Growing medical marijuana in your home is now legal in the state of Connecticut as of Oct. 1.
The law that went into effect this month allows medical marijuana patients 18 and older to grow three mature plants and three immature plants per person allowed medical use, with a total of 12 plants per household.
An immature cannabis plant has yet to produce visible buds. A mature plant has produced visible buds or flowers.
Ray Pantalena, owner of the New Haven medical marijuana dispensary, Affinity Health and Wellness, said he thinks most patients will not grow their own marijuana consistently.
“I think there’s a lot of excitement and energy right now with it, it may be similar to when people try doing craft beers at home they’ll try it once or twice,” Pantalena said. “Some people will love it and they’ll become experts at it, and that’s great for them, and some people will try it a couple of times and go, ‘That’s not for me.’”
The marijuana-growing process is not as simple as planting a seed. It involves special equipment and a lot of electricity. Some of this equipment can be in the form of single bulb grow lights or a full tent with special LED lights and controlled humidity.
Connecticut resident Tonya Vegas understands the opportunity the new law gives her, but does not think that she will grow at her home.
“I ain’t got time to be growing my own stuff at home, I’ve got a young one at home, I ain’t got time for that,” Vegas said.
The actual growing is not the only thing that will take time. Patients will also have to do extensive research to become familiar with the growing techniques, Pantalena said.
The amount of research could take ordinary people “hours and hours” because of the enormity of available research, according to Pantalena.
While time is a big factor in a patient’s ability to grow their own marijuana, cost is another. Patients who grow their own will benefit in the long run, but have a large upfront cost.
“It is less expensive for your yield, I’m not sure what the overall energy costs are depending on where you live, your electricity bill is definitely going to be affected,” Pantalena said.
Despite the cost and time factors, New Haven resident Leonard Patterson plans on trying to grow his own marijuana.
“It’s long past due and I’m just happy that we’re finally legally able to grow our medicine,” Patterson said. “There’s so many benefits to medical marijuana for health, wellbeing and your overall happiness.”
Now with the new law in effect, dispensaries are not required for patients to get medical marijuana, but Pantalena does not think it will have a negative impact on his business.
“We’ll be fine,” Pantalena said. “There will be some impact, I have no idea how to gauge it yet. I don’t know how many people are going to do it. How successful they’ll be? How long they’re going to do it? I think a lot of people are going to try.”
Residents of Connecticut over the age of 21 will be able to grow cannabis for recreational purposes in 2023.