The cover to Marijuana Venture’s first issue, which published in March, 2014.
When I decided to launch Marijuana Venture back in 2014, my vision was for a serious publication that focused on business and published only articles and advice from folks with real horticulture credentials and retail experience. In other words, Marijuana Venture would forgo writing about a lot of the crap in other cannabis magazines. My first hire was Garrett Rudolph, an experienced newspaper editor, and we both agreed that instead of preaching to the choir, we would preach the gospel truth, no matter the consequences.
It worked.
However, along the way we’ve taken heat for some of the things we’ve published in the magazine that ran counter to conventional pot culture. I can still remember getting angry emails from growers when I pointed out that metal halides are a waste of money. Because they’re about 40% less efficient in the production of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) than a double-ended high-pressure sodium of the same wattage, they are a bad choice for high-intensity discharge lighting. This analysis came from a peer-reviewed scientific paper published by Bruce Bugbee, a lighting expert and professor at Utah State University. However, there were cannabis growers who apparently thought they knew more than a Ph.D. who’d been studying horticultural lighting for 20 years.
“What does he know? He’s just a college professor. We’ve been growing weed forever,” was one of the comments I remember.
Fast forward to today, and we’ve been steadfast in our approach that we won’t promote the pseudo-science and nonsense that often gets passed around this business. Some of this misinformation can be dangerous, while other claims are simply inaccurate or counterproductive from a business standpoint. Here are a few: Flush the roots to get cleaner tasting buds (nonsense); feed plants molasses or sugar for bigger crystals (nonsense); the “mango effect” (nonsense); use metal halides during the veg stage (a waste of electricity); keep lights on for 24 hours during veg (after 18, you’re just wasting your money); the “entourage effect” (nonsense); RSO is a cure for cancer (quackery), etc., etc.
The point is, while we love this industry and believe strongly that adult-use marijuana should be legal, we’re also equally committed to pointing out quackery and old wives’ tales when they come up.
Which brings me to the twice-impeached former president, Donald Trump.
When I’ve written about Trump and the gigantic fraud he’s perpetrated on the USA, I’ve occasionally received irate emails and responses. I get it. There are some in this industry who probably still believe Obama was born in Kenya, Trump had the biggest inauguration crowd of all time, trickle-down economics is good for the middle class, the QAnon conspiracy theories are real, a six-times bankrupt TV personality would make a great president, the election was rigged, voting machines were manipulated by Cubans and, of course, that Jewish space lasers started forest fires in California.
In the end, you can believe whatever you want.
However, I will continue to publish information that is backed up by facts in Marijuana Venture. And that includes occasionally writing about fraudulent and dishonest politicians who might be able to disrupt the progress made in this business. We don’t cater to the tinfoil hat crowd in either cannabis cultivation or politics and in that respect, we’re 100% consistent!
Greg James
Publisher