With the growing popularity of both recreational and medicinal marijuana, many people have begun to think about the possibility of growing their own weed. In a 2016 survey conducted in the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Green State Gardeners, 18 percent of adults in America indicated that they would grow their cannabis if legal. The medical application of marijuana has a lot to do with this popularity. People suffering from certain cancers are looking to cannabis as a possible treatment option. Those considering alternative treatments, however, should research the facts about colon cancer or the cancer that they are suffering from before making a medical decision. Nevertheless, the topic of growing, regardless of the reasons, is contentiously debated. Even in Canada where laws are a lot more marijuana-friendly, the government placed a moratorium on the topic of home growing until more information is obtained. Therefore, the first step to growing legal cannabis is to ensure that you are complying or can comply with all local laws.
Legality of Growing Marijuana
Certain states permit patients and some recreational consumers to grow plants. Alaska, for example, is a state that permits adults over 21 years old to possess or gown up to six plants. Arizona, on the other hand, requires that growers be qualifying patients or caregivers to grow. The limit is 12 plants and they must live more than 25 miles from a dispensary. California’s grow laws, like Arizona’s, require cultivators to be authorized patients or caregivers. Other states are more flexible. Colorado marijuana growing laws, for instance, allow any resident to grow up to six plants but has limitations on how cultivators store the product. Furthermore, home cannabis growers are prohibited from selling marijuana. If you are looking to harvest your cannabis, make sure to study the law or seek expert advice. The sensitivity of the topic and the type of enforcement warrants careful thought and planning.
The Basics of the Process
Although the growing process may seem complicated, this is not much different than growing any other crop. According to the National Gardening Association (NGA), roughly 35% of American households grow their own produce in a community garden or at home. Therefore, the concept of growing plants is not foreign to many people. For others, help with the process is readily available. After solving the legal aspect, the next step in growing cannabis is to select a technique that best fits your style. This depends greatly on the amount of space available, your budget, and the intended yield. Otherwise, the crop is no different than any other plant. In the case of cannabis, every plan needs light, a growing medium, air, temperature, nutrients, and water. Your selected grow style will determine how these elements are provided to the plant.
The first big decision in the process of cultivating cannabis is deciding if you will be growing indoors or outdoors. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, and different situations make either ideal; therefore, understanding the differences and aligning your setting with the advantages is the best way to decide on the style. A small indoor setting, for example, is a great way to start and learn. The project is easy to begin and simple for beginners to monitor. The mistakes will be less costly. Furthermore, it is more private and provides more control of the elements that influence the plant such as water, temperature, and light. This type of control offers a better yield. Nevertheless, outdoor growing is cheaper but requires more knowledge on environmental factors including the strains that are appropriate for the specific setting. Regardless of the methodology, make sure to research and understand how the environmental factors affect the plant and always make sure that you are following the law.
