Cannabis has come a long way from its former status of a shameful sin or a guilty pleasure. More and more people around the world view this drug as either a powerful medicine or a safer alternative to alcohol and a legitimate way to relax.
At the same time, the legal status of the substance doesn’t change as fast as people’s attitudes, and for many cannabis enthusiasts, the only way to have enough smokables is to grow their own. Do you think about doing just that? First learn about the pros and cons of getting this new hobby.
Pros
Get Your Buds at a Fraction of a Cost
Whether you can purchase marijuana at a local dispensary or the black market is your only option, the price of weed is rather high compared to the cost of growing it. You only need to buy cannabis seeds and nothing else to grow the plant outdoors. Indoor setups require a bigger budget as you’ll need a light, an exhaust fan, a carbon filter as well as a grow tent, containers, soil, and a few bottles of nutrients. Your first harvest could probably be a more expensive affair than if you just bought the same amount of bud, but in the long run, you’ll save insane amounts of money.
Have More Control of What Goes Into Your Body
Even at dispensaries and rec shops, buds often contain mold, dead insects, built-up salts, and traces of pesticides due to insufficient control. And there’s no guarantee of quality in the black market at all. At the same time, in your own garden, you’re in control of every detail – from the choice of medium and nutrients to maintaining laboratory-grade sterility. You can also ensure that your plants use up all the built-up nutrients and are clean before harvest.
Your Choice of Genetics is Limitless
No rec shop can offer as many strains of weed as an online seed store where you have thousands of varieties to choose from. And whenever you come across an outstanding cultivar – with just the right combination of flavor and effect – you can keep a mother plant and grow the smoke of the exact same quality for as long as you like.
You Get an Exciting New Hobby and New Set of Skills
Growing marijuana is just fun. There will be some hiccups along the way, but after a while, you’ll become an expert and will be growing boutique-quality weed like a pro. And who knows – maybe someday you’ll put this skill on your resume and land a job of a master grower.
Cons
You Risk Breaking the Law
Not long ago, growing weed was illegal, period. Now, many states and entire countries have legalized home cultivation, but the stigma persists and the authorities often enforce strict limits. It can be a number of plants that you can legally cultivate or the size of your stash that you can keep after the harvest. So watch out if you don’t want to get into trouble.
You May Antagonize Your Neighbors
For some people, cannabis smell can be a major nuisance, and you’re bound to get complaints if you fail to control the smell in your garden. If you rent, be prepared that your landlord specifically forbids growing cannabis or even smoking it on the back porch, terrace, etc.
You Get a Living Thing to Take Care Of
Do you have vacation plans? Make sure you find a friend who will agree to take care of your garden while you’re away. Cannabis plants aren’t like houseplants – they develop rapidly and consume insane amounts of water and nutrients. And there are no pet hotels for them. So, once you’ve started a grow cycle, you’ll probably need to be around until you finish it.
Growing Weed is Addictive
You know how you take your phone whenever you’re bored or tired and need a distraction? The same thing happens to growers, only they run to their grow tent to steal a quick look at their budding beauties, or smell them, or check that everything is alright. After a few runs, it becomes a habit, and whenever your grow tent is empty, you experience this huge void inside you – something is missing. So, think twice before you decide to dive head-first into such habit-forming activity.
