Soon it will be legal to cultivate and possess adult-use marijuana in Virginia. This has some residents asking, "Where can I legally grow marijuana plants?"
Thanks to a lot of cannabis activists, some of the more hip lawmakers in Virginia, and Governor Northam, it will be legal for adults 21 and over to grow marijuana for personal use starting on July 1, 2021.
Growing our own cannabis at home legally is something a lot of Virginians never imagined actually happening, but it is certainly a cannabis-lover’s dream. The sense of independence we get when we can grow our own medicine is a long lost part of the American dream.
You don’t need a Virginia marijuana card in order to legally grow cannabis plants in VA, but there are plenty of other benefits to having one. Qualifying is easy, and we offer same-day marijuana evaluation appointments. We are a top resource for all things related to cannabis in Virginia, so keep an eye on our blog for marijuana news, tips, advice, and more!
One of the main questions that Virginia residents have as they plan their home-grown cannabis endeavor, is where to plant.
Where Can I Grow Marijuana Plants in Virginia?
According to recent Virginia legislation, you can grow your marijuana plants inside or out, as long as they comply with the requirement that they are not accessible by anyone under 21. They must also be kept in a location where they cannot be seen from a public thoroughfare or another public place.
Growing Marijuana Plants Inside Your Home
There are several benefits to growing your plants inside. You don’t have to worry as much about pests, you have control over the growing environment, and it’s pretty easy to keep the plants under lock and key.
However, growing inside is not without drawbacks. Grow lights can be an enormous drain on your energy, so be prepared to see your electric bill go up. The equipment used to turn your bedroom closet into a perfect growing environment can also cause a surge in your power source, and it can get quite hot.
This means that growing inside will become a fire hazard if you are not diligent about ensuring your growing operation has a safe setup.
Growing Marijuana Plants in the Great Outdoors
Virginia’s wild landscape does offer most of its residents opportunities to start a garden outside—and this year, you can add cannabis to your horticultural journal.
The big challenge with growing outside is making sure your plants are inaccessible to anyone under 21. You can keep them in a locked fenced-in area, a locked greenhouse, a custom-built DIY grow box, or any other place you can dream up that is safe from young hands.
Can I Grow Marijuana Plants if I Rent My Home?
Unfortunately, tenants have surprisingly limited rights when they live in a dwelling that they do not own. Virginia has passed legislation to protect employees from adverse action if they test positive for THC when they have a marijuana card, but the state has yet to address the issue for tenants.
Landlords can terminate your lease if you participate in illegal activity, and they can include a clause in your lease stating that you cannot have illegal substances in your home. Even though medical marijuana is technically legal in Virginia—and adult-use marijuana is about to be legal too—it is still federally illegal.
As of May, 2021, it is still too early to know how this will turn out if the issue gets taken to court.
Growing Marijuana if You Don’t Own Your Home
If you are going to throw caution to the wind and risk being kicked out of your rental, then there are a couple of things to keep in mind:
You cannot hide the smell of marijuana plants. It’s a simple fact that your whole apartment (and probably your neighbor’s apartment) is going to smell like cannabis. Your landlord cannot go digging through your closet, but they won’t need to in order to know you are growing. There are some ways to cut down on the odor, including sealing off your grow space and using a carbon filter. But be aware that most people that get busted for growing cannabis are caught based on the smell wafting from underneath a certain locked door.
As mentioned earlier, your grow lights, air filter, and fan are going to put a serious drain on your power supply. Some apartment outlets are not built to withstand the major overload. If you do not pay for your utilities, the person who does is going to notice the sharp increase in electricity use. This could be the giveaway that you are growing cannabis plants in your apartment.
If you do not own the home that you live in, growing marijuana puts you at risk for eviction. This is an especially disappointing fact considering adult-use marijuana will not be legal to purchase until 2024.
You can, however, get a Virginia marijuana card for access to well-regulated, high-quality legal cannabis products right now. It may not feel the same as picking fresh buds off your very own cannabis plant, but Virginia dispensaries will deliver your product right to your door. So it’s at least as convenient as growing your own!
Get a Virginia Marijuana Card for Fast, Convenient Access to Virginia Marijuana Products
At Virginia Marijuana Card, we are here to help you through every step of the process, with knowledgeable staff and understanding doctors. Give us a call at (888) 633-5808, or schedule a convenient telehealth appointment today!
Doctors Who Care. Relief You Can Trust.
At Virginia Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to MMJ. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (888) 633-5808, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
Check out Virginia Marijuana Card’s Blog to keep up to date on the latest medical marijuana news, tips, and information. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to join the medical marijuana conversation in Virginia!
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