In the current economy, financial incentives alone are sufficiently enticing to make many people consider a career change. For the cannabis entrepreneur, though the initial costs of indoor lamps, wiring, fertilizer, soil and fans can add up, the start-up costs pale in comparison with most small businesses. Depending on the size of the operation, growers can spend several hundred to several thousand dollars to create suitable conditions for healthy plants. Once operational, however, it costs as little as a couple hundred dollars per pound of premium product.
Do the math, and you’ll see how fast the investment can pay for itself. Imagine that a single plant yields one to two pounds of dry buds, and each pound can be split into 16 ounces or 128 eighths. A pound sells for $1,500 to $3,500, and an eighth goes for $20 to $50, depending on the area, origin and quality. (Sellers net more money for “kind bud” or “chronic,” slang for higher quality marijuana.) A single plant can be worth thousands of dollars.
There are few enterprises that promise such a high profit margin for so little work. That’s not to say there isn’t an art and science to growing high quality, healthy plants. But, all things considered, entry points into the field may be easier than into many others. For the unemployed or underemployed, one can send out only so many unanswered resumes before the notion of becoming a “potrepreneur” begins to look attractive. Even to the highly employable and skilled, getting in on the new boom is an alluring prospect.
Somedude (who preferred to remain anonymous) is one such businessman who saw the writing on the market wall. Somedude is a tech engineer and consultant, massage therapy student, husband and father. He is also a student who is about half-way through the 13-week horticulture course at Oaksterdam University.
“Until last August it [cannabis] really wasn’t a big part of my life,” Somedude said. He began to trade massages for marijuana, then started to see the changing landscape of the cannabis industry. “It’s cool to understand how to do this legally.”
His last assignment at Oaksterdam? Design a cannabis grow room. The knowledge and skills he gained in Oakland have given him, and many others, hands-on experience. Somedude is already exploring his business options. Immediately after the horticulture course, he said he intends to enroll in the follow-up course, which focuses on the business-side of the cannabis industry.
“The economy is not turning around fast enough, so I’m looking at a path to a state-legit medical canna-biz opportunity,” he said. “I’m complying with the state attorney general’s–soon to be governor’s–guidelines.”
Medical Need Inspires Cannabis Entrepreneurs
In addition to economics, more personal factors motivated Somedude to enroll at Oaksterdam. A close family member who has multiple sclerosis uses a combination of massage, creams and medical cannabis to treat symptoms. (Recent medical research has confirmed the medical value of cannabis for multiple sclerosis patients, finding it likely to help protect from further nerve damage.)
Somedude also referenced a neighbor, “a soccer mom with two kids”, who has struggled with two bouts of cancer, and only recently came to see medical marijuana as possible therapy.
“There’s a certain amount of trust-building needed in order to see cannabis as a different way of therapy,” Somedude said, adding that he believes many others could benefit in the same way. “I was seeing how much cannabis helps relieve pain when coupled with massage and other healing modalities. I’m wishing to learn new, healthy ways to help others in pain.”
Somedude is already setting things up for his business, cultivating plants, drawing up business plans, talking with lawyers and learning as much as he can about the changing landscape. He has considered running his business as a “scheduled delivery system,” where he would drop off medical cannabis weekly at his clients’ homes.
He has also considered the possibility of a dispensary collective. But costs would be much higher than for an independent entrepreneur. In addition to the above costs, business owners must add on employee insurance and payroll taxes, property insurance (more below), security, retail space and advertising, among other expenses.
For Somedude, location may decide what type of business model he adopts. He said that where he lives, in Silicon Valley, is one of the more restrictive regions.
“For example, you can’t have edibles,” he said. “Everyone’s in jail or been chased out.”
Somedude spoke glowingly of Oaksterdam University and the people he has met in the program. He said he has seen underground gangs trying to go legit, grandfathers and grandmas going into business, and many others with smaller ambitions who want to find new skills to pay rent.
“The networking there has been worth it by itself,” said Somedude. “Everybody is dedicated and passionate, not just a bunch of college stoner flakes. Oaksterdam is a whole industry unto itself.”
Stay tuned for the next installment: The Ripple Effect
(Editor’s note: This is the third piece in a six-part series that was first published on Oakland Local on the business of marijuana. This story was funded with the help of Spot.us, a crowd-funding non-profit that has helps raise money for independent journalism. For more information on Spot.us visit their site, where you can support quality journalism.)
There never can be any such thing as a “canabis economy”. It’s an
oxymoron. The stuff is delusional and only with people with more money than
sense, trust me I tried it.(But I didn’t inhale ! maybe I need to do that ..
and so on) But there is any ammount still out there just waiting for
another twat ! Any so-called “Canabis economy” will rely upon people
working, who probably rely upon oil and gas burning. The whole thing being
one big poke in the eye for the biosphere. But it’s big enough. It can take
it. Have a nice day ! Relax in front of the TV and watch a “reality show”.
Be part of the true meaning of the word “Moronic”
The difference amid recreational consumption and medical use of marijuana begs to be recognized. While I think that a responsible adult should have the right to use marijuana recreationally, I do believe, without doubt, allowing for a sick person use of a plant with a long history of medical value ought to be accepted and legal. Marijuana has a enormous potential as a medication and more awareness and tolerance is necessary. In Summary, legalize it!
The difference amongst recreational consumption and medical use of cannabis begs to be recognized. Although I think that a responsible adult ought to have the right to use marijuana recreationally, I do think, without doubt, allowing an ill person use of a plant with a long history of medical value had better be accepted and legal. Cannabis has a great potential as a medication and more awareness and acceptance is needed. In Summary, legalize it!
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Its all regarding how to grow marijuana indoors. The site linked also has some information that is quite useful.
Marijuana is often a good herb that grows naturally all more than the planet. Unfortunately it is nevertheless illegal to grow marijuana in quite a few countries. Please examine your local laws just before growing marijuana. With that said, letâ??s get growing!
Itâ??s a general consensus that growing herb is very best done using a beneficial hydro system. Hydroponics will be the method of growing a plant without having soil. You’ll find two various ways to grow with hydro, but regardless you have to select up some supplies. Very first and foremost you’ll need a light source to grow your herb. There are many technologies obtainable and I am going to break down the rewards and disadvantages of each for you.
The cheapest and most inefficient light source is compact fluorescent lighting (CFL). You’ll find two several styles of CFL lighting. Some men and women grow marijuana with CFL light bulbs. It is possible to choose these up at the grocery store and also a splitter at your local hardware store. Itâ??s a very good idea to strive for at least the 100 watt bulbs mainly because some thing less isn’t giving off enough light. Keep in mind that they may be not especially efficient so you may need as several as 8 or additional to grow and flower 3 plants. The other sort of CFL lighting is the shop light style. These have a metal bracket used as a reflector and the bulbs themselves are lengthy and cylindrical. This kind of lighting is often a tiny a lot more efficient than the CFL bulb but nonetheless not ideal for growing marijuana. Whichever style of CFL bulb you choose, strive for the bluest temperature for vegetative growth and also the warmest color light for flowering.
The following lighting kind is Metal Halide (MH). You see metal halide lights anytime you leave your house out night, as thatâ??s what most street lights use. Metal halide lighting works by converting power with a ballast after which delivering it to an HID bulb. This lighting kind is very excellent for vegetative growth but not so a lot for flowering. These systems use quite a lot of electricity and give off substantial heat so you ought to often use MH in conjunction with excellent ventilation.