Yes, it smells, but surprisingly, not like dried cannabis. An uncut plant smells just like a fresh garden, a normal plant smell. It all depends on what kind you grow, but a skunk strain reeks of skunk, when growing. Commonly though, strains like AK-47, and Blueberry, smell very fruity. If you couldn't see the plant, a person would guess it was some kind of fruit tree near by. If people couldn't see the cannabis growing, they wouldn't have any clue that it was cannabis growing.

Growing cannabis doesn't smell like pot, at all. Same with when you harvest. It smells earthy, fruity, and like I said, if the plants were invisable, people would have NO clue that cannabis was growing, but you have to be careful about what strain you grow. Skunk strains WILL reek of skunk, while growing, harvesting, smoking.