Cultivating cannabis at home is one of the funnest and most-rewarding things that a cannabis consumer or patient can do. Home cultivation provides a number of benefits, including the flexibility to decide what cannabis plants are fed with and other aspects of how they are cared for.
Home cannabis cultivators, whether they are growing their plants indoors or outdoors, have the benefit of knowing exactly where their cannabis comes from. For suffering patients in particular, knowing everything about their medicine is very important.
Depending on how cannabis is cultivated, there is various gear that may be needed. Indoor cannabis gardens require more equipment compared to outdoor gardens, with the most obvious piece of equipment being lighting. Regardless of how cannabis is cultivated, all aspiring cannabis gardeners need genetics to start with.
According to a recent survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Royal Queen Seeds, most cannabis cultivators prefer to start their gardens with seeds versus clones or seedlings.
“This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Royal Queen Seeds from February 15-20, 2024, among 2,024 adults ages 21 and older, among whom 713 consume cannabis (i.e., cannabis consumers). The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.5 percentage points using a 95% confidence level.” the researchers stated about their methodology.
“The 2024 survey of Americans 21 and older conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Royal Queen Seeds (RQS), one of the world’s largest and most trusted cannabis seed banks, shows that 59% of Americans agree that all Americans should have the right to legally grow cannabis at home.” the companies stated in a press release.
The study also found that:
- 81% of cannabis consumers agree all Americans should have the right to grow at home
- 62% of cannabis consumers would rather grow their own cannabis than buy it
- 34% of cannabis consumers who have grown at home do so because they feel safer consuming their own home-grown flower compared to store-bought cannabis
An increasing number of jurisdictions are permitting home cultivation, including for recreational purposes. On April 1, 2024, Germany became the largest country to ever pass a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure. Adults in Germany are now permitted to cultivate up to three plants in their private residences.
Canada also permits adults to cultivate cannabis in their homes, as do several states and the District of Columbia in the United States. Uruguay, Malta, and Luxembourg also permit home cultivation by adults for private recreational purposes.
“The nationally representative study, conducted in February 2024, surveyed more than 2,000 adults ages 21 and older, among whom 713 are cannabis consumers. Survey participants shared their thoughts on cannabis home grow laws as well as habits and purchasing patterns tied to 4/20, the largest cannabis sales day of the year.” the researchers stated.
The Harris Poll on behalf of Royal Queen Seeds also determined the following, per their press release:
4/20 Shopping
- 37% of Americans (21+) agree that they would consider buying cannabis seeds as a gift for someone on 4/20
- 66% of cannabis consumers agree that they would consider buying cannabis seeds as a gift for someone on 4/20
- 81% of cannabis consumers who plan on growing this year agree that they plan to buy cannabis seeds on 4/20 for themselves
Benefits of Home-Grown Cannabis
It is no wonder Americans believe that growing cannabis at home should be legal—more than 40% of American households already cultivate their food. Why would they not be allowed to grow their cannabis in a home garden, especially when, according to the survey, cannabis consumers who have grown at home are reaping a multitude of tangible benefits from it:
- 49% say doing so gives them a sense of confidence; 48% a sense of joy; 46% a sense of pride; 34% a sense of ease; 44% a connectedness with nature or Earth
- 47% say they do so because it is fun
- 43% said it is more cost-effective than buying cannabis flower in a store
- 39% said the quality of the flower is better compared to store-bought
Habits of a Home Grower
The survey also polled cannabis consumers on an array of cultivation topics:
- 26% of cannabis consumers have grown at home
- 21% who have not grown at home would like to try
- 56% of cannabis consumers who have grown cannabis at home admit to singing or playing music for their cannabis plants
- 61% who plan to grow cannabis at home this year plan on growing in Spring (March-May); 49% in Summer (June-August); 24% in Fall (Sep-Nov); 29% in Winter (Dec-Feb)
- 61% who plan to grow cannabis at home this year say they will grow cannabis from seeds; 21% from clones or seedlings
- 44% who plan to grow cannabis at home this year say they will grow indoors; 33% outdoors
“All adults should be allowed to grow their own cannabis alongside their fruits and vegetables, if they so choose, without the fear of financial or criminal penalties,” said Shai Ramsahai, President of Royal Queen Seeds. “There are many reasons people enjoy growing at home, from cost savings and knowing how their plants were grown, to just plain old having fun. Royal Queen Seeds is here to champion them through their journey, whatever their reason, with more than 100 seed strains, including F1 hybrids, and one of the largest catalogs of best practices for home cultivation.”