33
Getting high with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) 35
Feeling better with cannabidiol (CBD) without getting high 37
Reaping the sedative effects of cannabinol (CBN) 37
Exploring the potential health benefits of cannabigerol (CBG) 37
Discovering the potential health benefits of cannabigerol (CBG) 38
Using terpenes to anticipate effects 38
Exploring Cannabis Concentrates and Extracts 39
Concentrates 39
Extracts 40
Products made from concentrates and extracts 42
Chapter 3: Steering Clear of Legal Trouble 45
Knowing the Laws: Federal, State, Local and International 46
Keeping abreast of U.S federal law and enforcement 46
Getting up to speed on state laws 48
Considering local laws too 51
Knowing your employer's rules 52
Researching international laws 52
Knowing Your Limits 54
Age limits 54
Purchase limits 55
Grow limits 55
Dosing limits 56
Driving limits 56
Consumption locations 56
Your own personal consumption limits 57
Avoiding Encounters with Law Enforcement 59
Responding Appropriately in Encounters with Law Enforcement 60
Taking Responsibility as a Parent 61
Chapter 4: Tackling Cannabis Politics and Culture 63
Checking the Nation's Pulse 64
Acknowledging the drivers of change 64
Recognizing differences in attitudes about medical and recreational use 65
Keeping pace with evolving attitudes 66
Debunking Misconceptions of Cannabis and Users 66
Examining Activism 67
Tuning in to Cannabis Culture 69
Part 2: Buying, Storing, and Using Cannabis 71
Chapter 5: Buying and Storing Cannabis 73
Evaluating Your Vendor Options: Where to Buy 74
Buying from a dispensary 74
Buying cannabis online or over the phone 75
Checking out cannabis "gifting" businesses 77
Steering clear of the black market 77
Making Two Key Decisions 78
Getting Quality Product 79
Buy from a reputable dispensary and be willing to pay more 79
Check for third party testing 79
Stick with trusted strains and brands 80
Read the label 80
Inspect the goods 81
Avoiding Common Cannabis Scams 83
Storing Your Cannabis 84
Chapter 6: Choosing and Visiting a Cannabis Dispensary 85
Choosing a Cannabis Dispensary 86
Comparing medical and recreational dispensaries 86
Finding a reliable and legal place to shop 89
Comparing purchase/delivery/pickup options 92
Visiting a Cannabis Dispensary 95
Knowing what to expect 95
Sizing up the budtender 97
Getting a Medical Marijuana Card 98
Chapter 7: Consuming Cannabis 101
Going Old School: Smoking or Vaping 102
Smoking cannabis 102
Vaping cannabis 110
Dabbing 112
Eating and Drinking Cannabis: Edibles 115
Using Topical and Transdermal Products 117
Using Cannabis Tinctures or Pills 118
Taking Pharmaceutical Preparations 119
Chapter 8: Using Cannabis Safely and Responsibly 121
Recognizing the Health and Safety Risks 122
Checking out undesirable transitory effects 122
Looking ahead to potential long-term complications 123
Making Dosing Decisions 124
Defining your desired experience 125
Considering the chemical composition of products 125
Comparing methods of consumption 129
Accounting for other medications or substances used 130
Examining your body's biochemistry 131
Considering the environment or setting and your mood or mind-set 132
Keeping Safety in Mind 132
Using cannabis in moderation 133
Making rational decisions 133
Committing to no impaired driving 133
Dealing with Overconsumption 134
Distinguishing overconsumption from overdose 134
Avoiding overconsumption 135
Responding to overconsumption 135
Considering Underage Development 136
Part 3: Reaping the Potential Benefits of Medical Marijuana 139
Chapter 9: Using Marijuana for Medicinal Purposes 141
Understanding the Current and Ongoing Status of Medical Marijuana 142
Choosing Medical Marijuana Products 143
Seeking Symptom Relief for Specific Conditions 145
Acne 146
Addiction 146
Alzheimer's 147
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) 148
Anxiety 149
Appetite loss 149
Arthritis 150
Asthma 151
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) 151
Autism spectrum disorders 151
Autoimmune disorders 152
Bipolar disorder 153
Cachexia (Wasting) 153
Cancer 154
Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) 155
Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity 155
Depression 156
Diabetes 157
Eating disorders 158
Epilepsy 158
Fibromyalgia 159
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) 159
Glaucoma 160
Hepatitis C 161
HIV/AIDS 161
Huntington's disease 162
Inflammation 162
Insomnia 163
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) 163
Lupus 164
Menopause 165
Migraines and headaches 166
Multiple sclerosis (MS) 166
Nausea and vomiting 167
Pain 167
Parkinson's disease 168
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 168
Restless legs syndrome 169
Schizophrenia/psychosis 170
Sexual dysfunction 170
Skin conditions 171
Sports medicine 172
Tourette syndrome 172
Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease 173
Accounting for Potential Adverse Side Effects 174
Chapter 10: Using Pot for Pets 175
Recognizing the Potential Benefits of Cannabis Treatment 176
Consulting Your Veterinarian First 177
Treating Specific Conditions in Pets 178
Anxiety 178
Appetite loss 178
Cancer 179
Digestion issues 180
Epilepsy/seizures 180
Nausea/vomiting 181
Pain 181
Palliative care 181
Tumors 181
Noting the Potential Adverse Effects of Cannabis on Pets 182
Administering Cannabis to Pets 182
Deciding on a way to administer it 183
Choosing an initial dose 183
Monitoring your pet's reaction 184
Adjusting the dose 184
Preventing and responding to overconsumption 185
Obtaining Commercial Cannabinoid Products 185
Preparing Your Own Concoctions 186
Part 4: Grasping the Basics of Cannabis Cultivation, Post-Harvest, and Production 187
Chapter 11: Growing Cannabis 189
Wrapping Your Brain Around the Cannabis Growth Cycle 190
Choosing a Cultivation Method 191
Indoor 191
Outdoor 192
Hydroponics 193
Soil 193
Creating a Grow Room for Indoor Cultivation 194
Tackling the initial setup 194
Simulating the desired climate 195
Focusing on air flow 195
Setting up grow lights 198
Deciding on a watering/fertilizing system 201
Using a hydroponics system 202
Keeping your grow room impeccably clean 204
Preparing for Outdoor Cultivation 204
Choosing a site 204
Hardening off your plants 207
Supporting and protecting your plants 207
Prepping Your Soil or Other Grow Medium 208
Planting Seeds or Cuttings 209
Acquiring seeds or cuttings 209
Germinating seeds 211
Planting seedlings 212
Cloning plants 212
Transplanting 214
Keeping Your Plants Healthy 214
Ensuring proper temperature, humidity, and lighting 214
Watering and fertilizing your plants 215
Checking and adjusting the pH 216
Battling common pests 216
Preventing and treating common diseases 217
Pruning your plants 218
Training your plants to maximize yield 218
Prepping Plants for Harvest 221
Stop spraying the foliage 221
Flush your grow medium 222
Cultivating Cannabis in an Industrial Setting: Special Considerations 222
Considering space locations and rules 222
Considering the use of pesticides and nutrients 223
Handling green waste 223
Arranging third party testing 223
Tracking plants from seed to sale 224
Chapter 12: Harvesting and Post-Harvest 225
Deciding When to Harvest: Timing is Everything! 226
Keeping an eye on the trichomes 226
Observing the pistils and stigmas 227
Tracking leaf senescence 228
Find out the strain's expected time-to-harvest 228
Harvesting Your Plants 228
Weighing and Calculating Your Yield (Dry/Wet Weights) 229
Determining the plant's wet weight 229
Weighing after bucking or shucking and maybe rough trimming 230
Weighing green waste and wet bud 231
Drying, Curing, and Trimming Flower Post-Harvest 232
Drying your plant or buds 232
Curing dried cannabis 236
Trimming bud 238
Storing your buds 239
Packaging for commercial use 239
Chapter 13: Making Concentrates and Marijuana Infused Products (MIPs) 241
Grasping Concentrate Basics 242
Exploring Different Extraction Methods 242
Non-solvent extraction methods 243
Solvent extraction methods 244
Creating Your Own Concentrates 247
Making kief (dry sift) 247
Making dry sift hash 248
Making bubble hash 248
Making dry ice hash 250
Making rosin 252
Making charas 253
Make your own cannabis butter 253
Make your own tincture 256
Cooking Up Edibles 257
Preparing Tinctures, Lotions, and More 258
Part 5: Getting Down to Business 259
Chapter 14: Starting Your Own Cannabis Business 261
Working with a Federal Schedule I Drug 262
Choosing a Business Type 263
Grower 264
Retailer 264
Manufacturer of infused products (MIP) 265
Processed product brand 267
Profiting from cannabis with an ancillary business 268
Addressing Common Challenges 268
Dealing with money issues 269
Adhering to state and local laws 272
Applying for licenses in other states 276
Staffing for Success 278
Filling key positions 279
Providing the necessary training 281
Getting your people certified: Badging 282
Setting Up Shop 282
Choosing a facility 282
Establishing your supply chain 283
Tackling transportation issues 283
Acquiring the necessary equipment 284
Creating a website/blog 286
Building your point of sale (POS) system 287
Maintaining a Positive Public Image 287
Attending community hearings 288
Handling public affairs 288
Communicating with the press 288
Catering to the customer 289
Chapter 15: Finding Work in the Cannabis Industry 291
Scoping Out Job Opportunities 292
Grow master or grower 292
Cultivation technician 292
Trimmer 293
Joint roller 293
Cure associate 293
Nutrient chemist 293
Extractor 294
Quality assurance manager 294
Dispensary manager 294
Budtender/sales associate 295
Dispensary receptionist or cashier 295
Packager 296
Edibles chef 296
Courier/delivery driver 296
Buyer 297
Sales representatives 297
Compliance manager 298
Communications director 298
Human resources (HR) manager 299
Trainers 299
Public affairs administrator 300
Laboratory worker 300
Security manager or officer 300
Accountant 301
Marketing manager or team members 301
Facilities manager 301
Technology manager 302
Exploring Jobs in Ancillary Industries and Professions 302
Finding Employers 303
Improving Your Odds of Getting Hired 304
Brush up on cannabis culture and law 304
Attend industry events 305
Get your cannabis badge or state clearance 305
Become a cannabis activist 306
Chapter 16: Investing in Cannabis 307
Sizing Up Current and Future Investment Opportunities 308
Considering the current market 308
Exploring publicly traded stock on the Canadian market 310
Looking ahead to the future market 312
Performing Your Due Diligence 312
Seeking Private Investment Opportunities 313
Considering Investments in Ancillary Businesses 314
Investing in Cannabis Real Estate 314
Part 6: The Part of Tens 317
Chapter 17: Ten Tips for Growing More and Better Weed 319
Choose the Right Strain 319
Choose Top-Quality Seeds 321
Use High-Quality Soil 321
Upsize Your Containers 321
Maximize Bud Production with Topping, Training, and Scrogging 322
Use the Right Nutrients in the Right Amounts at the Right Times 323
Get the Lighting Right 323
Ensure Proper Ventilation and Circulation 324
Be Patient Near Harvest Time 325
Dry and Cure Your Weed Properly 325
Chapter 18: Ten Tips to Enhance Your Cannabis Experience 327
Choose Top-Quality Products 327
Experiment with Different Strains 328
Try Different Consumption Methods 328
Try Hash and Other Concentrates 329
Set the Mood 329
Chill Your Bong 330
Boost Your High with Certain Foods 330
Exercise Regularly 331
Break the Monotony 331
Take a Tolerance Break 331
Chapter 19: Ten Tips for Buying Cannabis 333
Choose the Right Dispensary for You 333
Find a Knowledgeable and Helpful Budtender 334
Describe the Specific Effect You Desire 335
Buy Legal Cannabis 335
Visually Inspect the Product 336
Smell It 336
"Feel" It 337
Taste It 337
Ask About the Cultivation Method 338
Compare Prices 338
Appendix: Cannabis Recipes 339
Index 361
