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How Much More Does It Cost to Grow Weed Indoors Compared to Outdoors?

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Growing cannabis offers the benefit of customization to fit your personal preferences and circumstances. If you relish spending time outdoors with the sun’s warmth on your skin and the grass under your feet, you can cultivate weed in your garden. Conversely, if you prefer technological gadgets, control, discretion, and the comfort of an indoor setting, growing cannabis inside may be more appealing to you.

 

However, your preferred location for growing may not always be a matter of choice. Some cultivators may be obligated to grow indoors due to stringent regulations, while others may have to grow outside due to budget constraints.

 

If you are a first-time cannabis grower and want to know the financial implication of each type of setting, this guide clues you in. This article gives a rough estimate of the cost and expenses relating to operational size for indoor and outdoor cultivation. 

 

Indoor Cultivation vs. Outdoor Cultivation.

Indoor or outdoor marijuana cultivation costs vary significantly based on a number of factors. Given the need for sophisticated equipment and the more significant energy cost, indoor cultivation typically costs more than outdoor cultivation.

 

Indoor cultivation necessitates a designated location, such as a grow tent or a spare room, where temperature, light, humidity, and ventilation can be managed. To stimulate the best environment, cannabis farmers must invest in equipment like grow lights, fans, air conditioning units, dehumidifiers, and carbon filters. Depending on the size of the cultivation room and the quality of the equipment, the cost of these products can range from hundred to thousands of dollars.

 

Indoor cultivation involves an initial equipment investment and recurring expenses for energy and water. High electricity expenses result from the large energy requirements of grow lights and other equipment. To ensure their plants receive clean, nutrient-rich water, growers might also need to invest in a water filtration system.

On the other hand, outdoor cultivation may be less expensive since it depends on natural light and ventilation. Although growers may need to spend money on necessary supplies like soil, fertilizer, and pest control, these expenses are typically less than those related to growing indoors.

 

Outdoor cultivation, however, also presents a unique set of difficulties. Farmers need to pick a spot that gets enough sunlight and has the right kind of soil. Also, they must safeguard their plants from pests and bad weather, which may necessitate additional fence, netting, or tarps expenses.

 

In general, indoor marijuana cultivation is more expensive than outdoor cultivation. Indoor cultivation, conversely, can provide more control over the growing environment and produce bigger yields and better-quality buds. Each farmer must consider the advantages and disadvantages to determine the optimal growing technique for their needs and budget.

 

Financial Implications

Let’s take a look at a few specific instances to compare the financial costs of growing weed indoors and outdoors:

 

Instance 1: Small indoor grow tent vs. outdoor grow in a sunny location

  • A small indoor grow tent (2’x2’x4′) costs around $150, plus an LED grow light for $100, a ventilation fan for $50, and a carbon filter for $50, totaling $350.

  • The monthly electricity cost for running the grow tent would be around $30.

  • The total cost for a 4-month cultivation cycle would be around $520.

  • For outdoor growing, a small garden plot in a sunny location could be used for free, with just the cost of soil, nutrients, and pest control.

  • Assuming similar yields, the cost for an outdoor grow would be significantly less than the indoor grow, likely under $100.

Instance 2: Medium-sized indoor grow room vs. outdoor grow with additional security measures

  • A medium-sized indoor grow room (8’x8’x8′) requires more equipment, including high-end LED grow lights for $1,500, an air conditioning unit for $500, ventilation fans for $300, and a carbon filter for $200, totaling $2,500.

  • The monthly electricity cost for running the grow room would be around $500.

  • The total cost for a 6-month cultivation cycle would be around $5,000.

  • For outdoor growing, if additional security measures are needed, such as a fence, security cameras, or a greenhouse, costs could range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on the level of security required.

  • Assuming similar yields, the cost for an outdoor grow would still be significantly less than the indoor grow, likely under $2,000.

 

Instance 3: Large-scale commercial indoor operation vs. outdoor cultivation on a large farm

  • A large-scale commercial indoor operation with hundreds or thousands of plants requires even more equipment, including high-end LED grow lights, HVAC systems, dehumidifiers, and sophisticated monitoring systems, costing thousands or even millions of dollars.

  • The monthly electricity cost for a commercial operation could easily exceed $10,000.

  • The total cost for an entire cultivation cycle could easily exceed $1 million.

  • Initial expenditures for the preparation of the land, irrigation infrastructure, and fencing may be expensive for outdoor cultivation on a big farm, but recurring costs would be substantially cheaper. Also, outdoor farms can benefit from rainfall and natural sunlight, which minimizes the need for expensive machinery and energy use.

  • The cost of outdoor cultivation would likely be substantially lower than an indoor operation, with thousands of dollars in operational expenses, assuming equivalent yields. However, outdoor farms may need extra security measures to prevent crop damage or theft, which could raise the overall cost.

 

Conclusion

The cost of cultivating marijuana, indoors or outdoors, can vary significantly based on several variables, including equipment, power, water, and location. Due to the requirement for specialized equipment and the increased energy cost, indoor cultivation is typically more expensive. In contrast, outdoor gardening uses free sunlight and airflow, which reduces costs.

 

Indoor cultivation, conversely, can provide more control over the growing environment and produce bigger yields and better-quality buds. The decision to grow marijuana indoors or outdoors ultimately comes down to personal preferences, financial constraints, and production objectives. Whatever the method, it is imperative to cultivate marijuana with care, attention to detail, a dedication to responsible usage, and compliance with regional laws and regulations. By doing so, growers can create a safe and sustainable cultivation environment for themselves and others.

 

THE COSTS OF GROWING CANNABIS, READ ON…

COSTS OF GROWING WEED IN AMERICA

THE COST OF GROWING WEED IN AMERICA MAY BE ITS DEMISE!



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Oregon Cannabis License Moratorium: Almost There

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It looks like a permanent Oregon cannabis license moratorium will finally take effect. I say “looks like” because key contingencies are still in play and, although things look promising, it could also get dicey as of March 31st— or even sooner.

In this post, I’ll explain what’s going on with House Bill 4121, which is certainly more than advertised, both in content and in progress. And I’ll explain what it all means for the Oregon cannabis industry.

HB 4121 and the cannabis license moratorium

On February 6th, 2024, I ran our annual legislative forecast and report on the proposed Oregon cannabis laws. We only had one significant cannabis bill in play, which made the 2024 session different than any year going back to 2015. The bill at issue for 2024 is HB 4121.

The enrolled version of HB 4121 is not significantly different than the introduced version previewed in my February 6th blog post. I’ll therefore dispense with another fulsome commentary, except to note that HB 4121 is generally sold as a pro-industry moratorium bill. HB 4121 is much more than that, however– especially when it comes to two big topics: law enforcement and hemp products.

HB 4121 highlights

Law enforcement; inspections

  • Authorizes collaborative mapping of cannabis grow sites, to inform law enforcement where licensed (and therefore, unlicensed) grows are located
  • Requires the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) to work with the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) to develop testing methodology to distinguish marijuana and hemp plants
  • Gives ODA power to require destruction of marijuana plants by hemp growers
  • Allows ODA and OLCC to enter into agreements to allow OLCC to inspect hemp crops
  • Requires ODA to adopt rules to allow law enforcement to accompany ODA on-site inspections
  • Authorized the Governor to call in the National Guard to help ODA and law enforcement with hemp site visits

Hemp product registration

  • Requires OLCC and ODA to establish a registration program for hemp products intended for human or animal consumption or use
  • Requires in- and out-of-state hemp manufacturers, packagers and distributors to pay fees, register in Oregon, submit a boatload of information, and comply with many rules

Marijuana license caps and moratorium

  • Prohibits OLCC from accepting new license applications pretty much forever, due to restrictive, ratio-based formulas tied to population
  • Contains an exception for producers looking to change canopy size, and for research labs
  • Contains an exception for the renewal or “transfer” of an existing license

Minor decoy operations

  • Requires OLCC to develop uniform standards for minor decoy operations
  • Requires OLCC standards to conform to law enforcement standards for minor decoy stings

Temporary permits

  • Requires OLCC to develop a process for applicants to work at a licensed business until they receive a marijuana worker permit, or a denial
  • Allows OLCC to revoke or suspend a permit for actions an individual took while in temporary permit status

Is HB 4121 going to pass? Does it matter if or when the Governor signs?

The bill is probably going to pass, but it matters very much when the Governor signs.

It was a relief to see the OLIS website updated on March 13th, three days after the session ended, showing that the Speaker of the House signed the bill. The Senate President, Rob Wagner, needs to sign next, and then Governor Tina Kotek. At this point, OLIS would normally show that the bill is awaiting signature by Wagner. For whatever reason the website doesn’t reflect this status, as it normally would; but I’m told by drafters of the bill that it’s headed to Wagner’s desk, and then Kotek’s. Both are expected to sign.

If the Governor signs HB 4121, it will become law immediately, based on its text. If the Governor vetoes HB 4121, it will not become law. And if she neither signs nor vetoes, HB 4121 will become law 30 days after its passage, which would be April 12 or thereabouts. That last scenario presents a problem for OLCC and the cannabis industry. This is because the current marijuana license moratorium expires on March 31, 2024.

In a “no sign and no veto” scenario, we could be looking at a gap of 12 days or so when OLCC is forced to take applications. A similar situation occurred back on May 31st, 2018, when OLCC announced a June 15th “pause” of application processing. Over 1,000 new applications flooded the portal in a two-week period. This exacerbated an already significant OLCC bottleneck; and, while many of those applications fell away, others made it through. We had several clients make a pretty penny reselling those landgrab licenses.

On Friday, March 15th, I was told by HB 4121 architects that OLCC has alerted the Governor’s staff to the timing exigency. This informs my comments up top that “things look promising.” If and when HB 4121 passes, though, please remember that we are in for more than a license moratorium. The law enforcement component of this bill is prominent. Further, Oregon is set to move ahead with a restrictive, outlying regime for hemp and hemp-derived products.



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Why Are Marijuana Plants Flowering Early » How to Grow Weed Indoors

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I have a chat function on this website that I stopped using because I couldn’t keep up with everyone asking the same two questions, Why are my cannabis plants flowering early and how can I revert them to the  vegetative cycle?

 

Here are a couple of answers if you are facing one of these problems but first answer this;  “Are you sure you’re not using auto flower marijuana seeds”? Of course auto’s start flowering when they start flowering and you have no control over that. They don’t flower because of a change in light non-auto seeds do. I talk a little about auto flowers a little later.

Another important question is; “Are you using feminized seeds and/or are the plants clones of one”?

I ask because sometimes feminized seeds

 

 

 





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Sacre Bleu pour le Cannabis! – France Will Not Allow Cannabis Flower or Bud as Part of Their Medical Marijuana Program!

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The French National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) has officially stated that flowers will not be incorporated into its forthcoming comprehensive medical cannabis framework. Although somewhat anticipated, the sudden decision and the ANSM’s failure to propose any feasible alternatives for patients reliant on cannabis flower have triggered widespread outrage.



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