Reply #68: Potency and profit

[sweetheart]

The law weighs all the cannabis, and does not weigh the active ingredient,
so expedience suggests to keep the bulk smaller, and hence the drive for potency.

But the crosses. The sattiva plant, is a tropical plant, and can't handle cold outdoor
climates, as well it is a very tall plant, one that is not easy to grow indoors without
pruning. As well, the sattiva plant can take 3-4 months to flower.

The indica versions grow at higher altitude and have adapted to a shorter fall and
flowering season, producing its buds in 7-10 weeks depending on the variety.

Given that both plants are "cannabis" and are similarly strong, just different in high,
commercial growers stick to the fastest budding species so they can turn over the costs
of the lighting electricity. Outdoor grows are cheap and dangerous, so professional
growers use large indoor grows powered by diesel generators, so that the electric bill
is not apparent. Such growers prefer, like any business, to use efficient varieties,
and the short flowering time.

Indica is known for its "couch lock" properties, where the stone can put you to sleep
or really make you kinda drowsy.

Sattiva's by contrast are known for their "bright" highs, very different due to other
active chemicals in the mix besides THC.

So, whilst i agree that "the genetics of the plant by far the most important factor determining the potency of the finished product.", i don't accept that the genetic
crossing has been done for potency purposes, but rather for flowering times and
plant manageablity. (as well as taste by the elite growers who grow it like wine)

But the wine growers are "in the closet" still, and knowledge is fluffy.

The original post suggested that the resins were black. The trichromes are white when the
plant is first flowering, and they change to an amber colour. Different species can have
a subtly different looking flower, but the trichromes are similar:
http://www.cannabis-seeds.co.uk/seed-banks/24/dutch-passion-feminised.html