It may be a lot easier to be caught if you are out in public buying. Regardless of what the laws say, it is interesting to see how many arrests there are for buying and selling versus growing. It seems that there are essentially no arrests for growing where I am versus selling and buying. If you are growing a few plants for personal use and don't sell it or tell people about it or let the odor get out of control, and you don't do any other drugs, there is essentially no reason for law enforcement to be interested in you, unless if you live in a state or country that is just totally wacked out with anti marijuana laws and thinking.