Could these nasty little chemicals be hiding in your bud?
If you find super dense buds at a discounted price, you might feel like you’re getting the deal of the century. And sometimes, you do get lucky.
But you could be unknowingly buying PGR weed. If you haven’t heard of PGR weed, this article will tell you what it is, why you should be concerned about it, and how to recognize it.
What Are PGRs?
PGR is short for “Plant Growth Regulator.” Charles Darwin discovered the first natural plant growth regulator, auxin, way back in the 1880s. Later, researchers found four more natural PGRs, including ethylene, cytokinins, gibberellins, and abscisic acid.
Natural PGRs are hormones plants produce to control how they grow and develop. Just like with human hormones, natural PGRs are essential for plant health. These hormones repress certain stimuli and activate specific genes to control various aspects of the plant’s development, such as:
- The production of roots, stems, leaves, and flowers
- What types of cells the plant creates
- The elongation of cells
- Timing of fruit ripening
Synthetic PGRs
Since petroleum products were all the rage during the early 20th century, it wasn’t long before manufacturers started creating synthetic PGRs.
Commercial pineapple farmers first used synthetic PGRs in the 1930s when they applied acetylene gas, a chemical source of ethylene, to accelerate flowering. These days, many farmers continue to use synthetic PGRs to enhance their crop yields, and unfortunately, that includes cannabis growers.
Synthetic PGRs Used for Growing Cannabis
Unscrupulous cannabis farmers use PGRs to increase both the density and weight of the buds so that they can charge more for them. However, the synthetic PGRs they apply may have dangerous side effects, especially when inhaled. Furthermore, most PGRs don’t help the plants produce higher-quality buds. They just look fatter and weigh more.
Unfortunately, the continued federal illegality of cannabis enables growers to use synthetic PGRs that are no longer permitted for traditional food crops. Here are some of the most common PGRs used for cannabis cultivation:
Daminozide
Chemical manufacturers sell daminozide under the brand name Alar. This PGR causes plants to slow vegetative growth so they can focus more energy on producing flowers. However, daminozide yields low-trichome flowers, which means fewer cannabinoids and terpenes.
Researchers began finding evidence that daminozide promoted tumor growth in mammals around 1984. However, farmers continued to use daminozide on food crops until the actress Meryl Streep and the show 60 minutes brought the dangers of Alar to the public’s attention.
In late 1989, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency listed daminozide as a “probable human carcinogen” and banned farmers from applying the chemical to food crops. However, the PGR remains available for ornamental flowers. Flower Dragon, TopLoad, and Phosphoload are just a few of the commercial fertilizers containing daminozide.
Chlormequat chloride
Chlormequat chloride turns the plant’s energy away from producing thick stems. Using this PGR can make sativa-dominant plants grow shorter and more suited for indoor cultivation. Applying chlormequat chloride may also spark the plants to produce more flowers.
Preliminary research has shown that consuming chlormequat chloride may inhibit skeletal growth and decrease body weight in animals. Repeated exposure to the synthetic PGR has also been shown to damage vital organs like the liver and kidneys. Ingesting high amounts of chlormequat chloride has also led to several fatalities, according to a study published in the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine.
Paclobutrazol (PBZ)
Paclobutrazol suppresses gibberellin production, making plant cells elongate and create denser flowers. However, the resulting buds will have a lower THC content and be missing key terpenes.
Not only will the effects and taste of paclobutrazol-treated cannabis be subpar, but the PGR creates carcinogenic compounds called nitrosamines when smoked. Nitrosamines are some of the most harmful carcinogens in commercial tobacco. Researchers have linked paclobutrazol with liver damage and decreased fertility.
Unfortunately, many farmers still apply paclobutrazol to food crops like avocados, mangoes, apples, and cruciferous vegetables. Bushmaster and Gravity are common fertilizers that contain paclobutrazol.
Other lesser-known synthetic PGRs include ancymidol, flurprimidol, uniconazole, and ethephon. If you’re planning to grow your own cannabis, avoid fertilizers with these chemicals in the ingredients list. Or, better yet, use only 100% organic fertilizers.
Residual PGRs also present an environmental hazard as they pollute soil and water. The result is less fertile land and the poisoning of wildlife.
Despite the health and environmental implications, the global PGR market nearly doubled in the six-year period between 2014 and 2020. Financial experts expect the market to reach $11.2 billion by 2027.
How to Tell if Your Cannabis Contains PGRs
Fortunately, increasing awareness has made PGR weed less common. However, consumers should stay aware as heavy competition may push growers to resort to desperate measures to stay afloat.
Here are a few common characteristics of PGR weed:
- Excessive quantities of reddish-brown hairs
- Rock-hard nugs that may feel especially wet or spongey
- Fewer trichomes with little or no odor
- A harsh, chemical taste
- A weak buzz or a fast-acting high that may lead to low energy and headaches
Other short-term effects may include nausea, skin and eye irritation, and respiratory issues.
Natural Plant Growth Regulators
While cannabis growers should avoid fertilizers that contain synthetic growth regulators, they can use a few organic substances to boost the natural hormones in their plants. Safe, organic sources of natural PGRs include:
- Chitosan: Derived from the exoskeleton of crustaceans, chitosan can help plants use nutrients more efficiently and resist disease. Cannabis growers can add mashed-up shells to compost or mix a foliar spray with powdered chitosan and water.
- Triacontanol: Cannabis farmers can take advantage of this natural growth stimulant by applying measured amounts of alfalfa extract or homemade alfalfa-sprout tea.
- Lentils are excellent sources for auxins. Corn can boost cytokine production, and barley promotes plants to produce more gibberellins.
- Bat guano and seaweed are also excellent soil amendments for increasing natural plant hormones.
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Written by Cat Winske
Image by Open Clipart-Vectors from Pixabay