We interview a grower who is using our strains for medicinal purposes

When we found out that he also used marijuana for therapeutic purposes, we couldn´t resist asking him for an interview, to get a first-hand account to show how marijuana today is no longer relegated to being a product for “hard users”. The genetic diversification of cannabis has managed to broaden its range of effects and properties, which have in turn made it more appealing for a wider variety of people. It´s no surprise, then, that older people are also starting to grow cannabis in order to explore its medicinal or recreational properties. The so-called “CBD wave” is sparking a revolution in this regard, as it brings new varieties that have both the medicinal and recreational benefits of CBD plus a mild, pleasing effect.

When did you start growing?

I started growing in 2000, the same year I turned fifty.

Why?

I had been taking very strong medication from the pharmacy for a long time but I hadn´t noticed any improvement so, after having a good hard think, I decided to stop taking those drugs and try cannabis.

Which condition or illness do you suffer from?

I´ve been treated for depression and several other problems which are associated with that or otherwise, including chronic pain, high blood pressure, anxiety, insomnia, etc.

Has cannabis helped to soothe or reduce these pains?

I think it has helped me. Thanks to cannabis, I was able to stop taking most of the medication I was using and my quality of life improved dramatically. This change was not a quick process, but it took place little by little over the course of almost three months. It wasn´t easy to stop taking my medication either, but I was able to do it and cannabis helped me.

Did you know anything about marijuana before you started growing it?

Before I decided to start growing, I hardly knew anything about the plant and I´d never used it before. I spent two years reading a lot of books and magazines about cannabis and gathered all the information I could find on the internet. Without any particular planning, I found the perfect spot on my patio - it was sunny, sheltered and discreet for growing these plants. I started growing when I felt ready to do so.

How do you grow your plants?

Well, I grow around three or four plants per year during the outdoor season, which is from May to October. I use white plant pots which have a capacity of around 25 litres and double them up by placing one inside the other. I prepare the soil by mixing garden centre earth with perlite and vermiculite and I add a couple of handfuls of peat and manure. I water the plants with water from the normal supply, leaving it to rest in a container for 48 hours to remove chlorine, and I adjust the PH level to 6. During the holidays, I use a basic watering system that has a programme function. I only use two eco-friendly products for getting rid of pests - Neem and Bacillus Thuringiensis. To feed the plants, I use organic bloom and growth fertilisers for everyday use, plus vitamin and mineral complexes from time to time.

What type of effect are you looking for?

Mainly something to improve my mood, relieve pain and make me feel more relaxed so I can get to sleep.

Out of all the types of Dinafem seeds that you´ve grown, which varieties deserve a special mention? Why?

I´ve grown several plants from your range of feminised seeds, and I think Critical +, California Hash Plant, Shark Attack, Cloud # 9 and White Siberian are particularly good. Species which are based on hybrids of Skunk and Northern Lights, such as Critical + or California Hash Plant, work particularly well for me. I use them during the day because not only do they have a nice and relaxing physical effect, but their psychoactivity levels make me feel calm and creative.

For deep relaxation and getting off to sleep, I prefer pure or hybrid indica strains like Shark Attack and White Siberian. Their genetics have proven to have great medicinal value - they give me relief from pain and help me to get some much-needed sleep.

What´s your opinion of the new CBD strains?

Ever since I became a grower and user of cannabis, I´ve always been on the lookout for strains with a milder effect and which don´t affect me too much in my daily life, so the emergence of these new CBD varieties has been great news for me.

I´ve grown Critical + CBD andShark Shock CBD and I´ve noticed how these varieties not only give me all the feelings of wellbeing that come with cannabis, but they also don´t pose any problems when it comes to psychoactive effects that are too potent. They don´t give me anxiety and, best of all, I´ve never had a “white-out” with these types of strains.

I´ve also found that these high-CBD versions are particularly effective against muscle pain and are generally very relaxing. Before the wave of CBD varieties came on the scene, you would have to use strains of cannabis that were high in THC but cure the buds for much longer before using them in order to get effects similar to those I´ve just told you about. Sometimes you have to leave them for a year or even longer, but that´s not always possible if you don´t have a ready supply of them.

On a different note, I have to say that these CBD strains share the exact characteristics of their cannabis families with regards to their scent, flavour, productivity, etc. The only difference I´ve noticed is the proportion of cannabinoids, which is something that comes across in the effects.

How do you use marijuana?

I mainly use a vaporiser. That´s my favourite method and I think it´s one of the best ways of using cannabis because you get the immediate hit of a joint but without any of the disadvantages. You notice the effect from the first inhalation and then you can adjust it to suit yourself. I used to be a smoker and it took me quite a while to get used to using it, but once I got over that, there were nothing but advantages. In fact, I have two portable vaporisers and a tabletop one. I use them everyday.

I also usually make infusions with half a cup of milk for just one dose. Sometimes I make a sponge cake to last a few days, but the thing about eating cannabis is that there´s always a possibility of the effects turning out to be too strong or not as expected.

I know that there are methods out there for concentrating cannabinoids. I´ve experimented with oil and alcohol, but the results weren´t too good. Nowadays, extracting BHO seems to be the most effective way of making very strong concentrates, but I think that the equipment you need to do it under perfect conditions is quite expensive.

Why do you choose Dinafem seeds?

I started growing with the only seeds that were available back then - regular, expensive seeds from some bank in the Netherlands. But when I discovered Dinafem, I was able to buy quality feminised seeds and that was a huge development for me. I´ve always got some variety or other from Dinafem in my collection. You strike me as a really professional seed bank - the seeds are always fresh, very well-packed and they germinate easily. The genetic quality is excellent and the varieties are very accurate and stable.

Lastly, I just want to point out that with your latest range of CBD strains and your high-CBD autoflowering varieties, you´ve shown how committed you are to cannabis for medicinal purposes. You´ve made it easier for both therapeutic users and those who prefer their cannabis mild to use it more sustainably, so there´s nothing else to say. I´m delighted to see the success you are having and I wish you all the best for the future.