Because of its relatively short lifespan (about three to six months), marijuana is both fun and rewarding to grow. Not only do you have an incredible product at the end, but it’s easy to observe and get familiar with the cycle – from germination to harvest.

Beginners often assume that the growing process will manage itself, but the commitment is real. If you want the best product when it comes time to harvest, you’ll need to take good care of each of your plants. It can seem a little daunting when you’re getting started, but don’t let that deter you. Even people who have claimed to have the opposite of a green thumb have successful cannabis grows.

In fact, growers have a little in-joke that you can’t become addicted to marijuana, but you can become addicted to growing it.

Marijuana has a challenging legal history in the U.S. and the current political climate is only marginally better. So the obvious needs to be stated:  growing marijuana comes with a certain amount of risk. The federal government still classifies it as a drug, and possessing or growing it can be a punishable offense.

Proponents of legalization argue that humans have had a symbiotic relationship with cannabis for centuries. We have been cultivating it, medicating with it, and using all parts of the plant with a wide range of purposes for a long time. As recently as 70 years ago, western medicine used cannabis as a standard treatment for many ailments. It’s unfortunate that it’s been criminalized despite its many benefits.

But, times are changing, and we’re meeting new growers all the time. Welcome.