At-Home Cannabis Growing FAQ

The time has finally come. Your state has legalized marijuana use and at-home cultivation (with limits), and you’re able to finally embark on your own growing project in your home. This can be a tedious and overwhelming process if you aren’t armed with the correct information and equipment to get the job done right. The last thing you need is for months of hard work and time to be wasted with an unenjoyable product at the end.

However, you don’t need to turn your home into a complete commercial grow room to have success. With a few simple, yet essential tools, you’ll be growing a top-shelf home product in no time. Be sure to go in with a few things in mind:

• Time – This process takes several months before you can fully enjoy the fruits of your labor.
• Work – The growing process is meticulous. It can be complicated and has different stages of growth which require different methods and tactics to ensure it all goes smoothly.
• Laws – Local laws regarding at-home growth are very important and are not to be taken lightly. Make sure you understand the at-home grow laws in your city or state.
• Equipment – Getting properly set up can cost you some money. You need several pieces of equipment to create a product that can be enjoyed later. Make sure you know the extent of what you need before getting started. There’s no going back once you have.

In this blog, we will do our best to answer the essential questions necessary for first-time growers to succeed at home. Keep in mind that where you live will determine if you can even grow cannabis at home, how much you can grow, and where you’re allowed to grow it. But for the sake of this blog, we’re going to use Colorado as an example.

For a map on the levels of legalization for cannabis by state, check out this article by U.S. News & World Report. It can paint a picture of what you’re allowed to do in your state. Without further ado, keep reading to find out the basics of at-home cannabis growing.

How Much Am I Allowed To Grow?

You need to know how much you’re allowed to grow first and foremost. This will determine the amount of supplies you need and how much you’ll need to spend to get started, how big your operation will be, how much space you need to allocate, etc.

In Colorado, residents over the age of 21 are allowed to grow six cannabis plants at a time, with as many as three plants flowering at a time. No matter the amount of roommates or family members you have, the state only allows for a maximum of 12 plants per household.

This ensures that your operation won’t be too big to handle and shouldn’t be too intimidating for first-time home growers. It’s recommended that you try three plants for your first attempt, this allows for some trial and error between the plants and isn’t too much to juggle at once.

Where Can I Grow My Plants?

In the state of Colorado, home growers are required to keep their plants in an enclosed, locked area that isn’t visible to the public or those outside your home. So plants must be grown inside and are not allowed to be grown outside the home unless kept in a tent or shed that is closed.

In homes with residents under 21, any marijuana grow area must be enclosed and locked in a separate space that minors can’t access. In homes without residents under 21, extra precautions must be taken to make sure any visiting youth don’t have access to marijuana plants.

What Supplies Do I Need?

Considering the parameters laid out by the state’s laws and regulations, combined with the fact that you have to grow your plants indoors, there’s a decent amount of supplies you need to get started. Below is a breakdown of some of the basic items necessary for a successful home grow:

• Cannabis seeds
• Lights (either fluorescent lights, high-intensity discharge lights [HIDS], or LED lights)
• Proper ventilation system (to refresh the air and limit odor)
• Growing containers (proper planting pots)
• Nutrients for plants
• Water (either manual or irrigation system, depending on your budget)
• Fans for air movement and ventilation
• Good soil
• A tent or box (to control light, odor, space, and wind)
• Humidifier (and ideally, a dehumidifier)
• Trimmers and gloves for harvesting

Gathering these supplies can be meticulous and expensive, but once you’re set up, you can reuse equipment for several harvests. Make sure to look up the best procedures for using lights, fans, water amounts, and other essential tips.

How Much Will This Cost Me?

Depending on how ideal you want your setup to be, growing cannabis at home can be quite expensive. You need to purchase the equipment, maintain it throughout the growing process, and pay more for your electricity bill as your plants need constant power and attention.

These items can quickly cost up to several hundred—or in some cases, even thousands—-of dollars to get situated. But consider the money you’ll be saving from dispensaries if you’re a frequent cannabis user.

Your equipment, if properly taken care of, will last the test of time and be there for several harvests in the future. Plus, after your first time, you can tweak your practices accordingly to be more efficient and potentially save you money.

Am I Allowed To Share My Product?

Under Colorado state law, homegrown marijuana products cannot be sold to anyone, and only licensed marijuana businesses are allowed to sell cannabis products.

Adults over 21 are permitted to give up to two ounces of marijuana to another adult 21 or older, but can’t sell marijuana. This includes homegrown products. Obviously, marijuana is not permitted to be given to minors, including your children or siblings.

So as long as you stick to the local laws, an ounce of homegrown cannabis makes a perfect Christmas or birthday gift. This provides you with bragging rights as well as show off your hard-earned product.

Conclusion

This FAQ is only applicable to homegrown laws in the state of Colorado. Be sure you understand the laws in your county, city, and state before trying your hand at growing cannabis at home. To recap:

• Adults over 21 in Colorado can grow up to 6 plants at a time, with 3 flowering at a time
• Households are limited to 12 plants
• They must be grown indoors in an enclosed space the public cannot view
• You can give up to 2 ounces away, but no selling
• Be sure you have all the necessary equipment
• Be prepared to spend money for a solid setup

For more information about home grow laws in Colorado, visit this link.