Now that recreational marijuana is legal, growing it is becoming more popular. Still, the idea that you will grow marijuana at home can produce more than a little apprehension. After all, we can all recall countless arrests we’ve seen on TV or have seen a movie with a scene showing a drug bust at a house where the owner was growing massive amounts of pot. To be clear, while recreational marijuana is legal there are laws and regulations in regards to how to grow marijuana. However, they’re easy to understand and getting started isn’t all that scary or difficult. Plus, there are so many benefits to growing your own cannabis:
Grow Marijuana at Home – What are the benefits?
- Know Your Stuff – It’s helpful to have a local shop that you trust that supplies quality marijuana. However, shop owners can change, mishandle or comprise their inventory, and/or their supplier could start cutting corners. In any case, none of that is an issue when you grow it yourself.
- Cost to Grow Marijuana – When you buy from your local dispensary you’re paying for their rent, delivery, and the markup. After an initial investment your effort to grow marijuana will produce substantial savings.
- Gain Knowledge of Marijuana – Once you have decided to grow marijuana, you’ll want to know everything about the plant. There’s lots of info out there so study up. The more you know, the more successful you’ll be at harvesting.
- Grow Your Favorite Strains – When you become loyal to a particular strain and then experience it not being available at your favorite shop you’ll be relieved that you have figured out how to grow it yourself. Better yet, you could develop your own unique strain when you grow marijuana.
Steps to Grow Marijuana for your Medical Use:
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Visit your Medical Marijuana Doctor
Under the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MCRSA), qualified patients are exempt from the state license program and allowed to cultivate an area of up to 100 square feet for personal medical use and a patient may possess what is reasonable for their medical needs; the 6 plant per residence limit of AUMA does not apply. This requirement began Jan 1, 2018. The MCRSA contains a sunset clause that allows the collective defense until one year after the beginning of the new regime, namely January 1, 2019. It is debatable whether the sunset clause applies to this requirement. Until then, a patient may possess what is reasonable for their medical needs, and there is currently a draft gubernatorial proposal to amend the MCRSA to allow that “reasonable needs” test to continue instead of the 100 square foot regime.
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Research growing laws in your city and state
- Prop 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA), allows adults (ages 21 and up) to cultivate up to six plants and possess the marijuana from these plants at their residence for personal use (Sec. 11362.1(3)). Again, no more than a total of six plants per residence.
- All plants and harvested cannabis in excess of one (1) ounce must be kept within the person’s private residence, in a locked space, that is not visible from a public place.
But please note that Prop. 64 has statutory language that prevents CPS (Child Protective Services), from interfering with families of patients who have valid medical cannabis physician recommendations on that basis alone; this is not explicitly extended to AUMA users. So, if you are using it or cultivating it for medicinal use, it is best practice to have a physician medical cannabis recommendation. Your city, HOA or county might have placed additional restrictions on cannabis cultivation. Many cities have banned outdoor cultivation. Be sure to check first!
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Determine if you’re going to grow marijuana indoors or outdoors
Whether you grow your cannabis outdoors or indoors is really entirely up to you and your preferences. Growing your cannabis outdoors can result in larger plants, better quality and overall, and it can be cheaper. Indoor configurations are notably more expensive than an outside setup but can be more convenient. You can also control the climate and the amount of light. Therefore you can plan on producing crops outside of a natural growth cycle that would limit you if done outdoors. Also, it’s a lot cleaner.
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To grow healthy marijuana purchase appropriate seed and choose the right soil
The best type of soil for growing cannabis is a loamy soil. This is basically a combination of sand, silt, and clay; the most common types of soil. Most potting soils are loamy. They are typically a little soft, with some texture and dark in color. There are several brands out there but so the easiest way to find the right soil is to ask a local expert at your nearest nursery to suggest a soil that would be good for growing things like tomatoes.