AI Is Changing Cannabis Media, Growing & Cloning, and the Coming US Seed Ban with Ben Owens | High on Home Grown Interviews

This week on High on Home Grown, we're back with another Listener Mail episode, answering questions from the community covering everything from making your grow more comfortable on your back to dealing with heavy rain outdoors, genetic variation between plants and the growing advice we've completely changed our minds about over the years. SKD, the grower with the SCROG and the dodgy back, is back looking for more ways to make growing more ergonomic. We discuss ways of making the grow room easier on your body, whether raising plants can help, and whether automatic watering systems are actually worth the investment or just another gadget taking up space in the grow room. Free Nugz has a much more immediate problem, with tall outdoor plants being hit by unexpected heavy rain and already showing the first signs of bud rot. We discuss what growers can realistically do when the weather turns against them, how to reduce the chances of losing an outdoor harvest, and what to look out for when you're trying to get big plants through the final stretch of the season. Toploader has perhaps the most important question of the episode: Does anyone have Milky Amber's phone number? We're still waiting for the appropriate authorities to respond. ChronicG asks why two plants from the exact same packet of seeds can sometimes finish looking, smelling and even behaving completely differently. We get into genetics vs environment, phenotype variation and how much influence the growing conditions can actually have on the final expression of a cannabis plant. Finally, BudsAndBeans asks the panel to look back at their own growing journeys and reveal one thing they used to believe about growing cannabis that experience completely changed their mind about. Sometimes the best lessons aren't the things you learn from a book, but the things you learn after doing something wrong for five years! Another episode of community questions, grow-room experience, practical advice, genetics, outdoor growing and the occasional question that absolutely should not have made it onto the podcast. 🌐 Website: High on Home Grown 💬 Discord: Join the High on Home Grown Discord ▶️ YouTube: High on Home Grown on YouTube

This week on High on Home Grown, we’re joined by Ben Owens, a cannabis content creator, ghostwriter and business advisor who has worked behind the scenes across the cannabis media and business world. We start by talking about one of the biggest changes happening in online media right now: AI. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly capable of creating articles, content and even entire websites, what does that mean for writers, publishers and the future of cannabis media? We get Ben’s perspective from someone who has experience working on both the content and business sides of the industry. We also get back to what we really like talking about on High on Home Grown: growing cannabis. Ben talks us through his own growing methods, including how he approaches cloning and the techniques he uses to keep plants going from one generation to the next. And, of course, we couldn't let Ben on the show without discussing the elephant in the room for the US cannabis seed industry: the upcoming seed ban. We talk about the potential impact on seed sellers, breeders and growers, how businesses are dealing with the uncertainty, and what the future could look like for the US seed market if the proposed changes come into effect. It's another relaxed conversation covering growing, cloning, cannabis media, AI, business and the rapidly changing legal landscape in the USA. 🌐 Website: High on Home Grown 💬 Discord: Join the High on Home Grown Discord ▶️ YouTube: High on Home Grown on YouTube

In this week’s episode of High on Home Grown, we dive into the biggest cannabis stories from around the world, with two very different UK cannabis factory stories, a look at the future of medical cannabis research, concerns over a proposed US hemp ban, and some promising research into medical cannabis and endometriosis. Macky starts things off with a rather unusual discovery in Slough, where Thames Valley Police uncovered a huge cannabis growing operation inside an abandoned former BHS store. Around 1,700 plants were found, with the crop estimated to have a potential yield of around 150kg and a street value of approximately £1.3 million. Two men involved in the operation have been jailed. Smee brings us another UK cannabis factory story, this time involving the director of an estate agency who used rental properties to set up cannabis grows. Several properties were used as part of the operation before police eventually caught up with him, resulting in a prison sentence. Billy looks towards the future of medical cannabis as Professor David Nutt prepares to explore the future of medical cannabis research at a symposium in London. We discuss where the science is heading and what questions researchers still need to answer as medical cannabis continues to gain attention. John takes us across the Atlantic for a look at the potential impact of the proposed US hemp ban. A new report suggests that as much as 68% of the US hemp industry could be affected, raising serious questions about what the legislation could mean for businesses, consumers and the wider hemp market. Finally, Margaret brings us some more encouraging medical cannabis research, with a study linking medical cannabis use to sustained improvements in endometriosis symptoms. We take a look at what the research found and what it could mean for people living with endometriosis. So we've got abandoned department stores, estate agents running grow houses, the future of medical cannabis research, a potentially huge shake-up of the US hemp industry and some promising medical research. Another busy week in the world of cannabis! 🌐 Website: High on Home Grown 💬 Discord: Join the High on Home Grown Discord ▶️ YouTube: High on Home Grown on YouTube

It’s another Listener Mail episode of High on Home Grown, and this week we’ve got questions covering everything from drying cannabis in extreme desert conditions to running a perpetual grow in two narrow tents, with plenty of completely unrelated nonsense thrown in for good measure! Desert MK brings us not one but two questions this week. First up, we tackle the nightmare of trying to dry cannabis when you're dealing with temperatures around 105°F (40°C) and single-digit humidity. With even air-conditioned rooms struggling to get below 75°F, Desert MK asks about the Lotus method, using a refrigerator and paper bags to dry the harvest, and whether there are other alternative drying and curing methods worth considering. Could this be the perfect excuse for another Grow Guide? Then Desert MK has another question, this time about VPD. If all the charts say a VPD of 6.5 KPa should be disastrous, how are outdoor plants surviving and thriving in 105-110°F desert conditions? We get into the difference between what the calculators tell us and what plants actually experience, and why simply looking at one number doesn't always tell the whole story. Phil Me Bowls gets us thinking about the munchies. Is there actually a connection between the type of cannabis high you're experiencing and the snacks you choose? Does a more cerebral high send you towards completely different food choices than a heavy body stone? Or are we just looking for an excuse to eat everything in the cupboard? Lobby Lobster brings the chaos with a Shag, Marry, Avoid involving Putin, Trump and Kim Jong Un, before getting back to the important questions. Will we be bringing back another legendary strain list when the Grow Guides return, and if each panel member could breed their own strain and give it a name, what would they call it? SMG is planning a perpetual grow using two narrow tents in a garage, with one tent for veg and one for flower. The question is whether it's possible to connect the two tents using ducting while running both environments from a single extractor fan, and what problems might arise when trying to maintain the right conditions in two separate growing spaces. And finally, Free Nugz gives us another classic panel question: if we were intentionally stranded on a desert island with the other panel members and could bring just two items from home, what would we choose? Because apparently being stranded on an island with this lot wasn't already punishment enough. As always, plenty of growing advice, questionable decisions, strange hypotheticals and panel debates in this week's Listener Mail! 🌐 Website: High on Home Grown 💬 Discord: Join the High on Home Grown Discord ▶️ YouTube: High on Home Grown on YouTube

Chad Westport is back on High on Home Grown! Chad has become a great friend of the show over the years, and whenever he comes on we know we're in for a proper session. This time around, there’s plenty to talk about as Chad gives us an update on what’s been happening with his websites, the difficulties he’s having selling his seeds, and the growing uncertainty surrounding the coming US seed ban and what that could mean for breeders, seed sellers and growers across America. But, as usual with Chad, we don't spend the entire conversation talking about cannabis! We get sidetracked into 80s movies, TV shows, nostalgia and all sorts of other random stuff, before inevitably finding our way back to cannabis, breeding and the current state of the industry. We also chat about what Chad has been working on, the challenges of trying to run a seed business in an increasingly complicated environment, and what the future might look like for his genetics and online projects. If you've listened to Chad's previous appearances on the show, you'll already know what you're getting here. A relaxed conversation with a good mate of the show, plenty of laughs, plenty of cannabis chat, and probably a few tangents along the way! Chad has previously joined us for everything from podcasting and YouTube to breeding projects and Westport University, so it was great to get him back on the show and catch up with him again. 🌐 Website: High on Home Grown 💬 Discord: Join the High on Home Grown Discord ▶️ YouTube: High on Home Grown on YouTube

This week on High on Home Grown, we’ve got another packed Cannabis News episode, but before we get into the usual stories, we start with some sad news as we remember Peezy from the 2 Be Blunt Podcast, who has sadly passed away. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and everyone who knew him. We’ve included the fundraiser below for anyone who would like to show their support. Macky takes a look at the cannabis stocks that are currently benefiting from the ongoing rescheduling conversation in the US. Is rescheduling really going to be the boost investors are hoping for, or is the cannabis stock market still a bit of a gamble? Smee brings us a proper UK crime story this week, as a Royal Mail worker has been jailed after exploiting his position to steal cannabis-filled parcels and make more than £1.2 million from the operation. He’s now been handed a six-year-nine-month prison sentence. Billy is back with not one, but two strain reviews, this time looking at strains from Tilray Portugal. We’ll find out what he thinks of them and whether they manage to impress the panel. Then John brings us one of the stranger sporting stories of the week. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka actually stopped play during her US Open match against Kamilla Rakhimova after complaining about the smell of cannabis drifting onto the court. Apparently even the US Open isn't safe from the unmistakable smell of a cheeky one! Finally, Margaret looks at new research linking more frequent cannabis use with fewer days of good mental health, particularly among men. As always, we’ll have a proper discussion about what the research actually tells us, and what it doesn't. Plus, the usual High on Home Grown chat, opinions, laughs and plenty of debate along the way. 🕯️ Remembering Peezy – 2 Be Blunt Podcast fundraiser: GoFundMe – Support for Peezy’s Family 🌐 Website: High on Home Grown 💬 Discord: Join the High on Home Grown Discord ▶️ YouTube: High on Home Grown on YouTube

It's another Listener Mail episode on High on Home Grown, and this week the community has come up with some brilliant questions about the real cost of growing, harvesting, watering difficult plants, recycling soil and whether we've somehow managed to make growing cannabis far more complicated than it needs to be! We start by looking at the true cost of growing cannabis, with the panel comparing what their current setups cost and how much they've spent throughout their growing careers. We also introduce a new feature: Grow Gripe of the Week, where everyone gets the chance to have a proper moan about something that gets under their skin, from equipment and seeds to the cannabis community, laws and anything else deserving of a rant! We then get into harvest time, discussing different ways of preparing plants before drying and whether it's better to remove the larger leaves, hang the whole plant, or use drying racks. We also tackle the eternal problem of watering a thick SCROG, because apparently growing enormous horizontal plants wasn't difficult enough without having to crawl underneath them with a watering can. Another listener asks about reusing outdoor soil indoors without bringing pests along for the ride, leading to a discussion about recycling growing media and the potential pitfalls of moving soil from outside into a controlled indoor environment. Finally, we tackle a question that fits perfectly with our recent Grow Guides: when did growing cannabis become so bloody complicated? With VPD, DLI, PPFD, EC, automated irrigation and enough sensors to launch a small space programme, are all these tools genuinely making us better growers, or are we simply overthinking a plant that has been growing quite happily without a spreadsheet? And to finish things off, we discuss one of the hardest lessons for any grower to learn: when should you actually fix a problem, and when should you just leave the bloody plant alone? Plus, there's the all-important question of how far each panel member would travel for a truly decent burger. Priorities. 🌐 Website: https://highonhomegrown.com 💬 Discord: https://discord.gg/sqYGkF4xyQ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/highonhomegrown

This week on High on Home Grown, we bring you another packed episode of cannabis news, covering the growing battle over hemp-derived THC products in America, cannabis and sport, the UK's medical cannabis system, and some interesting new research. Macky: Big hemp is betting Republicans roll over on ‘diet weed’ ban to avoid shutdown - POLITICO  Smee: Katie Boulter says cannabis smell at US Open is distracting - BBC Sport  Billy:  New White Paper Calls for NHS Cannabis Pilot and Parliamentary Inquiry Into the Industry  John: Medical Cannabis Reduces Pain, Insomnia Or Mood Issues In 91% Of Older Adults, Study Finds Dr. Margaret: No Margaret this week, she's off camping, so we're letting her enjoy the great outdoors! This week we take a closer look at the increasingly heated battle over America's hemp-derived THC market and what could happen if Congress moves forward with a broad ban. We also discuss Katie Boulter's comments from the US Open and the slightly surreal situation of cannabis smell becoming a talking point in professional tennis. Closer to home, Billy brings us a potentially important development for UK medical cannabis, with calls for an NHS pilot and a Parliamentary investigation into why so few patients currently receive cannabis-based medicines through the NHS. We also examine fresh research into the experiences of older medical cannabis patients and the reported improvements in pain, sleep and mood. Another packed episode of cannabis news, science, medicine, politics and plenty for the panel to get stuck into. 🌐 Website: https://highonhomegrown.com 💬 Discord: https://discord.gg/sqYGkF4xyQ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/highonhomegrown

It's another Listener Mail episode on High on Home Grown, and this week the community has sent us some fantastic questions covering cannabis genetics, growing myths, extracts, outdoor growing and the eternal battle against the breeder's timeline! We kick things off with a fascinating question about the explosion of new cannabis crosses and whether we're eventually going to reach a point where every strain starts becoming some generic hybrid, with less of the individuality that made classic cultivars so memorable. We also investigate an old piece of growing advice about leaving water out for 24 hours to "de-gas" it. Is there actually anything to it, or is this simply another bit of grow-room folklore? We then get into cannabis extracts, including RSO and MCT oil, and discuss whether less traditionally sedating cultivars such as Jack Herer or CBD-rich varieties are worth using for extracts. There's also a big outdoor-growing question about finishing plants late in the season without losing everything to botrytis, covering what growers can realistically do when autumn brings rain, dew, cold temperatures and high humidity. Finally, we tackle the frustration of a plant that refuses to follow the breeder's schedule! What does it actually mean when an auto advertised as 63 days is still going strong at day 80? We discuss why breeder timelines aren't guarantees, what can influence flowering time, and whether there's anything growers can realistically do when a plant simply needs longer to finish. And naturally, Lobby Lobster has returned with another vital contribution to science: is shortbread a biscuit or a bread, and why isn't sourdough actually sour? Another great episode of community questions, growing knowledge, myths, science and the usual High on Home Grown nonsense. 🌱 🌐 Website: https://highonhomegrown.com 💬 Discord: https://discord.gg/sqYGkF4xyQ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/highonhomegrown

This week on High on Home Grown, we have another packed episode of cannabis news from the UK, Europe and beyond, covering the rapidly developing medical cannabis market, dangerous illicit edibles, legalisation in Germany and the latest research into cannabis and health. Macky: Aurora Buys UK Pharmacy and Import Licence for £2.1m, Securing 'Direct Route' to Patients  Smee: Cannabis gummies sold on social media are laced with spice, scientists warn | The Independent  Billy:  Germany bec@ft omes Europe’s largest regulated cannabis market  Margaret: Cannabis use linked to 37% higher stroke risk in massive study | ScienceDaily This week we discuss Aurora's move to buy its own UK pharmacy and licensed importer, and what greater control over the supply chain could mean for Britain's rapidly expanding medical cannabis market. We also examine the disturbing discovery of synthetic Spice in illicit cannabis gummies, highlighting the huge difference between regulated products and mystery edibles being sold through social media. Billy takes us over to Germany, where the country's cannabis reforms have created Europe's largest regulated market, while Dr. Margaret brings us the latest large-scale research examining potential cardiovascular risks associated with cannabis use. And, of course, we have to explain John's mysterious absence from the show this week... Another episode packed with cannabis news, science, business, regulation and plenty for the panel to argue about. 🌐 Website: https://highonhomegrown.com 💬 Discord: https://discord.gg/sqYGkF4xyQ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/highonhomegrown