Quote Originally Posted by ganjagr1
I'm a new grower -- I've been doing this for 10 months now and let me tell you, I am not getting rich quick growing ganja. It doesn't matter that it's legal. And I'm not ripping anyone off because my "patients" are my uncle and my mother. Yes, they give me some money, but it's about $75 an ounce.

I had to outfit my basement for growing, which meant a light-tight bloom room and an open (but warm) veg room. I had to buy lumber, panda plastic, lights, fans, filters, A/C, CO2, water chiller, pH & ppm meters, and god knows how much other stuff to run my hydro setup. I hired a handyman to help me construct the bloom room (I told him it was a dark room for a photography class) and I also needed some electrical and plumbing work. Finally, I needed genetics. All in all, it cost me about $15,000 to set up... and I haven't made $15,000 yet.

I spend over $300/month on power alone. I work a part time job then come home to take care of the garden. I work more than 12 hours a day and there is always something coming up.

pHs get out of whack. Powdery mildew. Weird white fuzzy mold (I don't know what it is yet, but Serenade seems to keep it at bay). Spider mites. Fungus gnats. Res leak. Aero-cloner mysteriously dies (needed a replacement pump for some reason). Root rot. A light leak and suddenly 3 plants go hermaphrodite. Seeds suck.

I am not making a profit. I think it might be cheaper to grow my own, but it sure would be easier to just buy it in a store. Thing is, I was worried about quality too. I wanted potent strains and harvests that were well-flushed and well-cured. So I decided to do it myself since my mom has MS and is in a lot of pain. I didn't want her vaporizing pesticides or something that didn't help with her pain.

If there is anyone out there who's making a profit giving meds away to your patients, I would love to know your secret. Since I've started this operation, I have a lot more appreciation for farmers and farm workers. Plants need a lot of care. You can't just go away for a weekend. You have to maintain the lights, the temps, the water levels, and always watch for mold and bugs.

It's exhausting. And trust me, dirt is no easier. You've got to keep track of soil pHs, too. You have all the same issues with dirt -- root rot, root bound, too close to the light, too hot, too cold, fungus gnats, good grief.

If you're fed up with dispensaries, go ahead and grow your own. But don't start growing thinking it's cheap or easy. That first harvest is a real rush, but once the bud is dry, it rarely weighs as much as you hoped it would. And if you don't cure it carefully, it will end up smelling like grass. Ew. While you can sell your leftover meds to other patients, you have to serve your own patients' needs first. Those who aren't your patients should pay more because you didn't grow a bunch of extra plants for them. It's just supply and demand.

As for hash and edibles making you rich... It takes a day to make hash, 12 hours for oil or butter (I use the crock pot method), and another day to actually cook with the oil or butter. Plus, I don't think you're supposed to sell edibles unless you operate out of a commercial kitchen... which is more $$$ in rent.

Yes, they are your plants. But unless you have a kind relative willing to care for them for you, be willing to pay. After all, you are allowed to buy potatoes in Colorado, too... but you have to pay for the potatoes at the store or buy equipment to grow your own.
exp is the best teacher. will knock down the ones that think they know it all a peg or 2.glad to see someone tell the truth too.it's the same as anything else sure you can grow watermelon yourself. but with all the time and effort and pests and so on.odds are it might not even make it.spend money and time all on an if it makes it.once someone does that and sees the truth about it.i'd say 95% would say fuck that im gunna go buy a watermelon at the store 5, 6 bucks no prob besides i wanted to eat it now anyways not months from now lmao.