Has cannabis been recently legalized in your state, or is it about to be? If so, you’ve got a lot to think about when it comes to the acquisition of your herb. For many, the best choice is to shop at a local dispensary, where you may be able to choose from a wide variety of products, strains and get advice from a trusted budtender. If you don’t have a lot of cannabis experience and need to be pointed in the right direction while you figure out what products are best for you, this might be the best way to start.
But visiting a dispensary isn’t the right choice for everyone. For one thing, not every state has dispensaries conveniently located for all comers. Even after cannabis has been legalized, it takes time to get the infrastructure of a new industry in place, and you might find yourself having to drive a considerable distance to reach the nearest dispensary.
Additionally, cannabis products purchased from a dispensary can be pricey. That’s because many states add a high tax rate to recreational cannabis. In fact, one of the most persuasive arguments for legalization is that taxing the sale of cannabis will bring income into the state. So it’s good for the case of legalization to patronize dispensaries—but it might not be practical to do so as often as you’d like.
Growing at home is a good alternative, but it can be intimidating for first-timers. Here are some good strains to get you started as a home grower.
Blue Dream is a sativa dominant strain that’s highly resistant to rot and mildew. It’s easy to grow indoors, and it thrives at room temperature. It’ll provide the highest yield when grown under a lot of light. Blue Dream has a THC content of up to 24%, and an added 2% CBD content makes it helpful as a medicinal plant as well.
Critical is a strong, resilient strain of cannabis that’s well suited to either indoor or outdoor growing. One of the big benefits of this strain is that it offers high yields after a relatively short flowering period, so you’ll get your cannabis quickly—generally about 7-8 weeks. It’s a 60% indica dominant strain with a THC content of about 18%.
Amnesia Haze is a sativa dominant strain that’s known for its ability to thrive without taking up a lot of space. It grows to a medium height, and it doesn’t require a lot of sunlight to flourish. Amnesia Haze does best in mild temperatures, so depending on the climate where you live, it would serve well as an indoor or an outdoor plant. The yield is high, and the grow time is between 9-11 weeks.
Dutch Treat is an indica dominant strain that is best grown indoors and thrives especially well with a hydroponic grow system. That might seem a little complicated if this is your first time cultivating plants, but a hydroponic system is very clean and not too difficult to maintain. If you don’t want to give that a try, though, Dutch Treat will also do well in quality soil. The only drawback to this strain is that the yield isn’t as high as with some others.
Royal Dwarf is a tiny plant with a fast-growing cycle. If you’re working with limited space, or if you prefer to keep your grow discreet, it’s a great choice for you. And even though the plant is small, you won’t sacrifice in yield. It’s a relatively high output for a plant of such a small size.
Do your due diligence and consult your local laws before you begin growing at home. There are often heavily regulated restrictions about how many plants cannabis home growers are permitted to have if at all. Once you’ve understood the rules and that you’re in compliance with the law, you’re free to begin your grow. Good luck!
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