The debate on genetically modified food has just reached a new level and is not ending soon. Apart from that, people now have something else similar on their debate table: genetically modified cannabis. Note that GMO cannabis is not readily available in the market, but growers now use PGR to influence the compounds of cannabis.
The growers earn more by risking people’s health. They use plant growth regulators to increase fruit size, hasten plant growth, control stem and root growth, and regulate flowering. All these imply inflation in the growers' profits at the expense of your health. The plant growth regulators contain poisonous chemicals that should not find their way into the human body system.
Also, PGRs do not have the required amount of cannabinoids. It does not trigger the typical THC and cannabinoids that consist of the recreational, relaxing, and medical appeal of cannabis. This means you will only waste money purchasing it or, at worst, smoke a substance that poses a severe health threat.
What Is PGR Weed?
PGR marijuana is the cannabis planted, grown, and cultivated using plant growth regulators. The regulators are synthetic chemicals applied to the plant to get some desired yield and harvest. In cannabis plantations, PGR is used to grow larger and denser flowers. The substances in PGR alter plants and prevent the provision of THC.
The chemicals grow bigger and heavier cannabis while removing the medical and beneficial cannabinoids and trichomes. What is the essence of cannabis that can’t get you high? People who purchase cannabis like this only waste money and endanger their lives. Typically, PGRs are not produced to be used on food crops; they are only suitable for aesthetic plants.
Black market growers apply PGRs to increase the volume of illegally marketed cannabis. PGR cannabis is primarily prevalent in states where cannabis has not been fully legalized.
What Are Plant Growth Regulators?
Plant growth regulators may be synthetic or organic, and they are applied to plants, including cannabis, to control some key components such as the plant growth, the fruit size, the sizes of the root and shoots, and so on. People use PGRs because they produce their desired plant in terms of growth, appearance, and harvest.
Farmers mainly use PGR to ensure the cannabis plant’s health is great and resistant to cannabis mold. With synthetic chemicals, growers make more money selling appearance instead of quality or healthy cannabis. Note that PGRs are not typically harmful, but PGR cannabis sold in the market is unhealthy for consumption.
Differences Between Synthetic PGRs And Organic PGRs
Organic plant growth regulators are those used in the plantation of food crops, and they are also called natural PGRs. examples of organic PGRs include kelp, chitosan, and triacontanol. Synthetic PGRs, on the other hand, produce poisonous and useless buds since they dont contain the THC that people want.
Black market growers do not use organic PGRs because it does not produce their desired profit-inflating, big, heavy, dense, and colorful buds. Also, they are more expensive than synthetic PGRs.
How to Spot PGR Weed
While notorious growers are using PGRs to inflate their profits at the expense of people’s health, a few tips can help you spot PGR marijuana and protect yourself from serious health issues.
Brown or red intemperate hairs
The typical appearance of cannabis is with little hair-like pistils. PGR marijuana, on the other hand, always has too much hair-like fibres that can be either red or green. The chemicals facilitate the growth of these hairs instead of the beneficial trichomes that contains the required THC people want.
Without crystals
PGR cannabis does not contain trichomes as well as the necessary crystals. If you notice a few or no crystals on the cannabis, the PGR has stalled the growth of trichomes, terpene, and cannabinoids.
It does not smell
When the application of PGR has affected the growths of terpenes in cannabis, it will not have the typical cannabis smell. Cannabinoids, trichomes, and terpenes all have a unique smell, but if you can’t smell anything, you have PGR marijuana.
The buds are dense, weighty, and unusually hard
When PGR is applied, the highest growth occurs in the flowers, producing long, big, dense, and heavy flowers. PGR can also cause the flowers to be tough, contrary to the tender feel and touch of cannabis.
Wet texture
If the marijuana has a squashy and wet texture, it means it was grown with PGR.
Chemical taste
Smoking cannabis should get you high and relaxed; any sensation apart from that indicates that you purchased PGR cannabis. PGR marijuana will mostly get you high temporarily, giving you headaches and extra fatigue afterwards.
How PGR Weed Affects Your Health
The most prevalent side effects of PGR are severe headaches, tiredness, lethargy, low energy, and lack of motivation. These symptoms spring up immediately after you consume PGR cannabis. The worst-case scenario is that experts advise that PGR cannabis can cause kidney, skin, and eye damage, cancer, and fertility problems.
The Primary Synthetic Hormones Used to Create PGR Weed
Chlormequat chloride, daminozide (Alar), and Paclobutrazol are the most common marijuana PGR. The three all obstruct growth, producing a bigger and denser flower. The three hormones are also very harmful to the body.
Chlormequat chloride
Chlormequat slows down the growth of other parts of the plant to develop buds and flowers. This PGR causes skin, eye, and organ irritation at the highest level.
Daminozide
Daminozide, also known as alar, causes the leaves and stems not to develop so that the buds can get bigger. Alar also prevents the presence of cannabinoids, terpenes, CBD, and THC in cannabis. It used to be a food crop spray, but EPA has forbidden its use because it contains carcinogens.
Paclobutrazol
Paclobutrazol slows down and elongates plant growth so that the buds and flowers can get bigger and tougher. It reduces the amount of THC in cannabis, and when you smoke any PGR weed containing it, you can develop carcinogenic nitrosamines. Paclobutrazol PGR cannabis can cause fertility issues and liver damage.
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