The Amsterdam Cannabis College

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of John Sinclair on April 2nd, 2024. An iconic figure in the cannabis advocacy community and a beloved friend of the Amsterdam Cannabis College, Sinclair's legacy resonates deeply. His unwavering commitment to cannabis legalization, his profound influence on the arts, and his significant contributions to cultural and political spheres have left an indelible mark. We fondly remember his streaming sessions held right here at the Amsterdam Cannabis College, where his wisdom and passion for the cause shone brightly. As we mourn his loss, we also honor his life and the lasting impact he has had. Sinclair's journey, characterized by passion, creativity, and advocacy, remains a source of inspiration for all. His spirit and accomplishments will continue to guide us in our pursuit of justice and enlightenment.

After a quarter-century of serving as a cornerstone in our community, we are extremely saddened to announce the closure of our beloved venue in the heart of Amsterdam’s Red-Light district.

Over the years, our location has been more than just a building; it has been a meeting place for the international Cannabis community. Unfortunately, due to evolving financial considerations, we have had to make the strategic decision to transition all activities to our online platform.

We are thankful to all those who have supported us, whether by donating their time, effort, knowledge, or financially. You have all helped us further the normalization of Cannabis worldwide.
We especially wish to thank Sensi Seeds for their patronage and support all these years.

While this is sad news, it is important to state that we will carry on our mission to promote Cannabis education. The field of Cannabis is in constant evolution and we feel it is our duty to provide others with the information they need.

Much love from all of us.
The Cannabis College Team

Earlier this month, we put Mandarine Jam [Pink Kush x Lemon Haze] under the microscope to take a look at just how gorgeous it is in extreme close-up. Feast your eyes on those trichomes! 😍

Mandarine Jam is a feminized strain released in 2023 by Sensi Seeds & Fat Beans, under Sensi's Breeding Grounds Project. This collaboration between the two seedbanks has produced some exciting strains that we can't wait to grow in the College garden!

Have you grown this strain before? Let us know how it went in the comments!

📖 Our Book of the Month for November is ''Shattered Lives'' by Mikki Norris and Chris Conrad! 📖

Published in 2004, "Shattered Lives" is a compelling and eye-opening book that sheds light on the devastating impact of the United States' war on drugs. The book focuses particularly on how it affects families, children, and individuals who have been caught up in the criminal justice system due to non-violent drug offenses.

Through a collection of personal stories, "Shattered Lives" offers a poignant and humanizing perspective on the consequences of harsh drug policies. It emphasizes the need for reform and highlights the often heartbreaking collateral damage inflicted upon families and communities. The book aimed to challenge prevailing stigmas and stereotypes associated with drug-related issues and called for a more compassionate and rational approach to drug policy. Norris and Conrad encourage their readers to reconsider the impacts of punitive drug laws on people's lives. Even though the book was published nearly twenty years ago, the book's message is still salient today.

People who are new to growing cannabis can often be overwhelmed by all of the decisions that are required when deciding from the vast variety of seeds that are on offer. A good start is figuring out what your desired effect/ terpene profile/ size of plant is. As well as all of these decisions, there are also different categories of seeds: Regular, Feminized & Automatic Flowering seeds. Read on for a brief rundown of the differences between these categories of seeds.

Regular cannabis seeds are the original and fundamental form of cannabis propagation. These seeds are produced from the union of a male and a female cannabis plant, and as such, they have a roughly-equal chance of developing into either male or female plants, typically a 50-50 ratio. All plants produced from this type of seed are photoperiodic, meaning they require a change in the light cycle to mature into the flowering stage. This variability can make them a preferred choice for breeders seeking to create new strains or growers who are hoping to clone the plants in order to maintain genetic consistency from subsequent grows with a strain they love.

In contrast, feminized seeds are intentionally manipulated to produce only female plants. This is accomplished through a process of inducing a female plant to turn hermaphrodite and develop pollen, which is then used to fertilize another female. The result is seeds that are nearly guaranteed to yield female plants, ensuring a higher production of consumable flowers and eliminating the need to remove male plants during growth. Plants that are produced from feminized seeds are also photoperiodic.

Automatic seeds, also known as auto-flowering seeds, have a different characteristic altogether. These strains have characteristics derived from a special type of cannabis known as Cannabis Ruderalis, which naturally flowers based on age rather than light cycles. As a result, they automatically transition from the vegetative stage to flowering, typically within a few weeks of germination. This trait makes them suitable for growers seeking quicker harvests and simplified light management.

🌿🎃 ''H**pseed I sow, H**pseed grow, [they] that will my true love be, Come rake this h**pseed after me.'' 🎃🌿

Are you yearning for a lover this Halloween? Don't panic, for we have a h**p seed spell you can try!
Thought to have its origins in Pagan rituals, the h**p seed charm is believed to produce a ghostly apparition of one's true love. To perform the charm is relatively simple: at midnight on a particular night, the person wishing to see their true love must sow the seed whilst chanting aloud a short spell three times.

One of the earliest accounts of the spell was found in 1714 in John Gay's 'The Shepherds Week', where a young village girl misses her true love and so casts the spell on a Midsummer's Eve. By the 19th century, the spell, albeit a simplified version, had become part of common knowledge and could be heard being chanted by schoolgirls across Europe. This simple version of the poem now only contained the quoted lines above. Although Gay's reference was the first, perhaps the most famous account of the poem was in Robert Burns' 1785 poem 'Halloween':

"H**p-seed I saw thee,
An' her that is to be my lass
Come after me, an' draw thee
As fast this night."

Although in England the h**p seed love spell was cast on Midsummer's Eve, in many parts of Ireland and Scotland the night to see ghosts was on Halloween (of course!) The spell is not without its risks though, as, allegedly, a group of girls in Cornwall in 1965 found out. Within a year of casting the spell, they all ended up dying mysteriously. According to the people of Guernsey, after reciting a spell, the young maiden must ''immediately run into the house to prevent her legs being cut off by the reaper's sickle''.

So, to those of us who are looking for love this Halloween, how much are you willing to risk?

One of the most well-known personalities in occult circles, the international cult figure Aleister Crowley (1875-1947) wrote frequently about the psychoactive effects of various mind-altering substances. He took hashish, o***m, ether, he**in, co***ne and pe**te and avidly believed that he could control any of their effects with his mind. On hashish, he wrote:

''The action of hashish is as varied as life itself ... I can get fantastic visions, or power of mind analysis, or spiritual exaltation, or s*xual excitement of various kinds, or ravenous hunger, or vigour of imagination...'' - A. Crowley, 1920

Do you agree with Crowley's assessments of hashish? Do you think it is possible to control its effects? Let us know in the comments!

Thank you to the Hash, Ma*****na & H**p Museum for kindly loaning us a copy of the Hashish Club Vol.1, which is a part of their museum collection. Quotation taken from page 251 in The Hashish Club Volume 1: An Anthology of Drug Literature.

The trichomes on this bud look incredible! 😍

This microscope image of 'Purple Berry Muffinz', one of the latest strains from Sensi Seeds Breeding Grounds collaboration with Humboldt Seed Company , was taken earlier this month at the College. Check out our post from last month to see the plant this was taken from!

🌿 In Loving Memory of Alberto Pires 🌿

Last month the world lost a true pioneer of cannabis advocacy, Alberto Pires, who left us at the tragically young age of 45. The Cannabis College joins the rest of the cannabis community in mourning the loss of a remarkable soul who dedicated his life to the cause we hold dear.

As co-founder of the Cannadouro – Porto International H**p Fair and the visionary behind the Planet Sensi grow and head shops, Alberto was a key figure in the Portuguese cannabis and h**p scene and his contributions to the cannabis culture in Portugal will continue to educate and inspire. He also played a pivotal role as the commercial director of Cannadouro and Cannadouro Magazine, whilst also owning and nurturing Planeta Sensi since 2009.

We are hosting the ‘Halloween: Trick or Treat Sesh’ presented by Trichome Science and Sensi Seeds.

Get ready for a spooky and deliciously fun Halloween! This year, we’re hosting a one-of-a-kind Cannabis Halloween Trick or Treat event with a twist—edibles! Join us for an evening of treats, tricks, and a touch of the extraordinary.

🎃 Event Details 🎃
Date: Sunday October 29th, 2023
Time: 3:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location: Cannabis College
Costumes Encouraged: We love creativity! Dress up in your spookiest, funniest, or most outrageous costume. The coolest costume wins a prize.
Edibles Delight: Our treat bags are unlike any other! We’ve prepared a delightful assortment of treats, from gummies to chocolates and more.
Trick or Treat: Wander through our Halloween-decorated space and visit different “treat stations” where you’ll find an array of goodies. You might also encounter some fun tricks along the way, so be prepared for a few surprises!
BYOB (Bring Your Own Bud): If you have a favorite strain, feel free to bring it along to share with others.
Safety First: We prioritize the safety and well-being of our guests. Please consume responsibly and designate a sober driver if needed. This event is for adults 21 and older only.
RSVP: To ensure we have enough treats for everyone, please dm by October 20th, 2023 us or Trichomescience

We can’t wait to celebrate Halloween with you in a uniquely elevated way. Come for the treats, stay for the spooky vibes, and leave with unforgettable memories.
Costumes, cannabis, and candy—what more could you ask for? Get ready for a Halloween night that’s bound to be a real scream!

See you on the 29th!

We just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to Plagron for their recent delivery! A few weeks ago they were kind enough to drop off a selection of their soils and fertilizers for our garden.

Plagron is a renowned Dutch company specializing in horticultural solutions. Established in 1992, they are leaders in producing premium substrates, nutrients, and additives for indoor and outdoor cultivation. Plagron's commitment to quality and sustainability has made them a frequent recommendation by us at the College and a trusted choice among growers worldwide.

This month's 'Book of the Month' is Ed Rosenthal's Cannabis Grower's Handbook! Ed's new book is a definitive guide for every grower, covering growing techniques, up-to-date information on technology, grow space design information and a comprehensive guide to pest management. There is something for everyone here, from the first-time hobby grower to the highly experienced cultivator.

Ed's wife Jane was kind enough to deliver us a signed copy of 'Cannabis Grower's Handbook' during their recent visit to Amsterdam. Thank you Ed! After they delivered this copy, we decided to dig out a really old edition of the same book that we still have in our collection. Swipe across to check it out.

If you have published cannabis research or literature relating to cannabis or h**p and would like to donate a copy to our library, please reach out to us on social media or deliver it in person! 😁

Humidity plays a vital role in the success of indoor cannabis cultivation. Maintaining the right humidity levels is essential because the humidity of a grow tent will directly impact a plant's health, growth, and overall yield! 🪴

Cannabis plants thrive in specific humidity ranges during different growth stages: plants in the seedling stage prefer 65-70% humidity, whereas vegetative plants can survive in humidity anywhere between 40-70% and flowering plants require 40-50% humidity to avoid problems like bud rot. Too much humidity can lead to mold and mildew issues, and too little humidity will stunt growth. Preventing mold and mildew is important, as they will reduce the overall crop yields or even destroy the crop completely. Adequate humidity also helps regulate the plant's transpiration process, ensuring that it can absorb essential nutrients efficiently. This contributes to healthier and more vigorous growth.

Investing in ventilation systems that include exhaust fans and intake vents will help remove excess humidity and bring in fresh air. It is important to avoid warm and stagnant pockets of air in a grow tent; using dehumidifiers will reduce humidity levels in the grow tent and when combined with ventilators, they will remove these warm pockets of air from the grow space. They can be set to maintain the desired range of humidity, depending on the stage of growth your plant is in. Humidity is generally more flexible in the vegetative stage being able to survive in environments with 40-70% humidity, whereas the range is significantly reduced in the flowering stage to 40-50%.

To be really precise with measuring humidity, using the above-mentioned equipment alongside humidity monitors or hygrometers will allow a grower to constantly monitor levels and make real-time adjustments to benefit their plant. This extra control over the grow space will often lead to more desirable results.

Are you aware of the perks of our €3 lifetime membership?

The Cannabis College membership provides a number of exclusive benefits, including unlimited visits to our garden of cannabis plants, use of our Storz & Bickel v***rizers, and access to our library of cannabis literature and research.

Memberships can be bought at the front desk of the College and are valid for as long as you keep the purple ticket we give you on admission. We are open 10:00 - 18:00 daily and members are encouraged to visit and use our facilities as often as they like!

For this month's Cannabis Activist post, we wanted to highlight the work of Clara Sativa ()! A freelance filmmaker and journalist, Clara's work is committed to destigmatizing cannabis use and advocating for its therapeutic properties. In her documentaries and writing she advocates for fair access to medical cannabis for patients and for social equity in the burgeoning cannabis industry.

Clara Sativa has dedicated her life to the profound exploration of the cannabis plant's potential. Her journey began as a determined advocate for cannabis education and reform, fueled by her unwavering belief in its holistic benefits. Clara's mission is to dispel myths, correct misinformation, and promote a nuanced understanding of cannabis through her films.

Her role as an educator, a speaker, and a hands-on advocate has empowered countless individuals with knowledge. From seminars to workshops, Clara's dynamic approach has dismantled barriers, allowing people to explore cannabis's potential safely and responsibly. However, her work extends beyond the theoretical; Clara's initiatives have led to tangible change. Her collaborations with medical professionals, scientists, and policymakers have been instrumental in shaping progressive cannabis policies and advancing research.

As the Cannabis College, we salute Clara Sativa for her relentless efforts to promote understanding, compassion, and positive change within the cannabis landscape. Clara's dedication to revealing the truths of the cannabis plant should be inspiring to anyone. Check out her website for more information about her activism!

https://www.clarasativa.com/

Industrial h**p's inner woody core, called the shives or the hurds, can be combined with lime to create h**pcrete, a bio-composite building material. It's breathable, insulating, and sequesters carbon dioxide from the atmosphere!

H**pcrete's breathability reduces the risk of trapped moisture and therefore improves indoor air quality. Due to the high silica content in h**p fibres, h**pcrete is also inherently fire-resistant and will not release toxic fumes when exposed to fire.

When compared with conventional concrete, h**pcrete is limited in its load-bearing ability. However, it is a perfect material for building interior and other non-load-bearing walls. It also has a longer curing time than concrete, although this shouldn't be a real setback for most projects. The biggest barrier to h**pcrete being included in construction is that it is not as readily available as other materials, although this is gradually changing as more people realise its value.

Bonus fact: One of our walls at the Cannabis College is made out of h**pcrete, swipe left to see it!

📸 :

🌿 **pcrete

''I find it quite ironic that the most dangerous thing about w**d is getting caught with it.''
-Bill Murray

Most of you will be familiar with Bill Murray, whether from his roles in the Ghostbusters series, Lost in Translation (2003) or more recently in The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), but did you know he is also an advocate for cannabis legalisation? The Golden Globe award winner also had run-ins with the law for possessing cannabis.

On September 21st, 1970 - coincidentally, his birthday- a 20-year-old Murray was preparing to fly to Denver back to Regis University, where he was enrolled in a pre-med course. After making a joke about carrying bombs in his suitcase, the ticketing agent was alarmed and called over U.S. Marshalls. Before he could stash his suitcase in a locker, he was caught with two pounds of cannabis and subsequently arrested by Chicago officers.

Due to being a first-time offender, Murray avoided jail time but the incident ruined his plans to study and changed the direction of his life. With this incident in mind, it is easy to see why Bill holds the views in the quote above!

Our Book of the Month for September is 's Chapter 37 of his series 'Anandamide; or the Cannabinoid'. The book tells the story of how q***r activist Dennis Peron and the LGBTQIA+ community of San Francisco successfully changed medical cannabis laws in the US, starting with California.

We were fortunate enough to host Lex during Amsterdam Q***r & Pride Week for a fascinating and moving talk on the AIDS crisis and how heroes like Dennis Peron, Harvey Milk and Brownie Mary fought for the legalization of medical cannabis. Cannabis alleviated many of the worst symptoms brought on by HIV and AIDS. Despite resistance from the government, the activists were successful in changing the conversation around legalizing cannabis. The work they did in the 1990s was fundamental to the subsequent wave of legalisation across the United States.

Swipe to the end to see a picture of Lex giving this talk! You can also buy his books directly from his website, https://www.lexpelger.com/

After quoting the legend in a previous post, it was only right that we gave you a profile on Eagle Bill, the man who popularized the art of cannabis v***rizing that we know today!

Frank William Wood (April 10th, 1942- May 22, 2005), better known as Eagle Bill Amato, was a part-Cherokee medicine man, author, and activist who became known for promoting the use of medical cannabis, particularly the method of v***rizing. Bill is also credited with inventing the world's first portable v***rizer, the Eagle Bill Shake & V**e.

Many people, both inside and out of the cannabis industry, owe their first hit of a v***rizer to Bill. From the late 1990s to the early 2000s, Bill would greet visitors to the Hash Ma*****na & H**p Museum with a big smile and the offer of a hit from his DIY v***rizer. Those who took him up on the offer would be guided through the process of their first v**e hit. This activism was fundamental in popularizing and spreading the knowledge about the benefits of v***rizing and paved the way for the portable v**e market that we know today!

We are excited to announce that the College will be hosting a talk, 'The ABC of CBD', on Wednesday September 6th from 15:00 - 15:45! Entrance is €7.50, or free with a ticket from our neighbours The Hash Ma*****na & H**p Museum (who hosted the exhibition that inspired this talk back in 2021).

'The ABC of CBD' covers everything you need to know about this non-psychoactive cannabinoid and the benefits it can bring. If you would like to book your ticket or find out more details, visit the 'Events' page on our website or drop us an email at [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you there!

Check out the trichomes on this bud of Sensi Seeds' Banana Kush Cake! It has also been a while since we have included any extracts in our Under the Microscope posts, so the second image is a rosin from an undisclosed source! Thank you to the visitor who brought it in, it looks great!

1 - Banana Kush Cake
2 - Rosin
3 - Press Play
4- Watermelon Zkittlez

Nugs of Knowledge is our bi-weekly newsletter, providing subscribers with a host of exclusive content. Think serial articles about cannabinoids and terpenes, pieces by cannabis activists, and a whole host of growing tips!

With the first edition, you will receive a link to our 18-minute video 'Cannabis Basics', taking you through the fundamental information about the plant. This will provide beginners with an exciting introduction to cannabis, whilst allowing the experienced among us to have a great revision session!

You can sign up on our website here: https://cannabiscollege.com/cannabis-courses/

If you have visited us at the College recently, you may have seen (or used) this shiny golden Storz & Bickel Volcano v***rizer! This particular model was gifted to us by Storz & Bickel and includes engraved signatures from the founders on the back.

Va**ng cannabis reduces the emission of carbon monoxide, chronic respiratory symptoms, and exposure to several toxins whilst still producing similar subjective effects and blood THC concentration when compared with smoking cannabis.

So, if you are planning to responsibly consume cannabis whilst you are in Amsterdam, why not become a lifetime member of the College for a mere é3 and help yourself to our golden v***rizer. Just make sure to bring some flower along with you!

Vaporizing cannabis has had an explosion in popularity in recent years, with companies like Storz & Bickel and Pax developing handheld v***rizers for portable use, making this healthier alternative to smoking more accessible than ever. This rise in popularity might lead people to think that 'va**ng' is a relatively new phenomenon. However, we are not the first civilization to discover the wonders of inhaling cannabis v***r.

According to reports by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus in the 5th century BCE, the nomadic Scythian people, who primarily inhabited modern-day Ukraine and Southern Russia, used 'h**p-v***r baths'.

Herodotus documented how the Scythians would build felt tents, and inside they would place braziers filled with burning hot coals. They would then place "kannabis" on top of the coals, and sit inside the tents to inhale the fumes. The Greek historian wrote about how the cannabis seeds would smolder, producing great clouds of smoke "that no Grecian vapour-bath can surpass... transported by the v***r, [they] shout aloud."

So, next time you visit us to use the Volcano, you can enjoy the fact that you are continuing a centuries-old tradition!

''The music sounded great. The pot seemed to make it better. In fact pot seemed to enhance everything as I walked across the yard to the jasmine bushes ... I felt like I was walking on a field of marshmallows and the smell of jasmine was overwhelming.''

In Chapter 1 of his book '10% THC - A Cannabis Tale', Eagle Bill recalls the first time he ever tried cannabis with his friend back in the 60s. The quote above highlights both the enhanced perception of music as well as the 'light' physical feeling that is often associated with recreational use. A copy of '10% THC - A Cannabis Tale' is available in the Cannabis College library for everyone to read!

Simon Vinkenoog (1928 – 2009) was a Dutch Laurette poet, writer and performance artist who was born in Amsterdam and grew up in the De Pijp district. Vinkenoog's poetry was known to not shy away from topics around s*x and drugs: his poetry epitomized the main themes of the hippie generation. Before he became well-known for his poetry, he also founded the Dutch literary magazine Blurb, which was fundamental in the development of the Viftigers movement.

Simon first smoked cannabis in Paris, whilst he was living there in the 40's and 50's. Cannabis continued to play an important role in Vinkenoog's life after he left Paris: he enjoyed smoking w**d and hashish until his passing. Vinkenoog was the first high-profile Dutchman to speak openly about his love for the plant. He contributed columns to the High Times and wrote three books on cannabis, as well as compiling the classic anthology 'The Book of Grass' with an English writer and friend, George Andrews.

Simon married his sixth wife, Edith Ringnalda, in 1989 and they were together until his passing in 2009. After his passing, Ringnalda wrote a touching memoir about their life together 'Lord and master, a declaration of love', published by Nijgh & Van Ditmar in Amsterdam.

In 2008, Simon was awarded the Cannabis Culture Award by our founder Ben Dronkers during the opening of the H**p Gallery. A few years later at the 2012 Cannabis Culture Awards, his wife Edith provided a heart-warming reading of her late husband's poem, The Optimist Creed.

Image Credit: Nationaal Archief