Growing tobacco versus marijuana

[Rain Man]

The first retail marijuana places will open up on January 1st here in Denver. I think they're mostly moving into old Blockbuster and Kenny Rogers Roasters locations.

Anyway, the latest debate is production. They've got big warehouses now that are growing the stuff commercially, but apparently people can also grow their own, and the debate now is the limit (now set at 6 per person and 12 per household as of last night): http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_24...lants-no-front

It got me wondering, though. What's the advantage in growing it yourself? Is it just cheaper? And if it's cheaper, why don't people grow their own tobacco for cigarettes? You never hear about people growing their own tobacco.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by NewChief

Much cheaper, and it's a hobby/obsession for a lot of people.

As for the comparison with tobacco: it's about quantity for one thing. A heavy tobacco smoker is smoking a lot more tobacco than a heavy marijuana smoker.

It's also about price:

A quick google shows that a pack of cigarettes contains 20 grams of tobacco. I guess they cost about $5 on the market.

A quarter ounce of high grade marijuana (8 grams) costs upward of $100 (though i'm not sure what the price is in legal states).

You do the math.

You have got to be kidding me? Seriously? What ever happened to those dime lids? $40 an ounce was crazy, but I know those times are long gone.

[Contrarian]

Originally Posted by Ace Gunner

weed grows in most conditions, requires minimal resources -- hell, it grows like a weed. tobacco is a plant that requires a lot more environmental needs and resources, that is why it's only grown in temperate areas, like the south.

Not to get quality product it doesn't. There is a lot more to growing weed than put it in a pot or backyard and watch it grow dude.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Wow, this is interesting. So I'm hearing that tobacco is a bigger plant that's harder to grow and harvest, takes longer to mature, is less productive at harvest, and requires a lot more processing than marijuana. And apparently there's more experience with marijuana since it's been illegal. Is that a good summary?

So if marijuana is easy to grow, will everyone who wants marijuana just grow their own? I see one argument that the price is going to become cheap enough that it's not worth growing, but I see other arguments that it's very easy to grow. So is there going to be a retail market in the long run, or will they all eventually go under because they're paying rent and taxes and stuff?

Is six plants enough to supply an average person for a year?

I guess when I think about it, the fake medical marijuana places seemed to be doing okay the last couple of years. But that could be artificial since it was still illegal to grow it. Demand may have been propped up by people who were afraid to grow their own.

Even though most people could grow their own, they won't. It's not as simple as just tossing some seeds in a pot and watering it daily, especially to get high yields of quality product. There is an initial investment, both financial and time wise, that is pretty offputting for some newbie who decides to just grow their own. A good analogy would be brewing beer. It's cheap and easy to brew your own beer, but most people don't do it because we enjoy convenience. It has to be a priority or interest of a person to justify the investment.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

One thing:

Several of the people that grew their own before the deregulated market and now becoming private growers for the shops. It can be pretty lucrative even in small batches.

So your take is that the home-grown segment will be quite small, then? Like the home brewer analogy that katipan (edit: and now newchief) offered up?

[Contrarian]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

You have got to be kidding me? Seriously? What ever happened to those dime lids? $40 an ounce was crazy, but I know those times are long gone.

It's not that high in the Northwest unless you are getting ripped off.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

You have got to be kidding me? Seriously? What ever happened to those dime lids? $40 an ounce was crazy, but I know those times are long gone.

You can still get $40 schwag out there, but no one smokes that shit any more.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Cave Johnson

Legal shops will definitely be popular, because not everyone has the time, space in their house, or inclination to grow. Nor does everyone want 4-6 oz of pot.

But I think the ability to grow will exert market pressure on retail prices, not the other way around.

How much is a year's supply for a typical user? Or a heavy user? I know nothing about this.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

One thing:

Several of the people that grew their own before the deregulated market and now becoming private growers for the shops. It can be pretty lucrative even in small batches.

Yes. One of my old tour buddies lives in Steamboat as a licensed grower. His wife also makes "medicines" (tincture) to sell to dispensaries. They do quite well.

[Otter]

There are many different types of MJ. The quickest and simplest way to start categorizing the plant is 'indica' vs 'satvia'. The effects range from inducing sleep to creating mental energy and everything in between. It's actually a pretty amazing plant once you learn about its versatility.

Why do people craft their own beer? Grow their own tomatoes? Have a garden?

http://patientsmarijuana.org/Sativa_or_Indica.html

I bet you would be a pretty sativia smoker Rain Mon!

[Katipan]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

How much is a year's supply for a typical user? Or a heavy user? I know nothing about this.

I would be a non functioning zombie at an 1/8th of medicinal a day. I bet I would average an ounce every 2 weeks.

That is definitely not my current intake.

[BigBeauford]

Correct me if I am wrong, but to sell in your shop, I was under the impression you had to grow your own product(i.e. can't open a shop then purchase product grown by someone unaffiliated with your business). At least that is the current mandate.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

You have got to be kidding me? Seriously? What ever happened to those dime lids? $40 an ounce was crazy, but I know those times are long gone.

You are old or out of the game.

Or both.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Katipan

I would be a non functioning zombie at an 1/8th of medicinal a day. I bet I would average an ounce every 2 weeks.

That is definitely not my current intake.

RRRRRIIIIGGGGGTTTTTTT.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Otter

There are many different types of MJ. The quickest and simplest way to start categorizing the plant is 'indica' vs 'satvia'. The effects range from inducing sleep to creating mental energy and everything in between. It's actually a pretty amazing plant once you learn about its versatility.

Why do people craft their own beer? Grow their own tomatoes? Have a garden?

http://patientsmarijuana.org/Sativa_or_Indica.html

I bet you would be a pretty sativia smoker Rain Mon!

The description of sativa is:

This type of high is the one most associated with hilarious fits of laughter, long discussions about nothing, enhanced audio and visual senses. You hear things in songs you’ve never heard before, see things in movies you’ve watched a dozen times but never noticed before.


I think I've figured out why chiefsplanet is so successful.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by BigBeauford

Correct me if I am wrong, but to sell in your shop, I was under the impression you had to grow your own product(i.e. can't open a shop then purchase product grown by someone unaffiliated with your business). At least that is the current mandate.

I think that is true.