I'm A Legal Card Carrying... Cannabis Grower
My original tent for the mother cannabis plants.
After some discussion, planning and figuring out scheduling; Mr Golden D has talked me into a few advancements with the grow tent and product inside.
Currently we have four mother plants in the tall grow tent (seen in the picture) in their flowering stage and six clones in a smaller tent in their vegetation tent. These are NOT my plants; I am only growing for another person who doesn't have the time or gardening knowledge or patience.
The first step in this advancement of the grow tent dealings was to officially get my own MMP card (Medical Marihuana Program Card) in my state. Currently medical use is legal, with the recreational proposal being on the November 2018 ballot. Not sure how the changes will be if passed; with the exception of recreational dispensaries and sellers/businesses will have to pay an additional 10-percent excise tax (just like on liquor) on top of the already 6-percent state sales tax.
For all the information about the MMP laws in my state, see here. I am, by state law, allowed to have up to 12 total plants; whether clones, full plants in veg or flowering process; and up to 2.5-ounces of actual product in my possession. Currently I have ten plants/clones and no actual product on hand.
I have an auto-immune disease that causes severe nausea and vertigo so the doctor didn't even question my reason after reading my medical papers and questionnaire. The card is good for two years, with a follow-up visit in one year and cost me a total of $135/USD ($75 for the doctor and physical and $60 to the state to issue the card itself).
My Current Set Up
A Peak Into My Small (32x32x60) Grow Tent
Right now this tent is the residence of the clones, but will in the future be the drying and curing tent. Since it is the smallest tent we have and tucked out of the way in a closet, it's the perfect place for curing; as curing needs to be a slightly darkened area where you want to store jars. We have an upper shelf (outside of the grow tent) where these jars can be placed during the curing process.
Right now the large tent (32x32x84) is housing the plants in the flowering stage. I know it can hold six large plants in 5-gallon buckets perfectly; but no more than that. There are four in there now but the last crop I had of Sour Diesel had six plants.
So What's The Plan, Ma'am?
FIRST...
We will be purchasing this double wide grow tent for the clones and vegetation stages. While it is one large area (96x48x80) and I wish it were divided into two separate sections, it does accommodate what I have in mind. I can have 12 plants and clones (inside 5-gallon buckets) in here VERY comfortably; with some space for nutrients, the thermometer, fan for circulation and other necessities needed.
The large tent (which is housing the mother plants in the flowering stage) will remain the same. It will have up to six full grown cannabis plants housed inside; as I only want a maximum of six plants ready for trimming and harvesting at once. I think right now having more than the six I am figuring would be too much for me to handle when it comes time to trim.
I have NEVER trimmed plants before but will be learning. I will need to have my OCD in high gear while doing this chore as I want it to be perfect because we are planning on selling most of it to local dispensaries (closest dispensary is about an hour and half drive from us).
My ultimate goal in this venture is to have a continuous rotation of plants from cloning to vegetation to flowering then off to drying and curing.
The way I have scheduled, and carefully planned out, the process is that I will be cloning a new crop every five weeks to keep the rotation schedule going and to make sure I have four to six plants being harvested every 5-6 weeks.
When I went to get my MMP card over the weekend, I discussed with the dispensary management about the possibility of being a repeat grower for them. They, of course, need to see the product and test it for THC levels to determine the amount they would and could pay for the supply.
So over the next month I will be adding the new grow tent, seeking new strains that I may want to attempt to grow, keeping in touch with the dispensary people and heading off to the hydroponics garden store for more nutrients and supplies.
To purchase EVERYTHING we will need to start this, I will need the following:
- Double wide grow tent - approx $175/USD
- More 5-gallon buckets (12) $40/USD
- More nutrients and supplies from hydroponic store $100/USD
- Room darkening shades and curtains for the windows $50/USD
- Optional- new strain seeds approx $50-$75/USD
So for about $500/USD I can get this new business started.
I already have the extra light fixture with extra bulbs, three bags of coco coir soil and miscellaneous items needed.
Wish me luck!
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In Canada, it will be legal for each household to grow 4 plants sometime this summer. Government controlled stores will be selling it- much like a liquor store. Good luck with your venture @goldendawne. If it helps your symptoms and makes life bearable, that is good. You will know there are no pesticides or additives in it if you grow it yourself.
Good for you! That would be awesome if you end up being able to sell back to the dispensary. I'm glad some states have come to their senses with cannabis and hopefully it will continue in the right direction for the rest of the country. Best of luck to you!
I'm curious as the the THC levels. The last crop I did (the Sour Diesel), the people who consumed it said it was really good, but I have no idea if it was 15%, 20% etc
Yea that will be interesting to see. I smoked quite a bit in college but never knew how strong any of it was, would have been nice to have an idea
Lab testing isn't terribly expensive. Not a bad investment for testing each crop.
Unfortunately South Dakota is still in the dark ages concerning cannabis. I would love to grow again!
Good luck with your adventure!
Sorry to hear that! Michigan just became a medical state a few years ago.
I never took you for someone who would have anything to do with cannabis! Very cool! Our state of Wisconsin is still in the dark ages.
lol- yeah most people are surprised by this.
I came out of the cannabis growing closet a few months back; I made some posts periodically here on my page.
Nice set-up coming along! Good Luck!! ☘
Thank you!
I had never considered this but Mr Golden D started talking about it a few weeks back and after checking into everything... I think it's do-able.
I am very thankful for your article about indica vs. Sativa. I tried experimenting to notice the differences and they are very different! Been smoking for years and never paid attention to that LOL. Guess this is the wisdom that comes with age 😂 Good luck with your set-up! I'd love to follow your progress. I'd like to grow my own soon too.
I have a flat that I rent out, and I used to worry that the tenant was growing cannabis, as the curtains were always closed during the day. In fact nothing nefarious was going on.
It's still illegal to grow cannabis in my country (UK), although it's under review for medicinal use. Personally speaking, I would like to grow hemp seeds, as they are great for general health, but despite the fact that they do not have psycho-active properties, you need to have a licence to grow them here.
Good luck with your cannabis plants. I look forward to reading about their progress.
lol- Yeah I can see how the closed curtains could cause suspicion. Me personally, I am a hermit and homebody by nature. In the condo we lived in before here (we lived there for four years) and I only met one of our neighbors. I keep to myself... so I can only imagine what people were thinking about me.
Hemp would be an interesting thing to grow... so versatile. Clothing... health as you said and so much more.
Super interesting to see your setup. I believe the use of medicinal marijuana is in the process of being legalised in Australia. Not sure how long that will take though. Hoping that it helps with your symptoms though.
I actually don't use the cannabis. I grow for someone who doesn't have the time or knowledge of gardening and I LOVE gardening and saw growing this as a challenge.. but as I told my husband just the other day, who knows how I will be in five or ten years with my symptoms.
It will be cool to see how this project grows in the coming days and weeks. I hope you can do an update eventually :P to see how this goes.
Cheers @goldendawne!
Thank you! I have the plans for the actually kick off and changes happening in mid-July. I have to sell a brand new sofa sleeper, move some furniture around and get my office area set up. I'm actually losing the third bedroom as my office area for this new grow room area.
Hubby seems to think this will all happen at the snap of the fingers but I told him, I need to do it in a step process to get it done right the first (and only) time.
this is so interesting @goldendawne! I think you mentioned the growing tents before but I didn't really understand what those were for, I guess cannibus has to be grown in them because they need less light or a special type of lighting?
good luck sounds like ya'll have the plan that will succeed.
The lighting is crucial whether you are doing 24/7 or 18 hours on/6 hours off during the veg state and then the 12 on/12 off for flowering. The tent helps with controlling the odor, the humidity and temperature too.
I should have paid more attention during high school science classes- A LOT of chemistry and science knowledge is needed for this
yes Ma'am it sounds technical!
but the effort will be worth it and I know they're going to do great because I see all your other plants which are thriving!