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Alcohol vs

Cannabis

Grower's pride is part of the process

Written by Jorge Cervantes

Saturday, 10 June 2006

Grower's pride is part of the process of cultivating high quality medicine

We do not advocate breaking any laws with the information provided in this column.

Here we are with our first garden contest winner, and we’re already changing the rules. The Plant for a Patient idea was originally patterned after the Plant a Row for the Hungry program. However, the first winning entry made it clear that we must amplify that concept in order to support medical patients more.

YOUNG PLANTS - This vegetative crop of cannabis sits on a balcony. It can be relatively easy to cultivate a terrace full of medicine, once you know how.

Our expanded goal is to provide a publication where patients can show their gardens, tell their story in a few words and provide inspiration to other patients and caregivers. By participating in this program medical growers and patients help people understand how and why medicinal cannabis helps them live a less painful life.

Here is the same crop of females a few months later, nearly mature. There is enough medicine here to last some patients an entire year.

Of course we still encourage medical growers in a caretaker capacity to send in photos of their gardens and tell how they are helping patients. We emphasize that many patients are unable to grow for themselves and providing them with free cannabis eases their stress level and the financial burden of acquiring non-subsidized medicine.

* Cervantes is author of Marijuana Horticulture: the Indoor/Outdoor Medical Grower’s Bible (2006), Jorge Cervantes’ Ultimate Grow DVD (2005) Indoor Marijuana Horticulture: The Indoor Bible, Marijuana Indoors: Five Easy Gardens, Marijuana Outdoors: Guerrilla Growing, Jorge’s Rx and Jorge’s Ultimate Grow DVD He writes for twelve magazines in six languages. Jorge’s books are published in Dutch, English, French, German and Spanish. Hit www.marijuanagrowing.com for more information.

Part of the harvest. It was first manicured and hung to dry. The buds shown here have been removed from large branches. Photo by Jorge Cervantes

The patient gardener:

Black hat / green bud

I raise horses and was a professional farmer prior to getting RA, a blood disease. This form of arthritis requires chemotherapy. It sucked! I was issued a medical cannabis card and it saved me from wanting to quit living. The cannabis reduced my pain. I am mellow and accepting of my fate; I have several more surgeries and a crippled body in years to come.

With this renewed gift of enjoying life, I am again showing horses and partici-pating in everyday life with joy. I am a lifetime member of APHA/ A QHA and NFQHA — all horse breed registries. I am also vice president of our local club. Some people might be hard on me for saying I use medical marijuana. My career is important, but my love of life is a higher priority.

  I stand tall and support rallies and politics to make medical marijuana available to those who need it. This is the third crop that I’ve been able to grow, thanks to the approval note that I’ve had just over a year.

  Thanks for letting me share,

— Free 2 Farm

How to enter the Odam News garden photo contest

    Every issue, Oaksterdam News will choose a winner of the contest for medical gardens and send them an autographed copy of Marijuana Horticulture: the Indoor/Outdoor Medical Grower’s Bible – 512 full color pages and 1120 professional color images.

    We urge other publications and websites to start similar programs in their communities to help raise the awareness of medical marijuana growers and patients.

    Here is what we are looking for:

1.    High quality digital images, at least 5 megapixel in size.
2.    Medical marijuana gardens only
3.    Send digital images with a short descriptive paragraph and return e-mail to: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
4.     Mail high-quality photo prints to Odam News, 405-15th St., Oakland CA, 94612, Attn: Plant for a Patient

    Please include a few words to a paragraph or two about each photo you submit when possible. The information provided by the images of cannabis gardens will help other qualified medical growers produce better gardens. The contest will also help expand the feeling of camaraderie within the cannabis community.

Jorge Cervantes
		About the author:
		Jorge Cervantes is author of Marijuana Horticulture: the Indoor/Outdoor Medical Grower’s Bible (2006), Jorge Cervantes’ Ultimate Grow DVD (2005) Indoor Marijuana Horticulture: The Indoor Bible, Marijuana Indoors: Five Easy Gardens, Marijuana Outdoors: Guerrilla Growing, Jorge’s Rx and Jorge’s Ultimate Grow DVD He writes for twelve magazines in six languages. Jorge’s books are published in Dutch, English, French, German and Spanish.
	Read More >>

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Last Updated ( Sunday, 20 August 2006 )

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