How much to budget, legal issues, and tips for first-time cannabis growers.
Are you wondering what you need to do to grow cannabis for the first time?
In this guide, we’re going to help you determine how to budget for your first cannabis grow, what legal issues you should consider, and how to properly set up your expectations for how you will conduct your operations.
If you’re thinking that growing cannabis for the first time is going to be difficult, just remember that any worthwhile endeavor takes work, patience, and perseverance.
In the end, you’ll be happy that your first cannabis grow will turn into a continuous cycle of thoughtfully-grown cannabis.
To get started, let’s take a look at what kind of budget you should employ.
1. Budgeting startup costs.
When considering your startup costs for your first cannabis grow, be sure to include the cost of your:
- Space
- Lights
- Temperature control
- Ventilation
- Growing medium
- Nutrients
- Irrigation system
Depending on the size of the grow, you’re looking at a few hundred dollars up into the thousands.
Ready-to-go grow tents can be found on Amazon and they may help reduce your costs overall if you consider the time it would take you to build your own.
2. Budgeting ongoing costs.
Once your first cannabis grow is up and ready to go, you’re not done paying the bills.
Remember that cannabis plants need precise climate control.
You may need to provide air conditioning to keep your plants at the optimum temperature.
Other climate control costs could come from:
- Humidifiers or dehumidifiers
- Closed-loop ventilation systems
- Air purifiers
- Grow lights
With all of these costs added up, you’ll likely see a spike in your electricity bill. Be prepared to pay for your energy consumption although you’ll lessen the load on your bottom line once you harvest your buds.
3. Federal law for home cannabis grows.
Cannabis remains illegal at the federal level.
Technically speaking, the government could come busting down your door at any moment to seize your harvest.
Before you panic, however, understand they are not going to do that.
The federal government focuses on major offenders of cannabis laws, such as international traffickers.
4. Your state’s laws for growing cannabis.
Your state’s government has less to do.
They may come after you for violating cannabis regulations.
To be safe, Google “[your state] cannabis laws” and find the agency that regulates cannabis in your jurisdiction.
Be sure to follow their rules but don’t forget to look into laws in your county and city, as well.
5. Expect disaster.
You may think your first cannabis grow will go well, but there are plenty of things that could go wrong.
For example:
- Insects and pests could invade your crop.
- Your power could go out and truncate your harvest.
- An incorrect nutrient schedule could burn your plants.
While there are plenty of ways to prevent some of these disasters, if you expect something to go wrong with your first cannabis grow, you’ll be less disappointed when it does!
But, don’t make that your primary outlook.
6. Prepare for success.
It takes work and patience, but growing cannabis isn’t extremely difficult.
Preparing for success, however, is a big part of achieving the harvest you desire.
You wouldn’t ask someone to build your first home without a complete plan that shows how it’s built.
You also shouldn’t start your cannabis grow until you have a complete plan demonstrating how you’ll grow your cannabis.
It’s a process that requires daily attention and dedication.
It takes weeks, if not months, to reap the final rewards.
But, don’t go bragging about it.
7. Grow in private.
It can be exciting to see your first buds flowering and growing every day.
So exciting, in fact, that you’ll want to share what’s going on.
Don’t.
You don’t want everyone to know about your home grow, especially when you’ve been taking good care of it and it’s going to be fruitful.
Someone may come and harvest it for you.
You wouldn’t tell people that you’ve piled up a small stack of gold in your closet, don’t encourage them to take advantage of you.
Moreover, if you’re renting, your landlord could take action against you for growing cannabis.
Privacy is key when cultivating your own bud.
Protect your gold, fool your landlord, grow in private.
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