Now that the legalization of Medical Marijuana has taken effect in many states in the United States and Canada in 2018, everyone from the casual grower to big corporations are planning or are already cashing in.

As this might be what it actually takes to push legalization through to the federal level, it could also mean that patients who need this all-natural medicine will be the ones who can least afford it.  (To get an idea on prices, see this article: How much is a gram of weed?)

After all, the US government never seems to have an issue with taking a great idea and bastardizing it until it bears little resemblance to the original concept.

If you think that could never happen to Medical Marijuana, here are some statistics compiled by Change Strategy LLC that the big drug companies are watching closely:

• The current US MMJ Industry is a $1.7 billion market, and this only covers the seven states that have legal markets.
• Only 730,000 people are authorized MMJ patients as of 2011.
• 24.8 million people in the US have a condition that would qualify them to become MMJ patients.
• The US MMJ market is expected to double-triple within 5 years.

When you consider that the majority of medical marijuana patients suffer from chronic pain (88% in Colorado) and that narcotic pain medications are cheap when purchased through legitimate channels, it doesn’t take a high IQ to figure out that the pharmaceutical companies would love to corner this market.

Why Grow Your Own?

Now that it’s so easy to come by medical marijuana, especially in recreational states, why is it still a good option to grow your own cannabis?  Well, here are some good and valid points.

Know What You Put in Your Body

The one saving grace that most medical marijuana states offer is that they allow medical marijuana patients and/or their caregivers to grow a reasonable amount of cannabis for their own use.  It gives them control over what they’re putting into their bodies instead of not knowing what types of fertilizers are used.

Keep Expenses Low

Growing can allow patients to keep their expenses low compared to purchasing from dispensaries.  Growers have the option of growing outdoors or indoors and have control of every step of the process.

Marijuana Byproducts

The byproducts of the marijuana plant include trimmings and residue and dust from trichomes which  can be used for juicing, making edibles, topical ointments, hash, etc.

Growing is Great Stress Relief

Gardening is generally great stress relief and a nice past time for growers and patients alike.

Choosing the Right Cannabis Strain

Not, all marijuana is not considered medicinal.  In the past, growers have focused on the recreational user.  Now that the medicinal market is expanding, there are many more choices.

Here are a few top picks for the MMJ patient:

• Charlotte’s Web is a strain that is known for it’s medical benefits for treating seizures. This strain has a CBD content of 20%, with less than 0.5% THC, but there are no seeds available for breeders.
• Pennywise is a TGA Genetics strain that is great for PTSD patients due to it’s 1:1 ratio of THC and CBD and a CBD content of 12-15%. The effects are known to be euphoric and provide mental clarity.
• Painkiller XL is a hybrid strain that also has a 1:1 ratio of THC and CBD, and is known to give relaxed and happy medicated effects.
• White Rhino is a strain grown for medicinal use, especially for pain and insomnia.  White Rhino is easy to grow with intense physical effects, high yields and a sweet, fruity flavor.
• Amnesia Haze is a medicinal strain is usually recommended to relieve depression and loss of appetite.

If it’s legal to do so in your area, the smartest choice is to grow your own medical marijuana from high-quality cannabis seeds. Always choose a strain that treats your specific symptoms and buy from a trusted source.

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