GROWING CANNABIS WITH PGR: IS IT SAFE?

GROWING CANNABIS WITH PGR: IS IT SAFE?

Since the beginning of agriculture, farmers have been looking for ways to increase their yields. This is no different for hemp. Hemp PGR is becoming an increasingly common method. But what exactly is it? How can you tell the difference between PGR hemp and naturally grown hemp? In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about PGR cannabis.

PGR: What is it?

The acronym PGR stands for Plant Growth Regulators, which translates to "plant growthregulators ". The main difference between PGR cannabis and natural cannabis is that PGR cannabis is grown with synthetic hormones, while natural cannabis is not. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are chemicals used to increase bud volume and overall yields. Essentially, they work by acting on plant hormones to speed up processes that promote growth and, conversely, inhibit processes that inhibit or limit growth.

Types of synthetic PGRs used in cannabis cultivation

There are many growth hormones available for the cultivation of different plants. However, the most common ones for cannabis are the following:

Paclobutrazol

This hormone causes the cannabis plant to grow faster and produce larger buds. However, this hormone prevents the development of key terpenes in the plant and reduces the plant's ability to produce THC. When smoked, paclobutrazol breaks down into nitrosamines, which are the most carcinogenic substances found in cigarettes.

Daminozide

Daminozide is listed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA ) as a probable human carcinogen. In addition, it reduces the production of terpenes and cannabinoids such as CBD, CBN and THC.

Chlormequat chloride

This substance accelerates growth and flowering. It can also significantly reduce and unify the size of the plant.

While there is no evidence that this PGR is carcinogenic, research is still ongoing. There have been reports of organ damage and skin and eye irritation as a result of ingestion.

Cannabis PGR: How to recognise it?

The main difference between PGR and natural cannabis is that PGR cannabis is grown with synthetic hormones, whereas natural cannabis is not. Below are a few ways to tell if a cannabis plant has been grown with PGRs:

  • buds that are almost rock hard,
  • moist or spongy texture,
  • brown or red pistils. While it is normal for cannabis sticks to have red or brown pistils, PGR sticks have many more of these pistils.
  • Fewer trichomes,
  • low THC content,
  • the sticks have rounded and smooth edges,
  • PGR buds turn a dull brown colour when dried.

Is PGR cannabis safe?

PGR cannabis can be very harmful to human health. It is grown with synthetic growth hormones and has adverse health effects. Synthetic PGRs can be carcinogenic and are therefore not suitable for human consumption. In contrast, cannabis grown naturally or with natural PGRs poses no health risks.

PGRs may pose the following health risks:

  • Headaches,
  • nausea,
  • skin/eye irritation,
  • drowsiness,
  • reduced fertility,
  • organ damage,
  • cancer.

Avoid PGR cannabis, opt for organic instead

There are many cannabis products on the market, most of which contain PGRs. While this can lead to denser and heavier sticks, it also means that PGR cannabis contains low levels of THC and other cannabinoids that make up the true value of cannabis. In addition, PGR cannabis can also be toxic.

If you suspect you've purchased cannabis containing PGRs, pesticides or other chemicals, it's probably time to consider growing your own cannabis from seed. Get cannabis seeds with up to 1% THC and get started!

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