Marijuana grow-operations are nothing new: Just ask anyone who’s lived in Humboldt County since the ‘60s.  But over the past decade, with the dawning of both Medical Marijuana (MMJ) and Legalized Marijuana (LMJ), these programs are run less by the likes of Cheech or Chong, and more by bright, erudite young folks with degrees in botany, agriculture, horticulture, and hydroponics.

This was made abundantly clear to me, when I was given a tour of the incredibly modern and well-conceived cultivation facility developed by Essence Vegas.  There, Essence’s CEO, Armen Yemenidjian (whom I’ve known for some time, because Vegas is just that sort of town), introduced me to his two comrades in cannabis – Essence’s CCO (that’s Chief Cultivation Officer) Matt Hergenreter, and Director of Cultivation, Alessandro Cesario. 

The amount of thought that’s gone into every detail – from the micro to the macro – is mind-boggling; and these guys are really to be commended.  Speaking as someone who was impressed by the teensy plants a friend grew in the closet of our dorm, twenty years ago; I was suitably blown away.  From the proprietary formulations used for fertigation (that’s fertilization and irrigation, in case you were wondering), to the specialized software applications and hardware modules that were designed to Hergenreter’s exacting specifications; nothing has been left to chance. 

It’s so high-tech and completely automated, in fact, that Hergenreter and Cesario are alerted to the most seemingly innocuous changes in the facility’s contrived ecosystems. So, whether it’s a dip in the humidity or a rise in the alkalinity; rest assured, they know about it in the time it takes to check one’s iPad (from which they are able to make the proper adjustments).  Even the water is the “cleanest” imaginable, thanks to a particularly robust reverse-osmosis system that’s roughly the size of my house.  Don't worry about it overwhelming the facilty, though; because at 54,000 square feet, there's plenty of space.

So what does all of this mean for the MMJ patient?  It means that thanks to accuracy and uniformity, the root systems and health of the plants are greatly improved; allowing for the “perfect crop” that is passed on to patients at one of Essence’s three Las Vegas dispensaries.  And with its first full harvest slated for June, the temperature won’t be the only thing getting higher in Vegas, this summer.

To speak in oenophilic terms, Hergenreter is Essence’s Chef du Cave.  As such, I asked him to act as a Cannabis Sommelier; and share his prescriptions for a number of conditions, using strains available through and/or cultivated by Essence.   Following, are his recommendations:

• Insomnia – Black Afghani, XXX OG, Purple Urkel, and Kosher Kush
• Headache – Jack Flash, Blue Dream, Hemlock, Fluffhead, and Pootie Tang
• Writer's Block (Creative Aid) – Cookie Jar, Gorilla Glue #4, Purple Cotton, and WiFi OG
• Lack of Sex Drive (Aphrodisiac) – Northern Lights BX1, Locomotion, and Jesus OG
• Muscle Fatigue – Kimbo Kush, Nana Pie, Grape Inferno, and Nightmare Cookies
• Depression – Girl Scout Cookies, Bubba Kush, Fluffhead, and Mob Boss
• Anxiety – OG Kush, Hells OG, Kosher Kush, Purple Cotton, and Chem 4

Says Hergenreter, “I truly believe that everyone is unique in the way they react to or use cannabis. I believe that all methods of administrating cannabis are beneficial; and that it all depends on the person.  The above mentioned strains can be used in any form, for relief.”

If you're over 18, check out what all the fuss is about, at the Essence Grand Opening party, on Wednesday, March 23rd, at the only dispensary on the world-famous Las Vegas Strip - located at 2307 South Las Vegas Boulevard.  See y'all, there!

Essence Vegas
3 Locations
Click HERE for info

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