Social media platforms have become the new censors of cannabis culture. Josh Kesselman posts at 2am India time. Edible Dee rewrote four books. Riley Cannabichem puts on a metaphorical white coat. Here’s how the sharpest minds in cannabis content are surviving the algorithm — and what they’ve learned the hard way.

Here’s a quick exercise: imagine you’re at a penthouse party—pool, great guests, great vibe. A Velvet Underground record is playing in the background (or an old reggaeton playlist, it doesn’t matter), and you have to explain to someone what you’re “carrying” without triggering the algorithm, that digital bouncer running on HAL 9000 logic. The problem? At this event, there are no written rules: the bouncer will kick you out if you say “marijuana,” but might let you continue enjoying the party if you spit out “grass,” “broccoli,” or “lettuce.” A logic that’s hard to predict.

That’s how things are on the internet today—this silicon Matrix run by bots (those snitches programmed in zeros and ones) where Mark Zuckerberg, Google, and Chinese tech platforms have donned their cop caps, and social media plays at being a modern-day Inquisition. That’s why, for those of us hardened by the ups and downs of cannabis culture, posting a picture of a joint can be a risky business: one day you’re the king of engagement with thousands of likes piling up; the next, you wake up to find your account shadowbanned, and good luck complaining to who-knows-who.

But as the saying goes, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” And in this chess game against censorship, those in the know move stealthily like the ronin in The Lone Wolf and Cub. So, to put it bluntly: the gist comes down to semantics, to that shared code that makes us feel part of a kind of 420 club. That makes us stand on the same side. That allows us to understand each other even amidst the cynical contortions and pirouettes of language.

The pretzel problem

Josh Kesselman, owner of RAW and publisher of High Times, sees a solution: the key—always—is originality. “You’d be surprised how inventive you can be,” Josh reflects. He gives us the scoop on “pretzels” or talking about “making a delicious burrito” while the camera shows something else. However, he cautions that no tactic lasts forever: “I came up with years ago on TikTok using pretzels. And it worked at first. I was getting millions and millions of views, but then other people copied me and took one too far with it. I made it obvious that AI learned what that pretzel meant to something else. And then I couldn’t use pretzels anymore for a while. The views went down to almost zero as soon as I used a pretzel. You move on to something else.”

So Kesselman’s recommendation is to play with the gaps: “Skip words, just infer things. Skip the word. Say it in a funny way. Say anything,” he advises. “You can always just blanket it. When you’re enjoying, just… and skip the word. You can just completely skip it. That always works too.” The key is to let the viewer complete the sentence and find a knowing wink so the idea falls into place naturally. It’s pure pop ingenuity, like back in the ’70s when people used code to avoid drawing DEA attention.

For Josh, visual literalism is another weapon: “You can actually show an actual broccoli.” This technique extends to other elements: “I’ve done videos with actual green tea and I make it clear. You can’t just use green tea. It has to say on there in big letters, GREEN TEA, so everyone knows it’s green tea. Same thing with the pretzels. I’m using pretzels. I have big boxes of pretzels right in front of you, so you can see exactly what I’m using.”

When the algorithm wins — and you have to start over

Danielle Russell, also known as Edible Dee, the Happy Chef, a celebrity cook on the WWW, had to rework her entire catalog. After years of battling Meta’s censorship, she decided that if you can’t beat the algorithm, you have to dress up as Clark Kent. Now, her books talk about “infusing with happiness” or using “magic” instead of throwing around technical terms that trigger the alarm bells of digital censors.

“To bypass censorship, focus on using alternative platforms, fostering collaborations, and employing process/science language over consumer/lifestyle language where possible. As a four-time author, I have also—because of the losses I have personally suffered due to these platforms—had to release second editions of all my published works, updating the active ingredient verbiage.”

Danielle Russell (Edible Dee), The Happy Chef

The white coat strategy

Not everyone hides in the shadows of euphemism. There are those, like Riley Cannabichem, who prefer the white coat strategy, very much in the style of Beakman’s World. She stands in front of the camera and uses the real words—cannabis, THC, CBD—but with a protective shield of science and education. Interestingly, the algorithm seems to have an almost mystical respect for academia.

“I’m typically talking about research studies or fun facts about the plant—all backed by science—and I think the algorithm sees the scientific basis and allows it to stay, but who knows what’s really going on.”

Riley Cannabichem, researcher and content creator

So, if you talk about research studies and keep the joint off-camera, censorship might let it slide.

Fighting fire with fire — and AI

Natalia Kesselman, High Times deputy editor, editorial director of El Planteo and one of the minds responsible for shaping the media outlet’s digital strategy, proposes a kind of technological guerrilla warfare: fighting fire with fire, like in a WarGames hacker duel. She revives timeless classics like “magic broccoli” and suggests that the aesthetic of blur or out-of-focus is not just an artistic choice, but a survival necessity. But the most disruptive aspect is her use of artificial intelligence.

In her words: “Once you’ve built the foundation of your content, you have to feed it to the AI for a security review. You have to tell it strictly not to touch anything you’ve done, but ask it to create a ‘reliability index’ based on how explicit everything is and to point out which terms or images could generate conflicts or raise red flags in the algorithm. It’s a truly spectacular tool.” ChatGPT as a security consultant infiltrated behind enemy lines.

The full playbook

This isn’t paranoia — it’s a response

Finally, Josh Kesselman reveals that this level of caution isn’t paranoia, but a response to direct attacks: “I truly believe that someone pays to try to keep my posts down, to try to get reported and all these things. And so I have to be more conservative than most. You wouldn’t think so, but I have to be. It’s all these crazy things you see me doing. These are all like very well thought out.”

He even resorts to time zone tactics: “Sometimes I post at odd times because I know that if they’re paying somebody in India, for example, I’ll post at 2 a.m. India time. Because that way people are not awake. I’ve really tried everything I can to work around their attempts to keep us down. And I’ve done a great job. We still grow. And it shows.”

At the end of the day, it’s about remaining authentic in a world that wants us to be uniform, neat, docile, and weed-free. Because even though they try to silence us, cannabis culture always finds a crack for the green to peek through, even if today we call it “happiness,” “pretzels,” or “magic broccoli.” “It’s a matter of being inventive,” Josh concludes. Because they can prohibit the word, but they’ll never be able to clear the smoke.

<p>The post How Cannabis Creators Beat Social Media Censorship — One ‘Broccoli’ at a Time first appeared on High Times.</p>

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The Trump administration’s rescheduling order moved FDA-approved marijuana drug products and certain state-regulated medical marijuana products from Schedule I to Schedule III. But for Americans who grow their own at home, the most basic question, did anything actually change for me?, depends entirely on which cannabis attorney you ask. We asked four. They disagree.

On April 23, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order rescheduling two specific categories of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III: FDA-approved drug products containing marijuana, and marijuana products regulated under qualifying state medical marijuana licenses. It was the biggest federal cannabis shift in decades. For the commercial medical marijuana industry, it was a landmark moment. For home growers, the picture is considerably murkier.

We put the same core question to four of the country’s leading cannabis attorneys: Does the rescheduling order cover home growers? They read the same order. They cited the same language. They landed in different places.

The disagreement turns on a deceptively small distinction: whether a state patient cultivation card is a “license” in the federal sense, or merely a state-level permission slip that still sits outside the Controlled Substances Act. That distinction, business versus person, commercial supply chain versus backyard grow, is doing enormous legal work in a document that doesn’t spell out the answer.

What the order actually says

The relevant language is specific. The order moves into Schedule III: FDA-approved drug products containing marijuana, and marijuana “subject to a qualifying state-issued license.” It then defines “state medical marijuana license” as “a license issued by a state entity authorizing the licensee to manufacture, distribute, and/or dispense marijuana or products that contain marijuana for medical purposes.”

Everything else remains Schedule I. “Any form of marijuana other than in an FDA-approved drug product or marijuana subject to a state medical marijuana license remains a Schedule I controlled substance,” the order states, subject to all applicable “administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions.”

So the question is: does your home grow qualify as marijuana “subject to a state medical marijuana license”? Bob Hoban, one of the country’s most recognized cannabis attorneys and a longtime fixture in federal drug policy debates, says ordinary personal home grow remains outside the framework. Michael McQueeny, Partner and Co-Chair of the Cannabis and Hemp Group at Foley Hoag, agrees. Steven Schain, Of Counsel at Malkin Law and a cannabis law professor at Stockton University, takes the opposite view: state-licensed patient cultivation drops to Schedule III. Marshall Custer, who co-leads Husch Blackwell’s cannabis team of more than 80 attorneys, lands somewhere more complicated: personal-use home growers remain federally illegal, but state medical cultivation permit holders may now face Schedule III obligations rather than freedom.

The strict reading: home grow stays Schedule I

Hoban draws the line clean.

“Home cultivation lives on that other side. It doesn’t fit within an FDA-approved framework, and it doesn’t clearly fall within the definition of products containing marijuana subject to a qualifying state-issued license. A patient card, a statutory right, a backyard grow — those are not the same as a licensed, regulated entity operating within a closed system.”

Bob Hoban, cannabis attorney

Hoban traces the reasoning back to the international treaty framework underpinning the entire order. The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the 1961 UN treaty that Blanche used as legal authority for the rescheduling, requires centralized government control over cannabis production. No decentralized cultivation. No backyard supply chains.

“That treaty doesn’t leave room for ambiguity. It requires nations to tightly control medical cannabis through a government-supervised structure, effectively a monopoly over production and distribution. No home grows. So when you ask whether a patient card equals a license, the answer under this framework is almost certainly no. One is participation. The other is permission to operate within a controlled system.”

Bob Hoban, cannabis attorney

McQueeny agrees and points to the order’s own regulatory text as the clearest evidence.

“The federal legal risk for home growers is therefore the same as it was the day before this order. Marijuana they grow, possess, or use without a qualifying state license to manufacture, distribute, or dispense remains Schedule I as a matter of federal law.”

Michael McQueeny, Partner, Foley Hoag

McQueeny notes that the order’s expedited DEA registration pathway contemplates applicants seeking federal registration as marijuana “manufacturer, distributor, or dispenser,” commercial language built for institutional infrastructure. A patient growing six plants under a state patient card doesn’t fit that description.

Also read: Hidden in the Rescheduling Order: Could the DEA Become the Nation’s Biggest Weed Dealer?

He flags one genuine gray area: caregiver cultivation licenses, state-issued licenses that authorize a designated individual to grow and supply cannabis to patients, could theoretically qualify under the order’s language, depending on how a state structures the permit. But personal cultivation for personal use is clearly outside the framework, in his reading.

“The most dangerous misconception is that rescheduling means broad and unfettered legalization, or that if your state says you can grow, the federal government now agrees. For home growers specifically, it would be a mistake to read the April 23 order as extending any federal protection to personal cultivation.”

Michael McQueeny, Partner, Foley Hoag

The broader reading: licensed patient cultivation drops to Schedule III

Schain gave the most direct pro-home-grow reading of the order. His position is concise and categorical: if a state has issued a license for patient cultivation for medical purposes, those plants qualify.

“State-licensed patient cultivation or home grow for medical cannabis drops to Schedule III.”

Steven Schain, Of Counsel, Malkin Law

In his reading, a state-issued patient cultivation license is enough. He also noted that the practical federal enforcement risk for home growers hasn’t changed either way, because federal enforcement of home cultivation was already minimal before the order. States were the primary enforcers of these rules, not the feds.

The third answer: Schedule III may bring obligations, not freedom

Custer offers the most complicated answer of the four and, in some ways, the most important one for home growers to hear.

On personal-use home cultivation, he is unambiguous, as that pull quote makes clear. But when it comes to crops produced under a state medical permit, his reading is closer to Schain’s than to Hoban’s, with a crucial twist. He says marijuana crops produced under a state medical permit may now be Schedule III. But that is not necessarily good news. If you qualify, you may now be required to register with the DEA as a Schedule III handler, a significant federal compliance obligation that most individual patients and caregivers are completely unprepared for.

“If you are growing as a licensed medical caregiver, the DOJ order requires that you register with the DEA to handle Schedule III substances. This is going to be a heavy lift for most caregivers. Perhaps DEA will issue additional guidance to address the administrative burden of this process, but I would not count on it.”

Marshall Custer, Partner, Husch Blackwell

That is the twist buried in the rescheduling order that almost nobody is talking about. Qualifying for Schedule III doesn’t mean freedom from the federal system. It may mean entry into it, with all the registration, compliance, record-keeping and DEA oversight that entails. A system built for pharmaceutical manufacturers, not patients growing medicine at home.

Custer’s broader warning goes further. For years, the federal government largely stayed out of state-regulated marijuana, while Congress barred the DOJ from using certain funds to interfere with state medical marijuana laws. That era, he says, is ending.

“In general, the federal medicalization of marijuana is not good news for small companies and home growers. In the long run, federal requirements are almost certain to be stricter than state programs. And as the federal government ramps up oversight and control of medical marijuana, enforcement will follow.”

Marshall Custer, Partner, Husch Blackwell

He draws an analogy that lands hard. There is a place for home brewers in a world where alcohol is commercially regulated. There may eventually be a place for home growers in a world where cannabis is federally medicalized. But it is not guaranteed, and the path there runs through a federal regulatory framework that was not designed with the backyard grower in mind.

Adult-use home growers: nobody says this helps you

This needs to be said plainly. None of the four attorneys, including Schain, who gave the most favorable reading of the order for medical home growers, said the rescheduling order helps adult-use home cultivation in any way. Schain was explicit: the order “creates no complications nor protections for adult-use cannabis home growers.” Adult-use home grow remains Schedule I under every reading of this order.

What would actually fix this

McQueeny is direct about what real federal protection for home growers would require. The June 29 hearing, which will consider broader rescheduling of all marijuana, could theoretically help if it results in all marijuana moving to Schedule III. But even then, Schedule III still means controlled substance. Still means federal registration requirements not designed for someone growing a few plants at home.

“True protection for home growers would most likely require either descheduling marijuana entirely, removing it from the Controlled Substances Act, or enacting legislation that creates an express federal safe harbor for personal cultivation consistent with state law. Neither of those steps is on the immediate horizon.”

Michael McQueeny, Partner, Foley Hoag

Hoban frames the longer-term tension clearly. Two systems are now running on parallel tracks: federal medicalization on one side, state home grow rights on the other. When those tracks collide, it won’t be theoretical.

“While Schedule I was a blanket prohibition, messy and unevenly enforced, Schedule III could become something different: a structured system with defined participants and defined outsiders. Home growers may find themselves not just illegal in theory, but increasingly incompatible with the economics and politics of a regulated market.”

Bob Hoban, cannabis attorney

The bottom line

Here is what the attorneys collectively make clear. For ordinary personal-use home growers, the federal answer is mostly unchanged: you remain outside the framework this order created. For medical patients and caregivers with state-issued cultivation permits, the answer is genuinely contested, and even if your grow qualifies for Schedule III, that may mean new federal compliance obligations rather than freedom. For adult-use home growers, nothing in this order helps you.

The most dangerous thing you can do right now is assume that because your state says it’s legal, the federal government now agrees. It doesn’t, at least not clearly, and not for most home growers under any reading of this order.

The fight for home growers runs through descheduling. And descheduling is not on the immediate horizon.

Rescheduling is movement. It is not freedom.

High Times, December 2025

This article is legal analysis and reporting, not legal advice. Home cultivation rules vary by state, and anyone facing legal risk should consult counsel in their jurisdiction.

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On April 23, 2026, the Trump administration officially moved FDA-approved marijuana products and marijuana products regulated under qualifying state medical marijuana licenses from Schedule I to Schedule III under federal law. If you’re trying to understand what that actually means — for dispensaries, patients, cannabis businesses and federal policy — this is the explainer. For the full breaking news, read our coverage here.

What did the Trump administration actually do?

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order moving two categories of marijuana into Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act: FDA-approved drug products containing marijuana, and marijuana products regulated under a qualifying state medical marijuana license. The action was announced by the Department of Justice on April 23 and follows a December 18, 2025 executive order in which President Trump directed the DOJ to complete the reclassification “in the most expeditious manner possible.”

Blanche used a specific legal authority, a provision allowing the attorney general to classify drugs the U.S. must regulate under international treaty obligations, to bypass the stalled DEA rulemaking process that had dragged on since the Biden administration. That prior Biden-era hearing process has now been terminated. A new administrative hearing beginning June 29, 2026 will consider broader rescheduling of marijuana beyond the categories covered immediately by this order.

What is Schedule III?

Under the Controlled Substances Act, drugs are sorted into five schedules based on accepted medical use, abuse potential and safety profile. Schedule I is the most restrictive category, reserved for substances deemed to have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Until April 23, marijuana remained in Schedule I alongside heroin and LSD.

Schedule III substances are recognized as having accepted medical use and a moderate to low potential for physical dependence. Moving these covered marijuana products into Schedule III is the clearest formal acknowledgment yet by the federal government that marijuana has accepted medical use.

Schedule I vs. Schedule III: what actually changed

Does this legalize marijuana?

No. Marijuana remains a federally controlled substance. Rescheduling changes how certain marijuana products are regulated, not whether marijuana is federally prohibited overall. Federal criminal laws still apply. Interstate commerce remains illegal. Marijuana outside the categories covered by this order, including recreational marijuana, remains in Schedule I for now while the June 29 hearing process considers broader rescheduling.

As a practical matter, nothing about most state dispensaries changes overnight just because this order was signed. The significance is real. The day-to-day experience is more complicated.

What does this mean for medical marijuana?

This is where the most immediate change lands. The 40 states that operate medical marijuana programs now have a much stronger claim to federal recognition. State-licensed medical operators can begin the process of registering with the DEA under a new expedited pathway. Operators who apply within 60 days of the order’s publication can continue operating under their state licenses during the review period.

Researchers also gain meaningful new flexibility. Scientists who obtain marijuana from state-licensed sources for federally registered research will no longer face penalties solely for using state-licensed rather than federally registered bulk sources. That removes one of the biggest obstacles to clinical cannabis research in the United States.

What is 280E — and what does reclassification mean for cannabis businesses?

IRS code 280E has been one of the most punishing features of federal marijuana policy for legal operators. Because marijuana was treated as a Schedule I or II controlled substance, businesses engaged in “trafficking in controlled substances” were blocked from deducting ordinary business expenses like rent, payroll and utilities on their federal taxes. For many operators, that meant punishingly high effective tax rates.

The reclassification removes that restriction for covered state-licensed medical marijuana operators. The order also encourages the Secretary of the Treasury to consider providing retrospective relief from Section 280E liability for taxable years in which a state licensee operated under a state medical marijuana license. That relief is not guaranteed. The order itself makes clear that nothing in the rule is a final determination regarding federal tax liability, and operators should consult tax counsel about their specific circumstances.

To put the scale in concrete terms, Verano Holdings previously estimated that rescheduling would save the company roughly $80 million annually in 280E expenses alone.

What about dispensaries — does anything change today?

Not overnight for consumers. Your local dispensary looks and operates the same way it did yesterday. The 280E relief is real for covered medical operators, but the customer experience does not suddenly transform. Banking challenges remain. The SAFE Banking Act has not passed. Cannabis businesses still do not have access to mainstream financial services the way other legal industries do.

One area of genuine uncertainty remains: states where adult-use stores also serve registered medical patients. In Washington state, 302 of 460 licensed stores have endorsements allowing them to sell tax-free cannabis to registered patients. How the reclassification applies to those mixed-use operators remains unclear pending further federal guidance.

What happened to the Biden-era reclassification process?

The Biden administration initiated a formal rescheduling review in 2022. In August 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services concluded marijuana has accepted medical use and recommended Schedule III. The DOJ published a proposed rule in May 2024. DEA hearings were scheduled but repeatedly delayed, in part because of allegations that the agency had compromised the fairness of the process.

The Trump administration has now terminated that earlier process entirely. The June 29 hearing is a reset: new notice, new timeline, new process. Blanche used a separate legal authority tied to international treaty obligations to move the immediate rescheduling of covered marijuana products forward without waiting for the Biden-era rulemaking to conclude.

What comes next — and why is there still a hearing on June 29?

Today’s reclassification is official and immediate, but it only covers FDA-approved marijuana products and marijuana products regulated under qualifying state medical marijuana licenses. Recreational cannabis remains Schedule I. The June 29 hearing exists because the administration used a two-track approach: move the covered medical categories now, then conduct a formal hearing on the broader question of marijuana’s overall federal status. The hearing will consider whether marijuana outside the categories covered by this order should also move to Schedule III.

Legal challenges from opponents of marijuana reform are expected. More than 20 Republican senators signed a letter last year urging the administration to maintain current restrictions.

Even if broader rescheduling moves forward without legal interruption, full federal legalization or descheduling would still require a separate political and legislative fight. Rescheduling is a meaningful shift. It is not the end of prohibition.

Rescheduling is movement. It is not freedom.

High Times, December 2025

High Times has covered this moment since before it arrived. Our position has not changed: Schedule III is a meaningful step for the industry, particularly on taxes and research. It does not end federal prohibition. It does not free a single person still incarcerated for marijuana. It does not resolve the deeper structural inequities created by the war on drugs. The fight for full descheduling and legalization continues.

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In recent years, a new trend has swept the culinary world and made its way into kitchens around the world: yes, we’re talking about the air fryer. At first, many people viewed it with apprehension… What do you mean you can fry without oil and only with air? What kind of sorcery is this? However, over time, more and more people saw with their own eyes that yes, the air fryer works, and it brings many benefits. One of them, perhaps the least known, is that you can also use the air fryer to decarboxylate cannabis.

Wait a minute, decarboxylate? What’s that? What does it have to do with pot? Fear not: in this article, we’ll explain why it’s essential to decarboxylate your weed to cook with it, and how you can conveniently do it with the air fryer.

The Magic of Decarboxylation

If you’ve ever cooked with weed, you already know what we’re talking about. If not, you might know that it’s not possible to eat raw cannabis directly (well, it is possible, but it’s not effective). To feel the effects that make pot so coveted, you first have to heat it.

Why? Because THC is actually almost nonexistent in the cannabis plant: rather, we find THCA, its chemical precursor, among other cannabinoids. When we apply heat to THCA, it turns into THC: that’s why a joint is lit, not eaten. THCA has its own benefits, but it doesn’t provide the psychotropic effects of THC, which must be “activated.”

This is where decarboxylation comes in: basically, this process occurs when weed is exposed to heat, light, or simply time. To cook, then, we heat cannabis to activate the desired cannabinoids. But careful! Heating is not the same as burning. When we light a joint, we are engaging in a combustion process. There, THC is released, but the plant material is lost (along with the precious terpenes), and toxins and carcinogenic compounds are also released. This is why vaping is recommended over smoking, and it is also possible to cook with your already vaped weed.

Thus, you will find that decarboxylation is usually the first step in the vast majority of cannabis recipes. This process is typically performed using an oven, although a double boiler can also work. However, these techniques often present a significant downside, since they do not always allow for precise temperature control, which is crucial for optimal decarboxylation. The process is delicate: too high a temperature will burn your cannabis, and too low a temperature will not activate the cannabinoids.

That’s where the air fryer comes in, whose technology allows you to control the temperature at all times.

Benefits of Decarbing Weed in an Air Fryer

As we mentioned, precise temperature control is one of the reasons why it’s best to use an air fryer to decarboxylate cannabis. But it’s not the only one! Among the benefits of using this technology are:

• Speed: The air fryer heats up significantly faster than conventional ovens, saving you time.
• Even Heating: Air fryers are designed to cook food evenly from all angles.
• Minimal Odor: A classic problem when cooking with weed, which won’t be so terrible, as air fryers contain aromas significantly more than ovens.
• Energy Efficiency: The air fryer consumes less energy compared to a large oven, making it a more environmentally friendly option.
• Temperature Control: Most air fryers come with adjustable temperature settings, providing greater control over the process.

Below, we’ll show you how to use this appliance to cook with marijuana.

How to Decarboxylate Cannabis in an Air Fryer

You’ll only need three things: your buds, your air fryer, and a suitable container.

Here are the step-by-step instructions:

• Crumble the buds: Use your fingers to grind your weed into a medium or fine consistency. It may be tempting to use a grinder, but most experts warn that this can turn your cannabis into a too fine powder and ruin the process.
• Place your weed in a suitable container: It should be one specifically designed for the air fryer, in a thin, even layer. Some people choose to cover the container with aluminum foil to prevent its contents from blowing away.
• Check the temperature and time: Preheating your air fryer is optional. The optimal temperature for releasing cannabinoids is 240°F (115°C). The time it takes will depend on the size and model of your fryer, but we recommend starting with 30 minutes. You can pause the process halfway through to check out your progress and move the plant material around. If you find that your cannabis is still a little green after 30 minutes, leave it for 10 more minutes. It should be light brown, but not too dark.

Well, that’s it. Yes, it’s that easy. For real.

Now what? That’s up to you. You can use your decarbed weed to make some classic pot brownies. Or how about some delicious weed milk? Or you can simply make cannabutter and include it in any recipe you can think of. But be careful with the proportions! You don’t want to green out, which is very easy when you’re dealing with edibles… especially if they’re delicious.

<p>The post Air Fryer Changed Your Life? Now You Can Also Decarb Weed first appeared on High Times.</p>

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If you’ve been following the news, you’ve probably seen the headlines: President Donald Trump is reportedly considering moving cannabis out of Schedule I and into Schedule III under federal law.

That single sentence has sparked confusion, hope, anger, excitement and a lot of very good questions.

So let’s slow it down.

Here’s what we actually know, what we don’t, and what this potential shift would and would not change for growers, businesses, patients and everyday consumers.

Answering High Times’ followers’ questions.

First, what is actually happening?

Multiple outlets have reported that Trump is weighing an executive move that would direct the Justice Department to advance cannabis rescheduling to Schedule III.

The White House has not confirmed a final decision.

This matters because we’ve heard versions of this before. The Biden administration launched a rescheduling review in 2022. Federal health officials later acknowledged cannabis has accepted medical use. And yet, the process stalled.

So for now, this is credible reporting, not enacted policy.

Can Trump do this without Congress?

Yes, but with limits.

Under the Controlled Substances Act, rescheduling does not require Congress. The authority sits with the attorney general, typically delegated to the DEA, with scientific input from Health and Human Services.

Trump cannot personally reschedule cannabis with a tweet or executive order alone. But he can direct the Justice Department to move the process forward and potentially bypass stalled administrative steps.

Congress would only be required for full legalization or descheduling, not rescheduling.

Didn’t Biden already try this?

Yes.

In 2022, President Biden ordered a formal review of cannabis’ classification. In 2023, Health and Human Services concluded that cannabis has accepted medical use and recommended Schedule III.

The DEA process dragged on. Hearings were delayed. Legal challenges loomed. Nothing was finalized.

That’s why skepticism is fair. This has been promised before.

What does Schedule III actually mean?

Schedule I drugs are defined as having no accepted medical use. That’s where cannabis still sits, alongside heroin.

Schedule III drugs are recognized as having medical value but remain controlled. Examples include ketamine, anabolic steroids and certain prescription painkillers.

Moving cannabis to Schedule III would be a formal federal acknowledgment of medical use. It would not legalize cannabis.

Does this legalize cannabis?

No.

Cannabis would still be federally illegal.

State-legal markets would continue to exist in a gray zone. Interstate commerce would remain prohibited. Federal criminal laws would still apply.

Rescheduling changes classification, not prohibition.

What happens to dispensaries and state markets?

Nothing changes overnight.

States like California and Oregon would continue running their own regulated systems. Dispensaries would not suddenly shut down. Licenses would not vanish.

The core contradiction remains: state-legal cannabis would still conflict with federal law.

Rescheduling does not resolve that tension. It only shifts it.

Will this help small, local businesses and growers?

It could. But it’s not guaranteed.

The biggest potential benefit is taxes.

As long as cannabis is Schedule I or II, businesses are subject to IRS rule 280E, which blocks normal deductions like rent, payroll and utilities. That has crushed many small operators.

If cannabis moves to Schedule III, 280E would no longer apply. That alone could be a lifeline for independent dispensaries and growers.

At the same time, rescheduling does not fix licensing costs, access to capital or consolidation. Bigger companies still have structural advantages.

Is this a Big Pharma or Big Cannabis takeover?

Not automatically.

Rescheduling could make it easier for pharmaceutical companies to develop FDA-approved cannabinoid medicines. That does not mean they suddenly control flower, dispensaries or state markets.

Still, critics are right to be cautious. In the U.S., open markets tend to reward scale, capital and lobbying power.

Legalization opens the door. Regulation decides who gets the keys.

Will cannabis be sold at Walmart?

No.

Rescheduling does not put dispensary weed on retail shelves.

Any FDA-approved cannabis-derived medicines would move through pharmacy channels, not big-box retail. State-legal cannabis would continue operating separately.

Will this change drug testing?

No.

Most drug tests look for THC metabolites, not drug schedules. Employers can still test. Federal and DOT-regulated jobs would still follow their own rules unless those policies change.

Does this affect home grow?

No.

Rescheduling does not create a federal right to grow cannabis at home. Home cultivation remains governed by state law.

Will seeds, clones or genetics become illegal?

There is no indication of that.

Rescheduling does not target seeds or genetics directly. Enforcement and interpretation matter more than theory.

Does this stop arrests or fix criminal justice?

No.

Rescheduling does not decriminalize cannabis, erase records or stop arrests. Those outcomes require legislation.

So is this progress or a problem?

It can be both.

Rescheduling would be a meaningful shift. Acknowledging medical use matters. Ending 280E would help real businesses survive.

But it leaves prohibition largely intact. That’s why some advocates see progress, while others worry it could harden the system under a different name.

Rescheduling is movement. It is not freedom.

The bottom line

This moment deserves attention, not celebration or panic.

If cannabis moves to Schedule III, it will ease some pressure and raise new questions. The future of cannabis will be decided by the rules that follow.

And those rules are still unwritten.

Photo: Shutterstock

<p>The post Cannabis Rescheduling May Sound Like a Win. Here’s Why It’s Complicated first appeared on High Times.</p>

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Depending on who you ask, THCA is either the future of cannabis or the latest hemp loophole. It’s the molecule turning “legal” hemp flower into a legitimate high—the chemistry trick that’s reshaping dispensary menus and blurring the line between hemp and weed.

Once a quiet lab term, THCA is now everywhere: in jars, pre-rolls, vapes, and hashtags. It’s science and street smarts rolled into one—proof that the plant always finds a way.

So what is THCA, really? How does it work? And why is everyone suddenly talking about it? Let’s dig in.

What Is THCA?

THCA stands for tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, the raw, non-psychoactive form of THC found naturally in cannabis plants. In living or freshly harvested flower, most of the THC actually exists as THCA. It’s a compound that won’t get you high until heat enters the equation.

THCA is the plant’s way of storing THC in a dormant state. When you smoke, vape, or bake, the heat triggers decarboxylation, the chemical reaction that removes a carbon group and transforms THCA into the THC molecule we all know and love.

In short:

• Raw cannabis = high in THCA, non-intoxicating
• Heated cannabis = THCA converts to THC, psychoactive

That’s the big secret behind “THCA flower.” It’s cannabis rich in THCA and low in delta-9 THC when tested, making it technically compliant hemp under federal law. But when you spark it, it becomes the real deal.

THCA vs. THC: What’s the Difference?

While they share nearly identical structures, THCA and THC behave very differently. The distinction comes down to that little extra carboxyl group (–COOH) on the THCA molecule.

In its raw state, THCA doesn’t activate the CB1 receptors that create the “high.” But apply heat, and that small structural change flips the switch—turning potential energy into psychoactive power.

The Science of Decarboxylation

Decarboxylation is what transforms THCA into THC. Think of it like roasting coffee beans—same ingredients, new chemistry.

When cannabis is heated—whether in a joint, a vape, or an oven—THCA loses its extra carbon dioxide molecule (CO₂). That small change alters its shape just enough to let it fit perfectly into the brain’s cannabinoid receptors.

General temperature guide:

• Light decarb: ~200°F (93°C) for 45–60 minutes
• Full conversion: ~220°F (104°C) for 30–45 minutes
• Overheating (>250°F) starts degrading THC into CBN, which delivers a heavier, sleepier effect

Most consumers don’t need to worry about this science because their lighter or vape pen does the job in real time. But understanding decarboxylation helps explain why THCA flower is legally hemp, yet functionally weed once it’s smoked.

Is THCA Legal?

The legality of THCA is a tangled web. What’s allowed often depends on when it’s measured, where, and under what definition.

Federal Baseline: The 2018 Farm Bill & “Hemp” Definition

The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp (and derivatives) if delta-9 THC (on a dry weight basis) is ≤ 0.3%. That law does not explicitly define limits on THCA. Because THCA is not delta-9 THC itself, some interpreted that high-THCA, low-THC hemp is permissible. 

However, regulators frequently require a “total THC” test, meaning delta-9 THC + THCA×0.877 (a conversion factor). Under that regime, high-THCA products may push total THC over 0.3%, making them non-compliant.

In recent moves, federal proposals have surfaced that seek to redefine “hemp” by total combined THC (including THCA) rather than just delta-9 THC. If passed, many THCA-rich products would become illegal even if delta-9 THC is low.

Some legal analysis and DEA commentary suggest THCA might be considered under the analog doctrine (treated like THC) because it readily converts, making its regulatory status vulnerable.

State by State: Patchwork Rules

States vary wildly.

• Some states explicitly treat THCA as controlled or restrict its sale.
• Others allow THCA flower under hemp laws if delta-9 THC remains low at sale time.
• In certain jurisdictions, lawmakers have pushed bans or stricter rules on intoxicating hemp derivatives that include THCA products. 
• Legal observers warn that the “loophole era” of THCA may be closing, with states ramping enforcement. 

So: THCA may be legal in one state, restricted in another, and borderline in the next. Always check local law—and assume things could change rapidly.

Why THCA Flower Is Everywhere Right Now

THCA flower exploded in popularity because it delivers a familiar experience—the taste, smell, and potency of real cannabis—without technically breaking federal hemp limits.

For consumers in states without recreational dispensaries, it’s a game-changer. For brands, it’s a way to innovate legally. And for the cannabis industry as a whole, it’s a fascinating snapshot of how quickly science, law, and culture adapt to each other.

In other words: THCA flower sits right at the intersection of chemistry and creativity — the same space cannabis has always thrived in.

How to Use THCA

Smoking or Vaping: The most common method, and the one that converts THCA to THC instantly. Expect effects similar to standard cannabis, varying by strain and potency.

Edibles: You can decarboxylate THCA flower in the oven (at around 220°F for 30–40 minutes) before infusing it into butter or oil. Once decarbed, it behaves like regular THC in your edibles.

Raw Consumption: If you eat or juice raw THCA flower without heating, you won’t get high, but you may still experience some of the potential wellness benefits linked to cannabinoids. Some people add it to smoothies or salads for this reason.

Topicals: THCA-infused balms and salves may offer localized support for inflammation or muscle soreness without any psychoactive effects.

Does THCA Get You High?

Here’s the simplest answer:

• Raw THCA: No, it’s non-intoxicating.
  Heated THCA: Yes, because it becomes THC.

When you smoke, vape, or cook it, THCA undergoes decarboxylation, converting into the same psychoactive molecule found in traditional cannabis. That’s why THCA flower can feel just like dispensary weed once you light up.

Potential Benefits of THCA

Research on THCA is still in early stages, but preclinical studies and anecdotal reports suggest several areas of promise:

• Anti-inflammatory: THCA may help regulate inflammatory pathways.
• Neuroprotective: Studies have explored its potential role in neurodegenerative diseases.
• Anti-nausea: Early data hints that THCA might reduce nausea or stimulate appetite.
• Antioxidant properties: THCA has been shown to neutralize free radicals.

Many of these effects overlap with THC and CBD, but more research is needed before any definitive medical claims can be made. What’s exciting is that THCA seems to have distinct physiological effects in its raw form, separate from THC’s psychoactivity.

Reading a COA (Certificate of Analysis): What to Look For

Every legitimate THCA product should come with a lab report. Understanding it protects you from buying mislabeled or non-compliant flower.

Here’s how to read it:

1. THCA %: The primary active precursor.
2. Δ9-THC %: Must be below 0.3% for hemp compliance.
3. Total THC: Should be calculated as THC + (THCA × 0.877).
4. Lab credentials: Look for ISO-certified labs using HPLC methods.
5. Date and batch: Recent and traceable.
6. Contaminant screens: Ensure it’s tested for pesticides, heavy metals, and microbes.

Pro tip: High-quality THCA flower usually tests between 20–30% THCA with minimal Δ9. Anything drastically outside that range warrants scrutiny.

How to Store THCA

THCA is sensitive to heat, light, and oxygen. Over time, it can convert into THC or degrade into CBN—both of which change the product’s potency and character.

Storage checklist:

• Keep in airtight, opaque glass jars.
• Store in a cool, dark place — ideally below 70°F (21°C).
• Avoid constant opening/closing or handling.
• For long-term storage, refrigeration (sealed) can help, but allow jars to warm to room temp before reopening.

Proper storage keeps your flower fresh, flavorful, and compliant.

Is THCA Safe?

THCA and THC are both generally well-tolerated, but quality control is everything. Stick with products that:

• Are lab-tested by accredited facilities
• Are free from contaminants
• Clearly list cannabinoid content and source

Because THCA is often sold under hemp law, regulation can be uneven. That’s why buying from trusted, transparent brands—like High Times’ own THCA line—is key.

The High Times Takeaway

The THCA boom represents more than a chemistry lesson—it’s a glimpse into cannabis’s constant evolution. As regulators refine definitions and markets mature, THCA may bridge the gap between hemp and traditional cannabis, giving consumers more choice while pushing science and policy forward.

Whether it remains a legal workaround or becomes fully integrated into the regulated cannabis space, one thing’s certain: THCA has changed the game—and it’s not fading anytime soon.

If you’re curious about the chemistry or just want to experience it yourself, THCA flower offers a way to explore the full spectrum of cannabis, legally, for now.

You can check out High Times’ new line of premium THCA flower, lab-tested, potent, and grown with integrity. Call it hemp, call it weed—we just call it progress.

Frequently Asked Questions

<p>The post The High Times Guide to THCA: What It Is, How It Works, and Why Everyone’s Talking About It first appeared on High Times.</p>

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There really isn’t much of a recipe for a broken heart. We all find our own tools, our own strategies, on a path that’s rarely straightforward… or easy. “Heartbreak is a life experience that you have to go through, no matter what,” says Florencia Alcaráz, journalist and columnist for ElDiario.ar, whose ongoing work about relationships, sexuality, and love in a post-feminist era will soon be published on paper. In that sense, can weed assist heartbreak? Could it pull us out of the doldrums of love? When we light up, is there life beyond love?

“I suppose a good way to survive heartbreak is to survive, right?” says Iván Chausovsky, a psychology graduate from the University of Buenos Aires and author of Aforrismos: A un click del amor (Aphorisms: Love a Click Away) and Amar es arder en preguntas (To Love Is To Burn With Questions).

“If you’re not seriously unwell, you get through it. They’re inevitable moments in life and, dare I say, essential. Analysts work a lot with angst. First, there’s the material issue, the loss of the other person. And then, grief moves: what did I mean to the other person? What did I lose? Did I lose something of myself? To me, in some way, grief is wonderful. But when we’re down bad, it’s really bad,” Chausovsky continues.

In that sense, the use of psychoactive substances isn’t always advisable. “I wouldn’t go so far as to say weed is a reliable ally in heartbreak. I find that vague, inaccurate, and dangerous. You have to think about the person, and the type of cannabis,” Chausovsky warns. “Weed doesn’t give you anything you don’t already have. It doesn’t make you better, it doesn’t pull something out of you, and sometimes it can even enhance things. The same thing happens with working with psilocybin. It can make you more sensitive. You have to check what suits each person,” he continues.

Recently, Alcaráz has been researching connections, affections, and subjectivities influenced by contemporary technologies, and believes that “one of the biggest difficulties in wading through love today lies in the emotional surveillance posed by social media and those identities we construct through screens, the possibility of losing contact with another person and having that person continue to exist on social media. Before, a person could disconnect from another person and never hear from them again for a very long time. Now there’s the digital footprint.”

And there, among the fringes of the web, the likes, and the DMs, how does weed operate? “I think marijuana can be a great companion in moments of leisure and to create a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere. It can also help you leave intrusive thoughts behind. In times of grief or heartbreak, it can be a great supplement, and a great companion,” Alcaráz adds.

Personally, Chausovsky considers himself a frequent cannabis user and admits to using it when he’s grieving (and yes, obviously, also when he’s not). “I like to say that you have to live through the grief process. Some of us need different types of sedatives and downers, and weed can be one of them. Or not. You have to be wary of narratives that pretend that grief is the same for everyone,” he explains. “Be careful of the grief police, those who tell others what to do”.

So, at what times of grief is it advisable to add cannabis to the mix? “I don’t know,” Chausovsky answers with honesty. And he concludes firmly: “We don’t all grieve the same way. I like weed in the morning; it makes me more lucid. But I don’t know if I would always recommend the ‘transgression’ of weed. It’s different for everyone. If you’re a heavy user, maybe smoking a little less can help. And if you’re a bit square, maybe it’s a good time to light one up.”

<p>The post Can Weed Mend a Broken Heart? A High Times Survival Guide first appeared on High Times.</p>

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You can’t underestimate the overall impact of High Times in the world of printed media and counterculture over the decades. It unapologetically pushed the envelope of what publishers could get away with—despite periodic moral fervor—paving the way for future generations of cannabis publications. In other words, this is no normal magazine.

Today, these issues are highly collectible, with some valuable editions yielding large amounts of cash in some cases. The king of all High Times issues, however, will always be the premier edition. The magazine’s legendary emergence led to six decades’ worth of priceless issues.

Founded by Tom Forçade, the original team spared no expense in printing the first edition. In June 1974, an initial run reportedly around 10,000 copies of High Times debuted. The premier issue features a heavy stock card foil cover, with a photo of model Elizabeth Donoghue about to consume a shroom. Its original metallic sheen must’ve been awe-inspiring to the magazine’s first readers who’d never seen anything like it. 

The original crew was a pot all-star team, including expert grower Ed Rosenthal, Woodstock pamphlet editor Ed Dwyer, Yippies founder Dana Beal, and others. While early issues featured information on assorted drugs, the magazine slowly evolved to focus on cannabis and natural psychedelics. The magazine’s design also evolved over the decades, reflecting the changing times while keeping its core identity unmistakable.

These back issues are typically worth much more than their retail price, but it all depends on the number of defects and flaws of each issue, which can be graded.

Grading High Times Issues

Thanks to organizations like Certified Guaranty Company (CGC), founded about 25 years ago, the premier edition of High Times is a hot-ticket item among collectors. CGC is a member of the Certified Collectors Group, a leading provider of “expert, impartial, and tech-enabled services” that add actual value to collectibles. The company has certified over 90 million coins, banknotes, comic books, TCGs, sports cards, video games, home video collectibles, stamps, etc. 

They adopt the industry standard 10-point grading scale to evaluate collectibles. Gem Mint, a 10.0-point grade, is the highest grade a collectible can reach. It must have no evidence of any manufacturing or handling defects. For a magazine, it must come from an immaculate print run with no defects in the offset prints.

“In collecting, a magazine’s grade is a significant factor in driving value and demand,” Nicki O., a representative of CGC, told High Times in an emailed statement. “CGC has been in the business of certifying magazines for over two decades, with a dedicated team of professionals who grade each magazine on a scale of 0.5 to 10.0, with 10.0 being in perfect condition.”

CGC frequently grades vintage comics and magazines. So what are the most common magazine defects collectors typically see? 

“The most common defects that will lower a magazine’s grade include creases, tears, missing pieces, and staining, all of which usually occur shortly after a magazine hits the stands and is lovingly read and handled,” she wrote. “This makes high-grade magazines harder to find, and when they do turn up, they can fetch big bucks.”  

Realistically, a magazine from the 1970s can only hope to reach an 8.50, maybe 9.50 grade. I verified this by finding a copy of the premier edition, certified as 8.50, going for $1,500. Most likely, this issue was properly stored in a humidity-controlled environment or somewhere not prone to the elements. That’s what you’re looking at for a premier issue or early issue of the magazine. In the case of High Times, the foil cover is likely faded.

If you really want your magazine’s true value, get its collectible grade certified by an organization like CGC.

Editions, Print Runs, and Signed Issues of High Times

Not all High Times issue #1s are equal, as there are at least four print runs of the premier issue. The first print run featured a “one dollar” cover price, the words “Premier Issue” in the corner, and “Summer 1974” under the H. The second print features the text “one dollar” cover price and “Premier Issue” in the corner. The third print features the text “one dollar” cover price, and it’s distinguishable because this print has much more space between the “High” and “Times” of the logo. The fourth print features a “$1.50” cover price and “Premier Issue Collectors’ Edition” in the corner.

If you ever come across an early run of the premier issue going for $1 rather than $1.50 or a higher price, get it appraised. You might be holding something very valuable. The second Fall 1974 issue yields considerably less money but is still worth a decent amount, typically around $100.

Signed copies of High Times can be purchased via online vendors—notably eBay and Etsy. They go for a few hundred dollars or more. I found signed issues featuring autographs by Andy Warhol, Tommy Chong, Cheech Marin, Charlie Sheen, Jenna Jamison, and, of course, Snoop Dogg. You can expect to pay a few hundred dollars per signed issue, depending on the star power of each subject.

High Times intentionally represented the higher end of lifestyle magazines to destigmatize pot smokers worldwide.  “It was national recognition that the underground newspapers were credible news organizations, and could no longer be dismissed as crazy hippie ramblings,” former editor John Holmstrom told me in 2023. Holstrom began working with the magazine early on and was managing editor in 1987.

The intrinsic value of these magazines often surpasses what they are actually worth when they can transport you back to another time.

Note: Prices for collectibles can fluctuate widely, and the value of signed issues depends heavily on authentication and provenance. Always verify certificates of authenticity and recent market trends before buying or selling.

<p>The post Here’s How Much Your Old ‘High Times’ Issues May Be Worth first appeared on High Times.</p>

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In the outlaw days of California cannabis, Nat Pennington used to store his weed in pickle barrels buried in the ground. Back then, Pennington needed a way to stockpile his crop in a way that would make it last until next year’s harvest. And, with the active threat of federal law enforcement, he also needed to keep it hidden in places that couldn’t be traced back to him. Eventually, Pennington, who is now CEO of Humboldt Seed Company, would work his way up to storage in septic tanks. While Pennington’s techniques to keep his weed fresh in the early 2000s seem novel today, they were operating on the same principles as all methods of good cannabis storage: keep it dark and cool. 

“The pickle barrel was a relatively inexpensive way to waterproof seal large objects or large amounts of a product, namely, in this case, big bags of cannabis,” Pennington says. “We could dig a hole and bury it and that’s a big hole, I mean, a pickle barrel is like 50 gallons… People use [pickle barrels] for rainwater catchment, cisterns of sorts, water tanks, things like that, but in Humboldt, indoor grows even started using them for their reservoirs to mix nutrients and do hydroponics and stuff.”

Like any flower that’s been picked, cannabis flowers begin to evolve and change—in both appearance and chemical composition—the moment they are harvested. Getting moisture out of the buds and keeping all the aromatic and flavorful elements in is the alchemy of great growers. The purpose of amazing weed is to smoke it, not store it, but the dream of having an epically large headstash remains. If aged properly, cannabis can reach the two-year mark and still smoke great. 

Harry Resin, a world-renowned cannabis breeder and writer with figurative roots in Amsterdam, remembers growers in the early 2000s carrying tiny Phillips clothes irons to seal storage bags of buds. Designed to block out moisture and air to make dog food last, those in the Dutch scene repurposed the bags to keep their indoor flowers fresh. 

“Everyone carried a little mini iron because the technique is, effectively, every time you shut [the bag], you iron it closed,” Resin says. “And you would seal it to the corner and really get the air out. They were unbelievable bags. You could store a kilo in there. It stayed for a very long time.”

Dried and cured cannabis is packaged for extended storage in many types of containers, including turkey bags, mylar bags, glass jars, and plastic bins. Often air-tight and stored in vaults, closets, garages, barns, fridges, or freezers, the aim is to provide a place that’s stable in terms of temperature and light in order to preserve the pot in the best way possible.

Think Outside the Jar

Esteemed cannabis journalist David Downs emphasizes that when it comes to the best storage for weed, “what’s happening outside the storage container is really relevant.”

“California is not only the best place to grow weed, it’s the best place to smoke weed,” he says. “In general, the temperature and the humidity isn’t pummeling your pot the way that it is in Colorado, where it’s really dry, and [the surroundings] will pull all the moisture out. In Florida or Hawaii, if you leave the weed out, it’ll rehydrate and get spongy.”

Downs’s book with leading cannabis horticulture authority Ed Rosenthal, Marijuana Harvest: Maximizing Quality and Yield in Your Cannabis Garden, presents research conducted by the federal government’s longtime cannabis grower, the University of Mississippi. The study shows that cannabis loses most of its THC in the first year. By year four, almost half of the THC has converted to CBN. 

“I just got back from Thailand and it’s really hot and really humid there,” Downs says over a phone call in late August. “It is a tough environment for weed to exist in. After you dried it and cured it, the odds are kind of just stacked against you in the ambient environment.” 

To keep his weed fresh during his trip to Thailand, Downs says he only shopped in stores with air conditioning that had the flowers sealed and stored out of direct sunlight. After purchasing cannabis in Thailand, he would place it within a Grove bag and put it in his hotel refrigerator. Any circumstance where weed smells loud in its container means its terpenes are evaporating into the air.  

“Whenever I go into a retail store, and I smell terps, I know that I’m smelling my money gassing off into the room, and I’m not happy about that,” Downs says. “I never want to smell terps in my storage area. I want to smell that stuff going into my lungs and my nose, not into my room.”

Forever Young

Rosenthal’s recently been keeping his prized stash of cryogenically cured cannabis in his refrigerator. 

“The colder something is, the less change there is in its formulation,” Rosenthal says. “Light and heat, especially UV, modify both THC and the terpenes.”

He explains that the cold conditions of the refrigerator mean that bacteria, which degrade cannabis flowers, are less active.

Moisture within a container is also an enemy of retaining the quality and potency of pot. Rosenthal says that buds with the right moisture content, 10 to 11%, can be placed in a vacuum-sealed bag and stored in the freezer for long-term preservation.  

Rock the Cure

Wet, freshly trimmed flowers won’t burn; that’s why cannabis is dried and also often cured in a secondary drying phase. Tamara Kislak of That Good Good Farm in Mendocino County says the cure is the most important part of cannabis storage.

“Cannabis is a perishable item. It’s a living organism like any other produce, and so it has its peak and it has other variations,” Kislak says. “If it’s not cured out, you’re left with a whole bunch of enzymes. You’ve got a bunch of chlorophyll, you’ve got all of this living activity in it.”

She says well-cured bud means, “you’ve worked out a lot of the off-gassing, the enzymes have broken down to the point where they’re more stable, and you’ve retained the terpenes and the oils and the flavor that you want.” 

After the cannabis flowers have been cured, Kislak says, “you go, cool, dark, as little oxygen exchange as you can.” 

It’s Not Old, It’s Vintage

Cannabis is typically cured in a range of a few weeks to a month, but many outdoor growers in California’s famed Emerald Triangle prefer a “long cure” and store flowers on their stems for a year or longer before trimming the weed to smoke. Longtime cultivators and cannabis experts Nikki Lastreto and Swami Chaitanya say they don’t even smoke their fall harvest until March or April of the following year.

“Swami and I have always been big fans of what we call vintage cannabis,” Lastreto says. “Which means that you let it cure, and you let it cure for over a year from harvest, and that’s when it really kind of starts hitting its peak, and to do that, you really have to store it perfectly.”

Thinking back to the 1960s, Chaitanya—who instructs students on “storage integrity” as part of the Ganjier program—remembers the days of getting cannabis from places like Mexico, Thailand, and Colombia.

“It was always at least six, seven months old by the time it got to you, transported from a dealer to a smaller dealer to your eighth,” he says. “Now everything is indoor, and it’s harvested three months after sprouting. That weed probably needs to be smoked pretty soon after harvest, but it’s just not powered up. We’re talking about biologically grown, sungrown, long-season, one-harvest cannabis. It’s all been grown the old-fashioned way, and that stuff I don’t even smoke it until March or April.” 

Tina Gordon, the force behind Moon Made Farms in Southern Humboldt, says she will release flowers she’s stored on the stems from the previous year’s harvest the following September.

“And it’s killer,” Gordon says. “I’m a fan of long curing and long storage, and in that storage, the curing process continues. In order to honor the plant, I think that what’s up is a stable environment where that plant will find its full expression in the dried form. It means preserving the terpene and cannabinoid profile in such a way that it’s going to most benefit whoever smokes it.”

Gordon keeps many of her flowers still on the stem with a “farmer’s cut” that retains the sugar leaves to protect the buds. Moon Made has also released cannabis in this form on the commercial market as a “queen cola.” 

“What I’m going for is a peak smoking experience, in terms of flavor, in terms of effect, and so I prefer to release flower when it’s at its peak for being smoked,” Gordon says.

Mario, the cultivator behind Cosmic Forces Farm in Mendocino, keeps his cannabis hung on the line in a cool, dark room until it’s ready to be trimmed and bagged for sale.

“I just cut it, hang it, I don’t deleaf it, and I just leave it hanging until it’s time to trim it,” he says. “I’ll leave it hanging for like six, seven months sometimes.”   

Keeping cannabis on its stems means it lasts longer, as the stem helps to regulate moisture. If possible, home growers looking to extend the life of their harvest should keep cannabis untrimmed and on its stem until the point when it will be smoked. 

Still, with all this talk of preserving pot, remember, the ultimate purpose of cannabis is to enjoy it.

“Weed is a perishable item,” Kislak says. “You should just smoke it.”

Photo courtesy of Terpshotz

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Water is an essential part of a cannabis plant’s life; however, as a beginner grower, it can be challenging to know just how much water to give them. We have all been there as first-time growers, wondering what the right amount to provide them with is. In this article, I will cover everything you need to know about watering your crop, so you can avoid under- or overwatering and grow the healthiest plants possible!

How Much Water Does a Cannabis Plant Need?

Cannabis plants will transition through different stages during their life cycle. These will be the seedling stage, the vegetation stage, and the part we all look forward to the most — the flowering stage, which is covered below.

The Seedling Stage (18/6)

This is when your germinated seeds start growing, focusing on roots and their first set of leaves, a process that lasts 14 days. Seedlings do not require much water, and it is best to leave the growing medium relatively dry to encourage roots to grow in search of moisture and air. 

• Many growers give about a quarter gallon to a 2-gallon pot every couple of days, but this can vary depending on the medium and environment.

The Vegetation Stage (18/6)

The vegetation stage is when your plants have grown their first set of leaves, and will now focus their energy on establishing a solid root base, developing a strong stem, leaves, side branches and internodes. The vegetation stage can last anywhere from 3 weeks up to 12 weeks, depending on how large you want your plants to become. During this stage, your plants will require more water than in the seedling stage.

• Around a gallon for a 4-gallon pot every 1–2 days is common, though heat, humidity, and plant size will change this.

The Flowering Stage (12/12)

Once your plants have grown to the size you want, you are now ready to start flowering them. During the flowering period, your plants will use more water than before to accommodate the amount of work they are doing, developing buds. The flowering period can last anywhere from 7-12 weeks, depending on the cultivar being grown. 

• Many growers find that around 1 gallon per 4-gallon pot every 1–2 days works well, though this will vary based on environment and plant size.

So, How Will I Know If The Pots Need Watering?

There are two simple ways for you to detect if your pots need watering.

Lifting The Pots 

The first method involves lifting the pots off the ground to determine if they feel airy and lightweight or heavy. The more water inside the growing medium, the less you’ll need to water. If the medium is light and airy, you can water it.

The Finger Test

The second method to determine the moisture level of your growing medium is to insert your finger down the side of the pot until the knuckle. If your finger feels dry, then the medium is dry and needs watering. Then again, if your finger feels wet, wait until the medium is closer to dry before watering.

The Water Source (Hard Water / Soft Water / RO Water)

There will be three different types of water that a grower can use. These are covered below, explaining the differences between them.

Hard Water

Water that contains a high concentration of dissolved minerals such as magnesium, calcium, limestone and chalk. Hard water will have an EC level above 0.8 millisiemens per centimetre (mS/cm).

Soft Water

Water that does not contain a high concentration of dissolved minerals. Soft water is usually easier to work with, but growers may need to add calcium and magnesium supplements to avoid deficiencies.

Soft water is best for watering plants and will have an EC level below 0.4 millisiemens per centimetre (mS/cm).

Reverse Osmosis Water

R/O water is created using a pump and a membrane to filter out any impurities and minerals. Reverse osmosis water is an excellent option for anyone who can only access hard water and has an EC level of 0.0 millisiemens per centimetre (mS/cm).

Understanding pH and How It Affects Nutrient Uptake and Availability

pH refers to the potential hydrogen and is a way to detect how acidic or alkaline the water source is. Cannabis plants require a specific pH range to access nutrients. If pH drifts outside the right range, your plants can’t absorb nutrients properly, even if the soil is full of them.

• Soil Grown Cannabis pH Range = 6.0 – 7.0 
• Hydroponic Cannabis pH Range = 5.5 – 6.5
• Coco Coir Cannabis pH Range = 5.5 – 6.5

Why EC Levels Are Important When Growing Cannabis Plants

EC stands for electric conductivity and refers to the strength of the water/nutrient solution and the salt content. It is best advised to use a digital EC pen when testing the electrical conductivity. If EC is too high, you risk nutrient burn; too low, and plants may starve.

The Different Ways to Water Cannabis Plants (Hand Watering vs. Automated Methods)

There are two ways to water your weed plants. The first is the traditional method of hand watering, and the other is to use an automated watering system, as explained below.

Hand Watering

• You should use a measuring jug to keep the water volume consistent.
• Hand watering each pot can be time-consuming and laborious.
• Plants are dependent on a grower to hand-water every 24 – 48 hours.

Automated Watering

• Hydroponic systems will use a pump, drip lines and dripper stakes to deliver water.
• Automated systems save a grower from daily hand watering, saving time and energy.
• Automated systems are efficient for growers with a large plant count.

How to Tell if Your Cannabis Plant Is Underwatered – Signs and Symptoms

• The pots will be light, and the leaves feel limp and dry.
• The leaf tissue may feel brittle, dry and thin.
• The leaves will not have a waxy and shiny appearance.
• Fan leaves may turn yellow and pale green.
• The growing medium will feel dry and dusty.

How to Know if Your Cannabis Plant Is Overwatered – Signs and Symptoms

• The leaves feel limp and heavy or swollen, and curl downwards shortly after watering.
• The leaves may experience tip burn at the ends.
• Some leaves may show brown edges and become dry.
• Plants may become deficient in nutrients.
• The growing medium will feel dense and waterlogged.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Watering Your Weed Plant

Watering may sound simple enough, however, the trick is to find the right balance between dry and wet. Below are three common mistakes a first-time grower can make, and what to avoid when watering your weed plants.

Mistake #1: Overwatering Seedlings

Your seedlings will be the most delicate and sensitive to water and intense lighting during the first 2 weeks. I find that watering around the edges and using a small volume of water is best, and less is more, especially during the seedling stage.

Mistake #2: Not Checking pH Levels

Just because your water appears clean and safe to use does not always mean the pH range is optimal. Avoid watering your plants or making a nutrient solution without testing the pH level. Using a digital pH pen is the best way to determine if you have achieved the correct pH range.

Mistake #3: Using Stagnant Water

Stagnant water can contain harmful bacteria, microorganisms and potentially mold or algae if exposed to sunlight. Avoid using stagnant water and always try to use tap water that has been circulated through pipes, or fresh bottled water if possible.

My Final Thoughts on Watering Cannabis Plants

The best advice I can give you as a beginner grower is always to try to source clean and fresh water. Tap water, bottled water, or reverse osmosis water is best. Always double-check the pH levels and EC levels using digital pens available online or at your local grow shop. 

Before watering, check to see if your pots feel heavy or light when lifting, and try the finger test if you are still not sure. When in doubt, it’s safer to underwater slightly than to drown the roots. Good luck on your journey as a cannabis grower and learning about your plants and their watering requirements!

Photos by Stoney Tark.

<p>The post A Beginner’s Guide for Watering Cannabis Plants first appeared on High Times.</p>

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