By RQS Editorial Team Reviewed by: Gloria Payá


Most people are familiar with organic growing. However, an emerging concept is increasing in popularity, especially amongst cannabis cultivators—veganic growing.

Veganic marijuana is available in certain dispensaries across Canada and the US. Demand for it is growing in the same way as the market for dairy-free, gluten-free, and allergen-free edibles. In terms of holistic value, vegan weed is highly praised. It is also an excellent choice for exploring more sustainable cultivation techniques.

In what follows, we examine all you need to know about the veganic weed trend sweeping the industry.

What Is Veganic Cannabis Growing?

Veganic cannabis growing produces tangible results with minimum input. The legal cannabis market is expanding, and veganic growing is popular among those who want healthier cannabis, more flavour, and larger yields.

In short, veganic growing is the cultivation of plants without synthetic fertilisers or animal products[1]. It is a way to grow plants in harmony with nature. Veganic growing is also about soil sustainability and retaining its fertility for future generations.

  • Principles of Veganic Gardening

Here are the main tenets that constitute a veganic grow[2].

Where Possible, Do Not Dig
Digging the soil will kill many creatures and microorganisms. It will also break up the natural drainage they have created. Digging exposes soil to weather erosion and increases the leaching of water-soluble nutrients, such as nitrogen, from the soil.
Add Organic Matter to the Soil
To increase and maintain the natural fertility of your soil, you must apply organic matter. Potential sources include seaweed, garden compost, tree leaves, comfrey, and green manures. In veganic growing, no animal products are used (more on this below).
Use Liquid Feeds
You can buy vegan liquid feeds and full nutrition ranges. Alternatively, make your own by composting garden waste and diluting it with water. Good, vegan-friendly ingredients include seaweed, comfrey, alfalfa, and nettles—all rich in nutrients.
Avoid Pesticides
Organic pesticides can also kill beneficial insects. Alternatives include chamomile and garlic, companion planting, and biological control.
  • Veganic vs Organic

Both organic and veganic[3] growing are about keeping things natural and not using anything synthetic. Whereas veganic weed is grown without synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, or ingredients derived from animals, organic weed does, however, still use animal byproducts.

In nature, plants are rarely exposed to the levels of animal byproducts contained within organic fertilisers. What animal matter they are exposed to is chiefly the decayed remnants of any insects present in the soil.

Traces from animal products tend to break down very slowly in cannabis. This leaves heavy metal residues stored within the plant in the form of salts. Animal waste used in fertiliser can be full of hormones, pesticides, and antibiotics—all of which can affect the quality and taste of your cannabis.

The buildup of residues can also have a damaging effect on soil pH. Veganic growing methods, in contrast, need no pH management. They naturally maintain a balanced, healthier ecosystem for your plants.

Why Grow Vegan Weed?

Well, the main reason is, why not? It’s easy, it’s cheap, it’s sustainable, and ethical.

Studies suggest that fostering vegan compost can yield similar results to traditional composting methods, but without using animal waste. Just by using scraps from your garden, you can enhance your soil’s nutrients. It’s simple and straightforward.

Moreover, growing plant-based foods promotes compassion and respect for all living beings. Plant-based agriculture also generally has a lower environmental impact compared to animal agriculture.

By using vegan compost, for example, you would utilise vegetables, which require less water compared to raising livestock or growing crops for animal feed.

  • Disadvantages of Vegan Weed

There are no real disadvantages to growing vegan weed. However, it does require a considerable commitment compared to growing weed using generic methods and fertilisers. Veganic growing is not for those who do not have the time or inclination to devote to it.

Why Grow Vegan Weed?

How to Grow Vegan Weed

Now, on to the most important part of this article—info on how to grow vegan weed yourself.

  • Seeds

Yes, your vegan grow starts with acquiring vegan seeds. Some dedicated breeders specialise in 100% vegan strains, selecting landraces from different regions to produce top-quality seeds. Vegan seed varieties are usually only available to buy in regular form rather than feminized.

Now, if you can’t source truly “vegan” seeds, high-quality seeds from other sources are suitable.

  • Soil

It is also packed full of beneficial microorganisms that increase the bioavailability of the soil. You can potentially find a store-bought soil mix to start out with, or you can make your own veganic soil rich in decaying leaves and clippings to give your cannabis a boost. You can potentially find a shop-bought soil mix to start out with, or you can make your own veganic soil rich in decaying leaves and clippings to give your cannabis a boost.

  • Vegan Compost

Vegan compost retains nutrients comparable to those found in traditional manure, all without the use of animal ingredients. The chemical composition may vary depending on the sources and materials used in the compost, similar to the variations present in compost recipes that also include animal-based ingredients. However, again, you can also make your own. Use weeds, dried leaves, wood chips, small twigs, and immature crops like alfalfa, hemp, and fenugreek.

You need organic compounds from different sources to get your compost packed with nutrients. The most important are nitrogen and carbon. Anything you can find in the garden contains carbon. Your nitrogen source can come from grass, weeds, compost crops, and non-animal-based kitchen waste.

Vegan Compost Tea

Compost tea is a liquid compost that provides cannabis plants with an abundance of high-quality nutrients, contributing to plant health, vigour, and disease defence. Compost tea is easy to make and requires minimal cost and effort. Nutrients are transferred to the water, leaving you with a liquid "tea" containing all the fertiliser’s goodness. Compost tea mitigates damage from phytopathogens.

Why Grow Vegan Weed?
  • Green Manure

Green manure is a crop produced with the sole purpose of being integrated into the soil while still green. Green manure uses airborne nitrogen to keep the soil healthy and rich in nutrients. Green manures include legumes like vetch, clover, beans, and peas. Also, grasses like annual ryegrass, oats, rapeseed, winter rye, and buckwheat.

  • Vegan Fertilisers

Both vegan and non-vegan nutrients exhibit similar absorption rates, nurturing soil microbes and enhancing overall soil health. These benefits manifest not only in the robust growth of plants but also in the regulation of soil pH levels. This harmonious balance in soil pH contributes to increased crop yield, improved produce quality, and enhanced flavour profiles.

Nitrogen-rich plant matter such as alfalfa, cottonseed, and soy meal is perfect for vegetating plants. For the flowering phase, potash, wood ash, yams, and apples make good sources of phosphorus and potassium. Other options include humic acid for nutrient uptake, and a calcium-magnesium supplement to boost harvest weight. Enzymes can also be used to condition and regenerate new roots and recycle dead roots.

  • Mulch

Mulch is an excellent tool in the vegan cannabis garden. Mulch is organic material that you place as a top layer on your soil. Its purpose is to both protect the soil and increase absorption.

Mulch helps the soil retain moisture in the summer, and the rain penetrate it in winter. It also prevents weed growth and protects roots. Biodegradable mulches will break down gradually to release nutrients and improve soil structure. The best materials for this include vegan compost, wood chippings, leaf mould, straw, and seaweed.

  • After Harvest

The vegan path does not have to stop once you’ve harvested your crop. There are lots of vegan accessories you can incorporate into your lifestyle. Generic rolling papers use animal products in the glue or dye that makes the papers white. Vegan papers, however, are made from untreated organic material such as hemp paper. Vegan rolling papers also use arabic gum as glue. This comprises a 100% vegan formula.

If you do not smoke your weed pure, you may want to look into some herbal mixes to smoke it with. Tobacco itself is not considered vegan. Generally, tobacco itself is not considered vegan. Tobacco has been widely tested on animals, and its production is very harmful to the environment (except for a few brands and products)—all of which goes against the vegan philosophy.

After Harvest

Is Veganic Cannabis Growing Worth It?

Vegan cannabis is a clean, sustainably grown product with excellent potential for holistic and recreational use. With the market ever-growing, there is demand for a more diverse choice of cannabis. So yes, we would say that it is worth it. It does require more time and focus, though, so it is not necessarily the best choice for the newbie grower. Still, it is a viable option to consider further down the road.

Whether a practising vegan or not, you likely want to be healthier and find a cannabis solution that fits in with your lifestyle and values. Vegan weed offers an opportunity to do good for yourself and the environment, without compromise.

External Resources:
  1. Veganic farming in the United States: farmer perceptions, motivations, and experiences | Agriculture and Human Values https://link.springer.com
  2. 'Veganic Agriculture in the United States' by Alisha Utter and Mona Seymour https://tigerprints.clemson.edu
  3. Vegan organic horticulture - standards, challenges, socio-economics and impact on global food security https://www.actahort.org
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: