Home cultivation can be a hobby, an act of resistance, a survival tactic, an education, and a way to tap into joy – I’d argue it’s all those things and more! Here are ten great reasons to give yourself the gift of growing cannabis at home.

1 - Save Money Getting High On Your Own Supply

Money doesn’t grow on trees, but you know what does? Ok, so cannabis is more of a bush (though have you seen the size of some plants people are growing?!), but still - wouldn’t it be nice to be able to go to the cupboard and grab another jar of weed, instead of running out to the store?

Every step in the supply chain between you and the grower represents another thing you’re paying out of pocket for every time you buy cannabis – labour, transportation, packaging, taxation, it’s all there. 

When you ARE the grower, the cost of every precious gram drops, and keeps dropping as you recover more of your initial investment each time you harvest. The money you could save by growing your own in the summer can be put toward indoor grow gear, keeping the apothecary stocked 365 days of the year. 

2 - Control How You Grow - Know What You Smoke

We’re all getting way too much exposure to environmental toxins these days. Despite some improvements that have come with increased oversight under regulation, there is still pressure to cut costs and stretch the limits of compliance. 

Growing your own cannabis is one way to find peace of mind, knowing exactly how clean that final bud is before you consume it. Along with aligning your values with your cultivation style, you’re also granting yourself the ‘top shelf’ of the bud you grow – it’s good vibes and frosty colas for you from here on out.   

3 - Growing (Cannabis) Plants is Stress-Relieving

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: tending to your cannabis garden is a form of therapy. The rituals and practices of growing can provide rewarding feedback, offer additional structure to your days, weeks, and months, and provide something to focus on that is uncluttered by many of the stresses of modern life. 

4 - Grow The Cannabis That You Need

There is an unlimited world of cannabis genetics out there - why be restrained by what is trendy at the moment? Whether it’s a classic cultivar that you’d love to keep on hand, or that goldilocks bud that is “just right” for you, growing your cannabis is a way to enjoy the benefits of that true match. 

When picking out seeds and growing at home, you’re in the driver’s seat – you can explore new varieties while making sure you have access to the ones that work best for all the ways you enjoy it.  

On top of all that, when you grow your own weed, a new world of uses opens up. You can enjoy the fan leaves raw (try ‘em in a smoothie!) and make all kinds of infusions and extractions (hash!) from the sticks, stems, and trim. Turn up the dial on all your favorite recipes and make your meals into medicine at a tiny fraction of the cost— and without any of the mystery ingredients —of store-bought edibles. 

And if you’re interested in topicals, these ‘extras’ from home growing are practically throwing themselves at you to try making pain-relieving balms, soothing massage oils, and skin-nourishing creams.

5 - Nothing Compares to Smoking a Bud You Grew

There is no substitute for the satisfaction of consuming homegrown cannabis. Cultivating a cannabis plant from seed to harvest is like counting down the days to your favorite holiday – it’s a celebration you can look forward to and revel in the journey. 

6 - Practice Self-Reliance

Nobody knows what the future will bring, and it just makes sense to get a handle on how to provide the necessities of life for ourselves. To me, that includes ensuring I won’t be cut off from a supply of high-quality cannabis. 

7 - Keep Sharp, Never Stop Learning

Every time you grow weed is an opportunity to learn something new. It’s a healthy way to be and stay curious, gain and develop skills, and engage in practical problem-solving – it comes with a highly motivational reward!

8 - Connect with Nature

Growing weed is a way to build healthy relationships with the web of life that surrounds you, from microbes in the soil and air to larger animals that love to visit a cannabis garden. 

Even indoors, you can tune in to the biological cycles of a plant from germination through full flower maturity. You’ll witness the effects of the elements (earth, air, water, and ‘fire’, i.e. light and heat) impact your plants (and our lives in general). 

Did you know that besides being an excellent companion to us humans, cannabis is a potent protector of other plants? I encourage folks who don’t even consume weed themselves to add it to their gardens, because it makes so many natural chemicals good for repelling insects. Traditional uses include putting cannabis under beds to keep mosquitoes away, and in grain storage to stave off weevils. 

If you’ve got a friend in mind who fits this description, why not share a seed or two (ILGM’s always running some kind of bonus or giveaway that can help you afford to be generous) – who knows, maybe you’ll change their life!

9 - Less Cannabis Stigma than Ever Before

Thanks to the persistence of advocates and activists, there’s less stigma against cannabis now than there has been in most of our lifetimes. You can be part of continuing to reduce the lingering prejudice against cannabis by growing it yourself, normalizing weed as a part of regular people’s daily lives.

10 - Join a Global Community of Growers

The legacy of cannabis cultivation encompasses individuals from diverse backgrounds and across the globe. There are people out there who’ve got generations of knowledge to share, and every day someone new joins in – there’s no time like the present to be one of them! No matter who you are or where you come from, there are people growing cannabis who would love to share the experience with you. 

When forces outside our direct control fuel social division, what a gift it is to come together in community with other growers!

Bonus Reason #11: Anyone can do it! 

Whether you’re a newly-minted adult stretching your wings of autonomy, a well-seasoned senior in retirement, or somewhere in between, cultivating cannabis is within your grasp. Where there’s a will, there’s a way – and nothing can take the place of home-grown herb. What are you waiting for? Find that fire and grow!