Growing Marijuana in Your Garden
Growing marijuana in your garden for medical use is allowed in Washington state on a very small scale. It’s important to note the difference between medical and recreational use. Medical use means you have an ailment that you are treating with a cannabis product, typically prescribed by a medical professional, and have a medical cannabis card, also known as a “green card,” to prove it. Recreational use is when marijuana is used for fun, relaxation, etc., and you do not have a green card.
In Washington, medical users can grow a small number of plants without registering, or more if they do.
Here’s what you need to know:
Growing is limited to medical use and must have a recommendation from a doctor, a green card is required for proof.
Growers must be 21 or older.
You can grow up to four plants without registration, and up to 15 if registered.
Cooperative gardens are allowed, meaning up to four patients can grow together, with no more than sixty plants and a harvest yield of 72 ounces. Additionally, the garden must be at least 1 mile or more from a retail location.
Registration is recommended but not required. Registering with the Department of Health as a patient will earn you a recognition card that can be displayed as proof of permission to grow.
Washington approves the medical use of marijuana for AIDS and cancer-related nausea and vomiting; pain from Hepatitis C; vomiting and nausea due to anorexia; muscles spasms from MS, seizures and epilepsy; blood pressure issues causing glaucoma; pain due to Crohn’s disease and other un-manageable pain.
How to Grow Marijuana in Your Garden
For most us, myself included, growing your own weed is probably not an option. Depending on where you live and the growing conditions available to you. However, if you have a health condition that is eased with cannabis use, growing your own is probably one of the safest ways to come by it. By growing your own weed, you will know exactly what you’re getting. You are guaranteed organic buds with no chemical fertilizers, and allows complete control of the growing process. You can harvest your cannabis plant at the right time, and use the plants for a variety of uses.
The trend towards indoor cultivation is more about having control over the growing conditions for the sake of producing enormous buds. But if your sole goal is to grow some decent weed for your aches and pains, you may as well plant it alongside your basil. Growing a successful cannabis crop is slightly more complicated than your average vegetable, however, and Washington state frowns on plants that could be publicly viewed. So, it’s best to keep your plants out of sight, requiring some thought about location, fencing, sun, and irrigation.
Unfortunately, master gardeners have been told not to instruct people on the best way to grow it, which means you will have to look to the private sector for help raising your plants.
There are many wonderful online seed stores and books for marijuana horticulture. You may want to do a bit of reading before you start because, marijuana, fondly nicknamed "weed," doesn't actually grow like one. A healthy, productive marijuana plant requires specific growing conditions.
If you are looking for a natural way to improve the conditions of your cannabis garden and even help with some pests, companion planting is a great way to go. Companion planting is the strategic planting of fruits, vegetables, or herbs alongside your cannabis plants in order to improve the natural ecosystem for your plants, without turning to pesticides or additional supplementation. Companion planting is a natural and effective way of controlling mites and other pests, enhancing nutrient uptake and soil quality, as well as providing a habitat for beneficial creatures. Companion planting is also a useful way to disguise your plants and provide protection.
A Few Excellent Companions for Cannabis and Other Plants
Beans are a great way to supplement Nitrogen in your cannabis. Beans absorb Nitrogen from the air and convert it into a form more readily available to your cannabis.
Herbs such as Chickweed are excellent for adding supplementary nutrients to your soil. Basil is great for pest control due to its pungent smell, and chives, cilantro, and sage deter aphids, spider mites, beetles, and flies.
Chrysanthemum flowers help protect against nematodes, microscopic worms that can infest and damage root structures, making them great organic pesticides due to their high pyrethrin content.
Peppermint is another plant that is commonly used as an organic pesticide by converting it into a pesticide oil. It acts as a repellent of harmful insects and has the potential to attract beneficial ones.
Garlic works as a natural fungicide in your garden.
Alfalfa is used for soil nutrient supplementation as well as a soil base component.
Chamomile is one of the best all-around companion plants for cannabis. It can capture accumulated calcium, sulfur, and potassium, and as the plant breaks down, these nutrients become embedded in the soil and help strengthen your plants.
It’s relatively easy to grow marijuana in Washington but still regulated. In most states where cannabis is legal, adults have been given the right to grow a few plants at home. Washington is one of the few places you must get a doctor's approval first, so do your homework before you attempt a grow. You can find all the information you need on the Department of Health website.
Learn more about Washington’s Medical Cannabis Laws and Rules.
Learn more about what states where it is legal to grow Medical Cannabis from Leafwell. Leafwell considers cannabis to be, "a pharmacy in a plant," but despite thousands of years of safe usage, a huge number of people still do not understand or have access to this magical plant. Leafwell is about increasing awareness, access, research, and education about this amazing plant. It's also a great place to get your Medical Marijuana Card. Learn more...
Now that you know, it’s time to grow!