Introduction
States are increasingly allowing the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Nowadays, the majority of states allow for the adult use of marijuana and its possession with a prescription or medical marijuana card. Many of those states let medicinal marijuana patients to cultivate their own plants. Regrettably, there can be a discrepancy between how police handle those producing marijuana for medical purposes and the rules governing marijuana usage.
Legal Medical Marijuana
Most states permit the adult use and possession of small amounts of marijuana for recognised medicinal needs. States have different requirements for medical approval; some only permit the use of marijuana for a limited number of conditions. Other states permit the use of medical marijuana to treat a range of ailments, such as:
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Fibromyalgia
- Glaucoma
- Migraines
- Seizures
States That Allow Home Growing For Medical and Recreational Use
Although most states permit the use of medical marijuana, others do not let patients to cultivate their own. For a variety of reasons, including to save money, as a pastime, or to ensure they know exactly what is going into the medicine they are taking, medical marijuana patients are interested in growing their own marijuana. Some of the states that permit minimal domestic cannabis cultivation for medical purposes are:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
The number of states that permit the use of medical marijuana is roughly divided between those that permit home growth and those that do not. Even with a prescription or medical card, cultivating marijuana may be a crime in states where it is prohibited.
How Much Pot Can I Grow At Home With a Medical Marijuana Card?
Each state has its own regulations and restrictions on home gardening. States that do permit home cultivation of marijuana are typically constrained by mature plants and/or seedlings. In Maine, for instance, a person who is 21 years of age or older can grow up to 6 mature cannabis plants at once for medical purposes. In California, personal usage is restricted to six plants, but there is no restriction on growing for medical use up to the amount required for the patient’s condition.
Criminal Penalties for Growing Medical Marijuana
You can be charged with a crime if your state forbids the growing of cannabis for medical purposes. Patients’ home-growing options are constrained by their state’s laws, even if they have a medicinal marijuana licence. Cannabis home cultivation is illegal in various states. For home marijuana cultivation, there may be jail time, fines, and even property confiscation.
The penalties for growing pot at home in violation of state law may depend on several factors, including:
- Number of marijuana plants
- Evidence of growing pot for sale or distribution
- Other drugs manufactured or grown
- Prior criminal record
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