Sungrown Cannabis: Science Favors Nature

By Billee Sharp

Autumn has an air of completion about it, especially for those agriculturists and gardeners among us, who have just harvested their crops.

The traditional cannabis harvest in California runs from late September through October. Once the plants have been harvested the flowers must be carefully dried and cured before the harvest can be considered a success.

These days, much of California’s cannabis is grown indoors under artificial lights, which leads to multiple harvests instead of just one. The commercial advantages of indoor growing are obvious and indoor growing advocates argue that the controlled growing environment protects the plants from outdoor nuisances, namely insects and bad weather.

Indoor and outdoor cultivation are legal in California with the appropriate licenses and permits and both exist amicably side by side supplying the legal market.

However, for as many years as cannabis has been grown indoors there has been a lively debate about whether indoor or outdoor growing yields superior cannabis.

Finally, in January this year Molecules, the leading international, peer-reviewed, open access journal of chemistry, published a study by Columbia University that compares the two cultivation methods.

The study grew six genetically identical commercial plants from two different cultivars, Red Velvet and the unfortunately named, Cheetah Piss, with three plants of each strain outside and three inside. The outdoor samples were grown in raised beds using a mixture of all-natural, “living” soil and composts in full sunlight. The indoor samples were grown under artificial light in a proprietary growth medium.

At harvest, the researchers selected similar sized flowers from the top of the plants. They then tested the flowers using  gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to evaluate terpene composition, and ultra-performance liquid chromatography plus mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) to measure cannabinoids. These methods are the industry standard for testing cannabis.

Outdoor cannabis samples showed greater diversity of terpenes compared to indoor cannabis from the same genetic stock. In addition  the outdoor samples revealed a greater concentration of sesquiterpenes compared to the indoor samples. Sesquiterpenes, are terpenes that have an extra isoprene unit. The most common sesquiterpene is B-caryophyllene, the spicy flavored element, present not only in cannabis but also hops, black pepper and rosemary. Sesquiterpenes are larger than terpenes and tend to be more robust, maintaining their properties more reliably during drying and curing.

In terms of primary cannabinoid levels, levels of CBGA and CBDA were relatively similar between indoor and outdoor plants, while CBCA was slightly higher in the outdoor grow THCA was slightly lower.

Admittedly, the study has some shortcomings; it doesn’t take every cultivation variable into consideration, nor does it  measure differences in the nutrient value of the growing mediums nor compare temperature and humidity conditions.

Despite the limitations of the study the results make a credible case that certain conditions associated with outdoor growing may be favorable to terpene production and  protective of cannabinoid degradation through the presence of extra sesquiterpenes.

Indoor growers will gleefully point to the slightly higher ratio of THCA and thus THC of indoor plants, but THC levels are not the only yardstick that cannabis is measured by. Medical cannabis growers are keen for the broadest expression of terpenes and cannabinoids and outdoor growing conditions are conducive to this outcome.

At Synergy Wellness, outdoor cultivation has been central to the development of hybridized cannabis strains rich in CBD, CBG, CBN and THCV. As staunch believers in the benefits of broad spectrum cannabis, where cannabinoids act synergistically, we see the advantages of sunshine in our plants and products!

 Further Reading: Zandkarimi, Fereshteh et al. “Comparison of the Cannabinoid and Terpene Profiles in Commercial Cannabis from Natural and Artificial Cultivation.” Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 28,2 833. 13 Jan. 2023, doi:10.3390/molecules28020833

How Cannabis Helps Your Body Eliminate Cancer Cells

By Nurse Lauren with Leonard Leinow

Our bodies are perfectly curated systems of tissues, organs, vasculature and more, that are all programmed to work in symphony to conduct the magic that we call being alive. Our cells are the building blocks of which the palaces of our being are built, and it is important to know a few basic processes that are fundamental for understanding how it all works. When we are taking any type of medication or doing any type of therapy it is crucial to understand the process by which it affects your body. When people comprehend their own bodies something extraordinary occurs, they become empowered about their health! They no longer feel like powerless victims floating through a sea of confusion, but rather informed participants making thoughtful decisions. How wonderful!

         As we all know, our bodies are made up of innumerable cells of all types and purposes. On the surface of every single one of them (including cancer cells) are various different receptors that receive compounds that initiate chemical reactions. Pertinent to our discussion here are the cannabinoid receptors, which are responsible for allowing our cells to interact with the various forms of CBD and THC found in cannabis. It is important to note here just how long our species (homo sapiens) had to exist alongside cannabis for our bodies to evolve receptors specifically for its molecules on our cells! It is compound that is crucial to our health and happiness, and this very fact shows us this.

         Researchers have identified two cannabinoid receptors thus far that exist in the bodies of mammals. The first is CB1, the most abundant receptor, which is predominantly found in the nervous system, connective tissues, gonads, glands, and organs. The second is CB2, which is predominantly present in the digestive and immune systems and its associated structures. Many tissues contain both CB1and CB2 receptors, each linked to a different action within the cell. Tumor cells have cannabinoid receptors on their surfaces as well. When THC and CBD bind to the receptors on tumor cells they create apoptotic, anti-proliferative, and anti-invasive results. Simply put, THC and CBD can induce cell suicide in a cancer cell. They can also slow cancer’s growth and spread by interrupting processes that it needs to survive.

         In a recent study conducted by St George’s University of London it was shown that THC, CBD and CBG are a potent combination in the fight against certain cancers. Preliminary studies like these are so important, as their results initiate further studies globally about cannabis and the human body. It takes many studies over many years before anything is ever widely accepted in medicine. These steps are crucial in educating everyone to the healing properties of cannabis at a scholarly level. In order to get these medicinal compounds to those that need them most we must study and spread the knowledge accordingly. Hooray for science!

         This is a good enough time as any to begin your healing journey with cannabis. Introducing a CBD and/or THC regimen into your life will assist your endocannabinoid system with lowering inflammation as a whole throughout your body. If you currently are dealing with cancer then the pain relieving and relaxing properties of THC and CBD should be considered as well. Cannabis assists with taking stress levels down so the body can rest and heal. It also boosts the immune system, needed to  restore health and stop the growth of cancer cells. There are innumerable reasons to take nature’s medicine, hopefully now you all understand a little bit more about how it works in your bodies.

In order to have effective cannabis medicine for this metabolic disorder, large doses of full spectrum CBD, THC and CBG are required. Synergy Wellness produces products designed for this purpose. Specifically, high dose suppositories are used, since administered this way, the medicine does not produce psychoactive side effects. Plus, suppositories are absorbed through the lymphatic system and delivered throughout the body, where needed.

Sending love to all on their healing journeys,

Nurse Lauren, BSN