How even the well informed and well meaning can get things wrong.
First of all, Skunk as used in the UK is street slang for sativa bud.
It does not specifically refer to the very influential strain called Skunk
#1,
which has been bred into Dutch seed hybrids since 1978.
Skunk #1 is a hybrid of the already popular Afghani, which is
an indica, and several South American sativas. Indicas are widespread
in the Middle East (sub-tropics) and Sativas were oringally found in
the tropics (Asia, Africa, South America, the Caribbean).
Sativas need to flower for upto 3 months or more (although I did
pick one after two months - WOW!), while Indicas are usually
done in 8 weeks. This makes Indicase more attractive for
commercial growers, because they can grow more of it in
a shorter period of time. For outside growers, it also means
that when flowering starts in August (with the obligatory 12
hours of darkness starts naturally), the plants will be done
in October, before the frost sets in.
The greatest feature of Skunk #1 when introduced in 1978,
was that it flowered early and was a Sativa. Many of the
famous Skunk #1 hybrids are: Blueberry, Blue Mystic, Big Bud.
Even many of the Indica dominant strains, such as Northern
Lights, have 12.5% Sativa from Skunk #1. Northern Lights
itself is mainly Afghani (Indica).
Sativas have the effect of getting you high, which can
be either euphoric or trippy. Indica get you stoned,
which means the effect is narcotic. There are hybrids
of these two major strain families, which result in any
combination of effects.
The best marijuana comes from female flowers, called buds,
and does not contain seeds, stems or leafs. Even though
leafs can sometimes be covered with THC glands, they also
contain a lot of chlorophyl, which is very unpleasant to smoke
and makes your fillings taste metallic, unless the chlorophyl has
had time to break down (called 'curing'). Buds on the other hand,
consist of calyxes or seed pouches, which have very little
chlorophyl, but are almost completely covered with resin glands.
This is what you should be looking for in good weed.
Therefore, we should separate the notion of a strain of Skunk
(Skunk #1) from the street slang use of the word Skunk for
all sativa bud.
Lastly. The streetslang use of the term Skunk has made it
advertising fodder for tabloid scares. Just like 'On The Down
Low' sounded a lot seedier and ***ier than 'bi***ual', or
'videonasties' sounded a lot more evocative than 'low budget
slasher movie' (I guess),
http://www.drugscope.org.uk/resources/drugsearch/drugsearchpages/skunk.htm
What is skunk?
Skunk is the generic name often used by the press and police to describe a
potent form of the
cannabis plant. In fact skunk is only one of 100 or so varieties of
cannabis plant which have high
levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
THC
THC is regarded as cannabis' main active ingredient. There are however
some 40 different possible
active ingredients in cannabis in addition to THC, including dronabinol,
which can now be prescribed
by doctors to alleviate nausea caused by chemotherapy. Until comparatively
recently it was unknown
how THC worked. However it is now believed that it interacts with a
natural neurotransmitter called
Anandamide ('ananda' meaning 'bliss' in sanskrit).
Skunk and other similar varieties are characterised by being grown
indoors, either under grow lights
or in greenhouse conditions using 'hydroponic' techniques (ie, growing
plants in nutrient-rich
liquids rather than in soil).
All of them can be 'home grown' with the right equipment or in the case of
some strains such as
'Early Girl', they can be grown without equipment on a window sill or
balcony. The more intensive
the cultivation and nurture the higher the THC content which can often be
seen on the buds as
crystal or liquid.
Strains of high THC plants include skunk, 'super-skunk', 'Northern
Lights', 'Early Girl', and 'Jack
Herer' a cross-bred plant created in 1993 (the details of which, according
to growers, are as
closely guarded a secret as the Coca Cola recipe). Northern Lights (grown
from Indica stock, the
basis for cannabis resin) can produce 125 grams of flowering bud per plant
with a THC content of
around 20 per cent.
'Traditional' herbal cannabis ranges from between two and four per cent
THC content. The more potent
varieties average between 10 and 14 per cent with the trend being towards
even higher levels of THC.
The original skunk was a cross between Indica and Sativa cannabis stock,
with the fast-growing
Indica as the main ingredient. It was generally believed among regular
users and growers that Sativa
produced a 'high' (sharperned and heightened perception) while Indica
produced a 'stoned' effect
(just about the opposite). The original hybrids, including skunk itself,
are believed to have
originated in the USA. The name Skunk itself points to a USA connection
(being so-called because of
the pungent odour it emits while growing). They have since been refined
and cross-bred into a range
of different varieties by Dutch growers.
Skunk and the other varieties are now being grown in significant
quantities in the Netherlands and
Britain. British growers now boast that they are ahead of the Dutch in
techniques and quality. They
also claim that seed being produced here makes the British market
self-sufficient.
Why has skunk become so popular?
Cannabis resin has been adulterated for years with everything from boot
polish to ketamine. But
skunk buds are easy to identify and difficult to fake. The herbal dust
which is often passed off as
skunk can be adulterated by other herbal matter but most regular users can
tell the difference by
smell and sight.
It can be home grown from legally obtainable seeds.
It is powerful and can substitute, for some users, for 'E's or LSD. Users
argue that skunk is a
natural and safer product.
What are the effects/risks of skunk?
Because of the strength of some of these varieties, many re****t the onset
of effects as being
quicker. Certainly there is strong evidence to suggest heightened
hallucinogenic effects especially
among people who had at some time previously (although not at the same
time) experienced LSD. This
group of users may be more willing to 'let go' into the effects of
cannabis because they have
already experienced strong drug effects under LSD. Consequently, the
effects of higher dose THC may
be more marked.
The main effects are the same as any cannabis although clearly they may be
magnified depending on
the amount consumed and the individual. But explaining the effects of
cannabis is notoriously
difficult as they vary so dramatically from one person to another, and are
often dependent on mood,
company, music, place, the interaction of other substances both legal and
illegal and a variable
dose.
Skunk's strength and speed can sometimes catch out inexperienced users.
Many re****t that the
'stoned' effect can come on rapidly and be disabling. The results can be
quite dramatic, including
anxiety attacks and projectile vomiting. Some of the more common effects
include:
elation
profound relaxation
alteration of time and perception
transient hallucinations, rarely in the same league as LSD uncontrollable
laughing, increased
sociability and talkativeness
nervousness, anxiety and mild paranoia
the 'munchies' - a strong desire to eat and continue eating.
The law
Skunk, like most forms of cannabis, is a Class C drug under the Misuse of
Drugs Act. Indoor growing
systems may be detectable by police helicopters using thermal imaging
equipment, while high
intensity lights cause unusually large electricity bills. Anyone using a
hydroponic system, or
growing more than a handful of plants, is likely to be charged with intent
to supply, as well as
production and possession. If convicted, even small-scale growers commonly
face one to two years'
imprisonment, while commercial growers may face longer sentences.
Updated February 2004
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