i'm asking because my other friend is doing herer with soil, i DONT want her to have crap weed.
did you mean to say herer? as in jack herer? because that is a hard plant to grow, far beyond the capabilities of a beginner. using soil is normal, try to remember cannabis grows alot like a normal plant, normal plants grow in soil, remember your trying to mimic mother nature, not improve on it, plants can be very very successful outdoors in the sun, all a plant really needs is;

good soil: as harmony pointed out, alot of soils lock together after being watered, stopping the roots from breathing, so try to get some compost if you can, and add a few stones for drainage and breathability.

good water: plants dont like chlorine, and all tap water has chlorine added to it at some point, so if you are using tap water, leave it to sit for about 24 hours to rid it of impurities, on the other hand you can use rain water, as long as its not to dirty you can usually use it straight away, - if you can get something to measure pH, (the balance of alkaline and acid) and try to get it around 7pH anywhere from 6-8pH should do fine, you can get pH testers for pretty cheap at aquarium/fish shops.

Good light: Light is obviously a big factor when growing cannabis, obviously if its summertime you can just leave your plants outside to soak up the sun, however indoors its a different ball game, for a beginner i would suggest just buying a couple flourescents for now, HID lighting, Sodium bulbs etc. will come later.

Ventilation: When you only have one or two plants, ventilation doesnt really matter, but the more plants you get, the more air will need to flow through the plants, also air flowing around the plants gives the plant exersize, and stimulates healthy growth, so its a good idea to stick a fan on every now and then.

A good grower: This is probably one of the most important parts of growing, you need to show your plants love, it sounds weird i know, but alot of people beleive talking to your plants, playing music to them and stroking them alot can stimulate the plant and give it a boost, - basically make its life worth living and it should stay alive, the nicer you are to your plants the better they will try to grow for you, I find stroking the fan leaves alot and keeping them tidy helps the plant, playing music to it is okay, but talking to them is much better. -The more you show them love, the more they show you bud.

hope that helps a little, its about all you should need to know in order to grow, but reading on these boards builds knowledge fast, so read up...
Abattoir Dream Reviewed by Abattoir Dream on . why did my widow buds suck? Me and my friend grew widow in small pots of soil on her back patio. The buds turned brown when they were dry and werent white at all. It was horrible weed. Does this mean soil makes brown buds? I want to grow green weed in the future. Rating: 5