Harvest - Different ways to harvest, process and store. (Feel free to showcase your artisan methods!!!)

[acespicoli]

Same, used to dry in front of a fan or AC unit clothes lines across the house or paper bags one the stems close to snapping. Really depends on your situation. This last two weeks is the first time in months the humidity has been below 75% def prefer the cool 60F and 45% RH

The plants dont seem to mind much either way, the occasional mold magnet you just can let go....
I dig my imperfect world, so new drying methods and long term storage methods will prevail
Took some getting used to the weather patterns.

The cold highlands and the desert folks seem to have no issues
Coastal Maritime ...

Attached Dimensions of Ripeness Parts 1 &2

WW123+Dimensions+of+Ripeness.pdf

drive.google.com

WW124+Dimensions+of+Ripeness+P2.pdf

drive.google.com

 

[Old Piney]

I will use a paper bag for small batches and a jar for the cure

 

[PlastikeRubba]

The effect of high drying temperatures on cannabinoids and terpenes requires further investigation. To minimize loss of volatile terpenes during heating, another method for cannabinoid and terpene preservation is freezing by sublimation, which takes 10 to 20 days.

As oxidation occurs with the presence of light, heat, and oxygen, degradation of major cannabinoids is minimized after drying by storage in cool and dark places. Fresh products must be stored between 1˚C and 5˚C and frozen products must be kept at −18˚C to −20˚C for long-term storage [21].

So is oxidation good or bad?

I've been trying to tell pot growers for half a century that their dreaded hay smell is hexanal, from linoleic acid, (from oleic acid), not chlorophyll.


So oxidation bad? No, because hexanal is broken down into hexanoic acid, the precursor to the major cannabinoids and many Cannabis esters.

So why the hell is the cannabis industry acting like they are concerned with preserving isolated test tube cannabinoids and bullshit children Tylenol terps in a lab setting?

In the real world, with properly grown medicinal grade cannabis, hexanoic acid is being produced, post harvest, just as fast as thc is breaking down, or faster. In any acceptable crop, the quality is determined by fatty acid and protein content. The same way soil health is measured. Cannabis is not any different. Every useful Cannabis metabolite is the result of organic acid oxidation that continues long after harvest.

Hydroponic growers don't understand that, as they completely missed the narrative behind "pharmaceutical grade" inputs; organic acid chelated nutrients, not nitrate and sulfate crap. They wanted to look like drug labs without having any basic understanding of drug chemistry. (The only sulfur your plant needs is cysteine, methionine and glutathione, and the only way sulfur is being utilized by cannabis is by degradation of those aminos/peptide..

Growing weed in the 2020s is like cooking meth in the 1990s. You supply ephedrine, the lab techs still think they need to convert it from pseudofed. My role in the drug world is apparently to be dumbfounded by incompetence of drug producers,who insist on waste and poor quality rather than a basic 6th grade understanding of drug chemistry.

How many times do we have to hear the Ganjier-Curaleaf-GW-Jazz crew proclaim cough syrup to be an enjoyable flavor, before we catch on to the agenda? Every decent producer is behind bars or NDAed by the DEA, no compete clauses tied up with pharma giants.

Tldr

Organic acid metabolism is all that matters in Cannabis. What's the difference between linoleum flooring and thc? Chemistry. They both come from linoleic acid.

Quite literally, no one growing Cannabis in America is qualified, as they readily produce plastic toxins through total ignorance of organic drug chemistry. The Marijuana plant is a drug lab. Federal regulations will reflect that. The FDA has been presented with a solid case that Xanax dealing Instagram models should not be involved with legal drug production.

 

[acespicoli]

So is oxidation good or bad?

Conceptually, the oxidation state may be positive, negative or zero.

Would recommend we slow down and address one single aspect at a time.


In chemistry, the oxidation state, or oxidation number, is the hypothetical charge of an atom if all of its bonds to other atoms were fully ionic. It describes the degree of oxidation (loss of electrons) of an atom in a chemical compound. Conceptually, the oxidation state may be positive, negative or zero. Beside nearly-pure ionic bonding, many covalent bonds exhibit a strong ionicity, making oxidation state a useful predictor of charge.

Oxidation state - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’
for she was taken out of man.”
24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.



Oxidation can be prevented by controlling the environmental conditions that favor it.
Here are some ways to prevent oxidation:

• Reduce oxygen
  Use inert gases like nitrogen to replace air in storage containers. You can also use vacuum sealing to remove air from a container. Nitrogen ?
  
  
• Lower the temperature
  Lowering the temperature can slow down oxidation by reducing the activity of enzymes and microorganisms that catalyze it.
  
  
  
  
  
  Figure 1. Biosynthesis of phytocannabinoid acids in Cannabis begins with a common precursor called olivetolic acid that then undergoes a series of enzymatic transformations. When exposed to heat, the phytocannabinoid acids readily decarboxylate into their neutral forms.
  
  

  References​

  1.Hanuš, L.O., Meyer, S.M., Muñoz, E., et al. Phytocannabinoids: A unified critical inventory. Nat. Prod. Rep.33(12), 1357-1392 (2016).
  
  2. Banister, S.D., Arnold, J.C., Connor, M., et al. Dark classics in chemical neuroscience: Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol. ACS Chem. Neurosci. 10(5), 2160-2175 (2019).
  
  3. Herr, R.J., Meckler, H., and Scuderi, F. Observed acidities of charcoals, clays, and common laboratory purification reagents in aqueous and organic solutions. Org. Proc. Res. Dev.4(1), 43-45 (2000).
  
  4. Srebnik, M., Lander, N., Breuer, A., et al. Base-catalysed double-bond isomerizations of cannabinoids: Structural and stereochemical aspects. J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. 1, 2881-2886 (1984).
  
  5. Järbe, T.U.C., Hiltunen, A.J., Mechoulam, R., et al. Separation of the discriminative stimulus effects of stereoisomers of Δ2- and Δ3-tetrahydrocannabinols in pigeons. Eur. J. Pharmacol.156(3), 361-366 (1988).
  
  6. Rosati, O., Messina, F., Pelosi, A., et al. One-pot heterogeneous synthesis of Δ3-tetrahydrocannabinol analogues and xanthenes showing differential binding to CB1 and CB2 receptors. Eur. J. Med. Chem. 85, 77-86 (2014).
  
  7. Ross, S.A. and Elsohly, M.A. CBN and Δ9-THC concentration ratio as an indicator of the age of stored marijuana samples. UNPDC Data and Analysis Bulletin (1999).
  
  8. Küppers, F.J.E.M., Lousberg, R.J.J.Ch., Bercht, C.A.L., et al. Cannabis—VIII: Pyrolysis of cannabidiol. Structure elucidation of the main pyrolytic product. Tetrahedron. 29(18), 2797-2802 (1973).
  
  9. Shani, A. and Mechoulam, R. Cannabielsoic acids: Isolation and synthesis by a novel oxidative cyclization. Tetrahedron30(15), 2437-2446 (1974).
  
  10. Caprioglio, D., Mattoteia, D., Pollastro, F., et al. The oxidation of phytocannabinoids to cannabinoquinoids.J. Nat. Prod.83(5), 1711-1715 (2020).
  
  11. Darzi, E.R. and Garg, N.K. Electrochemical oxidation of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol: A simple strategy for marijuana detection. Org. Lett.22(10), 3951-3955 (2020).
  
  12. Kogan, N.M., Rabinowitz, R., Levi, P., et al. Synthesis and antitumor activity of quinonoid derivatives of cannabinoids. J. Med. Chem.47(15), 3800-3806 (2004).
  
  

 

[acespicoli]

So is oxidation good or bad?

I've been trying to tell pot growers for half a century that their dreaded hay smell is hexanal, from linoleic acid, (from oleic acid), not chlorophyll.

You make some good points

So oxidation bad? No, because hexanal is broken down into hexanoic acid, the precursor to the major cannabinoids and many Cannabis esters.
The Marijuana plant is a drug lab.

Many COB makers growers of Malawi etc say they are able to improve the cannabinoid profiles,
You have made many excellent observations and comments that lend scientific facts to post harvest processing.

Hope you share more of your harvest wisdom
Thanks for sharing

 

[acespicoli]

Frenchy Cannoli (@frenchycannoli)​

 

[pipeline]

Buy Bubble Bags 5 GAL - 3 Bag Kit All Mesh Bubble Hash Bags Extraction | BubbleBagDude

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BUBBLEBAGDUDE 5 GAL - 3 Bag Kit All Mesh Extraction Bag​

 

[acespicoli]

Buy Bubble Bags 5 GAL - 3 Bag Kit All Mesh Bubble Hash Bags Extraction | BubbleBagDude

UPC : 850003609249 BUBBLEBAGDUDE Extraction Bags All Mesh 5 Gallon 3 Bag Se Extraction Bag Kit with 10 x 10” (25 Micron) Pressing Screen and Storage Bag WORLD FAMOUS EXTRACTION BAGS : BUBBLEBAGDUDE is known across the world for its high-quality filtration system 5-GALLON 3-BAG SET FULL MESH –...

www.bubblebagdude.co

BUBBLEBAGDUDE 5 GAL - 3 Bag Kit All Mesh Extraction Bag​

ALL MESH BAG DRAINS FASTER, LAST LONGER

• 5 Gallon Extraction Bags All Mesh Color Coded
• 5 Gallon (3) Bags : Micron Sizes : 220, 73 and 25
• Comes with 25 micron pressing screen and storage bag

3 bag kit is the gold standard 8 bags is a waste of moolah ?

 

[acespicoli]

Wont be buying this but HashTek has a great blog

 

[acespicoli]

Lost Art of the Hashishin Workshop DIY Videos

Subtitles in English:

• #1 Washing
• #2 Drying
• The Drying Room
• #3 Evaluating the Results
• #4 Pressing to Decarb
• Making Temple Balls

 

[acespicoli]

SHWALE’s High-Yield Hash Strains: Farmhouse Studio Genetics​

Aleks Zed​

• Hash Culture
• January 7, 2024

At the heart of SHWALE’s innovative journey is the Farmhouse Studio, a name that has become synonymous with pioneering genetics breeding, especially for hash production. We had the pleasure of meeting the masterminds behind Farmhouse Studio at the Smoking Jacket event in Portland, Oregon, in 2023. Their booth was a hub of activity, complete with a dab station and an array of macro photographs that were as informative as they were beautiful. They showcased their expertise by providing full melt samples from their extensive genetic lines, a dream come true for any hash producer. We were particularly impressed with their papaya strain, which we plan to incorporate into our hugel garden for the next season.

http://v

Delving into SHWALE’s World: A Fusion of Artistic Photography and Specialized Cannabis Breeding​

SHWALE’s world is where the beauty of cannabis is not just captured through the lens but is also cultivated and refined in the genetics lab of Farmhouse Studio. Their cannabis macro photography is more than just art; it’s a gateway to understanding the intricate beauty of cannabis strains that have been meticulously bred for their resin potential. Each photograph in their collection is a testament to the unique characteristics that Farmhouse Studio’s strains possess, highlighting the vibrant colors and textures that make their high-yielding hash strains so exceptional.

As SHWALE themselves state, “We’ve been non-stop growing for 12 years, 10 years solventless, 5 years breeding. We started breeding with mainly longstalks and shortstalks in mind for hash and flower.” This dedication is evident in their pursuit of perfection in hash strain development.

Farmhouse Studio: A Cradle for High-Resin Cannabis Genetics​

Farmhouse Studio stands as a beacon of innovation in the cannabis genetics field. The team’s relentless pursuit of excellence has led to the creation of strains that are not just visually stunning but are genetically engineered to maximize hash yield. Their breeding practices are a blend of time-honored horticulture and avant-garde genetic research, resulting in a catalog of cannabis strains that are specifically designed for hash production.

Explaining their approach, SHWALE shares:

We started breeding with mainly longstalks and shortstalks in mind for hash and flower. After breeding with already known washers we noticed ‘Sugar Coat’ was displaying weakneck traits. We learned that abscission is a term for a zone where the cells detach or break on a plant, so we were able to do more research on this. Once we got started down the correct scientific article path it was easy to find more and more info about cannabis trichomes and just trichomes in general. That’s when we started getting more into measuring glands than just looking at their noticeable traits. Thinking it would be possible to selectively breed glands larger making them much more productive for hash.
So now we’re breeding for shortstalks, weakneck/thin-neck, and larger gland size; on top of all the normal flavor and flowing traits. We use our 5x photos as a good way to determine gland size average quickly. We later chose to outbreed our ‘Sugar Shack’ with ‘GMO’ because of its large glands with thin-neck trait creating ‘JOMO’ aka the Joy Of Missing Out.
We also do the normal hash jar tests, and we personally grow and wash each strain before releasing them. We have also seen an upward trend in gland size and coverage by our selective breeding through these methods.
Our newest line Diamond Glands, is showing the abscission trait. More info on this drop will be coming soon.
SHWALE

Conservation Through Cultivation: SHWALE’s Genetic Preservation Efforts​

SHWALE’s work extends beyond breeding for yield; it’s also about preserving the genetic tapestry of cannabis. Each strain developed at Farmhouse Studio is a living library of genetic information, safeguarded through sustainable breeding practices. This dedication to genetic preservation is crucial in maintaining the diversity and vitality of cannabis strains, ensuring that the full spectrum of their potential can be explored and enjoyed by future generations.

Cultivating More Than Plants: SHWALE’s Community Engagement​

The vision of SHWALE transcends the realms of photography and genetics; it’s about nurturing a community where knowledge about high-yielding hash strains is shared and celebrated. Through educational initiatives and interactive events, SHWALE fosters a space for enthusiasts to connect and expand their understanding of cannabis cultivation, particularly focusing on the nuances of breeding for hash production.
In essence, SHWALE and Farmhouse Studio are at the forefront of a movement that marries the aesthetic appreciation of cannabis with the scientific pursuit of breeding superior hash strains. Their work not only showcases the splendor of cannabis in microscopic detail but also propels the industry forward with strains that promise both beauty and bounty.
SHWALE elaborates on their latest developments, “Our newest line Diamond Glands, is showing the abscission trait. More info on this drop will be coming soon.”
Here’s to SHWALE and Farmhouse Studio: where the quest for the perfect hash strain is an art form, a science, and a tribute to the natural wonders of cannabis genetics.

 

[acespicoli]

Legends of Hashish II Winners​

Rosin​

1st: Professor Sift – Honey Bananas

2nd: Mega Raw Melts – Zenith

3rd: Secret Society Hash Co. – Zapaya

Melt​

1st: Ice House Melts – Zhishkaberry

2nd: Quality Squishes – Rainbow Beltz 2.0

3rd: Gold Country Resin – Durban Sherbert

Who will join the winner’s circle this year? See you in LA in December to find out…

He discusses three main variables for yield:

1. Trichome density & number of trichomes
2. Structure (shape of the trichomes as well as bud structure)
3. Tactile feel and consistency of the trichomes when rubbed on the plant between day 45 and harvest time

I would add this incredibly important variable:

4. Light conditions (indoor vs outdoor, sun grown flowers are known to have higher terpene content)

For me the standout quote in the article is:

Now, if you have dense trichome growth, a perfect trichome structure for washing with a weak-neck trait and large, bulbous thin, waxy cuticle head, AND you feel gritty sand-like consistency, you have found a washer!
Nikka T

That is a loaded paragraph to deconstruct:

• Weak-neck trait – refers to trichomes that have a small connection between the stock and the head
• Bulbous thin, waxy cuticle – this describes the ‘shell’ of the trichome head. You want a thin head to decrease overall wax content in the hash. This is particularly important when making rosin carts.
• Gritty sand-like consistency – I completely agree with this sentiment. “Sand-like” hash is so much easier to work with than “greasy” feeling hash. Greasy hash tends to smear and clog your extraction bags, unlike sandy hash which comes off clean.

Once you have found some washers, you just need to assemble a menu of flavours. Make sure you have at least one good “gas” strain and a “fruit” profile in your rotation at all times.

Which Strains Work Well for Solventless Extraction?​

There are phenotype specific differences that will influence yield, but overall there are certain trends when it comes to washing. This is not an exhaustive list but a good starting point.

Strains that Wash:
https://www.icmag.com/.

• GMO (Mamiko Seeds)
  • Selected by skunkmasterflex this is an all time strain when it comes to vigor, yield per square foot and hash yield. This strain is an outlier unlike any other. With a lineage tracing back to skunkmasters love for Larry OG this strain actually washes well, unlike most OG lineages. The smell is dank and gassy with yields up to 7-8% from wpff
• Face Off OG (Archive cut)
• Papaya (nirvana Seeds)
• Chemdog (Top Dawg Seeds)
• Meat Breath & Meat Madness (Thug Pug)
  • One of my personal favourites for a daily driver. Great yield, sandy heads and a profile you don’t get tired of.
• Strawberry Banana, 90 Micron, Melted Strawberries, Grape Cream Cake, Strawberry Guava S1 (Bloom Seed Co.)
  • Bloom Seed Co. Does an amazing job at breeding for solventless. The above are all strains I have had put out over 5% on wpff
• Sour Trop Bx1, Papaya Sorbet, Strawpicanna, Tropicanna Cookies by (Oni Seed Co)
  • Oni Noodles is another breeder that breedes specifically for solventless strains. If you follow his instragram and see that hash rosin donuts he smokes on the daily- you will understand why he needs strains that kick ass for solventless.
• H.R.E.A.M “Strawberry Guava” Strawberry Banana X Papaya X Wilson F2 – (Masonic Seed Co)
  • Masonic – also known as Instagram’s most hated and creator of Wilson and Frutas puts out some fire solventless genetics. Follow his IG if you don’t already, he is currently on v3 and is constantly being banned thanks to IG censorship so this link may not work. @masonic_smoker3.0
• Georgia Pie – (Seedjunky Genetics @seedjunky_jbeezy) – many other seedjunky genetics wash well
• Kaya’s Koffe (@pacificnwroots_)
  • Ras Kaya is an OG when it comes to breeding for resistant outdoor varieties that yield well w/ solventless. All of his varieties do well for hash and great outdoors. Although bred for growing in Washington state they do great in colder climates such as Ontario, Canada as well.
• Crescendo RBX1 – Ethos Genetics
  • My favourite outdoor hash strain for southern Ontario. Incredibly resistant to powdery mildew and pests, robust vigor and great hash yields make this a top pick. This is the strain I take cuts of in the spring for friends who are new to growing. It is almost fail proof, and put in anyone’s hands can get me a product I can turn into a good hash for them come the fall. Great fruity terp profile and sandy hash that is easy to work with.
• Where’s my bike? (Karma Genetics)
  • For lovers of Sativa and Haze this is a fantastic strain to run. Great yields and a terpinolene terpene profile that haze lovers will love. Flower time is on the longer side so not ideal for outdoor growers with condensed growing climates.

Strains that Typically Don’t Wash

• Many OG varieties
• Pink Kush
• Bubba
• Girl Scout Cookies
• Rockstar
• Many old school Kush varieties
• Blue Dream

The Jar Test​

The jar test is a great way to approximate solventless yield without having to wash a large amount of material ($$$). Simply put 20-40 g fresh frozen material in a jar with ice and water. Shake it up like crazy for 5 min and allow the trichomes to settle to the bottom. Over time you will get a feel for what a good yield looks like, but for starters you should have at minimum a heaping teaspoon’s worth of trichomes at the bottom of the jar. Below are some mids that had pretty awful yields.

hashtek

 

[pipeline]

The all mesh bags can be cut up to be used as filtration mesh for dry ice extraction with a recprocating saw setup.

 

[acespicoli]

3.3. Curing
Curing in agricultural industries often refers to the maturation of the chemical profile of a biological material over long periods of time to obtain optimum quality and flavor. This usually involves unique iterations of methods [104,116,117,118,119,120]. For the cannabis industry, curing involves essentially marking the end of a drying process and the beginning of the storage process, where the cannabis inflorescence is being maintained at an ideal moisture content and water activity. It is an important step to maintain the quality of cannabis. Interactions between the storage, method of curing, water activity, potency, chemical profile, and maturity of cannabis in this postharvest step are still not widely investigated. Color and texture changes of tobacco are determinants for curing [121] and a similar method to detect the more subtle changes in color, aroma, and texture in cannabis curing might be worth looking into.
For cannabis, this process includes keeping the dried inflorescence in a closed container for a certain period with a specific temperature and humidity. When a plant is cut, enzymes and aerobic bacteria start their activity to break down the extra sugars and starches created by chlorophyll breakdown. When smoking cannabis that has not been properly cured, the presence of these residual sugars and minerals causes a burning sensation in the throat. Before the breakdown of the remaining sugars, carbohydrates, and nutrients, the plant is forced to utilize these compounds in flavored items during the curing process. Thus, this resting period introduces less odor and sensation of throat burning when smoking or inhaling. It can also result in an increase in the level of THC and CBN by completing the decarboxylation process, as well as extending the storability by limiting fungal growth [29]. According to Jin et al. [28], maintaining a temperature of 18 °C and an RH of 60% for a period of 2 weeks, with the opening of the lid after 6 h, is the best curing condition. Although curing is one of the most significant postharvest operations, it has been overlooked and is not investigated properly. The time, temperature, humidity, and storage container during curing may be varied and should be investigated more to get the best product for storage and marketing.
3.4. Packaging and Storage
The cannabis inflorescence, with its high initial moisture content at harvest ranging from 75–78% (wet basis, wb), is considered to be a highly perishable material before drying. A common problem arising in the methods for the drying of cannabis is the inadequate control and prediction methods used to dry and store cannabis, resulting in the formation of mold [10,64,122].
Important factors to consider for quality, in terms of the packaging material, are water permeability to prevent moisture inconsistencies and rigidity in preventing mechanical injury. The ability to predict the movement of moisture throughout a biological material such as cannabis is critical to further improve quality problems in the industry [10]. Diffusion calculations through a membrane are similar to the calculations that use Fick’s law as outlined by Geankoplis [25] and Srikiatden and Roberts [33]. Permeabilities for packaging materials are often widely available for consumers to check. A holistic approach considering the diffusion coefficient, sorption isotherms, and the permeability of packaging materials allows producers to make critical and efficient decisions to further improve their production process.
Common packaging materials used in the cannabis industry are Mylar bags, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and/or metal cases and tubes, and glass jars, as found in online catalogs [123,124]. Water vapor permeability, or the measure of how fluid easily flows through a substance [125], plays a role in achieving the optimum quality measures needed for the industry. Mylar bags have a permeability ranging from 0.02 to 1.18 cm3 mm/m2 d atm [126]. This means that dried cannabis inflorescence being stored in bags made of Mylar gradually lose moisture as cannabis is stored in inventory for months and even years.
Storage conditions would also contribute to the degradation of cannabis and the cannabinoids and volatile compounds present in them. Trofin et al. [127,128,129] have extensively investigated the stability of various cannabis products, focusing on major cannabinoids via kinetic models and in-vitro studies, and have found that the storage of cannabis at 22 °C with the presence of light is highly detrimental to cannabis compared to samples stored in darkness at 4 °C. These results are also significantly similar to studies by Taschwer and Schmid [130] and Chen et al. [34], where the total amount of major cannabinoids present in cannabis, such as THC and CBD, decreased as the storage and drying temperatures increased. Temperature control during storage therefore plays an important role in best quality practices in maintaining both moisture content and cannabinoid concentration in dried cannabis inflorescence.

Postharvest Operations of Cannabis and Their Effect on Cannabinoid Content: A Review

In recent years, cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) has been legalized by many countries for production, processing, and use considering its tremendous medical and industrial applications. Cannabis contains more than a hundred biomolecules (cannabinoids) which have the potentiality to cure different...

www.mdpi.com

Oxidocyclase enzymes convert CBGA into acidic forms of THCA, CBDA, and CBCA [4]. (debate that COB or cued bud increases potency)

 

[acespicoli]

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Plant Sci. , 14 October 2020

Sec. Crop and Product Physiology

Volume 11 - 2020 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.583605

Metabolic Profiling of Cannabis Secondary Metabolites for Evaluation of Optimal Postharvest Storage Conditions

Discussion
In this study, we found that, over time, decarboxylation was the main degradation route for all acid biosynthesized phytocannabinoids in both Cannabis inflorescences and extracts. This finding is in line with previous studies on Cannabis resin and inflorescences (Lindholst, 2010; Peschel, 2016). Although the major therapeutic knowledge on Cannabis focuses on phytocannabinoids in their decarboxylated form, several recent studies report on the pharmacological activities of several acid phytocannabinoids (Bolognini et al., 2013; Rock and Parker, 2013; Rock et al., 2013, 2018; Nallathambi et al., 2017; Anderson et al., 2019; Formato et al., 2020). Several in vivo studies even revealed that CBDA is a considerably more potent antiemetic agent than the well-studied CBD (1000 times more potent; Bolognini et al., 2013; Rock and Parker, 2013) and is also a more potent anticonvulsant agent (10 times more potent; Anderson et al., 2019). Less abundant acid phytocannabinoids (e.g., CBGA, Δ9-THCVA, CBDVA and others) were also found to exhibit cannabimimetic activities in vitro by targeting several receptors, ion channels, and/or metabolizing enzymes in the extended endocannabinoid system, as reviewed previously (Cascio and Pertwee, 2014; Di Marzo and Piscitelli, 2015).

Generally speaking, the acid phytocannabinoids in inflorescences were less prone to decarboxylation compared with the Cannabis extracts, for the same storage times and temperatures, although this was highly dependent on the storage solvent. Whole samples were also generally less prone to oxidation compared with ground samples. Although full decarboxylation is known to occur very rapidly at temperatures above 100°C (Dussy et al., 2005), it can also occur at ambient or lower temperatures (Wang et al., 2016; Citti et al., 2018). This is in line with the results presented here, which show that slow decarboxylation occurs over long storage periods, even at very low temperatures. A recent study analyzed the decarboxylation kinetics of CBDA dissolved in commercial hemp seed oil (Citti et al., 2018), extrapolating the half-life of CBDA to be 587 and 49 days for storage at 5°C and at 25°C, respectively. Our results show considerably longer half-lives for this compound (CBDA concentrations were 37.3 ± 3.57 % w/w at t0, and 41.4 ± 0.35 % and 32.8 ± 0.68 % w/w following 1 year of storage at 4 and 25°C, respectively). This result may be due to differences in the vehicle vegetable oil and warrants further investigation.

Other aging compounds analyzed include oxidation products of the major phytocannabinoids (CBN and CBT from Δ9-THC-type phytocannabinoids, and CBND from CBD-type phytocannabinoids), CBE-type phytocannabinoids, which are products of photochemical reactions of CBD-type compounds, and several other unknown compounds (Berman et al., 2018). The concentrations of these compounds were generally low, even for samples that exhibited the largest phytocannabinoid changes compared with t0. CBN, the oxidation product of Δ9-THC and the most widely used marker for determining Cannabis aging, exhibited a general trend of increasing concentrations with time and temperature for both chemovars. We also observed increases in CBN concentrations over time for ground versus whole samples and for extracts dissolved in DMSO versus ethanol and olive oil. Total CBN concentrations (the sum of CBN and CBNA concentrations) in the Cannabis samples naturally correlated also to total Δ9-THC content for the same storage conditions, as can be observed for example for the Type I versus Type III chemovars. Concentrations of both CBN and CBNA can, therefore, serve as aging markers for high-potency chemovars, but only in relation to their initial Δ9-THC and Δ9-THCA contents. Following the same rule, this marker is irrelevant for Type III chemovars.

Concentrations of terpenoids in inflorescences, which also possess therapeutic potentials of their own or in combination with phytocannabinoids (Russo and Marcu, 2017), were considerably lower compared with t0, for all temperatures, even after only 4 months of storage. By calculating the relative losses of all terpenoids and biosynthesized phytocannabinoids compared with t0, (total average of the ratio between the concentration of each compound under a specific storage condition and its corresponding concentration at t0, as presented in Figures 4G, 6, respectively) we found that the average terpenoid concentration decreased by more than 50% at t4 as opposed to an average 26% loss for all the biosynthesized phytocannabinoids at t12. Surprisingly, despite their very different volatilities, similar trends were observed for both mono- and sesqui-terpenoids. According to these results, it is very difficult to preserve the original (t0) terpenoid contents in inflorescences, and this must be accounted for when reporting the terpenoid concentrations of a specific chemovar. Cannabis extracts also exhibited terpenoid losses, although less dominant compared with the inflorescences, probably due to the lower terpenoid concentrations at t0 that are the result of evaporation during the chemical extraction process.

Phytocannabinoids in Cannabis inflorescences are more stable during storage compared with extracts under similar conditions. As shown here, the solvent chosen as the vehicle for dissolving the Cannabis extract can also have unfavorable effects on its stability. DMSO was the least favorable of the three solvents analyzed, while olive oil was the best preservative, probably due to its known conserving characteristics (Cheung et al., 2007; Serra et al., 2008). DMSO and ethanol are often used in research labs as the Cannabis extract vehicle for challenging cells and/or animals in different biological models. According to the presented results, Cannabis extracts used in long-term studies should be analyzed periodically to detect major changes in their chemical compositions. Since temperature is a major factor in phytocannabinoids degradation, extracts should be aliquoted to avoid numerous freeze-thaw cycles.

In this study we found that the best conditions for preserving the original phytocannabinoid and terpenoid contents of inflorescences throughout long storage periods are as whole inflorescences at 4°C. In regards to medical Cannabis oil preparation and storage, Cannabis inflorescences intended for extraction should be stored under these optimal conditions, and then extracted as close as possible to the oil’s marketing, dissolved in olive oil, and stored at 4°C. It should be noted, however, that olive oil freezes at this temperature, and so the oil should be consumed only after re-melting and proper mixing to avoid phase separation.

The therapeutic use of medical Cannabis is growing, and so is the need for standardized and therapeutically stable Cannabis products for patients. Prolonged storage under sub-optimal conditions can lead to degradation or changes in biologically active phytocannabinoids and terpenoids resulting in new constituents. This can consequently alter the therapeutic effects of the Cannabis medication or lead to undesirable side effects compared with the original material. This study, therefore, provides important information that is relevant to Cannabis growers, clinicians, manufacturers, and distributors of medical Cannabis, in order to provide patients with standardized, pharmaceutical-grade Cannabis inflorescences and oils.

 

[acespicoli]

Drying tent

Ok so I've been trying to do better at drying as I e never tried controlling it much. My last version had a portable AC butted against the cracked open tent. Trying to be more gentle with the air and also hanging and dry trimming for 1st time. I'm concerned about them drying out from the cold...

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Mini grow tent, inkbird, govee, AC, Dehumidifier Problem Solved

Heres a interesting thread