By Luke Sumpter


You know cannabis as a psychoactive herb. But have you ever considered its potential as a leafy green vegetable? Microgreens are skyrocketing in popularity as nutrient-dense vegetables, and cannabinoid microgreens, in particular, are rich in unique compounds. Discover their benefits and how to grow them below.

Cannabis microgreens
Cannabis microgreens

Microgreens: A Definition

Microgreens are essentially seedlings. They differ from other stages of plant development based on harvest time—they’re older than sprouts, a product harvested just days following germination, yet younger than baby greens, which possess more true leaves and are harvested around four weeks after germination. By definition, microgreens stand at between 2–7cm and feature three main components: a stem, a set of cotyledon leaves, and a set of first true leaves. Many different types of vegetables are grown as microgreens, with cabbage, broccoli, sunflowers, and peas being some of the most popular options.

These small plants have exploded in popularity in recent years. For growers, they require minimal space and inputs. For consumers, they offer superior health benefits compared to mature vegetables.

The Benefits of Microgreens

Studies[1] show that many microgreen species offer much greater quantities of beneficial bioactive molecules than their mature counterparts. For example, cilantro microgreens possess three times the beta-carotene content of older plants, while red cabbage microgreens contain 28-fold the amount of lutein and zeaxanthin—two plant pigments that protect eye health—than mature plants. On top of this, many types of microgreens offer more minerals than mature plants, including higher concentrations of magnesium and zinc.

Not only are microgreens more dense in nutrients, but they’re much more efficient to grow than mature vegetable plants. They require a fraction of the water, don’t require chemical pesticides and fertilisers, and are ready to harvest much sooner.

Cannabis microgreens benefits

Cannabis Microgreens: Weed as a Salad Ingredient

With both cannabis and microgreen cultivation growing in popularity, it makes perfect sense for these two worlds to collide. In legal states, growers are cultivating marijuana microgreens as a form of dietary cannabis. Most cannabis microgreens are grown using hemp seeds, as they are much cheaper to purchase in bulk than commercial cannabis seeds sold for flower cultivation.

As cannabis microgreens become more popular, it’s possible that the perception of cannabis as a vegetable could change in the eyes of many. Because raw cannabis isn’t psychoactive and its leaves are essentially a leafy green not dissimilar to kale and spinach, weed could have valid culinary uses, first as a novelty and later as a staple.

The Potential Benefits of Weed Microgreens

Much like other microgreens, cannabis microgreens offer high levels of minerals[2] and beneficial phytochemicals. However, they also produce unique chemicals that make them stand out from other greens. If you take a close look at a weed microgreen, you’ll notice a shiny coating on its cotyledons and true leaves. This is made up of glandular trichomes—the same structures that produce cannabinoids and terpenes on mature cannabis plants. Research shows that marijuana microgreens produce a total cannabinoid content of around 1%, consisting of cannabinoid acids such as THCA, CBDA, and CBGA. Researchers are still figuring out how these compounds influence the human body, but they likely target the expanded endocannabinoid system—a signalling network that impacts manifold aspects of human physiology.

Cannabinoids aside, cannabis microgreens also produce flavonoids that are unique to the marijuana plant. Known as cannflavins, early research shows that these compounds may have significant wellness potential[3].

Will Cannabis Microgreens Get You High?

Tossing cannabis microgreens onto a salad or into a smoothie won’t get you high. Sure, they contain trace levels of THCA—the chemical precursor to THC—however, THCA is not intoxicating. You can eat a hearty portion of weed microgreens without experiencing any altered state of consciousness.

How to Grow Cannabis Microgreens

Cannabis microgreens are exceptionally easy to grow at home using hemp seeds. With a small amount of soil and a cultivation tray, you can expect a large quantity of fresh microgreens within 2 weeks of germination. Check out what you’ll need to secure a harvest below.

How to grow cannabis microgreens
How to grow cannabis microgreens

Equipment

  • Non-sterilised hemp seeds
  • Bowl or jar
  • Sieve
  • Seed tray with drainage holes
  • Collection tray
  • Soil
  • Mister

Directions

  1. Microgreen production typically uses standardised flats for trays, so you'll want enough hemp seeds to spread evenly across your seed tray.
  2. Once you know how many seeds you need, place them into a bowl or jar. Cover them with water and let them soak for 24 hours before straining them using a sieve.
  3. Fill your seed tray with soil to a depth of around 5cm. Scatter your seeds across the growing medium as evenly as possible. Gently press them down with the back of your hand. Use your mister to give the growing medium a good soak. Place your tray on top of a collection tray to capture any runoff.
  4. Place the seed tray under grow lights or into a greenhouse outdoors. Avoid placing your tray outdoors, as birds, mice, and other animals will happily help themselves to the seeds. Check your tray once a day and give it another mist only if the soil appears dry.
  5. Within a matter of days, the seeds will sprout. Harvest your microgreens when they’ve developed their first set of true leaves (usually within 14 days[4] after germination). Use a pair of scissors to cut them just above the surface of the soil.

How to Use Cannabis Microgreens

Now that you have a stash of cannabis microgreens, it’s time to put them to use! Discover the best ways to consume them below.

Use Weed Microgreens as a Garnish
You can use hemp microgreens as a garnish on just about any savoury dish, from soup and pasta to salad bowls and pizzas. These small plants have a powerful bitter taste when eaten alone. However, this taste fades into the background when paired with other food. Simply sprinkle a handful onto a dish of your choice and enjoy high concentrations of minerals and other phytochemicals with every bite.
Add Weed Microgreens to Smoothies
Weed microgreens are an excellent way to add raw cannabis to smoothies. Simply include this functional food alongside any fruits and vegetables of your choice. Add another handful of hulled hemp seeds for omega fatty acids, and consider using blueberries and blackberries for their superb concentrations of antioxidants.
Create Cannabis Microgreen Capsules
You can also add cannabis microgreens to your supplement regimen. Use a dehydrator to dry them out, then use a pestle and mortar or food processor to turn them into a powder. Then, add them to capsules to make your own supplement containing cannabinoid acids, minerals, and flavonoids.

Cannabis Microgreens: Weed as a Leafy Green Vegetable

Cannabis microgreens have the potential to change the way the world sees weed. Alongside its use as a psychoactive substance, cannabis also serves as a leafy green vegetable packed with beneficial phytochemicals. As a microgreen, the plant provides even higher concentrations of essential minerals than mature plants. These small plants are easy to grow at home, take up next to no space, and provide a harvest in just a couple weeks. So, will you start adding these nutritional powerhouses to your diet?

External Resources:
  1. The Science behind Microgreens as an Exciting New Food for the 21st Century https://pubs.acs.org
  2. Hemp Microgreen Mineral Content, Cannabinoids, Total Phenolics, and Antioxidants - ProQuest https://www.proquest.com
  3. Biosynthesis of cannflavins A and B from Cannabis sativa L https://www.sciencedirect.com
  4. Guidance on required reporting and performance-based sampling for growers of micro-greens and hemp transplants https://www.agriculture.pa.gov
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: