Now the timing is always based upon where you live in the world. Some places have very short growing seasons and some the opposite, having an extremely long growing season. In early spring in most of the United States, if you plant early, plants are more vulnerable to the forces of nature than those started later in the season. Hungry insects and other pests are more likely to attack the greenery if your plant is the only thing around to eat. Outdoor marijuana grows that are too early can also be attacked by temperature. If the plant gets too cold at the beginning of its life cycle its growth can be set back exponentially, and the plant could even die. Also crops planted too early can begin to flower because the light cycle is to close to a 12 hour on/off cycle, this can also stress the plant and slow the growth.

Another way to help speed up your outdoor marijuana garden is too help mature the plants before placing them outside. This means starting your seedlings or clones indoors before transplanting them outside. There are a few things that you have to do to help insure having a healthy non-stressed marijuana garden. The first is introducing the plant into the natural light slowly. The sun is going to be more effective than any light that can be produced indoors. This also means the amount of lumens to the plant is greatly increased and can stress the plant. Don’t place the plants in the direct sun when first brought into your outdoor marijuana garden. Set up a shade or put the plants by a tree and gradually work in more and more light over a one-two week period. Once acclimated to the outdoor climate your plants should thrive. There are a few negatives to starting your plants inside. The marijuana plant when started outside will probably grow larger, thus producing more buds than the plants grown inside to start. Also a plant grown outside gains a bit more tolerance to natural detriments(i.e. Pests and other harmful diseases.).

You can plant your Outdoor marijuana garden late in some cases. The beginning of August would be fairly late in the season; this is typically when the summer is at its hottest. Acclimating the plant to the environment is one of the hardest parts of planting late in the season. First you need to have a plant that has been established, like a fully grown seedling or a clone (preferably a clone to ensure you have a female plant). Spray the clone or fully grown seedling with an anti-transpirant designed to eliminate transplant shock. This clogs the stomata of the plant so the plant doses not transpire as much. Transplant your plants at the end of the day in a well shaded environment. In most cold weather areas around the country, an Indica variety plant should be chosen, because they tend to ripen faster. They also will not grow very big and will go into the production of flowers much faster than sativa varieties. In longer growing climates like the southern United States you can choose more hybrid or early finishing sativa since you have an extra month of growth.

The THC of the outdoor marijuana garden is not affected by the cold late in the season, but the plants vegetative tissue can be damaged. When temperatures drop below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, the plant is typically affected. Leaves on the plant get damaged and the plant will have to spend time repairing itself before normal growth can resume. This process of repair could take days of recovery time, in normal weather conditions. When there is cold weather for a few days in a row, the damage can be compounded, weakening the plan and lowering its ability o repair itself. The plants THC will not be damaged but no new THC production will occur. Unless there is a possibility of some good heat in the near future, harvest your crop.,

It is not the most difficult process in the world but it is not easy either. When to start and to finish are good things to consider when growing outdoor marijuana. Choose your timing correctly and give your plants the best care and you will have a great crop at the end of your season.

The first and most important element in growing is water. Plants are made up of mostly water, but water can also be a detriment to your plant.  With soil plants one of the most common mistakes that new growers make is the over watering of the plant. This is not as big of a problem when growing in hydroponic setups, because the  plants are grown in mostly water. Though nutrients are delivered through the soil and the soil retains some nutrients, mixing the nutrients into the water is the one of the most common delivery methods. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are always listed in fertilizer packages in the same order, commonly known as the fertilizers N-P-K. The N-P-K is the food for growing marijuana into big healthy plants. These three are what the plant needs through all of its cycles of life, including flowering, and the perfect balance of all three can be amazing and yield huge amounts.

The next Element is light. Light in nature of course comes from the sun, but when growing marijuana indoors you have to simulate this light. There are many different types of light you can use. The way to get the best yield in a marijuana plant is also determined by the light. During photosynthesis, special organs in the leaf and stem cells (which are called chloroplasts), which contain chlorophyll, use water to create sugars. This entire process is fueled by light. The more sugars that are produced by a plant, the more light the plants receive. Chlorophyll absorbs light in two different spectrums, red and blue. Plants use every spectrum of light but green, this is why the plant looks green; it reflects the green spectrum of light. Different types of lights use produce different color spectrums and lumens. The amount of lumens produced by a light is also important. The amount of lumens per watt is the best way in optimizing the amount of money you spend on electricity compared to the amount of marijuana produced.

Environment is the third basic element of growing marijuana. The environment is made up of a few different key points. The first is temperature. Temperature is very important to a plants well being. If the temperature is too high, it can drain the moisture from the plant and dry the plants cell walls, and eventually killing the plant. To cold and it can freeze the plant because the plant is made up of mostly water. The temperature should be at a constant 70-74 degrees Fahrenheit during the light cycle and only drop around 10 degrees during the dark or night cycle. The next important key in the environment is the humidity. The humidity should be relatively low only reaching a max of 35%. Keeping a dryer room is important because it help keep cell wall rigidity, and prevents being attacked by molds like powdery mildew. The last key point in the environment is the air flow. You should keep a constant amount of air flow around your plants during all phases of growth. This is important because the plants breathe in CO2 like humans breathe in air. If the air flow is not kept constantly flowing the air around the plants will become stale, or oxygen rich and the plants will suffocate.

The final step to keeping a great grow is the last key element to growing marijuana. Like in the last paragraph you saw that the plants breathe in CO2. Since this is not nature, you have o simulate the plants CO2 for them, instead of them breathing it from the natural air. There are a few ways you can achieve this. One way is to buy bottles of CO2 and a regulator, to regulate how much CO2 your plants will receive. You can also buy what is called a CO2 burner. What this dose is burn natural gas and creates CO2 from it. There are negatives and positives for both. The CO2 burner is more cost effective, but produces heat and moisture from he burnt natural gas. The CO2 bottle set up is much more expensive, but creates no heat or humidity. You have to be careful with both because you can harm yourself with too much CO2 into the room. The toxic level in CO2 to humans is around 5000 ppm.

If you follow these four basic elements when growing marijuana indoors, you will see the positive results at the end of your cycle. Water/food, light, environment, and CO2 when combined with good plant genetics will surely yield amazing and have spectacular buds loaded with lots of trichomes. Happy growing!!

Before anyone tries his or her hand at growing medical marijuana, those interested should check their states’ legal statues governing the cultivation and possession of medical marijuana. So far, 16 states and the District of Columbia have passed measures legalizing marijuana for medicinal use. Most of these states require that those who qualify for medical marijuana must have residency in those states and nearly all of the states require that patients have a prescription.

Those growing medical marijuana can choose between growing their plants indoors or outdoors. Indoor growth is a popular choice thanks to the additional security from theft, but the plants will appear scrawnier than their outdoor counterparts and require additional care. Indoor growth is also preferable in locations with colder climates, especially with varieties that don’t take well to cold temperatures. Certain varieties take better to being grown indoors than others.

The first step to growing medical marijuana is to select the right seeds. Feminized seeds are a popular choice for many home growers. These seeds are derived from hermaphroditic plants that produce both female seed-bearing flowers and male pollen sacs. Feminized seeds are much more predictable at producing female plants. Auto-flowering seeds produce plants that flower regardless of the amount of light they’ve been exposed to. Although these plants are shorter in stature and give a lower yield than other varieties, it takes less time to grow an auto-flowering plant. Overall, seeds should be green and healthy in appearance. Seeds that are grey and shrunken may not grow as well, if at all.

The next step is to is to germinate and plant the seeds. One method to germinate medical marijuana seeds is to simply plant them into the ground with the pointed end facing up. The seed should be planted at least an inch under the soil. Another method involves keeping them inside of a moist paper towel in a room that receives ambient outside light. The seeds should remain at a constant temperature of around 70 degrees F to 85 degrees F for up to 48 hours or until the seed case splits and the white shoot appears at the top. Afterwards, the seeds should be planted on their sides in a half-inch of soil or growing medium.

The soil itself should be healthy, rich brown or black and free of rocks, clay and lime. Growers should also clear the surrounding area of weeds and other pests. Good drainage is also an important factor. Medical marijuana plants should be situated three feet apart from one another. Positioning them too close to one another may result in stunted growth. The amount of water needed by these plants depend on their size, variety, temperature and growth rate. While these plants need plenty of water to survive, too much water will cause root rot. Lack of water will cause the plants to wilt and their leaves to droop. Marijuana plants grown for medicinal purposes require a pH level between 5.5 and 6.5.

Those who choose to grow their plants indoors only need a few things to get going. Indoor growers should have a grow lamp within the 400-watt to 600-watt range, a 24-hour timer equipped with a contactor relay switch to control light periods and an oscillating fan that is capable of running 24 hours a day. Other essential items include a pH tester, a pH adjuster, nutrients best suited to the type of plant being grown and white plastic for covering the walls of the growing area.

Some medical marijuana growers chose to grow their plants hydroponically using a variety of methods. One method involves using a Nutrient Film Technique tank. This method involves the growth of plants through light-proof plastic film, with a flow of nutrient-rich solution fed via submersible pump and tube to the plant roots. Other indoor growth methods include europeanise, drip systems, water culture and the wick system.

Aside from the medical marijuana plants themselves, the grow light plays the most important role in the growth of a medical marijuana plant. Incandescent lamps, high pressure sodium lamps and fluorescent lamps are commonly used to grow medical marijuana, but LED grow lights are gaining interest from growers.

The Miracle of Marijuana

Over the years, patients have used medical marijuana for a variety of illnesses. It contains more than 60 cannabinoids, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive component of the plant, and cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive component. It was first used in the 3^rd century, when a Chinese physician discovered its anesthetic value. Since then, it has proved an excellent painkiller, and to have powerful anti-inflammatory properties that help in the treatment of joint disorders. Medical marijuana is also effective in the suppression of nausea, whether caused by illness or treatments.

How it Works

A study conducted in 2005 found that THC and CBD produced significant improvements in pain and the quality of sleep experienced by patients. In addition, researchers discovered during animal trials that the CBD created an effective block against progression of the disease, slowing disease activity. In patients taking traditional medicine, the addition of medical marijuana to the treatment program helps reduce nausea caused by prescribed pharmaceutical drugs, and aids in the management of pain. The plant also has immune-modulation properties. These enable its use as an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, caused by irregularities of the immune system following infection or trauma.

Methods of Administration

While these studies used drugs derived from marijuana, medical marijuana enthusiasts believe that ingesting the drug through smoking, vaporizing or eating it may be a more direct method of delivery, with a lower risk of side effects. Smoking, in particular, helps the marijuana enter the patient’s blood stream directly from where it is immediately distributed, reducing the time it takes to experience relief. In addition, this method of ingestion means the body receives all the cannabinoids present in the plant, instead of merely one or two components isolated during extraction.

Obtaining Medical Marijuana

The patient’s first step is to find out from the doctor whether he is a good candidate for medical marijuana, and whether its use is legal in his state. Medical grade marijuana comes from only two strains of cannabis plants, Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica. In some states the plants are grown by registered medical marijuana caregivers, who are also required to assume responsibility for at least one of the housing, health or safety of the patient. In other states, the patient may be able to grow his own marijuana or purchase it from a dispensary, once he has a written recommendation from a doctor.

Safety as a Drug

“Nobody has ever died from an overdose of marijuana,” says the website of Americans for Safe Access. In almost 5,000 years of documented use, not a single death is recorded, and the plant “has little effect on major psychological functions,” according to Harvard Medical School professor emeritus Dr. Lester Grinspoon.  Medical marijuana is less addictive and less likely to be abused than many readily-available muscle relaxants, hypnotics and analgesics.

A legitimate concern is the high level of tars and particulate matter absorbed through smoking, and their effect on the smoker’s lungs. However, quantities smoked for medical purposes are lower than regular, habitual smoking, which gives credibility to the idea that once legalized, solutions to this may be found. Even in the form of derivative drugs, medical marijuana’s anti-inflammatory qualities produce fewer gastro-intestinal problems than NSAIDs, and it does not cause depressed respiration, weight loss or physical mutations.

Legal Issues

Since 2004, doctors in the United States have had a Constitutional right to recommend the use of medical marijuana. They are not legally permitted to supply it, however, or to otherwise help the patient to obtain it. Once the patient has a doctor’s written recommendation to use marijuana, it may be legal for him to grow it himself. Alternatively, doctors may recommend caregivers or dispensaries, and online directories list dispensing organizations in 16 states plus Washington D.C. where medical marijuana is legal. Each state has strict limitations on the quantity a user may have in his possession, including growing plants.

There is much that must be done before arthritis sufferers across the U.S. can benefit from the miracle of medical marijuana, but the foundations have been laid. Proponents of the movement believe it is only a matter of time before research produces sufficient evidence to support the legalization of marijuana for all patients.

Sources:

http://americansforsafeaccess.org/article.php?id=4560#research

http://www.medicalmarihuana.ca/learning-center/conditions/arthritis

http://www.medicalmarijuana.net/uses-and-treatments/arthritis/

http://www.medicalmarijuanablog.com/benefits/arthritis-016.html

http://localproductco.com/2012/02/03/medical-marijuana-and-arthritis/

http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881

Active Cannabinoids Impact on Symptoms

There are many clinical and anecdotal reports of active cannabinoids’ effective reduction of MS related symptoms including spasticity, fatigue, incontinence, pain and depression. In 2010, Dr. Jody Corey-Bloom at the University of California at San Diego’s Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research investigate the short-term effects of inhaled cannabis on spasticity from MS. A placebo controlled, randomized clinical trial suggested that smoking marijuana reduced MS patients’ objective measure of pain intensity and spasticity. The investigation concluded that “smoked cannabis was superior to placebo in reducing spasticity and pain in patients with multiple sclerosis and provided some benefit beyond currently prescribed treatment.” Even with the lack of support from lawmakers, politicians, and parts of the medical community, many MS patients report having engaged in cannabis therapy to alleviate the symptoms of pain and spasticity. Some surveys reflect upwards of 50% of MS sufferers use marijuana for the therapeutic effects of the active cannabinoids.

Active Cannabinoids: Closest Thing to a Cure

There is no known cure for MS and conventional medicine has yet to come up with therapies or courses of treatment that can slow the progression of the debilitating disease with pharmaceuticals. The July 2003 issue of the Oxford Journal “Brain” suggested active cannabinoids might effectively inhibit the progression of MS. A team of researchers at the University College of London’s Institute of Neurology found that the synthetic cannabinoid agonist WIN 55.212-2 showed significant neuroprotection in an animal model of MS. WIN 55.212-2 is a chemical that possesses the same benefits of the active cannabinoids in THC but has a completely different structure. The study’s results have far reaching implications: not only can cannabinoids relieve the symptoms of MS but the significant slowing of the degenerative process that leads to disability in MS patients will incite further research into other diseases.

Long Term Treatment with Active Cannabinoids

As with any disease without a cure, MS patients must live their lives learning to cope with whatever unpredictable circumstances the disease my put them in. Modern MS therapies have been unsuccessful in providing a safe a predictable course or treatment due in part to the unpredictable nature of MS. The Department of Neurology at the Netherlands’s Vrije University Medical Center reported in 2003 that orally administered active cannabinoids in THC can boost the immune system’s function in MS patients. This suggests that active cannabinoids potentially do modify the diseases’ progression, which could prolong the patient’s independent mobility before relying on a wheelchair or other assistance. 

Disease Management

Living with a chronic degenerative disease means patients are endlessly searching for therapies and treatments to alleviate their discomfort and symptoms of the disease. This means years of searching, trial and error, and frustration with no reduction in the patients pain. In 2006, 167 people with MS participated in an extended open-label study where use of whole plant active cannabinoid extracts positively addressed their pain, spasticity and incontinence for 434 days. The patients remained on the same dosage of the active cannabinoids during the whole trial and never increased or decreased the amount of medicine or frequency in which it was taken. More recently, a two-year study conducted at the Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Liverpool, UK, reported that patients given active cannabinoids cannabis extracts experienced long-term reduction in neuropathic pain. The average patient in the study required fewer daily doses and reported a lower pain score the longer they continued the active cannabinoids therapy. The researchers concluded that these results were due to the cannabis therapy effectively halting the progression of MS.

The result of the on-going research of active cannabinoids and plant cannabis therapies is reflected in its worldwide acceptance as an effective treatment of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. The prescription use of plant cannabis for treatment of MS is approved in Canada, the UK, Spain and New Zealand. Approval for its use in the United States and the European Union remains pending.