Introduction 1 About This Book 1 Foolish Assumptions 2 Icons Used in This Book 3 Beyond the Book 4 Where to Go from Here 4 Part 1: Getting Started with Cannabis 5 Chapter 1: Taking the Nickel Tour 7 Exploring the Basics of Marijuana Consumption 8 Considering medical use 8 Looking into adult recreational use 10 Acknowledging the potential drawbacks 10 Knowing What Makes Cannabis So Special 11 Recognizing the Diversity of Cannabis Strains 13 Buying Cannabis 14 Knowing where and where not to get it 14 Understanding what you’re buying 15 Avoiding rip-offs 16 Exploring Different Consumption Methods 16 Smoking or vaping 16 Edibles 17 Tinctures 17 Topical or transdermal applications 18 Getting Up to Speed on Cannabis Laws 18 Being a Safe and Responsible User 19 Grasping the Basics of Cannabis Production 20 Growing cannabis 20 Harvesting and curing cannabis 21 Creating cannabis, extracts, concentrates and infused products 22 Making Money in the Cannabis Industry 22 Recognizing the challenges 23 Getting a job in the industry 23 Starting your own cannabis business 24 Exploring ancillary business 25 Investing in the industry 25 Chapter 2: Brushing Up on Cannabis Anatomy and Chemistry 27 Getting to Know the Plant from Top to Bottom 27 Examining the structure of the two primary strains 28 Checking out the buds and flowers 28 Taking a peek at the seeds 29 Combing through the trichomes 30 Considering the lesser parts of the plant 31 Taking a Crash Course in Cannabinoid Chemistry 32 Assessing factors impacting individual effects 32 Exploring the endocannabinoid system 33 Getting high with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) 35 Feeling better with cannabidiol (CBD) without getting high 37 Reaping the sedative effects of cannabinol (CBN) 37 Exploring the potential health benefits of cannabigerol (CBG) 37 Discovering the potential health benefits of cannabigerol (CBG) 38 Using terpenes to anticipate effects 38 Exploring Cannabis Concentrates and Extracts 39 Concentrates 39 Extracts 40 Products made from concentrates and extracts 42 Chapter 3: Steering Clear of Legal Trouble 45 Knowing the Laws: Federal, State, Local and International 46 Keeping abreast of U.S federal law and enforcement 46 Getting up to speed on state laws 48 Considering local laws too 51 Knowing your employer’s rules 52 Researching international laws 52 Knowing Your Limits 54 Age limits 54 Purchase limits 55 Grow limits 55 Dosing limits 56 Driving limits 56 Consumption locations 56 Your own personal consumption limits 57 Avoiding Encounters with Law Enforcement 59 Responding Appropriately in Encounters with Law Enforcement 60 Taking Responsibility as a Parent 61 Chapter 4: Tackling Cannabis Politics and Culture 63 Checking the Nation’s Pulse 64 Acknowledging the drivers of change 64 Recognizing differences in attitudes about medical and recreational use 65 Keeping pace with evolving attitudes 66 Debunking Misconceptions of Cannabis and Users 66 Examining Activism 67 Tuning in to Cannabis Culture 69 Part 2: Buying, Storing, and Using Cannabis 71 Chapter 5: Buying and Storing Cannabis 73 Evaluating Your Vendor Options: Where to Buy 74 Buying from a dispensary 74 Buying cannabis online or over the phone 75 Checking out cannabis “gifting” businesses 77 Steering clear of the black market 77 Making Two Key Decisions 78 Getting Quality Product 79 Buy from a reputable dispensary and be willing to pay more 79 Check for third party testing 79 Stick with trusted strains and brands 80 Read the label 80 Inspect the goods 81 Avoiding Common Cannabis Scams 83 Storing Your Cannabis 84 Chapter 6: Choosing and Visiting a Cannabis Dispensary 85 Choosing a Cannabis Dispensary 86 Comparing medical and recreational dispensaries 86 Finding a reliable and legal place to shop 89 Comparing purchase/delivery/pickup options 92 Visiting a Cannabis Dispensary 95 Knowing what to expect 95 Sizing up the budtender 97 Getting a Medical Marijuana Card 98 Chapter 7: Consuming Cannabis 101 Going Old School: Smoking or Vaping 102 Smoking cannabis 102 Vaping cannabis 110 Dabbing 112 Eating and Drinking Cannabis: Edibles 115 Using Topical and Transdermal Products 117 Using Cannabis Tinctures or Pills 118 Taking Pharmaceutical Preparations 119 Chapter 8: Using Cannabis Safely and Responsibly 121 Recognizing the Health and Safety Risks 122 Checking out undesirable transitory effects 122 Looking ahead to potential long-term complications 123 Making Dosing Decisions 124 Defining your desired experience 125 Considering the chemical composition of products 125 Comparing methods of consumption 129 Accounting for other medications or substances used 130 Examining your body’s biochemistry 131 Considering the environment or setting and your mood or mind-set 132 Keeping Safety in Mind 132 Using cannabis in moderation 133 Making rational decisions 133 Committing to no impaired driving 133 Dealing with Overconsumption 134 Distinguishing overconsumption from overdose 134 Avoiding overconsumption 135 Responding to overconsumption 135 Considering Underage Development 136 Part 3: Reaping the Potential Benefits of Medical Marijuana 139 Chapter 9: Using Marijuana for Medicinal Purposes 141 Understanding the Current and Ongoing Status of Medical Marijuana 142 Choosing Medical Marijuana Products 143 Seeking Symptom Relief for Specific Conditions 145 Acne 146 Addiction 146 Alzheimer’s 147 Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) 148 Anxiety 149 Appetite loss 149 Arthritis 150 Asthma 151 Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) 151 Autism spectrum disorders 151 Autoimmune disorders 152 Bipolar disorder 153 Cachexia (Wasting) 153 Cancer 154 Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) 155 Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity 155 Depression 156 Diabetes 157 Eating disorders 158 Epilepsy 158 Fibromyalgia 159 Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) 159 Glaucoma 160 Hepatitis C 161 HIV/AIDS 161 Huntington’s disease 162 Inflammation 162 Insomnia 163 Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) 163 Lupus 164 Menopause 165 Migraines and headaches 166 Multiple sclerosis (MS) 166 Nausea and vomiting 167 Pain 167 Parkinson’s disease 168 Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 168 Restless legs syndrome 169 Schizophrenia/psychosis 170 Sexual dysfunction 170 Skin conditions 171 Sports medicine 172 Tourette syndrome 172 Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease 173 Accounting for Potential Adverse Side Effects 174 Chapter 10: Using Pot for Pets 175 Recognizing the Potential Benefits of Cannabis Treatment 176 Consulting Your Veterinarian First 177 Treating Specific Conditions in Pets 178 Anxiety 178 Appetite loss 178 Cancer 179 Digestion issues 180 Epilepsy/seizures 180 Nausea/vomiting 181 Pain 181 Palliative care 181 Tumors 181 Noting the Potential Adverse Effects of Cannabis on Pets 182 Administering Cannabis to Pets 182 Deciding on a way to administer it 183 Choosing an initial dose 183 Monitoring your pet’s reaction 184 Adjusting the dose 184 Preventing and responding to overconsumption 185 Obtaining Commercial Cannabinoid Products 185 Preparing Your Own Concoctions 186 Part 4: Grasping the Basics of Cannabis Cultivation, Post-Harvest, and Production 187 Chapter 11: Growing Cannabis 189 Wrapping Your Brain Around the Cannabis Growth Cycle 190 Choosing a Cultivation Method 191 Indoor 191 Outdoor 192 Hydroponics 193 Soil 193 Creating a Grow Room for Indoor Cultivation 194 Tackling the initial setup 194 Simulating the desired climate 195 Focusing on air flow 195 Setting up grow lights 198 Deciding on a watering/fertilizing system 201 Using a hydroponics system 202 Keeping your grow room impeccably clean 204 Preparing for Outdoor Cultivation 204 Choosing a site 204 Hardening off your plants 207 Supporting and protecting your plants 207 Prepping Your Soil or Other Grow Medium 208 Planting Seeds or Cuttings 209 Acquiring seeds or cuttings 209 Germinating seeds 211 Planting seedlings 212 Cloning plants 212 Transplanting 214 Keeping Your Plants Healthy 214 Ensuring proper temperature, humidity, and lighting 214 Watering and fertilizing your plants 215 Checking and adjusting the pH 216 Battling common pests 216 Preventing and treating common diseases 217 Pruning your plants 218 Training your plants to maximize yield 218 Prepping Plants for Harvest 221 Stop spraying the foliage 221 Flush your grow medium 222 Cultivating Cannabis in an Industrial Setting: Special Considerations 222 Considering space locations and rules 222 Considering the use of pesticides and nutrients 223 Handling green waste 223 Arranging third party testing 223 Tracking plants from seed to sale 224 Chapter 12: Harvesting and Post-Harvest 225 Deciding When to Harvest: Timing is Everything! 226 Keeping an eye on the trichomes 226 Observing the pistils and stigmas 227 Tracking leaf senescence 228 Find out the strain’s expected time-to-harvest 228 Harvesting Your Plants 228 Weighing and Calculating Your Yield (Dry/Wet Weights) 229 Determining the plant’s wet weight 229 Weighing after bucking or shucking and maybe rough trimming 230 Weighing green waste and wet bud 231 Drying, Curing, and Trimming Flower Post-Harvest 232 Drying your plant or buds 232 Curing dried cannabis 236 Trimming bud 238 Storing your buds 239 Packaging for commercial use 239 Chapter 13: Making Concentrates and Marijuana Infused Products (MIPs) 241 Grasping Concentrate Basics 242 Exploring Different Extraction Methods 242 Non-solvent extraction methods 243 Solvent extraction methods 244 Creating Your Own Concentrates 247 Making kief (dry sift) 247 Making dry sift hash 248 Making bubble hash 248 Making dry ice hash 250 Making rosin 252 Making charas 253 Make your own cannabis butter 253 Make your own tincture 256 Cooking Up Edibles 257 Preparing Tinctures, Lotions, and More 258 Part 5: Getting Down to Business 259 Chapter 14: Starting Your Own Cannabis Business 261 Working with a Federal Schedule I Drug 262 Choosing a Business Type 263 Grower 264 Retailer 264 Manufacturer of infused products (MIP) 265 Processed product brand 267 Profiting from cannabis with an ancillary business 268 Addressing Common Challenges 268 Dealing with money issues 269 Adhering to state and local laws 272 Applying for licenses in other states 276 Staffing for Success 278 Filling key positions 279 Providing the necessary training 281 Getting your people certified: Badging 282 Setting Up Shop 282 Choosing a facility 282 Establishing your supply chain 283 Tackling transportation issues 283 Acquiring the necessary equipment 284 Creating a website/blog 286 Building your point of sale (POS) system 287 Maintaining a Positive Public Image 287 Attending community hearings 288 Handling public affairs 288 Communicating with the press 288 Catering to the customer 289 Chapter 15: Finding Work in the Cannabis Industry 291 Scoping Out Job Opportunities 292 Grow master or grower 292 Cultivation technician 292 Trimmer 293 Joint roller 293 Cure associate 293 Nutrient chemist 293 Extractor 294 Quality assurance manager 294 Dispensary manager 294 Budtender/sales associate 295 Dispensary receptionist or cashier 295 Packager 296 Edibles chef 296 Courier/delivery driver 296 Buyer 297 Sales representatives 297 Compliance manager 298 Communications director 298 Human resources (HR) manager 299 Trainers 299 Public affairs administrator 300 Laboratory worker 300 Security manager or officer 300 Accountant 301 Marketing manager or team members 301 Facilities manager 301 Technology manager 302 Exploring Jobs in Ancillary Industries and Professions 302 Finding Employers 303 Improving Your Odds of Getting Hired 304 Brush up on cannabis culture and law 304 Attend industry events 305 Get your cannabis badge or state clearance 305 Become a cannabis activist 306 Chapter 16: Investing in Cannabis 307 Sizing Up Current and Future Investment Opportunities 308 Considering the current market 308 Exploring publicly traded stock on the Canadian market 310 Looking ahead to the future market 312 Performing Your Due Diligence 312 Seeking Private Investment Opportunities 313 Considering Investments in Ancillary Businesses 314 Investing in Cannabis Real Estate 314 Part 6: The Part of Tens 317 Chapter 17: Ten Tips for Growing More and Better Weed 319 Choose the Right Strain 319 Choose Top-Quality Seeds 321 Use High-Quality Soil 321 Upsize Your Containers 321 Maximize Bud Production with Topping, Training, and Scrogging 322 Use the Right Nutrients in the Right Amounts at the Right Times 323 Get the Lighting Right 323 Ensure Proper Ventilation and Circulation 324 Be Patient Near Harvest Time 325 Dry and Cure Your Weed Properly 325 Chapter 18: Ten Tips to Enhance Your Cannabis Experience 327 Choose Top-Quality Products 327 Experiment with Different Strains 328 Try Different Consumption Methods 328 Try Hash and Other Concentrates 329 Set the Mood 329 Chill Your Bong 330 Boost Your High with Certain Foods 330 Exercise Regularly 331 Break the Monotony 331 Take a Tolerance Break 331 Chapter 19: Ten Tips for Buying Cannabis 333 Choose the Right Dispensary for You 333 Find a Knowledgeable and Helpful Budtender 334 Describe the Specific Effect You Desire 335 Buy Legal Cannabis 335 Visually Inspect the Product 336 Smell It 336 “Feel” It 337 Taste It 337 Ask About the Cultivation Method 338 Compare Prices 338 Appendix: Cannabis Recipes 339 Index 361

Buy, consume, and grow your own cannabisInvest, find a job, or start a cannabis businessSteer clear of legal trouble Curious about cannabis? Pot is hot — for good reason! It's a popular adult recreational product with potentially powerful medicinal properties that's on the fast track to becoming a $50 billion plus industry by 2027! However, it's also a complex, multifaceted, and highly controversial topic subject to myths and misconceptions. You need a reliable source of information to gain the knowledge and insight required to safely and legally navigate all aspects of cannabis. This friendly guide delivers all you need to know — from buying, using, and growing cannabis to getting a job in the industry, starting your own business, and even investing in it. Inside... Buy the weed that meets your needsExplore possible health benefitsSample consumption methodsSteer clear of legal problemsGrow your own cannabisCook up your own ediblesLook at the business side

Introduction 1 Part 1: Getting Started with Cannabis 5 Chapter 1: Taking the Nickel Tour 7 Chapter 2: Brushing Up on Cannabis Anatomy and Chemistry 27 Chapter 3: Steering Clear of Legal Trouble 45 Chapter 4: Tackling Cannabis Politics and Culture 63 Part 2: Buying, Storing, and Using Cannabis 71 Chapter 5: Buying and Storing Cannabis 73 Chapter 6: Choosing and Visiting a Cannabis Dispensary 85 Chapter 7: Consuming Cannabis 101 Chapter 8: Using Cannabis Safely and Responsibly 121 Part 3: Reaping the Potential Benefits of Medical Marijuana 139 Chapter 9: Using Marijuana for Medicinal Purposes 141 Chapter 10: Using Pot for Pets 175 Part 4: Grasping the Basics of Cannabis Cultivation, Post-Harvest, and Production 187 Chapter 11: Growing Cannabis 189 Chapter 12: Harvesting and Post-Harvest 225 Chapter 13: Making Concentrates and Marijuana Infused Products (MIPs) 241 Part 5: Getting Down to Business 259 Chapter 14: Starting Your Own Cannabis Business 261 Chapter 15: Finding Work in the Cannabis Industry 291 Chapter 16: Investing in Cannabis 307 Part 6: The Part of Tens 317 Chapter 17: Ten Tips for Growing More and Better Weed 319 Chapter 18: Ten Tips to Enhance Your Cannabis Experience 327 Chapter 19: Ten Tips for Buying Cannabis 333 Appendix: Cannabis Recipes 339 Index 361